《Pick Me Up!》 Chapter 1: The Article Chapter 1: The Article There is a game called Pick me up. It is a mobile gameunched by Mobius Co. LTD. two years ago and carries the subtitle Hyper Roguelike Summon RPG. Today, we are celebrating the 2nd anniversary of Pick me up and its achievement of surpassing 100 million downloads. Inmemoration of this glorious asion, I have been tasked with writing a special feature article. Please take care of it. Pick me up is already a popr game boasting 100 million users worldwide, but for those who may not know about it, let me introduce the game once again. When Pick me up first appeared in the app store, many people were skeptical. Isnt this just another ordinary generic game? However, Pick me up gradually gained poprity through word-of-mouth and has now be a national mobile game enjoyed not only in Korea but around the world. What could be the reason behind Pick me ups rise topete for the top spot in the global mobile game market? Lets take a look at its attractive features. First, Mobius Summon System. It is a key system that took about five years of development. The essence of the system lies in shuffling thousands of patterns randomly to create infinite heroes. In other words, whether you draw hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of times in Pick me up, the chance of getting duplicate heroes is almost zero. It defiesmon sense, but Pick me up breaks thatmon sense and presents itself. However, this revolutionary system was just a minor variation, as there were more groundbreaking systems waiting. Second, The Quantum AI. A few years ago, there was a buzz about a showdown between a world-renowned Go yer and artificial intelligence. In the end, the victory went to the artificial intelligence. As a journalist, I have imagined such a historic scene. In the not-too-distant future, the highly advanced artificial intelligence seen in movies would emerge. Ironically, this AI revolution began at a gamepany. The secret lies in the cultivation of tens of millions of Pickmes (abbreviation for Pick me up) addicts. Mobius, the developer, applied the highly advanced artificial intelligence, which was thought to be decades away, to a mere mobile game. The heroes in Pick me up feel emotions and think. When each hero is put into a stage, there are hundreds of different reactions if the situation is the same. Heroes make demands, assert themselves, sometimes refuse orders, and sometimes obey them. When ites to the core of the game, which is battles, even more astonishing results are shown. Without the master giving individualmands, heroes autonomously adopt the tactics they consider efficient and use various tactics and formations in each battle. Furthermore, even with the same training, heroes have different growth values, and even at the same level and grade, the process and results of battles differ. Therefore, there is nomon hero grade chart or predetermined training method like in other games. Pick me ups thousands and billions of heroes make each one capable of surpassing the other. This became the biggest reason why Pick me up is called the game of the devil. Its too realistic. Although the heroes in the game are just products of data, they are so lifelike. Even now, Mobius has not revealed the detailed algorithm. A few weeks ago, a giant Chinesepany attempted to acquire the developmentpany with billions of capital, but it ended in failure. There have also been frequent attempts to invade thepany or hack the algorithm, but none have been sessful. Third, the Roguelike part. Oh, theres nothing to do. The content seems insufficient. The above two sentences are sighs that represent the frustration of hardcore users in any game. It also reflects the fact that the development speed of most games cannot keep up with the consumption speed of content. One of the representatives from Mobius said in an interview: Are you talking about those geeks who pour tens of millions of won into one game and y it all day? You think you can finish it? I challenge you to finish it! When this interview was first released, many users scoffed. However, up to this day, not a single user has reached the end of Pick me ups main dungeon. Not to mention millions, there are users who pour billions or tens of billions and invest over 18 hours a day into Pick me up. Pick me up adopted the rule of hardcore. When it was first revealed, users showed some bewilderment. Hardcore meant that when a hero dies, they disappear without a trace. Investing millions and spending hundreds of hours, and then having the hero disappear after just one battle? In the early days of Pick me up, this was pointed out as the biggest drawback of the game and attracted the resentment of many users. Of course, Mobius did not revise this rule at all. Instead, over time, people started to see it as an attractive feature. A certain mania ims: The heroes in Pick me up are precisely programmed dolls that can be mistaken for humans. Then its only natural that there is death as well, just as there is birth through summoning, right? Furthermore, the stages in Pick me up change randomly, and no one can predict what missions wille up. Since the battles are adjusted by artificial intelligence, once a mission starts, there is hardly any room for the master to intervene. In addition, there are dozens or hundreds of unpredictable variables. Sometimes a party sent in haphazardly clears a super difficult dungeon, and sometimes a party of 6-star elites perishes in a low-level dungeon. Everything in Pick me up is not predetermined. It constantly changes and flows. Someone criticizes Pick me up like this: Then what is the meaning of the yers existence? Are they just spectators? Whats the point of ying a game that is purely luck-based and hopeless? Isnt it just a pay-to-win game without control or strategy, where you draw lucky high-star heroes and send them out to win? To that person, I want to introduce a master from Korea. His ount name is Loki. He is the only Korean who is ranked among the top yers in the world and is called the Master of Masters. But hes not the first, is he? Thats right. In terms of ranking, Loki is only fifth in the world. If we look at the ranking alone, calling him the worlds best master has some drawbacks. However, he is mentioned more frequently than the first-ranked yers and is the only one among them who has earned the glorious nickname of Master of Masters. The reason is simple. He had extremely bad luck. Pick me ups summon system has different star ratings. Free summoning ranges from 1 to 3 stars, while paid summoning ranges from 3 to 5 stars. Commonly mentioned in themunity, the condition for bing a top-ranked yer in Pick me up is to have at least five 5-star heroes from birth. Higher-star heroes generally fight much better than lower-star heroes. People gather and say that evolving 1-star heroes with materials to 5 stars is insufficientpared to natural 5-star heroes. And here, there is a master named Loki. He has done about 4,500 paid summons, but he doesnt have a single natural 5-star hero. Compared to the worlds 4th and 6th-ranked yers around him who have dozens of natural 5-star heroes, his achievement is meager. He has only one time managed to summon a high-ranking hero, a 4-star. However, he confidently maintains his position as the top-ranked yer in Korea and fifth in the world. This proves that Pick me up is not just a luck-based game, but there is ample room topete with skill and strategy. Although the master cannot directly intervene in battles, he can cultivate heroes in different ways. By discerning the talents and values of heroes that are not reflected in their status window and designating efficient training methods, he forms parties optimized for each heros performance. While 1-star heroes are generally weaker than higher-grade heroes, Loki has proven that they are not always weak but only mostly weak. The meta of Pick me up can be said to be divided into before and after Loki posted his strategy guide. In addition, if we list the revolutionary changes brought by Loki to Pick me up (Click to See More). [Comments 3,135] [Lv.51] Daw11 Agree 8,742, Disagree 6,644 Why is this journalist thriving and then falling t? Is it appropriate to praise a single user in a game special feature article? Did Loki ask the journalist to do this? [Lv.17] Hail Loki Agree 513, Disagree 672 All hail Loki! [Lv.3] Hssut-hssut-hssut Agree 13, Disagree 5 I didnt know that theres a member of the RagnaLoki among the journalists on this site. Why isnt the CEO firing him? [Lv.21] Diorama Agree 11, Disagree 13 Honestly, Im not sure if Loki deserves all this praise. Isnt he just lucky? [Lv.76] IBeADragon Agree 3, Disagree 5 Whats this about RagnaLoki? [Lv.31] Kukkukkukkuk Agree 0, Disagree 0 Its a Loki fan group. To be an excellent member, you need to sign up. [Lv.76] IBeADragon Agree 4, Disagree 3 This is ridiculous. [Lv.7] Siriusve Agree 1,132, Disagree 2,564 [Blindment] Seris, I want to lick your armpits! Lick, lick! [Lv.22] WalletKingWhale Agree 811, Disagree 532 Regardless of the fairness of the article, Lokis influence on Pick me up cannot be ignored. Saying that the meta changed after Lokis ount was revealed, its not an exaggeration. [Lv.15] SchrFromGenerationsToGenerations Agree 4, Disagree 9 Herees another RagnaLoki! [Lv.22] WalletKingWhale Agree 321, Disagree 157 Did he say something wrong? To be honest, arent all the wide world yers get ignored except Loki? Now, theres no one left among Korean yers except Loki too. Korean Pick me up is Loki, and Loki is Korean Pick me up. In short, if Loki had just one 7-star hero, he would be the top yer in the world. [Lv.7] Serisve Agree 325, Disagree 1,132 [Blindment] Seris, I want to lick your armpits! Lick, lick! [Lv.15] ElectronicAnkleShackle Agree 913, Disagree 132 This lunatic keeps doing this in every Pick me up-rted article. Why isnt he banned? [Lv.1] Isel0479 Agree 13, Disagree 11 All hail Loki! All roads lead to Loki! (Click to See More). Chapter 2: I Found You (1) Chapter 2: I Found You (1) I swung open the front door, greeted by a rush of cool air that tickled my nose. Seems like its colder inside than out. The frigid chill made my skin prickle, prompting me to brush off the snow that had umted on my shoulders and head. I slipped on a pair of cozy indoor slippers, letting my gaze settle on the couch where I had left a bag containing a mouthwatering hamburger lunch box and a refreshing soda from the nearby 7-Eleven. With a press of a button on the entrance shoe rack, I ignited the boiler using the remote control, and then I gracefully copsed onto the two-seater sofa as if executing a dive. Grabbing the battery that had been resting on the charging stand, I deftly swapped it into my phone. With a flick of the phone case, I powered it on, watching as the screen illuminated in a bright white glow. Once the fingerprint recognitionpleted, I smoothly essed the digital realm through the familiar Windows interface. My finger tapped on the central app I sought. It was a mobile game released two years ago, developed by Mobius. Fast forward to the present, and Pick Me Up had be a sensation, boasting an impressive near-billion downloads worldwide. After a brief loading screen, I found myself on the main interface. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] [T O U C H!] I tapped the screen, and my senses were immediately flooded with the familiar ambiance of the waiting room. Inside the waiting rooms office, a blonde female knight upied one of the seats with an air of grace. Seris, the grand leader of our main strategy party and the first andst 4-star hero I ever summoned was perched there. She held the title of super rare, and her golden locks cascaded elegantly around her emerald eyes. As I touched Seriss image, a beautifully drawn illustration of her appeared on the screen, radiating a sense of pride and joy within me. Although she wasnt a coveted 5-star natural-born hero, she had transformed into an unbeatable powerhouse, even among the majority of 6-star characters. I closed the illustration by tapping the X in the upper-right corner and shifted my attention to the other heroes shimmering in the waiting rooms facilities. First, there were the heroes diligently training in the training center. Most of them were 1- or 2-star heroes obtained through free draws. Among them, there was a rare chance, albeit minuscule, tond a jackpot exceeding a natural-born 5-star hero. Yet, in most cases, it ended in disappointment. I could rteI had experienced the same. In the vast realm of mobile gaming, a clear distinction existed between the haves and have-nots. Heroes below 3 stars vanished as mere fusion materials for their higher-ranked counterparts. With a tear in my eye, I focused on nurturing 4-star heroes and above, but overall, they remained scarce. Next, there were the heroes who had sessfullypleted their training. While not ideal for missions with fewer than 5 members, they proved more than capable when it came torge-scale parties or special missions. Lastly, my cherished main forcethe heroes I had carefully selected and gathered from among the countless avable. They had all achieved the pinnacle of 6-star excellence, reaching the 88th floor just a week ago, bing the first party in Korea to do so. They were heroes who couldnt be defeated no matter where they were deployed. The game wasnt simply a matter of rolling dice based on stat sheets or visible skills. My mind drifted back to the hardships I endured to secure my ce as the 5th-ranked yer globally. I must have been out of my mind. Truly, it was utterly absurd. Pick Me Ups subtitle was Hyper Roguelike Summon RPG, in other words, a Loglike game. In Korean ng, it meant a cursed game, where luck yed a prominent role. Luck determined the oue of the draws, luck influenced the heroes abilities, and luck even dictated the oue of battles. While I could provide basic guidance, battles unfolded with heroes valiantly fighting on their own. They knew when and how to unleash their skills, or at least, they were supposed to. Yet, there were countless inexplicable moments where heroes became utterly useless. As memories resurfaced, I could feel the strength coursing through the hand clutching my phone. But its all in the past. It was just a distant memory of a time when I knew nothing about Pick Me Up. Certain aspects were undoubtedly influenced by strategy and operational know-how. I had been a witness to it all. And I was a guy with incredibly bad luck. I had spun the wheel of fortune thousands of times, yet I had never seen a 5-star hero, not even once, which apparently appeared for anyone ranked below 100. Frankly, I didnt even have many 4-star heroesjust a handful. Seris stood alone as the exception. Even though the chances of obtaining a 5-star hero were supposedly a mere 0.1%, and 4-star heroes were less than 1%, it still felt incredibly unfair. However, if Pick Me Up had been a game determined solely by star ratings and blind luck, I would never have achieved my ranking. Skills could ovee luck. In fact, my ability to ovee fate through skill was one of the greatest factors that drew me deep into the world of Pick Me Up. Today was Friday. I nced at the status of the waiting room, issuing instructions to the heroes. I had umted so many heroes that controlling them individually had be nearly impossible. I then turned my attention to the announcements. Pick Me Up Surpasses 100 Million Downloads! Thanks to the overwhelming support from masters worldwide, Pick Me Up has surpassed a remarkable 100 million downloads! To celebrate this milestone, we areunching a special event. Please see the details below. I had exceeded the 100 million mark without even realizing it. Open, Advent Dungeon! Gems and gold were all well and good, but they were things I could easily acquire. At this stage of the games development, they flowed in abundance. Summoning tickets no longer excited me. Whats the point of pulling when you rarely get anything worthwhile? What I truly needed were heroes to awaken! This event offered a chance to obtain heroes with the coveted seven-star rating, the so-called dream-grade heroes! My heart raced as I delved into the event announcement. [1. From January 27th to February 5th, 20XX, we will distribute 100 gems daily. A total of 1,000 gems can be obtained! However, rewards will not be granted if you fail to log in.] [2. As a token of appreciation to all the masters who log in, we will provide one premium hero summoning ticket. These tickets guarantee summons starting from a minimum of 3-star heroes!] [3. The grand finale of the event! Prepare for the reopening of the challenging Advent Dungeon.] Ecstatic, I let out a cheer upon discovering the details of the third event. After a long hiatus, the formidable Advent Dungeon at its highest difficulty was finally making a return. I selected the Space-Time Rift option in the main waiting room, located at the bottom-left corner of the menu. The blue summoning portal expanded, revealing a list of dungeons. Climb the tower and save the world! [Main Dungeon: Current Floor 88] A grand festival of ever-changing dungeons! [Daily Dungeon: Isralta Mine (Advanced 5 hours)] Collect various rare materials! [Exploration Dungeon: Ongoing Expedition, Sacred City (Time Remaining: 17 hours and 35 seconds)] Prove your strength! [Advent Dungeon: Difficulty Supreme] There it was. Chapter 2: I Found You (2) Chapter 2: I Found You (2) Standing open before me: the Advent Dungeon at the Supreme difficulty level. A mix of joy, excitement, and tension coursed through me, making my heart race. The Celestial Scrolls. They were the essential ingredients for promoting a seven-star hero. I had already acquired the other materials long ago, leaving only the Celestial Scrolls. Obtaining them in the Special Advent Dungeon was an incredibly rare urrence, with fewer than five seven-star heroes in the entire world. It was an opportunity that could potentially challenge even the top-ranked yer. With anticipation, I opened the [Hero Box] and recruited new heroes to join a party. Among them were heroes who, although not crucial, still possessed useful abilities. However, managing them in the waiting room was a bit challenging. Their role was to serve as the vanguard. In Pick Me Up, when heroes died, they were gone for gooda hardcore system that left no room for mistakes. Some people criticized the game for such a brutal mechanic, but for me and other Pick Me Up true fans, it was part of the thrill. Pick Me Up provided a mobile gaming experience that felt remarkably close to reality. The constant suspense of not knowing when or where death would strike, the satisfaction of watching heroes execute their uniquebat moves controlled by internal artificial intelligence, the joy of seeing them grow, and the despair of losing themit was a game that captured the essence of an adventure. I assembled a temporary party for the Advent Dungeon, not knowing what boss awaited us. The boss could be of any level, with various forms and skills. The vanguards duty was to analyze the bosss patterns and bravely face the challenge. [Durudung!] [Advent Dungeon opens!] [Alert, Alert, Alert] The screen disyed a red message, signaling the arrival of formidable enemies. The field was engulfed in darknessa rarely seen dimensional space ording to the games setting. It was a mappletely shrouded in ck, a sight that even after clearing thousands of dungeons, I could count on one hand the number of times I had encountered. Without further ado, we immediately entered the boss battle, bypassing any progress stages. However, as soon as we entered, a message appeared on the right side of the screen, indicating changes in the heroes statuses. Diora () feels terror! All stats decrease by 30%. Nichs () feels terror! All stats decrease by 30%. Gent () feels terror! All stats decrease by 30%. Acelta () feels terror! All stats decrease by 30%. Melki () feels terror! All stats decrease by 30%. I couldnt help but wonder, Whats happening to these guys? The boss hadnt even made an appearance yet. To my surprise, Diora, the partys leader, and main tank, suggested a retreat. Diora (), the leader of the 38th Party, suggests a retreat. Will you ept? [Yes / No (Selection)] Without hesitation, I pressed No. Diora () falls into panic! All stats decrease by 50% Nichs Gent Whats going on? Even if its just a phrase thrown around, it seemed odd for heroes with five or six stars to panic. Panic was a state that new heroes often experienced in their initial battles. That could only mean one thing. The boss has an ability rted to fear. I quickly considered items and skills that could boost fear resistance. Perhaps I would need to create a secondary vanguard party for this battle. With an energetic sound effect, the boss finally appeared. The bosss name appeared at the top of the screen. [SSSH Lv.999] What is this? What kind of name is that? Is it a bug? To make matters even more absurd, the boss was entirely covered in mosaic, leaving only a vague outline visible. I couldnt discern any details. Diora () falls into despair! All stats decrease by 80% Nichs Gent I let out a disappointedugh. And what about his level? 999? It was clearly a system error. In the end, I always thought that I would end up seeing a bug in Pick Me Up sooner orter. Except for a few pranks, there hadnt been any reported bugs since its initial release two years ago. I pressed the camera button to take a picture, then waited for the vanguards final moments. I wanted to help them somehow, but once the battle began, there was no turning back. And the battle has already begun. I used a few potions, purchased with gems, to counter the status ailments, but the feeling of despair persisted. Diora stood her ground, raising her shield with a determined yet apprehensive expression, despite her stats being reduced by 80%. Nichs and Gent, the damage dealers, positioned themselves in the middle, while Acelta and Melki, the support heroes, took their ces at the rear. Their formation was textbook-perfect. Then, within the darkened and violet-tinted field of darkness, the boss began to move. It was a massacre. Diora fell without even a chance to resist. Despite having skills to prolong the battle, there was no trace of the Near Death status or any indication that she fought bravely until the end. The mosaic obscuring the boss made it impossible to discern its skill set. It advanced slowly, closing in on Diora, leaving nothing but her lifeless body behind. Diora () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. Her indomitable spirit will be forever remembered. Nichs Gent The words You Lose appeared in the center of the screen. In less than ten seconds, the party, including the level-maxed heroes, was annihted. Damn it. I knew death was a possibility. I had prepared for it. But was this the reward I got? Do you have any idea how much time it takes to cultivate a five-star hero? I cant even estimate the expenses without consulting an expert! Damn it, what a stroke of bad luck! And to top it all off, a bug had to ruin everything! Even if I went on a rant to customer support, they wouldnt restore anything. Once a hero is gone, no matter the circumstances, recovery is out of the question. Frustration filled me as I relentlessly tapped the unresponsive screen. Wait a minute, though Why isnt it transitioning? The screen refused to switch to the waiting room. The boss still stared at the center of the screen, and the You Lose message lingered. What on earth is this bug? I forcefully pressed the power button on the right side of my phone. This bug was beyond a simple customer supportintit called for a strongly worded phone call. I patiently waited for the phone to shut down, hoping for a clean restart. This is insane. It wouldnt turn off. The phone refused to shut down. The You Lose message remained stubbornly visible. And then the boss inside the screen seemed to be peering through the mosaic, its blurred mouth whispering something. I found you. Then, my consciousness faded away. Chapter 3: Tutorial (1) Chapter 3: Tutorial (1) I suddenly woke up. A throbbing pain surged through my head. It felt like a hangover, just like the morning after drinking. Hangover, is it? Where are the headache pills? I searched beside the bed. There should be some Tylenol that I often use. Two pills wont be enough to alleviate it, so I should take around four. However, I couldnt find anything. I opened my eyes. [Wee, Master!] To proceed, internal data is required. Would you like to download it? Wi-Fi usage is rmended. [Yes (selected) / No] [Downloading 001/537] It was a white room. Up, down, left, and right, everything was white. I was lying on the white floor. I raised myself up and looked around. The white space extended to the edge of my vision, beyond the horizon. Where am I? On the upper right of my field of view, a window with text appeared. [Downloading 004/537] [Tips/Pick Me Up is a hyper-roguelike summoning RPG. In fact, its closer to a simtion than an RPG.] I patted my seat and stood up. The blurred figures gradually became distinct. The space remainedpletely white. I was standing on top of that unidentified space. Whenever the holographic window blinked, the number on the right increased. [Downloading 009/537] [Tips/The waiting room where heroes gather is called a room.] As the loading progressed, something began to form in the white space. A dining table popped out of thin air as if by magic! Followed by chairs, a refrigerator, an oven, a carpet, and a sofa. A wall appeared from somewhere and blocked all directions. The ceiling was also sealed. The previously white floor was neatly finished with metallic tiles. The space gradually took on the shape of a room. [Downloading 015/537] I nkly stared at the scene and then tapped my cheeks with both hands. Calm down, lets stay calm for now. They say that even if youre trapped in a tigers den, you can survive if you keep a clear mind. I decided to retrace my steps. Why did I end up here? What did I do yesterday? Lets try to recall it slowly. Well, what did you do yesterday, Han Seojin? I got up, washed up, and had breakfast. As usual, I turned on theputer and uploaded a strategy video on YouTube. Next, I bought dinner at the convenience store and went home. Was there something that happened before I returned? Did I drink alcohol? No, its been a long time since I quit drinking. When I got home, I charged the battery The Advent Dungeon. A high-level Advent Dungeon opened as part of the 100 million downloads event. I sent a vanguard team, and they were spectacrly wiped out. Just as I was thinking about the next move I encountered a bug. It was an unheard-of bug. Graphics and text were all scrambled, and the boss level was something like 999. Considering that the level cap for heroes, excluding 7-stars, is 99, it was an absurd number. When I tried to return to the main screen after my party got wiped out, my phone froze. What did I do next? I pressed the power button on my phone, And my memory ended there. [Downloading 045/537] Did I doze off? Was I that tired? I raised my head in confusion. After a while of thinking, I concluded that this ce was a dream. It felt like I was dreaming while lying down on the sofa. Moreover, it wasnt just an ordinary dream, but a lucid dream where I realized that it was a dream. But Im not the type to dream frequently. I couldnt even remember when was thest time I had a dream. [Downloading 055/537] The interior of the white room began to take shape. The empty room was being furnished. However, all the furniture was made of metal and had a gray or pure white color. It wasnt my taste. Although it had a modern atmosphere, it didnt feel like a ce where people live. Is anyone here? I shouted out loud. There was no response. A Nightmare? Well, I thought nightmares were just a kind of dream that was filled with scary monsters or ghosts. I opened the door that had appeared out of nowhere and went outside the room. When I came out of the room, it was a za. It was asrge and spacious as a school yground, but it was an indoor za, not an outdoor one. At the end of the za, there was a tall wall. Instead of a ceiling, there was a hazy sky that rippled above. Is anyone here? If youre here, answer me! I shouted loudly. Once again, there was no response. What kind of ridiculous dream is this? It has a realistic touch of a dream. The cool air touching my skin, the sound of my shoes on the floor, vivid colors. I could feel all my senses clearly. Thats why I felt even more frustrated. On the stretched-out wall of the za, there was an iron gate. The gate was closed, and above it, there was a que that read The Rift of Time and Space. It wasnt just one gate. Simr gates were erected all over the walls. I slowly walked through the za, examining the ques embedded in each door. The Rift of Time and Space, Training Ground, Synthesis Lab, Armory I grabbed the doorknob of the armory and shook it, but it only rattled and didnt open. What kind of dream is this? I tried opening other doors, but the same result. In the end, I returned to the original room I was in. Although no more objects were appearing in the room, the text in the air kept updating. I opened the refrigerator. The refrigerator was filled with orange juice. I took out one bottle of juice from the bottompartment and poured it into a cup. [Downloading 362/537] [Tips/Afterpleting the tutorial, you will receive great rewards.] I leaned back deeply on the sofa. A soft feeling permeated my back. The orange juice that went down my throat was also refreshing. I pinched my cheek. Ouch- It hurt. Come to think of it, when I tapped both cheeks to try toe to my senses, it hurt quite, as if I was in reality. What is this?! What do you mean? This must be a dream ce. The orange juice I drink, thefort of the sofa, and the pain in my cheek are all dreams. When I thought about this, I suddenly heard a whisper in my mind. What if its not a dream? It was a surprisingly cold voice. I quickly dismissed that mocking voice from my mind. [Downloading 511/537] [Tips/Youll receive great rewards once youplete the tutorial.] Sigh- Maybe I should cut down on gaming. I looked at the window that appeared in my field of view. Chapter 3: Tutorial (2) Chapter 3: Tutorial (2) It wasnt a very familiar window. But I know what it was. This font. These tips. These numbers. It was the screen that appears when you first install Pick Me Up. Is this waking up from a dream after the download isplete? I feel disgusting. It was a dream I never wanted to dream again. End quickly. I dont want to be here for another moment. [Downloading 537/537: Complete!] A window appeared in the center of the room, and a video started ying. And where humans and different species coexist, Townia. An unknown enemy invades the continent, where peace and prosperity prevailed! Crude 2D graphics. A burning castle. Soldiers resembling paper dolls and monsters collide. In the end, the continent is torn apart by the power of darkness. But hope still remained. You, the Master! If you want to save the world, climb the tower! Numerous heroes will apany you. The video closed. I was staring with my mouth open. I am Iselle, the fairy who will assist the Master for a while. Master, please tell me your name first! [2 to 6 characters, no spaces or special characters.] Pick Me Up. [The name already exists.] Its not what I wrote. The keyboard entered characters on its own, and the letters were engraved. ImTheBest. [The name already exists.] ABCDEF. [The name already exists.] Anytng. (T/N: I think Rndm would be more appropriate since its shorten for Random, but I dont want to throw the Manhwa readers off with changing the name so I copied the Asurascans trantors name for the master.) [The name is avable. Would you like to use it?] [Yes (Selected) / No] [Wee, Amkena, to the world of Pick Me Up!] [Would you like to proceed with the tutorial? Completion will reward you with a certain reward.] [Yes (Selected) / No] It made the selection on its own as well. When the white cursor pressed Yes, my vision suddenly changed. Light wrapped around everything in front of me. There was no time to think. When I opened my eyes again, it was a burning vige. [It was the year 351 of the Imperial era when the forces of demons invaded the continent.] [In a small vige in the Heim region, there was a boy named Han Israt.] The acrid smoke irritated my nose. Cough, cough! I coughed while bending over. My throat felt burning as if it was on fire. Where is this ce again? mes were rising from all directions. The burning buildings were houses. Tightly constructed houses, fences, storage sheds, and trees burned fiercely together. People were escaping from there like rats fleeing a sinking ship. G-Goblins! Run away, donte! This way! We have to hurry! Looking at his scene, I let out a bitterugh. In my right hand, I held an old and worn-out iron sword. [Tutorial Quest 1: Defeat the goblins invading the vige!] [The battle will proceed automatically. Enjoy high-levelbat implemented by the heros internal AI!] Kek, keruk! Far away, monsters with green skin were rushing from below the hill. About 150 cm tall. Wearing helmets, they held crooked swords. Their backs were hunched, and their green skin looked hideous. [Goblin Lv.1] What are those monsters? The goblins were ughtering the people below the hill. They killed men and women indiscriminately with their swords, and with torches in their left hands, they set fire to the houses. It was hell. [Han() feels fear! All attributes decrease by 30%.] [Tips/Heroes sometimes experience fear.] Hero Han? What a ridiculous thing to see! I dont know where it is, but I have to run away. I climbed up the hill. If I go in the direction people are fleeing, something will work out. Thunk. After taking a few steps, my body stopped as if it had hit a wall. Why cant I go out? The people around me were passing by just fine. I reached out my hand into thin air. Strong resistance stuck to my fingertips. You damned thing! I tried to shoulder bash with all my strength. A sharp pain ran through my shoulder, and I tumbled to the ground. I quickly got up. Then Ill go sideways! Thunk. There was an invisible wall next to me. I pushed with all my might, but it didnt move an inch. In the end, I couldnt move at all. What the hell are you guys? I shouted to the refugees passing by. Where is this? Can you hear me? Answer me! The people ran away as if they couldnt hear me or didnt hear me. I tried to grab the shoulder of a man jumping over the fence, but the invisible wall blocked my hand again. The goblins were approaching from below the hill. [Han() is in panic! All attributes decrease by 50%.] [Master, please use the fear prevention potion on the hero in crisis! The fear prevention potion can be purchased for 50 gems from the stop, but the first time is provided for free.] [Would you like to use it?] [Yes (Selected) / No] Suddenly, a purple bottle appeared in front of me. The bottle cap popped open and stuck to my face. Ah-choo! I sat down, putting my hand on the ground. A bitter and pungent liquid flowed into my throat. Cough, cough! It felt like I had inhaled chili powder through my nose. If youre going to make me drink it, at least make it taste good! At the same time, a cold feeling spread through my back. The trembling vision became clear. It felt like cold water had been poured on my overheated head. The first thing that came out of my mouth was, Sh*t It was a curse. Chapter 4: Tutorial 2 (1) Chapter 4: Tutorial 2 (1) I staggered to my feet. Theres no way back. Theres no way sideways. The only path is forward. So, does that mean I have to fight that monster? [Han() has escaped panic!] Here it goes! Ill Fight. And regardless of whether this is a dream or not, Ill shatter the face of the person who sent me here. I took a deep breath, in fact, several deep breaths. But even so, my heart didnt calm down, so I bit my tongue hard. The taste of sharp, metallic blood filled my mouth. Assess the situation. Figure it out. Where am I? What should I do? I can think about the reasonster. I can take my time to look around after waking up from this dream. If thats really the case. I surveyed my surroundings. Burning houses. Deste cottages. Vigers fleeing. Goblins chasing after them. I had seen this scene somewhere before. It wasnt just a mere glimpse. I could vividly recall it even now. Pick Me Up. This ce was the prologue stage of Pick Me Up. The burning vige field. It was much more realistic and detailed, but it was just a background. It was like the backdrop of a y. I couldnt interact with the others, and they couldnt interact with me. But why am I here? No. I pushed away the lingering negative thoughts. You can vent your angerter. I twirled the iron sword in my right hand once. My right shoulder became stiff from the weight. Theres only one enemy. Although there were hundreds of goblins in the vige background, there was only one goblin in the field. The rest could be treated as nonexistent. Under the hill, a goblin with a rusty helmet blinked its eyes. Blood dripped from the de. Keuk! I remember looking at this scene and saying If youre going to make it, at least make it decent. The graphics werent that good. Pick Me Up is a mobile game. It definitely does not have this kind of graphics. Fangs at the corner of the mouth, red eyes, lumpy bumps on the skin. Sttered blood. Why is it so realistic? [Han() feels fear! All ability scores reduced by 30%.] [Tips: Heroes with low fear resistance often experience fear. Be careful.] Even if you have a bold personality, you cant help but feel scared when youre suddenly thrown into a ce like this, handed a sword, and told to fight monsters. At least lend me an AK-47 or give me a gun to shoot! Just standing here makes my legs tremble. The surroundings darkened, and my breath rose to my throat. Hot breath escaped from my mouth. Will it hurt if I get hit by that sword? If I die here, will I die in reality too? Or will I wake up from this dream? Damn it. I had no intention of finding out. It would be too painful. I spat out saliva mixed with blood. The goblins physique was smaller than mine. At best, it was the size of a middle school student. Its limbs were thin and frail. In terms of muscles, it probably wasnt that strong. Whether its an elementary or middle school student, one stab with a sword would be enough. Moreover, I was on a steep hill, and the goblin was below. The terrain favored my side! You bastard! I sprinted up the hill, kicking off the ground. The goblin at the forefront was kicked in the chest and tumbled down. As the goblin rolled, it swung its sword. Dont tense up. Dont blink. Dont close your eyes. Watch it to the end! If you dont look at it, youll die! As I took a step back, the de brushed past my nose. A cold lump of ice settled in my chest. If I had been a little slower You piece of crap! I threw the iron sword. The hilt hit the goblins helmet, making a nging sound. The goblin staggered. I leaped onto it and attacked. The goblin and I fell together. Die, you bastard! I took the mount position andnded a punch on the goblins face. With both knees pinning its shoulders, I scraped its nose with my fist. There was a thud, and the goblins nose sank. Blood sttered. It feels like my head is on fire. Riding on the goblin, I punched wildly like a madman. I even forgot about the sword. I put all my strength into each punch. I punched until my fists were about to break. For a few minutes like that. Haah, haah. I rolled away from the goblin and copsed onto the ground. The goblin, covered in blood, twitched slightly and then stopped moving. [Stage cleared!] [Han() leveled up!] [A reward will be given. Please check your mailbox.] Once again, my vision abruptly shifted. When I opened my eyes, I was in a white room. Fatigue hadpletely disappeared. There were no visible wounds on my body. I stood up unsteadily. Instead of fatigue, a sense of emptiness overwhelmed me. [Master, should we summon apanion before proceeding to the next stage? Please touch the Summon tab in the menu! Special service for beginners! Well give you 500 gems for one advanced summon.] [Takcak, Durururu.] [Twakakang!] [Iselle: Wait, this feeling?!] [!!Super!!Rare!!] [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Shay()!] What is this message again? Could it be? I opened the door and stepped into the za. Among the tightly closed iron gates, the door to the Summoning Station was open. No way. Summoning? [Master, youre lucky! Check the hero you summoned. Please touch the Heroes tab in the menu.] Trembling, I entered the summoning station. In the center of the spacious room, a ck magic circle was engraved. Standing on it was a female knight. After a while, part of my field of view sparkled, and Shays status window appeared. [Shay Radasterry() Lv. 1(Exp 0/10)] [ss: Knight] [Strength: 18/18] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Stamina: 16/16] [Agility: 20/20] [Skills: Tactical Combat(Lv.1), Intermediate Swordsmanship(Lv.1), Knights Resolve(Lv.1)] The knight was wearing a dazzling suit of armor that could be seen in movies, with her eyes closed. The silver rapier hanging at her waist gleamed. Shay opened her eyes. So, Ive been summoned. She murmured in a low voice and walked steadily off the magic circle. She nced at me, who was standing still. And you? Ha, Han Seojin. Han Seojin? Thats a strange name. Im Shay Radasterry. A knight. Shay replied nonchntly and left the summoning station. Nows not the time. I scratched my head and followed Shay. She was looking around the vicinity in the center of the za. Hmm, so this is the ce. I understand. She nodded as if she understood something. Chapter 4: Tutorial 2 (2) Chapter 4: Tutorial 2 (2) The armor made a clinking sound every time she took a step. She didnt show the slightest bit of interest in me. [Would you like to form a party with the summoned heroes? Drag and drop the heroes from the [Hero Box] to the party formation slots and create your own party, Master!] [Han() and Shay() have formed a party!] My head spins. Its filled with iprehensible events, but there are a few clear points. This window that keeps popping up in front of me is the message output by Iselle, the fairy who guides the tutorial in Pick Me Up. Although it happened a long time ago, I remember that much. Also, the one controlling the current waiting room is not me. The hologram cursor moves on its own and selects the menus. And just now, the battle I had with the goblin was the first battle that introduces the tutorial in Pick Me Up. Each floor of the tower is a random stage, but there is one fixed stage, the tutorial. The burning vige and goblins always appear in the tutorial. Then, this ce is Damn it. The worst possibility. [If you have formed a party, lets go into battle!] [Second mission, start!] Once again, my field of view abruptly changed. When I opened my eyes, a familiar scene reflected on my retina. Burning vige. People fleeing. Hordes of goblins rushing from below the hill. When I reached back with my hand, I touched an invisible barrier. I couldnt get out either. It was the same as the first time. The only difference is, You worms Shay drew her sword from her hip. The pointed end of the de gleamed brightly. There wasnt just one goblin. Keuk, Kekerekerek! Below the hill, five goblins were approaching. Their blood-red eyes focused on me and Shay alternately. In my hand was a blunt and worn-out iron sword. Furthermore, unlike Shay, who was dressed in a leather-reinforced te mail, I was wearing a shabby shirt and pants. Why does she have te mail and a saber while I have this rusty old iron sword! Youre a beginner. Your stance is all wrong. Its my first time! Theres nothing I can do. Shay stood differently from me, slightly turning her left hand behind her hip and aiming the sword she held in her right hand at the goblins. Her slightly bent lower body was filled with powerful sticity. Even for a beginner like me, her posture looked clean. The goblins spread out and approached in a scattered formation. As soon as they were within range, they swung their swords forcefully. If there were just one, I might somehow manage with the previous method, but with five What should I do? I couldnt think of a suitable n. Kyao! One of the leading goblins rushed forward. Though hunchbacked, its muscr arms twitched. The bloodied de swung. Shay swiftly leaped forward like lightning, evading the de and thrusting her sword into the goblins neck. Immediately, blood gushed out from the gaping hole. The smell of blood that reached my nose made me dizzy. Kyarrrk! Weak! Shay dodged the goblins sword and pierced its neck with her sword, she took them one at a time. Limbs and torso were not even targeted. She precisely thrust her de into a narrow gap less than 5cm in diameter. Her skill was astonishingly fearsome. Wait, is it okay to be so engrossed? Suddenly, three goblins fell to the ground. All I did here was watch. Once this battle ends Damn it! I rushed forward, wielding my sword. Shay, who had dispatched the fourth goblin, stepped back. Ill leave one to you. Leave it to me, you say! After this fight, the final stage of the tutorial awaits. Do you know whats in the final stage, its hero synthesis. Its the process of consuming heroes to increase the experience of another hero. And now, only Shay and I are in the waiting room. Just thinking about it makes me feel suffocated. The muscles all over my body seemed to scream. The results that would ur right after the battle was more terrifying than the goblins sword swinging toward my face right now. Is this a dream? Where is this realistic dreaming from? As I bent over, a few severed strands of hair fluttered. I plunged into the goblins embrace and thrust my sword deeply. I could feel the dull sensation of prating flesh. The stench stimted my nose. The heat around me made the spots under my skin boil. The palpitation of organs throbbing beyond the tip of the sword, the faint realization of having taken a life, was dimly felt. [Stage cleared!] [Shay () leveled up!] [Rewards have been granted. Please check your mailbox.] [MVP Shay ()] After that, we returned to the za. Master, your heroes did an excellent job in the battle. The final tutorial awaits. The method of strengthening heroes, Synthesis! The door will open! Touch the Synthesis tab in the menu. Creak. The door to the synthesis chamber opened. Its over. Lets think calmly. Except for the fact that the graphics are photorealistic, this ce is the same as the early structure of the waiting room in Pick Me Up. Regardless of how it happened, I woke up in a ce like this. The game was installed, and I started the tutorial. Hey, you! A voice that seemed to pierce my brain resounded. I looked up. One girl, about the size of my forearm, was flying through the air. Behind the girl in a ck dress, two pairs of wings fluttered like a butterfly. Hurry up ande in! Master is waiting! The girl gestured at me. I had seen this appearance before. A girl with ck hair parted on both sides. Round facial features and plump, unblemished cheeks. I had seen this look somewhere. Iselle? Yes, Im Iselle No, wait, how do you know my name? Of course. Because I did this tutorial. Anyway, go to the synthesis chamber! Theres a limit to waiting. What will happen if I go? Youll perform synthesis. Shay must have entered the synthesis chamber first since I couldnt see her anywhere. I stood alone in the za. So I shouted Im not going, damn it! Chapter 5: Tutorial 3 (1) Chapter 5: Tutorial 3 (1) [Oh, youre not going?!] Why would I go? I would die. Its not death. Its synthesis! Its the same b*ch! Iselles adorable eyes wrinkled. Each time the wings on her back fluttered, sparkling dust scattered. She pondered for a moment, then pped her hands as if remembering something. If we synthesize, you can return to the original world! Lets see, Han Israt, where you used to live A register appeared next to Iselle. Iselle rummaged through it and stopped at a certain ce. To Townia, where you used to live! Townia? Townias Heim Penins! Your hometown! It was an unfamiliar ce to me. I was taken aback and retorted, My hometown is Gangseo-gu in Seoul. Seoul? Gangseo-gu? Such names The expression on Iselles face, as she alternated between the register and me, stiffened. Well, well? Wait? Who are you? Why dont you look like your picture? Han Israt doesnt look like this. Han Israt, who is that, and where is Townia? Im Han Seojin, born in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. I dont know who you are, but lets just send me back home while Im still asking nicely, shall we? Wait, youcame from Earth? I came from Earth. You thought I came from Mars? Cold sweat formed on Iselles forehead. Iselle began to search through the register. There were no visible movements, but her pupils rapidly rolled up and down. How can a being from a higher dimension? Iselle muttered with a puzzled voice and pointed to the window at the top of the room. Can you see this too? [Now Loading] I can see it. Augh, ah! How am I supposed to handle this?! Im going crazy! Im going crazy! Iselle shook her head as if headbanging. Her ck hair, braided left and right, spun like a windmill. [Anyway, just go in! Go in!] I dont want to! Why should I? You go in [Go in!] Iselle grabbed me by my wrist and threw me forward. As if floating, I felt my body rise and flew into the synthesis chamber. Thunk. The door to the synthesis chamber mmed shut. I immediately got up and pounded on the door. I kicked it and even tried to use my full strength. However, the locked door didnt budge. Hey, you! Let me out, you brat! I wont stay still! I will fight you Tough that little fairy had quite the strength! I wont have a chance. Quiet down, youre being noisy. Shay, leaning against the wall, said. On the floor where I stood, there was aplex and strange magic circle that epassed the entire room. A thought suddenly came to my mind, and I asked, You, youwhere are you from? Me? Im from Arantia. Arantia? Which region is that? The USA? Canada? USA? Canada? What are you talking about? If youre also a citizen of the Empire, dont you know the Asinis, one of the Four Great Families? What nonsense is this? It would be easier tomunicate with a foreigner than with this person. Wait, what was I just saying right now? I pressed my lips together. The words that came out just now, those werent Korean. They werent English or Japanese either. It was an unknownnguage. Can such a thing even happen? Half in disbelief, I pulled out the decisive question. Once again, an unknownnguage escaped my lips. It felt as if the words I wanted to say were being filtered out by my brain. Did youe from Townia, by any chance? Yes, I did. Not Earth? I dont know about a ce like that. So, this mage came from Arantia, which is part of Townia. Everything went pitch ck. Even my wildest dreams couldntpare to this. And above all, the finale of the nightmare awaited. [Master, synthesis is starting.] Drag and drop the hero you want to synthesize onto the hero you want to offer as a sacrifice. You can gain experience points. The sacrificed hero will disappear. [Tips: Registering heroes as favorites can prevent synthesis mistakes.] I can return to the original world, huh? I recalled how the fairy hesitated for a long time when I refused to go to the synthesis chamber. It was all a lie. Pick Me Up, the final gateway that decorates the end of the tutorial. Named Hero Synthesis. Users can experience a tremendous power-up by sacrificing heroes here. I experienced it myself. The problem is, Im a 1-star hero, and this girl is a 4-star hero. Stats! What are you saying? Shay wondered. Status window! I half-shouted those words in frustration. A small window appeared before me. [Han Israt () Lv. 2 (Exp 7/20)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 11/11] [Intelligence: 11/11] [Health: 11/11] [Agility: 11/11] [Skills: None] The fairy called me Han Israt. So, these stats must reflect my current situation. I looked at Shay, who was staring at me with curious eyes. This time, I whispered, barely audible, Status window. [Shay Radasterry () Lv. 2 (Exp 3/20)] [ss: Knight] [Strength: 19/19] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Health: 18/18] [Agility: 22/22] [Skills: Tactical Logic (Lv.1), Intermediate Swordsmanship (Lv.1), Knights Mindset (Lv.1)] We were both at Level 2, but the difference in stats was like night and day. Moreover, Shay had three prerequisite skills. Among them, the most noticeable one was Tactical Logic. It was an extraordinary passive skill rated as an S-grade among hundreds of skills. Intermediate Swordsmanship provided an attack bonus with swords, and Knights Mindset was a supportive skill that resisted mental maniption. Meanwhile, I had none. Shay. I spoke with a trembling voice. What? Is this a dream? Its a dream, but its a dream you cant wake up from. Shay smiled softly. [Do you really want to proceed with the synthesis?] [Yes (Selected) / No] A bright light radiated from the magic circle engraved on the floor of the summoning chamber. A peculiar sensation engulfed my entire body as if being submerged in water. So, this is how it ends. If this is truly the world of Pick Me Up, and if the Master is controlling this game, I would disappear here as a sacrifice to Shay. All for a few experience points. I might not have made a significant impact during the battle. But judging from the goblin kill count alone, Shay had four, while I had barely one. Who would synthesize a 1-star hero with a 4-star hero? The light grew stronger, and I closed my eyes. Hoping that when I opened them, I would be in my living room. Synthesisplete! Shay () has turned into light and disappeared. Huh? I slowly opened my eyes. Shay, on the other side of the magic circle, was being engulfed by light and disappearing. Shay smiled bitterly. This is where it ends. Why are you vanishing? I wasnt chosen. Thats all. But, wait, is this even possible? Youre 4-star, and Im 1-star! I pray for you, Han. Chapter 5: Tutorial 3 (2) Chapter 5: Tutorial 3 (2) Shay transformed into particles of light and scattered away. Clunk. The door leading to the za opened. [This is how heroes be stronger through synthesis.] [Master, believe in your bond with the hero. The future of the world is in the Masters hands!] [The tutorial has ended.] [Tips from Iselle will always help you. Dont miss out on the valuable information to be a powerful Master!] [For more detailed strategies, please check the official forum.] [You will receive rewards. Please always check your mailbox.] [Wee to the world of Pick Me Up!] [Bapabam!] With a loud sound effect, the holographic window disappeared. Standing in the za for a while, I shouted loudly. Iselle, are you there? Answer me! Why are you calling me? Its so annoying! Iselle appeared in the empty space. She folded her wings andnded on the ground, waving her arms up and down in rage. What an idiot! Synthesizing a 4-star with a 1-star? Are you brainless? I told you to use favorites! Tips, I told you about the tips! Read the tips! Arghhh, Im going crazy, Im going crazy! So, thats what happened. The reason I survived was simple. The method of hero synthesis involved dragging and dropping the hero to be sacrificed. He inadvertently touched and epted the sacrifice without realizing it. A bitterugh escaped me. I survived with just a stroke of luck. On the other hand, Shay died due to a simple control mistake. [Master, would you like to log out?] [Yes (Selected) / No] [Goodbye then!] A message announcing the games end appeared. Iselle, who had been fidgeting, wiped away a tear from her eye. Damn it, it finally started and it ends like this Tell me about the situation. Im curious and about to go crazy. Where is this ce? How did I get here, and how do I go back? Hmph, why should I? Iselle stomped the ground and then stuck out her tongue. Her figure gradually became blurry. If you want to know, climb the tower. The answers are there. Goodbye then! Hey, wait! I waved my hand where Iselle had been, but nothing was caught. She had escaped. I was left alone in the za. Both the cheeky fairy and the knight had disappeared. Both of them knew things I didnt. If I had known that, I should have asked Shay. Leaving the empty za behind, I returned to the room. The room still resembled a luxurious residence. When I opened the closet on the dressing table, there were instant noodles inside. With a gloomy feeling, I took out a pot and boiled water. Electricity, water, and gas were all functioning. While the water was boiling, I searched for an exit but couldnt find one. The building itself was an enigma, with no clue about its origins. I gulped down the noodles. The ramen, eaten after a long time, tasted incredibly delicious. Without even cleaning up, I crawled into bed. Only then did I fully realize what had just happened up until this moment. Screech. The goblins cry that sounded like boiling phlegm. Their sinister. The Burning houses and the fleeing people. The sound of a sword slicing through the air as it approached me. The sensation of life being extinguished at my fingertips. I wasnt chosen. Thats all. Shays bitter voice echoed in my mind. You werent the one who wasnt chosen. You were just unlucky. In the first ce, it should have been me, the ordinary hero who was supposed to disappear. I remembered Shay, enveloped in light, vanishing. It doesnt make sense. I had entered the world of the game. Could such a thing really happen? If everything turned out to be a dream when I woke up, it would beughable. There was even a part of me that wanted to apud the ridiculous dream of me entering the game world. That I could have such a realistic dream. But if it wasnt a dream. If everything remained the same when I woke up. If this mineral-like room and the empty za outside still existed. What If I had really entered the game world as a hero, not as the Master I flipped the nket over and thought. Who I was in Pick Me Up. Rank 5 out of 100 million Masters worldwide. There was no user who knew more about this game than me. I knew almost all the crafting recipes for skills and items, efficient strategies and tactics, hero development methods, and hidden elements. People referred to me as the Master of Masters. Thats who I was. If, when I woke up, everything remained the same. If that happens. I couldnt help but remember the moment just before I crossed over to this world. A level 999 bug monster with an unknown identity. Without a doubt, it was mocking me. It was him. He was the one who had brought me here. I clenched my teeth. You messed with the wrong person. Chapter 6: Free 10 Draws (1) Chapter 6: Free 10 Draws (1) When I woke up the next day, everything was the same. Phew I let out a sigh deep from within my chest. It had been quite a while since I quit smoking, but it was the first time I had such a strong desire to light up a cigarette since that time when my party on the 80th floor was wiped out, where I blew away all my money. epted it. No more childish antics. This ce was the world of Pick Me Up, and I was summoned as a 1-star hero by birth. And I had pathetic statspared to Shay. A Novice ss with no basics whatsoever. I didnt even have any skills. That was my current state. I washed my face in the bathroom and cooked instant ramen. The pot from yesterday was still there. I did the dishes while the water was boiling. As I scrubbed the pot with a soapy sponge, I pondered. What kind of game is Pick Me Up? If someone were to be summoned as a hero in Pick Me Up with the game rules applied, how could they survive? There are two ways for heroes to disappear. Dying in battle or vanishing through synthesis. And I was a 1-star. What did it mean to be a 1-star hero in Pick Me Up? To most masters, a 1-star is expendable. And not just any expendable, but the lowest of the low. They have poor basic stats, and their growth rate is extremely low. On top of that, they get debuffed easily and theirbat power decreases. The same situation applies in other mobile games. Characters obtained from free draws are treated the same way. I swallowed hard. Suddenly, I found a piece of paper and a pen in my hand. It was something I found in the drawer next to the bed. I didnt know why such things were in the room, but if I could use them, I would use them to the fullest. Objective. I scribbled the word on the paper. For now, this is my objective. Theres no need for a fancy objective. Just survive in this world. And I have to set specific goals. If something like this happened in another mobile game, I would have given up. The growth rate of the characters is predetermined, and their skills are fixed. No matter how hard I tried, I wouldnt be able to break free from my fate. But Pick Me Up is different. Depending on the nurturing method and the heros personal abilities, even a 1-star by birth can be a hero that surpasses a 5-star. Its because of the unique potential assigned to each hero. In addition to the visible status window, there are other abilities that exist. They are not disyed as numerical values and must be grasped by the master while observing battles. Even if they start with the same star and abilities,pletely different heroes are born. Therefore, to be a master of Pick Me Up, you needed a discerning eye to choose the promising saplings. The pen continued to write. Goal. Be stronger. I have to be stronger. Survival, revenge, and returning are all impossible if I dont be strong. Its not just physical strength. I have to change mentally as well. I cant survive with the same indifferent mindset I had on Earth. I dont know how things will unfold from here on. If I continue to be surprised and act haphazardly like yesterday, will I be able to survive? No. If I cant adapt, Ill die. If I cant change, Ill be devoured. I have experienced such situations before. I may be just an ordinary young man like anyone elses, but it was different in the past. During my childhood, I remembered the annoyed gaze of the orphanage director when he looked at me. At that time, I had nothing. No parents, rtives, or friends. Everyone was an enemy, and I was alone. I climbed up from the bottom. I treated life like a battle just to live the same life as others. Its okay. Im used to irrationality. The important thing is to calmly assess the situation and ept it. The absurd fact that I have fallen into the world of the game I used to enjoy. In this situation, I cant trust anyone. The only one I can trust is myself. After eating the ramen, I headed to the square. The square was still empty. Iselle, are you there? I shouted. After a while, a small fairy appeared in the air. [Ah, why are you calling me again! Im busy, you know!] She said whileining, but she still showed up. [No matter how much you ask, I wont tell you anything. If youre curious, climb the tower. The answers are there at the top. Well, of course, a trashy 1-star like you wont make it to the top. Kyahaha!] Iselleughed, clutching her stomach. I didnt get angry. After Ive finally cleared my mind today, Ive noticed this little ones level. [Iselle Lv.257] At level 257, shes at the level of ate-game boss on the 80th floor. I have a question. [I wont tell you.] Is this status window only visible to me? [Status window?] Iselle fluttered her wings and circled around in the air. The level 257 floating above your head. [Ha, you can see it too? Its not even a public information. Annoying, so annoying.] Her reaction confirms it. The games messages are visible only to me. [Maybe because our worlds got mixed up? Anyway, that person did something really annoying Mom! What am I saying! I shouldnt say this!] Iselle looked around and then quickly fled. Our worlds got mixed up? It doesnt matter. Equipment window! [Han Israt ()] [Main Weapon: None] [Sub Weapon: None] [Armor: None] [essory: None] As expected. The iron sword I used in the tutorial was a supply item automatically given to heroes without weapons. Shay, being a 4-star, had a basic weapon and armor. Good. I clenched my fist. Even though Im a 1-star, I obtained a special ability that others dont have. I can observe my own status from the perspective of the master. It will be a great help in the path ahead. I wont be defeated. Absolutely. I made up my mind once again. But What if the master stops loging in like this? . Yesterdays incident was no ordinary mistake. He synthesized a 4-star with a 1-star. The probability of getting a 4-star from a paid summon is about 1%. That poor bastard threw it away with one control mistake, whiches once in a hundred tries. Since Pick Me Up is linked to the phone, restarting was impossible. Dont dwell on negative thoughts. I can think about that when the timees. Theres no need to waste mental strength on an unexpected event. I immediately locked myself in the room and started scribbling on paper. There were notebooks and pens overflowing in the drawer. If I thought I needed something, it would appear even if it wasnt there before. What Im creating is a strategy guide. I write down and organize all the information about Pick Me Up that I remember, so I wont forget even as time passes. Chapter 6: Free 10 Draws (2) Chapter 6: Free 10 Draws (2) A week passed like that. Master Anytng, wee to Pick Me Up! A cheerful sound apanied the hologram window that appeared. I jumped up from my chair. Loading isplete. [T O U C H ! (Select)] [1. 100 Gems per day for 10 days! A total of 1,000 Gems for you.] [2. Special items avable only for new masters! You can purchase the New Package. For only 65,000 won, youll get 5,000 Gems and 300,000 Gold!] Notices and ongoing events were listed one after another. I knew most of the events by heart, but there were some that I didnt remember. The notices were quickly skipped. During the tutorial, I was too busy to read them, but now its different. I need to know what kind of yer the master is to develop a survival strategy. Whether they are a free-to-y user or a paying user. Whether they are a casual yer or a hardcore yer. I focused on the system messages. Master, please check your tutorial rewards! [Obtained 500 Gems, 200,000 Gold!] With 500 Gems, he can get one paid draw, and with 200,000 Gold, 20 free draws. [Popup! Would you like to purchase the New Package for 65,000 won?] [Yes / No (Select)] Not buying it, huh. At least for now, he might be a free-to-y user. he might still be considering the budget. It would have been great if I could see the actual game screen, not just the system messages, but unfortunately, that feature wasnt provided. Now, what is going to do? In the current situation, Im the only hero. In that case, the masters task in this situation is undoubtedly [Hero Summon!] [Summon heroes with Gold or Gems. Try summoning the infinite heroes summoned by the Mobius Sermon!] Infinite heroes, my ass. If my hypothesis is correct, the Mobius Sermon and the unique artificial intelligence of the heroes are all fake. I could only realize that after actually falling into the game. [Advanced Summon] [Perform an advanced hero summon.] [1 Summon 500 Gems] [10 Summons 5,000 Gems] [Regr Summon] [Perform a hero summon.] [1 Summon 10,000 Gold] [10 Summons 100,000 Gold] As expected, Anytng touched the summoning altar. It was only natural. Unless youre a lunatic, you cant progress through stages with just one 1-star hero. The top is the Paid Summon using Gems, and the bottom is the Free Summon using Gold. Antng chose the Free Summon. [Master, started a 10-consecutive summon. Im excited to see what heroes will appear!] Takcak, Doorooloroo. There we go! [Common!] [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Lyle()!] [Common!] [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Grete()!] [Umon!] [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Molmont()!] [Common!] [Master Anytng] A total of ten messages appeared. The summoning was over. I started counting numbers slowly in my mind. From one to a hundred. While counting the numbers, I calmed my mind. No matter what happens outside, I wont get excited. I wont panic. After finishing counting, I went to the square. The summoning altar was open, and ten people, men and women, were gathered near the entrance of the summoning altar. They huddled together in a corner of the square, looking bewildered. Where is this? Is this a dream? Oh, we were just during harvest season! Did we get dragged here by a magician? Are we going to turn into experimental tools? Stop talking nonsense! Although they differed in age, gender, and appearance, they had a few things inmon. First, they had the same race. Probably of Caucasian descent. Second, they spoke the samenguage. It wasnt Japanese or Chinese. It wasnt Spanish or French either. It was anguage simr to English but with a different feel, and I could understand its content. I might even be able to speak it. Andstly, the third thing, They were all humans. Well, its fate that weve met like this. Lets introduce ourselves first. A middle-aged man with a well-groomed beard stepped forward. He was wearing a leather tunic and worn-out pants. He gestured to me, who was standing a little far away. Come over here too. I walked through the crowd. A redhead girl with long hair pointed at the summoning altars door and shouted. This brother, he came from the other door, not from that door! Hes different from us! He might know something. Is that true? Yes, I saw it. Shes mischievous. I said, Im the same as you. I came from that door. The people immediately started whispering among themselves. Chapter 7: Free 10 Draws 2 (1) Chapter 7: Free 10 Draws 2 (1) The middle-aged man stepped forward as if trying to calm the surroundings. For starters, one thing is certain: none of us, including you, know anything about this ce. By sharing what we each know, we might obtain valuable information. Shall we start with introductions? Does anyone have a different opinion? The people remained silent. The man smiled satisfactorily and began speaking. Let me introduce myself first. Im Lyle, thirty-four years old. I run a carpentry shop in Edora. I have a wife and two daughters. As for why Im here Im sorry, but I dont remember. Next, will you introduce yourself? Im Grete. Im thirty-two. I used to be a street vendor in Halsea. I dont know why I came here either. People started introducing themselves, going clockwise around the circle. Their ages and upations varied. Merchants, loggers, carpenters, cksmiths, coachmen, hunters, butchers They introduced themselves as practitioners of long-lost professions. They were dressed in rough clothing made of leather and fabric, and they spoke names and terms I had never heard before. Iselle had mentioned that I was from Taonia. I didnt know the reason, but the clothes I was wearing when I arrived here werent sweatpants but simr to theirs. Unlike Shay, they seemedpletely unaware of the current situation. Anyway, my expectations were correct. These people are not from Earth. They seemed to be natives of the continent Iselle called Townia. There are humans there too, but their civilization seems to be much more backwardpared to Earth. Among the eleven of us, I was the only one from Earth. The introductions of the people gathered in the square were over. Through their introductions, all we could gather was the fact that they knew nothing. Lyle asked multiple times if anyone remembered how they came here, but no one, including himself, had any knowledge. This is embarrassing Lyle stroked his beard and wore a troubled expression. But as if saying, When did that ever happen, he pped his hands together and revived the atmosphere among the people. Shall we start by looking around this ce? It could be dangerous to wander alone, so lets pair up into groups of four, three, and three What are you saying, old man! As expected, she appeared. Iselle sprinkled stardust as she circled above us. Since the Master seems to be opening a rift in space-time, get ready for a fight or something! You, you? Im Iselle, the fairy who manages this ce! Dontin if you dont want to get hurt. Suddenly a man stepped forward. I squinted my eyes. His name was Molmont. Hes the only one among us with two stars. He used to be a mercenary, he said. He wore a worn leather armor and had a proper sword at his waist. Status. I muttered while looking at Molmont. [Molmont Karl () Lv. 1 (Exp 0/10)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 14/14] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Stamina: 12/12] [Dexterity: 12/12] [Skills: Novice Swordsmanship (Lv.1)] His initial stats werent bad. His intelligence, which is useless for anyone except a mage, was 10. Compared to the 1-star characters who start with all stats at 10, he was much better. Molmont stepped forward and spoke. Are you the one who brought us here? Who do you think you are, doing whatever you want! Swish. The sharp sound of metal scraping made everyone hold their breath. Molmont drew his sword and aimed it at Iselle. [Dont do it, you will regret it.] Ill wipe you out! Molmont let out a battle cry as he thrust his sword. It was a thrust filled with considerable momentum. Iselle suddenly smirked, and his head suddenly exploded. [Molmont () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will be remembered forever.] Instant death! [Sign Suicide due to stress] [Tips: Heroes can be tired, fall into depression, or panic. Reduce their stress levels! Provide resting ces and toys for your heroes. It can prevent unexpected deaths.] Thud. Molmonts headless body copsed. Kyaaaah! What, what the hell! Hes dead? Hes dead! What is this! [If you dont want to die, dontin, okay? If you touch me, youll be minced meat. Its self-defense. Got it?] Iselle flicked her right hand, and droplets of blood scattered. With those fern-like hands, she smashed the head of an adult man in an instant. Suicide due to stress? Does that look like suicide to you! Ugh, ugh, ugh! Some people with weak stomachs vomited and copsed. I felt nauseous too. There was a human corpse right in front of me. I couldnt help but grit my teeth. I desperately tried to regain my crumbling sanity. [Form a party.] [Drag and drop your heroes!] [Lyle () has joined Party 1!] [Ranto () has joined Party 1!] [Marlin () has joined Party 1!] [Kelkeld () has joined Party 1!] [Jackson () has joined Party 1!] [Its started.] [Open, rift of space-time!] The door at the front of the square creaked open. W-Whats happening? What is this! Calm down! Calm down! First, calm down, Miss. Fairy! So, why did you call us? If you want something, just tell us! Lyle stuttered as he asked Iselle. Iselle covered her ears with her index fingers and spoke. [What do I want? Listen to me, fight well, win well. Thats it. Easy, right?] W-Well, what should we do then? [Step forward if your name is called. Lyle, Ranto, Marlin, Kelkeld, Jackson!] What if we dont want to? [If you want to be like that guy, donte out.] Iselle pointed at the headless corpse. The five of them reluctantly managed to step forward. [Now, stand in order. See that door over there? Go inside.] Wait a minute! I spoke up. [You again! What now!] Of course, you want to climb the tower too, dont you? Iselles expression crumpled. It looked like she was about to burst intoughter. If not, there would have been no need for her to get angry when the master lost Shay. She might have even scoffed. [So what if I do?] As the Master to draw weapons too. Were all 1-star heroes. We dont even have basic weapons. You dont n on sending a suicide squad, do you? [Well Fine, wait a minute!] Iselle disappeared with a poof. [Master, the heroes dont have equipment.] [Before embarking on the adventure, would you like to summon equipment for smoother battles?] [Tips: Heroes without weapons enter battles wielding worn iron swords (F). If you ce equipment in the armory, heroes will equip them automatically. Of course, you can also specify the weapons you want to give. Prepare the equipment. Dont forget!] Another assumption came true. Iselle could interfere with the system messages. Following Iselles guidance, Anytng entered the summoning station and started summoning right away. Summon Equipment. Summoning items. One-time summon 5,000 gold. Ten-time summon 50,000 gold. Master, starting the 10 consecutive equipment summoning. ck, ck, ck. Rattle! Master Anytng has acquired Iron Sword (E+)! Master Anytng has acquired Crude Bow (E-)! Master Anytng has acquired Chapter 7: Free 10 Draws 2 (2) Chapter 7: Free 10 Draws 2 (2) Lyle approached me. So, youre Han, right? Do you know anything about this ce? I havent been here for long, so I dont know much either. Its dangerous to say something if you know something for sure. So, everyone. I pointed to the open armory door. Its better for you to get weapons from there. The fight will start soon. Whats starting? A battle. B-Battle, did you say battle? If you dont like it, you can stay there. I entered the armory. Various weapons were stuck in the old disy cabs. They were the ones Anytng obtained from the 10 consecutive equipment summons: iron swords, bows, maces, and spears. There were various types. Not long after, people began to flock to the armory. Can we choose weapons from here? A middle-aged woman asked me anxiously. I nodded. I-I dont know anything about fighting! Ive never fought before, even when I was young! Just choose. Choose and thinkter! This ones mine! With cheers, nine people started rummaging through the armory. The highest-grade weapon seemed to be that one. I looked at the mace that Lyle was holding. The end of the mace had an iron ball with spikes on it. [Morning Star] [Grade: D+] When our eyes met, Lyle trembled. It seemed like he thought I would take it from him. I smiled and turned away. Dont worry. Im not taking it. I picked up the equipment from a corner of the armory. [Crude Wooden Shield] [Grade: E+] Its here. I was worried about what to do if it didnte out. When levels and stars are low, and heroes are not ustomed to battle, what equipment increases survivability the most is Shield. It was one of the tips I learned when raising sets of 1-star characters. Those who held shields had the highest chances of survival. I got its item from the armory! Its time to start! Iselle bounced around in the square. Each person grabbed their own equipment and came out of the armory. The corpse of Malmont, along with the blood and debris, had disappeared cleanly from the square. What happened here? Could it be a miracle? So noisy, didnt I call your names earlier? Lyle, Ranto, Marlin, Kelkeld, Jackson! The five of you. Enter through that door, execute! The five named individuals hesitated but entered the door. As Iselle followed them inside, the door mmed shut. Silence. The other four stood still. I sat near the tear in space-time, examining my shield. Checking if it was broken or had any holes, making sure it could effectively block enemy attacks. No issues. It was a crude wooden shield, but it should be able to handle goblin swords or arrows without much trouble. How will things go for us, big brother? A girl holding a bow approached me. She had long red hair and freckles. She was a head shorter than me, and her skin was tanned brown. I dont know. What will happen to us? Why do we need weapons? Where is this ce? What is that Fairy? She fired questions at me in rapid session. Thats why I tried to pretend not to know. My interference earlier wasnt for their sake. It was to increase my own chances of survival. Malmont, who was a professional mercenary, had died, and the remaining four didnt seem like they would fight well. Gael, he old cart driver who had driven a cart all her life. Grete, the peddler who imed to have never fought with anyone. Dajil, a chubby pig who doubted whether he could even run fast. And this arrogant girl, Jenna. So this is why theyre 1-star. If luck was against us, we might die on the first floor. I gave a vague answer. We will soon enter the battlefield. We just have to defeat the enemies there. As for the rest, I dont know either, so think for yourselves. The battlefield? I closed my mouth. Jenna kept pestering me with more questions, but I didnt respond. Eventually, she gave up and leaned against the wall, sitting down. [Marlin () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. Her determination will be remembered forever.] Shes already dead? Monsters thate out on the 10th floor or lower are at most goblins. I wanted to see a battle scene, but the footage didnt appear. The system only reported the results of the battles. [Kelkeld () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will be remembered forever.[ [Ranto () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will be remembered forever.] I couldnt help but stand up from my seat. Could it be that we will really be wiped out on the first floor? [Jackson () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will be remembered forever.] Whats happening? Whats going on? Jenna asked. Stay quiet. [Lyle () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will be remembered forever.] [Party 1 has been annihted.] [You lose!] [That useless brat!] Iselle, who appeared in the square, stomped her feet. Her face was contorted with anger. I was also a bit dumbfounded. Its not easy to be wiped out on the first floor. Maybe its because of the rare heroes that everyone obtains for free. If Shay were here, she would have handled everything alone. [Form a party.] [Drag and drop heroes!] [Han () joins Party 1!] [Jenna () joins Party 1!] [Dajil () joins Party 1!] [Grete () joins Party 1!] [Gael () joins Party 1!] Six out of eleven heroes died, and five remained. At this point, the master had three choices. First, use the 500 gems obtained as tutorial rewards for premium summons. A 3-star or higher hero woulde out, and with their abilities, the first floor could be cleared easily. Second, purchase a training facility with 500 gems and strengthen the heroes before deploying them. Third, simply use the remaining 1-star heroes. [Open, the rift of space and time!] It seems like the third option is the way to go. Chapter 8: Free 10 Draws 3 (1) Chapter 8: Free 10 Draws 3 (1) [Han, Jenna, Dajil, Grete, Gael have arrived!] Why havent the people who lefte back? Dajil mumbled. Gael, who was lying down and groaning, spoke up. Listen, noble fairy. I have arthritis, and I cant walk anymore. Please exclude me. Arthritis? Youve been walking just fine. Jenna shouted. What am I supposed to do if it suddenly starts hurting? [This mothe?] I shrugged my shoulders and entered through the door at the front of the square. The interior of the door was a spacious circr room with towering mirrors, each onerger than 10 meters. Information about the dungeon in question appeared above the mirrors. [Climb the tower and save the world!] [Main Dungeon: Current climbing floor 0] [A daily-changing feast of dungeons!] [Weekday Dungeon] [ess denied! Clear Main Dungeon 5th floor.] [Collect various rare materials!] [Exploration Dungeon] [ess denied! Clear Main Dungeon 10th floor.] Except for the mirror on the left, the other two mirrors were pitch ck. So, thats how it is. The feeling of looking down as a master and looking up as a hero. Theres a world of difference. Its okay. I can do it. I cant die in a ce like this without even knowing the reason. That determination alone chilled my rationality. Shortly after, the other party members entered through the rift in space. I have arthritis! Juste for now. Well live and die together! Jenna encouraged. [Noisy, noisy, its noisy! Be quiet and get ready.] Well, what should we prepare for? Ive never even held a spear [Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is 1st floor.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Get ready!] I surveyed the party members behind me. Jenna and Gael kept quarreling, and Dajil was covered in sweat. And Grete was trembling in a corner. Isnt there anyone useful here? I let out a sigh. The mirror on the left began to shine. The light grew stronger, obscuring my vision and covering the entire room. What, what is this light! Dont be overwhelmed! Its starting! I shouted. It was a message to the party members, but also to myself. In this world, theres no one to rely on except me. If I lose myposure, its over. I kept saying it to myself like brainwashing. And when the light subsided, I found myself in an unfamiliar ce. [Floor 1.] [Mission type Subjection] [Objective Annihte the enemy!] A gentle breeze blew. An endlessly vast in that extended beyond the horizon. Wait, where is this? Where else could it be? Its a battlefield! I tapped my shield with the old iron sword. Four goblins were gathering about 10 meters away. They were wearing iron helmets and wielding bent swords. One of them even had a sling. [Goblin Lv.3] X 4 They had leveled up by 2 since the tutorial. The eyes of the goblins that noticed us glowed red. I told you before, if we dont fight, well be wiped out. So get your act together As I spoke, I looked back. No one was there. Damn it. [Jenna() feels fear. All stats decreased by 30%.] [Dajil() feels fear. All stats decreased by 30%.] [Grete() feels fear. All stats decreased by 30%.] [Gael() feels fear. All stats decreased by 30%.] The four of them were running around in a panic, not knowing whether to move forward or backward. Gael, who imed to have arthritis, was the fastest. I had anticipated it, but I didnt expect them to be this useless. Gael stumbled at the edge of the field and fell down. The three others followed suit. Ouch! My back! Why is it stopping us? Open up! Let me out! I need to go to the bathroom! [Dajil() falls into panic. All stats decreased by 50%.] [Grete() falls into panic. All stats decreased by 50%.] [Gael() falls into despair. All stats decreased by 80%.] They were cowering in a corner without any intention of fighting the goblins. Dajil swung his axe at the wall, but his wrist gave way, and he copsed. Grete struck the wall with her spear, and Gael must have pulled his back because he couldnt get up. Only Jenna came back, panting heavily. Brother, if we defeat those goblins, can we leave? Her pumpkin-colored eyes trembled, and she had cold sweat on her forehead. But Jenna firmly grasped her bow. You know how to shoot a bow, right? My father was a hunter. Ill go out and fight, and you shoot from behind. Can you do it? Yes! [Dajil() falls into despair. All stats decreased by 80%.] [Grete() falls into despair. All stats decreased by 80%.] What about those people? Jenna looked back. Dont worry about them. Theyre of no help. Lets go! I exerted strength in my left hand, which held the shield and rushed forward. Ive never used a shield before. The same goes for a sword. But I had to use them now. The goblins ran wildly, charging towards us. Rocks were flying through the air! I raised the shield to my face. A heavy impact resonated from my left hand. If it werent for the shield, I would have been hit. In the field of vision revealed beneath the shield, a goblin swung its sword. Lowering the shield in my left hand to block, I thrust with the sword in my right hand! The goblin, with a deep gash on its arm, retreated. I took a few steps back and assessed the situation. Why is there only one of them? The reason became clear soon. The other two goblins, excluding the one holding a sling, were rushing towards our roaring party members. Even with the goblins approaching, the three of them couldnt regain theirposure. Uncle, lets fight! The monsters areing! Jenna, who had quickly loaded her bow, shot an arrow. The arrow grazed above the goblins head. Oh no, I missed! Jenna took another arrow from her quiver with a frustrated expression. I told you not to worry about them! I decided to ignore them. But it was actually fortunate. Since those guys acted as bait, we could defeat the monsters individually. I charged at the goblin, gnashing my teeth, with my arm clenched. I deflected a rock that came flying at me and blocked his sword with the iron sword and then struck him with the shield! Kyaah! The goblin fell face down with a thud. Good, I can do it. I can definitely do it! I plunged my sword into the fallen goblins chest. Grr, grrrrr The goblin foamed from its mouth and dropped its head. Kiaaaaah, kiaaaah! Euaaaaak! [Dajil() returns to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will be remembered forever.] I didnt look back. One is still left. Its a ranged goblin spinning a sling. I held up my shield and charged. The goblin began slinging rocks. The rocks were blocked by the shield. Choosing the shield was indeed the right answer. [Grete() returns to the embrace of the goddess. Her determination will be remembered forever.] From behind, I heard a desperate scream and a squelching sound. It was an unpleasant sound as if tearing through flesh and splitting it apart. The Goblin in front of me started running. Where do you think youre running? Kirarak! I tackled the fleeing goblin from behind. The goblin tried to hit my forehead with a rock. I blocked it with the shield. Hail to the shield, you bastard! I thrust the sword into the exposed ribcage. An unpleasant sensation of scraping against bones was transmitted. Ignoring it, I thrust it deeply. Once pulled out, I stabbed it again. Thud, thud, thud, thud! After doing that four times, I let go of the held hand, and the goblin crumbled like a wreck. Chapter 8: Free 10 Draws 3 (2) Chapter 8: Free 10 Draws 3 (2) [Gael() returns to the embrace of the goddess. Her determination will be remembered forever.] Oh, brother What about the other two goblings? I took care of one! On one side of the meadow, a goblin with an arrow stuck in the back of its heady sprawled. But the others Well think about thatter! Hising our way! Come over here! A wild goblin ran towards Jenna. Jenna ran towards me with a scream. I rushed towards the goblin, shielding myself, and collided head-on. ng! In an instant, everything turned red. Blood gushed from my deeply wounded right arm. I dropped the iron sword in my right hand. [Han() starts bleeding. Stamina decreases periodically.] I struck the goblin with the shield. Kuaaak! This damn bastard! I struck the fallen goblins face with the edge of the shield. Broken teeth and blood sttered. I struck again. And again. And again. And again! The goblin, who had been shaking its limbs, finally dropped its head dead. Only then did I sigh. Brother, your arm It wille back. I had already confirmed it during the tutorial. But it hurts damn badly. Blood spurted like a spring from the long, torn wound on my right arm. I felt a bit dizzy, perhaps due to anemia. [Stage cleared!] [Jenna() leveled up!] [Rewards 2,000G, Iron Ore (C) x 2, Copper (C) x 1, Leather (C) x 1] [MVP Han()] Light enveloped my entire body. I closed my eyes and opened them again. We were back in the circr room with the elongated mirrors and then walked out through the rift in space and time. [Three of them died? Tsk tsk, thats why theyre only one-star.] Iselle nced at me and Jenna with a disdainful look. I checked my right arm. There wasnt a scratch to be found. The pain lingered, but even that gradually disappeared. As expected. Even if its right before death, returning to the waiting room restores everything. The same applied in the game. [Lets return to the za. The doors are going to close soon.] Iselle pointed towards the open door. I walked steadily towards it, with Jenna following closely behind, looking anxious. The door closed. [Congrattions on clearing the 1st floor!] [Were going up to the 2nd floor.] Creak. Krrrr. A strange mechanical sound echoed, and the floor of the za shook. Whats happening?! [Were going up.] Where to? [The 2nd floor.] After a while, the vibration stopped. Now, whats going to happen? Break through the 2nd floor? No chance. He had seen the battle. He knows there was no chance to break to the third floor. [Master, do you want to strengthen your power?] [Tips: Heroes thate from Advanced Summoning are stronger than regr heroes.] [Tips: You can build facilities like Training Grounds to train your heroes.] In this game, free-to-y users have two choices. Either do a paid summon or build facilities. In the early stages of the game, there was a debate between the Hero Summoning party, which used gems for summoning, and the Infrastructure Construction party, which used gems for building facilities. But after I personallypared and proved their efficiency in the forum, the dispute ended. [Construct a facility. Please select the type of facility you want.] [You have selected Training Grounds. Do you want to build it? It will cost 500 gems.] [Yes / No] Thats right. He hasntpletely ignored the game guide. The door to the locked Training Grounds had been opened. [The Training Grounds have beenpleted. The heroes will now train themselves. Keep in mind that by enhancing the Training Grounds with gems, gold, and blueprints, you can enjoy a broader and more powerful effect.] [Tips: Continuous battles make heroes tired. They need proper rest to perform at their maximum potential.] Useful tips continued Master, do you want to end your session? [Yes (selected) / No] Goodbye, then! Is this where it ends? Based on todays gamey, Anytng is a light free-to-y user with a focus on facilities. It was the type I had hoped for. There was no need topete with expensive heroes stered with stars, and there was a solid foundation for growth. Most free-to-y users usually hit their limits after reaching the top floors, but thats ater issue. [Whew! Im exhausted.] Iselle, who suddenly appeared, stretched her arms wide. Jenna asked in a trembling voice, Whats going to happen to us now? [Whatever. Just rest until the master logs in. Since the Training Grounds are open now, you can train there if you want. The dormitory is over there. Go ahead and scatter as you please.] What about the others Are they all dead? [Youre so clueless. Cant you see for yourself?] Jennasplexion turned pale. Why did you summon us? Whats the purpose? [Youre as annoying as he is. If you want to know, climb the tower.] Was the tower you mentioned earlier the one we just climbed? She shrugged her shoulders. [I already answered. We climb.] I also wanted to know the answer. It seemed that as we cleared the main dungeon, the waiting room also ascended. I couldnt imagine what kind of strange structure it was, so I decided not to think too much about it. Ill just ept it as the way things are. Jenna clenched her fist and shouted angrily, Im going to rest! The dormitory is over there. I pointed to the room connected to our home. Jenna bravely headed there and mmed the door shut as she entered. I have a question too. [Why ask when youve only cleared the 1st floor?] Is time here different from Earth? [Dont ask questions! I wont answer!] It seems like it. If we assume that, the situation makes sense. Here, time in the waiting room flows faster than on Earth. I dont know the exact rate. Thats something Ill have to find out gradually. And at the core of it all is the fairy, Iselle. The tips you gave him were helpful. Do the same next time. [H-Hmph! Youre just a worthless 1-star scrap.] Iselle grumbled and vanished, stomping her feet. Just as I thought. The fairy cant touch me even if she doesnt like me. She can only touch me when its a case of legitimate defense or when I disobey the mastersmand, I suppose. Lets learn these rules one by one. As I started walking towards the dormitory, I noticed my trembling hand. Nine of them died. Out of eleven, a whopping nine. If I had made a mistake, I could have been among them. Calm down. If you cant adapt, youll be left behind. Thats the onlyw in this world. It took me nearly an hour to return to the dormitory. The current situation: 11 summoned, 9 dead, 2 survivors. Chapter 9: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (1) Part 1 Chapter 9: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (1) Part 1 The next morning, I came out to the square. Silence. The air was cool. There was no one in the square. Where did she go? I clicked my tongue. After confirming that Jenna went to the dorm first, I followed her, but she was nowhere to be found. I was willing topromise on the sofa. But not the bed. It doesnt matter, she wasnt there anyway. The training camp was open. If I had trained my mind for the past week, now it was time to move my body. I walked into the training camp. [Training Camp Lv.1] Approximately 50 pyeong in size. (T/N: Apyeong(abbreviation py) is a Korean unit of area and floorspace, equal to a square kan or 36 square Korean feet.) Straw-made scarecrows were standing here and there. On the corner shelves were practice weapons such as wooden swords, spears, and shields. Other than that, it was empty, but it was just a Level 1 training camp. That alone was impressive. I started running along the walls of the training camp. Breathe in lightly twice, and exhale deeply once. It was a simple technique I learned in the military. I ran like that for 10 minutes. Running at a steady pace, my calves didnt hurt and I didnt feel short of breath. I opened the status window. [Han Iselle () Lv. 5 (Exp 44/50)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 15/15] [Intelligence: 15/15] [Stamina: 15/15] [Agility: 15/15] [Skills: None] Pathetic. I frowned. The growth rate per level is only 4. Why does intelligence keep increasing? Its a useless stat for a physical type. But even so, it was clear that my body in this world was superior to my body on Earth. After my discharge from the military, I hardly exercised and I was always out of breath just climbing a few stairs because I always drove. I was a representative sample of modern people with ack of exercise. But now, it felt like I had returned to my military days. To strive for the top warrior. This world is different from Earth. The ramen on the shelf and the orange juice in the refrigerator would be replenished even if you ate and drank as much as you wanted, and when you opened a drawer or a closet after thinking about something, the item would appear. Of course, there are no K-2S or AK-47s. The things you can get are everyday items like clothes, pencils, and toilet paper. After running for 30 minutes like that, my body felt fine and I started doing push-ups. Now I understand. Sometimes there are heroes who show differentbat abilities from others even though they are in the same grade. One thing they have inmon. They dont neglect training. I didnt know in the early days. Even though they trained, I thought their stats and levels wont increase, so I wondered why do they keep training so hard in the training camp. But still, I kept upgrading the facilities because I thought it was admirable that the game characters put effort into it. Looking back now, it seems like they werent game characters. Anyway, their efforts paid off, and as their level increased and their grade changed, they gradually stood out. I defined it as constitution. Building tall buildings requires a solid foundation. 1-star heroes start with basic stats of 10. Strength 10, Intelligence 10, Stamina 10, Agility 10. Whether its a well-fed middle-aged woman or a grandfather who works today and tomorrow, their physical abilities would be the same. But the results are different. First, mentality. Heroes who easily fall into fear or panic are not worth the effort. The ability to remain calm in any situation and find a way to victory is what you need. Thats why thebat logic that makes this possible is recognized as an S-rank passive skill. Second, skills. The second criterion for distinguishing gemstones is skills. Some heroes are good at using swords, while others are good at using spears. Each hero has a different talent for weapon skills. Higher-ranking heroes are usually summoned with their talents already developed while lower-ranking heroes are hidden and the master has to help them find their hidden talents. I still dont know my skills. I will have plenty of opportunities to find out. I decided not to be anxious. Third, physique. Its what Im doing right now. So to summarize it. Mind. Skills. Physique. When these three elementse together, I will have thepetitiveness topete with 5-star heroes. I know from experience, heroes like that are real monsters. Once they have that mindset of improving nothing will stop them. What are you doing? I heard a familiar voice. I stopped doing push-ups and stood up. As I looked at the entrance of the training camp, Jenna, with her red hair tied down, was looking at me. I said, Im training to take down monsters. Why? Why is your tone so aggressive? And to think that Ive been looking for you since morning. Jenna grumbled as she entered the training camp. Then she fiddled with the longbow stored in the barrel. Well, Ive been thinking all night about what to do from now on. Its true that we cant leave this ce, right? I didnt answer. Jenna took out the longbow and pulled the bowstring. Let me join too. Ill be useful. What can you do? Even though you know, youre still being hostile. Well, even if it looks like this, Im good at shooting arrows. It wont be a hindrance. My father was a hunter, so shooting arrows in my spare time was a hobby. Jenna held a wooden arrow from the barrel and quickly shot it. With a shallow popping sound, the arrow hit the scarecrow 10 meters away. Crying andining wont change the situation, I figured out this much. Hyung, you know how we can survive, right? You, was yesterday your first real fight? Of course. Ive been stuck at home. How well can you shoot a bow? Decently. Jenna shot another arrow. The same scarecrow. It was a hit. Status window. [Jenna Shirai () Level 2 (Exp 5/20)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 11/11] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Stamina: 11/11] [Agility: 12/12] [Skills: Low-level Archery (Lv.1)] The growth rate is low at 4, but instead of intelligence, agility increased by 2 points. Moreover, she has a pre-existing skill for a 1-star hero. Among the three who ran away, she was the only one who returned. It was her first real battle, and although she was scared, she didnt sumb to panic and sessfully shot and killed a goblin. There was no hesitation caused by the deaths, and she had a clear goal and knew what to do next. Its an opportunity. I recalled yesterdays battle. Three people ran away even though I handed them weapons. If the next ones are also the same cowards? Can I handle the next stage alone? I need to survive beforepeting. I answered, Fine. Ill help you. Please take care of me, hyung. Jenna smiled and extended her hand. I shook her hand. [Jenna () feels favorably toward Han ().] [A friendship bonus has been activated.] [Tips/When forming a party with friendly heroes, ability bonuses are given. Utilize this well.] My father used to say, if you want to survive, ride the wave well. Thats right. He was a great father, wasnt he? Chapter 9: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (1) Part 2 Chapter 9: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (1) Part 2 I exined the basic rules of Pick Me Up to Jenna. The existence of a master who gives us orders. We have to subdue enemies and fulfill missions ording to those orders. With eachpleted mission, the floor level increases, and when we reach the 100th floor, we might be liberated. We have to fight monsters all the time? Thats why we train. We have to grow stronger. Besides training, there are various ways to be stronger, but at the current low floor level, most of the content is still locked. At this point, training is all I can do. Do we have to keep fighting alone? I also exined about summoning. The master summons humans from another world using gems and gold as currency. We were brought to this world through that summoning. People will continue to be summoned steadily, and we have to perform missions while sometimespeting and sometimes cooperating with them. I kept the world and my true identity hidden. This is all I can exin. Did you understand? Yes, I got it. Jenna nodded her head. Her expression wasnt particrly good, but she didnt openly show it. She was concealing her emotions. She didnt act like a kid about it, there were no signs of tantrums or misbehavior. She was calmly epting the situation. Shes reliable enough. We are in it together, right? We are in it together? What do you mean? If I die, you die, and if you die, hyung, Ill die. Thats not it. But shes showing goodwill. I didnt exin about synthesis either, but maybe for another time. Anyway, the master will be back soon, and then the battle will begin. Until then, keep training. Its better than being idle. Yes! Jenna saluted loudly and raised her longbow. Training resumed once again. There was nothing special about the training itself; it mainly involved physical conditioning and swinging swords at scarecrows or shooting arrows. But neither Jenna nor I were ying around. Our lives were at stake. After a day of training. The reason why I couldnt find Jenna in the dormitory was revealed. When I opened the door to the dormitory, a modern-style house appeared, but when Jenna opened the door, it revealed the interior of a quaint wooden house. When I asked Iselle about it, she replied like this. [Do you have anyints? Be thankful youre not stuck in a barn!] Since I had noints about my living conditions, I didnt argue with Jenna either. It seemed that the location changed depending on who opened the door. And so, on the third day of training. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] I stopped swinging my wooden sword. The straw-stuffed scarecrow was in tatters. Status window. [Han Iselle () Level 5 (Exp 44/50)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 15/15] [Intelligence: 15/15] [Stamina: 15/15] [Agility: 15/15] [Skills: Low-level Swordsmanship (Lv.1), Low-level Shield Techniques (Lv.1)] I acquired two skills. Low-level Swordsmanship and Low-level Shield Techniques, which enhance sword and shield abilities, respectively. Jennas Low-level Archery skill had increased to level 2. We did what we could. Get ready. The master ising. Already? What do you mean already? Its been three days. We returned our weapons and went to the square. The equipment from the training camp couldnt be taken outside. [Loadingplete.] [T O U C H! (Select)] I am the Strategy King! Check out the official caf The announcements were skipped, and the master appeared on the main screen. I calcted the time ratio between Earth and the waiting room. If the master logs in here every day, one day on Earth is equivalent to three days here. The summoning gate opened. [Summon!] A party consists of five members. He will draw three times. [Summoning Heroes!] [Summon heroes using gold or gems. Try summoning the infinite heroes of Mobius Summon!] [Master, summoning is starting. Im excited to see which hero wille out!] [Whisk, whoosh, whoosh.] Common! Master Anytng has acquired hero Aaron ()! Common! Master Anytng has acquired hero Toby ()! Common! Master Anytng has acquired hero Yellens ()! All 1-star heroes. A faint light seeped out from inside the summoning gate. After a moment, three men walked out with bewildered faces. Where is this? Thats what Im saying. Hey, mister! Get ready to fight first. Ill teach you after its over! Youre talking about getting ready to fight? Who are you? Answer! [Forming a party.] [Drag and drop heroes!] Aaron () joins Party 1! Toby () joins Party 1! Yellens () joins Party 1! [Open, the rift of space and time!] Creak. The front door opened. At the same time, the door to the armory opened. It was much faster than the previous round. The master was in a rush. Jenna, get your weapons before its toote! Yes! We ran. Chapter 10: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (2) Part 1 Chapter 10: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (2) Part 1 The three of them looked at us as if we were crazy. The number of equipment disyed in the armory had significantly decreased. There were only two items left: a bow and a shield. In Pick Me Up, when a hero dies, the equipment theyre carrying disappears. Jenna took out a bow and quiver and strapped them to her back. And I secured the leather strap on the back of the wooden shield to my wrist. As we equipped ourselves and stepped out of the armory, the door closed immediately. Iselle appeared and scolded us. [Han, Jenna, Aaron, Toby, Yellens! Get here immediately!] What is this thing? What do you want from us? Where did youe from? Send us back! The men expressed hostility towards Iselle. Jenna intervened. Stop it. You dont want to see what happens if you mess with her. Are you part of the gang too? Did you bring us here? Im not part of the gang. A few days ago, I was brought here just like you. Thats why I adapted first. Why bother with this annoying stuff? They will find out on their own in a few minutes anyway. After saying that, I walked into the rift of space and time. No matter how much Jenna and I will exin, they wont understand. Even if they do, they wont ept it. Ugh, really. Jenna, who seemed frustrated, let out a sigh and followed me. A grumbling voice could be heard from behind. My wife is waiting! Send me back quickly! Im a poor farmer with not a single coin. Youve found the wrong person! I wondered how long Iselle could endure. Jenna asked me. Are they going to die? As long as they try to touch her. A whileter, one of the men flew towards us like a projectile. He fell to the ground and groaned in pain. The remaining two also flew towards us. Finally, when Iselle entered, the door leading to the square closed. From now on, if you dont want to be thrown like a bag of trash, listen carefully to what I say, just like those guys. The leftmost mirror began to shine. It was the mirror of the main dungeon. The master will probably send us again to the second floor. We can go back to the first floor, but theres no benefit at this point. As the light gradually filled the room, other party members pounded on the exit, thinking they were going to die. Some even attacked Iselle. Tsk, how troublesome! Iselle lightly soared upwards, avoiding their attacks. And then, the room was filled with light. Floor 2. Mission Type Subjugation. Objective Annihte the enemies! Field Type, in. Simr to a meadow but subtly different. The grass was sparse, and the ground was sloping. Wolves, huh? [Goblin Lv.3] x 2 [ins Wolf Lv.4] x 2 Two wolves with gray fur growled on the higher slope. Above them, goblins with slings were picking up rocks. I furrowed my brows. Both the terrain and theposition favored the enemies. We were below, and they were above. If it were just the wolves, it wouldnt be a problem, but there were long-range goblins as well. Wha-whats that? Huff. [Aaron() feels fear. All attributes decreased by 30%.] [Toby() feels fear. All attributes decreased by 30%.] [Yellens() feels fear. All attributes decreased by 30%.] I took a deep breath. Have ordinary humans ever encountered wild beasts like this? The wolves disyed their hostility without reservation. I caught a glimpse of their sharp fangs, ready to bite and tear apart the soft flesh of a human. I steadied my trembling heart. They might look strong, but theyre nothing special. Ive had fighting experience, and Ive be strong enough. Growl [Jenna() feels fear. All attributes decreased by 30%.] No. You shouldnt be like that. I tapped Jennas shoulder. She was trembling, it seems she didnt see me reaching out for her, and she suddenly let out a scream. Aaaah! Did she just scream? Sigh- Whats wrong? Did you eat something bad?! You scared me! Jenna pouted her mouth at me. But in the next moment, Jenna regained herposure. [Jenna() is no longer afraid.] Its okay. I just just need a moment. You take care of those two goblins. As long as I dont have to worry about rocksing my way, I can handle the wolves myself. Whoosh! A goblin threw a rock. It wasnt aimed at me. It was aimed at Jenna, who was rummaging through the quiver. I ran forward and deflected the rock with my shield. This will be thest time! Yes! When I nced behind me, the other three were huddled together, trembling. Theyre truly useless. This time, it seemed like they couldnt even serve as decoys. The enemies were clearly targeting me and Jenna. I bit my lip hard. I wont end up like those guys. Ill fight until the end. And survive. Grrraah! A wolf leaped with its jaws open. It was a quadrupedal creature. Different from the human form, it had exceptional agility. But I anticipated this pattern. I thrust the old iron sword into the wolfs mouth. Arent you dead yet? The wolf writhed in pain but didnt die from a single blow. Even if it pierced through the roof of its mouth, it didnt seem to reach its brain. I tried to pull out the sword, but it got stuck somewhere in the bones. On the hilltop, another wolf paced back and forth. Is it because the weapon is worn-out? Before I could think further, the other wolf leaped forward. I pressed my body against the ground and rolled to the side. The terrain was sloped. The wolfs leap missed and hit the empty air. As soon as I stood up, I rushed forward and kicked the wolf with the sword stuck in its mouth, then drew the sword with all of my might from its mouth and struck it in its forehead. One. Crunch! Crack! The wolf howled down the hill. Our positions were reversed. The wolf ran at me in a straight line. There was no need to back down, I also rushed forward with my shield. As soon as we met, I pped the shield against the cheek of the wolf, then thrust the iron sword into its side. Kaeng! Gaegaeng! The wolf that had been writhing on the ground momentarily went limp. Two down. What about the goblins? I looked up the hill. Two goblins, turned into hedgehogs by arrows,y sprawled on the ground. With a squelching sound, another arrow pierced one of the goblins corpses. Thats enough! Theyre dead. Y-Yes! Blood trickled down Jennas forehead. It seemed like she had been hit by a stone. [Stage Clear!] [Han(), Jenna(), Level Up!] [Reward 5,000G, Leather(C) x 3, Iron Ore(C) x 1] [MVP Han()] Chapter 10: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (2) Part 2 Chapter 10: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (2) Part 2 We returned through the rift of space and time. Jenna touched the vanished wound on her forehead with a fascinated expression, while the other three were still in a daze. [Congrattions on clearing the 2nd floor!] [Moving on to the 3rd floor.] Thump, thump, thump. The waiting room vibrated. W-what what just happened? One of the men mumbled in a bewildered voice. Iselle didnt appear. Did she get too fed up? I decided not to care either. Status Window [Han Israt() Lv. 6(Exp 13/50)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 17/17] [Intelligence: 14/14] [Stamina: 16/16] [Dexterity: 16/16] [Skills: Novice Swordsmanship(Lv.1), Novice Shield Techniques(Lv.1)] Good. My Intelligence decreased by 1, but my Strength increased by 2. The overall growth rate remained at 4, but the efficiency of leveling up had improved. It was evident that my constitution was getting better. [Master, do you want to end the session?] [Yes (Selected) / No] [Then, goodbye!] One floor per day. The Master also didnt rush through the progress. If we had simply pushed through like on the 1st floor, both Jenna and I would have been in danger. Although there were no visible injuries, fatigue lingered. I entered the armory, hung up the shield, and then came outside. Jenna and the other three were arguing. Why were you just watching from behind? We were the only ones fighting! You shouldve let us know about the situation! Whats what! I exined it from the beginning! Just fight! Why should I fight? Where the hell is this ce? What are those monsters, and how did they drag us here with some kind of magic? Thats not important right now. To survive, we have to fight first. We can thinkter. Ive never even held a sword. How am I supposed to fight monsters? Who here has ever fought before? The argument grew more heated. Jenna argued that we were also summoned before to fight like we just did and that we had to work together andbine our strengths to survive. However, the other three were indifferent. They stubbornly refused, saying that they wont do it. They couldnt ept reality. Now I understood why 1-star heroes were referred to as trash. 1-star heroes were ordinary people. They had lived lives unrted to the battlefield. Just recalling their self-introductions during the 10-summoning, none of them had a profession rted tobat. There was one exception, the 2-star, Molmont. He was called a mercenary. If thats the case, it means that as the stars increase,bat-rted professions are summoned. Moreover, advanced heroes didnt hesitate. When you put newly summoned 1-star heroes into battle, they would easily sumb to fear or panic. But it was different for 3-stars and above. They would immediately engage inbat. Do theye here knowing all of this? The reason to fight and even the objective. Shay must have known. It was evident from her attitude. If I had been a bit moreposed, I could have asked her. This is frustrating! Jenna went into the armory with determination and returned after returning her bow. Wouldnt it be better if you helped exin this too, hyung? Were in this fight together, so we should support and console each other to berades. Why should I bother with useless guys like them? Its better than having nothing. They wont be here soon anyway. What do you mean? Wait and see. Fighting doesnt always mean dying. If they remain in that state until the next battle, they will disappear. I looked at the closed door of the synthesis workshop. In the next battle, you and I will just keep fighting together. Dont worry about them. Jenna grumbled but nodded her head. Oh, and I would like to visit your room. My room? Im curious about what it looks like. Why, dont you want to? No, thats fine. We passed through the center of the square and headed towards the lodging. Along the way, a man who was muttering to himself in a corner of the square approached us. Hey, theres something I want to ask you! Dont ask. Its annoying. What did you say? The man tried to grab me by the cor. I swung my fist and struck his face. Ugh! The man staggered grotesquely. Are the guys who hid in a corner while we shed blood supposed to have that kind of attitude? Ah, no! I I spat on the ground and moved on. The man was clutching his bleeding nose, whimpering. Heh heh. Whats so funny? Nothing. Jenna said then opened the door to the lodging. The interior of the room, made of woven wood, was revealed. Furniture such as a dining table, chairs, and a disy cab lined the room, and stones that emitted light were embedded in the walls. It didnt give off the air of modern civilization, and it didnt have things like a refrigerator or gas stove. [Lodging Lv.1] It was a lodging. Strictly speaking, this ce was more of a lodging for heroes rather than Jennas house. In other words, those three pathetic individuals would also be staying here. But why is my room different? I couldnt figure it out right now. I decided to think about itter. What do you want to eat? We only have potatoes. Only potatoes? Potatoes with salt and water, perhaps? Its not much, but it will be replenished by tomorrow. Thats all we have. In my room, I only have instant noodles and orange juice. Perhaps its because the lodging level is low. Jenna took out a few potatoes from the disy cab, pierced them with a skewer, and put them in the hearth in the middle of the room. While the potatoes were cooking, I explored the lodging. A long corridor stretched inward, with rooms arranged along it. Currently, there werent many rooms, and the facilities were mediocre, but as the lodging level increased, it would gradually berger and more spacious. At the beginning of the game, you can have up to 20 heroes. You need to upgrade the lodging to summon more heroes. Thats how the system in Pick Me Up is implemented here. I didnt expect it at first, but the potatoes were delicious. Chapter 11: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (3) Part 1 Chapter 11: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (3) Part 1 The training continued the next day. After three days of training, the schedule was somewhat established. In the morning, we did basic exercises like running or push-ups. Jenna followed along with the exercises I did. I didnt stop her. Once the basic exercises were done, weapon training began. Well, calling it weapon training might be an overstatement. For me, it was just swinging a wooden sword, and for Jenna, it was shooting arrows at a scarecrow. But we didnt ck off. While swinging, I could feel the distribution of strength and the correct posture gradually being grasped. I could tell just by looking at the skills that appeared in the status window, like beginner swordsmanship and shield techniques. But even if I tried, I would still fall far behind a knight who had learned proper swordsmanship. It would be different if there was an expert to guide us. Even sparring would give us some sense of it. However, I was alone. Jenna had her main equipment reinforced with the bow, so I couldnt ask her to spar. The other three didnte to the training ground. Sometimes I could see them muttering about finding an exit or escaping in a corner of the za. Of course, there was no way out. And so, two more days passed. Today was different, Jenna and I faced each other in the training ground. Are you really okay? Im fine. I tapped my shield with the wooden sword. Jenna had a bow in her hand. I realized that both Jenna and I needed more practical training. Fighting with a sword was tough for her, but there was another way. You might get hurt, you know? As long as I dont die, its fine. There were a few times when I swung the sword too forcefully and hurt my wrist. But the injured wrist quickly recovered. It seemed like this waiting room had a healing effect. As long as I didnt die from a single blow like Malmont, it would naturally heal. It was one of the training methods I inventedst night. Shoot! Dont hate me for it! Jenna shot an arrow. Right shoulder. I moved my left arm. Thud! The arrow stuck into the shield with a dull sound. I pulled out the arrow and threw it back to Jenna. It came out easily, probably because it was a practice arrow. Again. The shooting practice continued. For Jenna, it was shooting practice against a live opponent. For me, it was shield technique training to block iing arrows. I added one more condition here. Blocking arrows with the shield while attacking the adjacent scarecrow. It was training to attack and defend at the same time. I also changed the target of the attack. First, the head. Then the chest. And finally, the legs. What Im doing now is simr to drawing a circle with my right hand and a square with my left hand. I had to divide my concentration into two. Puff! ! I sank to my knees from a sharp pain in my calf. The arrow didnt pierce me, but it grazed a chunk of flesh. Are you are you okay? Dont worry about it. As I knelt for a moment, fresh flesh grew over the wounded area. I stood up and flicked my right foot. It was nothing. I could move. You should think of another way too. The enemies wont just stand still, theyll attack you. Do you want to just stand there and shoot? Jenna followed my training tips. Shoot while moving. It was mobile shooting. As my concentration waned, I started getting hit by arrows more frequently. Some were fatal, but I managed to survive. The wounds healed, but the pain remained. Do I really have to go this far? Negative thoughts began to creep up. But I didnt stop. Its okay if it hurts. Its proof that Im alive. What Ive achieved right now is still not enough. I have to climb the tower. Thats the only way to survive. And [Han()s Beginner Swordsmanship has leveled up to Lv.2!] [Han()s Beginner Shield Techniques has leveled up to Lv.2!] [Han() has acquired the skill Pain Resistance!] As expected. I obtained Pain Resistance, known as the essential passive skill for warrior sses. If I level up Pain Resistance to level 10, I can evolve it into a top-tier skill called Battle Endurance. Its an A-rank skill that maintains a herosbat power until the very moment of death. Whats left is Composure. Its a sub-skill of Combat Logic. If I raise Composure to level 10, I can obtain Combat Logic. And if I raise Combat Logic to level 10, I can acquire the ultimate skill, the Enlightened Mind. With the Enlightened Mind, I can even prevent any mental abnormalities in the spiritual realm. On the contrary, it would be nice to have skills like Frenzy, Battle Madness, or Berserk. However, my strength lies in my extensive knowledge of Pick Me Up. Going into a state of madness that leads to losing reason was dangerous to me. I shouldnt get excited in any situation. I must observe the situation calmly. During the tutorial and the first battle, I couldnt do that. In the future, if end up in such a state, I will eventually learn a skill like Frenzy, and that wont be beneficial. Composure and Frenzy were ipatible skills. Keep that in mind. Among the thousands of skills in Pick Me Up, there are a few that synergize. And I know everybination to create synergy. And so, a few more days passed. Anytng didnt log in for a while. He seemed busy. I didnt consider the possibility of him quitting. Even if he didnt log in, there were other things that we could do. I swung the wooden sword at the scarecrow. I blocked the arrows with the shield. Cutting and blocking. They shouldnt be considered two separate actions. They had to bebined into one. Arrows flew at me. After doing this for a few days now, I did no longer need to carefully watch the arrows until the end. I raised my shield to where the arrows woulde and stabbed the scarecrows neck with the sword. Yes, the sword and shield are one. I regarded the sword and shield as a single weapon. [Dding!] [Skill awakening!] [A new skill is born from Han()s Beginner Swordsmanship and Beginner Shield Techniques.] [Han() has acquired the skill Intermediate Sword and Shield Techniques (Lv.3)!] A refreshing sensation surged through my entire body. It felt as if the sword and shield had be a part of me, a strange sense of unity. Thats it for today. I lowered my shield. The wooden shield was covered in dozens of arrows, resembling a hedgehog. It wasnt just my skills that improved. Jenna also gradually added conditions to her archery practice. Shooting while walking, shooting while running, double shots, and so on. Jennas beginner archery skill had reached level 4. As Jenna put her bow back into the quiver, she asked, It seems like the Master isnting. What if we dont return like this? Do we have to stay trapped here? Anxiety flickered in Jennas expression. I chuckled. If he doesnte in a month What if the Master doesnte in a month? I dont know. We will have to wait and see. I returned the sword and shield to their original positions. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] The tiger really doese when called. [Loadingplete.] [T O U C H! (Select)] He came. I said. Im d. I was getting restless just training. You seem to adapt better than me, dont you? Well, Im a bit audacious. ording to what she told me when we were having breaks, Jenna had been living alone in a remote forest. She said that her father, who used toe home once a month, died in a fight with a monster a year ago. Chapter 11: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (3) Part 2 Chapter 11: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (3) Part 2 When we came out to the za, Iselle was dragging the three of them out of the inn. [Come out, I saide out! When the Master returns,e out to the square. why dont you listen to me! Wanna get scolded?] I raised my gaze to the ceiling. Strictly speaking, there was no ceiling in the waiting room. Instead, a faint gray sky floated above. This sky would shine brightly with a radiant light when the Master entered. Apart from messages, I could also obtain information through this disy. Are you trying to make us fight again? I dont like it, I hate it! D-Do you want money. Ive got money at home! Let me go back! Im tired of eating just potatoes! [Oh, Im really going crazy!] Annoyed, Iselle exploded. A straight punch, like a me, shot out from her adorable hand. Kwaaak! [Hey, Im busy with other stuff you know? Ill make it clear,e out now, or it will be yourst day here!] The three looked at each other. [So thats how you wanna y, huh?!] [Loading] After a while, the three of them stood in the za. Blood was smeared under each of their noses. Open, Rift of Space and Time! [Tips/Make disobedient heroes go in circles. Responsiveness increases.] Iselle, youve really gone all out. The Rift of Space and the Arsenal was opened. After taking our weapons and as we entered through the Rift of Space and Time, the mirrors immediately began to shine. Climb the tower and save the world! [Main Dungeon: Current Floor -2] The light faded. [Floor 3.] [Mission Type Subjugation] [Objective Annihte the enemy!] [Goblin Lv.5 X 4] Field type: ins. This time, the enemies were facing are four goblins. Keerrr! Three of them were armed with swords and shields. The one in the back held a crossbow instead of a throwing spear. Their armaments and tactics have improved. It was a natural change as we climbed the floors. The goblin who finished loading aimed the crossbow at me. It happened before he could pull the trigger. Swoosh! An arrow flew from behind and pierced through the goblins forehead. Gyaaah! The goblin exaggeratedly fell over and died. I told you. I will be useful. Jenna smiled. I kept running forward. Before they could mount a collective attack, I struck from this side. First, one goblin. The goblin crouched its upper body and raised its shield. However, there was an opening. I twisted my shoulder and stabbed the sword into it. The second goblin. He charged with his shields raised. I shed with him and sent his shield flying. I had the advantage in height, weight, and strength. I seized the opportunity and shed his throat. Thest one. Perhaps it got scared, as it took a step back. I approached it slowly. An arrow pierced through the goblins shin. It was a difficult area to block with a shield. After he lost his bnce, I plunged the sword into its heart. [Stage cleared!] [Jenna() leveled up!] [Reward 7,000G, Leather (C) x 1, Iron Ore (C) x 1] [MVP Jenna()] Being selected as the MVP of a battle grants bonus experience points. This time, Jenna was the MVP. It seemed that the first crossbow goblin she killed had earned her high points. Do they still have no intention of fighting? The three of them only looked at us with uneasy eyes. Well, it doesnt matter. I dont want to share experience points with those guys. If they dont contribute to the battle, they wont receive experience points. We returned through the Rift of Space and Time. Oh, already? It was a bit too easy this time. It wasnt that the enemies were too easy; it was that we had be stronger. We could feel it. The training was not in vain. The sword and shield moved more smoothly, and there were no gaps in our movements. Is it all over? Then, we will Toby was about to leave but froze in ce. The door leading to the za was still closed. The mirror on the left began to shine. [Select floor, Floor 1. Do you want to retry?] [Yes (Select) / No] Its not over yet. Jenna firmly grasped her bow, wearing a determined expression. Seems like were going in circles. He must have been influenced by Iselles tip. Though the experience points and rewards decrease when retrying a floor already cleared, Anytng seemed to prioritize safety over advancing another floor. [Mission Type Subjugation] [Objective Annihte the enemy!] [Goblin Lv.2 x 3] Keerrr! Swoosh! Kyah! One goblins head was instantly pierced, and it died. Jenna immediately shot the second arrow, then pulled the bowstring. The arrow struck the chest of a goblin that was nkly staring at its fallenrade. And Jenna pulled the bowstring for the third time. [Stage cleared!] [Reward 1,000G] [MVP Jenna()] Jenna just posed victory to me. . Heheh. The mirror shone again. [Floor 1.] [Mission Type Subjugation] [Objective Annihte the enemy!] [Goblin Lv.4 x 2] As soon as the location changed, I ran forward. I heard the piercing sound of an arrow splitting the air from behind. I swatted away the arrow with my shield. What are you doing? Shut up! Daring to hog all the experience points for yourself? I mercilessly ughtered the two goblins without any hesitation. [Stage cleared!] [Reward 1,000G] [MVP Han()] After repeating two more battles like that, we were able to exit to the za. Is it over? I dont know either. Jenna turned her head abruptly in response to another party members question. During the five battles, they did nothing. They even found the leisure to gossip behind us when they saw us overwhelming the monsters. Jenna, with her lips pursed, spoke. This is getting really annoying. How long do we have to keep covering for them? It ends today. End? They dont seem to have any intention of changing. Well, it seems like Master has enough leisure to feed those parasites. [Master, synthesis is starting.] [Drag and drop the hero you want to sacrifice onto the hero you want to synthesize! The sacrificed hero will disappear.] The door to the synthesis chamber opened. Chapter 12: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (3) (1) Chapter 12: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (3) (1) The opportunity presented itself. From what I saw, it was truly abundant. Even though the intricate details of our battles were bypassed when transmitted to the Master, it didnt mean that the Master waspletely unaware of the situation. He could still gather enough information to know who was at the forefront of the fight, who was most active, and even who was cking off at the back. [Bookmarking Han ().] [Bookmarking Jenna ().] It seemed like there was no room for the same mistake again. Iselle appeared and shouted. [Jenna, Yellens. Head to the synthesis facility. Now!] Synthesis facility? Where is that? [Cant you see the door on the right? Just go in there.] Yellens looked at me with an anxious expression. What now? Do you want me to help you? If you had even pretended to fight, I would have tried to help a little. Just like Shay did with me, I was willing to make some concessions, even for a single goblin. Even though Ipletely ignored him, I still spoke to Jenna. Go ahead. Nothing will happen to you. Ill be back. Jenna left, walking with determined steps. On the other hand, Yellens couldnt bring himself to move. Why arent you going? W-What will happen if I go? Youll face judgment for what youve done. I was unreasonably dragged here in the first ce! Thats your opinion. [Well, look at that! Were on the same page for once!] A mischievous smile yed on Iselles lips. [Im tired of changing diapers for you kids. Get in there already.] Im not going. [Is that so?] Iselle pushed Ellison into the synthesis facility. The door closed. [Do you really want to synthesize?] [Yes (Select) / No] [Synthesisplete!] [Yellens () turned into light and disappeared.] [Jenna () leveled up! Acquired Eye of the Eagle skill!] A whileter. The door of the synthesis facility opened, and Jenna walked out with a bewildered expression. What happened? That man turned into light and disappeared. Those who are useless in this ce be sacrifices for those who are useful. Next is my turn. Which one of you will it be? I looked at the two of them and spoke. The door of the synthesis facility hadnt closed yet. [Next, Han, Toby!] Are you going to send me back home? Iselle seemed too bothered to answer and tossed Tobys wrist. I followed and entered the synthesis facility. Beneath the synthesis facility, surrounded by walls of metal, a purple magic circle glowed ominously. Is it finally over? Im going back home. Im leaving! He murmured with an ecstatic face. Think that way if you want. I didnt have the energy to retort. Who would want such a death, I would rather die fighting. Toby gradually disintegrated, disappearing. [Synthesisplete!] [Toby () turns into light and disappears.] [Han () leveled up! Acquired Composure skill!] When we came out to the square, the synthesis facility had closed and didnt open again. The remaining one, Aaron, stared at me nkly. I smirked and patted Aaron on the shoulder. You got lucky. Why, why didnt theye back? Did they die? They might have gone back home. Why, do you want to try it too? Aaron raised his head as if he had gone mad. Then he spoke with a distorted face. You, you bastard, did you know about this and didnt tell us? If I had told you, would you have believed me? Aarons body trembled, but he didnt rush towards me. He just let out a deep groan and went back to the dormitory. I spoke to Iselle. Is todays schedule over? No, wait! Master hasnt logged out yet. Iselle twirled in the air and disappeared. After a while, a system message appeared. Constructing facilities. Please touch the desired facility type. You have chosen the subsidiary building Forge for Armory Lv.1. Would you like to construct it? Construction requires 500 gems. [Yes (Select) / No] A forge, huh? Well, since weve umted quite a lot of materials, it was time to synthesize equipment. Master, if youre busy in reality, how about allowing the hero to take autonomous actions? You might obtain special rewards! [Tips/The heros Autonomous Actions is one of the core features of Pick Me Up, allowing the hero to act ording to their own will even when the master is not logged in. The results of their actions vary depending on the heros disposition.] [Yes (Select) / No] Master, would you like to end the session? [Yes (Select) / No] Then goodbye! The rainbow-colored sky turned gray. It was the end of the Pick Me Up session. Is it over? Jenna asked. For now. What about those people? They probably died. People who are deemed unnecessary by the Master disappear in that room. Upon hearing me saying that Jenna looked a bit troubled. Why are you so gloomy? When did you be so whiny? When the timees when Im no longer needed, will I disappear too? Her expression was nonchnt, but her hand was trembling. As the floors go up, the monsters we have to fight will go stronger, and the humans who are summoned will also be stronger. If we die, we either dieat the hands of enemies or be sacrifices. Its one or the other. I see. It seems that you know everything about this, dont you, Oppa? I asked Jenna. Do you want to live? Yes. Then follow your Fathers words. My fathers words, Jenna murmured as she looked at me. If you want to live Ride the wave well. I passed by Jenna and returned to the dormitory. I took out orange juice from the refrigerator. I stretched my legs on the ck sofa andy down, gulping it down. It was amazingly refreshing. Iselle,e out if youre here. [Who are you to tell me toe out!] Im getting tired of that repertoire. Change it up a bit. [Rraah!] Iselle charged at me. I stayed still. Iselle couldnt bring herself to touch my body and only swung her fists in front of me. Youve had a hard time too. [Huh! Noisy!] By the way, the tips that were sent to Anytng, was it you who sent them? [Whats it to you? What does it have to do with you?] It does. Chapter 12: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (3) (2) Chapter 12: If You Want to Survive, Ride the Wave Well (3) (2) I gulped down the juice from the stic cup. Then tossed the cup onto the counter. Goal! Can you ess the inte? [The inte?] Yes, if you can interfere with the Pick Me Up system, then you must be able to ess the inte too, right? [Why do you keep asking?] There are good things that would happen if you answer. [I can. Web surfing is my hobby.] Then the tips you post must be based on the forum strategies. Draw 10 equipment Gachas, then level up the training center to level 1. After that, open the forge. It was the most popr post on the official Pick Me Up cafe. With 20 million views. 5 million rmendations. The strategy was shared on various other inte magazines and tranted, spreading worldwide. It was posted by a user, and the authors ount name was Loki. The post roughly described the facilities used and the methods of selecting and raising heroes. [Do you know Loki?] I do. Im also a Pick Me Up user. [Hah, youre just a low-level pup running around on the lower floors! You cant bepared to Loki. The Master of Masters, hes the god of Pick Me Up! If Loki had only 7-star heroes, he would have been the worlds number one long ago!] I chuckled. Why do you like Loki? [Because he can turn the impossible into possible!] Oh, he makes the impossible possible. [Dont you know that as a Pick Me Up user?] I actually know that, because Im Loki. [What?!] Im Loki. [Now, now, now, who are you kidding?!] ount number 46631913. Iselles eyes popped out. This guy, he also knew the ount number. Only the Master and Pick Me Up server officials could know the ount number of Pick Me Up. Masters never reveal their ount numbers because it could lead to hacking. [Yes, yes, no, are you Loki?] You dont believe me? I can even give you my Google ount! Check out my YouTube channel. I even told her the email and password for the Google ount. Iselle disappeared in a flurry, then reappeared after a while. [Do it.] What? [Sign it, you idiot!] Iselle handed me a pen and paper with a flushed face. I took the paper, quickly scribbled on it, and handed it back. Iselle pressed her lips against my rough doodle. Yes! With this, Im also a VIP member of Ragnaroki!] Whats Ragnaroki? [The fan cafe of the Master of Masters, Loki! You need Lokis signature to be a VIP member!] Was there such a thing? Its news to me. And whats this Ragnaroki? The naming sense is the worst. [Oh, oh, anyway, you no, Master Loki] Speak casually. Its awkward. [Are you really Loki? Really really?] Its true, so there you go. [Kyaa!] Iselle, who had been hopping around, suddenly regained her senses and said. [Wait. So Ive been speaking arrogantly to Loki all this time?] Right now, Im just a lowly 1-star. Does it really matter? [I I called Loki a pup!] Iselle started to panic. I couldnt quite grasp the emotional shift. [Sorry! If I had known that you were Loki, I wouldnt have said that! Really!] Calm down a bit. I wasnt really angry. [Why did Lokie to this ce Aaargh!] Iselle grabbed her head and screamed. [What kind of situation Im living in..?] Was it that shocking? I cant understand. This is almost at the level of being an obsessed fan. Iselle, who was sulking with her split hairstyle, suddenly stood up and said, Wait, wait! What happens to Niflheimr if youre not here? Niflheimr is the waiting room name for my ount. It consists of a total of 13 floors and is known as the pinnacle of infrastructure construction among ranker types, with a capacity of 20,000 residents, a training center at level 22, and an armory at level 18. All that for what? Master of masters That master ended up in this situation in the end. It meant nothing. Thinking about that I let out a deep sigh. I didnt think about that. [Are you thinking of quitting?] What else can I do in this situation? [But if Master Loki is not here] If youre so disappointed, then send me back. [I cant do that.] Iselle bowed her head with a gloomy expression. I know. This girl is nothing more than a mid-level admin, getting caught in the middle of superiors and work obligations. Anyway, the owner of this waiting room is a human from Earth, right? [Yes.] Great, she calmed down, and shes now cooperating. I decided to take this opportunity to ask about the things I was curious about. The summoned heroes are not artificial intelligence either, right? [Thats right. The affiliated worlds are slightly different, but theyre all humans.] If I climb the tower up to the 100th floor, can I return to Earth? [That I dont know.] You dont know? [Im serious! Believe me!] Fine. Next question. Who brought me here? [I cant answer that.] Huh, youre not helping. [Sorry.] Lets move on. As you said, if I climb the tower, Ill probably find out. Next question. How much ess do you have to the Masters authority? [Right now, I can disy help, open and close facilities, and assist with autonomous actions.] Next. This is the key to the question. Are other Masters waiting rooms the same as this one? [Theyre slightly different in detail, but the basics are the same.] Are there really 100 million worlds like this? I burst intoughter at the ridiculous scale of it all. I cant believe that what was just a game is now a reality in another world. My casual decisions could have been a death sentence for the heroes in the game. If I ever return to Earth, I decided to climb the tower in a way that conserves the heroes as much as possible. Ill exclude those who cant fulfill their roles. The way heroes can contribute to the Master is not limited to just battles. While this waiting room has most of its functions locked, as the grade increases and the functions are unlocked, nonbat heroes can find ways to contribute to the Master. If this waiting rooms grade were higher, even those who died meaninglessly might have had a role. They were just unlucky. But what can you do? Thats how the world is. I wonder if the Niflheimr crew is doing fine without me. If the heroes there are still alive, they would have noticed my absence by now. I wont be able to go back for a while. But it should be fine. In Pick Me Up, theres a feature where designated heroes operate the waiting room when the Master is absent for a long time. So Pick Me Up also had the title of an idle game. Seris will handle it on her own. Seris, the sub-master of Niflheimr, was unusually intelligent and wise. She aplished two tasks when given one, and she had the talent to understand what I wanted. Seriously, its hard to believe shes an artificial intelligence. Anyway, I cant help them. They have to figure out how they can live without me until I survive this ce. Im here now. And Ive decided to find a way to live here. Iselle. [Uh, yeah?] Do you wish to climb the tower? Iselle hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Listen carefully. Ill make it possible. Me and you will climb it. This time, she nodded her head without hesitation. Floor reached: 3rd floor. Autonomous actions are finally enabled, and the forge is open. The scope of activities has expanded. Ill have to speed up the progress starting tomorrow. If Iselle helps, it should be more than possible. Leaning against the sofa, I looked up at the ceiling. The ashen sky remained the same. Chapter 13: Laying the Groundwork (1) Part 1 Chapter 13: Laying the Groundwork (1) Part 1 The next day. As usual, I cooked and ate ramen before heading to the training camp. Jenna was waiting for me. We did some warm-up exercises together before starting our running routine. Jenna was running on the track as usual. After lightly sweating from the run, we were about to start the stamina training when Jenna unexpectedly spoke up with a determined expression on her face. Excuse me, Oppa! What is it? Im in your hands! Did you eat something bad again? You said youd survive if I start training with you. So I want to do it even more intensely! From now on Im going to be in your hands! Jenna bowed her head. Shes quite determined. You said you lived alone up until now, didnt you? Yes? Are you lying? No! I, Jenna Shirai, swear that Ive been living alone! I havent even held hands with a guy! I chuckled and said, Rx. Dont strain your shoulders. I wont try anything funny like that. Yes! As long as you dont think about useless things like now and just focus on your tasks, you wont die. So dont worry too much. Thank you for your kind words! I said dont strain your shoulders. Its annoying. Im not a master. If we establish such a hierarchical rtionship, itll just bother you. Even if it bothers me, Im okay with establishing a hierarchical rtionship! Oppa, please consider me as your Number 1 subordinate! [Who said youre Lokis Number 1 subordinate!] Here ites. Iselle eximed with a childish expression on her face. [Im the Number 1 subordinate! Youre out!] Why are you here?! [Why are you next to Loki? Like a sly fox. Do you know who this person is? Hes different from a lowly woman like you. Pick Me Ups god, the Master of Ugh! Ugh!] I covered Iselles mouth and dragged her outside the training camp. I let go of her hand at a corner of the square. Why are you like this? Dont show off to that kind of woman! Youre mistaken. Im not the master here. Dont say things like I came from Earth or Im Loki. Got it? If you dont listen to me, I wont talk to you. But Are we good? Or do you have some objections? Ah, okay. When we returned to the training camp, Jenna was looking at Iselle with a stern gaze. Anyway, Loki I mean, Han, Im your Number 1 subordinate, remember! After giving Jenna a reproachful look, Iselle disappeared. I shouldnt have said anything to her. My head starts to ache. Whats wrong with her? Just ignore her. Shes just a fool. And strictly speaking, my Number 1 subordinate would be Seris. In Niflheimr, I have subordinates who can be considered close to me, up to Number 5. They are level 99 with various ultimate skills and possess the 5 Divine Artifacts I painstakingly created. Ill probably meet them as I climb the tower. We continued with our training routine. While doing push-ups, I checked my stats, which had been enhanced through synthesis. [Hann Israt () Lv. 7 (Exp 13/50)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 19/19] [Intelligence: 13/13] [Stamina: 18/18] [Agility: 18/18] [Skills: Low-Level Swordsmanship (Lv.3), Pain Resistance (Lv.1), Composure (Lv.1)](T/N: It says Swordsmanship, but I think its just a mistake, it should be Shield and Swordsmanship) My strength increased by 2, stamina by 2, and agility by 2, resulting in a total stat increase of 6. However, my intelligence decreased by 1, so the overall growth value is 5. Considering that the base growth value for a 1-star is 4, this is a remarkable change. The efficiency of leveling up has increased by 20%. Furthermore, I obtained theposure skill that I desired. Indeed, synthesis proved to be the most efficient method of growth. Now its time to examine Jenna. [Jenna Shirai () Lv. 5 (Exp 22/40)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 16/16] [Intelligence: 13/13] [Stamina: 15/15] [Agility: 19/19] [Skills: Low-Level Archery (Lv.4), Eye of the Hawk (Lv.1)] A typical archer type. In the previous synthesis, she even gained the Eye of the Hawk skill, which enhances eyesight. As her level and rank increase, she can transition from a thief to an archer, and eventually to a sniper. Stamina training isplete. As my level increased, the training gradually became easier. I discussed with Jenna that we would increase the intensity starting from tomorrow. We would wear sandbags and run or reduce the fingers used for push-ups. As the level of the training camp rises, more diverse methods will be avable. After lunch, we regrouped at the training camp. Thats when something unexpected happened. In a corner of the training camp, a young man with short hair stood with a determined expression. It was Aaron. He rarely even showed up in the square, let alone the training camp. Aaron came up to me energetically. Excuse me! What is it? Im busy. Let me join you too! Join us? I want to fight too. I want to be of help to you. So, please teach me how to fight! Aaron bowed deeply. Im sorry. I I was a fool. I was only causing trouble. But now, things will be different. Just once, please trust me! How can I trust you? Well, if you want, Ill even kneel. Please Seems like youvee to your senses. Jenna jabbed me with her elbow. I smirked. Hey. Y-Yes? Have you ever fought a monster? Aaron shook his head hesitantly. Beforeing here, I didnt even know if such things existed, let alone fight them. Its a matter of determination. The determination to fight even if it means dying, no, the determination to fight and survive. I swiftly threw a spear from the weapon pouch. Whats this?! Its a spear. S-spear Im not an expert either, but I heard its the easiest weapon to master. Give it a try. Do you know the principle of bnce? Whats the principle of bnce? Close range, mid-range, long range. Jenna pondered for a moment and pped her hands. Ah! Close range, sword! Mid-range, spear! Long range, bow! These three make up the principle of bnce, right? Thats right. When three inexperienced people form a party, its one of the most efficient methods. Chapter 13: Laying the Groundwork (1) Part 2 Chapter 13: Laying the Groundwork (1) Part 2 For 1-star individuals without any special skills, if they are sent out randomly, it usually ends in a simple brawl. Naturally, in such cases, the survival rate of heroes hits rock bottom. Thats when the concept of partyposition based on the principle of bnce emerged. First, the swordsman takes the lead and assumes the role of a tank with a shield and sword. The spearman assists the swordsman from mid-range, serving as a secondary tank and dealer. And the archer takes the main role in sniping and dealing damage from long range. If role distribution is carried out organically, not onlybat power but also survival rates skyrocket. That is, if the roles are properly fulfilled. Shall we see your skills? I lifted my wooden shield and took hold of my wooden sword. Aaron stood there, holding a spear, looking uncertain. What are you doing? Arent you prepared to fight? Fi-fighting? Arent you going to teach me first? You expect me to teach you when Ive never even held a spear before? Well then I learned on my own too. You can learn on your own as well. Be grateful that theres someone to spar with. When I first came here I fought against scarecrows alone. Aaron adjusted his stance, but his frightened expression was evident. Hyah! Aaron shouted with a strange vigor as he thrust his spear forward. His body was filled with tension, and he closed both his eyes. As I took a step to the side, the spear cut through the air. It wasnt a fight of life and death. If he gets scared like this in a simple spar, how would he fare in an actual battle? I swiftly pulled the spearhead toward me with my left hand, holding the shield. Aaron stumbled and fell to the ground. Ugh ugh Get up. Is this all youve got? If I were a monster, youd already be defeated. I-Ill get up. Its inevitable for his stance to be awkward. To a skilled individual, even I would appear hopelessly clumsy. The problem lies in his mindset. Theres no drive. No desire to win. No cool-headedness in seeking weaknesses. It only appears as if hes forcing himself to do it because he doesnt want to die. An hour passed. Hah, hah, hah Aarony sprawled on the floor of the training camp. His chest moved up and down without a moments rest. In contrast, I had only broken a sweat. Theres almost a double stat difference between me at level 7 and Aaron at level 1. However, no matter how much my body and skills may be superior, its somewhat disheartening that he cant even touch me. Its not like the difference is overwhelmingly vast. Get up. Lets go again. I-I cant anymore Well then, donte tomorrow. Aaron turned his body over and slowly got up. His whole body was covered in sweat. Jenna said, Shouldnt we take a break? Im not nning to carry your baggage. If you cant keep up, Ill leave you behind. Ugh, ugh Aaron held the spear unsteadily. Do you have any family? M-My younger sister is waiting. Youre better off than me. I have no one. I flicked my wooden sword. If youre going to do it half-heartedly because you feel sorry, dont do it at all. If youe out like that, youll die at the hands of a monster. Itll be much more painful than dying through synthesis. Do you understand? I I want to protect my sister Protect her? You need to go back alive first! Aarons gaze suddenly changed. Thats more like it. Iming! After the training ended, Jenna took thepletely exhausted Aaron to the dormitory. Although he still couldntnd a hit on me, Aaron achieved the feat of making me use a shield. He even started attempting techniques like swinging rather than just thrusting. It was progress. If he polished his skills a bit more, I wouldnt have to worry about him holding us back. The next morning, Aaron joined the training ranks. He was far behind us, huffing and puffing while carrying the sandbag, but he didnt seem to have any intention of giving up. He perked up whenever his sister was mentioned. After lunch, we began the sparring session. This time, Aaron sparred with Jenna instead of me. Jenna needed a secondary weapon in case she dropped her arrows or couldnt use her bow. Luckily, there was a decent wooden dagger avable. Spear and dagger. There was noparison in reach or power between the weapons, and Jenna had never handled a dagger before either, but she consistently overwhelmed Aaron. Why is she a 1-star? I felt that the ranking system was unreasonable. After that days training came to an end, Aaron returned to the dormitory with a self-deprecating expression. I went easy on him. Dont get cocky. I flicked Jennas forehead. It hurts. Why did you do that? Im your first subordinate! Did I ever ask you to be my subordinate? Tsk, tsk. I stuck out my tongue and walked out to the za. Jenna hurriedly followed. You know it was a joke! Youre such a bully. Anyway,e with me. I have something to do. What is it? Youll find out if youe along. I stood in front of the steel gate at the corner of the za. The que on the gate read Storage. Iselle, open the storage. [Wait!] Creak With an old sound, the gate opened. We entered the storage. Inside, there was arge metal rack with hundreds ofpartments. Most of thepartments were empty, but there were scattered items in some of them. At the entrance of the storage, there was a wheeled cart. So its like this. I pulled the cart at the entrance and pushed it towards Jenna. Follow me with this. What are you nning to do? Stop asking questions. I dragged theining Jenna and walked towards a corner of the racks. In the toppartment, there was a package wrapped in brown paper, resembling a bundle. I took out the package and inspected its contents. [Iron Ore (C)] Inside the package, there were iron ingots. I ced the paper-wrapped iron ore into the cart. Looking at otherpartments, there were also leather and timber. I selected a few and ced them inside. [Han () has exported 6 Iron Ore (C), 3 Leather (C), and 4 Cardboard (C) from the storage.] Before I knew it, the cart was full. I took Jenna and walked back to the za. Open the armory. [Yes!] The armory doors began to open. What on earth are you nning? We cant keep using old iron swords forever, can we? We had the materials, the cksmithy was open, and autonomous actions were enabled. So naturally, we had to make weapons. Chapter 14: Laying the Groundwork (2) Part 1 Chapter 14: Laying the Groundwork (2) Part 1 I am different from the typical heroes. I was aware of that. The system logs that appear while the Master controls the game were visible only to me. Theres one more thing here. Its the ability to bring up the stat window. And this is where things change from this point on. It means I can interfere with the system with my own will. Even if its just a little thing like this. I recalled my conversation with Iselle fromst night. Iselle said that the stat window I bring up doesnt appear on the Masters screen. Im a being that is half Master and half hero. This is what I am in this world. In that case. It might be possible. To intrude into the areas allowed only for the Master. I picked up a wooden shield and a bow from the armory. Stay here. Jenna handed me the cart full of materials. [cksmithing Lv.1] I opened the small iron door that appeared on the left side of the armory. A rush of hot air hit me. Inside the cksmithing area, there was a small zing furnace, an anvil, and various tools for crafting. [Youre finally making something!] Iselle appeared and circled above my head. Perhaps it was because of the fire in the furnace, her cheeks were flushed. Lets give it a try. [So, Loki! What are you making? Levatein? Or maybe Brnnhilde? Stormbringer? Pragahr?] Here? I didnt have any materials, and the facility level was low. There were no assistant agents to help with the crafting. On the other hand, if the conditions were sufficient, as Iselle mentioned, I could create such a super-grade weapon, but it wasnt the right timing yet. Open the equipment crafting window. [Okay!] A hologram window appeared, shimmering on one side of my vision. It was the exact screen that appears when you press the equipment synthesis tab in Pick Me Up. [Equipment crafting in progress!] I pressed the crafting button at the bottom of the screen. The screen changed, and a window asking for detailed conditions appeared. So it works. Type: Normal. Form: Longsword. Method: Casting. [You have selected casting. Are you sure? A penalty will be applied.] Yes. There are three methods for equipment crafting: reinforcement, which enhances existing weapons, casting, which creates new weapons from materials, andmissioning, which entrusts the entire process to a skilled cksmith. [Please insert the materials.] I put two iron ores, one piece of leather, and one sheet of cardboard into the furnace. The mes in the furnace roared fiercely. Is this how you insert the materials? [Yes, thats right. Just like that.] I touched Start at the bottom of the equipment crafting window. [Insufficient facilities. A penalty will be applied.] [No cksmith avable. A penalty will be applied.] [No blueprint avable. A penalty will be applied.] [Sess rate: Extremely low It will fail unless extraordinary luck apanies you! Prepare better conditions and give it a try. Are you sure about this?] [Do you want to proceed with the crafting?] [Yes / No] I flicked my finger. Its been a while since I crafted, but the sensation still lingers at my fingertips. With a low facility level, no cksmith, and no blueprint, its a triple penalty. However, this level of challenge is nothing to me. [Manually, crafting?] Manually. [Good choice!] A hologram screen appeared in the center of my field of vision. The screen wasposed of thousands of lines, resembling a grid. In the middle of the screen, I saw the longsword I wanted to create. The image of the sword was rendered in pixels. [Ting!] [Insufficient facilities!] A portion of the horizontal axis rotated, distorting the sword. [Ting!] [No cksmith avable!] A portion of the vertical axis rotated, deforming the shape of the sword. [Ting!] [No blueprint avable!] The intact sword vanished, and the screen was covered in white and ck dots. It was simr to a toy cube. By rotating the screen horizontally or vertically, you could solve the puzzle. The only difference was that the puzzle target was a polyhedron. It was a kind of mini-game. Of course, most Masters didnt bother with such a tedious game. As long as the conditions were met, it could be automated. [Please select the puzzle difficulty level. The higher the level, the greater the rewards!] Super Hell. [Super Hell? Despite the triple penalty?] Just for fun. [You have selected the Super Hell difficulty level.] [Do you really want to waste the materials like that? I wont stop you!] 15X15. 15 lines on the horizontal axis. 15 lines on the vertical axis. For Super Hell, the time limit was 3 minutes. The image on the screen shook and rotated once again. Now, I couldnt recognize the form at all. [Puzzle Start!] Why did they create such a useless feature? Hardly anyone uses it except for a few genuine maniacs. Does this puzzle have any deeper meaning? Since it wasnt an ordinary game, there might be something more to it. But for now, I couldnt tell. psed time: 27 seconds. [!Major Sess!] [Han() has crafted a Well-Forged Longsword(C-)!] A single sword sprang out from the bottom of the furnace. [Well-Forged Iron Sword] [Grade: C-] [Masterpiece!] [Sturdy, lightweight, and sharp. While the base materials are crude, they have beenplemented with an unbelievable level of craftsmanship.] Just a C- grade. Considering the materials, theres nothing I could do about it. This time, I threw a crude bow into the furnace. As I inserted the materials needed for reinforcement, I pondered. There are two types of bows. The shortbow, which emphasizes portability and rate of fire. The longbow, which prioritizes range and prating power. But its not the time for a longbow yet. She would need a longbow starting from the floors whererge monsters appear. I chose the normal type, shortbow form, and reinforcement method. The weapon to be reinforced was a crude E- grade bow. The mini-game began. [!Major Sess!] [Han() has crafted a Bnced Shortbow(C)!] I also decided to make a spear. [!Major Sess!] [Han() has crafted a Sharp Halberd(C-)!] Lastly, I reinforced the shield. [!Major Sess!] [Han() has crafted a Sturdy Iron Shield(C)!] This, this is the hand of a god! The legendary Hand of God! Kyaaaah! I pushed Iselle, who was charging toward me. Thats enough. Although Id like to make more items, Ive already made enough to catch the eye. I dont want unnecessary misunderstandings from the Master. Even if Im an independent existence, in the end, Im just a single hero. Im not allowed to use essential functions like summoning or synthesis. Equipment crafting would have also been impossible without Iselles help. I put the crafted weapons into the cart and left the armory. Jenna looked at the weapons and her mouth dropped open. How did you do this?? Dont ask. Its dangerous. To be precise, I used cheats. The type of crafting I just did isnt allowed for heroes. When you observe how the crafter, craft equipment, its an analog process of carving wood, tanning leather, and smelting iron This is why I was hesitant, but I was fortunate that it was possible. Jenna took out a bow from the cart and tested it. The quality The quality? Its amazing. Jenna smiled and ced the bow on the disy stand. Next, the sword, spear, and shield were also disyed in the armory. With this much, wont people whoeter try to steal them? That wont happen if I ask the master to use the Exclusive Weapon function. Dont worry. As we left the armory and entered the square, the armory door closed with a creak. Chapter 14: Laying the Groundwork (2) Part 2 Chapter 14: Laying the Groundwork (2) Part 2 The sky was gloomy ash gray. Whether its morning or evening, its the same shade of gray, but thendscape changes slightly depending on the time. For example, a bright gray in the early morning. A dark gray atte night. Therefore it was already night. Back to potatoes Jenna sighed. Are you tired of eating potatoes already? Of course! Three meals a day, potatoes, potatoes, potatoes! Ill throw up just looking at potatoes now. [Jenna() expresses dissatisfaction with the lodging!] Im starting to feel limited by my ramen-focused diet as well. Should I consider changing the lodging? [Han() expresses dissatisfaction with the lodging!] [Tips/Improve your facilities to create a pleasant environment! It boosts the morale of the hero.] Well, then. The message I just received will be presented in a report format when the Master logs in. He could ignore it though, and if he does, well just have to endure. Is there any other way? After parting with Jenna and returning to my room, I read the strategy guide I wrote. I checked for any mistakes and determined the direction I should take. Things were going well. The next afternoon, Aaron finally learned low-grade spear techniques. Hes still somewhat clumsy, but he has reached a level where hes notpletely helpless. I was able to move beyond fighting against scarecrows and practice against humans for a more diverse training experience. After throwing Aaron off guard I stood tall before him. Mama! Whoop! S-Save meeee! Whoop! [Aaron() feels favorably towards Han().] Is this guy a pervert? And the next day. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] The sky sparkles in white. Even without reading the message, I could tell. I closed the notebook with my goals written on it and stood up from the chair. As I stepped out into the square, I saw Aaron with a tense face and Jenna with a nonchnt expression waiting for me. Rx. I patted Aarons shoulder with a smile. In the Masters perception, Aaron might be at the edge of a cliff, but if we stick to the practice, we can avoid the worst-case scenario. As long as he shows minimal performance, he wont be disposed of. The current 1 Party hadnt even filled up the required number of members after all. Come to think of it, I dont see any windows, the master isnt [Open, Rift of the time and space!] [Han, Jenna, Aaron!] Im going even if you dont call my name. Jenna was eager to enter. Does this mean hell proceed with the strategy of just using the three of us? That was also one way to do it, but this is not it. Its true that the difficulty level of the towers floors wasnt high at this point, but just adding a level 1, 1-star hero to an experienced party would only be a hindrance. But we cant do anything about it. I entered the armory, picked up a sword and shield, and then threw the spear to Aaron. Whats this Dont ask, just use it. If you keep second guessing two days of hard work would go to waste. T-Thank you! But dont trip over your own feet. Ill keep that in mind. How long are you going to keep talking to me formally, just rx? Then, Hyung-nim! . Just looking at his face, he looks older than me. Hyung-nim, Ill do my best! Well, thats enough. Jenna then smiled and said, Lets all do our best together. We entered the rift of time and space. The mirror on the left side shimmered, and the location changed. The wind blew through the dense trees, carrying a sense of anticipation. Whoosh! Its a forest. [Floor 4.] [Mission Type Subjugation] [Objective Annihte the enemies!] [Goblin Lv.4 X 3] [Harpy Lv.6 X 2] The goblins that we got familiar with, and the Harpies. Upper body of a woman, lower body of a bird. Just as expected, they look disgusting. The troublesome thing about harpies is that they fly in the sky and primarily attack from hard-to-reach heights. I said to Jenna, You take care of those harpies. I had a feeling youd say that. I wanted to try using the bow you gave me properly, and now I can. You protect Jenna. The harpies will be specifically targeting her. My sword cannot reach where the harpies are. Aaron, with his long spear, was perfect for dealing with them. I swiftly swung my iron sword. The grip feels good, and the weight is just right. The de gleamed a pale blue, almost as if it were glowing. Truly a weapon I created. It cant even bepared to an old iron sword. The shield made of solid iron also exuded a smooth shine. There are no long-range attackers. The goblins armed with swords and shields approached us while leaving the harpies in the air. For this battle, we decided to wait until the goblins approached. Going out to fight would be fine, but once I leave, the formation will break. One of the fundamental principles ofbat. Swordsmen must fight enemies within the reach of their allies spears. An arrow was shot from Jennas bow. The arrow pierced the wing of a harpy on the left. Kiiii! The harpy with the arrow in its wing charged at Jenna. Aaron! Uwaaaaah! Aaron swung his spear wildly. [Aaron() feels fear! All stats decreased by 30%.] This guy Whoosh! Fortunately, I took a step forward. The spears shaft swept past where I was standing. That guy, he got too excited. He didnt swing his spear around wildly like that in the training ground. I was about to say something Suddenly- Pull yourself together! Jenna pped Aarons cheek hard. A single stream of blood trickled down from Aarons nose. This battle was Aarons first realbat experience. Until now, he had only been a spectator from the sidelines. I understand. Both Jenna and I experienced fear during our first real battle as well. However, Aaron didnt have a second chance. If you fail again this time, you die! Is that okay with you? . Dont be disheartened. I-I will do my best! Aarons spear started to find its target. The fear didnt dissipate, but at least he managed to keep the harpy charging at Jenna away. After that, it was smooth sailing. Aaron and I took defensive positions to protect Jenna, while Jenna shot down the harpies and goblins one by one without any hindrance. [Stage Clear!] [Aaron() leveled up!] [Rewards 10,000G, Leather (C) x 3, Iron Ore (C) x 2] [MVP Han()] Chapter 15: Laying the Groundwork (3) Part 1 Chapter 15: Laying the Groundwork (3) Part 1 I returned through the Rift of Time and Space, swiftly wiping off the blood on my sword. Its finally over. Ugh, ugh! Aaron copsed, vomiting bile. His entire body was drenched in a cold sweat, and the hand gripping the spear trembled. Are you alright? I-Im fine Jenna patted Aarons back. After Aaron calmed down, we walked out to the za. As the Rift closed, Aaron, with trembling eyes, looked at the sealed entrance of the Synthesis Chamber. What will happen to me? I dont know. In truth, Aaron didnt contribute much in the recent battle. He yed the role of a link between Jenna and me, but he mostly just stabbed or swung the spear aimlessly between us. Still, it was better than nothing. [Added Aaron() to favorites.] You will be okay. R-Really? Cant you tell? The door is not opening. Im alive! Im, Im still alive! Aaron kneeled down, raising both hands in triumph. [Registered Well-Forged Steel Sword(-C) to Han() exclusive equipment.] [Registered Sturdy Iron Shield(C) to Han() exclusive equipment.] [Registered Bnced Short Bow(C) to Jenna() exclusive equipment.] [Registered Sharp Lance(C-) to Aaron() exclusive equipment.] Why isnt the armory isnt opening? Shouldnt we return the weapons? Jenna said. I received a message stating that the exclusive equipment had been registered. Exclusive equipment referred to a system that bound specific items to a hero. No one other than the designated hero could use exclusive equipment. Therefore, there was no need to store them in the armory. The master wants us to keep them. We dont have to return them? Awesome! Does that mean I can practice with this bow instead of the training bow?! Jennas eyes sparkled. As I nodded, she cheered and embraced the bow. The wooden weapons avable at the training grounds were different in weight and size from the actual weapons we used. It would be much better to get used to the weapons we would use in realbat. Can we go back now? It seems like its over for today. Its not over yet. Wait a bit longer. Even though the Rift, Synthesis Chamber, and armory were closed, the light in the sky didnt fade. I walked slowly toward a corner of the za and sat down. Nina, Im going! Wait for me! Aaron shouted. I looked at him then at Jenna, and then said, Bring him along too. Jenna dragged Aaron, who was performing some strange ceremony while kneeling, and joined me, as I watched what Anytng was doing. [Pop-up! Would you like to purchase the New Package for 65,000 won?] [Yes (Select) / No] A holographic screen appeared with a package containing blue gems and gold coins. [New Package, a one-time jackpot offer for new masters!] [5,000 gems and 300,000 gold for only 65,000 won!] [This amount will be added to your phone bill for the next month. Are you sure you want to proceed with the payment?] [Yes (Select) / No] [Please enter your payment password.] [ ] [Now Loading] [Paymentplete!] [The items have been delivered by mail. Please check!] What does the Master want to do? It seems like theres no fighting and nothing happening. Well, he needs money if he wants to do something. Money? Didnt you say yesterday that youre tired of eating baked potatoes, here you go. To put it simply, Pick Me Up is an idle game. Unlike other mobile games that give gems forpleting missions or hold events where gems are generously given away, Pick Me Up has very few of those. Even though there might be a grand event for new Masters or whatever, in reality, they give you a total of 1,000 gems over a span of ten days. Even with 1,000 gems, you cant do much. You could easily spend all of them on two paid gacha pulls or two basic facility constructions. The ways to acquire gems, a premium currency, for free in Pick Me Up are limited. Like I thought, you were thinking about spending money. Hes having fun. The diverse reactions of the heroes and the realistic battles. Surely, to Anytng it feels like he was controlling actual humans in the waiting room instead of dataposed of zeroes and ones. Anytngs identity began to show gradually. First, his login time was fixed. There was a high chance he had a job with setmuting hours. Unlike when he first started ying, randomly going for battles, and summoning 1-star heroes, he was steadily expanding the facilities for a while now. And today, he even used the function of exclusive equipment that couldnt be known through in-game tips. There is a high probability that he had looked up strategies on Pick Me Up-rted websites. If hes a user who reads strategies, he can predict where to spend those 5,000 gems. [Constructing facilities. Please touch the desired facility type.] [You have selected Dormitory Lv.1. Would you like to expand this building?] [Yes (Select) / No] The Dormitory has reached Level 2. The limit on the number of heroes you can have has increased. [You have selected the Dining Hall, a subsidiary building of the Dormitory. Would you like to construct it?] [Yes (Select) / No] The za shook. Due to the unexpected vibration, Aaron and Jenna started panicking. I focused on the rapidly appearingpletion windows. [You have selected the Carpentry Workshop, a subsidiary building of the Armory. Would you like to construct it?] [The Workshop, a subsidiary building of the Armory] [The Training Ground Lv.1] [The Dining Hall isplete! High-quality meals will be provided to the heroes.] [The Carpentry Workshop isplete! Bonuses will be given for equipment crafting.] [The Workshop isplete! Bonuses will be given for equipment crafting.] [The three subsidiary buildings of the Armory, the Forge, Carpentry Workshop, and Workshop, arebined to create the new facility, the Equipment Crafting Hall!] [The Training Ground has reached Level 2! The training efficiency of heroes will increase.] [Great!] [As a result of the proliferation of facilities, the za evolves to Level 2!] Various items appeared in the za that were just blocked before. Benches made of wood, small flower beds with blooming flowers, and a fountain. The previously barren atmosphere gained a bit of vitality. Of course, Jenna and Aaron were astonished to the point of their jaws dropping, as there seemed to be objects materializing out of thin air. I summarized the current situation and exined it briefly. Both of them already knew that this ce is ruled by a being called the Master. Doesnt the waiting room improve as you go up the floors? Is the Master a grand sorcerer? Oh my, to think such a thing is possible Grand sorcerer. In a sense, that could be the correct answer. Chapter 15: Laying the Groundwork (3) Part 2 Chapter 15: Laying the Groundwork (3) Part 2 Can we finally say goodbye to days of baked potatoes? If theres a dining hall, things might improve a little. It wont change drastically, but it will be better than now. Yes! Jenna jumped up and down in excitement. Aaron also seemed to be in a decent mood. What just happened could be considered as a reward for their victory. They will likely benefit greatly from the tips. If we fight harder, can we eat expensive dishes too? As long as it doesnt seem useless to the Master. Ill settle for the finest steak! Im satisfied with turkey, Hyung-nim! Both of their faces lit up. On the other hand, I remained cool andposed. Seeing me expressionless, they started to subtly observe my reactions. Aaron spoke up. Do you have any bad news? Just remember that if any seemed useless to the master, it gets discarded. Got it? They nodded their heads. Dont forget that. Thats all. Well keep that in mind, Hyung-nim! Ill work harder too! Looks like 3-star heroes will start appearing soon. Maybe even 4-star, or perhaps even 5-star. Currently, we are in charge of the main strategy party in this waiting room, but thats only because there arent enough people, and it can change at any time depending on circumstances. I looked at the summoning portal. The door of the summoning portal was always ready to open. Even now. And sure enough. [Master, initiating a 10-consecutive summon. Exciting to see which heroes will appear!] Jenna, who noticed the open summoning portal, raised her voice. Oh, the portal opened, Oppa? It seems were done being the leaders; now its time to wee the guests. Its not a paid summon yet. It was amon summon using gold. [Tak-kak, doodoo-doo.] [Tada!] [Common!] Master Anytng [Common!] Master Anytng After a while, ten men and women walked out into the za. By now, after seeing this phenomenon happening more than twice, it didnt seem odd anymore. They noticed us as they wandered around the corner of the za. A man with a shaved head approached us. W-Who are you? Did you bring us here? An anxious expression. His voice was trembling. The reactions are all the same. Jenna said in a bitter voice. Its not us. The person called the Master summoned you. The Master? Who is that person? A magician? Something like that. And who are you? Why did wee here? Send us back immediately Please calm down. I rubbed my temples. Ive heard the same thing so many times; its giving me a headache. Hey, you why are acting like were bothering you? Tell us who brought us here! I have no intention of exining it to you right now. You wouldnt believe it anyway. Figure things out on your own. When youe back to your sensester, you can find me. W-What are you talking about! Who are you I said, be quiet. I slightly unsheathed the de from its scabbard. The mans face stiffened upon seeing it. They were unarmed, while we were armed with swords, shields, bows, and spears. The man couldnt utter a word and turned away. Im not some kind ofpassionate figure like Jesus or Buddha, and I dont have the energy to exin things one by one. Hyung-nim Aaron seemed a bit troubled looking at me. Why dont you go and try to persuade them? Tell them they have to fight monsters to survive? Do you think theyll believe you? Theyll have to experience it firsthand. By rolling their bodies, theyll inevitablye to realize it, even if they dislike it. Wee to the tower, chickens! Iselle appeared and stretched out her chest. It seemed like she was trying to impose a sense of intimidation. It was amusing to me, but not to them. Who are you? Be quiet and listen carefully. If you keep wandering off and murmuring, youll regret it. The crowd fell silent. Iselle looked satisfied, then raised her head and spoke. Any of you were carpenters? A young man with an ordinary appearance raised his hand. You, go over there. The young man silently moved to the left. Next, anyone who was a cksmith? This time, no one raised their hand. Iselle lightly licked her lips and spoke for thest time. Anyone who was a cook? I-I can cook! The middle-aged man who spoke to us raised his hand. Then you go as well. The man rolled his eyes and walked towards where the carpenter was. What are you doing? Jenna wondered. Were dividing roles. A dining hall needs a cook and a cksmith needs a cksmith, if a facility is created, it requires the appropriate personnel. I couldnt help but recall the middle-aged man, Ryle, who was summoned during the first initial 10-consecutive summon. He was said to be the head of the carpentry workshop. If he had been summoned this time, he could have been assigned to the carpentry workshop. In the current situation, its like deciding your military upation before enlisting. If you have talent in cooking, you be a cook. If you have talent in driving, you be a driver. Simrly, Iselle, who received the Masters orders due to the newly established facilities, is assigning job ssifications. Haha, what a lucky bastard. I looked at the young man who was silently surveying his surroundings and spoke. With the carpenter and the cook Jobs gone, there were a total of eight remaining individuals. [Forming a party.] Drag and drop your heroes! Zeeth() joins Party 2! Hanson() joins Party 2 John() joins Party 2 [Open up, the rift of time and spcce!] Iselle said excitedly. If you dont have any special talents, youll have to roll your body. Chapter 16: Laying the Groundwork (4) Part 1 Chapter 16: Laying the Groundwork (4) Part 1 [Zeeth, Hanson, John, Teddy,e out!] The people whose names were called flinched. A man with a mustache stepped forward and spoke. Calling us here without any exnation and telling us to do this and that without any justification, isnt it too much? At the very least, some exnation should be given! Yes, youre right! [Oh, really?] Iselle said with a grim expression. [If you go in there, monsters will appear. You just have to fight them and win.] What? Why do we have to fight monsters? That doesnt make any sense! Thats why I dont like 1-stars! Iselle grabbed the mans wrist and threw him into the rift. The people gasped at the tremendous force emanating from her petite figure. You have two choices. Either go on foot or fly! Fight monsters? Even so The three hesitated but eventually entered the rift. The door closed. It is unreasonable. Summoned without even knowing anything and forced to fight monsters. I know how absurd and unjust this is. Even I wished I had been given at least the minimum amount of time to prepare. But that would be too good to be true. There is a term called Screening in Pick Me Up. As one of the techniques in the games mechanics, it is the simplest way to ssify usable 1-star characters. The method is really simple. Just throw the newly obtained 1-star characters into the dungeon. By doing that [John () has returned to the goddesss embrace! His determination will be remembered forever.] The inexperienced heroes who cannot adapt to the situation are automatically filtered out. The challenge floor is probably the 1st floor. On the 1st floor, a few young goblins armed with old swords appear. They are the lowest of the lowest-level monsters. If even the 1st-level 1-star characters, who know nothing, handle it calmly, it can be easily ovee. [Teddy () has returned to the goddesss embrace! His determination will be remembered forever.] If youre unlucky, the entire party may be wiped out like during the initial 10-draw. But no more death messages are disyed. F-Fight monsters We cant do that! We cant! One man sitting on the bench stood up abruptly. Iselle, who was on surveince duty, disappeared into the rift without showing herself. The man quickly began to move away from the square. You shouldnt go. Jenna blocked his path. She was also the type who suffered and worked hard. Why? Why should I do that? If you leave, what will happen to those people over there? Three men and women were huddled together near the rift. I dont know. Theyll fight and die, I guess! Im going to run away. How about we escape together! The man grabbed Jenna by her arm. Leave me alone. I cant escape anyway. Seeing how she refused his offer, the man passed by Jenna and tried to open the door to the dormitory. It didnt open. This time, he pulled on the door of the training ground. It was locked. Neither this door nor that door allowed the man entry. Damn it, damn it, fuck! The man started banging his head against the wall. After a while, two survivors returned. Both of them were young boys, their faces pale like ghosts. Iselle recited the next partys roster in a dull voice. Dica, Deckerd, Sigler, Chloe! Eek! The woman whose name was called knelt down. Aaron, who had been tightly closing his eyes in frustration, stood up and approached them. [What are you doing? Its not your turn, so get lost.] Ill fight with them too! [What?] Iselles eyes widened in surprise. Jenna and I were equally astonished. Hey, big brother, were you always like this? You really cant judge a person by seeing him once. I chuckled and said. Iselle, rmend Aaron as a party member. He may still becking in actualbat, but hes not bad. [But] Iselle hesitated for a while, alternating her gaze between me and Aaron, and then disappeared with a poof. Aaron () wants to join Party 3. Will you allow it? [Yes (Select) / No] If Jenna or I had applied, we would have been rejected. Only Aaron, who is at level 2 and can gain experience even on the 1st floor, was eligible for this method. Aaron took hold of the hand of the weeping woman who was kneeling and lifted her up, saying: If we regain ourposure and rely on each other, we can survive. Dont worry. Aaron draw the spear from the back at once and then waved it. It was a disy of his ability to protect them. He almost twisted his wrist during the process, but they didnt seem to notice. Their faces were filled with deep relief. Aaron. Yes, hyung-nim. Its good that youre helping. But dont cause us any further trouble in the process. Understood. Aaron nodded. He seemed to understand the meaning of my words. Aaron entered the rift with the four others, and the door closed behind them. The only ones left are these two. I checked the status window of the young man who used to be a carpenter. He had a skill called Apprentice Carpenter. It seemed like he really was a carpenter. Since Anytng assigned him to the carpentry workshop already, he would do his part. On the other hand, the man with his head shaved was diligently sweating and cautiously looking around. When our eyes met, he quickly averted his gaze. Cant they hurry up, I want to eat! Jenna, sitting on a chair, kicked her legs impatiently. I tapped her on the head. Why did you hit me? I dont know if she has any awareness or not. The two survivors of the first battle were on the verge of death. Jenna quickly nced in their direction and said: Theyll feel better after eating a delicious meal and resting. Isnt that right? Uh, ugh! One of them, who had his mouth tightly shut, started vomiting. See?! He must be emptying his stomach to eat more. Shes turning into a demon, this is a whole new level of indifference! With no messages appearing in front of me, I couldnt help but smile a bit. Noticing that, Jenna whispered softly into my ear. They seed, didnt they? What? Youughed. Did I? Youughed, I definitely saw it. Jenna whistled as if she wasughing at me. Chapter 16: Laying the Groundwork (4) Part 2 Chapter 16: Laying the Groundwork (4) Part 2 Aarons group returned. No casualties. The five of them went and all five returned. I said: Aaron, how many goblins did you take care of? One. Good. He understood my intention. I carefully examined the status windows of the four individuals. Each of their levels had increased by one. It meant that they had somehow participated in the battle. In the first battle when Aaron and the other two joined us. At that time, me and Jenna fought while the other three watched from behind. Eventually, two of them ended up as sacrifices in the synthesis facility. I knew what will happen to them, but they wouldnt have understood and didnt feel the need for it. In that sense, Aaron might have had a different talent than me. Is todays schedule finished? Just a moment, it seems like its finished Iselle trailed off. The rift had closed, but the light in the sky was still lit. You can go back. Yay! Jenna was the first to leap up and run towards the dormitory. Aaron approached me with an uneasy expression. Hyung-nim, the sky is still bright Hes just watching us. Like a god watching over the world. Like a lord inspecting the city. He was observing the process and results of what he had created and achieved. Our voices couldnt be heard. There was no conversation. This waiting room we were in went throughyers of filters, with most of it omitted and only a small portion transmitted to the master. Still, to him, this game would feel like another world. I, too, couldnt forget the excitement from that time. Do you want to keep standing there all day? I said to the newbies fidgeting behind me. They hesitated but followed along. They entered the dormitory through the door Jenna had opened. Jenna was sprawled on a leather sofa. She pried it with her hand and then breathed in the scent of the cushion. For now, I decided to leave her alone. The dormitory had be noticeably more spacious. The living room, which was the first ce you saw when you opened the door, had expanded to the point where it could be called a lobby. Even with eleven people, it didnt feel crowded. The floor was covered in soft carpet, and warm light spilled from the firece. The facilities have definitely improved. I headed towards the restaurant inside the lobby. Arge dining table and chairs were set up between neat interior decorations. There was a kitchen further inside. Disy cabs revealed various cooking utensils such as knives anddles. I opened the cab below. In addition to potatoes, there were bottles containing seasonings like salt, sugar, and butter. There were also several types of fruits like apples and grapes. Potatoes are still the main ingredient, huh. Well, its better than just baked potatoes. It will get better as time goes on. When the weekly dungeon opens, we can personally gather cooking ingredients. I returned to the lobby. I spoke to the man who was sweating profusely. You can cook, right? Yes, I can [Rmended List for Cooks!] [Dolph ()] [Dolph () as the chef of the restaurant, do you want to appoint him?] [Yes (Select) / No] It seemed like Anytng is having the same idea. A message appeared, appointing the facility manager. Youre in charge of our meals. Its your responsibility now. Re responsibility? Why, dont you like it? If you dont, go out and fight like the others. Dolphsplexion turned pale. He bobbed his head up and down. Dolph also witnessed the two who didnt return to the za. Its dinner for eleven people. Can you handle it? Ill, Ill try my best. Dolph stumbled into the kitchen. Were finally saying goodbye to baked potatoes! Jenna, who had been fidgeting on the sofa, let out a cheer. I looked at the sky again. It seemed like He had no intention of logging out. I couldnt go back to my room like this. If I opened the door to the dormitory, a clearly different ce would appear. I didnt want to show any odd signs to Anytng. Hyung-nim, isnt it time to talk to them? I was thinking the same. Since dinner is ready, we can do it while eating. As the number of people increased, there were a few necessary items. We need a clock. [Han () wants a clock in the dormitory. Will you install it?] [It will consume 3,000 gold.] [Yes (Select) / No] A pendulum clock appeared in a corner of the lobby. Gasp! The woman who saw that scene took a sharp breath. I checked the current time. It was 6:45 PM. The perfect time. I said: Everyone gather around. I will exin the rules of this world. They needed at least some exnation. The waiting room was not a ce that functioned solely by ones own power. We took our seats at the dining table, and a whileter, Dolph came out with the food. It was baked potatoes. Jenna made a disappointed face. [Jenna () expresses dissatisfaction with the food.] Well, its not my fault. There were no other ingredients. He didnt even peel the skin off the potato, I had to peel it off myself, so I could take a bite. It had that familiar taste. [Han () expresses dissatisfaction with the food.] [Tips/If many heroes express dissatisfaction with the food, try acquiring different ingredients or changing the chef.] I sighed. I had a hunch, and it turned out to be true. Dolph didnt have any cooking skills in his status window. But just because there were no relevant skills didnt mean it was impossible. However, it seems he didnt even bother himself to do a mediocre job. On the contrary, when I quietly observed the other woman, who was probably in her early twenties, with long ck hair tied down. The name disyed in her status window was Chloe. And below that, there was a cooking skill attached to her status window, nice and big. Chapter 17: Lying the Groundwork (5) Part 1 Chapter 17: Lying the Groundwork (5) Part 1 Why didnt you say anything when we asked for a cook? M-me? Yeah, you. Isnt your name Chloe? Yes From now on, youll be the cook. [Rmended Cook List!] [Chloe()] [Would you like to appoint Chloe() as the cook? The current cook will be relieved of their position.] [Yes (select) / No] Nice job, Iselle. Well done. H-Hold on. Ill go and make it again! Lying again when you dont even know how to do it? I could have praised him for being quick-witted, but it was better not to lie if it was going to be caught anyway. Especially if its a thing that would cause such a fuss. The gaze of everyone, including Jenna, turned cold. That gaze intensified when Chloe brought out the potato dishes. She presented various potato dishes such as refreshing potato sd with sauce, buttered roasted potatoes, crispy potato fries, and warm stew. Its delicious! I didnt know that potatoes have so many different vors. Because of the variety of seasonings Chloe shyly bowed her head in response to Jennas praise. Dolph remained silent, crouching in a corner. I spoke up. Eat while you listen. I wont repeat it twice. And when the neers arrive, tell them the same thing you heard today if you dont want to end up dead from bbering. I exined the basic rules of this world to the people gathered in the hall. The existence of the Master. And how we can survive only by fulfilling missions. And how with each missionpleted, we ascend to higher floors, and when we reach the 100th floor, we can be liberated. I hesitated for a moment but also mentioned synthesis. It was something they would naturally learn anyway. Is that true? Whether you believe it or not, the decision is yours. But you will be responsible for it. People seemed anxious but somehow convinced. At least there were no individuals causing amotion or going berserk. If you prepare well, you can survive. Ive never fought beforeing here either. So, everyone, stay strong. Jenna spoke with an energetic voice. Are we going to do different jobs? A young carpenter raised his hand. You and Chloe are carpenter and cook, respectively. You will help us in different ways. I, I can also do carpentryDolph tried to say, but If your lie gets exposed again this time, should I rmend you as the first sacrifice for synthesis? It could be good teaching material. Dolph kept his mouth shut since after. Its true that nonbat roles have a higher chance of survival thanbat roles, but there is no room forcency. The positions are limited, and there is no guarantee that a hero with better skills than the rest wont be summoned. If youre pushed out of your position, theres only one thing waiting for you. Therefore, even nonbat roles had to constantly improve their skills. [Master, would you like to end the connection?] [Yes (select) / No] [Goodbye then!] Satisfied to some extent, Anytng also left the waiting room. After the meal, we distributed the rooms in the lodging. This time, I decided to stay here instead of my original room. There are signs that Anytngs connection time is increasing. I dont know if the Master can see that room or not, but it doesnt hurt to be cautious. I didnt want to attract attention in a strange way. By the way, I didnt know Oppa would care about others. Jenna smiled. How can you judge a person based on such a short time? I have good eyes even at a nce. Its obvious. Well, this will be the first. Due to the system of Pick Me Up, it was not possible for a small number of people to climb all the floors, so we took minimal measures. As long as they dont all die, they will have to pass on what needs to be done to the neers. The next day, the dull daily life gradually changed. When I woke up in the morning, Chloe was busy peeling potatoes in the kitchen. Her eyes were red as if she had cried all night. Shortly after, Jenna came out. Except for the three of us, no one else hade to the lobby yet. We had breakfast and headed to the training ground. The training ground, now at level 2, had noticeably expanded. If the previous training ground was the size of an auditorium, it now looked more like a yground. The straw dummies were reced with wooden-carved ones. There were also shooting ranges for archery, sand pits, and obstacle courses. Aaron, who had arrived at the training ground before us, was training. He was swinging his spear and thrusting it into the air. Jenna and I joined the training afterward. We continued training from morning till evening, solving lunch with potatoes baked in the training ground. There were a few people who arrived at the training ground, but no one directly joined the training yet. They seemed to have understood the instructions but hadnt fully grasped the reality. And in the evening, the Master logged in. This time, the interval was one day. Compared to the minimum three-day intervals before, it had significantly decreased. Considering the time difference between the waiting room and the real world, it seemed like the Master had logged in during free time such as morning or lunch. Anytngs goal this time was not us, but the neers. Aaron couldnt join the party today, and one person didnte back. The next day, as expected, people gathered at the training ground. Please teach us how to fight! A boy with a small build bowed his waist. It seemed like the same thing happened a few days ago. I observed the new recruits in the training ground. All three of them were boys of a simr age. One person died yesterday, so there are seven left. Excluding the cook and the carpenter, there are five. But only three of them are here. I didnt know where the other two were. Im tired of fighting Aaron. Lets change things a bit. I threw a wooden sword to each of the new recruits that were standing awkwardly. For now,e at me, all at once. Since I couldnt use a real sword against inexperienced opponents, I also picked up a suitable wooden sword. My basic method of training in weapon skills is to study techniques against straw dummies and practice them with Aaron. It included not only simple blocking and striking movements with a shield or sword but also more challenging actions such as deflecting or parrying attacks. Now, its not just one-on-one sparring but also multi-opponent sparring which is needed. In most situations, I have to face multiple enemies. I couldnt do it before because there werent enough people, but now I finally have the opportunity. All three of them were excited to join. In the middle of the training session, I also allowed Aaron to join to make it harder. [Han()s Low-level Swordsmanship has increased to Level 4!] Thanks to that, I raised my skill by one level. As if someone directly injected it into my mind, I gradually began to feel the flow of swordsmanship. It was one of the oddities of this world. Chapter 17: Lying the Groundwork (5) Part 2 Chapter 17: Lying the Groundwork (5) Part 2 A few more days passed. Iming! A boy with a shaved head thrust his wooden sword at me. I easily dodged it. Then, two other boys next to him swung their swords. I swung my sword widely and parried both of their attacks. The opponents swords were slow to the point of yawning, but not long ago, I was also in the same state. But the gap had widened. Every time my sword moved, one of them flinched. As expected, hyung-nim is strong. One of the three boys, Jid, said. The three boys referred to the three gathered here. Zeeth, Hanson, and Dica. They were all under twenty. These kids must have heard how Aaron was addressing me and started calling me hyung-nim too (older brother). Its because my level is higher, kid. Level? Youll find out soon enough. All three of them are at level 2. The difference in stats between me and them is at least 7 to 8. Its a gap greater than that between a child and an adult. However, if it were just a difference in strength, it wouldnt have been this overwhelming. I was far superior in additional abilities such as visual acuity and reaction speed. Perhaps it was due to the influence of agility. And above all, the skills. An unknown force waspensating for my swordsmanship. The cause was undoubtedly the low-level swordsmanship I had learned. I could instinctively feel where to move the sword and shield, as well as my legs and arms. Its quite absurd. If it were Earth, such results could never have been achieved in such a short period of time. On the other side of the training ground, Jenna was running while shooting her bow. Every time she released an arrow, it pierced the humanoid target more than 30 meters away. That girl had already reached level 5 in low-level archery. Her low-level dagger technique had also reached level 2. In contrast, Aaron was struggling. He reached level 2 in spear technique a while ago but hadnt made any further progress. He was the first toe to the training ground and thest to return to the lodging, but that didnt mean new skills would suddenly appear. The three boys in front of me each achieved level 1 in swordsmanship. These guys were like withered bean sprouts when they first arrived, but now theyre swinging their weapons like they were born with them. Maybe its because theyre around the same age, they started calling each other hyung (older brother) or dongsaeng (younger brother) and even showed a sense of unity. Well, its better than being crouched down like the others. Several days have passed, but the remaining two still havente to the training ground. It seemed like they were trying to find the exit. Ill say it again, its a futile effort. But, I dont even care. Figure it out on your own. A few dayster, another free 10-draw was conducted. This time, I didnt need to step forward. Aaron and the three boys took care of it themselves. Especially Aaron, who volunteered to participate, greatly reduced the sacrifice in the first battle. Only one person died during the sorting out process. The number of people is increasing. Jenna said while sucking on a candy. It was a stick candy made by hardening sugar water; Chloe made it for Jenna, who wanted a snack. I was leaning against the sofa in the lobby. Now, staying in the lodging had be familiar. If I didnt think about going to my room, even if I opened the door, it wouldnt appear. Jenna chewed and swallowed the remaining candy and said, By the way, why doesnt the Master go to the 5th floor? Its been quite a while since we cleared the 4th floor. I expected that question toe up. It had been quite a while since we cleared the 4th floor, the area with harpies and goblins. So far, the main party consisting of me, Jenna, and Aaron had been conquering only the 4th floor. The other sub-parties were still staying on the 1st or 2nd floor. Of course, were not going. The difficulty sharply rises with each multiple of 5 floors. It was a kind of boss stage concept. If Anytng did his research, he would know that sending us to the 5th floor like this is a dangerous act. We werecking in levels and equipment, not to mention the number of people. We need two more members. A party can have a maximum of five members. The candidates to join our party are probably two of the three boys. They seemed to adapt quickly, perhaps because they were young. They showed enthusiasm and eagerness. Zeeth even said with a smile that he thought this kind of life was better than farming or hunting. Well see if he keeps thinking that. The tutorial of Pick Me Up is over, but the practical tutorial is not yet finished. Today, Aaron told the neers that if they keep their wits about them, its not a big deal and they can definitely survive. So far, thats true. Up to the 4th floor. I know. How devilishly difficult it bes afterward. How many deaths await us in the battles ahead, even after the sorting out and repeated training at the training ground I cant guarantee with 100% certainty that I can survive. Even below the 10th floor, there were countless trap missions with extremely low sess rates, such as survival missions. However, I didnt feel like telling Jenna this fact. Chapter 18: Mission Type- Survival (1) Part 1 Chapter 18: Mission Type- Survival (1) Part 1 The Masters logins had be more frequent, catching everyones attention. Almost every day, the sky would light up, signaling his connection to the world. That meant they were logging in three times a day in Earth time. Sometimes he would log out without doing anything, but other times, Han, Jenna, Aaron, and I, the members of the Party 1, would take charge on the lower levels. He even sent out sub-parties after finishing screening. During the second round of ten free draws, we struck gold by acquiring a cksmith and a Tanner, which kick-started the operation of the equipment forge. And guess who was the lucky one to get chosen as the cksmith? Yours truly, Han. The reason was pretty straightforward. I had managed to create a C-rank weapon before using the most basic materials. I may not have had any cksmithing skills to brag about, but the algorithm saw something in me and assigned me to the forge. After a series of epic failures where I blew up the materials about ten times, I was finally sent to my rightful ce. The production process was fully automated, leaving it entirely in the hands of skilled craftsmen. Luckily, our newly arrived cksmith knew the ins and outs of weapon forging. Working in coboration with the Tanner and the Carpenter, they embarked on crafting various equipment. The main focus was on producing shoddy E-rank swords and wooden shields. These items were distributed to the fresh-faced heroes who had recently joined our ranks, significantly boosting their chances of survival. As for the main party, they received the better gear. Aaron and I were fitted with E-rank leather armor, while Jenna was equipped with a trusty short dagger as her secondary weapon. Admittedly, the quality wasnt top-notch, but it beat walking around in our birthday suits, so we decided to make the best of it. Ever since Anytng got the wrong idea about me, I had no intention of creating any more equipment. If I were to craft something, it would be after finding a way to deceive the Masters watchful gaze. Unfortunately, the three who hadnt contributed much were eliminated through synthesis. They were the ones attempting to escape without ever revealing themselves in the training grounds. Among them was Dorph, who had deceived us all on his very first day here. With the synthesispleted, the Party 1 members each gained one level. I reached level 8, Jenna reached level 6, and Aaron leveled up to 4. [Han Iselle () Lv. 8 (Exp 24/60)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 20/20] [Intelligence: 12/12] [Stamina: 20/20] [Agility: 20/20] [Skills: Novice Swordsmanship (Lv. 4), Pain Resistance (Lv. 1), Composure (Lv. 1)] Although my intelligence took a hit, my strength, stamina, and agility saw significant improvement. Thankfully, it seemed that the intelligence stat had no bearing on my actual smarts. I wasnt eager to be aplete durd, after all. [Lets form a party!] [Time to drag and drop heroes!] [Zeeth () joins Party 1!] [Hanson () joins Party 1!] Finally, two of the three amigos joined the main party. With their addition, Party 1 reached its maximum capacity. Anytng wasted no time and promptly opened a portal, seemingly eager to put us to the test. Were counting on you, big brothers! Rx, take it easy. Aaron gave Zeeth and Hanson a friendly pat on the shoulders. I couldnt help but chuckle. Look how far he hade. So, are we up for another round with those harpies? You bet. Im starting to grow weary of this routine, though. Jenna couldnt help but yawn, a hint of boredom evident on her face. Once we conquered a floor, attempting it again meant facing the same mission. We had already shed with harpies and goblins more than three times. [Floor 4.] [Mission Type Subjugation] [Objective Wipe out the enemies!] [Goblin Lv.4 X 3] [Harpie Lv.6 X 2] Same ce. Same foes. The goblins and harpies spotted us, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Aaron stood a few paces behind me, while Jenna, her bow armed with arrows, positioned herself a bit further away. Zeeth and Harson moved closer, nking me on both sides. Their weapons of choice were swords and shields. Dont get flustered. Maintain formation, I advised. Yes! Both of them responded with unwavering determination. Good, none of them are afflicted by the Fear status effect. Before joining our ranks, they must have rolled through the lower floors, so they werentplete greenhorns when it came to realbat. You guys are the shield bearers. No need to forcefully engage in closebat. We have spears and bows covering our rear. Got it! Theres abat style for the weaker ones. Its called formationa strategy that harnesses collective power rather than relying solely on individual prowess. In the future, as we level up and earn stars, we may ascend to the realm of the extraordinary, but for now, that was not the case. I refrained from entering the battle. To be honest, I could clear this stage on my own. I had tested that out. However, if I took the lead, we wouldnt have had a chance to practice our formations. Kiyaaa! Two harpies swooped in from opposite directions. Jenna abstained fromunching a preemptive strike. Instead, she stood watchfully, as if observing the unfolding events, ready to act when needed. Hiyaaat! Zeeth and Harson initiated a counterattack. They swung their swords, skillfully shielding their vital points with their shields. Their strikes carried a considerable amount of force. Zeeths de deeply cut through the harpys wing membrane. In that fleeting moment, Aarons swift thrust found an opening. The harpy let out a shriek as the spear pierced deep into its chest. Kek! Jennas arrow found its mark, hitting the goblin square in the forehead just as it was about to assault Harson. Zeeth and Harson steadfastly maintained their defense, prioritizing guarding and retaliating. Aarons thrusts and Jennas arrows exploited the enemies vulnerabilities. Were getting the hang of this. The core principles of formation wereing into y. At this level, we demonstratedbat effectiveness beyond our individual capabilities. The three goblins and two harpies met their doom without mounting a proper counteroffensive. [Stage Cleared!] [Zeeth () and Harson () level up!] [Reward 2,000G, Iron Ore (C) X 2, Leather (C) X 1] [MVP Jenna ()] Light enveloped the forest. We returned through the rift. That was awesome! Zeeth and Harson exchanged bright smiles and sped hands. As we emerged, Dica, the final member of the trio was awaiting us. Restlessly pacing in the za, he rushed over as soon as the rift opened, as if it were his ticket to freedom. How did it go? Well, to put it simply, its satisfying! Zeeth grinned, uttering his words with a yful tone. The three of them greeted me with a respectful nod before entering our amodation, walking side by side. Anytng had formed a main party of five members. This meant that our challenge of the 5th floor was fast approaching. I had anticipated the inclusion of a 3-star member, but it seemed he hadnt considered it yet. Chapter 18: Mission Type- Survival (1) Part 2 Chapter 18: Mission Type- Survival (1) Part 2 A few more days passed. Zeeth and Harson exuded confidence. They actively participated in training and had be familiar with forming formations. Now, even if Jenna and I let go of their hands, they could handle the harpies and goblins quitepetently. Are we heading to the 4th floor again today? Im eager to see what lies on the next floor. Zeeth ran his fingers along the sword-scarred surface of his shield as he spoke. The rift was open. As always, we stood near the mirror, waiting. It wasnt just me and Jenna; Aaron, Zeeth, and Harson also disyed a sense of calmness. Iselle. Yes. Today, its the 5th floor, right? Most likely! Really? The 5th floor? Jenna blinked, her eyes reflecting surprise. Gradually, the mirror on the left began to emit a soft glow. I braced myself for the imminent battle. Admittedly, the 5th floor posed greater challengespared to the previous ones, but apart from a few trap missions, it could be cleared without too much difficulty. I knew all the tricks. This time, things will be a bit different. While having freedom is a good thing, too much freedom might cost you your life. Understood! Ill keep that in mind! One response carried a hint of gruffness. [Climb the Tower, Save the World!] [Main Dungeon: Current Floor 4] I let myself be enveloped by the radiant light. And when I opened my eyes again, we found ourselves in an unfamiliar space. It was an urban area, a cityscape made of stone structures. This wasnt the modern style of concrete and cement. Instead, brickid roads and a towering central spire caught our attention. I surveyed our surroundings. There was no message indicating the details of our mission. There was a grace period before it wouldmence. Brother, there are no monsters here Im aware. Until now, as soon as we were summoned, we would immediately face off against enemies. However, the current situation was different. The city appeared devoid of life, and no monsters were in sight, not even a single civilian. This isnt a subjugation mission. I clicked my tongue in disappointment. I had expected it to happen at least once. Attention, everyone! Lets head to the city center first and assess the situation. Stay in formation! The party members quickly dispersed, adhering to their training and forming a reconnaissance formation. The formation resembled a single line, with me leading the way, Aaron and Jenna in the middle, and Zeeth and Harson at the rear. If you notice anything suspicious, report it immediately. Understood! We proceeded cautiously towards the city center. Looking back, the low outer walls encircling the city provided a reassuring sense of direction, ensuring we wouldnt lose our way. As we ventured deeper into the city, oddities began to emerge. Zeeths expression grew uneasy, and he swallowed hard. It wasnt just the dpidated state of the buildings; the majority of them were either destroyed or in ruins. Debris, such as fragments of bricks and wood, obstructed the streets, asionally forcing us to take detours. Secondly, there was an absence of people. The deserted city emanated an eerie and deste atmosphere. Next Ugh, aaah! Whats wrong? H-Hyung, over here! I approached Harson, who was in a frenzy. He pointed toward the interior of a crumbling building, trembling. On closer inspection, I glimpsed a faint, ghostly figure. It was a human skull. I stepped toward the building. Or at least, I tried to. But a transparent barrier blocked my path, indicating no entry. What is this ce? There are buildings, but no people Despite their usual self-assuredness, Zeeth and Harson wore uneasy expressions. Lets continue. The road stretched toward the city center. Suddenly, near the city walls, I noticed a dark brown stain. Although it had dried and be indistinct, I could still discern its circr shape. Its bloodstains. As we neared the city center, the buildings grew increasingly dpidated. Debris from crumbling structures and scattered human remains littered the area. This city had been ravaged. Upon reaching the central square The scene remained the same. Copsed structures and the absence of monsters or people. I instructed everyone to wait, and they took their positions, settling down. Jenna approached me. This ispletely different from what weve encountered before. That was just a warm-up. The boss stages on each floor differed greatly in scale andplexity from the others. When will the enemies appear? Lets wait. Im still considering. An isted city with no enemies or allies. Bloodstains and scattered skeletal remains all around. The mission notification message was still absent. I came to a conclusion. I pointed to the partially copsed spire. Jenna, can you climb up that spire? What should I do? Go as high as you can and see whats up there. Sure thing! Jenna agilely began ascending the spire. With her practiced movements from navigating obstacle courses, she grabbed onto protruding bricks and ropes hanging outside windows, gradually climbing higher. I think this is as far as I can go! Jenna called out from above. What do you see? Well, um, the city and Her vision is enhanced by the Eagle Eye skill. It was the perfect role for her. The cityand ? Jennas expression hardened. Whats there, Jenna? Aaron shouted impatiently from below. W-Well, um, its the city and I hope Im mistaken. Shes not mistaken. Wait, hold on. Is this safe? Can we handle it? Oh, tell us! There are hordes of goblins outside the city. They seem to be heading this way. How many are we talking about? Ten? Twenty? A hundred? Thousands. W-What, what did you say? There are thousands of goblins heading this way. [Warning!] [Floor 5.] [Mission Type Survival] [Objective Survive the iing enemies!] [Goblin Lv.? X 1846] Chapter 19: Mission Type- Survival (2) Part 1 Chapter 19: Mission Type- Survival (2) Part 1 Goblin, thousands of them? Did I really see that correctly? I wish I could say you didnt! For now, lets get down from here. After Jenna descended, I gathered the party members together. I know exactly what needs to be done in a situation like this. I have observed and analyzed thousands of battles, including gamey records from other yers. Though it may seem impossible, theres undoubtedly a viable strategy. However, the difficulty level of this mission was remarkably high. Hyung, thousands of goblins? Are you sure its not a mistake? How can the five of us? Dont panic. We dont need to face thousands of them. This mission is not about conquering them; its about survival. We just need to hold out against them for a certain period. Should we hide and wait it out? But where? Zeeth stood up abruptly and rushed towards an empty house. After a while, he returned with a bitter expression. We cant enter the building Not only that, we cant leave the city either. We have to face them here. Its not about hiding; its about enduring. Five of us against a goblin army First, lets change our location. The square is not an ideal defensive location. It had streets stretching in all directions, and there were numerous entry points like cracks in the copsed buildings. If we stayed there, we would quickly be surrounded and annihted. The enemy has predetermined entry points, and the narrow passages allow us to face only one goblin at a time. How long do we have to hold on? Just 10 minutes. If we can encounter them and endure for that long, we can leave. Only 10 minutes?! Then lets give it a try! [30:00] Theres no need to specify the exact time. Its apletely unpredictable situation. When a survival mission is assigned in a lower-level area, the partys chances of survival are only 9%. While it may not be a big concern in higher-level zones, survival missions in lower-level areas are notorious for being referred to as Hero Crushers. Regardless, we will survive. Were merely on the 5th floor. If we were to perish here, the name of the Master of Masters would be a subject of ridicule. Move! Lets find a space where the five of us can block the path. Escape deeper into the city! Yes! Assuming that the ce where we were summoned is in the southern part of the city, the destruction bes increasingly severe as we move north. ording to Jennas report, the goblins are also approaching from the north. Therefore, the buildings in the southern part remain rtively intact. We cant take the main road. Lets use the alleyways. The crux of this mission lies in finding a stronghold for defense. We entered an alley adjacent to the main road. The path narrowed down enough for only one person to passfortably. We cant simply ept death as our fate. Soon enough, we discovered a suitable space for defense. The alley split into three branches. It was too high for the enemies to climb, and there were no openings or crevices. Lets go this way. Although there were a few other options, some had copsed walls, while others had low barriers that could be easily breached. We were running out of time, so finding a narrow area with a single passage opened and blocked on all sides seemed unlikely. Kiaaaa! The distant sound of goblin screams reached our ears. Come together. Were going to establish our positions. Our positions? Each of us will defend a specific passage. Since the paths are narrow, well engage the goblins one by one, regardless of their numbersbe it thousands or tens of thousands. Can you handle that? Yes, well give it a try! Zeeth responded with a resounding voice. Very well, lets give it a shot. First, Ill take charge of the left passage, and Aaron, youll be responsible for the right one. Yes, brother! Zeeth and Hanson, youll take care of the lower passage together. Take turns when one of you gets exhausted. Remember, youre not fighting as a group; its all about rotation. Once youre out, dont push yourself and rest properly. Understand? Yes! Ill take the narrowest left passage. Aaron will handle the rtively wider right passage. Since he wields a spear, hell need enough room to swing it. Jenna asked a question. What about me? Youll wait at the center of the crossroads. Just wait? Dont shoot arrows unless I specifically ask you to. Just wait. If youre worried that I might identally hit ourrades, dont be. Im confident in my abilities. Thats not the issue. We must conserve the arrows at all costs. Jennas position is a small open area where the three passages converge. If Jenna were to shoot arrows from there, theres a risk of hitting our allies as well. The person responsible for each passage will position themselves behind Jenna. With high walls on both sides, the shooting angles are quite limited. However, there was another reason for this arrangement. In any case, conserve the arrows. Dont shoot until I give the order. Understood? Yes. Though Jenna didnt fullyprehend, she nodded in agreement. Let me share a few tips. Listen closely. Yes! First, try to move the goblin corpses forward as much as possible. Create makeshift barriers with them. The narrower the space for the enemy to advance, the better. Got it? Yes! If youre exhausted and cant hold on any longer, call for Jenna. Does that mean I should shoot arrows then? No, you should hold a dagger and stand your ground there instead. When the assigned person takes a brief rest, youll switch with them. Uh If it bes absolutely impossible, then you can shoot arrows, but make sure to retrieve them. Whether the person assigned to that area throws them back to you or you go and collect them. Got it. Jennas quiver holds only 20 arrows. We have to face thousands of enemies. Arrows should only be used when absolutely necessary. Remember, if any of the three passages get breached, were finished here. If we get surrounded from both sides, survival will be impossible. Well keep that in mind! Now, lets take our positions! The four of them dispersed, their expressions determined. Creak? The sound of goblin growls began to echo. [30:00] 30 minutes Perhaps, the flow of time in the stage aligns with that of the Earth, not the waiting room. However, the timer will start moving from the moment we engage in battle with the goblins. Build barricades before the goblins arrive! Understood! I piled up broken rocks and pieces of wood in front of the path. Dont waste your energy! Swift and efficient movements! Understood! Their response brought me satisfaction. Chapter 19: Mission Type- Survival (2) Part 2 Chapter 19: Mission Type- Survival (2) Part 2 Wepleted our makeshift barriers by stacking objects around us, forming small fortifications. As I nced back, I saw Aaron, Zeeth, and Hanson doing the same. Kyaaa! Finally, the goblins had spotted us. [29:59] Here theye. This mission isnt just about protecting myself. If one side gets breached, everyone in the open area will be in danger. I have no choice but to trust Jenna. At first nce, her role may seem the most unnecessary, but the reality is quite different. Given the nature of this mission, well inevitably reach our physical limits. If Jenna doesnt fill in the gaps, the defenses will crumble instantly. Kiaaaaack! The goblins began to surge into the alleyway. I thrust my sword through the gaps in the stacked wood, piercing a goblins neck as I passed. The goblin copsed, blood flowing from its throat. Stack the bodies! Build the wall! I repeated the instructions so that mypanions could hear. Understood! Then I heard Aaron and Zeeths distant shouts. And the sh of spears continued. One strike, one goblin. We should Aim for their chests or heads. So I diligently stabbed my sword through the gaps. Kii, kii, kiiii! The goblins also thrust their weapons through the gaps in the barricade. I Blocked and countered, swiftly. Another one fell. Beyond the alleyway, on the main road, a horde of goblins had gathered, so numerous that counting them was futile. They seemed eager to get ahead, pushing and shoving each other into the narrow alleys. How foolish Some of the goblins must have realized that the fallen bodies obstructed their path. They dragged several corpses out of the alleyway. Despite the narrowness of the passage, the goblins small frames enabled them to do so. Kyaaa! A goblin at the forefront thrust its weapon. Its the same frequent pattern. So I Blocked and countered again. Meanwhile, a cunning goblin beneath me started dismantling the barrier. I struck its head with my shield through a gap, and blood sttered from its shattered skull. I nced back. The other three thrust their des through the gaps in the barrier, never retreating. If it gets too tough, let me know! Jenna shouted from the open area. We still have a long way to go. I raised my sword and shed, severing a goblins arm. The arm flew through the air as the goblin with the missing limb swung its other hand with sharp ws, aiming for the barricade and tearing through a leather armguard. I thrust my sword into its head. Immediately, the goblin behind it dragged away the corpse. Sigh, you idiots, seriously. If they look stupid, theyll act stupid. Theyre gradually learning. When the front goblin dies, the others wait and then drag the bodies out of the alley. Some even crouched down, gradually pushing stones or wooden nks outside. There was even one who stepped on theirrades shoulder to pass through the passage. The path slowly opened up. [26:48] I forgot to count the dead goblins after the tenth one. These guys are weak. Theyre like fledglings who would only appear on the first floor. Their bodies are emaciated, and their strength iscking. However, their numbers are overwhelming. Excessively so. Kii, kiiii! The tip of my sword tore through a goblins eye, and it let out a desperate scream. The goblin staggered, twisting its body as it tumbled along with the others behind it. The goblins amassed on the main road show no sign of dwindling. Do these creatures feel no fear? Reluctantly, they press forward as if they have a death wish. More than half of the barricade has been dismantled. I swiftly pulled my right foot back. A goblin, squeezing its body through a gap in the barricade, struck where my right foot had been with a dagger. I swiftly drove my sword down onto the back of its head. I looked back. On the right, Aaron efficiently dealt with the goblins, gripping his spear at a shorter length. The disparity in skill is overwhelming. So far, hes been performing admirably. Below, Zeeth was drenched in sweat, gasping for breath. Zeeth, switch! Oh, I can still Quiet, switch! You rest! Ill handle it! Hanson, who had been waiting, swiftly rushed out with his sword and shield. Zeeth retreated into the open area, catching his breath. His stamina is still low. Thats why I positioned Zeeth and Hanson in the same group. They not only have lower levels but alsock sufficient skills. Whether due to battle excitement or tension, they exert excessive strength with each attack. They tire easily. Theyre still inexperienced, one well-ced sword strike is enough. One at a time. Rx the body, and swing smoothly. Maximize efficiency with minimal effort. Thrust, sh, Thrust again. The rate at which the corpses pile up begins to outpace the goblins clearing speed. [22:58] Switch again! Hanson! Yeah, got it! Hanson switched with Zeeth. The barricade they were in charge of below is nearly breached. Dozens of tightly packed goblins fill the passage beyond. Some are trampled to death, but theres no sign of concern. That area is the most dangerous! I attempted to call Jenna. One person defends while the other reinforces the barricade. Then, Kii! A goblins head appeared on the high wall of the open area. Dont let them cross over! I shouted. You got it! Ping! An arrow pierced through the goblins head. The goblin, attempting to climb over the wall, fell t onto the inside of the open area. Goblins on the opposite side were climbing the wall. Jenna, you handle the goblins trying to enter the open area! Understand? Got it! A goblin extended its head from the wall on the opposite side. Jennas arrow once again pierced through its forehead. Retrieve the arrows! Jenna swiftly ran to the corpse and pulled out the arrow. Meanwhile, another goblin was climbing the wall on the opposite side. If we allow those creatures to invade the open area, well be surrounded. Hyung-nim, didnt you say we only need to survive for 10 minutes? Dude, its only been 5 minutes! [18:49] Aaack! Zeeth suddenly held his hand, writhing in pain. Two fingers on his left hand had been severed, and blood spurted out. Chapter 20: Mission Type- Survival (3) Part 1 Chapter 20: Mission Type- Survival (3) Part 1 Zeeth () is bleeding. His stamina decreases at regr intervals. Switch! Zeeth, Are you okay?! I said switch! Dont worry about him! Block those goblins! But The passage on my left ispletely blocked. Goblin bodies are propped up against the wall, serving as a temporary barricade. It should hold them off for a while. Jenna, treat to Zeeths wounds and stop the bleeding. What about the goblins? Ill handle them. Without hesitation, I dashed towards the open space. Just as I reached the area, I caught a glimpse of one attempting to leap off the roof. In the midst of the desperate act, their head was severed and fell to the ground. Jenna tore her sleeve with a dagger and swiftly wrapped Zeeths wounds, applying pressure to stop the bleeding. My hand, my hand! The goblin threat is eliminated! I dragged Zeeth away from the fight. Pull yourself together, kid! Do you want us all to perish? Its only your left hand thats injured. Wield your sword with your right hand! Im sorry Youre right Quickly stop the bleeding and collect yourself. If you dont switch with Hanson, hell meet his demise. Yes, understood! Jenna, return to your position once the bleeding is under control. I will! Suddenly, three goblins scrambled over the wall and stumbled into the open space. Reacting swiftly, I swung my sword, cleaving through the air. The upper torsos of two goblins within reach tilted and fell askew. The remaining goblin met its end as my shield connected with its neck, thanks to its sharp edge. Meanwhile, the makeshift barricade made of goblin corpses started to crumble on the left. Some goblins even attempted to mber over the mound of bodies. No time for cursing. I pressed my sword against the face of a goblin descending from above. The goblin met its fate, skewered on my de, frozen in mid-air. On the other side, two goblins were making their way over the wall once more. Using a sword is not ideal. The distance I need to cover is too great. But I refuse to halt. If those creatures make their way towards Aaron or Hanson, our troubles will multiply. With determined steps, I closed in on the two goblins, swiftly severing their throats. This time, three goblins emerged from various hiding spots. Arent you over yet? Were finished here! Kiiiiii! The goblin corpses barricading the left passage copsed, causing a flood of goblins to pour out. Im heading back. Deal with those wretches! Yes! Jenna rose to her feet and unleashed her arrows without dy. Three goblins stood frozen, struck simultaneously by her lightning-like triple shots. Meanwhile, goblins that had broken through the barricade were pouring out from the left. Back inside, you scoundrels! I exerted all my strength as I struck the foremost goblin. The creature staggered, and like a line of dominos, fell, taking down the goblins behind it. I thrust my sword forward without hesitation. Our efforts to defend the open space had consumed valuable time. Paradoxically, the left side had be the most perilous. A goblins dagger, slipping through the gaps between the corpses, grazed the elbow of my leather armor. Had the dagger been slightly sharper, it would have pierced my bone. Swiftly, I severed the goblins wrist. If there was an enemy still standing, I dispatched it. I refused to allow any advance. I pushed back with my shield and thrust my sword forward. One goblin fell, impaled through the chest, as I continued to drive it in. The goblin horde, consisting of dozens of them, relentlessly pushed forward. . My sword wont prate! Suddenly, Hansons urgent cry echoed through the chaos. Zeeth, can you switch out? I shouted Im Im okay! I can keep fighting! Switch with someone else. Hanson, step back and repair the sword! [14:35] Hanson withdrew to the open space and vigorously wiped the blood-stained de with his sleeve. Soon, its true condition became apparent, prompting a deep groan from Hanson. The de was worn down. It was to be expected. It fared better than the old, grade F iron sword, but in the end, it was just an ordinary piece of iron. I faced the same situation. Although the performance difference hadnt affected me yet, I could feel the stiffness in my de. Even without a razor-sharp edge, I can take down goblins! I struck a goblin with my shield, snapping its neck and causing it to copse lifelessly. Taking advantage of the brief pause, I surveyed the open space. Dozens of goblin corpsesy strewn about, and there seemed to be no immediate influx of intruders. Aaron wasnt faring well either. The barricade had long crumbled, and the goblin ranks were steadily advancing. Our thrusting speed had noticeably slowed a visible sign of fatigue. Jenna, switch with Aaron. Yes! But Im not tired yet Step aside! Jenna swiftly leaped forward and slit the goblins throat. A gush of blood erupted, staining Jennas clothes, but she paid it no mind as she continued to wield her dagger. Rest when you can. Dont be stubborn about it. Ah, understood Aaron slumped against the open spaces wall, gasping for breath. His spear was sttered with blood, the stains reaching even the handle. [12:35] Only three minutes left, just hold on for three more minutes! Had 30 minutes ever felt so long? Now, I could gradually sense the fatigue creeping in. However, I couldnt afford to switch out just yet. I kept thrusting and jabbing at the advancing goblins. Aaron, switch with Jenna! Aaron swiftly rose to his feet, clutching his spear, and dashed to the right. Aaron hadnt even had a minute of rest. The goblins started scaling the wall again, forcing him back into the fray. Jenna had to leave the open space to deal with the goblins in her area. Stop climbing up already! Its so frustrating! Jenna grumbled as she drew her bowstring. More than half of the arrows in her quiver had been used up. While she managed to retrieve some, many had snapped or be damaged during the process. [11:22] Whew, huff, huff, huff! Zeeth struggled to catch his breath, his eyes sunken. Hanson, switch out! Yes, yes! Hanson, gripping his sword and shield, hurried towards him, hisplexion pale. Jenna, shoot arrows toward Hansons position. What? But Jenna nced at the quiver on her back. I knew. There werent many arrows left. Well, if they break through there, were done for. Throw rocks at the goblins if you have to! Understood! Ping! An arrow pierced through a goblins throat. The goblin convulsed, clutching a knife in its trembling hand. That knife found its mark in Zeeths abdomen as he tried to switch out with Hanson. .! Zeeths pupils dted. Unintelligible groans escaped his gaping mouth. Thud. Zeeth copsed,nding face-first. Crimson blood spilled from his abdomen. [Geed () has fallen into a critical state. His life is in grave danger!] I clenched my teeth. Chapter 20: Mission Type- Survival (3) Part 2 Chapter 20: Mission Type- Survival (3) Part 2 This was no time for emergency treatment. If any one of us stepped out, the passage would be immediately breached. Hanson swung his sword, unaware of Zeeths fading life behind him. Zeeth let out a faint gasp. Foamy blood mixed with his breath, trickling out. Wait! Jenna swiftly rotated her body and unleashed four arrows in quick session. Each arrow found its mark on a different goblin vaulting over the wall. With that, the quiver ran dry. [08:05] Jenna rushed to Zeeths side. His eyes grew hazy, unaware of whaty before him. Damn it! As her dager came down, the goblins skull split vertically. Ah, ugh, ah Even if there was time for emergency treatment, there was no solution. To pull out the knife embedded in his abdomen? It would unleash a gush of blood like a fountain. Jenna knew there was nothing she could do. She slowly shook her head and rose again, gripping her bow. [Zeeth () has returned to the embrace of the goddess! His unwavering spirit will be forever remembered.] Ze Zeeth, just take over for a moment. I only need 30 seconds Just a moment. Hanson gasped, his words trailing off. But there was no one left to listen. A goblin thrust its spear. I caught it at my side and yanked it out. The long spear slid out smoothly. It had been a while since I wielded such a useful weapon. Gripping the spear with both hands, I thrust it forward. First one pierced, second one too, third, fourth, all the way to the sixth. I poured every ounce of strength into it. The muscles in my ankles and calves flexed with vigor. I pressed on. A powerful recoil surged back. I clenched my teeth, tasting the tang of blood. The goblins in the passage began to give ground. With unwavering resolve, I drove the spear into the goblins chest, piercing through to the handle. Kueeeek! I must have pierced at least ten of them. A momentary pause befell the goblin advance. I dashed straight to the open space. Hanson, head to the left passage! Ill handle this side! Hyung-nim? What about Zeeth? Hes resting, exhausted. No time for words, just go! Ah, understood! Hanson dashed off to the left. He seemed to have missed Zeeths lifeless body on the ground. The path was blocked by a heap of goblin corpses, granting us a brief respite of 30 seconds to a minute. I flicked my sword, wiping away the sticky blood and fat. [In the face of dire circumstances, the heroes spirits awaken!] [Drumroll!] [Skill awakened!] [Han ()s Low-rank Swordsmanship has reached Level 5!] [Han ()s Pain Resistance has reached Level 2!] [Han ()s Calmness has been raised by two levels! Now at Level 3.] [Drumroll!] [Skill awakened!] [Jenna ()s Low-rank Dagger Mastery has reached Level 3!] [Jenna () has acquired the skill Swift Agility!] Being hailed as a hero or sacrificing oneself meant nothing if it led to certain death. Without hesitation, I charged forward. The situation in this corridor was reaching a breaking point. Though trapped in a narrow passageway, the goblins were waiting for the bnce to tip, ready to flood the open space in a relentless onught. I struck the foremost goblins head with force. Despite kicking their chests with all my might, they held their ground. The goblins behind them acted as a cushion, absorbing the impact. Well, then let them die right there. I kicked and struck them repeatedly until they met their end, blood spewing from their mouths. [05:21] Jenna gripped her dagger tightly, swiftly maneuvering across the open space. The arrows had long been depleted. The goblins, undeterred by the towering wall, surged over it one after another. Aaargh! [Hanson () is experiencing bleeding. Health decreases at regr intervals.] A cry echoed from the left passageway. Hansons right arm was drenched in blood, bearing the marks of a brutal shing. The bleeding was severe, far from a clean cut. We no longer can fight back. Gather in the open space! Abandon the passageways! Strengthen the walls! The goblins had four entry points. The left, right, and lower alleyways, and finally, the stone wall surrounding the open area. To halt their advance, we needed a minimum of four people. Remaining inbat readiness were myself, Jenna, and Aaron. Hyung-nim, save me! Please, save me! If I went to his aid, I would be putting myself in jeopardy. I clenched my teeth, I really had no choice. I made my way towards the open space. Goblins poured out from the lower passage like an unstoppable wave. Where should we regroup? Where? Aaron seemed flustered. His leather armor was unrecognizable, soaked in blood from head to toe. I likely didnt look much better. Jenna, Aaron, stick close to me. [Hanson () has returned to the embrace of the goddess! His unwavering spirit will be forever remembered.] What about Zeeth and Hanson Are they dead? If you want to mourn, do it after weve survived! The path was open. Goblins flooded out onto the open space, resembling an army of ants. Jenna, Aaron, and I positioned ourselves with our backs against the northern wall. I took the center, Aaron on the right, and Jenna on the left. Are we going to die here? Dont speak such nonsense. Chapter 21: Mission Type- Survival (4) Part 1 Chapter 21: Mission Type- Survival (4) Part 1 Zeeth and Hansons lifeless bodies were buried among the horde of goblins, concealed from sight. Hundreds, even thousands, of pairs of crimson eyes, stared menacingly in our direction. Jenna, do you see the wall behind us? Yes, I do. Climb that wall. Getting pressured by the waves of beasts, we find ourselves pressed against a towering barrier, with the buildings roof sprawling above. Jenna stole a quick nce behind her. But if I climb up, Ill be running alone. Who said you would? Once youre up, Ill follow. Then its Aarons turn. You go first, and extend your hand to help. Understood. Aarons condition was beyond words. He wanted to say something, but he was denied the breath to speak, so he gasped for air. Theyreing! Aaron, hold your ground! I shouted. Ill lead go first! Jenna begins her ascent up the stone wall. Kyaaaah! A swarm of goblins descended upon us. I swung my weapon in an arc, revealing the vulnerability of their chests, while Aaron wielded his spear with rugged determination. Avoid thrusting! One at a time! I parried their attacks with my shield, then stroke back. The number of goblins we had to face multiplied significantly. Despite my best efforts, I couldnt block or evade them all. Wounds begin to appear, marking my body. Ive made it up! Hurry! Im going! Exerting every ounce of strength, I deliver sweeping strikes. The goblins were torn asunder. Without dy, I hinged and climbed up the stone wall. There were crevices scattered about, offering footings. [03:12] Aaron, follow up! . Hey, Aaron! Cant you hear me? Suddenly, Aaron snapped back to reality and turned toward me. Oh, Im sorry. I-Iming, Iming! Give me your hand. Jenna reaches out her hand. I grasp her hand, stained with both blood and weariness and ascend onto the roof. Aaron hurried to climb up below. Take my hand. I extend my hand from the rooftop. In that fleeting moment when Aaron seized my hand and attempts to ascend AAAUGH! Aaron lets out a pained groan. . A de embedded itself in Aarons calf. The de was deeply lodged within a crevice of the wall. I I cant Jenna, hold onto Aaron. I grabbed the edge of the roof and descended to the wall. What are you trying to do? Im cutting off his foot. If I cut it off, we can pull him up right away. .Got it. With my left hand holding onto the roof, I swung my right sword forcefully. Its not afortable position to put strength into, but I have to cut it in one strike. I recalled the feeling of cutting down a straw scarecrow with a single blow. AUUUUGHHHH! One of Aarons legs, sttering blood, fell to the ground. Pull him up! Jenna held Aarons right hand with both hands and pulled him up. The hot blood flowing from the severed leg stained her face. Phew. I spat out the blood that entered my mouth and climbed back onto the roof. [Aaron () has suffered bleeding. His stamina decreasing.] Aaron seemed to have no strength left, and he copsed on the roof. I had no time to waste, I quickly stood up and looked below the roof. You got to be kidding me?! Countless goblins had gathered below the roof. When our eyes met, the goblins looked up at us and chuckled. Are they giving up? You think they would? One goblin toppled over. Another goblin climbed on top of it. The goblins started building a pyramid. Wow, theyre smart. Theyre smart my ass! The goblin at the very top managed to find a foothold in the crevices of the stone wall. Gradually, step by step, the goblin that constructed the makeshift stairs climbed up the wall. I surveyed the roof, its worn surface strewn with broken bricks. Without hesitation, I hurled a brick at the goblin below. Kuaaack! The goblin took a direct hit to the face and plummeted to its demise. We need to stop them from climbing up! Got it! [01:58] Soon we even ran off bricks to throw. Now, goblins were emerging from all directions. Jenna tightened her grip on her dagger. [Aaron () has entered a critical state and is at risk of losing his life!] Aaron wasying limp, his condition worsening. He wasnt dead yet, but it wouldnt be long. The bleeding was severe. Use Aarons spear. Stab them as theye! Jenna held the daggers de between her index and middle fingers,unching it at a goblin. The dagger found its mark, piercing the goblins forehead. Seizing the spear, Jenna began thrusting downward. I, too, raised my sword and mercilessly struck at the climbing goblins. The goblins at the top used those beneath them as stepping stones to descend. However, there were more goblins climbing up than falling down. Nowhere else to run I kicked away the goblin trying to grab my hand, scanning the surroundings. Damn it. Other rooftops had already been seized by the goblins. They glowed with crimson eyes, fixated on us. Kiyaaaa! Jenna shouted. What happened? Did you get stabbed?! I quickly looked back. It would be dangerous if Jenna fell here. I couldnt fend off the enemy on my own. Jenna was clenching her right hand. She wasnt injured, but she had lost her grip on the spear. I lost the spear. Ill make them regret it! What do we do now? What can we do? Kick them and knock them down! Jenna leaned her body against the sloping rooftop, delivering powerful kicks to the approaching goblins faces. With cries of pain, they tumbled to the ground. [01:24] Eeek! Eeek! Dozens of hands surged from beneath the roof, grasping their weapons. Green flesh was sliced, blood flowed, yet the goblins paid no heed as they climbed higher, and pulled their weapons closer. ng! Unfortunately, I lost my sword. The weapon vanished, consumed by the sea of goblins. Only a blood-stained shield remained. I struck at the hands reaching onto the roof with the edge of the shield. Severed goblin fingers sprayed blood as they flew through the air. There are too many! How much longer? I cant hold on any longer! 30 seconds, just 30 seconds! It feels like an hour has passed! Its true, trust me, and hold on a little longer! [00:32] My vision grew hazy. Blood covered my right eye, impairing my sight. I couldnt distinguish whether it was my blood or the goblins. My body pleaded for rest. Now, take a moment to rest. Youve given your all and more. I had to bite down hard toe back to my senses the moment I heard this whisper in my ear. I summoned all my remaining mental strength, refusing to sumb to weakness. Dying here was not an option. I had my own sense of pride. I had to at least clear the 5th floor, just a little longer! Finally, a goblin managed to set foot on the roof. Swiftly, I struck its temple with the edge of my shield. It tumbled down, swinging its sword, and deeply cut my right arm, blood sttering out. [Han () is bleeding. Stamina decreasing.] It was senseless. I couldnt understand why I had to endure such hardship in this ce. Back on Earth, none of this ever happened. I slept in a warmfortable bed and enjoyed delicious meals. Then why is this happening now?! Why did Ie here?! Why did they summon me to fight monsters? Why me? Why Me?! WHY ME?!!!! [Skill Awakened!] [Han () has acquired the Fury skill!] Chapter 21: Mission Type- Survival (4) Part 2 Chapter 21: Mission Type- Survival (4) Part 2 You damn bastards! I hurled my shield at the goblin climbing up. A weak scream came from beside me. Kiyaa! [Jenna () is bleeding. Stamina decreases at regr intervals.] Youre still alive?! Im okay, I can hold on. A dagger was lodged in Jennas side. Her dress was stained red. Aaron showed signs of shock. His body was trembling, and blood intermittently spurted from his severed leg. It wouldnt be surprising if he didnt make it. Dont die! Just hold on until its over! Then we can go back. But I think this is as far as I can go Shut up! We wont lose! I couldnt hold them off any longer. Dozens of goblins swarmed onto the roof. Retreat! Inside the roof, go inside! But theres no space inside! Just go! Sensation faded from my right arm. I felt light-headed, the world spinning around me. Ker-ker, kek! Do you want to kill me? Come on,e in, all of you, you bastards! No sword, no shield. I couldnt even tell how many seconds were left. I couldnt spare a thought for Jennas situation. Kyaaah! Dozens of goblins charged at me simultaneously. Their blood-soaked des aimed to tear me apart. And then [00:00] As if time had frozen, the goblins movement broke as well as their des pointed at me. [Stage Clear!][Han (), Jenna (), Aaron () level up!][Reward 30,000G, Iron Ore (B) x3, Leather (B) x2, Cardboard (B) x2][MVP Han ()] The decimated cityscape, the horde of goblins, and the lifeless bodies of Zeeth and Hanson all vanished in a radiant beam of light. A gentle white light enveloped my entire body, healing my wounds. Sensation returned to my arm, my lungs regained their rhythm, and torn muscles repaired themselves. The dagger embedded in Jennas side fell to the ground, and fresh flesh sprouted from Aarons severed leg. Ah, ahahahat. Jenna let out a hollowugh, sinking to the ground. Can you hold my hand? My legs wont support me. I wordlessly extended my hand. Jenna grasped it, wobbling a few times before managing to rise. Did we make it? Yes. It was a familiar room. [Climb the Tower, Save the World!] [Main Dungeon: Current Floor 5] The message on the left mirror signaled our clearance of the floor. The familiar hum filled the air as the waiting room began to rise. Aaron was stillying on the floor. Though unconscious, his breathing remained steady. He had made it through. Is it like this from the 5th floor onward? If so, this is This time was different. I reflected on the battle. Three divided passages. Swarming goblins. It was a structure where the failure of even one person would lead to total annihtion. If only we had trained Zeeth and Hanson a bit more, we wouldnt have had to fight so desperately. Surviving the mission wasnt too difficult once a good party was formed. It was just unfortunate that we got caught in such a vulnerable moment. I picked up the iron sword and shield lying on the floor. Even the blood-soaked equipment had been miraculously restored. This is just too much! If I had known it would be like this, I would have trained harder! Jenna muttered, hanging her bow and quiver on her back. Her voice sounded cheerful, but her face told a different story. She got stabbed and almost died. Zeeth and Hanson had perished. And I ended up cutting Aarons leg. As we emerged into the square, Deca rushed over as if he had been waiting. Hyung-nim, well done! Silently, I made my way to the lodging. Are Zeeth and Hanson inside? Chloe said she had prepared something delicious. Theyre dead. What? Theyre gone. Deca stood frozen. Ignoring him, I entered the lodging. A few people in the lobby nced at me. I gentlyid Aaron on the sofa and ced the spear beside him. His wounds had healed, but he didnt regain consciousness immediately. [The Master is calling. The chosen one shalle forth!] Iselles voice echoed through the square. It seemed Anytng was trying to form a sub-party for the lower floors. My head is pounding. I had no intention of dwelling on the loss of someone in the waiting room. In a ce like this, especially for someone like me at the forefront of the Tower, death was a daily urrence. But the throbbing in my head couldnt be ignored. I opened the door at the end of the corridor and stepped inside. It was my assigned room in the lodging. I had grown ustomed to this ce, even though it was far from a modern home. I copsed onto the bed. [Congrattions, Master! You have sessfully cleared the 5th floor. The Weekly Dungeon is now open. Gather various materials to strengthen the waiting room and heroes.] A message appeared, announcing the opening of the Weekly Dungeon after clearing the 5th floor. Come to think of it, I acquired the Fury skill Composure and Fury couldnt coexist. It was an evident bug. Composure kept me rational in any situation, while Fury sacrificed rationality for heightenedbat prowess. It must be linked to my unique nature as a Master and a Hero. I still didnt have all the answers. At least for today, I didnt want to dwell on it. From tomorrow, things would get busy again. I had reached level 10, the limit for a 1-star rating, and the Weekly Dungeon, where I could obtain valuable materials, had opened. It was time to aim for a 2-star promotion. So, lets take today off. I closed my eyes. Chapter 22: Weekly Dungeon (1) Part 1 Chapter 22: Weekly Dungeon (1) Part 1 I opened my eyes, greeted by a sight above my rooma sky that was tinted with a pale, ashen hue. It seemed to be the early hours of the morning, judging by its brightness. Shaking off sleep, I rose from my bed and sshed water on my face from the bowl that had been left by Chloe. Every dawn, she would diligently provide water to all the rooms in the facility. As I stepped into the lobby, a delightful aroma tickled my senses. ncing at the clock, it disyed 5:45 a.m. I made my way to the dining area and picked up a perfectly roasted potato from the table. Are you up? Its a beautiful morning, Chloe, who was busily heating stew in the kitchen, greeted me. I gazed at the sky, wondering what made it such a wonderful morning. Are you heading out early again today? she asked. Yeah, I replied. I couldnt afford to miss a day of training. Moreover, I needed to put the skills I acquired from yesterdays battle to the test. How about joining others for a meal once in a while? It can get lonely eating by yourself all the time, you know, Chloe suggested. Maybe, if I feel like it, I replied nomittally, peeling the potato and making my way to the kitchen. The waiting room was bustling with activity, and a sense of order had taken hold. Over time, a few rules had been established, one of which was gathering together for meals. Soon, the other residents would emerge from their rooms, having awakened from their slumber. I, however, remained an exception to this rule. A vivid image of Chloes bright, yet swollen eyes shed in my mind. She had been working tirelessly. Zeeth and Hanson followed her lead in assisting with the daily task of preparing meals for twenty people. It was no easy feat, and I remembered how the three of us frequently offered our help, knowing how little rest Chloe took. With those thoughts in mind, I made my way to the training grounds. Jenna was there, drenched in sweat as she expertly wielded her dagger. That girl, always iming to need more sleep, andining all the time about training early in the morning; this is a new thing. Whats gotten into you? I asked. I dont want to end up dead! Jenna replied, her voice determined. She gracefully executed aerial maneuvers,unching a rapid session of strikes with her dagger. It wasnt particrly surprising anymore. Jenna possessed an exceptional sense of bnce and agility, surpassing that of other heroes. Even I struggled to keep up with her movements. With her lightning-fast reflexes, she could probably traverse various terrains and objects effortlessly. In contrast, Aaron I muttered under my breath. Despite survivingst nights battle, he hadnt acquired any new skills. He still relied on that single, basic spear technique. Securing sandbags around my ankles and wrists, I adjusted their weight until they totaled around 10 kilograms. With a determined stride, I set off on a slow jog around the training field. Jenna kept pace beside me, her presence motivating. Despite the speed at which we ran, I found myself not gasping for breath. Mid-run, I tossed the sandbags aside, disappointed by the minimal impact they had on my exercise. The same applied to push-upsthey offered little challenge. Curious, I inverted my body and performed backward arm bends. Surprisingly, it worked. I could feel the weight gradually taking its toll. As my level increased, my body surpassed the capabilities of an average person. Strength, stamina, endurance, reflexesevery aspect had undergone a remarkable transformation. If I were to return to Earth in this state, I might even consider pursuing a career in a sport. My once ordinary adult physique had developed solid, lean muscles. A nce in the mirror would reveal a distinct six-pack, not the bulging muscles of a bodybuilder, but the practical, functional muscles of a skilled martial artist. Oh my. This time, I decided to challenge myself by doing push-ups with my left hand lifted off the ground. Finally, it felt like a real workout. At the same time, my bodys instability demanded bnce, making it a great posture to improve both strength and bnce. I essed my Status Window. [Han Iselle () Level 9 (Exp 54/70)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 23/23] [Intelligence: 11/11] [Stamina: 21/21] [Agility: 21/21] [Skills: Low-level Swordsmanship (Level 5), Pain Resistance (Level 2), Composure (Level 3), Fury (Level 1)] My strength increased by 3, stamina by 1, agility by 1, and intelligence decreased by 1. The total growth value was 5. Since the previous level-up, the growth value had remained fixed at 5. It was an extraordinary and stic value that one would typically see at the third level. My skills had also made significant progress. I had managed to level up my skills five times in a single battle. This phenomenon, known as skill awakening, was a rare urrence that heroes experienced duringbat. Not bad. The current trend of growth was quite promising. Except for the fact that I acquired the unexpected skill of Fury, everything was going ording to n. I would gradually discover how Composure and Fury could harmonize. Maintaining a firm stance, I bent my right arm and extended it. The effect was akin to lifting and lowering a 70kg weight with a single hand. Yet, my right arm showed no signs of slowing down. Even though my stats had not yet reached 20, I couldnt help but wonder how much more I would transform when I surpassed 100. Would I possess the ability to tear down walls or pierce through steel tes with my fingertips, like the martial arts masters? Coincidentally, I was nearing level 10. The timing couldnt be more perfect. I could obtain the necessary materials for promotion from the newly unlocked weekly dungeon I ventured into yesterday. However What on earth are you doing? I inquired, still in the firm position. Due to my posture, my shirt had slid down, revealing my sculpted abs. Jenna gently caressed them. Well, they looked irresistible, she replied. Could you please not touch them? Why should I refrain? Its not like its bothering you. Its bothering me, so please remove your hand. I flexed and extended my arm, utilizing the momentum to execute a full-body flip. Even my current self was capable of such acrobatics. Speaking of which, this girl The more I observe her, the more audacious she bes. Despite the experience we had yesterday,s he shamelessly persists in her behavior the following day. Its not my ce to say anything, though. Perhaps Jennas approach is the correct one. We must not dwell on the past. What truly matters is what we need to do at present and the tasks we can aplish. As long as we remember this simple fact, we can maintainposure even in a ce like this. From that perspective, Jennas greatest talent may lie not in marksmanship or physical prowess, but rather in those psychological aspects. Todays basic stamina training concluded rather swiftly. Although lunchtime was still a while away, we immediately transitioned to weapon training. It was now more efficient to invest time in honing our weapon skills rather than focusing solely on stamina. As always, we assumed our stances. Preparations seem to be in order. Shall we proceed as usual today? I nodded in agreement. Chapter 22: Weekly Dungeon (1) Part 2 Chapter 22: Weekly Dungeon (1) Part 2 Jenna distanced herself about 10 meters away from me. In her hands, she tightly held a recurve bownot a practice weapon, but one meant for realbat. The arrows attached to it possessed razor-sharp tips. The practice of blocking arrows with a shield had be monotonous. I had also reached an advanced stage in practicing the coordination of shield and sword. The shield alone couldnt provide the same level of effectiveness in deflecting arrows. It had reached a point where further practice seemed futile. And so, I discarded the shield. Now, I grasped a single sword. One misced arrow could prove fatal. I knew it, and so did Jenna. Im ready. Come. Ping! With a cheerful sound, an arrow came flying towards me. For a split second, time seemed to slow down. The arrow twirled through the air, finding its way towards my right chest. My right hand moved instinctively, assuming an efficient posture without conscious intent. The arrow shattered upon impact, just as it had approached. One more. Here I go! The second arrow took flight. I kept my eyes fixed on it. My sword swiftly arced in a diagonal path, effectively severing the arrow in half. The next arrow came without warning. Jenna and I refrained from exchanging unnecessary words. The training ground was filled with the silent symphony of arrows being released and thwarted. When I split the fifteenth arrow in half, several individuals entered the training area. We momentarily paused our movements. Ah, hello. As our eyes met, we awkwardly exchanged greetings. I offered a brief response. They settled into a corner,mencing their training with uncoordinated movements. Aaron was noticeably absent. Aaron isnt here? Leave him be. Hes probably sulking in his room. Normally, he would have arrived before me, diligently engaging in training. The same could be said for Dica. Both of them disyed exceptional enthusiasm when it came to honing their skills. Not like these guys here. I understood the mindset with which they approached training. It wasnt solely about bing stronger. It was about concealing their potential. When the sky darkened, they acted nonchnt, only to swiftly wield their weapons once it brightened. They should have been the ones to die instead of the other two yesterday. Those two had shown promise. With a bit more growth, they could have be valuable assets. My expression contorted, and Jenna seemed to sense the atmosphere, offering an awkward smile. Lets focus on our training! Release! Ping! The sixteenth arrow soared through the air, aiming for my lower body. I skillfully evaded it. Wow Dont pay them any mind. Its just their usual behavior. Whispers echoed through the crowd. I had no room to spare for their opinions. It seems my reflexes have indeed improved. The art of sword and shield epassed a skill known as swordsmanship. While using both weapons simultaneously yielded the highest efficiency, there wasnt a significant penalty for employing only one. Now, my body moved ahead of my thoughts. Like breathing, my sword traced its trajectory with effortless reflexes. Still, it remained a basic skill for now. I couldnt help but recall Shays extraordinary swordsmanship, on my first day here, piercing goblin necks with precise strikes. Inparison, I still had a long way to go. Perhaps Shay could effortlessly cleave iing arrows in half. In this world, even minimal training yielded remarkable results. Back on Earth, reaching this level would have taken at least a year. Beneath my feet, the broken remnants of arrows began to umte. Some arrows grazed my arms or legs, causing blood to spatter. Despite the wounds, Jenna remained unwavering, as more arrows swiftly followed suit. These arrows took the flight to kill me, and I wasnt gonna relent to it. If I were to die senselessly in this training, it would be futile. A few onlookers stood at a distance, their gazes fixed on Jenna and me. We must have seemed like madmen. The third arrow flew straight towards my forehead. A hit would be fatalno chance for recovery. With a flick of my wrist, I deflected the arrow to the left using the edge of my sword. It whizzed past and embedded itself into the ground near the spectators feet. Oh my! Did you see that? As I growled, the onlookers quickly retreated to their original positions. Even while swinging weapons at scarecrows, their attention remained focused on us. They hadnt even properly trained their stamina. In my mind, I contemted sending a message to the Master, letting him handle these beginners. However, as a level 9 yer, it wouldnt be worth the trouble to devour such low-level heroes. The same applied to Jenna and Aaron. Dica would need to reach a certain level to make a significant impact. This time, its a double shot. Two arrows flew at me in rapid session, targeting my chest and neck. Swiftly, I parried both with precise strikes. After todays training, the Master would log in. I estimated it would be around 10 p.m. I had already discerned Anytngs daily routine, which is why I requested a watch. We will be heading to the weekly dungeon. I mentally prepared the necessary materials. Amidst it all, my hand wielding the sword continued to move skillfully and purposefully. Chapter 23: Weakly Dungeon (2) Part 1 Chapter 23: Weakly Dungeon (2) Part 1 As the night drew near, Aaron arrived at the training grounds and spoke up. Sorry for beingte. What are you apologizing for? I mumbled as I hurled a wooden spear. Aaron caught it skillfully. If I had been a bit stronger, those two wouldnt have They perished because they were weak. Thats the simple truth. It was evening, and apart from me, Jenna, and Aaron, the training grounds stood empty. Those who had trained during the day had dispersed, finding sce in their own activities after having their meals. And I understood. Training tirelessly throughout the day wasnt an easy feat. Its only natural for our human instincts to crave rest after getting weary and tired. After catching the spear, Aaron plunged it into the training dummy. His stance was nothing short of exemry, devoid of any unnecessary movements. And so, Aaronmenced his familiar routine of 1,000 thrusts. Meanwhile, Jenna was engrossed in practicing rapid-fire archery at the shooting range. Her goal was to shoot arrows swiftly. In a mere second, she would draw an arrow from her quiver, nock it onto the string, and let it fly. Although she missed the mark numerous times, her uracy steadily improved as time wore on. As for myself, I engaged in a slow and deliberate sword-swinging practice. With each swing taking about a minute, it was a training method I hade across in martial arts novels. Surprisingly enough, it proved to be highly beneficial. It allowed me to discern where the power resided within my body and which areas required refinement. And just like that, an hour passed. I sheathed my sword back into its scabbard. I wiped away the sweat trickling down my neck with a towel. The current time was 9:47 PM. Based on my estimation, there remained approximately 10 minutes until Anytng would log in. As I made my way towards the exit of the training grounds, Jenna followed closely behind. Master will be joining us soon, right? You catch on quickly. Well, I am your number one subordinate, after all, oppa. We stepped out into the za and chose a random bench to settle ourselves upon. Jenna took a seat beside me. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] As soon as the clock struck 10 PM, the sky illuminated with shimmering lights. [The loading isplete.] [T O U C H ! (Selected)] It had been a month since I arrived in this world. In Earths time, a little over 10 days had psed. Through my observations during this period, I managed to discern Anytngs pattern of logging in. There was a time difference of approximately threefold between the waiting room and Earth. ording to Earths time, Antng would log in three times a day: morning, afternoon, and evening. Based on this information, I could create a predicted schedule for Anytngs logins, although the sample size was still insufficient. As time passed, it would be more precise. For now, I had to rely on my instincts. By the way, time during stages flowed in real-time. If there was a threefold difference there as well, I would have met my demise yesterday. [These bastards I told you toe out to the za once the Master logs in!] Iselle suddenly appeared and eximed. Compared to them, our Loki It would be great if the others could learn a thing or two from you. Anyway, amazing job in yesterdays battle! To ovee the survival mission on the 5th floor, even with those inept ones, truly showcases you as the Master of Masters! Youre extraordinary, Master. Master, huh? An expression from a bygone era, indeed. [AAAH! Theyre still not out? I wont let them get away with it this time!] Just leave them be. Theylle out on their own when you call them. After all, the number of personnel deployed for battle is limited. [Alright, I understand. Ill leave them, but only for you.] What did you say to make her act like that? Its a secret. Jenna cast a suspicious nce at me, but soon exhaled deeply and rxed her expression. So, today is the Weekly Dungeon, right? [Hold on a second! The Master has started.] Iselle vanished in the blink of an eye. [Forming a party.] [Drag and drop your heroes!] Han() joins Party 4! Jenna() joins Party 4! Lewis() joins Party 4! [The Weekly Dungeon.] Theres not much to see here. [Open up, the rift of space and time!] The front gate creaked open. Iselle reappeared and shouted, Lewis, Jeffery, Owen,e out now! A few momentster, three men with weary faces emerged into the za. They seemed bothered by the interruption while they were resting. The five of you will enter the rift of space and time. Go! Five people? Us and those guys? Jenna blinked, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a sharp gaze. They were people she rarely saw, as they stayed on the 1st floor of the main dungeon. Even those three lowered their heads, seeming ufortable in our presence. I entered the rift of spacetime. A few momentster, the four of them, including Jenna, followed suit. [Climb the tower and save the world!] [Main Dungeon: Current Floor 5][An Ever-changing Dungeon Extravaganza!] [Weekly Dungeon: Candleroot Forest (11 hours)][Collect various rare materials!] [Exploration Dungeon][ess Denied! Clear the 10th floor of the main dungeon.] As expected, its open. The mirror at the center, once adorned in ashen hues, regained its vibrant colors. It was the gateway to the Weekly Dungeon. Will you fight alongside us? Well, it seems to be that case, whats your name? Im Owen. He was an ordinary middle-aged man, someone you could find anywhere. He studied me with an anxious expression. My strength doesnt seem like it would be of much help to you Keep your worries to yourself. You wont have to fight. Really! Well, I guess thats a relief. Of course, it didnt mean they were simply here to spectate. The mirror in the center began to emit a brilliant glow. When the light subsided, we found ourselves in an unfamiliar forest. Chapter 23: Weekly Dungeon (2) Part 2 Chapter 23: Weekly Dungeon (2) Part 2 Party 4 has entered the Weekly Dungeon, Candleroot Forest (Lowest Level). They will collect materials and return! [Tips: The type of dungeon changes depending on the date. Please make sure to check!] Where are the enemies? Is there a special mission like on the 5th floor? Jenna surveyed her surroundings with a piercing gaze. I yfully pinched Jennas cheek. Moo-ha-ha-ha! Why are youughing like this? Whats so funny? Its funny because youre scared! Iughed again, This ce is called the Weekly Dungeon, a location specifically designed for gathering materials. Is that so?! Yes. I surveyed my surroundings. Behind me, there was an enigmatic shimmering circle with a radius of approximately 3 meters. It flickered with an otherworldly glow, distorting the space around it. What what is this? Hmm. Curiosity got the better of me, and I picked up a small pebble, hurling it into the mysterious space. [Han() collects Trash(F).] [Tips/Trash is unnecessary. Please discard it.] Then, I decided to break off a substantial branch from a nearby tree. Swiftly, I flung the severed branch into the air. [Han() collects Branch.] [Tips/By collecting 100 Branch items, you can process them into lumber. However, you will need a woodworking station.] Got it. What? Then can you exin it to me as well? Throw the gathered materials into that space. Things like branches. They will umte in the storage, and you can use them to craft items. With that in mind, I snapped off another branch and tossed it. [Han() collects Branch.] Is that all there is to it? I nodded in confirmation. The three of them, both bewildered and intrigued, began to break branches from nearby trees and toss them into the dimensional portal. Soon enough, system messages appeared before us. In reality, for efficient farming in this ce, we would require tools such as axes or saws. Breaking branches a hundred times wouldnt evenpare to a single log. However, since Anytng hadnt provided us with any tools, we had no other choice. Is that really enough? We wont have to fight? Yeah, it feels different. We just have to follow along. Hmph, we hit the jackpot for once. The three of them let out relieved sighs, appearing somewhat reassured. Engaging inbor like this, gathering branches and tossing them into the portal, was much preferable to fighting monsters and being sttered with blood. Leaving the trio behind, we ventured further into the heart of the forest. Where are we going? Hunting. Hunting? What kind? Wild boar? Deer? Rabbit? Are we finally going to have meat to eat? Its not that kind of hunting Look! Jennas eyes glimmered with excitement, and suddenly, she started running. Wait for me, meat! Jenna sprinted through the gaps between trees, pushing through the dense foliage. In her right hand, a bow materialized, an arrow already nocked. I followed closely behind Jenna, determined not to lose sight of her. She effortlessly leaped over tangled vines and surged through the grassy undergrowth, moving swiftly towards her target. However, I managed to keep pace. In the distance, near the majestic Adrim Tree, a deer peacefully grazed on the grass. As the deer relished its delectable feast, it suddenly caught sight of Jenna and startled, bounding away. Yet, in the blink of an eye, Jennas arrow found its mark, piercing the deers leg. With agile grace, Jenna executed a triangled leap over interwoven branches. Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly cleaved a branch with my sword and pursued her. The injured deer was not far ahead, limping along. Sorry! Jennas face bore no trace of remorse as she lodged an arrow into the deers neck. The deer let out a mournful cry before copsing onto the grassy forest floor. Surveying the fallen prey, Jennas satisfaction was evident. Its going to be delicious. . Dont you think so too, oppa? The tender texture, the sulent juices! Once grilled, it will make for a delightful feast! Well, I suppose.'' Despite Chloes culinary skills, potatoes alone couldnt steal the spotlight. Do you know how to butcher? Of course. Ive been doing it for years. Jenna unholstered her dagger from her belt. As she pressed the de against the deers carotid artery, blood flowed steadily. After draining the blood like this, we remove the hide and organs. Then we cut it into bite-sized pieces for a delectable meal. Make sure to separate the ingredients and store them in the dimensional portal. Dont forget anything. Where are you off to? For some business. Then Iming too! You can go hunting. Im also tired of only eating potatoes. Youre originally a hunter so you already know what you should do, you should be fine. If its too challenging for you to carry the ingredients alone, call those people. Trust me, itll be a hundred times, no, a thousand times better than collecting branches. Alright! Though it was a bit bothersome, I decided to hunt alone. Leaving Jenna, who deftly skinned the deer, behind, I ventured deeper into the forest. A rabbit perked up and twitched its ears upon seeing me, but I paid it no mind and continued my journey. What I sought was the Queen of the Forest. It was a rare monster that appeared in the forests weekly dungeon. The inferior elemental stone it possessed could be used as an upgrade material. It didnt always appear, but I had a rough idea of its spawning location. If I proceeded towards the forests center, there should be a ravine. And fortunately, I found the ravine. Drawing my sword and shield, I surveyed the surroundings before slowly making my way upstream along the ravine. Rabbits and wild boars quenched their thirst by the water, but I ignored them. The forest grew denser and darker as I advanced upstream. I checked the remaining time disyed in my field of vision. [32:45] Approximately 30 minutes remained. Once that time psed, I would automatically be transported back. I had to capture it. Besides the elemental stone in this ce, I needed two more materials from other weekly dungeons. I found it. The creature resided in a small pond within the ravine. Its appearance resembled a deer, but arge horn adorned its forehead. Its massive physique could be mistaken for that of a rhinoceros. A horned doe. Two smaller bucks stood by its side, forming a protective barrier. [Forest Queen Lv.10] Level 10. Silently counting, I concealed myself behind a tree. Three. Two. One! I burst out from my hiding spot and charged forward. One of the bucks, leisurely drinking water, met my gaze. Swoosh! The deer writhed in agony as I swiftly shed its throat. The other buck turned its horns towards me. With my shield, I deflected the horns and drove my sword into its neck. In a blink of an eye, I dispatched both deer and wiped the blood off the swords tip. Your boyfriends are all dead. Does that dampen your spirits? Snort. The deer responded with a silent exhale. Come at me. Chapter 24: Weakly Dungeon (3) Part 1 Chapter 24: Weakly Dungeon (3) Part 1 The majestic deer bounded forward with explosive speed. I twisted my waist just in the nick of time to evade its charge. The deers antlers struck the tree, tearing it apartpletely. The forest echoed with a thunderous crash as the tree began to tilt. Well, trying to stop it would be futile. The deer shook its head, dislodging the shattered fragments of wood, and lunged at me once more. It felt as if a massive 1.5-ton truck was elerating at full throttle. Rolling on the ground, I narrowly avoided its path and managed to grasp its leg. Yet, the wound inflicted was superficial. The deers thick hide and muscr frame offered substantial protection. I rose to my feet, bracing myself for what would be its third charge. Lets give it a try. Halting its relentless advance seemed impossible. Evading itpletely was out of the question. Any failed attempt would result in my body being torn asunder. In that case I positioned myself against the sturdy trunk of an arim tree. With a cloud of dust billowing behind it, the deer raced forward. Every impact of its hooves caused the ground to sink, leaving deep imprintsa testament to its astonishing leaping power. Just as its twisted antlers threatened to rend my body, I swiftly sidestepped. Thump! The antlers of the Forest Queen impaled the tree trunk. Even plunging a sword into such a thick tree was far from guaranteed, yet the deer aplished it effortlessly. As the deer violently shook its head from side to side, splintered fragments danced through the air. The tree, too, was on the verge of copse. Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly moved away. The immobilized deer kicked its hind leg, and although I blocked it with my shield, the impact reverberated through me like a resounding blow of a sledgehammer. Damn, its relentless. Sensation faded from my left arm. Gripping my right hand firmly around the hilt of the iron sword, Iunched myself toward the deers hindquarters. Once again, it struck out with its hind leg. I contorted my upper body, narrowly evading it. My corbone narrowly escaped shattering into pieces. I thrust my sword into the deers haunch, encountering a formidable resistance akin to piercing throughyers of sturdy fabric. Though the de didnt prate fully, I persevered, twisting it forcefully. Enraged, the deer shattered the right side of the arim tree, turning its body to swing its antlers. I had no intention of confronting those lethal antlers head-on. With my entire body lowered, almost as if prostrating myself, I braced for what came next. Whoosh! A powerful gust of wind brushed against my ear. I swiftly rose to my feet, readjusting the grip on the shield in my left hand. The sword de remained embedded in the deers haunch. Completing another rotation with its antlers, the deer seemed poised to turn once more. Stepping inward, I struck the deers cheek with my shield as it spun, then forcefully dislodged the sword hilt firmly embedded in its haunch. Kii! A fresh cry resounded through the air. Excellent, the sword remained intact. I immediately relinquished the shield, tightening my grip around the sword hilt. Though tightly wedged between the deers leather hide and muscles, I managed to extract the de. I reinserted the de into the same wound. This time, deeper. Whoosh! I swiftly retreated, creating a substantial distance. The deers antlers tore through my garments, leaving them in tatters. Once again, I charged forward, wielding the sword hilt. Crimson blood sprayed forth, marking a newly inflicted wound. The severed tissues allowed blood-stained sword to tumble from the expanding gash. I snatched it from the air and quickly distanced myself from the thrashing deer. Agonized, the deer thrashed about, leaping in all directions, its antlers swinging wildly. Branches and rocks ensnared within its antlers shattered into fragments. I stepped back a few paces to behold the spectacle before me. And just as it presented an opening I dashed forward and drove the sword into its temple. With the de piercing through the skull, no monstrous entity could survive such a strike. The Forest Queens eyes lost their luster, and her body slumped to the ground. Phew. I wiped the sweat off my forehead and gave my left arm a single rotation. It was a bit stiff, but I could still move it. Thankfully, it didnt seem dislocated. I wiped the blood off the sword, retrieved my shield, and surveyed the fallen queens remains. Looking at her now, it was hard to believe she was once a deer. She resembled more of a mythical creature, perhaps even a bull. Only one leg remained intact. Now, what should I do next? My priority was to find the elemental stone. But where could it be? I had expected the corpse to vanish, leaving behind an item. However, my anticipation proved futile. Just as I pondered whether to call Jenna, the deer dropped something from its mouth. It was a sleek, green bead. [Inferior Windstone] [Grade D-] [An elemental stone infused with the essence of the forest. Used for crafting various items and empowering certain heroes.] Bingo. I had found the elemental stone. Next, I needed to locate valuableponents from the Forest Queen. Her blood and scales. Both were crucial ingredients for crafting superior items. However, Icked the necessary tools to extract them. I attempted to push a de against the antlers, but it barely left a scratch. They seemed tougher than steel. Bringing a saw wouldnt do the trick either. I guess Ill have to take some blood. After making several incisions with the de, I finally managed to sever the carotid artery. I pressed the back of the shield beneath the bleeding neck. With no means of taking it with me, I had no other choice. The blood began to collect on the shield. I crouched down, observing the blood as it flowed from the neck. Watching it silently became exasperating. I rose to my feet, firmly gripping the sword. My focus now shifted to the deers antlers. Initially, I had contemted discarding them, but my thoughts had changed. There was no telling when I would have another chance to obtain them. I rxed my body, honing my concentration. With both hands clutching the sword hilt, I prepared for a decisive strike. I swung the sword down with force. ng! Unbelievable. Sparks erupted from the point of impact between the sword and antlers. Beyond mere disbelief, I was left dumbfounded. It felt as if I were cutting through steel. It wasnt merely shattering the tree like brittle timber. Ultimately, there remained only one option. Chapter 24: Weakly Dungeon (3) Part 2 Chapter 24: Weakly Dungeon (3) Part 2 Later, I made my way towards the dimensional portal, carrying the spoils. Was it possible to bring them back without cing the ingredients inside the portal? If I simply held them in my hands, would they return with me? If so, there would be no need for this arduous journey. However, if not, it would certainly pose a predicament. The Forest Queen wasnt a monster that appeared at any given moment. Even after spending an entire day visiting the Forest of Trials, there were instances where it failed to make an appearance. With the intention of not missing out on any rare materials, I personally carried them all the way to the dimensional portal. I strapped the sword to my waist and held the blood-stained shields ring in my left hand. In my right hand, I grasped the severed head of the deer. There was no other choice. Since I couldnt remove the antlers, I had to cut off the neck instead. Although it was a bit challenging to sever the bones, they werent as tough as the antlers. As I descended along the valley, a rustling sound caught my attention from the right. It wasnt an animal. There was a faint scent of blood carried by the wind. Heii! Its a monster! The man, who was in the process of moving the hind leg of the ughtered deer, looked at me and hesitated. A monster? Oh, uh The man stumbled and stood up. Is that you, Han? Do I need to introduce myself every time you see me? I dragged the severed deer head along as I moved forward. It was evident that appearances could be deceiving. My clothes were torn from the battle with the queen, and I wore a makeshift armor of deer hide, stained with the deers blood. Soon, Jenna emerged from the depths of the forest. Her sleeves were also stained with blood. Oh, hey, oppa? Im tired, lend me a hand. I tossed the deer head in front of Jenna. Roll, roll. The lifeless eyes of the dead deer gazed at Jenna. Why is this deer so huge?! I went hunting for a big one. Oh, you should have called me! I would have joined you earlier. Jenna held the deers head with both hands. The blood stains on her dress didnt seem to bother her. Shes quite a character. If there was one word to describe her, it would be entric. Thats why I brought her along. How many did you catch? Two deer and a wild boar. That should keep everyone in the waiting room satisfied for a while. Everyone in the waiting room? Yes. We dont eat among ourselves only. But why did you bring the head? The head doesnt taste good. I brought it because of the antlers. They just wouldnte off. Now that I think about it, this one is a female deer with antlers. Can you determine the gender just by looking at the head? Of course. Ive spent a long time in the forest, you know. We arrived at the dimensional portal. I first sprinkled the blood from the shield. [Han() has collected Queens Blood.] [Tips/In the weekly dungeon, heroes often collect rare materials.] Good. If it hadnt worked, I would have meant throwing away valuable materials. Next, I instructed Jenna to throw the head into the dimensional portal. [Jenna() has collected Queens Antlers.] This works too. The head, which wasnt recognized as an item, disappeared, and only the antlers seemed to have been transferred. In front of the dimensional portal, three party members diligently transferred the gathered materials. [Louis() has collected Deer Hide.] [Jeffery() has collected Wild Boar Meat.] [Owen() has collected Tree Branch] Lastly, I swiftly threw in the elemental stone without anyone noticing. The collectionplete message appeared. [Ching!] [Skill Awakening!] [Jenna() has acquired the Forest Hunter skill!] Shes awakening again, huh. The Forest Hunter skill is a passive ability that enhancesbat performance in forest environments and provides bonuses to animal hunting. Considering her background of living in the forest and having a hunter as a father, I had some expectations. Before I knew it, the materials umted in front of the dimensional portal were revealed. [03:21] Should I catch one more? Leave it. Well be heading back soon. But how do you know all this? Are you practicing magic or something? Youll find out how soon enough. When a magician joins and a magic researchb is built, the research tab bes avable. Among the research options, there is a category called Responsiveness Research. This research aims to improve the heros ability to respond to the mastersmands. The higher the research level, the clearer the heros understanding and ability to discern the masters requests. If it werent for me, those who came here would have wandered around cluelessly and probably returned empty-handed. I know this from my own experience as a master. I sent them to gather resources, but they returned without anything. If my prediction is correct, once the research ispleted, the people here will soon be able to see the system as well. However, were not there yet. I found afortable spot under the shade of a suitable tree and stretched out, resting my legs. A refreshing breeze blew, carrying a faint scent of the recorded voice. As I rxed, the three men also took a breather, keeping an eye on me. Soon, a bright light enveloped us. [Mission Complete!] [The hero will return to the waiting room.] [Obtained Items] [Tree Branch x54] [Deer] We returned through the dimensional rift. Stepping out into the za, it was alreadyte at night. The three men bid me farewell and disappeared into their lodgings, ready to rest. [Tips/Want more materials? Gather the idle heroes and send them to the weekly dungeon!] [Form a party.] [Drag and drop heroes!] [Han() will be removed from Party 4.] [Jenna()] This time, Anytng removed all the existing members from Party 4 and started forming a new party with Aaron leading the way, along with Dika and three more people. It was a necessary measure since heroes who had already visited the weekly dungeon couldnt go again until the next day. Of course, with special skills, they could go twice or even three times. They were referred to as Collection Agents and were responsible for gathering resources. Jenna pouted and spoke up. I want to hunt a little more. I dont know when Ill get another chance. [Jenna() wishes to participate in the Forest Weekly Dungeon.] [But she cant. Its not possible.] Anyway, I should inform Chloe-nee about this good news. We can finally enjoy a meat dish! Tell her when you wake up. Get up and tell her. It was the perfect time to approach Chloe. As the one in charge of cooking, she moved faster during the night and morning than others. Yawning, I made my way back to the lodging. Having collected the Windstone, only the Fire and Water stones remained. Chapter 25: Weakly Dungeon (4) Part 1 Chapter 25: Weakly Dungeon (4) Part 1 Floor Update: Now on the 5th floor. Although the weekday dungeon is opened on the 5th floor, there are only three types of dungeons avable right after its opening: Isalta Mine, Candleroot Forest, and Singmir teau. In these three dungeons, you can collect inferior elemental stones from the monsters that appear and exchange them for promotion stones, which will enhance your abilities. The schedule goes as follows: the mine on Mondays and Tuesdays, the forest on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and the teau on Fridays and Saturdays. On Sundays, all three weekday dungeons are essible. I found myself sitting on a bench in the square, relishing a juicy chicken leg. It had been quite a while since Ist tasted meat. I realized it had been over a month since I arrived in this ce without a chance to savor its sulent vors. Yesterday, thanks to Jennas sessful hunt, we finally had some meat for our meal. It was a weed change. Apart from the debate of whether it tasted good or not, surviving on just potatoes wouldnt provide a bnced nutritional intake. You waited, didnt you? Yeah. If you dared to say you didnt wait, I would have pouted. Jenna emerged from our lodging. She had a bow and quiver strapped to her back, with a dagger hanging from her waist. Did you enjoy your meal? It was thrilling! I feel like I have eaten a whole deer. At this moment, a lively party was likely underway in the lodgings dining hall. Well, that wasnt our main concern. I spoke up: Iselle! I want to venture into the weekday dungeon. [Get ready, Ill open the door!] Creak. The portal to the space and time realm gradually materialized. The current time disyed is 7:48 a.m. The avable opened weekday dungeon is the teau, right? [Correct.] A day had psed in Earths time since yesterday. We had been gradually constructing a calendar byparing the time in the waiting room with Earths time. With thest morsel of chicken leg in my hand, I cleanly separated the remaining meat and tossed the bones into the nearby trash bin. Jenna and I prepared to step into the space and time portal together. [Climb the tower and save the world!] [Main Dungeon: Current Floor 5][A different dungeon experience awaits each day!] [Weekday Dungeon: Singmir teau (11 hours)][Collect a variety of rare materials!] [Exploration Dungeon][ess denied! Avable after clearing the Main Dungeon 10th floor.] As I looked to the left, the entrance to the main dungeon appeared as a pitch-ck void. Given the heroes autonomous actions, it was a natural consequence that there were no other essible areas apart from the weekday dungeon. By the way, can we truly be stronger by collecting these materials? Have I ever been wrong? Just follow my lead. Jenna, like myself, was on the verge of a promotion. To achieve her promotion, she needed to gather two elemental stones. Therefore, only the two of us were heading out. Aaron seemed to bepensating for yesterdays missed training as he tirelessly practiced with his spear since the break of dawn. Dica was there with him, lending a hand. [Ive opened the passage. Just step into the mirror!] Alright. I raised my gaze. Dark clouds loomed in the ash-gray sky. Anytng, our usual connection point, remained disconnected. cing my finger on the mirrors surface, I quickly entered. Faint ripples spread from the point of contact as if the mirror itself reacted to my touch. After taking a deep breath, I pushed my body forward,pletely immersing myself into the portal. Thendscape had transformed. A fierce wind howled, causing the tall reeds in the field to bend low. [Temporary Party (Han, Jenna) has entered the weekday dungeon, Singmir teau (Lowest Level). They will gather materials and return!] Ahead, a dimensional portal unfurleda gateway reminiscent of the one we had encountered in the forest. Jenna emerged from the portal, her hand pressed against her forehead as she took in the surroundings. What a magnificent view! The cool breeze is refreshing. As we stood at the edge of the cliff, the expansive in stretched out beneath us. While we couldnt determine the exact height, it seemed to surpass a minimum of 1,000 meters above sea level. Extending our hands beyond the cliff, we encountered an ethereal barrier obstructing our path. Inside the cliff, a sprawling meadow unfolded before our eyes. Suddenly, a red flower caught my attentiona vibrant bloom nestled within a crevice. Its a Lifebloom. I had seen illustrations of this flower, and its six divided petalsa vital ingredient for crafting healing potions. If time permitted, we should gather some before leaving. Follow my lead. Got it! We pushed through the meadow, forging ahead. The monster you need to catch here is the Hignd Tracker. They have a simple movement pattern. If you follow along here, a riveres out, and around the river Im lucky. We found it right away. [Hignds Tracker Lv.10] Hignd Tracker was a giant wolf with blue-ck fur. He was drinking water with his feet in the river. We were crouched under a rock about five meters from the river. Is that big boy the prey? I nodded without speaking. I took my sword out of the scabbard and raised my shield. Jenna put an arrow on her bow. In this realm, we would face the teau Trackersa challenge we were well-prepared for. Each weekday dungeon housed its distinctive guardian: deer in the forest, wolves in the teau, and snakes in the caves. Aim for their legs. Wouldnt it be better to go for a headshot, taking him down in one strike? Hell retaliate fiercely. Jenna drew her bow, aligning her sights with the wolf, while I unsheathed my sword and raised my shield. She nocked an arrow. Jenna fixed her aim on the wolf. The arrow was released. Ping! The wolf agilely evaded the arrow, as if anticipating the attack. He evaded! I told you, it wont be that easy. This wolf possessed a unique skill called Surprise Evade, which had a high chance of evading projectile strikes. Although attacking non-vital areas would decrease their defensive capabilities, it seemed our tactic had failed as well. Grrrr The wolf emanated a clear sense of hostility. Theres no longer a need to conceal ourselves. I stepped out from behind the rock, slowly revealing my presence. Kunkunk! Yellow droplets flew as the wolf growled. This creature surpassed the ordinary forest dwellers in size, much like the Forest Queen. Its sinewy limbs disyed robust muscles, and with each growl, its sharp fangs gleamed in the light. He looks tough, but I think I cannd a strike. Dont worry, Ill provide an opening. Lets go! I charged forward, wielding my shield, as the wolf lunged at me. I have to use the Frenzy State. Chapter 25: Weakly Dungeon (4) Part 2 Chapter 25: Weakly Dungeon (4) Part 2 This battle didnt call for intricate strategy; it was a raw, unfettered fight. I decided to harness the frenzy skill I had acquired from our previous mission. It was a high-risk, high-return skill that unleashed my full potential by sacrificing rationality. How could I activate it though? Do I need to unleash my anger? I couldnt figure it out, so I halted my thoughts and raised my shield. A powerful impact shook my left hand. The wolf had swung its massive front paw, aimed directly at my shield. It wasnt on par with the Forest Queen, but it possessed formidable strength. Swiftly regaining my stance, I rolled aside. The wolfs ws dug into the ground, just inches away. The wolf immediately retaliated with a swipe of its ws. Its ws grazed the tip of my nose. Apanied by the sound of the wind, a drop of blood trickled from my nostril. Fast. The breaks between its attacks were minimal. Dealing with it using my sword was challenging. One wrong move and my right arm would be severed. If not for my shield, it would have been a daunting opponent to face. Gradually, I retreated, skillfully parrying each attack with my shield. Thwack! An arrow flew with perfect timing, piercing the wolfs side. Growl! The wolf turned, baring its fangs at Jenna. Seizing the opportunity, I thrust my sword into the wolfs exposed back. The wolf swiftly spun around, swiping its ws. Its ws tore through the trajectory of my strike. Although my leather arm guard was in tatters, I managed to plunge my sword into its side, right beside the arrows entry point. Ping! Another arrow found its mark, piercing through the wolfs hindquarters. Seizing the moment, I struck the side of the wolfs head with my shield as it lunged toward Jenna. Thud! Yet another arrow struck home. Jenna was behind me, I was in front. The teau Tracker met its demise, caught between our onught of swords and arrows. After some time, the wolfs tongue lolled out of its mouth as it copsed. A small orb rolled from its parted jaws. [Inferior Water Elemental Stone][Grade D-][A stone infused with the essence of the teau. Used for crafting various items and aiding certain hero promotions.] Luck was on our side once again. We obtained the elemental stone in a single encounter. It was fortunate that only one wolf appeared. Typically, teau Trackers roamed in packs of two or more. This one seemed to have strayed from the group, seeking solitude to quench its thirst. Although I didnt have the chance to use the Frenzy Skill this time, opportunities would arise in the future. Jenna, skin this creature. What will you use it for? I have ns for itter. And when ister exactly? Jenna grumbled but began to skin the wolf using her dagger. Meanwhile, I plucked a vibrant red flower growing by the riverside. Now, lets see potion ingredients Lifebloom, teau Water, Crackle Mushroom, and Fools Gold. The first two could be found here. Crackle Mushrooms in the forest, and Fools Gold in the mine. The purpose of Fools Gold remained unclear, but it seemed that its potential knew no bounds. As Jenna worked on skinning, I diligently gathered Lifeblooms. Originally, herb gathering would have been difficult without the Herbalists skill, but with item names popping up visibly for me, it wasnt too challenging to collect them. teau Water was simply the river flowing through the teau. I took out a prepared water container and filled it with the crystal-clear river water. What about the ws and fangs? Ive already separated them. Perfect. Snip, snip. Jennas nimble fingers skillfully performed the task behind me. Its so peaceful here. Before you speak of peace, wipe the blood off your hands. Why? Its proof that weve put in the effort. The bluish fur of the wolf was now stripped off, revealing its true form. Jenna began meticulously trimming the sharp ws. It would be wonderful if we could always enjoy this tranquilityhunting and gathering herbs, free from the constant presence of the Master. Can you imagine? Having enough to eat, a ce to rest. Without the Master, its like an earthly paradise! I am a Master too, you know. I swallowed my response. In a way, it wasnt entirely wrong to consider it paradise without the constant oversight of the Master. We had foundpanions to journey with, and the opening of the Weekly Dungeons brought us various ingredients. It was as if a small vige had formed in our midst. I wonder if the guys in Niflheimr have simr thoughts. The desire for the Master to be absent. Even I harbored some dissatisfaction with our current Master. If given the chance, I would willingly step into their role. I believed I could manage the waiting room more efficiently than our current situation if only I could take charge. Dont you desire to engage inbat? I asked Jenna. What do you mean? Combat isnt limited to fighting on the frontlines. You have the ability to hunt, and youre notpletely devoid of skills. You dont need to worry about being overshadowed. Are you trying to lift my spirits? If circumstances improve from what they are now, theres nothing to lose. In terms of survival, it was often more advantageous to assume a nonbat role instead of being on the frontlines in the main party. If I had prioritized survival, I would have found a way to shift into that position. Just like the skilled carpenter expertly carving branches in the woodworking shop around this time. Lets head back. Time is running out. Jenna swiftly wiped her blood-stained hands and rose to her feet. With our spoils in hand, we made our way toward the dimensional portal. Just when we thought the journey was close to ending, sudden figures emerged before the dimensional portal. Running toward the dimensional portal I called out to Jenna. Duck! Growl, thud! Before usy the bodies of five Hignd Trackers, as big as their fallenrade. The dimensional portal was within reach. We wasted no time and rushed towards it. Take this! Jenna tossed the thick wolf hides into the dimensional portal. [Jenna () has collected Hignd Tracker Leather.] [Jenna () has collected Sharp Fangs.] [Han () has obtained Lifebloom.] With the materials gathered in one go, we jumped into the depths of the dimensional portal. [Mission Complete!] [The Hero returns to the waiting room.] [Items Obtained] [Lifebloom] As we returned to the za, we quickly tidied ourselves up. The materials we had just taken into the dimensional portal would automatically be packaged and stored on the shelves in the warehouse. I thought we were done for! How are we supposed to gather materials when were surrounded like that? They usually dont gather near dimensional portals. Even if we did encounter them, we could simply retreat into the portal. Although we would lose our entry pass, it was still better than the main dungeons where there was no escape once inside. In the future, we would form parties for the Weekly Dungeon with onebat member assigned as an escort for every four gatherers. It was the standardposition for a Weekly Dungeon party. I briefly exined the concept of the Weekly Dungeon to Jenna. I couldnt personally guide her through every detail. I informed her about what she needed and how to reach the 2-star level. Jenna had an intuitive understanding of concepts like levels and grades. With each level increase, her physical abilities would soar, and she couldnt help but notice the difference. Its really strange. The location changes every day, and we can only go once. For the Master, its a daily urrence. But for us, its not. Once we enter the location, we must first find and defeat those enemies, no matter what. We leave the minor materials to the others. Understood. The more elemental stones and rare materials we obtained, the better. After promotion, we could use them to create special items or imbue equipment with unique powers. For now, I think this is as far as we can go. Promotion was a necessary step, but there was no immediate urgency. Apart from the level restriction being lifted, there werent many significant advantages to it. Even if we couldnt level up, we could still umte experience. And as we continued exploring the Weekly Dungeon, materials would naturally umte. And therefore, I headed towards the training grounds. Chapter 26: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (1) Part 1 Chapter 26: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (1) Part 1 A few days had passed. [Assembling a Party.] [Drag and drop your heroes!] Dica () has joined Party 1! Dica had be a member of our main party. Please take care of me! Dica nodded to me with a determined expression on her face. After the tragic deaths of Zeeth and Hanson, he disyed a somber demeanor for a while. However, it seemed he had managed to recover in some way. Recently, he had been joining me and Aaron in our training sessions. The sky shimmered brightly. It meant that the master had logged in. It seems that it wont be just a Weekly Dungeon today, huh? Aaron adjusted his spear nervously. The members Iselle called upon were me, Jenna, Aaron, and Dica. We were the core fighting party in the current waiting room. Compared to me, Dica was significantly weaker, but he outperformed the other members. Most of them were still on the 1st floor. When venturing into the Weekly Dungeon, we were dispatched with the sub-members, so these folks could understand the masters intentions. [Open, Rift of time and space!] The central door of the za swung open. Our partys faces tensed up. Even Jenna, who usually maintainedposure, had a rigid expression. Why are you so nervous? The 5th floor was incredibly challenging. I thought I was going to die. Aaron let out a sigh. Dont worry. It wont be as tough this time. Really? Yes, absolutely. There seems to be some room for doubt in your answer! While there is always a slim chance of encountering a high-difficulty mission in the sub-stage, I couldnt bepletely sure. That was the rule of Pick Me Up. I took a step forward. Before long, three others followed suit. We couldnt fill the required party slots, but it didnt matter. I took a light deep breath. [Climb the Tower, Save the World!][Main Dungeon: Current Floor 5] The left mirror in the Rift of the Dimension began to radiate light. It signaled our entry into the main dungeon. The tension returned to my party members faces, particrly Dica, who trembled while tightly gripping his sword and shield. We didnt tell him how Zeeth and Hanson had met their end. Soon, the light vanished, and we found ourselves in an unfamiliar location. [Floor 6.][Mission Type Exploration][Objective Explore the Unknown Location!] The field is a forest. Exploration, huh. Another rare mission had appeared. I took a moment to assess the surroundings. No enemies were in sight. Only a vast field of swaying grass stretched out before us. Um, hyung. I dont see any enemies. Could this be another situation like the 5th floor? Shh. Aaron became as silent as a statue and nodded in agreement. Dont raise your voices. Everyone, lower your heads and bow down. They immediately lie down t on the ground like soldiers. . I said lower your heads, not lie down on the ground. The party members stood up, slightly bewildered. Theres nothing major here, so rx. As long as we fulfill the conditions, we can make it through safely. Yes. Wait a moment. Ill be back soon. After concealing the three of them amidst the field, I quietly slipped away to the side of the road. As I advanced, I sensed an obstacle ahead. It seemed impassable. Its a linear-shaped map. If we followed the path that cut through the center of the field, we might reach an event point. When I returned, I directed the party to venture in the opposite direction. Are we sneaking somewhere? Jenna asked, plucking a stray leaf from her head. We proceeded, carefully hiding our bodies within the dense foliage of the grassy forest. With her keen eyesight, Jenna took the lead, and I followed closely behind. It feels familiar. Im not usually fond of these kinds of situations. Muttering to herself, Jenna skillfully navigated through the verdant undergrowth. Before long, our attention was captured by the appearance of enemies. Three goblins stood nonchntly on the path, forming a loose formation. Ker, Kyarak! Kira, Kiraroro! The goblins engaged in animated chatter among themselves. What are they saying? These goblins were unlike any we had encountered before. Their scrawny arms now boasted sinewy muscles and their physique had grown more formidable. Their shoddy attire, once barely covering them, had undergone a transformation. They sported crude leather armor and wielded swords and shields. [Goblin Lv.8 X 3] Do we take them down, hyung? Aaron tightened his grip on his spear. Wait. I examined the goblins appearance once again. A small horn whistle dangled from the leather belt around their waists. Pointing towards a tree beside the dense grass, I instructed: Jenna, do you see that tree? Yes, I do. Climb to the top and see whats up there. Jenna swiftly ascended the tree. After a brief moment, Jenna returned with valuable information. I think theres a goblinir. Theres a structure within the barrier, and it seems to be teeming with them. How many are there? Its hard to say. Maybe around a hundred? I grasped the situation. It seemed to be a trap-like pattern. Inexperienced heroes would encounter the goblins while following the path and immediately engage inbat. That had been the recurring theme in the previous stages. Jenna, target the goblin on the far right when I give the signal. Got it. Aaron, when I lure them, thrust your spear into the head of that one. Understood. As for you Dica gazed at me with hopeful eyes. If anything unexpected happens, lend us your assistance. Yes There was nothing else to assign. Besides, exploration hardly yielded any significant experience points. Iy t on the ground, plucking a small pebble rolling amidst the tall grass. Thunk. The pebble hit the back of a motionless goblin. Huh? The struck goblin turned towards the direction of the grass, wearing a perplexed expression. Tap, tap. I lightly tapped the ground with the hilt of my sword. The goblin, detecting the sound, ventured closer. As the familiar odor of the goblin wafted towards my nose. Now! Jennas arrow pierced through the forehead of the rightmost goblin. Aarons spear impaled the face of the goblin protruding from the foliage. The remaining goblin let out a terrified shriek and pulled out a horn whistle. Emerging from the tall grass, I sprinted forward and delivered a forceful blow to the goblins face with my shield. Despite losing a broken tooth, the goblin desperately clung to the horn whistle, attempting to blow it. Pff! I swiftly kicked the horn whistle aside and thrust my sword into the left side of its chest. The goblin crumpled without even having the chance to scream. As I withdrew the sword, sticky blood clung to its de. I-Is it over? Dica emerged from the grass. His face disyed a mixture of surprise and relief. For now. I replied and wiped the blood off the de. All three goblins had transformed into lifeless bodies. None of them had seeded in blowing the horn whistle. I nudged the shattered horn whistle on the ground with my foot and spoke. If we let that whistle sound, reinforcements wille pouring out of the stronghold, making things quite troublesome. Rushing in without knowing its an extermination mission would trigger the trap. A message appeared, indicating thepletion of the mission. [Stage Clear!][Reward 5,000G][MVP Han()] Chapter 26: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (1) Part 2 Chapter 26: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (1) Part 2 Gradually, a radiant light began to wrap around us. Huh, its already over? Jenna blinked in surprise. We were slowly fading away into the light. Its not over yet. I sprinted along the path. Before returning to the za, there was something we needed to learn. The reason this mission was called exploration. To gather information. Because we would receive a hint about the next stage. Since the introduction of exploration, it was clear it wouldnt be a single mission. Although randomized, it didnt mean everything was unpredictable. Building upon previous missions and the setting, we could indirectly anticipate the field and task that would unfold. For beginners, exploration seemed like an easily granted mission, but for skilled yers, it held a different meaning. I ran at full speed, meticulously surveying the surroundings. Gradually, my form became faint. I had to grasp as many hints as possible within that luminous realm. No matter how much I ran, there were no obstacles ahead. Through the gaps between trees that sporadically rose on both sides of the road, a particr scene caught my eye. It was a shabby stockade, about 5 meters tall, with ramshackle huts huddled together within the gaps. Dozens of goblins roamed near the huts. Its a goblin stronghold. It was the vige Jenna had seen. I disregarded it and kept running. It didnt take long for the second goblin stronghold to appear. Is this a massive goblin habitat? In this vige, goblins were apanied by wolves. When a goblin rode on one of those wolves, it became a goblin rider. Among the goblin series, they proved to be quite formidable with their distinctive mobility. Kee! Just then, my eyes met with a goblin. The goblin dashed toward me with determination, but collided with an invisible barrier and tumbled to the ground. I couldnt reach there either, and the goblin couldnte to this ce. Currently, that stronghold was nothing more than an inessible backdrop, but it wouldnt be the case in the next mission. I continued running along the path. Soon, the dense forest gave way to an open in. Thendscape stretched out before me, revealing a clear view. The entire forest seemed to be transformed into a goblin stronghold. It felt more like a forward operating base than a typical stronghold. The goblins were bustling with activity, crafting weapons, donning armor, and taming wolves. Dozens of goblins clung to the edges of the map, their presence clearly visible. They let out strange, menacing cries, but I paid them little heed. I had seen enough. It was a mere moment before my bodypletely vanished from sight. I increased my speed, pushing myself even further. As I raced at full throttle, I soon caught sight of a city standing in the distance. And then, I returned through the rift of space and time. Why did you rush ahead on your own earlier? Just wanted to take a quick look outside. I had gathered sufficient information. Now, it was time to use what I had just witnessed as a foundation to anticipate the theme of the uing linked quests and strategize ordingly. Its what they call estimating the clearance projection. In the case of these sudden, special dungeons, there was no choice but to send a scouting party to test the waters. However, in the main dungeons, there were often hints to be found. This flow of linked quests that began with exploration was known as a stream.(T/N: Stream: A series of linked missions.) Analyzing the stream was also a skill of the master. How frustrating. I wasnt sure if what I had seen had been effectively conveyed to Anytng. Even if he understood, at this point, when both resources and heroes were short, there wasnt much that could be done. I had thought the stream woulde at ater time, but it arrived sooner than expected. As I emerged into the za, Chloe came rushing towards me in a panic. There was an inexplicably uneasy look on her face. Han, something terrible happened! What is it? Chloe seldom left the za as she was often upied with preparing meals for a group of ten or more. Herrge brown eyes were filled with worry. What happened, Chloe? W-well some strange people showed up So what? Is this the first time you encounter strangers? It seemed that while we were on the mission, Anytng had summoned someone. Apart from the 10-consecutive summon we had done before, Anytng asionally brought along one or two 1-star heroes. However, its not the right time to summon heroes when the mission is still ongoing. I furrowed my brow in concern. Getting distracted during a main dungeon run was a bad habit, to say the least. They seem different somehow. Theyre armed and their vibe feels off, Chloe voiced her worries. Iselle! [Whats the matter?] Show me the system logs from when I was away. [Okay, hold on!] Soon enough, the system message appeared. It was disying past events. He had ordered the woodworking station to process branches and sent a sub-party of three to the second floor. And then I read through the logs carefully, taking my time. [If you desire anything right now, make your purchase!] [Mobius supports the Masters choice!] [You have selected the Newbie Potent Package!] [Package Contents: 2,500 Gems, 50,000 Gold, Low-grade Ore, Lumber, Leather x 10] [All of this for only 50,000 won!] [The corresponding amount will be added to your phone bill next month. Are you sure you want to proceed with the payment?] [Yes (selected) / No] It was Anytngs second purchase. The 5,000 Gems obtained from the previous package had already been used for facility construction. [Payment has beenpleted!] [The items have been delivered to your mailbox. Please check them!] Here theye. [Summon Heroes!] [Summon heroes using Gold or Gems. Experience the infinite heroes of Mobius Summon.] [Master, initiating Advanced Summon! You have chosen 5-consecutive Advanced Summon. It will consume a total of 2,500 Gems. Would you like to proceed with the summon?] [Yes (selected) / No] [Master, initiating Advanced Summon. Im excited to see which heroes will emerge!] [ck, whoosh, whoosh.] [Thud!] [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired hero Avant ()!] [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired hero Zacken ()!] [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired hero Weyf ()!] [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired hero Veigin ()!] [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired hero Edis ()!] Chapter 27: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (2) Part 1 Chapter 27: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (2) Part 1 It turned out they were eventer than expected, much to everyones surprise. If it were up to me, I would have recruited them for the party before tackling the climb to the 5th floor. That way, we could have bonded right from the start. However, based on the messages we received, all five of them are 3-star characters, which is promising. But there was something intriguing beneath those messages, catching my attention. [Chime!] [A strong connection emanates from the summoned individuals.] [A bond called the Fangwolf Mercenary Corps has been formed!] [Tips/When performing consecutive summons, there is a very low chance of summoning heroes who have a bond with each other. These individuals exhibit even greaterbat prowess when they belong to the same party.] This concept of bond is quite rare and special. A bond acts like a set, granting abat power bonus when members are assembled in the same party. Its a rather umon urrence, even in consecutive summons. Well find out if Anytngs luck is on the good or bad side once we meet them in person. So, where are these people right now? They said theyre exploring and taking in the sights. You can head back to the kitchen. Dont worry, they wont harm you. Theyre just an entric bunch. Chloe nodded, understanding, and made her way back to the dormitory. Do you think youre simr to them, Hyung? (Note: Hyung is a term used to address an older brother or a respectful senior) Im different. I sheathed my sword and slung the shield over my back. Our party remains intact! The arrival of these unique neers wont change a thing. Well continue as we have been. Thank you for your hard work! Aaron and Dica respectfully bowed before heading into the training grounds. The zas clock pointed to evening. They were hardworking individuals, indeed. Are you nning to check on those people, Oppa? (Note: Oppa is a term used by a female to address an older brother or a male friend/romantic interest) For now, yes. Id like to join you. Ive been curious anyway. Within the waiting room, we had the dormitory, training grounds, armory, and equipment workshop. These were the four facilities avable. We decided to start by visiting the nearest dormitory. As we entered the lobby, there stood a woman we hadnt seen before. Hello there! Jenna cheerfully approached the woman and called out to her. Startled, the woman, who had been gazing at the firece, hesitated before responding. Um, hello. Im Jenna Shirai! Whats your name, Unni? (Note: Unni is a term used by a female to address an older sister or a respectful senior female) Im Edis Callen. Nice to meet you! Jenna reached out her hand. Edis hesitated for a moment but eventually shook Jennas hand. And this handsome Oppa here is Han. He maye across as tough, but deep down, hes a warm-hearted guy. Stop making a fuss. I casually plopped down on the sofa in the lobby. So, Edis, right? Id like to have a chat with you. Do you have some time? As I spoke, my gaze fell upon Edis, meticulously examining her features. She possessed captivating brown eyes and long, luscious curls that cascaded down her back. Dressed in a sleek, ebony leather armor, she adorned her belt with two gleaming daggers and apact short bow. I invoked the Status Window to gain insight into her abilities and background. [Edis Callen () Lv.1 (Exp 0/10)] [ss: Thief] [Strength: 13/13] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Stamina: 14/14] [Dexterity: 17/17] [Skills: Novice Dagger Mastery (Lv.3), Novice Archery (Lv.1), Swift Reflexes (Lv.1)] True to her 3-star rating, she emerged with a formidable profession: a Thief. With a characteristic blend of agility, her strength and stamina were rtively modest. Among her repertoire of skills were Novice Dagger Mastery, Archery, and Swift Reflexes. While akin to Jenna, her focus seemed to be more attuned to the art of dagger-wielding rather than archery. Jenna returned with two cups of water, gracefully extending one towards Edis. For now, have a seat, she kindly suggested. Without a word, Edis settled onto the opposite sofa, her eyes glistening with curiosity as she took a sip. Then, inquisitively, she ventured forth with her inquiries. Do you have any knowledge about this ce? I possess fragments of information, but mysteries still shroud certain aspects, I replied. Curious about her own understanding, I further inquired, What about you? How much do you know? Can you recall how you arrived here? She mused pensively, her eyes narrowing as if attempting to retrieve elusive memories. Gradually, she began to speak. Im unaware of the exact circumstances I merely sense an unspoken calling to fight, she confessed. A summoning for the sake ofbat, I mused. Yes, it feels as though theres an innate necessity to fulfill, she responded. Curiosity piqued, I probed deeper, Do you happen to know the underlying reason behind thispulsion? Whenever I strain to recollect, an intense headache ensues, hindering my attempts, she revealed. A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I contemted the implications. Are you acquainted with the concept of synthesis? I inquired. Synthesis Edis echoed, her brows furrowing in contemtion. It refers to gaining strength through the sacrifice of others, she replied, her voice tinged with a blend of recognition and uncertainty. Indeed, youre familiar with it, I acknowledged. Continuing my line of questioning, I sought to gauge her knowledge of the masters existence. After a prolonged period of introspection, Edis posed a query, wondering if they held dominion over this realm. While she seemed to grasp the concept, the intricacies of summoning and its associated mechanics remained somewhat elusive to her. As I pondered our conversation, a cascade of memories flooded my mind, retracing the impressions left by the individuals summoned from the very first Shay to the present-day Edis. Jenna, Aaron, and the other 1-star individuals arrived here without any knowledge of why they were summoned or what they needed to do. As for the 4-star Shay, it seemed she had a sense of why she had to fight. And in front of me, Edis, while unsure of why she was summoned, knew exactly what she had to aplish. She had a grasp of the concept of Masters and even understood synthesis. The information gap varies based on the summoned rank, I concluded briefly. Beforeing here, I suppose you were a mercenary? I asked. I belonged to the Fangwolf Mercenary Corps, she responded. Fangwolf? That name has a certain charm, Jennamented, sitting beside me with a yful grin. I vaguely remember working as a mercenary in Halsea, but when I regained my senses, I was here, Edis began exining in great detail how the Fangwolf Mercenary Corps was formed and what tasks they primarily undertook. From what I gathered, they seemed to be a rather high-ranking group within the mercenaries. There appeared to be a significant difference between them and Molmont, who was also a mercenary but only a 2-star. Thats impressive! It sounds like something out of a legend, Jenna eximed. Uh, really? Edis blushed and discreetly cleared her throat before unexpectedly heaving a deep sigh. However, at the moment At the moment? I prompted. Its nothing. Well, if its nothing, then dont say anything. Why is your reaction like that, Oppa? Stories of adys past are treasures one cant obtain even with a fortune, Jenna teased. If you say so. Youre truly dense, she remarked. I rose from the sofa. I thought there would be more to hear, but apparently not. At least, I get to hear her story of how they were summoned. I thought perhaps I could gain some knowledge about the person who imprisoned us in this ce if I hear her story. I need some rest. You can help yourself, this is your home now. Come on, just us girls Jenna was about to say when, [Avant, Zacken, Weyf, Veigin, Edis!] Iselles voice echoed through the za. I halted my steps as I was about to head to the dormitory. I still cant sleep yet. As one of the first advanced heroes obtained since the tutorial, it seemed Master wanted to give them a test run. At the entrance of the dining hall, someone unexpected appeared. Whos there? Whos calling my name? The man towered over me, standing a head taller with broad shoulders. d in a leather armor simr to Edis, he carried a massive axe on his back. As I examined the Status Window, a familiar name surfaced in my mindZacken. He was a warrior ss, specializing in strength and stamina. Just by his appearance, one could tell. It seems the Master is summoning us, Edis remarked, rising from the sofa. Its been a while since I had meat. I wouldnt mind catching a glimpse of that noble face! Zacken eximed. Zacken and Edis left for the za together, with a roasted deer hind leg in hand. They didnt spare a nce for Jenna and me. But were supposed to share it together! Chloe rushed out from the dining hall. I asked Chloe, What happened? He said he wanted the meat and walked off with a whole leg. With proper cooking, it could feed all five of us Then lets ask him to give it back! Jenna clenched her fist and stood up. Wait a moment. Why? Lets go to the za first. We stepped out into the za. A rare sight unfolded before us. Chapter 27: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (2) Part 2 Chapter 27: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (2) Part 2 Nearly everyone from the waiting room had gathered there. They whispered and murmured, their attention fixated on the cause of themotion. I chose a suitable bench and took a seat. In the center of the za stood five individuals. Dressed in ck leather armor, they were five men and women. [5-Party will be renamed Fangwolf Mercenary Corps (Fangewolf Pack). Are you okay with this modification?] [Yes (Selected) / No] Anytng was preparing to form a fixed party. It seemed he was rather pleased with the idea. [Forming the party.] [Drag and drop the heroes!] [Avant () joins Galgineukdae!] [Zacken () joins Galgineukdae!] [Weyf () joins Galgineukdae!] [Veigin () joins Galgineukdae!] [Edis () joins Galgineukdae!] [Avant () is designated as the leader of Fangwolf!] [Open, the Rift of Time and Space!] Creak. The front gate of the za swung open. Are they sending us right away? murmured a sharp-looking man in the center of the group. A vertical scar marked his right eye. I swiftly scanned his Status Window. His name was Avant Dazik. Judging by his stats and skills, he was a one-handed sword specialist. So, hes the leader, I thought. The other four individuals discreetly observed Avants demeanor. Come on, lets go! Lets go! The Master is waiting! he eximed. They understood the situation without hearing a word from Iselle. Shall we have a little adventure? Avant took the lead, entering the Rift of Time and Space. Zacken followed suit, discarding the remaining deers hind leg. Weyf and Veigin trailed behind, with Edis bringing up the rear. No mages among them. They needed a spellcaster to bring a sense of bnce, but luck didnt seem to be on Masters side yet. The Fangwolf Mercenary party consisted of four warriors and one thief. Once all five had entered, the Rift of Time and Space closed. Ha, Han! A middle-aged man approached me as I sat down. It was Jeffery, the person who was chosen to enter the Forest Weekly Dungeon with us. Whats the matter? Do you know those people? Something seems off! Theyre strangers to me. Theyre carrying weapons! I, too, am armed. I have a feeling That theyre not trustworthy? Exactly! I chuckled. That was the source of themotion. They didnt strike me as righteous individuals too. And they possessed power. Jenna, what are your thoughts on those people? The Fangwolf mercenary party? Well, Im not sure. Edis seems kind, but I cant say the same for the others. I nced back at Jeffery and spoke. So, Jeffery, what do you expect me to do? Offer protection? If you would, I would be grateful For free? Well, thats I surveyed the surroundings. Numerous pairs of eyes were fixed on me. Those eyes shimmered with the same intensity as Jefferys. If you desire protection so desperately, why not strive to be stronger yourselves? Whye seeking aid now, after casually training all this time? Isnt that rather pitiful? Moreover, can you guarantee that those individuals wont cause you harm? You made it look like a group of weaklings has been in control of this ce all this time. But youre strong! Jeffery said. So is it your survival strategy totch onto those who appear strong and behave like cowards? Most of the 1-star individuals gathered here fell short, not justpared to Aaron, but even inparison to Dica. Even if theycked exceptional talent, they werent so feeble as to be unable to defend themselves. Yet, they would venture to the training grounds, aimlessly swinging their swords, then return to feast on the meat hunted by Jenna and cooked by Chloea routine that had be their daily norm. Learning skills wasnt their concern. Even though they could have utilized their spare time to acquire skills from Chloe or the crafters, they cunningly evaded the synthesis by pretending to work hard, taking advantage of Anytngsck of presence. But that didnt mean I had any desire to chase after them or cause trouble. After all, once the Master became more adept, those individuals would naturally fade away. However, this situation was different. Leave before I lose my temper. The crowd scattered in a hurry, leaving only me, Jenna, Aaron, and Dica in the square. It was the same group of four that had ventured to the 6th floor. Aaron. Yes, hyung-nim. While you were shedding blood and on the brink of death, those individuals were soundly asleep, merely toying with a couple of goblins. Im well aware of that. Then fix your expression. Its rather unsightly. Yes I shifted my gaze towards Dica. So, Dica, what happened? What do you mean I said what happened? Did you fight with them? How did youe to know? With your face sporting bruises and swelling, would it be possible for me to remain oblivious? Although his appearance had improved by now when we emerged into the square, Dicas face had been discolored and swollena clear sign of having endured a beating. Dica responded with a downcast expression. It was a simple sparring session. The neer requested a duel, and things escted to this point. I squeezed my fist and, with closed eyes, addressed Aaron. Is that truly the whole story? Aaron, I assume you witnessed it as well? Its not just that. Alright, understood. Go and rest. What about you, hyung-nim? I wish to observe those individuals a bit longer before departing. Time was growingte. Aaron and Dica bowed their heads and made their way back to the lodging. Why arent you heading back? I looked at Jenna. Jenna stood by my side, whistling and indulging in her whims. I chuckled. Chapter 28: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (3) Part 1 Chapter 28: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (3) Part 1 After a while, the Fangwolf Mercenary Corps returned. Looks like we only encountered a bunch of weaklings! Zacken yfully licked the de of his axe. No casualties. No signs of surprise. They entered and returned as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The sight of those people trembling in fear was no surprise either. They were different from the 1-stars, emanating an aura that made ones spine tingle. And who might you be? A man with visible scars in his eyes looked at me and spoke. It was Avant. I replied without much concern. You dont have to worry about me. Hey, who do you think you are, talking so arrogantly? Zacken shouted. Well, you started with informality. And who is thisdy? Thats enough! Avant took a step forward and intervened. Zacken, who had been scowling, fell silent. I am Avant Dezick, the leader of the Fangwolf Mercenary Corps. And you? Han. Ah, youre armed as well. Were you a mercenary? No, I was a farmer. A farmer? A fleeting expression of disdain crossed Avants eyes before quickly fading away. Avant continued speaking, addressing me. Are the people we met earlier everyone who resides here? Why do you ask? That will suffice. [Wait a moment!] Avant, who was heading towards the lodging, halted his steps. Iselle hastily spoke up. [Wait! The master still has matters to discuss with you.] Matters to discuss? [In any case, dont act rashly!] Jenna leaned in close, whispering into my ear. Oppa, earlier you asked me what I thought about those people, right? Ivee to a concord. Its not a favorable impression. Why is that? Their gazes are abnormal. Although Edis unni seems kind I see. [Master, youre about to initiate a 10-summon. Im excited to see which heroes will appear!] An unexpected message materialized before my eyes. Summoning ten heroes all of a sudden, at a time like this. Ah, I understand now. No, precisely because its a critical moment that he has decided to summon them. I tightened my grip on the swords hilt, feeling the chilling sensation clinging to my fingertips. [ck, tuturu.] [Dran!] [Common!] [Master Anytng obtained] [Common!] [Master Anytng obtained] The summoning hall doors swung open. Both Iselle and I, along with every member of the Fangwolf Mercenary Corps, directed our gaze towards that particr spot. After a while, ten individuals, both men and women, emerged into the square, each with their own unique appearance. They seemed unaware of the situation that unfolded before them. [Master, initiating synthesis.] [Drag and drop the hero you wish to sacrifice onto the hero you want to enhance! The sacrificed hero will vanish.] This stubborn-headed guy, hes doing it again! Iselle, discerning Anytngs intention, furrowed her brow, but defying amand was out of the question. Iselle raised her voice, issuing her orders. Zacken, Dimaan, Lexigle! Head to the synthesis altar! Who are you? How do you know my name? What are you The master told you to go in! Shut your mouth and get inside! Dimaan, Lexigle! Which one of you is it? Hurry up ande out! Zacken appeared, snapping his wrist joint with a decisive crack. Jenna murmured with a stern expression. No way Oh, but it is. Even though theyve just arrived! Perhaps he think theres nothing to be seen in these 1-star heroes since its his first time doing a paid summon. Anytng wasmitting a grave error at this moment. While it was true that most 1-star heroes were of little value, there were undoubtedly precious talents among them. Yet he was attempting to throw in freshly summoned 1-star heroes without any verification. Are you Dimaan? You certainly look like him! I I Follow me! I said follow me! Zacken firmly grasped the man with his brawny arms and forcefully led him towards the synthesis altar. Theres one more person. Who is Lexigle? An elderly man let out a desperate gasp. Zacken smirked and seized the old man with his other arm. The two of them were dragged towards the synthesis altar, unable to put up any resistance. The door closed shut. After a brief moment. [Synthesisplete!] [Dimaan () and Lexigle () have transformed into radiant light and vanished.] [Zacken (), level up!] Hahaha, I feel a surge of strength coursing through me! Zacken twirled his arms and emerged from the synthesis altar. [Avant, Solior, Danil!] What, what is happening? P-Please spare me! Prevent them from escaping! Following Avantsmand, the mercenaries unsheathed their weapons. Faces turned pale as they confronted the sharp, gleaming des. Trembling with fear, the 1-star heroes huddled in a corner of the square, utterly helpless. The members of the Fangwolf party cornered them with their swords unleashed, but Edis remained motionless. What are you doing? Why Arent you following orders? Arent you a member of the Fangwolf? Avant questioned, his longsword drawn, as he nced back at Edis. Edis, however, remained without wielding her weapon. Edis bowed her head, biting her lip before finally drawing her dagger. Jenna abruptly stood up, voicing her concern. This is not right! [Jenna () expresses dissatisfaction with the recent action!] Whats gotten into you? If you dont want to get hurt, stay out of it! At least give them a chance! Wheres the fairness in this? Oppa, what do you think? Do you believe this is right? Its just not! I closed my eyes. Since arriving here, I had witnessed numerous events. There have been so many incidents. Indeed, people can change. I opened my eyes. Iselle, ry a message to the Master. [Sure, tell me.] Offer a suggestion to the Master. Let him know that he wont truly understand the potential of any 1-star hero unless he actually uses them. [Huh? Well I didnt know that.] Alright, now you do. [Wait, hold on!] Iselle, appearing flustered, fluttered her wings and vanished. [Tips/You wont truly grasp the potential of any 1-star hero unless you give them a chance. Instead of rushing into synthesis, why not take the time to observe?] The Masters maniption came to a halt. After a while, the doors to the synthesis chamber closed shut. The mercenaries, who had worn smiles on their faces, froze in an instant. Zacken approached me, a vibrant expression on his face. Whats your deal why are you interfering? Interfering? I merely offered advice. You call that advice? Well, what would you call it? This guy must be out of his mind! Zacken, who had been swinging his axe, abruptly halted. Jennas arrowhead was pointed directly at his head. Are you trying to attack us now? Avant murmured. I chuckled softly, drawing my sword from its sheath. Then, I aimed it squarely at Avants face. Avant, lets call it a day. Its gettingte Just shut up! Avant forcefully pushed Edis aside and questioned me. Do you even know who we are? I know very well. Youre one of them. I gestured toward the scattered bones on the square. Whats that? Its trash. Chapter 28: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (3) Part 2 Chapter 28: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (3) Part 2 Do you even know who we are? I know very well. Youre one of them. I gestured toward the scattered bones on the square. Whats that? Its trash. In an instant, Avant unsheathed his sword and charged at me. I remained still, awaiting the swords approach. [Stop it!] Iselle intervened, appearing between Avant and me. Avants sword shed against an invisible barrier, abruptlying to a halt. He gritted his teeth, putting more strength into his grip on the sword. Step aside if you dont want to get hurt. [Hero-to-hero fights are strictly forbidden! Do you want to face the Masters wrath?] Well, it may not be strictly forbidden. I voiced my opinion. [But still!] Is this the right moment? [Avant() shows hostility towards Han()!] [Zacken() shows hostility towards Han()!] [Weyf() shows hostility towards Han()!] [Veigin() shows hostility towards Han()!] [Hostile rtions have emerged between Han() and the Fangwolf team. Pay close attention to the interactions among the heroes!] Edis kept her head lowered. Shifting my gaze to Avant, I spoke again. Hey, lets be honest. You guys are not part of the mercenary group, arent you? What nonsense are you spouting? We are legitimate mercenaries hired for missions. Dont y innocent. Youre a band of thieves. Look at this guy! Do you want to end up in pieces? Their pretense of being righteous heroes no longer held any weight. These individuals are nothing but an obstruction. asionally, heroes with malicious inclinations are summoned regardless of their rank. They cause chaos in the waiting room, disrupting its order and efficiency. They are the culprits who disturb the peace and undermine the waiting rooms functionality. In other words, they are the trash that needs to be eliminated. This was the second significance, the true essence of elimination. I gather such individuals in one party and send them as the vanguard to the advanced dungeon. Most of them end up perishing. If I were the Master, I would handle it the same way. Unfortunately, I am a hero by nature. Hence, it was time to employ the second method. Iselle, initiate a duel. A d-duel? [Han() challenges Avant() to a duel!] [Tips/Duels are one of the methods to resolve conflicts between heroes. Special conditions can be set based on mutual agreement.] I will show you all what you truly are. Who do you think you are? A Guardian of this ce? Who gave the right toin about anything were doing? Think of it as being bitten by a mad dog. I know the behavior of such individuals all too well. If they perceive their opponent as weaker, they will mercilessly overpower them. Their inquiry about the people gathered here was most likely for surveince. If theyre weak they can do whatever they want. If they encounter someone stronger, it would pose a problem, so they better eliminate him. As soon as I voiced my objection, they reached a decision, and this was the oue. Do you really think devouring a newly summoned 1-star hero is worth it? Its not much of a gain, is it? How about you try me? Oh, so youre offering yourself as the sacrificialmb? Only if you can defeat me. Oppa, what are you talking about? Its simple. If I win, I devour him, and if he wins, he devours me. That sounds amusing. [Avant() has epted the challenge.] [Each hero proposed Synthesis as the condition for the duel. Do you agree?] [Yes / No (Choose)] A refusal, huh. I chuckled sarcastically, What a coward. Again. [Han() expresses confidence!] [Will you ept the duel between Han() and Avant()?] After a brief moment of hesitation, Amkena made a decision. [Yes (Choose) / No] [The duel between Han() and Avant() begins!] Avant, theres no need for you to step forward, Ill take him Why do you think he will lose? What did you say? I nced at the 1-star heroes trembling in the corner of the za. Jenna, take those people to the amodation. Lets not waste any more words. Are you sure youll be okay alone? Do you think Ill lose? Of course not! Jenna holstered her bow and approached the neers. They looked at Jenna with fearful eyes. Since its dangerous here, follow me. Ill guide you to a safe ce. Following Jennas guidance, the group of eight survivors returned to the amodation. The mercenaries stared at me with a mixture of awe and disbelief. Only Edis chewed her lip, her gaze fixed on the ground. Once the word surrenderes from either of your mouths, the match is over. Do you agree? Do as you wish. But dont die. I need a fresh sacrifice. Iselle, make sure no one interferes. [Are you really okay?] I wont lose. Hah, quite the character. Avantughed as if he found it absurd. And then, he charged at me, sword drawn. His status window had already been cleared. Im currently at Level 2, and my strength is already approaching 20. Even my basic swordsmanship has reached the 3rd level. Judging solely by my abilities, it seems like I stand a good chance. That being said [Han() has entered a frenzied state!] I seized Avants head and forcefully mmed it onto the ground. Blood sttered at the point of impact. Swiftly unsheathing my sword, I drove it into Avants right shoulder de. The de pierced through his leather armor, prating the bone and lodging itself into the metal floor. Kuh, Kuaahhh! Avant screamed,manding the za to retreat. His scream carried the sound of missing teeth. Status window. [Han Israt() Lv. 9 (Exp 11/70)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 28/23 + 5] [Intelligence: 1/11 10] [Stamina: 26/21 + 5] [Agility: 26/21 + 5] [Skills: Novice Swordsmanship (Lv.5), Pain Resistance (Lv.2), Calmness (Lv.3), Frenzy (Lv.1)] [Current State: Frenzy (Lv.1)] Finally, I achieved sess in triggering the uncontroble frenzy state that I couldnt reach before. One side of my head burned intensely, but an inexplicable sensation tempered the heat. I looked down at Avant. Despite the level difference, hes woefully inadequate. His skills are inferior to mine as well. This is the perfect sight of someone recklessly running amok without any restraint. Avant writhed on the ground, face-down. Ugh, Kuh, Kuaaah! If you move, it will only bring you more pain. Unless I crush his head or heart in one swift blow, he wont die. I exerted too much force, causing my right hand to feel stiff. I rotated my wrist and surveyed the mercenaries. They stood there, gazing at Avant in a daze. Suddenly, Zacken swiftly raised his axe and charged towards me. Iselle flew towards Zacken and swiftly swung her right hand. Her hand moved with such speed that it was almost imperceptible, catching the axe and hurling it far away. I chuckled and whispered into Avants ear. Say the word surrender. Chapter 29: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (4) Part 1 Chapter 29: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (4) Part 1 Hang I delivered a swift kick to the hilt of the sword embedded in Avants back with my foot, causing him to grimace in pain. Krrrrrrgh, krrrrrrrgh! Speak up clearly. I cant hear you. Stop it. Weve lost! Just leave Avant be! Leave him be? I firmly grasped the swords handle and gave it a sharp twist, apanied by the sickening sound of flesh tearing apart. Avant could only let out a strained whimper. So, were you willing to leave those people be? It seemed like you were practically drooling to devour them. W-Well, thats not relevant, is it? Its relevant if I say it is. Besides, this was a duel agreed upon by both parties. Why are you meddling? The matter ends when the defeated party admits their loss. Hangbo mph! I promptly covered Avants mouth, silencing him. If you dont speak, it wont be over. The mercenaries stared at me with bewildered expressions, their faces reflecting their confusion. I settled myself atop Avants back, causing him to writhe in agony from the added weight alone. This guy is my prey. Whether he lives or dies is none of your concern. Get lost. You crazy bastard! Do you really think youll get away with this? Do you even know who we are? Didnt you say you were the Fangwolf Mercenaries? I turned my gaze towards Edis, who kept her head lowered, her expression steadfast. I inquired, Edis, are you truly a member of the Fangwolf Mercenaries? Edis tightly shut her eyes, and after a moment, she replied, That may have been the case in the past. But now, were just A gang of thieves, right? Or perhaps you go around double-crossing your clients. I had a feeling. Why are you consorting with such scums? I-Im here because of my fathers request Edis, think long and hard. Do you truly intend to continue associating with these lowlifes? Or will youe over to our side? I Are you willing to wag your tail for the enemy? Do you really want to throw your life away? Stay out of this. This bastard Edis, you must carefully consider your decision. You know what happens to traitors, right? ! Edis opened her eyes with a determined look and began walking towards me. I couldnt help but smile as I spoke, As expected, one must skillfully ride the currents of destiny. [Edis () has parted ways with the Fangwolf Mercenaries!] [The bond with the [Fangwolf Mercenaries is now dissolved.] Damn it The rest of you have no business here. Leave. Hang You want to say something? But can I truly trust you enough to speak? After all, youre destined to be my prey. Avant groped the ground with his right arm, his sword lying within reach. With a sense of malice, I pressed my foot firmly onto the back of his hand. Grrrr, ugh! You, youll regret this krrrrrrgh! I seized the sword embedded in Avants back and twisted it mercilessly. Now Im growing impatient. Speak up. No, no! Urgh, aaaaargh! This, this bastard! This basta-a-a-a-a-a-rd! Three of them brandished their weapons and lunged at me. Iselle stood firmly in their path. [The duel is not over! Do not interfere!] You little rat, step aside, or Ill end your life! Zacken swung his axe toward Iselles forehead. The other two thrust their spears and swords from the sides. And then [Ive got you,] Iselle smirked slyly. Farewell. I couldnt help but smirk too. [Zacken () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His unwavering determination will be forever remembered.] [Weyf () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His unwavering determination will be forever remembered.] [Veigin () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His unwavering determination will be forever remembered.] [Sudden death!] [Sign Suicide due to stress] [I warned you not to interfere. I wont give you a second chance.] The lifeless bodies of three severed heads sprawled in the square. Iselle, with an emotionless gaze, wiped the blood off her hands. Then, with a glimmer in her eyes, she soared towards me. [Loki, how did I do? Wasnt it impressive? Did I perform well? What do you think?] You did splendidly. [Fantastic!] Iselle spun around once on the spot and vanished. I turned my attention to Avant. With vacant eyes, he gazed upon the lifeless bodies of hisrades and murmured. Hang I surrender Avants head slumped down. [Han () has been released from the berserk state.] I gently dragged the limp Avant to the synthesis chamber. He offered no resistance. [Han () emerges victorious in the duel against Avant ()! Avant will be synthesized.] Various notifications shed across the Masters control panel, capturing their attention. He absentmindedly tapped the screen repeatedly seemingly angry. He probably wants to cancel the synthesis. If that were the case, permission shouldnt have been granted in the first ce. It seemed he was unaware of the existence of the dueling system. [Synthesisplete!] [Avant () has transformed into radiant light and vanished.] [Han () has leveled up! Low-level Swordsmanship and Pain Resistance skills have increased!] The hero has reached the maximum level. To further increase their level, raise their grade! [Tips/You can promote heroes with promotion tickets or with heroes of the same grade or higher, at a certain level. Promotion is possible up to 7 stars.] Stepping out into the square, I couldnt help but smile. He hadnt even had the chance to fully utilize the advanced heroes he had initially acquired before losing them. Judging by the fact that he had used a free 10-pull solely for synthesis, his expectations had been quite high. But things didnt turn out as anticipated. Regardless, it would only lead to losses if he invested in them. Even if there was a temporary surge in power, the disruptions caused by such individuals would hinder the smooth functioning of the waiting room. He would appreciate what I did once they discovered the reality. He knows Im the core. Ive reached level 10. I possess four skills and my overall stats rival those of 3-star heroes. Ive earned the MVP title in almost every battle. Anytng knows that Ive crafted C-grade equipment that he couldnt even imagine having, umting an overload of rare materials from the weekday dungeon. If youre going to make a move, go all out. If a master was foolish enough to discard me in this situation, climbing the tower would be an insurmountable task. The lifeless bodies in the square gradually transformed into radiant light, dissolving into nothingness. Edis observed the scene with a bewildered expression on her face. Do you have any sense of sympathy for yourrades? No, but still, I was part of their downfall It hardly mattered. It was all in the past. My own life had never been ideal. When you regain yourposure,e inside. Find an empty room for yourself. I passed by Edis and made my way back to my quarters. The hour waste. As soon as I opened the door, the collective gaze of dozens of individuals in the lobby immediately fixated on me. A considerable crowd had gathered. Is that what happened? Indeed, hyung, youre awesome! Dica clenched his fists tightly, his eyes glistening with admiration. Haah, she just cant keep her mouth shut. I approached Jenna, who was perched somewhat awkwardly on the couch. And without hesitation, I gave her a firm tap on her forehead. Ow, ow, ow, what are you doing? Didnt I tell you not to utter unnecessary words? I-I was just trying to share your awesomeness. Save it. I firmly gripped Jennas forehead. She winced, clutching her forehead with a reddened face. Amidst themotion, a middle-aged man approached us. It was Jeffery, the one who had overheard our conversation earlier. Han, I heard the conversation. Thank you. I heard about their misdeeds. They were trying to kill the neers, threatening them with a knife Thats right! They were truly despicable! A middle-aged woman who had been sitting in the corner of the lobby chimed in. She was one of the people who had narrowly escaped death in the square just moments ago. You seem to be mistaken. Im aware. Were not so shameless. Nevertheless, I still want to express my gratitude. We owe our lives to you. The ones I saved were just the neers. As for you guys, youre finished. W-What are you saying? I smirked and replied. It seems like the Master is really furious. Chapter 29: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (4) Part 2 Chapter 29: Paid 5-Consecutive Draw (4) Part 2 The ones I saved were just the neers. As for you guys, youre finished. W-What are you saying? I smirked and replied. It seems like the Master is really furious. [Master,mencing synthesis.] [Drag and drop the hero you wish to sacrifice onto the hero you want to synthesize! You will gain experience points. The sacrificed hero will vanish.] Iselles cry resonated from the square. [Louis, Jeffery, Owen, Andio, Arnold, Duncan, Harold! Gather before me, all six of you!] The faces of those named turned pale. Jeffery wiped his sweat and nced back. E-Everything is fine! Were just going to hunt goblins, as usual. Do you truly believe that? Jeffery stood frozen in ce. He was sharp-witted. Thats why he could act swiftly. If thats the case, he must understand the significance of summoning these six individuals. If the intention was to form a sub-party, they could have called only five. However, Iselle summoned a total of six people. It exceeded the expected number. Hence, the objective had changed. Well divide into groups of three How funny. I made my way toward the sofa in the center of the lobby, taking slow steps. With each stride, people would retreat, clearing a path for me. Some of those seated on the sofa hurriedly stood up and distanced themselves, as if seeking refuge. There was only Jenna left sitting on the sofa. I settled down beside her, crossing my legs. How long did you think you could survive here, neglecting your responsibilities with half-arsed efforts? W-We did our best! Aaron, Dica! Do you truly believe they did their best? While you two sweated it out at the training camp all day, what were those guys up to? The two remained silent, their heads slightly lowered in the corner of the lobby. Jenna! Can you recall even one instance when you were genuinely assisted in a hunt? I did carry the meat after hunting the animals Even a pig can handle that. In that regard, it seems you all hold little less value than pigs. Pigs?! I stepped forward, swiping at one of them as he attempted to rise. He tumbled over, flipping the carpet on the floor. Why dont you oink like a pig? Louis grabbed hold of the guys cor, pulling him upright. Please, lend us your aid! If its your request, even the Master willply! [Head to the square! Cant you hear me?!] Iselle appeared and eximed. [Louis, Geoffrey, Owen, Andio, Arnold, Duncan! If you want to avoid trouble,e out quickly!] What do you intend to do to us? Ill answer your question; its synthesis. Edis must be the target. The newly summoned Edis possessed a low level. It was a fitting decision. Whenever new high-ranking heroes were summoned, the surplus of lower-ranked heroes was often sacrificed. I wont go, I refuse! The designated sacrifices fled towards the inner part of the lodging. Iselle grinned mischievously, capturing them one by one and flinging them into the square through the open door. A few others struggled with the doorknobs of rooms along the corridor, but the doors remained shut. In the end, all six of them found themselves in the square. And then [Synthesisplete!] [Louis() vanishes in a radiant light.] [Geoffrey() vanishes in a radiant light.] [Owen() ] [Edis(), level up! Acquired Trap Disarmament skill!] Silence fell. The lobby fell into an eerie stillness. I spoke. I dont care who you were beforeing here. It doesnt matter if you were rich or poor. Leave all that behind. Dont rely on others. Dont think that someone will protect you. If you want to survive, prove your worth. Suddenly, a person who had been hiding among the crowd stepped forward, tears streaming down their face. I have no talent for fighting. I tremble at the sight of a sword. What should I do? Are you telling me to die? Chloe, Enok, Alter, Patrick. The named individuals turned their gaze toward me. They were the four members of the supplementary team in the current waiting room: a chef, a carpenter, a cksmith, and a tailor. If theres someone who wants to learn, teach them your skills. But learning the skills of a cksmith is not easy A man with a white beard spoke. It was Alter, the cksmith. If they have the determination, they can learn. Repeated actions in the waiting room be skills. It means that skill acquisition is fast. If you want to fight,e to me. I can at least teach you some basicbat techniques. If you want to learn hunting and butchering, go to Jenna. For carpentry, seek Enok. There are plenty of paths avable. Its just that you havent taken them before. [Master, do you want to end the session?] [Yes (Select) / No] [Well then, goodbye!] The sky grew darker. One by one, people disappeared into their rooms. A shadow of unease fell upon their faces. Only Jenna, Aaron, Dica, and I remained in the lobby. Jenna, who was sitting beside me, spoke up. Youre kind, Oppa. Me? Thats funny. You showed them a way to survive. Her words were not inurate. As long as they followed my instructions, they wouldnt meet a foolish death. They were disposable pawns, even if it wasnt today. Dica muttered. Hyung-nim, what about us? Just keep doing what you were doing. Thank you. I didnt want to deal with this troublesome task. My head was already about to explode from my own responsibilities alone. I recalled Edis standing still in the square. She imed to be from a mercenary group. Having traveled extensively, she must have umted a wealth of experience. The tenth floor was drawing near. A second party was needed. But this time, it must not be just anotherckluster party. It must be a formidable force capable of rivaling the main party. Chapter 30: Sub Party (1) Chapter 30: Sub Party (1) The following morning arrived, and I freshened up before heading to the dining hall. d in an apron, Chloe greeted me. Good morning, Mr. Han. I nodded in response. To my surprise, instead of the usual roasted potatoes, there were freshly baked bread rolls ced on the table. Whats this? Its bread. It was made by our new baker. Chloe gestured towards a middle-ageddy standing nearby, awkwardly suppressing a giggle. She was one of the neers who joined us just yesterday. Since we werecking wheat in our pantry, they resorted to making bread from mashed potatoes. Well, since we have a baker now we should try to gather some wheat. As I bit into the bread, I headed out of the hall towards my lodging. This was some good news, By diversifying our food options, we could alleviate the stress levels in the waiting room. In the square, Enok emerged from the warehouse, pulling a cart loaded with lumber. Two unfamiliar individuals were apanying him. Enok greeted me with a nod and swiftly continued on his way. I entered the training camp. There, I joined Jenna, Aaron, and Dica, who were waiting for me, and together, wemenced our basic stamina training. As we neared the end of our routine, a familiar face arrived at the training camp. It was Edis Kallen, a formidable female mercenary dressed in sleek ck leather armor. She courteously tilted her head towards me. Nice to see you. Silently, I retrieved a practice sword and dagger from the weapon rack. These were training weapons, devoid of a sharp edge. With a swift motion, I tossed them towards Edis, who skillfully caught them. Whats the purpose of this exercise? If Im going to trust you to cover my back, I need to know your true capabilities. Its a fundamental requirement, you see. Well, that makes sense. Edis offered a faint smile as she deftly twirled the dagger in her hand, assuming a lowered stance, fully prepared forbat. I nced at Ediss status window. After absorbing a significant number of offerings the previous night, her level had reached 3. Even at level 3, her stats surpassed those of Aaron, who stood at level 5. Furthermore, her skill levels were also superior. Nevertheless, she still has room for improvement. I adjusted my grip on the wooden sword. With a cold gleam in her eyes, Edis lunged at me. The duel concluded with my victory. I refrained from utilizing Frenzy. Last night, I had experienced a headache, presumably a side effect of the skill. Unless it was a genuine battle, I had decided to exercise restraint in its usage. Even so, Edis was unable to match my skills. She let out a wry chuckle and remarked, Youre quite formidable. I guess the tale of you being a farmer was a mere lie. You seem to have mistaken something. Jenna! Yes? Give it a shot. Fight her using a dagger. But my primary weapon is a bow! The following scene unfolded as Jenna courageously grasped the training dagger. After a momentary pause, Edis regained her breath and rose from the ground. With a piercing gaze, she quickly assumed her stance once more. As the intense fight concluded, Jenna wiped the sweat off her forehead. Phew, that was intense. It could have gone either way. In the end, Jenna emerged as the victor, with the level difference outweighing their respective ranks. Edis muttered with a tinge of disappointment in her voice, To think that such a young girl could be stronger than me Well, shes not your average young girl. Shes eaten her fair share, I quipped. Are both of you mercenaries, or perhaps renowned warriors? Edis inquired. Not at all. Im just a regr farmer, and shes just a hunters daughter. We werent this formidable at the beginning either. In fact, Jenna was much weaker than this. But through rigorous training and countless battles here, weve grown stronger and be who we are now. If those guys hadnt relied solely on their bravado and had earnestly honed their skills, they would have given me a headache as well. Although Edis was currently weaker than us, she possessed skills and growth values superior to a 1-star rating. As her level increases, the gap would gradually narrow. Dont believe him! its all just an illusion hes trying to create! No matter how hard I try, I cant catch up to them! Aaron eximed with a hint of frustration while sprinting around the track. I chose to disregard his outburst. Nevertheless, here, you can grow stronger based on your efforts. Dont neglect your training, no matter who you are. Ill keep that in mind. Leisurely, I surveyed the training grounds. Aaron was leaping with a sandbag strapped to his back. Dica was wielding a sword, skillfully striking a wooden dummy on the right side of the training area. Alongside Edis, Jenna, and a few others, individuals were fervently wielding their weapons. This was the aftermath of the massive synthesis that had taken ce yesterday. Each person was diligently training with unwavering determination. If they wished to avoid perishing, they had no other choice. They needed to enhance their own value. Nheless, the number of trainees remained limited. If we were to measure the ratio of people assembled here, it wouldnt even ount for half. My thoughts shifted to the two men who clung to Enok, appearing as problems. Opting for a support role rather than engaging inbat seemed more convenient. However, the number of positions within the support organization was restricted. Currently, at best, the facilities could only amodate two individuals. The rest would be left idle, unable to do anything other than participating in synthesis. It was not my concern. I shared with them everything necessary. Its up to them now. My attention focused on the young man who wielded his sword with beads of sweat cascading down his face. He had a solid grasp of the basic stance. Among those who narrowly escaped being preyed upon by the Fangwolves yesterday, he stood out with his two-star rating. His name was Asher. As the first 2-star hero to emerge since Molmont, he wielded a Low-tier Swordsmanship skill at Level 1. Observing Asher discreetly, I noticed his awkward and hesitant sword swings. You there. Are you referring to me? Asher was taken aback by my attention. Appearing to be in his early twenties, he carried a dagger at his waist. However, it was a humble item, not a finely crafted weapon like Ediss, something that wouldnt raise eyebrows even if it broke. Who else is here besides you? Come closer. Yes, understood. The man approached me cautiously. Im Asher Roderick. I see. Such details were evident when examining his status window. Yes Did you hear the exnation about this ce yesterday? I did. Theres a being called the Master, and we were summoned here to fight. Ive taken your words to heart. Taking a wooden sword from the disy shelf, I assumed my stance. Do you understand what Im trying to achieve? Yes, I do. Asher held the wooden sword with a tense expression. But his gaze remained fixed on me. He didnt avert his eyes or take a step back. At least he has grasped the basics. What were you doing beforeing here? I worked as a porter for a mercenary group Asher murmured, ncing briefly at Edis. Edis was engaged in archery practice with Jenna at the shooting range. Carrying baggage, standing guard, setting up camp For someone with those responsibilities, you seem to possess fighting skills. Because I aspired to be a mercenary before. Asher offered a self-deprecating smile. Lets begin. Yes. I lunged forward, my sword shing through the air. Ashers strike missed, and he stumbled backward. However, his unwavering gaze remained fixed on me, refusing to blink even as he trembled. Although it was merely a single exchange, he disyed unwavering determination. It must be the difference between a 1-star and a 2-star hero. Chapter 30: Sub Party (2) Chapter 30: Sub Party (2) That evening marked themencement of the elimination process for the new recruits. The Master made no distinctions between those aspiring to be in the support organization or any other role. Aaron volunteered to participate but was not epted. Two individuals met their demise, and two more were added through synthesis. Asher became the subject of the synthesis, reaching Level 3. Meanwhile, the others entered the Weekday Dungeon as if it were just another part of their daily routine. The mine that granted ess to Fire Attribute Stones had not yet been opened. And once again, the break of dawn arrived. In response to my summons, six individuals gathered at the training grounds. It was me, Jenna, Aaron, Dica, Edis, and even Asher. Despite Asher and Dica being slightly less skilled, they were immediately prepared to be deployed into the dungeon. Why did you have to summon us at dawn? Im so exhausted. Enough with theints. Ignoring Jennas grumbling, I proceeded with my words. Do any of you know why I called you here? Silence engulfed the group. Then, unexpectedly, Dica raised his hand and spoke up. Are you deciding on the party members? Isnt it the Masters role to determine the party? I can make suggestions. Perhaps Anytng wouldnt reject the proposal. There is a principle that numerous people, including myself, highlight in the Pick Me Up strategy guides. It is also a focal point in the guide I wrote. With a sad expression, Dica lowered his head. A party consists of five members. He seemed to believe that he would be eliminated from the party, just like during the trio selection. Rx. Im not going to discard anyone. So? From now on, we will be divided into two parties. With six members, splitting into groups of three should work for now. If a single party can conquer all the floors, this game wouldnt have been so hard. However, this game doesnt operate in that manner. As we progress through floors, the missions require an increasing number of parties. Special missions can involve anywhere from dozens to hundreds of participants. Moreover, training a backup party is essential to prepare for the unfortunate event of the main party facing an unexpected catastrophe. There will be two leaders. One will be me, and the other will be Edis. Me? Edis blinked and pointed to herself. Dont want to? Its not that, but I think Jenna would be Shes not an option. Whats wrong with me? I can excel too. Misunderstandings are bound to happen. Edis posed a question. But why do we need to split into parties? borating on that matter here might not be ideal. There are many listening ears. I summoned Edis to the za and proceeded to exin. The primary reason for dividing the parties is to minimize the risk ofplete annihtion. If you invest all your resources in the main party and it fails, theres no way to recover. Thats why Masters usually distribute their forces, like diversifying stocks. The second reason is to increase efficiency in training by promotingpetition among multiple parties. While these reasons may make sense from the Masters perspective, if youre a hero and youre going to lead a party, you need to understand them. I exined this to Edis, taking the time to go into detail about concepts like levels and skills. The final reason for dividing parties is as I mentioned before; five members alone cant conquer all the floors. If one party bes too powerful, it bes difficult. Really? Floor 5 was a perfect example of this. There was a significant gap in skill levels among the party members, and when Jid and Hans fell behind, the whole party was in jeopardy. This principle also applies torge-scale missions. When missions are divided among different parties, if one party fails to fulfill its role, it can affect the other parties too. Thats why it was crucial to have a well-prepared sub-party that wouldnt hinder progress. Do we have enough members to do this? The Master will handle the recruitment. After sending Edis back to the training grounds, I brought an item I had prepared in my room. It was a round container with long strips of paper inside. cing it on the floor of the training grounds, I exined. Its a lucky draw. A lucky draw? Why? Have I ever done anything harmful to you? Just go with it. Inside the container were four strips of paper, each colored red or blue at the tip with a pen. Red is me. Blue is for Edis. Are we dividing into teams with this? Dont be too thrilled about being on my side, and dont be disappointed about being on Edis side. It doesnt really matter in the end. When a powerful sub-party is formed, the Master never underestimates them. They be as important as the main party, if not more. Of course, a failed sub-party is of no use. In the future when the master summons individuals who can fight, we will also draw lots to decide which party they will join. In such cases, Edis and I will be the ones making the draw. The process of selecting heroes from the main and sub-parties to be members is known as a draft in Pick Me Up terminology. While it was originally used by experienced heroes, its something I can implement. Regardless, the team will be determined by drawing lots! Jenna wasted no time and promptly drew a slip of paper from the container. It was red. If it had been blue, I would have overturned it, but this works out well. Next is my turn. Aarons face was filled with tension as he pulled out a slip of paper. Red. Theres no need to draw for the rest. Dica and Asher ended up with blue slips. Their expressions turned grim. Edis let out a deep sigh. I suppose you dont find me reliable. Thats not it. Its just Dica tried to exin. I understand. Theres no need to say it. I havent been here for long, but I will prove my worth. From an objective standpoint, there is a significant difference in power, but we cant change the established rules. Lets conclude our training for today. The four of them left the training grounds, while Edis remained seated on the floor, lost in thought. I addressed her. Edis. Yes? If you cant keep up with us, youll be left behind. I understand. I also witnessed the synthesis happening yesterday. Dont worry, we wont fall behind. Thats all I needed to know. I wont interfere, so its up to you to nurture them. I need to take care of this now. As I made my way back to the lodging, I murmured to myself. 1st party: Me, Jenna, Aaron. 2nd party: Edis, Asher, Dica. [Hero Han () proposes a fixed party!] [1st Partyposition] [Han (), Jenna (), Aaron ()] [2nd Partyposition] [Edis (), Asher (), Dica ()] [Tips/Sometimes heroes make suggestions like this. Its up to the Master to ept or reject them. Make wise decisions!] Closing the door behind me, I entered the room. The message I had just sent would be disyed when the Master logged in. Ultimately, the proposal was epted. I had wondered if they would harbor resentment and refuse, but it seems that wasnt the case. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 31: DPS (1) (1) Chapter 31: DPS (1) (1) The following day arrived. After diligently clearing the weekly dungeon, Anytng led party 2, with Edis at the helm, to the 4th floor. However, when we attempted to venture to the 6th floor as our trio, the dungeon refused to open its doors. [Warning! Re-entry to this dungeon is prohibited.] I warned you not to lose focus master. Once the stream is initiated, re-entering the affiliated dungeon bes an impossibility. It might be achievable with specialized skills, but given the circumstances, it was simply unattainable. Jenna scratched the back of her head, voicing her frustration. Why arent the master giving us any instructions? Just be patient. After pondering for a brief moment, Anytng reached a decision. [Main dungeon, the current challenge lies on the 7th floor.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Prepare yourselves!] Its the 7th floor. Get ready. Brother, we have fewer members in our party We have enough. Reentering the 4th floor has be useless due to our higher levels, resulting in diminished experience gains. The 5th floor is off-limits, and re-entering the boss stage is likewise an impossibility. The path to the 6th floor is obstructed, leaving us with only two options from the Master: either return us to the za or undertake the challenge on the 7th floor. I yearned to put my skill, Frenzy, to the test, and luckily, an appropriate stage presented itself. A radiant light enveloped the fabric of space-time, and we found ourselves transported to an unfamiliar realm. The field appears to be in, but theres something peculiar about it. Pitter-patter. Within this vast expanse, heavy raindrops descended, drenching us without mercy. Jenna, shivering, couldnt help butin. What on earth is this? Its quite refreshing, isnt it? Drawing my sword from its sheath, I marveled at the way the raindrops scattered along the path of my de. And there they stood, our opponents. [7th Floor.] [Mission Type Subjugation.] [Objective Obliterate the enemy!] [Goblin Lv.8 X 13] Through the torrential rain, their crimson eyes gleamed with malevolence. Large goblins, donning armor and wielding weapons, bellowed with fury. Aaron confidently brandished his spear. Thank goodness, hyung-nim! We can handle this challenge! Swiftly, we formed our battle formation. Our party consisted of three members: a swordsman, a spearman, and an archer. Theposition was perfectly suited for maintaining bnce inbat. We had practiced formations to the point of tedium. I positioned myself at the forefront, with Aaron in the middle rank, and Jenna, the skilled archer, taking her ce in the rear. Kiyaaa! The goblins, too, assumed their designated positions, strategically dividing themselves between the front and the back, depending on the weapons they wielded. Within the deluge of rainfall, both our party and the enemy split into two factions. No words were necessary. Thebat ignited with a flurry of arrows from both sides, signaling the beginning of the battle. I used my shield to deflect bolts heading towards Jenna. Lowering herself to the ground, Jenna let loose a volley of arrows. Direct frontal attacks were risky against enemies armed with shields, so she aimed for the lower parts. One of Jennas arrows pierced through the leg of the leading goblin. Seizing the momentary distraction, my sword and Aarons spear imed lives. Unleash it. As I struck a goblins face, exposing its menacing fangs, memories of a simr sensation surged through me. [Han () has entered a frenzy state!] My sword shattered the goblins shield, cleaving the creature in half from head to midsection. A spray of blood mixed with rain dispersed in all directions. ughter and carnage ensued. A wave of exhration washed over me. With each swing of my sword, goblins were torn asunder. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. The rain, seeping through gaps in my armor, failed to quench my bodys heat. Before I knew it, I stood amidst a pile of goblin corpses. Only one foe remaineda solitary figure brandishing a broken sword. Jenna took aim with her bow. I raised my hand, motioning for Jenna to hold her fire. Hold on, dont shoot! Why? Im drenched, and I want to wrap this up quickly. The battle neared its end. If that was the case, it was the perfect time to assess this stage. Considering the previous mission was an exploration, there was a high chance that this mission was part of a linked quest. I surveyed our surroundings. First notable detail. Rain continued to pour relentlessly. Second detail. A river flowed nearby. Kiaaak! A goblin, wielding a broken sword, swung it vigorously, charging towards me. I swiftly struck the creatures cheek with my shield. Kyaaang! Moving past the fallen goblin, I approached the riverbank. Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh. The river, cutting through the in, surged and overflowed due to the incessant downpour. Crossing it seemed impossible. Even a slight misstep would sweep me away in an instant, leading to a watery demise. I edged closer to the riverbank, my curiosity piqued. Has the dam copsed? I spotted the scattered remnants of rocks and soil near the waters edge. A quick scan of the surroundings revealed nothing particrly eye-catching. With precision, I thrust my sword into the fallen goblins back, delivering the final blow. As I finished off the enemy, a subtle rumbling sensation reverberated through the ground, causing it to tremble ever so slightly. [Stage clear!] [Aaron () has leveled up!] [Rewards 10,000G, 2x Iron Ore (C), 1x Leather (C)] [MVP Han ()] We returned through the rift of space and time. Our soaked bodies seemed to be recognized as objects in need of restoration, as the rain had all but evaporated. Jenna squinted her eyes and ran her fingers through her red hair. Once the tremors signaling our ascent to the next floor ceased, we emerged into the bustling za. In the heart of the za, Edis huddled with the party members near the fountain, engaged in earnest conversation. It seemed they were analyzing their previous battle. Jenna waved her hand enthusiastically. Sister! Oh, you all made it too. Oppa, is todays scheduleplete? Can I go now? Feel free to go. Yay! I turned to Aaron and inquired. What about you? Its gettingte. I n on heading to the training grounds. Take it easy. Dont overexert yourself. I strolled towards our lodging. There was no need to linger around unnecessarily. Just as we did on the 6th floor, it was crucial to document the information we had gathered this time. Preparing for battles didnt solely entail relentless training. Through the zas entrance, I entered ourfortable abode. Casting a fleeting nce backward, I noticed that the door to the summoning portal remained ajar. I stepped back outside. Aaron had already readied his spear, poised to depart for the training grounds. Aaron, hold on, dont go. Yes? Whats the matter? I gazed upwards, captivated by the dazzling radiance that bathed the sky. Before long, a control panel materialized in my minds eye. If you have any desires at this moment, make your payment promptly! Moebus supports the Masters choice! You have selected the Newbie Potent Double Package!'' [Package Contents 5,000 Gems, 100,000 Gold] [All of this for just 90,000 won!] [This amount will be added to your next months phone bill. Are you sure you want to proceed with the payment?] [Yes (Select) / No] It marked Anytngs third transaction. [Paymentpleted!] [The items have been delivered to your mailbox. Please verify the contents!] I quickly looked around. And there she was, Jenna appeared to be engrossed in a conversation with Edis. So, you know, when oppa is asleep, he talks in his sleep and Jenna! Huh? Youre still here? Forget the nonsense. Bring me that thing from my room. It should be on the table in my room. The one we drewst time. What a hassle Grumbling, Jenna headed towards the lodging. Edis asked, curious, Whats going on? I think were getting new recruits. People like you. Chapter 31: DPS (1) (2) Chapter 31: DPS (1) (2) I thought we might recruit some new members. With parties of three, it was only natural that we needed to fill the vacancies. However, in our current state, there werent any suitable candidates to join our party. While some individuals in the training grounds showed potential, they needed time to grow. In that case, recruiting was inevitable. Even though there are people who never made any purchases, there isnt a single person who has only made one purchase. I chuckled, recalling a well-known saying widely shared on the official forum. Anytng must have also learned a lesson from the previous incident. One shouldnt recklessly indulge in paid summons. Although it may be partly my fault. Nevertheless, there were principles and methods even when it came to paid summons. If you mindlessly summon excessively just because you have an abundance of gems, youll incur 100% losses. In Pick Me Up, it was crucial not to forget that each hero had unique characteristics and individuality. Take it slow. And step by step. [Master, advanced summoning begins! You have selected 2 consecutive advanced summons. A total of 1,000 gems will be consumed. Do you wish to summon?] [Yes (Select) / No] With two people, Edis and I could each have one. It seemed like he finally grasped the efficient method of summoning. [Master, advanced summoning begins. Im excited to see which heroes will appear!] [Thump, thump, thump] [ng!] [Rare!] Master Anytng has acquired the hero Roderek ()! [Rare!] Master Anytng has acquired the hero Eolka ()! A brilliant light emanated from the summoning portal. The gaze of me and mypanions converged on the entrance. After a while, a man and a woman emerged, one from each side of the summoning portal. The man wore chain armor, with a spear strapped to his back, while the young woman wore an exquisite dress. Why is she dressed like that? What are your names? the man in armor asked, ncing at us. I couldnt help but notice the middle-aged mans sturdy build beneath the armor, his hair silvered by age. That can wait. Do you remember why youre here? I inquired, hoping to jog his memory. He furrowed his brows, lost in deep thought. The woman beside him seemed equally perplexed, her head tilted with confusion as she stood at the threshold of the summoning portal. Suddenly, the summoning portal abruptly closed, knocking the woman off bnce. Oh my! She eximed, tumbling to the ground in surprise. At the same time, Jenna made it to the square, Oppa, I brought you the lot Huh? New people have arrived. What are the names of the two of you? Roderick Sazan, the man in armor introduced himself. And what is that sister doing lying down like that? Mind your own business. Im sure shell get up on her own, I replied, brushing off her concern. Im going to ask again what are your names? the old man inquired. I am Han, and this is Edis and Jenna. I introduced us. Turning to Roderick, I inquired about how he ended up here. As I expected, he couldnt recall the details. He mentioned serving as a guard in a city and then finding himself in this unfamiliar ce, apanied by a persistent sense of duty. It feels like theres something I must do. Almost like being in a trance, he exined. Roderick was aware of the core concepts including Master, Summoning, and Synthesis. However, he did not know concepts such as levels and skills. It was the same with Edith. At this point, the characteristics of three-star heroes were established. I didnt even need to ask that woman. So, we have to face unknown enemies here? Roderick summarized, seeking confirmation. I nodded, affirming his understanding. Roderick let out a disheartened sigh. The remaining womany on the ground, unable to rise. Could it be a disappointment? There are rare instances when a high-ranking hero is summoned but fails to live up to their potential. Its like being cursed with unfortunate luck. Aaron, in his unassuming manner, approached the woman and helped her to her feet. She stumbled, her head spinning. Thank you. I feel a bit dizzy. Its nothing. Shes of noble birth. Edis whispered, her voice intended for me alone. A noble? Youd know if youve spent enough time as a mercenary. She seems inexperienced, like an innocent youngdy. How did she end up here? Now that I think about it, except for me, everyone else is from Townia. Regardless, it was time for the draft. The master also seemed aware, as he hadnt assigned the two of them to a party yet. We have two lots. If you draw the red one, take the gentleman. If you draw the blue one, take the woman. Any objections? None. Jenna, bring the lots over here. Yes, sir. Oops. Jenna tripped over a protrusion in the square. Swiftly, she rolled her foot and regained her bnce. In the process, the container of lots she held shook up and down. The right one is red. The left one is blue. While I could check their status windows, I didnt want to resort to cheating even in a ce like this. Even without looking, it was clear whom I should choose. A seasoned guard with a wealth of experience and an inexperienced noblewoman. Edis, too, had her gaze fixed on the right swallow. She had deciphered the order, just like me. Well then, here we go! Jenna ced the container between me and Edis. Even if our current sub-abilities were inferior, we wouldnt hold back. I chose the right one. Having Roderick, who wielded a spear, in our party would fortify the middle line. And at that moment Whoosh. mes erupted from the womans hand. Shes a mage! Left! As lightning-quick as our hands moved towards the left lot, they converged. Chapter 32: DPS (2) (1) Chapter 32: DPS (2) (1) Are you going to let go of my hand? I asked, my grip on the lot firm and determined. Edis, too, reached out and sped my hand, showing her unwavering resolve. Our hands intertwined, crossing paths in the middle. Meanwhile, I turned my gaze towards the woman and eximed, You! Are you referring to me? she blinked, her eyes filled with curiosity. Yes, you. Are you a magician? I inquired. If I may introduce myself Indeed, I am, she replied, her palm swelling with a grand disy of mes. The entire square was momentarily engulfed in a wave of heat, leaving no doubt in my mind. Only a magician could perform such feats. Without hesitation, I summoned the status window. [Eolka Rivel Strashur () Lv.1 (Exp 0/10)] [ss: Magician] [Strength: 7/7] [Intelligence: 31/31] [Stamina: 8/8] [Agility: 7/7] [Skills: Intermediate me Magic (Lv.2)] Its certain, I concluded, acknowledging her true identity. Having a magician in our party would significantly broaden our tactical options. Edis understood this, which exined why she refused to let go of her. In Pick Me Up, warriors and rogues could be trained and promoted from their initial ranks, but magicians were different. They were rare talents that could only be obtained through paid gacha draws. The chances of acquiring magicians were quite slim. Come on let go. If we add that woman to our party, the bnce will be greatly improved, I proposed. Do I appear so easily swayed? Edis retorted, challenging my suggestion. As we deliberated over the lot, Jenna approached Eolka with sparkling eyes. A magician! Ive never seen one before! Ive only heard rumors about people like you, Jenna eximed with excitement. But where are we This is the waiting room. Its where summoned individuals like us gather and reside, Jenna exined. The waiting room? Eolka furrowed her brow, gently touching her forehead. It feels strange. This is the first time Ive experienced something like this, Eolka confessed, her expression reflecting a mix of wonder and confusion. Dont rush. Take your time to think. We still have plenty of time, Jenna reassured her. And what are these two up to? Eloka said, her curiosity piqued by our interaction. We Oh, by the way, did you two sneak a peek at the pouch? Thats cheating. Its a game of chance, Jenna scolded, maneuvering herself between us and retrieving the lot pouch. With a quick twist of her body, she turned away from us and vigorously shook the pouch from side to side. Ill shuffle them again, but this time dont wont look. What are you two up to? Eloka was still puzzled. Its simple. Were determining where youll end up. What?? You seem slower at grasping the situationpared to the gentleman beside you. Being suddenly dragged to a strange ce and expected to understand the situation How absurd! Eolkas voice rose in discontent. Roderick, with his arms crossed and eyes closed, mumbled under his breath. Take a moment to think. Eolka squinted her eyes, deep in thought, and then furrowed her brow. Ugh Do you get it now? It feels unpleasant. I agree. Roderick nodded. Jenna ced the pouch of lots between us, having thoroughly shuffled them. No cheating this time. Lets do it fair and square. Alright, alright. No matter who gets picked, there should be no hard feelings. Of course. Ill go first. Edis took a deep breath and drew one from the left side. Red. A smile yed on my lips. Dont hold a grudge, I chuckled, while Edis pressed her lips together. Having Roderick wasnt a bad option either. Ediss party consisted of two closed-ranged heroes and a thief,cking a mid-range hero. Of course, having a magician would be preferable. Nevertheless, the results were in. Eolka joined Party 1, while Roderick joined Party 2. I recalled the feeling I had when I disyed the duel request message. [Han () requests the inclusion of Eolka () in Party 1. Will you ept?] [Yes (Select) / No] [Eolka () has joined Party 1!] [Roderick () has joined Party 2 along with Edis ()] The party distribution wasplete. Afterward, Master touched the synthesis menu. [Pick up a hero.] As expected, two of the 1-star individuals, eager to learn skills by attaching themselves to a support group, were drawn to Iselle. (T/N: Support Group/ Crafting Group) Among them was the young man who had tearfully sought my advice before, hoping for survival. Mr. Han, Mr. Han! You said we can survive if we work hard, didnt you? This is too much! Its too much! He couldnt learn any extra skill. Silently, I turned my head. After cramming the two men into the synthesis room, Iselle spoke up, [Eolka Rivel Strashur! Youre a magician, right? We needed one, and its perfect timing! Head to the synthesis room because theres an offering for you.] An offering? [For now, just go in. Unless you want something terrible to happen to you.] Taken aback, Eolka entered the synthesis room with a bewildered expression. A momentter. [Synthesisplete!] [Yon () and Jenin () transform into light and vanish.] [Eolka () leveled up!] Next was Rodericks turn. The wary 1-star individuals, sensing something was off, barricaded themselves in their rooms, locking the doors. However, Iselle tore off the doorknob and emerged, dragging them along. In the end, all four victims turned out to be aspiring members of the support group. Some of them barely managed to acquire skills, evading the synthesis. Whether it was a matter of talent or effort, I couldnt say for sure. Roderick, stepping out of the synthesis room, murmured with a rigid expression. Its horrifying Ahaha. Its okay. If you work hard, you can survive, Jenna chuckled nervously. Aaron and Dica kept their heads lowered. The masters whopleted the synthesis proceeded to the next step. [Eolka () added to favorites.] [Roderick () added to favorites.] [Open, The Rift of Time and Space!] Creak. The front door of the square revealed its interior. This is Theyre testing the neers. It seems like you guys are up first. [Party 2! Enter the Rift of Time and Space. Commence!] As always, Iselle appeared. Edis let out a sigh and stood up from the bench, and Dica and Asher followed suit. Lets go. Yes. Sir, Youreing with us too. Youre the protagonist of this battle, after all. Edis turned around and said. Rodericks face stiffened, he drew the spear from his back and then entered the Rift. The door closed. Chapter 32: DPS (2) (2) Chapter 32: DPS (2) (2) With an indifferent expression, I spoke to Eolka, who was staring at the ground. Hey. Are you talking to me? Who else is here besides you? Well, Im here too. I tapped Jennas forehead hard and continued. What kind of magic can you use? Why are you asking me that? Why do you think Im asking? Dont you want to fight? I I Eolkas voice faltered as she spoke. Why am I here? Arent you here to fight? Its unpleasant! Being forced to fight for unknown reasons in an unfamiliar ce! You have to fight. Otherwise, youll end up like those you just devoured. Though her memories seemed muddled, Eolka didnt appear entirely clueless. She slumped down on the bench beside me. Let me ask again. What kind of magic can you use? Fire magic. I can use fire magic up to the 3rd tier. From her status window, it was evident that she used fire magic. I already knew that. What about other magic? Can you use additional magic like teleportation? Those types of magic are ssified as 3rd tier or higher. So, you cant use them. Do you have anyints? If I were to demonstrate my magic, youd be astounded. Its a bit disappointing. Supplementary magic offered more versatility than offensive magic. I inquired because there was a possibility of her having hidden abilities, even if they werent listed in her skill window. However, it seemed that wasnt the case. Nheless, she was still a magician. From now on, youll have to fight alongside us. Do you understand that? I understand. Though it doesnt feel good. Do you have experience battling monsters? Of course! My nickname used to be the Witch of Rebellion!'' Regardless, Eolka had mastered fire magic and had experience fighting monsters. She appeared to feel more difort than fear in this situation. That was a positive sign. It seemed she would be able to unleash her full potential as a 3-star immediately. There was still some time before Party 2 returned. During that interval, I inquired about Eolkas knowledge of Pick Me Up. She hesitated before responding. The basics were simr to Edis. She had a grasp of summoning and synthesis. However, she wasnt familiar with specific concepts such as levels and grades. Why are you asking about my magic usage? Do you have any knowledge about magic? Not really. I dont know much about it. It wasnt an inurate statement. Magic, being a fantastical element, didnt exist on Earth. While it was possible to categorize and ssify physical ss heroes in Pick Me Up, magicians were different. Each individual possessed such unique characteristics that it was impossible to assign them to specific types. Without firsthand experience, it was difficult to determine how to utilize their abilities. Handling magicians posed one of the most challenging problems for beginners. Of course, having witnessed and analyzed hundreds of different types of magic, I had managed to grasp some understanding of it. After a while, Party 2 returned to the za, unharmed. They must have conducted a cautious exploration of the lower levels as part of the test. Edis seemed satisfied with the oue. Rodericks strength exceeded expectations. Now, it was Party 1s turn. Following Iselles summons, we entered the rift, venturing into the unknown. Aaron, absentmindedly twirling his spear, voiced his thoughts. Seeing a magician for the first time, huh? I always thought they were creatures of imagination. Are magicians really that rare? I asked. Dont you know, Hyung? Despite my travels, Ive never encountered a magician before, Aaron replied. Im in the same boat, chimed in Jenna. Being confined to the forest, Ive missed out on such encounters. As we proceeded, my attention shifted to Eolka, who was calmly observing our surroundings. Although she didnt appear particrly amazed, I couldnt help but notice her distinctive clothing. The true test results would soon be apparent. Directing my gaze to the mirror on the left, I read the inscription: Climb the tower, save the world! [Main Dungeon: Current Climbing Floor 7] I guess well head to the 4th floor, I mused aloud. The floors above were inessible, requiring further progress to unlock. If we were to evaluate her magic, the 4th floor, where harpies and goblins coexisted, would provide an adequate challenge. But first, I needed to determine the nature of her magical abilities. While fire magic typically leaned towards offensive capabilities, the manner of its implementation varied based on an individuals characteristics. This meant we had to adapt our partys formation ordingly, deviating from the traditional concepts of melee sses. Turning to Aaron and Jenna, I initiated the conversation. When the battle begins, well take a step back. Why? We need to see what kind of magic she uses. What does that mean? Eloka overheard us. After all, the three of us can handle the 4th floor on our own. Eolka may only be level 2, but shes still a 3-star. That should be enough. Dont you have confidence? You said they would be amazed when you show them your magic. Well, yes! Im special, you know. Special? Well, um youll be pleasantly surprised, I promise. I chuckled. Sinceing here, Ive witnessed countless incredible scenes. Seeing a woman summon fire from her hands wont surprise me anymore. [Alright then, lets go! Han, fighting!] Iselles figure slowly faded away. A beam of light emerged from the left mirror. [The current challenge floor is the 8th floor of the main dungeon.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Get ready!] To my surprise, I stillposed my expression and spoke up loudly. Its the 8th floor! Everyone, draw your weapons! But you just said we should step back Enough with the noise! This guy Testing on the 4th floor seems too trivial. I hadnt expected back-to-back climbing. I unsheathed my sword and secured my shield with my left hand. As the light enveloped us, we were transported to an unfamiliar location. Before us stretched a vast grasnd, and in the distance, we could see the city walls we had observed on the 6th floor. Jenna raised an eyebrow. Hmm, that looks familiar but where have I seen it before? Thump, thump. We heard the sound of footsteps shaking the ground. From behind. Everyone, watch out! Jenna quickly leaped to the side, followed by Aaron. Eolka stood there, seemingly lost in thought, gazing ahead. Dont freeze! I embraced Eolka and rolled to the side. For a brief moment, her dress obstructed our view, and within that obscured vision, a de swung. Using my right arm to shield Eolka, I deflected the attack with my shield. [Floor 8.] [Mission Type Subjugation.] [Objective Annihte the enemy!] [Goblin Rider Lv.9 X 27] Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 33: DPS (3) (1) Chapter 33: DPS (3) (1) Key! Goblin riders zoomed past us on their wolves, kicking up a swirling cloud of dust that briefly concealed their presence. There were approximately 27 of them. When you count the goblins and the wolves separately, the totales to 54. The goblins, d in sturdy iron armor, brandished crossbows and des, while the wolves were massive creatures, almost resembling horses. Looks like weve got some troublemakers on our hands. Dealing with just one or two wouldnt be an issue, but facing nearly 30 of them was akin to a full-fledged cavalry charge. The goblin riders, who had been thundering by, abruptly changed course and charged directly towards us. What should we do? Simple! Take em down! Quick as a sh, Jenna notched an arrow and let it fly. One of the leading goblins toppled from its wolfpanion, crashing to the ground. Of all the ces, it had to be an open in. I couldnt help but frown. We were leftpletely exposed to the stampeding onught of the twenty goblin riders. Dust billowed around them as they raced forward. Krrrr! Keeeyaaa! The wails of the wolves mingled with the goblins cries, creating a dissonant symphony. Well need a different approach here, something unlike our usual tactics. Aaron, when youe face to face with them, sidestep and strike. Can you handle it? Ill give it my best shot! As for you I turned my gaze towards Eolka. Well deal with youter! Suddenly, a bolt whizzed through the air, aimed directly at my forehead. Swiftly, I deflected it with my shield and spun around, unleashing a sweeping arc with my sword. The foremost goblins upper body twisted grotesquely as it was severed from its lower half. Rolling swiftly to the ground, I evaded the charging path just in time. As the goblins raced past me, their des swung perilously close. I parried with my shield, retreating a few steps. Aaron! Ready! With a piercing thrust, Aaron impaled a goblin with his spear, piercing its chestte. At that very moment, a bolt flew towards the defenseless Aaron. Reacting swiftly, I cleaved it in half with my sword. Jennas well-aimed arrow sent another goblin tumbling to the ground, lying motionless. Using my shield, I deflected a bolt hurtling towards Jenna and spoke urgently. Eolka! Cast your magic. Magic? Dont make me repeat myself! Arent you a magician? Wipe them all out. I need some time! How long? One minute! The goblinsunched a second charge. This time, a ferocious wolf lunged for my face. Reacting swiftly, I dropped to the ground, thrusting my sword into its gaping maw. With lightning reflexes, I rolled once more, narrowly avoiding the trampling fury. Cast it now! Eolka frantically shook her head, her eyes closing. La Gran Cedus. A deep, resonant low note flowed from Eolkas lips as if it were expanding through the air. A single thread of fire ignited beneath Eolkas feet, steadily growing thicker and twisting upward like a coiling serpent, enveloping her entire body. This is magic. The warmth radiating from Eolkas figure tickled my cheeks, a tangible testament to the power surging within her. Given our limited range and maneuverability, Aaron and Icked the means tounch a preemptive strike. It was up to Jenna, the skilled archer, and Eolka, the proficient mage, to make their mark. Aaron, shield Jenna from iing bolts. Let her focus on her shots. Yes, sir! With a swift motion, Aaron deflected the bolts with his spear. In the meantime, Jennas arrow pierced through one of the goblins, finding its mark. Just one minute. Time is running short. We had to endure until the enemy passed us by and circled back, a process that would take at least 30 seconds. Kia, Kiaaa! One of the goblin riders realized the unfolding spell and rallied the others, charging recklessly towards Eolka. Stepping forward, I positioned myself in front of her, intercepting their path and cleaving through their ranks with my de. Mages, whether allies or adversaries, were always the primary targets for elimination. I could buy us some time, butpletely halting the charge of 30 goblin riders was an impossible feat for me alone. Cant you make a shield while casting? Mages, during their incantations, typically fortified themselves with an additional barrier to withstand any interruptions or impact. Cant you answer? Or perhaps she cant hear me? I turned my gaze back, catching sight of Eolkas unceasing muttering, her eyes flickering with a fiery glow. It would take approximately 10 seconds for the riders to reach us. Despite Jennas expert marksmanship, bringing down another goblin mid-charge, their momentum showed no sign of faltering. The goblins swung their swords overhead, forcefully kicking their wolves with their hind legs. If you remain there, youll be swept away by their charge! Cant you cast your magic while on the move? Oppa! Its getting too risky! Uwagh! Acting swiftly, I grasped Eolkas arm and rolled to the side, narrowly evading the swinging de that passed perilously close. A scorching heat tingled through my limbs, evidence of the searing mes that had nearly caught us. What What are you doing? Youre quite the nuisance, arent you? If there had been a shield barrier, I wouldnt have been able to reach out and grab Eolkas hand. In the end, she was casting her spellpletely exposed, without any protective measures. A nuisance, you say? Well, this magic, do you know difficult its to convert mana into fire! Enough. I clenched and unclenched my hands, the lingering warmth of the mes still tingling through my fingertips. It was ufortable, but I could still move. Havingpleted their third charge, the goblin riders now aimed for a fourth, hurtling towards us with one goal in mindEolka. If their target had been me, Aaron, or even Jenna, we could have lured them in, evaded their charge, andunched a counteroffensive, wiping them out. But Eolka was different. With her clumsy attire andcking both stamina and agility, there was a real risk of her being swept away and killed in an instant. Well, if I coulde up with a n, I could use Eolka as a decoy and eliminate the enemies. I scanned our surroundings once more. Chapter 33: DPS (3) (2) Chapter 33: DPS (3) (2) Well, if I coulde up with a n, I could use Eolka as a decoy and eliminate the enemies. I scanned our surroundings once more. Though we were currently on a in, there was a forest not too far away. Lets change our location. See the forest over there? Lets head inside. But wont we get blocked by the transparent wall? Well deal with that when the timees. I dashed forward, thrusting my de into the foremost goblin rider, forcing them downward. As the wolf beneath them opened its jaws, I swiped its forehead and swiftly sidestepped. Aaaah! Eolka, positioned directly in the path of the goblin riders charge, ran desperately, her dress billowing behind her. The horde of goblins rushed past her, gradually moving farther away. With the end of their charge, an opening presented itself. Now, run! Jenna and Aaron sheathed their weapons and swiftly made their way towards the forest. Can you go through?? I shouted I think I can go through! As expected, this area formed a linked field, where the forest and in coexisted side by side. I grabbed Eolkas trembling hand and led her deeper into the forest. Once were inside, cast your spell immediately. Our entrance where youre going to aim your magic. My hand it hurts! I need some time. Do I need to repeat myself? No! Good. I tightened my grip on her hand and pulled Eolka further into the forest. The horde of goblin riders, having circled back, now aimed their crossbows at us. Get inside! I stepped forward, intercepting the bolts with my shield to protect Eolka. She clutched her right hand, tears streaming down her face. What are you doing? Get inside! I pushed Eolka, urging her forward. To treat me like this You canin after you survive, okay? Grumbling, Eolka made her way into the forest. After a moment, a crimson glow ignited from within the depths of the woods. I found myself alone on the vast in. Due to the limitations of cavalry, they would have a difficult time targeting me effectively within the forest. I silently began to count down from 60. Hyung,e in! Its dangerous out there! Ill be there soon. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. [Han() has entered a Frenzy state for the second time today!] A brief dizziness overwhelmed me, but I managed to endure it. I tightened my grip on the sword, readying myself. The goblins, realizing I was alone, circled around me instead of charging head-on, unleashing bolts and swinging their des. I deflected the bolts with my shield, And parried their attacks with my sword. Donte out! If you do, theyll scatter. Once all of them gather up and well go in together. I warned Aaron, who was attempting to leave the forest. The encircling goblins closed in, their attacks growing fiercer. I crouched down, biding my time. Approximately 15 seconds remaining. I filled my lungs with air, gathering strength. Three swords swung simultaneously. I lowered my body, using the momentum to swing my sword in a wide arc. The des deflected, causing one goblin to spray blood and copse. I must clear a path! I raised my shield, swiftly piercing through the encirclement. From that point onward, there was no need for further contemtion. I sprinted with all my might into the forest. Inside, the crimson glow intensified. The goblins lined up and pursued me. Jenna, who had been concealed near the edge of the forest, called out. Oppa, careful! Okay! It seemed that everything was ready. Just before entering the forest, I dropped to the ground, pressing my stomach against the earth. Twenty wolves and goblins dashed right behind me. In that moment, Ignite! Like a raging tempest, mes erupted from between the trees, engulfing my field of vision. The flickering inferno consumed the charging goblin riders from the front, leaving no survivors in its wake. It doesnt seem like its over yet! I quickly moved out of the range of the mes, assuming a defensive posture. A searing sensation ran through my back as if it were scalded. Raise Up! Boom! Boom! Boom! With a deafening st, shockwaves swept through the area. The mes that engulfed the horde of goblin riders exploded simultaneously. Charred goblin corpses soared high into the sky, propelled by the force of the explosion. Sublimate! A towering pir of fire shot up from the ground, reaching several meters in height. The fiery column, swirling with powerful currents, spun like a hurricane, scattering burning bodies in every direction. . [Stage Cleared!] [Reward 20,000G, Iron Ore (B) x 3, Wolf Leather x 5] [MVP Eolka ()] [Aaron (), Eolka (), leveled up!] We returned through the rift in space and time. Aaron muttered with a bewildered voice. What in the world just happened More than 20 goblin riders were wiped out by a single spell. That was amazing! Hehehe! This is the true power of fire! Didnt I promise? I said you would be astonished when you witness my magic! I am Eolka Rivel, the Witch of the Rivel Barony Eolka, who had beenughing confidently, suddenly copsed to the ground. Uh, sister? This woman is something else. During the 1-minute casting, she was unable to do anything, and her party members had to protect her unconditionally. She couldnt even use support magic, and her strength, stamina, and agility are all below rank 1. Ive summoned and used countless mages before, but this is a rare type. Its not the first time, but its close to being the first. If I were topare her to a tank, it would be like tearing off the treads and armor ting of an Infinite Tank and transforming it into a form that focuses solely on firepower. Nevertheless, her power alone is worth acknowledging. It seems like we have a lot of work to do. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 34: Prepare For Battle (1) (1) Chapter 34: Prepare For Battle (1) (1) The following day arrived. As soon as the master logged in, his first task was to construct a dedicated facility for wizards. [Constructing facilities. Please touch the type of facility you desire.] [You have chosen the Magic Research Lab, an auxiliary building of the Training Ground. Would you like to expand this building?] [Yes / No] A gentle vibration ran through the entire waiting room, apanied by the appearance of a message. The people in the training ground seemed ustomed to such vibrations and continued with their tasks undisturbed. [The Alchemy Lab, an extension of the Training Ground] [The Library, an extension of the Training Ground] [The Magic Research Lab has beenpleted! Research is now avable.] [The Alchemy Lab has beenpleted! You can now synthesize various items.] [The Library has beenpleted! Mages can now hone their knowledge on their own.] [Great!] [The three auxiliary buildings of the training ground, the Magic Research Lab, Alchemy Lab, and Library, havebined to create a new facility called the Hall of Magic.] Why am I also doing this? Among the trainees running along the track, there was a young woman with brown hairEolka Rivel Strasheur. She was the hero who had impressively defeated twenty goblin riders the previous day. Eolka couldnt help but grumble incessantly as she ran. Why do elite individuals like me have to endure such mindless training? Just keep running. Im a talented person who relies on my intellect! Then maybe you should just eat potatoes from now on. Argh, seriously! Eolka gritted her teeth and continued running. This was the task I assigned to her. Her stamina was remarkably low. Even though mages prioritize intelligence, having stamina is crucial on a battlefield where swords and spears sh. She was currently wearing Jennas spare dress. Eolkas original dress was a specially crafted magical item made by her family. It enhanced the power of fire magic. After verifying it, I realized that her statement wasnt unfounded. Why me? Why do I have to go through this? Youre grumbling too much. It wasnt as if I had ordered a particrly challenging menu. Just threeps around the track per day. She hasnt had to carry a sandbag. The pace was slow. Compared to what Im used to doing, it was enough to make me yawn. Eolkas incessant grumbling prompted me to issue an amusing order to Chloe: If she doesnt stopining, feed her nothing but potatoes for all three meals. As I trailed behind Eolka during her run, I gazed upward, taking in the breathtaking sky. The sky was an enchanting shade of azure, reminiscent of deep mysteries. It had been quite some time since the master logged in during the morning hours. Anytng seemed captivated, quietly observing the training ground without issuing anymands. Since Im incredibly busy, please find something else to upy yourself with. I cant pretend to keep doing training, there were other tasks that demanded my attention at this point. With the tenth floor fast approaching, luck was on our side. We had managed to recruit a magician, and the magnificent Hall of Magic had been unveiled. The warehouse eagerly awaited my touch, filled to the brim with a myriad of materials I had diligently collected. The recent opening of the Isalta Mine allowed us to acquire a diverse range of materials from the three distinct dungeons. The time hade to craft consumable items, including potions. Originally, this was considered high-level content, reserved for skilled apothecaries and alchemists. However, by utilizing the same approach I employed for equipment craftingrelying on engaging mini-gamesI could manufacture items even without the required expertise. Of course, it was crucial to keep such scenes hidden from Anytngs watchful eyes. If he were to witness the games hero creating items through a mini-game, he would undoubtedly trigger a bug report. After a satisfying round of observation, Anytng seemed content and gracefully logged out. Without hesitation, I ceased my running and made my way towards the exit. Jenna, please keep a watchful eye on her to prevent any escape attempts. Yes, of course! Sis, lets keep running with determination. We can do it! I never expected things to turn out like this Stepping out onto the za, I called out loudly. Iselle! [Lokis trusted subordinate, Iselle, makes her grand entrance! Whats happening?] We have important matters to attend to. We must create valuable items. [Ah, I see! Ill open it up right away!] The warehouse doors swung open slowly, revealing a treasure trove of materials. I swiftly loaded them onto the cart at the entrance. Life Grass, Mana Herb, Crispy Mushroom, Hignd Water, Goldstone, Azureite Although wecked variety in ore, we managed to make the numbers work. I had relinquished my focus on gathering elemental stones and instead directed my efforts towards collecting resources. As we neared the ascent to the tenth floor, the priority shifted from advancement to item creation. Pulling the cart behind me, I returned to the training ground. Eolka, drenched in sweat, gasped for breath, yet her eyes conveyed a sense of eagerness towards me. Ignoring her, I entered through the newly fashioned door on the left side of the training ground. [Hall of Magic Level 1] The room was shrouded in darkness, with bookshelves on either side adorned with books emitting a nostalgic aroma. I randomly plucked one and attempted to read its contents. However, it was filled with cryptic forms and intricate diagrams that were beyond myprehension. Guiding the cart forward, I proceeded towards my intended destinationa secluded corner of the Hall, where a room draped in curtains awaited. The Alchemy Cauldron. As I nudged the cart beside the cauldron, I envisioned the scene of pharmacy concocting potions. Pouring Hignd Water into the cauldron, igniting the stove, and setting it to a vigorous boil. Then delicately adding finely ground Life Grass in precise proportions Too much hassle. With a flick of my finger, Iselle promptly presented the item synthesis window, as if she had been patiently awaiting mymand. From the cart, I retrieved a ss bottle brimming with waterHignd Water. I carelessly flung it into the cauldron, paying no mind to the shattering sound that ensued. Crispy Mushroom, Goldstone, Life Grassthey were all haphazardly tossed in, their ratios and proportions disregarded. The potion creation window materialized before me. Ignoring the sessive messages warning of potential penalties, I proceeded. The mini-game employed for item crafting and enchantment entailed tapping the keys in sync with the rhythmic beats. [ Amazing Sess! ] [Han() has sessfully crafted a Low-grade Health Potion!] [ Amazing Sess! ] [Han() has sessfully crafted a Low-grade Health Potion] [ Amazing Sess! ] [Han() has sessfully crafted a Low-grade Mana Potion] The newly forged items emerged from a recess beneath the cauldron. I transformed all the materials in the cart into consumable items. Admittedly, this might arouse Anytngs suspicion, but there was no alternative. It was wiser to put them to use rather than let themnguish in neglect. The fruits of mybor: six Health Potions and two Mana Potions. I returned the potions to the warehouse, knowing they would prove invaluable on the tenth floor. Chapter 34: Prepare For Battle (1) (2) Chapter 34: Prepare For Battle (1) (2) That very night, I summoned my party members to the lobby. Jenna, Aaron, and I gathered together, ready for discussion. Eolka, however, remained in her room, recovering from the effects of dehydration incurred during training. Since the uing conversation pertained to the three of us, Eolkas absence did not pose an issue. I ced the prepared stove in the center of the lobby. Within the stove, mes flickered and danced, radiating warmth. I addressed mypanions. We have officially weed a magician into our party. Yes, thats to be expected. It goes without saying, Jenna replied. Now, our responsibilities will shift ordingly. Do you understand the significance of me bringing this stove here? I asked. Im not entirely sure, she responded uncertainly. Observe closely, I dered, raising my right hand. A surge of doubt washed over me. This is utter madness. What a reckless endeavor. Suppressing the rising tide of negative thoughts, I refocused my mind. It had to be donefor the sake of necessity and progress. Taking a deep breath, I plunged my right hand into the heart of the roaring mes. Oh, Hyung! What are you doing? Aaron cried out. Aaron, whats happening? Jenna asked, her voice filled with concern. If Eolka is an expert at using fire magic then we must be immune to it, I exined. My vision blurred as pain enveloped my hand. I clutched my right hand with my left, desperately enduring the searing heat. Despite my efforts, blisters formed, and the pain intensified. After counting to ten, I withdrew my hand from the scorching ze. My right hand disyed a fiery red hue, but as fresh skin gradually appeared, the pain began to subside. Eolka isnt the only one who will harness the power of fire. We will fight alongside her. If we dont grow immune to the mes, we will be toasted before our enemies, I stated firmly. Are you suggesting we should do something like this? Jennas eyes widened in fear. Aaron closed his eyes momentarily, then spoke with curiosity, How many times do we have to do this? We must persist until we develop resistance, I replied, hinting at acquiring the me Resistance skill. While it was possible to create essories imbued with me Resistance, it necessitated a plentiful supply of materials and proper facilities. Nheless, acquiring elemental resistance proved advantageous, not just for Eolka but for the entire party. Remember the fifth floor. We cant afford to let our guard down again, I warned Aaron, his gaze fixed upon the stove. He raised his right hand, preparing to plunge it into the mes, but I interjected. Do it where I cant see. I have no desire to witness your suffering. My actions were merely meant as an example, I rified. I understand, he acknowledged, epting my guidance. How about you? I looked at Jenna. I Im not sure if I can, Jenna hesitated. In that case, allow me to bear the burden with you. If we hold hands and face this challenge together, the mes wont feel as scorching, I reassured. That thats not necessary! Jenna blurted out, her face flushed with embarrassment. Are you going to keep running away whenever Eolka uses magic? She cant create shields or use teleportation spells. If we cant keep her protected by our side, shell be defenseless. But We dont have any other choice. Jennas gaze lowered slowly, and with uncertain words, she nodded. I sighed deeply, then said, Next. Do we have another task? Aaron, Im sorry to ask, but theres one more thing you need to do. Okay. I reached out my right hand towards the ground. From Jennas waist, I drew a dagger and ced it on my upturned palm. Whats this for? Pain Resistance. My hand tingled ufortably, but I managed to speak. I wont force you to do it this way. Find your own method. Its about building your resilience to pain. I slowly withdrew the dagger with my left hand. The wound healed quickly. Clenching my right hand, blood staining my palm, I looked at Aaron. Sweat drips formed on his forehead. He must be feeling terrible. I felt the same. I knew it was necessary, but personally going through with it felt maddening. Yet, it was necessary. While Health Potions could heal wounds, they came with intense pain. To endure and fight, Pain Resistance was an essential skill. Do I also need to Jenna looked terrified. You dont. Phew. But its something youll have to face eventually. Please, let it beter, muchter. Okay, but you need to do something else. After practicing with the dagger, you be a switcher. A switcher? Yes, it means you can use both a bow and a dagger. Make it possible for you to switch between the two weapons quickly. You must be able to fight at both close and long-range, wherever and whenever. But I prefer using the bow. From now on, things will be different. It may not be your natural preference, but there will be times when the two of us wont be able to protect Eolka. At those times, youll need to take on an additional defensive role. It felt like protecting a true princess. However, to truly harness Eolkas potential, theres no other choice. Considering the formidable firepower we witnessed on the 8th floor, its versatility will surelye into y. From now on well form a triangr formation centered around Eolka. Wellmence training from tomorrow. We have a colossal cannon on our side. However, this cannoncks any defensive mechanisms. Therefore, our only option is to position it along external defense forces. Thus, we create a single tank equipped with turrets and armor. Although Eolkas endurance may becking, we canpensate for it by reducing firepower and utilizing mana potions. After all, the effectiveness of any weapon ultimately depends on how its wielded. If only we had one more support-type magician. In that case, the Double Magician system would beplete. It was widely acknowledged as one of the most efficient partypositions in Pick Me Up. Anyway, the next challenge awaits on the 10th floor. If we want to survive, we must put these tasks into action. Yes. Understood. While the 9th floor still remains, our chances of venturing there are slim. To gain experience in climbing the tower, two parties will embark on the 9th floor. Given the coborative quest, having a single party is insufficient. This knowledge is practicallymon among yers, and Anytng is likely aware of it too. After the 10th floor, missions will require cooperation between two or more parties. Hints have been provided during this stream, and we might end up with one on the 10th floor. Subjugation. Survival. Escort. Breakthrough. Assassination. Defense. Siege. Pursuit. Escape. Ipared the multitude of mission types with the information Ive gathered. Although I had some spections, reaching a definite conclusion proved elusive. Action can only be taken once were in the midst of the actual mission. Our work is far from finished. Returning to the room, I set about creating a detailed n. Chapter 35: Prepare For Battle (2) (1) Chapter 35: Prepare For Battle (2) (1) I took a deep breath, drawing it in and exhaling gently. Phew. Beside my bed, a brazier with firewood emitted a flickering warmth. It had be a ritual, countless times of self-inflicted pain. I stuffed a rag into my mouth and reached my hand into the brazier. ! A torrent of profanities automatically echoed in my mind. Counting to ten, second by second. Beyond the pain, my senses began to fade away. Instead of the searing agony in my flesh, an unfamiliar sensation trickled through my fingertips. [Han () has acquired the me Resistance skill!] Atst. I hastily withdrew my hand. The faint scorch mark caught my eye. As I turned my head and waited, the numbed sensation gradually receded. Now, it was time to test the difference before and after acquiring me Resistance. This time, I managed to endure for over thirty seconds. I swiftly extinguished the fire by cing a water jug beside the brazier. I couldnt bear to witness it any longer. Just as the mes dwindledpletely, a new message materialized. [Aaron () has acquired the me Resistance skill!] He did it. Aaron had extraordinary patience. It was as expected. But there was one individual who posed a slightly different problem. Shortly after, Jenna entered my room, her eyes glistening with tears. I cant do it. I cant put my hand into the fire. She decided to have the Fire Resistance Skill too, but she couldnt gather the courage to go through the process. You could ask Eolka to burn you, but only to the point where you wont perish. I dont want to do this. If I had known, I would have begged to have that old man instead! Help me. I reignited the fire in the brazier. Jenna approached me, her voice choked with sobs. She sat on my knee, shielding her eyes with my shoulder. I put the rag in her mouth, ensuring she wouldnt bite her tongue from the ensuing pain. Before her mouth was filled, Jenna whispered softly. Why me? Why me, huh? We were brought here,pelled to fight without understanding the reasons behind it. Perhaps those who instantly synthesized, without evenprehending the situation, may be happier than us. At least they were spared from experiencing any torment. Jenna had fainted numerous times before finally acquiring the me Resistance skill. And the following day arrived. Edis party ascended to the 9th floor. Kururur. The entire waiting room quivered leisurely. The vibrations were more profound than during the facilitys constructiona sensation peculiar to ascending floors. It didnt take long before Party 2 emerged, and Edis seemed rather unsettled. Dica and Asher wore strained expressions. With a grin, I spoke up. Did they chop off your limbs or something? Both of them hurled, unable to provide an answer. Roderick came to their aid, supporting them as they made their way back to the lodging. So, what was the mission about? We were tasked with conquering the Goblin Lair. There were approximately 50 of them. Anything else? Asher and Dica Besides that. Did you notice anything peculiar about the ce? If there was anything strange, spill the details. Edis narrowed her gaze and responded. The floor was like a pool of mud as if a torrential rain had just passed. A mud pool. Was that it? Im not sure about anything else. Understood. Edis wearily retreated to the lodging, appearing exhausted from the intense battle,cking the energy for further training. As Party 2 left, Iselle, with an air of authority, summoned the next members. Han, Jenna, Aaron, Eolka! Im already here. Oh, really? Party 1 had gathered instantly. We ventured into the rift of space and time. Are we not filling the fifth spot in the party? We were nearing the 10th floor, yet I couldntprehend Anytngs strategy. If he intended to fill the spots, he should have done so earlier. Bringing in recruits from the training camp at this point doesnt seem doable, they simply cant adapt now. As the mirror on the left began to enshroud the room, I spoke up. Eolka! Whats the matter? You remember what I saidst time, right? Only use the first tier until I say otherwise. But But what? Do you understand? Or should I say it again? Yes, I got it Good. Through my conversation with Eolka, I gained a rough understanding of how she employed her magic. Currently, Eolka is ssified as a 3-ss mage. And that simply means that she has three tiers of magic. The first tier involved invoking mes. The second tier involved igniting the mes explosively. The third tier involved spinning the explosion into an updraft. As the tiers increased, the consumption of magical power intensified. [Floor 4.] [Mission Type Subjugation] [Objective Annihte the enemy!] [Goblin Lv. 4 X 3] [Harpy Lv. 6 X 2] It was a familiar forest that we had traversed many times before. To the designated location. Following my instructions, the party members scattered. I took the front position, Aaron on the left, Jenna on the right, and Eolka in the center. We formed a triangr formation, emphasizing the protection of the central figure. The goblins and harpies eyed us warily, well aware of the significant difference in power. They cautiously started to encircle us, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. I stood firm, my sword and shield at the ready, observing the unfolding scene. Kee-yah! Finally unable to contain themselves, two harpies swooped down,unching their attack against me. As I deflected their sharp ws with my shield, I stole a quick nce behind me. Eolka was in the midst of casting her spell. mes danced from her feet, reaching up to her head. Now. Ignite! I swiftly sidestepped, evading the onught. In an instant, the billowing mes engulfed the two harpies like a crashing wave, leaving nothing behind. The remaining two goblins met their demise swiftly, courtesy of Jennas well-aimed arrows. Huh, they even put up a fight. We cant practice our formation this way. [Stage Clear!] [Eolka () leveled up!] [Reward 2,000G, Iron Ore (C) x1] [MVP Eolka ()] Through this battle, Eolka reached level 4. It marked the highest level attainable on the 4th floor. Im at level 10, Jennas at 8, Aarons at 6, and Eolkas at 4. Decreasing by two with each level. We have raised our levels as far as possible. Party 2, led by Edis, experienced the same growth. Especially Edis, who quickly rose to the challenge after her initial defeat against Jenna. Her low-level dagger skill soared to level 4. Now, in their dagger duels, she could win 6 out of 10 matches against Jenna and even managed to secure victory in 7 out of 10. The 10th floor drew closer and closer. Chapter 35: Prepare For Battle (2) (2) Chapter 35: Prepare For Battle (2) (2) We significantly intensified our training, devoting ourselves from morning tillte at night. No one was exempt. We reduced our rest time, focusing almost all our avable hours on training. Shoot. As always, we engaged in arrow-deflection training. Initially, I used a shield to block the arrows. However, at some point, I discarded the shield and added more challenging conditions to the training. Lately, we have reduced our sparring sessions. Our primary focus has shifted towards arrow defense training. If we had emphasized weapon mastery, I could have reached level 6 in low-level swordsmanship much earlier. However, that wasnt the right path. Awakening new skills proved more beneficial for increasing overall power than enhancing the level of the obtained skills alone. In this journey, there is a skill I must acquire, or rather, a skill I have been striving to obtain for quite some time. Arrows fly from above and below, each heading in a different direction. The moment they are released, my instincts kick in, allowing me to anticipate their trajectory. Naturally, my sword smoothly rotates in the direction that deflects the arrows. [Han () has acquired the Projectile Defense skill!] [Han ()s Low-level Swordsmanship has reached Lv. 6!] Projectile Defense. It is a skill that greatly enhances defense against projectile weapons, including arrows. Acquiring this skill was challenging, but I persevered in training and had already mastered its techniques. It can be seen as a dyed awakening, rather than a recent discovery. Furthermore, since projectile defense falls under the category of weapon skills, I can simultaneously advance my proficiency in low-level swordsmanship. By incorporating a few additional skills, I can elevate my modest weapon mastery to an intermediate level. Oppa, youre bing more impressive with each passing day. Jenna murmured with a hint of frustration in her voice. No need for praise. Did you practice your weapon switching? Um, you mean like this? Jenna shot an arrow at a wooden statue 10 meters away, seamlessly transitioning to her dagger and swiftly striking down a scarecrow positioned next to her. The fluidity of her weapon transformation was akin to the graceful flow of water. Checking the status screen, I confirmed that the Switching skill had been sessfully acquired. For a thief who values adaptability in various situations, this skill proves exceptionally useful. However, it is undeniable that her learning speed is far from ordinary. Despite having an innate rank of 1, she possesses tremendous untapped potential. If I had been dragged into this world without knowledge of Pick Me Up, I would havegged far behind Jenna. At best, I might have reached the level of an average rank 1, like Aaron. Although he has elevated his low-level spear mastery to level 3, that is the extent of his progress. Aaron has been absent from the training grounds for a while. He is likely secluded in his room, honing his pain tolerance. Eolka, on the other hand, is engrossed in magic training at the specialized facility within the Magic Hall. My request to her was to reduce the firepower while minimizing the consumption of magical energy. Employing rapid and sessive spellcasting proves more manageable than unleashing single, forceful bursts. As for Party 2, led by Edis, they are currently engaged in formation training, upying the left side of the training grounds. No matter where you go, a fight is a familiar concept, much like the force of gravity. Under the experienced guidance of Edis and Roderick, Asher and Dica poured sweat. And then, in a corner, there were others training aimlessly. Their stancescked finesse, and their strength was meager. These were the recently promoted rank 1 individuals. Despite leveling up a few times in the lower floors, their skill levels were still low. Are we supposed to babysit these guys? Fortunately, there were only two of them. Anytng seemed disinterested in recruiting new heroes. She had used up all the gems to create the Magic Hall. Anytng appeared to be fully engaged in preparing for the ascent to the 10th floor. With the operation of the equipment production facility, the partys gear had significantly improved. The shabby E-rank leather armor had been reinforced to D-rank, with the addition of metal tes. Aaron and I also received daggers as secondary weapons. Furthermore, the two individuals from the training grounds joined me and Edis party. The rank 1 individual who joined our party was named Shurn. Although we tried to include him in formation training, he often struggled to keep up. He couldnt even acquire the fire resistance skill that I had requested. If we had more time, I would have forced him to learn it, but judging by Anytngs actions, our departure to the 10th floor was imminent. It would be better to focus on training the core members during that time. Ideally, I wanted them to level up before we set off. Coincidentally, it was the weekend when all the weekly dungeons were open, so I visited the mine, but I couldnt find any rare monsters. That night, Aaron also developed pain tolerance. The preparations wereplete. Seated at the desk in my room, analyzing the dungeons from the 6th to the 9th floor, I was interrupted by the fluttering sound of wings. It was Iselle. What brings you here? Looking for me? [No! I just wanted to check how the preparations are going. So, Loki, hows it going? Have you finished predicting the mission? Can we blitz through it?] If that were possible, Id be a god. [You certainly are one!] If I were, I would have conquered the 100th floor a long time ago. Master of Masters. Its true that Im among the top yers in Pick Me Up. But even with that reputation, I havent managed to fully clear Pick Me Up. After two years of struggle, I only made it to the 88th floor. Countless parties have been wiped out by unpredictable random patterns and brutal trap designs. In Pick Me Up, masters grow through defeat. And Im no exception. Anytng still remains oblivious to defeat. If we were to continue in the current state, the moment he experiences defeat would be my demise. The more I think about it, the more it drives me to the brink. To seed in every mission without a single failure up to the 100th floorits a daunting task. Anxiety is a luxury I cant afford. Just because the odds are against me doesnt mean Ill give up. I cleared my mind, erasing any stray thoughts. I must calm my racing thoughts. Based on my estimation, tomorrow is the day we climb to the 10th floor. Yes, tomorrow. It will be the second boss stage we encounter since arriving here. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 36: Mission Type-Defend (1) (1) Chapter 36: Mission Type-Defend (1) (1) The following evening arrived, and a gathering took ce in the bustling square. Every member from both Party 1 and Party 2 assembled, including Han, Jenna, Aaron, Eolka, and the bted arrival of Shurn. The rest of the group consisted of Edis, Roderick, Dica, Asher, and an unidentified person. You there. Yes! A young man with closely cropped hair replied promptly. He appeared to be in his early twenties, towering in height but with a lean physique. A quintessential underdog. When the battlemences, find a suitable position and hold your ground. Understood? If youre looking for death, feel free to tag along. Ho, however He was at level 3, possessing only a fundamental sword skill at level 1. It was evident that his presence would be more of a hindrance than a help. I can fight too! Is that so? Why do you treat me like this, pushing me around? Wererades, arent we? Im not pushing you around. He joined the party at a ratherte stage. Had we been given just a week, we could have managed to assign him a specific role. Mere numbers filling would not suffice. It was a matter of whether he could carry his own weight within the party. Otherwise, he would be nothing more than ackluster presence. But seriously, what are we doing here? The little fairy didnt summon us, did she? She will summon us soon, so dont doubt it. And you again! Acting as if you have all the answers. I raised my gaze to the sky. It gleamed brilliantly, the Ankana connection established thirty minutes ago, silently observing the waiting room without issuing anymands. Hes contemting. Should we challenge the 10th floor, or should we allow ourselves a little more time? Certain aspects remained iplete. The newest member had yet to adapt to the party dynamics, and despite my level being 10, the pinnacle of a 1-star ranking, I had not achieved promotion yet. I hoped my predictions would prove incorrect. If he rush the process, the situation would beplicated. However, if he waits for about a week, I could upgrade my skills to the maximum level achievable for a 1-star rank. It would be wise to conclude one research endeavor before proceeding. That way, we would be better prepared to face the challenges of the 10th floorpared to our current state. Yet, Anytngs nature, as observed thus far, suggested otherwise. In the end, whether we perished or were utterly annihted, it would pose no problem. Nevertheless, for the master, it was merely a gamea realm where heroes could be reselected and nurtured once more. To us, it was reality, But to the master, it was far from it. At longst, the control window of Anytng came to life, initiating movement. Iselle materialized, gracefully circling the bustling square. [Oh, everyone is here! This means I dont have to raise my voice. Party 1!] Yes. Here! [Party 2!] Were present. [Open the rift of time and space!] With a creaking sound, the grand gate at the forefront of the square swung open wide. A sense of tension emanated from the gazes of the crowd. Though I refrained from making a fuss, whispers had already spread, hinting at the events that had transpired on the 5th floor. Take a deep breath. Rx. We can do this. Jenna ced a hand on her chest, controlling her breathing. It was all because of this master. [Attention!] [This mission requires two parties for a medium-sized operation. If your party iscking members, use paid or free summoning to recruit additional heroes!] [Tips/By utilizing the auxiliary facility of the spatial rift, known as the Tactical Headquarters, you can issue tactical instructions to the heroes participating in the mission.] The Tactical Headquarters, huh? He has no clue how to make proper use of it. For novices, it was a rather intricate system. But before that, just a moment, Iselle! [Yes!] Head to the warehouse and fetch the items we prepared. Iselle nodded and vanished into thin air. Before long, a message appeared. [Master, there are unused consumables in the warehouse. Please equip them with the heroes. The heroes will use these consumables at the appropriate time.] [Tips/You can craft consumables at the alchemyb or the magic hall. Materials can be obtained from the daily dungeons. Consumables, one of the shortcuts to victory! Its the pathway to bing a consummate master of pick-me-up!] Understood! Iselle emerged from the warehouse, pulling along a cart. The cart contained potions and a variety of items that I had recently crafted. [Give Han() a Low-grade Health Potion to carry!] Iselle tossed a ss bottle filled with a crimson liquid toward me. I caught it and securely fastened it to my belt. [Give Jenna() a Low-grade Health Potion to carry!] [Give Aaron()] [Give Edis()] There were a total of six health potions. Divided equally, each party would receive three. The mana potion was reserved exclusively for Eolka. Eolka shook the ss bottle containing the fluid that shimmered with a tranquil blue hue. This is quite an expensive item. Where did you get it? Dont bother asking. Its better left unsaid. Eolka yfully flicked his tongue and discreetly tucked the mana potion inside her garment. She seemed to have found a clever way to store it. Turning to Edis, I inquired, Are we all prepared? Its all over. Aare these your final words? If youre kidding, then its really a bad joke. Edis chuckled and stepped forward, entering the spatial rift. Dica and Asher respectfully nodded to me before following Edis, while Roderick and the remaining individual joined them inside. The spatial rift remained open. Eagerly awaited our entry. Chapter 36: Mission Type-Defend (1) (2) Chapter 36: Mission Type-Defend (1) (2) The spatial rift remained open. Eagerly awaited our entry. The time has arrived, hyung. It seems so. Ill put my trust in you, just like I did on the 5th floor! Dont burden me. Confirming that the potions securely adorned my belt, I proceeded toward the spatial rift. The others, with various expressions on their faces, followed suit. My attention was captured by a mirror positioned to the left of the spatial rift. Climb the tower and save the world! [Main Dungeon: Current Floor 9] Once I verified that all ten of us had entered, I addressed them. Edis. Yes? Theres a possibility that we may get separated. In such a case, we must reunite as swiftly as possible. Reunite How? Head straight toward the center. If you find yourself uncertain of the location, ascend to higher ground and survey the surroundings. Edis nodded, grasping the n. Just as Iselle zoomed in at thest moment, the spatial rift sealed shut. Iselle let out an exaggerated sigh and ced both hands on her hips. [You lot! Make sure not to trouble Han. Ill keep a close eye on things!] Ignore her. R-Really? [W-What] Absolutely. [Grrrr] I couldnt help but burst intoughter at Iselles exaggerated expression. Dont worry. Ill ascend the tower as nned. Iselle smiled. [I know. Good luck! And dont you dare die without my permission!) Iselle clenched her fist in front of me, transforming into a beam of light and vanishing. Oppa, who exactly are you? What secret do you possess that makes that audacious fairy obediently follow your orders? Are you hiding something? And what if I do? Argh! Lowering my voice, I addressed Edis. Edis, reuniting is our top priority. Head toward the center, no matter where you find yourself on the map. Got it. We Well discuss matters once were inside. The mirror on the left side began to emit an increasingly radiant light. The light slowly rippled, swallowing the entire spatial rift. I surrendered myself to the embrace of the light, closing my eyes. When I opened them again, the light receded, revealing the surrounding scenery. Amidst it all, a intive voice reached my ears. Were all going to die. Every single one of us. In front of me, a man huddled on the ground, muttering to himself. We cant win. Were doomed to perish. Men, women, childrenno one will be spared! Were trapped here I nudged the mans back, urging him to stand. He staggered up and turned his gaze toward me. W-Whos there? Whos there? Are you a ghost? A ghost, you must be! Though I stood right before him, the man blindly groped the air, searching for my presence. Jenna approached. Oh, this gentleman It seems like they cant see us. I recalled the tutorial stage, where people fled from beyond the field. I attempted to engage them in conversation, but they disregarded my presence, passing by as if I were invisible. Excuse me, can you see us? Sir, sir? Jenna waved her hand in front of the man, but he remained in a state of confusion, oblivious to our presence. Is he an NPC? I surveyed our surroundings. A row of houses, constructed with logs and bricks. People crouched in fear, their faces etched with terror. Armored soldiers swiftly traversed the streets, seemingly preupied with their own tasks. They disyed no interest in us, the sudden arrivals in their city. How bizarre. In missions, encounters with NPCs were quitemon. No wonder cooperation was proving to be challenging; it appeared to be designed this way. Focus! Lets gather together for now! As I spoke, the party members, who had been observing their surroundings, assembled. I smiled and remarked, This city feels oddly familiar, doesnt it? Eolka and Shurn wore expressions of bewilderment, while Jenna and Aarons countenances stiffened. It was only natural since the two of them were absent during the 5th floor. Come to think of it, hyung, Ive been here before. It seems different, yet theres a sense of familiarity. Thats right. Weve been here already. This is the ruined city that served as the stage for the 5th floor. The only difference is After a brief survey of our surroundings, I continued speaking. It hasnt been destroyed yet. Hold on for a moment, Oppa. The timeline seems a bit off. Its all mixed up, isnt it? How often has it not been mixed up? Lets worry about the small detailster. The important thing is that weve been summoned here and in order to survive, we need to seed in our mission. Our mission Eolka murmured, her voice filled with uncertainty. The mission hasnt started yet. It seems like we have some time to spare. It would be wise to gather information from our surroundings. Listen up, everyone! Ill give you 5 minutes to thoroughly explore the area and then regroup here. Dont bete, or well leave without you. Yes! Eolka, you stay here. What? Why are you suddenly saying that? Im telling you not to waste your energy unnecessarily. It seems like youll y a crucial role in this mission. Ah, I understand. Eolka nodded, her expression filled with bewilderment. The four of us, including myself, scattered in different directions. Our objective was to assess the enemys positions, their numbers, the status of our allies, the condition of the battlefield, and the missions goals. Conveniently, there was a bell tower nearby. It was the same ce where Jenna had climbed up and spotted the goblins on the 5th floor. I ascended the stairs at the entrance. The location where we had been summoned happened to be at the heart of the city. Although I couldnt see where Edis and the 2nd party hadnded, I knew they would soon join us here. At the top of the bell tower, a soldier was gripping his head, moaning in distress. Ugh Ughhh First, I nced up at the sky. Thick clouds loomed ominously, saturating the air with moisture as if a torrential downpour was imminent. I slowly redirected my gaze downward. To the north of the cityy a vast forest. There, thousands of green dots writhed and squirmed. [Goblin Lv.??? X 2213] In the distance, although not clearly visible, it appeared that numerous siege towers were being pulled towards us. These must be the siege weapons, I thought. Turning my gaze towards the east, I saw the river flowingthe same river we had encountered on the 7th floor. [Goblin Lv.??? X 899] There, too, hundreds of goblins were advancing towards the city, but this time without any siege equipment. It seemed they were attempting to join forces from the east, heading towards the northern gate. Next, I surveyed the city. Armed soldiers were stationed in the outer fortifications that encircled the city. [Human Soldier Lv.??? X 353] The enemy outnumbers us at least ten to one, if not more. As I scrutinized the northern forest, it became apparent that forces were lurking within. I had anticipated this. That the situation would unfold in this manner. There was no escaping the predicament it presented. But if its a survival mission The details of the mission were not fully defined. If we could hold out for a certain period and trigger another survival mission, it would prove to be much more manageable than the 5th floor. We had plenty of NPCs we could utilize as decoys, and, most importantly, the key aspect of regional defensethe mageswas in ce. I tightened my grip on the sheathed sword hanging from my belt. Beneath the bell tower, the party members who hadpleted their scouting began to gather. In the distance, I could see Edis party advancing to join us. And now, the wheel of fate spins. [Warning! Warning! Warning!] A triple warning message indicating a higher difficulty level. Taking a deep breath, I read the mission details that appeared below. [Floor 10.] [Mission Type Defense] [Objective Prevent the city from being captured!] Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 37: Mission Type-Defend (2) (1) Chapter 37: Mission Type-Defend (2) (1) The mission had been set in stone, leaving no room for idle moans. With a sense of urgency, I descended from the towering structure and joined the waiting members below. Thebined forces of Party 1 and Party 2 amounted to a total of ten individuals. To support our ranks, we were apanied by approximately 350 allied NPCs, bringing the total fighting force to around 360. Though my face betrayed a hint of worry, I managed to conceal my emotions. In the realm of this game, even seemingly impossible missions had a path to victory. Such was the rule of Pick Me Up. Gathered atst, I spoke, my words epassing the attentive gazes of theirrades. Now, all eyes were on me. It was time to move forward. Afterpiling all the information, lets delve into the specifics of our mission, objectives, and individual roles. Lets go in order, starting from the left. What did you observe? Well, I can start, Jenna offered, breaking the silence. She began recounting her attempts tomunicate with the people within the city. s, no responses came their way. It appeared that although she could see and interact with the vigers, the reverse was not possible. Communication was a frustratingly one-sided affair. Isnt it easier to leverage the NPCs this way? Next in line was Aaron, who shared his findings. ording to him, the refugees were converging in the citys central district. However, escape routes seemed scarce, with no gates to the south or west, leaving the northern and eastern gates vulnerable to the relentless goblin assault. Aaron concluded his report with a somber expression, If the city falls, everyone here will meet their end. One after another, the reports continued. From atop the city walls, I beheld a disconcerting sighta horde of thousands of goblins swarming outside. The citys defensive forces were vastly outnumbered, and the residents were in fear. Morale among the defenders had plummeted. The situation seemed dire,cking any notable silver linings. Nevertheless, from my vantage point atop the tower, I had already gained aprehensive understanding of the circumstances. Finally, it was my turn to address the gathering. With unwavering rity, I told them the missions task. This time, our mission is to defend. Defense? Edis inquired, seeking further rification. I nodded in affirmation. Indeed. Our objective is to safeguard this city from enemy invasion. Its unlike our previous encounter on the 5th floor. We cant simply hunker down in one location and hold our ground. This time, we must fight to save the city too. But its strange, isnt it? Goblins have never breached the boundaries of the human territories before, let alone with siege weapons. Strange or not, we can ponder thatter. If we fail the mission Thoughts of what fate awaited the heroes in the event of their failure crossed my mind. Well all perish. Even if we manage to escape the city? Yes. No matter where we are, the moment the mission fails, our lives will be forfeit. There are no exceptions. Thats a harsh reality. Rodericksplexion stiffened. I believe the condition for sess is theplete annihtion of the invading army. On the other hand, the failure condition Look next to the tower. Beside the tower stood a small cathedral, its courtyard adorned with statues crafted from ster. These statues emitted a radiant crimson glow. What are those luminous statues? Two winged girls embraced each other, their eyes fixed upon the heavens. They were known as the Twin Goddess Statues, objects frequently encountered during specialized missions when I was a master. I offered an exnation. If those statues fall, the mission is deemed a failure. Thats unbelievable It may defy reason and logic, but if we wish to avoid meeting our demise, we have no choice but to confront this challenge. But how did youe to possess such knowledge? You just understand that my experience in mission execution far surpasses yours. Thats all that you need to know, if I have to exin this to you we will need a whole night. I see Now, moving on. With a swift motion, I sketched a grand circle on the ground. Within the epassing circle, I delineated a smaller one, cing a dot within its confines. Therger circle represents the outer defenses, the smaller circle symbolizes the inner defenses, and the dot signifies the goddess statues. While the number of allied NPC troops may be modest, our defensive structures remain steadfast. The city walls stand resolute, and the gates are securely lockedan encouraging sight, to say the least. With a deft stroke of my sword, I sketched circles to the north and east of the city. These indicated the advancing goblin forces. Within the northern circle, I etched adder-like figure. After ascending the tower and surveying the surroundings, I discovered that although the goblins may possess superior numbers, their siege weaponry is limited todders. Moreover, such equipment is exclusive to their northern forces. Therefore, if we can impede theirdders in the north, we will have ample time to dy their advance. But didnt you mention this is different from the 5th floor? That we cannot rely solely on buying time? Indeed, youre correct. Merely stalling will not lead us to victory. Being aggressive could be an answer. But this is not just a game. Well split into groups. Luckily, we have two parties avable. One group will head towards the outer defenses in the north of the city and provide support in the defense efforts. Give priority to disabling or removing thedders ced against the city walls, I exined, ncing at Edis. Are you assigning us that role? If anyone has any objections, feel free to voice them. But were just five people. Even if we add ourselves to the 300 soldiers, it doesnt seem sufficient to protect the entire city, Edis expressed her concerns. Youre right. When objectivelyparing, the heroes were far more powerful than the allied NPCs, even at a lower level. It alles down to the differences in stats and skills. However, being powerful didnt mean they could effortlessly handle a hundred or a thousand enemies. Even with Edis party joining the defense, they would merely contribute to a force of around 50 soldiers in terms of human resources. Of course, it didnt mean that a hundred-to-one or a thousand-to-one victory was impossible, but that wouldeter. I continued with my exnation. The only means of breaching the city walls are thedders. Moreover, the walls are high and narrow. If you can secure the most perilous positions on the walls and hold your ground, it will significantly improve the efficiency of our defense. Is that what you mean? Edis sought rification. Are you implying that although we can buy time, we cannot secure victory? she further inquired. I chose not to respond, yet my silence spoke volumes. I understand, I interjected. Even if both parties stuck together, the oue would remain the same. They could withstand the onught for a longer duration, but ultimately, the enemy would break through their defenses. There existed a considerable power disparity between the enemy and allied forces. Hence, my n unfolded. You need to dy the enemy for as long as possible. If the outer defenses are breached, youll retreat to the inner defenses. Secure the gates and hold your position. If necessary, you can use soldiers and vigers as decoys. You must hold your ground until we return. Until we return? Are we going somewhere else? Jenna questioned, seeking confirmation. Yes. I see, Edis nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. Understood. Well hold our ground for as long as we can, she pledged, rallying the other four members. Once the group of five was assembled, Edis led them towards the northern avenue of the za. Even without providing intricate details, theyprehended the essence of my instructions. Resourceful, indeed. Oh? Did you forget about me? Whats our role in all this? Asher, the remaining member, spoke up. Prepare yourself. Were heading to the eastern gate, I replied. Hyng, why are we going outside? There are thousands of goblins out there. Its too dangerous, Aaron expressed concern. Is there any hope for a solution if we stay entrenched here? I raised my gaze, met by a clouded sky. Raindrops fell, lightly caressing my cheeks. No matter how you look at it, staying here would only result in total annihtion. The odds were stacked against us, with a power imbnce of over ten to one. Even if we intervened, the odds would merely shift to ten against two. Recalling the frenzied onught we faced on the 5th floor, it seemed unlikely that the enemy would retreat due to temporary setbacks. Logically speaking, it was an insurmountable battle. However, there was a clue. Towards the east of the city, there lies a river. Lets think back to the 7th floor, I prompted, seeking Jennas attention. Are you referring to the river on the 7th floor located to the east? Jenna pondered, trying to grasp the connection. Exactly. From the 5th floor up to the 9th floor, all the diverse fields we encountered merged into one on the 10th floor. Just before we left the 7th floor, do you remember hearing any peculiar sounds, Jenna? Give it some thought. Jenna furrowed her brow, lost in contemtion. Then, a spark of realization ignited within her, and she pped her hands. Come to think of it! Do you understand now? I do! I got it! What did you realize? It was the sound of hoofbeats. I heard the echoing gallops of horses from across the river. On the rain-drenched 7th floor, the copse of the dam caused the water to overflow, creating a flood. Our task is straightforward. We need to exit through the eastern gate, break through the ranks of goblins, and prevent the copse of the dam, I elucidated. Then Well get reinforcements. Unsheathing my sword from its scabbard, I secured the strap of the shield around my left arm. What? Impletely lost, Aaron admitted, seeking rification. Ill exin it to you on the way Chapter 37: Mission Type-Defend (2) (2) Chapter 37: Mission Type-Defend (2) (2) As we swiftly emerged onto the main road to the right of the za, the opened gates of the inner defenses came into view. A lengthy procession of vigers stretched beyond the walls, their faces unified in gloom. Themanding soldiers raised their voices, attempting to restore order. Form straight lines! No pushing! Enter one by one! Nevertheless, theirmands fell on deaf ears. People mored and jostled, attempting to enter the gates simultaneously. How bothersome. I furrowed my brow, then firmly pushed my way through from the side of the gate. Oh no! An elderly woman was pushed and stumbled, losing her bnce. Disregarding her plight, I forged ahead, creating a path against the tide of refugees. Ill clear a path. Follow my lead! Yes! The response echoed from a distance. After sessfully prating the inner defenses, we wasted no time and made our way directly towards the outer gate. The faces of the countless people we passed by were etched with despair, and among them, some trembling soldiers crouched in the corners of the alleys. Eolka murmured, This feels weird. Dont worry, youll get used to it. In the future, youll find it boring, I reassured. Before long, the city wall and the gate came into view. Adjacent to the gate, a massive winch responsible for its opening and closing loomed before us. Jenna, climb up the wall and assess the situation outside. Roger! Aaron, prepare to operate the winch. Yes, sir! Eolka, your role is casting. Once the gate opens, unleash a second-tier fire spell outside. You mean an intense ze, right? Understood. So, hes also here. Shurn stared at me with a stiff neck, silently observing. Jenna, who had been keeping watch from atop the wall, shouted, Brother, there are goblins gathered outside the gate. It seems like theyll surge in all at once when the gate opens. I expected as much. Return immediately! Roger that! Aaron, start turning the winch. Aaron approached the winch and pulled the rope. Creak, creak. Gradually, the gate began to open, swinging from side to side. One of the soldiers standing guard on the wall eximed, Whats going on? Damn it! The gate is opening! What? Have the goblins breached the defenses? No! Its opening on its own! Its moving on its own! What? Stop it right away! The soldiers on the wall hurriedly moved towards the stairs. Prevent them froming down! Got it! Jenna tripped the soldier attempting to descend the stairs. Ouch! Ahhh! The soldiers tumbled and intertwined, forming a chaotic mass on the ground. Some wore expressions of despair, while others cowered in the corners of alleyways, trembling with fear. A man d in splendid armor, bearing the air of an officer, unleashed his fury. What is this madness? Are these evil spirits attacking us? Stop them! Defend at all costs, even if it means sacrificing your lives! Kiiii, kiiiiii! The cries of goblins seeped through the cracks of the open gate, adding to the tension. Eolka! Im on it! La Gran Integio. Eolka closed her eyes and began chanting a spell. mes enveloped Eolka, emanating from her very feet. Ping! A crossbow emerged from the gap in the gate, and a bolt wasunched towards Eolka. I caught the bolt with my bare hand and sent it back, deflecting its path. Jenna, stop the soldiers advancing! I swiftly moved towards a soldier charging forward with a winch, striking him in the abdomen. A ghost, is it a ghost? Where are you, you fiend? I wont let you have your way! Another soldier, fueled by anger, swung his sword. I sidestepped the attack, evading the de with ease. Taking advantage of the opening, I delivered a powerful blow to the back of his head with my shield, rendering him unconscious. Is the goddess abandoning us? In that crucial moment, just as the officer was about to leap forward Hiyap! Jenna struck the back of the officers neck with force. The officer copsed, joining the ranks of the fallen soldiers. Kyarr, kyara! Outside the gate, hundreds of pairs of crimson eyes flickered ominously. With each turn of the winch by Aaron, their eyes glowed even brighter, as if fueled by anticipation. The rain. Finally, raindrops began to descend from the sky, gently at first. Your mes wont be extinguished by mere rain, will they? Eolka didnt respond directly, but a smile curled on her lips, revealing his unwavering confidence. And then The gates swung open wide, revealing the path ahead. At that moment, dozens of goblins rushed forward in unison. Blow them away! Ignite! A me with a diameter of several meters erupted, sweeping through the goblins. Eeek! Dont destroy the gate. Let the explosion take ce outside! The mes surged out like a living entity, engulfing the area beyond the gate. All that remained in their wake were charred goblin corpses. Engulf! Crack! Crack! Boom! Kyaaaaaaaaa! A powerful st swept over, causing the terrified screams of goblins to echo outside the gate. The bodies of those directly hit by the explosion soared dozens of meters into the air above the wall. Aaron, standing by my side, murmured. Every time I see it, I cant help but be amazed Magics power is truly astounding. Near the gate, a fiery inferno raged, undeterred by the intensifying rainfall. We can reflectter. The battle starts now. Yes, youre right. Outside, hundreds of goblins were likely preparing for a gruesome reception. Jenna, Aaron! Were ready! Well go first! Jenna drew her dagger and leaped outside, into the flickering mes. Aaron tightly gripped his spear and followed Jennas lead. Eolka took a deep breath. Huuu We still have a long way to go. Can you handle it? I can. Dont underestimate me! Eolka retrieved a mana potion from within her clothes and took a sip. I can unleash a hundred more shots! Good. Go ahead. Eolka also disappeared beyond the gate. What remained was me and the young man who had been observing us from the corner. Do you n to follow? I pointed toward the raging mes outside the gate. [Shurn () feels fear! All attributes reduced by 30%.] Shurn couldnt utter a word; he trembled uncontrobly. I chuckled and spoke. Go to Edis. Shell tell you what to do. If you survive after this battle, then Ill take care of you. Oh, I understand! I undeeerstaaand! Shurn screamed and hurriedly departed. Kiyaaaah! Outside, the cries of the goblins echoed through the air. Ill kill you all. I smirked, twirled my sword, and threw myself into the fiery depths. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 38: Mission Type-Defend (3) (1) Chapter 38: Mission Type-Defend (3) (1) Outside the castle gate, a vast in awaited us, teeming with hundreds of goblins. Kia, Kia! They watched us from a short distance beyond the flickering mes. Their eyes glowed with an ominous red hue as they swung their swords threateningly. Creak, creak. The gate behind us began to close. One of the soldiers, who had recovered from injuries, pulled the lever. It worked as nned. Our escape route was sealed off. Our only choice remained to push forward. Take your positions! Yes! Emerging from the fiery inferno, a fearless goblin sprang forward. With a swift sh of my sword, I decapitated the goblin. We quickly established the formationa triangr arrangement centered around the mage. I stood at the apex, Jenna on the right, Aaron on the left, and Eolka in the center. Though the encircling mes prevented the goblins from approaching easily, we couldnt recklessly charge out either. We needed to carve a path through their ranks. Eolka, use Tier 1. Focus less on firepower, but disperse the mes as widely as possible. Understood. With closed eyes, Eolkamenced the casting. Keep the goblins at bay! The initial ze ignited by the first spell gradually weakened. The intensifying downpour yed a role. Some goblins managed to slip through the wavering mes and infiltrate our defenses. A swift thrust of my de pierced the goblins throat, painting the rain-filled air with spurts of blood. Aaron gripped hisnce, methodically dispatching them one by one. Although his skill level wasnt the highest, his extensive training shone through. His thrusts disyed wless precision. Kyarurur! The crossbow-goblins gaze flickered. Bolts shot forth from three crossbows. Their target: Eolka. Two bolts were deflected by the shield, while one was expertly parried by a sword. Simultaneously, I threw a stone, sending it hurtling toward one of the goblins. The frontmost crossbow-goblin staggered, blood mingling with his pained exhales. 20 seconds. As the heat reached its climax, the scorching sensation reached us from behind. Reversal! We swiftly shifted from a triangr formation to an inverted triangle. I took the left nk, Jenna upied the upper right, and Aaron positioned himself below. Clearing the front, we created a firingne for Eolka. La Gran Integio! Whooooosh! mes surged forth from the opening. The flickering inferno danced and dispersed in all directions. Kiaaaa! The acrid smoke and the scent of burning flesh assailed my nostrils. Break through! We swiftly reverted to our initial triangr formation and surged through the zing in. The goblins were thrown into chaos, desperately struggling amidst the engulfing mes. Although we felt the scorching heat seep through our leather armor, we could endure it to a certain degree. We hadnt needlessly thrust our hands into a raging furnace. Goblins are vulnerable to fire. They possessed an instinctive fear of mes. Having Eolka on our side turned out to be a stroke of luck. If it had been just us, breaking through the encirclement would have been a far more grueling task. But of all weathers, it had to rain. Before long, hundreds of goblins surrounded us once again. Scattered traces of fire lingered, but the pouring rain swiftly dampened their vigor. Eolka swept her wet hair aside and nervously bit her lip. Shoot again. One shot, one sip of mana. Conserve and savor it. I know! Eolka took a swig from a vial of mana potion, promptly swallowing it. Then, she chanted the incantation once more. Goblins surged forth from areas where the fire hadnt fully spread. They emerged near Jennas position. Aaron, provide support on the right. Ill handle this side alone. Understood! Despite the left side being engulfed in intense mes, goblins still sprang forth. Some of them were aze from head to toe, yet they fearlessly charged at me. Their attack patterns were well within my grasp. I deflected their swords with my shield, piercing their hearts. Bolts were deflected, spears evaded. With the edge of my shield, I crushed skulls and tore through necks. Another 20 seconds. Reversal! Whooooosh! The second barrage was unleashed. A temporary gap appeared within the encircling horde of goblins. We seized the opportunity, dashing forward with the mes serving as our backdrop. Though our bodies tingled as if singed, there was no time to hesitate. Once the breach was created, it swiftly closed up. We had to cover as much ground as possible within that fleeting opening. Kira, Kirara-ro! On one side of the in, a goblin stood atop a towering rock, vigorously waving a g. Draped in iron armor and adorned with a crimson cape, it was a goblinmander. Jenna! Target acquired. Im on it! Jenna swiftly plunged her dagger into one goblins forehead, then swiftly drew her bow and released an arrow. The arrow found its mark, urately piercing the goblins brow. Kki? Kiki! Two goblins, appearing as bodyguards, stood nearby, uncertain of how to proceed. Jenna swiftly dispatched the goblins, sending them to the realm beyond. Ping! Ping ping ping! The crossbow-goblins focused their shots on Eolka. Dont you dare interrupt her! As the bolts were released from the crossbows, my mind swiftly calcted their trajectory, speed, and the optimal way to deflect them. It was as if I had aputer in my head, analyzing the situation. This was the effect of the projectile defense skill. My body moved ordingly, and the shattered remnants of bolts fluttered in all directions. Whooooosh! The third barrage. This time, we covered an even greater distance. The absence of theirmander seemed to have thrown the goblins into prolonged disarray. Their original goal was likely the northern gate, not us. Out of the mes, a spear suddenly thrust forward. I deftly sidestepped it and then pulled the goblin toward me with my left hand. The hapless goblin was engulfed in mes, turning into a charred spectacle. There was no need to mention the state we were init was utterly filthy. The rain poured incessantly, burdening our leather armor. The mes, stubbornly refusing to be extinguished even by the downpour, left burn marks scattered across our bodies. Thebination of raindrops and smoke obscured our vision, and the muddied ground impeded our movements. One moment it was scorching, the next bone-chilling. Its enough to drive anyone mad. With a swift stroke of my sword, a goblins forehead was cleaved in two. It was time for the fourth barrage. With a swift sidestep, I evaded the mes sweeping through the front. Aaron gasped for breath as he broke through the wall of fire. If we hadnt followed your instructions, we would have been roasted by now. Thats precisely why its important to follow orders. Understood. Aaron swung hisnce vigorously, striking down two goblins. The mes engulfed them, consuming them from head to toe. Its about time. Chapter 38: Mission Type-Defend (3) (2) Chapter 38: Mission Type-Defend (3) (2) Its about time. Although they appeared unscathed, both Aaron and Jenna were nearing their limits. Not only they werecking oxygen, but the surroundings were a zing inferno. While the me Resistance skill enhanced our resistance to fire, it didnt grantplete immunity. To make matters worse, the rain made movement arduous. Now, its time for Tier 2. Eolka nodded, herplexion pale. The first mana potion was nearly empty. As I tore off the arm of a goblin wielding a sword, I shouted, Jenna, Aaron! When Eolka unleashes the spell this time, well charge straight toward the river. Dont stop, keep running! Yes! Emptying the mana potion in one gulp, Eolka began the incantation. I tightly gripped the empty ss bottle of potion and hurled it at the face of the goblin standing before me. Crash! Ouch! The goblin clutched its face, screaming in pain, and I swiftly pulled it towards me, cing it right in front of Eolka. Thud, thud, thud, thud! The goblin became a shield, absorbing the relentless barrage of crossbow bolts before copsing. 40 seconds. Get down! Yes! Unleash! The mes, previously lingering around Eolka, shot forward in a straight line. I quickly dropped to the ground, feeling the metallic thud as bitter mud entered my mouth. Ignite! Boom! Countless raindrops poured down in unison, as if each carried the force of a pounding fist. The impact engulfed me from head to toe, while the goblins agonized screams echoed amidst the chaos. I rose to my feet and spat out the mud, feeling Eolka staggering with exhaustion. Sheathing my sword and securing the shield on my back, I lifted Eolka with both hands, supporting her. This is Dont say a word. Eolka nodded slowly, then entrusted her body to me. Jenna, Aaron, by my side. Lets run towards the river! Yes! Joined by the other two, we sprinted past the lifeless goblin bodies. As I held Eolka, I couldnt wield a weapon. Jenna and Aaron ran ahead, one shooting arrows and the other thrusting his spear from both sides. The sound of the rushing river grew closer. The horde of goblins was slowly retreating. Although they red at us from a distance, baring their teeth and attempting to intimidate us, they didnt pursue us relentlessly. Their focus shifted towards advancing further to the northern city wall. We made it through. Phew, that was close. I thought we were done for! On one side of the river, there stood a majestic tree, providing a refuge from the rain. Jenna and Aaron sought shelter beneath its shade, taking a seat. I gently ced Eolka down, though her gaze remained sharp. I wish you could be more gentle. Sorry, the circumstances dont allow for it. I chuckled and replied. Take a moment to rest. Apply the healing potion to your burns and take a sip. Remember, we only have one, so dont use it all at once. Understood. Whoa, this is quite potent. Jenna furrowed her brows as she swallowed the potion and lightly dabbed it onto her exposed brown skin. Aaron followed suit, and after taking a sip myself, I applied it to my burnt marks. A tingling sensation coursed through my entire body. I stepped outside the tree. To the north of the city. Though it was distant, I strained my eyes to catch a glimpse of the ongoing situation. Dozens of siege towers clung to the city walls, ferrying goblins upward. Arrows and bolts crisscrossed between the upper and lower levels of the wall, and as most goblins reached the top, they promptly plummeted to their demise. The outer defenses hadnt been breached yet. It seemed like Edis party was putting up a good fight. And then, there was the riverthe very reason we hade here. Rain poured relentlessly, causing the river to surge forcefully. A substantial dam spanned across the river, positioned between its upstream and downstream. Although its stone construction didnt exude an air of sturdiness, it appeared capable of holding for the time being. Beyond the river stretched a sprawling forest. On the 7th floor when we checked this ce, the damy in ruins. It wasnt a natural copse; there were telltale signs of something forcefully breaking it, such as scattered bricks and upturned piles of dirt. It suggested that the goblins, anticipating the arrival of reinforcements, deliberately demolished it. Its strange. Both the fifth-floor city and the seventh-floor dam were in a deplorable state of disrepair. These small goblinsck the means or strength topletely obliterate the city walls and buildings. At best, they managed to assemble siege towers to scale the walls. Then how?! Oppa, what are you doing out there? Youll get soaked. Come inside. hmm. Whats the matter? Everyone,e out. Our guests will arrive soon. Footsteps echoed from somewhere. I wanted to rest a bit longer. Jennained as she emerged from the tree. Aaron followed suit, and Eolka, having caught her breath, drank about a third of her mana potion and stood by my side. Well hold on until reinforcements arrive. Theyll attempt to demolish the dam. We must stop them at all costs. Yes. Amidst the falling rain, the enemy revealed themselves. Unlike the previous group of goblins we had encountered, these guys had set their sights on the dam. I checked them through the curtain of raindrops. [Goblin Lv.9 x 19] They were armed and prepared like elite special forces. Donning iron armor and wielding weapons, some even brandished picks and hammers, seeking weak points to break through. And then Thud, thud, thud! Each step sent tremors reverberating through the ground. Standing approximately 3 meters and 50 centimeters tall, they made the goblins by the side appear small like some rats. Their tightly muscled bodies rippled beneath their pale green skin. d in sturdy te armor that shielded their vulnerable areas, they hauled colossal iron hammers in their right hands. I had a feeling it would be you. The creature let out a resounding roar. GUUUARGH! [Ogre Lv.23] Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 39: Mission Type-Defend (4) (1) Chapter 39: Mission Type-Defend (4) (1) Aarons mouth gaped in astonishment. What the heck is that? Never seen a monster before? Truth be told, this was my first too. I drew my de across my shield, and the piercing sound of metal split the silence. Dont be afraid, everyone! Its just a beast, like us, it has a brain and a heart. If it has a heart it means it can die. Keep thrusting your weapons, and itll fall. Well, its better than facing a swarm of goblins! Ping! In a swift, graceful motion, Jenna said then released an arrow. Twirling through the air, it found its mark deep within the ogres belly. Kuaaah! The ogre roared, drool flying from its mouth, yet it continued its approach steadily. Each heavy footstep disturbed the earth beneath. Jenna, smiling, scratched her cheek nonchntly. Or perhaps, facing goblins is better? Well find out once this ones down. I cast a nce over my shoulder. My party was tense with uncertainty, yet their faces betrayed no fear. This was promising. If each held their ground, victory was within our grasp. Get hold of yourselves! Were splitting responsibilities. Eolka, youre to create a wall of fire near the dam. A wall of fire? To bar the goblins from advancing until backup arrives. I can manage that, but what about that monster? Ill handle it. Aaron, your job is to shield Eolka. Jenna, depending on how things unfold, assists either Aaron or me. Trust your judgment. Understood. Alright! Everyone, to your positions. As Eolka sprinted toward the riverbank opposite the dam, she started her spell casting. Aaron followed in a swift stride, warding off any projectiles aimed at Eolka. Jenna, entrusted with the center position, observed the unfolding scenario, her arrow poised to strike. I hurled a stone from the riverbank straight at the ogres grim face. The ogre scowled at the unpleasant surprise and advanced towards me. I readied myself, drawing my sword and raising my shield. Kuoouoouoo! With a deafening shriek, the ogre swung its formidable iron hammer. I nimbly rolled aside to evade. The ground trembled under the mighty force of the hammer, flinging dirt and mud high into the air. One hit could spell the end. A shield is only as good as its ability to withstand the force its meant to deflect. I vaulted backwards, deftly avoiding the erratic arc of the plummeting hammer. Ping! Jennas second arrow pierced the ogres right shoulder. Kiaaaa! At the same time, Goblins began to surge towards the dam in a frenzied rush. Ignite! Whooosh! Fire seared a path between the goblins and the riverbank. The mes menacing wall caused the goblins to falter momentarily, a pause Aaron seized to spear through a goblins skull with deadly precision. Eolka, her eyes closed, continued to recite her spell unyieldingly. Her purpose wasnt to shoot fire, but to sustain it. Even in the relentless rain, the mes roared upward, their fury undiminished. The ogre, after retrieving its iron hammer, nonchntly shrugged its shoulders. An arrow lodged in its muscr crevice slipped out smoothly. Jenna, who was readying her third arrow, grumbled a curse under her breath. What a beast! Aim for vital spots, or dont bother. We cant waste arrows. And where the hell are these vital spots? Thats for you to figure out! Whoosh! As if about to leap in, I rolled forward. The ce where I once stood was demolished by the iron hammer. I sprang to my feet and swung my sword in a wide arc, causing a spray of blood from the ogres right arm. The ogre, unaffected, swept its hammer sideways. I evaded narrowly. Cutting deep is tough without a proper stance. I snuck a nce sideways. Aaron was giving his all, yet there was no assurance of how long he could shield Eolka. The goblins, having assessed the situation, had shifted from closebat to long-range attacks. They fired bolts; the ones without crossbows resorted to hurling stones. Whether bolt or stone, a single hit could disrupt Eolkas bnce. I must take the risk. The ogre upheaved its hammer and thundered it down. I semi-bent my knee and moved in closer to the ogre. As the hammers tail end threatened to shatter my skull, I yanked my left hand back, lifting my shield in a deflective block. Ka-ka-kak! A bone-warping shockwave rattled my left hand. I shrugged off the pain and, with a slippery move, slid under the ogres feet and tightened my grip on the sword hilt. With my right hand, I drove the sword tip into the ogres groin with all my might. A sensation of crumbling filled my hand. Ow, so hes a male. Blood gushed between its legs as I yanked out the sword and swiftly wriggled free. Kuoooooo! The ogre howled, brandishing its hammer aimlessly in an unhinged frenzy, a desperate act to override its agony. I established a safe distance between myself and the gigantic beast, ensuring I was just a few meters away. An agonizing sting surged from the deep recesses of my left arm, the sensation akin to a broken bone. Still, it wasnt incapacitated, and with some effort, remained functional. Kuoo, Kaaaa! roared the ogre, mming its iron hammer down with brute force, painting a gruesome picture as a handful of goblins were crushed into a bloody pulp. In an electrifying moment, an arrow from Jennas quiver found its mark, piercing the ogres left eye with deadly precision. The ogre lost control, dropping its hammer and thrashing wildly, jumping and spinning chaotically. Taking a quick breath to steel myself, I moved in for the attack. With a nimble step back, the ogres tree-trunk-like fist grazed past my nose in a swift miss. I plunged back into the fray, noticing the ogres back arching over. The ogres armor, covering its left chest, showed a visible gap. With a firm grip on my sword hilt, I lunged, aiming directly for the beasts heart. The ogres muscr chest put up a fierce resistance against my sword. Undeterred, I twisted my de, plunging it deeper until I could sense the pulsating beat of its heart through my weapon. With a swift pull, I withdrew my sword. Blood, thick and red, erupted from the gap in the ogres chest te. With a heavy thud, the behemoths body copsed face-first into the muddy sludge. The rain, now tainted with the ogres blood, sshed wildly, soaking me to the waist. Stunned by the spectacle, the remaining goblins hesitated, their confidence shattered. Spitting out the rainwater that had slipped past my lips, I pressed on towards the petrified goblins. The first one didnt even react to my de, and just as I was about to engage another, Jennas urgent voice rang out. Oppa! Whats wrong? I think theres another one! Chapter 39: Mission Type-Defend (4) (2) Chapter 39: Mission Type-Defend (4) (2) Oppa! Whats wrong? I think theres another one! As Jennas words faded, the ground trembled beneath us. I smashed another goblins head with my shield and retreated. Amidst the pouring rain, a hulking figure emerged. Stayposed. Handle it just as we did the previous one. But this one seems different? Different how? The new ogre studied the corpse of itspanion for a moment before shifting its gaze towards the dam, where a fiery wall zed brightly. Hes aiming for the dam. Got him! With another swift motion, Jennaunched an arrow that lodged itself into the ogres armpit. In response, the ogre let out a defiant roar and turned to look at Jenna. Excellent. Now, its focused on me But then the ogre hunched,unching itself in a sprint towards the dam. Damn it. Block its path! With a twang, a second arrow struck the ogres calf. Undeterred, the creature continued its relentless charge. The Goblins, crowded on its route, were squashed or catapulted into the air. Has he lost his mind? I gasped. Our fiery barricade might hold off the goblins, but it was powerless against the resilient rush of an ogre. Dropping my shield, I clutched my sword and lunged forward. Yet, my strides seemed painfully slow. I couldnt get close enough. Aaron, prevent it from reaching the dam! I cried out. Unfazed by the spear skewering his knee, the ogre let out a tormented roar and bulldozed past Aaron. Is it hell-bent on destroying the dam, dead or alive? An unpredictable threat had joined the fray. Jenna, quick as a whip, ascended the ogres armor-ted back. With her dagger in a reverse grip, she repeatedly plunged it into the creatures trapezius, where the neck and shoulder converged. Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Arrrrrggghhhhh! The ogre roared in pain. Who on earth is that? Eolkas voice echoed in disbelief as she opened her eyes after she hastily ended her spellcasting and ran. Ignoring goblins, boulders, and mes alike, the ogre remained fixated on the dam, dashing towards it without any hesitation. Im toote, I realized. Get off it, Jenna. In a graceful mid-air somersault, Jenna disengaged from the ogre. It then plowed into the dam, sending out a spiderweb of fractures. With a deafening crack, a gaping hole appeared, and water gushed out uncontrobly. The river level began its upward surge. The distant thunder of hooves trampling the ground echoed from the 7th floor, growing louder with each passing second. Kya-ro! In one swift motion, I plunged my sword into a goblins mouth. The de emerged from the back of its neck, having sliced through its tongue. It was thest one. The ogre, its task fulfilled, was swept away by the rivers swift current, vanishing from sight. Kicking the lifeless body of a Goblin at my feet, I muttered, Weve failed. So wha Time to head back. We need toe up with a second n. A second n, huh? I briefly pondered this prospect. Without any backup, the daunting reality was clear: 370 of us would have to hold back a horde of over 3,000 goblins. I gritted my teeth. A reckless wildcard had thrown our mission into chaos. But surrender wasnt an option. We had to find a solution, whether one existed or not. Retrieving my shield, I slung it over my shoulder. The horses hoofbeats grew louder and more urgent. However, the river, now a threatening force, was swelling at an rming rate. This timeline makes no sense, I wrestled back a sigh, desperate to w its way up my throat. Suddenly Eolka broke the silence. Hold on. What? Draste Siradus. A luminescent blue sh sparked in Eolkas eyes. Suddenly, a riverside rock levitated into the ether. Move! Guided by Eolkas gesture, the rock took flight, sealing the ruptured dams breach. Water, once freely flowing through the gaps, halted abruptly. Eolka tossed her soaked hair back, chuckling with self-satisfaction. Hey, you, how Telekinesis? Its the most basic of magical arts. Surprised, arent you? Why on earth didnt you say could do something like this sooner? I shouted furiously. Why are you angry? I just saved a mission that would have failed without me? Staggering, Eolka wavered on the brink of copse. Aaron dashed forward, steadying her. Appreciated. You do have manners, unlike some. I ahurg! Eolkas cheek was suddenly in my grasp. Who told you to hide your powers, huh? I was clear, Tell me all the spells you could use. You Ouch! This spell was too basic! Enough. As I released her cheek, Eolka shot me a look a grumpy frown beneath her teary eyes. Anyway, were alive thanks to you. Gratitude is due. Everyone, regroup. and take sips from your potions. Retreating to the tree-shaded spot from earlier, we dusted ourselves down and drank our potions. Eolka, paler than a ghost, looked ready to retch, struggling with her mana potion. I wish this rain would ease. Jenna wrung out her dress, a cascade of water spilling from its folds. Suddenly the sound of approaching hooves filled the air. A knight at the forefront waved a crimson g bearing a lions emblem. Trailing him, a cavalry of hundreds thundered out from the forest. d in shining te armor, their sturdy steeds maintained their speed, unperturbed by the mud. All forces, advance! Demonstrate the valor of the Iron Lion Cavalry! But Captain, the river Do I look like I care? Nothing can stop us today! Cross it! Yes, sir! Everyone, charge! One by one, knights began plunging into the river. The rivers fury was no match for the cavalrys relentless onught. [Human Knight Lv.??? X 458] [The Iron Lion Cavalry NPC allies have joined the battlefield!] Chapter 40: Mission Type-Defend (5) (1) Chapter 40: Mission Type-Defend (5) (1) The cavalry numbered around 500 brave souls, preparing to face their formidable foes. Even with potential reinforcements, the allied forces couldnt surpass a thousand. Numbers alone were not in their favor. But, it was the quality of these soldiers that set them apart. d in heavy armor and wielding sturdy spears, their majestic steeds armored for battle, the cavalry exuded an air of determination. Their appearance was a stark contrast to the citys defenders, d in shabby armor and trembling in fear. Though a few were carried away by the rivers strong current, most of the troops sessfullypleted the perilous river crossing. A man, likely theirmander, observed the surroundings near the riverbank. What are these monstrous corpses. Our eyes briefly met under the trees shade, but he quickly averted his gaze. Instead, he drew his sword and pointed it towards the northern part of the city, where the battle raged on. Form up and charge! Lets sweep away the enemy all at once! The horses snorted, and the sight of hundreds of cavalry lined up in the rain was truly impressive. Jenna couldnt help but whistle in admiration. Wow, thats impressive. It feels like our part in this mission is done. Can we just lie down and watch now? I wish that were the case. The main problem was resolved, but it wouldnt be surprising if the difficulty level rose beyond three stars. I nced at the horses wandering near the riverside, their owners swept away by the current during the river crossing. Can you ride a horse? Horse? Sure. What about you two? Aaron shook his head quietly, and Eolka, struggling to reply, gulped down a mana potion. Do you know how, Oppa? I dont. It doesnt seem very useful if only one of us can ride. Just bring one over for now. The cavalry was getting ready to charge. Jenna climbed onto a horse without an owner and took hold of the reins. The horse was startled at first but soon calmed down as Jenna gently stroked its neck. After a moment, the horse Jenna rode trotted over towards us. Is this enough? I looked up at the sky. Anytng must have been watching everything unfold. In essence, the master couldnt directly interfere in the battle, but their influence could be felt. I recalled the anti-fear potion I had drunk during the tutorial. So, are you gonna help or what? Skill Book Request: Intermediate Mounted Magic. [Han () is requesting the Skill Book (Mounted Magic). Upon purchase, the hero will acquire the skill. The cost is 500 gems. Would you like to proceed with the purchase?] [Yes (Select) / No] A shimmer of blue light in the air emitted, and suddenly, an old book descended. I grabbed it and unfolded the pages, and a rush of knowledge and experiences about mounted magic flooded my mind. [Ding!] [Skill Awakening!] [Han () has acquired Mounted Magic!] W-What was that just now? A magic book. Mounted Magic. One of the skill books avable at the Pick Me Up battle shop. While direct acquisition ofbat-rted skills wasnt possible, supportive techniques could be learned through these skill books. I mounted the ownerless horse, gripping the reins. From mounting and holding the reins to changing direction, moving forward, stopping, and eleratingtips and know-how about mounted magic came naturally to me. The horse I rode joined Jennas side. You said you couldnt ride. Now I know. I chuckled, affirming my new skill. Well follow their lead and disrupt their ns. Disrupt their ns, you mean? Do you think itll end here? Aaron, get on behind Jenna. Eolka, youre with me. Without a saddle, it might be ufortable, so hold on tight to my back. With Jennas assistance, Aaron settled in behind her on the horse. Next, Eolka approached, looking pale. Although she had replenished her mana with a potion, the mental fatigue seemed inevitable. I helped Eolka onto the horses back. Up ahead, the cavalry was finalizing their charge preparations. Prepare for the charge! Get ready! Charge! Charge! Charge! Charge! Responding to themanders orders, the soldiers raised their weapons and shouted in unison. On the northern ins, the goblins alerted to the situation, positioned their spears against the charging cavalry. We watched the scene a few meters away from the frontline. Dont join the charge. You might find yourself in a tough spot. Slip towards the forest and assess the situation. Aaron, hold on tight so you wont fall. Sure thing. The cavalrymander swung his steel sword over his head, taking aim at the goblins. Charge together! Show those rascals the fiery might of the Iron Cavalry! Themanders white horse galloped across the ins. The horsemen with their red gs led the way, followed by a thundering charge of hundreds of soldiers and horses. The resounding cheers of the soldiers and the rhythmic pounding of hooves in the rain filled the air. Lets go. With a firm grip on the reins, I urged the horse forward. The horse exhaled and picked up speed. Faster. Each nudge resulted in more vigorous strides. Surprisingly, just by reading a book, I gained the ability to handle a horse. It seemed unreal, but there was no need to be astonished or overjoyed. I warned Jenna, who was trailing behind, Move to the side! Get out of the arrows range! Ping! Pew, pew, pew, ping! Dozens, even hundreds of bolts flew from the goblin side. Most bolts either missed their targets or got embedded in the ground. However, a few found their mark. Aaargh! An unfortunate soldier was struck and fell from his horse. The soldiers behind trampled him into the ground. I lowered my head slightly. A stray bolt barely grazed past my head, causing Eolka, holding onto my waist, to let out a small scream. Get away! As I pulled the reins to the right, the horse turned. The cavalrys main target was the goblin force stationed at the north gate. We swerved to the right and headed towards the forest, with Jenna close behind. Soon, the cavalrys vanguard shed with the goblins. Hundreds of goblins, impaled on spears and crushed under the hooves, were turned into a lifeless heap. They were smaller creatures than humans, unable to withstand the destructive force of several hundred kilograms of a horse. The cavalry spread out like a wide broom, swept through the goblin forces with ease. As the wind gradually lessened the impact of raindrops on our faces, I kept a watchful eye on the surroundings while riding through the forest. Faint growls echoed between the trees. [Goblin Rider Lv.??? X 211] As I suspected. They had been lurking in the forest, preparing to ambush the cavalry. The moment the cavalrys momentum waned, they would strike from the sides. Wolvescked the necessary breakthrough power to face cavalry head-on, and measures were in ce to suppress the cavalrys momentum. [Ogre Lv.??? X 23] Kraaaah! Ogres burst forth from the dense forest. Having broken through the first line of defense, they charged at the cavalry, which was regrouping after the initial sh. In the distance, the cavalrymander raised his sword once more, and the second sh ensued with a symphony of nging metal and resounding screams. I turned to Eolka, who was riding behind me, and asked, Eolka, do you have enough mana? Ill manage somehow, she replied. You saw it too. Itll be troublesome if those goblin riders join the fray. As the rain ceased, a renewed sense of urgency filled the air. I raised my right index finger to determine the wind direction. A northerly wind. I made a decision, From now on, well ride through the forest. You ignite the mes. Eolka nodded, I can do that, but the firepower might be weak. Just make sure they cante out. Better yet, disrupt their formation. If the goblin riders managed to strike the cavalrys nk simultaneously, the consequences would be dire. We didnt need to eliminate all of them; the main objective was to prevent them from coordinating effectively. Eolka understood the n. Jenna, you and Aaron dismount from the horse. When the mes spread, pick off one or two of them at a time. The two dismounted, each clutching their bow and spear. Although magicalbat skills would be ideal, we had to work with what we had. Their determination was evident. Lets do this. Eolka closed her eyes and began chanting a spell. My gaze shifted towards the north gate. The cavalry and ogres shed fiercely. Most of the original goblin forcesy dead or incapacitated. A few desperate goblins attempted to scaledders and breach the outer walls but retreated in failure. No need to pursue them all the way to the inner walls, I muttered to myself. With a swift tap of my heel on the horses nk, we surged forward. The horse picked up speed, and I locked eyes with the goblin on the far left of the forest. His hands caressed the fur of a wolf mount, and his eyes glinted with defiance. Eloka raised her right hand. [Ignite!] Fwoosh! A torrent of mes erupted from behind the horse, quickly catching on branches and leaves, spreading like a zing inferno. The rain had subsided, and the wind carried the fire towards the surrounding trees. The horses path scattered embers, spreading the mes in all directions. The fire rapidly engulfed the area. Kiaaah! Finally, the goblin riders burst out of the forest, met with a wall of fire and chaos. Most of the human cavalry were focused on killing ogres, while a few of the goblin riders followed us. Direct confrontation with the ogres wasnt worthwhile, so I swiftly turned my horse and increased our pace, setting the forest aze as we raced through it. The mes were not exceptionally strong, and casualties were minimal, but that wasnt our main aim. We wanted to scatter the goblin riders and instill fear of the fire they wielded. When the goblin riders formed a united front, they became a formidable force, but when dispersed, they were like scattered needles. The Iron Cavalry showed no sign of losing their momentum in their fight against the ogres, while the goblin riders struggled and wavered. In the forest, Jenna and Aaron took up positions, engaging with a few of the goblin riders, their weapons zing. Finally, wepleted our circuit around the forest. Dismounting swiftly, I thrust my sword backward, piercing the wolf lunging at me, and impaling both its brain and the heart of the goblin rider on top of it. They were the ones who had chased me relentlessly. I withdrew my sword. The wolf and goblin fell silent and lifeless. Heeheeheehee! The horse neighed and shook its back. Eolka, who was on top of it, trembled precariously, barely managing to keep her bnce. The horse that had dismounted Eolka didnt even spare a nce and ran off in the opposite direction. Are you alright? Yes You did well. It was a horrifying sight. Eolkasplexion had turned deathly pale. If she used more magic here, she risked a magic overload. Excessive use of magic posed a dangerous risk for magicians. Chapter 40: Mission Type-Defend (5) (Part2) Chapter 40: Mission Type-Defend (5) (Part2) Supporting Eolka, I walked slowly towards the in. The battle on the in was winding down. The goblins had been depleted, and only a few ogres remained, swinging their maces and bellowing, although their roars would soon subside. Of course, our side had also suffered significant losses. There are about 100 soldier survivors. The city defense forces had already sacrificed many before the cavalry joined the fray. Half of the cavalry had perished while facing the ogres, and the majority died when the remaining goblin riders joined the battle. If we hadnt used fire, they would have beenpletely wiped out. The forest behind us was still aze. At this rate, it might all go up in mes, but that didnt matter. It might even be for the better. After all, it was a major goblin habitat. If it burned downpletely, the goblins would be eradicated as well. Jenna and Aaron joined us from a distance. Both Jenna and Aaron looked in a mess, their leather armor stained with rain, blood, and scorch marks. Jenna quickly wiped the ckened soot off her nose, her expression weary from the relentless battle. Thest remaining ogre was putting up a fierce struggle, but its strength was waning. Dozens of arrows were embedded in its massive body, and its swings with the mace were gradually slowing down. The in was a grim scene of carnage, strewn with bodies of humans, goblins, horses, wolves, and ogres. Limbs were missing, and the gruesome aftermath was covered in a mix of blood, mud, and rainwater. Aarons face showed a mix of disgust and sorrow. Finally, thest ogre fell to the ground, defeated and lifeless. As the citys north gate swung open, a white horse-riding cavalry leader removed his helmet. He engaged in conversation with a man who seemed to be the defense captain. The distance was too far for us to hear their words, and honestly, we were not in the mood to care about their discussion. Edis, standing in a secluded corner of the outer wall, waved at us, signaling that everyone appeared to be unharmed. It seemed that no casualties had urred among us. Surprisingly, there was no message indicating our return to the Goddesss embrace, which usually followed sessful missions. Thank goodness no one seems to have died, Jenna said with relief. Were definitely in a different situation from the 5th floor. But why isnt the stage ending? Shouldnt the mission be over? Aaron questioned, his curiosity mixed with frustration. Perhaps we need to put out that fire? Jenna suggested, looking at the still-burning forest. Aaron sighed, feeling clueless about how to aplish that task. How on earth do we do that? As the two of them followed me, I couldnt help but feel that something was amiss. Somethings odd. We had already dealt with all the monsters that gued the in. Only the remnants of human forces and us were left. However, the stage-clear message didnt appear, leaving us puzzled. Surveying our surroundings, we saw a grim sight of lifeless bodies scattered across the in. The city walls stood tall and strong, but the siege tower was now in ruins. There was nothing to do anywhere. [Now Loading.] Suddenly, the sky darkened, making us look up with concern. [Restoring.] [An error urred in the server, and the connection was lost. Please wait a moment.] ?! Next to me, Jenna and Aaron appeared to be having a conversation, but their words halted, and they froze in ce. I nced around once more, taking in the strange stillness that enveloped everything. Aaron and Jenna remained frozen mid-discussion, the officers atop the wall stopped in their tracks, and the soldiers attending to the wounded were motionless. Everything seemed to be frozen in time. I found myself alone, the only one in motion. Look behind you, I turned around, and there it wasthe burning forest. Amidst the swirling smoke and dancing mes, a presence watched me intently. Their features remained obscured, making it impossible to discern their form, yet I knew without a doubt they were there. Hovering above their head, a message revealed their enigmatic identity. [SSSH Lv.999] You you bastard Beside them stood an eerie figure draped in ck robes. [ck Priest Lv.15] The enigmatic figure gave me a brief nce before vanishing deeper into the engulfing inferno. You, an unsettling voice reverberated in my mind. I will be waiting for you, [Restoration Complete!] [Reconnecting to the server. We apologize for the inconvenience.] The sky brightened once more, and time resumed its relentless march. I remained rooted to the spot, unable to locate those scary guys anywhere. I clenched my teeth in frustration. The ck Priest. A fearsome monster that had never been reported on the lower floors. Its distinct characteristics Its features Hyung-nim, is something amiss? Aaron inquired. I scanned the surroundings. The in was now strewn with various corpses. City walls, ground level, entrance of the gate, and inside itall marked with the grim aftermath of battle. I spoke firmly. Listen closely, all of you. Yes? Make your way straight to the city. To the same ce where we first emerged. Pay no heed to whats happening around you. Stay focused on the task at hand. Understood? What do you mean? Our mission isnt over yet. My gaze was fixated on the gates entrance. The cavalry leader and the defense captain, who had been conversing before, were now drenched in blood. With a weakened grip, the leader tried to speak. Roaaaar! What came out of his mouth wasnt a triumphant roar but rather a wailing sound that seemed toe from the depths of his chest. The soldier he had been carrying on his back suddenly had a hole in his chest. The one who had been dead until a moment ago was now writhing and crawling out. What what is this? There were no hints. It was apletely random pattern designed to mock the masters. Yet, there was one thing I could never forget it. The voice of the mastermind who lured me into this nightmarish realm. Corpses littered the ground, and they were stirring to life. [Living Corpse Lv.??? X 2436] Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 41: Mission Type-Defend (6) (1) Chapter 41: Mission Type-Defend (6) (1) A human soldier with his lower body missing dragged his upper half using his two arms desperately. A goblin with twisted bones staggered to his feet. An ogre turned into a hedgehog with arrows, wriggling as it rolled in a puddle. Aaargh! One of the soldiers on the in screamed in terror and ran away. However, hands emerged from the ground beneath and grabbed him. The corpses began to devour the soldiers entrails. Crunch, aargh, gulp. The soldiers among the corpses became prey without being able to resist. Thousands of gory corpses lying on the in rose together. Their limbs dangled, guts sprawled, emitting unpleasant moans. Eolkasplexion turned pale as she watched them. Before the message of terror came up. Thwack! I struck the nearby rock loudly with my shield. Regroup for now and return to the city for reassembly. Hyung-nim, what the heck are those? Parasite nymphs carrying udon noodles instead of brains. I smashed the head of an approaching human corpse with my shield. The creature fell face down into the puddle, silent. Dont aim for their arms or legs. Crush their heads. None of them replied. Fear was evident on their faces. I grabbed Aaron by the cor and lifted him up, then shook him forcefully. Will youe back alive with me, or be those bastards prey? Those monsters. Aaron! Startled, Aaron came to his senses and tightly gripped his spear. Ill go back with you. Good. Ill carry Eolka. Run for the city gate! Understood! After lifting Eolka, I ran straight ahead. Aaron, holding a spear, followed on the left, while Jenna, with a dagger, stuck to the right. They are slow. Dont engage them one by one. Stick to the city wall! Aaron impaled the head of a whimpering goblin corpse in front of the wall with his spear. Thousands of gory corpses slowly approached the city wall. Living corpses. Monsters resurrected from the dead under specific conditions. Though they lose much of their pre-death skills and physical abilities, their appetite for flesh increases abnormally. They will continue to act as long as their heads remain intact. The monsters that could appear on the 10th floor of the tower were by no means ordinary. The difficulty was abnormal. Ugh! Close the door! Shut it! At the urging of the officer inside the gate, the soldiers turned the lever, sweating profusely. The gate gradually narrowed. Jenna! Jenna pulled out an arrow and aimed it at the lever. The arrow pierced the soldiers forearm who was turning the lever, and he clutched his arm in pain. The officer, who was screaming in agony, took over the lever. Aaron! Aaron rushed to the gate and wedged the iron bars into the gap. He braced himself against the bending bars. Why wont it lock! Whats going on?! The officer screamed, letting go of the lever and kicking the corridor. I pushed Eolka through the gap in the gate. The two followed inside. Aaron, holding the lever inside the gate, said: Come in! Im not going. Close the door. What? Go inside the inner city. Join Edis and protect the statue of the goddess. If you lock the gate, you can hold out. Oppa, why arent youing in! The corpses were closing in from behind. There was no time to exin. Do I look like an easy prey? But outside Trust me. Jenna said firmly. Youlle back, right? I smiled and said: Are words not enough? I understand. Ill close it! Hyung-nim is still outside! He must have a n! Trust him, like always. Aarons spear was retrieved, and the gate began to close. Just before the gate closed, Eolka whispered: Dont die, please. Same to you. Uooooh. I stepped back from the gate. Thud! The ogres iron mace struck the gate forcefully. The gate shook briefly but didnt copse. Thump, thump, thump! The ogre continued to pound the gate with the iron mace. Wood splinters fell to the ground. Theycked the intelligence to usedders, so we might be able to hold them off for a while with the gate. Uuugh. A soldiers corpse pierced the gate. After blocking it with a shield, I beheaded it. Next to it was a goblin. As the beheadings continued three times, the severed necks of the corpses poured out putrid blood as they fell. I pressed my shoulder against the city wall and jumped sideways. These creatures move ording to two main principles: the first being the destruction of the goddess statue, and the second being their appetite for the living. Therefore, among the thousands of corpses, only a few dozen followed me, while the majority clung to the gate. Suddenly I heard a scream. Aaargh! A soldier who was climbing thedder must have slipped and fell down. Poor guy, luck wasnt on his side. Its easier to deal with those standing still than the ones running around; therefore, the chasing corpses headed for the screaming soldier with their limbs twisted. Crunch. Chomp. As I kept running, I heard the sound of flesh being chewed and bones being crushed. But I couldnt do anything to him. After all, he was already as good as dead. I moved to a position where I wouldnt get surrounded and smashed the heads of the approaching creatures. I gazed at the burning forest. My target was inside it. The ck Priest. They mostly appear on the middle floors. Their level isnt high, and theirbat power isnt exceptional, but they have one special ability that makes them a pain in the neck for masters. Its the Resurrection of Lions. They can raise the corpses around them and turn them into zombies. The stronger they were in their previous life, and the more corpses around, the more troublesome they be. In missions like this, they can be quite a hassle. But theres also a strategy to deal with them. If I had to face thousands of corpses one by one, Id be buried in bones here. Ill go down if I deal with the spellcaster. I considered bringing Jenna along but ultimately decided to go alone. There are also corpses inside the city. I looked up at the city wall. Edis was piercing the forehead of one of them with her dagger. Two parties were lined up next to her, sweeping away the corpses one by one. My eyes met with Dicas. Hyung-nim Stay strong! Dica nodded firmly. Theres no sign of fear. No one had died. Even in this situation, they were showing theirbat prowess. Ediss leadership seemed to be better than I had expected. With the other three joining her, they would do well even without me. I knocked down the creatures blocking my path and continued forward. The target was not far away. Hee-heeng! A lost horse. Corpses were swarming around it. I leaped and shattered the back of one of them. As I swung my sword in a semicircle, five upper and lower bodies were sliced diagonally. Once the encirclement was broken, the horse immediately tried to turn its head and run away. I swiftly approached, grabbed the reins, and mounted it. The horse bucked, trying to throw me off. I patted its neck and said: Dont worry. Youre safe with me. After a while, the horse became quiet. I kicked its nk, and the walking horse started to elerate. To get to the forest, I had to break through thousands of corpses. I needed the ability to break through. Fortunately, the cavalrys horses were well-bred warhorses,rge in size, and well-trained. The essential requirement for warhorses is not feeling fear even in front of spear des. The horse, gaining enough eleration, smashed through the corpses as it moved forward. Of course, there were obstacles to avoid as well. I quickly turned the reins to the left, and the horses head turned. Ogres iron mace just missed us. From behind, corpse wolves that had risen btedly rushed towards us. One of the wolves, about to bite the horses rump, took an arrow in the head and fell over. Looking back, I saw Jenna aiming her bow from far atop the city wall. Every time she pulled the bowstring, a wolf rolled over. That crazy girl Chapter 41: Mission Type-Defend (6) (2) Chapter 41: Mission Type-Defend (6) (2) One of the wolves, about to bite the horses rump, took an arrow in the head and fell over. Looking back, I saw Jenna aiming her bow from far atop the city wall. Every time she pulled the bowstring, a wolf rolled over. That crazy girl Boom! A loud noise followed the copse of the city gate. The lead ogre began to enter the city. Jenna quickly descended from the city wall. I want to split my body into two. Above all, the priority was defending the goddess statue. If the outer gate copsed, they had to immediately retreat to the inner city and build barricades inside the gate. If they utilized the experience from the 5th floor, they should be able to hold out for a long time. So I decided to tune out everything else. It didnt matter how long they could hold on over there. The real issue was how quickly I could deal with the priest. The warhorse trampled and crushed the corpses as we ran toward the forest. Before I knew it, the heat from the burning forest could be felt on my skin. I dismounted from the horse. Go. Hee-heeng! The horse raised its front hooves and disappeared into the western ins. Behind me was a horde of corpses trying to feast on my flesh, and ahead was the inferno. The fire was burning fiercely as if trying to engulf the entire forest. The trees near the ins were charred ck, and behind them, the sound of burning leaves, and branches swayed as they were engulfed in mes. . The corpses of humans and goblins staggered towards me despite the fire being right in front of them. I uncapped a health potion and drank it in one go, then sprinkled the remaining liquid over my head. Then I stepped into the mes. Kiaa! As soon as I entered, a goblin corpse tried to hit me. The whole body was burning. I twisted my body to the side, and it fell over, still burning, and stopped moving. I lowered my upper body to avoid inhaling too much smoke. Even so, my steps were quick. The heat was scorching, and the air was scarce. I can endure this much. It didnt take long before I reached the edge of the map. An impassable transparent wall. The fire continued to spread beyond it, but I couldnt go any further. I know youre here. The fact that I couldnt pass through the wall means the enemy cant either. Since I didnt see anyoneing out of the forest, it means they are confined in this small space. [Ddara-ran!] [Skill Awakening!] [Han () me Resistance has increased to Lv.2!] Ignoring the skill level-up notification that appeared in my field of view, I unsheathed my sword. I just need to kill one person. Just one person. [Maekin () is panicked! All attributes reduced by 50%.] [Shurn () is terrified! All attributes reduced by 30%.] They were the two who joined mine and Ediss party at thest moment. [Maekin () has returned to the goddesss embrace. His spirit will be remembered forever!] [Edis () is bleeding. Her health decreases at regr intervals.] [Dica () is terrified] Theyre getting close to their limit. I moved the messages to the corner of my vision. A ck shadow moved from the ashes. I grasped my sword tightly and leaped towards it. A crimson arrow shot out from between the burning branches, and I blocked it with my shield. .! The projectile pierced through my iron shield as if it were butter and prated my left arm. Though weak in terms ofbat power, the priest is still a mid-level monster. And since were in a low-level floor, its a bit different. The second magical arrow came flying. This time, its aimed at my right chest. I tried to dodge, but there was nowhere to hide. I bit my tongue hard, drawing blood. [Han () has entered a frenzied state!] Kikkagagak! The sh of sword and magical arrow resounded. The spinning arrow grazed the sword and took a chunk of flesh from my shoulder before disappearing. I immediately leaped forward and hit the ground. The third arrow grazed above my head. If I didnt have the projectile defense skill, I wouldve been done for. The situation isnt favorable. Regardless of me resistance and everything else, my surrounding is on fire. Each time I take a breath, acrid smoke mixes with the air and enters my lungs. Blood btedly started oozing from the hole in my left arm. [Han () is bleeding. Health decreases at regr intervals.] Theres no time. Before my mind gets clouded. Before the party is wiped out. You want to. y. A eerie voice echoed from inside the forest. y? Sure, what kind of y? You. and. others. I stood up abruptly and threw my sword in the direction of the voice. Ugh! I drew my second weapon, the dagger, as I kept running. Kiiiiing! A ck arrow flew towards me. I extended my left arm to block it. My left arm was torn offpletely and flew away. My vision turned red. I gripped the dagger in reverse and aimed for the hooded figures face. The second ck arrow pierced through my right chest. [Han () is in a critical state.] Thunk! The dagger was plunged into the hood. I pulled it out and thrust it in again. Without caring, I kept thrusting. The ck priest, who had been writhing and trembling, eventually stopped moving. Kulk. Blood spurted from his mouth. Is it a stage clear? I dragged my right arm and leaned against the tree trunk. Is it not over? If thats the case, its the end. I dont know anymore. Ill probably die before the statue of the goddess shatters. [Shurn () has returned to the embrace of the goddess! His spirit will be remembered forever.] Damn it. Theres no hellish death worse than this. To be dragged to an unknown ce, suffer like a dog, and then die. When I was about to lose my grip on my sanity, a message popped up. [Stage Clear!] [Jenna (), Aaron (), Eolka () leveled up!] [Edis (), Roderick (), Asher (), Dica () leveled up!] [Reward 70,000G, Lesser Fire Elemental Stone] [MVP Han ()] [Congrattions, Master, on clearing the 10th floor!] [The waiting rooms name will be fixed as Townia.] [The exploration dungeon has been unlocked. Collect rare materials, including the descent stones!] [Among your heros heroes, there are heroes waiting to be promoted. Once youve gathered the materials,bine the promotion stones and recover the fragments of forgotten memories!] Light enveloped my whole body. But I didnt even notice it. And I closed my eyes quietly Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 42: Prologue (1) Chapter 42: Prologue (1) I opened my eyes. A gloomy, ashen sky greeted me. As I turned my head, I noticed the familiar bed. It was my room inside the lodging. I rotated my left arm, the part that had been torn off by the ck Priests magic. It moved properly. There was no trace of the hole that had been in my right chest too. I survived. I had thought I might not make it back, but it seems I was a step ahead. I got up from the bed and checked the clock. It was 3:45 in the morning. Everyone in the waiting room would be asleep by now. Iid back down and closed my eyes, but my mind was sharp. Eventually, I gave up and went to the lobby. Aaron was sitting on the lobby sofa, bowing his head. I took a seat next to him and said, You look horrible. Oh, Hyung-nim. Aaron looked up at me. There were dark circles under his eyes. Im relieved youre safe. We were all worried. Worried, my foot. Anyway, what kind of tremendous struggle were you going through to look so grim? I was thinking about the reason we fight. The reason we fight? After you left, the city was flooded with corpses. And Aarons expression darkened. I didnt need him to say it; I could already guess. Inside the city, numerous civilian NPCs resided. Even if they sought refuge within the city walls, there was a limit to how many could be amodated. The massacre caused by the corpses must have been devastating. Jenna, Aaron, Edis, and they must have witnessed it all vividly. I looked at Aaron, who was merely sipping water with a frown. Has his stress level spiked? If a hero repeatedly engages inbat and training without rest, their stress can umte excessively, leading to depression. Alternatively, witnessingrge-scale massacres or the death of closerades during a mission can also trigger depression. Depression was one of the leading causes of sudden death. Aaron, who had been sipping water for a while, stood up from his seat. Ill go inside first. Rest well, hyung-nim. Will youe out with that same expression tomorrow? Aaron let out a bitterugh and replied, Ill recover by tomorrow. Alright, go ahead. Yes. Aaron bowed his head to me and returned to the lodging. I sat alone in the dark lobby and drank my water. I couldnt help but think of the guy who had brought me here. Even this time it was the same. Due to the mosaic around him, I couldnt see the bastards face properly. Only the unpleasant voice, scratching like metal, remained in my mind. Did he say he would wait? If I had the leisure, I would have asked the ck Priest who seemed like he wanted to talk to me, but I killed him. That day, until Chloe appeared in the early morning, I couldnt fall asleep. I had spent the night wide awake. Now that a major battle was over, I needed to take measures to reduce stress. Originally, it was Anytngs role, but since that guy couldnt do his job properly, theres no other way. I spoke to Chloe, who was preparing ingredients in the kitchen, after giving me a greeting. Bring out all the ingredients. Cook the best dishes you can. Chloe hesitated for a moment but soon nodded and brought out all the ingredients from the storage. The new baker who followed Chloes lead in the kitchen also began to disy her skills. The morning meal is where everyone in the waiting room gathers. On the table were various grand dishes like meat, bread, sd, soup, and more. Jenna, the first toe out to the dining area, blinked her eyes in surprise. Whats all this? Its so fancy for breakfast. Why, dont you like it? No! Its always wee if its like this! Jenna smiled and took a seat. Soon, the members of the waiting room came out one by one. They were surprised once when they saw the food and twice when they saw me. It was understandable. I rarely appeared in the dining area. The meal began. I grabbed some bread hastily and observed my party members faces. Jenna seems fine, as usual. Aaron is doing well too. Eolka looks good. They didnt seem to be in good moods. But somehow, they were holding it together. I observed the members of the 2nd party. The two 3-star members seemed fine. Asher was managing somehow. There was no need to look for Shurn and Maekin, the 5th members of each party because even though I werent there with them I knew they were already dead. It was somewhat expected. Both of them joinedte, and their levels were too low. Dica. Sigh- Dica was puking. Edis stood up and supported Dica, leading him away. Mental management of the party members was also one of the leaders roles. The battle was fierce, but there werent many casualties. That might be the reason why were currently alright. Even so, its definitely not in perfect condition. Stress was umting, whether we were aware of it or not. And on that day, in thete evening when everyone returned to the lodging. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] Anytng logged in. [Loading isplete.] [T O U C H! (Select)] The sky lit up. I was sitting on a bench in the square. I knew Anytng woulde. The low-grade fire elemental stones were given as the 10th floors clear reward. In the warehouse, I stored the water and wind elemental stones that we had collected from the weekly dungeons. With a cheerful sound, an alert popped up. [Master, there is a hero waiting for promotion!] [Promotable Hero Han()] [Tips/To promote, you need the annex building Promotion Hall in the Synthesis Center.] Anytngs operation window appeared. The Facility tab was touched. [You have selected the annex building Promotion Hall for the Synthesis Center. Would you like to build it?] [Yes (Select) / No] Kururur. A faint vibration shook the waiting room. [The Promotion Hall has beenpleted! From now on, hero promotion is avable.] Next, the item synthesis window appeared. Inside the synthesis window, red, blue, and green stones were rotating in circles. [Starting item synthesis!] [Selected Materials Low-grade fire elemental stone, low-grade water elemental stone, low-grade wind elemental stone] [Completed Item Low-grade Promotion Stone] [Sess Rate 87%] [Synthesis Method Automatic] [Would you like to proceed with the synthesis?] [Yes (Select) / No] [Kudangtangtang!] [Fairy Power!] [Good!] [Synthesis Complete!] [You have obtained the Low-grade Promotion Stone!] As the warehouse door opened, Iselle popped out. She held a rainbow-colored stone in her arms. [Congrattions on your uing promotion, Master Loki!] Chapter 42: Prologue (2) Chapter 42: Prologue (2) [Congrattions on your uing promotion, Master Loki!] I wordlessly epted the rainbow-colored stone that Iselle threw to me. [With this, you can graduate to 2-star. From here, youll climb all the way to 7-star! Crush the Tower and conquer! Woohoo!] I dont know if I can make it to 7-star. [Haha, who will push to 7-star if not Loki!] If that were the case, Seris would have already been a 7-star. I made efforts in all directions, but I couldnt promote her to the level of a 7-star hero. [Master, lets start the promotion!] Creak. The door of the synthesis center opened. I held the promotion stone in one hand and walked slowly inside. Inside the synthesis center, with a violet magic circle drawn, another door opened. I entered the second door. The Promotion Hall had a structure almost identical to the Synthesis Center. Instead, the magic circle was red, and in the center of the room, there was a small altar big enough to ce a stone. I ced the Promotion Stone on the altar. A faint red light emanated from the Promotion Stone. Bang! The door of the Synthesis Center mmed shut loudly. The door of the Promotion Hall closed immediately afterward. Promotion. It was one of the areas that the Master couldnt see. When a hero and the materials were put into the Promotion Hall, the hero woulde out in a promoted state after a while. The Master couldnt know what happened inside. A red light sprayed out from the entire magic circle. Simr to the light the spatial rift usually emits, but somehow it felt more attached to the skin. It was like sinking into deep water. The red light enveloped my entire body. When I opened my eyes again. Darling. A narrow and humble room made of wood. A middle-aged woman sat on a rocking chair, holding a newborn baby in her arms. Good boy, good boy. Who are you? No response. This woman seemed to be in a simr state as the NPCs on the 10th floor. But she was a bit different. Tong. I reached out to the woman, but my hand bounced back midway. Cant even touch her. I looked around the room. It was a ce less than 10 square meters. The furniture was old and shabby. The woman with ck hair and ck eyes gently caressed the baby and said, You will be an amazing person. Her touch was filled with affection. I intuitively grasped the babys identity. Han Israt. Its not me. I have no family or anything of that sort. The one who should have been here instead of me was over there. I recalled my first visit to the waiting room. Han Israt from the Haim Penins. Iselle called me that name. I looked at the window in the corner of the room. Beyond the window, an unknown darkness lurked. Good boy, good boy. I dont have time to waste on something like this. Conveniently, there was a door on the right wall leading outside. I grabbed the doorknob. This time, it didnt bounce back. I opened the door and rushed outside. As I came out, it was the square of the waiting room. However, this square was open, devoid of any decorations. It wasnt Anytngs waiting room. I couldnt tell what this ce was. The sky had no lights on. I walked slowly through the empty waiting room. There was only one door in the square in front of him. There was no dormitory, warehouse, or training center. I looked behind me and the door I hade out of had disappeared. I looked ahead, and the namete on the door read The Rift of Time and Space. Squeak. The door opened with an unpleasant sound, and something sprayed out with light. Two pairs of wings sparkling with stardust. That ck dress and that unique cute face. Is this Iselle? No, shes different. This little one was about the size of a fist. Iselle is not this small. The fairy fluttered around me and giggled. Then, with her tiny finger, she pointed to the inside of the spatial rift. You want me to go in? Nod. Suspicious, but staying here wont change anything. I took a deep breath and stepped into the spatial rift. In the center of the circr room, there was only one mirror. Is this? Bang! The door leading back to the square closed. The fairy kept buzzing around me. cklight began to seep out of the mirror. The pitch-ck light wrapped around me without any resistance. And then, I found myself standing alone in a dark space. Dudung! The Astral Dungeon is now open! [Warning! Warning! Warning!] Instantly, a crushing pressure enveloped my entire body. Ugh! I dropped to one knee. It felt like someone was pressing me down from above with a mechanical press. My vision blurred. I couldnt breathe. If I let my guard down even a little, I felt like my whole body would crumple and be a handful of minced meat. Han() feels terror! All attributes decreased by 30%. I drew my sword and stabbed it into the ground. I couldnt tell if it was the ground or something else. It was just pitch-ck. I clung to the hilt of the sword and desperately endured. My body trembled, and blood oozed from my clenched teeth. At this rate, Ill lose consciousness. I need to do something. So in the heat of the moment, I cut my left palm with the sword. Blood dripped from the edge of the de. At that moment, I could feel the sensation of breaking through something. Han() has entered a Frenzied state! Han() is no longer under terror. Hoo Haah. I slowly took a breath in and exhaled. Regaining control of my body. I stood up. And she stood in front of me. [SSSH Lv.999] Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 43: Prologue (2) (1) Chapter 43: Prologue (2) (1) I immediately drew my sword. I didnt know who it was Even though that person was right in front of me, I couldnt properly recognize their appearance. But one thing I could assert was that this bastard is directly rted to the reason why Im here. Finally, we meet. An unpleasant voice, like scraping metal, pierced my ears. I tightened my grip on the sword in my right hand. My knuckles turned white. I want to kill her. The blood and sweat I shed. And the hellish battlefields I experienced. They were all because of this bastard. Though I couldnt see its face, the voice remained clear in my mind. I took out a shield and ced it on my left arm. I took slow breaths. Assessing the power I had. Desperately calcting my next moves to kill her;paring my level, and skills to its abilities Suddenly, a strong headache struck me. Damn it I couldnt see any way out. Currently, I am level 10 at 1-star. Just a hero with six low-tier skills. On the other hand, her power was immeasurable. I vividly remembered how it wiped out my second party, consisting of six 6-star and 5-star max-level heroes, in less than 10 seconds. I corrected my distorted vision. It was close to me, but its figure was obscured by a strange mist. The part that seemed to be its mouth suddenly wriggled. Arent you going to rush at me? You must resent me. If youre going to spout nonsense, then you can just f*ck off. Hehe, good, very good. Indeed, if you didnt have that much restraint, you would have died already. Its arms swayed as it apuded. The headache intensified. I took a step back, assuming a stance to swing my sword at any moment. Is this how all hero promotions are done? Of course not. You are a special existence. This ce is a gift for you. Its a stage that Ive prepared for you, the master who was once the glorious Ranker of Pick Me Up. The fog covering the field dispersed. Beyond the fog, it revealed itself A woman. No, she was more like a young girl than a woman. Her features and figure were close to perfection, resembling a doll. The girl, wearing a flowing ck dress, walked slowly towards me, with a fairy fluttering around her, the one that brought me here. I didnt know how to introduce myself to you. Ill just think of you as a damn b*tch. Thats a bit harsh. The girl smiled like a painting and flicked her finger. An exquisite leather-covered chair appeared. She sat on it, directing her gaze at me. Looking closely, she resembled Iselle greatly. I felt that if Iselle would grow up, she would eventually look just like her. The girl noticed my stare and giggled softly. I dont look like Iselle; Iselle looks like me. That child is nothing more than my clone. The 147,900,000th one, to be precise. Well, isnt that number somewhat simr to Pick Me Ups download count? What do you mean? Think about it. The girl chuckled and took out a business card from her pocket. As she casually tossed it, the card rotated in the air andnded in my hand. The name field was filled with special characters. Are you ying games with me? I dont have just one name. I change it depending on the situation. I crumpled the business card and threw it to the ground, then stomped on it. Pardon me?! I etched her true form into my mind so that I wouldnt forget. Then I spoke. Are you the one that brought me here? Probably. I almost jumped involuntarily. The girl squinted her eyes, seemingly aware of my state, and smiled. Dont hate me too much. Even for me, it was unexpected that you would be summoned to Mobius. It was an ident, a kind of mistake. I dont care about your circumstances. If you dont want to die, send me back. Thinking of killing me, a mere 1-star hero? Your ambition is quite grand, isnt it? The chances of that might change as time goes by. In that case, killing you right now might be the solution. A reddish light shed in the girls eyes. Simultaneously, a ck shadowynce shot up from under her feet aiming at my chest. I didnt avoid it. Your courage is impressive. Thence stopped right in front of my heart. As the girl gestured with her hand, thence returned to her shadow. She still has no intention of killing me. I could tell from the situation. Though I couldnt precisely gauge the extent of her power limit, it was undoubtedly formidable. She directly intervened in a mission stage enclosed by a transparent barrier and even delved into the promotion process. There must have been several opportunities for her to eliminate me. However, she chose to overlook that and summoned me here. It meant she had a different purpose. I desperately suppressed my boiling thoughts. What do you want? Nothing much. I just wanted to have a conversation with you. A conversation? Yes, Loki. The 5th-ranked master in the world and the undefeated master. Im your fan. While monitoring, Ive lost count of how many times Ive marveled at your gamey. Your powerful Niflheimr is also the top priority of our headquarters surveince. How can I not treat you properly? The girl giggled and stood up from the chair. The chair vanished as if by magic. Ivee here to reveal the truth of this world to you. Chapter 43: Prologue (2) (2) Chapter 43: Prologue (2) (2) Ivee here to reveal the truth of this world to you. . Loki, what do you think about the story of mobile games? In gacha games, the story is one of the aspects users dont pay much attention to. Instead, they focus more on the content. Im the same. Frankly speaking, the story of Pick Me Up is a bit outdated. The world-building is nothing special, and most masters dont even know if there is such a thing as story progression. The girl flicked her finger. As if the stage of a y had changed, the dark-covered field transformed into a different location. It was a familiar ce. The secluded city that served as the main stage for the 5th and 10th floors. However, there was a difference. I looked around. The river to the east hadpletely dried up, and the once lush forest to the north now had only roots and branches remaining. The in that used to be covered in the grass was split, revealing a red subsurface. The city, needless to say, was now just a ruin. And above all, the sky was pitch ck. It wasnt because it had be night. If that were the case, I wouldnt be able to see anything at all. It was an extremely unfamiliar sight. Do you know where this is? I dont really want to know. Im sorry about that. I tend to be a bit too yful. This ce is the city of Nelsa on the Townia Continent, Haim Penins. As you can see, itspletely destroyed. The girl flicked her finger again. The location changed once more. Here is Silpia. Kaia. Edora. With each flick of her finger, the stage transformed. The backgrounds were different, but they all had one thing inmon. Not even a single human, let alone an animal or an insect, was noticeable. Every ce had turned into ruins. Fiona. Mardian. Ikardia. Rilgia. Halcea. Arantia. Cisnia. And even Bardashia. This is the current state of all regions in Townia. After giving a significant smile, the girl continued speaking. Do you think Niflheimr is any different? Unfortunately, No. Every continent belonging to Mobius is like this. Over a hundred million worlds were annihted. The field returned to its initial darkness. Its a book with a predetermined ending. A very bad ending. Everythinges to an end. The characters in the book hope to change the ending, but they cant do it alone. What should be done? The answer is simple. We need to bring in new characters from outside the book. We have to rewrite the story. Even if the setting and consistency fall apart, even if the spatial and temporal axes intertwine and copse. . Higher-dimensional beings can distort causality just by observing. Thats why Pick Me Up was created, Master Loki. After making such a grandiose story, she looked at me with widened eyes, and I said, So? So?! Whats the reason for telling me all this? Im asking for your cooperation. Cooperation? Together with me, save the world I took out a dagger from behind my belt and threw it. Thump. The dagger neatly pierced through the girls forehead. ck blood sttered from between the cracked forehead. I was getting curious, but you just bbered nonsense and got yourself in trouble. Think carefully, Loki. Is your answer a yes or a no? With her forehead split, the girl chuckled leisurely. I replied. F*ck you. To suddenly call me to this miserable ce and then ask for cooperation? Ive had enough of dealing with lunatics. I assumed abat stance and muttered under my breath. I wont cooperate with you. You b*tch. If you want to kill me, go ahead. But I wont fall without fighting. Youre quite harsh with your words. It hurts. Hehe, hehehe Thump. The dagger stuck in the girls forehead was pulled out on its own. The ck blood flowing from the wound stopped and the wound was healed instantly. The blood on the floor merged with the girls shadow. I suppressed the urge to rush at her and tear her apart. *Sigh* I slowly expelled the boiling heat from my mind. I have a skill calledposure. Even my initial rage subsided to some extent, allowing me to calmly assess the situation. I cant kill her right now. Im just a 1-star. My level is only 10. My skills are mediocre, and my ss hasnt even been unlocked yet. Not just yet. If I were to kill her, I need to be stronger first. No matter how powerful she is, theres always a strategy to defeat the boss. I closed my eyes and opened them again. My head became clearer. I said, I dont want to have any conversation with you. Send me back. This is a bit disappointing Ive used a lot of energy to bring you to this ce. The girl spoke with a nonchnt expression. Loki, I highly appreciate you. Truly, more than any other master in Pick Me Up. Even the top ranker is nothingpared to you, like a firefly in front of the moon. Do you know why? Its because you, as a master, achieved a unique aplishment. The girl flicked her finger again. A holographic text appeared in the center of the field. [Master, believe in your bond with the heroes] You should know where this sentencees from, right? I do. Its part of the guidance that appears after clearing the tutorial. You were the only one who truly embodied the meaning of this sentence among the hundred million masters. Only you. What are you talking about? The girl flicked her finger again. The scenery changed once more, and within the unfamiliar background, holographic text slowly appeared. [Floor 80.] [Mission Type Complex] [Objective Unknown.] Do you know where this is, Loki? The girl smiled cunningly. This is the 80th floor stage of Niflheimr, six months ago. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 44: Prologue (3) Chapter 44: Prologue (3) I furrowed my brow. I had seen this message somewhere before. No, it was a message I could never forget. It had brought me immense frustration. [Floor 80] Among the one billion users of Pick Me Up, it was the worst and most challenging floor that only five people, including myself, conquered. It was the original conquering type, not revealing any objectives. In Pick Me Up every yer has a different experience with the game; a different world, different characters, and different missions and floors to conquer. You can say that the experience with Pick Me Up and the pace at which you willplete stages in the game was random and the difficulty varied depending on luck, but every ranker who attempted Floor 80 had miserably failed. Thus, the highest floor reached among rankers was Floor 79. Floor 80 was called the wall of wailing among the rankers. I was no exception. Six months ago, I confidently challenged Floor 80 after reaching Floor 79, but most of my forces, excluding the main party, were wiped out in a devastating defeat. How does it feel to see this with your own eyes instead of on the screen? Quite grand, isnt it? the girl said, appearing on a leather chair out of nowhere. She held a ss jar containing ck liquid in her hand. Whats the purpose of showing me this? Its simple. I want you to watch this scene together with me. The girl took a sip of her drink. Have a seat. Standing might be ufortable. A luxurious chair wrapped in fine fabric appeared behind me. I let out a deep sigh and settled into the chair. The fairy handed me a drink, but I pushed it away with my hand. The Niflheimr Field on Floor 80 Even after analyzing countless types of fields, I couldnt define this strange field. Floating tforms dotted the area, with rivers of boilingva flowing below. It was more like a sea than a river, as theva covered the entirend. In the distant mountain range, volcanoes constantly spewed out fiery rocks. The wind, mixed with sulfur and ash, swirled in a sinister grey hue. Hell. That was the only word to describe it. An extreme space where no living beings could survive. Floor 80s stage was right here in front of me. As you can see, the situation is like this, but you dont need to worry. The environment here cant affect you. Its just reying the records of the past. There was a massive ind right in front of me, easily spanning hundreds of meters. From one side of the ind, light emerged, and a group of people walked out. ! I stood up from my seat. The party that emerged from the light consisted of five individuals. Each of them was equipped with different-colored outfits and weapons, much more realistic than I remembered, but I recognized them. It was unforgettable. At the forefront of the group, a blond woman walked forward. Adorned in silver armor, she wielded a crimson sword emitting a red aura. The engravings on the scabbard shimmered in golden light. Seris Agentheim. She was the top ranker of Niflheimr, the Sub-Master, and the leader of the main party. The other four are There was no need to observe them. Ranks one to five. All the individuals who could be considered the strongest in Niflheimr were gathered here. I sat back down on the chair. I gulped down the water from the cup the fairy handed me in one go. Its the footage of when I conquered Floor 80. Correct. Why are you showing me this? I already know the clearing process. Its meaningless. Just watch and see, would you? The girl smiled lightly. I furrowed my brows and turned my gaze back to the main party. They were huddled together in one ce, not saying a word, each silently waiting for something. Swoosh. Swoosh. Something strange emerged from below the floating ind. They didnt have a specific form. Fluid and elongated like tentacles, they wriggled about. Their numbers were uncountable. They sprouted from dozens, hundreds of floating inds all at once. [Fragment of Chaos Lv.113 X 2755] [Fragment of Despair Lv.108 X 3164] [Fragment of Determination Lv.121 X 2348] These Non-attribute monsters appear inrge numbers on the upper floors of the tower. Commonly known as the Fragment series, they were the culprits that turned floors 80 and above into hellish difficulties. Grrrrrrr. Simultaneously, a distant roaring sound could be heard. [Crystal of Chaos Lv.322 X 13] [Crystal of Despair Lv.315 X 11] [Crystal of Determination Lv.311 X 15] Amidst the sulfur and ash-filled mist, a colossal form emerged. Huge monsters, each reaching several hundred meters, appeared as individuals. They red at the heroes with red eyes shing. Do you know? The difficulty in Pick Me Up varies for each ount. The summoning probabilities are also vastly different. The surface of the floating inds was covered with countless fragments. Gigantic monsters that could obscure the sky were approaching them. Its not that you were unlucky and couldnt draw advanced heroes. There simply were no heroes left in Niflheimr. Its the same story with the difficulty. Niflheimr is one of the few worlds that received an S rating from thepanys internal evaluation. It was the worst in every aspect. And the hardest to save. . You still wonder how you made it up to the 88th floor? The girl looked at me expressionlessly. I ignored her. The five individuals remained motionless. The tentacles of the fragments were about to reach Seris when time stopped. A holographic window appeared before me. It was a gamey record from when I conquered Floor 80. [Effect of Tactical Headquarters is applied!] [Facility Level: MAX!] [Creating a map of the stage.] [Disying tactical screen.] [You can give tactical instructions to heroes through touch and drag.] The screen showed a three-dimensional map of the stages terrain. Almost every part of the map was covered with red dots, to the point where one could mistake the entire map for being red. In contrast, there were five blue dots representing allies. Various tactical tools and a list of parties that could be deployed were disyed on both sides of the screen. . Memories resurfaced vividly. The cursor indicating maniption began to move on its own. The blue arrows were drawn on the holographic map. The arrows crossed and advanced, covering the screen. It was the strategy I had spent countless nights crafting. To seize various support objects on the floating inds in perfect order while subduing the enemies. Easier said than done; any slight misstep or w in the formation would lead to total annihtion. I reviewed and overturned the strategy hundreds of times to eliminate any gaps. In the center of the Seris party, a circr table rose up. A map was ced on the table, the same kind as shown on the screen. As I moved the cursor, arrows were drawn on the map on the table, and the heroes gazed at it intently. Its about to begin. The girl casually sipped her drink, a rxed smile on her face. Watch closely. How they behave. And what you mean to them. Thats the reason youre unique, Master Loki. I didnt respond. I simply leaned back in my chair. As the tactical instructions approached the end, a man with an emotionless expression, wielding three different swords, spoke up. The orders from our master? As always, impable. A woman with waist-length white hair said. Failure is not tolerated. Thats only natural. For us and for our master. Unless we kill at least a thousand, we wont make a dent in the fortress. A man carrying a twistednce on his back chimed in. The woman with white hair opened a book she had been holding in her arms. The pages of the book fluttered in mid-air, emitting a bright light. As we vowed. Snap. A bow held by one of the girls emitted a gleam of light. It was one of the five divine artifacts I had painstakingly crafted, Bryunak. I, the Kings Arrow, Nihaku Guestfel. A girl with long brown braided hair murmured. A yellow light flickered in her eyes. Swoosh. Thence carried by the boy wavered faintly. Likewise, it was one of the five divine artifacts, Runein. I, the Kings Spear, Myuden Naidelk. The boy murmured. The three swords the man held twisted and wriggled as if pulsating. Combining the three into one weapon, it was u Ss. I, the Kings Sword, Ridgion. The man murmured. The book the woman unfolded floated in mid-air. Countless magical characters were inscribed in the air. I, the Kings Eye, Yu Seed. The woman murmured. Lastly, Seris drew Lebatain. I, the Kings me, Seris Agentheim. Seris murmured. The five of them simultaneously brandished their weapons. Time remained frozen, and the tactical arrangements were nearingpletion. [Time limit ends in 10 seconds.] [Combat will resume.] [Get ready!] Even with the maximum level of the Tactical Headquarters, time was tight. Finally, a clear strategy epassing the entire field waspleted. The five individuals focused gazes all turned to the map at once. Excellent work. Yus eyes sparkled with admiration. [8, 7, 6 until mission starts.] The table and map disappeared. The five members quickly took positions, forming a tight circle. [3, 2, 1 Mission start!] Time unfroze. Thousands of enemies charged forward simultaneously. A ze of crimson mes erupted, engulfing the field of vision. The following events were all ignored from the footage. The video hade to an end. I found myself back in the space shrouded in darkness. The girl held out a ss vial with ck liquid swirling inside. Hehe, arent they impressive? They are genuinely pledging loyalty to you. . You already know. They are the Six Stars Heroes, known as the strongest across all servers, except for the few Seventh Star Heroes. Theres no one capable of facing them except for themselves. Trust me. Youve raised fearsome beings. And what does that matter? Actually, thats not the crucial point. What matters is how they view you as their master. Heroes climb the tower and go through promotion repeatedly, only to realize the truth and despair. Who would pledge loyalty to a master who treats them as toys or pets? Her voice seemed to whisper directly into my ear. But you were different. Youre the only master who truly dominated the waiting room. The girls eyes narrowed. Loki, you were the King of Niflheim. Chapter 45: Prologue (4) (1) Chapter 45: Prologue (4) (1) The title of a king. It was not aughable statement. They are still desperately searching for you, the heroes of Niflheimr. They even know that youve fallen here. The girl spoke. Think about it. Would any hero in the world relentlessly search every dimension for months just because their master disappeared? Would you do that? Would the heroes from other waiting rooms do that? The fairy ced both hands on her waist and shook her head. It meant no. Your way of ying is very unique. At the same time, its worldly-wise. I never thought of it. I never expected to encounter a master who doesnt use synthesis. I didntpletely abstain from using synthesis. If it was necessary, I did it. But as the girl said, if I were a different master, it would be true that I would use synthesis more to operate the waiting room, probably synthesizing two to three times a day. Looking back to before I was summoned, thest synthesis would have been three months ago. The same goes for other operations. Before you became known, almost all the masters in Pick Me Up treated the heroes like toys. They yed with them until they got bored and then discarded them like consumables. The girl spoke with a confident tone. Did you know that the heroes were actually humans? Or did you just feel that it wont be impossible? I feel like you knew. Thats my conclusion. I had thought it was a special game. The heroes within were so realistic that it was hard to believe they were game characters created by programmers. Each one reacted differently and had different ways of doing things ording to theirmands. But it wasnt that I believed they were actual humans. It was just more efficient. Ordinary masters control the heroes through synthesis. If there were disobedient or worthless ones, they would dispose of them mercilessly and operate the waiting room with fear instilled in the others. Even if there were lower-tier heroes who showed potential, they would end up as food for higher-tier heroes. I was different. I never obtained a natural-born 5-star hero. I only had one 4-star hero. People advised me to give up, saying it was a failed ount. But I didnt give up. I was ustomed to irrationality. So, I just searched for a way forward, and ordingly, my perspective changed. I had to organize the waiting room with 3-star and lower heroes and carry out all the strategies. Even if their rank was low, I wouldnt discard them if they showed potential. At first, they might seem useless heroes, but they could changeter on. If the waiting room was operated solely through fear, it would inevitably crumble. After investigating, I found that in Pick Me Up, there were several ways to control the heroes depending on the gamey. I analyzed and grasped them to use them appropriately when needed. Proof of value brings rewards. For worthlessness andziness, punishment. If there were those who went beyond useless and became a hindrance, I utilized them as disposable pawns. The second party that I dispatched as the vanguard for the Advent Dungeon was the result of this. Those guys had a tendency not to be suitable for long-term use, causing harm to nearby heroes. I didnt use synthesis unless it was absolutely necessary. Thats how Niflheimr was designed. Among the main party, known as the strongest across all servers, there were five members. And among them, there were heroes who had started from the 1-star grade. Since I didnt use synthesis, it naturally led to an increase in the waiting room poption. As a result, Niflheimr grew to a size simr to a kingdom. However, there is nothing more foolish than misunderstanding the results of my analysis of game efficiency as knowing the truth. So, you do like me too? Yes. I really wanted to talk with you. Its a shame that it couldnt happen on Earth. I feel the same way. If we had met on Earth, I would have wiped you out right away. The girl blinked her eyes. I smirked and spoke. You bought my resentment. Among other things, Ill probably never forget that. I have nothing in my heart for you but hatred.. Is that so? Whether its Townia or Niflheimr, I dont care about either of them. Im a human from Earth. Dont force your situation on others. Hehe, you dont care, huh? Niflheimrs heroes will be disappointed if they hear you say that. Let them be disappointed as much as they want. I couldnt grasp this girls intentions. If you purely wanted me to help them climb the tower, you didnt have to bring me here. The Niflheimrs party was progressing diligently through the strategies. They had already reached the 88th floor, surpassing the 85th floor, and 90th floorThe Demonic Wall where the 1st rank was stayingwas right in front of them. But amidst all that, she brought me here. Moreover, she invaded the 10th floor and even brought me here to talk to me about useless things. With such limited information, I couldnt make any predictions. However, there was one thing I could tell, that this girl didnt care at all about others if it was for her own benefit. If I keep that in mind, I can make an efficient judgment. I wont cooperate with you or anything like that. In fact, you better be gone right now before my patience reaches its limit. You could be a hero who saves Mobius, though. The girlughed. Well, it doesnt matter. Theres only one thing I want from you. To safely climb the tower to where I am. If you can do that, I can endure any level of insult. Was it you who made the ck priests appear on the 10th floor? And if it was? I clenched my teeth. Dont get too worked up. I wont intervene from the 15th floor onward. Townia will give you a thrilling wee even without my intervention. Its an S-ss difficulty just like Niflheim. . No matter how well you do, I estimate the probability of the master folding to be at least 90%. Well, it might be different if Im helping you. The girl stood up from her chair. The ck leather seat instantly turned into ashes and disappeared. I swear on this one thing. If you achieve the feat of climbing the tower to the very end, Ill send you back to where you were originally. And one more thing, Ill transfer half of my stake in Mobius to you. Youll be a major shareholder of a global conglomerate, fighting for control in the world. A major shareholder of Mobius. I dont believe it. The promise of sending me back, the reward. As I climb the tower, more information I didnt know will be revealed. I will return on my own strength. I wont rely on such garbage. Anyway, is the contract established? The girl asked with a smug expression. As long as you dont appear in front of me. You really seem to hate me. Why? Why did you even ask? Well. I pulled out the second dagger and hurled it at the girls forehead. The dagger pierced through her skull, deeply embedded in its hilt. This is my answer. Hehehe Chapter 45: Prologue (4) (2) Chapter 45: Prologue (4) (2) I pulled out the second dagger and hurled it at the girls forehead. The dagger pierced through her skull, deeply embedded in its hilt. This is my answer. Hehehe The dagger slid out smoothly from her forehead as if time were reversing, and the wound healed. Yeah, if you dont have this level of determination, you cant climb the tower. I forgive your rudeness, I forgive you! A marble door appeared from the darkness. The door opened. Beyond the door, a swirling iridescent light filled the space. I walked slowly towards that door. Ill show you, the true prologue prepared just for you, who is starting the climb. The real beginning of Pick Me Up! The girls body scattered into shadows. Kururur. A small vibration spread throughout the entire field. With the narration, a message appeared. [Thend where humans and other races coexist, Townia.] The location changed. A setting sun. An ankh harvesting in the golden wheat field. It changed again. A vige. Children running around with brightughter. The scenery shifted like a continuous panorama. Scenes of peaceful human worlds. Among them was the city of Nelsar, which I had seen during my mission. I kept walking through the ever-changingndscapes. [An unknown enemy invades the continent of peace and prosperity!] The location reversed. A burning castle and the field in front of it. Soldiers shed with monsters. But the oue was clear. The humans were being ughtered in a one-sided massacre, to the extent that it was difficult to call it a battle. Battles and fights in castles, viges, fields, forests, and deserts all ended in defeat. I walked through the battlefield filled with blood and screams. [In the end, the continent was torn apart by the power of darkness.] Somewhere, a grassy field with countless flowers floated in the field. From within it, a loud voice echoed. Do you know why Pick Me Ups difficulty so hard? Because we have to overturn battles that ended in defeat! Reverse fate, Loki! [Hope still remains.] In an unknown forest, a girl with red hair and scorched skin was holding a bow. I knew who she was. Her name was Jenna Shirai. The scene changed. An unfamiliar city. Aaron, carrying a burden on his back, was haggling with a middle-aged man. Beside him, a young girl held Aarons hand. It changed again. In a training ground, Shay, holding a sword, training with her fellow knights. [Master! If you want to save the world, climb the tower!] After that. The daily lives of heroes who had already been summoned and those who would be summoned in the future unfolded. In the fadedndscapes, their bodies were shining. [Countless heroes will be with you.] Lastly, beyond the screen, I was seen using a cellphone. Such a pain [Master, believe in the bond with the heroes. The future of the world lies in your hands!] [It does! The future of the world depends on you and the Master!] [Countless enemies will stand in your way!] The scenery suddenly changed. Various monsters, hundreds of them, were staring at me from behind a transparent barrier. I took a deep breath and continued walking. [Powerful enemies hidden in variousndscapes!] In the depths of the deep sea. Beyond the sea of clouds. Across vast deserts. Huge and terrifying demons were gathered. Shrouded in mist, their exact appearance was not clear, but I could tell they were incredibly sinister. [Can you climb to the top of this tower, where no one has ever made it before?] Kraaaaaaah! The monsters roared all at once. The ground itself trembled under the immense sound waves. I nced back briefly before moving towards the door. The ever-changing scenery unfolded like aic lens being lifted. Suddenly, I found myself back in the rift that had served as the entrance to this ce. Right in front of me was the door leading outside. I stepped my left foot into it. When I turned around, the shadow inside the rooms mirror was wriggling. [Climb the tower, Loki. I, No. We will.] A pair of red eyes shed within the shadow. [Be waiting for you.] Just before entering the door, I responded. F*uck you. *Crash!* [Congrattions, Master!] [The forgotten memories of the hero were awakened.] [Han (), promotionplete! He became a 2-star hero.] [Illustrations are updated.] [Level and skill limits have increased.] Blinding light enveloped me. When I opened my eyes, I was standing on the crimson magic circle. Its over. I looked up at the sky. A dazzling light was flowing. From outside the screen, Anytng was looking down at me. As I left the synthesis room, the door closed one after another. Just as I was heading back to the dormitory from the training grounds, I spotted Aaron. When our eyes met, he approached with a delighted expression. Ah, hyung-nim. Have you returned? Is everything alright? As usual. Still the same. I couldnt find any trace of the mncholy from the previous dawn on his face. He must have been thinking about the reason to fight. The reason you fight. The reason you were brought here, risking your life to battle enemies. By the way, what did you go in there for alone? I had a promotion. Youll be having it soon too. As Aaron and I exchanged some conversation, we headed back to the dormitory. Nina, was that her name? Shes Aarons younger sister. In the illusion I saw, they were holding hands. He said he wants toe back for her. Theres no need to mention it. I decided to bury it in my heart for a while. The goal hasnt changed. Climbing the tower. Returning to Earth. If theres one thing that has changed, its that I feel much shitty than I did back then. I wont forget. Whoever you are, whatever your name is. I will definitely repay this debt. When I tried to close the door to the dormitory. Unexpectedly, a message appeared. [Wee to the world of Pick Me Up!] Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 46: I’ll Let You Know Failure (1) (1) Chapter 46: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (1) (1) The next day. In the dawn after the days schedule had ended, while wiping off the sweat on the chair in the training camp, the sky lit up. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] [The loading isplete.] [TOUCH! (Select)] It was a familiar login message. However, there was also an alert indicating a new announcement. A few days ago, an unfortunate disconnection issue urred Below that, there was a post apologizing for the simultaneous disconnection that urred to the Masters on the lower floors of the tower, exining that it was due to a sudden server shortage. It was due to that girl who appeared when we were about to clear the 10th floor. I couldnt grasp the entire situation, but I knew it was rted to her. 1. Special reward for all Masters! 500 gems will be given. 2. Get rewarded even more! 50,000 gold will be given. 3. Theres more! Increase your favorability with the heroes! Gift vouchers will be given. 4. And it doesnt end here! All weekly dungeons will be open for 3 days. Anytng closed the announcement and went to his mailbox to receive the rewards. Then, he started touching the control screen. Ping! Iselle approached, scattering stardust. [Congrattions on your promotion, Loki!] Bang! Iselle set off a firework she had brought from somewhere. . There was no one at the training camp. Aaron and Dica were here, but they just left. As she sat there quietly, Iselle tilted her head in concern. [You look upset. Is something wrong?] [I met the original.] The original? What do you mean Iselle was deep in thought, and then her mouth opened wide in surprise. [Is it the co-representative director of Mobius?] [Y-You must be kidding!] I lifted her hanging jaw up. Iselle spoke in a trembling voice. [How much did she tell you?] I summarized the information I heard from that girl about this world and told her. Iselle nodded seriously, she even looked a bit concerned. I smiled and said, I dont really care. Theres nothing to argue about. Ill climb the tower. You just need to help me with that. [Ah, got it] So, whats the matter? It wouldnt have been a trivial matter for Iselle to appear like this. Iselle erased her stern expression and burst intoughter with delight. Then, she took out a golden ticket about the size of her body. [Do you know what this is? Lets name it a Gift Ticket! Whatever you want, you can have it instantly!] Iselle held the golden ticket in her hand and swayed her body as if she were dancing. A gift, huh? In Pick Me Up, there was a function called gift which allowed yers to reward special achievements or give presents to their favorite heroes. Of course, it wasnt free. Depending on the value of the gift, yers had to pay gold, and for high-grade rare gifts, gems or premium materials were required. It was simr to the concept of the clock I had requested during the facilitysrge-scale expansion. Are you giving this to me? [More precisely, to the Master! Hehe! Even that foolish guy finally recognized Lokis excellence.] Iselle extended the golden ticket towards me. I epted the ticket and examined it. On both sides of the ticket were engravings of fairies, and in the center was the number 10,000. 10,000 gold or less. Gifts were usually paid for, but if you used a rare gift voucher given out during events, you could use the function for free. He really values me highly. The fact that he only gave me the gift voucher meant he considered me the highest among all the heroes here. In a sense, it was obvious. Not out of conceit, but because it was the truth. As the main character who had cleared two consecutive missions that seemed impossible, even if you watched the strategy screen, you would notice that Edis and Eolkas contributions were outstanding, but I was at the center of it all. It must have been fascinating. Despite not doing anything particrly special, the heroes somehow managed to survive. I did struggle a bit on the 10th floor, which went beyond the normal difficulty, but I cleared it. The result was even more remarkable. The main members survived without losing anyone except for two 1-star heroes. After letting out a sigh, I returned the ticket to Iselle. I dont need it. Give it to someone else. [Han () refuses the gift.] Iselles eyes widened in surprise as she took the ticket. [Are you sure? You can have anything you want! Delicious dishes! Gorgeous clothes! Beautiful decorations! You can have it all!] I dont need everything. The gift shop had more than thousands of items to offer. Exquisite delicacies made from rare ingredients. Lavish attire suitable for nobles. Artworks exude a nostalgic charm. If you raise the conditions a bit more, there are even items that surpass imagination. Of course, such things cannot be bought with a mere 10,000 gold. I got up from my seat and left the training camp. Then, I slowly walked back to my lodging. Iselle followed me eagerly. Why are you following me? Im going to sleep. [W-Wait.] Iselle turned around in ce. Stardust scattered from her wings, and a small wooden statue appeared. [Using the gift voucher to purchase a Warhorse Statue.] [Gifting the Warhorse Statue to Han ()!) [Tips/You can give gifts to heroes you like. Give gifts to increase the heros favorability!] Whats this? [Its a gift from the Master!] A noble warhorse with a proud front leg stance was sculpted. I took the statue and examined it from all sides. The craftsmanship was not bad, and the finishing was well done. There would be heroes who would be pleased to receive this. I casually tossed the statue. It hit the side of a fountain and rolled over, breaking the front leg and separating the upper and lower parts. Iselles mouth hung open in shock. I lifted her hanging jaw up once again. Then I closed the door to my lodging and went inside. If youre going to give gifts, give them to everyone. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 46: I’ll Let You Know Failure (1) (2) Chapter 46: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (1) (2) If youre going to give gifts, give them to everyone. If you give it to only one person, other heroes would be dissatisfied. Although I had the most remarkable performance, it wasnt just my life at stake. Maintaining proper rtionships with the heroes was the Masters basic duty. But to receive a gift voucher and toss it around carelessly that was uneptable. A Warhorse Statue? Every hero had different tastes and desires. Simply handing them any item wouldnt make them happy. I spent hours just learning the preferences and tastes of the top 100 heroes in Niflheimr. After getting into bed, the sky darkened. Is he startled? Or perhaps he has no thoughts at all. . Sleep eluded me. I must climb the tower. There could be dozens of reasons why I will fail. But what I realized was that there are obstacles waiting for me much more troublesome than the low rank I was assigned with and the dirty difficulty of Pick Me Up. An internal enemy. Not just any internal enemy. If a hero is giving us a headache, I can handle it. Like the incident with the Wolffang Mercenaries a while ago, I can clear it without anyone noticing. But if the Master doesnte to his senses Its still uncertain. It was a matter of spection. But my guess seems to be about 90% urate. The Illusory Master Syndrome. Its a term floating around among Pick Me Up users. The wording may sound funny, but the results are no joke. Pick Me Up is called a game of luck and misfortune. One of the reasons is that the early difficulty, where the facilities and content are not open, varies greatly depending on the initial draw luck. If you get good heroes, climbing is smooth and pleasant, but if you get stuck with bad heroes, you struggle and roll through all kinds of hardships. What about Anytngs case? Objectively speaking, he couldnt be considered lucky. He synthesized the initial 4-star hero and it was never reced in the following 5 consecutive draws. Does that mean hes unlucky? No. He worked hard in the early stages of the game. He steadily expanded the facilities, nurtured heroes, and crafted items. He was progressing properly following the strategy I wrote. Things changed after the 5th floor. After clearing missions that should have resulted in a total defeat, he began deviating slightly from the right path. He did five paid draws without the right conditions. And without properly nurturing thest members, he threw them into the 10th floor. And he made various other mistakes. People called this an Illusory Master because some masters will rely solely on their heroes for strategy, which doesnt reflect on their own abilities, and then mistake the heroes abilities for their own. Can I climb to the 100th floor with this kind of guy? Of course not. In the early stages of the game, the Master, who repeatedly made countless mistakes would be much better. My spection turned into certainty the next evening. [Han, Jenna, Aaron, Eolka!] Iselles shout calling the 1st party members rang through the training ground. Jenna, who was nimbly maneuvering through the wooden doll targets with her dagger, turned around and asked, Oh, are we going on a mission? It seems like it. It wasnt a weekly dungeon. All four members were battle-ready. Ugh Jenna frowned slightly, prepared herself, and left. Aaron let out a sigh and followed Jenna. Next to the training camp, as the door with magic runes opened, Eolka popped out. Eolka walked out of the training camp, her dress hem fluttering. Her expression was twisted. She didnt seem to be in a good mood. Of course. The repeated training and battles had pushed her stress levels to the limit. In particr, the intense 10th floor was the detonator. I managed to cover it up somehow, but it was only a temporary breather. To resolve this, the Master had to step up and take action. The four members of the 1st party gathered in the square. [Open, Rift of Time and Space!] The door leading to the Rift of Time and Space creaked open. I took the lead. Well deal with it quickly ande back out. The three followed. The door closed. Is it the 8th or 9th floor? Climbing to the 11th floor in this situation would be a stretch. Although she leveled up, Eolkas level is still low. But since she cleared the 10th floor, the entry restriction has been lifted. It was the right way to level her up as much as possible in the previous stages before attempting to clear the next floor. These were the rules whether it was a 1-star or 3-star hero. Moreover, if youre nning to add one more member to the party as a master, then now is the right time. The sooner they joined, the better. It wasnt like they could immediately function as a party just by joining. They needed time to adapt and get along. [Climb the Tower, Save the World!] [Main Dungeon: Current Climbing Floor 10] [Save the world.] So what are you going to do? Whatever it is. I wont intervene this time. Leaning against the wall with my arms folded, a message indicating the entry floor appeared before me. [Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is the 11th floor.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Get ready!] Huh. Its confirmed. I straightened my neck. Then I drew my sword and held my shield. Get ready. Its the 11th floor. What? As Jenna responded in disbelief, the surroundings darkened. A crescent moon hung in the night sky. The fragments of the moon were scattering moonlight on the ce where we stood. The field is a graveyard. Memorial stones for the deceased were erected all around. Amidst the eerie and cold air, something creaked and rose with a squeaking sound. [Floor 11.] [Mission Type Subjugation] [Objective Annihte the enemy!] [Skeleton Lv.11 X 14] The Skeletons standing in the graveyard bathed in moonlight. Its a sight that would give an ordinary person goosebumps, but the party members didnt even flinch. We had been through worse hellish experiences. Jenna scratched her cheek and said, Skeletons, huh? They look like theyll break if you just flick them. I smirked. The skeletons surrounded us, their jaw joints creaking. Each of them held weapons like swords, axes, maces, and other military-grade equipment. Creak! The skeleton in the front swung its axe. The sound was a bit crude. I evaded the axe and then struck its cervical vertebra with the edge of my shield. The skeleton, whose bones shattered, couldnt move again. I looked up at the sky. Up there, Anytng was watching us. First, lets take care of these guys. Take your positions! Yes! Roger! Its a triangr formation like on the 10th floor. Im at the front, Aaron on the left, Jenna on the right, and Eolka in the center. The fight began in the moonlit graveyard. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 47: I’ll Let You Know Failure (2) (1) Chapter 47: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (2) (1) [Ignite!] The mes extended from Eolkas hand and exploded all at once. Skeletons are almost impervious to damage from mes, but its a different story if its an explosion. The skeletons that we caught in the ze were shattered, and bone fragments were scattered around. These skeletons are a pain! Jennas roundhouse kick struck one of the skeletons skulls. Aaron, not missing a beat, swung his spear and smashed one of them to pieces. Though not physically strong or agile, skeletons possessed some strong points. They were nearly impervious to piercing attacks. Ordinary arrows or daggers were useless against them. Moreover, they disyed almost immune resistance to elemental forces like simple heat or cold. Of course, their strengths were apanied by distinct weaknesses. They were exceedingly vulnerable to blunt attacks. I went on breaking through the ones that tried to get close, primarily relying on my shield. Thunk! A skeleton copsed. When I stomped on its neck with my heel, its entire body of bones crumbled. Initially, they might be a nuisance if they came out mixed with other monsters, but alone, they werent particrly dangerous. Before long, 14 skeletonsy side by side on the ground. [Stage Cleared!] [Han(), Level Up!] [Reward 30,000G, Iron Ore (C) x3, Fine Bone Dust] [MVP Han()] Its been a while since I leveled up. Status Window. [Han Israt() Lv. 11 (Exp 24/110)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 27/27] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Health: 25/25] [Agility: 25/25] [Skills: Low-tier Swordsmanship (Lv.6), Projectile Defense (Lv.1), me Resistance (Lv.2), Pain Resistance (Lv.3), Composure (Lv.3), Frenzy (Lv.1), Equestrianism (Lv.1)] Strength increased by 2, health by 2, and agility by 2. Intelligence remains unchanged. Overall growth is 6, reaching the level of a top-grade 3-star. Although the growth wont maintain a steady rate of 6, its still a remarkable achievement. However, I wasnt particrly happy about it. I returned to the waiting room and headed back to the za. Jenna stretched and walked towards the direction of the lodging. I chuckled and asked, Where are you going? Im going to rest for a bit. Jenna stopped not too far away and awkwardly smiled at me. Ahaha, Ill be back soon. The schedule isnt finished yet. Thats true. The training schedule wasnt over yet. We still had sparring and cleanup left. I looked up at the sky with the mes and turned my head towards Jenna. Todays training is over. Go rest in the lodge. Really? If you dont want to, you can stay. No, no! Ill go ahead then! Jenna hurriedly ran to the lodging. Is she worried that I will change my mind? Eolka also cautiously nced at me and went inside the lodging. My silence was the approval. Usually, I would have held her by the scruff of her neck and dragged her along, but this time, I let it slide. However, Aaron was still heading towards the training ground. Arent you going? Im fine. I have a sparring appointment with Asher. I see. I was left alone in the za. I sat on a bench in the corner and watched Anytng to see what he would do next. He took out the potential 1-star members and put them into the weekday dungeon. He then gave instructions to process the clearing rewards and materials obtained from the weekday dungeon. Branches were turned into boards, torn leather was tanned, and iron ore was transformed into iron ingots. After cing a few 1-star members in a sub-party on the lower floor, he was done. The action I wanted to see didnte. After Anytng logged out, I entered my room in the lodge and leaned against the headboard of the bed. Iselle. [Here!] Youre quick toe when called. [Well, of course.] Iselle cleared her throat and pushed her chest out. [So, what do you want?] I have something I want to know. [Something you want to know? What I can answer is] You mean you have limits, right? Ive already heard almost everything from that girl. Cant you even provide additional exnations? [Well, thats, its not supposed to be but] Iselle was sweating. I knew that the information I obtained wouldnt be something useful on the 10th floor. But still, what should I do now that I know it? After contemting for a while, Iselle nodded resolutely. [Alright, Ill make an exception and tell you!] Great. I confirmed that Anytng has the Overachiever Syndrome. (T/N: I changed the name of the syndrome from The Illusory Master Syndrome to Overachiever Syndrome.) However, there might be several unexpected variables. Its necessary to try and stop them in advance. First question. What is her name? Her name? I mean your original. My master has more than one name, over a hundred million. Each world calls her by a different name. But if I were to address her in Taoist style it would be Tel.'' Tel. Different names in each world. There are names in Niflheimr style and other kinds. When you clear the 10th floor, the title assigned to the waiting room is different for each Master. Mine was referred to as Niflheim, the 4th ce was Ragnar Seed, and the 3rd ce was Izeka. If the exnation that woman, Tel, gave me is true, it means that each Master carries the fate of a different world. The total number of worlds currently exceeds one hundred million. And its still increasing. Strange. I proceeded to the next question. What is Mobius? Mobius? Are you referring to ourpany? Ourpany is Besides thepany. Iselle hesitated for a moment, then seemed to grasp the intent of my question and provided an answer. Its a spiral universe where numerous worlds are connected in parallel. . It was an unimaginable tale. But bybining the exnations of Tel and Iselle, I could infer some information. Pick Me Up is not random. Each ount has its own missions. Millions of users have drawn billions of times, yet there are no duplicate heroes. Introducing the exnation above, I arrived at solutions for the two puzzles. Its because each Master is assigned to a different world. Of course, there are somemon points. Civilizations were simr to the medieval, where swords and magic are used. Human-like beings, as well as races akin to monsters, coexist. In all ounts, there is amon object known as the Goddess Statue. And they all belong to an unknown dimension called Mobius. I think I know a little about that womans true identity now. I returned to the main topic. I asked the question I should have asked at the beginning. In fact, this was the main issue. Is Anytng an ordinary human? Chapter 47: I’ll Let You Know Failure (2) (2) Chapter 47: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (2) (2) Human? I already answered that. Of course! If youre not a human from Earth, you cant be a Master. Thats not what I meant. Im asking if that woman, Tel, manipted Anytng or not. Manipted? Manipte the Master? Iselles eyes widened. Just wait a moment. Ill find out ande back! Iselle scattered stardust and disappeared. A littleter, Iselle returned. Dont worry. Anytng is apletely normal user with 100% purity. Can I trust that? You can trust it. I came back with confirmation from another director! If such a thing were to happen, it would require outrageous conditions and risks. Come to think of it, the business card stated she was a co-representative director. I couldnt fully trust Iselles words, but not trusting anything would be equally absurd. At least, Iselle drew a line that she couldnt answer certain questions. Though she might have been inexact at times, she had never lied. Okay. Is there anything else youre curious about? If somethinges up, Ill ask. Alright then, Im going to sleep. Shoo! The room went dark. I sat on the bed and pondered slowly. Ill set aside theplex issues about Mobius for now. Its not time to think about them yet. My concern was about the Master who manages this waiting room. I learned that Anytng is not being manipted Tel. So, the current situation can be attributed to Anytngs pure gamey. Thats confirmed. There can be no wrong judgment. Anytng has the Overachiever Syndrome. If the symptoms worsen, something bad will happen sooner orter. Its still in the early stages. With appropriate measures, theres a chance to reverse it. The most effective treatment for the Overachiever Syndrome, as imed by the users of Pick Me Up, is to eliminate the hero that the Master relies on entirely. That hero would be me. . This method is rejected. Means and ends cannot be reversed. I pondered for a long time, but whichever choice I made, there were significant risks. Of course, the result of the risk would be my death. Even so, there was a solution. I wont just stand by and do nothing. The conclusion was reached. Now, all thats left is to put it into action. The next morning, after a simple meal, I joined the members at the training ground. From then on, the training continued as usual. Basic physical training in the morning, followed by lunch. Afterward, we started weapon training. As evening approached, it was time for sparring. However, there we a few changes. Here Ie! Asher, shielding his left side with a shield, thrust his sword forward. His stance was exemry, but his speed was slow. I lightly evaded and struck taking advantage of the opening. At that moment, Roderick suddenly appeared. He was wielding a spear with perfect form and struck my shield with force. A solid impact. He then swiftly switched to thrusts, attacking all over my body. Fast and precise. Rodericks level might be lower than Aarons, but in terms of physique and skill, he had long surpassed Aaron. His spear strikes, which seemed to divide into several attacks, were fired like a barrage. I blocked with my shield, deflect with the sword, and avoided what could be avoided. Roderick himself was a formidable opponent. In that situation, Asher, who regained his stance, struck my left side. Edis, who had been hiding her presence on the right, appeared and aimed for a vital spot. The timing was perfect and it couldnt be avoided or blocked. 3 against 1 is tough. I tapped the floor three times with my left foot, giving the signal. In the moment when the short sword was about to sh my right arm, Aaron and Jenna, who had been observing from a distance, joined in. The sparring changed from one-on-many to a many-on-many battle. In other words, it became a team training exercise. Furthermore, it was also a training for adapting to chaotic battles. Distinguishing between allies and enemies in constantbat and maintaining teamwork. With the increased number ofbat-ready heroes, this kind of training was possible. Eolka abstained from using magic due to the risk involved. After the training was concluded, Anytng logged in. We already knew the time when Anytng logged in. It was as I had expected. Han, Jenna, Aaron, Eolka! As soon as he logged in, Anytng called for our main party. The four of us gathered in the square. Floor 12, right? This isplete madness. Jenna said with a wide grin. On the other hand, Aaron seemed a bit gloomy. If its Floor 12, isnt the speed a bit worrying? Its too fast. Floor 11 clearance was just yesterday. In the waiting room time, it was yesterday. In Earth time, not even a day had passed. In other words, if Anytng sends us to Floor 12 this time, it means he was attempting a super-fast climb of more than 2 floors in a day. It was a foolish act. Open, The Rift of Time and Space! Clunk. As Iselle reached out her hand, the front gate of the square opened. The three of them cautiously stepped inside. I stood outside the square with my arms crossed. Arent youing in, Oppa? Jenna gestured to me. Aaron and Eolka were waiting for me too. Although it was an order that was hard to ept, the realization that I couldnt refuse was deeply ingrained in me. But I had to. I closed my eyes. And I remembered. Back when I wasnt a ranker in Pick Me Up, the hero who always stood before me whenever I made a wrong choice. That very hero staked his life for me. I opened my eyes. Iselle, what floor did Anytng designate? [Floor 12.] Iselle reluctantly replied. As I expected. I recalled an instruction that appears from time to time on the loading screen. Heroes sometimes make demands or ims to their Masters, and sometimes refuse orders. And I said, I refuse to participate. [Han () has refused to participate!] Chapter 48: I’ll Let You Know Failure (3) (1) Chapter 48: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (3) (1) [What did you say?!] Iselles mouth hung open. Both wings were trembling. Im getting used to seeing this girl surprised. I smirked and opened my mouth. Im not going. [Are you serious?] Do I look like Im joking? Oppa? What? What do you mean youre not going? Can we really refuse if asked to go? Isnt it obligatory to go when ordered? Didnt I say it? You can refuse. Heroes have the right to reject the Masters orders. Though they are responsible for the consequences. Ive never heard such a thing. And didnt we see before that people who didnt want to fight were forcibly dragged here? They didnt know how to do it. Simply making a fuss wont cut it. You need to have a clearer will and think as if you are arguing with the Master. Then the heros intention wille up to the Master as a system message. It was one of the know-hows I gained while living as a hero here. Iselle turned around me and said. [Think again, its dangerous!] Isnt blindly throwing ourselves into a dungeon also dangerous? [True, but] I know what Iselle wants to say. There are orders that the hero can never refuse. That is the synthesismand. If Anytng gets angry at me and cant stand it anymore, I am obliged to synthesize. Unlike the hero, Iselle, as the representative of the waiting room, would not be able to refuse the Masters order. But I have no intention of yielding. My mind is already set. Im not going. What are we supposed to do then? Fight without you? Eolka cried out. Its up to you to decide. I wont stop you. The three of them in the rift fell into silence, looking bewildered. A moment of confrontation passed. Aaron, who had been bowing his head, seemed to have made up his mind and resolutely fixed his gaze and straightened his spear. Then he walked towards the za. If Hyung-nim isnt going, I wont go either. [Aaron() refused to participate!] If theres such a good thing, you should have said it earlier. So frustrating. Following after, Jenna came. [Jenna() refused to participate!] What am I supposed to do alone here? Finally, Eolka darted out of the rift as if fleeing. [Eolka() refused to participate!] [1st Party is inoperable.] [Tips/Heroes may asionally go on strike. You can resolve this by meeting their demands or punishing the troublemakers.] Punish the troublemakers? Iselle pped her wings in fear. T-this tip wasnt from me! I know, chill. So, Oppa, what are you going to do? Lets wait and see. Lets see how the Master responds. Anytng seemed quite surprised and didnt move the maniption window. It seems he couldnt even imagine that a hero would go on strike. Well, in other mobile games, such a situation would never happen. If he had consistently studied the strategies, he might have known about this too, but he probably got tired and stopped reading. In that case, he wouldnt be able to find the right solution either. I didnt have high expectations either. After pondering for a while, Anytng made the expected choice. Iselle, who received orders from the Master, shouted. Edis, Roderick, Asher, Dica! A littleter, members of the 2nd Party gathered in the za. Edis approached me with a puzzled expression. Werent you going? Why did you call us? We decided not to go. What? How could I exined to Edis that they could choose not to participate if they wished. After listening to the exnation, Edis murmured. Thats risky. I know. If we cant prove our worth to the Master I know, well die. Do you think the Master will be pleased if we dont follow orders? Are you willing to die if the Master tells you to die? Werent we fighting to stay alive? Edis didnt answer. Of course not. There was no such thing as loyalty when ite to the heroes in this waiting room. They were simply fighting half unwillingly to stay alive. Edis returned to where the party members were gathered. They seemed to be having a discussion about this matter. And about a minuteter. Well go. We need to grow. I dont want to be synthesized. Edis said. Looking back at Dica behind her, hisplexion still wasnt great. He hadnt fully recovered from the impact on the 10th floor. It would take a little more time to regain his condition. The 2nd Party entered the rift. I was sitting on a nearby bench. Growth, huh. If Anytngs goal is to develop the party, then I wouldnt have needed to object. He wouldnt have even needed me. There are quite a few members who havent reached my level yet. Exploring the lower floors was wee. But thats not the issue. What will happen to us from now on? Jenna, who had leaned in close, asked. Well, well figure something out. Figure something out? Thats not like you, Oppa. I can tell you one thing. If I die from synthesis, you should immediately stop this nonsense and follow the Masters orders. If not, youll die too. Jenna pped her hands. Hey, Oppa, you wont die. Thats what I hope. And I have to admit, youre quite stubborn. These kids have grown a lot. At that moment, a message appeared in my vision. [Dica() is bleeding. Health decreases at regr intervals.] As expected, this was gonna happen. Ediss 2nd Party, which hadntpleted its recovery, was struggling. The stage must be the 12th floor. Unlike the 11th floor, it seemed to have a considerable level of difficulty. [Asher() is bleeding. Health decreases at regr intervals.] [Dica() is afflicted by fear] Messages indicating the deteriorating state of the party kept appearing one after another. One fortunate thing was that death messages werent popping up. Although Asher and Dica were semi-incapacitated, it seemed that the other two 3-star members were holding their ground. A littleter. With the stage clear message, the 2nd Party returned. Ediss face was contorted with intensity. How did the growth go? Asher and Dica couldnt even walk. Roderick was supporting the two. Han. What. Teach me how to refuse orders. Thats easy. I smirked and exined the know-how. Edis took a deep breath. Then she looked up at the sky and said. The 2nd Party wont participate either. [Edis() refused to participate!] Chapter 48: I’ll Let You Know Failure (3) (2) Chapter 48: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (3) (2) In well-unified parties, the leaders decision could be the decision of the entire party. Following that, another message appeared. [2nd Party is inoperable.] Choosing Edis as the leader of the sub-party seemed to be the right decision. Her decision not to participate was a sign that she was thinking about the future rather than just a temporary protest. Edis put away her daggers in the sheath and returned to the lodging with her other teammates. There was a lot of displeasure in her departing footsteps. [Oh no, this situation is getting bigger than I thought!] Iselle didnt know what to do. It is indeed a big problem. Both main parties have be inoperable at the same time. Anytng lost control of most of the functions. It was as if the operation of the waiting room hade to a halt. Anytng was logged in but had stopped manipting anything. I got up from the bench and walked to the lodging. The three followed closely behind. I said, We wont follow the Masters orders, but well keep training as usual. We wont stop training. Well, if we dont have to go It might be better to strengthen ourselves instead. We have a lot of time now. Ugh! Eolka groaned. While she was diligent when it came to magic-rted things, she showed a reaction close to neurosis when it came to physical training. But there was no other way. Well go to the weekly dungeon though. Theyve all opened up just now. We could go to the weekly dungeon even with autonomous action. Since all dungeons were open for 3 days as an errorpensation, we needed to collect materials. We needed to replenish the potions consumed on the 10th floor and promote Jenna and Aaron to 2 stars. The routine doesnt change. Just because we refuse to participate in the main missions, doesnt mean were going to ck off. We must prepare ourselves so that we can fight whenever necessary. Anytng, who had stopped manipting for a while, soon logged out. After that. As I was looking at the strategy table in the room, Iselle appeared with an anxious expression. [What if the Master quits?] If he wants to quit, let him quit. If he only has that much determination, theres no way hell reach the top. [What if he synthesizes you, Loki?!] I guess its better to go without suffering too much and die rather than suffering through it all. Dealing with such arge-scale protest situation isnt actually that difficult. As mentioned in the tips, theres an influential hero leading it. Just synthesize him away. Although the stress level will skyrocket, and morale will hit rock bottom, they wont refuse orders after that. After the synthesis, its not impossible to restore their morale with gifts or facilities like rest areas. Although it doesnt seem like Anytng has that kind of sense. There are other methods as well. The most gentle approach is to identify the heroes issues and soothe them. However, I dont expect much from this either. If he had that kind of mindset, things wouldnt have turned out this way. So, theres only one option left for Anytng. The next day. I called the party members early in the morning and headed to the weekly dungeon. It was to collect attribute stones, which were the promotion materials. Eolka and I went together, and Jenna and Aaron formed the other pair, each went to a different dungeon. I was able to obtain the lesser fire attribute stone. Afterpleting the dungeons, we continued training. My Lesser Swordsmanship level had already reached 6. I had reached a point where the level wouldnt rise much through normal training. I had to train by finding simr skilled opponents to fight or by imposing penalties. I gave Eolka special instruction due to her unbnced abilities. It was to train her telekinesis magic. She would only use that type of magic until she obtains the telekinesis skill. Eolka protested, saying she will only use fire magic, but when I threatened to only feed her potatoes, she quieted down. If she could freely use telekinesis magic, she would at least be able to defend herself to some extent even if we werent around. That day, Anytng didnt log in. Several days passed like that. It was around the time when Iselle grabbed me with a terrified expression, asking what will do if Anytng really quit the game. Wee to Pick Me Up! Loadingpleted. TOUCH! (Select) Anytng logged in. It was ate hour after training, and I was drinking tea with Edis in the lobby, looking up at the sky. Edis said, Did he change his mind? Theres no way. If that syndrome could be healed so fast it wouldnt have gained so much reputation in the first ce. In any case, since both Party 1 and Party 2 are unable to participate, there are limited things the Master can do. However, it seemed that Amskana had made a decision because his control panel was moving quickly. Soon, a message popped up. Master, starting Advanced Summon! You have chosen 3 consecutive Advanced Summons. A total of 1,500 gems will be consumed. Will you summon? [Yes (selected) / No] Its here. Its the third method to resolve the protest. Changing theposition of the strategy party. Anytng still had some gems left from his previous spending, and they were added to the 500 gems received as an errorpensation. Master, starting Advanced Summon. Im excited to see which heroes will appear! *Tak-tak, dru-dru-dru.* *Tuk-chang!* [Rare!] Master Anytng has obtained Hero Stein ()! [Rare!] Master Anytng has obtained Hero Majel ()! [Rare!] Master Anytng has obtained Hero Tashir ()! Looks like hes trying to say even if you dont want to there are plenty of people who are willing to work for me. I finished my tea. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 49: I’ll Let You Know Failure (4) (1) Chapter 49: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (4) (1) Light streamed out from the open door of the inn. I knew in advance what was happening through the message, but it wasnt the case for Edis. I looked outside the door and spoke. It seems like the new recruits have arrived. I see, then if people like Roderick and Eolka are here, it would be time for a draft Were not doing a draft. No need for that, and they wont even be able to join our party. What? Wait and youll see. I put down my teacup and stood up from my seat. Then, I went out to the square. At the entrance of the squares summoning portal, two men and a woman were gathered. Um, could we talk no need for violence? I dont want to! He stinks, and you also stink! Understand? What did you say, you b*tch? Im being nice to you. Just because Im a woman, you think Im an easy target? Youre a joke of a man. The two immediately drew their weapons. [Majel () shows hostility towards Tashir ()!] [Tashir () shows hostility towards Majel ()!] [Hostile rtionship established! Observe the heroes interactions carefully!] As soon as they appeared, what a spectacle. This is beyond ridiculous, I couldnt even hold myughter. Hey, by any chance, are you the first ones here? A young man with a polished armor and a sword approached me. He seemed more like a boy than a young man. There was a hint of youthfulness in his features. I replied. Yes. Im Stein Lastov. An apprentice knight. Would you mind if I join you two? These guys dont listen to me No way Id listen. Who asked for a boy like you with an air of arrogance to order us? What did you say?! I agree with that. Who would listen to a spoiled young noble like you? Look at your face you call yourself a knight I bet your mama has a pretty face like that too, how about you bring her to me instead, I would listen to her! I can forgive insults against me, but insults against my parents are unforgivable! [Stein () shows hostility towards Majel () and Tashir ()!] ng! Drawing his longsword, Stein rushed at the two. A standoff between two turned into a standoff between three. Whats going on? Why are those people acting like that? Edis, who came outte, had a bewildered expression. Their personalities dont match. Even among heroes,patibility exists. Some heroes gain bonus abilities when put together in a party, while others might decrease each others abilities. Still, cases, where hostility was established immediately upon summoning and escted to actualbat, were rare. Ill teach this arrogant brat some manners! The one who took the initiative was Tashir, a man with a somewhat rough appearance. Tashirs chain-scythe rotated in spirals as he fired it towards Stein. ng! The chain-scythe collided with an invisible barrier and faltered. [Whats wrong with these idiots! Are you crazy? Want to die?] Iselle, who appeared btedly, widened her eyes. Who are you? [If I speak for myself, Im Iselle! Im the Masters representative. Dont get cocky. Im much older than you guys.] Master. Stein frowned. He seemed to remember something. [Anyway, dont fight recklessly in the waiting room. I wont warn you a second time. You understand?] Then keep me away from this noble and that ruffian. We dont get along. If I were to form a party I want that guy. Majel pointed at me. Majel, with heavy makeup, wore a dress that hugged her figure. In her right hand, she held a sword with a serrated de. Regardless, I didnt seem to be of an age where she would call me Oppa. [You dont decide the party. The Master does.] Iselle dismissed Majels demand and disappeared with a poof. Following that, the partyposition window appeared. [Forming a party.] [Drag and drop the heroes!] [Stein () joins Party 3!] [Majel () joins Party 3!] [Tashir () joins Party 3!] Is he trying to form a party with those three? Heroes with established hostility are being put together in the same party. Efficiency was undoubtedly at its worst. While its possible to gradually ease rtionships over time, such a thought probably wouldnt cross Anytngs mind. [Open, the rift of time and space!] So, in such a situation, its unlikely that these three will work together, maybe even worse I sighed and headed back to the inn. There was no need to watch any longer. Edis followed and asked. Han, where are you going? I need some sleep. What about those people? They wont being back. I entered my room in the inn and sat down on the bed. As expected, the system messages I had anticipated appeared at the top. [Tashir () has entered a state of madness.] [Ally Attack!] [Stein () is bleeding. Health will decrease periodically.] [Stein () has entered a state of madness.] [Ally Attack!] Madness status disorder. They perceive allies as enemies. Iselle might be able to stop this in the waiting room, but cant prevent this on the stage. [Majel () has entered a state of madness.] [Ally Attack!] I dont know exactly what floors they were sent to, but it was safe to assume it wasnt a low one. [Stein (), Eliminated an Ally!] [Tashir () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will forever be remembered.] Tashir was the first to die. Following that, the second death message popped up. [Majel () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. Her determination will forever be remembered.] [Stein () falls into despair. All attributes are reduced by 80%.] A momentter. [Stein () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will forever be remembered.] [Party 3 has been wiped out.] [You Lose!] Without finishing a single battle, Party 3 was wiped out. It was the first wipeout since the previous free 10-draw. The cost was the deaths of three 3-star heroes. [Master, would you like to end your connection?] [Yes (selected) / No] [Then goodbye!] Chapter 49: I’ll Let You Know Failure (4) (2) Chapter 49: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (4) (2) [Master, would you like to end your connection?] [Yes (selected) / No] [Then goodbye!] The moment the wipeout message appeared, Anytng disconnected. Iselle, tears welling up in her eyes, appeared. Loki! What? What do we do, what do we do! Is Master really quitting? He might quit. Then what about me, what about us! Tell me, what will happen if he quit? If the Master doesnt log in for a certain period, the ount gets deleted. Loki knows it too! You cant let this happen! I see. I know. If you dont log in for six months in real-time, the ount disappears. Recovery wasnt possible. Restated to the waiting room time, its about a year and six months. [Without the Master, the waiting room cannot be maintained. I wont be able to interfere too! Ill disappear! I havent even been alive for long!] Dont jump to conclusions. Nothings confirmed yet. But still Even if Anytng disappeared right now, I could somewhat fill his ce using the power I have as a half Master. But it wouldnt be perfect. I still needed Anytng. I grinned and said. Dont worry. If he were to quit he would have done it when he synchronized that 4 stars. [Really?] I nodded. [Oh, I see. Then Ill trust you.] But why are you so desperate? Are you going to die if you dont climb the tower? [Yeah.] Die? [Disappear.] . It seemed pointless to ask any further questions. After Iselle left, I fell into contemtion. When Anytng returns next time, should I lift the strike or continue it? I sounded confident, but the possibility of him quitting wasnt zero. If that happened, I would be in trouble. Wait a moment. Six months. Niflheimr Do I have enough time? I furrowed my brows. I came to a conclusion. I wont lift the strike. For a quick climb, an equivalent foundation was essential. Unless it was confirmed that Anytng had fully changed his mind, it seemed necessary to maintain it. Even if the results werent good. A more definite failure was needed. Close to or equivalent to almost quitting. All I could do now was wait for the uing opportunity. The next evening. Anytng, who had logged in earlier than usual, immediately brought up the control window to recharge gems. A payment notification appeared. [If you want to buy you can make a payment right away!] [Mobius supports the Masters choice!] [Gold Triple Package! has been selected.] [Package Contents 5,000 gems, 3 gift vouchers] [All of this for only 90,000 won!] [This amount will be added to the next months phone bill. Would you like to proceed with the payment?] [Yes (selected) / No] Having collected rewards from the mailbox, Anytng immediately started the paid draw. [Master, advanced summoning is starting. Im excited to see which heroes will appear!] [Talk-talk, drululu.] [Thud!] [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Nokin ()!] [Rare!] [Master Amkena has acquired the hero Winad ()!] [Rare!] [Master Anytng has] As expected, its a triple summon. I understood why there were three. There were some 1-star heroes in the training ground who couldnt fit into any party. What you need to do is to assemble a party bybining lower-tier heroes and higher-tier heroes. People pick up this strategy from forums and try to follow it. But they do it without understanding the principles and methods needed. I chuckled. If a sparrow tries to follow a falcon, its liver will get ripped apart. If youre going to do it like this, you might as well go for a quintuple summon. This time, the three heroes werent the worstbination. While one ended up in a critical state, theypleted the test safely. It seemed like they understood their roles properly. Anytng gave the three of them gift vouchers obtained from the gold package. Including the two 1-star heroes who were idling around, a party of five was formed. Thepleted Party 3 immediately started leveling up as they rolled through the lower floors. A few dayster. Jenna, who had been running after me in the training ground, spoke up. Isnt this getting dangerous? What? Those people. Our spots could be taken by them. I nced at a corner of the training ground. The members of Party 3 were gathered there, engaged in a simted battle. Three 3-star heroes against two 1-star heroes who were clearlygging behind. With each swing of the longswords, bruises formed on the bodies of the 1-star heroes. It was more akin to abuse than a simted battle. Leave them be. One of the 3-star members of Party 3 met my gaze and came closer. The guy looked away nervously. While those three arent tantly running amok like wild wolves, theyre not exactly on the kind side either. They started causing trouble from the first day they arrived here, so Edis and I spared some time to teach them a lesson. Of course, the content of that lesson was enough to make them understand whos in charge while also making sure they dont die. More time passed. Party 3 continued to grow steadily without any eliminations. Two swordsmen, one spear user, and two archers. There were no mages, but the bnce wasnt bad. Anytngs n seemed to be working well. Why arent those guys leaving already? Theyve been rejected by the Master, hehehe. Once we grow a bit more, well be able to take them on. Oh, except for the female mage. We should put her in our party. Isnt our party already full? There are two useless ones. We can just kick one out. Oh, thats an interesting n. I came behind him and said. Thats right urg! Nokin, who had been gossiping about us in the dining area, turned around to see my face and was startled. He was a level 8, 3-star hero, and the leader of Party 3. Nokin, sweating profusely, said: Wh-why are you here? Just came for a drink. And heard you talking about random stuff. Its nothing, hahaha. Shall we head to bed? The three members of Party 3 scattered like a swarm of flies. Teamwork is nonexistent, no matter how you look at it. They didnt even treat the 1-star heroes in the same party like people. Still, Anytng must be satisfied. In many ways, they might be sloppy, but Party 3 cleared the 14th floor. It seemed like the 13th and 14th floors were easy. The 12th floor must have had a challenging recoil. Or maybe they were just lucky. I checked with Edis, but there were no signs of a Stream this time. The 15th floor seemed to be a mission that could be resolved with only one party of five. None of the members of Party 3 had surpassed level 10. But Anytng was nning to challenge it. He had always done so and had never failed. And the moment Party 3 clears the 15th floor, just as Nokin had assured, we would merge. If theres an alternative solution, theres no need to waste time on heroes who dont listen. I took a sip of water and returned to my room. I didnt care. I knew that it wouldnt be long before I could witness an interesting sight. That moment would be the turning point. Chapter 50: I’ll Let You Know Failure (5) (1) Chapter 50: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (5) (1) Preparations for conquering the 15th floor were steadily underway. Auxiliary weapons were provided to the three-party members, and their previously worn equipment was further reinforced. Outwardly, the three-party members seemed to be honing their skills just like us, spending extended periods at the training camp. Arent you supposed to do something about this? Eolka, who was running alongside, asked. She seemed to have improved her stamina to the point where she could talk while running. If they keep going like this, well get caught up. I dont know what, but you need to do something! Let them be. But if you want to change parties, I wont interfere. I dont want to go to join them. Theyre so unpleasant. Then wait. Until the opportunityes. Have you learned enough about telekinesis power to use it? Of course. Cant you tell? Eolkas eyes lit up with a blue glow. A sandbag ced in a corner of the training ground floated in the air. She could even cast it on the move. The stat window also showed a skill called Lesser Telekinesis Power. It was a significant advancement from the first time she came here. Still, she looked like a mess when it came to fire magic. I surveyed the training ground. The members of Party 1 were running after me. Party 2 was conducting formation training on the left side of the training ground. Party 3, on the right side, was engaged in a training resemblingbat. In a corner, a few 1-star individuals who couldnt fit in anywhere were awkwardly swinging swords. An active group of more than twenty people. The training ground, which had previously felt spacious, now seemed narrow. Free draws were also being conducted at intervals, and the waiting room was currently packed. It was about time to create a 3rd-tier facility. But it doesnt seem like he has that intention. After clearing the 10th floor, some facilities that were previously unavable for construction had been unlocked. However, none of them had been built. I sighed and started my push-ups. Members of the third party, led by Nokin, began to reveal their true colors, having realized that the Master favored them. It was still minor behavior, like squeezing out an extra serving of meat or taking the sofa in the lobby, but if they seeded in conquering the 15th floor, it would escte significantly. A few dayster. [Party 3, gather at the za!] Iselles voice resonated throughout the waiting room. Hehe, is it finally happening? Nokin, who was striking a wooden doll at the training ground, muttered. An undeniable thrill welled up on their faces. Lets go. Anything special? Winard cracked his knuckles. His expression was overflowing with confidence. Seems like the lower floors were manageable. Since mission assignments were random, it was possible for a particrly easy difficulty to be assigned. I think they dont know that a boss stagees to every 5th floor. It was natural they didnt know since I hadnt informed them. Ping! A sound like a tearing wind came from somewhere. I turned my gaze. An arrow was flying toward my left shoulder. I happened to be in the middle of my shield and sword training. Oppa, danger I released the sword and caught the arrow barehanded. My skin scraped and a bit of blood oozed. Simultaneously, a refreshing sensation spread through my mind. The familiar feeling of skill advancement. [Twing!] [Han ()s Projectile Defense skill has increased to Level 2.] Whats dangerous? Nothing. I flicked the arrow from my right hand and sheathed my sword. Training ends here today. Weve got something interesting to watch, cant afford to miss it. Come to think of it, it seems like Party 3 is heading out, Aaron said. Youre going too? If Hyung-nims going. Me too, me too. Jenna and Aaron folded their weapons. Eolka was busy training with Telekinesis Power in the magic hall. We decided not to disturb her. The za was crowded with quite a number of people. Including support staff like Chloe and Enok. Id seen a scene like this before. It was when the Fangwolve was deployed. Edis, who had arrived early, murmured. No one was here when we went to the 10th floor. Thats a good thing. I took a seat on a bench. Jenna and Aaron took their seats beside me. [Here you go!] Iselle, who had brought a cart out of the warehouse, threw potions to the members of Party 3. Nokin epted a ss bottle filled with red liquid. Following that, potions flew through the air. Three potions in total. [Nokin () is equipped with Lesser Vitality Potion!] [Weinad () is equipped with Lesser Vitality Potion] It was hard to obtain these. Jenna pouted her lips. The ingredients for those potions were collected by us in the Weekly Dungeon. I didnt intervene in the potion-making process. Anytng managed to make only three after blowing up more than ten times. It was an expected oue since we didnt have a professional alchemist. To think theyd give away what weve obtained for our own use. The Masters really something. If we need more, we can just gather more materials. True. [Open, Rift of Time and Space!] nk. The door at the front of the za opened. The two 1-star individuals who had been quite hesitant entered first. Then, the entrance of the three 3-star members began. Two went in, and Nokin, the leader, went inst. Before entering, Nokin looked at me and said. You, you jerk, you insolent jerk! When Ie back, Ill deal with you. Illin to the Master and make a scene. Just wait and see, hahaha! With those words, Nokin hurried inside as if escaping. The door closed. . Hes quite the character, huh? Edis chuckled, poking my side with her elbow. Thats if you cane back. I chuckled too. Whether things would turn out as Nokin said, time would tell. What happens if those guys seed? Aaron, who had been sitting quietly, asked. He lookedposed on the outside, but his gaze was wavering. Breaking the 15th floor, you mean? Yes. Well have to lift our strike. Since we could end up dead. The possibility of Party 3 breaking the 15th floor wasnt 0%. While the difficulty of the Pick Me Up system was generally challenging, there was a very low chance of an easy mission appearing. There were instances where a party sent out to die actually cleared the mission. If it happens with a probability of less than 1%, then our protest would have been useless. Anytng would be convinced of his thoughts, and the need to listen to our demands will disappear. If they doe back, do everything the Master orders you to do. Dont resist. Of course, by then, Id probably be dead. Chapter 50: I’ll Let You Know Failure (5) (2) Chapter 50: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (5) (2) Preparations were over. I sat on the bench and waited for the results. The people who had gathered in the za returned to their original ces. Anxious expressions could be seen on their faces. It seemed like they were hoping they wouldnt return. About five minutes had passed since Party 3 entered the 15th floor. The za was nearly empty. We couldnt see how the mission was progressing. It was clear that the crisis hadnt yet struck. There we no messages popping up Hmm? With sound effects, several messages appeared in session. [Mission Failed!] [Target Annihtion] [Nokin () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will be remembered eternally.] [Winard () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will be remembered eternally.] [Zn () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will be remembered eternally.] [Roberil () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will be remembered eternally.] [Juan () has returned to the embrace of the goddess. His determination will be remembered eternally.] [Party 3 has been annihted.] [You Lose!] It hadnt been even 10 minutes since they entered. A special mission, was it? Five of them died simultaneously. There were no abnormal conditions like bleeding or cardiac arrest that would usually ur before death. Kugwang! A temporary vibration ran through the entire waiting room. Jenna swayed in her seat. W-Whats, whats happening? Why all of a sudden Zap! With a sound like something sizzling, a blue current ran along the zas wall. Iselle came out with a pale face and said. Master threw his phone. Really. [Master, would you like to end the connection?] [Yes (selected) / No] [Goodbye then!] Anytng ended the connection. Iselle grabbed onto my clothes and trembled. I think were in big trouble, what should we do! There are a lot of people watching, so let go for now. I detached Iselle, who was clinging to my sleeve, and spoke to the people looking at me. The spectacle is over. Lets go back. What about Party 3? Theyre wiped out. They hadnt even started, yet they were obliterated. They probably didnt even get a hint about the strategy for the 15th floor. It was a total disaster. Edis murmured with a disappointed voice. It hasnt been that long since they went in. Their abilities must have been limited to that extent. Anyway, our business here is finished. There was no need to stay in the za. I returned to my lodging. After that, Anytng didnt log in for a long time. Iselle came to my room every evening and asked what to do, sobbing softly. Crying wouldnt change anything. Regardless of the situation, I did what I could do. It was the first principle I set to survive here. The routine remained unchanged. Waking up in the morning, training after meals. Training again until evening. It had been a long time since I had been in an actual battle. To keep my skills sharp, we engaged in sparring using real weapons. More than a week had passed. The 1-star members, excluding the main members, could not be seen. The fear of synthesis had vanished. The number of people training in the field had decreased significantly. Fewer people voluntarily went to the Weekly Dungeon as well. And time passed again. Ten days on the waiting rooms calendar. In reality, it had been more than three days since thest login. Suddenly, lights lit up the sky for no reason. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] And the familiar login message appeared. He came. I had been waiting. [Loading isplete.] [T O U C H! (selected)] It was dawn. I was the only one left in the training ground. Boom! Boom! shes continuously burst in the brightly shining sky. *Click!* [A screenshot has been taken. The image will be saved in the gallery.] [Master, would you like to end the connection?] [Yes (selected) / No] [Goodbye then!] Anytng, who had logged in after a long time, took a screenshot and left. From login to logout, it didnt even take a minute. I put my sword back into its sheath. I left behind the battered wooden statue and headed out of the training ground. I walked quickly and called out. Iselle! [Hm?] Iselle appeared, rubbing her eyes. Instead of her usual ck dress, she was wearing pajamas with a white cat design and had a furry hat on her head. Why did you call? I was sleeping Oh, well. Master has logged in. Yeah, Master What did you say?! Wide awake, Iselle looked around. Where, where is he? What happened? Where is he?! He just left. After such a long time of not logging in, why didnt you do anything? Dont tell me he just logged in and logged out I cant do anything. But he took a screenshot. Why a screenshot? Why do you think? To have a memorial photo? That wouldnt make sense. I closed the door. Iselle was staring at me with a look of confusion. Whats your hobby, Iselle? I told you it was web surfingst time. Why are you asking that? Because I want to verify if you can ess the inte. Well, of course. Wait, why? Iselle tilted her head. I said, I need your help a bit. At this point, there can only be one reason to take a screenshot. Hes going to ask for help in the strategy caf. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 51: I’ll Let You Know Failure (6) (1) Chapter 51: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (6) (1) [Hes going to ask for help?] [Inte?] [You need my help?!] Iselle blinked. I didnt exin explicitly. Looking back on what Ive said so far, she should be able to understand what I mean by asking for help. Iselle, who had been staring nkly for a while, shivered as if struck by lightning. [Wait, really? Youre talking about essing the Inte? Here?] I nodded. [Just a moment] Iselle turned her gaze with an awkward expression. Could it not work? I asked just in case. If it doesnt work, forget it. Its not like theres no one else who could help him besides me. I gave up andy down on the bed. It waste anyway, and I was starting to feel drowsy. I had to wake up early tomorrow to keep up with my training schedule. [Its not that it wont work. I can do it!] Then why hesitate so much? [I can do it. However, there are some limitations. Interfering with information from other dimensions isnt easy for me either. There are penalties. First] Iselle began to exin what she needed to endure in order to connect to Earths inte. Theres a time limit, she said. You cant connect whenever you want. A certain period of time is needed for one connection. The duration varies depending on the situation, but its at least a month based on the waiting room standard. [We have to gather the residual interference left by the Master. Its a hobby, but not an easy one.] Iselle sighed and shook her head. Sheined about how she used to be free before she came here to take care of this waiting room. Furthermore, even if youve connected once, it doesnt mean you can use it unlimitedly. This limited time can also be reduced based on certain conditions. [If youre just browsing, you can have over an hour, but if you directly interfere by writing posts or sending replies, the time gets drastically reduced.] This is tough. If the inte were limitless, I could do much more than just advising Anytng. Like checking my own situation on Earth, and what kind ofpany Mobius is. Among other things. However, with the conditions attached, I can only do one thing. Iselle grumbled in aining tone. Well, then. I was going crazy too. Its been a while since I visited the Ragnarokie Cafe. Iselle subtly gauged my reaction. Whats happening now can be seen as me interfering with her hobby which has a time limit. But still, I cant just watch her. I need to use the inte. [Directly?] Its better if thats possible. Iselle looked gloomy. Then, suddenly, she lightly tapped her cheek and assumed a determined expression. [Got it. For Lokis sake!] Iselle disappeared and reappeared in her usual dress. She also had a white cloth with the Chinese characters for victory () inscribed on her forehead. Iselle began to swing her arms like performing Karate. [Haat! Fairy power!] With a spirited shout, Iselle extended her arms forward. A window appeared in the air, like a pop-up window on aputer screen. [Sorry, you need to do it quickly! I cant maintain it for long.] A drop of sweat trickled down Iselles forehead. Her outstretched arms were trembling. Do you really have to take that pose? [Focus! Its a focus stance. Anyway, hurry up. I, I] If its too difficult, just stay calm. Ill finish it quickly. Interfering with a game and interfering outside of a game are probably different matters. Quickly making a decision, I touched the shortcut to the Windows inte. The familiar start screen of a search engine appeared. I logged in to the site right away. There was a keyboard where I could type below. From the login screen, I entered the official Pik-Me-Up cafe. Its been a while since Ive been here. Since thest time I uploaded a guide, its been half a year since myst ess. I closed the private message window. Theres no time to waste in a ce like this. Iselles face was turning red. I entered the strategy category of the official cafe. There was a board for gamey advice. I skimmed through the posts one by one, starting from the top. It didnt take long for me to find the post I was looking for. Gamey Advice Board Im stuck. Please help. WindF**** Hello. I have something I want to ask. Its been just shy of a month since I started. At first, things were going well, buttely, Ive been feeling a bit stuck. I followed the guide exactly, so its strange. First, heres the current state of my waiting room. A screenshot of the waiting room was attached. An information window disying the list of owned heroes and facility status appeared. It was undoubtedly Anytng. In the list of heroes, I caught a glimpse of a 2-star hero named Han Israt. Below, there were the current level, stats, and skills listed. Im a real game character. Suppressing the sense of embarrassment, I continued reading. After the screenshot, Anytng described what strategies he had referred to and how he had managed his waiting room in detail. When and how he upgraded facilities, how he formed parties, and even incidents and idents were almost all covered. I felt a slight headache reading this. Chapter 51: I’ll Let You Know Failure (6) (2) Chapter 51: I¡¯ll Let You Know Failure (6) (2) He only needed to ask about how to solve the problem at hand. There was no need to expose his own ying records. There werements under the post. Did you really y like that? Its unbelievable. How did you get to the 14th floor? The post is too long. Can you summarize it in one line? One-line summary The user above is terminally ill with Im better than you syndrome. Approach with caution! Dude, what were you trying to do climbing 14 floors in one month? But seriously;; Youre a hopeless case. Id go on strike too if I were your hero. Eugh haha. You need to rethink your way of ying. At first, it seemed fine, but it got strange from the middle. Is this for real? You sent them on a mission even though there was a hostile rtionship? Did you want to open a coliseum? - There were many mockingments ridiculing Anytng. Although a few users wrote tips, they were mostly buried, and even those were mostly incorrect advice. But why are the stats of that 2-star like that? Its a bit strange. How many skills does it have? Did you see that? I bet that hero is the secret of his sess! What a strike of luck! Im not sure where to start helping from. The post might get a bit long. Anyway, make sure to thoroughly read the posts on the strategy board. Start with Lokis post. At most, they were telling him to look at the strategy board. It wasnt difficult to understand why this was a task that required aplete overhaul of gamey. I looked at Iselle. She was maintaining her pose, sweat dripping down. She seems already at her limit. If I had unlimited inte, I would have exined throughments everything he needed to do one by one, but I dont have much time. I entered Google Drive with my email and downloaded the document files that were stored. After the download wasplete, I gave them a quick look. Then I returned to the cafesments. Check your mail. Just read that. I right-clicked on Anytngs username and selected Send Message. After sending the message, I clicked on Send Mail. I attached the document file and sent it. Whats up there? Isnt that Loki? That was fast. Crazy. Seriously. Its really Loki. Ipared the guide nickname to the post. Its really him. OMG!!! What were you doing all this time that youreing out now!! Loki, please read my message. Instead of these Im-better-than-you people, consider helping me please Why is Loki giving him advice? I heard you have to pay a million for consultation fees. Thements began to flood in. In thement section, the topic about Anytng had disappeared, reced by irrelevant discussions, mainly rted to me. There were even people trying to initiate one-on-one conversations. Should have made it a privatement. At least the usernames remain. Just as I was about to add a newment, Iselles scream echoed. [Noo!] I got it, I got it. As soon as I closed the inte window, Iselle staggered and copsed to the ground. The window disappeared. This opportunity seemed to havee to an end. Good job. Thanks to you, its over. [Did it work? Did it really work?] It depends on how Anytng responds. Iselle wiped her forehead with sweat and asked me. [It felt like you sent him a document, whats in it?] My y records. Among other things. [Dont tell me its the Sky Disc!] What on earth is that? [Theres a rumor. The currently avable Loki guide isnt theplete version. The real guide is said to be hidden by Loki. Its said to contain everything about Pik-Me-Up!.] Iselle came closer, exhaling through her nose. Her face was as red as a strawberry. [And you, you sent that, the rumored guide, to the Master?] For now, step back. Ill tell you. I pushed Iselle away as she tried to get closer. Iselle nodded her head absentmindedly and then took a few steps back. She then knelt in front of me with a respectful posture. [So, the truth! Please tell me!] Its partially correct. I sighed. Its true that my guide posted on the official cafe is iplete. While it includes information about valuing facilities and not discarding lower-grade heroes recklessly, along with various tips, itcks essential operational methods. I had bezy in the process of writing it. I also didnt feel the need to fully disclose the results of my analysis and research. That guide was nothing more than a roughly written draft,cking much thought. I didnt even realize it would cause such a stir. Even if Anytng had only relied on my guide, his gamey wouldnt be entirely wless. The early stages might be rtively detailed, but from the mid-game, it became quite informal. What I sent to the Master were my gamey records and the data I analyzed over the two years Ive been ying Pik-Me-Up. There is even some information about thesis-like materials. [To think that existed] I couldnt be sure that everything about Pik-Me-Up was contained there, but it would be true that everything about me was. I couldnt guarantee whether Anytng would read my email. I couldnt even be more sure if he would read all the contents of the document. First of all, it wasrge in size. In terms of volume, it would be equivalent to several thick books. And since I hadnt considered that someone else would end up reading it, it was also difficult to understand and unfriendly. But if he were to read all of it, If he were to make it his own, Things would be quite interesting. With this, Ive done what I can. The rest is just waiting for a response. Whether he will lose interest in the game and quit, Or whether he will take on the challenge again. I made slight modifications at the end of the document. It should give me a sign of Anytngs intentions. Anytngs connection urred exactly three days and three hours after hisst visit. Wee to Pik-Me-Up! Loadingplete. [T O U C H !(Select)] I sat on a bench in the square and gazed up at the sky. I threw the dagger in my right hand and caught it. Anytng had started controlling the game. He entered the management tab and pressed the gift icon. Purchasing Warhorse Statue for 5,000 gold. Gifting Warhorse Statue to Han()! Iselle appeared next to the fountain. Nestled in her small chest was a wooden statue that I had once broken, now new. Iselle approached with a puzzled expression. [Why is he giving you this again?] Give it here. [Are you going to break it again?] I took the warhorse statue from Iselles embrace. [Han() is delighted to receive the Warhorse Statue.] [Affection increased!] I smirked. Iselle looked at me even more confused. Its written at the end of the guide. Give the warhorse statue to the hero you like. Even if he didnt ept it the first time, he will delightedly ept it if you do it a second time. He had read that thick document to the end. With the statue in hand, I stood up from the bench. I had the statue in my hand. I could ce it anywhere I wanted. I didnt need a half-hearted Master. If I really were to climb the top of the tower, I couldnt settle for anything less than the pinnacle of a hundred million users. Without reaching that level, no one could handle me properly. He might not have understood the content of the entire document yet. But As long as you trust me, and trust yourself. I murmured. Ill make you the best. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 52: Moving Forward Again (1) (1) Chapter 52: Moving Forward Again (1) (1) I ced the statue of the warhorse on top of the fountain. I intended to take it with me once the master is logged out. However, now that Anytng has returned, well be busy again from today onwards. The tasks to be done were piling up like a mountain. As I headed to the training ground, Iselle followed along. [Loki, what if the Master hasnt changed?] Theres no chance of that. I reassured Iselles concern. While we couldnt be sure to what extent things might change, it was certain that they would. The fact that he went to the official cafe for counseling in itself indicated a change in his state of mind. However, I would be able to tell how much he changed, the next time I contact him. Whens the next opportunity? [The next online meeting, you mean?] Iselle inquired. I nodded. [It could take as short as a month, or it might go beyond half a year. It depends on how quickly residual interference umtes.] Whats this interference? [Its the source that twists Mobius causality and alters the rules. When the Master logs in and watches the waiting room or engages in activities, energy umtes. As the floor numbers increase, the gathering speed bes faster. And above all Gems!] Iselle spun around and raised her right hand. A blue, sparkling gem was clenched in her hand. [This is a gem! The crystallization of interference, a jewel imbued with the power of creation.] Is that kind of power in microtransactions? [Of course. Human money carries strong intentions, you know. Cyber money is fine, but whats even better is cold, hard cash! If you bring cash to the main office, you get an additional 1% payment benefit. Didnt you know?] Kind of trivial. Not many would go all the way to the main office for just 1% extra. Regardless, I knew that this encounter with Anytng wasnt thest. The most important thing is we continue to build on this foundation, then if any discrepancies emerge, we could correct them during the next encounter. With a bit more breathing room, I nned to investigate about life and death in real life, Mobius, and Pick Me Up. Theres still so much I dont know. To do that, I felt the need to pick up the pace a bit more, as I had to gather what they called interference. The first contact had ended. It was time to assess the changes. After parting ways with Iselle, I entered the training ground. Members of the 1st party were scattered around, engaged in training. I stepped between Jenna and Aaron, who were sparring. Hey, Oppa? Stop for now, I have something to say. Call Eolka too. Some timeter, the members of the 1st party gathered in one ce. I immediately spoke up. Effective immediately, the participation restriction of Party 1 is lifted. The three of them looked at me with bewildered faces. I briefly exined the fact that the Master would change. Jenna giggled and said, It didnt matter to me how the Master was, but still, this is good. Aaron gripped his spear silently. Eolka alternated her gaze between the two of them and me, then sighed and lowered her shoulders. All three agreed. With sound effects, a system message appeared. [1st party is now manipble.] [Well done, Master. The hero has reversed their heart!] Youve had quite a break all this time. Isnt your body itching? No, I I looked at Eolka calmly. Itchy, itchy. Im feeling itchy! Good. The conditions of the three arent bad. During the extended strike, they inadvertently had some rest time. [Han, Jenna, Aaron, Eolka!] Iselles voice calling the 1st party echoed out. Immediate deployment. I came out to the square with the members. Iselle was fluttering around the square. In the midst of it, Aaron whispered, Hyung-nim, the Master might have changed his mind, but were still just four. Isnt there one spot vacant? Dont worry about that. I grinned. Iselle shouted again. [Edis!] Edis unni? Jenna tilted her head. A momentter, Edis appeared with a puzzled expression. Why me? [The Master requested temporary inclusion in the 1st party. Will you do it? Speak up?] Edis looked at me and said, You lifted the participation restriction? As you can see. And the Master? Well see in due time. After a brief contemtion, Edis came to a conclusion. Alright. If you all are fine with it. [2nd party is now manipble.] The incapacitation of the 2nd party, including Edis, was lifted. The leaders decision is the will of the entire party. If the bond isnt strong within the party, its deemed impossible. [Forming a party.] [Drag and drop the hero!] [Edis () joins 1st party!] And with that Ediss affiliation was changed to the 1st party. Of course, it was a temporary measure. The deadline is until we break through the 15th floor. As a result of the sacrifice of the 3rd party, it was concluded that the 15th floor required a small-scale mission with a single party. In that case, theres no need to divide parties. If both sides work well together, we can create temporary parties by mixing elites ording to the Masters intention. The standard method is to insert a new hero and nurture them from level 1, but given the dy due to the strike situation, things had been considerably slowed down. Maintaining speed while pursuing efficiency. I wee this approach as well. Training new members wouldnt be toote even after clearing the 15th floor. After all, the leveling speed increases as the floor numbers go higher. This is due to the opening of new facilities and dungeons. I wont stay long. Edis scratched her cheek awkwardly. I dont n to hold you for long. Well, then. [Open, Rift of Time and Space!] Creak. Chapter 52: Moving Forward Again (1) (2) Chapter 52: Moving Forward Again (1) (2) The main door at the front of the square opened. It was an expedition after a long time. The 1st party with Edis proceeded into the circr room. The door closed, and an alert indicating the current floor level appeared. [Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is the 8th floor.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Get ready!] The 8th floor. I recollected. It was the stage with 27 Goblin Riders appearing. The field was a in, and thanks to Eolka, there had been quite a struggle at that time. Dazzling light spewed from the mirror on the left side of the room. When the light subsided, the familiar sight of the in came into view. Thud thud thud. The sound of the ground shaking from behind was also familiar. I drew my sword and shield and said, You recognize where this is, right? The 8th floor. Aaron aimed his spear at the rear. Jenna readied an arrow for her bow. Eolka was calmly regting her breathing. Its time to show the results of our training. Our time wasnt just spent idly during the strike. We engaged in consistent training akin to realbat while bncing our condition adjustments. Although we hadnt leveled up, there hadnt been a single day wasted. I know. Eolka waved her clothing and extended her right hand. There, Goblin Riders charging toward us were present. Eolkas eyes glowed blue. Invert! Ki-yah?! The ground shaker that was in front of the goblins flipped and then shot up. Mud and stones swirled, sweeping the leading goblin riders. The formation scattered instantly. It was a technique utilizing telekinesis power. Ping! Ping ping ping! Jenna, in a lowered stance, shot arrows like a barrage. The process of taking an arrow from the quiver, nocking it, and pulling for the shot flowed as smoothly as water. It was the effect of a bow skill she had perfected through rigorous training. The target was the goblins approaching Eolka with their crossbows. The arrows pierced the vital points of the goblins without a single miss. Not one seeded in releasing their bolts. Eolka continued her casting without any hindrance. The spells casting time was only around 10 seconds. Ignite! Whoosh! mes burst out in a wide fan shape from the end of Eolkas sleeve. The mes engulfed the goblin riders head-on. Goblins caught in the mes writhed alongside wolves. Wolves that were charging from behind hesitated and retreated. Eolkas mes, which had incinerated several goblins and wolves, writhed and expanded like a living snake. The linear formation copsed in an instant. The sharp spear-like charging force lost its direction. Now, what remained there were not goblin riders, but goblins and wolves wriggling in mes. This is the finishing touch. I flipped my sword and charged into the front line. The range of mes spread beneath my feet. It didnt matter. I hadnt trained in me resistance as a formality. Engulfed in fire, I systematically slew goblins and wolves one by one. Some resisted, but I effortlessly crushed them. Aaron also joined in the aftermath. I thrust my sword into the back of a goblin fleeing on the ground. This one was thest. [Stage cleared!] [Aaron(), Eolka() level up!] [Reward 3,000G, Wolf Leather] [MVP Eolka()] Battle concluded. I wiped the blood off my sword and sheathed it. Why am I even here? Edis muttered in a disheartened voice. I smiled wordlessly and exited the Rift of Time and Space. This time is clearly different from thest. Back then, I had to allow the goblin riders to charge several times. Jennas shooting speed wasnt fast enough to suppress the goblins crossbows, and Eolka, who stubbornly kept casting a one-minute fire spell, was prone to be targeted. But now, its different. The battle has be much more flexible. As a result, all 27 goblin riders were wiped out without sessfullypleting a single charge. I need to level up. Edis still hasnt fully adapted to our partys style, but she has a great instinct. So, as we go through battles, she will naturally find her role. [Roderick, Asher, Dica!] As soon as the 1st party returned to the waiting room, Iselle called the members of the 2nd party. Roderick and two others came out to the square, led by Roderick. It seemed like the 2nd party was trying to level up as well. Edis shook her head hesitantly and then approached the 2nd party. I asked Edis, Going for a double jump? A double jump? I havent even managed a single one. Edis smiled bitterly. Then, looking at the sky, she whispered something. [Edis() wants to join 2nd party.] Soon, Edis affiliation changed to the 2nd party. For a while, she will have a busy life alternating between the 1st party and the 2nd party. The Rift of Time and Space closed behind the 2nd Party. Were done for today, right? Using magic has drained mepletely. Eolka stretched and yawned. Looking at Jenna and Aaron, she spoke, What are you two going to do? Well keep training. After all, were about to tackle the 15th floor. You guys dont seem to get tired. Eolka let out a sigh and walked towards the lodgings. I grabbed Eolkas sleeve. What now? Its not over. Youre nning to keep going? You think using magic is easy? Dont worry. You wont be using your magic. I dont believe you. Youve tricked me once or twice before. I dragged the sulking Eolka to the training grounds. There was something I had to do that should have been done the moment a magician joined the waiting room. It was way overdue. Iselle. [Whats up?] I need to do some research. [Ah, I see!] Iselle nodded and disappeared. Then, a tip appeared. [Master, there are personnel avable for research.] [How about starting some research? The results of your research will be the foundation for smooth waiting room operations!] Anytng brought up the control panel and touched the research tab. I took Eolka with me and entered the training grounds. The door leading to the Magic Hall was open. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 53: Moving Forward Again (2) (1) Chapter 53: Moving Forward Again (2) (1) I led Eolka into the main hall. The dimly litnterns illuminated the interior of the magic hall, and the scent of unknown incense and old books wafted through the air. Eolka, who had entered inside, blinked unexpectedly. So, this is the magic hall. Why did you bring me here? I told you. You wont be training your magic. I closed the door leading outside. The interior darkened immediately. What you have to do is research. Research? Just wait and see. I leaned against the wall. An information window appeared, showing the tech tree of research. [Research!] [Current development levels are as follows.] [1. Hero Responsiveness Research (Lv.0)] [2. Facility Scbility Research (Lv.0)] [3. Dungeon Complexity Research (Lv.0)] [Tips/cing personnel in theboratory can earn research points. Use research points to upgrade the waiting room to your liking!] [Rmended Researcher List!] [Eolka ()] [Would you like to appoint Eolka () as a researcher?] [Yes (selected) / No] I rummaged through the books on the shelf. While spending time in the waiting room, I had realized I could decipher Towniasnguage, but the contents of these books were still cryptic. Only magical patterns and forms were vaguely familiar. I remembered seeing them a few times in the mini-game for crafting items. Iselle appeared beside Eolka, who was staring nkly. Eolka eximed in surprise. Dont suddenly appear by my side! You startled me. [Shush. Get used to things like this. I didnt appear here just because I felt like it. Anyway, you see that desk over there? There should be a pen and ink. Solve the problems with that pen and put them into the box with theplicated patterns on it.] I closed the book and ced it back on the shelf. Then, I looked at Eolka. She was awkwardly approaching a desk on one side of the hall. On the desk, there were a blue-glowing ink, a ck feathered pen, and a document covered in strange symbols. Eolka scanned through the document and said, These are the forms we used to learn at the magic school [Solve the problems and put them in the box.] Iselle pointed at the ck circr box ced next to the desk. Eolka responded with a baffled expression. The reason I have to do this is [Thats for research Anyway, you must do it! Unless you want to get scolded. Its an order from the Master.] You people always use these methods Eolka grumbled and sat down at the desk. She dipped the pen in ink and began solving the problems. After 3 minutes, Eolka wrote down the solutions on paper and put it into the box next to the desk. The paper inside the box ignited into blue mes and disappeared. [Research points +1 acquired!] [Current research speed: 10/h. Requires 10 gems per hour.] The research efficiency isnt great. In Pick Me Up, research also requires the premium currency, gems. 10 points per hour was the lowest level. Given the low facility level and Eolkasck of research skills, it was inevitable. [Setting research time.] [3 hours per day!] [Tips/Setting excessive research time might lead to dissatisfaction among researchers! Remember, they have their own lives too.] I just need to solve thisst one. Eolka said as she put thest problem into the box. However, Eolkas expression froze the next moment. A document with problems appeared on the desk, thicker than before. Iselle held out three fingers. [Every day, 3 hours!] 3 hours? No way! Youre telling me to do this for 3 hours? This is giving me a headache. These arent simple forms! Im already struggling so much! [Eolka () expresses dissatisfaction!] As expected, this happened. It was something I anticipated. Eolkas current schedule was already quite demanding. Physical training in the morning, magic training focusing on Telekinesis power in the afternoon, and tactical drills in the evening. I had arranged some rest periods, but the fact was that there was little room for leisure. Asking her to invest another 3 hours here would likely cause resistance. No one really enjoyed overwork. However, the training time couldnt be reduced, and the same went for research time. Research was a crucial factor in determining the expeditions progress. Eolka pursed her lips. Hey, you say something too. This gonna enve me from morning till night. I pondered for a moment. A way to maintain Eolkas motivation without losing time. There is something. I whispered to myself silently. A fur coat. [Han () wants Fur Coat. Would you like to gift it?] [Cost: 3,000 gold.] [Yes (selected) / No] A coat covered in white mink fur appeared. It was one of the clothing items avable in the gift shop. Eolkas eyes widened as she looked at the coat. Thats! You said you wanted it, didnt you? I smirked. I had heard from Jenna that Eolka wanted warm clothing. The waiting room could get chilly, after all. I tossed the coat to her. Eolka stood up from her chair and eagerly epted the coat. Its prepaid. If youplete the tasks properly, youll get more. Eolka hastily put on the fur coat and stroked it in delight. Then, suddenly, she muttered in a sarcastic tone. Youre trying to change my mind with this? How ridiculous! If you dont like it, give it back. I held onto the coat and tugged. Eolka held onto it firmly, refusing to let go. Who said I dont want it! I mean, Ill do it, okay? Ill do it. Eolka sat back down in her chair and continued working on the problems. Meanwhile, Anytng was still managing the operations even after giving instructions for research. After the 2nd party returned, a new 3rd party was formed. It consisted of promising individuals recently summoned. Later, Iselle faintly called out the members of the 3rd party. Among them, those who showed promise might join the 1st or 2nd party. Next, the gathering members were sent to the weekday dungeon, and the members at the equipment workshop were ordered to craft weapons. It was a rather lively movement. Not bad. The Master had certainly changed. The current tasks were basic, but thats what made them important. The previous Anytng hadnt even properly carried out such tasks. While enjoying the control of Anytng, Eolka suddenly struck up a conversation. Dont you have any intention of learning magic? Chapter 53: Moving Forward Again (2) (2) Chapter 53: Moving Forward Again (2) (2) Dont you have any intention of learning magic? Her abrupt question surprised me a little. Even though I can only use fire magic, Im well-versed in theory. It seems to me that you have quite the talent. What do you say? Learn magic? It might be tough to learn it alone, but there are plenty of valuable books in this library. If its the basics, you could manage somehow. I have already raised my weapon skill to level 6. Are they telling me to be a Dark Swordsman? As a 2-star character, my current ss is still a novice. I can choose my ss starting from 3 stars. I could continue as a warrior, focusing on swords and shields, but under certain conditions, a path to a hidden ss opens up. One of those options was bing a Dark Swordsman. I shook my head. Ill pass. Why? It would be good to learn. It will mess up my growth. Just because its a hidden profession doesnt mean its necessarily stronger. In certain situations, it might be stronger than regr professions, but more often than not, its weaker. Especially for Dark Swordsmen, they need intelligence in addition to the strength and vitality-based warrior stats, which inevitably lowers their overall potential. It means theres a high chance of ending up being mediocre at everything. If you change your mind, let me know anytime. You offered this because you dont want to solve problems alone, right? W-what nonsense! Was that the right answer? I smirked to myself. Training a researcher. After clearing the 15th floor and having a bit of spare time, I nned to assign Eolka to that task. Researchers belonged to the mage category but acted as support personnel focused solely on research, notbat. The learning curve was much steeper than regr support roles, but out of a dozen, at least one should seed. I couldnt keep Eolka here indefinitely. I observed Eolka working on the problems. As she solved the problems, she started talking about her background. Her family had been a prestigious one known in the empire, but they had fallen into ruin due to political conflicts. She felt it was her duty to restore her familys name. I didnt ask, though. How did you spend your time beforeing here? Me? I was a farmer. Lies. Who would believe that? Just let me solve these problems. I spent time flipping through the ancient texts on the bookshelf. After 3 hours passed, Eolka stood up from her chair, looking tired. The halls clock now pointed at midnight. However, the Master hadnt logged off yet. The reason was clear. It was waiting for the umtion of research points. The research points gained from 3 hours were a total of 30. With 30 points, he couldplete the first research. The time hase. The research tree is divided into three categories. The Hero Responsiveness Research enhances the heros response to missions andmands. The Facility Scbility Research opens up the details of facilities and allows for more direct operations. The Dungeon Deepening Research expands the types of special-purpose dungeons and assists in smooth material procurement. They respectively manage heroes, facilities, and dungeons. Among these, the first research Anytng unlocked was, [Ding!] [Research, Hero Responsiveness is now at Level 1.] It was the Hero Responsiveness Research. I had some expectations about the effects of this research. [Blessings of the Goddess descend upon the waiting room!] Zing! Unidentifiable clusters of light shimmered in the sky. The clusters of light turned into dozens of beams, shooting down from the sky towards the waiting room. One of the beams pierced through Eolkas chest, who was in the hall. Huh? Eolka, who was rising from her chair, staggered. She sat again on the chair and lowered her head. Somethings strange I opened the door to the Magic Hall. Jenna and Aaron, who were at the training ground, were in a simr situation. They were half-slumped to the ground. I examined theirplexions, but it didnt seem like they were experiencing any pain. It seemed like a temporary dizziness or something. It didnt take long for Eolka to regain her senses and stand up. Her face had turned pale. Whats this? I feel really weird. I told you. Its research. Research? What on earth does this mean? I thought for a moment and then said, Try saying Status Window.'' Status Window? Ugh! Eolka fell backward. The surprise was evident in her eyes. So its visible. I chuckled. Its the Status Window. It shows your attributes as numerical values. Until now, system messages like Status Windows and mission details were visible only to me. But things were about to change a bit from now on. One of the reasons 3rd party couldnt do anything and died was that they couldnt know the exact purpose of the mission. They couldnt see the system. They didnt know the conditions for mission sess or failure. The Hero Responsiveness Research was a way to make this possible. Strength, Intelligence, Stamina, Agility. And Skills. Can you see? Intermediate Fire Magic Essence of me? Thats a Skill. The light that had seeped into Eolkas chest didnt only target her. All the heroes in the waiting room must have experienced something simr. Follow me. We should tell the others too. I took Eolka and went out to the training ground. Aaron was bouncing around the training ground with a terrified expression. Its a ghost! What are you doing? T-ta, Hyung-nim. This strange text ghost keeps following me! I ran up to Aaron and grabbed him. Dont panic. Its not a ghost or anything. Ill exin. W-what on earth is this? On the other hand, Jenna had apletelyposed face. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying it. Ah, so this how it is? This exins a lot! Oppa was looking at things like this. Yay! Jenna pointed at me and shouted. Appear, Status Window! . Huh? Why isnt it showing up? Mine was clearly visible. Where did you learn this? I heard you mumbling about it sometimes, Oppa. I felt a weird sensation, so I tried it and something fun came up. These letters these were what you were looking at, right? I nodded. I was nning to tell them anyway. It seemed like it will take more than an exnation to get free from them. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 54: Moving Forward Again (3) (1) Chapter 54: Moving Forward Again (3) (1) Thats it for the exnation. I swallowed the water. Perhaps because I had been talking a lot, my throat felt dry. The three of them looked at me with puzzled expressions. It seemed they didnt fully understand. Jenna raised her hand and spoke. So, there are levels, stats, and skills, and thanks to these, we can be stronger quickly, right? Exactly. When we talk about the stats window, its referring to your specifications. You can guess your own strength by looking at those. There have been times after a fight when I suddenly felt stronger. It must have been from leveling up. Its hard to believe. Even for any magician, such a thing would be impossible. Eolka muttered in a disappointed voice. Levels, stats, skills, and status windows. It wouldnt be easy to ept. Gaining experience through monster hunting, acquiring skills through training, and growing. Even for me, who knew that this world was like a game, it was an unrealistic concept. Still, I felt relieved. Exining something only visible to my eyes had been difficult to postpone, but now that these guys could also see their specs, there was no need to hesitate. They have to learn to ept it. If they wont adapt to the rules of this world, they wouldnt survive. This will be your role from now on. Being able to objectively assess ones own status. It was more helpful for growth than I had thought. If I hadnt seen my status window, I would have had to take a much harder path. I finished drinking the water and said, You can exin it to others. Where did you learn about this? Weve never heard of such a thing. I just happened to find out. Just happened to? Thats suspicious Ahaha, Unnie! Oppa has been here right from the beginning. Thats right. He has a long history. Thats suspicious Eolka narrowed her eyes and said, Well, if you dont want to talk about it, you dont have to. Everyone has at least one secret. The advice you gave was helpful, though. Thats right, thats right. Its incredibly helpful. Its be a part of who we are. Youre really good at ttery. Its not ttery, its a survival strategy. Jenna began to tell how we met and how I had ovee difficulties. The topic had shifted. Eventually, Aaron joined in. Eolka turned her gaze away from me but still listened to the conversation. I smiled. If they survive till the end, I n to tell them everything. Of course, that would be when the timees to part ways. The next morning. Jenna gathered everyone and began exining about the status windows. Those who quickly understood were mainlybat-oriented individuals. Sensing that they had be unusually strong due to some sort of power, it was only natural for them to believe that. However, for now, they could only see their own status windows. They couldnt see the status windows of other heroes or system messages, only a small part of what I could see. Whether this was due to a lower research level or if I was something special, I still didnt know. It would naturally be clear as time goes on. Evening training that day. Up until now, the training weve done has been to improve our physique and gain skills, right? Jenn asked. Thats right. Three arrows were fired. Jenna pulled the bowstring far away. One step per movement. After mastering rapid fire, her shooting speed had be abnormally fast. I blocked and deflected arrows as I rushed towards Jenna. Thud! The sharp sound of metal friction echoed. Jenna swiftly drew a dagger in an instant and blocked the de with it. As I thought. Something was off. The des shed. Jenna moved fluidly and swung her dagger, finding an opening. In the instant Jennas movement continued, she thrust her de. Oh my! Jenna hastily retrieved the dagger and leaped backward in a midair somersault, then resumed shooting. The weapon transition was seamless, without a hint of hesitation. It was the effect of switching. Its light. Arrows caught in the path of the de fell like leaves. There was no need to use a shield. The moment the arrow was released, its trajectory could be anticipated. I sidestepped and avoided three arrows with a single step. With a single swing, I broke two arrows. Unbelievable In no time, Jennas quiver was empty. I tossed her a new quiver full of arrows. Jenna looked at me as if she couldnt believe it. The training ground was littered with the remains of broken arrows. Is that a skill too? Blocking everything. Thats right. Its not fair. I cantnd a hit on you at all. If theres a skill for blocking, wouldnt there also be a skill for piercing through it? Jenna tilted her head with a puzzled expression. At that moment, I rushed at Jenna. My target was her slender neck, like that of a deer. Just before red blood would spurt, Jenna lowered her head. The de grazed Jennas hair and passed by. Youre really trying to kill me! That would be fine too. Hehe! Several thrusts passed through Jennas body, but there were no fatal wounds yet to halt the duel. I could slit her throat. I could tear her abdomen. Any fatal injury would do. As long as I didnt kill her with a single strike, it was okay. In the past, Jenna would shoot arrows from a distance, and I would stand still and block them, but we had reached a stage where this level of training didnt satisfy us anymore. To level up our skills, harsher conditions were necessary. Realbat weapons, no rules. Until the opponent was about to die. After that strike event with the master, we decided on this training, it was designed for maintaining the sense of realbat, for more efficient training, and to not forget the real sensation after that long break. Those who hadnt experienced properbat looked at us as if we were crazy, but I paid them no mind. The results would show who would survive longer. Spectators were gathered in a circle at the training ground, observing us. Am I some sort of entertainment for you? For a moment, annoyance welled up, but it wasnt worth caring about. I ignored them and continued the duel. Ping! Piping! Dodge and deflect. Whether it was arrows or daggers, the natural course of action had been ingrained. The sword moved naturally even without intentional thought. My mastery of weapons had already gone beyond conscious level, approaching the realm of the unconscious. Jenna evaded each sword strike with agile body movements, but she couldnt prevent the wounds from umting. If she shot arrows, I blocked them. With a dagger, she couldnt beat the reach of a longsword. Jenna leaped backward, clicking her tongue. I cant believe this! 18 wins out of 19 matches. That was the record of my duels with Jenna. Chapter 54: Moving Forward Again (3) (2) Chapter 54: Moving Forward Again (3) (2) 18 wins out of 19 matches. That was the record of my duels with Jenna. Of course, the 18 wins were mine. The one loss I had was due to an unfortunate ovep of coincidences, almost like an ident. Are you going to surrender? Aaron is waiting. Oh, no, Im fine Aaron waved his hand. Adding to that, his record was 32 losses out of 32 matches. We had never gone over 10 minutes. I should probably insert two of them at the same time. By my estimation, it was time for the levels of my Skill Inferior Swordsmanship at level 6 and Projectile Defense Skill at level 2 to rise. With the right opportunity, I would soon be able to break through that barrier. Just as I was contemting the skills, Jenna raised her head. No. Ill try a little longer. Alright, lets do it. I thrust my sword forward and leaped. In that moment. [Twang!] [Jenna () has acquired Weakness Detection!] A red cross-shaped light shed in Jennas eyes. Ping! Ping-ping! With a timeg, three arrows flew. Thanks to the Projectile Defense skill, the trajectory, speed, and point of impact were all visualized in my mind. The three arrows followed each other meticulously, exploiting openings. My way of dealing with arrows was to dodge or block. With this, I could block the second arrow as well. However, the precise aim of the third and final arrow was at a point where I couldnt react. ng! I deflected the third arrow with my shield. It was the first time I used a shield in a duel against Jenna. Augh! Jenna eximed in disappointment. With my sword extended, I muttered, Where did you learn this? I just thought of it. If theres a skill for blocking, there should be one for piercing, so I wanted to try Originally, I had intended to give her a hint after the duel was over. Jenna had two ways to ovee her current challenge. Shoot with such force that I couldnt block it, or aim at a spot where its hard to block. The first was a skill called Strong Bow, and the second was the Weakness Detection she had just gained. Its interesting. Did she acquire the skill with just a casualment? Moreover, Weakness Detection was one of the skills that had significant synergy with rapid fire. There might not be a need to include Aaron. I extended my sword. Lets go again. It wont be easy like before. The random arrows being shot at me became more precise. The first arrow forced a reaction, and the second or third aimed at vital spots. Sometimes, a fake shot was mixed in. Dealing with them became much more challenging. She could now include both real and fake movements within the shooting. [Jenna ()s Low-Grade Archery has increased to Level 6!] Arrows came relentlessly. In the past, I would have deflected them all at once and closed the distance, but I couldnt narrow the gap between Jenna and me as easily. I didnt use the shield unless it was an emergency. This was still a training to acquire skills. I needed to go beyond just observing the trajectory. If I could grasp the intention behind the arrows. Time seemed to slow down. Something like white threads started appearing at the tips of the arrows, almost like ethereal strands. [Skill Awakening!] [Thud!] [Han ()s Projectile Defense has increased to Level 3!] [Han ()s Inferior Swordsmanship has increased to Level 7!] [Han () has acquired Insight!] ng ng ng ng! I deflected the arrows without leaving anything behind and closed in. Then, with a bewildered expression, I thrust my sword into Jennas neck. Does this make it 19 wins for me? Mo, monster Amidst the crowd of onlookers, I heard that voice. As I turned my gaze, they scattered like a swarm of ants. Insight. It helped distinguish illusions, slightly enhanced vision and also provided versatile benefits by giving adjustments to weapon skills. There seemed to be effects I didnt know about as well. So, how many skills do I have? I brought up the status window. [Han Israth () Lv. 11(Exp 53/110)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 27/27] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Stamina: 25/25] [Agility: 25/25] [Owned Skills: Inferior Swordsmanship (Lv.7), Projectile Defense (Lv.3), Insight (Lv.1), Fire Resistance (Lv.2), Pain Resistance (Lv.3), Composure (Lv.3), Frenzy (Lv.1), Equestrianism (Lv.1)] Its quite a few. From Inferior Swordsmanship to Equestrianism, there were a total of 8 skills. Its too many for a 2-star Level 11. Coincidentally, Jenna and Aaron were discussing skills. Aaron oppa, how many skills do you have? Me? Well. Inferior Spear Technique, Pain Resistance, Fire Resistance. Those three. What about you, Jenna? Inferior Archery, Inferior Dagger Technique, Switching, Quick Draw, Weakness Detection, Eagle Eye, Agile Body theres something else too. Thats enough. Aaron mumbled with a mncholic voice. I interjected, Having many skills doesnt necessarily make you stronger. The strength of skills is determined by level and synergy more than quantity. Having too many skills could even be a disadvantage. For example, my Ferocity and Calmness. They became quite the oddbination. But its true they lean towards the stronger side. From Agile Body to Forest Hunter, and even Fire Resistance. Jenna had a total of 9 skills. Anyway, during the ongoing training, Anytng was diligently managing the waiting room. Iselles voice calling for members to go to the dungeon rang incessantly. The equipment workshop was running day and night, and asional messages announcing the summoning of 1-star monsters appeared. One point I wanted to make was to avoid synthesis, and if they read the documents I sent properly, they should be able to learn how and when to use it. The 15th floor is right ahead, but there seems to be some freedom for now. After the strike, we visited the dungeon a few times, but all were under the 10th floor. Unless we achieve a certain level of growth, it seemed we didnt intend to send anyone to the 15th floor. I dont want to relive the struggles I had on the 5th and 10th floors. I want to challenge it when Im in the best condition. But even if I could do that, I cant guarantee 100% survival. Gripping his spear with a tense expression, Aaron came out of the training field. I adjusted my sword. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 55: Reporting Ceremony (1) (1) Chapter 55: Reporting Ceremony (1) (1) A few days had passed, and it was evening. Jenna and I were waiting on a bench in the square. Master was logged in, and in the item synthesis window, three-colored stones were swirling and mixing. [Initiating item synthesis!] [Selected materials Lesser Fire Attribute Stone, Lesser Water Attribute Stone, Lesser Wind Attribute Stone] [Completed item Lesser Attribute Stone] [Sess probability 87%] [Synthesis method Automatic] [Would you like to proceed with synthesis?] [Yes (selected) / No] As Anytng touched Yes, the rotation of the attribute stones sped up and began to gather in one ce. With the sound of fireworks exploding, a white light colored the synthesis window. System messages and control panels moved chaotically in the field of view, but only I could see them. Jenna, in an awkward posture on the bench, poked me and said, This is about the promotion, right? Yeah. If the status window is visible, an exnation about the grade must be included. I exined to them that ording to the grade, there are limits to growth, and upgrading allows you to break through them. While delving deeper into stars and grades might not provide a hundred percent certainty, this much information was sufficient for now. After the strike incident, Anytng had consistently trained Party 1 on the 8th and 9th floors. I reached Level 12, Eolka was at Level 8, Aaron at 9, and Jenna achieved Level 10. Level 10 is the threshold for promotion. Since we had steadily collected materials in the weekday dungeon, we could attempt promotion right away without wasting experience points. [Kudang-tang-tang!] [Fairy power!] [Fail!] [Synthesis failed!] [Materials will be consumed.] Failed that, huh. Attribute stones arent easy toe by. Rare monsters arent always present in that spot, and the drop rate isnt high either. Still, we had prepared extra attribute stones for such cases. Anytng opened the synthesis window again and attempted thebination. [Good!] [Synthesisplete!] [You have obtained the Lesser Attribute Stone.] A sess message appeared. After a while, Iselle emerged from the warehouse holding an upgrade stone. [Youre also getting a 2nd grade promotion. Time really flies.] Iselle threw the upgrade stone with a resentful expression. Jenna epted the upgrade stone and examined its surface. It looks fascinating. [Master, starting the promotion!] nk. The door to the synthesis chamber opened. Jenna stared inside the synthesis chamber with a tense expression. I wont die, right? Who knows. I couldnt predict what would happen during the promotion process. I couldnt see it before as a Master, and what I actually experienced was somewhat unique. Anyway, Ill be back! Jenna saluted me and walked into the synthesis chamber. As soon as Jenna entered, both the promotion chamber and the synthesis chamber doors closed simultaneously. While Jenna was undergoing promotion, I admired the knight sculpture disyed on the fountain. I had left the sculpture here andpletely forgotten about it, but someone seemed to have created a pedestal and decorated it. Boring. I didnt really need to be present at the promotion site. It was because Jenna worried and asked me toe with her. Tired of admiring the sculpture, I organized my thoughts. Once Aaronpletes his promotion as well, we will start training at the 10th floor. This meant that the challenge of the 15th floor was just around the corner. It was time to start preparing for conquering the 15th floor. Unlike the 10th floor, the 15th floor didnt trigger a linked quest, but it was influenced by certain aspects of the previous stages. Even though not explicitly stated, it provided some information to deduce parts of the mission. For the sake of survival, I couldnt ignore even the smallest hints. While I was briefly organizing this information, a message refreshed. [The Forgotten Memories of a Hero awaken.] [Jenna (), Promotionplete! Upgraded to 2nd grade.] As the door to the synthesis chamber opened, Jenna walked out. Herplexion was unusually pale. What happened? Jenna plopped down beside me and said, I had a strange dream. It was about the forest where I used to live, burning. A dream, huh. Thats I somehow Forget it. No need to worry about it. Jenna, who had been a bit gloomy for a moment, awkwardly chuckled. Ahaha, right? There are all sorts of bad dreams, after all. Anything else? Well, that was it. A feeling like I broke through? Other than that, nothing. It seemed like, for the most part, the typical promotion process ends with viewing memories. In my case, it had been a matter of being unlucky. It seems like promotions help in recovering memories. Then, the current heroes must be in a state of memory loss. Probably by the time they reach 4th grade, or at thetest, 5th grade, the heroes will have a rough understanding of the truth. How they were summoned, and what happened to their worlds. Since my case was a bit different, the momories that came back didnt belong to me. The next day, Jenna regained her usual liveliness. Later on, Aaron alsopleted his promotion. Since I didnt apany him this time, I couldnt know what kind of dream he had. However, his determination to return seemed much stronger than before. Aaron had not rested from training untilte at night. Chapter 55: Reporting Ceremony (1) (2) Chapter 55: Reporting Ceremony (1) (2) Deep into the night. The clock points to dawn. Aaron gazed at me with a tired expression. Dark circles had formed under his eyes. It was a natural change, considering he hadnt rested from morning till night. Aaron spoke, Arent you going back, Hyung-nim? I have things to do. Youre working harder than me. I should work harder too. If you push too hard, youll ruin your body. Take it easy. Youre Im fine. Aaron forced a bitter smile and left the training ground. I looked around the training ground. Just half a day ago, the training ground had been bustling with people, but now it was eerily empty. With my sword drawn, I approached a wooden statue. A human-shaped doll. As the training grounds reached Level 2, the practice equipment evolved from scarecrows to wooden statues. I activated the switch in my mind. [Han () has entered a frenzied state!] My mind instantly heated up. A sense of omnipotence, like I could do anything, surged through my bodys nerves. After adjusting my stance, I began my forms. Right eye. Left shoulder. Heart. Lower abdomen. Ribcage. Groin. Calves. With each dance of the sword, the wood was shaved away, and splinters flew. About 3 minutester. The wooden statue was damaged all over. This wooden statue was impervious to most sword cuts. Aaron had to put all his strength into his thrusts to even leave a slight mark. But now, it had fallen to a mere piece of wood. My strength has definitely increased. Even from the status window, the changes were clear. Except for intelligence, all stats had increased by 5. I approached the wooden statue closely and carefully observed it. I was checking if the sword had gone into the intended spot. urately thrusting the weapon exactly where I wanted was one of the fundamental skills I had mastered most faithfully. However, after a while, I could only let out a disappointed sigh. As expected, its iplete. The swords thrust is slightly off from the intended point. Itcked uracy. In a normal situation, there shouldnt be any deviation. When I trigger frenzy, though my rationality wouldnt be lost due toposure, there was still a penalty. As I turned off the switch in my mind, the heat quickly subsided. Instead, a dull ache spread throughout my body. If the skills synergize with each other, they should merge into one, ideally. Just as Lesser Swordsmanship and Lesser Shield Technique changed to Lesser Sword and Shield Technique, if two skills are properly harmonized, they should merge into one skill. I tried an experiment just in case, and it was confirmed. When you trigger frenzy, the body gets stronger, but skills decline and you loseposure. Light erupted from the wooden statue that had turned into shards, and it began to reform. I activated frenzy once again and resumed practice. Suppressing the heat in my mind, I didnt lose control of my body. The goal was to merge skills. The two skills needed to merge into one. I wanted toplete it, at least before reaching the 15th floor. Since it wasnt something pleasant to show to others, I was practicing alone. But after a while, I realized someone was watching me. I stopped my movement. Turning around, I saw Edis leaning against the wall, looking at me. When our eyes met, Edis waved her hand with a slight smile. Workingte into the night, huh? And you what made you stay upte? Unlike Aaron, whos a training fanatic, Edis often finishes training quickly. It wasntmon for her to stay untilte evening. Edis stepped away from the wall and slowly approached me. I have something to say. Something to say? Were soon heading to the 12th floor. Thats right. Edis is originally part of the 2nd party, but shes temporarily in the 1st party. At first, she stumbled somewhat, but through battles upon battles, she was now providing more than her fair share. Edis hesitated for a moment, then spoke with a firm voice. Have you ever killed a person? What a strange question. After sheathing my sword, I turned to Edis. Why are you asking that? I heard you guys arentbat-oriented. Jenna is a hunter, Aaron is a forester, and you were a farmer, right? Hard to believe, but still. So? Killing a person is different from killing a monster. Edis focus seemed to blur. She appeared to be recalling distant memories. From the 12th floor onward The enemies be human, huh? Edis nodded silently. So thats it. The 2nd party that tackled the 12th floor first. Asher and Dica had gone right up to the point of dying on the 12th floor, which became a crucial reason for the 2nd party to join the strike. It seems that their struggle wasnt due to the difficulty of the mission, but due to its nature. Are you asking about our determination? Yeah, to survive. I guess you know the answer better. I chuckled and replied. My life here was already established through the deaths of others. Shay. Toby. Avant. There were already three synthised in me. The number would only increase in the future. Edis let out a bitterugh. Thats true. The Fangwolf members were practically killed by you. Are you trying to me me? No, Im just well, I dont even know what Im trying to say. Whateveres out, no matter how they look, to me these creatures are monsters. You might think that way, but your party might be different. They wont be different. But if they have other opinions, I wont be the one saving them. Humanoid monsters undoubtedly existed. And quite a lot of them. Not just humanoid, there were also plenty of normal humans among the enemies. I didnt expect that after the skeletons from the 11th floor we will have to fight humans at the 12th floor, but I knew it was something I had to face sooner orter. I continued. In short, its an unnecessary worry. Does that answer your question? Fine, I got it. Edis hesitated briefly before disappearing from the training area. Murder. Considered one of the worst crimes in modern society. Judging from Edis reaction, it didnt seem to be treated much differently in Townia. Ridiculous. I had ughtered hundreds of goblins, torn apart things that looked like humans in the 10th-floors ck Priest and walking corpses. I had grown tired of seeing people die. The color of blood, its scent, and its heat remained vividly imprinted. I drew my sword. There was still much to do. Read Next Chapter on Patreon Chapter 56: Reporting Ceremony (2) (1) Chapter 56: Reporting Ceremony (2) (1) [Party 1,e to the Square!] Iselles shout echoed out. I rose from my seat. Papers about Pick Me Up were scattered across the desk in the room. After collecting the papers and cing them in the drawer beneath the desk, I locked it. As I stepped out into the square, four people had gathered. Jenna, Aaron, Eolka, and even the temporary member Edis. From the rift, a party of three emerged, having just finished a battle. It was a reserve party of fiveposed of promising 1-star candidates. However, only three individuals came out. The three passed us with emotionless faces like ster statues. Are we gonna hit the 11th floor again today? Jenna, with a short bow slung over her back, asked. Probably the 12th floor. We had spent enough time on the 11th floor. Experience efficiency had dropped, and it was time to advance to the next stage. Anytng would know that too. [Open, The Rift of Time and Space!] Creak. The door at the front of the square opened. The three went in, and as Edis was about to follow, she grabbed my sleeve and whispered. Is it okay to not say anything? What do you mean? Fighting against humans. Its not like were children. No need to exin everything. I answered and went inside. After Edis let out a sigh and entered, the door closed behind her. The mirror on the left lit up and a message appeared. [Main Dungeon, the current challenge floor is the 12th floor.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Get ready!] Edis spoke in a low voice. Whatever happens, just do what needs to be done. I know even without you saying it. If you know, even better. Jenna blinked with a puzzled expression. Aaron turned to Edis. Are the monsters on the 12th floor that strong? Theyre not too strong. Youll see when we get there. Ediss eyes grew cold. Swish. I drew my sword. The sound of the de scraping against the sheath tickled my ears. The longsword caught the light, casting a sinister gleam. Teleport, maybe the nth time. When the light that filled my vision disappeared, I found myself in an unfamiliar ce. [Floor 12.] [Mission Type Subjugation.] [Objective Annihte the enemy!] The field resembled a city. Brick-paved roads stretched between low walls and buildings. However, the streets are deserted. Unnamed leaves are swept away by the wind and fly far in the distance. Were subjugating. Where are the enemies? Jenna nocked an arrow with confidence. Confident eyes. The effect of Heroic Responsiveness Research. Now, other heroes could also see the mission objectives disyed as system messages. [Human Soldier Lv.11 X 13] Hu human soldiers? Jenna tilted her head curiously. Who are you people? A mans voice came from the other side. I turned my gaze to that direction. Across the street, seven armed soldiers were looking in our direction. d in chainmail and helmets, they aimed their spears at us. They can see us. Different from NPCs. So theyre enemies. I drew my shield. Aaron intervened. Hyung-nim, theyre not monsters. Theyre humans, arent they? You mean you wont fight? Well, I think we should at least talk first. I turned around. The three of them had puzzled expressions. Eolka, who had been rigid, regained herposure and spoke. I agree. We might get information about this ce. We could pass without fighting. Not fight? I dont want to take unnecessary lives either. What about you? Ah, well Jenna scratched her head. Edis was standing far away from us, her eyes closed as if she didnt care. Hyung-nim Aarons eyes were wavering. He doesnt want to fight. I could probably force him to listen, but considering what lies ahead, it wouldnt be a good approach. It seemed like they needed to see it themselves. Lets do that. Thank you. Ill try talking to them. Aaron walked towards the road. When he reached the middle of the road, Aaron shouted. I am Aaron. I wish to speak with you! Aaron stopped in the middle of the road. A figure who seemed like a leader stepped forward. Were in the same boat! We were dragged to this strange ce for no reason. What are you saying? Its soplicated that its hard to exin. It might be better if youe closer. Dont worry, we wont harm you. We just want to go back. We cant leave because of the strange barrier. Then Ille to you. Put down your weapons before youe. Ourrades are quite wary. Aaron hesitated but lowered his spear. I said, Stop. Yes? Are you an idiot? Are you just going to do what they say? I grinned then shouted. Come over here, all of you. Put down your weapons. Were also wary. Thats inconvenient! Its okay for us to drop our weapons, but its not okay for you? As I argued, the leaders expression noticeably hardened. After conversing with the soldiers beside him, the leader nodded. Fine. Three of us will go instead. As many as you want. The leader and two subordinates ced their weapons on the ground and approached us. Hyung-nim, are you trying to talk to them? Ifmunication was possible, there were things I wanted to ask. There was a lot of information to be obtainedhow they came to this stage, and how they ended up being judged by the system as monsters. Any thing else that they knew. If thats possible. ng. ng. ng. With each step the soldier took, the joints of their armor emitted a friction sound. The leader stopped three meters away and spread his hands, speaking. As you can see, were unarmed. Wed appreciate it if you treated us the same way. Thud! My shield tumbled on the road. Afterward, the sword was dropped beside it. Is that enough? Fine. Now we can talk properly. But do you know? Theres a constant voice in my head. I cant stop it even if I try to block my ears. The leader approached me slowly. The voice is saying this and that. Its still talking even now. Oh, really? And what is it saying? Well, thats The mans pupils turned bloodshot. Dark blood vessels started throbbing beside his eyes. Its telling me to kill you! Chapter 56: Reporting Ceremony (2) (2) Chapter 56: Reporting Ceremony (2) (2) Its telling me to kill you! The leader drew a dagger from his belt. The two beside him retrieved small crossbows from their bosoms. I kicked the sword I had been holding on the instep and sent it flying upward. As it rotated, I caught the rising sword in my hand. Evading the dagger-like short swords that were directed at me, I plunged the de into the back of one of the mens necks. With my left hand, I drew a dagger from my belt and threw it. The dagger embedded itself in the eye of the soldier who had aimed a crossbow at me. I withdrew the sword from the neck and shed the upper body of the soldier who lost all strength. Simultaneously, Ediss thrown dragger struck the forehead of the third man like a dart. The bodies of the three humans spewed blood as they crumbled. Among the corpses, I stood with my sword dripping hot blood. The dense smell of blood surged even into my head. I spread out the blood-soaked de and said, Do you still intend to talk? I had seen a simr incident during my Masters days. The enemies were humans, and the hesitant heroes perished. Negotiation didnt exist. No matter who emerged, no matter how they emerged. Kill or be killed. Aaron raised his head, then silently picked up the spear from the ground. An emotionless voice flowed from his mouth. Do we have to kill them all? Yeah. Negotiation wont work. Understood. Aaron tightened his grip on the spear and aimed at the enemies. The five soldiers were already in abat stance. Jenna, do you have any intention of sparing them? If we dont kill them, well be killed. And you call that an exnation. Well, its fine. Were in a desperate situation. Were desperate! Squish! An arrow that had left the quiver hit a soldiers chest. He fell over with wide eyes. Due to the pressure from the ground, the arrow pierced through his chest and emerged from his back. Eolka couldnt care less. She had already started casting fire magic. Edis, watching this, muttered bitterly. It seems I worried for nothing. Its a given. What I valued most in choosing party members wasnt talent or strength, but mental resilience. It was the desire, the determination to do whatever it takes to survive. Prepare for battle. The formation wasplete. Aaron and I in the front, Jenna and Edis in the middle, and Eolka in the rear. With four enemies dead, they numbered nine. The soldiers charged at us with a mor akin to the sound of metal shing. These guys arent normal. Edis spun her daggers in her hands. Abnormal. Literally. ck veins resembling sinister tattoos sprawled across their faces and skin. Madness flickered in their pupils. Ignite! Whoosh. A wall of mes surged forth in front of us. Aaah! Two soldiers engulfed in mes writhed in agony and perished. The metal tes of their heated armor glowed red. Through the mes, Jennas arrow pierced through the air. A middle-aged soldier with a beard lunged at me with a spear. I blocked with my shield while moving my left hand. The spearhead slid off the shield, causing the soldier to stagger. In front of himy my sword. Apanied by a stter of blood, his neck was almost severed, and he copsed while clutching his throat, gurgling as he died. Weak. They may be properly equipped, but their formation and discipline werecking. They charged haphazardly, swinging their weapons. It didnt even take five minutes to sort them out. In an instant, twelve bodies littered the city square. Only one remained. He sat trembling, quaking in fear. I wiped blood off my de against the wall and approached the soldier. He spat and raised his voice. Please spare me! Spare me! I have a wife and daughter waiting for me. I need to go back! Ba-back home. I need to go home! How do you n to go back? Thats aaah! The soldier grabbed his head and screamed. As the soldier screamed, ck blood spewed from his mouth, and he copsed. Then, his movement ceased. He was dead. Eolka grimaced andmented, These people are strange. Edis sheathed her dagger on her belt. Theyve been brainwashed. Ive seen it a few times. Still, this level of thorough brainwashing on this many people is new. Well, if you think about it,st time Are they the same bastards? Yeah. We definitely killed them, but the same bastards showed up. I wiped the tar-like, thick, ck blood off the ground. It was the same as that bi*ch. I still couldnt figure it out. There were too few clues. But these guys were nothing special, they were just trapped on the 12th floor. Soon, light enveloped us. It was the return signal. [Stage Clear!] [Jenna (), Edis (), Level Up!] [Reward 3500G, Leather (C) X 1] [MVP Han ()] We returned through the rift. Edis had already left. The battle was easy, but weariness was etched on the faces of the three. I sheathed my sword and spoke. Get used to it. I will too. Yeah. Whether its a monster or a human, theres not much difference. The blood that had covered my body disappeared without a trace. However, the acrid smell lingered at the tip of my nose for a long while. Taking a life. There was no hesitation, no thrill, as I had imagined. It would be the same in the future. It wasughable to think that after killing so many monsters I would have a problem killing humans. I would do it if necessary. No matter who the opponent was. Back in my room, I organized my materials once again. Humanoid creatures appeared on the 12th floor. If simr guys appeared on the 13th and 14th floors, I could estimate the monsters that would appear on the 15th floor. Based on the methods and times of the three parties extermination, I could guess the nature of the mission. . I couldnt help but think about what happened again. Suddenly, a thought struck me. Have I changed? Well, if I had, that would make sense. The me on Earth and the me in the waiting room had changed in many ways. But I didnt have any regrets. There was no choice but to change. If I hadnt, I would have died. It was inevitable. Going back will be tough, readjusting again. I sighed and continued my work. Hello Everyone, I hope you like the websites new look.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 57: Mission Type, Escort (1) (1) Chapter 57: Mission Type, Escort (1) (1) As expected, humanoid monsters appeared on the 13th and 14th floors. Though the personnel, equipment, and formation differed, there was onemonality. The fact that they harbored an unwavering hostility towards us. Ironically, it was fortunate. Thanks to this, party members could deal with their enemies without hesitation. However, battles against humanoids raised stress levels slightly more than fighting demon-like creatures. Even Anytng, who was careless in most situations, refrained from recklessly spinning around. Once a day. After the battles ended, there was rest. Conditioning management was important in preparation for the 15th floor. Days passed like this. Party 1 reached the appropriate level for conquering the 15th floor. I was level 15, Jenna and Aaron were level 13, and Eolka and Edis were level 11. We hadnt reached the maximum level, but it takes a long time to raise the levels even for two three-star members. The experience efficiency was low. It was one of the few drawbacks of being heroes with high innate ranks. The equipment workshop was operational again. This time, leather pouches were distributed. These were essory items that increased the limit for carrying consumables like potions. It was not a bad choice. It was better to carry an extra potion or two than to upgrade trash equipment. As the conquest drew near, I set a goal for the party members. The goal was to acquire at least one skill before attempting to conquer the 15th floor. This time, the second party that wasnt joining the expedition provided assistance by sticking together overnight for training. And, [Give Han() Minor Vitality Potion.] [Give Han() Minor Vitality Potion.] [Dont drop it. Its expensive!] Iselle, perched on the cart, threw a vitality potion. I epted the potion and put it into the pouch on my belt. Then, I took another and put it in. Iselles hand slipped as she tried to throw the third one. ng! [The Minor Vitality Potion has been destroyed!] [Tips/Items can be lost during the process of carrying them.] Expensive, you say? [I, I dont know. Its the fault of the master who made me do it!] Iselle pped her wings and blushed. The shattered ss fragments and the red liquid disappeared as they were absorbed into the ground. Redistribution began again. This time, it was Jennas turn. [Give Jenna () the Low Life Potion .] A total of five people gathered in the square. Me, Jenna, Aaron, Eolka, and Edis. Master was gathering the party members for item distribution. The intention was clear to anyone. It was to challenge for the 15th floor. I observed the members of the first party. Jenna muttered to herself that she could do it, Aaron held his spear with determination until his hands turned red. Eolka was taking deep breaths. Edis had her eyes closed. Each of them was finding their own way to ease the tension. There was no one excessively stiff. Having gone through numerous practical battles with me, they naturally possessed this level of know-how. I finally nced at my status window. [Han Israt() Lv. 15(Exp 38/120)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 35/35] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Health: 32/32] [Agility: 30/30] [Skills: Minor Swordsmanship(Lv.7), Minds Eye(Lv.4), me Resistance(Lv.2), Pain Resistance(Lv.4), Composure(Lv.4), Frenzy(Lv.3), Equestrianism(Lv.1)] Total stat value: 107. For a level 15 two-star, these were quite decent stats. It was sufficient topare with advanced three-stars. The result of effort and calction. Approximately two months had passed since arriving here. Not a single day had been taken for rest. I had seven skills. Excluding Equestrianism, which was a support skill, there were six skills that directly aidedbat. Minds Eye was a skill I refined through focused concentration. Itbined the abilities of insight and projectile defense. By significantly enhancing my ability to deflect projectiles, it granted defense effects, as well as enabling me to discern the openings in my opponents defenses. This skill was of A-grade quality and had been part of my nned acquisitions since my arrival here. Also, Pain Resistance, Composure, and Frenzy had each been raised several levels. Activating frenzy every dawn resulted in this. Improving mental skills wasnt easy, but I seemed to have found an effective training method. [And were ending with this!] A vial of mana potion was held in Eolkas hand. Three potions per person. The warehouse door opened, and the empty cart moved on its own into the interior. Iselle wiped the sweat from her forehead and exhaled with a snort, saying, [Listen carefully to what Han says, everyone. If you want to survive, follow orders.] Why do you keep saying unnecessary things? [Its to build morale. If you follow orders half-heartedly, youll end up in trouble.] Even without you saying, I know how to handle my party. [Is that so? Anyway, lets gather strength for the 15th floor. Dont die!] With a sprinkle of stardust, Iselle vanished. Simultaneously, the door leading to the rift opened. Shes always so bossy. Jenna shrugged her shoulders and entered. After that, members of the first party entered one by one. Lastly, as I entered, the door closed. [Climb the Tower, Save the World!] [Main Dungeon: Current Floor 14] 15th floor. There were some expectations, but the exact nature of the mission wasnt known. It wasnt like the quests on the 10th floor. I spoke up. Do as youve been doing. If you stay focused, you can return alive. I can just follow you, right? Dont rely on me too much. Its okay to rely on you. Your instructions are urate. Edis chuckled. I nced at the system message at the top of my field of vision. The control panel was moving chaotically. [Using recording function.] [Recording allows you to save the record of this stage as a video. You can watch it anytime. But, for this, you need to purchase the feature.] Is he saving reys? Its not a bad habit. I, too, had analyzed the features of heroes, their achievements, and the types of stages by re-watching stages I had already cleared numerous times. There were many things that couldnt be understood with just a single viewing. Furthermore, it was useful in identifying the causes of stage failures. Analyzing past records greatly helped in nurturing insight and judgment. Although there wasnt much that the master could contribute to the mission yet, this would change as we advanced in floors. Training now would help you shine in the future. [Would you like to purchase the Recording Function? This will consume 300 gems.] [Yes (Selected) / No] sh! A temporary sh urred in the rift of time and space. [Congrattions, Master!] [From now on, you can enjoy the heros records.] A triangle appeared at the top of my field of vision, indicating the start of the recording. Simultaneously, a faint light emerged from the mirror on the left. I took a deep breath. Everyone. The party members attention was focused on me. I spoke. This mission has two features. First, its a special mission. Recall the exnation of the statue of the goddess on the 10th floor. I mentioned that if it was destroyed, we would all perish. In this 15th floor, theres a simr condition for total annihtion. The 3rd party entered the 15th floor and was wiped out in just 5 minutes. There was no appearance of fear, panic, or any kind of death state before their demise. Meaning, they didnt experience any battle. They failed the mission without even understanding it, and as a consequence, they were wiped out. Then, what we need to do when we enter is to find Right, Edis. We need to quickly find the objective. And prevent mission failure. However, we dont have much time. At best, around 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes? Party 3 went in and died in 5 minutes. Do you understand the significance? If youre just spacing out inside, the mission fails automatically. Well all be wiped out. This is the second feature. The flow of time between the waiting room and the stage is different. If you trante this, the time given to us is about 15 minutes. This missions time is not much. In other words, its a time attack rule where you must satisfy conditions within a limited time. Once we enter the mission, we have 3 minutes to gather information and move. All four nodded. [Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is the 15th floor.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Prepare yourselves!] The light gradually intensified, filling the rift of time and space. And as the light dimmed, we found ourselves in an unfamiliar ce. I looked around. Hello Everyone, I hope you like the websites new look.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 57: Mission Type, Escort (1) (2) Chapter 57: Mission Type, Escort (1) (2) [Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is the 15th floor.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Prepare yourselves!] The light gradually intensified, filling the rift of time and space. And as the light dimmed, we found ourselves in an unfamiliar ce. I looked around. The sky was clear. The time was daytime. The 15th floor is also a city. I surveyed the surroundings again, this time more meticulously. If the 10th floors city had rough stone-based buildings and a chaotic structure, this city was neatly organized. Multistory wooden buildings and well-maintained roads resembling a checkerboard caught the eye. Is it really true? We must go! Two scruffy old men passed past us. There were also many other people. Citizens were going about their daily lives in various parts of the city. Hagglers bargaining with shopkeepers at the fruit store. Children ying in the alleys. Passersby dressed for some destination. However, these people didnt seem interested in us. They were NPCs who couldnt see us. An elderly woman with a hunchback met my gaze. As if not seeing us, she ignored us and walked somewhere. The atmosphere is different from the 10th floor. Back then, I could clearly understand that things were turning for the worse. But this time, there was no foreboding. A peaceful everyday life was unfolding in the city. And then, the mission window appeared in thendscape. [Floor 15.] [Mission Type Escort] [Objective Protect the designated individual.] The four of us focused on one point. We were looking at the objective window. There were no warning messages, no messages indicating enemy status and numbers. Only the objective window was disyed. I nced at passing citizens and then spoke. Gather. All four came closer. I spoke. As you can see, the mission is an escort. We dont have much time, as I mentioned. We need to find the designated person. Theyll probably die soon. Who do we have to protect? We cant see any monsters, only people. Who should we protect? And where is he? These were the key questions of this mission. Does anyone know about this ce? I do, Hyungnim. Ivee here to sell things before. Really? Yes. Its called Adilt. Its a city with trade booming in every field. I dont know why were here, though Aarons voice trailed off. As expected, the stage of the mission is Townia. I closed my eyes briefly and then continued speaking. What are the unique ces in this city? Unique ces? Landmarks or historical sites, anything will do. If theres anything, let me know. In the center of the city, theres a grand temple dedicated to a goddess. Its famous as one of the holy sites of the sect. Its called the Silver Hall. Except for the saints, its one of the few temples on the continent. Ah, the Silver Hall! Ive heard of it. Its supposed to be huge. Then, are these people going to that temple? Most of the citizens on the street were moving in one direction. Aaron looked closely at them and gestured. It seems so. Looks like some event is happening. Is it an event location? Lets move. Lets go. Where are we going? To the center of the city. If there was more time, I would have gathered more information, but it was time to move. I took a step forward, and the party members followed. I nced at Edis, who was walking beside me. Edis, were going to the temple as we are. Ill need your assistance. Got it. Edis darted into an alleyway adjacent to the main road, then began climbing walls. She was the most agile person in the party, and with her unique ability to wield a dagger and a bow at the same time, she was well-suited for this role. She would follow us and provide assistance in acquiring information. There are so many people. Jenna remarked, watching the pedestrians passing by. She was right. As we headed towards the center of the city, the number of people increased. Moreover, their faces showed anticipation. I quickened my pace. After about three minutes of walking, the outline of a massive building appeared in the distance. And as we continued walking for a while, the scenery changed abruptly. A spacious square emerged, crowded with people of all ages and genders. The entire poption of the city seemed to be gathering here. At the entrance of the square, two soldiers were conducting inspections. The soldiers were dressed in borate armor that glinted silver. Wings were engraved on the helmet in the shape of a cross. Aaron murmured briefly. Guards from the temple. The soldiers, who had been watching the pedestrians, turned their gaze towards us. As I approached them, they reached for the hilts of their swords at their waists. Stop. You cant enter I grabbed the head of one soldier, pulled him towards me, and smashed my knee into his nose. The sound of bones breaking apanied the spray of blood. The soldier fell without even being able to scream. This kind of s-! The soldier beside him attempted to blow a horn hanging around his neck. I struck the side of his face with my shield, then grabbed his head and mmed it against the wall. Thud! Thud! Thud! I did it three times before I let go of his head, and the soldier slid down the wall, groaning. Hyungnim, why did you suddenly Dont you get it? I poked the soldiers side with my toe. These bastards can see us. That meant Theyre enemies. Hello Everyone, I hope you like the websites new look.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 58: Mission Type, Escort (2) (1) Chapter 58: Mission Type, Escort (2) (1) Simple logic. During the 10th-floor defense mission, our allied soldiers and cavalry NPC allies couldnt observe us. However, these guys can clearly recognize us. As I approached, I felt the gaze of an enemy. It meant this wasnt an ordinary NPC. Eolka said, seeming perplexed. Well, they might not be enemies, you know? Theres a possibility for that too. Dont worry. I havent killed them. Half of them seem dead though Murmurs arose. Without warning, aical scene unfolded, attracting a crowd of onlookers. One witness began exining, gesturing wildly. Oh, well. The soldier suddenly copsed with a nosebleed. And the guy next to him, well, he did something too! He banged his head against the wall on his own. Like this, like this! The man with his head shaved pretended to smash his head against the wall. Thanks to the spectators, the path to the square became a bit quieter. I grabbed the horn hanging from the soldiers neck and tossed it into the sewer. Lets go. Were running out of time. We crossed the gate and entered the square. The square was packed with people, so densely crowded that it was impossible to move. The noise from hundreds of voices filled the surroundings. I tuned my ears to the chatter. Its said that if you touch it just once, you wont have any more wishes. I dont believe that. Probably just nonsense. Who are you to suspect anyone? Youre a guy who spends the whole day drinking. Well, you brat? Want to die? Come at me if you dare, you old fart. Youve been bothering me for a while now. Most of the conversations were meaningless, but among them, there were repeated words. Him. They referred to someone with a pronoun, not a name. It seemed that he was the reason so many people had gathered in the square. Its highly likely to be him. In the middle of the square stood a grand and splendid building reminiscent of a castle. Is that the Silver Hall? Yes. It was about 20 meters tall, with white marble walls and stained ss windows that shimmered with iridescent colors. On the domed roof stood statues depicting twin goddesses. The walls were intricately carved with mysteriousndscapes and patterns. Peoples attention was focused on the Silver Hall, particrly on one spot within it. A terrace stood 15 meters high. Look, Oppa. Someone seems to being out. Jenna pointed to the entrance of the terrace. And indeed, someone wasing out. It was an old man, dressed in a white priests robe. He nced across the crowd and then tapped his staff on the ground. [Everyone, be quiet!] A deep and authoritative voice spread across the entire square. Themotion that had been going on came to a sudden stop as people fell silent. Eolka murmured. Theyre using magic. [The sessor of the Sun has arrived. Do not cause a disturbance!] Time is being wasted. We werent here for sightseeing. The countdown was still ticking down, little by little. We will enter the temple. Inside the temple? Yes. It wasnt clear who we need to protect. There wasnt enough information. But there was no time to hesitate. It was time to make a decision. If such an event urred in the stage, it was highly likely that the guarded individual was a key figure in the event. Decisions need to be made quickly. I turned my gaze to the entrance of the temple. Soldiers d in armor were arranged beside the doorway with wings carved in relief. They were rigorously controlling who could enter. Suddenly, my eyes met with those of one soldier. I drew my sword from its scabbard. The soldiers eyes widened in astonishment. They can see us too. With my sword outstretched, I approached the entrance. Soldiers swarmed in. A man who seemed to be the leader stepped forward with a cautious expression. What are you guys? Step aside. Unless you want to get hurt. The temple is off-limits! Are you heretics? Heretics? Thats right. We serve the goddess I knocked over the ster statue of a goddess next to me. The statues waist snapped, and it shattered into pieces. Is this what you call heresy? You, you crazy bastard! Kill him! Apanied by sound effects, a warning window appeared. [Warning!] [Human Soldier Lv.13] X ? [Unknown Enemy Lv.???] X ? It was abat message indicating the appearance of enemies. So its the correct answer, huh. Phew, you. Youre really aggressive. Are you guys also believers of some kind of goddess cult or something? No. I only believe in myself. And Oppa. Aaron drew his spear. Jenna nocked an arrow. Well pierce through them and enter the temple. The target were guarding should be in there. ng! The soldiers simultaneously drew their weapons. Swords, spears, and halberds. Exterminate the heretics! Following the orders of their leader, the soldiers rushed forward. I put on my shield with my left hand and spoke. Push through. Yes! The soldier at the front swung his halberd. After deflecting it with my shield, I thrust my sword into his throat. Gah! Ugh! Amidst coughing up froth, the soldier behind him thrust his spear. As I turned my torso, the spear grazed the side of my leather armor. It bent, and my sword de pierced through thin steel, cutting through flesh. Gaaah! Yaaah! Another soldier charged with a halberd in hand. I crouched down and used my shield to sweep him off his feet. He spun in the air and I waved my sword downward. Dont engage them one by one. Run to the inside! Theres no need to fight them all. I swept aside the soldier charging at me and started running, the other three followed my suit. Among the people gathered in the square, some discovered the bodies. Ugh! What the a person, a person is dead! A high-pitched scream echoed through the square. We entered the stairs leading to the gate. The leader swung his sword and shouted. Block them! Protect the temple from the heretics! St! Thunk! An arrow pierced the leaders forehead. Jenna shot arrows at the soldiers following us as she ran up the stairs. She aimed at their legs and arms. Soldiers hidden beside the stone pirs beside the stairs revealed themselves. Ignore them! We dont have time. Aaron thrust his spear into the soldier guarding the door. Thud! I kicked open the door that led to the temples interior. Once I confirmed Eolka had entered as well, I closed the door behind her. Eolka. I know! Eolka quickly chanted a spell. A piece of wood from inside the temple rose by itself and got wedged between the door handles. Thump! Thump! Loud banging on the door echoed from outside. A middle-aged priest who had been reading a book on the altar opened his eyes wide. Wh-who are you people? How did you get here I quickly surveyed the interior. There were passages to the left and right. Seven soldiers holding weapons burst out from the passage on the right and drew their weapons. Who dares intrude here! Clear them out and then follow me. What about you, Oppa? Ill go first. Well catch up quickly. Hello Everyone, I hope you like the websites new look.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 58: Mission Type, Escort (2) (2) Chapter 58: Mission Type, Escort (2) (2) Clear them out and then follow me. What about you, Oppa? Ill go first. Well catch up quickly. As I entered the left passage, a colonnaded hall with a white carpet stretched before us. At the end of the corridor was a staircase leading upward. Ill kill you! I swung my shield at the helmet of a soldier charging at me. Thump! I climbed the spiral staircase. During the ascent, a door suddenly opened, and a heavily armored knight emerged. The knight brandished a gem-studded sword and began speaking in a dignified voice. I am Kyle von Strauss! The sword of the Strauss family! A Holy Knight representing the wrath of the goddess! I shall smite the evil before me I walked past the knight, continuing up. Wait, hold on. Im introducing myself wait! Dont ignore me! Beside the railing of the staircase, a cylindrical pir with a pot on top came into view. I kicked the pir down with my foot, and it crashed with a loud noise, rolling down the stairs. Ah, damn, wait a! I continued to ascend. At the top of the spiral staircase, there was a long hall. Through the ss windows on the halls side, the squares scenery was visible. I nced out into the square. Armed soldiers were gathering around the temple from all sides. I proceeded down the hall. One of the many doors in the hall opened. I am Thump! I forcefully pushed the door. The partially open door collided heavily with the knight who was trying toe out and hit him head-on. Crash! The knight clenched his face and fell to the ground. I ran deep into the hall. Along the way, I encountered a few people, but they passed me with faces that showed they knew nothing. It seemed like even within the temple, there were those who could see us and those who couldnt. At the end of the hall, there was a wide and splendid garden. Sunlight streamed into the garden through gaps in the ceiling. At the far end of the garden was the terrace I had seen from the square. Shadows of people appeared beyond the curtains hanging on the terrace. Its over there. There was only about 3 minutes left. Time was running out. I opened the garden door and entered inside. Three knights emerged from the shadows of the trees. They had solemn expressions as they gazed at me and adjusted their visors. Death to the heretics. The knights slowly approached with their longswords aimed at me. Their stances were different from the undisciplined soldiers, disying formal swordsmanship training. A shadow inside the terrace moved. Another shadow appeared behind the curtain, showing the outline of a priests robe. Now, is it my turn? Yes, Your Highness. The people gathered in the square are waiting. But whats themotion outside? It seems that intruders havee. We will soon repel them, so please dont worry. Two figures beyond the terrace were engaged in a conversation. Amidst them, the three knights closed in on me. They were an unwavering formation. I took a deep breath and exerted force in my right hand holding the sword. Sip! The middle knight exhaled sharply and thrust his sword. I blocked with my shield. The two on the sides followed with their thrusts at different times. Stepping to the right, I deflected the thrust with my sword. And then the three of themunched abined attack. The three sword des worked together in harmony, attacking without invading each others space. The sword edge grazed my cheek. A thin line of blood sprayed, staining the grass in the garden. I rolled on the ground, avoiding two shes, then swung my sword in a wide arc. The knight naturally blocked it. As I rose, I stomped hard on his right foot. ?! Thud. I swung the sword downward, hitting his left foot with the de. The knight staggered. I twisted the sword he held and shed his neck. Then, I threw the blood-stained sword at the knight behind me. He stepped back a few paces and deflected it with his sword. He fell back a few feet allowing me to focus on the knight before me. The front knight thrust his sword with three rapid stabs. I deflected them all with my shield. Then, I thrust the de into the gap of his visor, whereupon blood poured out. He crumpled to the ground, blood flowing from the gap in his visor. He copsed as if his strength had left him. One knight remained. He gripped his longsword with both hands and assumed a defensive stance. I smirked and charged forward, swinging the sword and severing his neck. The garden turned crimson from the blood spewing from the corpses. I wiped the blood off the sword and moved forward beyond the garden. I appreciate the opportunity youve given me. I wont forget this. Not a problem. The goddess will surely be pleased as well. Then Ill be on my way. I pulled back the terrace curtains. The sunlight poured down like rain. I half-shut my eyes against the pouring sunlight and took in the view beyond the terrace. ! I locked eyes with an elderly priest within the terrace. His wrinkled eyes widened in disbelief. He brandished his staff in a fluster, but the staff was aimed not at me, but at someone behind me, heading for the terrace railing. Dark energy gathered at the tip of the staff, swirling. I recognized it. The magic arrow that the ck Priest used on the 10th floor. Thunk! I severed the priests neck as it was. Kiiiiing! The energy gathered at the staffs tip shattered the terraces ceiling and burst forth. Finally, someone on the terrace turned their gaze towards me. A girl in a white dress. She wore a golden crown over her flowing silver hair. She seemed to be in her mid-teens. The girl looked at me and then raised her voice in surprise. W-who are you? I replied briefly. You dont need to know. Hello Everyone, I hope you like the websites new look.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 59: Mission Type, Escort (3) (1) Chapter 59: Mission Type, Escort (3) (1) The girl widened her eyes upon seeing the decapitated head of the priest. What the! Who are you? Who dares to invade the temple andmit such madness! This little one can see me too. With a bloodied sword in hand, I approached the girl. An assassin? Have youe to kill me? I am Quiet. I grabbed the girl by her head and pressed down. She copsed on the floor beneath me. Three figures emerged from below the railing. In the hands of these hooded figures, there were crossbows. Apanied by a ng, three bolts were released. I wasnt the target. The bolts were aimed at the girl, who was lying prone, trembling. I deflected the bolts with my sword in three different directions. Then, three daggers were thrown from different angles. This time, the target was the girl again. I used my shield to knock the daggers away. What in the world Lie t. I looked at the daggers scattered on the terrace floor. A purplish liquid dripped from their tips. They seemed to be poisoned. The assassins shoot simr daggers once more. Ping! At that moment, an arrow pierced through the head of one of the assassins. I seized the opportunity and closed in on the one closest to me. He swung his poisoned dagger, which I easily evaded before thrusting my sword deep into his chest. Thest assassin extended his right hand toward me. nk. A mechanical sound came from within his sleeve, and a hidden de wasunched. I blocked it with my shield. They were skilled at tricks, but theirbat prowess was weaker than a knights. As the assassin prepared to throw a dagger at the girl, a shadow descended from above and struck him. The shadows de gleamed before blood spurted from the assassins throat. Edis turned the bloodied dagger around in her hand. The walls were very high, I had a hard time climbing them. What about the others? There were two more. I dealt with them. Edis sheathed the dagger and nced at the girl lying on the ground. I asked, Does you know her? Hmm, she seems familiar from somewhere and Who are you people? The girl spoke with a frightened expression. This little one is the target we need to protect. And the other can see us, but theyre enemies. The situation became clear at a nce. If I had been a littleter, the girl would have been torn apart by the priests magical arrow, in front of everyone at the za. The subsequently appearing assassins were also clearly targeting the girl. I looked down at the terrace below. Due to the live broadcast of the tragedy, chaos had erupted throughout the square. Soldiers who were outside the square rushed towards the temple. The previously locked gate had been breached. This ce isnt somewhere the likes of you should casually enter. Go back immediately Ugh! An arrow struck the ground next to the girl. Archers from the second-floor windows of a nearby two-story building were aiming at us. I chuckled slightly and said, Are you really okay with us going back? If we go, youre going to die. What in the world Keep it short. We dont have time. I deflected the iing arrows with my shield. If you want to live,e with us. Otherwise, die right there. Yes or no. Dont waste words. Your answer? The girl looked at the bodies strewn across the floor, alternated between Edis and me, then closed her eyes tightly before saying, Fine. [Mission Sess!] [Special NPC Priasis Al Ragna has joined the party!] [Mission type has been changed.] [Mission Type Escape] [Objective Escape the city with the protected target!] Escape. The mission objective was updated. As expected. I told the girl, Alright. sit there by the railing. Donte out until I say so. The girl lowered herself deeply behind the railing. I picked up a crossbow from next to one of the assassins bodies. There was a quiver filled with bolts nearby. Edis, prepare to descend. What about you? Ill keep them in check. I took cover behind the railing and aimed at the archers through the scope. Pulling the trigger, a bolt shot out and struck an archer in the torso. A hit. It was my first, but not difficult. I began shooting back at the archers in the other building. Edis retrieved a long and thin rope from her belt pouch. She created a loop with the rope, then hung the loop over the protruding part of the railing, allowing it to hang downwards. Made from the sinews of the Forest Queen, the strong rope could easily bear a persons weight. (T/N: The boss of the weakly dungeon: Candleroot Forest.) Loading a bolt into the crossbow, I said, Have you ever done rope climbing? What are you talking about? If you dont know how, hang on to me. If you fall and hurt yourself, itll be a hassle. As I shot the third archer with the crossbow, Jenna, Aaron, and Eolka joined us. Their clothes were stained with blood. Jenna spoke anxiously, Oppa, theres no time! Soldiers are rushing in from below. I dont need you to tell me. Thats why were preparing. I pointed to the girl who was watching us suspiciously and said, Watch closely. This little one is our protected target. Im not little. As you can see, she gets upset if you call her little. Jenna and Aaron looked at the girl and nodded. However, surprise flickered in Eolkas eyes. This person is Doesnt matter who she is. But its surprising. To meet here. Who are you? Do you know me? Were a bit in a hurry at the moment. I let go of the crossbow. Jenna was taking over my role of suppressing the enemies. With her much faster and precise shooting, the buildings archers fell one after another. Listen up. Starting now, well descend using this rope and reach the escape route. I know the route. There are fewer soldiers on the left. The path isplex, which makes it easy to hide. Then well head that way. Any objections? All three shook their heads. Eolka, create a wall of mes. Prevent the enemies from approaching. Got it. The descent order: Edis, Aaron, me, Eolka, andstly, Jenna. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 59: Mission Type, Escort (3) (2) Chapter 59: Mission Type, Escort (3) (2) Eolka, create a wall of mes. Prevent the enemies from approaching. Got it. The descent order: Edis, Aaron, me, Eolka, andstly, Jenna. Most of the soldiers in the square had entered the temple. If we were to return the way we came, wed encounter numerous soldiers. The sound of soldiers climbing the stairs was faintly audible. Ill go down first. Edis held onto the rope and started descending. The remaining soldiers in the square noticed the rope and started running towards us. Ignite. Swoosh! mes erupted from Eolkas fingertips, blocking the soldiers in the square. Eolka pointed to the entrance of the terrace with her other hand. This time, a line of mes shot up in a straight line, blocking the entrance. Two soldiers who were exiting the garden were engulfed in mes, turning into charred remains. Sorcerer! Kill the sorcerer first! Arrows flew from beyond the wall of mes. I kicked arge table on the terrace with my foot, knocking it over to the side. The arrow thudded into the table. Next was Aaron. Aaron took a deep breath, then started descending on the rope. Below was a chaotic scene. People were stumbling and rushing out of the square due to the sudden fire and disaster. It was fortunate. The absence of unnecessary obstacles was better. Edis, who had descended first, swung her dagger and shot arrows, guarding the descent point. Aaron soon joined her ranks. I gestured to the girl. Next is us. Come. Are you referring to me? Who else would I be talking about? I grinned and hugged the girl. Hold on tight. Dont let go. A-Ah, got it. The distance to the ground was about 15 meters. For an untrained civilian, this was a challenging height to descend. The five of us were ustomed to this method through obstacle courses at the training camp. Even Eloka, a magician, had learned this method. I tightly grasped the leather gloves and held onto the rope. The girl clung to me with fearful eyes. After a swift kick to the railing, I utilized the momentum to start descending. Ping! An arrow flew from somewhere and pierced through a few strands of the girls silver hair. Ah! The girl screamed as if she were swallowing her voice and clung to me. Holding onto the rope with my right hand and embracing the girl with my left, I swiftly descended. Just before reaching the ground, I kicked off the wall to slow down. Inded safely. Its over. You can let go. The girl hurriedly moved away from me. I scanned the area nearby. The civilians had mostly evacuated, and soldiers were steadily filling the surroundings. Although we had the wall of mes, it couldnt cover all directions. I shouted upwards, Hurry! A soldier screamed with an eerie howl and swung his sword at me. I parried with my sword and thrust it aside, piercing through his heart. Edis and Aaron were struggling by my side. I joined their ranks, taking care of the approaching soldiers one by one. [Aaron () has entered a bleeding state. His health decreases at regr intervals.] [Aaron () has entered a poisoned state. His health decreases at regr intervals.] A status change message for the hero appeared, visible only to me. Its not the right time yet. I ignored it and swung my sword. After a while, Eolka descended using the rope, andstly, Jenna followed suit, jumping down. Phew, thought Id be left behind. Eolka and Jenna took off the gloves they had in their hands and threw them away. They had looted them from the assassins body. With this, the target was secured, and our party members were unharmed. Now, if we could just leave the field, we would receive a clear judgment. Soldiers were pouring out from the other side of the square and the entrance of the temple. I looked at the girl and said, Run to the left. If you dont want to die. The girl started running frantically. We drew a formation around the girl and ran away from the soldiers. A soldier chasing us from behind shouted, Dont let them escape! Chase the witch and her followers! A witch, you say? Seems like theyre talking about you. That cant be The girls face turned ashen. A group of soldiers burst out from the passageway leading to the left side of the square. A knight in heavy armor raised his halberd high. You wont get awa Jennas arrow pierced through the gap in the knights armor as he was speaking. I struck the swaying knights head with my shield. Edis passed by and deeply shed his throat. Kill them! Kill them all! Soldiers appeared blocking the road. There were at least 30 of them. If we wasted time on them, we would soon be surrounded by the soldiers behind us. This way. Edis signaled to turn to the side. There was a winding alleyway. We followed Edis in. Where is this road leading to? I checked it from the rooftop. If we follow it, we should reach the outskirts of the city. Soldiers streamed out from the entrance of the alley. When Eolka signaled with her hand, one side of the partly copsed wall crumbled, blocking the entrance. The soldiers roared from the outside, but they wouldnt be able to get in for a while. After walking the alley for a while, a small open space emerged. Edis briefly turned to look at the girl behind her and then sat down on a brick. Lets take a short rest. I nodded. The girl was panting heavily. She hesitated for a moment before sitting down on the dirt floor. The idea of resting seemed terrifying to her. How can things turn out like this The girl mumbled to herself with a confused expression. I took out a potion and took a sip. Even without any injuries, the potion itself had a healing effect. A slight vitality surged through my body. Rest for five minutes, then we move. The blocked passage that Eloka created wouldntst much longer. This ce would soon be discovered. Getting surrounded here would be harder to escape from than being trapped on the main road. Originally, the n was to rest here and then burst out into the streets to escape in one go. Even if we were surrounded during that process the n is to have Eolka use her Tier 3 Fire Magic, and we could temporarily break through the encirclement. Then we would guide the target to the escape route. Through training, Eolka had reached a point where she could use the maximum charge of her fire magic without fainting. That way, we could achieve the clear condition for the escort mission. Aaron. Yes. Are you injured? I guess you noticed. Aaron tilted his head. A dagger was lodged in Aarons side. The seeping blood was violet. It seemed he had been attacked by the scattered assassins among the soldiers. Poisoned. This was a status abnormality that couldnt be recovered with a low-level health potion. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 60: Mission Type, Escort (4) (1) Chapter 60: Mission Type, Escort (4) (1) Drinking the potion didnt help with the pain, Aaron said with a bitter smile. Under his feety an empty ss bottle that once held the potion. Jenna spoke urgently, her voice tinged with concern, Oppa, is there no way to help him? . Though Aaron seemedposed, hisplexion was gradually growing pale. He could only move properly for about 10 minutes. I gazed at the girl, who was tapping her leg while seated, and asked, Do you have any abilities of any kind? What kind of ability are you talking about? I mean a recovery ability. The girl nced at Aaron and turned her head. Im sorry. I see. asionally, among the NPCs, there were individuals with special abilities. Just to be sure, I had asked, but it seemed to be a letdown. The recovery potion wouldnt work. We didnt have an antidote. Even help from an NPC wasnt possible. If thats the case Aaron lowered his head. His tone was calm, but his voice trembled slightly. If one cant keep up, Hyungnim said he would abandon him. It seems like now is that time. Aaron clenched his fists, gripping the windowsill. I will buy time. Leave me behind. . I observed the three of them. Edis turned away, Jenna lowered her head, and Eolka stared at Aaron with a determined expression. I want to stay with you. Jenna said. Jenna, theres no way. But Its just that I was weak and got hurt. What about you? Its your decision. Eolka replied. In the end, is this leaving it up to me? I closed my eyes and contemted deeply. Efficiency-wise, abandoning him was the right choice. The escort target had no ability to defend herself. With Aaron added, the burden would increase more than twofold. Protecting one person and protecting two were entirely different matters. And to add to that, Aaron would soon be hindered. While he said he would buy time, instead of merely buying time, he would most likely meet his end. *Sigh.* I let out a deep sigh and then opened my eyes. Aarons expression was one of resignation. After taking a sip of the potion, I handed the remaining half-empty bottle to Aaron. He took it with surprise. What? Drink it. The potion is useless. It cant heal you. But It can prevent your injuries from worsening. There were other potion bottles in my pouch. I took out another one and handed it to Aaron. Everyone, take out your potions. Jenna first took out a potion, three bottles in total. Eolka also retrieved hers carefully, just one bottle. Due to the magic potion, she only had one health potion. Edis took hers out as well. About 10 potions were gathered in one ce. Drink one sip every 10 minutes. Its a waste. I decide that. I continued, Starting now, well split into two parties. The first will be me, Edis, and the kid. The second will be Aaron, Jenna, and Eolka. The role of the first party is to guide the kid to the exit. And your task will be to keep Aaron alive until we get the kid out. Helping Aaron oppa is our task? Theyll be after the kid, so if you go in the opposite direction, you might find a safe ce. H-hyungnim, I Keep quiet. Aaron fell silent. Edis, who had been leaning against the wall with folded arms, spoke up, Han, itll be tough to break through like that. The soldiers will be crowded, and gaps will open in the escort. Thats true. If we split the party like this, two people will have to protect the escort target. Avablebat power will significantly decrease. We just need to change our approach. Change the approach? From breakthrough to infiltration. I looked up. The once clear sky was now tinted with pink hues. Lets wait for night and then escape the city. If ourbat power drops below half, attempting a forceful breakthrough is impossible. However, there are advantages to this n as well. With fewer operatives, we can be more discreet. Depending on our actions, we might be able to escape without engaging inbat. If were not going to engage inbat, theres no need to bring along a firepower weapon like a mage. Moreover, fire magic inevitably causes disturbances in the surroundings. Therefore, Eolka is excluded. Well insert the versatile Jenna to expand our range of responses to anything that urs during the execution of the n. You two, head to the outskirts of the city. There will probably be search parties active throughout the night. You just need to evade them with Aaron until we finish our escape. To face this humiliation If you die, none of that matters. Footsteps could be heard from afar. Soldiers were entering the alley. Aaron contorted his face as if he were about to cry. Im sorry. Dont delude yourself. Im not keeping you alive for your sake. Yes You two, if you cant protect Aaron, dont hesitate to leave him. Your lives are more important than a wounded mans. Got it? Jenna and Eolka nodded before putting the potions into their pockets. Now lets move. Rest time is over. The open space where we had been resting was divided into three paths. The path that led downward. And the left and right paths. The paths were intricately entwined. This would be helpful in evading pursuit. You go right. Well go left. Got it. Jenna and Eolka supported Aaron and disappeared down the right path. They might not evade the pursuing groups entirely, but there should be more looking for us. Their goal would be to kill the kid. Lets go. The girl stood up. Edis stood up. Edis at the front, the girl in the middle, and me at the back, we moved forward in the alley. The path was narrow, and the walls were high. Are there any good ces to hide? There are quite a few. The alleys areplicated, and you can also enter buildings. We can enter buildings? I tried earlier, there werent any invisible walls. Luckily. If we can enter buildings, our options expand significantly. As long as we find a proper hiding spot, we can buy time until dawn. After a while down the alley, the path began to widen. Trash was scattered everywhere, and worn buildings caught the eye. From within the street, we could hear screams andughter. It was a slum. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 60: Mission Type, Escort (4) (2) Chapter 60: Mission Type, Escort (4) (2) These things existed even in a well-organized city. A man sitting next to the entrance stood up. His greasy face was covered in sweat. Chuckling, he approached us. To be precise, he headed towards the girl in the middle of us. Hehe, what kind of rice cake is this? The girl jumped in surprise and stepped back. Miss, are you lost? Or did you run away? Let me guide you The man seemed to ignore Edis in front of him as he passed by. Edis grabbed him as he walked past and forcefully pushed his foot. The man spun around in midair and fell to the ground. Thud! Edis hit the back of his head with her heel. With a sound like bones breaking, blood spurted. The man trembled, writhing on the ground. Ignoring the fallen man, we passed by and entered the slum. As soon as we entered, pieces of trash were swept up by the wind and flew around. Along with that, an indescribable nauseating smell wafted through the air. The girl wrinkled her nose and pinched it shut. A clothesline was hung between high walls. Dirty clothes were hanging on the line. But there were no residents in sight. If were hiding, this ce should be good. The paths are as tangled as a maze, and there are plenty of buildings. I nodded at Edis words. First, we needed a ce to stay until it was dark. Action woulde after that. Thats when the message popped up. [Tips/About Long Missions] [Sometimes missions can take a long time. Even if you log off, the hero will continue to act.] It was a guide message about long missions. Since there were signs of the mission dragging on, it seemed like the system had made a judgment. Ill go check first. Edis stooped low as if melding with the shadows of the wall. The figure became blurry. It was the effect of Edis activating the thiefs exclusive skill, Stealth. Edis, who had triggered the skill disappeared into the inner part of the street. Stand behind me. I walked slowly, surveying my surroundings. There were hardly any people in the slum. Its better that way. Soon enough, soldiers will flood in here too, and the search will begin. I nced behind me briefly. The girls expression was tense, but she was maintaining a certain level ofposure. There was no hint of childishness or tantrums for someone of her age. Shes not an ordinary kid, then. If she were, she would have probably rejected the suggestion to follow us. Amidst the chaos, she quickly identified her way to survive. After a while, Edis returned, and we entered a rundown building following her lead. A two-story stone building on the brink of copse. The windows were covered with nailed cloth. Inside, very little light seeped through, making it dark. Aside from the front door, there was also a back door, and I noticed a noticeable alley that could be used as an escape route. Perfect. Even if soldiers were to approach, there was a way to flee. We decided to spend time here. Edis immediately began setting traps using thin strings and stones. She ced a stack of stones tied with strings on top of the entrance after stretching the tight string across it. If someone were to touch the string, the stone stack would copse, creating noise. It was the effect of Edis skill, Trap Instation. Rogues shone the brightest in missions of this type. Edis had also acquired numerous skills over time. Well be spending time here. The girl leaned against a half-copsed wall and sat down. Her once-white dress was now dirty with mud and dust. I pulled a dusty chair from the living room and sat on it. With a knife sheath on myp, I looked out the window. The sky visible through the gaps in the nailed cloth was dimly lit. Im going out for a while. Going out again? I have a role to y as well. Youre more than enough to handle guarding. Im going to find an escape route. Edis faintly smiled and then vanished silently. Perhaps I should have brought Jenna instead of her. In this setup, I dont have much to do. I rested my chin on my hand and spent time quietly. The sound of insects outside the window could be heard. About ten minutes passed like that. Priasis Al Ragna. I turned my gaze to the girl. With long silver hair and golden eyes, the girl, Priasis, was looking at me. Its my name. I am the second heir to the imperial throne. And? It seems youre just as stubborn. Priasis let out a bitterugh. However, she soon regained her determined expression and continued speaking. Where did youe from? What a strange question. Anyway, our rtionship was going to be short-lived. I replied briefly. You dont need to know. I revealed my identity and name. Cant you tell me at least that much? Telling you wont make you understand. Is it thatplicated? Did youe from somewhere I dont know? Lets just say that. By any chance are you the heroes who saved Nelesa? I frowned. Nelesa. It was the name of the city we saved in the 10th floor. It seems like Ive got the right answer. How did you know? I saw it in a dream. A dream. In that dream, the heroes were struggling to protect the city. I couldnt see their faces, but I had a strong feeling that it was you. Priasis let out a chuckle but soon put on a determined expression and spoke again. For a year now, Ive been having strange dreams. Very ominous dreams. In those dreams, everything wasing to an end. The Millennium Empires capital, the capital of the four major houses, and all the other big and small cities and towns. Everything on the continent was burning. . In the middle of that dream, I was convinced. If things continue like this, the continent will be destroyed. Priasis lowered her gaze. Do you know? Strange things have been happening all over the continenttely. Unidentified diseases are spreading, insects are swarming, and monsters are going mad. Nelesas invasion must be part of that. Originally, they didnt trespass on human territory. Priasis spoke slowly. I was dumbfounded and retorted. Why are you telling me this? I need power. Power? The power to save this world. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 61: Mission Type, Escort (5) (1) Chapter 61: Mission Type, Escort (5) (1) Priasis looked at me with unwavering eyes. I knew she wanted power. And it seemed like she knew what she wanted. But telling me such a story was futile, no matter how many times she tried. I narrowed my eyes and spoke. So you want me to help you. Thats right. I dont understand why youre asking someone like me for help, but wouldnt it be much easier to wield power if you were a princess? Skilled knights would line up to serve you. I Priasiss gaze wavered. The girl closed her eyes tightly and lowered her head. Im just a scarecrow. Only a princess in the name. Besides that, theres nothing to me. No one listens to me. No one follows me. But you have money. You could hire mercenaries. Then Ill hire you as a mercenary. Ill pay you as much as you want. I might be only a princess by name, but I have plenty of gold coins. Priasis rummaged through her dress and pulled out a silk pouch. The pouch was filled with sparkling gold coins. But I had to bite the hand that was trying to hand me the pouch. I dont know what you want to do. I have several things in mind. Its a refusal. Find someone else. Why? Im the one who wants to ask why? I might not understand the sense of money in this ce, but with that amount of gold, you could hire more capable people. Because you didnt mock my story. Priasis spoke with a serious voice. When I brought up the story of my dream, no one believed me. No one even tried to listen properly. But youre different. Thats why I want to hire you. This is troublesome. This kid is just an NPC. If what I heard during the promotion ceremony is correct, the current stage is Townias past. Even if I had a willingness to ept, the contract couldnt be fulfilled. This brat and I were in a temporary rtionship, and we would part ways when the mission was over. I shook my head. Is it a refusal? Theres a reason for this. What reason? Outside the window, its still a pale blue. Theres plenty of time until deep night. I looked at the girl in front of me. Priasis was examining myplexion with a serious gaze. I sighed and then spoke. We came from a different world. A different world? A really messed up ce. There, were given missions, and if we dont fulfill those missions, we die. Ouring here was also part of that mission. What are you talking about? Coming from a different world. I didnt expect her to understand. After thinking a bit more, I decided to add more to my exnation. Theres nothing to do until dawn anyway. It wouldnt be bad to keep this kidpany. I exined the goal of this mission, that it was about escorting, and if we failed to protect the target, we would die. As I finished speaking, Priasis held out her hand in confusion. Wait a moment. So, you guys came to this ce from a different world to fulfill a mission? Yeah. When the mission is over, were forcibly sent back to our original world. So I cant take on your request. Such a silly story. Priasis mumbled in a low voice. It wasnt something easy to talk about, but it wasnt something impossible to talk about either. No matter who I told, they wouldnt believe it, and even if it was revealed, it wouldnt have any impact. I just needed to keep my secret hidden. Is this a lie to avoid me? Think what you want. Whether you believe it or not doesnt matter. Then I understand. Ill trust your story. So, you guys are warriors from a different world. I felt a bit dumbfounded but then regained my senses. Well, shes a girl who seriously believes in what she saw in a dream. Just as you didnt mock my story, I wont disregard yours. I know there are reasons. I wont hold you any longer. You should do your thing. Ill do mine. Whats your thing? Isnt it obvious? To prevent that dream from bing reality. I recalled the situation when the mission started. The citizens were gathering in the central square of the city. Were you the one who gathered these people in the square? The Silver Temple? Yes, I did. I was nning to give a speech. Why were you nning to give a speech? To gain influence. As I am now,pared to my brother, Im no different from a beggar. Influence. If things were normal, this kid wouldve been dead and buried here nine times out of ten. If theres any meaning to the Pick Me Up mission, it meant that this NPC named Priasis Al Ragna had some value worth resurrecting. I closed my eyes. As a Master, I remembered the mission of my previous game, Nieflheimr. At first nce, they seemed unrted. Scenes of heroes and NPCs having conversations-like interactions were visible, but the contents were inaudible. The locations and times were all mixed up. But upon closer examination, I came to the conclusion that there might bemon threads connecting the missions. I wonder if the contract has already been made. I chuckled. My name is Han. Han. Priasis muttered my name repeatedly as if tasting it. Thank you. If it werent for you, I would have died. Its not over yet. Is that so? They want to kill you. Do you have any idea why? I dont know. If you dont know, then forget about it. Priasis lowered her head. I seemed to have acquired roughly the information I could get by asking. Waiting began again. I decided to take another look around the house. Until a few years ago, this seemed to be the home of a prosperous family. The feeling of life remained in every corner. In the wardrobe on the second floor, I found worn but rtively clean clothes. I came downstairs to the living room and tossed the clothes to Priasis, who was half-dozing. Change into these. Priasis widened her eyes and looked at the fabric. It was a worn shirt and skirt with traces of use. You stand out too much. Youre like a walking billboard. A billboard? Used the wrong term. I chuckled bitterly. Anyway, Priasiss attire easily caught the eye. Even if it was dirty, the golden crown and the silver dress would shine even in darkness. It would be a hindrance to our future actions. You want me to wear these clothes? Then, what I was wearing Ill get rid of that. Theres a trash bin outside. I see. Do you dislike it? Priasis raised her head, but her face was visibly gloomy. No, Im grateful. Its about time to get rid of it. However However? Let me be alone. Sure. I walked into the corridor leading to the living room. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 61: Mission Type, Escort (5) (2) Chapter 61: Mission Type, Escort (5) (2) There was a sound of fabric rustling. Then, a hint of sobbing mixed in. Is she crying? Even if its just in name, shes a princess. At most, shes in her mid-teens. It wouldnt be easy to ept that shes suddenly under the threat of assassination. When I returned to the living room, Priasis handed me the dress and crown with an indifferent expression. I received the dress and the crown. I went outside to avoid triggering any traps and tossed them into the trash bin. I returned to the living room. The princess was touching her old skirt. The texture is strange. Its strange indeed. Insects wereying eggs in it. What! Im joking. Dont make jokes like that! I grinned and patted Priasis. Although she still stood out due to her silver hair, things improved a bit. Her stature was small, so as long as she concealed her body properly, she wouldnt be easily noticed. I sat down on a chair in the living room and spoke. Well depart in two or three hours. Get some rest. What about food Are you hungry? Theres nothing to eat. Understood. Ill rest a little. Priasis leaned against the wall again and settled down. Then, she began to doze off. She looked tired. I looked out the window. The sky had darkened. There was barely any moonlight, and both inside and outside the house were pitch ck. It didnt hinder my vision much. It was thanks to my Awakened skill, Inner Sight, that I acquired beforeing to this ce. Even in darkness, I could discern the outlines of objects. And when the house waspletely dark, Edis returned. Seeing Priasis sleeping soundly, Edis chuckled briefly. Edis could also see objects in the dark, just like I could. Shes sleeping well. The exit? I found it. Theres a bit of a problem, though. Edis started exining what she saw and heard. We couldnt go beyond the predetermined route. Although she tried to go outside through a gap in the copsed city wall, an invisible barrier blocked her, making it impossible. Tricks wont work, huh? It seems we can only go through the main gate. The main gate is likely heavily guarded. The situation was getting annoying. If there was time, we would have explored further, but I couldnt guarantee how long Aaron could hold out. There was also the possibility that the soldiers would start searching the area. We had to escape the city by the end of this dawn at most. It cant be helped. I couldnt dy this any longer. I pushed the chair and woke up Priasis. Priasis woke up quickly. Get up. Were moving now. Ah, understood. Its going to be quite dark outside. Stick close behind me. Priasis nodded her head. The three of us left the house together. The streets were engulfed in darkness. Even with my Awakened Sight, if I didnt concentrate, I could easily lose my sense of direction. Torches moved in various ces. Edis whispered in a low voice. Those are patrolling soldiers. Theyre very visible. As long as we avoided the torches, we wouldnt run into the soldiers. Following Ediss guidance, we walked through several alleys and finally emerged onto a main road. I hid in the shadows of a building, keeping my upper body low as I looked ahead. Torches were gathered in the distance, and the yellow light from the torches illuminated the surroundings. The city gate was revealed. I quickly counted the number of enemies standing near the gate. [Human Soldier Lv. 11] x 21 [Human Knight Lv. 21] As I recognized them, a message appeared, indicating the appearance of the enemies. Theres quite a crowd. In total, twenty-two. It was too many for just the two of us to handle. Moreover, there was a knight in ck armor standing in front of the gate. His level was suspiciously high. If he was level 21, he was at least five levels higher than the knights I had faced before. Should we try another city gate? Its a waste of time. Theyll probably be simr. There werent many exits. And there would be enemies guarding each exit like this. If I were alone, I could break through somehow, but there was a VIP to protect behind me. She had to go out of the gate to achieve the mission sess condition. Did I make the wrong choice? If I had abandoned Aaron and forcefully exited through a break-in, the mission would have been much easier to aplish. I scratched my head nervously. There was no turning back now. I had to y the best move from the cards I had. Edis, do you know Aarons partys location? No, not that far. Youve understood the citysyout, right? Edis nodded. Geography is the basis of information gathering. Edis must have analyzed the citys structure before finding the exit. Otherwise, she wouldnt be able to provide urate guidance. Theres one thing I need you to do. Sure. Go back to the house where we were. In the trash bin next to it, theres the dress and crown of the kid. Take those clothes and join Aarons group. Dress Jenna in them. Are you serious? Were going to use her as bait. It was deep into the night. Jenna and Priasis had simr builds. If I put the clothes on her, unless someone examined her up close, it would be hard to tell them apart. When Jenna wears the clothes, cause as much chaos as possible within the bounds of not getting caught. Most of the enemy forces over there should be drawn away. In the meantime, Ill take the kid and clear a path. The city might be vast, but there are limited ces to hide. Can you do it? After a brief hesitation, Edis nodded and disappeared to where we came from. I ced the shield in a corner of the building and unsheathed my sword from its scabbard. The metal shield had a chance of reflecting light. [Aaron () has been inflicted with Poison status. Health will decrease at regr intervals.] [Heros poisoning is worsening!] Phew. The time he could manage with a potion seemed to be reaching its limit. Drawing the enemys attention and protecting Aaron. It was a bit challenging, but I had no choice but to believe in them. At most, it would be an hour. Within that time frame, this would be over. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 62: Mission Type, Escort (6) (1) Chapter 62: Mission Type, Escort (6) (1) I spoke to Priasis, who was tense, with a determined expression. Stay here. When I give you the signal, run outside. Even if you get hurt? Even if I die. Understood. Priasis slowly moved with me through the alley connected to the main road. Just before entering, she looked at me and whispered softly. This might be ourst time together. It could be. I replied briefly and deeply buried myself in the shadow of the building. If Jenna, dressed as the princess, was spotted, the forces of the entire city would converge. With me absent and Aaron injured as well, the party might get wiped out before Aarons death. I moved forward, muffling my footsteps. As I approached the city gate, a strange sensation swept over me, as if my bodys senses were disappearing. [Skill Awakened!] [Han () has acquired Stealth!] It was a skill useful for reducing the likelihood of being detected by monsters, a skill that thieves or rogues might learn. I seemed to be able to learn it because I hadnt yet undergone job advancement. The outline of my body hidden in the shadows became even fainter. I approached the gate, close enough to distinguish their faces. Priasis was hidden in the alley, only her head peeking out as she looked in my direction. The enemy count: 22. I didnt know how many would stay after the baiting. In the worst case, I might have to fight all the enemies here. I silently moved forward, dagger in hand. About 20 minutester, the unexpected happened. Boom! Boom! Boom! Crash! From a distant corner of the city, along with explosive sounds, a massive whirlwind of mes erupted. The flickering ze temporarily illuminated the city. I hurriedly hid behind a nearby trash bin. A dazed soldier widened his eyes. Whats that?! Soon, crimson mes surged into the sky with a roaring sound. The mes colored the dark sky with their fiery hues, resembling a fireworks disy. Looks like she safely joined them. However, this was Eolkas doing. The direction of the fire was upward. There was no reason to shoot mes into the sky. It was a show to attract attention. And it was a signal to me. A littleter, soldiers rushed from the other side of the main road. A soldier approached themander of the waiting troops at the gate and whispered something. Presumably, themander asked, Have you found her? Yes, shes in a white dress with a golden crown. Just like the intelligence described. However, theres chaos among the escort troops it seems reinforcements are needed. Themander nodded and began giving orders to the soldiers behind him. Soon, soldiers marched out of the gate, each holding a torch. I counted the number of soldiers leaving behind the trash bin. Two, three, four, ten, fifteen, eighteen. Out of 22, 18 were gone. Only four soldiers remained at the gate. It was better than expected. The only regret was that the knight I had been watching hadnt left. d in ck armor, the knight stood at the entrance like a statue. As quickly as possible. I drew my sword slightly from its sheath. All torches were gathering at a certain point. Screams and shouts echoed from nearby ces. There were hundreds of soldiers gathered there. There was little room for error. Priasis in the alley met my gaze. She whispered to me as if encouraging me. Lets do it. I stood up. And in an instant, I emerged from the shadows. A soldier who had been holding onto a torch noticed me. Swoosh! The gleam of the sword shed, and the soldiers neck jerked. Blood spurted from the decapitated body. The soldier next to him quickly grabbed his waist. What? The sword, which had cleanly cut through one neck, sliced through the second one easily. The sensation of bones being severed sharply reached my wrist. Thest remaining soldier on the other side of the torch fire met my gaze as he observed the mes rising to the sky. I smirked and threw the dagger from my belt. The soldier clutched the dagger stuck in his throat, disbelief in his eyes, then copsed. It took just two seconds to kill three soldiers. Only one knight remained. I tightened my grip on the sword. Although I couldnt see his face behind the visor, I could tell he wasnt shaken. He remained motionless as if frozen in ce. I spun the blood-stained sword in a circle. Step aside. Then I wont kill you. The knight silently drew the sword hanging at his back. Though more like a hunk of iron than a weapon, the massive sword moved with incredible fluidity. Seems words wont work. I didnt think they would anyway. I took a short breath. The knight was d in sturdy full te mail. With my current abilities, I couldnt prate the armor entirely. I had to target the joints in the steel tes. Not much of an opening. At a nce, it seemed the knight was standing still, but he was in a stance where he could deflect an attack at any moment. He was a step, or no, at least two steps above the temples knights in skill. The knight didnt make the first move. In this game of cat and mouse, I was the impatient one. I positioned the sword horizontally and thrust. My target was the joint where the elbows steel te connected. If I exert enough force, I might pierce the armor. ng! The knight deflected the thrust with his greatsword. I moved to the side and aimed for his left. The knight blocked it again, this time above. Then I aimed low. Blocked. I gathered all my strength and swung down. The knight held the greatsword with both hands to block. Blue sparks flew from the sh of our des. This guy I stepped back three paces. The knight spread his greatsword. Cold eyes behind the visor were fixed on me. He wont attack. I intentionally created openings between attacks, but he didnt counter. He remained at the entrance, unyielding and focused on defense and guarding. The reason was clear. I bit my lip. He knows that even if he just buys time, he wins. By now, Aarons party and the soldiers were probably engaged in a fierce battle. We couldnt hold out for long. If things continued this way, it would be a wipeout. Not just a wipeout, but when the expedition force returned, both Priasis and I would die. I spoke in a low voice. Step out of the gate. Argh. A scraping sound, like iron on iron, emanated from between the visor. If I cleared a path, I might be able to get Priasis through while holding the knight back. But the knight didnt budge. He was still standing at the entrance. Then die. [Han () has entered a frenzy state!] Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 62: Mission Type, Escort (6) (2) Chapter 62: Mission Type, Escort (6) (2) Then die. [Han () has entered a frenzy state!] I triggered the switch in my mind. The veins on the arm holding the sword stood out vividly. I charged forward and swung the sword forcefully. ng! The steel te was dented deeply. The knight wavered for a moment, then managed to block the second strike aimed at his neck. But he couldnt block the third strike aimed at his thigh. The swords grip had a strong anti-recoil mechanism. With power approaching 40. I couldnt prate the steel te, but I could break it. ng! ng! ng! Every swing of my sword caused the armor to deform. I aimed for the gap between the tes that were exposed during each of his moves, but the knight desperately defended each spot. Even so, it wouldnt take more than 10 minutes to bring him down. [Jenna () is in a bleeding state. Her health decreases at regr intervals.] [Aaron () has fallen into a critical state. His life is in danger!] Unbelievable. [Eolka () has entered a mana surge state.] [Tips/Mana surge is a state that urs when a magician uses magic excessively.] It hasnt even been 10 minutes yet? The gap in the knights visor traced a line resembling a smile. The knight wouldnt attack. He feared countering. He was stationed at the entrance, blocking only fatal strikes. Kid, run! I shouted loudly, my voice no longer concerned whether the surrounding soldiers heard. Priasis stumbled out onto the street. Then she started to run. ng! The sh of swords rang out. I yelled fiercely. No matter what happens, dont worry about it. Get out of the gate. Run along the path! Priasis sprinted desperately. The knight remained steadfastly in the middle of the gate. He wouldnt move for me, but he would to Priasis. He would strike without hesitation. Get lost! I used all my strength to push the knight away. The knight held up his greatsword to block, but his body was pushed back. In that gap, Priasis lunged. Swish! With the sound of slicing through the air, the greatsword swung. I quickly twisted my body. My stance was shaky, but I managed to block it somehow. A powerful impact shook my whole body. Above the gate, a shadow projected from the ceiling cast a violet line towards Priasis, who was passing through the passage. An assassin. There was no room to block with a sword. I turned my body and took the dagger. The dagger pierced into my left shoulder. [Han () is now in a poisoned state. Health decreases at regr intervals.] [Party wipe crisis!] [Master, the partys situation is critical!] This time, the knight swung his greatsword at me. I couldnt feel anything in the left arm where the dagger had stuck. I was struck by the greatsword. My body, weaker than the weight, mmed into the corridor wall. [Han () is in a bleeding state. Health decreases at regr intervals.] Han, no! If you stop, youll die by my hands! Pausing briefly in that spot, Priasis turned to look at me, nodded slightly, and started running again. I inspected my left shoulder. Violet liquid was oozing from the half-buried dagger. I skimmed it with the de of my sword, and then as I got up, I swung the sword in the air. The poisonous liquid on the sword sprayed onto the knights visor. The knight clutched his face. Did it get in your eyes? I chuckled weakly. [Edis () is in a bleeding state. Health decreases at regr intervals.] I looked around and there was a crossbow aimed at the target. The target needed no introduction. It was Priasis, who was escaping through the gate. But the assassin was too far to reach him. I picked up a stone from the ground and hurled it. Ping! Mid-flight, the stone collided with the bolt and sent it veering off course. The assassin stared at me in disbelief. What are you looking at, punk! I pulled out the dagger lodged in my left shoulder and threw it. The dagger plunged into the assassins hood. The assassin copsed immediately. Gradually, Priasis figure vanished beyond the gate. Phew. I looked down. The knight was clutching his head, writhing as if in pain. He seemed like he wanted to remove the helmet, but his arms only twitched feebly outside the helmet. I picked up the greatsword lying next to the knight with one hand. With all my strength, I swung the greatsword down onto the knights head. Thump! A section of the helmet caved in deeply, and ck fluid sttered through the gaps. The knight froze like a dead insect. After confirming the deaths of the knight and the assassin, I leaned against the wall as if copsing. Blood was flowing from the long gash on my body. I had blocked the greatsword, but my stance hadnt been good, and got injured. [Han () is in a poisoned state. Health decreases at regr intervals.] The poison is spreading quickly. I let out a cough. The blood I spat out was tinged with purple. I slid down against the wall, feeling like I was slipping away. What a damn mess. 5th floor, 10th floor, 15th floor. Every mission pushed my body to its limits. Tired. I closed my eyes. My job was done. The rest depended on whether the party could hold out until the target reached its destination. Considering their conditions, Aaron was close to death, Edis and Jenna were injured, and Eolka couldnt use magic. A whileter, a message appeared in the darkness. [The escorted target has escaped the city.] [Stage cleared!] [Han (), Jenna (), Aaron (), Eolka (), Edis () level up!] [Rewards 100,000G, Iron Ore (A) x3] [MVP Han ()] Is there anyone dead? All five of us leveled up. I faintly smiled. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 63: Value And Worthlessness (1) (1) Chapter 63: Value And Worthlessness (1) (1) Back through the rifts of time and space. The familiar circr field. I hung my sword on my belt and raised my shield. The wounds and poison had been thoroughly cleansed. However, a strong sense of difort lingered due to the aftermath of recovery. Whoa! I thought I was going to die! Jenna pped my shoulder as she got up. Upon seeing me, she ignited a me. Oppa youre the one who told her to give me those weird clothes, didnt you? Feeling unhappy? They looked pretty expensive though. Clothes are clothes, in their own way. Theyre even ufortable to move in. They were in a trash can. And did you know that the soldiers rushed at me as if they were crazy, also they were only targeting me?! Jenna grumbled as she slung her bow over her shoulder. I grinned and opened the door leading to the za. The distinctive cool air of the waiting room enveloped me. I nced back at my party members. Edis was stowing a thrown dagger that had fallen to the ground into her sheath, and Eolka was catching her breath with a slightly depleted expression. Jenna was counting the number of arrows in her quiver. And Aaron had his head bowed. Not many unscathed ones around. They were acting nonchnt, but even Jennas hand, while counting arrows, trembled ever so slightly. Edis was probably the only calm one. As expected. If we had been a minutete for the clear, there might have been casualties. The fact that no one died could only be attributed to luck. [Recordingplete!] [Video saved! The video will be stored in the gallery. You can also watch it with other users online.] I looked up. The sky was shining white. It took about 6 hours to clear the mission. Since the sky is like this, then Anytng had been watching us for a long time. If he had logged inte at night, he might have stayed up all night. [Master, would you like to end the connection?] [Yes (Selected) / No] [Goodbye then!] Anytng disconnected frighteningly as the message announcing thepletion of the recording appeared. The sky darkened. The sight of the extra personnel heading to the equipment workshop beyond the door to the za, on their way to work, could be seen. Is it already morning? I said. Good job, everyone. No one died, and we cleared the boss stage. Especially Edis. It would have been much harder without you. It was just a matter of course. Edis smiled softly. She was practically the MVP of this mission. She quickly analyzed the geography of the city and provided urate information to the party. Both leading the soldiers away and setting up decoys for the party wouldnt have been possible without Edis. Are you going back to the 2nd party now? Thats the n. I wasnt nning on staying long anyway. The Master will fill my position with someone else. I see. Its a shame. Skilled thieves werent easy to find. While the battles were battles, the thief ss was essential to the party for other missions. Jenna was somewhat simr, but she was also an archer type and hadnt undergone a job change yet. She wascking in various wayspared to Edis. Ill go first. Edis, who had secured her dagger on her belt, left for the za. Asher and Dica were waiting for her in the za. With both of herrades, Edis returned to her quarters. Its always this hard. Eolka sighed. I want to rest now too. I stayed up all night. My skin feels damaged. Do as you please. Youve worked hard too. So have you. Eolka nced at Aaron, who had his head lowered, before leaving the spacetime rift. Thus, only Jenna, Aaron, and I remained in the rift. Jenna went through her preparations and approached Aaron. Aaron Oppa, dont be disappointed. It was just bad luck. You didnt cause any harm. Aaron didnt respond. Jenna sighed, then said. Well, Ill be going too. See you tomorrow. I nodded. Jenna disappeared into the rift. There was no reason for me to stay here either. I needed to rest and recover my strength before thinking about what to do next. As I was about to leave the za, I heard Aarons voice. Hyungnim. What is it? Im sorry. Its because of me. I know well enough. I grinned. If we were to be objective, we had suffered quite a lot of losses because of Aaron in this mission. We wouldnt have faced a crisis if he hadnt been injured. However, it was entirely my decision. Even if we had been wiped out, it was due to myck of judgment, not something I med Aaron for. Dont do that next time. I wont save you twice. Is there a guarantee that I wont do it again next time? What nonsense is this again? Hyungnim, do you n to keep pulling me along until the end? Aarons voice was trembling. I looked back. I couldnt see Aarons expression as he bowed his head deeply. No matter how hard I try, I dont think I can catch up. The gap seems to widen as time goes on. With Eolka, Jenna, and you, hyungnim. And? Im sorry. I think Im just talking nonsense. After shaking his head, Aaron walked past me in a heavy-hearted manner and left the spacetime rift. As we emerged into the za, I caught sight of Aarons back as he headed toward the training grounds. Indeed. I knew what he was struggling with. Aarons current level was 14. The same as Jennas and simr to mine. But if you looked into the details, there was quite a gap. First, Aarons growth stats were at the lowest level, 4, from the 1-star tier. Jenna and I got into 5 midway through, I sometimes go up to 6, but Aaron didnt change even when he was promoted. And when it came to skills, the gap was even more severe. Aaron had the skills of Novice Spear Arts, Pain Resistance, and me Resistance. Of course, having numerous skills didnt necessarily mean they were good. But Aarons proficiency wasnt high. His highest level skill, Novice Spear Arts, was merely at level 4. His foundation inbat skills was solid, but his ability to apply them was sorelycking. For now, we might be able to get by somehow. But as time passed, the gap would widen significantly. Eventually, Aaron would either be excluded from the party or die due to hisck of ability. Hecked talent. I had nothing to say about that. I did feel a slight attachment to Aaron. Otherwise, I would have discarded him without hesitation when he got poisoned. But I wasnt so mad as to force an utterly useless member into the party. He doesnt have much time left with us either. If he cant keep up, Ill discard him. That fact was still valid. Well, rather than discarding, its more like finding him a different role. Coincidentally, the position of the instructor at the training grounds was vacant. Aaron would do well if he took on that role. I returned to my lodgings. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 63: Value And Worthlessness (1) (2) Chapter 63: Value And Worthlessness (1) (2) The next morning. I instructed the members gathered at the training grounds to engage in self-training. Until now, we had followed a semipulsory training schedule, so this was essentially a deration of vacation. It wouldst for three days. Anytng would probably also refrain from sending us into battle during this time. Is it for real? Youre not going to just feed us potatoes because were not training, right? I told you thats not it. Have I been lying to you? Eolka cheered in delight before immediately dashing out of the training grounds. I knew where she was headed. Straight to her room. There, she had various precious items she had earned by doing her research. What about you guys? Well take a bit of a break. Its be a habit. Were nning to rest only until the evening. Jenna tied a sandbag to each ankle and started stretching. She was getting ready for track running. Aaron was also toning his body beside her. Youre doing it. Even if I tell you not to. Youre the same, oppa. Ironically, I also had a sandbag tied to my ankles. It weighed about 10kg. It was more like a lump of iron than a sandbag. Without doing this much, it would be impossible to consume my stamina. I could do hundreds of push-ups in the correct posture, run 100m in around 8 seconds, and even break tree trunks with my bare hands. My body had already reached the limits of human potential. Interference energy. It was the source that granted the power to transcend humans to heroes. Iselle had exined it that way. It was truly an inexplicable phenomenon if not for interference. In less than half a year, I had be a monster that was half outside the realm of humanity. Running along the track, I looked around the training grounds. The heroes in training were Roderick, Asher, and Dica from the 2nd party, along with Velkist and Neryssa. They were both promising members of the 3rd party, which had rapidly risen from the 2-star tier. The chances were high that one of them would join our party. So, we had 3 members in the 1st party, 3 in the 2nd party, and 2 in the 3rd party. A total of 8 members. That was the extent of the training grounds members. I nced at the za beyond the open door. There were numerous people resting near the fountain. Approximately dozens of them. They chatted with each other while sitting on benches or taking walks. There were no noticeable shadows on their faces. These were the lower-tier heroes who had been summoned after I handed over the strategy book to Anytng. Initially, they had been eager to improve, but over time, they had started to ck off. They hardly had any time at the training grounds and were alsocking in learning supplemental skills. The reason was simple. Anytng didnt synthesize anyone. They didnt need topete with each other, and they spent most of their time resting. Phew! Velkist spat. One of his eyes with a scar twisted in difort. He was also from the 2nd generation, but he was a variant. Even though he hadnt undergone synthesis, he voluntarily engaged in training. His training intensity wasparable to Aarons. His talent was also excellent. However, he had a slight personality issue. Afterpleting threeps around the track, a loudughter echoed from the za. Someone had cracked a funny joke. Huh. Velkist chuckled. Then he mumbled softly. When I came to the waiting room for the first time, I heard an interesting story. I stopped in my tracks. The other members also paused momentarily. With all eyes on him, Velkist continued speaking. It doesnt matter who you were beforeing here. Whether noble or trash. If you want to live, prove your usefulness. Show your own worth. Velkist looked at me with a twisted smile. Was this about the time I subdued the Fangwolf mercenary party? I had said something simr. But, this guy was referring to something that had happened long before he arrived. When someone told me those words, I got excited. Its a ce where anything is possible as long as I prove my worth. Knowing this, even fighting for my life was enjoyable. Theughter of those bastards who are worse than pigs outside can be heard here. Pigs, huh? Dica grimaced. Worse than pigs, indeed. They only know how to eat and do nothing else. Isnt that right, seniors? Velkist pulled out his sword halfway from its sheath. I heard about the hardships the seniors went through. It must have been very thrilling. Its a pity that I camete. But isnt this a different story? Sheeth. Velkist pulled the swordpletely out of the scabbard. Then he licked the de with his tongue. A murderous glint shone in his eyes. If the seniors allow, could I do a bit of educating? Would that be okay? Velkist had outstanding talent and enthusiasm, but there was this kind of issue. I frowned. Dont go out of your way. Isnt it okay as long as I dont kill them? I drew my sword without saying anything. Velkistughed heartily and sheathed his sword. Im too scared to continue. Sorry for being bold. But you have to give me an answer. Was what the senior said just a lie? Prove your worth, is that what you mean? It seems to me that it doesnt matter whether I prove my worth or not. I heard that there was a very good system called synthesis to dispose of trash, but strangely, the Master doesnt seem to use it. Dont use synthesis recklessly. That was one of the fundamental principles of Niflheimr. When I posted the strategy, many Masters followed this principle. But they all failed. Fear was one of the most powerful motivators for heroes actions. If there was no fear of synthesis, heroes wouldnt listen to the Masters words. They would actzy, move on their own, and often refuse orders. The current situation, with a very limited number of active peoplepared to the number of heroes, had simr causes. Do your tasks. Youll understand the meaning of my words soon enough. Really? Yes. Ill be watching. Im looking forward to it. Velkist returned to a corner of the training ground. And he started training again. I sheathed my sword and looked outside. People in the za were stillughing and chatting. Thats if he had seen that document. My y record that I had handed over to Anytng. It contained my thoughts on this phenomenon. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 64: Value and Worthlessness (2) (1) Chapter 64: Value and Worthlessness (2) (1) Early in the dawn, after finishing the meal prepared by Chloe, I headed out to the training grounds. As usual, I followed the same schedule, returningte in the evening, without any expeditions to the dungeon. The members of the 1st party were excluded from the dungeon that had been part of their routine. After conquering the 15th floor, it seemed like Anytng was focusing on something on the other side. His main tasks were nurturing sub-parties and collecting resources. Afterpleting the morning training, and on the way to the dining hall for lunch, I found a group of heroes emerging from the rifts of time and space. They were the party that had just finished the weekly dungeon. Enok, the carpenter, was among them. His expression was deeply furrowed. As he was about to separate from the group and enter the warehouse, I grabbed his arm. Whats wrong? Theyre not helping. Enok spoke in an emotionless tone. They tossed a few branches and chatted in the forest. Thanks to that, I worked hard all by myself. Enok nced at the people heading to the dormitories and sighed. Enok rarely expressed himself this way, with such little emotional change. The situation has changed a lot. Back then, people like that had no choice but to die. Do you think that the world is better now? Perhaps. I have to go. Enok entered the warehouse. He seemed to be preparing to transport lumber from the warehouse to the equipment crafting center. As a skilled carpenter, he was constantly busy without any time to spare. I looked at the sky. Anytng was logged in. He must be aware that the results of the weekly dungeon and the training were not the same as before. Operational efficiency was rapidly declining. Hmm. There were two ways to handle this. The first was to go through mass synthesis. In that case, almost all second-generation heroes would be sacrificed. However, work and training efficiency would increase. If you didnt want to die, there was no other choice. This method had significant drawbacks. If synthesis was overused, the stress level in the waiting room would skyrocket. Therefore, most masters were inclined to regte their stress levels by conducting synthesis at an appropriate level. The second was to give heroes a motivation other than fear. Lets see how it ys out. Anytng wouldnt just stand by like this. Whether the first or second option, a decision needed to be made. I entered the dormitorys dining hall. The lunch menu consisted of boiled chicken soup. And that evening. While practicing with my sword at the training grounds the door to the magic workshop opened, and Eolka appeared. Eolka had taken a break from training, but she hadnt stopped her research. It seemed she had sessfully finished her research for today. After raising hero responsiveness and consistently researching without missing a beat, points had umted quite a bit. Anytng immediately brought up the research status window. [Research!] [Current development status is as follows.] [1. Hero Responsiveness Research (Lv.1)] [2. Facility Scbility Research (Lv.0)] [3. Dungeon Complexity Research (Lv.0)] The cursor moved to select number 2. [Facility Scbility Research has been selected.] [Would you like to upgrade? 150 research points will be consumed.] [Yes (selected) / No] [Ding!] [Research, Facility Scbility has be Lv.1.] [The number of buildable facilities will increase.] [You can modify the details of the facilities.] [Facility customization feature is now open.] [Tips/Facility customization allows you to change the structure of facilities to your liking. Decorate and change your own waiting room, Master!] Unlike the hero responsiveness, there was no noticeable effect. A message indicating function opening appeared quite simply. Facility customization. It was a system that allowed for the restructuring of facilityyouts. Dozens of construction tools were provided, allowing for the creation of even intricate andplex structures based on the Masters maniption. I took a sip of water. Research on facilities wasplete. It seemed like the process of renovating the waiting room was about to start. It had been a long time since expanding the waiting room, and there were many heroes now. It was a valid choice. As I stood up, Aaron, who had just finished sparring with Edis, approached. Since returning from the 15th floor, Aarons days had been filled with rigorous training from morning till night. His entire body was drenched in sweat. Hyungnim, can we have one round? With that body? You wontst a minute. Im fine. Arent you pushing yourself too hard? Perhaps, but I attached the sword to my belt as I leaned against the wall. *** As the evening approached midnight, the training grounds were nearly empty except for members of the 1st and 2nd parties. The 3rd party was out in battle. Its still early. Where are you going? Jenna asked as she came out of the shooting range. Im not going anywhere. Im just preparing. What? For what?! [Everyone gather at the za!] Iselles booming voice echoed through the entire waiting room. I shrugged my shoulders. For this. How do you predict things like this? Anyway, we need to gather. Training is on hold. Wrap up what you were doing. After cing the tools back on the rack, we headed to the za. Dozens of people were bustling in the za. It was enough to make the za feel crowded. Anytng had conducted at least one draw a day. All of them were free draws. Jenna looked up and mumbled. Its the first time the Master has called everyone like this. Could it be for synthesis? Edis expression changed to one of concern. I chuckled and said, 10 people would be synthesized. That many? Whats the problem, master can always draw again? So hes sacrificing them all True. I looked at the heroes gathered in the za. Support heroes like Chloe and Enok. Combat heroes like me, Jenna, and Edis. And even those who werent really useful. The third-tier seedlings avoided my gaze, their eyes skittering away when they met mine. [Is everyone here? Except for those who went to the dungeon? If you were sleeping and didnte, youll be in trouble!] Everyones here. Chloe said. Iselle nodded in satisfaction and said, [Were about to undergo a major operation. So, all of you stay put in the warehouse and donte out. Theres a chance you might disappear if you get caught in it. Got it?] If its an operation Its the same thing we didst time! Jennas eyes gleamed. Well, the number of people has increased. Its time for some renovations. I wonder how things will change. An operation? You camete, so you wouldnt know. Sometimes the Master creates facilities in the waiting room. I wish theyd make a hot spring bath this time. Jenna responded to Edis question with a cheerful smile. [Everyone here, head to the warehouse. Execute!] The door to the warehouse creaked open. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 64: Value and Worthlessness (2) (2) Chapter 64: Value and Worthlessness (2) (2) [Everyone here, head to the warehouse. Execute!] The door to the warehouse creaked open. People entered the warehouse one after another. When I entered, the door closed behind me. The warehouse was cold and dark. People whispered nervously with anxious faces. Aaron asked me. What do you think wille of this, Hyungnim? Who knows. Its clear that things wont go as expected, but As expected? Youll see. There had been several opportunities to level up facilities. However, Anytng had waited until the scbility research wasplete before starting the upgrades. The intention was clear. There were enough gems to build the facilities. Anytng hadnt done any paid draws since the previous charge. A message guiding the construction appeared. [Constructing a facility. Please touch the desired facility type.] [Dormitory Lv.3 has been selected. Would you like to expand this building?] [Yes (selected) / No] [Dormitory has reached Level 3. Hero possession limit has increased.] Starting with the dormitory, thepletion windows for buildings appeared one after another. [Bathing House, a subsidiary building of Dormitory, has been selected. Would you like to construct it?] [Yes (selected) / No] [Lounge, a subsidiary building of Dormitory, ] [Restaurant, a subsidiary building of Dormitory, ] [Training Grounds Lv.3 ] Krrr. An untimely vibration shook the waiting room. People looked around uneasily. [Bathing House has beenpleted! Heroes facility satisfaction will improve.] [Lounge has beenpleted! Heroes fatigue will significantly decrease.] [Restaurant has reached Level 2! High-quality meals will be provided to heroes.] [Training Grounds have reached Level 3! Hero training efficiency will improve!] [Great!] [As facilities proliferate, the za evolves to Level 3!] [Excellent!] [The waiting room evolved to Level 2! More floors are added. You will be able to install more facilities.] Anytng didnt stop operating. Following the facility window, the customization window opened. [Changing the structure of the facility.] [You can load external map data.] Jenna was exining the current situation to the people. You know the Master, right? Hes in the process of creating new buildings for us. We used to live in shabby ces at first. You mean the facilities are improving? You can think of it that way. Thats great! The beds were ufortable. Can we try new dishes too? People were chattering cheerfully all of a sudden. Their faces were filled with anticipation. [Constructionplete! Heroes cane out of the warehouse.] The door leading to the za opened. People poured out as if they had been waiting. Oh wow, its really different! The buildings have changed! Someone eximed with a delighted face. I walked out slowly from the back of the group. The second floor has been added. The structure of the za wasnt much different from before, but now there were tall stairs leading upward in one corner. Beyond the stairs was a transparent ceiling. It was both the ceiling of the first floor and the sky beyond the second floor, visible as if it pierced through. Bathing house! Bathing house! Interesting. Jenna ran towards the dormitory. Edis followed behind, muttering. A small parade formed from the warehouse to the dormitory. The dormitory has a second floor as well now, and so do the training grounds. In other words, the entire waiting room had transformed from a one-story to a two-story structure. First-floor dormitory. Confusion rather than joy appeared on peoples faces. Edis murmured, Doesnt it feel worse for some reason? Thats true. The radiators were gone. The sofas were gone too. Decorations like carpets and frames had all disappeared. There were only a few chairs in the lobby that looked like they might break if you sat on them. What happened here! It wasnt like thisst time? Jenna mumbled with a puzzled face. A young woman walked out into the corridor and said, The beds are gone too. Are you asking us to sleep on the floor now?! Thats not possible, theres no way There is a way. I stepped forward. Everyones attention focused on me. I tapped the stairs with my foot as I said, Cant you see the stairs? Just go up. Could it be! Jennas eyes sparkled, and she quickly climbed the stairs. Finally, as if understanding, people followed Jenna. The second floor perfectly met peoples expectations. Soft carpets and a firece. Plush sofas. In the rooms were beds with high-quality sheets, and the bathing house was filled with warm and clean water. People, their faces full of joy, started discussing which room they would stay in. Of course, there was no one who wanted to stay on the first floor. [Why are you all talking nonsense?] Nonsense [Its not over yet. Everyone, gather in the 2nd-floor za! Master will personally assign your rooms.] This time, everyone gathered in the 2nd-floor za. The basic structure was simr, but from the second floor, you could look down at the 1st-floor za. [Configuring facility details.] [You have selected the dormitory. The subsidiary buildings are as follows.] [Restaurant Lv.2, Bathing House Lv.1, Lounge Lv.1] [Restaurant Lv.2] [Manager: Chloe (), Amarine ()] [Avable types of dishes: Meat, Potatoes, Fruits ] Anytngs control panel was moving chaotically in one corner of the field of vision. People thought something strange was happening, so they murmured. Edis frowned. I cant understand Masters intention. I chuckled. What Anytng was doing was simple. He was creating a hierarchy in the waiting room. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 65: Value and Worthlessness (3) (1) Chapter 65: Value and Worthlessness (3) (1) A whileter, Anytngs maniption wasplete. A system message appeared. [Adjustmentpleted.] [Applying changed settings. Please wait a moment.] Iselle snapped her fingers. [Where should I look!] A thick book emerged from thin air. Iselle unfurled the book with a flourish and began to skim through its contents. [The current total number of members in the main waiting room is 35 and the instructions from the Master are] Iselle muttered as she scanned the book. Jenna approached and whispered to me. Oppa, whats happening? Its a bit strange. I think Im fine. Do we really need to divide the first and second floors like this? Its almost like Nobles andmoners. If the Master wants to handle us as he pleases, its a natural measure. I dont like it, but it will turn out well. Eolka interjected. She was fluttering a fancy fan she had received as a gift. Nobles andmoners, huh. Jenna pouted. I lightly ced my hand on Jennas head. You wake up early in the morning and go to the training grounds. Youll work hard there until evening. Then youll hunt in the weekday dungeon. More than half of the meat we eates from your hunting. Youll also perform well on missions. I turned to the crowd in the second-floor za and observed the murmuring people. Their faces were marked with deep unease. What about them? Theyre not doing anything. Youre quite naive too. If it were me, I wouldve been annoyed a long time ago. Eolka covered her mouth with the fan. Edis, who had been listening, sighed. So, instead of synthesis, hes creating sses. Thats right. All the heroes in the waiting room had shared a simr lifestyle so far. They had slept in the same bed, eaten the same meals, and worn the same type of clothes. While efforts and achievements varied among individuals, rewards were equal. If the waiting room was managed mainly through synthesis with a small number of people, that would be eptable. However, to advance the current primitive waiting room to the next level, certain measures were necessary to eliminate that. The principle of separation was the solution. Facility customization. Initially, this feature was used merely to decorate the waiting room. The Masters didnt think that heroes possessed intelligence nearly equivalent to humans. They treated them as data with fixed abilities and ranks. But I was different. I quickly recognized this and found another use for the seemingly decorative feature. What Anytng had built now was the A3 model I had used in the very early stages of Niflheimr. It had its downsides, but it was the simplest way to reduce the rate of synthesis. The cross-section of this model was sketched in the y record. Iselle closed the book. Then, sprinkling stardust, she turned around the za. [Everyone pay attention! Im going to announce room assignments. Listen carefully since Ill only say this once. Its the Masters strict order, so if you rebel without cause, expect consequences.] Iselle cleared her throat and put on a serious expression. [First-party members, 4 in total! Everyone in the first party will be on the second floor. You can choose any room you want. Same goes for the second party. There are plenty of rooms, so pick any.] Iselles instructions continued. [Chloe, Enok, Ulter, Patrick, and Amarine too. You guys are on the second floor.] Relief washed over the faces of those named. Two cooks, a carpenter, a cksmith, and a tanner. These were the heroes who had consistently honed their skills since being assigned to the facility. There were other support members, but theycked skill. [Everyone else will be on the first floor.] Wait! A man in the corner of the za stepped forward. Iselle puffed up her cheek that hadnt lost its baby fat. [Do you have aint?] Isnt the room on the second floor big not enough? Everyone else is on the first floor. Isnt this wasteful! Exactly! At least 30 people can stay on the second floor! Reassign the rooms! A colleague of the man shouted loudly. Other discontented individuals began expressing their resentments in unison. Reassign the rooms! Right. How are we supposed to sleep in a room without a bed? Its bone-chilling! [These people never stop when they get started.] Iselleughed brightly and clenched her small fist. Then, she soared into the air and descended, striking the ground as shended. Boom! The entire waiting room shook violently as if a bomb had exploded. The people near Iselle grabbed their buttocks. The za fell silent for a moment. Iselle folded her wings and perched on the shattered bench. You guys are really something! Just a month ago, you would have all been synthesized. Consider this being lucky. But But what? Want to taste my nuclear punch? Iselle raised her guard and extended her right hand as if throwing a punch. Her small hand moved at an unseen speed, emitting shockwaves. She might look like a petite fairy at first nce, but Iselle was a level 257 monster. Themotion in the za subsided. Iselle nodded her head with a satisfied expression. [Now, no moreints, right? Lets move on. Chloe, step forward.] Chloe stepped forward in an apprehensive expression. Right, you. Youre the head chef. The Master ordered. From now on, you and Amarine will be the exclusive chefs for the second-floor restaurant. Exclusive chefs? [Youll be responsible for the second-floor residents meals.] Wait a moment! What now? Youre taking all the chefs away? What are we supposed to do? Iselle furrowed her brows. [Figure it out yourselves. Whether you eat dirt or not. Oh, I forgot to mention, from now on, meat consumption is prohibited on the first floor. Have you seen the potatoes in the first-floor pantry? Roast and eat them.] No way Are you telling us to eat only potatoes? [Is that so strange?] For fucks sake! Were made to sleep in a ce like shit and now were not even getting cooked meals? A robust man stepped forward bravely. Isnt it unfair that we were dragged here by some fucking psycho who calls himself the Master, and now hes treating us like this? Do you think well just take it lying down? [What do you think will happen if you dont?] This, this Go to hell! The man drew a dagger and charged at Iselle. Iselle pushed up her sleeves. In the moment when she felt like she was going to clear a corpse, A sh of light erupted. The arm wielding the dagger spurted blood and shot into the air. The man stared at his severed right arm for a moment before screaming wildly. Aaargh! The young man in front of him stuck his tongue out, licked his lips, and twirled the dagger. Drops of blood scattered in all directions. It was Velkist. [What the hell are you doing?] As long as you dont kill him, its okay, right? Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 65: Value and Worthlessness (3) (2) Chapter 65: Value and Worthlessness (3) (2) [What the hell are you doing?] As long as you dont kill him, its okay, right? Velkist looked at the man writhing on the ground under his feet and said. Stick your arm back on yourself. If you press it against the cross-section, it should stick by itself. But again, Ive never tried cutting myself, so I wouldnt know. The za froze for a moment. Blood flowed from the sword Velkist held in his right hand. I came back after a round of beating, and theres an interesting scene happening. I like it a lot. My hands are itching, are there any more brats like him? You lunatic! Someone hidden in the crowd shouted. Its better than being a damn pig. Dont you think so, senior? Velkist looked at me and smirked. I frowned. Who the hell do you think you are to step forward? I apologize. It was so disgusting that my hand moved without my knowing. Velkist wiped off the blood and put the sword back in its sheath. Then he went to the wall in a corner of the za and leaned against it. The man was crawling toward his severed arm. He got lucky. If Velkist hadnt stepped in, Iselles hand would have crushed his skull. Iselle soared into the air, then turned her gaze to the 3rd party that had just joined the za. [So did you hear the news?] You mean the division of the 1st and 2nd floors? The 1st floor is crawling in the mud, and the 2nd floor is treated well. [In short, thats right. And you guys are on the 1st floor too.] Dont worry. Well be up soon. Velkist pointed at me. Neryssa was standing beside him with her eyes closed. [Ill summarize it again for the idiots who couldnt understand. Among the total of 35 members, 13 are on the 2nd floor. The remaining 22 are on the 1st floor. The 2nd-floor folks have freedom. You can use all the facilities in the waiting room. But not the 1st-floor folks. If you go up to the 2nd floor and get caught, I might kill you!] Iselle clenched her fist threateningly. [If you want to go to the 2nd floor, improve your abilities. Everyone, pay attention. We have a perfect example right here!] Iselle pointed at me and stuck her nose up. [Follow the example of the super ace who can do anything, Han! Have you seen how we did on the 15th floor? Did you see it? You guys cant even imagine. Truly ingenious tactics and Aw, aw, hehehe!] I pulled Iselles cheek. But the attention was focused on me. Did I end up with another tiring role? I had said something simr before. I took a deep breath and spoke. If you want to be treated like a human being, you have to show your abilities. Whether its in battle or whatever. The Master is watching you. If he deems it sufficient, even if you dislike it, hell send you to the 2nd floor. Even so, isnt this going too far? We were brought here without knowing anything. And now were being forced into this kind of life. One of the guys burst into tears. Velkist detached himself from the wall. His right hand was on his sheath. I spoke in a chilly voice. Dont you dare take a move. Velkist returned to his spot in silence. I continued speaking. Were the same as you. We were dragged here without warning. No, it was even more cruel than that. Isnt that right, Jenna? Well, thats true. We didnt even have anything to eat. We would have ended up synthesized right away if we made a small mistake. We trained all day like idiots. And its alling back now. Does that mean youre telling us to fight alongside you? Thats how its going to be. We didnt really need many support or collection roles yet. Most of them would bebatant heroes, and among them, a handful of talented individuals would be able to go to the 2nd floor. The guy lowered his head. One side epts, and the other side doesnt. Its half and half. Some people appeared deep in thought. There were also people going down to the 1st floor with a sense of resignation. But there were also those who clearly showed their dissatisfaction. It was a simple psychological response. Given and then taken away. They had their enjoyment snatched away in an instant. They were bound to be resentful. This part was a mistake by Anytng. To easily transition the system, the timing of free draws should have been dyed, or the steps should have been gradually implemented. To put it simply, the new system was established firmly but also quickly, and hasty changes can cause a bacsh. Nonsense! Like this. A pleasantly chubby middle-aged man wiped his forehead and spoke. We wont ept this. Being treated like trash and being told to go fight? Wheres the logic in this! You bastards didnt follow orders even when you were well-fed. Velkist sneered. The man didnt back down and shouted. Isnt that right,rades? Yes. We will reim our rightful rights! Nearly ten people instantly gathered together. The chubby guy smiled with satisfaction. Did you think we wouldnt know about the secret youve been hiding? Secret? The way to force the Master to change his will. We know how can let this little monster touch us. You might have tried to hide it, but weve all found out. So? If we want to be treated like human beings, why do we have to risk our lives fighting monsters? Isnt this madness? Exactly! From now on, we dere our refusal to participate! People centered around the chubby guy, raised their fists. With sound effects, the system message was updated. [Sitan () has refused to deploy!] [4th Party is inoperable.] [5th Party is inoperable.] [Massive protest situation!] [Heroes are causing a riot!] I chuckled. Messing around without understanding the true meaning of this. I took out my sword from my belt and ced it below my feet. I pushed down with my foot, and the sword spun on the za floor and slid towards the group. Cut off one of your arms with that sword. Just like that guy. Then Ill spare you. I pointed to the man who was desperately trying to reattach his severed arm. The chubby man spoke as if he was looking at a madman. Ha, have you gone crazy? I cant help you if you dont listen to my words! Consider it a cheap education fee. [Master, synthesis is starting!] Clunk. The door of the Synthesis Hall opened. Hi there this is Hyung_Otaku, we finally caught up to the Manhwa! Hope they dont publish a new chapter today :''( It was really hard but I finally managed to catch up! If you enjoyed the story so far and this new chapter please consider supporting me. If its on Patreon I would really appreciate it and it would really help considering how much time Im investing in this story, you can also read one chapter ahead of the free releases by subscribing, but if not, saying thanks or writing onement can really make up my day too Thank you Chapter 66: Value and Worthlessness (4) (1) Chapter 66: Value and Worthlessness (4) (1) za, many people remained. They alternated their gaze between us and those who dered a strike on the other side. There was a sense of curiosity and intrigue in their looks. They must be wondering. Whether their methods will work. If it works, they will make the same choice. Hehe, did you think you could just hide it to yourself? We know everything too. We can refuse the Masters orders! That insolent fairy cant touch us either! How about that, surprised? The chubby manughed sinisterly. Hispanion snickered beside him. Joy could be seen in their faces. Its definitely not wrong. Heroes have the right to refuse the Masters orders. Unless Iselle had a special reason, she couldnt touch a hero. Edis said with a firm expression. Stop it. We risked our lives. What youre doing now is different. Whats different? Were also risking our lives! If you dont even understand the meaning of those words I stepped forward and restrained Edis. Edis frowned, clutched her forehead, bit her tongue, and withdrew. They thought they had won andughed louder. I said, Good attitude. Then go risk your lives directly. What [We were nning to do that anyway! Velkist, n, Leslie!] Iselle spun around and pointed to the left door of the za. Inside the synthesis chamber, a purple magic circle emitted an eerie light. [These three. Go through that door, execute!] Is it synthesis? [Yes.] Velkist smiled without saying a word and moved into the synthesis chamber. Iselle looked at the two who were looking at her with puzzled eyes. [Why arent you going in quickly? We dont have time.] No, whats this I couldnt help but chuckle. Knowing about the strike but not about the synthesis. He had heard the story, but he had undoubtedly only half-listened. [Fine, if you wont go by yourself Ill send you in!] Iselle grabbed the edges of their clothes and threw them. The movement was light, but the force behind it was not. The two men shot towards the synthesis chamber like projectiles and collided with the inner wall. One of them hit his head on the wall, blood dripping from his forehead. Wait a moment! Wait ng! The synthesis chamber door closed with a loud noise. Do you really want to synthesize? [Yes (selected) / No] A sh from the synthesis spilled through the closed-door crack. [Synthesisplete!] [n () has turned into light and disappeared.] [Leslie () has turned into light and disappeared.] [Velkist (), leveled up! Acquired Wild skill!] The chubby man, Sitan, stared at the synthesis chamber door with a dazed look. After a while, the door opened and Velkist emerged. This kills the mood! Velkist twisted his lips as if they could touch his ears. Fangs were visible between his lips. Velquist, now level 8, looked at the remaining strike group and said in a low voice, Not enough. Are there no more? There still seem to be plenty of offerings. [That should be enough after eating that much. Your turn is over now.] Thats too bad. Velkist giggled and then sat down next to the synthesis chamber, his rear against it. In any case, it was a good experience. I hope we do it more often. There was no trace of hesitation in his expression. Instead, he seemed pleased. He didnt appear worried at all that he would be the target of synthesis. [Neryssa, Oliver, Walter!] Iselle called the next three. Three again this time. One target and two offerings. Neryssa entered the synthesis chamber with calm steps. The man who was called screamed and grabbed Sitans cor. Damn it, what you told us is different! You said nothing would happen! Thats not true. From what I heard, its okay! Then why arent the two guys who went in earliering out? As Iselle approached, the man sat on the ground and pped his hands. Wait. I was fooled by this guy. Fooled! I didnt expect it to turn out like this. Seriously! [So what?] Iselle said in an annoyed tone and threw the man away. The man resisted, twisting his body, but it was in vain. Another man who had been running up the stairs was soon caught by Iselle and thrust into the synthesis chamber. The door closed behind them. [Are you really going to synthesize?] [Yes (selected) / No] A sh from the synthesis spilled out through the closed-door crack. [Synthesisplete!] [Walter () has turned into light and disappeared.] [Oliver () has turned into light and disappeared.] Four sacrifices. Six survivors remained. Sitan hurriedly spoke. Ill lift the refusal to participate! [4-party is now operable.] There was no message indicating the release of the 5-party. Because they had all been wiped out. [Jenna, Lawrence!] In the end, it turned out like this. Jenna entered the synthesis chamber with an annoyed expression. Although the deployment refusal was lifted, the synthesis didnt stop. Lawrence knelt down and begged. Save me. Please save me! He came up with the idea! Just kill him! [Goodbye.] Iselle grabbed Lawrences hand and threw him into the synthesis chamber. Hey, the deployment refusal is lifted. Why isnt it stopping? Sitan yelled, sweating profusely. Of course. They were the examples. While the current method was more moderate than an operation focused solely on synthesis, it still required fear. The people gathered in the za looked at the sacrifices with fearful eyes. They were relieved that they werent included. Comints about ufortable living conditions and meals were clearly evident. [Edis, Ridel!] The number of offerings decreased one by one. Two for the less developed Velkist and Nerisa. One each for the rtively established members. Some tried to swing their fists, run away, or rampage, but it was futile. They had never properly cultivated their abilities in the first ce. Their rebellion was feeble. H-Hey. Say something at least! A man clung to my feet. What do you want me to say? I heard you can converse with the Master. Tell him to stop this madness! A light spilled out from the synthesis chamber door. I pointed my sword at Sitans feet. No one paid any attention to the sword I had pushed forward. Cut off one of your arms with this sword. Then Ill tell the Master. What?! Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 66: Value and Worthlessness (4) (2) Chapter 66: Value and Worthlessness (4) (2) I pointed my sword at Sitans feet. No one paid any attention to the sword I had pushed forward. Cut off one of your arms with this sword. Then Ill tell the Master. What?! Didnt I tell you earlier? Its a cheap education fee. As such, I could request a cease-fire from Anytng. However, I didnt feel the need. The mans mouth hung open in astonishment. Are you insane! Cut off my own arm? But They had already caused trouble. They couldnt just pass it off for free, even for the future. However, if there was someone mad enough to cut off their own arm, it would be better to keep them alive and nurture them instead of synthesizing them. Of course, cutting off ones own body parts was not an easy task. A man seemed to make up his mind and was about to cut off his arm when he screamed and threw the sword. A single line of blood appeared on his forearm. The man sobbed. Isnt this too much Its not even a finger, its an arm! Didnt you say youd risk your life? C-can you cut it for me? I cant do it alone. I cant do that. Are you telling all of us to die? That wouldnt be so bad. A few others tried to cut off their arms, but no one seeded. To cut off an arm in one clean stroke, you needed swordsmanship skills or a high-strength stat. Otherwise, you would only saw it. However, in my eyes, there was no one mad enough for that. They repeated attempts and gave up, bing offerings for synthesis. Only one person remained. The instigator of this incident. [Han, Sitan!] I know. I entered the synthesis chamber. As the waiting room became the second floor, the structure of the synthesis chamber changed as well. On the first floor was the promotion chamber, and on the second floor was the synthesis chamber. After a while, Sitan was reluctantly dragged into the synthesis chamber with vacant eyes. As the door closed, the magic circle began to glow. W-What will happen to me? Dont worry. It wont hurt. Were just Sitan, who was about to continue speaking, disintegrated into particles of light in all directions. Particles of light seeped into my body. Along with it, a message appeared indicating thepletion of synthesis. [Synthesisplete!] [Satan () has turned into light and disappeared.] [Han (), gained experience points!] A faint weak energy circted throughout my body. The level difference between the target and the offering was significant. I only gained a certain amount of experience points; my level didnt increase. Upon leaving the synthesis chamber, there were fewer than thirty people gathered, reduced by nearly half. With ten people dying due to synthesis, it was only natural. I attached the fallen sword to my belt. I surveyed the za. Peoples expressions were frozen. Even if I hadnt exined the synthesis process, they would have understood that they could never return. Next time study a bit more. The participation refusal was a risky method even for me. For them, who were merelymon 1-star heroes of the free summons, ending up like this was a foregone conclusion. It was the result of epting only the information that pleased them without properly understanding the cause and effect. In any case, they had be good teaching materials. The survivors must have realized that there was an absolute power gap between the Master and the heroes. The refusal right was only in name; in reality, it was close to suicide. This makes it 25 people. I passed through the center of the za. The event was over. I intended to inspect the facilities. The amodations and training center were now at level 3, and a bathhouse and lounge had been added. People cleared the path for me as I walked. You, you guys are crazy! Monsters! I stopped walking. The person shouting was hidden within the crowd, and their face wasnt visible. Who said that? Velkist stood up from his seat. The sword was already halfway out of its sheath. Stop. The prototype isnt over yet, is it? Seems like theres a brat whos only all talk left. Im fine, so why are you making a fuss? Senior must be feeling at ease. If it were me, Idpletely crush him. A smirk formed on Velkists lips. You go first. Ill see you on the second floor. Velkist descended to the first floor. His steps headed straight for the training center. He seemed to be testing the stats and skills he gained through synthesis. Others began to move as well. Soon, the heroes in the waiting room divided into those going up and down. The valuable ones, And the worthless ones. Master, starting a 10-consecutive summon. Im looking forward to which heroes wille out! And a message notifying the summon appeared. *Ta-kak, du-roo-roo-roo.* *Follow-ran!* *Common!* *Master Anytng* I looked down at the first floor through the transparent floor. The summoning portal on the first floor opened. A white light was seeping out from the door. He was filling the numbers after consuming heroes through mass synthesis. From now on, the location of summoning would differ ording to the grade. Free summons heroes were on the first floor. Paid summons started from the second floor. A man who had just been summoned stepped onto the za. His face had the bewildered expression unique to 1-star heroes. A girl followed behind the man. It seemed like she was yelling something, but I couldnt hear the sound. Thunk. The rift of time and space opened. Purging. At least two would die here. It seemed that job assignments would be given after the purging. Iselle appeared and herded them into the rift. Only a few of them would be able to make it to the second floor. Did he say I was crazy? I smiled. Common sense of reality does not work here. We consume each other through synthesis and fight for our lives against monsters that try to kill us. If adapting to thosews means being crazy, then thats what weve be. If you feel so attached to the first floor. You can alwayse down. Is that so? Jennaughed, scratching her cheek. Aaron looked up at the sky. The fact that the second floor has been established means that the third floor will be established too. The number of floors will increase. Grades will be differentiated there too. Edis said. I nodded my head. The current waiting room was divided into upper and lower levels, but eventually, it would be a pyramid structure. Like Niflheimr. Although that ce used a much more advanced system than here, the core was simr. I looked at the door on the front of the second-floor za. A que with the words Rift of Time and Space written on it was firmly attached to the closed door. I headed towards my lodge. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 67: Exploration Dungeon (1) (1) Chapter 67: Exploration Dungeon (1) (1) On the following day, After finishing my morning routine, I stepped out into the lobby. The lobby, which had gone through a renovation, was luxurious enough to remind one of a high-end hotel. I walked through the corridor to the dining area. The second-level dining area was also neat and tidy. A long table with a white tablecloth was in the center. And there, Jenna was having breakfast. Hey, Oppa, did you wake up? Jenna waved her hand as she looked at me. While waving her hand, she mumbled. In front of her were bread, bacon, and a meat stew. Oddly enough, breakfast is really delicious today. Thanks to that, Im eating to my hearts content. Jenna put a piece of bacon into her mouth. Her eyes seemed to twinkle with joy. Of course. Its a given when you have fewer people to feed. I pulled out a chair next to Jenna and sat down. Just until yesterday, there was only a single piece of meat in the stew, and the bacon was unbelievably tough. The bread was hard and dry. Beyond the ingredients, there wasnt enough time to cook. They had to prepare a meal for 35 people with only two of cooks. Now, with the number of people reduced by more than half, the ingredient usage per person had greatly increased, and there was more preparation time. The days of the cooks working tirelessly without rest were over. The heroes on the first floor might be peeling potato skins now. Jenna continued to hum a tune as she continued eating. The reason Jennas skin seemed unusually radiant might be because she spent the entire night in the bathhouse. I also received my share of food and started eating. After the meal, Jenna and I headed to the square. The second-floor square was empty. It was expected. Lazy individuals who would chatter even in the early morning wouldnte up to the second floor. They were either sleeping after staying up all night or had already gone to the facilities or training grounds. I opened the door to the training ground. There was Aaron, thrusting a spear into a wooden doll. This guy had been at the training ground until thetest hours yesterday and was the earliest one there today. Except for Aaron, we were the fastest. The second partys activity hours were slightlyter than ours. Have you arrived? Aaron greeted me as he folded the spear. I sighed and spoke. Did you get at least 4 hours of sleep? About 3 hours, I think. Youre quite the amazing one. With precise movements, the tip of the spear pierced into the wooden doll. After finishing his routine, Aaron approached us. And as always, the basic physical training began. The most significant change in the Level 3 training ground was the addition of individual training rooms and a sparring area. The individual training rooms were divided by walls and could be locked from the inside. We could now engage in the aggressive training we did only at dawn without worrying about being pierced by the others eyes. The sparring area referred to the high tform at the center of the second-floor training ground. One could ascend using the stairs, and it was surrounded by iron bars. The distinct feature from other spaces was that high-speed recovery didnt apply here. Healing tricks using the waiting rooms properties didnt work here. It meant that sparring could happen under the same conditions as realbat. Of course, if you suffered severe injuries, you had to be pulled out quickly. After about 30 minutes, Eolka appeared, yawning. Eolka nced at us running on the track as if uninterested and then went into the magic hall. Eolkas training break was until today. However, that didnt mean she was goofing off. When Eolka didnt have physical training, she studied magic in the halls library. A whileter, the second party joined us, and we had enough personnel for the day. As always, a busy day began. During breaks in training, I woulde down to the first-floor square to observe. Unlike a few days ago, there were very few people scattered around. Most were either in the training ground or learning skills from the support heroes in the facilities. Two individuals seem promising. I peered inside through the open door of the first-floor training ground. In the first-floor training ground, Velkist was sparring one-on-one with other heroes. Although it was a spar, they held real swords. It was probably Velkists idea. Except for the first party, Velkist was the only one who used real swords during sparring. Rogue personality. Fearless. Talented. For instance, Velkists newly awakened skill, Wild, was a rare ability with an acquisition rate of less than 1%. It was different fromposure or frenzy. Wild converted mental states like fear or anger intobat power, and whenbined with skills that caused forced mental states, it gained tremendous synergy. I shifted my gaze in another direction. A woman with short ck hair and a cool demeanor was fiercely attacking a wooden doll with her slender sword. Neryssa Llyor. She was a dual-sword user who alternated between slender and short swords. Herbat power itself was lower than Velkists, but her personality was generally calm andposed. Furthermore, she had exceptional senses for special actions like stealth, ambush, and intelligence gathering. With proper training, she would develop into a respectable rogue-type Hero. Theres no need to see the rest. Whenever Velkists sword swung, inevitably, one person would flinch. Although the three of them were teaming up, they couldnt be a real threat. Neryssa was the only one capable of being a threat. Even though all of them were summoned around the same time, the differences had be significant. Velkist whoid the three of them on the ground looked at me and smirked. Even though I couldnt hear the sound, I could understand the meaning. Senpai, are you going to try too? You arrogant brat. I chuckled and drew my sword. And then I entered the first-floor training ground. As expected, Velkist wasnt my match. After messing around to some extent, things would quiet down for a while. It was praiseworthy that he endured the pain even in situations where his entire body was being assaulted. After training until evening, Anytng logged in. After sending the low-level heroes he recruited yesterday on another mission, Anytng began touring the day dungeons. Starting from Facility Level 4, various materials such as ores, wood, and leather were needed. A new role as a gatherer for farming would be introduced from now on. And then, [Party 1, gather!] It had been three days since Iselle called us. After finishing the training schedule, I got up from my seat, where I had been analyzing the state of the waiting room from my room on the second floor. After organizing the data, I came out to the za. Except for me, members of Party 1 were gathered in the square. [Ah, going up and down is so exhausting. Have I gotten old?] Iselle pouted while patting her shoulder. Eolka interrupted Isellesint with ack of interest. Whats the matter? Are we climbing a new floor? It wont be a new floor. One person is missing. I said. Thest members of Party 1 and Party 2 hadnt been filled yet. The circumstances were different from the 15th floor. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 67: Exploration Dungeon (1) (2) Chapter 67: Exploration Dungeon (1) (2) It wont be a new floor. One person is missing. I said. Thest members of Party 1 and Party 2 hadnt been filled yet. The circumstances were different from the 15th floor. Why did they call us then? Usually, they dont call you for the weekly dungeon. [Master ordered an expedition.] Expedition? Jenna raised an eyebrow. An expedition. Main dungeon, weekly dungeon, and finally, the exploration dungeon. It was a three-pronged content that was permanently open in the rift of time and space. The exploration dungeon had opened when we cleared the 10th floor, but it seemed that we were finally sending a party now that we had passed the 15th floor. [Go already. Ive opened the rift. Im so busy I dont even have time to rest.] Iselle puffed out her cheeks and scattered stardust before disappearing. Then she reappeared on the first floor and called out the members of the other party. Her shouting voice sounded irritated. It seemed like excessive work had led to some discontent. I headed toward the stairs to the lower floor. Jenna pointed at the rift of the second floor. There seems to be a simr door on the second floor. Cant we go there? We cant use that one. The condition for opening the rift of spacetime was to clear the 20th floor. We were still far from that. We went down to the first floor. The rift of spacetime was open. As we were about to enter, Aaron spoke up. Is this exploration mission really necessary? Its not absolutely necessary. I replied. While the exploration dungeon was essential to enjoy advanced content, it wasnt particrly crucial at the moment. It wasnt as important as the main dungeon or the weekly dungeon. Thats why Anytng hadnt sent us until we cleared the 15th floor. Still, it will consume quite a bit of time. At least a day or two. It will probably take longer considering the time difference between there and the waiting room. What are we going to do that will take so long? Im not sure. Wont we know if we go? So theres something you dont even know. It wasnt a dodge. The exploration dungeon was one of the few contents that the Master couldnt directly see. Sending heroes to the exploration dungeon asionally yielded rare materials, ascension stones, and very rarely even heroes, but I didnt know how that happened. [Master, please distribute pocket money to the heroes! It will make the heroes exploration smoother.] [Will you give gold to the heroes?] [Rmended 3,000G per person] [Yes (Selected) / No] Anytng pressed Yes, and a leather pouch fell from the air. Inside the pouch were gold coins that sparkled with a golden light. I picked up the pouch. So hes giving us travel expenses. I inspected the inside of the pouch. There were only twelve gold coins, they were all the size of 500 won coins. Considering the systems rmendation of 3,000 gold per person, it seemed like each gold coin was worth 1,000 gold. I divided the gold coins among the party members, three coins each. It seems expensive. Eolka muttered. Although the gold coins were sparkling, they held no significance within the waiting room. Jenna showed curiosity, but Eolka and Aaron looked at them as if they were rocks. Gold, huh. I couldnt be entirely sure about the exploration dungeon, but I could make some guesses. I put the gold coins in my pocket and entered the rift of time and space. When the five of us entered, the door closed, and light emanated from the mirror on the right. [Collect various rare materials!] [Exploration Dungeon: Explorable (Heim Penins)] Heim Penins. As far as I remember, it was one of the ce names in Townia. It was also the area that was the stage for the 5th and 10th floors. In the exploration dungeon, the area that can be explored increases every 10 floors, and the name of the area is different for each ount. Stay alerted. We might have to fight. The party members nodded. Sometimes heroes sent to the exploration dungeon would die. There was a possibility of battles. However, the death rate was much lowerpared to the main dungeon. The light from the mirror on the right grew stronger. The light enveloped the entire rift of time and space. And when the light subsided, we found ourselves in a familiar ce. [Party 1 begins exploration!] [Exploration Location Heim Penins] [Time Remaining Until Return 48:00:00] [Tips/Afterpleting advanced dungeon research, the heros stay time will increase. You can also request the types of items the heroes should collect.] Eolka sighed. Here again. I looked around. A river flowed far away. To the right, there was a dense forest. Ahead, there stood high walls. I had seen this ce several times. It was a ce that couldnt be forgotten. Nelsa. As expected. We were back in the city where we had passed through two boss stages. The only difference from back then was that we werent in abat state. There was no sense of battle anywhere. Jenna put her hand against her eyebrow and scanned the surroundings. Its strange. When we returned, everything was a mess. The forest was on fire, and the walls were destroyed. Many people had died. And now Its peaceful. Eolka spread her fan. As Jenna said, Nelsa was peaceful. The burnt forest, the corpses that had filled the ins, and the half-copsed walls had all returned to their original state. There have been so many bizarre things that this isnt that surprising. Oppa, what should we do? Should we find the enemies and deal with them? I looked to the side. A guy that had been pulling a cart was looking at us with curiosity. He cracked his whip and headed towards the entrance of the city. There were also pedestrians on the street, going to and fro in the city. They either looked at us with interest or ignored us. It was certain that they noticed us. However, there was no sign of hostility. It seems that theres no need to fight. I murmured. We couldnt know the exact situation, but it seemed like we needed to take a look around. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 68: Exploration Dungeon (2) (1) Chapter 68: Exploration Dungeon (2) (1) Exploration Dungeon. Unlike climbing the tower with the goal ofpleting missions or weekday dungeons for material collection, Exploration Dungeon had the unique feature of an indistinct purpose. Many times, heroes came back empty-handed, but asionally they brought back rare materials that were worth a nce. There were also items that could only be obtained within the exploration dungeon. (T/N: Im going to use Weekday Dungeon instead of Weekly Dungeon from now on because its more urate.) We have no choice but to go and see. Thats true. Eolka nodded in response to my words. We had to enter the city to take a look around. We had a lot of time to decide how to actter. We headed towards the eastern gate of Nelsa along a path through the eastern ins. Merchants, mercenaries, and pedestrians of various attire wereing and going on the road. Two soldiers were inspecting those entering and leaving at the gate. A cart with goods started moving as the gatekeeper cracked his whip. It seemed the inspection was over. Our turn was approaching. The soldiers gaze swept up and down my figure, narrowing his eyes as if something seemed suspicious. Please present your passage permit. Passage permit? Dont tell me you dont know what that is? You cant enter without a passage permit. Two soldiers crossed their spears to block the passage. I took out a gold coin from my pocket. Will this do? Thats not a passage permit! If you dont want it, well have to go to the northern gate. It seems like we can pass through there. Come here! The soldier snatched the gold coin from my hand, looked around cautiously, and whispered in a hushed tone. Ill let you pass, but dont cause any trouble. Dont worry. The soldier swallowed nervously and ced the gold coin in his pocket. Suddenly, his expression became stern. Are the people behind you part of your group? Yes. In that case Give me my gold. Im going to the north. Pa-Pass through. Cough. The soldier cleared his throat and raised his spear. We entered the passage. Halfway through, Eolka clicked his tongue. Theyre pitiful people. Isnt money the most important thing to those guys? We emerged onto the street. Various buildings lined the streets on both sides. The main road was crowded with peddlers selling goods and citizens. The tense atmosphere I felt during the mission was nowhere to be found. I rested my hand on my chin. Just before clearing the 10th floor, Nelsa was on the brink of being taken over with its defenses breached. It was safe to assume that most of the city had been invaded. The casualties would likely exceed a thousand. However, there were no signs of a massacre in the city. I need to gather information. I raised the system message at the top of my field of view. [Party 1, In Exploration Heim Penins] [Time Remaining Until Return 47:48:22] 48 hours. We will return to the waiting room in two days. I needed to gather as much information as possible about the exploration dungeon. While it wasnt necessary right now, the exploration dungeon would be a crucial aspectter. It was essential to create an efficient farming route. Should I look around, Oppa? What kind of information are you looking for? Even though I hadnt given specific instructions, Jenna and Aaron approached and asked. I smiled wryly and replied. Anything. Anything? Yes, just find something interesting. The three of them looked at me with puzzled expressions. I turned to face them and continued. Didnt you hear me? Each of you should gather information and enjoy yourselves wherever you like. The master provided money, so you should have plenty. Eat something delicious and do some sightseeing. Are you serious? Dont pretend to rest, actually rx. Ill take care of the rest. I could collect information on my own. If the situation was dangerous, it might not be possible, but based on my observations, it seemed feasible for me to handle this alone. Reducing stress levels was important. It was one of the significant effects of the exploration dungeon. Until now, the members of Party 1 hadnt properly rested. Even when told to rest, they reluctantly came out to the training grounds. Why, dont you like it? I said to the three members who were standing there with incredulous expressions. Is this not a joke? What do you mean by that? Can we do whatever we want? I had to repeat my exnation several times to the skeptical members. Anytng didnt send us to the exploration dungeon with the intention of achieving results like the Tower. Our research level was too low. To properly farm, dungeon depth research had to be at least level 4. This time was merely a test. After about 10 minutes of persuasion, I was able to make my party members understand. The need for rest. Conditioning and stress management were among the most important aspects I emphasized while operating Niflheimr. Hehe, hehehe Well then, should I go out? Im going outside the city. Im telling you now, dont try stopping me. Ill be going far away. Do as you please. R-Really? Youre going to see the sea? Eolka disappeared outside the city with an awkwardugh. I didnt stop her. Well be returning to the waiting room in two days. Remember that there will be no rest until we clear the 20th floor upon returning. Adjusting your condition is also part of your mission. If you say so, Hyungnim. Ill go with Oppa. Donte. Although Jenna had a disappointed expression, when I told her I would join her in the evening the next day, she finally calmed down. With that, I obtained time to leisurely engage in activities. Having parted ways with the two, I walked the street and looked around. I didnt discover anything particrly noteworthy. It was a city just like any other. However, there seemed to be an unusuallyrge number of mercenaries. People armed with weapons could be found all around. They gathered at various ces and engaged in conversations. How about a strategy for? It doesnt work. Its blocked. Indeed, we need to call Lost in the noise of the city, the conversation was hard to hear. I didnt rush. Two days was enough time. I walked the streets while fondling the gold coins in my pocket. I nned to go to an inn or tavern to listen to some conversations. Just then, I noticed a towering building with three floors at an intersection. The sign depicted beer and a chicken. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 68: Exploration Dungeon (2) (2) Chapter 68: Exploration Dungeon (2) (2) Just before entering, I found a bulletin board next to the entrance. Various wanted posters were attached to the board. Criminals who had stabbed priests and fled. Thieves who plundered peddlers. Wolves with two heads. Even mutated goblins. And the most prominent portrait was there. A silver-haired girl wearing a crown. Her appearance was somewhat faded, but unforgettable. That little brat The number of digits for the reward was different. Even if youbined the rewards for all the wanted posters, it seemed it wouldnt be enough to match her reward. Underneath the portrait, the charges were listed. Charges: Heresy, Summoning of Demons. In addition, charges such as insulting the royalty, murder, arson, theft, and rape were all listed. At the end, it was written that she was to be stripped of her royal status formitting heinous crimes as an inheritor of a great bloodline. Are you also targeting that witch, Hyung? I turned my head. A young boy carrying a backpack looked at me. The backpack was partially open, and it was filled with wanted posters. Your dreams seem grand, but it wont happen. Even the most powerful people on the continent couldnt find her after searching everywhere. If youre a bounty hunter, you must know that, right, Hyung? With familiar gestures, the boy took out a wanted poster and began attaching it to the board. Why are you calling that little girl a witch? Of course. Shes supposedly incredibly powerful. They say she sacrificed the hearts of newborns as offerings. Dozens of them. Shes said to use forbidden dark magic. Forbidden dark magic? They say it summons evil beings. I dont know the details, though. Having finished attaching the wanted posters, the boy turned around. I grabbed his shoulder. Hold on. Yes? What? Im busy. I want to hear about it. Im working here. I still have a long way to go to meet todays quota. I silently handed him a gold coin. The boys eyes widened as he epted the gold coin. W-What? Give me the detailed information. Ahaha, this looks quite expensive but If you dont want to, forget it. I reached for the gold coin to take it back. The boy shook his head and tightly gripped the gold coin. Alright, alright Where do you want to talk, Hyung? Inside the inn. Got it! The boy stumbled into the inn, muttering to himself. I followed him inside. The room was ready, and I ordered a ce for two people. We took seats at a corner table on the second floor of the inn. What kind of story do you want to hear? The boy grinned and pocketed the gold coin. He bit it and gently wiped it with his palm. Observing the soldier and the boy, to them it seemed to have much value, but for us, it was just a thousand gold. An amount that could be obtained by making a round of the lower floors. Tell me about that witch. I said while sipping a peculiar-tasting beverage. The boy began to exin in detail. Her name is Priasis Al Ragna. She lost her title, so its just Priasis now. She used to be the empires heir to the throne The basic information was the same as what I knew. However, there were a few discrepancies in some parts. The reward was issued a year ago? Yes, exactly a year ago. Thats when the order was issued by the sect. Do you want to see the wanted poster again? The boy took out Priasis wanted poster from his bag. At the bottom of the wanted poster, there was a seal with a cross and what looked like wings. A year ago. It hadnt even been a week since I had separated from Priasis on the 15th floor. I had seen the seal on the wanted poster before. It was the pattern inscribed on the armor of the guys I had killed. I asked the boy about a few more things rted to the princess, but he replied that he didnt know anything beyond what he had already said. I didnt expect any more information from a mere child. Taking all the information into ount, Priasis had been wanted right after escaping the city. She had wandered around various ces for the past year. She seemed to be alive somewhere. If she had been captured and killed, the wanted poster wouldnt still be circting. Next. I spoke. Of course, I didnt n to end things here. Yes, next. Has there been any monster intrusion in this city? Intrusion yes, intrusion. Ah! The boy pped his hands together. I was somewhere else before that, so I dont know well, but I heard rumors. Goblins swarmed into the city. It might have been about two years ago? So? They managed to repel them somehow. I heard a lot of people died, but thanks to the churchs intervention, things were settled. Of course. Two years had passed. After confirming that there was no one nearby, the boy whispered to me. This is another rumor, but theres a story that the mastermind behind the intrusion was a witch. Normally, monsters dont engage in suchrge-scale activities. I chuckled thinly. Everything bad had been connected. Its easier to exin this way. Any other unusual incidents happening? Well thats a bit vague. Anything is fine. Just tell me anything. There have been outbreaks of an epidemic. Monsters are rampaging. The weather seems to be getting colder. Among them, the most peculiar thing is the dungeon, of course. The boy opened his mouth. It must have been a few years ago. Ancient ruins suddenly started popping up all over the continent. We call those ces dungeons. But these ces are really strange. Normal people cant enter because of an invisible wall. An invisible wall. I knew what it referred to. Looks like there are people who can enter and those who cant. Exactly. This is also a rumor, but at the end of the dungeon, theres a strange stone. If you obtain that stone, you can gain special power. Power There is only one stone that could grant special power. The Advent Stone. It was the source of the heroes third ability, following stats and skills, imprinting. Theres probably one here too. Really? How? I will know when I see it. It was swarming with mercenaries. After finishing my drink, I stood up from my seat. Guide me. Ill pay you for it. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 69: Exploration Dungeon (3) (1) Chapter 69: Exploration Dungeon (3) (1) They stepped out of the inn. The boy protested that he was busy, but I didnt let him go. At the very least, I needed to get some guidance in exchange for the coins. With some effort, he reluctantly led the way while grumbling. This isnt right I need to finish my work by evening Do you think a few words really be worth the value of a golden coin? The boy pouted his lips and secured his leather bag. I followed closely behind the boy as he walked briskly down the street. He was heading in the direction of the inner city, passing by the intersection where the inn was located. The faint silhouette of the inner city wall could be seen beyond the heads of passersby. Hes going inwards, not towards the outskirts of the city. Two possibilities came to mind. Either this kid was trying to deceive me, or the dungeon was indeed located within the city. I would find out the moment we reach our destination. The result became clear after 5 minutes. As we moved further into the city, the number of mercenaries increased. Some wounded individuals were being carried out on stretchers, blood flowing from their severed limbs. The boy frowned upon seeing the injured men. This is why I didnt want toe here. So, the dungeon is within the city. To be precise, its in the center of the city, right next to the temple. It appeared right after the Nelsa invasion ended. The boy passed through the city gate. Familiar buildings were visible right ahead. A tall tower made of bricks. It was the watchtower we used for scouting at the 10th floor. The cathedral on the right was also the same as he described, though it seemed more like a temple than a cathedral. Whats that? Between the watchtower and the temple, a distinctive structure caught my eye. A massive staircase leading underground. Sturdy iron grating surrounded the staircase. A knight d in borate silver armor stood at the entrance within the iron grating. Mercenaries, merchants, and priests were scattered around the area. That staircase is the entrance to the dungeon. Pretty easy to spot, right? Doesnt look like much. Well, if its nothing special, would they station guards like that? Besides the stones I mentioned, various treasures pour out from the dungeon. From coins to gems, even valuable equipment! Its a true treasure trove. Well, you cant just walk out with everything, though. A party consisting of two men and a woman tried to enter the staircase. The knight blocked their way. The man at the front presented a shiny piece of silver. The church holds the monopoly on the dungeon. They profit by selling passes like that. They also take a share of the treasures thate out from inside. Theyre just greedy. I nodded my head. Clearly, entering for free wasnt an option. Anyway, this should cover the cost, right? Can we go back now? Good job. Youre free to go. I decided to leave it at that, even though I could make him spend the entire day here. I had asked everything worth asking. The rest, I could find out on my own. If you have more questions,e back. Ill give you some special treatment. And where can I find you? Youll have to find out on your own! The boy muttered and quickly disappeared into the crowd. I sat down on a nearby wooden bench below a tree. It seemed you could buy passes with coins. I could also go and see for myself. But that wasnt my intention. I had left my party behind and didnt have enough time to make an attempt. I was ill-prepared. The projected return time disyed at the top of my field of vision indicated 45 hours. Looking at the mercenaries going into the dungeon, they were allden with supplies. I could see cooking utensils through the openings in their open bags. It meant conquering the dungeon within a day or two was nearly impossible. It wouldnt make sense to regroup with the party now either. The fact that I knew about Priasis status and the existence of a dungeon where I could acquire the Advent Stone was already enough gain. I cane backter, after finding someone that I can trust him with the waiting room for a long time. With this, the general information gathering isplete. I have nothing to do. I scratched my head. The work waspleted in less than a day. It would be okay to ask nearby mercenaries about the dungeon, but Im not too keen on it. In the first ce, a lot of the mercenaries are watching, but only a few are entering. Those who can ovee the hidden walls and those who cannot. Probably most of them are thetter. As a result of observation for about 30 minutes, the ratio is less than 10 to 1. However, it seemed that if someone who could pass through went ahead, theirpanions could also enter. Therefore, the term bringer seemed to apply. They seemed to be looking around, checking if there was anyone else who could pass. I crossed my arms and pondered. I was certain that I could get across. After all, there was still time. Resting wasnt appealing either. Should I gather a party and go in? With no risk, theres no gain. If something were to happen, I could leave it ande out. When I made up my mind and stood up, someone grabbed my sleeve. Hyung, youre still here! It was the boy who had left 30 minutes ago. He seemed oddly excited. What is it? You said you were going to work. Thats true. I took the coin you gave me to a jeweler, and it seems its worth more than I thought. Its an ancient coin or something. So? Well, you see I cant give you more. Dont think you can take advantage of me. Its not like that! The boy puffed up his cheeks and raised his voice. Its free, I mean free. Dont you want the service I mentioned earlier? Im not interested. It seems like youre curious about the witch. Theres an unspoken rumor. The boy looked around and leaned close to my ear. Actually, that witch was framed by the church I know. Theres no need to say it. What?! How did you know? I had a hard time obtaining this information! I stood up from my seat. I had intended to explore the dungeon, but this little brat was killing my enthusiasm. The boy followed closely behind me. Dont follow me. Well, Ill guide you through the city then! I know all the best ces to eat. I used to be a guide, you know. I dont need it. Why do you keep bothering me? I brushed off the boy and headed out. But thanks to him I learned a new thing. I needed to exchange the golden coins to use them properly. I had decided to go to a jeweler. The boy hurriedly spoke beside me. Its because you look a lot like someone I know, Hyung! Someone you know? ck hair and ck eyes! Hyung, arent you from the Eastern minority? Among the kids Im hanging out with, theres someone who looks simr. Hes much younger, though. I stopped in my tracks. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 69: Exploration Dungeon (3) (2) Chapter 69: Exploration Dungeon (3) (2) It was because the scene from the promotion came to mind. The child in a small room being protected by a woman before being dragged away by that guy. The child also had ck hair and ck eyes. When I first talked to you, I found it interesting. Ive never seen someone that looked like that kid before. His name Dont say it. What? Shut up. Its not a particrly special name I looked down at the boy. He shrunk back and nodded his head. Not yet. There was still more to think about. I didnt want to add another thing to ponder. Wheres the jeweler? I continued walking and asked. The boy, who had been stiff, suddenly smiled and began to guide me. It might be free, but it wasnt actually free. I could tell from the boys babbling. Where did you get that ancient coin? I heard they onlye from high-level dungeons. Hyung, are you a dungeon hunter? A really strong one, I can tell just by looking. You wouldnt casually toss around treasures like that, if you werent, right? You didnt know much about the rumors because youve been in dungeons for a long time? I cleanly ignored the boys question. Exchanging the coins for arge number of smaller coins at the jeweler. The owner seemed stubborn and reliable. He didnt seem like hed trick me. Where can I buy things from the dungeon? Dungeon loot is handled by the Mercenary Association. If you just asked me, but youre a hunter why would Are you an idiot? If I were a hunter, would I be asking you about the dungeon? But The boy had a desperate expression for some reason. Guide me. On the second floor of the Mercenary Association, there was a disy counter for handling dungeon loot. The core item, Advent Stone, was not being handled, but various other items were being sold. The staff mentioned that they were selling various high-ss magical artifacts mined from the dungeon. I reunited with Jenna there. Oh, oppa. You came alone. Coming here meant that she had grasped the existence of the dungeon. As always, shes quick-witted. What about that bow? I asked. Jenna was holding arge bow in her hand. The bow, decorated with gold and silver, looked luxurious at a nce. You said I needed a longbow before, oppa. The shopkeeper rmended it, so I picked it. Its said to be magically enhanced, and it looks good, right? You can buy it for two gold coins. Appraise. [Glorious Longbow] [Grade: D-] [Magic!] [It looks luxurious, but its not very practical as a longbow.] [Note Magic for Reinforcing Durability is applied.] The grade is D minus. You could somehow use it, but with that grade, it was worse than the shortbow I gave her as a gift. Its trash. But it has magic on it. And I didnt find anything else to spend the money. Use that money to buy something more valuable. I pointed to various cheap-looking stones disyed in a corner of the sales counter. It seemed like they were trying to clear their inventory as no one was buying them. Jennas eyes sparkled. Thats Attribute Stones! Master would probably like it if you brought it. Its a material for promotion stones. Is that so? Then what about this bow Get rid of it. Other items caught my eye besides lower-grade Attribute Stones. One item of note was the Regen Stone. The Regen Stone allowed you to experience the closed boss stage due to a clear, and although you couldnt gain experience points, you could receive mission experience to pass on to heroes. Items like these didnte out often, so it was lucky that a few were visible. It would be very useful for the new heroes joining parties 1 and 2. I picked it up. I took some of Jennas money to cover the shortage. Whos this kid? As we finished shopping and came out, Jenna made a gesture. A boy wasing awkwardly from inside, looking at Jenna. I dont know, hes a stranger. I-Im not a stranger! Im this persons exclusive guide. My name is Yoshu. Okay, by then. Id asked all the questions I needed to. It was already gettingte. I intended to stay at an inn like this. And tomorrow, I had to keep my promise and have fun with Jenna. I Do you owe someone money? Hyung, listen to me! I have a secretive investment n Annoying. I could scare him away, but it wouldnt work. I threw a gold coin I received from Jenna to Yoshu. Uh, thats With this, only one coin is left. Well, yes. With one gold coin, as long as I didnt use it in a weird ce, it was enough to have fun and eat. Yoshu hesitated but epted the gold coin. Thank you, Hyung! Noona! He was just a kid, if he was trying to stab me in the back, I wouldnt have tolerated him. Though it didnt feel like much, it was a reward for guiding sincerely. This should be enough This should be enough? I guess I can take care of my debt now! Thank you for the investment! I chuckled and said. Investment, huh? Trying to start a business? The details are a secret, investor! I cant tell you because its something that cant be known. But Ill definitely repay the favor. I swear! You dont need to. Im not worth much to you. No, I cant live with debts. If theres something you want, please let me know. Ah, and first, I need the name of the patron There wasnt much to expect. After thinking about it for a while, I spoke up. If you get the chance, help that witch. What? Yoshus eyes widened. I smiled briefly and said. Help her if the opportunity arises. Thats all. I turned around and walked away, leaving Yoshu standing there. Jenna followed suit and said. What were you talking about earlier? Who is the witch? Its that kid we saved. Thats her. We exchanged various conversations as we headed towards the inn. Come to think of it, wheres Aaron? I thought hed be with Jenna. When I asked, Jenna said he had gone out to find a ce on his own. I nodded. He probably went to do some training. When we would return to the waiting room, Party 1s break time would be over. In addition, the final member of the party would be decided. Either Velkist or Neryssa was the most likely. Or perhaps both. I looked back. I saw Yoshu looking around in the distance on the street. It was the same ce as before, where I had to go to obtain the Advent Stone. I continued walking. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. Chapter 70: Tryout (1) (1) Chapter 70: Tryout (1) (1) From there, a day passed, and Party 1 returned to the waiting room. The results were not insignificant. We had gathered information about the dungeon and obtained useful items like recovery stones. The umted stress levels had also decreased, giving us the motivation to move forward again. Once we acquired the qualifications to use personal marks in the exploration dungeon, we would revisit it. You couldnt go to the sea. You went a little and got stuck. Did you really go to see it? Of course. After returning through the rift in space, Eolka held a fan with a displeased expression. It seemed that she couldnt go beyond a certain area. The exploration dungeon was opened one floor at a time, with each floor covering a distinct area. It seemed that after reaching the 100th floor, we would be able to ess all areas. But its only been a few days, right? Im already seeing some unfamiliar faces. About a week. What? Its been that long? I nodded. The passage of time between the stages and the waiting room was different. This fact has been proven through multiple experiments. As Eolka had mentioned, the 2nd-floor za now disyed the appearance of heroes we hadnt seen before. I knew who they were. They were the assistants of crafters in the equipment production area. They were moving materials from the warehouse to the equipment production area. So, theyve officially reached the 2nd floor. It wasnt a bad change. If the heroes on the 1st floor saw someone advancing to the 2nd floor, it would motivate them greatly. The same applied in reverse. I looked up at the sky. Anytng wasnt connected, and the night sky had a faint earthy hue. Judging by the color of the sky, it seemed to bete evening. After storing the loot in the warehouse, we gathered at the za once again. Go and rest. Were meeting at the training grounds tomorrow morning. Ugh, were starting again from tomorrow. Im going to take a bath, sis! Jenna and Eolka disappeared into their lodging. Aaron was walking in the direction of the training grounds. Where are you going? Uh, well If I told you to rest, then rest. Why do you keep wandering off? Do you want to ruin your body? But, Hyung-nim I said from tomorrow onwards. Go rest. With his shoulders slouched Aaron turned towards the lodging. I silently watched Aarons retreating figure. . After returning from the 15th floor, the symptoms were gradually worsening. There had been individuals of this type in Niflheimr as well. Addicts who forgot about erosion and only focused on training. Most of the time, the results werent good. Simply increasing training time wasnt a solution. For efficiency, there needed to be a bnce between training and rest. Ideas like the power of perseverance from anime didnt hold true here. However, if someone wascking, it meant they didnt have the talent. There was no choice but to find another path. Otherwise, they might die midway. Of course, there were cases where seemingly useless heroes suddenly awakened their potential, but such instances were rare. In Niflheimr, there had been only one such case. The next day, daily life resumed. After having an early breakfast, the three members of Party 1 gathered as always for training. However, there was one change in the scenery of the training grounds. Quicker! Youre too slow! Yes, noona! Put more strength into your body. Yes! In the training area, Edis and Asher were locked inbat. Both sides were using real weapons. Whenever Edis swung her dagger, cuts appeared on Ashers body. Despite the pain, Asher continued his attacks. Unexpected. I thought Party 2 avoided dangerous training. Jenna, who was running next to me, muttered. It was true. Although Party 2 had invested a lot of time in training, unlike us, they had avoided training that involved drawing blood. However, that approach was now changing. Some change in mentality, maybe Maybe, because Dica isnt here. At the training camp are Edis, Asher, and Roderick. Dika, one of the early members, was nowhere to be seen. Oh, now that you mention it, youre right, Ill go ask. Jenna, who had stopped running, approached Roderick near thebat area. Roderic was standing with a spear in hand, wearing a serious expression. Jenna briefly exchanged words with him before returning our way. Jennas face was also stiff. Dica went down to the 1st floor. For what reason? Because he couldnt kill a person. The response came from the side. Edis was sharpening her dagger with a sharpening stone. In front of her, Asher, now covered in blood, was sprawled out. Expected. Dicas demotion had been expected. Dica didnt recover from the shock of the 10th floor. While he had average talents, his personality was fragile. Although he managed to deal with monsters, it seemed he couldnt fully utilize his abilities when facing a human. Instead of increasing the members, weve decreased. With only three people, we wont get far. Thats why we decided to intensify our training. It would be great if the Master could perform advanced summons. But I doubt the Master will perform advanced summons. Since thest failure, Anytng hadnt performed paid summons even once. This was a symptom of summoning mistrust. It appeared in Masters who lost a significant amount of gems in advanced summons. Those afflicted by summoning mistrust tended to invest heavily in facilities instead of performing summons. Even if the summons betray you, facilities wont. It was one of the well-known sayings that circted widely. I had suffered from this severely before. It was because I couldnt get any 4-star or higher heroes. Edis nervously bit her lip. If ites to that, our party You could try and ask the master to return him. I dont want to go that far. Then give up. Theres no solution. I said. In any case, it was much better than dragging them along to end up seeing their lifeless bodies. It would be afort to know that most likely, Master wont synthesize Dica. Edis, being a seasoned mercenary, also understood the risks of having weak party members. Thats why she wasnt insisting on the Master to bring back Dika. Its not easy. With a bitter smile, Edis left the training grounds. Asher, covered in wounds, got up, and soon Roderick came up to the training grounds. Asher clenched his teeth and gripped his sword. He had seen arade being demoted. His determination seemed stronger than ever. Ugh, the smell of blood. Eolka covered her nose with her hand. Jenna and Aaron had serious expressions, but they were mumbling to themselves as if it was their own problem. Mages never fail to surprise. Cant be helped with a stubborn mindset. I smiled and continued with the training. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 70: Tryout (1) (2) Chapter 70: Tryout (1) (2) A few dayster, in the evening, Anytng changed the affiliation of the heroes. Velkist and Neryssa were summoned to the 2nd-floor za. [Forming a party!] [Drag and drop heroes!] [Exclude Velkist () from Party 3.] [Exclude Neryssa () from Party 3.] Two core members of Party 3 were removed. The meaning was clear. They were being promoted to the first-string lineup. New members would be added to the 2nd-string Party 3. [Changing the heroes amodations.] [Disying theyout of the amodations.] [Drag and drop heroes!] [Change the permissions of heroes.] [Current facility list Dining Hall Lv.2, Bathhouse Lv.1, Lounge Lv.1, ] Brief settings followed. Iselles somewhat annoyed voice could be heard up to the 2nd floor. [You two, pack your belongings ande up.] I was in the private training area, practicing swordsmanship. I put my sword in its sheath and stepped outside. Asher was looking at the za with a tense expression. Newbies have arrived. I smirked. After a while, Velkist and Neryssa climbed up the stairs to the 2nd floor. Neither of them had changed much. Velkist had his usual self-assured expression, and Neryssa looked calm. They had been told to pack, but it seemed they didnt have many belongings. They only had their weapons. Training is suspended today. Assemble. The two were without a party. By not assigning their affiliation, Anytng left it up to the leaders of Party 1 and Party 2. The members of Party 1 and Party 2, who quickly finished organizing, gathered in a corner of the training grounds. It seems the time hase to fill our ranks. Currently, Party 1 has one vacant spot, and Party 2 has two. It was unexpected that only two people hade up, but nheless, it was time to bring in new members. I unfolded a foldable chair and sat on it. Should I bring a coin for drawing lots? Wait. Drafting might be necessary, but this wasnt the right situation. First, the bnce of members doesnt seem right. Moreover, it doesnt seem like Anytng is nning on performing advanced summons. Does he intend to manage with just one party? A considerable amount of time had passed since they cleared the 15th floor. Dying the climb any further could lead to losing our sense of actualbat. Anyway, we had to decide, I didnt call them because I didnt want to drag them into this. The two who hade up to the za immediately entered our training grounds. After ncing briefly around, Velkist muttered under his breath. This looks decent. Quite different from the 1st floor. The existing members were watching the neers with a mix of curiosity and wariness. Velkist chuckled. Why are you looking at me like that? I dont bite. Ive onlye to say hi. Im not here to say hi. Neryssa blocked Velkist and stepped forward. Well probably end up in either Party 1 or Party 2. I heard it through rumors. Is that correct? Its a pointless question, isnt it? Isnt it obvious? Then Ill be straightforward. Neryssa locked eyes with me. Id like to be in Party 1. I believe I wont be a hindrance. You wont be disappointed. Velkist chuckled softly. Then suddenly, he looked at Neryssa with eyes full of killing intent. Girl has lost her mind. Learn to know your ce. Its not just strength that matters. Im acquiring various skills beyondbat. Other than strength, what else is useful? Velkist ridiculed her. If youve seen, youd know. Neryssa stared at Belkist coldly. Velkist frowned in displeasure and fell silent. Edis stepped in. Where you go isnt your decision. I know. Either the Master decides, or you two decide. Even while talking to Edith, Neryssas gaze was still directed at me. I could sense a strange fervor in her eyes. Jenna whispered in my ear. Oppa, why is she acting like that? She seems really eager to get into Party 1. Velkist was the same. Until recently, it seemed like it didnt matter to them which party they joined, but suddenly their attitude had changed. Why do you want to join Party 1 so badly? I asked while sitting in a chair. Neryssa closed her eyes and spoke. I thought it was an exaggerated rumor. What are you talking about? The rumors about you. At first, I didnt believe them either. Rumors about me. I had a vague idea that strange, bizarre rumors were circting among the people on the 1st floor. Whenever I approached, they would quickly move away, making it impossible to hear the details. But then I saw it for myself. Through the Regen Stone. There was only one possible cause. It could be used either by experiencing the boss floor firsthand or by watching someone elses records. Regen Stones could be used in either of these two ways. While the former was the conventional method, Anytng had shown them the video of our mission using thetter approach. How much did you see? Everything. Neryssa squinted her eyes. The rumors have been confirmed. I genuinely believe it. Its rational to stick with the strong for survival. The only reason I want to join Party 1 is for that. What about Party 2? Id prefer to avoid it if possible. What are you saying? Our Party 2 isnt bad either! Asher shouted. Do you really think so? Of course. Neryssa gave a chilly smile. A clear mockery. Ashers face turned red and green. This brat, to think theyre challenging us! Whether youete ore early, what does it matter? If youre strong, you go up; if youre weak, you fall. This person came before us but still doesnt seem to know much about this world. Isnt that right, senior? Velkist looked at me and chuckled. He leaned against the iron bars of the training grounds. Anyway, I agree. Other than Party 1, I dont want to go anywhere. Im sure Id be more useful than that girl. I can guarantee it. I sighed. This is getting troublesome. Neither of them seemed willing to back down. Hello Everyone, Here is a New Chapter, Enjoy!Please leave a Comment and Review this Novel in NU if you havent.For more chapters please support me onPatreon. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 71: Tryout (2) (1) Chapter 71: Tryout (2) (1) Only one spot remained in the 1st party. There were two applicants. The numbers didnt quite match for a draft. There were two options avable for the master. Either send up one more decent candidate or resort to a paid summons if there were no outstanding talents. However, Anytng seemed unwilling to consider that. He continued to observe us while maintaining his connection. Its clumsy. He seemed to have learned to some extent, but his operation was still unskilled. There was one vacancy in the 1st party. And two additional members were needed for the 2nd party, but both applicants wanted to join the 1st party. It was a situation ripe for conflict. I took a deep breath and alternated my gaze between the two. Velkist and Neryssa faced each other with cold expressions. Formerrades now harbored mutual enmity. So, whats the n? I spoke. Theres one vacancy. Only one of you can join. Are you suggesting I choose one of you? Youve probably heard that we could draw lots to divide the party if it came to that. That method relies too heavily on luck. We want a more effective approach. Are you saying that an effective approach involves leaving it up to my choice? Neryssa nodded. Velkist remained silent, an implicit agreement. I looked at Edis. What do you think? I I Ediss expression contorted. She had aplex look in her eyes, a mixture of various emotions. She touched her forehead with her hand, as if her head hurt, and finally spoke. I dont want to force someone who doesnt want toe. But were short on members. The party wont function without enough members. Edis sighed without saying anything more. I observed the two once again. Although I hadnt fought alongside them, I had made some educated guesses about their individual specs through several sparring sessions and monitoring of their status windows. In terms of purebat power, Velkist had the advantage. However, when it came to overall sense and versatility, Neryssa was superior. Both of them possessed exceptional talents among lower-tier heroes, making it a tough decision. It was like drawing straws out of a hundred. But there was no guarantee of perfection. A heros true worth shone in real battles. Perhaps its better to decide by drawing lots. Choosing either of you might lead to dissatisfaction. I rested my chin on my hand. If it werent for their twisted personalities, I would have chosen easily. Neither of them had a typical personality. They had strong self-assertion and tended to look down on those weaker than themselves. They were difficult types to coordinate with, but on the flip side, they adapted well to thew of survival where the strong thrived and the weak perished. Ill do as you wish. I leaned back in my chair. If you dont want to leave it to luck and dont want to leave it to someone elses hands, do you want to go in ording to your abilities? Exactly. Yes. They both answered simultaneously. I pointed to the iron bars of the training ground. Then fight. Their expressions stiffened. You want me to decide when I dont know your abilities? Fight each other. Keep fighting until one of you falls. The decision wille after that. The training ground became noisy. Edis approached and said, Isnt this a bit too extreme? Werent they scrapping over a spot in the 1st party? I didnt expect them toe out peacefully. If they wanted a method other than luck, I would provide it. A selection match. A rule favored by masters who ran the waiting room aggressively. The draft rules had already copsed due to the difference in numbers. To bridge the gap in power between the two parties, we needed to deploy two advanced heroes into the 2nd party. However, Anytng wasnt summoning anyone. I had no choice but to make the best possible selection within the given limits. If you leave the decision to me, dontin about the oue. In that case, Ill decide based on your abilities and the partys needs. Their personalities differed from Jenna and Aaron, and even Eolka. They tended to see other heroes not asrades but aspetitors, generally admiring the strong and looking down on the weak. Unless they caused a brawl like Fangwolves, I had no intention of denying that type. It was a matter of amodating what they wanted. Originally, this world was divided into grades among heroes, and there exists a synthesis system. These two are well suited for this world. Depending on how you handle them, they could be excellentbatants. However, a different approach is needed. So, itsing out like this. Velkist chuckled mockingly. Are you suggesting a fight? Thats fine by me. Ill finally get to taste some action. Velkist opened the iron bars and entered the training ground. There was no hesitation in his steps. Velkist fastened his sword belt. Neryssa looked, at him then said, Is it okay if I kill you? Do as you please. Ill do as I please too. Neryssa also sprinted up the stairs in a single bound. She had agile movementsparable to Jenna. Once inside the training ground, Neryssa took out an opaque ss bottle from her pocket and spread the contents onto the des of her three swords. Velkists expression stiffened. This womans gone mad. Didnt you say do as you please? Neryssa said coldly. Is it poison? Neryssa had a skill rted to poison in her stat window. She had possessed this ability sinceing here. There happened to be materials avable in the Weekly Dungeon, and she collected them to craft this. If you were to identify it as a recipe, it was a powerful paralysis poison that caused full-body convulsions upon contact. Ive used it plenty against monsters. Its my first time using it against a person. And you probably wont have a second chance. The two of them started their preparations for the battle, exchanging insults while doing so. Jenna, watching them, shook her head. The atmosphere is getting incredibly hostile. Is someone going to end up dead at this rate? Its possible. There were cases where heroes died in battles or duels. This was one of the main reasons for sudden hero deaths. Each master had a different way of handling it, it was up to the master to decide whether it was ruled as guilty and synthesized or passed as self-defense. Of course, there are cases where the judgment is different in each case. However, in our case, if one of them killed the other, I wouldnt ept it. There was a line that shouldnt be crossed. Even though I did something like that once. I chuckled. It wasnt without precedent. I was willing to tolerate idents that couldnt be avoided. I dont know how Anytng would view it, though. [Velkist () requests a duel with Neryssa ()] [Nerisa () requests a duel with Velkist ()] [Both parties agree to the duel.] A message informing of the duels status appeared. [Mutual agreement duel!] [Do you agree?] [Yes (Selected) / No] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 71: Tryout (2) (2) Chapter 71: Tryout (2) (2) [Velkist () requests a duel with Neryssa ()] [Nerisa () requests a duel with Velkist ()] [Both parties agree to the duel.] A message informing of the duels status appeared. [Mutual agreement duel!] [Do you agree?] [Yes (Selected) / No] Anytng didnt hesitate and pressed Yes. He seemed to have realized that a party selection match was taking ce. He was probably watching with keen interest, enjoying the spectacle, unlike when it was me and Avant, and there were no conditions like synthesis. Swoosh. The sound of swords being drawn echoed. Tell me whenever youre ready. Lets start right away. A cold aura emanated from Velkists entire body. It was the effect of a triggered skill called Life Force. It had the effect of lowering the opponentsbat power by lowering their mental strength if their mental strength wascking. Neryssa was unfazed by it and gripped her swords tightly. Neryssa also possessed an excellent passive skill called Composure. When the two pointed their weapons at each other, I shouted, Begin. Before the words were even finished, Velkist lunged. Explosive speed using the recoil from lowering his upper and lower body. His longsword radiated a white light. Neryssa, holding her short sword in her left hand, deflected the de before calmly thrusting her longsword. Her target was the poorly defended arm and leg. An effective attack strategy considering the nature of the poison. Velkist didnt defend. He focused solely on evasion, and his right hand continued to unleash sword strikes. Neryssa alsobined attack and defense with her longsword and short sword. The two swords shed, sending sparks flying. The longsword and two swords interlocked, creating a chaotic sh. Asher opened his mouth. That guy Hes different from when he fought me! He was hiding his true power. Edis sighed again. The main weapons of both were one-handed swords and dual swords. Their weapon skill level was 4, the same as Ashers. However, their sense ofbat was different. Velkist and Neryssa busily exchanged attacks and defenses throughout the training ground, which was less than a 10m radius. The sound of metal shing echoed incessantly. There was no hint of them going easy on each other. They fought as if they were going to kill each other. Each pressed the other with their full power. Velkists expression began to show signs of irritation. Neryssa kicked the bordering iron bars and leaped up to the ceiling, striking Velkists temple. Shes using the advantages of the location, I chuckled. Neryssa focused on attacking difficult-to-defend areas using the training ground, surrounded by walls on all sides and the ceiling. She applied her agile body movement skills. Those two, they havent been here for long, have they? Impressive. Their levels and skills cant be that high. Eolka, who had been watching the fight, fluttered her fan andmented. Jennas eyes also sparkled. However, for some reason, Aaron was looking at them with a strangely clear, dazzling expression. I pretended not to notice. Watch closely. It might be a good learning opportunity. The intense battle between the two continued. Velkist was mainly on the offensive, using high and low attacks, quickly adapting even to the differences in elevation. He swung his sword in all directions, pushing Neryssa into a corner. The oue was decided in an instant. Just as Velkist was pushing Neryssa into a corner to finish her off, she quickly threw the danger hidden inside her sleeve. The dagger grazed Velkists right arm and passed by. [Velkist () is in a bleeding state. His health decreases at regr intervals.] It was only a minor scratch. However, the dagger contained an immediate paralysis poison. [Velkist () is in a poisoned state.] [Effect: Paralysis! Some parts of the heros body be immobile.] I won Do you really think so? Suddenly Velkist swung the hilt of his sword striking Neryssas stomach. With a sound like a drumbeat, Neryssas mouth opened wide. ! A single strike. Nerisa fell down with a thud. [Velkist () has won the duel against Neryssa ().] Velkist sheathed his sword and looked down at Nerisa. I won. It seems that way. You look pathetic. Just shut up b*tch. Velkist spat on the ground. The paralysis poisons effect had been temporarily nullified by activating his skill Wild, but it seemed like he was gradually sumbing to the poisoning. It was an interesting ending. Neryssa intentionally pushed herself into a corner, luring Velkist to expose his vulnerability. Her previous dual swordsmanship was all a deception, just to hit the hidden dragger once. But Velkist, trusting his skill Wild, pushed forward and eventually finished the duel. That sister is quite something, Jenna remarked. I nced at the other members watching the duel. Only Edis, Roderick, and Jenna seem to have a good grasp of the battle. The rest were captivated by the spectacle of the duel but didnt seem to grasp the underlying meaning. *Cough, cough!* Neryssa curled up and coughed violently. Her neat face was twisted in pain. Velkist, who was casually watching her, turned his gaze towards me. As you can see, the result is clear. Senior, do you have any objections? Yeah, I saw it. The conclusion is clear. In that case, naturally Neryssa will be the member of the first party. What? Velkists body froze, about to move but stopped. It seemed like the paralysis poisons effect was still working. Velkist asked. Could you say that again? I will say it multiple times if you want. Neryssa will be in the first party. Neryssa, who had fallen down, coughed mixed withughter. Velkists expression crumpled. Why? Do you know theposition of the first party? A swordsman, ancer, a magician, and an archer. It consists of four purebatants. To cope with a wide range of variables, talents like Neryssa are needed. Ha. If you were overpowered enough to ignore that penalty, I would have considered it, but it doesnt seem that way. As I finished speaking, Neryssa let out a faintugh. If this woman didnt resort to such dirty moves, I would have defeated her within five minutes. I do acknowledge your talent. However, youre not needed in our party. Thats all there is to it. Or do you want to fight me? If youst for one minute, Ill ept you without a word. Velkist chuckled. Then, suddenly, he looked towards Aaron. What about other members? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 72: Tryout (3) (1) Chapter 72: Tryout (3) (1) Aaron said nothing. Edis spoke up. The roles of a swordman and a spearbearer are different. Its not about strength but about formation. Formation issues, huh? That could be true. Velkist limped out of the training area. Then he downed the water on the shelf. As if the paralysis had been lifted, Velkists bent upper body straightened. And then he continued. I want to ask. Does that theory apply even if the spearbearer cant do his job properly? What do you mean? Edis squinted her eyes. Velkistughed coldly and spoke. I, too, watched the seniors fights in the rift of space and time. It was very interesting. But there was one person who didnt fit in. Is a spearbearer really that necessary? To the point that you have to tolerate such weakness? I think differently. Velkists gaze shifted to Aaron. Do you not feel your limits, senior? There was no hint of a smile on his face. Velkist was speaking sincerely. Aaron bit his lip and lowered his head. Jenna frowned. Dont talk nonsense! Aaron is doing well. Lady, you have an abundance of talent, so you may not understand. Sometimes, gentlefort can be more venomous. What Quiet. Both of them fell silent at my words. I looked at Aaron. Aaron looked at the ground with a contemtive look in his eyes. His right hand, clenched with force, was stained white. Yes, as you said, a spearbearer may not be absolutely necessary. If a skilled swordsman joins, we can use other formations. Oppa But thats when the swordsman is stronger than the spearbearer. Do you think youll be more helpful than Aaron? If I wasnt confident, I wouldnt have spoken up. I challenge you. Velkist drew his sword. Then he stared at Aaron with fiery eyes. Is it finally happening? I noticed that Aaron was pushing himself harder than usual. He knew that if he continued like this, it would end badly. Whether he copsed on his own or fell during a mission. To ovee this, he needed at least a little spark. I said to Velkist. You better not underestimate him. Aaron has been here much longer than you. If you challenge him with mere confidence and lose, I will never change my mind about you. Dont worry. If I lose, Ill join the second party without speaking a word. I wont break my promise. Velkist ran his hand over the de. A drop of blood trickled down his index finger. You decide, Aaron. This will end if you just say no. They say you dont need a spearman, but in fact its good to have one. Also, Aaron has been practicing formation in Party 1 for a long time and has been working well with us. Even if the gap is growing, it is not that significant yet. For the time being, he can still function as a first-party member. But Aaron shook his head with a heavy expression and said to me: Give me 5 minutes, please. Alright. Aaron closed his eyes. A short break. After Neryssa left the training area without looking back, Jenna persuaded Aaron not to fight, and Eolka joined in. Aaron didnt respond. The second party gathered around Edis and had a serious discussion. Velkist sat down in a corner of the training area, sharpening his sword. And five minutester. Ive made my decision, hyungnim. What will you do? Ill give it a try. If you lose, you cante back to the first party. Be prepared for that. Yes. Aaron adjusted his spear and walked to the training area. Velkist smirked. Ive been waiting for that answer. Velkist stood up immediately. As the two of them stepped onto the training area, the entrance was closed amid loud noises. It got out of my hands. Since things turned out like this, there was nothing I could do. I said, The winner of this duel will join the first party. Do you agree? I agree. I agree. The duel message appeared. [Velkist () challenges Aaron () to a duel!] [Aaron () challenges Velkist () to a duel!] [Both parties agree to the duel!] [Mutual Agreement Duel!] [Do you agree?] [Yes (selected) / No] This time, Anytng touched Yes again. With a click, the sound of the training areas entrance door locking echoed. Until the oue was decided, no one could enter the training area. He left, Aaron oppa. Are you fine like this. Its his decision. I know that. But what if he loses? Velkist is quite strong. If he does what he always does in training he will be fine. Both sides had a weapon skill level of 4. Additionally, Velkist had a few passive abilities that Aaron didnt possess. However, Aaron had a greater advantage, and that was the difference in experience. Velkist hadnt been here for long. Unlike Aaron, who had fought enemies in various situations, Velkist hadnt even experienced a boss stage firsthand. Crucially, Velkistcked experience in facing spearbearers like Roderick and Aaron. In contrast, Aaron had faced such situations dozens, even hundreds of times. The techniques of a sword and a spear differed. No matter how skilled Velkist was, he wouldnt adapt to a spear right from the start. In time, Velkist might be a threat with umted experience, but at this point, Aaron had the upper hand in this duel. Just stick to what youve been doing. Velkist unsheathed his sword. Aaron gripped his spear firmly with both hands, adopting the textbook stance of spear technique, bending his knees. Begin. Velkist unsheathed his sword. Aaron gripped his spear firmly with both hands, adopting the textbook stance of spear technique, bending his knees. Begin. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 72: Tryout (3) (2) Chapter 72: Tryout (3) (2) As I shouted, Aaron thrust his spear. It was a move he had practiced tens of thousands of times. The thrust was smooth as flowing water, rapid and precise. In an instant, the tip of the spear advanced and grazed Velkists shoulder before he could even react. Blood spurted, staining the iron bars. Fast. Velkist chuckled. Without responding, Aaron held his spear horizontally. Velkist evaded the thrust. Thunk! In an instant, the spearhead bent and struck Velkists side. His expression contorted. It was the second pattern of the spear technique, a swing. You look good, Hyung! Youve got all the forms. Hey Velkist, when you join our party, youll start with dishwashing! Asher mocked. Caught off guard by Aarons fierce attack, Velkist desperately tried to block his vulnerable points. The difference in reach. The difference in reach between a spear and a sword was less than a meter. Every time Velkist attempted an attack, Aaron subtly retreated, preventing Velkist from closing in. Then he advanced again,unching his attacks. It seemed one-sided. Its not like you, Oppa. Jenna bit her thumb. What are you talking about? He keeps pushing him. At this rate, hell win easily. No, sister. Look closely. The number of times hesnding hits has decreased since the beginning. Come to think of it Aarons eyebrows twitched slightly. He continued to thrust and retract his spear, adding speed to his movements. However, at some point, the number of times Velkists body was hit by Aarons thrusts noticeably decreased. Edis remarked in surprise. Did he already figure him out? Aarons technique was precise but straightforward. Once it was understood, it was easy to counter. Moreover, Velkists keen eye was exceptional. Judging from his quick grasp of Neryssas high and low attacks in just a few minutes, he clearly possessed keen observational abilities. He will soon master perceptual skills like mine. But there was a more significant issue. While Aarons spear technique might be straightforward, Velkists adaptation speed was too fast. No matter how keen his eyes were, it was something that shouldnt happen. This is boring. Velkist spoke with a sinking voice. Amidst Aarons relentless spear attacks, Velkist managed to evade or parry them. From a certain point, none of Aarons attacksnded. Are you toying with me? Anger flickered in Velkists eyes. He swung his de, and the spearhead was forcefully deflected. Aaron, recovering his spear, and said, Im not here to y. Then why are you looking down on me? Do you think Im easy to deal with? I know that the first party fights with the intent to kill in training. But this is different. Velkist pointed the tip of his sword at Aaron. Why arent you attacking the weak points? Aaron remained silent, gripping his spear tightly. Youve be weak. I sighed quietly. The reason behind Aarons rapid decline in offense was simple. Aaron refrained from targeting his opponents head, neck, and heart. Head, neck, and heart. When these three areas werebined, they created arge safe zone covering the upper left part of the body. No matter how skilled Aaron is or how bad is Velkist, once he figures out this, he can easily defend against it. Aaron. Yes. Since when have you started caring about your opponents life? Are you strong enough to go easy on him? Aaron didnt use such tactics against me and Jenna. Instead, he fervently swung and thrust his spear to target the weak points. I had even encouraged it. Prohibiting attacks on the weak points while pursuing realistic training was ridiculous. However, the situation was clearly different now. Velkist didnt miss the unnaturalness. But Show me your true skills. Dont disappoint me. I understand. Aarons gaze sharpened as if he had made up his mind. His grip on the spear tightened. Dont resent me if you die. Of course not. A swift and powerful thrust shot out. This time, the target was the heart, the most critical weak point. Velkist smirked and adjusted his sword. And ten minutester, Seems like Ive spilled some blood. Im a little dizzy. Velkist mumbled. His entire body was covered in puncture and shing wounds. A streak of blood ran down Velkists cheek. Anyway, I won. Velkist pointed his sword at Aarons throat. Aaron stood in a corner of the training ground. While Aaron had fewer woundspared to Velkist, his speary far away. Aaron lost. The audience was quiet. Asher and Jenna, who had been cheering for Aaron, were now silent, unable to say a word. Until thetter part of the fight, Aaron had seemed to have the upper hand. His spear technique, relentlessly targeting the weak points, had been much sharper than before. Velkist had to lower his stance and remain in ce. The injuries had been umting, and it seemed like he would copse at any moment. However, just as Aaron was about to finish it, Velkist suddenly rushed in. As if he had already seen through him, Velkist dodged three thrusts and two swings and plunged into Aarons embrace, knocking the spear from his hand. And that was the end. This doesnt make sense. Aaron was clearly winning! Asher, who had regained his senses, red at Velkist. What kind of trick did you use? I know you used some dirty trick, right? I dont know what youre talking about. Its something we cant know But that doesnt look right. Roderick shook his head. Asher clenched his teeth without a response. At the same time, a message appeared, announcing the end of the duel. [Velkist () has won the duel!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 73: Tryout (4) (1) Chapter 73: Tryout (4) (1) Velkist sheathed his sword and left the arena while Aaron stood in ce, his head slightly tilted. Eolka couldnt help but raise an eyebrow. I thought Aaron would win. Its strange. Poor Aaron. He was doing so well. Just one mistake Yeah, just one mistake. I closed my eyes. Its hard to express in words. As the battle continued, Velkist figured out Aarons spear techniques. This was evident from the decrease in Velkists injuries from the middle of the fight and how he effortlessly dodged Aarons consecutive attacks at the end. However, Velkist waited, even though he could have switched to the offensive earlier. Only one attack. He knew that one attack was enough to secure victory. To eliminate any potential variables and to time his counterattack perfectly, Velkist endured Aarons numerous attacks in silence. And when it was time, he didnt miss the opening. It was an impossible approach without the ability to observe the opponent calmly, analyze the possibility of victory, and patiently wait for the right moment. No disagreements, it seems. I opened my eyes. Everyones attention was on me. After clearing my throat, I spoke. Ill keep my promise. Velkist is in the 1st party, and Aaron is out. I stated it clearly. Aaron fought while preparing for the oue. No matter whatints there might be, we couldnt vite the rules we had set. It wasnt a satisfying duel. Aaron, you brought defeat upon yourself with your unreasonable actions. Its hard for you to stay in our party. You know it yourself. Oppa, Aaron did it to avoid hurting hisrade Dont make excuses. We didnte here to build friendship. We came to defeat the enemy and survive. Dont go easy in a duel. The soft ones die first. Remember that. I snapped my fingers. A system message announcing the party change appeared. [Han () suggests a party reorganization!] [1st Party Composition] [Han (), Jenna (), Eolka (), Neryssa (), Velkist ()] [If you agree, Aaron () will be automatically excluded from the party. Do you agree?] [Yes (Selected) / No] Anytng epted the proposal. With that, all the procedures for party member changes werepleted. [Aaron () is excluded from 1st Party!] [Neryssa () joins 1st Party!] [Velkist () joins 1st Party!] A heavy silence hung in the training ground. Jenna hesitated then grabbed my sleeve. Oppa, I Enough. I brushed Jennas hand away. I knew what she wanted to say. Personally, I also wanted to make a different decision. But this was reality. We couldnt seed in our mission based solely on friendship. The correct answer was to cast it aside. Aaron into a slump from the 15th floor. Continuing to carry him posed a risk not only to Aaron but to the entire 1st party. We had to get used to it. Whether he dies or gets reced. Someone we were with will always disappear. I said, Today, everyone should go back. Its gettingte. No one left immediately, but a few minutester, Edis and the 2nd party began to leave the training ground one by one. Asher stared at Velkist with a hostile look in his eyes and then disappeared. Jenna and Eolka followed suit, leaving the training ground. As she walked away, Jenna nced back at Aaron several times. Most of the members had left. What remained in the training ground were Velkist, Neryssa, who came back to her senses, and Aaron, standing alone on the dueling ground. So are we in? Yes, you and Neryssa will be active in the 1st party from now on. I see. Velkist leaned against the iron fence and spoke. His expression was unemotional as if nothing had happened. Im a bit disappointed. It could have been fun if he hadnt gone easy on me at the beginning. I agree. Aaron had given Velkist too much time. For Aaron to win, he had to overwhelm Velkist at the early stage and finish him off before he adapted to his spear techniques. The longer it dragged on, the more disadvantageous it became for him. It was Aarons own mistake. I turned my gaze. Neryssa was brushing her hair in the corner of the training ground. Im personally dissatisfied, but theres nothing we can do. What cant be done? Velkist muttered. To me, he seemed unprepared. It was a wise judgment. Neryssa bowed deeply to me. I nodded. Although youve joined the 1st party, youre not at a satisfactory level yet. You must know that. Gather at the training ground tomorrow morning, and Ill tell you what needs to be done. Understood. Please guide me. I chuckled lightly. But I dont understand why youre so eager to join the 1st party. Do you think youll have better luck here? Its the opposite. Things here are much more dangerous than the 2nd party. I came to get stronger. Velkists eyes sank deeply. Both of you must be tired today. Go back now. Velkist lightly saluted me and left the training ground. Neryssa bowed once again. Please take care of me from now on. My name is Neryssa Iyorra. After finishing the greeting, Neryssa walked out of the training ground. In any case, all the members of the training ground had left. Only Aaron and I remained in the training ground. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 73: Tryout (4) (2) Chapter 73: Tryout (4) (2) In any case, all the members of the training ground had left. Only Aaron and I remained in the training ground. I opened the iron gate of the dueling ground. Come out. Staying here wont change anything. I dont want to leave. Then Ill stay. I entered the dueling ground. The bloodstains Velkist had left were fading. I sat down beside Aaron, who was sitting there. Aaron muttered in a calm voice. I lost. Thats right, you lost. I lost because I was weak. Thats all. Aarons voice trembled slightly. I asked, Why didnt you aim for his vitals? Aaron looked at me. At the beginning, you had the advantage. Why did you give Velkist more time? You could have won easily. We shouldnt kill ourrades, right? When did you start following that rule? Even if Aaron had killed Velkist, I would have found a way to cover it up. I was confident that I could make Iselke state it as a sudden-death, instead of a heros murder. Just like she did with the Fangwolves. But Aaron chose a different path. Even when he aimed for the vitalster, it ultimately led to his defeat. I dont think I raised you to be that weak. Aaron gave a bitter smile. I just changed my mind. As you know, I dont have talent. I may have been able to win now. I actually had confidence that I could. But as time passes, if a little bit more time passes, and that guyes back stronger Aarons voice gradually faded. He couldnt continue. In fact, do I have the right to kill someone who shines brighter than me? Looking at Velkist and Neryssa, I felt that what I had been doing was meaningless. No matter how much time and effort I put in in front of the difference in talent Is that why you showed mercy? We shouldnt harm the Master. Theyre his important assets. Aaron lowered his head. The things you and Jenna see are invisible to me. No matter how I swing my spear, the mist in front of my eyes doesnt clear. It felt like I was just running in ce. Did he copse on his own? Aaron began to change after returning from the 15th floor. Since then, the intensity of training has be much harsher than before. But when I dueled him, he felt weaker than before, despite the amount of training. His confidence had disappeared. Now, what will happen to me? I wont be able to join the 1st party, right? For the time being, you wont be able to. But you will if you get stronger, though. The probability wasnt high. Aaron probably knows it too. Combat doesnt suit this guy. Its been like that from the beginning. Hes just doing it forcefully for his little sister. Theres a position called an instructor. Its a role to teach neers on the 1st floor training ground. I think it suits you. Its the same with Dika. Dika, who went down to the 1st floor, would soon be sent back up. He may be frail, but hes diligent. Like Aaron, hes a hard worker, and his skills are solid. If he were given the role of an instructor, he would perform his duties quickly. Its morefortable than being in the 1st party. You dont have to worry about dying or shedding blood. The training load also decreases. You just have to teach neers in a safe ce. You mean teaching them? Originally, thepetition rate for this job is extremely high. Sometimes its dozens to one. I particrly rmend it to both of you. What do you think? Aaron couldnt answer easily. I sighed deeply. Thats enough for you. You just rx. Ill be responsible for sending you home safely to your sister. But What are you hesitating for? Whats your goal? To be strong like Velkist? Wasnt it to safely return to your family? The 1st party was likely to be Aarons grave. The same is true for the 2nd party. Although the death rate was low on the 10th to 15th floors, there was no guarantee it would continue like this. Even Eolka, Jenna and I could potentially die. This was the best choice for Aaron himself. Yes, but But? Aaron made aplex expression. It seemed like he wanted to say something, yet he opened, closed his mouth, and chose to remain silent. I sighed deeply. Is this how it is Im sorry, hyungnim. Ill be an instructor. To hell with being an instructor. Huh? If you dont want to do it, then dont do it. Aarons eyes widened. I chuckled and continued. Among the people I know, theres someone like you, Aaron. He was just as talentless. His spear skill was only level 2 when he was at your level. I tried to get rid of him several times because he was so trash. Aaron blinked his eyes in surprise. He probably couldnt understand. After all, I was talking about my days of being a master. Do you want to get stronger, Aaron? Your answer seems to be no. No, its not, Hyungnim! Aaron knelt down. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes. I want to get stronger! I dont want to have such miserable thoughts anymore! But for someone like me theres no way There is a way. Wait until that door opens. Beyond the open door of the training ground, a tightly sealed rift in dimensions could be seen. I pointed to that door. Ill take you to Niflheimr. Where is that? I chuckled. Its a very nice ce. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 74: Taming (1) (1) Chapter 74: Taming (1) (1) The day after the selection match. It was early in the morning. I, Jenna, Eolka, along with Velkist, and Neryssa, gathered on the second floor training grounds. Since the partyposition had changed somewhat, and new members had joined, there was a need to inform everyone about the changes. Nice to meet you. Im Jenna Shirai. Jenna awkwardly smiled at the two. Velkist remained silent, and Neryssa nodded expressionlessly. Their reactions were simr when Eolka introduced herself. Its still a bit awkward it seems. Neither of them appeared particrly outgoing. While it would be awkward topletely ignore each other, and a certain level of friendship is effective for teamwork, there was no need to be overly friendly. It was because there was always the worry of grieving or being affected when arade died or dropped out, as was the case with Jenna yesterday. I nced at the corner of the training grounds. Among the members of the second party, there was a familiar new member, Aaron. Since Aaron had refused the instructors offer yesterday, he had no choice but to join the second party. He would spend his time honing his skills with Edis, who was patting Aarons shoulder at the moment. Velkist, Neryssa, theres something you should know. I turned my gaze to the two. Yes. Please go ahead. Once they responded, I continued speaking. If youve looked at our mission through the stone, youll know. Youll be fighting in a different environment in the first party. You will be dealing with fire. Naturally, we need you to get used to mes. Are you talking about fire resistance? Since you know, thats fortunate. Learn it as quickly as possible. Do you know the method? Putting your hand in the mes? I nodded. Velkist smirked. Its a very primitive method. Theres no more efficient way. Anyway, I understand. Ill learn it within four days. I dont know about this woman though she might get whiny. Ill learn it within three days. Neryssa said, ring coolly at Velkist. It is good to bepetitive, but this is a bit excessive. I spoke with a stern tone. Next is Jenna. Yes, please tell me, Oppa. Youll have to fill Aarons vacant spot. I instructed Jenna to refrain from using daggers and only focus on her archery. Since there was no mid-range hero left, Jenna had to take on that role. With her rapid-fire skill, she could somewhat cover the gap left by a spearman. You mean primarily use a bow? Got it. Velkist, youre on the front line with me. Just dont act recklessly. Fight within the range where Jenna, Neryssa, and Eolka can support. If you go ahead believing in your own strength, youll be useless. Remember that. Ill follow your instructions. Velkist crossed his arms. I then looked at Neryssa. Unlike Velkist, who was a purebatant, it wasnt easy to assign a clear role to Neryssa. She had mastered various skills beyondbat techniques. She has weapon skills like rapier, short swords, and throwing weapons. She also has quick body movements and stealthy movements. Furthermore, she has sensory skills like eagles eye or enhanced hearing. In addition to that, she was well-versed in auxiliarybat skills like poison production and sneak attacks. In terms of the variety of skills alone, she was almost on par with me. What exactly were you doing beforeing here? Were you an assassin or something? Something simr. Neryssa replied. Something simr to an assassin was the right answer. If she were a true assassin ss, she would have been summoned as an advanced summon. She must have been in an awkward position before the summons. Neryssa, youre primarily in a mid-range position. But depending on the situation, you might have to participate in closebat to protect Jenna and Eolka. You can also aim for the enemys rear. I cant give you specific instructions on how to act. Use your judgment. Yes. Neryssa had three main weapons. Rapier swords, short swords, and throwing daggers. She didnt have a main weapon, which was a bit awkward, but it allowed her to be flexible inbat. She yed a role simr to a libero. And youre also responsible for collecting overall mission information. If I give you the order, gather the information and bring it to me. Understand? I understand. Ill keep it in mind. I looked alternately at the two who nodded. I got their initial agreement. At first nce, it seemed like they were good at following instructions. I might need to make some adjustments. Even if they said they understood, with their type of character, if it wasnt perfectly convincing, it could go awry eventually. Especially considering the less-than-ideal habits that might have picked up on the first floor. I made my decision and spoke. All right. Lets start todays schedule. Starting with training. We nned to significantly increase the intensity. While there would still be stamina training, weapon skills, and sparring as before, the formation training would be greatly enhanced. Simple formations like the wedge or triangle formation were now a thing of the past. What about me? What should I do? Eolka, tying sandbags to her ankles, finally spoke up. She seemed disappointed that she hadnt been called. The tasks for the three of you have changed. I You can run. Wear these sandbags instead from now on. I swiftly tossed a 3kg sandbag from the shelf to Eolka. Eolka caught the sandbag and wore a helpless expression. Anyway, todays training had begun. The start of the training was running with a 10kg sandbag strapped on, at a speed close to an all-out sprint on the track. Velkist and Neryssa managed to keep up with us quite well. Of course, Eolka was far behind. While running, I observed the second party. Edis was scratching her head with a perplexed look on her face. Unlike the first party, which had a well-roundedposition, the second party was short of one member. Dica, who was originally a member, had epted the instructors proposal yesterday morning. Currently, he was assisting the new heroes on the first floor. After the selection match yesterday, Anytng closed the game without doing any paid summons. His actions had caused a power vacuum in the second party. Edis let out another deep sigh and muttered. How are we supposed to train with just four members? If it doesnt work out, go to the first floor. I stopped running for a moment and approached Edis. The first floor? If you look carefully, there should be one or two worth considering. Tell Dica and have him teach them intensively. If master wont do any summons, thats our only option. After the waiting room was divided into upper and lower floors, Anytng had conducted quite a few free summons. In the first-floor training room, there were at least 20 standby heroes. Among them, at least one of them should be a hidden gem. I guess we have to go that route. Even if you find one, dont unt it openly. Others might eavesdrop. Do you think they would something to him? In this structure, there are many guys who like to pick on those who are doing well. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 74: Taming (1) (2) Chapter 74: Taming (1) (2) I guess we have to go that route. Even if you find one, dont unt it openly. Others might eavesdrop. Do you think they would something to him? In this structure, there are many guys who like to pick on those who are doing well. This happened when we were in the dungeon. ording to what Ive heard from Chloe, a few days before the two of us came to the second floor, the heroes on the first floor had gone to find Velkist, who was in the training room. They were a group of five attackers. They surrounded Velkist and hurled insults and mockery from all directions. Velkist drew his sword without a word and cut off one of the guys legs, who was at the front. Then, he mercilessly tortured the confused six men without killing them. From the next day on, no one dared to touch Velkist. It was a heartwarming story in a way. Anyway, it wasnt a surprising oue. Edis left Asher and Aaron behind and left the training ground with Roderick. It seemed like they were heading to the first-floor training room. The task was to find someone promising, and if they seeded, they could join their party after going through some training. The correct answer is still to do paid summons, though. Master had experienced failure, but it had unintended consequences. In most cases, advanced summons were a waste, but in this situation, it became the best option. Next time Ie in contact with Anytng, I might need to correct this part. The basic stamina training of the morning was over. After lunch, weapon skill training and sparring followed. However, it seemed that everyone was more interested in sparring. After considering our opinions, I said, All right. Its better to know each others strengths urately. I agree. Will we be sparring at the same ce as yesterday? Yeah. The are no rules. Use real weapons, and any moves are allowed. That sounds good. We decided to skip todays weapon skill training. Ive sparred with two new members before, but it was only a few times, not as frequently as I did with Jenna and Aaron. It was a necessary measure to understand each others tendencies. Still, quite an obvious intention. Both of them had a strongpetitive spirit. They probably wanted to try their strength against me. I entered the training ground with my sword. Velkist joined me as if he had been waiting. Id like to request a match. Alone? Neryssa,e in too. Are you saying You want to test my strength, right? Itll be tough for you alone. Velkists eyebrows twitched. I chuckled. During our sparring, Velkist deliberately concealed his strength. This was evident when you looked at Velkists stats and skills. Are you sure, senior? Itll be different from our previous sparring. Do you want to fight me one on one? Yes. Okay. As I drew my sword, Velkist assumed a cautious stance. I took a deep breath and raised the switch in my head. [Han () has entered a state of frenzy!] Lets go. As I aimed my sword, I kicked off the ground. Velkist swung his sword down swiftly. It was a fast and efficient move. I increased my speed further. ! ng! Velkists sword was deflected and stuck in the iron railing. The de touched Velkists neck. A decisive move in a single stroke. Velkist tended to the shallow wound on his neck, where blood was oozing out. Youre stronger than I expected. Say it. It was worthing here. I guess Im gonna need that woman with me. I sheathed my sword. Neryssa opened the iron window and entered, then said to Velkist, Insolent bastard. The oue was obvious. It seems so. Please take care of me. Neryssa drew her rapier from her waist. A blue liquid sparkled on the de. It was the paralysis poison used in yesterdays duel. I was surprised and said, Are you really using that? You seemed to want it. Anyway, this time its two against one. Even if Im your senior, I wont go easy on you. Velkist pulled out the sword stuck in the iron fence. I took a moment to cool down my head, which had be hot due to the effects of the Frenzy. A cold energy flowed through my body. After calming down, I pointed my sword at them and said. Come at me. Just as I was about to take a step, Velkist and Neryssa scattered left and right. It seemed like they wanted to go on the offensive first. I positioned my sword in a natural posture. Two swordsmen rushed in. And after 1 minute, Its more than I expected. Neryssa muttered. Nerissa sat down looking up at me. There were poisonous marks scattered nearby. I never thought even two people wouldnt be enough. Velkist couldnt help but ridicule himself. Velkists grip was torn, and blood flowed. The sword that had been flung far away was stuck to the ceiling. I snorted and said, The two of you are still not enough. Moreover, youre fighting separately. It was as I expected. There was no teamwork between the two of them. If I defeated one, it was over for the other. Together, they could only stop me for about 20 seconds. It would have been different if it were Aaron and Jenna. Youre weak. Youve been dealing with useless people on the low floors, so youre overconfident. I sheathed my sword. I still hadnt used a shield. I would work against Aaron and Asher, but beyond that is entirely different. Even if two of you teamed up, it wouldnt work against me, let alone Jenna. Oppa, did you call me? Right, you. I left the training ground. Ill allow the two of you to fight as a team. But I wont allow solo sparring. The condition is to defeat Jenna. Types like Jenna and Aaron integrate well into parties and have excellent teamwork, but individuals like Velkist, who are strong-willed, have good abilities butck cooperation. This needed to be addressed. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 75: Taming (2) (1) Chapter 75: Taming (2) (1) Jenna scratched her cheek and blinked her eyes in confusion. I spoke up. Whats the matter? Arent youing up? Two of them are waiting. You want me to fight those two? Somehow, it feels a bit scary Dont worry. Youre stronger. That was the truth. Jenna had once won against me. It was a result mixed with effort and luck, but a win was a win. I didnt think shed lose to a team of two who could not cooperate at all. Velkists gaze turned icy. I heard your words well. But arent you underestimating me a bit too much? I may not know about the senior, but I dont think thatdy will defeat me. Youll find out if you try. More than anything, I dont like fighting alongside that woman. I can handle it alone. Shell only get in the way. Youre speaking my mind. The two of them started growling at each other. I said, Then show us the results. If you beat Jenna, Ill fight with you as long as you want. Hope you dont break that promise. I nodded at Jenna. After hesitating for a moment, Jenna took a deep breath and pulled out a quiver from the disy shelf. The quiver was filled with sleek arrows. They might not have had strong killing power, but they had enough piercing force to tear through flesh and muscle. Im counting on you. Jenna, feeling awkward, greeted as she entered the training ground. Velkist nodded and said to Neryssa, You stay out of this. Neryssa gave a cold smile and stepped aside. Velkist gripped his sword. Lets do this. Ping! Before the words finished, Jennas arrow shot out. Velkist bent at the waist to dodge it. At the same time, the second arrow aimed for his leg. He dodged that too. Simultaneously, the third arrow targeted Velkists head. Ping! Ping, ping, ping! Velkists expression froze in astonishment. A glint of red shed in Jennas eyes. The effect of the Weakness Detection skill. It was followed by a rapid volley of urate shots aimed at Velkists whole body. Velkist managed to parry a few arrows with his sword, but he was forced back, retreating to a corner of the training ground. And on the 21st shot, Jennas arrow grazed Velkists throat and lodged into the iron railing. An intended miss. If he had tried to dodge, the arrow would have deflected off his prayer. I said to Velkist, who was frozen in the corner of the training ground, Didnt I tell you? Shes stronger than you. Jenna was fighting daily with someone who had a perfect defense against projectiles. She knew how to shoot in a way that made it difficult for the opponent to dodge or block. There was no way Velkist could withstand such urate shooting. A frog in a well, huh? Velkist wiped away the blood from his neck. Ill say it again. Fight with Neryssa. Join forces to defeat Jenna. You have two days. If you cant do it, well have to find other members. I continued, We face numerous enemies in missions, strong enemies too. Youve seen it. So why do you want to fight alone? You guys are far from beingpetent. They had imed to understand during the initial briefing, but the reality might be different. There were things that couldnt be done alone. I was nning to convince them when, Im up next, Neryssa said. Shes stubborn. Neryssa didntst long against Jenna. All her throws with themendation and dagger missed, and she was pierced through her right arm by an arrow before she could reach melee range. Neryssa left the training ground without a word. And after gritting her teeth, she pulled out the arrow. I chuckled. As you can see, the results are clear. Neither of yousted a minute in a one-on-one battle. The level and skill gap was undeniable. But they were alsocking in experience. So we have to work together to defeat that girl? Okay, I dont like it, but lets try. As Velkist red at Jenna, she smiled sheepishly. Neryssa, who had healed her wounds, returned to the training ground. A rare determination shone in her usually cold expression. Velkist and Neryssa stood side by side. Its the second round. This wont be easy. Jenna reced her empty quiver. Im ready. Velkist and Neryssa positioned themselves on opposite sides. Their tactics remained the same as when they had attacked me. Theyre not doing well, I thought. Jennas rapid shots were directed towards Neryssa on the right. As Neryssas rapier danced, deflecting the arrows, Jenna swiftly moved closer and swung her left dagger. A thin trickle of blood appeared. Neryssa missed her swing and retreated to the side. Jenna, still in the same motion as her dagger strike, switched weapons and fired an arrow while spinning in mid-air. Her target was Velkist on the left. The result remained unchanged. Velkist hadsted longer than before, but he couldnt prate the rain of arrows. I muttered in a low voice, What are they doing? Theyre worse together. Thud! Velkist forcefully struck the iron railing with his scabbard. Dammit. Cursing wont change anything. Or do you want to switch to 2-party? They dont do this kind of training there. Ill give it one more try. Velkist and Neryssa returned to their original positions. Even as they walked back, they exchanged me. Cant evenst ten seconds. Youre truly useless. Dont talk, you couldnt even swing a sword. Eolka waved her fan and spoke, Those two, oddly enough, make a good match. Dont you think so? Who are you to be here? Arent you supposed to train your telekinesis? No, I If you dont disappear within ten seconds, Ill tell Chloe. Ten, nine Im going in! Im going in, okay? Seriously! Eolka hurriedly opened the door to the Magic Hall and went inside. I turned my gaze back to the training ground. The second round between Jenna, Velkist, and Neryssa was underway. Once again, the two used the same tactics, fighting in their own styles, and spreading out. They wont understand unless I say it out loud. These guys are smart enough but theyre not thinking. They might be aware, but maybe their pride wont allow it. I decided not to force instructions on them. I could give tactical orders, but if they didnt realize it themselves, and didnt feel the need for it, it would be meaningless. I didnt need puppets who only followed my orders. The results of the second round were as expected. Jennas victory. The third, fourth, and fifth rounds followed. Both stubbornly stuck to the same tactics and suffered the same defeats. Although both Velkist and Neryssa gradually adapted to Jennas shooting, Jenna was different from Aaron and Asher. She easily outyed them with various tactics, such as shooting, changing positions, and switching weapons, shepletely fooled both of them. I nced to the side. Aaron was looking at the training ground with a bitter expression. His hands, which had been moving the spear, had stopped. Theres no helping it. I wont interfere with the boundaries of the 2 parties. That was Ediss responsibility. Along with other parties that would be addedter. If I intervened one by one, the system would fall apart. I might not have minded if I were the Master, but as the leader of Party 1 and a hero, I couldnt oversee all the members in the waiting room. Aaron soon turned his head away from the training ground and resumed his training. One more time. No, I At Velkists words, Jenna pped her hands. Eventually, it was evening. Jenna and the two had faced off more than ten times. All ended in Jennas victory. Miss Jenna, it must be exhausting, but can Its hard to watch too. Thats all for today. Try again tomorrow. But theres still plenty of time. Because of you two, Jenna couldnt do her personal training today. Dont take away someone elses time recklessly. Although I thought they would have a chance within ten rounds, progress was slower than expected. Watching them, I couldnt even participate in the afternoon training myself. It was a loss. As I said, the deadline is tomorrow. Beat Jenna within that time. If you cant, Ill look for other members. Are you serious? Do I look like Im joking? Velkist and Neryssa knew they couldnt beat Jenna. But despite fighting so hard, they hadnt found a solution. Tomorrow, there will be only one more sparring round allowed. If you lose there, its over. Dont disappoint me. Velkist and Neryssas expressions twisted. Without saying a word, the two left the training ground. Jenna wiped the sweat from her forehead and left the training ground. Her face appeared slightly paler, probably due to the repeated training. Jenna asked me, Oppa, is it true? Are you really sending those two away? Have you ever seen me lie? Ive seen it quite a bit. Well,st time I grabbed Jennas head. She clutched her head and teared up. Anyway, its sincere. Talent is useless if you dont know how to cooperate. At best, youll just go out on your own and get scavenged. Or youll end up holding back the ankles of your party members. Well, I agree with that, but other than those two, it seems theres no talent to add to Party 1. Dont tell me youre thinking of Aaron Its not Aaron. After todays personal training, on the way back. Jenna asked me, What will happen tomorrow? Youll see. Theres no way not to know the solution. Its just that they dont trust their fellow members. Or maybe they trust themselves too much. Either way, its not a suitable personality for survival. But if I can change that I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 75: Taming (2) (2) Chapter 75: Taming (2) (2) The next morning. Velkist and Neryssa didnt show up for morning training. Eolka looked surprised. Where did those two go? They didnt desert right aftering here, did they? No, they went to the first floor. Why the first floor? They asked for some time from me. Yesterday, Neryssa came to my room in the early morning. The request was to remove the two from tomorrows training schedule. I readily agreed. Eolkasplexion brightened. So, what about todays training Since two of them are gone, we should increase the intensity. Oh no! That morning, Eolka received an extra pouch of sand. And in the afternoon. It wasnt untilte in the evening that the two of them showed up at the training ground. I sheathed my sword and approached them. Are you adequately prepared? As much as we can be. Neryssa answered. Velkist remained expressionless, but his eyes revealed his determination. Jenna. Yes, Im ready. Jenna, who had been practicing at the shooting range, came down. Jenna wiped the sweat off with a towel and alternated her gaze between the two. Are both of you ready? Oppa said its a one time. Were ready. Ill go up first. Jenna gracefully ascended to the training ground. On her left belt were two short swords, and on her right, a short bow and quiver were attached. Do as we discussed. Neryssa whispered to Velkist. Velkist furrowed his brows for a moment but then rxed. Finally, the two of them entered the training ground. The iron bars closed with a loud noise. The rules are the same as yesterday. Use real weapons, and there are no other restrictions. You only get one chance. We understand. Neryssa drew her rapier. Velkist also brandished his short swords. He took a stance and mumbled, This doesnt feel right, but I have no choice. The duel began. As always, Jenna initiated an attack. Hmm? Jenna hesitated for a moment instead of reaching for her arrows. At the same moment, Velkist and Neryssa, who had been spreading out to the sides, froze in ce. Anyway, here it goes! Jennas arrow was aimed at Neryssa. Neryssa had weaker throwing resistancepared to Velkist. It was a reasonable decision to knock down the weaker one first. However, Velkist, standing beside her, moved suddenly and shattered the arrow aimed at Neryssa. Then, Neryssa threw a short sword. Jenna narrowly dodged the de. At the same time, the second round of shooting followed. Jenna had the ability to maintain continuous shooting in any position. Five arrows were aimed at various vulnerable points on Neryssas body. Now I can see it. [Skill Awakening!] [Velkist () has acquired Throwing Resistance!] Velkist swung his sword, causing the arrows to fall in unison. With his sword held sideways, Velkist rushed towards Jenna. Youre too far away. Jenna calmly blocked his attack with an arrow. The distance between the two wasnt close enough yet. It was still Jennas territory. Five arrows aimed at vulnerable spots and gaps in movements were heading towards Velkist. Velkist dodged one arrow and deflected two. Two arrows remained. With their unavoidable trajectories and speed, Velkist continued his charge. Suddenly, Neryssa, who had appeared from behind, shattered the two arrows with her rapier. It took them two days. I heaved a sigh. If you cant handle it alone, handle it together. They made a fuss because they didnt know something so simple. Velkist and Neryssa, covering each others weaknesses, broke through the barrage of arrows and closed the distance to Jenna. Then they split apart. And simultaneously, they merged. Its over. Ah! Jenna avoided Velkists thrust by jumping backward, kicking against the iron bars. The short sword chased after Jennas back. Then, Neryssa, who had sprung up to the same position, thrust with her rapier. At the same time, Velkist thrust from below to above. Ugh! Jennas posture was disrupted, and her dress was torn. Before she could regain herposure, Neryssa grabbed her. A dagger was at Jennas throat. Its over. Did I lose? Jenna scratched her head. Such an easy thing. Velkist muttered dejectedly. I smiled and stepped forward. You struggled all day because you didnt know this easy thing. If they had seen the battle on the boss stage, they would have known that group strength took precedence over individual strength. They just hadnt emotionally epted it. I was merely helping them realize that. Anyway, you passed. Remember this feeling. Can we defeat the senior with this fighting style? Wanna try? I drew my sword. And naturally. The two of them were utterly defeated by me. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 76: Labyrinth (1) (1) Chapter 76: Labyrinth (1) (1) The first taming is over. The purpose is to emphasize the importance of cooperation. I faced Velkist and Neryssa without showing any mercy. Whether it was one-on-one or two-on-one, it didnt matter. I activated Frenzy Mode constantly and struck them down whenever I saw an opening. There were numerous times when one of them came close to dying. Isnt this a bit too harsh? Im doing what they want. I chuckled at Eolkas concerned question. Theres still some time left until the climb. Anytng hadnt sent out Party 1 yet. It seemed like he wanted to give the new members some time to adapt. I decided to make the most of this. The cooperation between the two of them became more refined as the days went by. Velkist was skilled in closebat, while Neryssa excelled at mid-range. They started learning how to utilize each others strengths and cover each others weaknesses. Of course, amidst all this, they didnt forget to exchange insults. This should be sufficient. I extended my sword. The two of them were lying in a corner of the training ground. They hadsted for three minutes this time. Considering they couldnt evenst 30 seconds at the beginning, their growth was remarkable. Jenna will join the next sparring session. What do you mean? So you think youre the only ones allowed to work in a team, we will too. The expressions of the two noticeably stiffened. I continued, Dont worry. Were not fixing the members. Its me, Jenna, and you two. Well take turns fighting with each other. Get to know each others characteristics and personalities to find points of cooperation. I thought I would be fighting based on my individual abilities when I joined Party 1, Velkist said in a low voice, but this ispletely different. On the 5th, 10th, and 15th floors, the seniors ability stood out. Honestly, the others didnt catch my eye. Whats the point of this kind of training? Are your eyes full of holes? Alone, I cant do anything. Even if you watched the video of the clears, it would be different from experiencing it firsthand. Or maybe he was just more focused on me when he watched. I spoke from my experience, Individual abilities are important. No matter how well your teamwork is, if an individual is weak, it falls short. But the opposite is also true. If there is no teamwork, even if individuals are strong, the mission fails. Is that true? Of course if you have overwhelming strength you can finish the mission alone. But it seems like none of us here, including me, have that kind of ability. Enoughining; get up. We dont have much time. As my Oppa said, Im going too, Jenna said. Velkist and Neryssa got up hesitantly. Dont grumble too much. Once a certain foundation is established, well do individual training until youre sick of it. Ill be waiting. Velkist tightly gripped his sword. Not bad. The speed of their growth and the current situation of being able to spar 2-on-2. I quite liked it. Until now, except for Eolka, we were always odd-numbered, so we couldnt do this type of training. Even if we put members from two parties together, it was inefficient to fight as a party. Lets go. I pointed my sword and ran forward. Jennas arrow narrowly missed me from behind. Training continuedte into the night. Apart from the mornings basic training and a bit of weapon skill training in the afternoon, we spent all our time sparring. We changed the members after each round. There was a side effect that the side I entered usually won, but Velkist and Neryssa gradually got along with Party 1. A week passed like this. This time, we inserted Eolka and started formation training. Eolkas and Jennas vulnerabilities. How to defend against them. How to use their strengths. I actively coached Velkist and Neryssa on how to use the techniques I had analyzed. The more I know, the more amazed I am. Each tactic is intricate and efficient. One evening after training was over. Neryssa looked at me and shook her head. I cant imagine what youve been doing in your past life. Didnt I say I was from a farmer? Its better to change that lie. Is that so. I smiled bitterly. The next evening. It had been a considerable amount of time since thest climb was over. [Party 1, gather at the 1st-floor za!] Iselles loud voice echoed through the training center. I wiped the de with a piece of cloth that had tree sap on it and then left the personal training ground. The four members of Party 1 were there as if they had been waiting at the entrance of the training center. The intention is clear. Theres no reason to go down to the lower levels now. Velkist and Neryssa finished the 14th floor before joining Party 1. They had honed their senses through training that simted real battles. All that remained was the climb. Weve waited a long time. A smile yed at the corner of Velkists mouth. I sighed. Do you really prefer going out to fight? I think its better than dealing with wooden dolls. Anyway, were gathering on the 1st floor. You understand its not for leisure, right? Get ready. Before leaving the training center on the 2nd floor, Aaron approached me. I hope youre well, hyungnim. No need to say it. I waved my hand and descended to the 1st floor. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 76: Labyrinth (1) (2) Chapter 76: Labyrinth (1) (2) I hope youre well, hyungnim. No need to say it. I waved my hand and descended to the 1st floor. The za was crowded with people, most of whom I had never seen before. Who are these? They were summoned after the division of upper and lower floors. Neryssa replied curtly. The 3rd generation. The first heroes, Jenna, Edis, were the 1st generation. Velkist and Neryssa, who were drawn after handing over the strategy document to Anytng, were the 2nd generation. Those summoned after the division of upper and lower floors were the 3rd generation. They looked at us with a mixture of wariness and fear in their eyes, especially at me. You might not know, but there have been strange rumors going around. Im aware of that. After returning from the exploration dungeon, I rarely went down to the 1st floor. There was no reason to go down. After the division of the upper and lower floors, Anytng didnt send thebatants from the 2nd floor to the weekly dungeons. It was a sort of distinction. Arrogant guy. Someone in the crowd muttered. Hostile res were directed at Velkist. Velkist casually looked away and chuckled. Wheres that dog barking from? If you want to fight,e out. Dont provoke them. I stopped Velkist from drawing his sword and looked toward a rift in space. The door was open, but people were blocking the central passage. Suddenly, an old man appeared in front of me. Excuse me, are you Han Israt? I arrived here from Melkud just four days ago. I have a request! I suffer from a severe illness, and life has be quite difficult for me. Please, to the 2nd floor Move aside. Ouch! I pushed the man aside. A few men in the crowd dragged the fallen man away. A severe illness. He was spewing nonsense. The recovery capabilities in the waiting room were beyond imagination. As long as you didnt die, any injury or illness could bepletely healed in a matter of seconds. Whether it was cancer or back pain, it would return to normal. About ten days. I calcted the time I hadnt been to the 1st floor. I was busy taming these two, and I didnt feel the need to check either. However, I felt that the atmosphere on the 1st floor had changed considerably in those ten days. There were some simr crowds when entered the exploration dungeon, but they didnt attempt to block the path like this before. [Why are these people gathering? Dont stop Party 1! The master is waiting!] Iselle pointed her finger and the men by the fountain scattered. They cast strange nces at Velkist and Neryssa. Anyway, we had a long way to go. I entered the rift in space with the four of them. The door closed with a creak. I told Neryssa, who was examining her dagger sheath. When did this start? It began shortly after the division of the upper and lower floors. Little by little, signs began to appear. Signs? Is it a foreshadowing? Eolka blinked. I lightly chuckled and replied, Its a side effect of dividing the upper and lower floors. They were strange people. Well, dont worry about it. Right now, the mission is more urgent. I still couldnt be sure. What they did was nothing more than watching me. Although it felt more like spying than watching. [Main Dungeon, the current challenge floor is the 16th floor.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Get ready!] Dim light poured from the left mirror. I rested my right hand on my sword sheath. When we enter the field, follow my orders. Understood? Yes. Yes, sir. I nodded. The light streaming from the mirror enveloped the entire rift in space. When I opened my closed eyes, a strange space awaited me. Simultaneously, a message appeared, indicating the mission objective. [Floor 16.] [Mission Type Exploration] [Objective Search the designated location!] Everyones gaze is focused on one ce. They, too, are looking at the mission objective just like me. Velkist furrowed his brow. Exploration, huh? This is my first time with such a mission. Weve only done it once before, on the 6th floor. It wasnt a particrly difficult mission. Isnt that right, oppa? Its different from the 6th floor. Well see once we get there. I looked around. This is We stood on a luxurious carpet with intricate patterns. Behind us, there was what seemed to be an entrance, a door that led to the outside. The walls were adorned with various portraits and decorations, and high chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Ahead, I noticed a staircase branching out left and right. The end of the stairs connected to corridors on both sides. At a nce, it seemed like the entrance to a grand mansion. Do you know this ce? Neryssa raised an eyebrow. I cant be sure either. Ill tell you when Im certain. Alright. The second exploration mission. It meant that a streamed quest had been triggered. I spoke in a low voice to the party members who were looking around. From now on, well search this ce. There should be an exit to the next floor somewhere. Of course, it wont be that door. I reached out to the door behind me. A transparent barrier blocked my fingers advance. Neryssa, go ahead. Scout in stealth mode, and if you find anything unusual,e back and report. Yes. The rest of us will maintain formation and advance. nk. I drew my sword and shield. The sound of each member drawing their weapons echoed in the empty hall of the mansion. No ones here. It wasnt an abandoned mansion. It was well-maintained. Ill go. After nodding at me, Neryssa lowered her stance. Neryssas contours became blurred. It was the effect of her basic stealth skill, Subtle Movement. Neryssa silently ascended the stairs and disappeared into the left corridor. Well go left as well. Search formation. With a gesture, the members spread out in front and behind. I led at the front, Jenna and Eloka in the middle, and Velkist at the rear. With a well-organized formation, we ascended the stairs and entered the left corridor. Outside the windows, it was dark, but candles were lit here and there, so the visibility wasnt too bad. Its somewhat eerie, like a haunted mansion. Why is there no one here? Jenna said with a hint of unease. Well find out when we go in. As I passed by a visible door, I touched it. As expected, a transparent barrier blocked the way. There was no opening door. Its an exploration mission like the 6th floor, but the circumstances are different. First of all, the size of the field was different. We had been in the corridor for 15 minutes and were still there. Eloka spoke up. Isnt this ce incredibly spacious? I keep walking, but theres no end. The structure is unique. The size of the hall and corridor dont match. It would look strange from the outside. Look at you. Youre surprisingly smart. Velkist frowned. Wizard, what did you say? Oh, nothing! Quiet. Dont make noises. The three of them fell silent. After another 5 minutes of walking, the end of the corridor appeared. The corridor split into three branches. A regr mansion wouldnt have this kind of structure. There were no people, and outside the windows, nothing could be seen, not even darkness. This ce wasnt a normal space. Is it a maze? I sighed. It seemed like we had been burdened with an annoying mission. - Hello, I will be focusing more on Patreon to thank my patrons. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 77: Labyrinth (2) (1) Chapter 77: Labyrinth (2) (1) Maze, huh? Jenna blinked her eyes. I nodded and replied, It means its not an ordinary mansion. The corridors are probably twisted like a maze. A typical exploration mission ends with looking around the field a few times, but when exploration appears in a maze field, it can be quite troublesome. If you cant get to the designated ce, you cant leave. The designated ce was likely an exit. Or it could be the next floor of the maze. In that case, it meant that this maze itself was a linked stage. It could continue from one ce to the 20th floor. Eloka asked, Where should we go? For now, lets wait. Until Neryssa returns. Since Neryssa wasnt visible, she seemed to have entered one of the forks first. She would probably be back soon. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. The three members also rxed their postures. This ce is strange. There are no people, and the paths are weird. It was easy with other missions, just dealing with enemies that appear in front. Jenna spoke with a hint of frustration. I agree. Its boring. You consider missions as fun? How can it not be boring? We thought wed be fighting stronger enemies from the 16th floor onwards. The mission format had changed a bit. While the previous sub-stages were short, usuallysting around 10 minutes, from the 16th floor, theposition will change. There were times when Heroes couldnt get out of the maze even after days of exploration. In the worst case, we could get trapped there, and the party would be wiped out. Rx but dont let your guard down. There may not be enemies in sight, but theyre probably here. If thats the case, were lucky. Velkists sword glimmered coldly. And five minutester, Neryssa returned from the central corridor. Neryssa bowed her head to me. I immediately asked, Whats ahead? Based on my exploration of the central corridor, it seems that the forks lead to the same ce. Its not thatplicated. Thats fortunate, then. There dont seem to be any enemies or traps, but something is a bit unusual. Neryssas expression darkened. I narrowed my eyebrows. Unusual? Its difficult for me to judge. Youll find out once you go. Then I guess Ill have to see for myself. Everyone, get ready. The three of them stood up. Neryssa took the lead, and we, as usual, formed a formation and headed down the central corridor. It didnt take long for the corridor to end. At the end of the corridor was a small circr hall. As Neryssa had reported, there were left and right corridors on both sides of the entrance we hade out of. The three forks converged into this ce. Its not aplex maze. In a different situation, a single wrong choice could waste hours. Our supplies werent suitable for long-term missions. I looked around the hall. Exquisite decorations were ced everywhere, and a red carpet covered the floor. The view through the window was still pitch-ck. Another corridor continued straight ahead from the entrance where we came out. And in the corner of the hall, someone was lying down. Neryssa whispered to me, That person. It seems like they are conscious, but theyre not responding. Their condition is strange. Ill go check. I approached with my sword drawn. Her face wasnt visible as she leaned against the wall. I could tell she was a woman. As I got closer, she seemed to be groaning strangely. Ugh Dressed in a servants attire, the woman repeated strange groans. She didnt react at all as I approached. The sounds from her mouth seemed like a mix ofughter and crying. Ugh! The woman vomited something from her mouth. ck blood. The thick, murky liquid stained the carpet ck. The woman continued to groan and vomit blood. After observing for a moment, I turned back to the others. Dont touch her until were sure theres nothing wrong. The notification indicating an enemy didnt appear yet. Although her condition wasnt normal, she didnt seem harmful to us. Velkist aimed his sword at the woman. Shes suspicious. Wouldnt it be better to kill her? If you dont want to kill a woman, Ill do it. Let her be. Its better not to touch something suspicious. There was a probability of a trap pattern that triggered an unpleasant event. It might asionally work to our advantage, but statistically, in such cases, the likelihood of something bad happening was higher than something good. All right, then. Velkist spoke calmly and sheathed his sword. On the other hand, Jenna was looking at the woman with a sympathetic expression. She looks terribly miserable. Seems like shes got a severe illness. Should we try to help her? Well, we cant really, can we? None of us is a doctor. I nodded and gestured to move forward. This time, there was only one corridor. Neryssa led the way. Before leaving the hall, I nced back. The woman was still lying there. Her shoulders were faintly moving. I feel like Ive seen this somewhere before. I wasnt referring to the woman. The symptoms of vomiting ck blood were something I had seen a few times during my master days. That condition was called contamination, one of the worst curses among numerous abnormalities. When I was a master, I didnt think much of it, but now the circumstances are different. It might be necessary to investigate when the opportunity arose. We continued down the corridor. After walking for about ten minutes, we reached another hall. It had the same structure as the initial hall, but there were no people in sight. Another corridor appeared straight ahead. Eloka furrowed his brow. Its starting to get boring. Cant we find a way out? Jenna grabbed thetch of a door in the hall, but it wouldnt open. The same was true for the others. Jenna clicked her tongue softly. Damn. Dontin too much. Well be out soon. This maze wasnt aplicated one. It was a straightforward linear route. We wouldnt take long to find an exit leading to the next floor. However, something was bound to happen before that. Things never go smoothly in this game. The unexpected urred when we tried to move from the third hall to the fourth hall. Neryssa, who was in charge of advanced reconnaissance, approached me with a different expression than usual. Her gaze held a sense of caution. Neryssa spoke briefly. Enemies. Velkist drew his sword. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 77: Labyrinth (2) (2) Chapter 77: Labyrinth (2) (2) Neryssa, who was in charge of advanced reconnaissance, approached me with a different expression than usual. Her gaze held a sense of caution. Neryssa spoke briefly. Enemies. Velkist drew his sword. Jenna readied her bow, and Eloka controlled her breath. I assume they are in the adjacent hall. Yes. There are seven of them. Theyre wearing armor and armed with swords, spears, and crossbows. You should join us then. Neryssa drew her rapier and stood next to Jenna. I turned and said, looking at them, As soon as we enter the hall, ambush the enemy. Jenna and Neryssa will take care of the archers, and the rest of us will take care of the swordsmen and spearmen. From now until the battle begins, make no noise. All four of them nodded. There was a faint tension in their expressions. I moved forward as quietly as possible while suppressing my footsteps. The corridor ended right ahead. There, I heard someones voice. I raised my left hand, covered with a shield, and folded my fingers one by one. It was a signal indicating the timing of the assault. Three. Two. I folded thest finger. One. I didnt shout any battle cries. I rushed into the hall. My eyes met those of a man who was leaning against the wall, swallowing something. His pupils reflected my figure. [Human Soldier Lv.14] X 7 A message indicating the enemy appeared. Bingo. I threw the dagger I had been holding in my left hand. Thud. The dagger plunged into the soldiers throat. He choked without even letting out a scream. Next to him, the soldier who was about to aim a spear vomited blood. Velkist, who had advanced rapidly, swung his sword. He beheaded one soldier and then turned his body to impale another soldier through the chest. Blood sttered along the path of the sword. Ping! An arrow struck the right eye of a soldier who was reloading a crossbow. The arrowhead must have prated his brain. The soldier fell forward in a kneeling position. Almost simultaneously, the second arrow flew, piercing the heart of another crossbowman. There was no need for me to deal with all seven. As Velkist and Neryssa cleared the enemy ranks, one by one, Jenna aimed her arrows at the gaps. I quickly scanned the hall. This wasnt a small hall like the ones we had passed through so far. It was arge hall, simr to when we were first summoned here. In front, a staircase leading to the upper floor was visible. Theres a door at the back. Velkists sword struck down thest soldiers chest. As soon as I confirmed the guys breathing had stopped, I picked up the ss bead that had been on the disy shelf and threw it down the stairs. Crash! The ss bead hit the transparent wall and shattered into pieces. Eloka, prepare a level 1 fire spell in the direction of the main door. Sure? If I ask you to do it, do it. Okay, I got it. Eloka nodded urgently and began chanting the incantation. mes began to envelop Elokas entire body. With each incantation, the mes surrounding her grew denser. Velkist and Neryssa took a step back. ng! After a loud noise, the halls main door swung open. Dozens of soldiers waiting outside rushed in. [Human Soldier Lv.14] X 18 [Human Knight Lv.17] X 5 A red light shed in Elokas eyes. Ignite! The incantation ended. A straight line of mes swept over the group of soldiers. Those hit by the mes turned into torches. The acrid smoke and the smell of burning flesh filled the air. Velkist, Neryssa, right! The mes swept through the center of their formation. The enemies scattered left and right. Following my orders, Velkist and Neryssa moved to the right. I ignored the soldier who had rushed at me from the left and used my shield to strike the head of the knight who followed behind him. Thud! The knight staggered. I thrust my sword into the gap in his armor. I could feel the sensation of bones piercing and organs being punctured at my fingertips. The knight fell without a word. A soldier with a spear lunged at me from the side. I ignored him and thrust the tip of my sword into the throat of the soldier behind him. The soldier, who had tried to pierce with his spear, fell over with an arrow through his head. If they had attacked us in a formation, it might have been a bit troublesome, but Elokas mes perfectly blocked their path. Jenna and I picked off the soldiers struggling in the mes one by one. The situation on the right was the same. Although Velkist and Neryssa had not yet developed fire resistance, it wasnt difficult for them to deal with isted enemies. The bodies of the soldiers piled up. Kraaaah! A knight whose body was on fire swung his sword. I blocked it with my shield and then swung my sword forcefully. The bent steel te was cut away, and blood spurted from the insides. This guy was thest one. The 23 new enemies that had appeared were wiped out in less than five minutes. I immediately threw my dagger towards the stairs. This time, the thrown dagger stuck into the carpet on the stairs. Situation under control. Lets regroup. I wiped the blood off my sword onto the curtain. Eloka approached hesitantly. How did you know? What are you talking about? The second wave of enemies. Is that what shes talking about? The other members also seemed curious as they sent questioning nces my way. After confirming that the blood on the sword was gone, I put it into its sheath. Its a simple check. I just used the characteristics of the wall. Not only your body but also objects you touch cannot pass through the transparent wall. The halls stairs were an obvious passage to the next floor but were walled off. The wall was still there after we annihted the first patch of enemies. A question mark appears on the four faces. I smiled lightly. No need to force yourself to understand. It was a clever use of the games rules. Those who didnt know the existence of the game called Pick Me Up would find it difficult to use. Afterpleting the maintenance, I looked at the stairs. The end of the stairs leading upwards was shrouded in darkness. Well clear it if we go there. However, it was in the form of stairs, not an exit. It meant that a simr mission would repeat on the next floor. I looked at the party members and said, When we reach the 17th floor, we should prepare a bit beforeing up. Agreed. Seems like its a boring mission. Is smashing everything your preference? To be honest I chuckled and went up the stairs. As my foot touched the darkness at the top of the stairs, a message appeared. [Stage Cleared!] [Velkist(), Neryssa(), Level Up!] [Reward 50,000G] [MVP Eloka()] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 79: Continuing (1) (1) Chapter 79: Continuing (1) (1) After the move, what greeted us was the entrance to a mansion simr to the 16th floor. Behind us, there was a staircase leading down, while ahead, five paths diverged. Velkist muttered, This ce is even trickier than the 16th floor. I instructed Neryssa to stick to the party. With thebyrinths structure bing moreplex, there was a chance of getting caught in traps and leaving the party. Dont scatter, keep moving, and report anything unusual immediately, I emphasized. All four of them nodded, their faces showing more fear of getting lost in the maze than fear ofbat. I pinched Jennas stiff cheek. Dont be too scared. As long as we stick to a few principles, well be fine. Really? Were not going to starve to death trapped in a ce like this? Dont worry about unnecessary things. It was just the 17th floor, even though it was called abyrinth. I had packed tools just in case, but the likelihood of using them was slim. The problem is that this ounts difficulty level is anything but ordinary. Nevertheless, we would find a way. I held a pen and paper instead of a sword and shield, leading the way through thebyrinth. My purpose was to record thebyrinths map. There was a possibility that the same pattern would repeat throughout this section. Along the way, we encountered traps with arrows and encountered soldiers lying in wait, but in the end, we cleared the 17th floor safely. The strategy for the rest of thebyrinth went smoothly. As we ascended the floors, the structure became slightly moreplex, and the number of enemies and trap activations increased, but there were no special crises. We only stayed overnight on the 18th floor at most. By the time we cleared the 18th floor, the unease had disappeared from our faces. The day after returning from thebyrinth, Anytng gave us a day of rest, though, of course, we didnt rest quietly. I didnt make any specific demands, but the members of the first party intensified their training on their own. Velkist and Neryssa, who had recently joined the party, were no different. Were getting closer to the 20th floor. I knew exactly what this meant. The second party began to operate by filling in one of the empty spots. As a 2-stars former hunter, he would take on the role of a long-range attacker in the second party. I heard he had been exclusively hunting on the 1st floor beforeing up to the 2nd floor. And when we returned to the 1st-floor za after clearing the 19th-floor, Anytng was setting up a new facility. [Constructing a facility. Please touch the desired facility type.] [Storage Lv.1 has been selected. Would you like to expand this building?] [Yes (selected) / No] Kururur. With the confirmation of the selection, a faint vibration shook the 1st floor. We started cleaning up without paying much attention to the vibration. It was about organizing the tools we had used and returning them to the warehouse. Light was inscribed on the wall of the 2nd-floor za above. It was easier than I thought. Why are you scaring us so much? You said we could starve to death! Jenna said as she ced an empty bag in the warehouse. I ced my hand on the bag. Neryssa took the bag off my shoulder. There were a few genuinely dangerous parts. It repeated the same path several times. I wonder who made it easy to break through Neryssa looked at me with a mix of suspicion and admiration in her eyes. She seemed curious about my identity. But what kind of facility is Master building? Its been noisy since earlier. Eloka spoke when we were almost done with the cleaning. Its a storage. A ce to entrust various things. Storage? It seems to ovep with the warehouse. It has a slightly different meaning. I left the warehouse. After the vibration stopped, a message appeared confirming thepletion of the construction. [The storage has beenpleted! You can now look back on the heroes who have left the goddesss embrace.] [Tips/You can check the illustration and data of the deceased hero in the album of memories. However, this is only possible if the heros memento is ced in the storage.] A marble door appeared on the wall of the 2nd-floor za. It was the entrance to the storage. I turned to Eloka, who was following me. Its our tomb. Our tomb? Elokas face noticeably stiffened. It seems like the Master is preparing for the 20th floor. Is building a tomb your way of preparing for the 20th floor? Whats that about? Its creepy! Why name it a storage again? Eloka shivered. The three who hade outte were also listening to my conversation with Eloka. Its simr to a mausoleum. Of course, you cant retrieve the bodies. Its for cing the mementos they used in life. What a ridiculous facility. Is it for a memorial? Building something like that, it would be better to improve the training camp. Velkist scoffed and headed up the stairs first. Storage. Its not a facility that many Masters use extensively. It consumes gems and materials for construction, but in practice, it has very little functionality. At best, its for looking back at the illustrations and videos of deceased heroes. However, ording to my analysis, the storage is more important than it seems. Anytng was merely following the Lokis strategy. The post-mortem processing of heroes. Countless heroes die during the ascent of the Pick Me Up Tower. Deaths on missions were equal, whether it was a hero raised with affection or one discarded halfway. I was no exception. I had lost many heroes on my journey to the current main party. Building and maintaining the storage were means to significantly reduce the stress levels ofrades after a heros death. I think its okay. Master cares about us, right? Doing things like this. I thought it was just over if you died. Its ominous! Like someones going to die on the 20th floor! Oh,e on, we have Oppa with us. It should be fine, like on the 15th floor! Right, Oppa? Jennaughed and looked at me. I shrugged my shoulders. There were no problems on the 15th floor? We almost died! Ultimately, everything was okay. It will be the same this time. Dont worry about it. None of us will go in there. Jenna gave me a mischievous look, then took Eloka and went up to the second floor. In the first-floor za, only Neryssa and I remained. Neryssa approached me and spoke. Shes a strongdy. If she didnt have that kind of mindset, she wouldnt have survived. Thats why I carry her with me. In any case, the next floor is the 20th. Its going to be a tough mission. I can guess. Neryssasplexion was tense. I chuckled and said, Are you scared? Of course not. If that were the case, I would have quietly joined the second party. Its not toote to do that now. Neryssa raised her head confidently. And then, she greeted me and went up to the second floor. I stood alone in the empty za on the first floor for a while. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 79: Continuing (1) (2) Chapter 79: Continuing (1) (2) The next day, in the morning. The members of the first party gathered at the training camp. I looked up. The sky was shimmering with a deep blue color. It was unusual for the Master to log in in the morning. Anytng sent the second party into the dungeon for the first time. The floor was 16th and above. It seemed like he was starting to train the sub-party now that the main partys ascent wasplete. You know that the 20th floor is right in front, right? I said, looking around at the members of the first party. All four nodded in unison. I wont say much. Increase the intensity of your training. Weve been focusing on formations and cooperative training up until now, but now well focus on improving individual abilities. My current level was 18. There were two levels left until the maximum level for the 20th-floor section. But during the two level-ups, while climbing the 4th floor of the mansion, I couldnt raise any skills. I had been busy getting the new member limated to the party and creating a new formation. We still have quite a bit of time. The second party isnt that far either. Well need to clear the 18th floor repeatedly until the main members reach their level cap. We need to finish our preparations within that. The estimated period is about 10 days. Ill tell each of you what you should do. Jenna, you first. Yes, Oppa. From now on, practice the longbow. If you can, request a suitable weapon from the crafting department. Focus solely on that until you learn the long bow skill.'' If dragonkin appear on the 20th floor, they are likely to have tough scales. A longbow capable of piercing it and skills to support it were essential. Jenna acknowledged with a reply. Eloka, increase the power of your fire magic. If possible, up to level 4. Level 4? Its not easy Im not forcing it. Just do your best. Alright. On the 20th floor, we would need high-powered magic, not just minor spells for dealing with pests. Eloka had significantly increased her magical power and the potency of her magic since her first arrival. I remembered her muttering that she might break through to the 4th level not long from now. After seeing Eloka nod, I spoke. Next, its the two of you. Do you need any separate instructions? Ill handle that part on my own. Velkist nodded his head. I have a few questions about some skills. Id appreciate it if you could enlighten me. Dont worry about that. Velkist, due to the research, could also ess the skill window now. He seemed to be finding the right utilization of his wild, insight, and other skillstely. He could develop them as he pleased, unlike Jenna and Eloka, I could train them the way I wanted, but it didnt match Velkists tendencies. So I decided to trust him with it. I n to visit the Day Dungeon. Lastly, it was Neryssas turn. This time, Ill prepare Extreme Poison, not Paralysis Poison. Since materials are different, it may take some time. Is personal training not needed? I think preparing the poison would be more beneficial than my training. Neryssa gave me a meaningful look. Perhaps. Neryssa already had a sense of what the 20th floor entailed, even without me telling her. A golden mansion consisting of five floors. She must have already figured out what woulde out on the final floor. Poison, huh. The number of Weekly Dungeons is not high because the floor is low. But it wouldnt be pointless. I epted this too. Theres no fixed schedule from today. Move freely. Just dont bezy. If you dont want to die. If I was going to be that sloppy, I wouldnt have joined this party in the first ce. Velkist picked up the sword sheath ced next to his chair. Lets start right away. Fight me. With real weapons. Are you talking about a fight this early in the morning? Theres no morning or night in a fight, is there? An interesting provocation. I chuckled and reached for my sword. This guy is quite interesting. Even if he loses to me several times, he doesnt lose his spirit. His attitude is different from Aaron, Dica, or Asher. Im going to ask the guys there to make a longbow for me, okay? Sure. Also, order some thick arrows with it. If I ignore Anytngs gaze, I could make it myself, but the equipment crafting departments skills werent bad either. It should be fine to leave it to them for once. I didnt stop Jenna. As I was about to go to the training grounds with Velkist, Eloka shouted. I want to join the duel too! Eloka was biting her lips. If its realbat training, why do you always exclude me? I can fight too. But you said you didnt want to? I changed my mind. I dont want to go into that weird storage anymore! I hesitated for a moment. Until now, Eloka had not participated in the duels. She actively refused to join, and it was dangerous in itself. me magic doesnt discriminate. Moreover, with her level and skill levels raised, her firepower was excessively strong now, and being hit directly by her magic could turn someone into ashes with a single blow. Are you sure about this? I wont go easy. Its, its what I wanted. Eloka swallowed hard. Well, I was nning to include her someday. With this, Eloka was also included in the dueling members. I want to fight with you alone, sumbae. I ignored Velkistsints with one ear. (T/N: guys do you prefer sumbae or senior, please tell me in thements.) I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 80: Continuing (2) (1) Chapter 80: Continuing (2) (1) Rumble! mes spread in all directions. The mes painted the iron bars red as they approached me. The heat burned my skin even with my me resistance. However I lightly stepped to the right and then leaped. The mes chased after me, but it was already toote. The de of my sword touched Elokas neck. She gestured with an annoyed expression as the mes vanished. Youre slow. Cant you go faster? You told me to increase the firepower, didnt you? You even said youd watch my back. I did say that, but theres no harm in practicing, right? I smiled and sheathed my sword. That was my tenth victory in a row. What I learned from our several duels was that Eloka was terrible in one-on-onebat. With the consistent increase in stats, the power of her magic had nearly doubled, but her control remained the same. Without any decent defensive spells, she relied on speed and seizing opportunities in a swift battle. Its time to learn chanting skills. For Eloka in her current state, skills like High-speed Chanting or Multi-Cast were necessary. High-Speed Chanting would drastically reduce casting time, and Multi-Cast would allow her to mix telekinesis with fire magic for more versatility. It was a goal I had advised her on, and she agreed. Next is me. Velkist, who had been standing outside the training ground, entered. He already had his sword drawn. No breaks for you guys. I thought you were watching, didnt realize you were itching to join. Alright, alright. Both of you,e at me. I dont want to waste time. Velkist nced at Eloka and raised an eyebrow. I dont want to fight with a magician. If Miss Nerissa doesnt like it and you dont like it either, then who should I fight with? I dont care. No need to be so snappy! Both of them grumbled but got into position. Velkist had also acquired me resistance a few days ago. At least now he wouldnt be caught in Elokas magic. I readied myself. Here Ie. Velkists eyes sharpened. In an instant, his body scattered and dashed to the left. Simultaneously, the mes created by Eloka silently engulfed the right side. It might seem like a crude tactic, but the timing was precise. I raised my shield and awaited the approaching attacks. After that, the mornings training ended. [Skill Awakening!] [Velkist ()s Basic Swordsmanship has reached Level 5!] Velkist had raised his weapon skill level to 5. His growth rate was considerable. His talent was outstanding, and his effort matched it. His will and patience were strong. He was on the fast track. Its about time for me too. Considerable time has passed since my weapon skill had reached level 7. I had a feeling that if given a little push, I would break through to level 8 and step into intermediate weapon skills. There was a significant gap between basic and intermediate weapon skills. Besides, weapon skills were the foundation ofbat, along with a well-trained body. No matter how many fancy skills you had, without decent weapon skills, it was like an empty fortress. Thwack! In the shooting range, Jenna was drawing her bow. It wasnt the small bow she had been using until now but arge one that covered her entire upper body. Each time she pulled the string, a heavy sound reverberated. The arrows pierced the target more than 100 meters away with precision. The way she handled the bow was different from using a short bow. Jennas fingers were tired. She had been pulling the thick,rge bowstring repeatedly, and it had caused blisters. Thwack! The second arrow hit dead center on the target. Her uracy was close to sniping, precise, and sophisticated. No one had taught her this style, yet she had figured it out on her own. The power was no less than that of a crossbow. She would soon learn the skill of longbows. In one corner of the training fields shelter, Aaron and Asher were fighting with spears and swords. Both of them had a weapon skill level of 4. Until this morning, they were on par with Velkist, but now they weregging behind. This is quite mad. Velkist, who had been sitting in a chair, grinned. Besides improving his weapon skills, Velkist had also raised his insight level. Its all clear to me. I could beat you guys in under five minutes. Dont brag just because you went up once. Youve still got a long way to go. Well, I suppose youre right. The training ground on the second floor had only one arena. Since its something both parties use, we couldnt monopolize it indefinitely. Weve been taking turns using it over time. Of course, most of the time, its us who use it. This is because the first party has already finished leveling up. I whispered to myself. Status Window. [Han Israt () Lv. 19 (Exp 42/150)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 43/43] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Health: 39/39] [Agility: 37/37] [Skills: Basic Swordsmanship (Lv.7), Insight (Lv.5), me Resistance (Lv.3), Pain Resistance (Lv.4), Composure (Lv.5), Frenzy (Lv.4), Stealth (Lv.1), Equestrianism (Lv.1)] My current level was 19. Strength exceeded 40, and health and agility were getting close to that mark. me resistance,posure, and frenzy had each gone up by one level. I was just one level away from reaching level 20, where 3-star advancement and ss choicesy. I applied pressure to the cup in my hand. Crackle. The cup, made of iron, crumpled like paper. I ced the crumpled cup on the table. It would return to its original shape if given some time. Its a bit strange. Ever since I reached 2 stars, the growth stats had been osciting between 5 and 6. 5 was the average for 3 stars, and 6 was the average for 4 stars. My overall stat umtion was no longer that of a 2-star, something that other Masters would note as maniption. Without attaching a sandbag of nearly 30 kg, it wasnt considered exercise. My 100-meter dash record was approaching 8 seconds. I could do push-ups without getting tired. Up to this point, I had been near the limits of human physical capabilities, but now I was clearly surpassing them. And above all, Something felt different every time I swung my sword. I realized it right after advancing to 2 stars. While using a sword and shield together used to feel natural, now it was bing slightly unnatural. Maybe its time to drop the shield. The shield didnt suit me. It was clear from the fact that I hadnt learned any skills rted to defense. Once we broke through the 20th floor and had some spare time, it seemed I would need to separate my skills. [Both parties, gather in the square!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 80: Continuing (2) (2) Chapter 80: Continuing (2) (2) [Both parties, gather in the square!] Iselles voice, calling both parties, echoed. Another meeting, just like yesterday. It seemed like we were intent on circling the 18th floor like we did before. We dont have much time left until the climb. I stood up from my chair. The crumpled cup was back to normal. Velkist stood up as well. When the second party reaches an appropriate level, well head there immediately. Be prepared so you wont regret it. You should be careful too, Sumbae. It would be troublesome if you got caught up with me. I like your confidence. I chuckled and drew my sword from its sheath. Eloka had gone into the magic library. She was looking for books rted to casting. That night. [Skill Awakening!] [Han ()s Basic Swordsmanship has reached Lv.8!] I broke through to weapon skill level 8. Preparations for the ascent had been steadily progressing even while I was training. The equipment created this time was a D+ ranked leather armor. Considering the level of materials, it was quite a good grade. Several sets of leather armor were made and distributed between the first and second parties. In addition, Anytng steadily produced consumables like throwing daggers, antidotes, and healing potions. Useful talent had also beening up to the second floor. First, there was a pharmacist who could make healing potions. She was assigned to the magic library. Next, Dica, the guy who became an instructor, returned to the second floor. Dica came to me, since I rmended him as an instructor, and repeatedly bowed in gratitude. Besides that, a few assistants from the support group were mixed in. The third party had also begun full-fledged activities. The third party was progressing with a steep pace that surpassed the second party. It was a necessary step. There was a possibility that we would need up to three parties for the 20th-floor challenge. After this challenge was over, it seemed that they would join the second floor as an official party rather than just a gathering of promising talents for the second party. Hes preparing seriously for the 20th floor. The 20th floor is tough. Anyone who had seen the strategy I sent would know that. Ive had my fair share of struggles on the 20th floor as well. Ive experienced exactly three total party wipes. But here, I couldnt afford a single failure, not on the 20th floor, nor on any future missions. I knew just how absurd this condition was, but I had no intention of giving up. I would use everything at my disposal. And I would survive and return to Earth. That had been my unchanged goal ever since I came here. Whatever happens. I closed the file. Inside the file were records of boss types and various patterns for the boss battles. We couldnt know exactly which one would appear, but most of the strategies were memorized. I looked up at the sky. The sky was shrouded in a pale darkness. A time when everyone was asleep. It was already the deep hours of the early morning, past midnight. Thepetition would likely start tomorrow. The leveling up for both parties has beenpleted since yesterday. The distribution of enhanced equipment was also finished. Everyone has been noticed. Its good because the timing is obvious. I chuckled lightly. I had done the same thing when I was a master. It was a signal of preparation before the strategy. Then the next day, The heroes would prepare on their own. In the morning, I spoke to the people gathered in the dining hall. Theres no training today. Wait until evening. Dont waste your strength recklessly. All members of the first and second parties were present in the dining hall. If there are any anomalies, report them. If youre too scared to go out, for whatever reason, then Ill actively try to speak up to the master. Are you trying to get us synthesized? Velkistughed. Caught ya? I dont think its a joke. Edis responded. Second party, are you ready? I looked at Edis and said. Behind her, members of the second party, including Roderick and Aaron, were seated. Were pretty much ready. It seems like we can participate. This time, youll also participate. Its different from the 15th floor. We know. And even though theyre not here, maybe even the third party. I looked around at the heroes. Master will take some time to connect. If theres anything left undone, do it. Write a will or whatever. For those who write wills, Ill personally tear them up if you die. Do you think well be able to return safely from this mission? Edis said to me with uncertainty in her eyes. I smirked. Only if we do your job properly. I stood up from my seat. As a signal, people began to get up one by one and disperse. Some headed to the kitchen to order something delicious, while others went toward their lodgings. A group headed to the lounge as well. Amidst all this, some were writing wills. Are you really going to write a will? Dont pay attention to it, Eloka stuck out her tongue. Eloka quickly folded the paper and headed to her room. It seemed like she intended to finish writing it in her room. The dining hall emptied out in less than a minute. I spoke to Aaron, who had been sitting quietly. Make sure I dont break my promise. Aaron smiled and ced his spear in his hand. I have absolutely no intention of dying. Good to hear. Where are you going, hyungnim? Im going to take a nap. Of course, I had no ns to do anything leisurely. I was nning to go through the data once more in my room, until Anytng connected. The 20th floor was right in front of us. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 81: Mission Type, Subjugation (1) (1) Chapter 81: Mission Type, Subjugation (1) (1) And that evening, Anytng logged in. [Party 1, gather in the 1st-floor za!] Iselles voice echoed. I closed the documents and got up from my seat. I had gathered all the information I needed. Now, only the real action remained. I picked up the sword and shield ced on one side of the wall and left the room. Jenna and Eolka were walking towards me from the other end of the corridor. I joined them. [Party 2, also gather! Oh, and Party 3 too! From now on, all those called will gather on the 1st floor. Han, Jenna, Eolka, Velkist] The list of participants was being called. We went down to the 1st-floor za. There were already more than 10 heroes in front of the Rift. Velkist and Neryssa, who spotted me, approached. I smiled lightly and said, Are you ready? Anytime. Of course. Their answers were resolute. It didnt seem much different from usual. Jenna and Eolka were the same. They had experienced the boss stage several times, so they were a bit nervous but not enough to affect the actual battle. As for the other parties Up to Party 2 is within the allowed range. However, Party 3 was looking at Iselle with unease. Dont be nervous. If you keep your wits about you, youll survive. If youre lucky, you might not even have to participate. Edis patted a girls shoulder. She was a member of Party 3, a Scout. The girl nodded slightly. A total of 15 people gathered on the 1st floor. I drew a dagger from the sheath on my belt. The de of the dagger had a bluish liquid on it. It was the poison Neryssa had made. This time, we might be going up against a boss battle. A boss battle? Yeah. Its a bit different from the missions weve done. We can break it by defeating just one guy. The problem would be that one guy, though. I swallowed my words. Anyway, we dont know what kind of enemy will appear. Stay sharp. All four nodded. Its expected that dragons will appear. But this one is a unique monster. The probability of it being different from the ordinary dragons is high. We couldnt predict it casually. Edis was also talking to her party members. I had already given them the information I had. They would handle it on their own. [Is everyone here?] Iselle looked around at the members of the three parties and put her hands on her hips. [Im going to start distributing consumables. Once the distribution is done, well depart immediately. Stay focused. Listen to what Han says!] Shes quite tamed. Did you give some honey to that fairy? Velkist looked at me and Iselle and teased. I didnt respond and just smiled. Iselle, If I get back, youre in for a lot of honey. The potion distribution also went smoothly. Party 1 received two potions per person, and the other parties received one per person. Its starting. At the top of my field of vision, Anytngs control panel moved. When the Expedition tab was clicked, the stage window appeared. As Anytng touched the 20th floor, a warning message appeared. [ Caution!] [This mission requires three parties, a major mission. If you dont have enough party members, use paid or free summoning to replenish your heroes!] [Parties can be divided into the Vanguard and Rearguard. Depending on the Masters choice, the process will be different, so choose carefully!] [Tips/ The Rearguard can go into action when the Vanguard meets certain conditions or after a certain amount of time has passed.] As expected, the 20th floor was a major mission requiring three parties. But the separation into Vanguard and Rearguard was unexpected. I briefly recalled the types of missions with such conditions. It gave me a bit of a headache. You selected Party 1 as the Vanguard. Do you agree? [Yes (Select) / No] [Open, The Rift of Time and Space!] Clunk. Therge gate in front of the za opened wide. The left mirror was faintly flickering. After taking a deep breath, Iselle stopped Edis from entering first. Stop! Dont go in, you guys. This time, Party 1 will be the first to go. Whats that supposed to mean? Were going ahead. If you wait, the Master will open the door for you. Just follow us when that happens. Clunk. I firmly secured the sheath on my belt and headed towards the Rift. The four followed behind me. As I passed Edis, I whispered, This time, the Rearguard might be more important. Please keep that in mind. I got it. Edis briefly wore a dissatisfied expression, but soon her expression rxed, and she stepped back. Well wait here until the Master calls. Alright? Yeah. I wanted to fight together. It wont be long before that happens. I said as I entered the Rift. Tsk! As Jenna put her foot down for thest time, the door closed with a heavy sound. Preparations wereplete. The four of them had perfectly carried out my instructions. Velkist had raised his overallbat abilities, including his weapon skills, to the next level. Jenna had learned the long bow skill that enhanced the destructiveness of her arrows. Getting a third weapon was a bonus. Behind Jenna, in addition to the short bow, arge bow was hanging. Eloka also learned the multi-casting skillte. Eloka wasnt sure if she had reached the 4th level, but she assured me that it would be different from what we had experienced so far. Moreover, through concentrated sparring, she had thoroughly learned personal survival skills. Even if we didnt protect her, she would be able to hold out against the enemy to some extent. Why is it so quiet? Oppa, dont you have anything to say? Like, do it this way or that way. Just do as weve been doing. Ahh, boring. Iughed at Jennasining tone. Unlike the 15th floor, there was no separate briefing here. We would find out what mission we would face once we entered. We just needed to follow orders depending on the situation. The light from the left mirror became stronger. [Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is 20.] The door will open in 10 seconds. Get ready! [Mission recording is in progress. y records will be preserved.] Swish. I drew my sword from the sheath. And I spoke in a lowered voice. As I said before, just do as weve been doing. Dont panic, and well be fine. Of course. Neryssa smiled. When the light scattered, we were on the 20th floor stage. The final floor of thebyrinth. I scanned the area. Therge halls that were at the entrances from the 16th to the 19th floors hadpletely disappeared, leaving only long and tall corridors ahead. Weve arrived. Neryssa fastened her rapier at her waist. Her gaze was fixed on the corridors walls. I followed her gaze. Dozens of paintings were lined up on the walls of the corridor. In each ornate frame, men and women dressed in splendid clothes were prominent. These paintings look incredibly expensive. Theyre portraits of the past lords anddies. Neryssa replied to Jenna. Jenna looked surprised at first, but then she nodded. I said concisely, We didnte here to sightsee. Lets go. The preparations for therge-scale encounter wereplete. I stood at the front. With every step, my feet touched luxurious carpets. Ugh, uck! In the corners of the corridor, peopley moaning. They differed in gender, clothing, and age, but they all had onemonality: they were all spitting out ck blood. I had seen simr guys among the soldiers. Their blood was murky reddish-ck, simr to ordinary blood at first nce, but upon closer inspection, you could tell. I didnt bother to tell the members about this fact. Focusing on unnecessary things would reduce their concentration. The seemingly endless corridor finally came to an end. I stood in front of a giant door and said, Once we enter this door, the mission begins. The eyes of the four focused on me. Eloka, prepare your magic as soon as you enter. Jenna, load your arrows on the longbow. Velkist and Neryssa, stay with me and act ording to the situation. Alright! Yes. Got it. Bang! I pushed the door with all my strength. A part of the door sunk in, and splinters of wood flew. Lets go. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 81: Mission Type, Subjugation (1) (2) Chapter 81: Mission Type, Subjugation (1) (2) Bang! I pushed the door with all my strength. A part of the door sunk in, and splinters of wood flew. Lets go. I entrusted my body to the darkness that spread beyond the door. The twisting darkness approached me and the members of Party 1. And then, [Warning! Warning! Warning!] A loud siren red. Along with the three-tiered warning message announcing a high-difficulty mission, the objective was updated. [Floor 20.] [Mission Type Subjugation] [Objective Annihte the designated enemy!] I nced around. The ce beyond the door was an unusual one entirely unrted to the mansion. Fine sand covered the floor. Behind us, there is a tall wall that stretches for several meters. The wall extends in a long curve, surrounding us in a circr fashion. There were stairs leading up to the wall, but unexpectedly, a transparent barrier was erected. Weve ended up in another strange ce. Jenna narrowed her gaze, arrow nocked in her longbow. With the limit pulled taut, she was prepared to release an arrow at any moment. La Gran Cedus. Eloka immediately initiated a chant. Although we couldnt spot the enemy, it was essential to follow my orders. It was a natural judgment. Now, they would show themselves. Hehehe. Somewhere,ughter echoed. I looked toward the source of the sound. A man in a shy red coat was staring at us. The mans eyes had ck veins coursing through them. A growling voice emanated from his lips. Because of you! Fire! Swoosh! An arrow shot from the longbow pierced through the man. With enhanced arrow power from the skill, it was more potent than most bullets. The mans left torso was torn apart, and ck blood sprayed out. Then, billowing mes engulfed his entire body. And, Explode! Boom! Boom! Boom! The mes exploded. Sand, propelled by the shock, soared into the sky and scattered in all directions. The sand particles swirled in the air, creating a temporary haze. Dont stop shooting. Both of you, keep firing. Ill go left. Velkist and Neryssa, go right. Lets press him from both sides. Thats the n. They wont get any mercy. Velkist chuckled and moved to the right, with Neryssa following closely behind. I brandished my sword and took a step to the left. Simultaneously, I lowered my lower body and used the recoil to dash forward. In the haze of sand, crimson eyes shed. Kraaaaaah! A roar that made the air tremble. Amidst the swirling dust, the enemys figure was revealed. [Master, a unique monster has appeared!] [Tips/Sometimes there are rare monsters that exist as single individuals. Take note.] Useless tips. [Danger!] [f-ck Dragon Halgiraph Lv.42] Approximately 5 meters in size. A body resembling a lizard with wings and a tail. Shiny ck scales covered its entire body. Vertically slitted red pupils locked onto me. Thud! An arrow from Jennas longbow embedded itself in the ck dragons body. The arrow that had prated between the scales soon lost its strength and fell. [This monster is physically immune!] ? Elokas magic followed suit. mes augmented by telekinesis enveloped the dragons entire body and exploded simultaneously. [This monster is magically immune!] A groan mixed with a metallic sound escaped the creatures mouth. I furrowed my brow and swung my sword with all my might at the exposed neck of the creature. [This monster is physically immune!] Thud! A blue me erupted, and the de rebounded. On the opposite side, Velkist faced a simr situation. The tip of Velkists sword, aimed at the gaps in the scales, slid off uselessly. [This monster is physically immune!] The ck dragon curled its body like a ball. Get away from him! I sheathed my sword and quickly retreated. The dragons folded body expanded, and hundreds of sharp scales shot out in all directions. This bastard! Papapapak! Scales mercilessly pierced the nearby sand. I stepped back while using my sword to deflect the scales and shield to block them. Ugh! [Neryssa () is in a bleeding state. Health decreases periodically.] I nced over. Blood was flowing from Neryssas left forearm. Velkist had resistance to ranged attacks, and Jenna and Eloka were at a distance, but Neryssa was in a precarious situation. Its okay. Its nothing. Neryssa quickly took out a potion and applied it to her wound. The ck dragon continued to gaze at us from its position. Thud! Jennas arrow hit the crimson iris. [This monster is physically immune!] The thick arrow meant for a longbow fell like a slide onto the sand. W-What is that? It doesnt seem to be affected by anything! Jenna opened her mouth in surprise. I moved towards Eloka and Jenna. For now, lets regroup. All members of the first party gathered in one ce. Velkist spoke with a frustrated expression, his gaze fixed on the creature. Neither swords nor arrows work. Magic seems useless too. Are its scales that tough? Its not that theyre tough. It just doesnt seem to be affected. What do you mean? No matter how much we attack, it seems to have no effect. If it had physical immunity, it would ignore any kind of attack. That was immunity. Magic was the same. What do we do then? There seems to be no way! Well discuss itter. Here ites. Prepare! Charrung! ws measuring 50cm in length emerged from the ck dragons hands. Elokasplexion turned pale. Kraaaaaah! Like a snake crawling on the ground. The ck dragon approached, digging the sand with its ws. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 82: Mission Type, Subjugation (2) (1) Chapter 82: Mission Type, Subjugation (2) (1) His incredible speed defied his sturdy build. The ck Dragon closed the 10-meter gap in the blink of an eye. Its outstretched left hand, tipped with ws, writhed behind it. I strengthened my grip on the shield in my hand. Velkist. I know! Boom! Its thick left hand swung like a log. I lowered my posture and held the shield in front of me. Kaboom! The shield crumpled instantly, and de marks marred its surface. An overwhelming shock surged as if it could throw my whole body off bnce. To avoid falling, I had to step back a few paces. At the same time, its right hand swung. Velkist and Neryssa were right behind it. Swish! As the mes hit the ck Dragons face while we were trying to intercept its attack, a message appeared. [This monster is immune to magic!] Next, the tail! I retrieved the shield and quickly moved backward. The tail extended upward like a scorpions and swept forward. It passed like a de over Velkists prostrate head, sending a few strands of his hair flying. What can we do if our attacks dont work? Thud! Its right w raked the area where Velkist had been. Velkist rolled rapidly on the ground to get out of range. I struck out with my sword at the outstretched left hand, which was aiming for Velkist. There was a strong rebound. Ping ping ping ping! Jenna switched to a short bow and fired arrows relentlessly, but they had no effect. The shattered arrow fragments fell lifelessly. The ck Dragons left hand swung again. I twisted my body to narrowly evade it. Each finger had long, sharp ws. Its attack range was not ordinary. The right hand was the same. The scales on its tail stood like des. I moved back significantly. The ck Dragons mouth opened, and it bit down on the spot where I had been standing. Teeth like gears were revealed inside its jaws, shining white. At the same time, the left hand, right hand, and tail; the creature used its entire body as a weapon to drive us back. The target of its attacks I analyzed the creatures attack pattern. The main targets were me and Velkist. It tended to deal with those in front first. It hadnt touched Jenna and Eloka. I said to them while avoiding its ws. Jenna, Eloka, stay as far away from me as possible. Alright! The two of them hurriedly moved away. You guys too, go. The left and right hands swung together. Ten ws swept through the entire area. I deflected two of the ws with my shield and sword, then slipped into the exposed gap. The sand stirred by the ws shot up into the sky. What do you mean by saying, go?! It means what it exactly means! Im the only one dealing with this bastard. What? Are you kidding? Crash! I stopped the tailing that was targeting Velkist with my sword. Neryssa, who was behind Velkist, threw a poisoned dagger. The dagger aimed at the gap in the scales bounced off. [This monster is physically immune!] This guy has a tendency to only attack one person. Its a waste of stamina if everyone sticks to him. And. I looked at the scales of a ck dragon stuck in the corner of the field. ck energy leaked from the scales. The ck energy swelled like smoke and took the shape of a human. Its said to have a human form, but its appearance was very blurry. [Corrupted Shadow Lv. 14] You guys have other things to do. The shadows hands had ck ws. ck smoke was also billowing from other scales embedded in the sand. Velkist looked at them and clicked his tongue. Okay, I understand. Can you hold on while we deal with those guys? Yes. There is definitely be. Kwasik! The ws mmed into the shield. My shoulders creaked. I continued. A way. Ill leave it to you. Lets go. Belquist and Nerissa escaped. The shadow gathered quickly near the two. Eloka clutched her forehead. Whats this now? Velkists sword pierced the head of the shadow. The shadow writhed and then disappeared. Our attacks work on them. Lets deal with them quickly. We just need to hold on until the opportunityes! Jennas expression hardened as she nocked an arrow. The four of them gathered in one ce and formed a formation. Velkist and Neryssa were at the front, Jenna and Eloka at the rear. It was a formation we had practiced in case I was absent. They began dealing with the gathering shadows one by one. Theyre doing well. It wasnt just some casual training. Even in what seemed like a hopeless situation, they were handling it calmly. Physically immune. Magic immune. Kraaah! The ck Dragon let out a roar. Its body spun like a top. Not just its ws, tail, and teeth, but each sharp scale was no different from a deadly weapon. The scattered sand flew in all directions. ng! I deflected the ws with my shield and took a few steps back. I lowered my upper body. The tail swept past me. I moved sideways. Its jaws closed. Now it was attacking only me. I prefer it this way. If it were to aggro on Eloka, whose defense was lower, it would be more troublesome. I dodged and deflected attacks while analyzing its pattern. Scalesunch. Physical Melee attacks. Summon minions. The bosses of Pick Me Up had certain phases and patterns. This creature showed just three patterns:unching scales, wielding ws and tail, and summoning minions. Its not thatplicated. If we ignore the fact that itspletely immune to all attacks, we can handle it. Kraaaah! The ck Dragon roared right in front of me. I felt intense pressure in my ears. I thrust my sword into its throat. [This monster is physically immune!] Still, this is a pain. I chuckled despite it. Its ws grazed my thigh. If it werent for the reinforced tes and leather, my flesh would have been torn apart like paper. [Han ()] has entered a bleeding state. Health will decrease at regr intervals. I jumped back and sheathed my sword. Then I pulled out a potion and sprayed it on the wound. I tossed the empty ss bottle carelessly. The creature was approaching. We cant hold out for long. Not me, nor the others. Sufficient means we wont die right away, not that its easy. ng! ng! ng! The ws struck, and each blow made my shield crumple. If it had been an ordinary shield from the workshop, it would have been destroyed already. My left arm joint throbbed painfully. The tail brushed against my side. The leather armor was torn away. Attacks dont work. And its not easy to dodge, let alone block. One blow is like an artillery shell. If my equipment was subpar or my stats werent good, I would have been minced long ago. Left hand, right hand, head, and tail. I defended while looking for gaps in its patterns, but [[Han ()] has entered a bleeding state. Health will decrease at regr intervals.] The second bleeding message appeared. Chapter 82: Mission Type, Subjugation (2) (2) Chapter 82: Mission Type, Subjugation (2) (2) [[Han ()] has entered a bleeding state. Health will decrease at regr intervals.] The second bleeding message appeared. There was no opportunity to drink a potion this time. Is Oppa in danger Focus on yourselves! I yelled without turning back. The scales buried in the sand were not in small numbers. If we didnt deal with them in time, they would be a problem. Then, after three minutes. Eloka, unable to bear it any longer, screamed. What on earth is this! Our attacks dont work! Weird creatures keeping! Are they telling us to die?! I nced back. Blood was flowing through Elokas torn clothes. The other three didnt look good either. The shadows kept rising. I swung my sword at the ck Dragons eye. [This monster is physically immune!] Damn. The ck Dragons pupils narrowed mockingly. I quickly rolled to the side. Its ws and tail plunged deeply into the ground. Sand sprayed like a fountain. I managed to avoid a fatal blow, but my reinforced armor was already in tatters. I shouted. Hold on a little longer! How long are we supposed to wait? Velkists voice was filled with irritation. I dont know. I swallowed the rest of my words. There was no time. The ck Dragon relentlessly pursued me. I couldnt afford to think for too long. We could only endure and look around. Waiting. I whispered to myself. An invincible foe. Endless shadow summons. A situation that seemed utterly hopeless. But the circumstances were gradually changing. First, the audience. On the battlements, countless chairs had appeared out of nowhere. And in those chairs, dozens of armored soldiers were seated, as if they were spectators watching our fight. Secondly ! I quickly stepped back. The ck Dragons ws extended like spears, leaving a small scratch on my neck. The ck Dragon lunged at me, seemingly trying to crush me with its entire body. I exerted force in my toes and leaped away. The distance between us increased. When I watched Sumbaes fights, I cant help but think that this mission looks quite interesting. Velkist, who was behind me, spoke. The extended de of his sword was covered in ck blood. Are you sure you can kill that thing? Youre talking a lot. I took a shallow breath. Pain surged through me. My whole body was covered in minor wounds already. The ck Dragon was standing up, looking at me. Its crimson pupils glowed ominously. [Field Formation Completed!] [Master, deployment of the reinforcements is now avable.] [Extend a helping hand to the hero in distress!] Green holograms etched letters into the air. [Select the reinforcements.] [Designated Party 1st Party (Engaged), 2nd Party, 3rd Party] sh! A bright white light appeared in one corner of the battlement. Everyones gaze turned towards it. Its a bitte. I chuckled. [2nd Party has been selected.] [Party Composition Edis (), Roderick ()] [Do you want to send them on the mission?] [Yes (Select) / No] The light shone so brightly that it enveloped the entire field. And from within the light, figures emerged one by one. Jenna, who had been staring nkly, eximed. Those people Its the 2nd Party! Edis, who was at the front, spotted us beneath the battlement. Her expression froze. Han? But that person is Unfortunately. There was no time to exin. Kraaah! The ck Dragon charged. I quickly moved away from the 1st Party area. The ck Dragon followed, swinging its front paws back and forth. I blocked its swinging tail with my shield. Crash! The shield flew from my left hand. It was unusable. The battered shield had split in half and stuck into the sand. My only remaining weapon was a single sword. Losing it would be dangerous. Hyungnim! Aaron rushed toward me in desperation. An invisible barrier blocked his way. Above the battlement. Below the arena. They were two separate fields. You must have understood the situation. With my back against the battlement, I spoke to Edis above. Edis, who had been observing me, the 1st Party in the center of the arena, and the ck Dragon on the battlement from above, nodded. Silent. With a soft sound, two daggers spun in Ediss palm. 2nd Party, prepare for battle. Our target? Roderick asked, and Edis pointed to a small altar at the end of the battlement. A goddess statue stood on the altar, and a faint red light surrounded it. [Human Soldier Lv.18] X 18 [Human Knight Lv.20] X 5 The soldiers who had been sitting on the chairs all stood up. Their lively gazes were fixed on the 2nd Party. Roderick and Asher unsheathed their spears and swords. The newly joined archer in the 2nd Party fitted an arrow to the bow. Im in your care. I muttered as I dashed forward. Ediss daggers pierced the forehead of the frontmost soldier. To the left and right of Edis, Roderick and Aaron swung their long spears. The soldiers who took the blows fell, vomiting blood. Kraaah! The ck Dragons ws struck the battlement. I had no shield. Blocking had be difficult. I focused on every move the creature made. The vanguard handles the boss. The rear handles the objective. A multi-task mission. I swung down with my sword. [This monster is physically immune!] This bastard was still immune. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 83: Mission Type, Subjugation (3) (1) Chapter 83: Mission Type, Subjugation (3) (1) ws struck from left and right. I raised my sword and shifted my left foot to the side. The de met the ws, sending sparks flying. Kaga! An ominous sound echoed through the swords hilt. I couldnt predict when the swords durability would run out. Diran, focus on the crossbowmen! On top of the fortress wall, Edis was in the midst ofmanding the battle. Following Ediss orders, the archer targeted the crossbowmen. Edis, jumping high, also cut the throat of one crossbowman. Hold on just a bit longer! Well break through soon! Edis shouted while looking at us below. She realized that prolonging the battle would make it tougher for us. The formation prioritized speed over stability. Side by side, Aaron and Rodericks spears swept through the soldiers like a windmill. What will happen if the 2nd party reaches that ce? Fwhoosh! Eloka spoke while casting fire. Two shadows, engulfed in mes, fell. Its definitely going to be different from before. Focus! I tightened my grip on the sword. The members of the 1st party, standing in a circle, held their positions. Around them, a dozen or so shadows closed in. I tore through the shadows with my sword and said, Until the 2nd party reaches the altar, deal with all the shadows. Got it? We need some magic. Yes, a level 3 spell. Understood. Give me some casting time! Jenna drew her dagger and stood behind Eloka. It was a triangle centered around Eloka. It pierced through the shadows where long swords, short swords, and daggers gathered. Kraaa! Noisy bastard! The ck dragon opened its mouth wide, trying to bite me. I twisted my shoulder to avoid it and struck its eye with my elbow. [This monster is immune to physical attacks!] Pain like crushing concrete shot through my elbow. I frowned. I have seen this message many times. But there wasnt much time left. I looked at the wall behind me. The 2nd party hasnt been idling either. Edis and Roderick were at the forefront, cleaning up the soldiers. The 2nd party passed over the fortress wall. In their wake, the bodies of soldiers piled up. The distance to the altar was less than 10 meters. [Ignite!] The surging mes swept the shadows away. Under Velkist and Neryssas guidance, the shadows gathered in one ce. [Explode!] Kwa-kwa-kwa-boom! The mes exploded in unison. Sand rose high into the sky, and the intense heat reached us. [Sublimate!] Thwack! A pir of fire erupted from the center of the explosion. The three members of the 1st party quickly retreated with Eloka. The swirling shadows were more than 20. She annihted all of them in one go. Hah! Eloka gasped for breath. Her face had turned pale. Sister, drink this! Jenna rummaged through Elokas pouch and handed her a mana potion. Eloka nodded and guzzled down the potion. The cleanup is done. The shadows wouldnt appear for a while. The only enemy left was this guy. I hit the tail, which bent like a whip, with my sword. And then, Grrrr! The soldier blocking the altar had his throat split, blood spewing out. Edis twirled the blood-soaked dagger. This guy was thest one. Han, what should we do now? ce your hand on the altar! Alright! Edis ced her hand on the goddess statue. The red light that had been circling the altar began to turn white. [2nd Party has upied the altar.] The ck dragons tail and ws swiped. The armor on its shoulders was torn, and blood flowed. I caught my breath and stepped back. Velkist followed. Now Ill join the boss fight too! Its not your choice, I will make you do that even if you dont want to. I smiled. With sound effects, a hologram window appeared in my field of vision. [The altars effect is applied.] [Master, the blessing of the goddess is now avable!] [Slide the crystal! Bestow holy power upon the hero!] Wings unfolded behind the ck dragons back. Sharp thorns sprouted at the tips of its wings. The ck dragon swung its tail and wings simultaneously. Velkist swung his sword. At that moment, the screen was covered. [Ding!] [Applied sessfully!] [Sacred power is imbued in the heros weapon!] Shaaak! The membrane of the wings tore apart. Crimson blood sttered on the ground. The ck dragon staggered back. Hmm? Velkist furrowed his brow. Velkists sword, which he held in his right hand, was shining white. My sword was the same. The same light lingered on Jennas dagger, Elokas quiver, and Neryssas rapier. I aimed my sword at the ck dragon. The time to deal with that bastard hase. It seems so. Velkist chuckled. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 83: Mission Type, Subjugation (3) (2) Chapter 83: Mission Type, Subjugation (3) (2) I aimed my sword at the ck dragon. The time to deal with that bastard hase. It seems so. Velkist chuckled. The ck dragon took a few steps back and red at us. Grrrr The boiling sound of its throat suddenly stopped. Scales all over its body began to stand on end. Scalesunch. Get ready! Pabababak! The second round of scales fired. I leaned my shoulder against Velkist. I deflected the left scales, while Velkist deflected the right ones. Neryssa and Jenna, who were farther away, protected Eloka as they stepped back. Sssrrr. And just as expected. [Corrupted Shadow Lv. 14] X ??? Shadows began to rise from the scales embedded in the sand. We retreated to our base once more. I wiped the scale fragments off my sword and said, As you can see, our attacks work on it now. But it doesnt look easy. Oppa, whats your n? We split the party into two groups. One for the boss and one for the shadows. Well switch roles as we fight. As the shadows piled up, it would be a burden to fight both the ck dragon and the shadows. We needed to adjust to a reasonable number. However, considering the formation, it would be difficult to deal with both the shadows and the ck dragon simultaneously. We had to divide our numbers wisely. Im group 1. Velkist and Neryssa, youre group 2. Jenna and Eloka, group 3. Groups 1 and 2 will take turns fighting the dragon. Group 3 will provide rear support. Group 2 will start first. I need a break. The shadows were numerous but not particrly strong. However, facing the ck dragon would consume a lot of stamina. We needed to take turns fighting him. Understood. Well handle it. Start now. I swung my sword and severed the neck of the shadow that had been lurking nearby. Velkist and Neryssa rushed the ck dragon from both sides. Velkists sword tip shot out like a beam of light, piercing the dragons shoulder. ck blood spurted from the gap in its scales. Still not that easy. Immunity may have been nullified, but the scales were tough, and the skin was thick. If we could kill it in one go, all five of us would rush in and finish it off, but judging from the situation, we had to prepare for a long battle. I picked off one shadow at a time with Jenna, who had her back to me. I cant afford to leave them alone. As I looked toward the altar, a bitter smile formed. Knock thedders down! Dont let them climb up! Edis shouted. Ladders were hung over the walls. Enemies from the other side were gathering. They were either raisingdders against the walls or crawling up to rush the altar. The time they can hold out for is limited. They couldnt hold them off indefinitely. Sooner orter, our defenses would be breached, and the altars upation would be lifted. We had prepared for a protracted battle, but we didnt have much time to spare. Kraaaaa! The ck dragon roared, dripping blood from all over its body. Velkist and Neryssa continued to attack from both sides. Jenna, stop using the dagger. Shoot the dragon with your longbow. I can handle the shadows alone. Ill take care of it! Jenna pulled out her longbow and took aim. Behind her, Eloka was downing mana potions. I shed three shadows in one go with my sword. I also grabbed a potion and drank it immediately. Tang! An arrow pierced through the air and prated the ck dragons body. The arrowhead, embedded deep into its roots, quivered. ck blood sttered in all directions. Velkists sword, shining like light, pierced the dragons wing again. I finished off the remaining shadows one by one. Velkist, Neryssa, chane with me! Drink the potion as soon as you get back! Okay! Thanks to emptying the entire potion, my stamina recovered to some extent. I stepped on the floor and ran towards the ck dragon. Velkist and Neryssa retreated. The ck dragons eyes caught me. Catch this. I drew the dagger with my left hand. The de was poisoned, capable of killing in a matter of minutes. Qwic! The thrown dagger lodged itself in the vertical pupil of the dragons left eye. ck blood oozed from its eyelid. I cant use Frenzy yet. Once used, its difficult to reverse. I have to reserve my Frenzy for the finishing blow. I twirled my body and swung my sword. From the side, ws descended, and the sword de gleamed white. The severed w of the ck dragon was stuck in the castle wall. I grabbed the dagger hilt embedded in the left eye of the ck dragon and pulled it to the side. Grwaaaah! The dragon roared fiercely, lifting its neck. Blood, now tinged with purple, flowed down its eyelid. Han! We cant hold on much longer! Edis shouted urgently. I nced quickly at the top of the castle wall. Beyond the altar, dozens of soldiers had already entered. Asher and Aaron were blocking the narrow path. I know. Kwack! As I jumped sideways, the tail struck the sand. I swung my sword towards the tail, but it only left a small cut; there was no significant injury. Ick a decisive blow. I bit my lip. The ck dragon had significant injuries, but I hadnt dealt a critical blow to stop it yet. The vulnerable points of a dragon aremonly two: the throat or the heart. However, the skin around its neck and heart is particrly thick and tough. Blood was oozing from various parts of its body, but it was still insufficient. Uwaaah! I looked at the castle wall. [Asher () is in a bleeding state. Health decreases periodically.] Gasp, ugh! A spear was embedded in Ushers abdomen. Foam mixed with blood flowed from his mouth. Ediss face stiffened rapidly. Pull him back! Aaron bent over and pulled Usher back from the front line. Roderick took his ce. Emergency treatment with potions began. I-Isnt this dangerous?! Eloka eximed. I furrowed my brow. We reached the limit faster than expected. In the end, theres only one option: take the gamble. If we lost the altar, it would be a total defeat. The remaining four members of the two parties could hold out for a long time, maybe around 5 minutes at most. I was prepared to call Velkist and Neryssa. Whether it worked or not. Kugugugung! At that moment, a violent vibration shook the field. I pinpointed the source of the vibration. A tower was rising from a corner on the opposite side of the castle wall where the two parties were. [Field configurationplete!] [Master, rear support is now avable.] At the top of the tower, a ballista with thick arrows was positioned. [Selecting rear support.] [Designated parties 1st party (in battle), 2nd party (in battle), 3rd party] Edis, who was fighting off one soldier, looked at the opposite castle wall. [3rd party has been selected.] [Party members Sharn (), Rodel ()] [Assign to the mission?] [Yes (selected) / No] As the light shone, a short-haired girl walked out. She held a sword and shield in both hands. Sharn Eionor. She was the leader of the 3rd party, recing Velkist. Following her, the members of the 3rd party were being summoned one by one. Huh? Sharn blinked and then looked around. Our gazes met. Run. I said. What? Run to the tower! Kraaaaa! The ck dragon howled. I leaped backward. ws overturned the sand. I spat out the sand that had entered my mouth. Dont you see it? Go up the tower! Aim that ballista at this freaking lizard! Ah, oh, okay! Sharn rushed to the castle wall. Behind her, members of the 3rd party followed. Next to them,dders were hanging. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 84: Mission Type, Subjugation (4) (1) Chapter 84: Mission Type, Subjugation (4) (1) The second backup has arrived. This time, the created object is a ballista. There is already an arrow the size of a human body attached to the firing mechanism. It was the weapon that would deliver the deadly blow I had pondered over. However. I looked at the opposite side of the tower. [Human Soldier Lv.18] X 43 [Human Knight Lv.20] X 6 Soldiers wereing up from below the castle walls. They rushed towards the altar like a torrent. Kuk! The tip of the sword grazed Ediss cheek. Small drops of blood sttered. Ediss expression contorted. While dead soldiers fell below the castle wall one after another, even more of them were constantly rushing forward. Hurry! I shouted to the third party running towards the tower, then gripped my sword tightly. Sambai, it seems its time to switch. I agree. I stepped back from my position. At that moment, the ck Dragons jaws came charging, but Velkists sword thrust into its snout. Kuooh! Sounds satisfying. Velkist chuckled as he retrieved his sword. Next to him, Neryssa, with her rapier spread out, stood there. Venom dripped from the gleaming tip of her white sword. Do you think the poison is effective? To some extent. The ck Dragons left eye was closed. Between the closed eyelids, a thin stream of purple blood trickled down. It lost its depth perception. Use that well. Ill keep that in mind. Kraaah! They dodged the swinging tail with a leap. I moved toward our party members. Along the way, I encountered a few shadows. I slowed my movement. Dodged, then shed the throat. I dispatched all five shadowy figures and joined our base. Bang! Jenna, who had finished aiming, released the trigger. The arrow, tearing through the air, struck the ck Dragons wing. How many arrows do you have left? Um, about five. Use them all. Got it! I took out the remaining half of the potion and drank it. I assessed the situation. The second party was defending the altar on the left side of the castle wall. On the right side of the wall, the Third Party was ascending the tower where the ballista was installed, followed by soldiers chasing them. Theres no time. Once the altar is retaken, and the blessing disappears, this monster will be immune again. Our chances of winning are less than 10%. We had to finish it off before the defenses of the second party werepletely broken. I threw the empty ss bottle and swept away the shadows near our base. Iming, Sharn! I saw Sharn climbing the tower through the window. Behind her were the members of her party and soldiers. Take care of the ballista. The other four, block the path! I raised my voice so that Sharn could hear. The short-haired girl nodded. Soon, Sharn, who had climbed to the top of the tower, began to handle the ballista. How do you shoot this? Do I have to exin that too? Ill try! The rest of you, protect us! Hurry! Ediss tone became urgent. The second party withdrew to the rear, but they were approaching their limit. Eloka, who had emptied two bottles of magic potions, said. Shall I shoot one more time? If the situation is right A white me rose from Elokas hand. It was different from the mes she used before. It was affected by the blessing. I sliced the shadows with my sword and said. Its not the time. Wait. Okay. Bang! Jennasst arrow hit the creatures body. There were a total of seven arrows embedded in the ck Dragons body. However, it paid no attention to them and continued to move its body relentlessly. It seems this wont be enough. Its incredibly tough. I frowned. I just used myst arrow! From now on, take out your daggers. Deal with the shadows and protect Eloka. Got it. What about you? Im joining the front lines. At the top of the tower, Sharn was fiddling with the ballista, her face showing a puzzled expression. Squeak, squeak. With the sound of metal shing, the ballistas body slowly turned. Sharn, who was holding the aiming device, had a perplexed look on her face as she aimed at the ck Dragon. Th-that thing! Its too fast! Thats why Im going. I muttered and raised my sword. The ck Dragon alternated its attacks between Velkist and Neryssa. The moment I joined them, it swept the ground with its tail, I kicked it away with my foot, and shed it with my sword. The ck blood sttered, and I said to the two of them, Theres a ballista behind us. We need to pin the creature down to ensure the arrows hit it. Got it. Velkist nodded. Neryssa held out the rapier to mer I ced my de on the rapier and drew. My de was tainted with venom. Kraaaaa! The ck Dragon, with only its right eye remaining, roared. Its wings folded, obscuring its sight. Velkist pushed its left wing, and Neryssa pushed its right wing. I charged forward and thrust the venom-coated sword deep into the creatures right leg. Now! Fire! Boom! A sound like an explosion rang out. The massive bolt that had been shot from the ballista embedded itself in the ck Dragons side. The bolt was over 2 meters long. Blood gushed out like a waterfall, and the dragons body leaned heavily to the side. Just one more shot. It was not enough. If we couldnd just one more shot, Eloka could prepare her magic, and we could finish it off. I shouted towards the tower, Reload! At that moment, a message appeared. [Sharn() has returned to the embrace of the goddess! Her determination will be remembered forever.] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 84: Mission Type, Subjugation (4) (2) Chapter 84: Mission Type, Subjugation (4) (2) I urgently looked up at the tower. On the ballista tform, Sharny prone. Blood flowed from an arrow lodged in her throat. Shes dead! Outside the tower door, a soldiers arrow had pierced her throat. One of her party members who had been swinging his sword frantically noticed Sharns lifeless body. Ugh! [Nadin() is feeling fear. All attributes are reduced by 30%.] A weak groan escaped the mans lips. I gritted my teeth and shouted, Clear the body! Someone else take the ballista! The other members also turned their attention to Sharn. But their reactions were different from my orders. [Ronnie() is panicking. All attributes are reduced by 50%.] [Zakail() is in fear] These idiots Theycked experience. The sudden surge of fear had overwhelmed the three parties like wildfire. Velkists expression grew thin. This is not going well. The ck Dragon was still staggering, but it would continue moving. The bolt that had pierced its side did not seem like a fatal wound. I turned my sword vertically and shouted, We must pile up damage before it recovers. Prepare to attack. What about ballista? Leave it be. Even though one of them got killed, if they had remained calm, a second shot might have been possible. But my voice did not reach them. The rapid decline in abilities had broken through their defenses. [Ronnie() has returned to the embrace of the goddess! His determination will be remembered forever.] Death messages kept appearing. Soldiers were pushing through the breached defenses of the Third Party. [Nadin() has returned to the embrace of the goddess! Her determination will be remembered forever.] [Zakail() has returned to the embrace of the goddess! His determination] My de remained stuck in the ck Dragons right leg. I pulled out a dagger from my belt and moved to the dragons side. I examined the spot where the bolt had struck. Among the torn scales and leather, I saw a vital spot. Without hesitation, I plunged the dagger in. Grrrrrrr A boiling sound emanated from the dragons throat. [Party 3 has been wiped out!] The right side of the castle wall had beenpletely upied. [Asher() is in a critical condition. His life is in danger!] This Were done for! Thud! Thud! Thud! I continued to drive the dagger into the dragons wound. The dragon twitched with each strike, but there was no noticeable reaction. When Velkist and Neryssa were about tounch another attack, Kraaaaa! The dragon roared and spun its body around. I quickly stepped back. The longsword that had been stuck in its front leg was flung away, sliding across the ground. I picked it up with my foot and held it in my right hand. Ugh! Asher! [Asher() has returned to the embrace of the goddess! His determination will be remembered forever.] In the second party, the first casualty had urred. Theres no time for that! Eloka, prepare your magic! Uh, theres just no time! I looked back. The main base was surrounded by dozens of shadows. Jenna brandished her dagger, and Eloka swung her white mes like torches to dispel the shadows. You two, get back. Ill stay here. Understood. Stay safe. The two of them rushed back to the main base. I stood my sword upright. The de had a faint golden web-like pattern on its surface. Grr, grr, grrr Foam mixed with saliva dripped from the ck Dragons mouth. Jennas arrows covered its body, and a ballista bolt was lodged in its side. Its wings were torn to shreds, and its entire body was covered in gaping wounds oozing with blood. Purple was mixed in with the blood. The poison had intensified. But it wasnt dead. The creature stared at me with its one remaining eye, blinking. Kraaa! The ck Dragon swung its right hand. I twisted my upper body to dodge it. Im targeting its heart. The part where the ballista bolt was lodged, where the scales were torn away. ording to my analysis, if I drove a sword all the way in there, it would reach the heart. Even if it didnt, it didnt matter; that area was where the vital organs gathered. I could inflict a fatal wound. Party 1, when I give the signal, well focus our attacks on it. Got it? Got it. Were almost done here! I looked towards the altar. It was shaky, but they were holding thest line of defense. Edis was in the front, followed by Roderick and Aaron. In the rear was the archer, Diran. The four of them formed a defensive line, blocking the enemys advance. Edis, just one more minute! I prepared to charge. At that moment, a de erupted from Dirans chest as she aimed her bow from the edge of the wall. Uh? Dirans body fell beneath the wall. Below, numerous soldiers were waiting. [Duran() has returned to the embrace of the goddess! His determination will be remembered forever.] There was no time to assess the situation. I immediately raised my sword and charged. My target was the dragons heart. I avoided the ws and wings, and with all my strength, I thrust the hilt into it. [The altar has been retaken!] [The blessing of the goddess is lifted!] Kang! [This monster is physically immune!] The shattered sword de flew into the air. I tossed aside my sword with only the hilt remaining. The ck Dragon crouched down, shooting scales. A shattered shieldy beneath its feet. I grabbed it and quickly retreated. Thud! Thud! Thud! Using the remaining half of the shield to block the scales, I retreated to the main base. The dozens of shadows concealed their presence. I spat out the saliva mixed with blood and asked, What happened? It looks like soldiers appeared behind the altar, Neryssa said. I looked at the left wall. Close to a hundred soldiers were swarming around the altar. The white light that had surrounded them had returned to its original crimson hue. Behind them, the second party stood motionless on thedder, with soldiers relentlessly climbing up. The altar has been reimed. Velkist raised his sword. The white light surrounding the sword faded away. Ugh Edis swallowed a groan. The soldiers didnt rush the second party, but they surrounded the altar, aiming their weapons. In an instant, the bnce of power had shifted. We need to break through, right? Edis said bitterly. Our bodies were already soaked in blood. Is it possible? [Human Soldier Lv.18] x 115 [Human Knight Lv.20] x 32 There were about 150 soldiers at the altar. And their numbers were increasing. On the other hand, their party had suffered casualties, with Asher and Diran dead. Among the surviving members, none were in top condition. Its like what happened on the fifth floor. Jenna chuckled awkwardly. I let out a deep sigh. Theres no way to get through unscathed. What should we do? Reiming the altar Forget it. I reached out my hand to Velkist. He furrowed his brow. What? Give me your sword. Velkist handed me his longsword. I said, Its not over yet. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 85: Mission Type, Subjugation (5) (1) Chapter 85: Mission Type, Subjugation (5) (1) Han, lets give it one more try! Edis shouted from atop the ramparts. I shook my head. Their formation had crumbled when Asher and Diran died. Just the fact that the three of them were still alive was a stroke of luck. If you do that, you will die, stay put and watch. If we dont go Well finish this on our own. Edis bit her lip, her head bowed. It wasnt the fault of the second party. We were just one step short of having a good third party, which would have made dealing with the creature much easier. In the end, its a gamble. I pointed my de at Eloka. Ignite the mes. What? The white mes in your hand. Use it on my de. White mes danced in Elokas right hand. It was the blessing attribute fire that Eloka had drawn out before the altar was upied. Try infusing it with elemental power. You can do it, right? Ill mix in some telekinesis energy. Eloka took a deep breath and extended the mes from her palm to the sword. Sizzle. The sound of burning wood apanied the white mes merging with the de. Just once. If we amplify this, I can use magic only once. Eloka looked at the remaining embers in her hand. That should be enough. What do we do now? Grur The ck dragon knelt, drawing closer. Shadows emerged from its scales, gathering around it. Dont let themy a finger on Eloka. Understood. Neryssa handed Velkist a dagger. Velkist epted the dagger. Oppa, stay strong! No need to say it. I smiled and readied my sword, dispersing the white mes into a circr pattern. The mes on the de wouldntst long. If the creature was still intact by then, wed be done for. This time, it ends! Bang! I kicked up sand as I surged forward. La Gran Inpegyo. Eloka began her casting. I charged. My target was the spot where the ballista had pierced through. Grr The creature lowered its wing. So you caught on it. It seemed to have sensed my intent to aim for its weak point. With its right wing shielding its injuries, the creature thrashed with its ws and tail. I brought my sword down. ng! ws and de met, and white mes erupted. No immune message appeared. I drew my poisoned dagger. Then, I cut the opposite side of the weak point with the fiery longsword. Scales tore, and ck blood spurted. Simultaneously, I struck the other side with the dagger in my left hand. Argh! The ck dragon thrashed wildly. Wings, teeth, tail, and ws it swung them all around. Rocks beneath the sand scattered like debris. After stepping back, I observed its rear. Fwshh! Elokas entire body was aze. Heat emanated, swirling like a whirlwind. Back away from Eloka! The three who had formed a triangle around Eloka retreated a few steps. Deal with the shadows. Dont let them get close! Yes! sh. Elokas eyes shed blue. The mes around her intensified. The ck dragons gaze shifted toward Eloka. It blinked before curling into a ball. Itsing. I hastily sheathed my sword and positioned myself in front of Eloka. Dozens of spines shot out from the stretched body of the ck dragon. Their target was Eloka. Kagagang! I swung my sword wildly. If that wasnt enough, I used the dagger. And if that wasnt enough, Id take the hits with my body. Thigh, shoulder, ribs, calf the scales pierced my body like paper. [Han () is now in a bleeding state! Health decreases periodically.] Ugh! My vision swayed. I clenched my teeth. My staggering body regained itsposure. Are you okay?! Dont worry about me. These damn scales. Blood trickled from the pierced areas. Thorns protruded from the scales, designed to induce bleeding if removal was difficult. Kraaa! The ck dragon raised its head towards the sky and let out a deafening roar. At the same time, its body turned crimson. Red-ck veins became vividly visible throughout its body. [Warning!] [Half-ck Dragon Halkyrap has entered a berserk state!] The ck dragon stared at me and swung its right hand at an incredible speed. Whoosh! I dodged. The fierce shockwave resonated in my eardrums. The floor, swept by ws, split apart like tofu. As soon as I withdrew, the left-hand w came crashing down. Frenzy! [Han () has entered a Frenzy state!] A hot surge rushed through my mind. Bang! The sword and w shed. I felt a pressure as if my body would shatter. The ground I stood on caved in. The ck dragons muscles writhed. Its tail swung at an unseen speed. Instinctively, I blocked it. Crack! A sound like a toy breaking echoed, and Velkists sword shattered. Neryssa, a sword! Got it! Shua! The rapier slid across the ground, smoothly transferred. I immediately caught it. White mes flickered from the broken de and transferred to the rapiers de. Bang! Bang! Bang! The rapier couldnt withstand three strikes and shattered. I turned around and shouted, Throw everything you have! I transferred fire to my left-handed dagger. The dagger broke in two strikes. Jennas dagger flew immediately after. A flurry of attacks followed. Deep footprints were carved into the ground. Eloka was behind me. I swung the dagger. The ck dragons right w flew off. Every bone and muscle in my body creaked. My vision turned red. And then [The Heros Soul is Awakening in a Critical Situation!] [Skill Awakening!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 85: Mission Type, Subjugation (5) (2) Chapter 85: Mission Type, Subjugation (5) (2) The ck dragons right w flew off. Every bone and muscle in my body creaked. My vision turned red. And then [The Heros Soul is Awakening in a Critical Situation!] [Skill Awakening!] [Han () has acquired the Invincible skill!] [Han () has leveled up Frenzy by two levels! Its now level 6!] Take this too! Velkists dagger was handed over. I transferred the mes and discarded the broken weapon. Wings pped. I dodged and leaped over the creatures knee. Holding its wings firmly with my left hand, I drew my right-handed dagger down. Szzzzz! The skin was shredded. It felt like carving into bones. Rrrrgh! One of the ck dragons wings was severed. The fallen right wing on the ground pped as if it were still alive. This is not bad. I became faster and stronger. And the scales and skin became softer, enough to be cut with a dagger. So it was possible. I chuckled and applied pressure with my hands. The ck dragon crawled towards Eloka. Its tailshed out like a whip. I avoided it. The distance between the ck dragon and Eloka was less than 5 meters. The creature suddenly crouched down. I rushed forward and climbed onto the ck dragons body like a ball. I thrust the ming dagger into the creatures long neck. Thud. I grabbed the hilt of the dagger with both hands and sliced through the neck. Rrrurrruck! SHUT UP! The ck dragons posture unraveled in an instant. I used all my strength and plunged the dagger into its neck. The leather and muscles supporting the neck tore apart, and Rrrgh! Nearly 1 meter around, the ck dragons head flew into the sky. [Achievement Unlocked!] [Han () has acquired the Dragon yer skill!] Fwooosh. ck blood spewed like a fountain from the severed neck. The creature thrashed wildly, swinging its tail and ws. [Frenzy has been released for Han (). ] [Han () has entered a state of extreme fatigue. All attributes have decreased by 90%.] Strength was drained from my body. As the blind ws descended to crush my head, Jenna swiftly leaped in and pulled me back. Instantly, the ws struck where I had been. Fwoosh. Fwoosh. The blood spewing from the ck dragons neck intensified. But the ck dragon was still moving. So you wont die until we burst its heart. You filthy bastard. I muttered as Jenna handed me a potion. My entire body was drenched in blood. I couldnt tell if it was mine or the dragons. Senior, I have a question. Velkist spoke up. I looked around. The shadows were almost cleared. The only thing left was the ck dragon, missing its neck and wings, thrashing about. Elokas chant was nearing its end. What is it? Are you even human? Velkist wore an indifferent expression. This is the first time in my life that I have seen a human stand up to a dragon and tear its throat out. What are you talking about? I copsed onto the ground. If I hadnt gained Invincible at that moment, I wouldnt have been able to move. As I coughed, the blood I had swallowed came pouring out. Luck was on my side. Skill Awakening. My Frenzy level increased, and I gained Invincible, a skill suitable for the situation. My body had no strength left. I had no strength to even move my fingers. I took a deep breath. The area where the scale had pierced throbbed. Are you okay, Oppa? Do you want me to remove the scales? Dont pull them out; it might worsen the bleeding. Just keep your distance from that thing. And take me with you. Jenna dragged me away from the ck dragon. Elokas spell wasplete. [Inre. Combine.] Tier 4 fire magic. The entire ck dragons body turned white. The mes consuming its body gathered near its heart, forming a circle and undting. Gradually, it grew. A small sun was forming. The sun swallowed the ck dragon whole, growing to a certain size, and then vanished. Pop! A white sh spread across the entire field. [Stage Clear!] [Han (), Jenna (), Eloka (), Velkist (), Neryssa () level up!] [Edis (), Roderick (), Aaron () level up!] [Rewards 150,000G, Lesser Dragon Heart, ck Dragon Scales (C) x 5, ck Dragon Bones (C) x 2, ck Dragon] [MVP Han ()] [Congrattions on clearing Floor 20, Master!] [Now, Master, youve graduated from being a novice too. Were all very moved. Please continue to enjoy Pick Me Up and have fun!] [A lower-level dungeon has been unlocked.] [The second exploration dungeon, Halsea, is now open.] [Additional facilities have been unlocked. Please check the instructions.] [There are heroes waiting for promotion among the Masters heroes. If you have the materials,bine them, and reim the fragments of forgotten memories!] The 20th-floor field disappeared in session. The soldiers on the castle walls turned into particles of light and disintegrated. Amidst this, I looked at the messages that kept appearing. [Ding!] [The dimensional rift is ready to be opened.] No one died. None of us. Velkist chuckled at Jennas words. We were enveloped in light. I got up with Jennas support. The scales fell off by themselves, and the bleeding stopped. My vitality gradually returned. Take care of Eloka. Her recovery is slower. Got it. Jenna walked over to Eloka, who looked dazed. For a moment, the light shed so brightly that we found ourselves back in the rift of space and time. I sighed lightly. I turned my shoulders and it moved without any difficulty. All thats left is I surveyed the circr room. Party one five people. The second party has three members. It was over. Fifteen went, eight returned. Neryssas expression darkened. The third party was wiped out. It wasntplete annihtion, but it was a significant setback for sub-party development. The same went for the second party. Edis looked gloomy. Edis, who had been hesitating, approached me. Han, Im sorry. We couldnt do our job properly What are you talking about? Thanks to you, we made it. I patted Edis on the shoulder and whispered. Take care of the party. Dont let it fall apart like this. Hum. Edis, along with the other two members, left through the rift of space and time. Only five members from the first party remained. Eloka, who had copsed, leaning on Jenna. I stored the recovered shield, sword, and dagger and said, Great job, everyone. Rest tomorrow. Do whatever you want. I want to fight with you tomorrow, senior. You should be quiet. We exited to the first-floor za. Iselle flew over, sprinkling stardust. Something familiar rested against my chest. [The Warhorse Statue was gifted to Han ()!] Iselle exhaled. Her white cheeks were tinged with red. Great job on the 20th floor! You were awesome. This is a Masters gift to our Dragon yer, God Loki! I dont need it. I scratched my cheek. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 86: Dimensional Rift (1) (1) Chapter 86: Dimensional Rift (1) (1) The evening after clearing the 20th floor. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] Anytng logged in. [Loadingplete.] [T O U C H! (Select)] I ced the file in the drawer and stood up. Inside the file, I had written down the record of clearing the 20th floor. It was for reference in case a simr mission came up in the future. When Anytng touched the screen, the games main screen appeared. A message appeared. [Master, theres a hero waiting for promotion!] [Promotion eligible hero Han ()] I looked at the message box sparkling in green. With yesterdays clear, my level had reached 20. This meant I was eligible for a 3-star promotion. However, a 3-star promotion required slightly rarer materials than a 2-star promotion. [Tips for Master who cleared the 20th floor!] [Tips/To promote to 3 stars, you need Intermediate Promotion Stones. Intermediate Promotion Stones can be crafted bybining Low-Rank Promotion Stones and Low-Rank Soul Stones. Remember that!] It seemed like Iselle was doing her job. After finishing the now-cold tea, I left the room. When I entered the za, Iselle was in the process of moving a cart with items. [Oh, youre here?] Iselle waved at me. Whats that? [These are mementos from the ones who died this time. Cups and dolls they used. Nothing special.] I looked to the left of the za. The storage room door was open, and beyond it, I could see the backs of Edis and Roderick. Indeed. It seemed like they were tidying up after the battle. Minimal mourning would still be necessary for the future. Next to the storage room, Jenna was leaning against the wall. She approached me with a shy smile. What are you up to? I was thinking about going in. It looked serious, so I held back. I looked at the contents of the cart. The wooden cups with jagged edges were Ashers belongings. He had a hobby of carving. The doll was probably from the archer who died this time. The details were unclear. Jenna murmured. Nothing here belongs to the 3rd party, huh? Because they couldnt make it to the 2nd floor. Thats a bit unfortunate. As the cart entered, the storage rooms door closed. I shifted my gaze. I didnt have much to do. Anytng, who had stored Asher and Dirans mementos, started his next task. He touched the facility tab. You have selected the Transformation Chamber, an auxiliary building of the Synthesis Chamber. Will you build it? [Yes (selected) / No] Kururur. There was a vibration from the direction of the Synthesis Chamber. [The Transformation Chamber isplete! Now you can transform heroes.] [Good!] [The Promotion Chamber has evolved to Level 2! Synthesis efficiency has increased.] I sighed. What about you, Jenna? I dont know. Its a bit dull to train. I think Ill go to the lounge. They say there are games like chess there. Then go ahead. What about you, Oppa? Im a bit busy. With a puzzled look, Jenna entered the dormitory. Alone now, I sat on a bench on the 2nd-floor za. After a while, through the transparent floor, I saw Iselle bringing someone out. Thunk. The Synthesis Chambers door opened, but the message was different. [Master, Transformation is starting!] [Tips/Transformation tab is now open. Try transforming heroes to obtain various materials!] Transformation. Its the second way to make use of useless heroes since in some cases the level difference between the subject and the offering diminishes the merit of synthesis. The man screamed and struggled, but he couldnt hold out for long. He was thrust into the Synthesis Chamber. The door closed tightly. A momentter. Good! Transformationplete! You have obtained Low-Rank Soul Stones! Anytng obtained the soul stones, the material for the 3-star promotion. I knew the guy who had just transformed. He was one of those guys who did nothing despite the separation of the upper and lower floors and discrimination in consciousness. It was one of those cases where there was no value even in synthesis. Its a pleasant sight. I chuckled. The negligence in the eyes of the people in the 1st floor za who had been chattering earlier had disappeared. They hurriedly left for the training hall and armory. I stared at the message box that appeared next. [Item synthesis in progress!] [Selected materials Low-Rank Attribute Stones, Low-Rank Soul Stones] [Completed item Intermediate Promotion Stone] [Sess rate 91%] [Synthesis method Automatic] [Do you want to proceed with the synthesis?] [Yes / No] *Kudungtangtang!* *Fairy power!* *Good!* *Synthesisplete!* You have obtained Intermediate Promotion Stone! I sat on the bench and watched the messages appearing one by one. It didnt take long for Iselle to bring out the Intermediate Promotion Stone. Although it had a simr color to the Low-Rank Promotion Stone, it was of a different size. I epted the fist-sized stone and put it in my pouch. The door to the 2nd-floor Synthesis Chamber opened, and I spoke. This is the second time, huh? [Since there are up to 7 stars, you only need to do it four more times!] But seriously, Iselle, how much interference have you umted? I want to have a showdown with the master. [Oh, that!] Sweat dripped from Iselles temple. Did you use it all! [No! I just watched MuTube a bit!] What happened to surfing the web?! [Yeah, well But I cant help it. There are too many heroes! Work, work, work all day! I end up looking haggard. Stress keeps piling up! People die from overwork you know!] The workload was indeed quite heavy. I chuckled. When Antyng logged in, Iselle never stopped moving. I agreed that Iselle needed some leisure time too. It doesnt matter if its not that much. I just need it for a little bit. When you finish promoting, well start right away. [Well] Iselle narrowed her eyes and ced her hand on her chin. Then she circled around in her spot. [It should be about 30 minutes of inte ess time. Ive mentioned it before, but writing emails or posting on forums reduces the time.] Thats fine. Get ready. I stood up from the bench and walked to the Synthesis Chamber. The second door inside the Synthesis Chamber was open. I entered one after another. When I ced the Promotion Stone on the altar in the center of the room, a red light enveloped my body. [Master, the promotion begins!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 86: Dimensional Rift (1) (2) Chapter 86: Dimensional Rift (1) (2) [Master, the promotion begins!] When I opened my eyes, I found myself inside a house. The sight inside the room was familiar. I had seen it before. It was the shabby house I saw during the 2-star promotion. It had a crude, wooden structure. There was a woman holding a baby back then. That woman was not visible now. However, in one corner of the room, someone crouched and shivered. I could only see their back. Judging by their physique, it seemed to be a young boy. I reached out my hand, but as expected, an invisible barrier blocked me. Is this happening again? I clicked my tongue. The young boy with ck hair crouched and murmured. Mom Dad *Thud!* I forcefully pushed aside the invisible barrier. Its annoying. I didnt understand why it was showing me this. Leaving the boy alone, I surveyed the surroundings. I saw a door on the right wall. I grabbed the doorknob, but it was locked. When I opened this door and went outst time I met that woman. It was a very unpleasant and dirty experience that I didnt want to go through again. Anyway, unless that door opened, there was no way out of here. I sat on a rocking chair in the corner and crossed my arms, waiting. The boy called for his parents with trembling voices, but I didnt pay him any attention. About ten minutes passed. The darkness outside the window engulfed the entire room, and a message announcing thepletion of the promotion appeared. *Papabam!* [Congrattions, Master!] [The forgotten memories of the hero have awakened.] [Han (), promotionplete! It has be 3 stars.] [Illustration updated.] [Level and skill cap increased.] [Heros ss change is now possible.] Darkness enveloped my body. After returning to the red magic circle, I left the Synthesis Chamber. Iselle was nodding off on the bench. I smacked Iselles forehead. With a strange groan, Iselles eyes opened. Hey, how long have I been inside? Iselle wiped the wet corners of her eyes and fluttered her wings. I looked around and then said, Lets talk in my room. There are quite a few prying eyes here. [Tsk, how annoying!] Iselle hopped onto my shoulder. I contemted whether to brusher her off, but I decided not to. On my way back to the lodging, a summoning message appeared. [Master, starting a 5-consecutive summon. Looking forward to which heroes wille out!] *Ta-kak, doo-roo-roo-roo.* *Follow, follow!* *Common!* [Master Anytng] Is he replenishing the ranks? Dica, who was in the training camp, walked out to the entrance of the summoning chamber. Dica also had the role of a trainer and was responsible for the education of the newly arrived recruits. Do you think its okay not to go? If youre busy, its fine even tomorrow. [Its fine. The screening will start from tomorrow.] Is that so? Diva addressed the neers with an encouraging tone. Various reactions were received. It seemed that they would undergo at least minimal training before the deployment tomorrow. I walked through the lobby and entered my room. Iselle descended from my shoulder and perched on the desk. Lets start right away. Open the window. [Before that, theres something I want to tell you.] Iselle revealed a mischievous smile. [The reason I was surfing the web wasnt just for fun. I was also trying to help, Loki. I searched for various information that could be helpful in my own way.] So? [Do you want to hear it? Do you want to? Its a very special report, my master!] I reluctantly agreed. Iselle raised her index finger. [First one! Anytng joined Ragnaroki.] Hmm? [Ragnaroki. I told you about it before. The nationwide Loki Association. The Master of Masters number one fan cafe!] Goosebumps ran down my arm. I ced my hand on my forehead. So, youre saying that Anytng joined the fan cafe? [Of course! Hehe, that guy also realized the greatness of Loki. What else can he do? The Heavenly Scroll he received Ugh, that lucky guy. I want one too] I ignored Iselles sparkling eyes. Its not entirely useless. This way I can confirm that Anytng has developed a liking for me. This would be a significant plus factor in correcting the masters gamey. Although I wasnt particrly pleased, I spoke. Whats the second one? [Its information about Neifheim.] I held my breath. Iselle raised her index finger along with her middle finger. Then she said. [Neifheim has resumed recruiting members.] Recruiting members? [Yes. The conditions are level 20 and 3 stars or higher. Basically heroes from Server 2 who are approaching their ss advancements.] Show me the details. When Iselle opened her palm, a hologram window appeared. *Pick Me Up!* *Wee to the Dimension Cafe!* The Dimension Cafe. It was an internalmunity essible from the right side of the main screen of Pick Me Up. It was self-essed within the game and had a slightly different purpose from the official website. Deployment Bulletin Board Post 8451932 [Resuming training services. Recruiting 100 members from Server 2.] [We will nurture and advance your heroes ording to your desired conditions. Duration is 10 days. Self-training within Neifheims facilities with our instructors. We guarantee the best results.] [Please leave your dimension coordinates and the hero you want to send in thements section below. Comments will be kept private.] [Requirements Server 2, Level 20 or higher, non-ss advanced] [Participation fee 500 Gems] [Note Self-unfair operation, hero death insurance, high-ranking rewards] There was no need to look at it. I waved my hand, and Iselle closed the window. Iselle ced her hand on her hip and blew air out of her nose. [Isnt it funny? Loki is right here. Where is this impersonatoring from?] I ced my hand on my chin. There were quite a few things to think about. [Still, arent you surprised? I thought youd be bbergasted.] I know how the inte is. Theres nothing that cant happen there. But there were still some surprising things. First, the fact that Pick Me Ups heroes could interfere with the Masters system. I was clearly here. However, the author of the post was Loki. The authority of the sub-master, which I thought was just a simple substitute, seemed to be more powerful than I thought. The second was the conditions for the training service. It matched perfectly with our current situation. Its almost like Its calling for me. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 87: Dimensional Rift (2) (1) Chapter 87: Dimensional Rift (2) (1) Its been a while since Niflheimr posted something like this. Let me see Five months. Yeah, five months in Earth time! Iselle folded her palms together, wearing a puzzled expression. But the real Loki is here, isnt he? Whos the one posting this? I pondered this carefully. Without me, there are two candidates who could inherit the authority. First is Seris, who holds the top rank, and second is Yu, whos in second ce. After considering who among them would be likely to do this, I came to a conclusion. Its Yu. The reason would be apparent when I went there myself. This service, which epts Heroes from other waiting rooms for training after dimensional openings, was a method I used back when I was renovating the facility a long time ago. It was a massive construction project, and no matter how many Gems I had, it was insufficient. Thus, I had to bring in people from other ces to get more Gems. Of course, there were other reasons as well. After some stabilization, it was immediately closed down. I had no intention of reopening it, but at this point, the service was reopened, and it was tailored to my current situation. What should we do? Iselle looked at me with an anxious gaze. We should apply. The number ofments is enormous. Thepetition rate is over 100 to 1. Will the master even apply? It costs 500 Gems. Didnt Anytng join Ragnaroki? Iselle nodded her head. That settles it then. Anytng joining my fan cafe meant that he knew my identity from the documents I sent. Furthermore, he was following my strategy up to this point. It meant he was quite invested. Controlling him wouldnt be difficult. Open the window. Letspose an email. Got it. Iselle sat down in a chair, closed her eyes, and brought her index fingers to her temples. Haaap! Fairy power! A window appeared before us. Isnt it different fromst time? [] Anyway, we didnt have much time. I quickly entered the email section. There was no reply from Anytng. I didnt know if he had nothing to say or if there were other reasons. I pressed the send button afterposing the message. There are three things we need to convey. The first was to open a dimensional rift and leave ament on Niflheimrs post for recruiting new residents in the Dimensional Cafe. It didnt matter if thepetition rate was 100 to 1 or 1,000 to 1. Comments on the recruitment board were kept private, visible only to the author. So, I would write something there that only Niflheimr heroes would know. Done with that. The second message was about Anytngs current gamey. The advice was simple. Do some paid gacha. It was good to raise lower-ranked heroes. Even without me, we could acquire talents like Jenna, Velkist, and Neryssa. However, relying solely on them would be foolish. Lower-ranked heroes had potential, but it paled inparison to higher-ranked ones. That was a clear fact. One more thing. Focusing on developing lower-ranked heroes only paid off when a proper system was in ce. Throwing them into the training grounds without a n was not the way to go. We still needed the power of higher-ranked heroes. Analyzing the 20th-floor process, I concluded that having advanced heroes mixed in the second party and third party would have made it much easier. Thest message was important. Dont blindly trust my strategies. The operation of the waiting room needed to be adjusted ording to the situation. There woulde a time when you had to judge on your own rather than relying on my strategies. While using them as a reference was fine, depending too much on them hindered your own growth. I wrote this down at the bottom, and then, Send. When I touched the button, a message appeared saying the email was sent. I pressed the X button several times and exited. Its done. You can turn it off now. Click. The window disappeared. Iselle wiped the sweat from her forehead. Its already done? We could have done a bit more. She seemed to be feeling quite enthusiastic now, despite initially pretending to be dead. You can use the rest. Really?! Iselle approached me eagerly. I stood up from the chair. There were certainly some things I could do. I was curious about the state of my body on Earth. Was it destroyed, or had I be a nt person lying in a hospital? I also wanted to contact other masters in a cooperative rtionship with Niflheimr. It can wait. I decided to do those tasks once we had a solid foundation here. By then, a long-term regime on the inte would likely be possible. I pushed Iselle, who was trying to stick to me, and left the room. Although there would be a rest period after the 20th floor, I couldnt afford to rx. I went to the 2nd-floor za. After spending so much time there, Edis came out of the storage room. Edis, who spotted me, narrowed her eyes tiredly. Come with me for a moment. I said. Edis nodded as she tilted her head and followed me. We entered the restaurant and took a seat at a table where no ones gaze would reach. Did you get some sleep? Well Her eyes were somewhat puffy. Edis sighed deeply without saying a word. This girl is stressed too. There were three possible reasons for this. First was the urrence of two deaths in the party. Second was the failure to defend the shrine. Given Ediss personality, she couldnt help but feel responsible. The third was The insane difficulty level. I chuckled. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 87: Dimensional Rift (2) (2) Chapter 87: Dimensional Rift (2) (2) There were three possible reasons for this. First was the urrence of two deaths in the party. Second was the failure to defend the shrine. Given Ediss personality, she couldnt help but feel responsible. The third was The insane difficulty level. I chuckled. Among the countless missions, only the crazy ones seemed to get selected. As that bi*tch had imed, the internal difficulty of Townia was at an S-level, almost on par with Niflheimr. What about the morale of the members? Theyre fine. Aaron seems to be training more than before. Hes currently practicing in the training grounds. On the other hand, the 1st-floor kids Edis grimaced. They turned their backs onbat because the entire Third Party got wiped out. The survival rate is low, huh? Yeah. Some people think its better to just eat potatoes than fight and die. I clenched my fist. Due to the low survival rate, another problem had arisen. The imbnce in hero ratios. Starting from the next mission, I needed to consider the survival of sub-parties as well. Of course, before dealing with that issue Proper education and experience are needed. The third party had never experienced a boss stage. The absence of experience was the trigger for theirplete defeat. We needed to improve the Regeneration Stone farming and the training facility to make it more useful. Anytng would handle the construction. I conveyed this information and the solution to Edis. Edis, who had been listening quietly, mumbled, Youre something else Hmm? Nothing. I just feel that youre amazing. You know everything, your instructions are precise, your judgments are cool-headed, and yourbat power is incredible. You almost single-handedly took down the dragon. It was beyondmon sense. Edis let out a bitter smile. Compared to you, Im just a small fry. At first, I thought I could be of some help, but somehow I feel like Im drifting further away AUGH! I stepped on Ediss foot hard. Whats with the unnecessary nonsense? Ive said it before, I cant do it all by myself. I understand. Im sorry. Ill be gone soon. About a month. If we convert 10 Earth days to the waiting room, its about a month. Edis blinked. A month? Are you going on an expedition or something? No, Im going farther. Until then, please take care of this ce. There will be quite a bit to do. If Anytng follows my advice, advanced heroes will enter this waiting room. To fill the vacancies in the second party and take charge of the core in the third party. I exined this possibility to Edis, who nodded. So, you want me to take charge? Thats right. Dont cling to me. But seriously, where are you going? Im going to a different waiting room. Edis had a question mark on her face. I realized I needed to exin this as well. I chuckled and said, Were not the only ones here. There are other masters and heroes. After finishing the exnation. Edis was unable to utter a word for a moment. 100 million? There are 100 million ces like this? They only say 100 million. In reality, its not even half of that. No, no matter what Among them, there are at most ten that directly engaged with us. There is no need to worry. Edith cupped her forehead. I feel like Ivee to an incredibly different world. Anyway, I get it. Ill try what you told me. I trust only you. I got up from my seat, walked past Edis, and ced my hand on her shoulder. Edis nodded slightly. Anytng didnt take long to end todays y. And then, he didnt log in for a while. I organized the results of the battles at the training ground. A 2-level increase in Frenzy, and Invincibility, and Dragons Blood; Dragon yer. The ability bonus obtained from using Frenzy had increased to nearly 10. Immortality had the effect of dying abnormal status effects such as poisoning, confusion, and bleeding. It was one of the rmended support skills for heroes who used Frenzy since it added immunity to abnormal states on top of increasingbat power. Dragon yer It granted bonuses when facing Dragonkind. It was a special skill that could only be learned through achievement rather than training. It seemed that the system had given me an achievement for delivering the finishing blow to the dragon. If I had known this, I would have gone out to fight. Velkist clicked his tongue in the training ground. Then, we would have ended up with the trouble of clearing one more corpse. Neryssa teased. The two of themughed and entered the practice area. And after a few more days, the intensity of that boss battle was forgotten. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] Anytng logged in. He quickly skipped through the emerging announcements and events and went straight to the detailed menu. Then, he went to the help section under misceneous items and searched for the Dimensional Rift. [What is the Dimensional Rift?] [The Dimensional Rift is a special facility where you can enjoy external content of Pick Me Up. It is only open to masters level 20 and above, and there is no additional cost.] [Subcategories Dispatch, Expedition, Event ] [Notification!] [When you open the Dimensional Rift, you can ess the Dimensional Caf on the right side of the main screen. In the Dimensional Caf, you can interact with other masters.] [Caution!] [When you open the Dimensional Rift, you will be assigned dimensional coordinates. In addition, the first-tier protection of the waiting room will be lifted. Be careful as you may be exposed to invasions by other masters! Master decide carefully!] [Tips/Dimensional coordinates are coordinates within the current servers waiting room.] [Tips/You can choose not to open the Dimensional Rift if you prefer solo y.] Anytng closed the help section and returned to the main screen. Then, he touched a gray icon that was shining white. The icon had the words Dimensional Rift engraved on it. I left the room and headed to the 2nd-floor za. In front of the za. Light was seeping through the tightly closed doors. [Master, opening the Dimensional Rift.] [Are you sure you want to proceed? Once opened, it cannot be undone!] [Yes (Selected) / No] ng! The door leading to the Dimensional Rift shook vigorously. [Asking once more. Are you sure?] [Yes (Selected) / No] When Anytng touched Yes, Iselle popped out and sprinkled stardust. [He chose to open it as expected.] Iselle had aplex expression. [Opening the Dimensional Rift is not a good thing.] Well be able to do more than we can now. [Thats true. Then I should go all out, right?] After Iselle took a light breath, she reached out her right hand. A mass of light extended from her hand and clung to the closed door. Open, Dimensional Rift! Bang! The door leading to the Dimensional Rift opened. Finally. Messages kept popping up in my field of vision. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 88: Dimensional Rift (3) (1) Chapter 88: Dimensional Rift (3) (1) [Opening Completed!] [Dimensional Rift has been added to the maniption menu.] [Dispatch has been added to the sub-menu.] [Expedition has been added to the sub-menu.] [Events have been added to the sub-menu]. [Dimensional coordinates have been assigned to the waiting room Townia.] [Current coordinates 195.513.447.935] [Sector assigned to waiting room Townia.] [Assigned Sector 95513] [Tips/You can check nearby maps through the Dimensional Rift tab. Refer to the help section for more details!] [You can now use the Dimensional Cafe!] [In the Dimensional Cafe, you can interact with other masters. For more details]. [Notice!] [Regarding Beginner Protection.] [Until the ount reaches level 40 (floor 40), Death Protection will be applied.] [In the event of a battle with another master, even if your hero dies, they will not be annihted. However, the recovered hero will experience a significant decrease in levels, abilities, and skills. Keep that in mind!] [Tips/Recovered heroes are not as powerful as before. Consider synthesis or transformation]. I turned my attention away from the messages. I knew what it said. There was no need to read it further. I walked through the open door. Inside, a cool breeze greeted me. After stopping at a suitable spot, I examined the dimensional rift. My initial impression was that this facility was enormous. It was different from the spherical rifts I had seen before. It was a straight-line chamber stretching over 100 meters in length. The ceiling soared high as well. The reason was clear. This facility itself was a storage warehouse. [Master, for the smooth use of external content, Airship Processing is required!] [Airships consists of fourponents: Body, Engine, Dimensional Core, and Blueprint. You can assemble them to create an airship. Additionally, to operate an airship, a Magician is required.] Airships. Even if the dimensional rift was open, it couldnt be used properly without airships. Since Anytng is at level 20, the difficulty of crafting and operating an airship is challenging. Practical use would likely require reaching higher levels. [Pick Me Up!] [Wee to the Dimensional Cafe!] Nevertheless, I opened the dimensional rift. Dispatch Bulletin Board The purpose was as expected. As soon as Anytng entered the Dimensional Cafe, he headed straight to the Dispatch Bulletin Board and started searching for Lokis post. After a while, ament was added to the recruitment post for Niflheimr Training Services. So were doing it? I looked at the dead-end of the dimensional rift. It had a radius of about 10 meters. Gray light spiraled in a helical pattern, forming a dimensional gate. When I tried to touch it, it felt like an invisible wall was blocking my hand. It seemed to be in an inactive state. Observation was over. I exited the dimensional rift. The door closed silently. [Notice!] [Evacuation Guide for Enemy Intrusion!] [Master, please set up an evacuation route in preparation for invasion. Heroes who cannot engage inbat will evacuate through the designated route when enemies invade.] [Tips/The dormitory is an inessible area for intrusion.] A cross-section of the waiting room appeared in Anytngs control panel. It must have felt a bit overwhelming. Opening the dimensional rift had brought various inconveniences. He would be busy for a while. I cleared the control panel from my sight and entered the training grounds. ng! ng ng! The sound of metal shing. Inside the sparring area, Velkist and Aaron were facing off with their weapons. Thisbination is rare. Apart from the two of them, the training grounds were empty. I took a seat and watched the fight. The oue didnt take long. Velkists sword pierced through Aarons defense and reached his neck. It seems the odds are against you. Velkists gaze outside the training grounds rose. He had spotted me. What brings you here? I heard you were resting. Even if I told you to rest, you still train. Staying still makes me itch. Velkist wiped his sweat with a towel and took a sip of water. Are you here to teach me a lesson or two, Senior? I have no business with you. I smiled. Velkist lightly clicked his tongue. I turned my attention to Aaron, who was walking out of the training grounds. Aaron. Oh, Hyung-nim? He seemed unaware that I hade. I nodded and said, I have something to discuss. Follow me. Aaron looked puzzled but obediently followed. I left the training ground with Aaron and headed back to the dormitory. When I opened the door to the lounge next to it, I saw an unfamiliar scene. Thats it! Jennas hand ced a knight on the chessboard. Wow Elokas face showed disappointment. I sat down on the couch next to the table. Theres chess here too. Do you know this game, Oppa? Jenna asked as she organized the ck pieces. I didnt know it, and neither did Eloka unnie. We found it out of boredom. Theres even an instruction manual. Its called chess, apparently. You didnt know! Isnt that a lie? Then how do you exin the ten-game winning streak! Ah,e on. How would I know living in the forest? Its my first time today. Oh, by the way, isnt that Aaron Oppa behind you Jenna looked at Aaron over my shoulder as she spoke. I have something to say to both of you. This ce seems suitable. Nobodys around. But Im here. You shouldnt be here, right? I believe its your study time. No, well Sweat appeared on Elokas forehead. I chuckled and settled into the couch. Just kidding. Just give us a moment alone. It wont take long. All right. Eloka quickly left the lounge. As I made myselffortable, Aaron sat next to Jenna. Whats going on? Why did you call us here. How much baggage do you have? Personal items. Things like Elokas fan or outerwear. I dont really have much. Besides weapons. I dont have many possessions either. Then youre in luck. I continued speaking. Get ready to leave this ce. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 88: Dimensional Rift (3) (2) Chapter 88: Dimensional Rift (3) (2) Then youre in luck. I continued speaking. Get ready to leave this ce. The expressions on both of their faces momentarily froze, then turned to shock. Jenna stood up. Oppa, you dont mean were finally leaving this ce Sorry, but no. Were just going to another waiting room. I exined to them just like I did with Edis. Listening to the exnation, Jenna and Aarons expressions changed rapidly, but in the end, they nodded in understanding. Afterward, I added that Anytng had sent a deployment request to another masters waiting room. So, the three of us are going to another waiting room? Thats right. Itll be for about a month. Well train in the facilities of the other waiting room ande back. Itll be a valuable experience. Wouldnt it be better for someone else than me? Aarons face darkened. Didnt you want to be stronger? Yes, but Are you going or not? If you dont want to, I can rece you with Velkist. After a brief hesitation, Aaron steadied his voice. Ill go. Good. I nodded. Requesting Aarons participation through mail was also a burden for me. It had no merit for Anytng. But he still agreed. The three heroes Anytng requested to participate in thements are, Me, Jenna, and Aaron. Should we prepare right away? No, itll take about a week. Recruitment would end tomorrow in Earth time. The announcement would be two dayster. There was about a week left in waiting room time. We couldnt depart right away. Jenna and Aaron didnt meet the recruitment criteria. I checked both of their stat screens. Both were at level 19, with their experience bars nearly full. With a few more rounds on the 19th floor, they would reach level 20. There were spare promotion tickets as well. There was plenty of leeway. Anyway, I understand. Were going to another ce in a week, right? This is starting to excite me a bit. Jenna got up from her seat. After patting Aarons shoulders once, she left the lounge. She seemed to have realized that there was something I wanted to discuss with Aaron separately. In the lounge, with just the two of us left, Aaron spoke up. Hyung-nim, about the Niflheimr you mentionedst time Thats right. Its the ce were going to. I took a deep breath. Well stay a month there. But for you, Aaron, it might not be a month. You may not be able to return here. Aaron didnt respond. The instructor position is vacant. Dica cant handle it alone. You have another option besides fighting. Yet, are you determined to walk the difficult path? I Aaron finally spoke. Ill go. Alright. Theres nothing more to say then. I said. Be prepared. You either be stronger there or theres a high chance you wont make it. Yes. Ask Edis to give you the permission to leave the party. Your training wont be done in a month. Itll take a year. It takes that long? Did you think youd be strong in a snap of your fingers ande back? I chuckled and stood up from the couch. After roughly tidying up the chessboard on the table, I stuffed it into a drawer. Chess. Maybe it would be okay to y it when I have some free time. I didnt know why it was here in the first ce. Time passed. Edis epted Aarons departure request. Returning could take more than a few months, or he might not be able to return at all. There was no option other than eptance. The preparations for meeting the conditions also began. 19th floor. The members were me, Edis, Eloka, Jenna, and Aaron. It was a mixedposition of two parties. The 19th floor was slightly more difficult than the 18th, but the analysis was alreadyplete. Two of them quickly reached level 20. Promotion proceeded smoothly. After extracting the soul stones, Anytng immediately evolved them into 3-stars. I decided not to ask what memories they had seen. And then, the announcement day. The list of candidates included Anytngs ount name. It was an unbelievable condition. They applied for not one, but three. Yet, they won with a probability of over 100 to 1. It couldnt be a coincidence. I confirmed my hypothesis here. This recruitment event is rted to me. Furthermore, they have information about me. Otherwise, they wouldnt have matched the conditions exactly. Its convenient. I saved myself the trouble of finding them. Once the announcement was confirmed, I called the other members of Party 1. After the exnation, Velkist spoke. Are you leaving this ce for a long time? Yes. Are you going to train somewhere else to be stronger? I nodded. Velkists expression turned displeased. Why am I not on the list? Why not me! Neryssa joined him too. I said. Ill let you all go when the timees. Niflheimrs training service had a good reputation. Although it was for the sake of obtaining Gems, I took it seriously. The nearly 20,000 applicationments were the proof. There were negative reviews about the service, too, but Listen to Edis carefully, especially you, Velkist. Are you worried so much? Velkist chuckled. Its not just worrying. I dont have the slightest doubt. Neryssa grinned. Velkist drew his sword. I kicked Velkists right hand and the sword went spinning, sticking into the table. Are you guys ten-year-olds? I sighed involuntarily. Anyway, dont cause trouble until Ie back. Are you sure youlle back? What do you mean? Is there a possibility of changing affiliation? Velkist sheathed his sword. His face was expressionless. Hes hitting the mark. I said. Its not like its not there. Then. Dont worry. I dont have that intention. It definitely exists in Pick Me Up. How to change a heros affiliation. Niflheimr has expanded by supplying and recruiting talent through various methods other than its own summons. Its a change of affiliation. I have no intention of doing that. Not yet. I swallowed the rest of my words. And again. A few dayster. A message appeared on the masters screen. [Notification!] [Niflheimr affiliate, LandGrid07, demands a port call.] [Will you ept?] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 89: Niflheimr (1) (1) Chapter 89: Niflheimr (1) (1) I ced the file in the drawer and locked it. I picked up my sword and shield leaning against the wall. The clock showed 8:27 PM. Anytng was still connected. [Master, another ount is requesting a dimension transfer!] [The ount willnd in this waiting room momentarily. Do you ept?] [Yes (selected) / No] [Opening a dimensional rift for the ount Landgrid07!] [Captain Misikas () is requesting a trade with the master.] [Request 1,500 gems] The exchange window appeared on Anytngs control screen. It was a demand for payment for training services in Niflheimr. Soon, a leather pouch containing blue gems appeared in the exchange window. I left the room, ncing at the screen out of the corner of my eye. There was nothing else to take apart from my equipment. Niflheimr would provide everything I needed. As I walked out, I encountered Jenna and Aaron in the corridor. Are you ready? Im ready. I am too, Hyung-nim. I nodded. They had no special equipment. Just a bow, a spear, and a few daggers. We left the amodation together. The dimensional rift was open beside the door in front of the second-floor za. Some familiar faces were visible near the open door. Are you going now? Edis and Roderick. It might get boring. We will be waiting. Even Velkist, Neryssa, and Eloka. All thebat heroes on the second floor were gathered in one ce. Its quite a send-off. I smiled. Dont cause any trouble. This sort of thing will happen more often from now on. Sending heroes off to ces other than the waiting room wasnt umon. Right now, almost all the heroes were stuck here, but as we climbed higher and more dimensions joined, there would be specialized parties responsible for the outside. You said one month, right? Are you sure? I cant guarantee it. It could be dyed or expedited. Im worried. What if you end up in a different ce? Eloka pouted. You can do some research while Im gone. Oh, well Edis, keep an eye on her. She tends to ck off when Im not around. Alright. Without the core members, the ascent would be dyed. There were several tasks that had piled up inside. I had already told Edis about the points where heroes needed to assist the master. Even the auxiliary members came to say hello, after exchanging greetings with each member, the heroes left one by one. Stay safe. Finally, Edis, thest one remaining, extended her hand to me. We shook hands. I felt strangely awkward. Jenna, who had been watching Edis, spoke up. Welle back, right? Dont worry about unnecessary things. Just go. We entered the dimensional rift. A straight corridor stretched out in front of us. In the middle of our leisurely walk, Iselle appeared with a familiar light. [Han, heeey!] What is it? Iselles eyes were swollen and red. She was wiping her eyes with a white handkerchief, her voice quivering. [I heard a strange rumor! That you wonte back from Niflheimr? This is not true, right?!] Whos spreading such nonsense. [Yeah, right?!] It seemed like the rumor had spread. I shook my head and took a step forward. Dont worry. Ill bring him back safely. Jenna reassured Iselle, putting her arm around her. [Really? He cant get stolen! I trust you! If those guys take him, its over! Theyre a bunch of thieves. Corporate tyranny] I pulled Iselles cheeks. Im sorry for being tyrannical. [Oh, no! Im not talking about Loki Anyway,e back. Promise me!] Iselle held out her little finger. If I refused, she was ready to burst into tears. Her nose waspletely red. I put my hand on my forehead. When I pinky promised her, Iselles tear-soaked face brightened. [So you promised this. You will definitelye back!] Yes, so stop whining. [Then, I will wait.] With that, Iselle became light and disappeared. Aaronughed lightly. Hyung-nim is probably the only person the fairy would treat like that. We continued down the straight corridor. At the dead end of the dimensional rift, something unusual came into view. It was about 20 meters in size. It was a sleek, ck, ship-like entity with golden decorations of a mountain goat on the bow. It was a Landgrid series, a Niflheim airship model. Wow, isnt this cool? Jenna grinned. Do you know airships? Yes, I heard about it from my dad. He said there were ships flying in the sky. Ive seen them before too. Although I couldnt ride one since its an aristocrats exclusive. Is that so? It seemed that even in Townia, the concept of airships existed. Well, without such a concept, you wouldnt be able to find Heroes engineers. I took a step forward, and the distance gradually closed. Somewhere in the airship. A womans voice echoed. Are you Han Israt, Jenna Shirai, and Aaron from Townia? I nodded. nk. A staircase descended after a mechanical sound from the ships railing. It seems different from what Ive seen. Is it a more recent model? It looks like it. Aaron smiled bitterly. Lets go. I stepped onto the staircase leading to the airship. [Master, the dispatch begins!] [Dispatched heroes Han (), Jenna (), Aaron ()] [Region Niflheim (101.***.***.***)] [Type Training] [Duration 10 days] [ Caution!] [From the moment the dispatch is sent, the affiliation of the hero will temporarily change to Niflheimr.] [Do you ept?] [Yes (Selected) / No] The exchange process was over. The whirlpool of dimensions behind the airship began to shine blue. As I set foot on the first step of the railing, a girl in a ck uniform approached. Wee! Im Lydel, your guide to Niflheimr. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 89: Niflheimr (1) (2) Chapter 89: Niflheimr (1) (2) Wee! Im Lydel, your guide to Niflheimr. Hello? Jennas awkward greeting made Lydel smile. I surveyed the airships deck. There was nothing particrly noteworthy. The main material was metal. Apart from theck of sails, it wasnt significantly different from the appearance of a ship. But it flies in the sky. Several people were on the deck, their curious gazes fixed on us. Lydel cleared her throat and straightened her neck. The voice rang out as clearly as if it were on a loudspeaker. A wizard. One per airship. To ensure proper mobility, they needed a ss higher than a mage a wizard. Although they were affiliated with Niflheimr, I couldnt pinpoint who exactly it was. With hundreds of wizards in their possession, I didnt memorize them all. Vrooom. A strange sensation of floating enveloped my entire body. Jenna and Aaron, who had been standing on the deck, were surprised. It was clear that they were experiencing riding an airship for the first time. Iughed and leaned against the railing. The airship, about 3 meters above the ground, began to move slowly towards the dimensional vortex. Is this normal? Jenna asked with a hint of anxiety. On the opposite side, a pair of men and women chuckled. When I red at them, they turned their heads. As long as you dont die, stay quiet. Dont make it obvious that youre a country bumpkin. Oh, alright. The whirlpool of dimensions began to swallow the bow. [Beep!] [Niflheimr affiliated airship Landgrid 07 is departing.] At some point, the entire ship became hazy, and when the light faded, the airship was flying in the unfamiliar sky. The wind brushed against my cheek. First, I saw clouds. At an altitude of at least a thousand meters. When I looked down, a familiar sight caught my eye. Thats A destend with no des of grass growing, as far as the eye could see. Even from a distance, it was recognizable. It was Townia after its destruction. I looked back. In the distant horizon, a circr tower soared. The lower part of the tower was buried underground, and the upper part was obscured by clouds. Was it like this? The whirlpool we had just escaped from in the middle of the sky swayed. Aaron, who had been leaning out of the railing, spoke, This is amazing. He had no idea where this ce was. Is that so? Im sure this is normal to you, Hyung-nim. Enjoy the view as much as you want, Im going inside. Well arrive in two days. There was a staircase in the middle of the deck. I left the two of them behind and walked up the stairs. A message appeared at the top of my field of vision. [Dimension 1935 Townia] The system is visible even here, I thought. The status window also appeared. This ce seemed to be firmly within the pick-me-up zone as well. I yawned and entered the cabin. As I entered the sleeping quarters andy on the mesh bed, Lydels voice reached my ears. I opened my eyes halfway. It seems that we wouldnt be going straight to Niflheimr. There would be quite a few other guests to transport besides us. Landgrid 07 transported guests through various dimensions. They were heroes of other masters who had won the heroes recruitment. The total number of guests on the airship, including us, was 20. The remaining guests would be transported through other airships. There are so many strange ces. Jenna muttered from the assigned cabin. Ours was a destend, but there were ces split into pieces, ces on fire, and ces covered in water. What in the world is this? Hey, do you know about any of this? Jenna was shaking on the mesh bed. She seemed tired of looking outside. I felt a tingling sensation deep within my body. It was a signal announcing the dimensional leap. Its about time. I got up from the bed. Through the narrow window, a familiarndscape was visible. A volcano constantly spewingva, sulfur clouds obscuring the sky, floating inds scattered throughout. It was the same field I had seen when I regenerated the 80th floor of Niflheimr. [Dimension 1106 Niflheimr] I was sure now. I picked up the weapons I had left leaning against the pir. [Beep! Alert to passengers on board. The airship will soon arrive at its destination. Pleasee out onto the deck.] Lydels voice echoed. I opened the door leading to the corridor. Wheres Aaron? He said he rented an empty warehouse for training. Ill call him! Hes quite diligent. I shook my head and walked out into the corridor. Passengers inside the ship were moving towards the staircase. They came in all genders and attire, but they all carried weapons. I merged into the crowd and stepped out onto the deck. Dont lean out over the railing! Its dangerous to go outside the protective barrier! Amidst the bustling crowd, Lydel shouted while waving a fluorescent rod. Well arrive in about 5 minutes. There may be some shaking during the docking process, so please hold onto the nearby bunk tightly! Oppa, I brought you huh? Jennas eyes widened. Aaron, who was next to her, had the same reaction. Both of them were staring nkly at their surroundings. These two I chuckled. A few other people had simr expressions. Dozens of dimensional whirlpools were spread out in the sky. Large and small airships were flying in the vicinity of the whirlpool. There were at least thirty of them by a rough count. Zoom. A massive object passed by next to the airship we were on. I couldnt gauge its size exactly, but it was roughly around 5,600 meters. This airship was of such a scale that it made the others look like tiny specks. What What is this? Jenna pointed to the airship next to us. Our view waspletely blocked by the size of the airship. Its Sigdripha 01. Its a battleship capable of carrying 37bat airships. The airships you see beside it are dedicated escort ships. Theyre called Trude 03, Trude 18 Small airships were being sucked into the hangar at the bottom of the battleship. Its not forbat. The Sigdripha model had been retired frombat purposes since the 60th floor. Lydel exined one by one about the dozens of airships flying in the sky. Jenna ran her hand through her red hair. I dont understand even a word of what hes saying. I understand roughly. Lydel finished her exnation and smiled. The whirlpool of dimensions was swallowing the bow. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 91: Niflheimr (3) (1) Chapter 91: Niflheimr (3) (1) Eclet finished her speech and descended from the podium. The instructors were still standing behind the battalionmander, and the noise from the recruits grew louder. Jenna spoke up. What is she even saying? Something about nobility and whatnot. She means exactly what she said; Out of the 100 people here, the top 3 will be transferred to Niflheimr. So? It means the waiting room youll be staying in will change. The first reason Niflheimr gathers neers is gem allocation. If for each hero they receive 500 gems, thats nearly 50,000 gems in total. The second reason is talent acquisition. The 100 people standing here are all promising individuals favored by their respective masters. The cost of sending them is 500 gems per person. ording to their masters thinking, the potential of these heroes is sufficient for a paid draw of 500 gems. Niflheimr provides them with training services and offers a change of affiliation along with rewards to the top performers. Negotiations are initiated with the current master. Its about giving them some of the acquired gems. The price varies ording to my judgment. A minimum of 1,500 gems. In the case of top-notch promising individuals, it can go up to 5,000 gems. Niflheimr possesses gems in the millions. Such expenditures are not trivial. Thats what Iselle meant by calling us the tyranny of major corporations. However, most masters still apply despite knowing this. Even if they are not selected, heroes who havepleted their education can easily make up for the gem cost, and if they are selected, they can obtain arge number of gems for a paid draw. It was not a losing deal for them. I wonder how Anytng will fare. Given his personality, the chances of him knowing the truth are low. If I told him to ept it, he would do it. Now we begin the job ssification. After Eclet left, Eldarkin stepped onto the tform and said. Three men and women who appeared to be subordinates stood by his side, holding thick ledgers in their hands. Right for warrior aspirants, left for rogue aspirants. Whats the total count? 54 warriors, 46 rogues. A subordinate answered. Eldarkin nodded and then spoke. Commence. The instructors behind the battalionmander stepped forward. Each held a red or blue g. Come on, as the chief instructor said, line up! Warriors go to the red, rogues to the blue! Whats all this? Jenna raised an eyebrow. It seems Ill have to exin everything. I smirked and said. Were ssifying our professions. You use a bow and dagger, so youre a rogue. Aaron and I are warriors. Once the training is over, well change professions. That means we can learn higher-level skills. The education services of Niflheimr also included a job change process. Jennas expression darkened. So I have to go over there. Is this where we part ways? Dont worry. Well meet again soon. Is that really true? Have I ever lied to you? Alright, see youter. Jenna shook hands with Aaron and then ran to the instructor holding the blue g. Lets go too. We go to the right. Okay. The recruits split into two groups. After the ssification wasplete, the subordinates came out and conducted a headcount. 54 warriors, 46 rogues. Total of 100. No issues. Move out. The group with the blue g moved first. A male instructor led the prospective rogues to the three-story building on the right. Next was our group, the warrior aspirants. Eldarkin personally led us. Our destination was the five-story building in the middle. The atmosphere here is quite unique, hyungnim. Aaron scratched the back of his neck. Iughed without saying a word. I agreed. It felt like we had joined the army. The recruits around us all had different expressions on their faces. We passed through the central buildings hall and arrived at a spacious auditorium. Eldarkin turned to us and spoke. Now, the ability test begins. Line up in front of me. Subordinates, prepare to record. The young subordinate took out a ledger and a feather pen. Following the guidance of the other instructors, we lined up in front of Eldarkin. The moment his eyes locked with the woman at the front of the line her face hardened. Eldarkin spoke. We are here to assess your current abilities and skills, in order to provide appropriate training ording to your aptitude. Dont be afraid. Eldarkin scrutinized the woman in front of him from top to bottom before nodding. No sound could be heard. The subordinate standing beside him nodded and began writing something in a ledger. Hes looking at the stats window Here, recruits are ssified into four levels based on their stats and skills: lower, intermediate, upper, and highest. The examination participants who had finished moved to the other side of the auditorium. Aaron and I were near the end of the line. I clenched my fist and recalled Niflheimrs training process. The basic mechanics were my design. However, I didnt know all the details. Once the system was established, I didnt pay much attention. The second floor of Niflheimr was just a small part of the operation. Next. It was Aarons turn. Aaron stood in front of Eldarkin with a tense expression. Eldarkin assessed Aaron and then nodded. Lower, I presume. Level 20. There was no progress in lower spear techniques at level 4. Eldarkins expression remained unchanged. The subordinate recorded Aarons data in the ledger. Next. The next in line was me. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 91: Niflheimr (3) (2) Chapter 91: Niflheimr (3) (2) Next. The next in line was me. Eldarkin examined me. . He moved his lips but stopped. Eldarkins short eyebrows furrowed. After a while. Excellent. A gruff voice came out. The hand of the young man holding the pen stopped. Whats going on? You need to look at it too. Sure, lets have a look. Level 20 and The young mans eyes widened. This is! Eldarkin said. Whats your name? Han Israt. Affiliation? Isnt it written in the ledger? My apologies. Give me the ledger. Eldarkin received the ledger from the subordinate and scanned its contents. Birth grade is 1 Star. Affiliation is Townia. Are you sure? I nodded. The deputysplexion turned pale. A monster like this 1 Star at birth. Monster, he said. Do you say that when you see a person? I clicked my tongue. You stay here. Step aside. Aaron was looking at me. Eldarkin returned the ledger to the deputy and said. I have something to tell the recruits separately. Sorry, but stay here. Alright. I moved aside. There happened to be a metal chair there, so I sat down. Since I was near the end of the line, the examination ended quickly. The warrior aspirants followed the guidance of the deputy and exited the back door of the auditorium. Except for me. Eldarkin and I were the only ones left in the auditorium. Eldarkin looked at me in the chair and chuckled. You seemfortable already. Why did you leave me behind? I reported your information to the higher-ups. Themander-in-chief ising soon. I wasnt particrly surprised. Niflheimr hasmunication capabilities. It should be possible to see from a distance. Eldarkin, who was looking at me from a floating posture, said. Han Israt, from Townia. Is that correct? Already confirmed information. There was no need to answer. Themander-in-chief will be here within a minute. Ill take my leave. Eldarkin quickly left the auditorium. I was left alone. What an odd feeling. Facilities and heroes that I had touched and managed, actually exist and are alive. I remember. That Eldarkin Brach was a 1 Star hero who panicked and did nothing in his first battle. The video from that time is also saved. It would be quite funny if I yed it back. That man, who was in charge of so many instructors, was trembling at first. . I put my hand on my sword hilt. Theyreing in openly. I felt a strong presence at the entrance of the auditorium. Finally, a woman in a uniform appeared at the entrance. She crossed dozens of meters in a single step and approached me. It was Training Camp Commander Eclet. Ive received the report. Are you Han Israt? Eclet scanned me from top to bottom with her blue eyes. A hint of suspicion crossed her eyes. Quite remarkable. Any particr reason for you toe to see me? I spoke. You didnte to see me for a recruitment proposal, thats for sure. I said, cing my hand on the hilt of my sword. Eclets lips curled. Thats right. I didnte here to recruit you. To interrogate me, I assume. When I revealed my affiliation, Eldarkins lips twitched strangely. Next, Eldarkin summoned themander. No matter how promising I might be, they wouldnt bring out top-tier individuals just to recruit one recruit. You know it well. In an instant, Eclets hand disappeared. I instinctively drew my sword, but the de came flying faster than that. A trickle of blood flowed from my throat. As expected, not good enough. I sheathed my sword. The difference in specs is too severe. Youre excellent, but you still need time. You cant beat me. I get it. Lets get to the point. While Eclets de was at my throat, she spoke. Speak willingly. Where did you hear that information? What information? Are you asking because you dont know? Life sparkled in Eclets eyes. How did you know that Lord Loki disappeared? More precisely, your master knows. Anyway, tell me the source of the information and everything else you know if you want to go back alive. Is this how it is? What I told Anytng, the information that needs to be included in the recruitmentments, is that Loki is not in Niflheimr. Anytng, who doesnt know the details, may not understand the meaning, but the situation is different for the affiliated heroes. Even if the lower-ranking heroes dont know, the high-ranking officers should be aware of my disappearance. It was surprising that the training campmander knew the content of the recruitmentments. I raised my head. The obstructed ceiling. But that guys eyes are everywhere in Niflheimr. I lowered my gaze. Eclet was staring at me. Whats your identity? The de dug in slightly. I was about to speak, but I sighed instead. Boring. Offering excuses. Deceiving others with nonsense different from the truth. Im tired of the mundane y. Do you want to know who I am? You Come out, Yu. Fog swirled from one side of the auditorium, and a white shadow walked out. The fog gathered into the shape of a person. Eclets eyes widened. ?! A in white robe with no adornments. Wavy white hair reached down to the waist. Second inmand of Niflheimr. Yurne Seed knelt on one knee before me. I greet the Master. You knew but came outte. Please forgive me. I was preparing to receive you. I pushed the de against my throat with my fingertip. Then I said. I am Loki. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 92: Niflheimr (4) (1) Chapter 92: Niflheimr (4) (1) I raised my hand to my neck. It was stained with crimson blood. Arent you going to put that sword away? Yu asked. Oh, no, I Eclet hurriedly retrieved the sword. (T/N: Btw guys, forgot to put a notest time, but its Ecl not Eclet, however, the reason why I decided to go with Eclet is that and et sound the same in French, and its easier to pronounce for those who dont speak french.) Master has been injured because of you. Yu said gently. Cold sweat trickled down Eclets face. I wiped a droplet of blood off my fingertip. Yu touched my neck gently with her slender, long fingers. As if turning back time, the wounds and blood disappeared. Are you alright? She looks worse than me, I chuckled. Eclets body trembled like a leaf. This is our master, Lord Loki. Not only did you point your sword at him, but you also threatened to kill him depending on the situation. Im sorry! Eclet bowed. I How can I say It seemed like she wanted to make an excuse, but she couldnt find the right words. Yu narrowed her eyes. How do you n to repay the crime of raising a sword against the master? If youmand Dont be so dramatic. I waved my hand. She knows nothing. She made a judgment to fulfill her role. What hero could possibly think that the master wouldnd here? That hero is right here. Youre a special case. Let it go. A little spit and polish will heal the wounds, and it wasnt so bad. If thats yourmand. Yu looked down at Eclet. Her eyes were cold and unwavering. Youre lucky. Step aside. I I have something to say Apprentice, havent you learned when to hold your tongue? Eclet stood up. Her expression twisted with self-loathing. There was no trace of her confident demeanor from the arena. Eclet bent at a 90-degree angle and left the hall. I looked at Yu, who was smiling gently. This woman She was quite the character. Master, this ce isnt suitable for conversation. Lets change locations. Yu paid her respects to me and flicked her fingers. A momentary mist enveloped my vision. And when the mist cleared, I found myself sitting in a secluded garden on a chair. Teleportation, huh? It was a high-level magic, but for her, it was as easy as breathing. In front of the chair I sat on, there was an elegant table. On the table were fine tea cups and a teapot. While Yu politely poured tea into the cups, I looked around. Various exotic flowers were blooming in the garden. The scent, a mix of grass and flowers, tickled my nose. Looking up, I saw not a ceiling but a gray-painted sky. Finally, I understood where I was. The top floor of Niflheimr. The 13th floor. A ce reserved for only five out of twenty thousand, along with their assistants. Have a sip. I raised the teacup and took a sip. The aroma lingered in my throat. I didnt know much about tea, but I could tell it was high quality. After emptying half the cup, I spoke. How did you know it was me? In truth, it was a gamble. Yus eyes were everywhere in Niflheimr. I knew that. Still, I thought she would at least perform some minimal verification. Scratching her cheek in thought, she spoke. I didnt need to ask. It was clear. Yu chuckled lightly. The fact that Master hasnt logged in for over three months is highly ssified information known only up to the 12th floor. There were no external leaks, so if someone from another territory knows that fact Yu trailed off. It can only be Lord Loki. That alone is not enough. I knew when Master disappeared, he had already fallen into Mobius. I raised an eyebrow. This part was a bit unexpected. Yu poured tea into my cup and then spoke. The connection between us and Master is deeper and stronger than you think. Id like to exin moreter if youre okay with it. It might take a while. Later is fine. Theres a lot to say. Changing the order wont make a difference. I surveyed the garden again. A girl with ck maid attire and gray hair stood at the entrance of the garden. It came to me. It was Nide, Yus personal secretary and adjutant. No other personnel were visible. Where are the other members? Nihaku and Myuden are on a mission. Ridgion and I are on standby. And Seris Seris isnt here either? Yes. Well, if she had been here, she would have reacted immediately upon my arrival. Im the only one who knows that Master hase here. Except for that rude woman. Would you like to see the others? I can gather them if youmand. I think everyone will be delighted. No need for that. I shook my head. Currently, in Niflheimr, there are Yu and Ridgion. Nihaku is in charge of external affairs, so she often leaves her post, and Myuden has moved his residence outside of Niflheimr altogether. But Seris is missing. This is unusual. I should ask about thister. Nide, bring tea and snacks. Yes. The girl approached expressionlessly. Pleased to meet you. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 92: Niflheimr (4) (2) Chapter 92: Niflheimr (4) (2) Nide, bring tea and snacks. Yes. The girl approached expressionlessly. Pleased to meet you. She bowed to me and left the garden with an empty teapot. In less than 10 seconds, she returned with a tray containing snacks and the teapot. After Nide went back to the entrance, I said, Dont you guys disdain me? What do you mean? I didnt think it would be unreasonable to get stabbed as soon as I arrived. I didnt raise heroes and operate the waiting room out of affection. I thoroughly examined efficiency and value, and if they fell short, I dropped them, and if they excelled, I promoted them. All the welfare facilities here were forbat efficiency and stress management, not built with heroes benefits in mind. Yu, who had been listening, smiled faintly. Youve used us as chess pieces in the long run. Yeah. Where is the resentment or not? Master never discriminated against us, always gave us opportunities, and led us to victory with sound judgment. Yu gently touched the flower bud on the table. If it werent for Master, our Niflheimr would have rotted away long ago. Me, and everyone else. , I remained silent. That alone qualifies you. If she thinks so. I might find it hard to understand, but theres no need to argue if she believes it. Anyway, its an honor to meet you like this, Master Loki. Ive been looking forward to this day. Youre as dignified and magnificent as I imagined. Yu stood up from her chair and offered her greetings once again. I took a sip of tea. It felt quite unfamiliar. Itste tonight. Ive prepared a mansion for you on the 13th floor, so please stay there, ande back tomorrow morning. Ill call Ridgion as well. A mansion? So you even thought of that? Ive prepared a ce only for Master. Its right in the center of the 13th floor. I looked up at the sky. It was a grayish ck with some streaks of gray. Observationally, the evening had passed. Jenna and Aaron would probably be preparing to spend the night in the dormitory of the training camp. Im fine with the dormitory at the training camp. Yu tilted her head. I have no intention of sleeping in the mansion. The meaning is. I was once a master, but not anymore. There is no need to treat me so kindly. I drank all the tea. So youre going back to the second floor? Yes. I prepared everything diligently even a wee party A wee party? Observing all the victories Master has achieved Its an embassy. Too bad. Yu said. Anyway, I understood Masters intention well. Since you are nominally a trainee in Townia, you want to be active on the second floor, right? It seems well have to go down to the second floor Dont bother toe. Then how will I be of help to Master? I have a lot to say and tell After training schedules. When its free time. We can meet then. Free time is given in the evening. It wont take a while to meet Yu then. Hmm Yu, who had been contemting, brightened her eyes. Master, how about this? After sending all the recruits back Rejected. Well rece all the instructors. Those with bad habits Rejected. The dormitory at the training camp is small and in. Can we renovate it? Dont do that either. The facilities at the training camp are quite excellent, at leastpared to Townias current ones. It doesnt suit the Masters dignity, Yu expressed her dissatisfaction with a frowning face. I was taken aback and said, Where do you see dignity in me? I can see it. An aura of an emperor surrounding the Master Can you see it? I asked Nide, who was standing a distance away. Im not sure. That settles it. When Yu chuckled forcefully, Nide took a step back. Dont get carried away. And dont reveal my identity to the others either. I dont want to be tied down. Just let them know Im alive. As youmand. Yu bowed her head. Lets discuss this further tomorrow evening. Understood. I got up from my chair. Ill open a door discreetly. At Yus gesture, a dimensional portal veiled in mist appeared in one corner of the garden. Inside the portal, I could see a corridor. It was the corridor of a training camp annex that amodated recruits. Before I stepped through, I said, Yu. Yes. Youve done well without me. Niflheimr is still intact. I couldnt see every ce, but I could tell that much. The sub-master is Seris. But Yu is in charge of overall operations. She must have had busy days handling tasks I couldnt do. Its an honor. Yu greeted me, holding the ends of her skirt. I have onest question. Yes. Is the current me still Master to you? Of course. Yu smiled lightly. Thud! At that moment, the garden shook violently. Leaves and petals scattered in all directions. Where is the Master! Yu! A mans voice could be heard from afar. Yu smiled. Ridgion seems to have noticed. I swear didnt say a word! Thunk! A second vibration. The space that surrounded the garden began to distort. Theyre breaking the barrier. Did Ridgion have such a temperament? I thought of him as someone who never blinked, even if all hisrades fell. Among us, hes the one who searched for the Master the longest. Is that so. Do you n to meet him? I shook my head. Rank 3. Theres a lot to discuss with Lydel. But it wont be settled overnight. I nned to create a ce after I had a clear understanding of the situation. We dont have time. Nide said. Ridgion is usually calm, but once he gets excited, its hard to stop him. Understood. I stepped into the dimensional portal. Mist enveloped my body, obscuring my vision. Murmurs. Voices of people chattering echoed. I surveyed my surroundings. In a wide circr space, tables and sofas were spread out. Recruits dressed in various outfits were engaged in conversations. It was the reception room of the annex. Next to it, there were rooms for recruits to stay in. Theyve ced me here. Even though I appeared right next to them, no one seemed to find me strange. It seemed like a blend of illusion magic. The third floor of the training camp annex. Jenna and Aaron should be here somewhere. If youre looking for yourpanions, its this way, Nide pointed to the stairs. Why did you follow me? For the safety of you master. Dont worry. If anyoneys a hand on you, Ill break their necks. Thats exactly what Im worried about. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 93: Niflheimr (5) (1) Chapter 93: Niflheimr (5) (1) The next day. When I opened my eyes, I saw a strange ceiling. I recollected my memories. This ce was on the 5th floor, among the annexes that amodated recruits. It was the highest floor of the annex and had notably fewer rooms. The reason for the scarcity of rooms was simple; it was reserved for the instructors. Yu. Originally, I had been assigned to the 4th floor. However, due to an unknown fire in the room, I was forcibly moved here. This room was at the end of the corridor on the 5th floor. I roughly tidied up the bedding and got up. The room was clean and neat. The bed, desk, and wardrobe gleamed as if they were brand new. They really did well. I looked around elsewhere, but it wasnt like this. It felt like someone had turned the room upside down. Are you there? Knock, knock. A knocking sound resounded. Yes. Excuse me. Nisled entered, opening the door. She bowed to me and then nced at the bed briefly. Silently, Nisled adjusted the pillow and nket to perfection. Is there anything ufortable about staying here? Its quite in. If you wish, you can go to the 13th floor Its fine. I picked up the sheathed sword and shield on the desk. I spoke to Nisled, who stood upright in the corner of the room. You didnt reveal my identity, did you? Of course not. You said you didnt want any disturbances. Nisled lowered her head to me. I understand. If it were known that you were Lord Loki, it would cause amotion in Niflheimr. It wouldnt be that big of a deal. What a sad thing to say. Click. After securing thest strap of my armor, I opened the door. I will proceed with my mission. Nisleds body blurred and soon disappeared. It was the highest-ranked skill of covert movement. Nisled possessed the ability to erase her presencepletely. Annoying. I had strongly resisted herpany, but I had no choice but to agree due to Nisleds warning that there would be trouble if she didnt follow orders. The condition was not to disclose my identity to ordinary heroes and to conceal her own appearance. The first one had no problems until now, but the second one is actually easy. Contrary to appearances, Nisled was a Master Assassin and a 6-star maximum level. She was a formidable warrior ranked within the top 100 solely by pure sequence. I walked out into the corridor. The instructors were chatting in the lounge. Our eyes met, but I ignored them. When I descended to the 4th floor, I could meet the two who were waiting. Oppa, youre here? Jenna shook my hand. Aaron, standing beside her, nodded his head to me. Did you get some sleep? The lodgings are better than ours. Thanks to that, I slept well. I slept well too. Hisplexion doesnt look good despite saying he slept well. I smiled at Aarons face. He must be thinking a lot. Who I am, how I knew about Niflheimr, and what will happen to him. I had nothing to say at this moment. There would be a chanceter. I looked around the reception room. In addition to us, other recruits were gathering and chatting. The main topic of conversation was Niflheimr. Admiration for the size and facilities of the waiting room. Eclets statement that top performers would be ced in Niflheimr. And rumors about Niflheimr that they knew. Jenna, who was watching the two girls gossiping, spoke up. We talked with the other girls yesterday, and they said this ce is amazing. There are a lot of people, the facilities are great, and there are many strong people. Jenna whispered to me. Recruits who arent even part of this ce know about Niflheimr. Information about this ce seemed to be more widely spread than I thought. Most importantly, they say this Niflheimr has never lost before? Who said that? Just everyone was saying that. Ive heard that story too. They say Theyre invincibles. Aaron added. Never lost. I had failed in missions many times. As I pondered, I realized. Are they talking about something other than missions? Maybe theyre talking about battles between masters. If thats the case, I couldnt deny it. It was true, after all. Many seem to want to get into Niflheimr. You mean by bing the top-ranked trainee, right? Yes. They say theres no worry about being synthesized or dying on missions. The welfare is perfect, and the evaluation of contributions to the public is excellent. They dont discriminate against people from other ces either. I looked around at the other recruits once again. Not a hundred percent, but hope was evident in the expressions of many recruits. How about you? Its just talk, right? Of course, we have to go back. Ourrades are waiting. I feel the same way. The twos answers were without hesitation. Of course, they would. They had a purpose to go back. Recruits who were making reluctant faces probably had simr reasons. The question is whether it will go as we wish. Entering Niflheimr or returning to our original ces wasnt a guaranteed option just because we wanted it. Eclets condition for offering lordship was to be in the top 3. Ny-seven people would be left out. Even if they wanted it, they couldnt stay Niflheimr. The second case was when top rankers didnt want to receive lordship. Sometimes, this happened. But 99% of the time, ends up in Niflheimr anyway. By that time, negotiations would have already concluded, and the master would sell that hero to Niflheimr. Jenna might end up like that. This girls talent was exceptional. I had no intention of leaving her here though. It was time. Following the guidance of the instructors, we gathered in the first-floor hall of the annex and headed to the cafeteria. After finishing our meal in the cafeteria, the first ss awaited us. If yesterday was for enrollment and room assignments, today marked the beginning of real education. We entered arge building across from the annex. We repeated the process of climbing stairs and passing through corridors. Once therge iron door opened, we arrived in a room with a high ceiling and rows of desks. I immediately realized. Its a ssroom. The recruits settled in as if they found it fascinating. After confirming the number of attendees, all the other instructors left, leaving only Eldarkin. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 93: Niflheimr (5) (2) Chapter 93: Niflheimr (5) (2) The recruits settled in as if they found it fascinating. After confirming the number of attendees, all the other instructors left, leaving only Eldarkin. Eldarkin stood in front of the recruits and spoke. From now on, you will receive theory sses. Theory? Half of your rigorous education will consist of acquiring theories and applications rted to missions andbat. Detailedbat techniques will be taught in thetter part of the training. Question marks appeared on peoples faces. Eldarkin exined. You must already know this through your experiences. This world is different from reality, different in itsws. So, what do you need to survive? No recruit answered. Its information. You must understand thews of this world. What the characters that appear before your eyes mean. What stats and skills are. How to apply them inbat. Starting from the basics. Eldarkin said. From there, we will cover various topics, from mission types and strategies, object usage, enemy types and attributes, to warfare formations. Stats, skills, missions. These words sound familiar from somewhere. Jenna muttered. Well, that was true. I exined it myself. Do they also know about it? Well. There was no way they didnt know. The scene of a high-ranked individual passing on their memories to a neer was something I had seen many times. If you have rolled and experienced it for so long, it should be normal to have a well-established system. I assumed that and operated ordingly. The most important thing you must know is your current position in this world. Eldarkin retrieved an object from under the lectern. A ck-and-white-painted square toy. It was a chessboard. There should be at least one in your domains. Its a game called chess. Eldarkin ced a piece next to the chessboard. A round, ck piece. It was the lowest-ranked piece, a pawn. Is this an analogy for yers and chess pieces? They said that chess was a basic item in the lounge, there would be no hero who didnt know that game. The Masters Eldarkins exnation continued. It had a lot of side exnations, but the core of the analogy was simple. Heroes were nothing more than ythings to the Masters. And that they couldnt survive if they didnt realize this. But there was no one looking shocked. This shouldnt be a strange story for them either. Recruits werent newborn chicks who had just been summoned. Missions, synthesis, and transformation were basics in the waiting room operation. If they hadnt realized that within the system, they were fools. Eldarkin was rifying the formation of the heroes, something the recruits were already partially aware of. The tedious lecture continued. Someone was already dozing off. Since everyone had be ustomed to physical training, It wasnt unreasonable for some heroes to find it boring. Im feeling the same way too It was more tedious than boring. Because he was reciting facts they already knew. In the afternoon, the ss content changed. This time, it was about defining stats and skills, as well as levels and experience points. I half-listened, half-drowsed, looking towards the exit of the ssroom. Nisled was standing there. Her lips were moving, judging by the shape of his mouth. You cane out. I shook my head. It was fine for today. But if it continued like this for the next two weeks Evening. After returning to the annex, I opened the door. The dimensional portal was open. Beyond the mist, the garden was visible. Is there anything else to do? Dinner was over, and there was no reason to call Jenna and Aaron. It was still early in the evening. There was enough time to finish the reunion that was left unfinished yesterday. I stepped through the dimensional portal. The familiar garden weed me. Snacks and a teacup were ced on the table. Nisled was standing at the entrance, and Yu was sitting with her legs crossed. Ive been waiting, Master. How was your day today? Not great. Shall I cancel all the education schedules? I shook my head. It was fine for today. It wasnt of any use for me, but its different for Jenna and Aaron. I have realized the importance of information several times. If they hadnt had this opportunity, I probably would have taken the time to exin everything myself. I have something to say. Quite a lot, actually. Please go ahead. While ying a mobile game, I fell from Earth into Mbius. After that, I somehow managed to survive and reached the ount I was ying. However, there were quite a few things to address. How much do you know? Its aplex question. Yu smiled gently. I have a general idea about this world. Yes. I know that Im a chess piece, and I move for the Masters amusement. You seem to know about the inte too. Otherwise, you wouldnt be able to exin the recruitment posts on the bulletin board. Yu replied. Of course. Ive been learning about Earths culture. It has been helpful in various ways. How did you know that I had fallen here? It should have been impossible through the inte. Master, do you remember what I told you yesterday? My conversation with Yu was not a one-time thing. Still, I could infer the context. Master and hero connections run deep. You know that well. Yu gently smiled. If youre aware of the interference ability. I am. Then its simple. All our powers originate from the Master. As your grade goes up, as your power grows, the connection between the Master and the hero bes stronger. Yu held out her right hand, and a book appeared. It had a white leather cover with a drawing of a mountain goat on it. Naglepar, one of the five miraculous grimoires. To cut to the chase, the five of us instinctively knew the moment the Master fell into Mbius. Instinctively? Like destiny. I dont like vague words. Words like destiny didnt appeal to me. I sighed. It seems like that rule only applies to the 13th-floor members. Its a matter of capacity. Yu said. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 94: Niflheimr (6) (1) Chapter 94: Niflheimr (6) (1) Ipared Yu and Eclet. In Niflheimr, their rankings were 2nd and 9th, respectively. Both of them were 6-star heroes. At first nce, the gap didnt seem significant. However, the difference in theirbat abilities was beyond imagination. To put it more directly, even if all the members of the 12th floor, ranked up to 100, were to attack, they wouldnt be able to defeat these five. Its all about the difference in the bowl, I muttered. (T/N: Korean expression which might mean difference in the vessel or essence.) So even though they are both level 6, they cannot bepared, To put it simply. Master put in a special effort for the five of us. Thanks to that, things like this are possible. Yu gestured with her hand. I widened my eyes, and a holographic graphic appeared in my field of vision. [Its like this, Master.] System. I had seen these characters hundreds of times, but the one using the system was different. As Yu withdrew her hand, the message disappeared. Do you know? Heroes grow closer to Master as he puts more effort and attention into them. They are directly affected by the interference power. I recalled Iselles exnation of interference. The origin that twists the causality of this world and modifies thews. It umtes automatically when the Master logs in to observe the waiting room or act. ording to Iselles exnation, the higher the floor reached, the more efficient the umtion seemed to be. It seems like it can also be obtained through microtransactions. In any case, this interference is used to summon heroes,pose missions, and create facilities. So, youre not ordinary heroes. If I had to ssify it by grade, I would be around 6.5 stars. To put it broadly, we exist in Mbius, but we also have one foot in the world of Earth. A system message appeared. [Thanks to the Masters care.] I didnt realize it was this amazing. [Of course. The higher dimensions are enormous to us.] Then how did I end up in a ce like this? Yu closed her eyes. The smile at the corner of her mouth faded away. I investigated that, but I couldnt find the answer. Yu told me about the situation after I disappeared. The five of them, who learned about my disappearance through the link, immediately began investigating the cause. How and why I fell. For this, dozens of airships were secretly employed. But in the end, they couldnt find a satisfactory answer, and Yu sighed. Im sorry. Is that so. But I can tell you one thing. Yu opened her eyes. As heroes get closer to the Master, the Master also gets closer to the heroes. That must be one of the conditions for Mbius to tolerate the Masters existence. Of course, there are other reasons. Nisled poured tea into my cup. I continued my thoughts. The direct cause of my fall was a dungeon of super-extreme difficulty. But Yu didnt mention anything about it. It was highly likely that she didnt know. I hesitated whether to tell her or not. There were too many mysteries. But one question was answered. If what youve exined so far is true, then 7 stars arepletely different from ordinary heroes. Yes. Yu nodded. They are those who transcend the constraints of the system. Half-hero, half-master. In the past, when the boundaries of the server were breached during an event. I had a direct confrontation with a 7-star. His level was 315. I managed to defeat him somehow, but it was an unbelievably high level. Because the systems level limit was 99. I summarized Yus exnation. The grade is the heros vessel. As the grade goes up, heroes can get closer to the Master and the games system. Also, including Yu, the five members have already be such beings and can use the core energy of the game, interference. The higher grade than this; is the 7 star, which is a half-hero, half-master. This is It seems like its talking about me. I can see the maniption window for Anytng. For other heroes, it would be impossible no matter how high their research level is. With the help of Iselle, I can also control the maniption window. You may already know, Master you haventpletely lost your authority. I guess youre right. If I had be a pure hero, the five of them wouldnt have recognized me. In my estimation, even without the Reverse Heavens Scriptures, the Master might be able to reach 7 stars Where are you going with this? Im still a newbie. Iughed and took a sip of the tea. I couldnt taste it. My thoughts deepened. The reason I ended up here was the Advent Dungeon. And the guy I met during my 1-star promotion. Finally, the Reverse Heavens Scriptures, the key item for 7 stars. It all feels connected somehow. I set the teacup down and said, Seris didnt go looking for me, did she? Yes. Right after the Master disappeared, I left to find out the exact cause. Is it for the same reason that I cant see the fairy responsible for Niflheimr? If I tell you one thing, youll understand ten. That childs role is being carried out by me. Yu replied. The sub-master of Niflheimr and the affiliated fairy are not here. Unlike the other two members of the main party, theyre not here for dispatch or an expedition either. It became clear. Shall I try to contact them? Its not impossible. Dont. Its a shame we couldnt meet, but there was no need to force it. There would be opportunities in the future. I summarized the information I had gathered from my conversation with Yu. The teacup was emptied several times. After emptying the third cup, I continued. Next question. Please. How long can Niflheimr hold on? Yu, who had been listening attentively,ughed. Are you worried about the ount deletion? If six months pass in Earth time, the ount could be deleted. Thats what the rules say. Aftering all this way, it would be troublesome if the ount disappeared. I had no intention of giving up Pick Me Up until I cleared the 100th floor of Niflheimr. My purpose for ying was more than just enjoyment. Yu said, Dont worry. Niflheimr is brimming with interference more than any other realm. It doesnt necessarily mean it will be deleted after six months. With enough interference, it shouldst for ten years at least. Well, thats a relief. There was plenty of time. Ten years would be enough time to make preparations. Ive asked almost everything. The core questions were answered. What happened after I disappeared. The reason the five of them were able to find me. Independent operating time. There were many other things I was curious about, but just organizing the current information felt overwhelming. epting too much information at once could lead to confusion. Have your questions been answered? To some extent. May I speak now? I smiled. It seemed they had a lot to say too. I nodded. I can guess what they want to say. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 94: Niflheimr (6) (2) Chapter 94: Niflheimr (6) (2) Have your questions been answered? To some extent. May I speak now? I smiled. It seemed they had a lot to say too. I nodded. I can guess what they want to say. Yu stood up from her chair. Nisled quickly cleared away the snacks and tea on the table. It seemed like they were about to change locations. So, as I stood up, the location changed in an instant. A chandelier hung from the high ceiling, A red carpet wasid on the floor. It was a ce I had never seen before. It must be the ce Yu had prepared for me. The carpet extended forward as I followed it with my gaze. On either side were giant pirs, and the walls were adorned with sculptures. I examined the sculptures. Wow. I couldnt help butugh. It depicted a fierce battle on the 80th floor, the most intense battle during Niflheimr missions. I looked ahead. A curtain of darkness concealed the front. Iughed and said, Is there a throne behind that curtain? Yes. Yu replied without hesitation. This is a ce I, no, we prepared for the Master. A castle, huh. Iughed bitterly. I had known it woulde to this. Parararak. Shelves near Yu fluttered. The white shelves wrapped around Yus body and transformed into clothes. On the left chest was the emblem of Niflheimrs Conqueror, engraved in gold. While Im saddened by the fact that the Master hase here, Im also pleased. Because now I can meet you in person. Yu continued speaking. I believe its time for the Master to take a rightful seat. Yu looked at the curtain that covered the center of the hall. The ck curtain turned gray, and the shadow of a throne appeared behind the curtain. Master, please stay in Niflheimr. Yu knelt on one knee before me. Although youve be a hero, youre not an ordinary existence, Master. With my assistance, you can fulfill your role adequately. [I will transfer all my authority.] A system message appeared. You dont have to worry about Townia. If we, Niflheimr, support it as an ally, it can still grow even without you, Master. [We need you, Master. Please.] Yu lowered her head. At the same time, the system was updated. Yu () is transferring the sub-master rights of Niflheimr. [ept?] [Yes / No] I raised my hand to the message window. A ripple spread where my hand touched. Im not the Master anymore. Dont worry. We will support you wholeheartedly. I stared at the message in front of me. If I press Yes, my affiliation will automatically change to Niflheimr. Moreover, in the absence of the Master, I could be the practical administrator of Niflheimr. Anytng would receive a reward worth tens of thousands of gems. Thats not all. After applying for an alliance, I could provide various forms of support. Even without me, Townia could continue to operate smoothly. Is that so? I chuckled. And then. [Yes / No (Selection)] The eptance window disappeared. Master. Yu looked at me. Her pupils were trembling. Am I not enough on my own? If not, then the other four No need to call them. It would be the same. If werecking Yu prostrated himself. If we are deficient in any way! Im the one whoscking. I shook my head. Im still weak. If you give me a little more time, we can Im going back to Townia. Yus body trembled. Why? Why are you being so stubborn? I just dont want to take the bus. Huh? Just get up for now. Its not pleasant to look at. Yu didnt get up. If you dont get up, I wont speak. Yu reluctantly stood up. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Its not because I dont like you or dislike this ce. If I stay in Niflheimr, I can start over in an environment thats hundreds of times superior to Townia. However, Im not ready. First of all, Niflheimr is undoubtedly powerful. But relying solely on it will corrupt me. The goal of climbing the Tower is temporary. I dont believe 100% that I can return when I reach the 100th floor. In the end, I might end up returning with my own strength. Secondly, I havent prepared to take responsibility for them. epting is easy. But taking responsibility is a different matter. It didnt matter when I was the Master, but now that I know their true identity and have be the same kind of being, its a significant change. Lastly I chuckled. This was a somewhat trivial reason. Its hard to say that I cant stay because I made a promise. Do you need an exnation? Yu lowered her eyes. I understand. If you understand, thats enough. But I havent given up. Hmm? Yu pursed her lips. Do you want to return to Earth? Thats one way. In any case, I dont n to stay here. Mobius is not my hometown. Although there are no waiting family members, Earth is where I was born. If you cant go back, what will you do? Its aplicated issue. If I couldnt go back. After reaching the 100th floor of the Tower. After defeating that guy. Even searching through different dimensions didnt reveal a way. If that happens Well, theres nothing I can do. If I cant go back to Earth, even after resolving Townias problem, then, Ill do as you wish. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 95: Niflheimr (7) (1) Chapter 95: Niflheimr (7) (1) I opened my eyes. The second morning in Niflheimr. The rooms appearance had be somewhat familiar. I drank the lukewarm water ced by the bedside. After tidying up, as I got up, I heard a knock at the door. Have you woken up? Yes. Excuse me. Nisled entered the room and began arranging the bedding. She straightened the pillow and folded the nket. It was the same scene as yesterday. I put on my sword and shield and said, How long are you going to follow me? Unless you have other orders, Ill stay here as long as you do. Nisled finished her tidying up. From her words, it seemed that Nisled also knew that I wouldnt stay here for long. I recalled yesterdays events. After I finished speaking, Yu quietly withdrew, saying she understood. There was no resistance or objections. My decision remained unchanged. I will strengthen myself. Even if I were to ept Yus proposal one day, it would only be after I had confidence in myself. I wouldnt rely on thempletely, even if I could ept their help. I put on the detachable leather armor hanging on the rack. It was 6:35 AM. There was still time before sses started. I thought about borrowing the courtyard of the annex for some sword practice. It had been a while since I had moved my body. I intended to walk past Nisled, who was standing there, somewhat stunned. And then I discovered a strange scene. A cluster of mist was gathering above the bed. The hazy mass coalesced into the shape of a person in one spot. It gained color and definition. It was my own figure. Whats going on? Yus voice echoed. The figure that looked like me stood up from the bed. I touched its calf with my toe. I could feel it. Yus specialty, a tangible illusion magic. From the outside, no one would be able to tell the difference. Are you setting up my stand-in? Click. My illusion sheathed the sword. Were waiting for your approval, Master. Nisled spoke up. I narrowed my eyes. She wasnt wrong. I would have to spend more than half of my day doing nothing if I followed the ss schedule. I thought for a moment and nodded. Very well, you have my approval. My clone passed through the door. Even though it acts somewhat unnaturally, Yous illusion creates a psychological illusion in the viewers eyes. There was no worry about being caught. Master, what do you n to do from today? Nisled asked. One month of free time and my ns were already set. Personal training. Here, I didnt need to worry about mission progress or the situation in the waiting room. I nned to rent a suitable ce and focus on training. My goal was clear. Level up my intermediate weapon skills. Currently, my weapon skill level is at 8, the lower tier. With two more skill level-ups and a promotion, I would meet the evolution conditions. I didnt care about anything else. Just this. There was a significant gap between lower and intermediate weapon skills. If possible, Id like to borrow the backyard of the annex. Is that okay? You should have your meal first. A dimensional door opened in the corner of the room. Beyond the door was a familiar scene. Yus residence, the Mist Garden. I hesitated for a moment and then nodded. I wont use this door. Ill go there myself. The dimensional door closed. At the same time, a cool sensation enveloped my body. I knew what it was. It was magic that concealed my appearance. Yes. Nisled opened the door. We stepped into the corridor of the annex and began walking. The instructors passed us by as if they hadnt seen us. Ill take a look around at least once. Niflheimr. Its a ce I designed and created. While it might be challenging to explore every location due to time constraints, I intended to see as much as possible. You dont know something until youve seen it with your own eyes. We entered the corridor leading to the elevators. A group of people in gray uniforms came into view. A ck-d instructor led them in front of the group. They must be from the Main Hall. These were heroes freshly summoned from Niflheimrs summoning hall. They were in a state of continuous production. Heroes kept getting summoned even in my absence. Neers underwent basic assessments, were assigned to training centers based on their aptitude, graduated, and were then categorized based on their abilities. We reached the central hall on the second floor. I saw elevators going up and down through ss corridors. People dressed in various colors were inside. Nisled pointed to the door on the right side of the hall. The Master should go this way. The door, painted ck, had golden patterns on it. It was a passage reserved for high-ranking officials. I followed Nisled inside, and the elevator began to move. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 95: Niflheimr (7) (2) Chapter 95: Niflheimr (7) (2) The Master should go this way. The door, painted ck, had golden patterns on it. It was a passage reserved for high-ranking officials. I followed Nisled inside, and the elevator began to move. Unlike regr elevators, there was hardly any vibration. I observed Niflheimrs scenery through the ss in the back. The third floor was home to basic production and gathering upations. Heroes worked in a sorting facility on one side of the za. The fourth floor was where basicbat personnel resided. They were responsible for minorbat missions and escorting gathering personnel from the third floor to weekly dungeons. As you went up the floors, responsibilities, authority, and benefits increased. But it wasnt a pyramid structure. The majority of Niflheimrs personnel were in the middle floors from the fifth to the eighth. This, too, was something I had arranged. From the ninth floor onward, officers and administrative personnel were located. They were in charge ofmanding battles and managing Niflheimrs facilities. Starting from the tenth floor, authority increased further. From the eleventh floor, the number of personnel drastically decreased. 400 on the twelfth floor. 90 on the thirteenth floor. The final thirteenth floor Strictly speaking, it had only 5 members. The main partys lieutenants were temporary members. The elevator door opened. Looking up, I saw a gray sky. It was the thirteenth floor. A circr floor. Unlike the city-sized other floors, it wasnt very spacious. At best, it was the size of a small vige. The top floor of Niflheimr was divided into five sections, each with its own residence. Was that created by Yu? I pointed to the central castle. It was a building I hadnt seen before. Yes. It was built for the Master. Theyve made it quite grand. While not shy, it gleamed with ck polish. Inside the castle, it seemed there was an audience room that I had entered yesterday. Master, this way, please. Mist formed on the brick path and then lined up in a row. I smirked and followed the mist. The mist led to Yus garden. This is as far as I go. Please take care. Nisled bowed her head. She seemed to be going to attend to other duties. I entered the garden. Yu was waiting next to the central table. Ive prepared a meal. Yu smiled and pped her hands. Various bread and sds appeared on the table. Ive kept it simple, but I hope it suits your taste. This is more than enough. I picked up a small piece of bread from the basket. If it had been a grand feast, I would have declined. I sat down and nibbled on the bread. Why did you call me? I heard you were going to train. Thats right. We admire your determination to be stronger on your own. But Yu lowered her gaze. Im sorry, Master. What for? We understand your intentions well. But it seems like you dont trust us. Yu had a lonely expression. I chuckled. I had a sense of what she wanted to say. Bing stronger is good. However, I hope you can rely on us a little. Is that what you mean? Yes. We can only watch you from the sidelines Yu hugged her arm. Shes quite good at acting. Half of it was probably sincere. I chuckled and said, I was going to ask for that. Is that really true? Why else would Ie here? If The Niflheimr had been of no use to me, I would have stayed in Townia. Theres a reason why I came here, beyond just wanting information. I continued speaking. Im not going to rely on you for everything. But I hope you can at least help. How, how can we help? Yu leaned forward across the table. Her face came closer. Youre getting too close. Back off a bit. I apologize for showing such behavior. Yu adjusted her posture. For starters, Master, should we send about a million gems to Townia? Sigh. Are you seriously asking this? Even with all the support, I would eventually have to stand alone from the higher floors. I cant spoil Anytng. Support for Townia is strictly prohibited. Contact is also prohibited. Unless I say otherwise, dont interfere in any way. As youmand. Yu bowed deeply. When ites down to it Anytng is quite dependent on me. But this is something I have to take into ount. Basic care is necessary, at the very least. It feels like raising an elementary school student. After clearing my thoughts about Anytng, I continued speaking. As I mentioned, its about training. Training. ss advancement and skills. There was one more thing to request. I had nned to bring it up when the training was nearing itspletion. If youre willing. Yu gave me a gentle smile. I have something in mind. After finishing the meal, I left the garden. Yu headed to her office, saying she would take care of Niflheimrs affairs. It was originally a task we shared. She would be quite busy doing it alone. If I had the time, I would help, but for now, I needed to mind my own business. I walked along the path. The scenery, filled with trees and grass, began to change gradually. Barren rocky terrain. Even the path underfoot disappeared. I hadpletely transitioned into Yus territory. Rocks jutted up in various ces. Some were as small as 1 meter, while others were over 10 meters tall. Countless de marks were engraved on the rock surfaces. But actually, its not rocks. At first nce, they looked like rocks, but they felt different up close. Gigantic ores with a deep ck shine. They were called ck Iron. It was several times harder and sharper than steel. I was familiar with this area. Iron Mountain. I examined the rock closely. The de marks that had cut through the ck Iron like paper were forming a shape. That guy carved it. Sculptures on the walls inside the castle. It made sense. Besides him, there was no one to consider. Ranked 3rd in Niflheimr. Heavenly Sword, the owner of u Ss. (T/N: u Ss: idheamh Soluis or The Sword of Light: is a trope object that appears in a number of Irish and Scottish Gaelic folktales.) His talent was overwhelming, to the point where I once suspected him of being a bug character. Ridgion. Ive been waiting. Behind the iron mountain split in half. A cold-looking young man walked out. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 96: Niflheimr (8) (1) Chapter 96: Niflheimr (8) (1) Ridgion. When he was first summoned, there was nost name in the status window. His innate rank was 2 stars. However, among the thousands of heroes Ive drawn, I havent seen a genius like him. Ridgion was a hero who had actively participated in numerous missions since the early days of Niflheimr, alongside Seris. Nice to meet you for the first time. The young man bent his knee to me. His face was expressionless, but there was a burning light in his eyes. He wasnt wearing an upper garment, and his smooth, muscr upper body was covered with scars. Stand up. Ridgion straightened up. A sword was stuck in the ground beside him. It was an ordinary iron sword with no particr features. It seemed like he had been practicing here alone before I arrived. Various sword marks covered the nearby dark iron. The fact that Ridgion is here I can guess the intention. I looked at the sword next to Ridgion. He used it to cut through dark iron, which is several times stronger, yet it had no scratches. Ridgion spoke. I heard the story from Yu. Its good, I dont have to say it again then. Why did you make such a decision? Ridgions face wrinkled. But in the blink of an eye, Ridgion returned to his usual expressionless self. Our hearts remain unchanged. No matter what state you are in, Master Im sorry. My heart is the same. Ridgion turned his head. Iughed and said, I dont think you called me to try to convince me of the impossible. I exined the reason. Even if all five of them gathered, I had no intention of reversing the decision. Ridgion must know that. He probably just feels disappointed. Well, thats how it is. Ridgion muttered. The me that had been in his eyes gradually dimmed andpletely disappeared. Is this how it works? I narrowed my eyes. Ridgions demeanor hadpletely changed. It felt strange as if I were looking at an inanimate object. It must be the ultimate evolution of the Composure skill. And one more thing. Body and Sword Unity. I could sense the de even though I was this far away. It felt like facing a well-forged famous sword. Ridgion said, Just as you made me stronger. Ridgion drew the sword stuck in the ground. I will make you stronger too. Ridgion extended the sword. And he froze in that position. Are you going to be my practice partner? If you wish. As far as I know, the most perfect swordsman is right in front of me. While other heroes acquire abilities beyond weapon skills, he stubbornly stuck to swordsmanship. He was different from the four who carried dozens of abilities as a basic. Ridgion had only a few skills that could assist swordsmanship. I cant help it, I have to do it. My body burned for the first time in a while. It was a feeling I didnt feel in the fight against Jenna or Valkyrist. I drew my sword and shield. Master,e at me. Ridgion held the hilt of his sword lightly. I calmed my breathing and said, Is your training method still the same? Yu has given you the permission, so you can see for yourself. In that case, I wont decline. Status window. Ridgions stats appeared before my eyes. [Ridgion() Lv. 99] [ss: Weapon Master] [Strength: 10/10] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Health: 10/10] [Agility: 10/10] [Skills: Effects of Heavenly Sword Spirit (Lv.Max) cannot be seen.] As expected. The total stats were 40. All stats were at 10. It was the stats that a level one 1-star hero of normal summoning would have by default. Of course, it wasnt his true ability. Ridgion deliberately lowered it to train his skills without relying on his body. I took a deep breath. I didnt think Ridgion was underestimating me. He was just amoner with only 10 strength, but he could cut through dark iron like it was nothing. The weapon he was holding was not the five-star divine sword, u Ss. It was a dull and old iron sword. Iming at full power. Anytime. I flipped the switch in my head. A heat spread throughout my body, growing hotter. [Han() has entered a wild state!] Status window. This time, I examined my own abilities. [Han Israt() Lv. 20(Exp 58/160)] [ss: Novice] [Strength: 55/45 + 10] [Intelligence: 0/10 10] [Health: 51/41 + 10] [Agility: 49/39 + 10] [Skills: Low-level Swordsmanship(Lv.8), Insight(Lv.5), Fire Resistance(Lv.3), Pain Resistance(Lv.4), Composure(Lv.5), Frenzy(Lv.6), Invincible(Lv.1), Dragons Blood(Lv.1), Stealth(Lv.1), Horsemanship(Lv.1)] [Current State: Frenzy(Lv.6)] The current level is 20. The total stats add up to 135. When calcting the additional value of Frenzy, it bes 155. Compared to the current Ridgion, there is a difference of 115 points. When you add even intelligence, which has no effect on the physical category, the gap widens even further. It was a gap between an adult and a child, no, between a giant and a newborn. Its not just strength. Stamina and agility are iparable too. Even if the weapon skill levels are not simr, with this much difference in stats, I can easily overwhelm him; his weapon would shatter as soon as it met mine. Thats if this guy was ordinary Lets see how far I can reach with my current self. Lets Go. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 96: Niflheimr (8) (2) Chapter 96: Niflheimr (8) (2) Lets see how far I can reach with my current self. Lets Go. I stepped with my foot. In an instant, my body shot out like an arrow. Theres no need to hold back. I dont have any intention of hiding. Aim for his throat. Attack to kill. With a ton of force that is purely mass, the sword swung. Ridgions sword moved. I didnt care. I added more force to my right hand. The n is to hit it head-on and crash it. Swish. My de flowed over the surface of his sword. Ridgion doesnt even flinch. He effortlessly blocked the de that contained several times the strength of his. This is about it. I expected it. I adjusted my sword. What was a swing became a thrust. At the same time, I struck his side with my shield. A single blow wouldnt be enough. So, I overwhelmed him with the difference in ability. Strength. Speed. Stamina. Everything except skill was in my favor. The sword bounced off. The shield slipped. I swung the sword for the third time. I thrust it down for the fourth time. This was something I didnt show against the members of Townia. I poured out everything I had without any reservations. That. Ridgion effortlessly received it all. There was no ng when metal shed. It was a soft sound like silk brushing against silk. Ridgion stood still, not moving an inch, letting my attacks flow past him. Im much stronger and faster. When I move three times, he moves once. But his sword was already there where I tried to swing, and it appeared where I tried to thrust. Thew of action and reaction seemed to have been thrown out the window. Ridgion didnt even let a single hair move. Except for his right arm and shoulder, he didnt use any other part of his body. He didnt dodge or block any of my attacks. The sword drew an arc. The trajectory was visible. I raised my shield. Swish. The diagonally cut shield fell to the ground. I discarded my shield. I knew I couldnt block. I shifted my body to the side and prepared to thrust with the sword. At that moment, the de of the sword was already against my throat. I let out a bitterugh. Ridgion, who had put away his sword, knelt before me. I apologize for pointing my sword at you, Master, please forgive me. Dont bother with the formalities. Its annoying. Ridgion stood up. I lowered my head. I thought I would lose, but not to this extent. I couldnt do anything. It wasnt even a fight. I felt like I understood how Valkyrist felt when we first fought. But I knew. Its not just Anytng that needs to learn from defeat. As Han Israt, I have never experienced a proper defeat in Townia. Not Jenna, not Aaron, not even Velkirst or Neryssa. Not even advanced heroes like Edis or Roderick. None of them were able to defeat me so perfectly. Ive always fought from a position of superiority. But now its different. An overwhelmingly powerful adversary. As I am now, theres a monster I cant even touch. This guy didnt use even a tenth of his strength. He reversed the enormous gap in ability as if turning his hand over. This is This is my full power. Isnt it funny? I couldnt be more impressed. Ridgion lowered his head. If I were at the same level as the master, it would have been a tough fight. You sure have a way with words. Objectively, I belong to the top 1% or less of the extraordinary ss. I have 10 skills. Moreover, I have a variety of cost-effective skills. The synergy skills between Composure, Frenzy, and Invincible were especially highly rated. My weapon skill level was also outstanding. As a master, if I were to acquire a hero like me, I would easily invest more than 5,000 gems. But this guy He was a talent on an unprecedented level. When Ridgion was only Level 7 he achieved a lower swordsmanship level of 10. The reason he couldnt raise it further wasnt due to ack of skill. Lower weapon skill 10 was the maximum limit a novice ss could achieve. It was because he hadnt advanced. At first, I suspected you were a bug character. Its an honor to be highly regarded by you. Ridgion interrupted my words. If talent was everything, the hero who should have been closest to the master Well, thats true. Ridgion broke through the limits by realizing the extreme nature in all weapon skills. But in the end, he couldnt surpass Seris in overall terms. Well, even so, the difference isnt significant when ites to the five of them. With just one variable, the oue could be reversed. I picked up the shield. The shattered shield had been fully restored. It seemed that the healing power was at work here as well. I adjusted my posture and looked at Ridgion, who had returned expressionless. Sorry. Its fine. Lets move on. Ridgion corrected his sword. His unique presence returned once again. I adjusted my breath. One side of my body was trembling. It was a feeling I hadnt even felt when I fought with the rampaging ck Dragon. Ill keep fighting until I understand it. Frenzy still hadnt subsided. I gathered the power writhing inside me into my right arm. Thud. Then, I raised the sword again. ng! Ridgion blocked my downward strike. This time, there was a proper friction sound. Of course, it wasnt because my skills had improved. It was because this guy had changed the style of his sword. I relentlessly attacked Ridgion. It was for a short time, but its a great achievement. Ridgion said. The tone was praising, but his voice was emotionless. If you cross the wall just once, you can enter the intermediate swordsmanship realm. Ridgion swung his sword to the side. He blocked my shing with the sword. Thud. A strange sound came from his right shoulder, and then the sword was knocked out of my hand. My right-hand grip tore, and blood flowed. I let out a frustrated sigh. Hmph. My right arms joint had dislocated. I lost again. After enduring the numbing pain for a while, my arm returned to normal. Is this Strong Sword? The one he showed mest time was Gentle Sword. It seems that physical abilities are not penalized at all by the reduction of the stats. I picked up the fallen sword. Ridgion changed his posture again. Still, not yet. I charged again. I still had plenty of stamina left. I poured out everything I had learned in the past four months against Ridgion. Ridgion blocked my strikes without changing his expression. His gaze wasnt on me. He was probably focused on the effect of my entire swordsmanship, the sum total of it. It was the effect of the special skill, Sword Minds Eye. The shes continued. When the weapon broke, Ridgion handed me a new sword. We shed again. We repeated this process several times. And as time passed Thats enough. I dropped the sword. I couldnt tell how long we had fought. But one thing was clear: during that long time, I couldntnd a single scratch on Ridgion, whose total stats were barely 40. Im sure of one thing now. I need to get stronger. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 97: Niflheimr (9) (1) Chapter 97: Niflheimr (9) (1) I looked at Ridgion. His posture was unwavering, while I was leaning against a rock, catching my breath. The difference between Ridgion and me I pondered. Clearly, my physical abilities were superior. When I moved twice, could only Ridgion move once. When I put in the power of 10, Ridgion only had 5. However, the results werepletely opposite. Ridgions sword was faster and more powerful than mine. Just putting in more strength doesnt make the sword stronger. The same goes for speed. Ridgion took a deep breath. Even if you swing with the power of 10, it doesnt fully transfer to the sword. That might be true. Ridgion handed me a water bottle. As the water flowed down my throat, vitality surged through my body. It doesnt fully transfer. It was a simple fact. Moving your body directly and handling a tool is different. There will always be some energy loss in those movements, whether they are small orrge. I understand the precise effects of the Heavenly Sword Spirit(Body and Sword Unity) now. When I was a master, I only knew it as a skill that adjusted swordsmanship, but now that I had experienced it firsthand, I could feel it. I emptied the water to thest drop and asked, How much power is poured in my sword? About 80% of your own. And you? I would say about three times my own. I clicked my tongue. But I somewhat understood. If it wasnt at that level, Ridgion wouldnt have been able to defeat monsters muchrger and stronger than himself with just one swing. When he swings the sword with the power of 10, the sword contains 30 power. However, even so, the gap in abilities between Ridgion and me is just iparable. From the beginning, there was a difference of almost five times in pure stats alone. This was just one of the reasons. I asked, There a lot of waste in my movements. Is that correct? From my perspective, yes. But it cant be helped. It hasnt been long since the master arrived here. The efficiency of movement was different. I also felt this fact as we shed. When I attacked twice, he blocked once. When he swung once, I had to block twice. The moment he moved one finger, he had already pierced through everything. He knew where I was going to attack and how I was going to attack. Not only that, he perfectly exploited the tiny openings revealed in my connected movements. I had felt a simr feeling in my duels with Velkyst and Jenna, but I had never imagined trying it. Ridgion. Yes. Youre strong. Its an honor to receive this praise. Ridgion bowed again. I scrutinized him slowly. Apart from the fact that there was almost no change in his expression, he had an ordinary appearance. His body wasnt overly muscr. I couldnt tell where that tremendous power he disyed in the missions came from. Hes master. His job was a Master. He was different from the other members. He had his advancement directly at 3-star, and even as a 6-star hero, he still maintained the job he obtained earlier. The basic requirement for a Master is to be level 20 or higher 3-star Hero. And if you meet certain conditions for weapon skills, you can advance. The biggest feature is undoubtedly the significant adjustment to weapon skills. Once you acquire the unique skill, Mantle of Expertise, you can wield other weapons with the same efficiency as your main weapon. In other words, you can handle an unlimited number of weapons. However Its not going to be my path. The method of advancing to a master is confidential to the public, but of course, I knew it. I was the one who advanced Ridgion. However, it just didnt suit my style. Still, theres a lot to learn. I stood up from the rock. The heat in my body had subsided a bit. Master, are you only staying here for a month? Yeah. Theres not much time. A hint of regret flickered in Ridgions eyes. If you had stayed for a year, or even six months What would you have done for me? Master, you will be even stronger than you are now. Thats a given. I chuckled and spun my sword. And then, I rushed towards Ridgion. He blocked as if he had expected my attempt to strike at his forehead. Masters fighting style is different from mine. ng! ng ng! Our swords shed, sending sparks flying. I didnt stop and continued to swing my sword. The sound of the de cutting through the air and the friction of metal filled my ears. Fundamentally, its excellent swordsmanship supported by various skills. Youre an all-rounder who can use your abilities in any situation. Is that so? Master, youre simr to Seris. I moved my sword in an attempt to attack. Thrusts that targeted the neck, chest, and legs in a three-step sequence were thrown at Ridgion. As Ridgion drew circles with his sword, all the attacks were absorbed into the trajectory. If you continue to grow properly youll be the strongest. If only it were that easy. I chuckled sarcastically. Although all the attacks were thwarted, I didnt stop swinging my sword. Ridgion, while Im here, I want to raise my swordsmanship to the intermediate level. With Masters talent, its possible. Will you help? Id be happy to. After being summoned, I had to train in almost all aspects of swordsmanship by myself. But I didnt do it because I wanted to. I knew how important it was to have a mentor who could guide and clear the way. Learning under an excellent instructor, regardless of talent, was more efficient than self-study. Thats why I brought Aaron to Niflheimr for the same reason. Advancing swordsmanship to an intermediate level is not an easy task. Most heroes only break through to the intermediate level long after their advancement. The average level for acquiring it is 30 or higher. But I had no intention of taking it easy like that. A bit faster. To be so strong that no one could surpass me. Strong enough to handle that guy on my own. I didnt want to rely on Niflheimr for everything, but I also didnt n to navigate this crazy world on my own. If receiving help became a condition, I would dly ept it. And what I receive, I would eventually repay. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 97: Niflheimr (9) (2) Chapter 97: Niflheimr (9) (2) I dont know how many hours I swung my sword. I felt my body getting as heavy as wet cotton. It was a feeling I hadnt experienced much since my stamina exceeded 40. Thanks to the healing power, it was only to this extent. If it had been in a mission, I would have copsed from exhaustion. This guy is a real monster. We had practiced for at least three hours. But Ridgions posture remained unchanged. Even though I had known it when he was a master, feeling it firsthand was sickening. Indeed. It wasnt an exaggeration. Among the three heroes who fought Seris, Ridgion was the only one with a chance of winning. A specialist in small-scale andrge-scale battles. Ridgion boasted an almost unbeatable advantage when facing human-type opponents. Is it absurd to assess it like this when he hasnt even shown me his true strength? I let out a bitterugh and sat down in the chair. When I looked to the side, I saw a wooden doll for practice. I dont know when it appeared, but it seems something Nisled would prepare. She probably finished setting up and had disappeared. Are you satisfied? Ridgion said. I knew full well that I wasnt good enough. Even if you search through all of Mobius, you can count on one hand the number of 3-star heroes of the same level that canpete with the Master. Theres no need for pointless exaggeration. I want to hear your real opinion. Ridgion said. If the time is one month it will be difficult to make real progress. So? To prepare for whates after you return, you should perfect the basics. Ridgion said. Currently, Masters greatest strength is the ability to use Frenzy without losing control. The reason this is possible is probably Because Im half-hero, half-master. Yes. Masters current state is simr to 7-Heroes. Ridgion nodded. I recalled my skill status. Composure and Frenzy. Skills that a single hero couldnt learn at the same time naturallyplemented each other. It was clearly a bug character. It had exceeded the systems restrictions. Its hard to say that Im different from those guys. All 7-Star heroes exceed level 100. Their skills should be in a simr state to mine. Skills that couldnt bebined are now merging, and skills that couldnt be separated are splitting apart. Limited imprint slots seem to be unlimited. Thats ridiculous. It was truly a bnce copse. Based on our investigation here, theres one more characteristic of the 7-Star Heroes. What is it? The synthetic efficiency is significant., Ridgion said. When a hero receives the data of a sacrifice, over 90% of the information is lost during the transfer process. Even if a hero with a power of 100 is used as a sacrifice, the target hero can only be as strong as 10. Of course, 10 is a high estimate. On average, the data loss rate for synthetic is over 95%. The 7-Star is different. Ridgion put his fist on his chin and fell into thought for a few seconds before saying, In Masters swordsmanship there are traces of formal training. Hmm? Fundamentally, it feels rough and barbaric, honed in practicalbat, but in some movements, asionally, those aspects can be seen. Ridgion opened his mouth. Master, who was from Earth, hadnt received swordsmanship training. In that case Yes, its mixed into Masters swordsmanship. The knights characteristics. I closed my eyes. The image of someone came to mind. A female knight who used precise and deadly swordsmanship to defeat enemies. Shey Radastery. (T/N: The female 4-Star Hero in the first few chapters.) She, who was several times stronger than me at that time, had been synthesized into me due to Masters simple mistake. Is that so? I muttered. I didnt know when I was a 1-Star Hero. But after reaching 2-Star ss, sometimes when I swung my sword, I felt a strange sensation, as if there was something else in my movements. Indeed. Ridgion nodded. He seemed to have guessed that a high-ss hero had been synthesized into me. Is all my talent because of that? No, its not. If that were the case, Masters swordsmanship would bepletely different now. It does have an influence, but its not that significant. However Ridgion chuckled lightly. If you can consciously utilize it, it will be a great help to Master. Ridgion drew his sword from the ground. I dont know to whom it belonged, but when I saw it, it seemed to have reached the intermediate level. It was an intermediate swordsmanship. Her precise thrusts were outstanding. I still remember how she pierced the goblins jugr vein as if measuring it. Can you try using that persons swordsmanship? Ill try. I got up from my seat. It seemed that Sheys skills had indeed inadvertently helped my growth. I had sometimes felt a strange sensation when I swung my sword. If its true that Im influenced by that woman. There would be both advantages and disadvantages. However, as Ridgion had said, depending on how it was used, it had the potential to be very powerful. I raised the sword and focused my breath. Ridgions posture remained the same as before. He held his sword still and watched me. Consciously. I recalled the memory. It was fleeting, but there was something I could feel. Didnt she say something? What Shey had said just before disappearing. At that time, I couldnt understand its meaning. Iming. I pivoted my foot. My body shot out like an arrow. Come. A surge of energy erupted around my heart and spread throughout my body. I consciously grasped it. Made it mine. And then My body moved naturally. [Skill Awakening!] [Han ()s Low-level Swordsmanship has reached Lv.9!] Swoosh! A perfect thrust surged forward. A smile formed at the corner of Ridgions mouth. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 98: Niflheimr (10) (1) Chapter 98: Niflheimr (10) (1) In the end, the thrusting skill failed tond on Ridgion. He changed his stance and smoothly parried it. I looked at my trembling right hand lightly. The movement I had just made was sharper and more intricate than anything I had ever done before. Its much better thanst time. Ridgion lowered his sword. Ridgions feet, which had not moved at all since we started practicing, took a step back. Is the efficiency of synthesis different? To the Master, synthesis is not just about absorbing experience points. Ridgion lowered his voice. But be cautious. Higher efficiency isnt always better. Theres a risk that the information between the Master and the target may be mixed, or it could have a negative impact. I nodded. I gained some adjustments in swordsmanship through synthesis with Shay. It had certainly been a boost to my growth. Low-level heroes with no remarkable abilities might benefit from it, but if a higher-ranked hero was synthesized, they could gain simr experiences. However, it wasnt entirely without drawbacks. If you overdo synthesis Information gets mixed up. Theres a reason why Master who uses swordsmanship cant learn defensive skills. There may not be much difference in the direction of talents, but We should be careful. There are no advanced heroes in Townia with a rank of 4 or higher yet. However, as the waiting room expands and the number of floors increases, there will undoubtedly be a few heroes who will be synthesized into me in the meantime. But I dont decide. The Master of Townia is not me. Even if I be a sub-master, I wont be allowed the authority to synthesize. But I could still have an indirect influence. I needed to consider this aspect. I raised one level in just one day. I thought it would take ten days. Masters talent Stop praising me. Its embarrassing. Anyway, if progress is faster than I expected, one intermediate martial skill wont be enough. In that case I want to learn Heavenly Sword Spirit.'' Heavenly Sword Spirit is not amonly ssified skill. As far as I know, Ridgion is the only hero who possesses Heavenly Sword Spirit. Heavenly Sword Spirit is a unique skill with only one possessor. dly. Ridgion bowed his head to me. But before that, you must break through intermediate martial skills. Is there a restriction on that? Not really, but at this stage, it will be less efficient to learn. And I apologize, but even if I do my best, the Master may not be able to learn it. That doesnt matter. I wont me you for myck of skill. Ridgion is giving it his all. If I cant learn it, its my deficiency. I should change my schedule a bit. It seems that Im gaining more than I thought from this. I needed to invest a little more time. I must exclude stamina training. Stamina training is a training that can be done even after returning. But sparring and training with Ridgion are invaluable experiences that cannot be obtained anywhere else. I should ask Yu to set up an evening session as well. Leaving it alone for too long might get me caught, but I had already figured that out when I brought him here. Then, the next practice Master. A familiar voice was heard. Looking to the side, I noticed Nisled, who was pulling a multiyered cart. On the cart, there were various dishes ced on high-quality tes. Its mealtime. You can take a break while eating. Nisled fluttered her apron and a small wooden table appeared. Nisled set up the chairs,id out various dishes on the table, and then bowed before disappearing. She was still the same busybody. I put my sword in its sheath. I guess we should eat first. After finishing the meal, I took a short break. And then I faced Ridgion again. I tried to recreate the feeling I had when I raised my weapon skill level by one. Its not going well. It felt like beginners luck, and the sensation was faint like it wasing and going. But it didntpletely disappear. It lingered faintly in my hand. I looked at Ridgion. The posture remained the same, no greetings were needed. I raised my sword and rushed in. ng! The swords collided and produced a loud noise. Every time I cut and thrust, Ridgion smoothly redirected his sword, deflecting and blocking effortlessly. Even after hours of observation, his movements remained mysterious. Your techniques have improved, Ridgion said, effortlessly parrying my diagonal sh. Thats because I didnt use Frenzy. For the afternoon sparring session, we decided to fight in a different way. While the morning session focused on strength and speed, this time we nned to test a more technique-oriented approach, even if it meant being a bit weaker and slower. The unnatural movements that asionally appear in the Masters swordsmanship seem to be because of that skill, Ridgionmented. Thats not the only thing, I replied, swinging my shield. The sword drew a half-circle as it brushed against the shield. Ridgion paused for a moment and then continued, When you reach level 10, you should consider separating your skills. I was already thinking about that. To change skills, you needed a special item called the Awakening Elixir. It required various rare materials and advanced alchemy, but here, it was asmon as pebbles. Bringing a few wouldnt even raise suspicions. There was plenty to do. Broadly speaking, adjusting and learning swordsmanship was the priority. I had to achieve this even if it meant giving up other things. Secondly, I needed to change my type of swordsmanship. The shield was undoubtedly useful equipment. I have ovee numerous crises thanks to it. However, it didnt suit my aptitude. Just by looking at my inability to learn defensive skills, it was clear. To advance to higher-tier swordsmanship, I needed to change from shield-swordsmanship to regr swordsmanship. The third goal was to acquire the Heavenly Sword Spirit. The principle might beplex, but the effect was simple: it amplified the power and speed applied to the weapon. If properly harmonized, it would give wings to my Frenzy. It was equivalent to receiving two adjustments to my stats. The fourth was to adjust Frenzy. As I had felt and Ridgion mentioned, activating Frenzy seemed to incur a penalty in swordsmanship. If I could somehow offset this penalty Is it too much to go this far? Time is tight to aplish even just one. Even if I get it right to the third one, I will be iparably stronger. Thus, I decided to keep the fourth goal in mind but not overdo it. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 98: Niflheimr (10) (2) Chapter 98: Niflheimr (10) (2) Late in the afternoon. Its a huge difference between low-tier and intermediate swordsmanship, Ridgion said. I agree. Swordsmanship formed the foundation among countless skills. Even if Im loaded with various shy skills, if my swordsmanshipgged behind, my chances of winning would significantly diminish. Low-tier swordsmanship is forbat, while intermediate swordsmanship is for war. From intermediate onwards, its not just simple brawling; its a battle where we create and push our domains against each other. Are you talking about swordsmanship domains? Yes, Ridgion replied. Territory, huh. I asionally sensed it during sparring with Velkist. If a sword came in a certain direction, I could detect it no matter how it approached. And I could counter perfectly. The Insight skill that led to Defending Projectiles was also a form of domain enhancement. Defend your own territory and break through the opponents. Thats the essence of intermediate swordsmanship. Sword types like Strong Sword, Soft Sword, or Quick Sword are the means for this. You can categorize them into cavalry, archers, and spearman types. You have already begun building your territory, Master. But its still an iplete fence. You must strengthen it into a sturdy fortress. Ridgion said, If they enter your territory, no one can get out alive. Ridgion presence changed again. It felt like even just a touch of his hand could seemingly cut through my entire body. Ah Ridgion adjusted his sword. At the same time, a sharp sound, like paper being sliced, was heard. Sssshhh. Cracks formed in the steel sand that surrounded us, starting from the top and running vertically. Master, when it reaches the end of your domain, you can cut it without touching or swinging, Suddenly, within a 50-meter radius of Ridgion, all ck steel snapped apart. Nine pieces in total. The cutting edges were incredibly smooth. However, This isnt it. Compared to Ridgions true power, what was happening now was trivial. I narrowed my eyes. A faint aura of darkness shimmered beyond Ridgions back. I have no intention of going that far, dude. I dismissed it. I dont n on choosing a master as a job, I continued. I see, Ridgion replied with a wry smile. Skills like what just happened could only be performed by Ridgion. However, being a master had its disadvantages as well. My chosen job is going to be a warrior, as basic as it came, simple but powerful. The transition would begin after about half of my training was done. We continued sparring untilte in the evening. It could be considered fighting for almost a full day. Throughout the battle, Ridgion taught me about swordsmanship. Among his teachings were some concepts that were so profound I couldnt understand them. Nevertheless, I epted everything without discrimination. Even if I couldnt understand it now, I might be able toter. I had one month given to me. It seemed like Ridgion was determined to cram as much as possible into that time frame. There was no room for diplomacy. To build your domain, you need to internalize the movements of swordsmanship. Practitioners repeat the same movements tens of thousands of times for this purpose. Its about dragging the skill into the realm of the subconscious. The training continued. Internalize swordsmanship. This meant wielding the sword as naturally as breathing. There were limits to human concentration. If a novice started swinging a sword here for the first time, they would exhaust all their avable concentration on the action of swinging the sword alone. They wouldnt be able to think about anything else. But as they continue to practice and repeat They began to reduce the concentration required for the series of movements, including adding tension to their legs, moving their shoulders and wrists, and aiming at the target. And when that moment came, it transitioned into the subconscious level. As naturally as breathing. *** I invested all my time into training every day. Ten days passed like that. [Skill Awakening!] [Han ()s Low-tier Swordsmanship has reached Lv. 10!] [Han ()s Low-tier Swordsmanship has reached its maximum level. Evolution into higher-level skills is possible if certain conditions are met!] I had reached the limit of low-tier swordsmanship. I sheathed my sword. Ridigon was faintly smiling. Is this what it feels like? I thought as I looked at the wooden dummy in front of me. Stab. My body moved naturally. The tip of the sword pierced the wooden dummys forehead. Excellent. Its thanks to you. I appreciate it. As the duration of our sparring sessions lengthened, I realized something. This guy wasnt just engaging in simple brawling with me. He was guiding me in the direction where I could grow by adjusting the level and form of my swordsmanship. If there were weak points, he targeted them intensively to strengthen them. If there were strong points, he allowed me to feel their shorings. Its tailored education. If he was an instructor, he would have achieved great results. I put my sword back in its scabbard. Above, I could see the dark evening sky. It waste in the evening. Its been ten days since I arrived here. Except for the first meeting, I had spent every day in training. The trainee education had not been attended for over a week. Yu. A response came as if it had been waiting. I was nning to visit tomorrow, though. After bidding farewell to Ridgion, I headed for the elevator. Half of the first training goal had been achieved. I had to take a few days off to handle other matters. Yu, how far has the education progressed at the moment? Have the theoretical sses finished? Thats perfect timing. Formation training could be skipped. As I boarded the elevator, I spoke. By tomorrow evening, open the dimensional gate to Myudens location. Yes. I need to send someone over there. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 99: Niflheimr (11) (1) Chapter 99: Niflheimr (11) (1) Early in the morning, I opened my eyes. The sight of the room had be familiar by now. As I got up to put on my clothes, I heard a knock at the door. Are you awake, Master? You cane in. Nisled entered and immediately began tidying up the bedding. I had already tidied up once, but Nisled meticulously fixed even the smallest details. Do you really have to be so thorough? Its the same when Im lying in it. Its a matter of respect for the Master. Nisled faintly smiled. Well, never mind. Get rid of the illusions. Im going out myself. I said as I looked at the swirling mist in one corner of the room. The mist was taking on a human form. Just for a mid-check. I also have a chat with the others. Just give me the morning off. I have work in the afternoon. The mist disappeared. I had entrusted all the sses to the clone, except for the first day, but today was different. I took the sheath and walked out of the room. I also noticed the shield in the corner. I hesitated for a moment but decided not to take the shield as I left the room. As I descended to the reception room on the 4th floor of the annex, Jenna and Aaron were waiting. They greeted me, and Jenna, who had been silently watching me, raised her head and smiled. Oppa, you look different today. Whats different? I dont know how to put it exactly. Its just a feeling, I guess? Her instinct was sharp as always. I chuckled. She might have sensed Yus magic to some extent. On the other hand, Aaron had a puzzled look as he looked at Jenna, not understanding what she was talking about. Im getting tired of the lessons. Ive been stuck here like a bean sprout for about ten days, and I feel like my bodys getting stiff. Starting today, its formation training. Itll be a bit different. Party formation training couldnt be done with theory alone. It would be done in parallel with practice. I based the party formation training we had done in Townia on the training conducted at the Niflheimr training camp. But theres something strange. The things you told me before, were the same things they taught us during the lessons, just like you said. Like a pair of tweezers. Jenna whispered Isnt your instinct too sharp! Iughed it off. But it didnt matter. Ever since I brought Jenna here, I knew that the fact that she would eventually figure out my true identity was inevitable. It was just a matter of sooner orter. Theyll know that Im not an ordinary hero. Even if it werent Jenna, anyone with a bit of intelligence would figure it out. I had detailed information about the Pick Me Up that the heroes didnt know, and I actively used it for growth and missions. I didnt bother hiding it. Because if we die, it wouldnt matter. After breakfast, we headed to the lessons. I talked to Aaron, who was walking beside me. Aaron. Yes. When todays schedule is over, meet me in the backyard of the annex. Aaron blinked his eyes at me. Hyungnim, whats going on? Weve learned everything we dont know, havent we? From now on, itll be the party formation training that weve been doing since day one. Its a waste of time. But we Youll understand when you seee to see me. Okay. Aaron nodded. That was enough. I turned my gaze. The instructor was looking at me with a cold look. I could hear him chatting. I pretended not to hear and quickened my pace. The morning lessons were over. From the afternoon onwards, Yus illusions would take over again. I thought about going up to the 13th floor and doing some training with Ridgion, but I gave up. It wouldnt be long before Aaron came. I decided to practice alone in the backyard. I dedicated myself to training for an hour or two, Master, I have opened a dimensional portal leading to Myudens location. Good job. Yus voice echoed. Nisled handed me a towel and some water. I wiped away the sweat with the towel and drank the water. Footsteps could be heard from the entrance of the backyard. Nisled stepped back a few steps from me. I was not hiding my appearance. A whileter, Aaron entered the backyard. Aarons gaze turned to me and then to Nisled. Question marks appeared in his eyes. Hyungnim? Yu, open the dimensional portal. Sss. The mist gathered and formed a door. Follow me. I stepped through the dimensional portal. As the gentle sensation passed through my body, the scenery changed. It was Yus garden. Yu, who had been sitting in the center of the garden, stood up. Its been a while since yourst visit. Yu smiled faintly. As you know, I have a guest. Yes. A colleague from Townia. Sss. The mist scattered in all directions. I turned around. Aaron, with a puzzled expression, was walking out of the dimensional portal. W-Where exactly is this? The 13th floor of Niflheimr. The Garden of Mist. Nisled, who was behind me, replied gruffly. If its the 13th floor Is this the ce where the strongest people live? Mostly, thats correct. Aaron, who had been looking around with a bewildered expression, met my gaze. Hyungnim This person calls Master, brother.'' Yu stepped forward, lowering her head. Aaron and Yu exchanged a nod. Nice to meet you. Im Yu Seed, the Masters right hand. Right-hand thats Seris Yuughed, and Nisled winced. Aaron, with his mouth slightly agape, stared at Yu and then lowered his head. Whats going on Aaron said. I dont understand the situation. You wanted to be stronger, didnt you, Aaron? I met Aarons eyes. Regardless of the means or methods, Im here to help you achieve what you want. But Brother He must be wondering who I am. I didnt answer. He would naturally find out if he stayed here. You summoned me here to keep the promise we made back then? Thats right. I replied. What if I refuse? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 99: Niflheimr (11) (2) Chapter 99: Niflheimr (11) (2) You summoned me here to keep the promise we made back then? Thats right. I replied. What if I refuse? No big deal. Youll return to the training camp. Youll receive a different education from now on. As our guest, you willplete instructor training at the headquarters of the training camp. Yu added. I exined the situation to Yu briefly yesterday. After receiving the instructor training here, you will perform that role in Townia. I see. Personally, I rmend that path. Yu narrowed her eyes. Aarons condition would already be quite clear to her. Level 20, Weapon Skill 4. Other skills include Fire Resistance and Pain Resistance. Stats are alsocking. Aarons Growth Stat was only 4. A meager talent. Improving will be very challenging. Yu said. Ive seen a few people simr to our guest. They tried to cover up theirck of talent with hard work. But in the end, when they reach a certain point, they all hit a wall. They couldnt go any further. Aaron bowed his head. Yus words were cold; they prated to the core. Heroes without talent who aspire tobat roles typically struggle with Low Weapon Skills. No matter how much they roll around in the training camp and on missions, their levels wont go up. 90% of these heroes give upbat roles and pursue other professions. Of course, asionally, there arete bloomers. They slowly make their way up to Intermediate Weapon Skill. But thats as far as they go. By then, there are already geniuses at their level, striving alongside them. Theres no chance of them bing the best. Just like Velkist, he has talent thats several times greater than Aarons but never stops working. Talent isnt everything. At least a minimum was necessary. Heroes whocked that minimum would inevitably fall behind. What should I do? Aaron muttered. Dont despair too much. Thats usually the case. But exceptions exist everywhere. Yu chuckled. Ive seen a fool who reached our level even though he was far behind in talent. No matter how hard he tried, he couldnt learn properly, no matter how much he was taught. What did he do? Youll know if you go and see for yourself. Yu drew a circle with her hand. The mist gathered, and a dimensional portal appeared. Dimension 0584, leading to Luhanan. Beyond the dimensional portal, a differentndscape appeared. It was a in with swirling dust and a sky shining in a hazy red color. Ruhanan. It was where Myuden was staying. It was also the setting for the World Raid that took ce a year ago. Is the Master going as well? I think so. Its better to refrain. That ce is dangerous. Yu replied. If the guest wishes, we can send him, but involving the Master That ce is a dimension that consumes life just by staying there. Dont you know what fate befell those who tried to do like Myuden? Aaron swallowed hard. Nisled, who was beside him, spoke to Aaron. After Myuden achieved sess, many hopefuls followed. And They all died. I said. Yes. The survival rate is less than 3%. Is it really that dangerous? If you value your life, please dont go. Nisled asserted. Aaron closed his eyes and said, But if I seed there, I can be stronger, right? If you can. You cant help but get stronger. Thats the nature of that ce from the beginning. There was no other ce like it no matter where you looked. I will go. Aaron said with determination. I nodded. Follow me. No, Hyungnim. If its as dangerous as that person says I can go alone. You shouldnt. Everyone else is waiting. But youre going. Aaron shook his head. I dont n to die. I want to do what I can without feeling ashamed. Alright. If he was determined like that, I decided to let him go alone. My role ends here. There is no need for further guidance. Huu. Aaron took a deep breath. Yu, who had been silently watching, said, Ruhanan has a different flow of time from here. Keep that in mind. But before that, I have one question. What is it? It might sound rude, but Niflheimr Yu smiled. Dont worry. Aaron will be treated as an important guest in Niflheimr. There wont be any change in your affiliation. What about you, Hyungnim? Im the same. Dont think unnecessary thoughts. I understand. Aaron closed his eyes. His lips moved silently. Although no sound could be heard, I could tell what he was mumbling. Nina. Aarons younger sister. Hyungnim, please stay safe. Aaron bowed to me. Then, he stepped through the dimensional portal. Not long after, Aarons body became blurry. It began to be sucked into the destendscape inside the dimensional portal. I watched the scene with a sense of detachment. Do you think he can survive? After Myuden adapted to that world, there were a few aspirants. They were simr to Aaron. They tried to be stronger by any means necessary. I had selected such heroes and sent them to Myudens side. The probability is low. Yu replied. I see. I have conveyed a message to Myuden, but whether it will reach The survival rate is extremely low. I know it without being told. When Aaron returns, send him straight to Townia. He might note back at all. Im saying it considering that possibility. I turned away. There was still much work left to do. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 100: Niflheimr (12) (1) Chapter 100: Niflheimr (12) (1) The next day. I was curious about how Jenna would react to Aarons disappearance, but she didnt say a word. She just nodded to me. Aaron told me the other day, that he might not be able toe back for a while. Jenna didnt ask for more details. Though she asked, if I could convey a message, she asked me to tell him that shes cheering for him, waiting for his return. I contacted Yu. Yu chuckled. And time passed. Training room on the 13th floor. Iron shed, and sparks flew. Its unrecognizable. Ridigion said in a low voice. Meanwhile, my sword moved. When we first fought, I couldnt even cut a piece of Ridigions clothes. But now, Thump! Ridigions body, which blocked my attack, was pushed back. It was only a step though, but my swordsmanship was clearly delivering effective blows. I immediately retracted my sword and continued the attack. Thud. The muscles throughout my body responded. At this rate, I might die. Stop exaggerating. Iughed and turned around, raising my sword. Ohm! The de that tore through the wind forcefully struck Ridigions side. Ridigion tried to deflect it with his sword, but he couldnt stop his body from being pushed back. The cracked floor under Ridigions feet shattered, and pieces of stone flew. Ridigion, who had been pushed back, regained his stance. I straightened my sword and asked, Is this enough to pass? It seems like Master has achieved his goal. I caught my breath. My entire body was trembling. Every time I swung my sword, my body moved as if in response. It was a sensation I had never felt before. Remember that feeling well. It will be of great help to Master. I nodded and murmured. Status window. The familiar hologram appeared. [Han Israt () Lv. 20 (Exp 13/160)] [ss: Warrior] [Strength: 45/45] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Stamina: 41/41] [Agility: 39/39] [Skills: Intermediate Swordsmanship (Lv.1), Divine Sword Spirit (Lv.1), Insight (Lv.6), me Resistance (Lv.3), Pain Resistance (Lv.5), Composure (Lv.6), Frenzy (Lv.7), Invincible (Lv.2), Dragon yer(Lv.1), Equestrianism (Lv.1)] The level hadnt changed. Still level 20. Stats hadnt changed either. But there was a significant change in other aspects. My weapon skill had risen from Low-level Swordsmanship (Lv.8) to Intermediate Swordsmanship (Lv.1), and I hadpleted the skill separation with the help of the Awakening Elixir. Although I had lost proficiency with shields, my understanding of swordsmanship had deepened. That wasnt all. Warrior. I hadpleted the job change. Clearly, the ss name Warrior which was written below the name field, qualified me to evolve first-tier skills. I lost the skill of Stealth due to the ss penalty, but it didnt matter since it didnt suit me anyway. Pain Resistance, Composure, Frenzy, Invincible. Other useful passive skills had also increased by one level each. All of this was the result of 20 days of continuous training. After bidding farewell to Aaron, I devoted myself to training and sparring from morning to night. Ridigion didnt spare any effort in advising and teaching me, even giving up his own training. And so, I achieved my goal much faster than expected. The difference between having an instructor and not is tremendous. I keenly felt it. No matter how talented you are, there are limits to self-study. Even if you are a genius without limits, having an instructor is several times better. Especially if the quality of that instructor is exceptional. Is today the end? Yes. Thank you. The ultimate goal, Divine Sword Spirit, had been achievedst night. Today, I hade to test the results of that achievement for a moment. Ridigion sheathed his sword and sighed regretfully. Master will be leaving soon. About four days left, right? Its a shame. If Master could stay for a month, no, six months If I stayed that long, Id rot, Ridigion. Training is not bad, but practical experience is even more important. It seemed that being stuck in one ce and swinging the sword all day had gradually dulled my sense of realbat. And even if I want I cant participate in missions while Im at Niflheimr. What happened to Jenna? After parting ways with Ridigion, I asked. The space beside me blurred, and a person appeared. It was Nisled. Shes currently dedicated to training in the Special Wing on the second floor. And the results? After advancing to the Thief job, she easily achieved Intermediate Archery. Now, shes working on mixing Speed Fire and Identifying Weaknesses. ording to the report, she seems to be on the verge of sess. Shes quite a talented individual. As expected, huh? I chuckled. Jenna, purely in terms of talent, was superior to me. I was only advancing slightly ahead using my knowledge of the game. Given the right circumstances, she could explosively grow at any time. Afterpleting half of her training, I immediately excluded Jenna from group training. Initially, she was not on the same level as the recruits. It wasnt just about talent or skill; her battlefield experience was iparable. She had gone through hellish situations in every mission. It was a 37-game winning streak, right? 37 battles, 37 victories, 0 losses. It was thebat data Jenna had with the recruits. Even if I hadnt asked them to, she would have received separate training. And she would have been forcibly recruited by Niflheimr. Currently, the hero guiding Jenna one-on-one is Nigel Lexna, ranked 13th. He was the archer with the highest rank after Nihaku. It would have been better if Nihaku himself could guide her, but I couldnt force him. When she seeds in the skills synthesis, move on to the next task. Teach her about traps. Nisled bowed and disappeared. There were about four days left. I heard that he was also dedicating himself to training day and night. That should be sufficient. I headed to the garden on the left side. When I arrived in the center of the garden, Yu was sipping tea. Yu lowered her gaze when she saw me. Why are you in such trouble? Master is leaving soon Its not like well never see each other again. Really? Yu stood up from her seat. Ill make a stop before returning to Earth. I didnt mean that. Yu puffed out her cheeks. I chuckled and sat down in a chair. So, is itplete? If youre talking about the item you mentioned, the work is done. Yu said and then retrieved a small box from her pocket. It was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand. When I opened the box, a ring with a ck gemstone inside emitted a dark light. Yu took the ring out. Here, take it. I received the ring. A ck-patterned ring with no embellishments. As I held it in one hand, a message appeared in my mind. [Proof of Transcendence] [Grade: SS] [Legendary!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 100: Niflheimr (12) (2) Chapter 100: Niflheimr (12) (2) I received the ring. A ck-patterned ring with no embellishments. As I held it in one hand, a message appeared in my mind. [Proof of Transcendence] [Grade: SS] [Legendary!] A ring made by special processing Niflheimrs Star Iron. It contains a power that transcends thews. However, to utilize it, higher-level magic is required. [Note Special bound item. Ownership cannot be transferred. Indestructible.] Yu exined, Its a token of mastery. Even if you happen to meet other members, there shouldnt be any confusion. And theres more Yus voice echoed in my mind. It even had remotemunication capabilities. There was no need to include such features. I smiled bitterly. What I wanted was simple: to hide the Masters attention. Until now, I had refrained from actions that would take me away from being just a hero because of Anytngs gaze. The biggest limitation was not being able to create items or enchant them. Thats why I was still using the Well Forged Iron Sword that I had made in the beginning, even though I had plenty of materials to enhance it. When I consulted Yu about it, she said there was a way and asked me to wait a bit. It was possible to deceive the Masters interface, she said. She mentioned something about the interference gap, right? I didnt know the exact principle, but if it was possible, that would be great. In the warehouse, various rare items that I hadnt touched were sleeping. While there were still limitations, my range of actions had widenedpared to before. You said I could inquire with the fairy, right? Yes. This ring is enchanted with advanced information maniption. Like this. As Yu murmured, the ring emitted a dark light. The item window was updated. [Ring of Shadows] [Grade: C-] [Magic!] [Made from low-quality ck steel.] [Note Enchanted with Durability Enhancement magic.] From SS grade to C- grade. The items information changed in an instant. How long can I use it? It will lose its effect if Townias Master goes beyond the 50th floor. I see. If it was due to the interference gap, it was natural for the effectiveness to decrease as the floor increased. Still, up to the 50th floor should provide plenty of leeway. Even if there were limitations, it wouldnt be entirely unusable. I put the ring on my left index finger. It fits perfectly. Thank you. Making this on my own would have been difficult. Its nothingpared to Masters efforts. Yu smiled. Yu Seed was Niflheimrs strongest magician and at the same time, the top magician. Her skills were enough to be counted on one hand even if you searched the entire server. Among the hundreds of equipment I had created, only a few hadnt been touched by her. So now Thest one is left. I had achieved my training goals. I had sent Aaron to Myuden, and Jenna was also getting stronger in her own way. I had obtained an item that could deceive the Masters attention. I had aplished most of the goals I had set. But one remained. I recalled the battle on the 20th floor. The dragons w tore through the shield like a piece of paper, and the longsword couldnt withstand the battle and broke. If my party members hadnt lent me their weapons, I would have fought barehanded and died. I need a weapon. Not just any ordinary weapon. One that could withstand the monstrous power of the monsters. One that was sturdy and unbreakable in any situation. Yu. Yes? Id like to borrow a weapon from Niflheimr. Yu smiled and said, Ill open the door to the armory. As Yu gestured, mist gathered in the air. The mist swirled and created a dimensional portal in a corner of the garden. This way. I got up from the chair and the tea and snacks on the table scattered into the mist. Following Yus guidance, I stepped through the dimensional portal. My vision darkened. When Yu snapped her fingers, light spread out, illuminating the room. [Arsenal Lv.Max] A vast space spanning hundreds of meters. Various items were densely packed on disy shelves. From basic weapons like swords, spears, and axes to unique weapons like sickle des and giant swords. On one wall, there were huge weapons like cannons and ballistae for sieges. I picked up a sword ced on the disy shelf. [High-Grade Steel Sword] [Grade: B+] [Excellent!] [Crafted from high-grade steel using special techniques. Lightweight, sharp, and durable, it doesnt easily break under various impacts.] [Note Brand: Niflheimr] A Niflheimr steel sword. I hadnt personally crafted it, but it was made with extremely high quality. I raised the sword. My face was reflected on its transparent de. Master, such low-grade weapons do not befit your dignity. Come this way. Theres a ce with even more special weapons. I lowered the sword. Taking this would be enough for now. But what I wanted was a weapon that I could use until I finished climbing the entire tower. This wouldnt suffice. I followed Yu. The corridor narrowed. At the end of the path, I could see a circr, massive door. The entrance to the second armory. Made of solid steel and impervious to dozens of bombardments. I will open the door. Yu ced her hand on the door. A blue magic circle spread from her fingertip and covered the door. Everything in here Theyre all likely S grade or higher. Yes. Master, the true treasures of Niflheimr, created by Master himself, are on disy here. Impressive. The door began to slide open sideways. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 101: Niflheimr (13) (1) Chapter 101: Niflheimr (13) (1) I opened my eyes narrowly. The facility wasnt spacious. At best, it was about the size of a small yground. Shelves were ced between the walls made of ck marble. I stepped inside and asked. 132, right? Yes. A total of 132. Items born from the Masters fingertips. Calling it my fingertips doesnt feel right. I took out a weapon from the front shelf. ng. I held a longsword in my hand. A gray light emitted from the sheath covered my sight. Like branches, there were patterns on the ashy de. I muttered softly. Item Appraisal. [Mysteltein] [Grade: S] [Immortal!] [A sword made from the cursed world tree branch and ck iron, specially processed. It can ignore all the blessings the opponent possesses and inflict damage. However, physical and magical defenses are not ignored.] [Attribute: Fixed Damage (A)] [Note Special Bound Item, Indestructible] [Note2 Niflheimr Collection (No.065)] Its been a while. I swung the sword with one hand. A cold sensation traveled from my wrist to my shoulder. I recalled the battle with the ck Dragon. The biggest challenge in that battle was the immunity to physical and magic. But if I had this weapon back then, things might have been different. Mysteltein had the effect of ignoring special defenses like immunity and reflection. Fixed damage is convenient. It didnt have any other special functions, but just the fixed damage was enough reason to keep it. However. Do you want to take Mysteltein? No. I put Mysteltein back on the shelf. Its effectiveness is limited. Mysteltein was effective against enemies using special defenses, but it wasnt that powerful in normal circumstances. It was better to have more versatile options. I looked at the next shelf. The entrance to the shelf, protected by fiveyers of devices, opened. Inside was a translucent blue sword. [Varisada] [Grade: S+] [Immortal!] [Made from the horns and scales of the Shadow Demon King. It can deliver a powerful strike that ignores the opponents physical defense and rted skills.] [Attribute: Physical Pration (S)] [Note Special Bound Item] [Note2 Niflheimr Collection (No.113)] I reached for the hilt. The sheath became blurry, allowing my hand to pass through. Physical Pration. This sword couldnt be stopped by the physical defense of its enemy. Varisadas de, made by defeating the Shadow Demon King, who could hide in the Shadow Dimension, could cut through the opponents armor or scales, slicing through their insides. In front of this sword, even the toughest enemies turn into scarecrows. It doesnt work against magical defenses. I withdrew my hand from the shelf. nk. The protective device was reactivated, and the door closed. I moved to the next shelf. This time, it was a spear, not a sword. Its name was Guinir. It was a sub-category of the Brunnak and an early model. However, it had its advantages and could crush dozens of distant enemies in a single blow. How about Guinir? I think it would be a great help inrge-scale battles. Is that your rmendation? Yes. Since its activation-based, you dont need to know how to use a spear. Yu, who had been leading the way, turned back. Master, you are wee to take all the weapons here. After all, you are the one who made them. I didnt make them alone. I shook my head. The equipment in the second weapons store was all manually crafted. That is, they were made using mini-games from Pick Me Up, just like the sword and shield I had. However, I couldnt have done it alone. Without the various personnel assisting in item creation, I could only make items up to B grade at best. Especially without Yu, I wouldnt have even dreamt of items above S grade. Besides, most weapons have their owners, dont they? I shouldnt take them without permission. But More importantly, Im not really interested in any of these. I listed the items in my mind. A total of 132. They were not items made haphazardly but crafted as needed at the right time, driven by necessity. Mostly the need is: Maximize the owners strengths and eliminate weaknesses. Out of the 132 weapons, 101 had designated owners. Usually, they are carefully stored, but when its time for an exhibition, they will be in their hands. Furthermore, these weapons are custom-made by analyzing the ownersbat style. For heroes who show weaknesses inrge-scale battles, items that increase firepower are provided. If the weakness is in long-term battles, their stamina is reinforced. If they are vulnerable to specific attributes, that is addressed too. The members of the main party were no exception. Then Im sorry. I shouldnt have asked you toe for nothing. I chuckled bitterly. Indeed, it seems there are no weapons here that I can use. Even if I check the specs of all the collections, there are no weapons suitable for me. Even if there were, the performance of the weapon itself would hinder my growth. I closed my eyes and thought again. A sharp, sturdy, unbreakable weapon. I shook my head. This isnt enough. If I settle for this, theres no need to take weapons from Niflheimr. I can make them in Townia. If I want more than that. I reached a conclusion. I opened my eyes. Yu. Yes. I need to make a weapon. As youmand. Yu extended her hand. Mist gathered, and a dimensional portal was drawn. I was thinking along the same lines. The treasures here are undoubtedly powerful, but they dont befit your majesty. I smirked. As I stepped into the portal, mist enveloped my entire body. I walked out into a new ce, and a system message appeared, indicating the current location. [Primordial Forge Lv.Max] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 101: Niflheimr (13) (2) Chapter 101: Niflheimr (13) (2) [Primordial Forge Lv.Max] Theva is boiling. Bubbles burst, releasing heat. Yu extended her hand, and a transparent aura surrounded me. Master, please be careful. The temperature is high. I looked ahead. Lava gathered to form a smallke. The Primordial Forge. It was a special facility that could be obtained by reaching the highest level of the Equipment Forge and satisfying a few secret conditions. Its effect was simple. It can create special items. However, there were several penalties. Lets get ready. Yes. Yu put a ck coat on me. The hot air seemed to subside. It seemed to have a temperature-reducing effect. [Prove your mastery.] Yus voice echoed widely throughout the cave. Sizzle. I looked at my left hand. ck lightning was emanating from the ring on my index finger. Yus eyes shone blue and then dimmed. And. [Equipment forging begins!] A hologram window appeared at the top of my field of vision. I was familiar with it, having seen it hundreds of times. It was the crafting window from Pick Me Up. A growth-type weapon. I had been making items for heroes whose growth was almostplete. But now, I was far from bearing fruit. I needed to change my approach. I adjusted the details. Type, Special. Form, Longsword. Method, Casting. I touched the Yes button at the bottom. Please input materials. [Avable Materials] [Materials can be ssified by type.] [Niflheimr Steel (A) x 207] [Mithril (S) x 193] [Hellhorse Leather (A) x 93] [Scale of the Ocean King x 13] [Heavenly Crystal] A list of materials stored in Niflheimrs warehouse appeared. I started sorting them by category. Ores went with ores, leather with leather. After finishing the ssification, I recited the items to be used. 9 Niflheimr Steel, 5 Mithril, 3 ck Iron, 2 Oriharukon, 1 Neb, 5 Hells Crystals A white magic circle appeared on the right side of the forge. Materials began to appear on the magic circle. I envisioned the finished product in my mind while reciting the names of the materials. 13 types of ores. 10 types of leather. 15 types of crystals. 9 types of wood. 8 misceneous items. I decided to use a total of 55 types of materials. A misty dimensional portal appeared on the left side of the forge. From the dimensional portal emerged an old man with a bushy beard. Why have you summoned me? What? The Master is here? The old mans eyes widened as he looked at me. W-what! Ah, yes! The old man hurriedly disappeared. Was it always like this At the same time, [Equipment Forge Lv.Max!] [The condition is perfect. With the right conditions, the best weapon will be created!] [Affiliated Facilities cksmithy (Lv.max), Carpentry (Lv.max), Workshop (Lv.max), Enchantment (Lv.max), Alchemy ] [Personnel in waiting 135] The material on the magic circle turned into light and scattered. The blueprint? I looked to my side. Yus robe was fluttering intensely. Numerous magic circles appeared and disappeared in the air. The air distorted, revealing a scene. It was a cksmiths shop with various toolsrge and small. An old man was wiping sweat in there, and many people were bustling around. Assembly isplete, but using 13 types of ores wont be easy, right? Their properties dont match at all The scene in the air became blurry. Yu turned to me and said, Master, are you sure about this? Based on the calctions, the crafting difficulty is higher than expected. How much? It seems challenging even for Hellish difficulty. That would be God-like. That was the difficulty when crafting the Five Sacred Weapons. It might be even higher. Lets find out. Is the enchantment ready? Yes. Then, lets go. Crafting was manual. The Primordial Forge didnt operate automatically. Next was the difficulty selection screen. From the lowest tier below to the top tier of Super Hellish. The crafting puzzle was categorized into eight difficulty levels. Basically. I pressed the forge icon on the left. [He who wants to enter hell, offer a sacrifice.] A burning effect appeared in the crafting window. [Hell] [Primordial Forge, effect activated!] [Insert the item. Hidden difficulty levels are unlocked depending on the grade of the sacrifice.] Stormbringer, Begalta, Azoth. Yes. Three swords floated above thevake. They had high grades despite having no owners. Moreover, they were receable weapons. The swords melted into theva. Three. I sacrificed three weapons of S rank or higher. When making the Five Sacred Weapons, it was only one. Even when making Levateinn, I only used two. [You offered a worthy sacrifice.] [I will open the true gates of hell.] [Enchantment Difficulty Super God-Like] Super God-like, huh. I clicked my tongue. I had half-expected it. Weapons that changed dynamically had an incredibly high crafting difficulty. Thats why I hadnt attempted growth-type equipment until now. Even in Niflheimr, losing hundreds of top-tier materials at once was a big blow. [Difficulty penalty activated!] [Facilitys effect reduced to 1/3.] [Sess Probability: Impossible Guaranteed failure. Do not proceed.] [Do you want to proceed?] [Yes/No] They say not to do it, but Ive already offered the sacrifice. Yu smiled. It seems theres no turning back. I shrugged my shoulders. I cleared my mind of distractions one by one. I had casually handled Super Hellish difficulty puzzles, but it was a different story from Super God-Like or higher. A single mistake could lead to failure. Almost a year. Time spent solely on puzzles. While everyone else automated their crafting, I became obsessed with manual crafting. I researched the patterns of the puzzles and practiced countless times. All to provide stronger weapons to the heroes. The Hand of Heaven. Also called the Soundrend Hand. Another nickname that someone had given me. Does this puzzle have meaning? Of course. Is that so? [Do you want to proceed?] [Yes (selected) / No] I pressed the selection screen. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 102: Niflheimr (14) (1) Chapter 102: Niflheimr (14) (1) [The Puzzle Ready!] [Difficulty Super God-like] The control window changed, transitioning to the puzzle screen. But it wasnt your typical polyhedron puzzle that youmonly see in manual creations. On the screen, numerous types of games were listed; ones to be used in this creation. I skimmed through them. Starting with the most basic ones. A crossword puzzle that matches horizontally and vertically. Pinball, Tetris, Find the Wrong Picture, Nonograms, Crossword, and even a Rhythm Game. Furthermore, various other puzzles were disyed in small squares. Altogether, there were 13 types. mes added a fiery effect to the start screen of the puzzle. [Are you ready to handle hell?] I loosened the joints of my fingers. The preparation was already done. Yu. White bookshelves fluttered around Yu. [Ring!] [Puzzle Start!] [1. Cube Puzzle (Super God-like + Penalty)] [27 X 27] With 16-bit background music, the puzzle screen appeared. On the screen, a sword that I was going to create was disyed in dots. Shoosh shoosh shoosh. The graphic of the sword began to rotate at an incredible speed. Left left up down left left right right right up left up down down right left left. I quickly analyzed the pattern of the puzzle. Left three times, right twice, up five times, down four times. While looking at the pattern, I started calcting. Theres no time to analyze leisurely. The penalty was about to be applied. [Penalty Activated!] [Curse of Blindness] The game screen distorted as if it was sshed with ink. I couldnt see anything. In that state, [00 : 30 : 00] 30 seconds on the time limit. The timer started ticking. I dragged the outside of the game window. I couldnt see the map. But the calctions were already done. Left three, right two, up five, down four, left two, right two, up two, down eight. [Penalty Activated!] [Curse of eleration] [The timer is speeding up!] The timer began to double its speed. In no time, there were only 10 seconds left. The screen still showed nothing. Even so. I could do this without seeing. I moved my fingers frantically. [Puzzle Clear!] [Time Taken 00 : 14] [Match Rate 100%] The first game was over. Bubbling. Thevake erupted violently with bright mes. [Great!] [The hellish mes of hell are about to dwell in the Primordial Forge!] A huge magic circle was drawn on the surface of theke. ng! ng! ng! The sound of a hammer striking an anvil. I didnt look back. The second game was beginning. [2. Rhythm Game (Super God-like + Penalty)] The initial screen of the rhythm game was appearing. I ced my right hand on the five keys in the rhythm game. With the 16-bit music ying, a message appeared. [Start!] Notes began to fall at a crazy speed. Simultaneously, the penalty was applied again. This time, it was a blindness penalty as well. I couldnt see the side with the keys at all. 90% of the screen was covered. [128 Combo!] [Perfect!] [Perfect!] [Perfect!] Theres nothing you can throw at me that I cannot handle. As long as I could gauge the falling speed and position, I could time the hits. I hit hundreds of notes per minute perfectly. In the Super God-like level, it had to be perfect; even a minor mistake could greatly reduce the weapons quality. [835 Combo!] [Perfect!] [Full Combo Achieved!] [Great!] [The purification of hell is embedded in the Primordial Forge!] Whoosh! Arge me sprang from thevake. A dark red iron ingot floated above theke. Dark red steel. An exceptional metal used to create Five Sacred Weapons. Originally, it was made from abination of nine ores, but this time, two more ingredients were added. With a Plop. The iron ingot sank into theve, and the surface turned even redder. Your skills have improved significantly. Now, lets begin. I replied briefly. The next game continued. [3. Tetris (Super God-like + Penalty)] [Use Blocks: 5 types] [Blind] [eleration x3] Immediately started. Blocks fell without a moment to catch a breath. Half of the screen was obscured. I adjusted the shape of the blocks and calcted the lower part. I left gaps in a straight line while filling every space with blocks. [1 Combo!] [2 Combo!] [3 Com.] I cleared lines all at once. [Tetris Clear!] [Continuous Combo 15] [Great!] [Hells magic will be bestowed upon the Primordial Forge!] After a sh on theva, the magic circle turned red. From therge magic circle, dozens of smaller magic circles were created in session. Yu was performing the enchantment work. I kept my focus on the game. [4. Pinball (Super God-like + Penalty)] [eleration x3] I moved my hand reflexively. Just before it was about to fall, the steel ball bounced up due to the penalty. The steel ball moved across the field at the speed of a bullet. A puzzle game of Super God-like level. The difficulty of the puzzle itself was a challenge. But the bigger challenge was that the consecutive puzzles kepting without a moments rest. I moved my hands busily. Sweat began to trickle down my body. I think its 5 minutes. All 13 types of games werepleted. And then, [14. Cube Puzzle (Super God-like + Double Penalty)] [35 X 35] The screen rotated. Starting again from the beginning, with a slightly higher difficulty than before. [Great!] [The spirit of hell is embedded in the Primordial Forge!] A me, three meters in size, erupted from theke. After the mes subsided, a shining sword was ced in the air. [15. Maze Finding] [Time Limit 00 : 30 : 00] A convoluted picture resembling a spiral appeared. A small ball was ced in the center of the picture. I moved the ball with my hand as if rolling it. After passing through dozens of intersections, the ball escaped to the exit. [Great!] [The terror of hell is embedded in the Primordial Forge!] Dozens of magic circles in theke shrank and gathered together. [Automatic Restoration (A) Enchantment Sessful!] [Special Bond (S) Enchantment Sessful!] [Strength Reinforcement (S) Enchantment.] Whoosh! Once again, mes erupted from theke. The leaping mes covered the unfinished sword. Each time the sword was engulfed in mes, it vibrated intensely. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 102: Niflheimr (14) (2) Chapter 102: Niflheimr (14) (2) Whoosh! Once again, mes erupted from theke. The leaping mes covered the unfinished sword. Each time the sword was engulfed in mes, it vibrated intensely. [16. Crossword Puzzle] [100 X 100] [Time Limit 02 : 00 : 00] [17. Find The Difference] [Time Limit 00 : 30 : 00] Two games appeared simultaneously. Crossword puzzle and Find the Difference. I deactivated the crossword puzzle game. The timer was still running, but I needed toplete the shorter game first. As I touched various spots on the pictures, circles appeared. I cleared it within 20 seconds and moved on to the crossword puzzle. Slowly. I hit the mark of 10 minutes of puzzle-solving. It was the moment when concentration waned and the greatest challenge came. I cant make mistakes here sprinkle ashes instead of salt on a perfectly cooked meal. [21. Rhythm Game (Super God-like + Double Penalty)] [eleration x3] [Keys 7] 15 minutes. [Self Evolution (SS) Enchantment Sessful!] [Autonomous Judgment (A+) Enchantment Sessful!] [Intensity (B) Enchantment.] Countless magic circles gathered around the sword. The sword body, submerged inva, finally revealed its form. ck characters were engraved on the white sword body. It has been 20 minutes. The work was in its final stages. . I only moved my hands, but sweat poured down like rain. My vision blurred briefly. [Immortal] [The curse of hell is embedded in the Primordial Forge!] Boom! Stickyva burst forth. A ck scabbard appeared in theva. Yus voice echoed throughout the entire assembly. With each syble of speech, a ck light rose like mist from the sword and scabbard. [Ding!] [Finale!] [All the puzzles that havee up so far will reappear again now. Clear all the games within the time limit!] [Puzzle Types 32] [Time Limit 05 : 00 : 00] I exhaled. This is thest one, Yu said. Without replying, I raised my hand to the screen. Five minutester. [! Grand Sess! ] [Han () has created Bifrost (U)!] (Bifrost: Also called Bilrost is a burning rainbow bridge mentioned in the Norse mythology.) A somewhat tacky sess message appeared. I let my arm down. Its over. The floating shelves around Yu disappeared in light. Was there no mistake? I drank the water Yu handed to me and asked. Since the 20th minute, I hadnt been keeping track of time properly. It was unclear whether the puzzle was a sess or failure. As you can see. Yu pointed ahead. I looked at theke. The sword was floating above the forge. When Yu waved her hand, the sword and scabbard flew toward us. Its perfect. After Yu put the sword into the scabbard, she handed it to me. I epted the sword. The weight was substantial and transmitted through my arm. I almost lost my strength for a moment. Still, I seeded in just one attempt. From Super God-like and above, one had to be prepared for several failures. Bryunak and Ruien three times. id Sis twice. Nagelpar four times. When making Leviathan, I had to throw away materials a whopping 11 times. I raised my head and examined the sword. The sword was longer and thicker than a typical one-handed sword. However, it wasnt as brute-like as a greatsword. It seemed to be a versatile weapon that could be wielded with one hand or both depending on the situation. Thud. I swung the sword in the scabbard. It was my first time using it, but the bnce felt just right. Item Appraisal. [Bifrost] [Grade: Unknown] A longsword forged with the mes of hell. Holds infinite potential. [Note Special bound item, non-transferable ownership, indestructible] [Note2 User data storage (Current owner Han ()) and self-evolution] [Note3 Linked with Proof of Transcendence (SS)] U-grade. A rarity with only one in Niflheimr. Next, I examined the appearance of the sword. The ck scabbard was intricately engraved with angr patterns. As I drew the sword, the white de emitted a sinister light. Externally, there was nothing particrly shy about it. It was just as I had thought. I didnt bother carrying weapons for the show. I had no desire to attract attention. As long as it was practical, that was enough for me. Why did you link it? I asked while holding the sword. The third note had an unfamiliar word written on it. Because I was worried about you going alone Yu lowered her gaze. I smirked and said, So, what did you put in it? Its a dimensional leap. You can summon weapons from Niflheimr to the Masters side. Ive never heard of such an enchantment. Its because the Masters sword possesses tremendous power. Yu continued to exin. The growth-type weapon, Bifrost, of U-grade, had tremendous interference potential, and it could be used to perform a dimensional leap in conjunction with Proof of Transcendence. No matter how great the Master is, they cant know the unpredictable events of this world. Even the Master I know. I replied. No matter how much you prepare and anticipate, unexpected events happen. That was the rule of Pick Me Up. When Master is truly in danger, use it, but only for three times. Dont you like it? Yu looked at me. My eyes were wavering. If you permit it, I would rather leave Niflheimr and go to the Masters side. Thats not allowed. In that case, please ept this gift. If the Master were to pass away unexpectedly, we would have no one to rely on. I sighed. Okay, I got it. Thank you. The weapons from Niflheimr can be summoned. Three chances. Any other conditions? I apologize, but the output will be reduced within the main mission. The coordinates are too far away. You probably wont be able to use it more than once during a mission. I dont n on doing it anyway. Niflheimrs weapons were undoubtedly powerful. Depending on how they were used, they could provide tremendous power. However, using them within the main mission posed a problem. Anytng is watching. If a game character suddenly pulled out a super weapon and wiped out the enemies, bug reports might start flying. The Pick Me Up customer support was famous for giving substantial rewards to bug reporters. So, opportunities are limited to when the Master is not watching or cannot see. Such situations were rare but not unheard of. Rather than using it in a crisis It seemed better to time it and use it directly. Anyway. I unfastened the straps of the sword and shield. These had been my partners for almost two months since the day they were created. Ssh. When I threw the two items into theva, they melted in less than three seconds. Bubbling bubbles burst and the sword and shield disappeared. Bifrost. I looked at the sword in my hand. Right now, it was just a sturdy, unbreakable sword. But as time passes and it gains experience, it will reveal its true value. I hung the new sword on my belt. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 103: Niflheimr (15) (1) Chapter 103: Niflheimr (15) (1) My goal here has almost been achieved. First, I was able to obtain various useful information. How the heroes of Niflheimr view me, and the rtionship between heroes and masters. Also, an approximate understanding of how to utilize the power I possess. Next was skill acquisition. Here, I could acquire the intermediatebat skill at a much faster rate than training alone. Skill separation wasnt bad either, but above all, learning the Heavenly Sword Spirit technique was something to celebrate. The Intermediatebat skill might have taken me a longer time to acquire in Townia, but this skill can only be learned here. As an excellent skill, it will be of great help to me in the future. Finally, I obtained new equipment. A ring that can manipte information and a growth-type weapon. If I use the ring properly, I can significantly expand my operational area, and the growth-type weapon holds tremendous potential. Its something to look forward to in the future. Theres also something about Aaron and Jenna. I chuckled. Aaron is probably currently fully immersed in training with Myuden. I cant predict the results. Ill have to wait to see it unfold. Master, are you in? I heard a knock. It was Nisled. Come in. I apologize. Nisled opened the door and entered. As always, Nisled headed towards the bed but stopped in her tracks. Master. The bed was perfectly tidy. Not a single wrinkle was visible. Todays thest day, isnt it? I paid attention. I sheathed my sword. Ive been here exactly one month. Yesterday marked the end of the Niflheimr recruit training program. Today is the day for awarding certificates and the farewell ceremony. But why am I the top-ranked when I havent done anything? Iined. Theres one problem with the training. Its that Im ranked first overall among the recruits in the scores released yesterday. Besides the initial lessons, I hardly went out. Yus words echoed in my ears. Seems unfair. You mean this? I clicked my tongue and tapped Biforsts hilt with my elbow. Right now, this weapon has be an A-rank magic sword through information maniption. Yes. Its a reward for being the top in Niflheimrs training. Dont decline it. I smirked. I do need a pretext. When I return, Anytng will surely examine me. What about second ce? Jenna Shirai. Shes first in the thief category, and second overall. Shes quite outstanding. Very talented. Dont bother her. Im taking her with me. Yes, Ive informed the head instructor. That womans there too, huh? The training camp head instructor, Eclet Pardisa. ording to Nisled, she visited several times to apologize to me. But I was always either out training or busy, so we never met, and she went back. I took out an envelope from the drawer. Inside was a note. I didnt have time to meet her now, but I still wrote it to convey my message. The recipient is Eclet. The content is to keep up the good work in the future. Theres nothing special. Give this to the head instructor. I handed the envelope to Nisled. Nisled bowed his head to receive it. Its gonna be over today. Fog gathered in the corner of the room. A shadow resembling my appearance was created. The illusion would return after conducting the graduation ceremony and then return to the room. After packing, I would leave for Townia straight away. Youve worked hard too, Nisled. It was an honor to serve. Honor? Not really. I chuckled and left. The destination is the dimensional portal next to the bed. Its connected to the 13th floor of Niflheimr. Yu made itst night, asking me to drop by, so I stepped inside. The mist obscuring my vision dispersed. I could see the familiar gardenndscape I had seen many times. Master, Ive been waiting. Yu got up from her seat. She wasnt wearing the in robe as usual. She was wearing Niflheimrs Conqueror outfit. For now,e this way. Ill prepare a meal. No need to prepare. This will do. I picked up a piece of bread from the basket. Im not a fan of eating a lot for breakfast. I took a bite of the bread and spoke. Why did you call me? I cant even attend the graduation ceremony now. Its been a while since Ive seen Jenna face to face. Youre leaving today, isnt it natural for me to call you? There was a slight hint of dissatisfaction in Yus gaze. The expression of dissatisfaction soon turned into regret. I dont even know when youlle back I couldnt answer. I dont know when Ill return after leaving either. That was the truth. Master, theres onest thing I want to ask. Are you really going back to Townia? Its fine for you to stay in Niflheimr. Even with Seris Im sorry. Youve already answered that. I apologize for my impertinence. Yu lowered her head. I sighed. I appreciate what youve done here. If it werent for you, I would have had to go a long way. No. Were just sorry that we cant do more. You guys are amazing. I continued. If I were in your shoes, I would have been extremely annoyed. Bossing you around, putting you in tough battles, handling you as I pleased. Thats not the case at all. Thats whats amazing. Yu and the other three heroes, including Ridgion, have been with me from the early days of Niflheimr. During this period, Ive given them harsh orders several times. I sent them into battles with extremely low survival rates or drove theirrades to their deaths for minor mistakes. Except for Seris, theyve never rebelled against me. Even Seris only refused orders I gave when I was half-crazed. They epted othermands withoutint. It was for the sake of efficient strategies, but looking back, some of those orders were almost suicidal. Even the old Anytng would have seemed ridiculous. If I had thought more deeply Countless failures came to mind. Heroes who died due to my judgment errors. Among them were many who had the potential no less than the current main party. If I had pursued the strategy a bit more meticulously, they wouldnt have had to die. Why didnt I know? Even though I researched and analyzed so much. I never even imagined that the heroes of Pick Me Up were actually living beings. I just treated them recklessly with the prejudice of being a mobile game. Master, what are you thinking? Nothing. Just some thoughts. I shook my head. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 103: Niflheimr (15) (2) Chapter 103: Niflheimr (15) (2) Master, what are you thinking? Nothing. Just some thoughts. I shook my head. Anyway, I want to repay you for what you did for me. If youre willing Except for staying here. Yu suddenly looked disappointed. I smirked and said, What? Are you saying, theres not much I can do?! No, its not like that. Just if you could Contact you guys once in a while? Contact you guys once in a while? As I mentioned before, the ring I gave you as a gift hasmunication functions. You canmunicate with us even in Townia. It wontst long, though. Yu taught me how to use it. Turn the ring to the left and bring it close to your mouth to speak. Like this? Thats sound good. Yu smiled warmly. Once a week is enough. Just to check how youre doing, whether youre in good health, and if youve encountered any difficulties. If theres anything we can help with, well rush to your aid. Its quite a burden. I quickly spoke before Yu got disheartened. Anyway, understood. Ill contact you once a week. If I need Niflheimrs help, Ill reach out. Anytime. I thought to myself, When the time that I need Niflheimrs full supportes The situation would be at its very worst. To the point where its almost impossible to use my hands. I can only hope it doesnte to that. Master, it seems that Ridgion also wants to meet you. He said he wants to give you advice. Donte to see me off. I moved on. Yu remained standing by the table. Is this thest time? The nned departure time is 2:00 PM in the afternoon. Once I leave here, I wont be able to meet Yu for a while. Yu bowed to me. Her thin white hair flowed downward. Yu. Yes. Ill never forget your help. Ill pray for Masters good fortune. I smiled and left the garden. Next, the farewell with Ridgion proceeded calmly. Until the moment we parted, he taught me everything about swordsmanship. Ive said everything I wanted to say. When he was leaving, Ridgion said, The next time we meet, I wont need words, Ill just show you. Behind Ridgions uniform, his sword swayed. I left Iron Mountain. Now, there are only three members left. But all three sectors are empty. Well meet someday. I took the elevator down. I entered the annex on the second floor and organized my belongings. There wasnt much to take. Two auxiliary daggers and one spare health potion were all I had. I strapped them to my belt and left the room. My illusion was already gone. I went out to the training ground of the annex. The recruits were gathered, ready to depart. Over here, Oppa! Here! Jenna waved from a corner of the training ground. I joined Jenna. Today, its goodbye to this ce. Feels like its been about a year. The time wasnt wasted. Yeah, thats true. You taught me in great detail before. Thanks to you, I learned a lot. But I still prefer where we originally came from. Jenna smiled, scratching her cheek. Following the instructors guidance, we set off for the dimensional rift. I want to take a bath when I get back. Isnt the bath here better? The facilities here are better, but the other ce feels more familiar. Anyway. We chatted casually as we walked. We came with three people, but one seat was empty. Jenna didnt bring up that topic. I wonder how itll change when we get back. There must be many newrades, right? In the hangar, Landgrid-07 was waiting. It was the ship we rode when we came here. We boarded. Its been a month, right? Have you all learned well? I hope your experience in Niflheimr will be a great help! Lydel spoke cheerfully. At the same time, the shuttle began to move slowly. In front of the shuttle, the whirlpool of dimensions was spinning. Light enveloped the shuttle. When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar sight. A volcano eruptingva and thick sulfur clouds. It was outside of Niflheimr. Its dangerous outside, so dont lean out. Donte out recklessly, okay? I leaned my arm on the railing. Inside the moving shuttle, Niflheimrs tower was getting farther away. When will Ie back next? Theres no way I cante back if I force it, but. The shuttle began to shake. I turned my gaze to the tower. At that moment. ? At one end of the floating ind next to it. A blurry human figure caught my eye. It was hard to see because of the distance. I concentrated my vision. Thats Golden hair like the sun. She was looking in this direction with a sword plunged into the ground. The crimson mes emanating from the sword dyed the sky red. Ive seen her many times. I couldnt forget the color of those mes. Levatein. Series Agentheim. The strongest in Niflheimr and ranked first. You knew, huh? Series was staring at me. The distance was considerable, but her burning gaze was clearly felt. Not yet. I smiled. Now is not the time to meet her. Someday, when Ive truly be stronger. Oppa, why are you looking like that? Its like youre trying to see through something. Its nothing. I turned my gaze away. The light of dimensional jump enveloped the shuttle. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 104: Lets Fight (1) (1) Chapter 104: Let''s Fight (1) (1) I woke up. The bunk in the cabin was gently swaying with me on it. I looked out the window. Beyond the ss, a deste wastnd and the sight of a tower were visible. [Dimension 1935 Townia] I got out of bed. Lydels voice echoed. I nced to my side, but Jenna wasnt there. It seemed like she had left while I was still asleep. I exited the cabin and headed for the deck. On the way, I ran into Jenna. Oh, Oppa. I was just about to go look for you. Did you take everything? You didnt forget something, right? No, Ive taken care of everything we brought. Dont worry. Jenna and I walked side by side. As we stepped onto the deck, a refreshing breeze brushed against our cheeks. The airship was approaching the Dimensional Rift near the tower. Lydel, who had been standing on the left side of the deck, turned this way. Oh, there you are! The two top students have arrived. First and second ce side by side! You know, Ive heard the rumors. Its a shame that the two of you didnt stay in Niflheimr. We have colleagues waiting for us. Well, theres nothing to be done then. Its a shame. Lydel smiled and turned his gaze. The Dimensional Rift began to engulf the airship from the front. And then. As momentum built up in my body, the scenery changed in an instant. A high ceiling and a straight corridor that extended forward and backward. It was a rift in dimensions. Familiar messages appeared. [Assignmentplete!] [Han () and Jenna () have safely returned from Niphleheim.] [Han () and Jenna () are now operable.] [ The heros status has changed due to the assignment effect. Check the Hero tab for details!] It was Anytngs guidance window. From here on, it was considered Townias territory. Click. Stairs assembled from the railing extended downward. I walked down the stairs. Behind the railing, Lydel waved his hand. I wish you a safe journey! Jenna came down with me. As we stepped onto the rift in dimensions, the airship began to reverse. [Ring!] [Niflheimr-affiliated Airship Landgrid 07 is departing.] The Landgrid ship was drawn into the Dimensional Rift and gradually disappeared. The unique movement noise of the airship disappeared. All that remained was silence. Its quiet. Jenna muttered, looking up. I looked up as well. The sky was a murky ck. The Master wasnt connected. Judging by the color, it seemed to bete at night. Jenna scratched her cheek. I wonder if theyll be waiting for us. We didnt even tell them when we will return, how will they know? I had only mentioned it would take about a month, I hadnt specified the exact arrival time. Except for the two of us; the vast rift in dimensions was empty. Lets go to our lodgings. Ill get a good nights sleep in my room, and we can meet tomorrow. As for now, you Jenna looked at me and tilted her head. It seems that you need some time alone, Oppa. Ill go ahead! Jenna ran toward the exit. Shes quick to catch on. I smirked and looked to the side. Inside the shadow, stardust twinkled. What are you doing in there? Why are you hiding? [Lokiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!] A small girl the size of my arm emerged from inside. ck hair and two pairs of transparent wings. It was Iselle. [You came back! I didnt think you would, I really didnt think you would!] How long have you been waiting? [Ive been waiting for a long time, thinking you wouldnte back.] Iselle took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes. The handkerchief was soaked with tears. You told me toe back, and I promised you I would. So why were you even worried? [Butpared to being stuck in a ce like this, Niflheimr is amazing, right? Didnt they stop you from going back?] They did try to stop me. [So you fought back for me right?] Tears welled up in Iselles eyes again. For you. I decided to bury the truth. I dont like ruining something I cherish. Besides, its not 100% unrted. It took Iselle about ten minutes to calm down. Iselle, who had regained her usual liveliness, circled around me. [Anyway, youre back! Are you tired? Today, lets go to the lodging and rest. The facilities are top-notch. Its not the Townia of the past. It has changed a lot.] Oh, really? [Yeah, youll be surprised.] Iselle nodded with her hand on her waist. I started walking. It has been ten days in real time since we left Townia. In the game time, its been a month. Its not a short period. If Anytng had been ying the game steadily, there might have been some changes, whether external or internal. I walked out to the square on the second floor through the open door. The square hadnt changed much. There was a fountain in the center, surrounded by benches. Due to the time, there were no pedestrians in sight. However, something familiar was ced on the right wall. I could tell at a nce. It was stairs. Did he add a third floor? Yes, it has! Townia now has three floors! Iselle said enthusiastically before continuing. The first floor is just for useless leftovers! The second floor is for support staff and less experienced prospects. And the third floor is for Combat roles. Exactly! The food tastes better, the beds are softer, and theres plenty of fun things to do. I pumped my fist. The first floor is for neers without skills. The second floor is for support staff and aspiringbatants. The third floor is for the main heroes. Anytng was still using the structure I had in mind even in the third-floor waiting room. It meant he still believed in my strategy. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 104: Lets Fight (1) (2) Chapter 104: Let''s Fight (1) (2) I wonder if he properly checked the email I sent. The main content was to apply for dispatch to Niflheimr, but I also attached two pieces of advice. First, replenish your power with advanced summons. Second, dont rely too much on my strategy and improve your own skills. The second one was a bit vague, but the first was straightforward. How many people were allowed to the third floor? It should be the main two parties, right? I tried to list the heroes that could be considered part of our party. Me, Jenna, Eloka, Velkist, Neryssa. In the second party, there were Edis and Roderick. In total, there were seven. [There are 15 on the third floor, including Loki, of course!] Thats twice as many. [Yeah.] With 15 people I guess we can form a third party. While I was away for training, it seemed like Anytng had been busy. Other heroes would probably be in a simr situation. Each of them would have improved by at least one level. I headed for the stairs. I wanted to take a look at the third floor. This is good. Well train for a day and the day after tomorrow. Then, three dayster, we can start quickly from the 21st floor. I mumbled as I walked. Then, just before the stairs, I stopped. When I turned around, Iselle was hesitating. Why the long face? Did you eat something bad? [No, its just] Iselle giggled awkwardly. It was a strangely awkward expression. [Just dont misunderstand. You know, Loki. When you werent here, Townia] No need to say it. I can guess. I chuckled. It was clear from the timing of Iselles hesitance. You climbed the tower while I was gone, right? [Uh, yeah] Iselle nodded her head vaguely. As if she hadmitted a crime, her neck shrank. Why so stiff? Its okay as long as it doesnt ruin the strategy. Since there are 15 people on the third floor, it seems like no one died. [Thats right. No one died using the strategy.] When Jenna and I were absent, they still managed to climb a few floors. Its unexpected. After the recent strike, Anytng had be quite cautious. He didnt send parties into action until preparations wereplete. But now, without the two main members of the first party, he executed the strategy. So, how many floors did you clear? [25th floor.] 25th floor? [Yeah.] Not the 24th but the 25th. Is that right? [Well, yes.] I took a step back on the stairs. This is a different story. I could understand if it were up to the 24th floor. These were sub-stages. Its understandable since they werent special missions. But the 25th floor was different. They beat the boss stage. This is not something to joke about. The fact that Anytng sent a party, and the mission ended in sess. Its definitely different. As Iselle had mentioned, Townia had indeed changed. And it was in a direction I hadnt expected. So, I guess the 25th floor was a small-scale mission. [It was a solo mission carried out by a single party. Since we were farming for Regen Stones, if you request it tomorrow when the Master logs in, you can watch the mission video.] I nodded thoughtfully. The first party probably wasnt involved in this mission. Without Jenna and me, the formation wouldnt be properly arranged. Even if they filled the two spots with other members, the overall power would drop to less than half. There was no reason for Anytng to send out the first party. The situation wasnt any different for the second party. On the 20th floor, two members died, and after that Aaron also left. Even with the addition of new power, it feels a bitcking for a solo strategy. Therefore, there was only one possibility left. I spoke up. Iselle, when did the Master perform the advanced summon? [Just one month ago. As soon as Loki left for Niflheimr, he started summoning immediately.] Show me the system log from that time. [Wait a moment!] Iselle started flipping through the ledger. I took a deep breath. Anytng performed a paid gacha as soon as I left. He was faithfully following my advice. The summoning date was one month ago. The heroes would have already adapted. As Iselle was rummaging through the ledger, her hand stopped. [Ah, I found it! Ill show it to you now.] The ledger Iselle was holding disappeared in a sh of light. At the same time, a holographic window appeared before me. It was a system message indicating the summoning. [Master, beginning the advanced summon!] [You have chosen a 5-consecutive summon. A total of 2,500 gems will be consumed. Do you wish to proceed?] [Yes (Selected) / No] A 5-consecutive summon. Did he spend money? [Master bought a package just before summoning.] The summoning screen continued. [Master, beginning the advanced summon. Im looking forward to which heroes will appear!] [Taak, dudururu] Thud! [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Lacari ()!] On the screen, a magic circle was drawn, and the heros name, grade, and illustration appeared. The next summoning began. [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Nishazu ()!] [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Darama ()!] [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Nandio ()!] The fourth one. And thest. Right here. I narrowed my eyes. [Tuquakang!] Iselle: No, this feeling?! A powerful explosion sound echoed. !!Super!!Rare!! [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Kishasha ()!] The message continued. Ding! [A strong connection can be felt from the five summoned individuals.] [A bond Gale Running through the Forest has been formed!] You can turn it off now. The system log disappeared. What a lucky guy. He broke through the 1% odds twice. Anyway, the prediction hade true. Anytng had struck it big in the gacha. And if this was one month ago They must have grown quite a bit. I clicked my tongue. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 105: Lets Fight (2) (1) Chapter 105: Let''s Fight (2) (1) I ascended to the third floor, leaving Iselle behind. From the first party to the third, it was a ce reserved only for mainbatants. The structure of the third floor wasnt much different from the second; the most recognizable thing is that the training ground entrance was slightly wider. I walked towards my lodging. ng! ng! ng! I stopped in my tracks. Passing by the training grounds, I heard an unfamiliar noise. It was the sound of metal shing against metal. I peered inside through the half-opened door. Velkist. There, in front of what looked like a human-shaped steel doll, Velkist was swinging his sword. Swish! The de sliced through the air with a piercing sound, leaving an afterimage as it darted in all directions. Sparks flew as the metal shed. Velkist whole body was drenched in sweat. What are you doing? Itste. I said as I entered the training grounds. The sword stopped. Velkist turned to look at me, his narrowed eyes piercing. Oh, its you, senior. Its been a month. I just got here. Is something going on? Nothing special. Just training. It looks like youre taking it out on a perfectly good dummy. Dont mind me. Velkist nced at the dummy and then sheathed his sword. His exposed forearm glistened with sweat. I looked down and saw that his grip was tearing his hand apart, and blood was flowing steadily. Velkists expression remained nonchnt as if it was nothing. Just give me a minute. Just one minute. Then, lets have a match. I was nning to go in and get some rest. Just one round. I straightened up from where I had been leaning against the wall. Velkists eyes turned cold. I hadnt seen this expression on him much since we met. ng! ng!! ng!!! ng!!!! He kept striking down the doll, and the fourth and final strike shattered one of the dummys shoulders. Broken pieces of metal scattered around. Ready? Velkist extended his sword. Sorry for not saying hello earlier. If you call that a greeting. I chuckled and stepped onto the practice grounds. Velkists eyebrows twitched. I dont see a shield. Did you throw it away? Why are you wielding such a strange sword? Ive had quite a month. Swish. I drew Bifrost. The de gleamed coldly under the training grounds lights. Its a nice sword. Are you jealous? If I say that, will you give it to me? Thats not happening. Velkist chuckled wickedly. Then, he took a deep breath and suddenly charged. As his feet moved, his arm swung. The sword in his right-hand thrust like an arrow. ng! I blocked with the side of my sword. Velkists attacks continued. Thrusts, upward shes, and diagonal strikes, all flowed like water. I parried and dodged, saying as I did. It seems like something is bothering you. It is what it is. I deflected the sword tip aimed at my groin. He still showed no mercy. He has definitely improved. Sharper and cleaner than what I remember. As I blocked and dodged, the relentless attacks kepting. Let my guard down for a moment, and blood would be pouring from my body. His lower-level swordsmanship is at least Level 9. Learning from Ridgion allowed me to estimate Velkists skills a bit. It was a noticeable growth. However, I gripped the sword hilt. I put strength into my toes, bent my waist, and swung the sword. Whoosh! The wind screamed. There was no way to avoid it. Velkist brought the sword to meet mine. When the swords shed, a dull sound echoed. Shi-at! Velkist, along with the sword, flew and mmed into the iron bars. I lifted Velkist, who was about to copse. If youre going to fight, at least wipe the sweat off. Dont go picking on someone while youre already tired; you wont even show your true skills. You filthy Youve gotten stronger. Did you take some kind of potion? I thought I was going to break when I shed swords with you. Thats apany secret, buddy. We left the practice grounds. Velkist put his nearly broken sword back in its sheath and muttered. But, you know, life is really strange sometimes. I never imagined Id break so easily in front of a brat. A brat? Be careful, senior. Even from just the appearance no, youll probably figure it out just from the appearance. The reason for Velkists anger became somewhat clear. I smiled and said. Is the neer really that strong? The other four are worth a try. But theres one problem. Do you know, senior? In your absence, they? I heard they reached the 25th floor. Then, theres no need to say more. That guy Velkists expression seemed to darken as if he was remembering something, and there was a strong sense of displeasure in his gaze. Anyway, be cautious of that guy. Hes not an enemy, so why bother? Having a strong guy around makes climbing the Tower easier. They might not see it the same way. Anyway, Ive said my piece. Im heading out. Velkist put on his coat and headed outside the training facility. As he left, Wee back. He left with those words. Its pointless. Were going the same way anyway. I followed Velkist. When I opened the door to the lodging, something strange caught my eye. Hmm A woman in pajamas was dozing off on the sofa. Are you sleeping? No response. Eloka stood with her back straight, tilting her head as she sat in a cross-legged position. Why isnt she lying in her bed but sitting here? I ignored her and walked past. I surveyed the lobbys corridor. Theyout had changed slightly. It had split into three paths. I see. I had a feeling I knew the purpose. I headed to the left. Soon, a small parlor came into view. And in the inner corridor, there were five doors. He has categorized lodgings by parties. Until now, we had simply chosen rooms randomly, but now he was assigning rooms by party. It was the concept of group living. I looked at the clock on the parlors wall. It was past 3 in the morning. I was getting sleepy. The empty one among the five is most likely my room. I entered it. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 105: Lets Fight (2) (2) Chapter 105: Let''s Fight (2) (2) And the next morning. When I came out, all four of them were gathered. Jenna, Eloka, Velkist, Neryssa. The purpose was simple: greetings and a report on recent events. Eloka hadined about why I ignored her yesterday, but You were asleep. No, I wasnt sleeping Then what were you doing? Its been a while since you left, so I was waiting to greet you properly! Okay, okay, my bad for not waking you up. I chuckled. After exchanging greetings with Neryssa as well, I moved on to the next topic. Eloka had suggested a small party, but I declined. I hadnte here to have fun. Youre quite blunt. Really. No fun at all. Im sorry if its not fun. Anyway, while I was gone, you guys must have like crazy fun, right? After being stuck for a month, you must have been itching to move. If the current floor was the 25th, we needed to catch up in terms of levels. We also needed to recover our teamwork, which had suffered due to our absence from actualbat. Training will start this afternoon. When the Master arrives Thump. The floor beneath the table shook. It quieted down a momentter, as if to say, Did that just happen? A little mouse has arrived. Iughed. Thud! I kicked under the table with my foot. The cold spot caved in, and wooden splinters scattered in the air. Therge wooden table flipped over into the air. Did I get caught? If youre going to hide, at least hide properly. I sighed. In the spot where the table used to be, a young girl was squatting. She had ck hair and wore a one-piece dress made of animal skin. She might look older, but she was probably twelve or thirteen at most. She was still a child. Hmph, if I got caught, it cant be helped! The little girl stood up with her nose in the air. I am Lacari Vikchavi! A proud member of the Gale Tribe. Im different from you dirty and mortal humans! She had a proud expression, her nose held high. None of the five of us reacted. Hahaha! Are you all scared to the point of being speechless? Of course. From the start, Im different from you humansAugh!! Whoosh! Lacari was suddenly hanging in my grasp. H-let me go! Dirty human! What is this? Some kind of monkey? Im a member of the third party. Neryssa said. Summoned a month ago. I know. Its just different from what I was expecting. You, let go! Lacari screamed and struggled. I grabbed the little ones cor and shook her vigorously. Like a marite, Lacaris body swayed. Cowardly! Just as despicable and filthy as humans! Why did youe in the first ce? What do you want? Too noisy! Hey, you there! The weakling who got beaten up by your sister yesterday! Help me right now! Velkists eyebrows twitched. His hand got closer to his scabbard. Jenna awkwardly chuckled. Hey, bro. Using a sword on a kid Does this kid look like innocent? Huh? But I stepped back. Lacari, who had rushed at me, smashed the chair in front of me in an instant. Phew, dodged it. Lacari brushed her hands. Her hands had long, sharp ws. What is that? All the members of the third party are beastmen. They belong to an extremely rare race that resides in the far east of the Empire. Lacari bared her fangs. Hmph, talkative talkative. Come on, you humans! I wont leave a single one of you Thud! Velkists scabbard struck her on the back of her head. Lacari copsed without even screaming. Noisy little thing. Velkist muttered. Their way of thinking is different from ours. It seems they dont like humans much. But to me, they dont seem much different from humans. Its because theyre a sub-race. I looked down at Lacari. A gale that runs through the forest. It was the name of the bond generated in consecutive draws. Having a bond meant that all four of them, including this one, were of the same race. A beastmen race. Simr to humans but also different. I thought of a few cases. asionally, in the draws, beings of a different race from humans would appear. They had slightly different characteristics from ordinary human heroes. Shes cute. Jenna poked Lacaris cheek. There was a blush on her cheek where baby fat hadnt disappeared. But personality-wise, she seems pretty bad. Oppa, what do you n to do? Wake her up and send her back like this? Jenna turned to me and asked. Well, Im not sure. Lacaris body was twitching; it seemed like she was going to wake up soon. Its gotten quite annoying. ording to Velkist, the third party didnt seem to be cooperative with us. While they might be helpful in performing missions individually, working together would be really difficult. You guys stay here. Ill try talking to them. Is it okay for you to go alone? Whats the point of youing with me? Are you going to start a fight? I lifted Lacari with one hand. It felt like about 30 kg. It was incredibly light. During my absence, do some training or something. Senior, remember what I told you yesterday. This kid is nothing special, but the others are a bit different. Ill keep that in mind. Leaving my party members behind, I walked out into the corridor. At the crossroads, I met someone. Han! How have you been? It was Edis. Unfortunately, I dont have time for greetings. Im a bit busy. Edis nced at Lacari in my arms. That kid I heard shes hard to handle. Is that right? Sorry, I tried to persuade her, but she wouldnt listen. It seems like its not a cooperative rtionship. Our mission is to go out. But its a bit unusual. To be honest, I dont really understand. Edis shook her head. Lets talk about itter. See you in a bit. I continued walking. Since Edis came from the central corridor, the ce with the third party should be the right corridor. As I approached the middle of the corridor. Hat! Lacari suddenly opened her eyes. Her big eyes locked onto me. You, you, you cowardly! Are you awake? Lacari wriggled in my grip. Before she could extend her ws, I reached out like lightning and grabbed her wrist. Gently. Ah, owowowowow! Dont thrash around. I might identally break your arm. You, you! After doing this to me I shook Lacari vigorously, holding onto her clothing. Lacaris body spun around like a top. After a while, her screams subsided. Now its a bit quieter. Chapter 106: Lets Fight (3) (1) Chapter 106: Let''s Fight (3) (1) At the entrance to the passage, I stopped my steps. I looked down at the floor. Instead of the usual metallic hallway, the floor was covered with grass and soil. As I looked ahead, I could see the asional shadow of trees in the distance. Grass, soil, wood, and flowers. It was interior decor bought with gold. Anytng went this far, huh? It was a small forest. Even the air retained its characteristic moisture. I carried Lacari, who had copsed, on my shoulder and walked inside. I noticed several log cabins scattered around. Who are you? A response came immediately. I turned my head. Two women with raised eyebrows were looking at me. They were wearing dresses made of animal skin. They resembled Lacari in appearance, but they were clearly adults. One of them looked at Lacari. That child Werent you guys who sent her? There was no need to see anything here. I gently ced Lacari on the dirt floor. Why did you use a child like a spy? She didnt do anything properly. Just so you know, I didnt do anything outrageous. I just asked her to calm down a bit since she was running around. If thats the one that person mentioned Then, among humans I narrowed my eyebrows. The two of them started muttering among themselves. I had my hand on the hilt of my sword in case of any unforeseen circumstances, but they didnt openly show hostility. They seemed a bit cautious and curious. I checked on Lacari at my feet. Hmm She didnt seem to havepletely passed out. The woman on the left quickly approached Lacari and then disappeared with her. Theyre not much different from humans. They were beastfolk, but there were no noticeable differences. At most, they wore slightly unusual clothing and had sharp nails. There were no animal ears or tails sticking out as distinctive features. Are you Han Israt? The remaining beastwoman asked. How do you know my name? Weve been waiting. After finishing her sentence, the woman jumped away. A few meters in leaping distance. It was an amazingly agile move. I clicked my tongue. I had wanted to talk to them, but they only asked what they needed to know and disappeared. But I didnt feel like chasing after them either. I dont understand their intentions. However, they werent openly hostile towards me, that much was clear. I continued to walk with my hand still on the hilt of my sword. There was a dirt path leading further inside. Theyve created an exclusive space. In one part of the forest, I could see scarecrows made of straw and various obstacles made from trees. It seemed like a temporary training ground for the Third Party. I kept going. In the center of the forest, there was arge open area. And in the center of the open area, a girl stood tall. Ive been waiting. Ahahaha! The girlughed loudly. Her voice didnt match her petite stature. Brown hair extended like fur behind the girl. In terms of appearance, she wasnt much different from Lacari. Im Kishasha Vikchavi. Nice to meet you. Youre Han Israt, right? Ive heard a lot about you. Youre the strongest male in this waiting room, right? The strongest male? I even got to see scenes of you fighting with the Masters strange magic. It was amazing! I havent been this excited in a long time. Kishasha raised her right hand. Swoosh. Her small white hand extended into sharp ws. I couldnt help butugh. It wasnt for the purpose of showing off or mocking her. Just pure, Warrior Han Israt! Yeah. Lets have a match! In an instant, the ground beneath Kishashas feet sank. Leaves and piles of dirt swirled, and her petite body approached me at an incredible speed. Her right hand disappeared with a trace. I drew my sword and shed with her. ng! The sword and ws intersected. A solid impact traveled from my wrist to my shoulder. My muscles tingled. When I regained my posture, my body had already moved back several steps. You blocked it! Kishashas mouth twisted as if she were delighted. Thunk! At the same time, a kick shot out like a cannonball. I lowered my head. The tree behind me snapped in half like a twig. What up with this incredible power? Yesterday, that warrior was overflowing with determination. But he couldnt satisfy me. How about you! You wanted to fight me? Of course. Theres nothing as enjoyable as fighting a strong warrior, whether theyre human or a fellow of our kind! Kishasha crouched down. Then she leaped towards me. Her movements were like watching a cheetah. ng! ng! mes burst as the sword and ws shed. Even with the solid de, Bifrost, Kishashas ws didnt have a single scratch. Is this some kind of martial art using ws? I positioned Bifrost to the side. Kishashas extended hands scraped against the de, producing a fierce frictional sound. At the same time, she kicked in. Her movements, connecting seamlessly from hands to feet, were as smooth as flowing water. And How is this little one so strong? Thud! As her ws dug into the earth, a small pit was created in an instant. Though her hands and feet appeared soft like a childs, they possessed the power to crush things like twigs. Her ws brushed my shoulders one after the other. The leather armor split open like tofu, revealing my skin. I took a step back and swung the sword broadly. Kishasha, who had jumped 2 meters high, avoided it and then descended, thrusting her ws downward. I immediately recovered with my sword and blocked it. Bang! Dust and leaves flew up into the air. Kishasha, who had swiftly retreated, dashed at me again. Her quick retreat,bined with her fluid movements, made it impossible to predict the timing of her attacks and defenses. She was an opponent of a style I had never faced before. I concentrated my strength throughout my body and swung the sword. Kishasha evaded it instantly. I used the recoil of my muscles to bend the sword diagonally and swung it. She raised her ws to block it, but Thwack! Kishasha was sent flying several meters and crashed into the grass. She swiftly got up, pushing aside the des of grass. Youre different. I didnt expect you to be this strong. Kishasha wiped the blood from her mouth with a smirk. I lowered my sword. When I looked at my left forearm, blood was flowing. I had scraped my forearm in the process. Status window. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 106: Lets Fight (3) (2) Chapter 106: Let''s Fight (3) (2) I lowered my sword. When I looked at my left forearm, blood was flowing. I had scraped my forearm in the process. Status window. [Kishasha Bicshavi () Lv. 22 (Exp 32/180)] [ss: Half-beast] [Strength: 54/54] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Health: 48/48] [Agility: 59/59] [Skills: Intermediate Martial Arts (Lv.1), Determination (Lv.3), Instinct (Lv.1), Battle Momentum (Lv.1), Beastly Manifestation (Lv.4), Forest Hunter (Lv.8), Swift Agility (Lv.9)] [Imprint Slots: 1/1] [Slot 1: Descendant of the Beast King (B+, Lv.3)] [A descendant of the Beast King who once contested the dominance of the Empire and the continent. The bloodline of a fearless warrior.] [Effects: Mental Resistance +50%, Immunity to Fear, Ability increases by 20% in near-death state (Duration: 60 seconds)] [Unique Skill: Transformation (Beast)] I let out a bitter smile. She had the upper hand in all stats. Thats to be expected. The base stats she possessed were different. Judging by the total, it seemed like her growth rate was outstanding. If I were to undergo enhancements in the future, I could make up for thecking stats, but for now, there was no way. Furthermore, she had top-notch skills like Intermediate Martial Arts and even an Imprint. In other words Shes in the top tier among 4-stars. In terms of numerical values, she clearly outssed me. In a game that relied solely on stats, this would be fine. But Pick Me Up wasnt that kind of game. In battles where the oue was clear-cut, there were always chances for an upset, whether it was a mission or a duel between heroes. She had the bloodline of the Beast King. From birth, she was a powerhouse. She probably had her own abilities, but she seemed to be a natural-born prodigy. But that doesnt mean I cant win. I dont like feeling frustrated. I smiled and adjusted my sword. Ill fight for whatever reason. I had already forgotten the fact that the opponent before me looked like a teenager in her mid-teens. If you wonte to me, then Ill go to you. I raised my sword and bent my lower body. At that moment, stardust sparkled from the side. Iselle. I stopped her before she could intervene. Dont stop me. We dont intend to kill each other. Its just a greeting. Isnt that right? Hehe! You know whats up. Right, this is a conversation of body and body. A ritual to establish camaraderie. Youre a human, but I like you! Im d to hear that. I jumped lightly. Whoosh! And swung heavily. I discarded simr tricks. Only heavy strikes. I didnt have the talent to master all forms of swordy like Ridgion. Therefore, I had to focus on one thing. Realizing that fact was the key to mastering the Heavenly Sword Spirit. Heavy Sword. Thud! The solid de of Bifrost struck Kishasha. A strong shockwave hit her face. Kishasha, who was standing, slid several meters on the ground. This is exciting! Kishasha burst intoughter. Simultaneously, she charged at me, kicking up the dirt floor. I weed her willingly. Kishasha attacked me with every part of her body, from her hands and feet to her elbows and knees. Hand-to-handbat and swordsmanship. In cases like this, the one with a weapon had a clear advantage, but Kishasha deftly avoided my sword and sometimes shed with it. Kishasha lowered her body as if she were bowing. The de that passed above her sliced through a tree. The severed tree slid to the left. As it fell, dust billowed up, and a fist flew through the dust. Just brushing it caused blood to spatter. Amidst the ongoing battle, where I smashed and shattered trees, dirt, and rocks without mercy. Its time to shift gears. Fighting like this was fine, but it didnt suit my temperament. She was hiding her full power. I was too. I had already shown enough. It was time to move on. Frenzy. Hot blood surged in my head. [Han () has entered a frenzy state!] My vision became heated. I exerted strength in my hands and waist. The three-hitbo, carrying immense weight, struck Kishasha. Kishasha flew like a cannonball and crashed into a pile of dirt. As Frenzy reached level 7, the added stat values broke through 15. Whenbined with Heavenly Sword Spirit, I could wield a pure strength of nearly 80. Lets finish this. I said while looking at the swirling dust. My schedule is quite busy as it is. I have other things to do. Are you gonna use it too? Each Imprint came with a unique skill. Their usefulness varied, but the Descendant of the Beast King that Kishasha possessed was rated B+. It was a fairly high grade. A shadow rose from the dust. [Unique skill, Transformation activated!] [Kishasha () transforms!] A low growl resonated. There was no trace of the young girls voice. It was a pure beasts cry. And A tiger I chuckled. Now I understood why she was called a half-beast. What emerged from the dust was a giant beast. Approximately 2 meters in size. It was muchrger than what I had seen in the zoo. Is that your true form? Her tail behind her back swayed left and right. Her entire body was covered in thick stripes. Kishasha didnt reply. Instead, she took a step forward with only her upper body. This is what you call a jackpot. Her individualbat power was excellent. In addition, she had the ability to transform. Although her temperament was somewhat unusual, it was within an eptable range. It will be of great help for our strategy. If only I could handle it properly. If you want to fight, Ill do as you wish. I aimed my sword at her. Her fangs bared towards my face. And Roar! Kishasha roared charging at me. And I also ran towards her. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 107: The 25th Floor Records (1) (1) Chapter 107: The 25th Floor Records (1) (1) After the battle had ended. Wahahahaha! Have I ever fought this excitingly before? There may not be much reward ining here, but this is worth it! Kishasha burst intoughter. Even though blood was flowing from various parts of her body. I sheathed my sword in its scabbard and checked my entire body. Shoulder, thigh, chest, abdomen, calf. Five areas were throbbing. Despite my attempts to block, the power of each attack exceeded my limits, so I couldnt avoid getting injured. Are you okay? It doesnt matter. Its not my first time facing opponents like this. I see. Youre a well-trained warrior! I sat down on a fallen tree. My torn armor and the dried blood within it were gradually healing along the wounds. I felt several pairs of eyes watching me from beyond the bushes. They were members of the third party. They stared at me with a mixture of fear and amazement, muttering among themselves. The oue The fight hade to a halt just before a final decision. At that moment, either one of us could have lost his life. I mainly relied on powerful swings with my sword, while Kishasha used her massive ws for attacks. If the battle hadsted for another ten seconds, either my upper body would have been torn apart and sent flying, or Kishashas head would have been severed. It was that close. But my chances of winning werent high. I chuckled bitterly. Despite using my skills and experience to the fullest, if the battle had gone on, the odds were high that I would have been the one to fall. There was a significant difference in our abilities. She has an imprint. Kishasha possessed something special that I didnt have. Normally, imprints couldnt be acquired at my current level. However, as a 4-star hero, Kishasha had possessed it from birth. To bridge that gap, I needed to acquire an imprint of my own. Later. For now, I needed to break through to the 30th floor. After some cleanup of the battlefield, I was invited to the dwellings of the humanoid creatures. During the conversation, I learned a few things. First, Kishasha had been waiting for me after seeing my battle scene with the yback stone. Second, as soon as news of my arrival reached them, they sent Lacari to bring me here. So, that was an invitation? I chuckled wryly. Lacari had been hiding suspiciously and only emerged to cause trouble. Im sorry. I didnt think it through. Lacari didnt like humans. My thoughts were too short-sighted. That child lost its parents to humans. You seemed to have had a quarrel with Velkist too. I saw potential in him as a warrior. I just found it interesting. While I dont like humans as a race, I dont hate innocent people. If you feel felt offended, I apologize. Please tell that guy as well. Of course, he can always challenge me again at any time. I nced to the side. In the dense forest, a little ck-haired kid was eyeing me. It was Lacari. She wont stop. I couldnt expectplete cooperation, but there seemed to be no need for hostility. At least, it would be helpful in missions. The fact that they had reached the 25th floor was evidence of that. Sister, you brought a human home. Traitor! Lacari stuck out her tongue and ran off. Another humanoid who was nearby followed her. Do you like meat? Theres plenty here. Thanks to that, weve been able to get a lot of fresh meat. Kishasha opened a bundle. The scent of blood filled the air as raw meat emerged. Without hesitation, she picked up a piece of meat attached to the bone and began to chew. Chomp, chomp. Arent you eating? Im not hungry. I turned my head. Although they didnt look much different from humans on the outside, there was clearly a difference. After the meal, shey down satisfied patting her belly, and I spoke to Kishasha. The topic was already set: cooperation for a smooth conquest of the tower and missions. Kishasha agreed without hesitation. Why mention it? Originally, our tribe came here under a contract. I had nned to ask for your help from our side. A contract, you say. Thats right. At the end of the world, when our homnd was engulfed in darkness and disappeared we heard a voice. That voice said it would save us. Kishasha scratched her bushy head. I agreed. After that, I couldnt remember much, and it hasnt beening to mind since then. My family said they didnt hear it. Its really strange. Is it the end of the world and a voice? There are a few hypotheses, but their true identity is still unclear. Anyway, well carry out the mission. At first, I was disappointed because there were a bunch of mediocre humans, but now I see there are excellent warriors among them. Im relieved. Kishasha wiped her mouth, which was bleeding, and smiled. Then, out of nowhere, she suddenly turned her gaze cold. Warrior, tell the humans. If they dont receive an invitation, they should not trespass into our territory. Whether its about Synthesis or missions, we dont care. We will never forgive intruders. Is this your territory? Thats right. The Master created it. It may be inferior to our homnd, but its better than smelling of iron. Kishasha softened her expression. You cane anytime. Dragon yer Warrior. I was just lucky. Dont worry about it. I got up from my seat. Are you leaving? Weve said everything. I had gained what I needed. By now, the members of the first party should be training at the training ground. We hadnt been together for a long time. There was a need to go back and check. It was also necessary to return the party to its original state. These guys dont need toe out. All the facilities for daily life were concentrated in small sizes. Lodging, training ground, dining hall, za. Their habits and our eating habits were different. Except for missions, they wouldnte out. The warning not to trespass was likely about this ce. See you in the next battle, warrior. Ill see you soon. I turned around. I left the lodging of the third party straight away. The Gale Tribe. A different approach needed to be appliedpared to the heroes summoned so far. However, they were useful enough. Leader Kishasha was an outstanding talent even among the 4-stars, and the other members should easily provide the value of 3-stars at the least. They had the will to cooperate for missions as well. As long as I didnt interfere with them, we could build a smooth rtionship. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 107: The 25th Floor Records (1) (2) Chapter 107: The 25th Floor Records (1) (2) Entering the training ground, all the members of the first party were waiting. Jenna, who had been handling a bow at the shooting range, rushed over. How did it go? How did it go? It was resolved well. They will continue as they are. We only need to focus on our situation here. I replied while looking around. [Training Ground Lv.4] The structure of the training ground changed as the level increased. The biggest change was that each party was assigned its own training area. There were only five people in this spacious training ground, including me. I heard that there was a training area for the second party behind the next door. Come to think of it, I didnt hear about the status of the second party. Meeting Edis briefly was the only encounter. They had surely filled the five slots, but I didnt know their current status exactly. However, there shouldnt be any advanced heroes. Looking at the logs, there had been no summons since Anytng got Kishasha in a 5-consecutive summon. Originally he nned to summon five and put them into the second and third parties. Luckily or unluckily, due to the whims of fate, he couldnt put advanced heroes into the second party. So, Edis had to fill the ranks with lower-tier heroes who had been almost neglected. I sighed. Is she okay? When I saw her in the morning, herplexion wasnt good. Maybe it was just because it had been a while since I had seen her. Theres no need to worry about others. I forced a smile and spoke. Everyones attention was focused on me. Have you had breakfast? Were starting right away. Weve rested for a month, so well be stepping up the difficulty. Keep up. We started with running. While running along the track, I checked the condition of each member one by one. All their levels are the same. There were significant differences in their skills, but their levels and the experience points of those in the back rows were unchanged. After Edis and I left, they hadnt gone through even a single mission. It was probably Anytngs choice. It seemed like he thought that filling them with different heroes wouldnt make much difference. Were falling behind the third party. The levels of those who were summoned muchter than us were in their early to mid-20s. To catch up with them, we needed to increase the pace. Starting from today, or rather, from tomorrow. We will resume the missions. I continued walking, nning my schedule in my mind. And then, evening. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] [Now Loading.] [Loadingpleted.] [TOUCH! (Select)] Anytng logged in. As the sky lit up, messages followed. [Ding!] [Master, there is 1 unread message. Would you like to check it?] [Yes / No] [Subject Education Results Notification] [Sender Loki (Niflheimr)] [Thank you for participating in the education. Your heroes have sessfullypleted their training and have achieved outstanding results among the 200 recruits, so we send this mail as a congrattory gesture. Rewards have been given to the top-performing heroes, and the Master will also be rewarded.] [Hero Han () 1st ce overall, Jenna () 2nd ce overall] [There are attached items. Would you like to receive them?] [Yes(Select)/ No] [Ding!] Youve acquired High-Grade Soulstone! Youve acquired High-Grade Promotion Stone x2! Youve acquired 300,000 Gold! [Loot Information] Han () ck Ring (C-), Enchanted Steel Sword (A) Jenna () Magic Enhanced Quiver (B) Enhanced Quiver? When did they put that in? Certainly, when I looked at her, she had a strange ck quiver hanging from her waist. The enhanced quiver was an item exclusive to archers that significantly increased the arrow capacity. Lets see what he will do. I sat on a bench on the third-floor za and stared at the control screen. [Gift Shop!] Purchased Warhorse Statue for 5,000 Gold. Giving Warhorse Statue to Han ()! I looked at the warehouse. The door opened, and Iselle was flying over. In her arms, she held a familiar statue. [Loki, Master gave you another gift.] Iselle was smiling happily. I epted the brown statue. [Han () is disappointed by receiving the Warhorse Statue.] [Affinity decreased!] I threw the statue into the fountain. Iselle jumped in and ced the warhorse statue on a stand next to the fountain. There were two identical items next to it. Did she put them there? Stop sending me these things. Are you trying to collect trophies or something? [I thought youd like them.] Give me something useful, or just feed me. Theres no use for these. [Alright, just wait.] Iselle disappeared with a pout. [Tips/Regarding Affinity] [Master, if gifts lower the heros affinity, try changing the type. Affinity is an important indicator for increasing a heros responsiveness.] After reading the message. Anytng entered the gift shop again. [Gift Shop!] [Purchased White Horse Statue for 8,000 Gold.] [Giving White Horse Statue to Han ()] [The White Horse Statue you gave was smashed!] [Han () is greatly disappointed!] [Affinity significantly decreased!] After that, Anytng didnt open the gift shop. For about 5 minutes, there was no response, and she silently sent the prospectivebatants to the dungeon. Are you upset? I chuckled. It doesnt just have to be something different. Im only willing to ept it if its useful. But thats not the issue here. I sat on the bench and waited for Anytng to finish his work. He sent thebatants to the lower missions, dispatched the auxiliary team to the weekday dungeons, crafted items, and upgraded heroes. He seemed quite busy. Because the scale has increased quite a bit. There were nearly 100 heroes in this waiting room. Compared to when we dealt with at most 10 or 20, it was going to be a handful. There was one reason why I waiting for Anytng. The 25th floor. It was the floor cleared by the third party. Even though the mission had been cleared, it still mattered to me, and I wasnt going to let it slide. There had to be something there. I needed to examine the missions video. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 108: The 25th Floor Records (2) (1) Chapter 108: The 25th Floor Records (2) (1) Finally, Anytngs daily work came to an end. Sitting on a bench, I immediately muttered to myself. Record viewing request. 25th floor. [Han () requests record viewing.] [Floor 25th floor] [Tips/Drag and drop the yback stone to the hero box! You can show the hero videos of the desired floor. Heroes utilize the experience they gain in strategies. Keep in mind!] [Tips2/yback stones can be obtained with a low probability in the Inferior Isralta Mine. If the hero has gathering skills, the probability increases.] The request window appeared. After about a minute of silence, Anytng began to operate. [Do you want to use the yback stone on Han ()?] [Floor 25th floor] [Remaining yback stones 7] [Yes (Select) / No] They listen well. I smiled and got up from my seat. The located rift of time and space is on the 1st floor. I went straight down the stairs. The front of the 1st-floor za. The door leading to the rift was wide open. Without hesitation, I entered. Clunk. The door closed. The center of the rift. The three mirrors symbolizing the main dungeon, day-of-the-week dungeon, and exploration dungeon disappeared into the darkness. This time, it was not light but shadows that filled this ce. Shadows seeped out from the cracks in the walls and engulfed me from below. [Han () begins viewing!] Darkness covered my vision. And when I opened my eyes again, Is this a desert? A golden light covered the view. The richly colored sand formed numerous dunes, extending beyond the horizon. The wind, carrying sand, swept down from the hills. I looked up. The sun was shining brightly, causing the atmosphere to shimmer. It would easily exceed 35 degrees due to the excessive heat. But its not affecting me. I chuckled and continued walking. As expected, the environment here had no effect on me. The scorching sunlight and the raging sandstorm were just decorations. The wind and sunshine seemed to avoid me as if a protective barrier surrounded me. I should prepare when I reach the 26th floor. I continued walking, reviewing the items needed for desert exploration. Although the desert was vast, the destination was clear. Just 50 meters ahead, near the oasis, a vige was situated. Cliffs on both sides framed it. I ignored the two guards guarding the entrance to the vige and walked past them. They didnt even nce in my direction. It would be more urate to say they couldnt. I entered the vige. Starting from the blue oasis in the center of the vige, white buildings sprawled irregrly. Pedestrians covered themselves with thick white cloth, walking along the brick streets. The type of mission. I thought as I walked down the road. The field is a desert. Its clear that this vige area is the main stage for the mission. Kishasha and the third party entered this vige and cleared the 25th floor. However, the type of mission had not been revealed yet. Ill find out after I look around. I headed towards the oasis. However, while doing so, I suddenly looked back. Tap, tap, tap. Someone was running down the street. ? I watched that person closely. Wrapped in cloth from head to toe, there was no way to see their lower body, upper body, or even their face. Their hair was tied up, but I couldnt tell if it was in a bun or not. Only their golden eyes were visible. Guessing from the shape of her body, shes a woman. I followed her quickly for a simple reason. Catch that guy! Call the others! Block the entrance and dont let a single ant escape! Six or seven guards behind her were chasing her with weapons in hand. Their expressions were determined. Get the wanted poster out. Are you sure its her? The middle-aged man leading the charge said. The young boy behind him took out a piece of paper. Uh, well Silver hair, golden eyes. Speaks like a refined noble. Has a mole below the neck Cant you tell by looking at her? She stands out! Thats true. Well crush that bi*ch! Hey! Youre the witch who conspired with the demon! The guards showered her with insults. Under the cloth covering her nose, the womans pink lips quivered. Hooooo! Somewhere, a strong gust of wind swept in. For a brief moment, the footsteps of the fugitive and pursuers halted. The cloth floated into the air, carried by the wind. Its been a while. I muttered to myself. Priasis Al Ragnar. The star of the 15th floor was standing here. I cant call her a kid anymore. The petite figure that barely reached my chest had grown taller, now reaching my shoulders. Her log-like body had slimmed down. Her once-flowing silver hair was now cut short, reaching her neck. Her golden eyes gleamed brightly. The reckless, fidgety child from not too long ago had turned into a poiseddy. Seems like shes the one. Priasis Al Ragna! The Empires traitor! Right, weve hit the jackpot! The guards surrounded Priasis, spreading out on both sides. Priasis, looking at them, said, Can you let me go? What, did something go wrong? Why should we let you go? I have something I need to find. I wont harm you. Havent you caused enough harm? My son got sick because of you. Hes dying at home right now. Isnt that enough? And wasnt it you who made the monsters go crazy all of a sudden? What I did Shut up! The guard at the front interrupted. Priasis wore a bitter expression and turned away. Her steps quickened. She was trying to escape before theypleted the encirclement. Should I shoot an arrow? Were paid just to bring her corpse back. Take her down! Three guards simultaneously pulled out crossbows. The bolts were already loaded into the crossbows. The scopes were aimed at Priasis. All it would take was a pull of the trigger, and her frail body would be a pincushion. Its about time they show up. I leaned against the buildings wall. Thud! Three bolts were shot towards Priasys. [Floor 25.] [Mission Type Escape] [Objective Get out of the designated location!] [Special Objective Protect NPC Priasis Al Ragnar] sh. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 108: The 25th Floor Records (2) (2) Chapter 108: The 25th Floor Records (2) (2) Three bolts were shot towards Priasys. [Floor 25.] [Mission Type Escape] [Objective Get out of the designated location!] [Special Objective Protect NPC Priasis Al Ragnar] sh. The space next to Priasis distorted, and shadows burst forth. The shadows swatted away the three bolts with a wave of their hand and immediately lunged at the crossbowmen. What is that? The crossbowmans words went unfinished. Their heads were crushed without a trace. It smells like dirty humans. A lot. Lacari chuckled and brushed off her hands. Thin, bright red blood sttered on the bricks. Lacari grinned, showing off her nearly 30 cm long ws. Sister, can I kill all the humans here? Leave that one. Kishasha appeared next, asking, Do you know Priasis Al Whats-her-name? I um Kishasha didnt listen to the response. This one has to be spared. Shes our mission target. Too bad, but we cant do anything about the others. Who are you people? Kill the rest. This woman is a top-tier wanted criminal of the Empire. If you dare to fight usWhat the? The boys voice faltered sadly. His body, with arge hole in the chest, copsed into pieces. Lacari, who had killed the boy in an instant, tore apart the head of the man next to him on both sides. Blood gushed like a fountain. D-Damn it Where did these thingse from? The bewildered guards tightened their grip on their weapons. Hear us out! We dont intend to fight you. Were here to capture that witch This is why humans are irritating. Whats the point of listening to things were going to kill? No questions, no hesitation. Kishasha, Lacari, and three other beastwomen pulled out their ws and ughtered the surrounding guards. Effective tactics. If they had been given even a little time, the guards would have prepared a counterattack. But the third party didnt give them that chance. They assessed the situation as soon as they arrived I let out a bitterugh. They killed everyone as soon as they appeared. Nine headless bodies sprawled out in an instant. Thest middle-aged man remaining sat down on the ground. The hem of his pants turned yellow. You crazy bastards The man muttered in a helpless voice. The next moment, the man lost his neck. Kishasha withdrew her ws and looked at Priasis. Human female. Follow me. Who are you? Are you from the Beastfolk? How can Beastfolk, who are only in the tropical region, be here? Kishasha ignored Priasiss question and turned her gaze. Nishazu. Do you hear that strange sound? I can smell blood. Find out whats going on. Yes, sister. Nishazu leaped high. The jumping distance was about 2 meters. Nishazu leaped onto the roof after jumping again from the tent. Kishasha stared at the empty air and murmured. Mission type: Escape. Get out of the designated location. With this NPC? You! Priasys took a step forward. Her voice had be noticeably more refined. Are you the heroes from back then? You saved me! What are you talking about? Shes a noisy human. Maybe shell quiet down if I tear off one of her arms? Priasissplexion turned pale. But she clenched her lips, refusing to yield, and spoke. By any chance, among your group, is there a man named Han? Ill describe him to you. ck hair, ck eyes. Hes a head taller than me, wields a sword and shield, and speaks gruffly. What nonsense The human warrior. Kishasha interrupted. A ck-haired human who wields a sword and shield. Han. Are you referring to that warrior? You know him! Im looking for news of that man. If you came from the same ce, Han He used to be around. But not anymore. Priasiss face hardened. W-What are you talking about? Could it be? I heard he went to a strange ce called Niflle-what again?! Anyway, he might be dead, right? No, that Why are you treating me like a dead person? I was left dumbfounded by this conversation. From Kishashas perspective, that human had never existed in the first ce, so it wasnt unreasonable for her to speak like that. Anyway, were busy because of the mission. If possible, stay out of our way and follow us quietly. The bastards will be here soon. Kishasha said, looking across the street. I also shifted my gaze in that direction. The pedestrians who wereing and going were hiding. The blood that was shed here was one reason, but there seemed to be a bigger reason. Sister! A beast-woman jumped down from the third floor of a building with a lightnding. It was Nishazu. Monsters areing from outside the vige. It looks like theyll break through soon. So thats why it was calm even though we caused such chaos. Kishasha lightly tapped the remains of a guard who had lost his arms and legs. Indeed. Compared to the size of the vige, the numbers were far too few. Other soldiers probably couldnte here due to other problems. I listened carefully. Somewhere in the distance, screams and shing sounds mixed harshly. It was a unique noise amidst the intense battle. [Lizardman Lv. 21] X 355 [Human Soldier Lv. 18] X 103 [Hostile Rtionship Established!] [Lizardman vs. Human Soldier] [Tips/Sometimes, in missions, enemies sh with each other. Try to make use of this to ovee the mission!] For now, lets get out of here. Kishasha leaped to the other side. Humph, how ironic of you dirty humans. Lacari nced briefly at Priasiss face and spoke as if vomiting, then followed Kishasha. Come with us, human. Its not certain yet. What are you talking about? Forget it. Just follow us. Priasis raised her head. And she looked straight in my direction. Our eyes met. Ahem. I gave a light cough, but it seemed that Priasis didnt hear it. Soon, she disappeared into the mix of the three parties. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 109: The 25th Floor Records (3) (1) Chapter 109: The 25th Floor Records (3) (1) -The party pursued their way. Kishasha led the group with the remaining three members running side by side, keeping pace beside and behind. Priasis trailed a few steps behind, barely keeping up with the party. Human, cant you run a bit faster? Lacari, who was at the back, urged. This is my limit, Priasis replied, panting, biting her lips. It was only natural. Perhaps due to their species characteristics, the partys speed was excessively fastpared to other heroes at the same level. I had to exert all my strength just to keep up. There was no way Priasis could keep pace. Theres no other choice. Lets slow down, Kishasha said. The partys pace slowed down to a mere walk. Priasis wiped the sweat from her forehead. After about ten minutes had passed, Kishasha stopped as they reached the center of the vige. Kishasha looked out over the market, where numerous tents were spread out. Daruma! I just got here, sis. Someone leaped down from the tents. Another half-beast girl. She was one of the third party members who had fallen behind when the party started moving. There are three exits. To the west, east, and north. The monsters are swarming at the west gate. Humans are fleeing from the east gate, and the north gate seems somewhat empty. Hmm. Kishasha put her hand on her chin, deep in thought. A mission to escape the field with NPC in tow. It seemed like she was contemting where to escape. The party had a brief waiting period. I sat down under a palm tree stump, looking to my side. Far away, people were running from the main road. At the forefront was a procession of luxurious carriages. They seemed to be nobles. Behind them were burly men who appeared to be merchants, and at the rear were women and children. Priasis watched the scene with distant eyes. Theyre going to get caught soon, she muttered with a sigh. Lacari, who had been staring with a gloomy expression, spoke up. I dont care what happens to these dirty humans. I turned my gaze to the right. The high walls surrounding the city had long crumbled, and the city was burning from end to end. The screams, ngs, and roars of monsters mingled and echoed. The 25th floor is not a defensive mission. We barely defended the city on the 10th floor, but the situation is different now. The party had changed, and the mission had taken on a different aspect. There was no need to risk their lives to protect them. I dont think they can protect them anyway. [Lizardman Lv.21] X 415 The number of lizardmen disyed in the mission status window kept increasing. On the other hand, the number of human soldiers steadily decreased. From 3 to 1, then 4 to 1, and now 5 to 1. The multiplier increased exponentially. The walls had already been breached, and the vige was under attack from all directions. In any case, this vige was doomed. Ive made up my mind. We need to go north. How many monsters are there? When I went, there were about 30. Thats enough. Lets break through there. Everyone, gather! Human female, you too. Wait a moment! I have something to say. Priasis spoke up. She had a fearful expression, but her eyes were deeply determined. Heroes, cant you help them? What nonsense is this? Itll only take five minutes. Just five minutes and these people can escape safely. If you just hold them off at the main road Kishashas expression froze for a moment. Priasis continued without backing down. I know its shameless to make such a dangerous request to those you owe your life to. But, but! Theyre innocent civilians. What if you? Whether thousands or tens of thousands of humans die, what does it matter to us? When these bastards were ughtering our people, where were they? This scum needs to die right now Lacari approached Priasis with a determined expression. Stop. Kishasha reached out to stop Lacari. Dont touch her. But, sis. This human Just let her know that its impossible. Kishasha said firmly. Human, Im sorry, but we cant grant your request. Are you sure about that? Its a firm no. Priasis closed her eyes tightly and then knelt down at that moment. [Ding!] [Branch urred!] [Special NPC Priasis Al Ragnar is requesting assistance!] [Subquest (Branching Type)] [Objective Buy time for the refugees to escape!] [Reward Increased NPC Affection, Intermediate Experience Points and Gold, Bonus Stage Unlock] [Tips/About Subquests] [Sometimes, during missions, subquests may appear. Subquests are not directly rted to the ongoing mission, butpleting them can earn you great rewards. Just remember that there may be risks involved!] Kishashas face grimaced as she examined the quest log. [Master, you can instruct the hero to perform the quest!] [1. Perform Perfectly Protect Refugees and Defend the City (Reward x2)] [2. Perform Protect Refugees] [3. Refuse] [The heros intentions are as follows:] [Kishasha Negative] [Lacari Extremely Negative] [Nishazu Negative] [Nandio Neutral] [Daruma Positive] Logs continued to appear. These were messages announcing subquests. Looks like she got involved here. I had expected it. asionally, NPCs would give quests during missions. Completion was optional. You would receive a modest reward upon clearing them, but refusing them wouldnt result in significant losses. I looked at Priasis. She remained kneeling on the sand, her eyes tightly closed. However [3. Refuse (Selected)] [I decline the quest.] Anytng immediately refused. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 109: The 25th Floor Records (3) (2) Chapter 109: The 25th Floor Records (3) (2) However [3. Refuse (Selected)] [I decline the quest.] Anytng immediately refused. The reason was simple. Most of the party members had a negative disposition. Forcing them wouldnt yield efficiency. If the Master refused, the heroes could also know. The research level reached a certain level and heroes could observe this type of system messages. Open your eyes. Kishasha said. Priasis, who had opened her eyes, looked at Kishasha with a desperate expression. Is it really impossible? Im sorry, but the risk is too great for us. We cant afford to protect humans and lose our own kind. The quest rewards were specified in the quest message. Experience points and gold. And Bonus stage. It was a rare opportunity. Kishasha knew that there would be rewards if shepleted it, but she refused. Its a significant risk. As a party consisting of minority races, it was not easy to rece a lost member. Priasiss shoulders trembled. Understood. Priasis rose weakly. Her eyes followed the procession of refugees. On one side of the main road, a massacre was already taking ce. The elderly, the children, and the weakest ones died first. Im still the same, I still cant do anything. Priasis let out a bitterugh. Well also be in danger here soon. Lets move on. Kishasha turned her back. The goal was the northern street where the door leading to the desert was located. They left the area around the oasis and entered the street. Enemies appeared immediately. They were lizardmen, monsters in the form of bipedal lizards. Their white scales were stained with human blood. Ugh! As soon as the lizardmen saw the party, they glowed with yellow eyes and charged. The curved sword in his hand danced. Thud! Kishashas punch sent a lizardmans head flying, but that wasnt all. Lizardmen appeared all over the street, but a significant crisis did not ur. Kishashas party easily ughtered the monsters. There were many of them, but they were scattered throughout the vige. Furthermore, their goal was not Priasis. They were simply killing everything in sight. As Priasis looked at the corpses of humans scattered on the street, she couldnt help but shake her head. Kishashas party continued forward, paying no attention to Priasiss words or actions. I followed them from a few meters behind, keeping theyout of the street in my head. Where the shortcuts were, and where there were a few lizardmen. The difficulty isnt too high. It was clear that the monsters were rampaging. However, they didnt pose a significant threat. The third party easily made their way to the northern gate. Seems like an easy mission. The difficulty of Pick Me Ups missions was random. Sometimes, there were missions that were unbelievably difficult, while at other times, missions that seemed too easy would appear. Compared to the difficulty I had encountered so far, the 25th floor was undoubtedly very easy. Escaping with the NPCs was the only goal. The lizardmen didnt swarm them all at once. High-level boss monsters didnt appear either. But If the Pick Me Up missions werent random, If there was a hidden meaning behind each mission. Then there was only one possibility for this mission to exist. Its a stepping stone for conquering the 30th floor. I followed the third party with quick steps. At the northern gate, Kishasha half-transformed and started tearing lizardmen apart. Her ears protruded from her head, and her tail swayed in response to her movements. It seemed that transformations of that kind were also possible. I sat on the debris of a broken building. The party that dealt with the lizardmen was escaping through the northern gate, but I had no intention of following them. I had already seen everything there was to see. The 25th floor ended here. [Stage Clear!] [Kishasha (), Lacari (), Nishazu (), Daruma (), Nandio (), Level Up!] [Reward 200,000G] [MVP Kishasha ()] Sure enough, as the stages clear message appeared, the background gradually became blurry. The vige buildings scattered into the sand. Then, the bodies of lizardmen and humans turned into light and disappeared. And then. Pop! I found myself back in the rift of time and space. [Record ying Complete!] [Han () has gained experience on the 25th floor.] [Regeneration stone consumed.] Shadows moved. Three broken mirrors stood tall. Its a branching subquest. There are various types of subquests. But what appeared on the 25th floor was a branching type. Among numerous quests, it had a unique feature. That was. [Tips/About Subquests 2] Branching subquests that appear during missions can be retried. This is unrted to clearing the boss stage. However, you cannot obtain already acquired clear rewards. A timely exnation message came up. Iselle seemed to be trying to inform Anytng of the recent events. The rewards for the subquest were experience points and gold, as well as an increase in NPC affection and the opening of a bonus stage. Experience points and gold could be given to other heroes or Anytng. But what was most important was thetter. In the bonus stage, there was a high likelihood of information about the next floor. Above all, what I was most curious about was. The concept of NPC affection was a bit vague, but. That mission. Im going to do it. Click. I firmly secured my sheathed sword to my belt and left the rift. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 110: Sub Quest (1) (1) Chapter 110: Sub Quest (1) (1) It has already been set. After returning to the third-floor training grounds, I spoke to the members. Tomorrow, were heading to the 25th floor. Its been a while since we had a real battle. Thats fast. Velkist, who was sitting on a chair while lifting weights, said. The weight was about 30kg. He lifted it as if it were a 5kg weight and then lowered it. Then we will be staying up all night today, right? If we want to regain our senses two hours wont cut it We wont stay up all night. We cant afford to ruin our condition. Well train harder than usual though. Tell everyone to gather. Ill call Eloka. Neryssa went into the Magic Halls door. Next, Jenna came down from the shooting range. Eloka came out with Neryssa. Were going in starting tomorrow? Why, do you have a problem with that? Its not that I have a problem Its just that you seem different. Your shield is nowhere to be seen, and weve changed too. Going into battle after just one day seems a bit fast, doesnt it? Dont worry. Your role wont change much. Just do what youve been doing. I didnt have a shield, but my role within the party remained the same. I took on the role of the front-line attacker along with Velkist, blocking attacks heading to the rear. Jenna focused on the shortbow, Neryssa excelled at mid-rangebat, and Eloka used magic in the rear. It was a simple yet efficient formation. It doesnt matter how strong Ive be. Im going to still act as the partys vanguard. We fight shoulder to shoulder. It was a basic rule for survival. I knew well how overconfident heroes meet their end. The second party was mobilized for formation training to improve ourbat sense. Edis nodded in agreement when I asked. She said she would help anytime if needed. She had also said that she had been waiting eagerly to train with us. From the left, Annan, Benik, Lilinia. Edis introduced the members of the newly joined second party. All three of them were not very old, in theirte teens to early twenties. Their eyes sparkled with admiration as they looked at me. Ive heard a lot about you, hyungnim! Ive even seen you in action when you defeated the ck Dragon. It was amazing. Annan approached me. Annan was a young man with attractive blond hair. He wore simple leather armor, had a sleek longsword at his waist, and a round shield on his back. This guy I recalled something from the past. The two who called me hyungnim and followed me around. They also used the same sword style as me. They died bleeding on the 5th floor. Zeet and Hanson. I smiled bitterly. I had no regrets, and I would make the same choice again if I had to, but there was a lingering bitterness. Im Benik. Ive heard a lot about you. Nice to meet you. He may seem like this, but hes a passionate guy once you get to know him. Annan chuckled. Dont say unnecessary things. Benik, a calm-looking young man, twitched. He had a pair of daggers and a shortbow on his belt, the same weapon choice as Edis. I, Im Lilinia. Finally, the quiet girl who had been standing somewhat shyly bowed to me. For some reason, her expression seemed quite stiff. Arge spear hung on her back, taller than her. After looking at the three of them, Edis said. They joined the second party two weeks ago. Theyre enthusiastic, and theirbat performance is not bad. Theyll be a big help in future missions. Well do our best! Your voice is too loud. Edisughed gently. It was a smile I hadnt seen in a while. I whispered quietly to Edis so the three of them couldnt hear me. Give it your all but in moderation. Itll get toughter if you dont. Its okay. Edis reassured. This time, we wont let anyone die. Right. An unpredictable woman. Edis Callen. Seems cold, but secretly caring. When Asher and Diran died, she seemed calm on the surface, but I could tell she was heartbroken. Not your typical mercenary. What do I know? I looked at the three of them. Vibrant Annan,posed Benik, and quiet Lilinia. Even at a nce, they seemed to get along well. It reminded me of the old trio. My thoughts have wandered for too long. I erased my sense ofcency. There was no time to get lost in thoughts. If I wanted to get enough sleep, I had to focus on training right now. Swish. I drew my sword. Lets not waste any time. Form groups of five. Attack us as if youre trying to kill the enemy. Are we really doing this? Lilinia, who had been fiddling with her wooden spear, asked. You want us to pretend, then? Throw away the practice weapons and use the real ones behind you. Its okay even if you get hurt. Lets do it as Han suggested. You dont need to feel pressured. Lilinia nodded and drew her long spear. Edis took out his dagger. Following her, Roderick, Benik, and Anan also drew their weapons. Dont just stand there watching. Sloppy movements will just waste time. Theyre probably not skilled enough. Edis and Roderick were quite powerful. But the three in the back hadnt be strong enough yet. You could tell just by looking at how they drew their weapons. That timid girl was in the same party as me. Velkist, who had drawn his sword, chuckled coldly. Do you know her? I know her. She was right beside me when we were first summoned. She was so scared that she was just in the way. I thought shed be stuck on the 1st floor for the rest of her life, but somehow, she made it up. Shes talented. Her soft self is whats in the way. Neryssa added. The second party was gathered in a circle and discussed their ns. Watching this, Elokained. The atmosphere is so different. They look harmonious over there. Our party members are all ice blocks except for one. No fun, no consideration, no romance, and no fighting spirit. Does fun put food on the table? Agreed. Thats true. Ugh. Eloka shook her head and walked away slowly. They were forming their formations. A whileter, the first party and the second party shed. The main goal was to improve ourbat sense in group battles. I could probably handle it alone if I set my mind to it, but I refrained from doing so this time. The key was to maintain the formation while recovering our senses. So, we started practicing the tug of war between formations with minimal movement. The purpose of the formation was to maintainbat effectiveness while reducing the members stamina consumption, covering each others weaknesses, and enhancing their strengths. No matter how strong I had be, I couldnt match Elokas rapid firepower alone. Moreover, receiving long-range support from rear members was several times stronger than fighting alone. In that sense, the second party served as a good practice opponent. The tactical objectives of the second party kept changing. They concentrated on attacking Eloka at times, then focused on me and Velkist, and asionally made a move on Jenna and Neryssa. Colliding naturally like this allowed us to revive our old senses. Theres no threat with wooden swords. Its dull. You cant kill with this! Velkist said it like it was nothing, but well, there was no other way. We couldnt force the training style of the first party, which didnt use practice weapons at all, on the second party. Each party had its own characteristics. As the night grew darker, During the break, Edis spoke to me. Han, dont go easy like just now. I didnt. You only focused on defense. They need to get hurt a bit too. Can I kill them, then? Of course you cant! Just kidding. Iughed and looked back. The four members of the first party were sitting in chairs, resting. You heard, right? You can do whatever you want as long as you dont kill them. Should have I not said that? In the next sh, the three members of the second party were carried out in less than a minute. I had reduced my strength to some extent, but it was inevitable that they would get hurt. It was what Edis wanted. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 110: Sub Quest (1) (2) Chapter 110: Sub Quest (1) (2) Regardless, it seems we have aplished what we wanted from this training session. It seems like weve done it somehow. The rest wille back in real battles, wont it? Thats right. Training couldnt substitute for real battles. The stage was the 25th floor. Going down to lower floors would be fine, but we had already wasted enough time. We had identified the difficulty, and we had recovered my senses enough to use them. I exined the field and monsters on the 25th floor to each member. The field was a desert. Hundreds of lizardmen would appear. Warriors are nothing special. Just kill them like youre dealing with goblins. But the spellcasters can be a bit annoying. Kill them right away. Jenna, take care of it. But they all look like lizards? Theyre carrying strange staffs. Youll know when you see them. If you dont deal with the spellcasters in time, theyll enrage the other lizardmen. The situation can get quite troublesome. But, in a desert isnt it hot? Eloka wrinkled her brow. Yeah, it is. I feel like Ill get tired. Eloka pped her dress hem. It was a reasonable concern. Desert fields werent afortable environment for fighting. Although it didnt affect me in the record viewing, once we entered, we would feel the temperature. Anyway, Ill handle that part. You dont need to worry about it. Is that all? Yeah. Go wash up and get some sleep. Dont stay up all night training. I got up from my seat. Leaving the members heading to their quarters behind, I went down to the first floor. My destination was the warehouse. It was where dozens of items were stored. As I descended the stairs, I muttered to myself. Iselle. [Yes!] The air flickered, and Iselle popped out. Despite her small voice, she responded immediately. I want to manipte information. [What are you talking about? Information maniption?] I extended the ring that was hooked on my left index finger. Iselle, who had her eyes wide open, approached the ring. Her small finger touched the surface of the ring. Then [Neat!] Keep it down. [Where did you get this?!] Its from Niflheimr. I got it from someone I know. [Could it be! That Yu Seed? The strongest illusionist?] How do you know about that? I clicked my tongue. Anyway, with this ring, you can deceive the masters attention. From now on, Im going to make items, and youre going to deceive him. I didnt n to make any particrly special items. At best, they were consumables. Still, as long as I was cautious, there shouldnt be any losses. Iselle epted the request immediately, saying that with this level of item, it should be possible. Thus [! First Great Achievement! ] [Han () has created Heat Protection Potion!] [! First Great Achievement! ] [Han () has created Heat Protection Potion!] [! First Great Achievement! ] [Han () has created Heat Protection Potion!] I made special potions in the Magic Hall. The item was called Heat Protection Potion, and it had the effect of preventing heat-rted conditions for a certain period of time. It was perfect for the desert or volcanic areas. With this, the basic preparations for the sub-quest wereplete. And the next evening. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] [Now Loading] [Loading isplete.] [TOUCH! (Select)] As soon as Anytng logged in, I immediately sent him a message. [Master! 1st Party leader, Han (), has a proposal.] [Request 25th Floor Strategy] [Purpose Perform Sub-Quest] [Will you ept?] [Yes (Select) / No] There wasnt much hesitation. Anytng touched Yes. [Open, Gap of Time!] Thud. With Iselles energetic voice, the Rift of Time and Space opened. I got up from the first-floor bench. Lets go. Preparations were made a long time ago. All the members of the 1st party, including me, entered the Rift. The mirror in the center began to shine immediately. [Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is the 25th floor.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Get ready!] [Mission recording in progress. y records will be preserved.] [Notice] [There is an upleted sub-quest.] [Mission progress starts from the point where the branch urred.] Dont just die easily here. This mission is just a warm-up. We know that. My whole body was enveloped in light. And In front of my eyes. Is this where it starts? Priasis, kneeling, had her eyes tightly closed. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 111: Sub Quest (2) (1) Chapter 111: Sub Quest (2) (1) I extended my hand. A single grain of sand, carried by the wind, settled onto my palm. The heat beat down on my skin. The air was hot and humid, just as I had expected, matching the weather of this scorching desert. Its hot. Velkist squinted his eyes. But what is this woman doing? She seems to have a request for us. As if sensing the change, Priasis, who had been kneeling quietly, half-opened her eyes. Her golden irises locked onto me. You, you! Been well, little one? How did you end up here? Her eyes were trembling. Werent you looking for me? I came all this way for you. The people that were in front of me They are resting at home, sound asleep. Dont worry about them. I cant understand. Did you use magic? No, even with magic, this Now is not the time to chitchat, is it? Srrk. A sword emerged from its sheath. I spoke while extending the sword. First, we need to clear out those over there. On the other side of the street. Hundreds of Lizardmen were forming a crowd, heading toward the refugee procession. The distance between both sides was getting shorter by the moment. If we can buy some time for the people to escape, that should do it, right? Its a mission I like. Jenna drew her bow from her back. Velkist and Neryssa followed suit by unsheathing their weapons. No time to spare. Lets move. I immediately started walking in one direction. The other four members of Party 1 followed suit. Do you intend to grant my request? Priasis chased after me with hesitant steps. Cant you see? Were going. I took out a vial of blue liquid from my pouch. Heat-resistant potion. To Anytng, it would appear as a regr potion. I opened the lid and took a sip. The other four also started drinking their potions. Quest in progress. [Party 1 leader, Han (), suggests starting a sub-quest. Will you ept?] [Yes (Selected) / No] [Ding!] [Starting the sub-quest!] [Floor 25, Sub-Quest] [Mission Type Defense] [Objective Buy time for the refugees to escape.] [Special Objective Survival of NPC Priasis Al Raguna] The preparations wereplete. The rest will be wiped out. I have so much to say to you. I cant even count them. Priasis smiled faintly. But I wont get in your way. Thank you for your help. You understand well. Stay behind us, dont step forward. Alright. She listens well. I do have quite a bit to say to this girl, but its not the right time for it. I also express my gratitude to the other warriors. The others I saw back then were quite noticeable. Hello. Jenna grinned. Eloka nodded gracefully. The two who used a spear and a dagger Edis and Aaron are alive and well. Theyre somewhere else. Everyone is safe Thats a relief. Were moving in soon. Be careful. The end of the alley is in sight. Priasis nodded with a tense expression. This is the real deal. Crash. tter, tter. The sound of boiling from the narrow wall on the opposite side could be heard. It was the distinctive cry of the Lizardmen. I reached for the dagger sheathed on my belt with my left hand. Do you have anything else to say? Cant we just sweep them away in front? But dont rush ahead alone. I stopped walking. At the same time, the movement of the group ceased. The alleyway took a turn in the opposite direction. Their cries were clear. They were right in front of us. I pointed at Priasis with my hand and then gestured toward a trash can. Priasis rushed over and crouched behind the trash can. Next, I extended three fingers. Three. Two. One. Charge. We dashed out of the alley. Aaaah! Save us, save us! Crash, crash! The screams of humans and the chilling cries of the Lizardmen. The sounds of weak flesh being torn mixed together to form a gruesome symphony. The eyes of the Lizardman, who had been stabbing a fallen woman on the roadside with a sword, met mine. Yellow eyes with elongated pupils quivered in their sockets. Kyrk? Thud! The dagger I threw in an instant pierced the Lizardmans eye all the way to the hilt. Kkieeek! I lowered my posture and rushed forward. As the greatsword swung horizontally, the Lizardmans neck flew into the air. The headless body tilted to the ground, spewing blood like a fountain. It wasnt just one. I quickly adjusted my stance and thrust twice. Two Lizardmen, unaware of the situation, were impaled by my sword and fell lifeless. [Lizardman Lv.21] X 17 17 of them. Clear them within 10 seconds! Understood! Pop, pop, pop! Arrows were released as soon as they were nocked on Jennas shortbow. Three arrows hit three targets in rapid session. Neryssa used her daggers to finish off the three wounded Lizardmen that Jenna had hit with arrows. Its chaotic out here. The weather doesnt help. Eloka muttered. The street was already a mess of human and Lizardman corpses. Buildings were aze. If it werent for the potions you gave us, things could have gone south. Anyway, you said it was versatile. Eloka began casting a spell. Her lips moved and in the next moment, Kwakwakwak! mes exploded. The two Lizardmen caught in the explosion turned to dust and vanished. High-speed chant. Eloka had recently mastered a new spell of the Fire Magic ss. Kirl! A Lizardman leaped and swung a polearm. Standing at around 2 meters tall, its distinctive slender body moved flexibly. I swung my sword to counter it. Bifrosts thick de sliced through the polearm effortlessly and then cleaved the creatures torso in one fell swoop. The upper half of the Lizardmans body flew into the sky, spewing blood and organs like a fountain. It feels good to finally stretch my limbs. Very satisfying. Velkist chuckled. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 111: Sub Quest (2) (2) Chapter 111: Sub Quest (2) (2) The street was already covered in blood. The woman crouching muttered absentmindedly. How on earth did this happen They still cant see us. Theplexion of the woman who had been looking at the bloodstains turned pale. G-Ghost? Is there a ghost? Survivors began emerging from various ces. They were hiding between buildings, under tables, and beneath fruit crates. They scrutinized the area where we stood with bewildered expressions. This feels strange. Jenna remarked. Lets not worry about it. We just need to do our job. Those people dont seem to have any intention of fleeing. Then theyll have no choice but to perish, wont they? Velkist swept his de clean. The street was drenched in blood. They can see the traces we left. The people around were trembling. Uh, a ghost? Its not a ghost. From an alley, Priasis appeared. Priasis spoke with a stern expression. If you stay here, youll die. Go to the east gate. And you? What on earth just happened? Theyre protecting us. Priasis nced briefly at us. It seems like only I can see them. Are you controlling these monsters? I dont have that kind of power. I just made a request. A soldier emerged from the group of survivors. Dont make meugh! I know who you are. Priasis, the Empires traitor! You summoned demons by selling your soul, right? And that transparent monster over there Bugh! The soldier who had been struck hard in the back of his head copsed. Behind him, a young woman holding a shovel was breathing heavily. You soldiers. Using nobles as a shield to flee. Anyway, thanks. All we have to do is run to the gate, right. Priasis nodded. The woman looked around at the survivors and spoke. Everyone, lets go. Alright. Whether its a demon or a ghost, thanks to you, were alive. We wont forget. The people formed a procession and began heading towards the eastern gate. Seeing this, Priasis sighed. It seems like it worked somehow. But this ce is not safe. [Lizardman Lv. 21] X 93 [Lizardman Shaman Lv. 25] X 5 Across the main road. Nearly a hundred Lizardmen were gathering in groups anding our way. How much time do we have left? I looked at the bottom of the quest window. The timer was disyed so small that it wouldnt be visible without focusing. [00:10:00] Ten minutes. Isnt the number a bit too much? Priasis expression stiffened. Kyrk! The head of a human wearing a helmet was impaled on the spears of the leading Lizardmen. Priasis clenched her teeth. We have to hold on for just ten minutes and then we can leave. Keep our movements to a minimum. Spread out the distance. Itll be difficult if we get surrounded. The field was linear. As long as we defended well from the front, there was no need to worry about being attacked from behind. It was a better situation than the fifth floor, where we had to defend three ces. Look, do you see the red-eyed lizard? We just need to defeat that one. Yeah, its annoying if we leave it alone. Boom! Boom! Boom! The sound of drums began to echo. It seemed like the Lizardmen in the rear were beating drums. Kruck! Kirk! Both sides stopped, leaving a 10-meter gap between them. A Lizardman wearing a red feathered robe and holding a curved staff walked to the front of the formation. He spoke in the humannguage from his protruding mouth. Krarak! Humans who reject order! Surprisingly, he was fluent. [Lizardman Chieftain Lv. 28] Why do you defy the providence of nature? Kruck! I will bring divine punishment to this unholynd Thwack! An arrow flew rapidly and pierced the chieftains throat. Thud. The Lizardman chieftains body slumped forward. Should we kill those guys? Correct. I chuckled and adjusted my sword. Ki-yaaa! Ki-yaaaah! Life drained from the eyes of the Lizardmen in unison. Why so much talk when were here to fight? Come at us. Doo-doo-doo-doo. Hundreds of Lizardmen began charging, kicking up dust. Are you sure about this, Han? There are so many. We dont have to take them all at once. Youre the one who asked for this, and now youreining? I readied my sword. A hundred of them. Just handle twenty each. Its simple. But You can watch from behind. Theres an undeniable difference between the me on the 15th floor and the me now. But its not just me. The members of the first party were the same. Ignite, Explode! Whoosh! mes erupted from Elokas feet and engulfed the front of the Lizardmen. At the same time. Boom! A violent explosion apanied the intense mes. Even if they were desert Lizardmen ustomed to heat, they couldnt withstand the mes themselves. The burnt bodies of the Lizardmen became carried away by the wind. The mes, undeterred by the explosion, zed fiercely on the street. Lets go in. That was the n. I ran forward with Velkist. We were heading towards the zing street. Ping! Ping! Even amidst all this, Jennas arrows sliced through the air. She didnt hold back, and Lizardmen hit by her arrow bombardment fell like straw bundles. Jenna had more than 100 spare arrows in her expanded quiver. Ki-yaaa! A Lizardman with his leg on fire swung his spear. There was no need to dodge. I raised my sword from below, cutting through the Lizardmans scales and tearing him apart. [Skill Awakening!] [Han () has acquired the Power Strike skill!] Good. Power Strike. I knew Id get it. It was a simple yet powerful skill that added to your attack power. [Skill Awakening!] [Velkist ()s Low-Rank Swordsmanship has reached Lv.10!] [Velkist ()s Low-Rank Swordsmanship has reached its maximum level.] The second awakening followed. It was Velkists. No matter how hard you practice, theres no substitute for realbat training. Velkists swordy, which beheaded Lizardmen, gained even more speed. I also picked up the pace. Lizardmen fell one by one, spewing blood. We fought amidst the mes. Elokahs mes gradually spread, skillfully devouring the field. The Lizardmen burned out like moths drawn to the me. Neryssas rapier pierced the Lizardmen who broke through the wall of mes. Lizardman shamans were sniped by Jenna almost simultaneously. Is this the twenty-fifth one? The ming sword tore through the Lizardman. I quickly scanned the battlefield to find the next target. Then, I stepped out of the fiery zone. Theyre all dead. Five minutes ago, there were a hundred Lizardmen here, but now they had all vanished without a trace. [00:04:38] They had all turned into lifeless corpses on the street. Sizzle. The smoke and the smell of burning flesh tickled my nose. Quite an easy job, isnt it? Theyre no different from scarecrows. Velkist remarked. These bastards are weaker than I expected. I chuckled. Priasis was looking at us with a vacant expression. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 112: Sub Quest (3) (1) Chapter 112: Sub Quest (3) (1) The burning streets were filled with Lizardmens corpses. Klik, kkiik. The Lizardman with two arrows lodged in its body writhed in pain. With a nk expression, Velkist put an end to his life. Youve be unbelievably strong, Priasis said with a trembling voice. Burn marks covered her cheek. Its like night and daypared to back then. What in the world happened? Its hard to put into words. I sat amidst the debris of the shattered building. Smoke mixed with the smell of burning could be seen rising from various ces. Moreover, you havent changed a bit in my memories. Its already been three years But youve changed a lot. Although the signs of youth had notpletely disappeared, it was difficult to still call her a kid. Three years, huh? From my perspective, it hadnt even been half a year since I cleared the 15th floor. At most, two months. But for Priasis, it seemed quite different. Is it over? Velkist murmured. I shook my head. Across the street, the sound of drums could be heard. I raised my hand to my holster, ready to draw my sword at any moment. Kik, kirark! [Lizardman Lv.22] X 31 A group of Lizardmen appeared outside the intersection. Karr! Human, a human is here! Human, Karr! Human Ki? Their eyes, which had been gleaming with vitality, now scanned the surroundings. The streets were like a mountain of Lizardman corpses, maybe around 120 of them. Their blood had formed puddles on the ground. Velkist, covered in blood from head to toe, chuckled. The next offerings have arrived. Dung. Dung. The Lizardmen changed direction, as if they hadnt seen us. And then they disappeared. Velkist frowned. Whats this? They probably have emotions too, Neryssa said as she fastened her sword to her belt. The drumming moved further away from us. This is bad. I might have been too aggressive. I didnt expect them to be this weak. [00:03:21] There was still no sign of reinforcements. I released my grip on my sword. Jenna scratched her cheek. Is it over with a hundred? It didnt feel too difficult. Have we be stronger? It seems like it. Because we had been doing missions with high difficulty, we didnt notice the change. Our party, including me, had be significantly stronger. A Lizardman at level 21 was not a weak monster by any means. At least a few steps above goblins. There are several reasons for this. The geographical advantage couldnt be overlooked. Proper formation utilization during battles with fire. But the most decisive reason was Is it a condition that we have no choice but to get stronger? If we had been weak, we would have died in other missions a long time ago. Because we had experienced difficult missions, we devoted ourselves even more desperately to training in order to survive. But it would have been a joke if our skills hadnt improved. Neryssa, Id like you to scout. There probably isnt anything special though. Understood. Neryssa stepped on a wooden barrel and leaped onto the roof. Eventually, her figure disappeared beyond the roof. If something happened, she would report it immediately. The rest of us can rest. It seems like the mission is over. How boring. The group rxed. Eloka sighed and sat down, sweating profusely on her forehead. Even if we take medicine, the weather isnt great. Sis, lets go over there. Why? I like it here Come on, lets go! Oppa Vel too. Thats annoying. Dont call me that. Lets go! Let go of me. What is it? Jenna dragged Eloka and Velkist into an alley. Only the two of us remained here. Me and Priasis. Its an unnecessary consideration. Its not like I have nothing to say, though. I looked at Priasis. She was sitting on the broken pir of the building with her knees bent. Priasis spoke. How have you been all this time? Ive been doing well. I replied vaguely. Life in the waiting room was quite a difficult story to tell. I thought I was dead. Those beastfolks They joined us recently. It hasnt been long since Ive returned, so I dont know them well. Well probably see them often in the future. I see. Are they your newrades? Priasis muttered as if she were contemting. Then, in a calm tone, she began to recount what happened after she parted ways with me. It was as expected. After escaping the city, Priasis became a high-priority fugitive, pursued by countless pursuers. Interrogators dispatched by the Church and bounty hunters targeting the reward. It was said that the crisis was beyond counting. You managed not to get caught. I have a tough neck. Priasis smiled bitterly. It was possible because you helped me. Is it about what happened in the city? No. Priasis shook her head. One of the four Great Houses, the Halkion. They were the ones who actively pursued me. If you hadnt helped, I wouldnt havested long. The fact that the area where they resided turned into ruins was a bit unexpected, but So thats how it happened. ording to Neryssas exnation, the Halkion family was connected to the Sect, which was Priasiss enemy. There seemed to be some kind of connection even on the 20th floor. The strange atmosphere in the mansion couldnt be pinpointed, but So, why did youe here? Its like a desert. Thats right. This ce is a vast desert called Silkia. Priasis spoke. I came here to find something. Something? Yes. What I saw in my dream they call it a key. What are you going to do with that? Isnt it obvious? To save the continent. Priasiss expression turned serious. I swallowed a bitterugh. I thought that talking about saving the continent or whatever was just a childish whim, but she hadnt given up. In fact, her determination seemed stronger than before. What exactly is this key? I dont know for sure. I just have a feeling. I think Ill be able to figure it out as I gather things together. Youre still talking in riddles. It was like this when we first met. Talking about dreams being like this or the world being like that. It was nerve-wracking, but right now, I didnt have a way to understand it either. This girl She had already appeared twice in the main mission. There were some vague connections in other missions as well. I thought about theyout of the vige. There were three entrances. The west gate, the north gate, and the east gate. The refugees fled through the east gate. It was in the opposite direction of the desert. But Priasiss escape route was the north gate. So youre going to find that key thing? I chuckled. I think Ill see you often in the future. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 112: Sub Quest (3) (2) Chapter 112: Sub Quest (3) (2) So youre going to find that key thing? I chuckled. I think Ill see you often in the future. [00:00:00] [Quest Sess!] A message appeared in my field of vision. Quest sess. There were no attacks after the initial assault. [Mission has changed.] [Mission Type Escape] [Objective Escape from the city with the escort target.] [Notice] [Since this is a quest that has already been cleared, adjustments will be applied.] [Enemies disappear.] A bright light shed in the sky. Whats that? Dont worry about it. I replied shortly. On the opposite side of the street, Lizardmen turned into light and disappeared. It probably wouldnt be visible to Priasiss eyes. Lets head out. Were going out through the north gate, right? Thats right. Are you ready? I have all the basic items taken care of. Priasis looked at the backpack behind her. A bag made of white leather was bulging. Im done talking. You cane out. Three people walked out of the alley. What did you talk about? Why? Are you curious? Its just idle chatter with no real content. Then, thats fine. Velkist replied curtly and scanned the surroundings. The corpses are gone. Oh? Really, theyre gone. Its clean now. Eloka opened her eyes wide. As the two of them said, the area that had been covered with Lizardmen corpses had suddenly be clean. Priasis spoke. Whenever Im with you, strange things always happen. Thats true. Iughed and continued walking. There was no need to dy. The monsters were gone, and after guiding them to the north gate, my job was done. As I walked down the street, I briefly pondered about this mysterious world reminiscent of a mobile game. Priasis Al Ragnar. I recalled the memories of the 15th floor. We werent the first party who challenged it. It was back when we were on strike. The previous third party formed by Anytng with paid summons had attempted the challenge They had all been wiped out due to mission failure. In other words Priasis has died at least once. The current Priasis was the second event. No, is it the third? The mission process had changed due to this sub-quest. Its an unknown ce. I sighed. It hadnt been ordinary from the beginning. This world, which seemed to mock thews of reality, felt like it was created for the sake of a game. People who were supposed to be dead were suddenly alive and well, healthy lives disappeared without warning, and cause and effect repeated and ovepped. The more I delved into it, the less I understood. In the end, I gave up on pondering it. Regardless of what it is, Ill return alive. My course of action remained unchanged. I hurried my steps. The north gate was getting closer. I stopped at the entrance of the vige where the desert stretched beyond the horizon. We couldnt go any further together. An invisible barrier blocked our way. Will we see each other again? Before leaving, Priasis said. On the next floor. The next floor? It means well meet again soon. In that case, Im relieved. Priasis smiled gently and looked back at us. Im grateful for your help. I wont give up. Ill definitely live up to your expectations. Priasiss figure faded away beyond the door. [Quest Clear!] [Han (), Jenna (), Eloka (), Velkist (), Neryssa (), Level Up!] [Reward 100,000G] [MVP Jenna ()] [Special Reward!] [A bonus stage will be unlocked.] [Bonus stages can be attempted in the Rift of Time and Space.] [Limit 1 opportunity, 1 person only] Is it over? Yes, its over. The vigesndscape began to be engulfed in light. Jenna put away her bow and chuckled. There wasnt anything special this time. I hope the 30th floor is like this. Its even more ominous. From my experience, if the front is easy, the back is tough. What do you think? I agree. No effort in your response. The light grew brighter and enveloped us. When I opened my eyes again, it was a familiar ce. I immediately disbanded the party. No one was injured, but it was a business trip after a long time. Fatigue must have built up. The members left without saying a word and headed upstairs through the Rift of Time and Space. Of course, I stayed on the 1st floor. I cant leave it behind. [Han () suggests.] [Request Complete the bonus stage] [Will you ept?] [Yes (Selected) / No] Anytng must have been curious too, as she epted it right away. I started the strategy for the bonus stage. Only one opportunity. It was a quest for one person. The field was abyrinth. There were no special rewards for the bonus stage. Just aplex maze with twists and turns. There were no monsters or traps either. I continued to explore, memorizing the structure of thebyrinth one by one. After about an hour, I was able to find the exit. [Bonus Stage Clear!] [Reward 5,000G] There was really nothing. Not even themon treasure chest could be seen at the exit of thebyrinth. Is it a dud? No, it couldnt be. Anyway, I hadpleted all the missions for the 25th floor. Starting tomorrow, I will continue with the climbing of the 26th floor. A desert. It seems that the field wont change this time. If my prediction was correct, the mission for the 25th floor was just the beginning. As I said before, if its easy in the front, its tough in the back. I know this game well. Iughed and left the Rift of Time and Space. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 113: Eve (1) (1) Chapter 113: Eve (1) (1) Starting from the next day, tower climbing began. We proved that the main partys strength had returned with the 25th-floor quest. Anytng had no reason to hesitate. We immediately entered the rift of space and time. [Floor 26.] [Mission Type Escort] [Objective Protect the designated individual.] The field was a desert. The missions content was just as expected. Beneath the scorching sun, I was able to reunite with Priasis in the desert. Priasis walked through the desert aimlessly, her body covered in a thinyer of silk. Arent you dead? I said with a smile. It had only been a day for me, but a considerable amount of time had passed for her. Priasiss gaze turned towards us. As you can see Im alive. Although I was prepared. Its been tough in its own way. Priasis spoke with a tired voice. Her once bulging bag was now only half full. I tossed a bundle I had brought from the waiting room. Priasis hesitantly epted it. It contains heat-resistant potions, water, and food. Use them well. I owe you a debt of gratitude Priasis lifted the lid of the heat-resistant potion with sweaty hands. I didnt create these items. Anytng must have studied the basics of desert survival and ordered the alchemist from the 2nd floor to make them. There was no need for information maniption anymore. Im seeing this woman again. Whats the mission this time? Its simple. Follow Priasis and protect her. You know the destination, right? Dont get lost. Ive seen it in my dreams several times. Just follow the signs. Priasis pointed to the endless horizon beneath the high dunes. Sign? I dont see it. Anyway, it didnt matter as long as she knew the direction. Lets drink these first. We consumed the heat-resistant potion. [Tips/Special Potion Heat-Resistant Potion prevents dehydration and heatstroke. However, its effectiveness may be reduced during vigorous activities.] A refreshing sensation flowed through our bodies. Despite the scorching sun, I felt much better. I threw the empty bottle into a corner and reached for the hilt of my sword. Beyond the neighboring hill, a distinct cry could be heard. Karrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrk! Theyreing to greet us. [Level 24 Lizardman] x 15 A message indicating the appearance of enemies appeared. Neryssa went straight up the hill and said, Theyre in better shape thanst time. They seem to be elite soldiers. Its perfect for post-meal exercise. Get ready, everyone. Swoosh. I drew my sword. Kiaaaah! The torn upper bodies of the lizardmen flew with pitiful sounds. The 18th one. It didnt take more than three minutes to deal with all of them. We encountered a few other groups along the way, but we defeated them one by one and continued through the desert. The Imperial Guards werent even this bad. Priasis, who had been watching, raised her head. Half a day passed like this. After crossing three hills, [Stage Clear!] [Velkist (), Neryssa () leveled up!] [Reward 50,000G, Essence of the Desert] [MVP Han ()] The stage clear message appeared. I sheathed my sword. Night was falling on the yellow desert. Light enveloped us. I said to Priasis, who was looking at me. See you on the next floor. Understood, Han. On the next floor. Priasis lightly smiled and waved her hand. The background gradually blurred, and we returned through the rift of space and time. I dont understand the meaning of this mission. Is it just about following the girl around? Girl? Be careful with your words, Velkist. Neryssa scolded him, and Velkist sulked. How great can she be? Is she the princess of the empire or something? Thats correct. Obviously not huh? What did you say? Velkists face turned bewildered. I chuckled and left the rift of space and time. The next day, the exploration continued. This time, the field was a desert as well. The difference was that it was nighttime instead of daytime. So, this time, we needed cold-resistant potions to ward off freezing temperatures, even though we were in the desert. There were simrities with the previous encounters. Somewhere, Lizardmen appeared, and we engaged in a fierce battle with them. As we ventured deeper into the desert, their numbers increased. Kirk! Those who disrupt the order, kill them, kill them! Kara-rlak! [Lizardmen have entered a frenzied state!] They were not just simple enemies. They rushed towards us with clear hatred in their hearts. Monsters were rampaging all over the continent. What happened in the desert vige was just a small piece of the whole. Priasis looked at the scattered Lizardmen corpses and said, We dont have much time. We need to hurry. Priasis opened her mouth. Her silver hair shimmered in the moonlight. If my dream is correct, theres less than ten years until destruction. You said you didnt know what the keys were for. Why collect them? Its a kind of proof. The keys are items passed down only in the empires founding myth. If I can obtain them, they will lend me their power. If they will. The Assinis family. Priasis said with a determined expression. They are one of the four great families and the empires strongest military force. I made a promise to them. To prove my worth. To do that, I have to make the impossible possible. And collecting the keys is that impossible task? Thats right. The answer came without hesitation. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 113: Eve (1) (2) Chapter 113: Eve (1) (2) And collecting the keys is that impossible task? Thats right. The answer came without hesitation. I clicked my tongue and hurried my steps. But why are you helping me? I have nothing to give you. Im out of money. All I have now is this wretched body. I dont expect anything in return. Her small, silver-haired-covered shoulders trembled. Dont have any misconceptions. Its just that the mission turned out this way. Anyway thank you. Keep moving. I nced back briefly. Jenna and Eolka were muttering to each other and giggling as they looked at us. Just as expected, huh? Yeah, I think so too. Its like a painting. The empires princess and The bodyguard protecting her! Haha, its like something I read in a book turned into reality Whats so funny? Include me in your conversation. I put my face between the two of them. Huh? Just a moment ago, you were in front owowow Eolkas cheeks stretched. I hate misunderstandings the most. Remember that. Oh, no! You can say things like that! Why are you singling me out? Jenna is Jenna had already distanced herself and was whistling. Another 30 minutes passed. [Stage Clear!] [Han (), Jenna (), Eolka () leveled up!] [Reward 50,000G, Desert Lizards Scales (B) x 2] [MVP Han ()] The 27th floor was also cleared without any issues. Light emanated from our bodies. It was the signal for our return. Priasis looked back. Han, is it on the next floor? It might not be. Were not the only ones here. Our vision was covered in light. We returned to the waiting room. When I looked up, white light was crisscrossing the sky. They wont send only one party. You cannot sessfullyplete a mission if you only focus on one party. During the 20th-floor subjugation battle, the entire assault force was in danger of being wiped out due to another partys mistake. Anytng would have carefully observed that. If he didnt learn any lessons from this, he would be a fool. The next evening, [Third party, prepare for the mission! Assemble on the 1st floor!] Iselles booming voice echoed throughout the waiting room. This time, the third party took part in the expedition. The goal was, of course, advancing up the Tower. Kishasha and her group, who would lead Priasis instead of us, could be seen leaving through the door outside the training grounds. Her personality may be strange, but shell do well. At least Kishasha knew how to distinguish between what to do and what not to do. We could put our worries aside. We had our own tasks. One more, senior. Inside the training grounds, Velkist had a determined look in his eyes. Dont hold back. Go. I closed the training grounds door and headed towards the sparring area. Velkist, after reaching the lower-level weapon skill level 10, was relentlessly training day and night. He had realized the presence of a massive wall. The sparring with Ridgion was quite valuable. The effects seemed to be greater than expected. I too could now somewhat share my knowledge with Velkist. I had no intention of giving any boring lectures about realms and hearts, but the way I helped remained the same. Hit, crash, and destroy. It was just that my movements had changed. Velkist became stronger day by day. The Warrior job advancement is alsoplete. During my visit to Niflheimr, the job advancement facilities had been prepared. The facility level was still low, so we could only advance to the three basic jobs. Nevertheless, it wasnt a bad choice. Velkist was already a 3-star Warrior, and Neryssa was a 3-star Rogue. On that morning, I heard the news that the 28th floor had been cleared. The next day. We were not the ones to conquer the 29th floor either. This time, it was the second mission. Two veterans and three rookies participated. The rookies went out with nervous expressions and returned with defeated faces. Anyway, With this, we hadpleted the conquest up to the 29th floor. Next was the boss stage on the 30th floor. It was expected to be a challenging mission since the 25th floor had been rtively easy. However, Anytng didnt send us straight into battle. All fifteen of us on the 3rd floor, including me, hadnt reached the appropriate level yet. There was a grind waiting for us. The 28th floor. The other floor levels were linked to quests, so we couldnt retry them. Anytng took turns sending us to the 28th floor. The mission was to annihte the Lizardmen tribe located on the other side of a desert hill. Priasis didnt show up, and we gained experience by sweeping away the Lizardmen. Up to level 30. In that battle, I was able to raise the Intermediate Weapon Skill to level 2. Anytng had diligently prepared for other aspects of the conquest. First and foremost, he had nurtured the two preparatory parties on the 2nd floor: the 4th party and the 5th party. Since the 25th floor had a small-scale mission, the chances of arge-scale mission on the 30th floor were high. Anytng had trained them while synthesizing others from the 1st floor. Come to think of it From what I heard from Edis, there was an incident where several members of the 1st floor conspired to steal supplies from the weekly dungeon. The main items were meat and fruits. Instead of putting the loot into the dimensional portal, they put them in their pockets. Naturally, they were caught. Half of them had been immediately synthesized, and the other half were trapped in an isted ce, awaiting disposal. Suddenly, I recalled the incident from when I left the 20th floor. The trash that had surrounded me, and silently threatened me. Is it them? It wasnt something I should concern myself with. Anyway, this waiting room also had more than a hundred Heroes. Now it was time to move on to the next phase, with a slightly more advanced method. First, we need to break through the 30th floor. I leaned back in my chair. It waste evening, and thentern on the desk was emitting a yellowish light. A tingling sensation brushed through my chest. The feeling that had alwayse before preparing for the boss stage. It was a unique, sharp sense that signaled danger. A week at most. My current level was 29. The preparations for the conquest would bepleted soon. Anytng wouldnt hesitate. Its a foolish thing when you think about it. I chuckled lightly. I had chosen Townia. I had taken the thorny path instead of the easy one. I dont regret it, but there will always be hardships ahead. The ck ring on my left hand emitted a dark light. I turned the ring to the left, and then, A familiar voice gently tapped my ears. A soft voice that flowed like a gentle breeze. It was Yurners voice. I The content wasnt gentle though. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 114: Eve (2) (1) Chapter 114: Eve (2) (1) Its a bad joke for the heart. I smirked. Yus voice continued. Yeah, were heading to the boss stage soon. Just in case, Im letting you know in advance. Its not entirely impossible. I had already exined to Yu about Townia and its difficulty. Yu had strongly opposed my return after hearing the story, but I had managed to persuade her somehow. Got it. I dont n to use it much though. Using it during the mission had significant penalties. It consumed three uses at once, and ording to Yu, summoning weapons also took time. Most importantly, it exposed my identity to Anytng and others. It was an ability that couldnt be used lightly. I wont use it during the mission. Unless its a life-or-death situation. After making my decision again, I continued speaking. The topic wasnt anything special. It was about Niflheimrs current situation and what happened after I returned. I was told that Nihaku, who had returned suddenly after hearing the news, was greatly disappointed. I justughed it off. No. A light chuckle could be heard. Dont worry. I dont even have the slightest intention of dying. Ill contact you againter. I understand. Ill let you know as soon as I return. It wont be as disappointing asst time. Then. I turned the ring to the right side. The flow of magic that had surrounded my body dispersed. On the desk were several sheets of paper. These were preemptive strategies I had written, predicting up to the 30th floor. The leftmost paper categorized three types of missions: Exploration, Subjugation, and Escape. This prediction had a high probability of being correct for ordinary ounts. It was an actual test I had gone through. However, Townias missions often exceeded my expectations. The strategies on the left were just for beginners. As you moved to the right, their importance increased. The structure of the maze I had encountered in the bonus stage was recorded. This map will somehowe into y. I couldnt know in what way, but I had to memorize it. In addition, there wereprehensive specs for Party 1, the status of other parties, as well as the situation in the waiting room. hese were all things to keep in mind when nning your strategy. The next evening. Anytng sent the heroes from the 1st floor who had stolen supplies to the 30th floor. I knew the purpose right away. It was a selection team to obtain information on the 30th floor. They were led by Iselle and were annihted before they couldst even 5 minutes. Even though they died at the beginning, we managed to obtain one clear piece of information about the 30th floor. [Caution!] [This mission requires five parties, arge-scale mission. If you are short of party members, please use paid or free summons to replenish your heroes!] The log from the time they were sent out came to mind. I didnt need to investigate the internal situation to know. The 30th floor was Townias firstrge-scale mission. It required five parties. Anytng sent out a selection team of five individuals, and they werepletely wiped out. In the official climb, we need twenty-five people. Anytng quickly continued with the n. The training of the third was almostplete. It was time to nurture the remaining parties. The frequency of parties 4 and 5 being sent out increased dramatically. They roamed the desert fields, steadily increasing theirbat proficiency. Outside of battle, preparations were also in order. Eloka, who had been practicing formations at the training camp, was suddenly taken to the Magic Hall. The purpose was rapid research. Eloka spent eighteen hours a day solving problems. Isnt this a bit too much? I cant help it. Its necessary. Currently, Eloka is the only one in Townias research department. To properly manage a raid mission, you needed to raise the research level to at least 5. After three days and nights of hard work, Eloka could finally be released. [Ding!] [Research, Hero Responsiveness has reached Level 5.] [Goddesss blessing descends upon the waiting room!] [A new function is unlocked!] [Communication (Level 1) acquired!] [Tips/About Communication] [Smoothmunication is the basis of a party! Heroes who have acquired this function will be able tomunicate effectively even when the distance between parties is great, increasing the efficiency of coordinated y.] With the responsiveness research level reaching 5,munication was unlocked. The functions effect was simple: long-distancemunication. This meant that even if parties were far apart, they could stillmunicate. It was essential for missions in vast fields. While the effect wasnt significant at lower levels, having it was far better than not. I immediately called Edis and exined the function. We can talk even if were far away? Think of it as magic. The method is It was simr to when we requested things from the Master. Edis stepped back halfway. I hear a voice in my head. Its fascinating. Give it a try. It might be useful on the 30th floor. Alright. Edis closed her eyes. I hear you clearly. Remember how to use it and inform the other parties. There were some limitations. First, only the leader of the party could use it. Second,munication within the same party was not allowed. The distance wasnt too great, at most about 1 km. As the level ofmunication increased, these limitations would disappear. Itll be more enhanced when I create items. Currently, there was no enchanter in the waiting room. I decided to leave it at this point. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 114: Eve (2) (2) Chapter 114: Eve (2) (2) Anytng, who had unlocked themunication function, distributed rey stones to Parties 4 and 5. He was trying to make up for theck of experience in these two parties. The equipment workshop was continuously producing gear equipped with heat dissipation and venttion functions tailored to the desert fields. Various protective items and potions were also being made in abundance. Anytng was diligently preparing for the raid. I cant call him a noob gamer anymore. I entered the training camp, feeling a subtle sense of unfamiliarity. First, I saw Velkist and Neryssa sparring in the training ground. Jenna was sitting on a bench nearby, swinging her legs. Oppa, its been hard to see youtely. Seems like youre quite busy. I have a lot of ces to visit. I sat down next to Jenna. In principle, I didnt interfere with other parties, but if I actedpletely like a stranger, the efficiency of cooperation would decrease. Some level of interaction was necessary for the strategy inrge-scale missions. If we lost another party it would be troublesome. I looked at Velkist and spoke. How long have you been like this? Um, since this morning. I havent rested much. I feel like something big might happen soon. ng! Neryssa, who lost grip on her rapier, stepped back three paces. It seemed like the oue of their sparring was nearing. Velkist firmly adjusted his sword and said, Pick your sword. And lets start again. Neryssa pulled her sword, which was stuck in the iron cage, with a tired look. The sparring began again. Velkist exuded heat from his entire body as he relentlessly attacked Neryssa. Theres not much time left. The trajectory of the sword was changing. The condition for intermediate swordsmanship that Ridgion had mentioned. I felt that I was subtly building my own domain. If he obtains a slight trigger, he would immediately break through the barrier. Oppa is impressive though. In a way, he seems to be working even harder than Aaron. It feels like hes staking his life on it, not just practicing. Even during sparring. Jenna said with a wry smile. And are we not staking our lives on this too? If someone hears you say this casually, they might think were just ying around. I ced my hand on Jennas head and stood up. Neryssa was retreating with sweat pouring down. She had focused on auxiliary skills rted to information exploration and traps rather than purebat skills, despite undergoing extensive training. Now, the gap between her and Velkist, a purebatant, had widened considerably. Bang! Velkist, who had evaded Neryssas rapier, took a stance. His ultra-fast and powerful thrust pierced into Neryssas chest. I immediately rushed out and opened the training ground door, then moved my right hand. The sword, drawn like a sh of light, deflected Velkists thrust. Neryssa, step back. Ill take care of this guy. Im sorry. Neryssa bowed to me and left the training ground. Where have you been since morning that youre sote? Ive been waiting all day. My apologies for beingte. I drew my sword. It was worthing to Party 1 after all. If I were in Party 2, I wouldnt have had this experience. When did you be so talkative? Velkist chuckled. At the same time, he swung his sword explosively. This guy His natural talent is inferior to Jennas, but his fighting spirit is tremendous. No matter how many times I defeated him, he would get up ande back for more. If it hadnt been for this level of determination, I would have kept Aaron, even if it meant forcing it. Iughed and dashed out. That night, Velkist reached intermediate swordsmanship. During the process, I was able to raise my own swordsmanship to level 3. More time passed. Status Window. [Han Israt () Lv. 29 (Exp 13/160)] [ss: Warrior] [Strength: 62/62] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Health: 58/58] [Agility: 57/57] [Skills: Intermediate Swordsmanship (Lv.3), Heavenly Sword Spirit (Lv.1), Power Strike (Lv.2), Insight (Lv.6), Fire Resistance (Lv.3), Pain Resistance (Lv.6), Composure (Lv.6), Frenzy (Lv.8), Invincible (Lv.3), Dragon yer (Lv.1), Equestrianism (Lv.1)] My specs had already reached their limits. Intermediate Swordsmanship was now at level 3, Power Strike had reached level 2, and I could also improve Composure, Frenzy, and even Invincible. However, there was one regret. They dont synergize. Composer and Frenzy were clearly supposed to work together, but they hadnt perfectlyplemented each other yet. I decided not to rush it. With more experience and training, it would naturally be resolved. The statuses of the other members werent much different. Their levels were in thete twenties, and they had raised their skill levels as much as possible. Handling a few minor tasks would not be a problem if they were to participate immediately tomorrow. I tightened the ring on my left hand. A chilling sensation traveled up my fingers. With my right hand, I wrote down the patterns and strategies of the missions I had observed as a Master. I couldnt predict exactly what kind of mission woulde up. However, that didnt mean I would let my guard down. The 30th floor would be more challenging than the 20th. I was sure of that much. While Pick Me Up may seem like a game of luck at first nce, it has its own rules. The fact that an easy mission appeared meant that a much more demanding one wouldeter. The overall difficulty of the game never followed a downward curve. It only got tougher as you went deeper. However, within that, you could achieve rtive strength. All you had to do was be stronger and prepare more thoroughly. Im not turning back yet. I gave up on staying in Niflheim. To raise my own abilities. This was a kind of test. Whether I could survive in this world with my own strength. It wasnt much different from when I first decided to survive in this world. The only difference was I nced at the desk. A crumpled cake was ced on a white te. Jenna had made it, as she always thanked me for my hard work. I picked up a piece with a fork and ate it. Not very tasty. Its too sweet. I reluctantly ate the cake. If possible. I didnt want to taste that bitter feeling. Like on the 5th floor. And so, another night faded away. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 115: (1) Chapter 115: (1) The next day, in the afternoon. The leaders of the five parties gathered in the lobby of the third-floor amodations. Each one of them, including Me, Edis, Kishasha, and the other two. It was to finalize opinions before departing. I didnt expect you to be here. Edis said, looking at Kishasha. Kishasha chuckled. Were all here with a mission. I have no intention of neglecting it. Thank you. Edis nodded lightly to Kishasha. You may not be a seasoned warrior, but you have good manners. That is inhumane. Ill take that as apliment. Edis turned her gaze away and took a deep breath. I was not the one who had gathered these five individuals. Edis had volunteered herself to lead. After exhaling deeply, Edis began speaking. Ive called you all here to establish amand structure. Amand structure? What does that mean? With twenty-five members on the mission team, we need to appoint a captain. Too many cooks spoil the broth, after all. I replied. Ah, so you mean to appoint a leader warrior? Its easy to decide! Just pick the strongest? Being strong doesnt guarantee the ability to lead everyone well. Edis shook her head. Then, she looked at me, sitting at one side of the table. I rmend Han. Among us, he has the most experience in missions, and his judgments and instructions are urate. Anyone who has fought with him would agree. Edis nced at Kishasha and smiled lightly. Hes also a seasoned warrior. Indeed. There should be no objections if we choose the Dragon yer warrior. However, we fight independently. Its not about fighting together. Does that mean Well do it that way. I nodded. But, Han The way the beastfolk fight is different from ours. Trying to force them to work together is not effective. You know very well, warrior. Of course, we are not ignorant of the meaning of cooperation. We will respect your opinion within the mission. I originally knew it would be like this. The sub-races in Pick Me Up are generally stronger than humans, but tend to be less cooperative. It is better to leave it alone than to bring about conflict by inserting it. Of course, you will have to ask for their help if the mission requires it. Are you Han? A middle-aged man in the corner of the table spoke. He had a greatsword slung on his back. Yeah. I am Raiman from the 4th party. Ive heard a lot about you. Do we just follow your orders? I narrowed my eyes. Yes, but Ill only give you basic instructions. The rest, you figure out. Ah, I see. You can be kinder with your words, Edis remarked. Dont add to it. I looked at the two neers. They must have had plenty of experience, especially in missions. However, this was their first boss stage. There was a subtle tension on their faces. Let me say this in advance, no matter what happens, dont panic. Those who panic die first. Theres definitely a way to survive. Just remember that. See, you can do it when you tr Ugh! I cut Edis off with a firm step on her foot. The brief introduction was over. Next, I gave basic guidelines to the two new leaders. Never panic, no matter who among your team dies. Maintainposure in any situation. Remember teamwork. Lastly. What is it? If you n to fight recklessly, quit now. Wevee a long way. We have no such intentions. Theyll understand when they see. Boss stages werepletely different. If they do their part here and survive, I might acknowledge them as proper parties. But not now. The meeting dispersed. The scheduled date for the expedition was today. I returned to my room and put on the leather armor hanging on the stand. It had been modified for desert use, with white cloth wrapped around the connecting parts to block the suns rays. Then I packed the potions in my pouch. The supply distribution waspleted yesterday. Three bottles of low-level health potions, and two bottles of heat resistance potions. I also added a water container filled to the brim. It was for replenishing fluids. Click. I strapped the seven throwing knives into the knife pouch around my waist. Then, I securely fastened Bifrosts scabbard to my belt. When I opened the door and stepped out, Four members of the 1st party were waiting. Are you ready? Were all set. Theres nothing more to do. Have you written your will? Why? Did you write one, senior? Velkist chuckled. Of course, I didnt. Were not nning to die here. Right, everyone? Once again, Oppa will lead us. Arent you relying too much on me? Your words are different. Usually, you tell me to follow orders. Iughed and said, Lets go. The four of us stood up. They looked tense but rxed. They had experienced their fair share of tough missions. No matter what situation arises, they will give their best. While walking through the corridor with the members of the 1st party, lights appeared in the sky. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] [Now Loading.] [Loadingplete.] [TOUCH! (Select)] The main screen of Pick Me Up appeared. Anytng immediately essed the game and pressed the rift of time and space. Along with the status of the towers ascent, the party selection screen appeared. Now. [1st Party!] Iselles voice echoed throughout the waiting room. [2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th parties, assemble on the 1st floor!] When I looked to the side, the faces of the 2nd party were emerging from the opposite corridor. Edis led them, followed by Roderick, Annan, Benik, and Lilinia. Edis looked at me and said, We will be helpful more than the 20th floor. What are you talking about? [Forming the 1st Attack Unit (Small).] [Party Formation 1st Party, 2nd Party, 3rd Party, 4th Party, 5th Party] [Total Hero Power 25] [Commander None] [Rmended Commander Han (): A majority of party members rmend Han.] [Do you want to appoint Han () as themander?] [Yes(Selected)/ No] I chuckled bitterly and went down the stairs. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 115: (2) Chapter 115: (2) I chuckled bitterly and went down the stairs. As we descended to the lower floor, the group expanded. From 10 to 15, and then to 25. Before I knew it, there was a procession behind me. The number of participants is increasing. Are we going to have hundreds of people going out in the end? Eloka said, sounding exasperated. When I didnt answer, Eloka widened her eyes. Is it really going to be like that? Youll know when the timees, wont you? We arrived at the za on the 1st floor. The rift of time and space was already open. Beside it, Iselle fluttered her wings and looked at the heroes. [All of you! You know it just by looking, right? Its the 30th floor. Dont take it lightly and fail. Do your best without bothering Han! Han, fighting!] Iselle showed me her clenched fist and disappeared in a sh of light. Youre quite popr. Im jealous. Dont pay her any attention. I took a deep breath. Each party was gathering in the za for their final preparations. They checked their armor and equipment and made sure they were in top condition. I conveyed the missions precautions. Come in when youre done. Isel wont wait long. I stepped into the rift of time and space. The 1st party followed, and then the 2nd party. [Climb the tower, save the world!] [Main Dungeon: Current Ascent Floor 29] The heroes entered one by one. I leaned against the wall and fastened my scabbard. The faces of the people were filled with tension. Everyone, if you stay focused, you can survive. Jenna said in a firm voice. I chuckled. That depends. No more words were exchanged. Light began to pour out of the rift of time and space. The feeling of being disassembled and familiar at the same time. When I opened my eyes again. A desert. As expected, from the 21st to the 30th floor. Ten floors were assigned to one field. The sand-mixed wind brushed against my entire body. I pulled my hood down deeply. This ce A city? Is it a city? Im not sure. I looked around. Square stone buildings stretched out like a checkerboard. However, all the buildings were buried in sand. From the entrance to the windows. White sand filled the buildings from the entrance to the inside. It seems quite old. I touched the wall. Its heavily weathered. Its been abandoned for at least a hundred years. I took a sip from my water and muttered. If you hear me, answer. It was Ediss voice. Yeah, its Han from the 1st party. Where are you now? Twenty-five of us were summoned, but theres only the 1st party here. Wevee to a strange city-like ce. Theres a lot of sand, and the weather is scorching. How about you? Im in the same situation. Lets meet up first. Come to the city center. Youll find it even without me exining. Ill be there soon. Click. A grating noise echoed in my ears. It was the expected noise when themunication ended. Are there any other parties? Tell the 4th party toe here too. Try contacting the others as well. It seems like we cant reach them due to the distance. I rubbed my ear. Raimans voice cut off. All the parties seem to be separated. Gathering our strength was the top priority. Cough. Why is there so much sand? Eloka coughed while waving her hand. The city was constantly battered by sandstorms. The weather is the worst. Neryssa said as she covered her mouth with a cloth. The members covered their faces and took heat-resistant supplements. Neryssa, please lead the way to the city center. Sure. Oh, and try to find Princess Priasis. She might be here. Neryssa nodded and disappeared into the sandstorm. Lets move too. To the designated location. The formation was ready. I was in the front, Jenna and Eloka were in the middle, and Velkist was in the rear. The visibility isnt great. Yeah, its not great. Be careful of ambushes. I know. We continued walking. The mission objective window had not appeared yet. There was no sign of enemies either. Suddenly, Jenna spoke. Im getting anxious. If nothing happens at the beginning like this Dont say unlucky things. Eloka looked disgusted. I continued walking. The yellow sand obscured our vision. 2nd party, 4th party. Do you see a peculiar building in the city center? Gather there. Beyond the thick sandstorm, the outline of a massive temple could be seen. It was clear from the goddess statue on the rooftop. We found it. Us too. And weve contacted the other parties as well. Well ry the message. Understood. Click. I ended themunication. At the same time, I reached for my scabbard. A faint shadow appeared from the nearby building. The shadow jumped down nimbly from under the roof. Someone was carried on its shoulders. I found Princess Priasis. She copsed in the middle of the street. Neryssa gentlyid Priasis on the ground. I raised my hand. Jenna and Velkist assumed defensive positions. Theres a possibility of a trap. I signaled to Eloka. Elokas magical wave passed through Priasis. Shes the real one. What is she doing here? It looks like she copsed while overexerting herself I took out a potion of vitality and put it in Priasiss mouth. Priasis drank it, glugging it down. Her eyelids trembled and then lifted. Han. Did we help you all the way here to just die? Just to find the key. Is this the right ce? Im certain. It matches the scenery I saw in my dream. Its here. I took out a heat-resistant supplement and offered it to her. Freyasis swallowed it with the potion. Her eyelids trembled before finally opening. Thank you. Dont thank me yet. This ce, even in the middle of the desert, had particrly harsh conditions. Without thorough preparation, we could quickly be guests of the relentless desert. Priasis bowed her head. Im sorry. Stick close to Jenna. If anything happens, hide immediately. Priasis nodded and stood in the middle of the group, with Jenna and Velkist protecting her. The formation changed to protect Priasis in the center. At the same time, the mission window appeared. [Floor 30.] [Mission Type Exploration] [Objective ???] [Special Objective Survival of NPC Freyasis Al Raguna] This is it. I clicked my tongue and continued walking. The sandstorm continued to rage. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 116: (1) Chapter 116: (1) Mission type: Exploration. So far, everything is going smoothly. However, the main objective was unclear, and there was an additional condition of NPC survival attached. It felt like a typical mission, yet it was strangely twisted. I brought my hand up to my ear. Its Han from 1st party. <> Edis, did you check the mission window? It should have just popped up. <> Weve already secured the target. No need to search. Inform the other parties and join us immediately. <> Click. Themunication was cut off. I brushed the sand off my shoulder and continued walking. The temple, obscured by dust, was getting closer. Its so quiet. It had been 10 minutes since we were deployed for this mission. Usually, something unexpected would have happened by now. But the city remained eerily silent. There was no sign of the enemys shadow. This is getting annoying. Eloka fluttered her sleeves with an ufortable expression. Sand grains fell from inside. Just hold on a bit. I mumbled as I nced behind me. Priasis was walking silently. Do you have the exact location of the key? Is that building the right one? I pointed to the building ahead, shrouded in dust. The outline of the building wavered at the tip of my finger. Priasis concentrated her sight and then spoke. Yes, thats the one. The key is inside. Were on the right track. I nodded. The unique feature of this city was that building, and it had a goddess statue attached to the top. It meant that it had some role as an object. I asked a question. Any other memories? Monsters or traps, anything? Sorry, nothing elsees to mind. I closed my mouth. It seemed like there was no more information to get from Priasis. The rest would have to be discovered by opening the lid ourselves. As the path widened, we approached the courtyard. The temple was right in front of us. It must have been a magnificent building originally, but now, covered in sand and weathered, its original grandeur was hard to discern. The building was in ruins. Han! I looked to my side. Edis was waving from the western passage of the square. Behind her, members of the 2nd party were visible. There were no signs of battle. The three new recruits seemed tense, though. Other parties started joining one by one. The 3rd party from the north gate of the square, the 4th party, and the 5th party from the west gate. A total of twenty-five people. No one had failed the mission so far. I led Priasis to the front of the temple. All the party leaders gathered. Four pairs of eyes focused on us. Allow me to introduce. This is the escort target for this mission. Nice to meet you, heroes. I am Priasis Al Ragnara. Priasis stepped forward hesitantly. Raimans eyebrows shot up. When you say Al Ragnara, you dont mean the Al Ragnara of the imperial family, do you? Well, we can discuss thatter. I asked the members of the other parties what they had observed and found, and their answers were consistent. A sand-covered and weathered city with no other unusual features. Is that temple the only thing here? I looked up at the building in front. Columns lined the stairs on both sides. Beyond them, a massive marble door was visible. Everyones attention turned to the door. It seems to be in there. I agree. Yes. I spoke up. 1st party will enter first. The rest of you wait outside the temple. Are you sure? We dont know what mighte out. Well contact you immediately. There could be something happening outside as well. We set up a boundary zone between the parties and then dispersed. Except for the 1st party, which was infiltrating, the rest of the parties are in charge of the East, West, South, and North respectively. Neryssa had already returned. I led the members of the 1st party and approached the temple. Our formation was a circle with Priasis and Eloka in the center. There dont seem to be any traps. Neryssa, who had been examining the door, said. I nodded and pushed open the door. Creak. With an old sound, the temple revealed its interior. Sand trickled down from the temples ceiling crack. There, thats it! Priasis pointed to the altar. On a small square altar, a small object was floating and emitting light. A dagger? It was embedded in a golden scabbard with intricate patterns engraved on it. Priasis approached as if entranced. We followed suit. Its strange. Theres still no sign of enemies. They practically left it here for us to take. I chuckled. It wasnt a sinister maze, and there were no giant monsters in sight. Our target was right in front of us as soon as we entered. If we take that, is it over? It seems too simple, doesnt it? Well, its not necessarily a bad thing. Priasis reached out for the dagger on the altar. I put my hand on the scabbard, ready to draw it at any moment. And then [First objective achieved.] [Key of The Void obtained!] Priasis gripped the dagger. Simultaneously, the light on the altar disappeared. What is it? Nothing happened? Thud! The entire temple shook violently. [Warning!] It seems like its happening. What is it? I disconnected themunication and said, Priasis, are you okay? Im fine. No problems at all. I can move. Were getting out of here. Thud! Once again, Sand fell heavily from the ceiling. I pushed open the door. We immediately exited the temple. Ku-gu-gu-gu-gung! The ground beneath our feet shook violently. Looks like an earthquake! I know. I surveyed the square. It was clear at a nce that something had happened. The sandstorm. Just five minutes ago, the entire city was engulfed in a sandstorm, but now it had disappeared. Under the scorching sun, with heat radiating down. And then Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung! I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 116: (2) Chapter 116: (2) And then Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung! The ground began to shake violently from side to side. Priasis, who had lost her footing, was caught by Jenna. Be careful. Thank you. Oppa, what should we do? The ground continued to shake in a regr rhythm. What can we do? I brought my hand to my ear. Click. I ended themunication. We need to leave this city. Ku-gung! A part of the building in the square copsed. Neryssa, wheres the nearest way out? To the southwest. Ill guide you. Run! Neryssa sprinted ahead. I ran while cing my hand on the scabbard, ready to draw at any moment. Members of the 1st party followed me. Kid! Im running too! Klick. Kli-ri-ri-ri-ck. Mechanical sounds echoed under our feet. Whats that sound? I had no time to think. I sprinted down the street. Other parties followed closely behind. I turned at an intersection. The vibrations continued. Debris from the sand-covered buildings scattered in all directions. Crash! A crumbling pir copsed in front of me. The entire city was crumbling. Im not your nanny! Each time it shook, buildings toppled like dominoes. Behind, behind! Look at that! Eolka screamed in a voice almost like a shriek. Its really happening. Velkist chuckled. The height was about 20 meters, and the end was nowhere in sight. A colossal wave of sand was engulfing everything. Dont bark, we dont want to hear it. Sizzle. The 1st party will take the lead. Follow me. The sandstorm, as if it would obscure the sky, drew closer. Shadows fell on the street. Ku-gu-gu-gu-gung! The ground shook violently. Debris from the buildings covered the area on both sides. I ran forward. The copsed roof of a building hit the spot where I had been standing. Ugh! Priasis stumbled, missing a step. Jenna, take care of the kid. Dont leave her even if you die. Got it! The rest, keep running! Its 5 minutes to the exit. Neryssa lightly jumped over the debris blocking the path ahead. Then I kicked off the wall and leaped over it. Jenna supported Priasis and followed. Velkist lifted Eolka, who was frantically running ahead. [Jedy () has returned to the goddesss embrace! Her determination will forever be remembered.] Is she dead already? I turned left at the intersection. To the right again. The vibrations were bing increasingly intense. Looking back, some of the heroes with poor bnce were stumbling. Beyond them, a lifeless body clung to the ground like gum. It seemed to be the deceased woman, maybe Jedy. Click. Those with spare energy, support those who are struggling. Itll be troublesome if anyone dies here. Only one minute. I ended themunication. I continued forward, leaping over obstacles and pushing through them. The door leading outside was getting closer. Its fortunate there are no monsters. In that case, the difficulty must have doubled. Ignoring the vibrations, I moved. My sense of bnce had already transcended human limits. Strong tremors couldnt knock me over. I passed by copsing pirs on both sides. I stepped onto the desert outside the city. Dont stop even if youre outside of the city. Keep moving. I nced back briefly. Members of the raid were steadily exiting the city. The massive sand wave grazed the edge of their group. In an instant, the entire city was engulfed in sand. Until I say stop. But you can slow down. I slowed my pace. My clothes billowed, and sand poured off my body. Is this because of me? Priasis spoke in a stiff voice. Dont worry about it. Well tire each other out if we start analyzing everything. I took out a water pouch and took a sip. No one was injured. The other members of the 1st party were fine. Priasis was unharmed too. Somehow, we had escaped the city. The vibrations grew distant. After getting some distance from the city, I stopped. I immediately sent a stop signal through themunication. The movement of the entire raid came to a halt. Some heroes slumped down, perhaps exhausted. Well, we made it. It was a bit risky though. Jenna wiped the sweat from her forehead. I looked at the city. Its shape was unrecognizable. It had be a mixture of sand and debris. However, the vibrations were still ongoing. Oppa, why are you looking at it like that? What does it look like to you? I pointed at the city. The whole city was quaking. Uh, so an earthquake? Is there even an earthquake like this? I swallowed a bitterugh. You really got me. I looked around. Some of them had relieved expressions as if their mission had been aplished. I put my hand on my ear and opened a channel. All units, get ready. Thats funny. This is just the beginning. Small waves appeared across the entire desert. Every grain of sand beneath our feet trembled. [Warning! Warning! Warning!] Grab your weapons. Be prepared. What on earth The ground beneath us shook heavily. [Now Loading.] [Constructing the field.] Whoosh! A wall of mes rose on the outskirts of the desert. The mes formed a wide circle, enclosing us. And then Thud! I immediately looked at the city. Large and small buildings were bouncing like toys. From tens to hundreds of meters. Then, sand rose like a mountain. 10 meters. 50 meters. 100 meters I stopped measuring at 300 meters. One thing was certain. A gigantic monster. Not just a few meters or tens of meters. I tried to estimate its size again. It was huge. Incredibly huge. Although the creature and I were nearly 100 meters apart, I could barely see its end without bending my neck. Ku-gu-gu-gu-gu-gung! An object presumed to be one of its legs moved. The estimated radius of one leg was over tens of meters. It was the size of arge building. A red light shed from the creatures head. [Ancient Stone Statue Lv.???] I chuckled and said, Do you usually dream of such things? Oh, no, Ive never seen anything like this in my dreams [Mission type has changed.] [Mission Type Subjugation] [Objective Exterminate the enemy!] [Special Objective Survival of NPC Priasis Al Raguna] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 117: (1) Chapter 117: (1) The gigantic stone statue raised one foot. Thud. The ground trembled lightly. What is that? A muttered exmation mixed with someones sigh. [Gilbert () falls into terror. All stats decrease by 30%.] Do they expect us to face that thing? It must be a joke. The voice trembled as it spoke. I looked to the side. The face of the man, stoned in blue, was twitching. This This goes beyondmon sense. Its not a monster. Are they telling us to kill that kind of monster? Its ridiculous! [Recullen () falls into terror. All stats decrease by 30%.] [Vidin () falls into terror] Status abnormality messages appeared one after another. Most of them were members of the newly participating 4th and 5th parties. Fear welled up in their eyes. Kill it? Isnt the mission to run away? An ant cant catch a giant just because it has tweezers! This is ridiculous Quite barking noisy dogs. Velkist sneered while looking at them. What did you say? Oh, youre right its disrespectful topare you to a dog. A bug would be more appropriate. This is insane Lets finish them off right now. Stop it. I blocked Velkist, who was about to draw his sword. Velkist withdrew, his expression filled with contempt. They all looked at me, helpless. Han, what should we do? How can we escape? Dont run. Cant you see the mission window? We cant leave until we kill that thing. [Gilbert () falls into panic. All stats decrease by 50%.] Stop talking nonsense! Bring down that giant? Is it possible? If youre talking nonsense I reached for my belt. The dagger de emerged from its sheath and flew at him, emitting a white light. Blood gushed from the pierced mans shoulder. Gilbert, who had been staring at the injured area, finally spoke. Aaaah! [Gilbert () is in a bleeding state. Health decreases at regr intervals.] Why did you stop me if you were going to do this? Im not trying to kill him. Gilbert sat on the ground, screaming. This guy was the leader of the 5th party. Pathetic. I turned to the young man who had been quietly swallowing behind Gilbert. Whats your name? Im Lycan Snail, sir. From now on, youre in charge of the 5th party. [Captain Han () proposes a change of party leader.] [5th Party: Gilbert () -> Lycan ()] [ept?] [Yes (selected) / No] A message soon appeared announcing the change of leader. Ignoring Gilbert, who was wailing on the ground, I said, Make a choice. Just die or fight to survive. But No buts. If youre called out to this ce, then you have to kill any enemy thates out. It doesnt matter who it is or what it is. If you want to live, move. Swoosh. I drew my sword. Kukkung. The statue was now stepping with its other foot. Its enormous shadow loomed nearby. Edis on the right drew her twin swords. 2nd party. Roderick pulled out a spear from his back. Then, three others also drew their weapons. Its going to be quite interesting. Kishashas nails sharpened. The three parties took up battle stances side by side. Haah, it looks like we have another tough battle ahead. We can do it. Wevee this far. Well keep going. Finally, the members of the 1st party drew their weapons. We we can fight too! Lycan brandished his sword. Sweat dripped from their foreheads, but there was no sign of fear. Except for one, the fear of the other heroes had been lifted. Wevepleted the first step somehow. The first thing to be wary of when facing a colossal monster is that your allies can crumble under its overwhelming presence. It may seem impossible to defeat at first, but it can be done. No matter how doggedly they cling to life, theres always a way. Thisw needed to be instilled in the heroes. I drew my sword while looking to the side. Priasis was looking at the giant with a tense expression. Can we really bring it down? Youll find out when we try. Kukkung. The creature took its third step, and the ground shook again. Lycan raised his sword and looked at me. B-but how can we defeat it? Observe the situation at times like this. The answer is in there. Thats what learned at Niflheimr. Jenna said with a sly smile. Thats right. As expected, right? Analyze the pattern, find the strategy. It was the first task to be done when facing a boss. I looked up at it. Size over 300 meters. Weight immeasurable. Material, unknown rock. An ant with tweezers. I chuckled and patted Bifrost. It wasnt an incorrect statement. If wepared ranks, the gap would be like that between an ant and an elephant. It was clear at a nce. Our weapons couldnt deliver a blow. Direct attacks wouldnt work. So Kukkung! The statue took its fourth step. The distance has be noticeably closer. Raiman arched his eyebrows and eximed. What should I do? Please tell me something! For now, hold on until we find a way. Cant we just run away from the monster? I shook my head. Then what Cra. A faint howling sound was heard in the wind. [Monster Wave!] [Round 1.] [Lizardman Lv.23] X 31 [Lizardman Rider Lv. 25] X 4 [Lizardman Sorcerer Lv. 26] X 2 I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 117: (2) Chapter 117: (2) [Monster Wave!] [Round 1.] [Lizardman Lv.23] X 31 [Lizardman Rider Lv. 25] X 4 [Lizardman Sorcerer Lv. 26] X 2 Outside of the desert. Lizardmen appeared beyond the mes. They bared their tongues and charged at us, their eyes gleaming red. Pay attention. Gulp. I heard someone swallowing. 2nd party, take the front. 4th and 5th parties, stay in the back. We protect the escort target. We also try to find a way to defeat the status stone. You take care of the lizardmen. Make sure they dont reach the 1st party. The stone statue. If you just keep your distance, you wont be attacked. The giant took his fifth step. As the distance closed, it became clear who it was targeting. Priasis. It had its sights set on the owner of the key. Its direction matched Priasis. Its easy to recognize. [Monster Wave!] [Round 2.] [Lizardmen Lv.23] x 53 [Lizardman Riders Lv.25] x 10 [Lizardman Shamans Lv.26] x 2 The second formation of lizardmen appeared to the west of the field. Hahaha! Well handle those guys! Kishasha burst into heartyughter and then bowed her body. The members of the 3rd party took the same stance. Papapapak! Five of them ran across the sand dunes, tearing their arms and legs. In an instant, they were far away. we agreed on not interfering with the 3rd party. They would perform their role. I gripped my sword tightly and said, Lets begin. Kiaaa! The 4th and 5th parties fell back. 2nd party, led by Edis, advanced. Form a line! Arrows shot out from Ediss shortbow. The leading lizardman, riding a giant lizard, was knocked off course. However, they didnt falter, their red eyes gleaming as they continued their charge. And they collided head-on with the 2nd party. The sh of metal and the screams of lizardmen filled the air. Theyreing here too. Get ready! Lycan drew his greatsword. [Monster Wave!] [Round 3.] [Lizardmen Lv.23] x 22 [Lizardman Riders Lv.25] x 3 [Lizardman Shamans Lv.26] x 1 This time from the south. The monster horde pierced through the mes and approached. They immediately began their assault. Well move too. How do you n to do that? Well bait the creatures attacks and find an opening. The surroundings grew darker. The giants massive body blocked out the sunlight. Not far away, one of its massive legs creaked. I brought my hand to my ear. A click. Dont get close to us. Keep your distance. We might get crushed if we get too close. The morale of the attack team is high. Kid, dont lose focus. Oh, got it. Clunk. The statue came to a stop. Kikigigig. The creatures shoulder and right arm moved. Slowly, it extended backward. The length seemed to be hundreds of meters. Therge shadow of its arm was cast over the entire field. And then Itsing. Kikigigig. Its fist began to descend. There was no need to see the target. Priasis! Yes? Run! The size of the fist easily exceeded the size of a sports field. Priasis ran, waving her clothes. She had plenty of room. The fist was huge, but it wasnt fast. It could be easily avoided. The problem was Kiaaaargh! A lizardman that leaped over a sand dune. He rolled halfway and swung his sword. Immediately, Velkist leaped forward. With a swift movement, the sword tore the lizardman apart, splitting it in two. Krr, Krr! Kill him, kill him! This time, five lizardmen appeared. Ediss desperate voice echoed in my ear. Its okay. Focus on your party. I expected this much. Squish! One of them fired an arrow. Kang. I deflected it with the steel bracer on my elbow. At the same time, I threw a dagger. The lizardman with the de in its eye immediately screamed. They cant block them all. The field was too wide. 15 people couldnt cover all directions. Some would break through our defenses ore around. Their goal was the same as the statues. The extermination of the keys owner. 1st party, clear the way. Got it! Jenna pulled out her bow with lightning speed. Papapapak! Four lizardmen that were charging were sent rolling down the hill. Blood oozed from where the arrows had pierced. [Monster Wave!] [Round 4.] [Lizardmen Lv.23] x 18 [Lizardman Riders Lv.25] x 2 [Monster Wave!] [Round 5.] [Lizardmen Lv.23] x 42 [Lizardman Riders Lv.25] x 5 [Lizardman Shamans Lv.26] x 2 A lizardman from the side thrust its spear. I swung my sword long. Swoosh. The de sliced through everything in its path like tofu. Along with the spear, the upper and lower halves of the lizardman separated. Watery blood scattered in the sand. Then, I threw two daggers in session. The daggers pierced the foreheads of two more lizardmen. Whooooosh. A heavy pressure pressed down from above. The fist was getting closer. I retrieved the daggers as I passed by the lizardmans corpse and jumped towards Priasis. I embraced Priasiss waist and leaped straight ahead. Ha, Han? Hold on tight. The shadow on the ground grew darker. Crack, click! Kwak! The explosion sent the lizardmans body soaring high into the air. It was Elokas magic. I looked up. Something ck was descending from the sky, obscuring the sun. Get out of the area! Eloka and Jenna leaped to the left, while Neryssa and Velkist went to the right. With Priasis half lifted, I dashed forward. I put all my strength into my calves. Sand shot up as my body was propelled forward. Crash! The fist mmed down from behind. Priasis, off bnce, was about to be thrown off. I firmly held Priasiss hand, burying Bifrosts de deep into the ground. What in the world Priasiss face turned pale. A massive crater appeared where the fist had struck. Thats some power. [Monster Wave!] [Round 6.] [Lizardmen Lv.23] x 86 I brushed the sand off my shoulder. Kikigigig. The statues fist, buried in the ground, trembled. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 118: (1) Chapter 118: (1) Whenever the stone statue tried to pull out its fist, the ground shook. Sliding down the sand dune, I nced at the monsters arm. It looked like a giant bridge sticking vertically out of the ground. Lizardmen, caught in the shockwave, scattered around. Crack! I swung my arm without even looking. Thud! A lizardman with an elbow to his face tumbled away. I immediately stabbed my sword into his torso. Squelch. Ediss voice rang in my ears. Yeah, Im fine. Can you handle the waves? It was simr to the 20th floor. Endless waves of enemies. There was a limited amount of time we could hold out. We had to find a way within that time. Kugugung. Leaving a crater behind, the stone statues fist began to rise in the air. Is the attack pattern always going to be this simple? Shifting its weight by moving its feet, and hammering its fist down. So far, there have been only two actions. The range was enormous, and the lizardmen were constantly interfering, but the chances of getting hit all at once were low. I carefully examined the surface of the rising stone statue. Its made of solid rock. The surface is t. There arent many ces to grab onto, other than that I dont see anything worth noting. I looked back. Priasis and the remaining two members were standing firm. Well move too. We immediately moved away. As we climbed the hill, I saw another party engaged inbat with the lizardmen. They were shoulder to shoulder, constantly repelling the iing enemies. What are we going to do? Its either go in or climb up. What? Look over there. I pointed to the other side of the hill. Elokas gaze followed my finger. Her eyes widened in surprise. The mes are narrowing. We cant hold out much longer. This ce will soon turn into a sea of fire. Theres only one ce to escape. Thats right. But how do we climb up? It doesnt look easy. I looked at the stone statue. Endless in size and height. The fist had risen to several hundred meters by now. We have to find the right angle. Angle? For now, we need to get away from it. Kiaaak. Lizardmen who had broken through the defensive line in the distance were charging towards us. I nced at them and then turned. I ran towards the opposite side of the field. This is Party 1. I have a question. Is there a statue or something like a goddess nearby? Forget about that. Focus on the front. It was Kishashasmunication. I looked to the west of the field. All three parties were engaged in a fierce battle with dozens of lizardmen. Their ws shed, and with each swing of their legs, lizardmens limbs and torsos were torn apart and flew through the air. I concentrated my vision. Lizardmens corpses were piled up like small mountains next to it. Good. The stone statue was moving from behind. From now on, run west into the desert. Run! I put all my strength into my steps. My ankles sank into the sand, slowing me down. Still, I had to time it somehow. Jenna, running alongside me, spoke. Oppa, what are you nning? Wouldnt it be better to be near that monster if you want to avoid an attack? It might be easier to escape if were close! Just running away wont end it. What? But Neryssa, take care of the kid. Understood. Neryssa caught up with thegging Priasis and increased her speed. Velkist lowered his upper body and sprang forward. Lizardmen were attacking from the right. Velkist, who had drawn his sword quickly, cut down two lizardmen like sheaves of wheat. I nced behind me and shouted. Kid, take out the key. Priasis took out a dagger from her pocket. It didnt shine. It was shy, but it was still just an ordinary dagger. Thats enough. hide it for now. The first step wasplete. Special items used for Pick Me Up missions are usually surrounded by light. The fact that the key didnt react at all meant, The key cant be used yet. It was time to check the second item. Kishasha, its Han. The lizardmans scream faintly reached me. Sorry, but I have a request. Would you mind putting your hand on that goddess statue? A momentter, her voice continued. Got it. You guys get away from there. Im bringing the statue with me. Im not sure. Alright, well follow you! I chuckled and ended themunication. Kishashas group, who had single-handedly ughtered the lizardmen, was getting further away. Oppa, the monster ising from behind! I know. The ground shook heavily. It was the aftermath of the monster taking a step after a step. Swoosh. The field was narrowing due to the mes. Lizardmen kept appearing from nowhere and continued to swarm. [Monster Wave!] [Round 9.] [Lizardman Lv.23] X 57 [Lizardman Rider Lv. 25] X 13 [Lizardman Shaman Lv. 26] X 6 Fold the defense. Join me where I am. I turned my head to the side. An arrow barely grazed my cheek. St! Jenna shot. A lizardman with a pierced head fell t. Annan () is in a bleeding state. Health decreases at regr intervals. Gilbert () has returned to the goddesss embrace! His valor will be remembered forever. They already reached their limit. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 118: (2) Chapter 118: (2) Annan () is in a bleeding state. Health decreases at regr intervals. Gilbert () has returned to the goddesss embrace! His valor will be remembered forever. They already reached their limit. One person died. The other one was injured. Gilbert seemed to havested longer than expected. Swoosh! The mes elerated as they spread. The mes, stretching dozens of meters, crackled and spewed mes and smoke. They made it damn tough. Ping! Ping! Ping! Three arrows pierced a lizardmans torso simultaneously. I swung my sword as three upper bodies caught in the path of my de sttered blood and organs into the air. I moved forward again. Beyond that, the goddess statue, half buried in the sand, emitted a faint light. Priasis, just follow me. The rest of you, help the other parties. Are you sure its okay? Its fine. Velkist and Eloka left. Not far away, the 4th and 5th parties were approaching, followed by hundreds of lizardmen. Jenna and Neryssa headed in the direction of the 2nd party. What are you nning to do? Huge monsters are my specialty. I had more than just one bad encounter in Niflheim. Quack! A lizardman with a torn face flew away. I corrected my sword and stopped walking. The statue was right in front of me. Beside me, Priasis was panting heavily. Kigigigik. A distinct mechanical sound echoed. It was the sound of the monster raising its arm. The angle is right. The position is set. I felt a pressure pressing against my body. I raised my head, and the statues fist was descending, partially obscuring the sky. Swoosh. I took a deep breath and hoisted Priasis up beside me. Ugh! You need to practice running. She was light. I must be stronger. I put power into my feet and ran forward. [Monster Wave!] [Round 13.] [Lizardman Lv.23] X 93 [Lizardman Rider Lv. 25] X 25 [Lizardman Shaman Lv. 26] X 3 How many have piled up? I nced to the side briefly. We passed hundreds of them. They were swarming like ants. Its getting tight. It didnt seem like a mission designed based on the One Try assumption. There was a way, but it was difficult to figure it out without having your first party getting wiped out. It was a characteristic of high-difficulty missions. I soared like a dive. The thunderous fist descended again. Boom! I rolled on the floor as I pulled Priasis, who was screaming, close to me. [Object effect activated!] [The power of the goddess envelops the ancient statue!] A dazzling light poured out from where the goddess statue had been. The light extended into the air like spider silk and began to climb up the arm of the statue. Gee-ing. The statue froze in the same posture as its arm descended. The angle of the arm embedded in the ground was between 35 and 40 degrees. Not perfect, but sufficient. I opened the channel. Were going up on this thing, now. Dont dawdle. We dont have time. I disconnected themunication and gathered the 1st party. This is quite unusual. Cant you do something simple, just once? So, youre not going? Velkist smiled and lowered his bloodstained sword. So were ying horse? The mes had already covered half of the field. The rear lizardmen were engulfed in mes, bing ashes. The heroes surrounded the statues fist, blocking the monsters. Whos going first? Naha, of course, its us! Quack! Kishasha, who had smashed the heads of three lizardmen in a row, leaped and spun in mid-air. The agile neernded gracefully on the giant palm. Other beastfolk also emerged and climbed up the forearm. Next was the 1st party. I pushed the ground hard and leaped. After grabbing the protruding rock with my left hand, I leaped again. The sensation of the hard stone floor touched my feet. When I looked back, other members were also climbing up. Kiaak! Karruuuuuur! Karruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk! Hundreds of lizardmen surrounded us and advanced. [Inferio! Rise!] Eloka, standing on the statue, raised her hand. The mes, drawing a circle, blocked the path of the lizardmen. Without hesitation, numerous lizardmen jumped and became ashes. Hurry up! Jenna lowered her posture, assuming a shooting stance. Dozens of arrows rained down on the lizardmen like rain. The mes of the field had now moved within 10 meters. Everyone was climbing the steep cliff frantically. Thank you. Edis reached out, and Edis helped her climb up. All 23 members had boarded. Below, the lizardmen engulfed in mes were roaring. Goo-ooo-ooo-ooo. A groaning sound was heard. Thunk! The fixed arm shook greatly. Now, what do we do? Edis turned to me. Her forehead was wet with blood and sweat, with hair sticking to it. I told you. Were going up. I pointed to the head of the monster on the other side of the arm. Although giant, hisically shaped face was looking in our direction. The angle of the embedded arm was 35 degrees. The forearm of the monster, which was more than 30 meters in width and over 150 meters in length, resembled a giant leg. Going up?! We have to destroy it. Thunk! The ground shook once more. The light surrounding the arm became hazy. [Warning!] [The Self-Defense System of the statue is activated.] Ching-ching. Grrick-grrick. Suddenly, a ballista popped out from the side of the arm. Kruuk, kill the intruders! Lids were opening everywhere, revealing lizardmen. Lizardmen armored with scales were descending in rows. Thud! With a heavy sound, the crossbows fired arrows. I fixed my feet to the ground and gathered strength in my shoulders. Quack! The impact on my arm was strong. The split arrow lost its momentum and fell. Kiaaak! The lizardman at the forefront roared. I adjusted my sword and said. Did you all see that? This bastards insides are empty. Lets smash it from the inside. No, what about the ballista Is that important? Hurry. Finish it before it pulls its arm out. The lid opened right in front of us. I was about toe to meet you. I swept the lizardmans head, which was about to pop out. Woosh! With a bone-cracking sound, the lizardmans neck snapped and broke in the opposite direction. The limp body suddenly got sucked in. Just as the square b was about to close, I slid in and jammed my sword between the gaps. Kaeng! When I threw the dagger into the hole, a small scream was heard. I kicked the lid up with my heel. A ck hole was revealed. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 119: (1) Chapter 119: (1) I looked down the hole. Beyond thedder, the interior of the stone statue was vaguely visible. Ill go first! Kishasha chuckled and approached thedder. I took out a piece of paper from my pocket and handed it to Kishasha. Whats this? Its a map of the interior. Use it as a reference. Warrior, youre carrying something interesting. Ill make good use of it. Kishasha casually epted the paper. The paper had a map of the bonus stage drawn on it. From the wall material to the smell and structure, everything matched perfectly. There was no doubt about it. Everyone, get in, including Priasis. Me too? Its safer inside than outside. Youll understand when you see it. Creak. Far away, the lid opened again, and the lizardmen popped out. Han, you go firs The order will be from the 2nd party to the 5th party. Karrl! The charging lizardman was hit by an arrow and stumbled. With a mournful scream, his shadow moved away into the mes. The 1st party wont go in. Well attack from the outside. Is that okay? I smiled without saying a word. It was enough for Kishasha to understand. Got it, nehehe! Im looking forward to it! [Unique Skill, Transformation Activate!] [Kishasha () transforms!] Roar! Kishasha transformed into a giant tiger in an instant and roared. Kishasha, without hesitation, bit onto Priasis and leaped into the hole. At the same time, the members of the 3rd party slid down. Han, be careful. Edis started descending thedder after Kishasha. Thwack! The second ballista shot targeted Edis. I gripped my sword tightly with both hands and swung it vigorously. I briefly lost bnce, but I could still deflect the arrow. [Lizardman Lv.25] X 37 Kruk, Karrk! The lizardmens group got closer. Their eyes gleamed with determination. Eloka sighed. Our party always does the hard work. Why, dont you like it? Just saying. Alright, what do we do now? Climb up the arm and go all the way to the head. If you see any suspicious devices, destroy them. It sounds simple enough. ng. The rear hatch closed. Five people remained on the arm. The distinct odor of the lizardmen brushed past our noses. I raised my sword to the side. Clear a path. Pipipip! Three rapid shots flew at the frontmost monster in dazzling speed. Velkist went left, I went center, and Neryssa went right. The three swords emitted simultaneous gleams. Kiaaah! The pierced and severed lizardmen bled profusely as they fell apart. [Ignite!] mes erupted from Elokas sleeves and shot outwards. [Explosion!] A loud explosion followed, and the shattered lizardmans body soared into the air. The falling mes began to cling to the stone floor. I forcefully kicked the face of the lizardman who was gliding away. He crashed into a pile of mes. Ill handle the ballista! Crack! Pieces of the ballista arrow scattered. The third shot. The mechanical contraption continued its automatic reloading. Whoosh, whoosh. The lizardman with feathers on his back started swinging his staff in a frenzy. A red light gathered at the tip of his staff. Signs of an impending eruption. In an instant, Jenna, who had drawn her bow, took aim. The arrow pierced through two lizardmens torsos without losing its strength, hitting the mages forehead behind. Three in the front row, two in the rear. We advanced in a W formation, clearing the way. Bang! The ground shook briefly as something broke. Faint smoke rose from the cracks of the statue. [Warning!] [The Self-Defense System of the statue is progressing to Level 2.] A mechanical device emerged from the arms side. It had a targeting scope and five arrows loaded, a rapid-fire ballista. Eloka! I was prepared for this! Eloka gestured to the left. The mes spread rapidly and engulfed the ballista. [Explosion!] With a loud explosion, the shattered machine flew into the air. Nice. Velkist chuckled and swung his sword. The Lizardman caught in the path of the sword was torn horizontally. Nearby, Neryssa was puncturing holes in their torsos. I drew my sword in an arc from the center and split the Lizardman vertically. Kyrarara! [Lizardman Lv.27] X 41 Somewhere, a passage opened, and the Lizardmen kept appearing. But they were just prey. We killed them and pushed them into corners as we advanced. Push! Eloka clenched her fists. Dozens of Lizardmen were pushed back as if they had been struck by an invisible hammer. It was a simple pushing spell with no killing power, but there was a cliff on the side. Kiaaaah. The clustered Lizardmen fell down into the fiery zone below. After a long time, since we climbed the giants arm, we were already several meters above the ground. Klirik. I forcefully lowered the aiming device of the ballista, which was trying to shoot arrows. The cleanly severed front part of the ballista flowed down diagonally. Kwak! Thick smoke seeped through the cracks. As the gap where the smoke was spreading widened, something huge popped out. Kraaaa! [Ogre Lv.23] Its not your turn toe out. Arrows pierced the same spot on its forehead three times in a row. I lowered my waist and put strength into my arms. Thud. I swung horizontally with force. The thick neck muscles of the Ogre were torn apart. The injured Ogres neck spewed blood profusely. I kicked it, and its rolling head fell downward. We reached the 5/2 mark. The incline of the giants arm became steeper. The light from the magic circle wrapped around the arm was fading. Dukung. The arm of the statue shook again. [Lizardman Lv.25] X 13 Krik! These mobs are endless. Velkist, covered in blood, chuckled. Whats going on? It escaped? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 119: (2) Chapter 119: (2) Whats going on? It escaped? I heard mechanical sounds, and something rose. It was a giant crystal shining blue. I chuckled lightly and said, Well handle that. Move on. After disconnecting themunication, I shouted, Destroy it! Kiaa! The Lizardmen surrounded the crystal. However, resistance was futile, and Velkist and Neryssa, who rushed in from both sides, ughtered five of them in an instant. Arrows that prated their crude wooden shields cut off two of their breaths, and finally, I rushed in and swung my sword. Kwachang. As the thick de struck, the crystal shattered like ss. Grooooaan. [Warning!] [The statues self-defense system advances to stage 3.] 100 meters ahead, the face of the statue, standing tall like a building, distorted. A white light began to gather in its two eyes. [The ancient statue is casting Eye Beam!] Say what again? I grabbed Elokas head and pushed it down. At the same time, I pressed my body against the floor. The white beam from the statues eyes passed over my head. Three Lizardmen hit by the beam evaporated into nothingness. All sorts of strange things areing out. Jenna, who had been lying next to me, said in frustration. [Biddin () returns to the arms of the goddess! His determination will be remembered forever.] [Rosa () has fallen into a critical state. Her life is in danger!] Messages announcing death and near-death appeared one after another. It seems simr below too. Is there an Eye Beam down there too? Well, whatever it is, tell me what came out. Thats enough. I cut off themunication and stood up. I sheathed my sword. Protect me. Jenna immediately took aim. We climbed up the slope. Arrows surged towards the two Lizardmen who had rushed in from the sides. They tumbled down with arrows lodged in them. Neryssa, who was below, finished them off with her rapier. I leaped to the side as if gliding. I passed through the white beam where I had been. I ran again. This time, the beam from the right eye ignited the surface. What are you trying to do? 50m. 30m. When I reached 20m, a Lizardman wearing a helmet thrust a spear at me. I dodged the thrust and spun my body around. I wedged the spear into my side and yanked it away. The Lizardman was kicked off the cliff. Ziiiiing! The statues eyes began to sh again. I grabbed the spear with my right hand and threw it. The spear flew, making a whizzing sound, and pierced the statues eyes. The eyes that had emitted light darkened. Oh? Its resolved. Keep going. Velkist said as he thrust his sword into the Lizardmans neck. Where did you learn such skills? Just a little something I picked up. I drew my sword again. Looking down, the surface seemed distant. We had ascended hundreds of meters into the sky. I shifted my gaze. The magic circles wrapped around the arms were bing increasingly blurry. Thud! Thud thud! Suddenly, the upper arms shook violently. Eloka, losing her bnce, staggered. I rushed to her and grabbed her. Th-thank you. I almost fell. I dont know what kind of magic that is, but it seems like it wontst long. At least we need to get to the shoulder. I looked up. Around fifteen Lizardmen were flickering their eyes. Beyond them, there was a railing, a corridor, and a bridge. If we could regain our bnce, there would be enough space to move forward. The fourth one! Chiiiik! Steam erupted unexpectedly. Kiaaaak! The Lizardman who emitted steam stumbled and fell. [Object effect nullified!] [The ancient stone statue is free from the power of the goddess!] The statue, which had been stuck in the ground, began to lift its fist. The slope between its arm and shoulder was gradually steepening. Brother, it seems like we dont have much time! A Lizardman swung a sword at me. I lowered my head to avoid it, then lifted the Lizardman with my shoulder and flipped him over. He fell, making a pitiful sound, rolling down under my arm. The incline of the arm rose again. Ill go first! Jenna climbed up the steep path like she was flying. The dagger in her arms spun quickly, shing. Two unlucky Lizardmen fell, sttering blood. Then Neryssa moved. Seven throwing knives pierced three Lizardmen. They choked on their throats and fell, their blood turning purple. Next, Jenna and Neryssa climbed up onto the statues shoulder. Groooooan. The statue groaned. Eloka, Velkist. Go! What about you? Im thest one. A hole opened beside the upper arm, and a Lizardman popped out. Just as the Lizardman with its head outstretched showed its tongue, Jennas arrow pierced its skull. At that moment, Velkist, who was supporting Eloka, rushed past the Lizardman. As the angle of the arm approached 70 degrees, I grabbed the protruding part of the arm and pushed with my foot. Kiaaak! The Lizardman who had tried to swing a sword at me slipped and fell vertically. Neryssa and Jenna reached out and pulled Velkist and Eloka up. My turn now. I started climbing up the arm. The slope of the arm reached 80 degrees. I grabbed rocks with my hands and dug my feet in as if I was climbing a cliff. When I looked up, Jenna was reaching out from the shoulder of the statue. Theres no foothold. The area where the shoulder met the arm was t, and the only option was to jump. I pushed off with all my strength. The moment I tried to grab Jennas arm, Bangg! The statues body shook violently. My arm crossed with Jennas in mid-air. Oh no!! Oppa! My body started to fall suddenly. Dont fall! My position wasnt good. There was nowhere to grab. My falling speed increased. Uhh, no way, not you! I clenched Bifrost in reverse and plunged it into the body. Kagagagak! Blue mes sputtered as the stone and the de rubbed against each other. I scraped the surface of the statue and slid down. That way, I descended about 100 meters. When I reached that point, I drew a dagger from my left hand. Ill strike in one go. The dagger, gleaming in the sun, perfectly pierced a gap in the statue stone. I twisted the longsword in my right hand into another crack to stop the fall. My falling body came to a stop. Hundreds of meters above the ground. I was suspended in mid-air with two swords. Down on the ground, a whirlwind of sand and mes was swirling fiercely. [Click!] [Youve taken a screenshot. The image will be saved in the gallery.] Why are you taking a screenshot? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 120: (1) Chapter 120: (1) Oppa! Jennas voice echoed from afar. I looked up and shouted, Its okay, Im not dead! Just wait a moment! Iming to rescue you now! Dont worry! Head towards the head area! The crystals from earlier will keeping out! But Oppa Ive got this! I surveyed the area. My current location was in the middle of the stone giants side. The creatures arm was already raised. Its going to be tough. I rummaged through the pouch on my belt with my left hand. I took out the cap of the heat-resistant potion and drank it. I also consumed a health potion and discarded the empty bottle. After taking a deep breath, I exerted strength on my arms and shoulders. I gained momentum like swinging on a swing. When I reached the highest point, I let go and leaped. Thud! I managed tond on the external passage on the surface of the abdomen. I reached out towards the sword embedded in the stone giants side. Come back. The Bifrost vibrated on its own and was pulled out from the surface. The sword hilt, which had been floating in the air, flew towards me. I straightened the sword and ran towards the passage. The passage continued to the stairs leading upwards. Ziing! I slid down as if on a slide. Hot steam was emitted from the gap just above. I got up and started running again. Kishasha, how far have wee? Ipared the map of the bonus stage and the shape of the stone giant in my head. Our infiltration teams current location seems to be in the abdomen of the stone giant. Were going up. Destroy everything as we descend. Suddenly, the wall next to me rotated 180 degrees. [Lizardman Warrior Level 30] A lizardman warrior d in thick scales twitched its tail. Kyrk, human! I, Korta, the top warrior of the lizardmen Get lost. I brushed him aside as I passed. Grrrr! The stone giant was moving its arm. Now that the ants have climbed on top, youll want to deal with them. I continued running up the stairs. Jenna! Oppa, where are you? Im on my way up right now! I heard the sound of swords shing from the passage on my shoulder. Jenna seemed to be fighting lizardmen there. Be careful of the stone giants arm! I know! As the wall rotated again, a lizardman emerged. I reached out with my left fist, struck his face, and pushed him aside. Beyond the falling lizardman, I saw the right arm of the stone giant rising. I stopped running and crouched down. I grabbed the protruding part. Thud! The passage shook violently. It seemed like the stone giant had swung its arm downward. Did you avoid it? By the skin of my teeth! The impact had caused part of the passage to copse. I jumped over the copsed section and continued forward. From the belly to the chest, from the chest to the shoulder. I jumped over the bent railing twice and passed through three sections that were in ruins. The shoulder of the stone giant came into view. Above it, four people were gathered, fighting lizardmen. Jenna, who had just cut down one of them with her dagger, looked in my direction. Oppa! I leaped over a 1-meter ledge and swung my sword upwards. The upper body of the lizardman was cleanly severed. As I severed the upper body, I drew my dagger and thrust it into one lizardmans chest. It took you long enough. Weve been waiting. Velkist kicked aside a lizardman whose side was writhing. Sploosh. The lizardman fell hundreds of meters below. The area around Velkist seemed to have been cleared roughly. Dont scare us like that. I thought you were dead! You almost died yourself. Why are youining? Whatever! On the other side, the stone giants neck turned around with a creak. Its red gaze was fixed on us. Its mouth was tightly shut, whether out of anger or something else. Whats the next move? Were going for its head. Sounds good. Arge crystal rose from the opposite shoulder. It was more than 100 meters away. I nced at Eloka. Leave it to me. Eloka spun around once and then sped her hands together. Threads of magic began to weave. [Warning!] [The stone giants self-defense system is now at level 4.] Arge object resembling a tube rose near the stone giants neck, and the entrance opened. [X Magic Golem Lv. 35] Humanoid. About 2 meters in size. A sturdy rocky body with gears and mechanical devices peeking through the gaps. Its pair of lenses focused on our direction. Whats that thing again? What else could it be? Our prey. Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! The creature charged towards us. [The ancient stone giant is casting a beam from the mouth!] The stone giants mouth opened slightly. Zzzzing. A blue light began to gather. Its target was Eloka, who was casting a spell. Just cancel the spell Dont interrupt me. There was no time to waste. I had to enter the upper body of the stone giant as quickly as possible. ng! des protruded from both of the Magic Golems hands. I stepped forward. The golem crossed its arms, and dozens of des were shot from all directions. I twisted my extended forelimb and swung my sword in a circle. The des entangled like fish caught in a. Sck! ng! As I swung forcefully, the des broke simultaneously. Thuduk. I turned my left hand into a hook and inserted it into the golems joint gap. I knew the position. I ripped out the red wires. On the opposite side, are blue wires. Below the abdomen, a gear-shaped like a clock. I clenched my fist. The machineponents hanging loosely fell off one by one. Zing. The golem came to a halt. Its dangerous, its charging! I knocked over the golem that was standing tall. The machinery copsed. The beam was about to be emitted from the front. The blue light grew stronger. I clenched Bifrost in my right hand. Lets do it. [Weapon Awakening!] [Bifrost gains a special power.] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 120: (2) Chapter 120: (2) Lets do it. [Weapon Awakening!] [Bifrost gains a special power.] A radiant dark glow began to swirl around the swords de. I held the sword in front of me to shield my body. The stone giants mouth opened wide, and a massive blue beam shot out. I bent my knees, holding the hilt with both hands. The beam collided head-on with the swords edge. Everything shed before my eyes. A heavy impact, as if colliding with a train head-on. Rrrrrrr. It was the sound of friction with the ground as my body was pushed back uncontrobly. No matter how much of an oppa you are, thats too reckless Keeiiik! I turned my heels to the side. My body, which had been pushed back, came to a stop. I swung the sword. Ttwak! The blue beam that had flown in the opposite direction mmed into the stone giants mouth. An explosion followed the impact. I rxed my stance and extended the sword. There was a hole pierced through the stone giants mouth. Thick smoke billowed out of the hole. Where do you get that sword? I want one too. Theres only one. Cant help you. [Draste Seducio. Fire away!] The mes swirling around Elokas body soared into the air and wereunched. The target was the crystal on the opposite side. When the me turned into a spear, the crystal exploded and oxidized. It was abination of telekinesis and me magic. Eloka approached me and lowered her head. You really are reckless. Even a hundred lives wouldnt be enough for you. Well talkter. Run. Through that hole, right? Yes. I kicked aside the remains of the copsed golem and jumped. The palm behind us was moving towards us like a broom sweeping the floor. Grrrrrrr! Thunk. Thunk. The shoulders swayed from side to side. It seemed like the creature was shaking its body. Kyrk, Karark! Block them! A long tube rose near the neck. [Lizardman Warrior Lv. 28] X 5 Clunk. Krugh? As soon as they appeared, one of them slipped and fell to the ground. Leave those guys to me. This isnt fun at all. Neryssa and Velkist jumped ahead. Eloka, who was running behind with her dress fluttering, took out a mana potion and drank it. Jenna drew her bow while running. Ping! An arrow shot out and struck one lizardman in the nose. The chambers continued to rise. The surface of the chamber had a gear pattern drawn on it. The chambers door opened. [X Magic Golem Lv. 33] This golem was equipped with rapid-fire crossbows on both arms. The crossbows targeting mechanism turned towards us and began to rotate like a Gatling gun. Kwa-chik! Arrows fired from the longbow pierced through both arms in session. Jenna, lightning-fast, drew her dagger. On the shoulders, the sides, and inside the abdomen! Ssugak, ssugak-ssugak! Dismantled wires and mechanical devices sprang out from the golems body. The golem toppled sideways. Jenna looked at me and grinned. Hehe, this is how its done, right? Stop showing off and run. The stone giants hand, covering its shoulders, was getting closer, smashing everything in its path. Krrak! Thest remaining lizardman was taken care of. Two of them stuck close together. Chiiiik! Steam billowed from various parts of the status body. The emission rate had increased significantly. Even a slight touch would turn you into smoked meat. We bypassed the rising steam as we ran. How its going?! Are the escorts unharmed? Youre about to reach a dead end. Get ready to escape. Ive marked a way out. I cut off themunication. Im going in! Jenna jumped up. Her small body was sucked into the stone giants neck hole. Next up was Eloka. Then it was Velkist and Neryssa. I looked ahead. With one of its lenses broken and holes in its mouth, the stone giants face was staring at me. Iughed and raised my middle finger towards it. Then I jumped. Sliding down the corridor like a slide, into the darkness. Suddenly, a floating sensation approached. I adjusted my posture and rotated my body. Thud! Inded with a parachutending technique. A circr room the size of a sports field. Both the walls and floor were made of ck metal. Red fluorescent lights were blinking on the ceiling. Blinking. Its an interesting ce. Jenna reached down to touch the floor. [Warning!] [The stone giants self-defense system is now in its final stage.] Wee-iiing! Wee-iiing! Wee-iiing! Sirens began to re loudly. Jenna yanked her hand back in surprise. W-whats going on? Did I touch something by mistake? Dont panic. Its not your fault. I quickly surveyed the area. Beyond the railing on the floor, we stood on, a steam engine-like contraption moved up and down busily. Next to it, arge iron door was noticeable. The door was slightly ajar. Kark, kark. Foolish warriors, wee to the Chamber of Trials! A scratching sound came from the ceiling speaker. Hahaha, taste my masterpiece that Ive spent my whole life creating! nk. Three walls turned around. [X Magic Golem Lv. 35] [Y Magic Golem Lv. 33] [Z Magic Golem Lv. 34] From de golems to crossbow golems and even axe golems. Three golems in total appeared. They stood facing each other, eyeing each other warily. Thats [Combine!] [XYZ Ultimate Magic Golem Lv. 46] ng. Size, about 5 meters. Four legs spread out in a square, with two arms. Weapons were attached all over its body. The seams that had been exposed were all filled with metal tes. Whats its weakness? Im not sure. Giririk. Its four feet moved slowly forward. At the same time, the exit began to close. I detached the scabbard from my belt and kicked it towards the floor. Sliding across the floor, the scabbard blocked the gap in the door. Girik, thud. The door moved several times, trying to break the scabbard. But the scabbard didnt have a single scratch. I ran towards the exit. I inserted my fingers into the gap and pushed to the side. Squeak! The door swung wide open. Pass through. Thanks for the show! Jenna, Eloka, Velkist, and Neryssa exited through the corridor. I looked back. The four-legged magic golem was stumbling towards me. Well meet soon, so wash your neck and wait. I retrieved the scabbard. Thud! The door closed, leaving the golem behind. I continued down the corridor. The red lights were blinking along with the sirens. The end of the mission was in sight. [Opening the Battle Shop.] [You have selected a cheering fluorescent stick (Single-use, 50 Gems). Would you like to purchase it?] [Yes (Selected) / No] [Purchaseplete!] [Slide the screen left and right!] [Show the hero your masters support!] shing, shing! What are those lights? Just ignore them. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 121: (1) Chapter 121: (1) Boom! Fierce steam erupted from various ces. The corridor vibrated, and the wall copsed, revealing gears and wires inside. [Danger!] [The damage to the Ancient Statue is severe!] Climb the stairs, then go right. If you go straight to the three-way intersection, youll find the exit. Get ready to leave once youre there. Well break through the head and make our escape. Ziing. Kishashas voice disappeared. I dashed through the corridor, where the red light and fluorescent tubes shed together. Oppa, I think somethingsing from behind! I turned to Jennas voice. nk, nk, nk. Something massive was approaching in the dark corridor, shaking the ceiling and walls. [XYZ Ultimate Golem Lv.46] Karrk! Karararara! Dont underestimate my invention! It looks like the door has been broken. The golem extended its hand as it approached. The aiming device on the repeating crossbow began to spin rapidly. Tudududududung! With a somewhat sharp sound, bolts shot out from its hand. Velkist, who had been following behind, swung his sword. Splintered wood and arrowheads scattered in all directions. Ill handle this. What are you talking about? If were going to fight, we should all fight together. Venik () is in a bleeding state. Health decreases at regr intervals. Ediss desperate voice echoed. How many? Got it. Hold on a little longer. Dont let Priasis die. Themunication was cut off. Neryssa, who had been looking at me, smiled lightly. Eloka stopped as if waiting. Three is enough. You two should go ahead. But Dont you trust us? Finally, Jenna nodded and patted her cheek. Okay. Brothers and sisters, dont die! This is nothing to worry about. If you think its no longer possible, run away immediately. I hope Im being clear. I turned and ran again. Jenna followed behind me. A momentter, the sound of intense battle came from behind. Will they be okay? Do you think those guys trained for nothing? Have a little faith. I increased my speed. The corridor was narrow. Moving with more than three people would only be a hindrance. To tell the truth, the oue is unknown. The result may be that those guys lose. If so, three death messages will appear before me We should hurry. We must clear the mission as quickly as possible. And we didnt have much time. [Elite Lizardman Warrior Lv. 32] Karrrruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk! The door next to the corridor opened with a creak, and a lizardman rushed out. He was wearing sturdy te armor and held a dazzlingly shining sword in his hand. Ping! An arrow urately pierced a gap in his armor like a needle. I drew my dagger and thrust it into the lizardmans helmet, which resounded with a scream of pain. When I withdrew the hilt, he spurted blood and copsed. I continued running through the corridor. Lizardmen appeared several times, but we dealt with them all as we kept moving forward. [Velkist () is in a bleeding state. Health decreases at regr intervals.] [Roza () has returned to the embrace of the goddess! Her courage will be remembered forever.] Its really annoying. No matter how difficult Pick Me Up was said to be, this was beyond hard. Clearing the stage seemed to be a difficulty that the developers didnt want. My ount was somewhat simr. I thought of the heroes of Niflheimr, who had suffered several times. Especially Seris. She must have felt simr to me now. A smile involuntarily appeared on my lips. Oppa. Dont worry. Well definitely clear it. I continued forward, dispatching the lizardmen blocking the way. The de of Bifrost stained crimson. After crossing two sections and climbing numerous stairs, I finally reached thest room. All sorts of wires were gathered here. A thick iron door was firmly closed as if denying entry. Karrk! Foolish humans, youve finally made it here. I heard a voice. Do you know what the woman youre protecting is trying to do? Shes defying the order of the universe! What are you talking about? Boom! I forcefully kicked the door. Inside a circr room several meters in size, withrge monitors extending in all directions, a small lizardman in robes was staring at me. The lenses of hispound eyes reflected light. [Master of Arcane, Kurushakh Lv.35] Kiaak, human! Youve made a mistake I took out a poisoned dagger from my belt and threw it. The purple de pierced through his robe and into his abdomen. Then three arrows pierced his nose, throat, and heart precisely. Kkuuh Thunk. He vomited ck blood and copsed. Instant death. I checked the surroundings. There was another door on the right side of the wall. Destroy all these suspicious devices. Leave nothing behind. Yes! I opened the door and entered. The entire room was filled with octagonal crystals. Crack! Thud! Thud! The sound of impacts spread from outside the open door. It seemed like Jenna was smashing the devices with enthusiasm. This is thest one. I looked down at my feet. The ck blood that the lizardman had spilled was stuck to my boots. If I had the time, I would have listened to what he was saying, but I gripped the hilt with both hands. When I plunged the sword into the crystal, gold spread like a spiders web. I twisted it and pulled it out. Crunch! Shattered pieces of the crystal scattered in all directions. Kugugugugung! [Danger!] [The Ancient Statue has reached its limit.] [Its copsing!] The entire room began to shake. [Mission type has changed.] [Mission Type Escape] [Objective Exit this area!] [Special Objective The survival of NPC Priasis Al Ragna] I went outside. As it shook, Jenna was diligently smashing machine parts with her bow. Jenna! Oh, Oppa! This ce is about to copse. We need to get out. What about the others? Well meet them on the way out. Follow me! Jenna jumped up and joined me. We immediately left the room. The vibrations intensified. Kugugugug. Rocks were falling from the ceiling. We just took care of thest crystal. The entrance should be open now. The mes outside should have disappeared. Go out right away. Were fine here. Well manage. As soon as I cut off themunication, I jumped to the side. Sharp rock fragments fell where I had been standing. I ran after that. Lizardmen were scurrying around in various ces in the corridor. I ignored them. Where is it? I recalled the map of the bonus stage. I calcted the fastest way to escape after joining the other three. Left, right. Then right again. Kwakwakwakwakwung! Boom! A powerful explosion sounded from a side corridor. I immediately moved. In the smoke, a human figure appeared. Jennas eyes gleamed as she dived into the smoke. Over here! In the smoke, the three of them revealed themselves. Slower than expected. Weve been waiting. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 121: (2) Chapter 121: (2) Over here! In the smoke, the three of them revealed themselves. Slower than expected. Weve been waiting. Velkist spat out a mouthful of blood. Half of his face was covered in blood. Neryssa and Eloka werent unscathed either. They had numerous minor wounds apparent between their torn clothes. What about that machine? It stopped on its own the moment I was about to finish it. Was it the seniors doing? I only destroyed the crystal. Anyway, this ce is about to copse. Follow me. Understood. Velkist oddly changed his stride. I nced down. Velkists right leg, which had been deeply cut, had bone exposed. Dont worry about it and keep going. Its not a big deal, I can Thunk! Velkist copsed. Neryssa was holding a knife sheath behind him. Dont be stubborn for no reason. Neryssa lifted the unconscious Velkist. Ill carry him. Lets go. I nodded and started running again. Shhiiiing! The wall split open, and steam gushed out. We went around it. In the next corridor, an explosion urred. We descended through the copsed floor. The path has be quite twisted. There were many impassable routes. Without memorizing the map, we might have wandered and been lost. We descended to the lower floor, took the stairs, and opened the emergency exit door. The fierce sandstorm struck our faces. We were outside. Then we exited through the outdoor passage. Boom! I looked up. The statue was twisting and groaning all over its body. Its parts were gradually cracking and copsing. I looked down. The mes that covered the ground had disappeared. Below, about ten survivors, including Priasis, were moving away in a line like ants. How are we going to get down? Its too high! Sis, cant you use telekinesis? Its not all-powerful to that extent! Whiiiiiing! A strong wind blew. I looked back and extended my hand. Neryssa, the rope! I received the coiled rope. A specially made high-strength rope. It was nearly 100 meters long. I looped it like a noose and held it in my left hand. There was no time. If we didnt maintain our bnce right now, we wouldnt have a chance. I pressed my back against the statues thigh. My body began to descend along the slope. When my body was about to bounce off after passing the thigh, I hooked the noose of the rope onto the protruding part of my knee. I fixed the rope, shaking it left and right while kicking the wall. Slide down! Nel, sis, go first! Neryssa, who had tied Velkist to her back, descended. She safelytched onto the rope. Then Eloka, and finally Jenna. There were no dropouts. I pulled up my leather gloves and descended quickly on the rope. Meanwhile, a group of lizardmen fell to the ground from the sky. The ground was getting closer. Crack! The lizardmens bodies left red marks on the sandy ground. Next to it, Inded. After waiting for the four of them, I looked up. Boom! Boom! Explosions were happening all over the statues body. Its still dangerous! Run! Rocks fell from the sky. We ran through the sand. On the side, Anytng was shaking a fluorescent tube. After about three minutes of running. We reached a small sand dune. Next to it, the others who had arrived earlier were taking a break. And then. Still. With a somewhat pathetic sound, the 300-meter giant copsed all at once. What remained was a rugged mountain entangled with sand and rocks. Aaah! Eloka copsed on the sand. [Stage Clear!] [Han(), Jenna(), Eloka(), Velkist(), Neryssa(), Level Up!] [Edis(), Roderick(), Annan(), Benik(), Lilinia(), Level Up!] [Kishasha(), Lacari()] [Reward 300,000G, Magic Parts(Low) x 3, Mercury(C) x 5] [MVP Han()] [Master, congrattions on clearing the 30th floor!] [If you want to know about the additional content, please click here!] Its finally over somehow. Neryssa gently ced Velkist on the ground and spoke. The light began to envelop the fields end. Dazzling particles ascended into the sky. Good job, Han. I epted the canteen offered by Edis. While drinking water, I asked, Hows everyones condition? No need to worry. Its alright. A few people died, but Edis voice trailed off. We expected casualties within the expected range. Kahaha! But you, youre amazing! What have you been up to? Its been a while since I felt so alive! Raiman, who stood leaning on his greatsword,ughed heartily. Lycanughed along. You did good too, even though youre old! Old? Im still in my prime! The voices of the heroes grew louder. Amidst all this, there was one person standing awkwardly. I dont know how many died because of me. Priasis had a dark expression. If collecting the keys is connected to the crisis Augh! Priasis clutched her forehead and stepped back. I struck her forehead sharply. W-What are you doing! What are you even questioning now? I dont know itsplicated Dont think too much if itsplicated. Thats better. The light enveloped the entire field. Maybe youre right. Thunk. When I opened my eyes, a familiar ce appeared. Three mirrors and a circr room. It was the rift of time and space. Ill see you again. I heard that there are three keys. Weve only gathered one. Its going to be a tough journey ahead. I forced a bitter smile and left the rift of time and space. [Loki, Loki, Lokiiiii!] A sensation like Ive experienced it somewhere before. Iselle was flying toward me with a bright expression. [Amazing as always. Truly the King God Emperor Majesty!] Dont make so much noise. Its loud in my ears. [To the great Loki, a gift from the Master!] No way. Iselle extended an item she was holding in her arms. [Gifting Warhorse Statue to Han()!] I epted the statue. How many times is this now? I have to admit it. I lost. [Han() is pleased to receive the Warhorse Statue.] [Affection level increased!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 122: Post War Party (1) Chapter 122: Post War Party (1) Two dayster in the evening, a party was taking ce on the second floor of the waiting room. They cleared a space in the corner of the square, and set up tables and chairs next to the fountain. On the tables, dishes prepared by the waiting room chefs showcased their culinary skills. Hahaha, theres no ce like this! Raiman sat on the fountain edge, gulping down his beer. When I first came, I thought it was some kind of hell, but now its not bad. Its no different from being a mercenary. Dont you think so? Thats right. Whether there or here, people are dying all the same. The fourth party sitting on the bench drank together. On one side of the square, arge keg was ced, a special import that Anytng had brought from the gift shop. Its a disgusting, tsk tsk. Eolka raised her head from the corner, holding a chicken skewer in her hand. If you dont indulge in feasting while alive, when will you? This is also a luxury. True words. Its better than dying. Edis raised her ss. Lilinia, standing nearby, shrank back. A lot of people died. Its unfortunate, but if we stop, we cant move forward. We survived. While we mourn the dead, we should also be happy for our survival. Thats the mercenary life. .Is that so? The second party was enjoying their meal at the left table of the square. When will it end? I want to go back to the training camp. Velkistined, leaning against the wall. Neryssa was beside him. We prepared so much Is it not to your taste? Chloe, carrying tes with an apron tied around her, approached. Its not that it doesnt taste good. Its just Hes embarrassed. Do you want to die? The two of them started bickering as always. I sat in the corner and handed out drinks. Post-war party. This was an event that I didnt overlook in Niflheimr. To recover from the fatigue of battle and recharge morale. The scale might not be asrge as back then, but the effect would be sufficient. Hes doing his part now too. Beyond the ss ceiling, the sky was shining. There were still many shorings, but he had improved from before. By the way, isnt the star of this party you, hyng? What were you doing beforeing here? Ive been farming. Hahaha! What an amusing joke! I ced an empty cup on the table. About 30 people participated. Not onlybatants but also others from the support team. The third party of the beastfolks said they would stay in their own areas, though. Laughter erupted from various ces. Jenna, mixed with a group of women, was leading the conversation. My name seemed to be vaguely heard. Its awkward. I know its necessary. It just felt like wearing clothes that didnt suit me. Velkist and Neryssa were here too. It seemed like I couldnt escape. Um, excuse me A girl who had slipped away from Jenna approached me. Hmm? A girl with a fresh impression bowed to me with her hands sped. Far away, Jenna wasughing. I dont know what kind of joke it was. I came here about a month ago [This is a jackpot event!] Kyaa! Iselle suddenly popped out. The girl half fell and quickly ran away. [Han! Han! Han!] Whats going on? Get a hold of yourself. Call my name only once. [More importantly, I have something to say!] Iselle grabbed the cor of my clothes urgently. It seemed quite urgent. Whats the matter? Fairy? Are we going into battle again? [Hmph, focus on your alcohol. You Addicts! If it werent for Han, you wouldnt be fooling around Uwaaah!] I smacked her. Iselle floated in the air and spun half a circle. Be back in a moment. I grabbed Iselles wings and entered the training camp. [Ayayaya, thats a sensitive area! Be a bit gentle] Noisy. I closed the door. The lights in the training camp were off. I unfolded a folding metal chair in the training camp and sat down. So, whats the matter? Why all the fuss? [Hoho, youll be surprised if you see!] Iselle chuckled and waved her index finger from side to side. Then, in mid-air, she spun around once, swirling both hands. [Fairy power!] Ding. Along with a lively sound effect, a hologram appeared. It was a familiar inscription. Pick Me Ups official cafe. Iselle, with a triumphant expression, pointed to the top of the cafe with a small stick. The end of the stick points to the number 1 among the hot topics. It seemed like she was waiting for me to say something. So, he uploaded a video. Thats right! When Iselle poked the topic with the stick, the screen changed. Boasting Bulletin Board [A user who posted a question before.] [Last time, I received a lot of help. Thanks to that, I was able to get answers. Im uploading a walkthrough video at the request of someone. The hero in the video, named Han, is a 1-star born from the tutorial] A video is attached. When I touched the triangle button, an advertisement yed, followed by the video starting. A somewhat unrealistic game graphic of a desert field. A hero with ck hair was running through the desert. The hero progressed steadily through the walkthrough, leading hispanions. Fighting monsters and struggling on the giants arm. Inside the statue, he led the mission to sess with a splendid performance. It was me. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 122: Post War Party (2) Chapter 122: Post War Party (2) [So this is supposed to be a 1-star? Are you kidding me? If this guy is a 1-star, Ill cut off my chili.] [It seems like hes really a 1-star hero. If you search for this users past posts, he posted a question before. At that time, this hero was also there. It was 2 stars back then, but looking at the stats, it was like a 3-star. Even if you say otherwise, its at least a 2-star.] Suddenly, the atmosphere got tense. [Haha! you got to be f*king kidding me!] [Its much stronger than its level and star rating, but more than that, the sense of the walkthrough is more impressive. It seems innate. Sometimes there are guys like that. Like Lokis Seris, isnt it?] [I want to lick Seriss armpits! Lick lick!] [This guy appeared here too. Block him.] [Hes crazy Seriously Why is my hero not like this?] [Dont believe this liar. 1-star heroes are not like this.] [Its fun. Are there any other videos? I want to see the 25th or 20th floor. I also want to see the current specs. Can you send a private message?] [No.] [This game is a good example of why this game is all about f*cking luck. If you pick a good hero, itll clear itself just by shaking a fluorescent tube in the back. Everyone quit this trash game. Im quitting too.] [The person above is a friend of mine, and hes good at the game. He says he puts in 100,000 won every month.] I scrolled down silently. Most reactions were simr to what I had seen before. Well, it makes sense. When I uploaded the Niflheimr walkthrough videos, they had simr content. [They say this game is fun, so I wanted to try it. The video is good. The action is cool. But is it supposed to be this difficult originally?] [I think the video is exaggerated. Its not usually this difficult. Its enjoyable on the lower floors. The upper floors are hell, though.] [The difficulty is carcinogenic. Its the 30th floor, and a giant monster appears? The pattern is reallyplex. Although this hero carried him, I wont be surprised if his whole party gets wiped soon.] [If I show this video to the idiots in my waiting room, will they get better. Can I know how you raised your hero? Are you following Lokis strategy?] [I didnt use any special methods.] [You raised it normally, and it turned out like this? Did you use some cheat? Be honest.] [I did give a little gift of a military horse statue. He really liked it.] I never liked it. [Haak! What a video! This hero is totally my type. Please upload more videos! Pressing the rmendation button and going.] With each refresh, newments were added. They asked about how he raised the hero. They demanded detailed specs of the hero. They requested other videos. It was a repetition of the same pattern. There were quite a few offbeatments too. [Hail to Loki!] [I heard theres a hero who overwhelmingly ranked first among the Niflheimr trainees, isnt it him?] [If he ranked first, Loki would have taken him. But be careful when uploading such videos. Strange messages can be troublesome. Be cautious. Dont ept strange messages.] There was no need to see more. I closed the window. Iselle was beaming. [Hows that, Loki? Youre a star from now on. After being the master of masters, youre now a star hero too!] Thats really pleasing. [Isnt it?] The y count on YouTube had already surpassed 50,000. Considering the buzz, reaching 100,000 wouldnt be difficult. I sat back and crossed my legs. Theres still some risk. In fact, making a name for oneself in Pick Me Up had many drawbacks. Especially if the goal was a simple tower strategy. I chuckled. But there was a reason why I couldnt me Anytng. [If you want something, pay for it!] [Mobius supports the masters choice!] [You have chosen One-time Only! Monthly Package!] [Package Contents For 30 days, we will give you 150 gems and 10,000 gold every day. (4,500 gems + 300,000 gold) Amazing special offer!] All of this for only 50,000 won! Anytng didnt hesitate and made the payment. The gem count at the top increased. Maybe from YouTube earnings. Before bing a ranker, when there was no steady source of gems, I used to utilize this method too. Upload a strategy video, earn ad revenue, use it for in-app purchases, and then upload another video. If you didnt have much disposable ie, it was a good way to escape the pressure of spending. This was also recorded in the strategy document. So he probably followed the instructions. Or not. Perhaps he just wanted to show off. Master, there are 3 unread messages! Messages sent from other masters. Will you check them? [Yes / No (Choose)] Anytng closed the alert. The ount name had already been exposed. Well, if its just messages, it can be ignored. If theres nothing special in the content, and as long as it doesnt give away coordinates, theres no risk of harm. [Loki Is something bothering you?] While I was lost in thought, Iselle was keeping an eye on me. What? [Your expression seems stiff.] Its nothing. I enjoyed it. I stood up from the chair. Having a name has its downsides. But it also has quite a few advantages. Things got interesting. For now, hes an outstanding rookie. His main hero is quite a standout talent for a 1-star hero. Still, hes nothing more than a level 30 noob. The real rankers in Pick Me Up probably wont pay much attention. Unless its a user with discerning eyes. I continued my thoughts and burst intoughter. It was amusing that I was evaluating myself. Despite iming to pursue objectivity, when ites to self-evaluation, one tends to be biased, dont they? Iselle. [Yeah?] Let me know when the next video goes up. [Oh, sure! Ill definitely call you!] Iughed and left the training ground. The party was still going on in the square. Yourete, Hyung! Whats the matter? Nothing. Just a trivial story. Hehehe, tell us! I really want to have a drink with you, hyung. Reddening, Raiman extended a beer mug. It was already filled with golden liquid. I usually dont drink. But it wouldnt hurt to indulge once in a while. Tomorrow, the tight schedule begins again. I epted the drink. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 123: All or Nothing (1) (1) Chapter 123: All or Nothing (1) (1) In Pick Me Up, every 10 floors numerous contents are unlocked. Essentially, new areas open up in the exploration dungeon, facility restrictions are lifted, and the heros level cap increases. Several features were added in this manner. [ Additional Content Guide] [Master, congrattions on clearing floor 30!] [You are now an esteemed Master. Who would dare to dismiss you as a novice? Please continue to work hard in the future!] [A new weekday dungeon has been opened.] [The third exploration dungeon, Kaia, is now open.] [Additional facilities have been unlocked. Please check the help section.] [The sector of the Lobby Townia is changing.] [Affiliated sector: 95513 -> 88347] [Current coordinates 188.347.447.935] [From Grade 8 sectors, Ruins will appear!] [Tips/Ruins provide jewels and various rare items. Jewels can be exchanged for a certain amount of gems.] Every 10 floors, the Masters area or sector changes. This was a method to bnce and ensure that low-level and high-level yers dont encounter each other in the same area. Of course, new content is also created with each ascent. For instance, on the 30th floor, you can send a party to explore ruins on airship to obtain rewards. If theres an airship. Its not possible for the time being. Its challenging to create. Numerous materials, a high research level, and airship technicians, along with significant required funds and production time, not to mention the need for a 4-star Mage to operate it properly. As a newly graduated Master, Anytng, tackling airships was still beyond reach. In the end, The situation wasnt much different from before opening the dimensional rift. Regrettable. If there were an airship, it could y a significant role in missions and supply gems in the ruins. Smooth interaction with other Masters was also possible. The gamey before and after acquiring an airship was different, like in other games. [Pick Me Up!] [Wee to the Dimensional Cafe!] Subsequently, Anytng entered the Dimensional Cafe from the right side of the screen. Trade Bulletin Board Post 9483125 [Airships rental specialist!] [You, perhaps have no airships?] [Want to explore? We specialize in renting outrge, medium, and small airships! For detailed inquiries, please contact. KakaoTalk ID is] Anytng started looking into posts about rental airships in the Dimensional Cafe. Of course, there were probably no suitable conditions. The rental fee was excessively high, and in case of damage, all losses had to bepensated. Moreover, without a guarantee, they wouldnt lend it. And without a Mage to operate it, the burden became even more severe. In the end, Anytng closed the window. [Master, would you like to end the connection?] [Yes (Selected) / No] [Goodbye then!] The sky darkened. Senior, what are you staring at? I looked back. Velkist was wiping the sweat off his forehead with a towel. I thought youd at least join in after all this time. Velkist tossed the used towel into the basket. There were only two of us in the training ground. After clearing the 30th floor, we were taking a short break today. Except for heroes like Velkist who loved training, the rest didnt show up at the training ground. Airships. Its good if there is, but its not a problem if there isnt. There was no need to rush. Naturally, as we climbed the tower, we would acquire it. Shall we go? I got up. Resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, Velkist stood in the middle of the training ground as if waiting. [Master, an unconfirmed channel chat has been detected.] [Would you like to check it?] [Yes / No] [Tips/What is a channel?] [Masters located in the same sector canmunicate with each other through channels.] It seems like he left without checking this. Anytng consistently ignored channel chats as well as all messages. I understand, but its a bit much. I stopped in my tracks. The options demanding a response were shing blue. Are you trying to annoy me? Shush, dont make a fuss. I sighed and stepped onto the training ground. And that dawn. I summoned Iselle to the room. [Whats going on?] Iselle came wearing pajamas and a beanie. In her arms, she held a long pillow with Ragnaroki written on it. . I decided to get to the point. Iselle, I want temporary Master authority. [Huh? Authority?] I nodded. Just want to check some messages from others. I know its possible. If not, I wouldnt have been able to create items. [Okay, if its Lokis request!] As Iselle turned around, her pajamas and hat disappeared. Iselle, back in her original attire, looked determined. [Haat! Fairy Power!] sh! The light emitted from Iselles hand seeped into me. Verificationplete. It might be challenging to perform essential tasks like synthesis or summoning, but this should be enough. [Master, an unconfirmed channel chat has been detected.] [Would you like to check it?] [Yes (Selected) / No] When I touched Yes, the chat screen appeared. [Channel 88-347] Sinunoo> Hello~ Sinunoo> A neer, wee~ Nice to meet you~ Sinunoo> I was bored being alone here! Its great that you came. Sinunoo> Are you there, Anytng-nim? I extended my hand. A virtual keyboard appeared on the screen. Anytng> Yes. Hello. Sinunoo> (Typing) Seems like they are currently online. The fact that channel chat is possible means this person is a neighbor located in the same sector as Anytng. Sinunoo> Nice to meet you~ Im just a loner here. You just arrived, right? I saw everything *^^* Anytng> Yes. Iselle, show me the map of the current sector. [Got it!] A hologram appeared on the left side of the field of vision. [Grade 8 Sector (88347)] A checkerboard-style map unfolded with a small tower at the center. When I slid the screen with my left hand, another tower, marked in gray, appeared. It was another Masters waiting room. Gray. Its straightforward. A long-term inactive user. In other words, they logged out. The number of masters assigned to one sector is 100. Looking around here and there, all of them are gray. I smirked. Sinunoo> Since theres almost no one here, its so lonely. Sinunoo> I hope Anytng-nim wont log out. I wanted to talk because I want a bit of help. Sinunoo> I do a lot of farming, so I have quite a few spare materials. Oh my. They got straight to the point. Sinunoo> Id like to know your coordinates. Ille by right away if you tell me. Check it on the menu on the right. Just let me know. Anytng> Hold on a moment. I turned the chairs wheels. Iselle had a serious expression. [This guy] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 123: All or Nothing (1) (2) Chapter 123: All or Nothing (1) (2) Anytng> Hold on a moment. I turned the chairs wheels. Iselle had a serious expression. [This guy] You can tell just by looking. I muttered. A hunter. In other words, a sucker hunter. Acting helpful, they ask for the coordinates and then strip the user clean. Some people who dont y a lot of games surprisingly falls for it easily. If there are many gray ounts nearby. It seems like he has already taken what they could. Even though the tone seemed friendly, its clearly an act. [Ignore such guys! Its not worth responding to.] Iselle exhaled and turned her head. . [Loki?] I checked the sectors map again. The ratio of logged-out users is quite high. There are non-gray ounts, but the colors are fading. Masters who log in irregrly. Theres a term for calling ces like this that arent in a good situation. A bad sector. Of course, there are genuinely kind Masters who want to help others. If assigned to sectors with many such people, you can grow under full support. Though it doesnt seem like here. Sinunoo> Hey there? Sinunoo> Reply ^^: Anytng> Hold on. [Why bother responding? Can you tell me?] Wait. Im thinking. I revisited the rules for PVP. If you know the dimensional coordinates, invasion through airships bes possible. However, that doesnt mean youre unconditionally protected if you dont reveal them. Eventually, theyll be uncovered. Hmm. I took a file from the drawer. It contained information on PVP users, hunters, and their methods. Hunting on the 30th floor. A rare category. Getting airships on the 30th floor is not easy. If it happens, its due to one of three things: exceptionally good luck, heavy spending, or having a reliable high-level backer. Either way, its annoying. Sinunoo> Its awkward if you keep ignoring me. Sinunoo> I really want to meet you. Even if you dont tell me, Ill find you soon ^^; This bastard. Bold. Anytng> Im sorry. I heard the warning about being cautious. Sinunoo> You worry a lot keke. Anytng> It cool to have an airship, I want one too. What should I do? Sinunoo> nning is a bit tricky, right? I have a few blueprints. Should I send them? [Loki, seriously?] When this chat ends, delete the logs. [Wait, isnt it better to decide when the Master is present? The master is not here!] Its better that way. I looked at the index finger of my left hand. They wille here anyway. Its better now than getting backstabbedter. I pressed Enter. Anytng> I looked at the coordinates, but I dont really know whats what. Sinunoo> Just tell me thest six digits~ Anytng> Ah, it says 447,935. Sinunoo> So, Anytngs coordinates are 188.347.447.935! Sinunoo> You said you want blueprints. Ill send three small ones. Basic materials too. Anytng> Thank you! Sinunoo> See youter~ [Master Sinunoo has ended the chat.] I clicked the X at the top. The channel chat window closed. Iselle was looking at me with wide eyes. [What will we do!] Its okay. There are cases where Masters get attacked when theyre absent. At that time, the hero automatically defends. There shouldnt be any suspicion. It reminds me of the old days. I chuckled. In Pick Me Up, many Masters who diligently carried out missions often ended up frustrated. They usually fell into two categories. The first group gave up climbing altogether and enjoyed SimCity. The second group became professional hunters specializing in PVP. Once they start, they cant forget that thrill. There was only one way to deal with it. I got up from the chair. The current time is 11:43 PM. I have about an hour. Iselle, Ill leave it to you. [But] Dont worry. nk. I hooked the sheath onto my belt. Ive never lost in a one-on-one fight. I opened the door and left. The reception room of the 1st partys dormitory is empty. After turning on thentern, I raised the bell ced on the table and shook it. It was a bell made for emergency calls. Whats this? Why all of a sudden? As the corridor door opened, Jenna walked out. Next to her, Neryssa and Eloka also revealed themselves. All three had puzzled expressions. Theyreing. Get ready. What nonsense are you talking about? Did you eat something weird? An invasion. Neryssas eyes sank. Its good that youre quick-witted. Do you understand what to do now? I will call the leaders of all parties. Jenna, tell the auxiliary members. Stay in the dormitory and donte out under any circumstances. Oh, got it! Neryssa quickly left the reception room. Jenna also followed suit in a hurry. Eloka looked at me with a face that said she didnt understand English. What on earth is happening? I told you once before. People from other waiting rooms mighte. Is that happening right now? Exactly. Eloka let out a deep sigh. Really Theres no time to rest. Its always been like this. If we lose We wont lose. I raised my head. The sky was getting darker, I looked up. You want an airship, right? Airships are high-level items that require a lot of time, skill, and funds. However, theres a very simple way to obtain them. Ill get you one. Very, very simple way. I smiled and left the reception room. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 124: All Or Nothing (2) (1) Chapter 124: All Or Nothing (2) (1) After a while. The leaders of each party gathered in the lobby. Laiman, who had been licking his lips, spoke first. Is it true that people from another waiting room areing? Ive confirmed it. Unbelievable Edis opened her mouth. Han, you called us for a reason. You have an idea, right? The task is already set. I said after taking a sip of the water on the table. Well just turn the tables on them. Is it a war? Kishasha chuckled. I shook my head. Leave this matter to Party 1. You guys stay prepared, and if anything happens, help when I signal. Is five of us enough? Well see. Theres no need to go all out from the beginning. If their goal is to loot, then well act ordingly. The meeting ended quickly. Theres nothing special. The support heroes head to their lodgings. Except for Party 1, thebatant heroes will wait at the equipment manufacturing facility until I give them a sign. I stepped out into the square. Below the ss floor, I could see the lower floor. The members of the equipment manufacturing facility were rushing into their lodgings. Its boring, but its going well. Velkist touched his sword sheath. His rugged face already showed signs of life. Dont use it recklessly. When else should I use it? Dont kill. Theres so many other things to do. Killing is thest resort. Hero protection systems are in ce until the 40th floor. Even if a hero dies during PVP, they will only suffer a penalty and wont disappear. Anyway. I looked to the side. Members of Party 1, including Velkist, were gathered. The instructions had already been given, and determination filled their eyes. Dont be too nervous. Its not much different from a mission. Weve done all sorts of things, and this is beyond anything else! Dont worry and lets get started. Jenna saluted vigorously and went down the stairs. Eloka grumbled and followed, and Neryssa and Velkist followed behind. Everyone except me was heading downstairs. Theres no need to go all at once. If even one person dies, it can lead to significant losses. The penalty for death is a permanent decrease in all stats and skills. Its a risk equivalent to death that can turn a promising hero into trash in an instant. Im enough alone. I also had insurance for emergencies. The rest is just waiting. I put on leather gloves and slowly descended the stairs. The destination is the dimensional rift on the 2nd floor. Its where the other guys will enter. There were dark corners everywhere in the dimensional rift. I hid in one of the shadows and lowered my body. 5 minutester. [Danger!] [Master, an unauthorized airship has entered the waiting room!] [Airship Capitalism Ho is anchoring.] Ohm! The dimensional vortex shone blue and the front of the airship appeared. [You have no rm system.] [The Masters hero doesnt detect the intrusion. If attacked by surprise, it could result in significant damage. Be cautious!] Its not that big. Even so, it was the size of a medium-sized merchant ship, over 10 meters. The airship emerged from the vortex with a g on the mast. A skull with an eyepatch was drawn on the red g. Is no one here? Hahaha, did another sucker get caught this time? This is so fun! Laughter erupted from the airship. ng. Creak. Wooden stairs began to descend. Hmm. I put my hand on the sheath and lowered my posture even more. Five men wereing down the stairs. They were wearing red leather armor and had various weapons, including swords, on their backs. Its not weing here! How boring. Based on my experience, the warehouse should be on the 1st floor! A short guy opened the door at the bottom of the airship. Arge cart appeared. Bring me a big box. Full of gold coins. Sure thing! The guy took out the cart revealing his only three front teeth. You know what to do with eyewitnesses? Yes, bring them back half-dead, right? Thats right. We need to synthesize it. If those guys attack us Well escape quickly ande back. As expected. They are not considering a full-on confrontation. What they want is to loot the warehouse. Four out of five of them pulled the cart and left. Their n is to go down to the first-floor warehouse, load it up with gold and valuable materials, and then return. If they happen to run into anyone, they will immediately try to silence them. They n to incapacitate or kidnap them after partially injuring them. And. If things start to look bad, the fifth guy will intervene. Hit and run. Its quite a deadly tactic. Without an rm system to alert the heroes to the enemys intrusion, the Master will find his waiting room half dead. Ugh~ The guy yawned while leaning against the airship. Hes acting so carefree. I stayed hidden and slowly approached the vicinity of the airship. Im so tired huh? The guys pupils caught me. Sh*t! When did I grabbed the guy by the hair and pulled him towards me, mming my knee into his face. With the sound of teeth breaking, blood sttered. Then, I mmed his face against the wall of the airship. Thud! Thud! Thud! Whack! After breaking his arm, I tossed him to the ground. Spraying blood, the guys body slid across the floor. Ohm! The airship started to move. I grabbed the end of the folding stairs and climbed up, then I made a big leap. Inded on the deck and immediately rushed to the control room. Bam! When I kicked the door, I saw a man operating the device. What the hell are you so busy with? Y-you crazy! The guy pulled out a dagger and swung it. Swoosh. I easily dodged it and grabbed the guys wrist, twisting it in the opposite direction. Crack. Aaaargh! Holding onto the guys limp wrist, he sank to his knees. I kicked the guys face hard like a ser ball. Blood sttered on the ss window. Ugh, agh! Are the only seven people that came here? I-I dont know Theres no way he wouldnt know. I firmly held onto the broken wrist of the guy. Ugh! Tell me. Before I finish you off. Theyre all here, all seven of them! There are no Magicians. I licked my lips. A dazzling hologram appeared on the device panel in front of me. It seemed to be in automatic mode, moving with simple maniption. I looked down at the man who was crying while sitting on the floor. When are you leaving? W-well, originally in 10 minutes! But since I touched it, it will take 5 minutes Thud! I struck the back of the mans head with the knife sheath. The man with a broken head fell, bleeding. Is it on automatic mode? Things got troublesome. Right now, the airship is in a stopped state, but after a certain amount of time, it will automatically start moving again. And it will return to its original location. Its been taken care of. There shouldnt be a need for your help. Just wait for 10 minutes and then go back and get some sleep. Dont wait for us. I cut offmunication. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 124: All Or Nothing (2) (2) Chapter 124: All Or Nothing (2) (2) Its been taken care of. There shouldnt be a need for your help. Just wait for 10 minutes and then go back and get some sleep. Dont wait for us. I cut offmunication. I pressed various buttons on the device panel. [Beep! Operation is prohibited.] [Beep! Operation is prohibited.] [Beep! Operation is prohibited] Its useless. The only thing that seems to work is immediate departure and descending the stairs. I tied up the unconscious guy with a rope and dragged him. The guy lying below was the same. After going down the corridor, I moved him inside. I wiped away the bloodstains with a mop. [Master, the enemy is attempting to loot!] [Heart of the Dragon (Low Grade) is drawn!] [ck Dragons Scale (C) x 3 is drawn!] [Magic Parts (Low Grade) x 2 is drawn!] [ck Dragons Bone (C) is] [300,000G is] Theyre picking out the expensive stuff. A little whileter, Creak. Creak. In the distance, the sound of wagon wheels could be heard. I hid behind the pir on the deck. When I peered through the railing, the guys were returning, pulling a cart full of boxes. Another fruitful day. At this rate, we can get some booze and women! Hehe, not a single mouse in sight. Theres no sucker like this sucker. They walked up with faces flushed with excitement. Hey bro, we Huh? Where did he go? Hes probably gone in and fallen asleep already, right? We asked him to watch it! Ugh! The stairs have already been descended. The guys put the cart in the lower storage area and came up to the deck. As if it were waiting, the airship started moving. Todays departure is a bit early, isnt it? One of them expressed doubt, but, Whats there to know? Its good to go quickly! It was naturally buried. I took a deep breath. The airship started heading towards the whirlpool of dimensions. [Danger!] [The airship Capitalism Ho has departed with the Masters items!] The system message blinked red, but Anytng had already left the game. After reconnecting, he would be able to see the log. sh! A strong pressure enveloped my entire body, and the background changed instantly. A gray sky and destend. It was the exterior of the tower. The airship spread its wings and swiftly soared into the sky. About ten minutes passed like that. The mechanical voice echoed. The scenery changed once again. Below the ground, countless typhoons were raging. [Dimension 3847 Hara] A few hundred meters ahead, the whirlpool of dimensions was spinning. It was the destination of the airship. I stuck my head out of the pir. I checked the deck. One person was leaning against the railing. The other four were not visible inside. This should be enough. I stood up and moved forward. The man leaning on the railing muttered. In the past, the Master wasnt like this. The world has changed. Isnt that so huh? Thud! I kicked the mans back. Wait, just a moment, ugh! The mans overturned body continued to fall endlessly. I turned around and walked to the door inside. I opened the door. Ugh! A guy covered in blood rushed out. blood was leaking from his mouth. Youre so weak. How can you be so weak?! Velkist muttered. Did we really have to hide in the chest? I thought I was going to die of suffocation. Whats the situation? This guy is thest one. Velkist pointed his sword at the man. Wait, spare me. Spare me, please. If you kill me, there will be retaliation. I dont want to die! Thwack! The sword pierced the mans shoulder and stuck into the deck. Ughhh! The mans eyes rolled back, and he trembled violently. Velkist spat. You filthy bug. This side is also cleared. Jenna came out onto the deck. Her dagger was soaked in blood. They were worse than I thought. They said they had done this countless times. Even though we were on high alert because they invaded, this is disappointing. Eloka and Neryssa as well. All members of Party 1 gathered on the deck. Oppa, are we doing the same to them? There are only five of us. Is it okay? It deviated slightly from the original n. The original n was to suppress the airship from the inside and then counterattack with an elite team. However, because it was on automatic mode, there was no room to carry members from another party. There must be at least dozens of people in the enemy territory. After interrogating them, they said they could make it return to the waiting room if they adjusted the airship properly. After going back and reorganizing No, it wont work. Theres no meaning in a surprise attack. I shook my head. If wereteing back, theyll notice us too. Then We go like this. And finish it in one go. A slight blow wont stop a hunter. Instead, it will only provoke them. It doesnt matter if they are strong or weak. If such a guy sticks to you, he will even interfere with the mission. Theres only one way. But there are only five of us Its enough. Velkist interrupted and kicked the man at his feet. These kinds of bugs can be finished off in batches. They are indeed weak. I looked at the man. The reason hes weakpared to his level is simple. He didnt train properly. If he had given up on climbing the tower, there was no need to be as strong as we did. The decision? I reached for my pouch. Wevee this far, are we going back empty-handed? Thats the obvious answer. Theres no turning back now. Plunder everything and set it all on fire. Dry up their resources. There is one rule that I learned about hunters while running Niflheimr. Chase them to the end. Until they fold. The dimensional rift was swallowing the airship. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 125: All Or Nothing (3) (1) Chapter 125: All Or Nothing (3) (1) As I moved towards the waiting room, I exined the n to the members. In a surprise attack, time is life. If we hesitate, the enemys forces will surround us, and with our numbers, well be wiped out. Eloka, youre crucial here. Got it. Ill show you my. I interrupted her. Move swiftly. Make sure no one is left behind. We will be okay, right? Of course I drew my sword fully. Well have to let them know the cost of messing with us. A bright light enveloped me. It was the signal for dimensional teleportation. [Permission to view system logs has been revoked.] Within the radiant light, Bifrost glowed ck. Hmm? When I opened my eyes again, the sword had returned to its original state. ess to the log, I see. It means you can ess the system from other waiting rooms too. [Airship Capitalist Ship has returned.] [Danger!] [Master, heroes from another faction have invaded!] [They slipped through the dimensional rift.] I looked up. The sky was shining brightly. I see youre watching. Its a good situation. I chuckled. This time its quite fast! Did you catch anything useful? Two men were approaching the entrance of the airship. Click. Creak. The stairs descended. Its a rare case. At this rate, even the Master I descended the stairs. Who are you?! Ping! Ping! Two arrows flew from the gap in the railing. Ugh! Argh! I swung my sword as I descended the stairs. The two men fell to the ground, bleeding. [Death protection applied!] [Kaz () soul will be lost!] [Berald () soul will be lost!] [Tips/Regarding Death Protection] [Heroes who die in a protected state will permanently suffer from stat and skill decreases. Lost souls can be resurrected as Soul Stones after one week.] [Tips/PVP] [When a PVP situation urs, the healing effect in the waiting room does not apply.] I kicked the bodies of the two guys. Their bodies turned into light and disappeared. There are only two here. I looked around. I couldnt see the others in the dimensional rift. Its better if theyre scattered. I decided to clean them up one by one. [Master, its an emergency!] [Activate the security system!] [Yes (Choose) / No] Whirring! With a loud siren, the sky began to turn red. It seems like weve been discovered? Now it begins. I quickly headed towards the exit. Turning right in the corridor, arge square appeared. Damn! Whats this?! These bastards seems to be the intruders! This guy just crawled in without knowing his ce. Lets chop him into pieces 2nd-floor square. Sixteen men. They each drew their weapons. Neryssa. Yes. Neryssa threw the round container she was holding. Drip, drip. A viscous liquid spilled out of the open lid. If youre drunk, you need some fun. Do you like fireworks? What? What Eloka ignited the fire with a puff of breath. I received the burning firewood. The liquid inside the container was the airships fuel, in other words, oil. I brought a few barrels from the ships warehouse. I chuckled and enjoyed the fireworks. Whoosh! The mes spread rapidly. [Danger!] [A fire has broken out in the 2nd-floor square!] This crazy [Explode!] Boom, boom, crash! [Albert () soul will be lost.] [Diron () soul will be lost.] [Gedrick () ] Sessive death messages. I ran forward and shouted, Kill them all. Swish! Jennas arrow shot out like lightning. An arrow struck the head of one of the guys who was rolling on the ground, still on fire. Velkist then drew his sword, and the two mens necks floated in the air. Neryssa, Eloka, follow me! Got it. Whoosh! As the mes spread, a noxious smoke filled the air. I ran forward, mes still clinging to my body. The target was the entrance to the dormitory. Beyond the closed door, there were busy footsteps and shouts. We need to act before they regain their focus. Im going to finish this. Bang! I kicked the door open. The attention of the heroes who were busy preparing for battle turned to us all at once. Neryssa rolled the second fuel barrel. Strike. [Explode!] Boom! [Danger!] [Fire has broken out in the 2nd-floor dormitory!] [The facility is severely damaged. Be cautious!] AAAAAHHHH! Fire, its fire! Through the mes and smoke, the agonized screams could be heard. Eloka smiled bitterly. We seem like viins. Its one of the two. Either we do it, or its done to us. The guys inside the dormitory went into a frenzy, shouting and causing chaos. This couldnt be called a battle. Messages indicating the state of panic, despair, and fear of the heroes kept popping up one after another. If they had given it their all, we would have had to prepare for sacrifices as well. But we wont give them the chance to do that. When the opponent is careless, asleep, or hasnt gathered yet. We seize the advantageous situation. I kicked the dormitory entrance with my foot. A transparent barrier blocked the way. Even intruders couldnt enter the dormitory. It was the only facility that protected the heroes safety. It doesnt matter. Theres a lot to do. Without hesitation, I turned my back. The 13 enemies who were already in the square had all turned into corpses, scattered around. mes and fire rose fiercely all over the square. To the 1st floor. I descended the stairs. Ten heroes were waiting. The ck-haired woman at the front drew her sword. These bastards! You wont take a single step from here! [Simr () is gathering reinforcements!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 125: All Or Nothing (3) (2) Chapter 125: All Or Nothing (3) (2) I descended the stairs. Ten heroes were waiting. The ck-haired woman at the front drew her sword. These bastards! You wont take a single step from here! [Simr () is gathering reinforcements!] Theyre quick to respond. I thought they hadnt gathered yet. I turned around and stepped onto the stairs leading to the 2nd floor. You bastards! Are you running away? Come to think of it, we didnt start a fire in the warehouse. What what? Were going to set it on fire now. You lunatic! I quickly climbed the stairs. No need to fight. As long as they keep chasing us around, thats enough. With the torch in my left hand, I walked to the right side of the square. When I opened the door, the inside was filled with shelves. It was a warehouse. Ah! A young girl rushed at me with a frying pan in her hand. As I brushed past her, she fell down. Is she the warehouse manager? Unfortunately, theres no room for mercy. Roll it. Got it. Neryssa rolled the fuel canister. I dropped the torch. Whoosh! [Danger!] [A fire has broken out in the 2nd-floor warehouse!] [Theres concern about material damage! Extinguish the fire immediately!] Intense mes erupted inside the warehouse. If the goal was item looting, sabotaging would be a foolish move, but My goal isnt that. I left the warehouse. The square was already engulfed in mes. Smoke and mes filled the air. The fool hasnt customized the facilities. The warehouse was in its default location, just like the dormitory. Eloka, Neryssa. Go to the equipment workshop. Burn it all. Yes. It feels like weve beplete viins. The two of them left the square. [Dormitory level has decreased!] [Lv.5 -> Lv.3] [Danger!] [Materials in the 2nd floor warehouse were damaged!] [Relevant items: 32 types in total] [Level Leather (A) [Diamond (C) [Lesser soul stone .] Wait, what is this nonsense! You, you bastard! Theyve arrived. Ill kill you! Come out! Well see whos going to die! Velkist chuckled. His left cheek was stained with ashes and blood. Cough! Cough, cough! Coughing followed. The 2nd-floor square had already turned into a hell of mes. We could withstand it, having steadily acquired me resistance, but it would be different for them. In this situation I turned around. I cant afford to be left behind. I swung my sword. Kill them all. It didnt take even 5 minutes. The resistance from the 4-star Swordswoman was quite strong, but it was just a matter of time. She couldnt withstand thebined attacks of Jenna and Velkist and dropped dead) [Simrs () soul has been lost!] [Krixel () soul has been lost!] [Lloyd () soul ] [Danger!] [A fire has broken out in the equipment workshop!] I went down to the first floor. Some of them resisted passively, but the main power had already been wiped out. Theres no fight left. Oppa, isnt this enough? Its almost halfway destroyed. Jenna wiped her cheek. There was blood and ash on her fingers. There are some bad guys, but there are also innocent people. But its not over yet. But Dont worry. We wont kill anymore. Well just destroy the basic facilities. There are four core facilities that are necessary for every waiting room. The dormitory, warehouse, workshop, and training ground. Well burn them all down. To make sure they cant be restored. I opened the door to the first-floor warehouse. I poured oil straight in and set it on fire. [A fire has broken out in the 1st-floor warehouse ] Messages about fires and damage kept popping up. We split into two teams and set fire to various buildings and destroyed the facilities. The defense forces disappeared. They may have had more numbers than us, but in an unorganized situation, they were just scarecrows. [Master, 74 unread channel chats have been detected.] [Do you want to check?] [Yes / No] A log appeared on the left side of my field of vision. It seemed that Iselles master authority hadnt disappeared. Go away. [Yes / No (Select)] The notification window closed. I started calcting the damage he suffered this time. Main forces casualties. Loss of items and equipment. The storagepletely burned down. The warehousepletely burned down. The zapletely burned down. The dormitory partially destroyed. Equipment workshop inoperable. This wont do. Theres one left. I asked the others to take care of the aftermath and went up to the second-floor za. The fire had somehow been extinguished. But almost everything, including benches and fountains, had turned into ashes. I opened the door on the opposite side of the dimensional rift. It was the training ground. Eek! As I looked in the corner, several people were huddled together, trembling. Faces full of fear. Some were even crying. I approached them slowly. Stay where you are! A young man stood up. We will resist with our lives, and we will I have a question. If you answer, Ill spare your lives. Okay, ask anything. Wheres the Mage? Hes over there. The young man politely pointed to the left door. Thank you. I approached that door. It didnt seem like he had escaped anywhere in particr. It was the door to the Magic Hall. Just as I was about to grab the doorknob [I absolutely refuse to allow that!] sh! Something appeared in front of me. Two pairs of transparent wings. Petite facial features and a petite body. It was Iselle. The only difference was that she wore a red leather outfit instead of a ck dress and had a pirate hat and eyepatch. Move aside. [No, I wont, even if I die!] I grabbed the fairys wings and tossed her aside. [If you take that guy away how will I survive my dream of bing the king of pirates ughhh!] The fairy sat down on the ground and burst into tears. I stopped walking. She nced at me for a moment and started muttering. [Half a year of suffering under a lousy master. I barely made it here. But now, this is how it ends. Dont you think Im pitiful?] I opened the door. Inside the Magic Hall, there was a faint smell of chemicals. On a messy desk against the wall, a young boy in a white robe was sleeping soundly. Sleeping through all this chaos. A Mage. An essential talent that should not be missed in airship operations. I approached the boy from behind and tapped his shoulder. Umm, who woke me up from my nap? Ive been working three days and nights due to overtime ugh! I covered the boys mouth and pulled out a rope. In an instant, I tied up his arms, legs, and torso, and gagged his mouth with a rope. Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 126: All Or Nothing (4) (1) Chapter 126: All Or Nothing (4) (1) I wrapped my arms around the struggling boy. Ugh! The boy kicked my back with his heels. It was a futile resistance. I dragged him out of the Magic Hall. [You, you greedy] I chuckled. [What do you think youre doing?!] Im taking this guy with me. Ugh! Ugh! I told the guys trembling in the corner of the training ground. Get out of here. Stay in your dorms if you want to live. Oh, understood! Five men and women quickly left the training camp. The training camps gate opened with a creak, and Jenna walked in, carrying a cart filled with items she had picked out that survived the fire. What about this kid? Hes the most important loot. Dont miss out. I tossed the boy into the cart. Isnt this kidnapping? Its exactly that. Thud! The cart shook as the boy kicked the inside with his feet. I looked at his face. Tears welled up in his face, and his resentful gaze was directed at me. Take him to the airship. Ill finish this up. Alright, dont bete! Jenna pulled the cart and disappeared. I took a deep breath and then took out a wooden torch. I went outside briefly to burn what was left out. Starting from the Magic Hall. No need for oil here. There were plenty of paper rolls to burn. [You, you selfish greed! Why are you doing this?] The fairy stomped her feet in ce. Call me whatever you want. I opened the door to the Magic Hall. Books were tightly packed on the shelves. I threw in the burning torch. Whoosh. mes started to rise along with the smoke. [Danger!] [Fire in the Magic Hall!] Desks, chairs, various magical tools, and countless magical books turned into ashes. The fairy, pping her wings, tried her best to extinguish it, but once the fire started, it wasnt easy to put out. Inside the training camp, I opened the lid of the fuel container Jenna had brought and poured oil on the floor. It was only a matter of time before the mes from the Magic Hall reached here. [Why?] Nopromises. When I first tracked a hunter, I spared him because he begged so much. A monthter, I got stabbed in the back. The next one, and the one after him, all did the same. No matter how much the people and circumstances changed, the result was always the same. Through countless experiences, I have established one principle. These guys never change. It was just temporary avoidance. Once they found an opportunity, they would start preying on others again. The only way is topletely remove them from the game. Whoosh! Finally, the fire spread to the training camp. [You think you can get away with this even with this!] The fairyshed out at me with a furious expression and threw a punch. However, her fist was blocked by an invisible barrier, and her petite body rebounded, tumbling away. There are two conditions that must be met for a fairy to attack. First, disobedience to the masters orders. Second, when a hero uses lethal force to attack a fellow hero. This little one couldnt harm me in any way. She could only stand by and watch. The mes that erupted from the Magic Hall turned everything they touched into ashes. Scarecrows and wooden dolls, various training weapons, chairs, and desks, all went up in mes. After leaving the square, I closed the door. The fire wouldnt stop until it consumed the entire training camp. I walked slowly through the square, now turned into a pile of ashes. Blood, embers, and the corpses of heroes clung to various ces. One of them sat down with vacant eyes, looking around the square. I walked without faltering. I had created this. I had severed the hope of this world. I have no regrets. Stepping on others is necessary to climb and survive. I had long reconciled with that fact. [If ites this far, the Master?] They might quit. [Knowing that, you did this? Then what are we supposed to do?) The fairy sat down. I pushed therge door outward. A linear space, a rift in dimensions, was revealed. Inside the passage, a sleek small airship was parked. It was called the Capitalism Ship. Quite a creative name. The mes hadnt reached here. I had done that intentionally. I walked towards the Capitalism near the bottom. Jenna and Neryssa were stowing away the loot at the bottom of the airship. Have you arrived? Whats the status of the airship? Can we depart? The operational functions are offline. We have enough fuel, but it seems we need some sort of authentication. Wheres the kid? We tied him to the deck. I climbed the stairs. On the deck, a boy bound to a pir was struggling. Ugh! Ugh! I have no idea what youre saying. I approached the boy and untied the rope around his mouth. Pff! He spat to the side. You filthy. Youre even filthier, you bastards! The boy shouted with a harsh tone. Release me immediately! If you dont want your head cut off. Do you know who I am? A Mage, I assume. Thats right! I am Katio, who terrifies even third-rate magicians by just hearing my name! We want to start the airship, how do we do it? Insane. Do you think Id tell you just because you asked? Id fry you in boiling water Ugh. A de pressed against the boys throat. Behind him, Velkist stood with a cold expression. Youre quite noisy. Should I cut off a few fingers, so you wont conjure any spells again? Dont. Its like were the real viins! You are viins! See, there was a misunderstanding. No misunderstanding. You viins Uggh! The de dug slightly into the boys throat. First, remove the sword, and Ill speak. Remove it. Velkist sheathed the sword. I spoke in an emotionless voice. If I see any signs of magic, Ill cut off your arms immediately. I understand. You heartless The boys face turned pale. Well clear up the misunderstandingter. We need to return to our original location. We need your cooperation. Understand? Return? We cant stay here. Theres nothing but ashes. Youre the ones who made it like this Oh. The boy looked at Velkist behind him and hesitated. It wont be difficult. Just set the coordinates to where your friends went just now. Its the ce you were nning to raid. I loosened the restraints and helped the boy stand up. Then, I led him into the control room of the airship. I, I was just doing research Understood. Ugh A sob mixed with a groan escaped from him. I sighed. Dont be so whiny. Im starting to want to kill you. Velkist spoke irritably. This guy really has no remorse. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 126: All Or Nothing (4) (2) Chapter 126: All Or Nothing (4) (2) Dont be so whiny. Im starting to want to kill you. Velkist spoke irritably. This guy really has no remorse. Anyway. The boy entered the control room, went to the instrument panel, and started muttering. I watched the scene from behind. Velkist was ready to draw his sword at any moment. If he had been there, things might have been different. They wouldnt have been defeated so easily. The true power of a Mage was revealed in various auxiliary spells. Surely, among them, there was a magic that could extinguish mes. I remembered his mumbling. He had stayed up for three days and nights. It was the Masters responsibility for not managing his condition. Giiing. A hologram appeared on the instrument panel. [Capitalism!] [ess has been granted.] Thats it. Right. Good job. Now youre going to free me, right? Let me go. What are you talking about? Youreing with us. What, what? I pushed the boy aside and stood in front of the instrument panel. Tie him up again. Got it. Hey, you Ugh! Ugh! Velkist tied up the boy again and took him away. I examined the hologram. It was full of strange symbols and unknownnguage, but I could recognize the words start and departure. Push. Giiing! Capitalism started vibrating lightly. The ignition was sessful. I walked out onto the deck. Everyone get on board! Were all loaded up. Well be there soon! Jenna and Neryssa climbed up the stairs. As soon as the two of them set foot on the deck, the stairs automatically folded and retracted. [Theyre taking everything for real! Everything! You bastards!] On the airport floor, a fairy was sobbing and hitting the ground. [We were just trying to say hello, seriously?] Is this how you greet people in your world? [Did you expect to get away with this? Do you even know whos behind us?] Whos behind you? [Youd be surprised if you heard. Its the famous Union Guild! Composed of 30 rankers, its an elite guild! This master maybe trash in terms of skill, but they have connections there!] Whats that? Nonsense, really. Anyway, she said the master is connected with rankers. He had made an airship out of nothing and operated the waiting room. It was quitecking for that type. Thud. Capitalism shook heavily and began to move slowly. The direction was forward. It was where the whirlpool of dimensions raged. What time is it now? I feel like Ive been up all night. Jenna on the deck muttered. If youre sleepy, go inside and rest. Im fine on my own. Can I? Jenna yawned and went inside. Velkist went inside while still tying up the boy, and the others did the same. I was left alone on the deck. Inside the airport, the fairy was ring in this direction. [Enjoy your victory for now. But when the timees, remember that even if you beg, itll be in vain! Im a fairy who knows no mercy in front of enemies.] . [If this is also part of the process to be a pirate king, Ill ept it with a smile. Trials are often part of the epic of a great person. My name is Captain Iselle, dont forget and remember it!] Is that so? [Whats your name!] I was about to answer Han, but I stopped myself. Hmm. Some mischievousness came into y. My name. [Remember it.] My name is Loki. [Pft!] Captain Iselle snorted. [No way, that Niflheimr] The fairys face turned red, and she exploded in anger. [You little shit, are you making up nonsense! Do you want to be scolded, huh?] I didnt respond. Of course, I didnt think she would believe it. At this stage, it wouldnt be possible to know. [Dont forget, Ill definitely get my revenge!] The fairy leaped wildly. And the whirlpool engulfed Capitalism. [Loss Notice] [The following items have been seized by Master Anytng.] [Capitalism] [Mage Katio ()] [Advanced Promotion Ticket X 5] [Intermediate Souls ] [300,000 ] A list of items was disyed. It was such a massive amount that it was hard to read them all. I did what I could. I destroyed his waiting room as much as I could. Revenge, huh. Such a troublesome word. Because of this, I got caught up in numerous conflicts. I just wanted to quietly conquer the tower. Ive gone this far because I didnt want us to get caught up in such a mess. [Master, an unidentified channel chat (114 messages) has been detected.] [Would you like to check it?] [Yes (Selected) / No] Sinunoo> Hey, you ****. Sinunoo> Have no conscience? You ****. Sinunoo> I tried to help, and youre such a ****. Ill fry you to death. Sinunoo> ***, Ill *** you, *******. Sinunoo> *****, ******. ****, **s real. Oh my. Anytng would be surprised if he saw this, but I dont have any other options. All I can do is rmend reporting and blocking. I looked at the scenery outside the railing. Capitalism was sailing through the stormy sky. Suddenly, a voice echoed in my head. Yu Seed. Were you watching? Dont. Its embarrassing. I replied. By the way, what do you know about the Union Guild? Yu responded. No need for that. Leave it alone. That if they dont provoke us first. Then leave it to your judgment. I heard a faintugh. Themunication was cut off. I sighed. Id rather not rely on Niflheimr if I can. But if the situation worsens, I have no choice. If you want to rely on your backing. Feel free to do so. I leaned back in my chair. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 127: Dont Miss It (1) (1) Chapter 127: Don''t Miss It (1) (1) Kyiing. With an eerie sound, the airship slipped into the rift between dimensions. It automatically stopped in a secluded spot. We had finally arrived. Ugh. What time is it now? Eloka, who emerged onto the deck, yawned and looked up at the sky. It was still gloomy but with hints of bright gray mixed in. It seems like its almost morning. Today was a tough one. Youre not nning to call us out during the day, are you? Did I ever fool you? Today is a day off. Hehe. Ill go first then. nk. The door closed. Eloka descended the stairs. Jenna and Neryssa followed behind. I expressed my gratitude by saying they worked really hard. They must have been tired from the physical and mental strain. It was almost like a raid. What about the kid? Ill take care of him. Dont worry about it. Finally, Velkist left the airship. I entered the storage room on board. A boy tied with ropes was asleep there. To sleep in such a situation. Quite daring. But its more convenient this way. I picked up the boy and headed to the deck. I wonder how hell react. Anytng still had time to connect. I couldnt predict his attitude. An airship, a mage, and various items. It was too big a haul to be considered mere looting. And he didnt tell us to do anything of this. Ill figure it out as I go. I deleted the chat history between me and the other yer, but the logs of intrusion, counterattack, and looting remained intact. The fact that enemies had invaded the waiting room and we repelled them, then looted them in return, would be known. I left the dimensions rift with the boy in my arms. Downstairs, various workers were heading to work, holding extension rods. They were going to the weekly dungeon. I turned away and entered the lodging. I opened the door and tossed the boy onto the bed. Thud. I leaned against the chair. I couldnt sleepfortably. Even though I had tied him up, mages sometimes pulled off unexpected feats. At best, it would take three hours. I closed my eyes lightly. And a few hourster. I woke up to daylight after closing my eyes. My eyelids felt heavy. I checked the clock. I must have slept for about 5 hours, but it was already daytime. Ugh! I turned my gaze. The boy was wriggling with anger, looking at me with hostile eyes. Was he awake all this time? I approached and untied the rope around his mouth. Hey, where am I? Where do you think you are? My room. Why did you bring me to this ce? Let me go! Thats not happening. I spun the chair and crossed my legs. From now on, youre in charge of the airship. What? What nonsense Nonsense or not, how are we going to operate the airship without a mage? Youll also help with research. Can you do enchantments and potion-making? You will also assist with missions. Its more convenient with two mages. The boy looked at me with a dumbfounded expression. I patted him again. He was wearing a robe. There were blue patterns on the robe. He had short hair with a deep blue hue. At first nce, he could be mistaken for a girl. Hey, you! You shameless [Katiio () is furious!] Is his name Katiio? The boy blushed but continued to wriggle like a caterpir, still bound. You kidnapped me and now you want me to work? You bastard! Go to hell! I scratched my cheek. It seems he wont cooperate willingly. Knock. A knock was heard. Oppa, its me. I noticed you hadnt eaten. Come in. Jenna entered with a tray. On the tray were bread and milk. Jennas gaze shifted to Katiio as she ced the tray on the table. This kid hes that mage from yesterday. Hell be fighting with us from now on. Get along. I ced the tray by the bed. You must be hungry. Eat. Zap. He just red at me. I smiled and said, If you dont eat, you wont be able to escape. Can you can you untie my arms? I untied the rope around Katiios arms. Is it okay? Its fine. Theres not much he can do alone. The individualbat power of mages is not high. Its not like that. I made it for you to eat, oppa. . Silence. Katiio chewed on the bread without meeting my sharp gaze. Keuh! Perhaps he heard her saying it was for me, he coughed and drank milk. I watched him quietly. Katiio, who quickly devoured the bread and milk, spoke. Even if you try to sway me like this, I wont join you. I wont cooperate with viins who burn other peoples houses,mit murder, and plunder. Viins, you say? Do you know what your master was up to? T-Thats Theres no way he doesnt know. Even if he doesnt directly participate in raids, traces are left everywhere. At first, it was simple looting. Just as the fairy said, it was at the level of casual theft. But the moment he found it easy, he gradually increased the intensity. From item theft to hero abduction and murder. Masters on the 30th floor usually arent well-prepared for raids. Theyck defensive personnel and facilities, and there are hardly any masters on the 30th floor who own airships. Theyre prepared for it. It wasnt difficult to bring them down. Just like they did with us, they would ambush during the careless early morning hours or strike when the mission-required heroes were away. After nibbling like this, they would invade when they were weak enough. Then they would capture arge number of heroes and synthesize them with their own heroes. It was a pattern of repetition. The reason a lot of masters folded in this sector was probably because of him. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 127: Dont Miss It (1) (2) Chapter 127: Don''t Miss It (1) (2) Then they would capture arge number of heroes and synthesize them with their own heroes. It was a pattern of repetition. The reason a lot of masters folded in this sector was probably because of him. You wont say you dont know, right? That if you have a conscience. I I Katiio lowered his head. You were a coborator. I just followed orders! If you go back, youll receive the same instructions. During the raid, I found that some heroes seemed unusually distracted. They must belong to other waiting rooms. They would be used as ves and synthesized when they became useless. Hunters waiting rooms were operated in this way. But my master my master isnt like that. Katiiosplexion darkened. He wasnt like that originally. Right now, hes just Hmm, is that so? I I trust my master Katiios words trailed off. Trusting the master? The user has no interest in what thoughts their heroes have. They only pursue their own enjoyment. Its just a game, after all. I was the same. While the master in question may have initially been a strategist, he got a taste for looting, and it became more fun. Its just that it turned out that way. Hes having grand delusions. I said. Do you think hell change? . Think about it carefully. Do you want to unleash your abilities here, or will you perish there? I was going to make a suggestion! What were you going to suggest? Stop looting? Unless its a special case, heroes who express such opinions are immediately synthesized. He wont be killed outright because hes a mage, but Poor thing. Jenna muttered. At least our master isnt like that. He listens to our opinions and takes care of various things for us. Hes graduallying around. Katiio slumped. His eyes were notably lifeless. It seemed like he might copse if I pushed a little more. If you join us, well guarantee a few things. He pretended not to listen, but Katiios ears perked up. First, a life without overtime. ?! Thats a lie Take her away. Ugh! Jenna covered Elokas mouth and dragged him out. When did shee in? We guarantee rest outside of work. You can do whatever you want in your spare time. Theres a lounge and a bathhouse. Plenty of food too. But Did that bastard of a master ever care about your welfare? He might have provided him alcohol, but it wouldnt be of any merit to him. Second, we dont engage in senseless looting. But you did today! Only if they provoke us first. You know that too. He came to loot us first. Well find out when we check the airship records. Shall we make a bet? Katiio lowered his head again. Were all about climbing. We focus on missions. We dont pay attention to unnecessary ces. Unless theres a special need. This ce has no meaning for me. Its not my home. Do you have any special attachment? Family left behind? I dont have that Its none of your business okay?! Good, that condition is settled. I spoke up. Third condition, we wont discriminate against you for being from a different region. Hmph, are you some kind of leader? Im not a leader, but I have at least some status. Discrimination is a serious issue when acquiring heroes from different regions, surprisingly. Even in Niflheimr, I had a hard time with those who fought because of conflicts rted to their origin and race. Guaranteed rest, mission priority, no discrimination. These are the three things I can guarantee. No overtime, really? Dont Lis Keep it quiet. A scream from Eolka could be heard from outside the door. I smiled and said, Really. Its suspicious. I approached Katiio and untied not only his arms but also the ropes tied around his torso and legs. Apologize for the rudeness so far. To treat me like this Im not telling you to decide right away. Take your time to look around here and think it over. Katiio gave me a piercing look, then rubbed his arm, which still bore the marks of the rope, before turning and walking out. The door opened again, and Jenna entered. Is it okay to leave him alone? Iselle. [Cute fairy, Iselle appears!] Keep the dimensional rift locked. If you sense anything suspicious, let us know immediately. [Okay!] Plop. She disappeared right away. Shes something. Its fine like this. This time, Eolka entered the room. Youre really spoiling him. Im a magician too, so why treat me differently? Because youre not a prized catch. I dont need special treatment just because Im not a prized catch. Youre surprisingly jealous. Jealous? Im normal. Iughed without saying a word. I understand. You were treated like a noble until apetitor appeared. A 4-star with a higher rank. In reality Anyway, we wont let him go. Even if he says he doesnt want to? Of course. By force, if necessary. The value of a mage is unique. Even without the airship operation. In battles, he provides party support with highly efficient auxiliary magic, and in nonbat situations, they act as enchanters adding various enchantments. In addition, he was a top-ss talent who was treated as a semi-5 star, he had a high research capability and could produce high-level potions. Well, I if he says he doesnt like it Will you send him back? To that guy? Not exactly, but I suggest giving it some time. She clearly doesnt want him here. Even though she wasining about not wanting to work alone. I got up from the chair and copsed on the bed. Im going to sleep. If anything happens, wake me up. Oh, and you can guide him around the waiting room. Me? Should I ask Jenna instead? Alright then. Eolka left the room with aplicated expression. Jenna also said goodnight and followed Eolka. Im sleepy. I thought as Iy on the bed. Theres still a lot to do. I have to visit that damn waiting room once more. If theres an airship, there must be mechanics. We have to bring them too. Once we stick a straw in, we have to suck out every bit. In addition, I need to check the partys condition once again and n for the future This ispletely Workaholic? I didnt expect it to be like this when I was on Earth. I closed my eyes with a bitter smile. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 128: Dont Miss It (2) (1) Chapter 128: Don''t Miss It (2) (1) On that evening, [Wee to Pick Me Up!] Anytng logged in. [Loadingplete.] [T O U C H ! (Select)] [Convenience Update, the first one!] [Curious about the heros skills? Now you dont have to search for guides anymore! We provide skill descriptions for new skills. Dont hesitate] [Compensation for frequent server errors] [World Raid No.7, Coming soon] Anytng skipped the announcements and entered Pick Me Ups main screen. [Master, there are multiple unverified activities reported. Would you like to check?] [Yes / No] As soon as Anytng pressed Yes, unexpected fireworks exploded. [Airship Appearance!] [Congrattions, Master, on acquiring the airship!] [Acquired Unfair Capitalism] [Tips/What is an Airship?] Airships are the core vehicle for exploiting dimensional rifts. For more details, search for Airships in the help section! [A new hero has joined.] [Katiio Rusani () ss: Mage] [This hero is currently detained.] [Master, there is unverified loot!] [Acquired items 14 types] [Acquired gold] The reports filled the screen entirely. Information about the Airship and the new mage, acquired items, and gold. Brief details about battles with other Masters and the battles oue. I took a sip of water. The cool liquid flowed down my throat. Katiio was sitting on the bed in front of me. Todays update was mostly done. Anytng didnt touch the screen for a few minutes. Its a bit much to say I woke up one day and found it like this. It takes over a week to build an airship. Not only time but also a multitude of gems and various materials were needed, and without a mage, the dimensional core couldnt even be touched. Therefore, Pick Me Ups Masters often measured their strength against each other with Airships, just likeparing cars. Its a bit much to calctest nights results in terms of money. Approximately 4.8 million gold. I emptied my ss in silence. The logs ofst nights battle and looting recorded what I did and how I did it. It would be clear that I was the protagonist. *Click!* [You took a screenshot. The image will be saved in the gallery.] Anytng, who took a screenshot, moved on to the next action. He pressed the gift icon in the Operations tab. He even fumbled near the icon several times, as if he was shaking. You could tell what he was trying to do without even looking. I nced to my side. On the fifth-tier disy shelf to the right of the bed, there were sculptures of warhorses lined up. Iselle had moved them here from the square. There were three in total. Its not the time to pay attention to me. I shook my head and remembered the message. Master, the hero Han () suggests. Request Recruiting Katiio ()'' [Tips/Regarding Hero Recruitment] [You can also bring heroes from other waiting rooms.] [However, the heros consent is required for the contract to be valid.] Katiio, a 4-star mage, was currently detained. Hes not affiliated with Townia. In the Hero Box, he was marked in gray, indicating that maniption was not possible. To undo this, his heart had to be turned. Do you have something you want? No. A blunt response. Katiio turned his head. No matter how sweet you try to tempt me, it wont work. Is that so? This ce is a bit better than Ha. Still, I wont give in. I see. We have no choice but to synthesize. Its a 4-star, so it will greatly boost our abilities. W-What You cant raise cockroaches. Katiio was sweating profoundly. I smiled and said, Just kidding. You bastard What I guarantee are three things. If you have any other demands, let me know. Ill grant most of them. Cant you get me the March issue of Lumagini? Its only published in Ha [Han () wants Lumagini (March issue). Would you like to gift it?] [It will cost 7,000 gold.] [Yes / No] I handed over a magazine featuring a sexy woman in a swimsuit. Something else. Then how about a fairy feather scarf? [Han () wants Fairy Feather Scarf. Would you like to gift it?] [Its a premium gift!] [It will cost 100 gems and 5,000 gold.] Dont you have anything else? Where on earth are you getting these from? Katiio, clumsily wearing the scarf, asked. It seemed like he hadnt received many gifts before. In addition to various other gifts, I gave him everything he asked for. Nothing wouldnt be found in the gift shop. There were over thousands of different types. Even I couldnt remember them all. Lastly Katiio stated his request. I smiled and got up from my seat. Ill be back. The timing was perfect. [Master, Han () requests an expedition.] [Expedition Location Ha] [Purpose Plunder and Capture] [Will you ept?] Where are you going? To bring someone. I replied briefly and left the room. Then I immediately headed toward the dimensional rift. Im more than enough alone. It takes a week for those in death protection toe back to life. I got on the airship. [Hey, you little bastard! Why are you here again? Get lost! Go away! Donte here!] A momentter. Here she is. I ced the woman in work clothes in front of Katiio. Her name was Radi, a mechanic for the Airship. The contract is also done. She will be working with us from now on. Sorry, Katiio. Katiio, who was staring nkly at the mechanic, asked, How did you persuade her? I said I would do it. The mechanic bowed her head. Im tired of working in a ce like that. The Master doesnt care if we live or die. But Katiios eyes wavered. It seemed like both of them needed some time to talk. I quietly left the room. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 128: Dont Miss It (2) (2) Chapter 128: Don''t Miss It (2) (2) Katiios eyes wavered. It seemed like both of them needed some time to talk. I quietly left the room. How did it go? Do you think itll work out? Eloka, who had been leaning against the wall, approached. Its almost over. Well have an answer by today at thetest. That female mechanic was summoned around the same time as Katyo. They had be something like siblings involved in the airship-rted matters. I thought convincing her would be difficult, but she epted my proposal without hesitation, saying she was sick of that Master. Which party will that mage join? Im not sure. Ill have to think about it. Currently, there were no vacancies in the first, second, and third parties, which could be considered Townias main force. To utilize him, I would have to remove one from the main party or slot him into the reserve party. However, the second option wasnt very efficient. Mages excelled when the other members were strong, which was why. To use him properly, Ill have to remove one person. The third-party was an exception since the races were different, leaving ten members. This was quite a sensitive issue. I decided to think about itter. Rather than that I recalled the scene in Ha. The Master wasnt online, and lower-tier heroes were working to restore the waiting room, which had be a pile of ashes under themand of the fairy. Its getting troublesome. It also costs a considerable amount to restore. I had cleaned out the warehouse. They seemed to have received support from someone, probably the Union Guild. After parting with Eloka, I twisted the ring. Yu. As if she was waiting, the answer was quick. That was quick. Yu began speaking. Hmm. A monthly thousand? I let out a hollowugh. I had a feeling I knew what it was. Jing. Holographic letters appeared from the ring. [Unity ^^7] There are countless types of Masters in Pick Me Up. But these guys are quite unique even among the numerous types. How many times is it now? I sighed. What else is there? This wont do. While Pick Me Up emphasized skill, it was undoubtedly a mobile game. There had to be some sort of payment efficiency. Even difficult missions could be ovee by switching parties dozens of times. PvP was the same. Whats their estimated power? Yu cleared her throat. Leave it. As long as they dont start it first. Theylle. It used to be Dragon Knights, Then it was Ouroboros. This time, its the Union Guild. Such incidents were not umon. Some guys would step up, saying they wanted to dominate the server. Their target was Niflheimr. The excuse was that it was the symbol of the 2nd server. Boring The guilds that once made a lot of noise on the inte, Dragon Knights and Ouroboros, no longer existed. Did they bring a thousand airships? So what? The idea of losing never crossed my mind. A thousand airships will just be a thousand pieces of trash. After leaving instructions for Yu to report if there was anything else, I cut offmunication. Just then, the door opened. Katiio wasing out with a gloomy expression. Radi, who had been beside him, bowed to me and left the reception room. Its decided. I raised my hand in response to Katiios words. Iselle, who was loitering, approached and handed me a pen and a contract. It was a blue ink pen and a paper. Sign it. Youre not tricking me, are you? After signing the contract, Ill be dragged to some strange ce You have a good imagination, but of course not. Katiio red at me and took the pen. After signing his name on the lower part of the contract, the contract and pen turned blue and disappeared into the air. [Han () has sessfully persuaded Katiio ().] [Katiio () is now operable!] EZ. I told Katiio where his room was and returned to my room. From tomorrow, he will be active as a mage of Townia. [Gift Shop!] [Gift Shop!] [Gifts!] Anytng frantically pressed the gift icon repeatedly. Iselle appeared, spinning in a circle, and approached me. [Loki! Lokii!] Speak softly. Youll hurt my ears. [It seems like Master wants to give a gift to Loki. Do you want anything?] I looked at the maniption screen. He didnt choose a warhorse statue. He was just waiting. If you have a gift in mind, just tell me. Anytng seemed to have learned from his mistakes. I looked at the disy shelf. Three warhorses were in a galloping pose. [Han () wants Warhorse Statue x 10, would you like to gift it?] [It will cost 50,000 gold.] [Yes / No] One shelf was filled with warhorse statues. Side by side, they depicted a running pose. Now they had some form. Anyway, I had no interest in eating, wearing, or anything else. Receiving expensive and shy gifts was just for decoration. The only things to do here were training and studying at most. In that case, it would be fine to have this kind of hobby. I guess Ill have to gather a thousand. There are 987 left. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 129: (1) Chapter 129: (1) The following morning. As always, the members of Party One gathered in the reception room. Including me, Jenna, Eloka, Velkist, Neryssa a total of five people. However, there was one unfamiliar face among us. Katiio looked around at us with uneasy eyes and eximed. What are you looking at? Is the show over? Such a polite little one. Seems like he needs some education. As Velkist stepped forward, Katiio retreated a few steps. Is he really of any use? With such an attitude, I doubt hell be helpful. Velkist looked back at me and spoke. I smiled and stepped in. Dont scare him too much. Hell need some time to adapt. Katiio bit his lip in silence. It was I who had brought him here. To make proper use of him, I needed to understand his abilities. Status window. [Katiio Zarl () Lv.28 (Exp 18/280)] [ss: Mage] [Strength: 8/8] [Intelligence: 113/113] [Stamina: 21/21] [Agility: 13/13] [Skills: Intermediate Magic Form (Lv.5), Mana Conversion (Lv.5), Time-Space Defying Hand (Lv.7), me (Lv.3), Illusion Magic (Lv.2), Intermediate Enchant (Lv.1), Intermediate Research (Lv.1)] He had seven skills not too many, not too few. However, the exact specs were hard to judge. Unlike warriors or archers, its not easy to assess a mage just by their status window, especially a mage schr. Without seeing them in action, its impossible to gauge their ability. But why did you bring him here? There are other parties. Eloka, who had been standing quietly, asked. There are many ces without mages. Why do we have to take care of him? They dont want him to join, what can we do? Edis gently refused, noting that once a member has joined, she cant just remove them, and Party Three was different inposition from the start. This is a joke really Party One had been in sync for a long time. If it was in the early stage of preparing the formation, I would have eagerly weed the Double Magicianbination. I looked at Eloka. Eloka nced nervously between me and Katio, pacing and crossing her arms. I smiled and said. We wont know unless we try him out. Try him out? Take him into a real battle. Its much easier to understand than just talking about it. I had already thought of a mission to take him on. The 28th floor should be fine. Good for warming up. We usually go to the main stage only when Anytng is there, but redoing a cleared mission isnt impossible. Free action was still allowed. But we are five people already I will step out. Neryssa, who had been quiet, spoke up. Its been a while since I went to the weekly dungeon. I need to collect some poison ingredients. Really? Yes. Neryssa nced at the restless Eloka and then left the reception room. W-Wait, Im Dont want to fight? Thats not it. Its been a long time. Katiio sighed. I had expected this. The ount was in the 30s level range, but he was only level 28. He must have barely participated in actualbat since his master gave up climbing. Then its a good opportunity to regain your senses. Enough rest had been had. It was time to revive the real battle instincts. I led the four members down to the rift on the first floor. The door opening and stage designation were alreadypleted with Iselles help. [What about the deployment log?] Erase it. [Okay!] Iselle vanished with a poof. I didnt know we could go on missions without the master. Why didnt you tell me? Would you go alone? Itd be a nice way to pass the time when Im bored. Try to refrain. The master doesnt really like it. I entered the rift. The central mirror was already shining. As Katiio enteredst, the door closed. [Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is 28.] [In 10 seconds, the door will open. Get ready!] Oppa, how should we form up? Youll cover Neryssas range. Can you handle it? Ill try. Itll be a bit different from usual. We had visited the 28th floor several times for leveling up. We had practically memorized the patterns. Light began to envelop us. It was the sign of missionmencement. I looked at Katiio and said. Do what you can. Dont overdo it. I wasnt nning to. Katiio closed his eyes and licked his lips. And then. [Floor 28.] [Mission Type Subjugation] [Objective Annihte the enemies!] A rocky area swept by sandstorms, withrge and small caves clustered together. The habitat of the lizardmen. I locked eyes with one of them, gnawing on a scorpion in front of a cave. Karak? Its eyes widened. I could just rush in, but. I looked back at the others. Maybe Ill observe for a bit. Blue light leaked from Katiios eyes. At the same time, his hands moved in aplex dance. As his fingers intertwined and separated, transparent magical energy fluttered like threads. Eloka murmured. Hes using sigils. (T/N: Sigil: type of hand signs used in magic.) Katiiopleted his gestures and extended his hands backward. At the tip of his palms, magic formed an egg-shaped construct. [A dimensional gate has been created!] [Through the dimensional gate, equipment and consumables stored in the armory can be summoned to the battlefield.] Its like the one we use to store the items in the weekly dungeon. What was it called? Dimensional gate. Ah, right! Thats it. [Tips/About the Mages Dimensional Gate] [Mage ss can create a dimensional gate. Under certain conditions, it can summon not only items but also mounts or airships.] Its for replenishing potions or arrows. Wait, does that mean I can fire as much as I want? I nodded. Even with an expanded quiver, a hundred arrows is the limit. But with a mage, the stock multiplies several times. Its almost an infinite supply. The same went for potions. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 129: (2) Chapter 129: (2) As long as theyre stored in a designated ce in the armory, the right consumables can be taken out as needed. Its useless now without a master, though. There are a few other limitations. But it was clear that this madebat more flexible. Dimensional magic is quite an advanced high-level spell Eloka swallowed hard. I turned my gaze forward and said. You can close it. Its useless here anyway. ck, tter! Human! Die! [Lizardman Lv.27] X 31 [Lizardman Shaman Lv.29] X 2 Lizardmen poured out of the cave, surrounding us. They brandished their weapons towards the sky, ring at us with furious eyes. tter! The small-statured lizardman in the lead charged at us, clutching a spear. I stepped lightly, swinging my sword down. Swish. A severed arm, trailing a streak of red blood, flew through the air. The creature let out a pitiful scream and copsed. Just do what we always do. Right. Here I go. Me, Velkist, and Jenna began the battle with expressions devoid of tension. We formed a triangr formation around Eloka and Katiio in the center, repelling the enemies. Eloka, with her eyes closed, began chanting. I never imagined I would be doing this here. Katiio muttered bitterly, pulling out a small hexagonal stone from his pocket. It was enveloped in a blue aura. It seemed to be a magic stone. Attribute Enhancement, Activation. Katiio threw the magic stone. The surrounding rocks and sand swirled around the magic stone, gathering to form a massive human-like figure. A golem? The 3-meter tall golem, uttering a strange moan, swung its arms. The lizardmans face was ttened like a pancake. Attribute Enhancement, Pration. Katiio took out a second magic stone. [Katiio () applies attributes to the entire 1st Party!] [Consumable Item Magic Stone of Strength Enhancement (Low-Grade)] [The entire partys strength increases.] I quickly checked my stats. My strength had increased by about 5. A strength-enhancing stone. Each time the magic stone shattered in Katiios hand, light seeped into the entire body of the party members. All abilities increased. A simple yet efficient buff. Then I looked at Katiio. Teleportation. The light-enshrouded golem appeared, having jumped a distance of 10 meters. Telekinesis. Higher than Elokas level by several grades. It was strong enough to solidify the sand into a high wall. Shield. The bolt shot by a crossbow-wielding lizardman ricocheted off, powerless. Even interference with spells. The red glow disappeared from the staff of the lizardman shaman who was casting a berserking spell. ck? Why is the power Velkist split the creatures head in half. Next to him, Elokas me burst forth. A charred body, ignited by the explosion, scattered. Eloka withdrew her hand and opened a mana potion. You dont have to. Blue mana threads seeped into Eloka. Uh, what. It seems mana transfer is also possible. A few minutester. The courtyard in front of the cave was piled high with the bodies of lizardmen. Jenna muttered. How many things he can do? Why dont you ask directly? I flicked the blood off my sword de and sheathed it. A few were left, but it was fine. They were huddled in a corner, trembling. Its really fascinating. I thought all magicians just sted fire or lightning. Traditionally, thats the norm. Elemental magic has a history of thousands of years, a prestigious Remnants of the old generation. Yes, remnants of the old generation not! Smooth dodge. I chuckled lightly. I dont feel it. I think the female magician is better. Its not apparent on the outside. In small-scale, short-term battles, elemental mages are naturally more efficient. I dont know how you guys fight, so I cant adjust to it. Katiio grumbled, looking at the scattered corpses. Over 50 in total. We were unscathed. You seem to fight better than I thought. So, are you ready to do this properly? With a thrust. I ended the life of one more creature. Thest monster. As the Stage Clear message appeared, my body began to be enveloped in light. But fighting here, instead of Ha Take your time to think. We have plenty of it. Theres still a lot of time. It would be good to judge after estimating this mission. There are definitely forms where elemental mages struggle. Anytng, who logged in in the evening, seemed to have a simr thought. Initially, I tried to put her in the 2nd party, but after Ediss refusal message popped up, I didnt force a reshuffle. I just gave Katiio instructions for research and airship management. After finishing the basic instructions, a popup window appeared for Anytng. A message that had appeared several times since thest raid. [Master, an unidentified channel chat has been detected.] [Would you like to check it?] [Yes(Select) / No] Even Anytng, who had been consistently ignoring it, touched Yes out of curiosity. Sinene > Hey. Sinene > Feels good using someone elses hero and airship, huh? Sinene > Worthless ***. Youre done for. Treating you kindly and you see people as fools. Sinene > Think this is the end? LOL. There were a few like you. Just wait, one week from now. [Chat has ended.] The chat window disappeared. Anytng continued the game as if nothing happened. He should give up. All the main heroes were dead, and the magicians and airships were taken. Every core facility was burned down, and the facility levels had also dropped. Its a significant loss, requiring more than a month and a huge amount of gems for recovery. Yet, the attitude was overly confident. Theres something to do before moving on to the main mission. Yu. Yu continued. Dont use the fleet. Unless they target Niflheimr. If thats not my response, then theres no point in returning to Townia. But theres also a risk involved. I have something else in mind. I finished my drink to thest drop. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 130: (1) Chapter 130: (1) Several dayster in the afternoon. I stood with my arms crossed against the wall of the dimensional rift. In front of me, there was the disassembled appearance of the Capitalism ship. Beyond its iron framework, various devices and the blue-light emitting circr dimension core were visible. Clunk. Clunk clunk. Radi, in a yellow maintenance outfit, was repairing the interior. A belt with a spanner, hammer, and a small bag filled with screws was hanging around her waist. How long will it take? Were too short on manpower. At least a week is needed. It could be more. Radi pushed back her bangs and tightened a screw. On the deck, Katiio was busy infusing magic into the dimension core. Various forms of magic circles appeared and disappeared. It would be great if we could use the hijacked airship right away, but unfortunately, its not that simple. ording to Katiio, he was in the process of substituting default values for dimensional position changes. It seems to mean that it takes time. But why are you loitering around? You look like you have somewhere to go. Dont tell me you want to go back to Ha? Why not? I wouldnt rmend it. Katiio stopped his hands. A shadow fell over his face. [Hey, you viins, can you hear me!] A loud voice echoed through the dimensional rift. I turned around. [If you can hear me, answer. This is Captain Iselle, destined to be the King of Pirates!] The voice wasing from inside the airship. I changed direction, leaped onto the airship, and stepped onto the deck. Themunicator was working, huh. [Magician brat, you, traitor! How could you repay the kindness of being fed and sheltered like this? When youe back, youll get five hundred spankings on the butt!] Whirring. A translucent hologram appeared from the dashboard. A slender figure. Dressed in red, wearing a triangr hat and an eyepatch, it was Has Iselle. [Are you keeping clean? The manifestation of justice is not far away. If you repent while crying now, I might spare you.] Iselle got into the rhythm and started doing some weird moves. [Though typhoons rage and fierce winds blow, The Pirate King, undaunted, shell show! Rising time and again with might, Leading her golden fleet through the night. Invincible on the endless sea, The ultimate ruler, forever shell be~] Just state your business. [Its my theme song for my entrance. You should listen till the end.] I reached out to the dashboard. [Ah, okay! Dont turn it off! Ill talk.] The fairy adjusted the angle of her triangr hat and stood tall. [Ahem, I havee to dere war.] Deration of war? [Youll be surprised when you hear it. By mymand, the golden fleet is assembling.] The fairy spun her body around and pointed behind her. Crackle. The hologram screen slightly shook, and then the scenery changed. The dimensional rift, a hangar. Several airships were stationary. [How about that? Just looking at it is impressive, right?] Did youe here to brag? Shell continue to talk even if you dont want to listen. Katiio muttered with a bored look. Regardless, the fairy continued. [I contacted you because I wanted to give you a chance.] A chance. [Yes, a special opportunity to join the invincible fleet. Thest lifeline. Yourst chance! Soon, that ce will turn into a sea of fire under our bombardment.] The fairy coughed a couple of times. [Your achievements were impressive to me too. Han Israt! The giant hunter of the sandstorm. Thats enough to share in my glory.] She must have seen the MyTube videos. Whirring. A device next to the dashboard made noise and something popped out of a hole. I picked it up. . What are you going to do? It may seem like that, but its not easy. He has actually seeded before. Seven airships were visible in the background. Combining the total power, he has about a hundred heroes in seven airships. Theres also a high possibility of having more, a plus alpha. [Preparations are alreadyplete. Ive received enough support. If youe here, Ill personally propose to the Master to stop the invasion.] Are the preparations all finished? [I can fight and win against anyone!] Iming now. Click. I pressed a button on the dashboard, and the hologram turned off. I said to Katiio, who was staring at me with a nk expression. Get this airship ready to leave immediately. Its still under maintenance Weve dismantled the outer panels, and in this condition, a single shot can turn it into a pile of scrap metal Its okay. Just get me there. The deration of war meant that the battle preparations wereplete. There was no need to wait for more fish to gather. Itll take 10 minutes. Nuna! We can do it. We just need to get it back to where it was originally. I left the two arguing behind me and stepped out of the dimensional rift. I looked up at the sky. Dark ck. The Master is not connected. If not now, when? Summoning weapons from Niflheimr. Only three chances. Difficult to use during missions, and preparation is cumbersome. But now, the conditions were met. I went back to my room. Nothing special. Put on armor, hang a dagger sheath, carry potions. Three things and its done. Where are you going? I bumped into Edis whileing out of the corridor, Just for a walk. I answered nonchntly and passed by. Returning to the dimensional rift, two people were waiting. We managed somehow. The location setting is also done. Radi wiped her sweat and looked back at the airship. Its framework was still exposed. Katiio grumbled. Its a foolish act. Just one hit and it can crash. Thank you. Are you really going? Alone at that. Everyone must be waiting to strike. Youre not really betraying everyone No, if that was the case, why did you persuade me I lightly tapped Katiios head. Ill be back soon. Keep todays events a secret. Dont tell anyone. Leaving the two behind, I boarded the airship. As I entered the cockpit, a hologram appeared. [Capitalism!] [ess granted.] [Auto-pilot mode is set.] I touched the start button at the bottom. With a light vibration, the airship began to move. [Han() embarks on an expedition!] This log should be erased. I stepped out onto the deck. Katiio was looking up at me. What on earth. Katiio, who seemed about to say something to me, eventually turned his head. Do as you like. I dont know anymore. I smiled silently. Then, the airship pierced through the swirl of dimensions and emerged. [Dimension 1935 Townia] An unchanging destendscape. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 130: (2) Chapter 130: (2) Then, the airship pierced through the swirl of dimensions and emerged. [Dimension 1935 Townia] An unchanging destendscape. I entered the cockpit and pressed a button on the dashboard. [Hey, why did you cut off themunication like that!] Your Master, is he connected right now? [Why are you asking that?] Answer my question. [Uh, no?] Good. I opened my mouth. Tell everyone to prepare for death. Click. I cut off themunication and stepped outside. Once again, thendscape changed. [Dimension 3847 Ha] I took a deep breath. On the other side of the tower, the swirl of dimensions was spitting out one airship after another. On each airship, there were installed balistas, catapults, and magic cannons allrge and various weapons. Its of higher grades than this one. Both the scale and equipment were superior. Even if the Union Guild is rich, they wouldnt give such airships for free. They must be temporarily lent. [You arrogant bastard!] On a medium airship 50m away, the fairy stood with her cloak fluttering. Next to her, a line of small airships floated side by side. [I told you Im a merciless fairy. There wont be a second chance!] The fairy looked over this way and snorted. [Whats with the state of your airship? Can you even fight properly? Where are your subordinates?] [Anyway, youre out! Even if you kneel and beg now, I wont show mercy!] Crackle! Blue magic energy began to gather at the cannon installed at the bow. I took off my left leather glove. I looked at the ring on my left hand. A faint golden light swirled on its surface, and streamlined characters emerged. One turn to the left. Then two turns to the right. The ring was bathed in golden light. Number 47. I extended my right hand forward. Something solid touched my hand. Grasping it and pulling it out, a dazzlingly bright white sword appeared. I adjusted my grip on the hilt. sh! A magic cannon charged with the power of lightning shot straight towards me. I lightly swung down the sword. [Fragarach (S+) absorbed the attack!] Suddenly, the space in front became blurry, and the magic cannon seemed to curve and was absorbed into the de. [What, what?] Fragarach. Its grade is S+. It can reflect, absorb, or mitigate all physical and magical damage depending on its power. Number 89. I pulled a small orb from thin air. The orb, resembling an eyeball, flickered ominously in purple. Inserting it into my left eye, the orb vanished in light. [Special ability activated!] [Eye of Argus (S) is now in effect.] [Acquired Skill Thousand Eyes (Lv. Max)] I closed and then opened my eyes. I looked at the airship in front of me. Its exterior became transparent, revealing the interior. Numerous mechanical devices andponents, and even the heroes moving inside the ship. The Thousand Eyes. It was the ultimate evolution skill for detecting weaknesses, which could only be activated with a special item. The control room is below? The dimension core was shing red. [What, whats going on? Why isnt it working!] The shes of light from the magic cannon werepletely extinguished by Fragarach. The same went for the arrows from the ballista and the stones from the catapult. The power is so high that it cannot be reflected, but this is enough. Number 11. A golden spear appeared in my left hand. Gungnir. Crack! Suddenly, lightning struck from the sky. Lightning gathered at the tip of the spear. I let go of Fragarach. The white sword floated in the air and began to move on its own. It had umted enough magic for automatic defense. I narrowed my eyes. Besides the dimension core, two other ces were shing red. They were the weaknesses of that particr airship. Golden lightning rippled on the de of the spear. Holding the spear, I said, Ever heard of pay to win? [P-, Pay to win?] Ill show you. Its not really my style, though. I threw the spear. Wham! The spear, transformed into a bolt of lightning, covered tens of meters in an instant. The lightning pierced through the airships thick exterior and solid interior, prated the dimension core, then detonated the fuel line and pierced through the control room. Heroes caught in the path of the lightning turned to ash and vanished. One. Boom! The airship exploded, sending up smoke. I extended my hand. The spear flew back and twirled around it. I have no intention of leaving any behind. Theres no use in taking them. Even if I take them, we cant use them. We neither have the resources nor the ability to operate several airships. Six airships remained. Destroy everything. Lightning began to gather at the tip of the spear again. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 131: (1) Chapter 131: (1) I readjusted my grip on the spear and lowered my stance. Although a relentless barrage of magic arrows and ballista bolts flew towards me, they vanished upon hitting the translucent wall. [What kind of absurdity is this?] The fairy muttered. [How can such a thing exist? Destroying an airship with a single blow!] It exists. Two. I hurled Gungnir upwards. In an instant, the spear transformed into lightning, angling sharply and prating the side of the airship which was tens of meters away. Piercing through and through. Layers of steel tes and alloy couldnt stop it. [Wait, time out! Time out!] Bang! The second airship began to lose control and started to crash. The lightning pursued the falling airship, striking back and forth. The airship, having lost all propulsion, started falling into the void and eventually exploded. As I waved my hand, the spear returned and coiled around it. I prepared to throw the third spear. Four airships remained. Three. The third bolt of lightning wasunched. The targeted airship turned sharply, but couldnt shake it off. The spear pierced through the airships vital points, which shattered with noise and scattered. [How is this possible?] The fairys face turned ashen. Ignoring Iselle, who stood there stupidly, I fired the fourth bolt of lightning. This time, the spearhead was aimed at the dozens of heroes parachuting down. The lightning zigzagged several times among them. The fifth bolt of lightning pierced the airship vertically. The airship, emitting smoke and mes, fell downwards. I retrieved the spear. How many did I kill? At least a hundred. Thanks to the skills effect, I could see clearly from a distance. Most were the same ones killed in thest invasion. A few unfamiliar heroes were mixed in. There wont be a second time. There will be no pain. Their bodies will burn up and vanish instantly upon contact. Two airships remained. I stopped my hand, which was about to extend the spear. A small airship wobbled towards us. Amplified voices echoed from the control room on the deck. Thud! A blue bolt of lightning struck the control room. The ss shattered along with the mes. The airship caught fire and began to slowly spiral down. Now only one remained. It was the same medium-sized airship riding by that fool who calls herself the Pirate King or something. After retrieving Fragarach, I flicked my hand. The white sword turned into particles and disappeared. I reached towards my left eye. A purple orb emerged and was likewise sent back. The only weapon remaining was Gungnir. I slung the spear on my back and entered the control room. Turning the helm, I set a new course. Capitalism moved towards the airship. The medium-sized airship hadnt been struck by lightning yet but was already tattered. The proudly boastedrge-caliber magic cannon bent to the right, and the pirs and railings werepletely destroyed. One side of the deck was on fire. The imposing fairy who stood proudly at the stern was nowhere to be seen. Thump. Finally, the fronts of the two airships made contact. Gripping the spear tightly, I climbed onto the deck of the other airship. Oh my god! A shadow sprang out from behind a pir. I reflexively swung my spear. Argh! The man who was hit by the shaft of the spear vomited blood. Oh, my mistake. Why You suddenly appeared. You scared me. The mans eyes rolled back, and he fainted. Ah, General! The door leading inside the ship burst open, and people swarmed out. Roughly around seventeen of them. They prostrated themselves before me and began to bow. We dared not recognize the hero andmitted a grave rudeness! Spare our lives! Well live righteously if we return! I have a fox-like daughter and a rabbit-like wife in my family Their screams and cries were mixed, making it hard to understand them. I straightened my spear and spoke. I have no business with you. Where is the fairy? They all pointed to the control room at once. I walked forward. A few steps in, a man who was sobbing and sniveling grabbed my hem and copsed. Take us with you! Let go. If we return, well be synthesized. Were all going to die! Thud! Ouch! Stop this nuisance. I kicked the man away and headed to the control room. Entering, I saw the fairys back, looking out the rear window. [Youvee.] The fairy turned around. A stick was in her mouth. [Huh, is this thest candy Ill eat in this world?] The fairy, sucking on the candy like a cigarette, half-opened her mouth. [I lost. So stop this and go back.] Bring the oil. [I will never give] Crack! A sh of lightning sparked from the tip of Gungnir. Wheres the oil? [J-Just, just a moment.] I aimed the de of the spear. The fairy, flustered, backed away. [Go away! Donte! Its enough already!] Enough what? I hadnt spared them out of mercy. My airship was running low on fuel. I will take the fuel here and then leave on Capitalism. Then, maybe Ill y more with them. [What more do you want to do? Youve done enough. We lost so many airships and heroes. Were already groggy! In a state of surrender! You won! What more do you want to do?] You dont know how to surrender, do you? [Ah, alright, Ill surrender! I, Pirate King Iselle, admit defeat] I doubt your master would be happy with you. The fairy hung her head. Then [You, you rotten bastard!] The fairy threw the candy she was sucking on. Then she copsed to the floor and started crying. [What are you exactly! Just when we were recovering and barely surviving, you brought out strange weapons and destroyed everything! How much more do you need to be satisfied, huh?] [Were finished! The airships you destroyed, were all borrowed. Theyre not ours. We have to pay them back! Do you know how much debt that is? I cant pay it off even if I work my whole life. And now youre tormenting us again You, you, you evil jerk!] The fairyy facedown, crying bitterly. [Do you think I wanted to be this? Pirate King Iselle? Screw that!] The fairy threw down her tricorn hat. She took off her eyepatch and stomped on it several times. [I wanted to meet a master as cool as Loki and bask in glory] [At first, he did everything earnestly. He carefully nurtured heroes and steadily expanded the facilities, but then at some point, it all changed] The fairy continued through sobs. [I didnt want to be just a thief I wanted to be a hero] [Dont look at me! You want fuel, right?! Inside the ship, left corridor, second room! Theres a fuel tank. Take everything. Just end it all! Kill me too, why dont you? Tear it apart, tear it apart!] With a tear-stained face, the fairy fumbled in her pockets. A crumpled pile of papers fell out. [If that damn master had just changed his mind, we could have climbed back up the tower! I was all prepared! Now its all ruined!] The fairy threw the papers. I shifted my gaze. The papers were densely filled with text. It was one of the strategies I had posted in the cafe. [Hmph!] The fairy, wiping her face with a sleeve, stood up. [I wont go down disgracefully like my other sisters. Ill go out in style.] The fairy carefully put the tricorn hat and eyepatch back on, then fluttered her cape. [What are you looking at? I told you where it is. Take it and do whatever you want with the waiting room. Fold it. Im sick of it all.] [Go away. And whoever you are, dont misuse the name Loki again.] One fairy per ount. When the master folds, they vanish together. I recalled the desperate appearance of Iselle. It must be for survival. Well, its not like I didnt know. Everyone wanted to survive. And not just me, but all heroes in Pick Me Up. [] I turned my back. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 131: (2) Chapter 131: (2) Everyone wanted to survive. And not just me, but all heroes in Pick Me Up. [] I turned my back. Just doing what needs to be done. I did spare them. Those who didnt resist, I had spared. This time more thoroughly. Not leaving even a little base for recovery. [Sob] Sigh. I stopped in my tracks. Hey. [What! Just go away!] What happens to the master if youre not around? [What are you talking about?] If you disappear, how will the waiting room operate? Im asking if it will function properly. The fairys eyes widened in confusion. It was a look of not understanding what I meant. Iselle hesitated, then spoke. [If Im not there it probably wont work well.] Really? The fairy was responsible for rying and executing the mastersmands. If they disappeared, it would undoubtedly cause significant operational issues. I once asked Yu back in Niflheimr. I asked if it would work properly without a fairy. The answer I got was, Its possible in Niflheimr. I can be the fairys substitute for that. Hmm. [But we cant leave our assigned ces. Stop talking nonsense and just go.] I rested my chin on my hand. Yu. Is Iselle still sightseeing over there? Yu continued after a brief pause. The likelihood? I pondered this. I weighed the pros and cons. [Who are you talking to?] I nced briefly at the fairy. Tears had dried on her chubby cheeks. There were users like that sometimes. Commands are given but not followed, and the screen constantly stutters. Unable to even issue basic instructions, let alone missions. Typically known as bug ounts. Hey. [What?] Come to Niflheimr. Theres a spot open. The fairy looked at me with wide eyes, then suddenly burst into anger. [Stop joking around!] Like it or not? [Its not about liking or disliking, its impossible! If I leave my assigned ce, the head offices management team wille to kill me! Men in ck suits with ck brooches, powerful ones, theylle for me] The space beside me bent, and ck brooches ttered to the ground. The fairys eyes bulged. She hurriedly collected the brooches. [Where did you get these?] Theres no easy way out. Like it or not. The decision was made. Itll take some time to bring you there. The distance from Niflheimr to here was quite significant. Considering the measures to take during that time Suddenly, the surroundings darkened. I stepped out of the control room and looked up. The sky had turned ck. I scanned the sky again. A giant mountain was covering the sky. I sighed. [What in the world is this] Height 448m. Niflheimrs airship, Brynhildr01. You never listen. What is that thing! A monster! People huddled in a corner of the deck, trembling. It was too massive to be considered an airship at first nce. How many did you bring? Thats good. Open the gate. Creaking. Like a demons mouth opening, the bottom split apart. A ck hole gaped open. Save us! General! General! I ignored the panicking crowd and approached the fairy. The distance to the passage was closing. [Could it be] The fairys eyes caught the airship emblem. The symbol of Niflheimr. [You, you are, you, you, yooouu!] I grabbed the fairys wing with one hand. [Loki!] And threw her into the airship. Brynhildr01 swallowed Iselle, then closed the passage and began to ascend slowly. From now on, you guys go into the waiting room. Weed out the useful ones. Exclude those who participated in the looting. Leave no trace. Its a hassle otherwise. Can you manipte this battles data? Do it if possible, otherwise leave it. Brynhildr01 began moving towards the tower. Is that giant monster the Generals Goodness, General! The greatest hero of all time Stop it, I wont take you. I smiled and moved on. After retrieving the fuel tank, Ill return to Capitalism. The mission is nowpleted. I had prepared a few excuses. Crack. The formless Gungnir returned to its original ce. The first use. Now only two more weapon summoning opportunities remained. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 132: The Vast Sea (1) (1) Chapter 132: The Vast Sea (1) (1) Several dayster, one evening. What on earth did you do? Katiio came to me. I replied, What do you mean? You said that guy came in with a fleet of airships, even dering war. But then he just turned around with his half-destroyed fleet and returned as if nothing happened. Yeah after I convinced him. Convinced him?! I nodded. Thats just absurd Iughed. Katiio, being the only one who was on the scene that day, found it hard to believe. Even so, I couldnt tell him. Frustrated, Katiio left the room grinding his teeth. This is strange. Since that day, Has master, who used to send abusive chats to Anytng every day, became quiet. The Golden Fleet, which threatened to turn this ce into a sea of fire, was nowhere to be seen. Naturally. They were all destroyed. Asking Yu, she said Has Master had given up on the game. He simply cant operate the waiting room without a fairy. I had once seen such a control window; it was a dismal environment just by looking at it. The screen would freeze every three seconds, and icons wouldnt respond when clicked. The heroes of gathering and crafting, who were the foundation of the waiting room, hadrgely disappeared. Did he say he sent a bug report? Unable to find a sharp solution, he eventually quit the game. I wish I was there to see his face. Anyway, the annoying guy was gone. I was concerned his backing might cause trouble, but ording to Yus report, there was no such sign. Then it was time to move on. The next evening. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] [Loadingplete.] [T O U C H ! (Select)] Anytng, having logged into the game, skipped the announcements and went straight to the hero tab. Then, he started reorganizing the party. Hebined the 4th and 5th parties, which had lost members, and sent them to the third floor. Then, promising rookies from the first floor were moved to the second floor and given training orders. Heroes with maxed levels were promoted. Gatherers were sent to daily dungeons. He was now quite adept at this. Katiio is Seemed like he decided to hold off for now. Apart from orders for research and airship maintenance, he wasnt sent to any particr party. It looks like a month of rest. Ping! Jenna released her hand from the bowstring. The arrow hit the center of the target. The red part of the target was already filled with arrows. I dont understand why this is taking so long. Do you know, senior? Hard to say. With each swing of Velkists sword, deep marks were engraved on the iron dummy. It looks like hes thinking about partyposition. Eloka, who had been rolling a fireball in her palm in a corner of the training ground, shuddered. Velkist put down his sword and said, It means hes pondering who to remove from the first party. What are you talking about? Were perfect as we are. Such a foolish thought. Why are you so angry? Velkist smirked. Are you afraid Eloka rolled her eyes and entered the magic hall with angry steps. Bang! This is ridiculous. Dont tease her. Its impossible that the master would remove her. Shes so important to our party. Right, Oppa? Jenna said to me, still not releasing her hand from the bowstring. She hit the target again. Partyposition. I looked at Anytngs control window. Anytng seemed to be pondering something with the hero box open. Velkist might be right. What did I tell you. Of course, thats only half the answer. Iughed. Would he remove Eloka? Maybe someone else, but not her. To utilize Elokas magic, we learned fire resistance and practiced rted formations. But to remove her now would be against the party concept. If Amkena gave such an order, I would refuse. The same goes for other members. I wouldnt be removed, and Jenna was crucial for mid-range firepower. Velkist and I were the attackers at the front, and without Neryssa, wed face problems in information warfare. The bnce is right. All five members had clear roles. If efficiency had fallen, we would have reced members long ago. What Anytng was actually pondering was probably whether to put Katiio in a sub-party or not. If the abilities of party members dont back up a support-type wizard, efficiency plummets. Eventually, Anytng closed the hero box without any action. And then, several dayster, one evening. [First party, gather up!] Iselles voice echoed in the training ground. It had been a while since thest call. We quickly got ready and headed to the first-floor za. There were still no changes to the party. Eloka said confidently, See, I told you. Elemental magicians are the best. Let that wizard y with his airships. Ill shine in the mission. Why are you suddenly feelingpetitive? He doesnt even care about you. Anyway, lets go. Eloka coughed and walked ahead. Poor sister. Shes probably fixed in the party anyway. Who said that. Youre more likely to be removed than Eloka, Neryssa said with a smile. That wont happen. Are you sure? Insolent woman, looking for death Save the love quarrel forter. I pushed Velkists back from behind. Velkist entered the space rift with a displeased expression. Then, Jenna, Neryssa, and I entered, and the door closed. [Climb the tower, save the world!] [Main Dungeon: Current Floor 30] The mirror in the middle of the space rift shone. The meaning was clear. Jenna gripped her bow tightly. Finally. This time, I hope its somewherefortable, not like a maze or desert. For example? A flower garden. Thats the worst. Such fields usually have man-eating nts or underground monsters. I didnt reply. Where we go isnt up to us. We have to adapt to the situation. [Main Dungeon, Current Challenge Floor: 31] [10 seconds until the door opens. Get ready!] [Recording the mission. Gamey records will be preserved.] The familiar system message appeared. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 132: The Vast Sea (1) (2) Chapter 132: The Vast Sea (1) (2) We were ready. 10 secondster. The light from the mirror enveloped us. As the light faded, I slowly opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was the mission objective window in the top right corner of my vision. [Floor 31.] [Mission Type Exploration] [Objective Search the designated area!] Its good to see the objective from the start. I took a breath and looked around. Huh? Jenna let out a deted sound. Swoosh. Ssh. I looked up. A wide, blue sky. I looked down. Waves rolling beyond, the horizon stretching to the end of my sight. Where, where is this?! Why is there so much water? Is this the rumored sea? Velkist groaned. Jenna jumped around in panic. But this ce is! Dont jump. It shakes. I examined the floor. The nks were crudely intertwined. It was about 10 meters wide, with a pir and a small sail in the center. A carelessly ced oars were next to the pir. Huh. I chuckled. To summarize the situation, Neryssa said in a calm voice. Weve been summoned to a boat on the sea. What, what? What is this? Why suddenly such a ce? I dont know either. Neryssa finished speaking and looked at me. At the same time, three pairs of eyes turned to me. They want me to sort it out. I sighed and said, Alright, alright. What should we do? First, check whats on the boat. There should be useful items. I muttered and started walking. There was a wooden barrel at the bow. I opened it. It contained simple food and water. Oppa, theres something strange here. I took what Jenna handed to me. A circr object fitting in the palm, with a long needle visible inside the ss. It was apass. Didnt you find a map? I put thepass in my pocket and asked. Velkist shook his head. Neryssa did the same. I also searched but found nothing. The only things on the boat were food, water, apass, and oars. Eloka spoke with a ridiculous expression, This is nonsense. Thrown into the sea and told to explore. Should have asked to be sent to the desert. There must be a reason were here. I took out thepass again and examined it. What should we do? We have to row around. I lifted the oar with my foot and grabbed it. Well go in the direction thepass points. I looked at the mast. The sail fluttered in the wind. The wind direction is roughly right. One peculiarity was the prepared food and water. It was likely a long-term mission. I put my hand on my forehead. Annoying. This was more bothersome than a maze. Two oars and five people. We can row in pairs. Oar? You mean that wide wooden stick? You row with it to move forward. I had never done it myself. I had to find out how while doing it. The presence of oars meant that relying on wind alone would be slow. I have a question. Everyones gaze focused on me. Do any of you know how to swim? Everyone became mute. Damn it. Well need swimming lessons when we return to the waiting room. Anyway, the mission was given. Like it or not, we had to do it. I assigned pairs. Me with Velkist, Jenna with Neryssa. What about me? Youre out. Why? I can do it too. Eloka protested. The bnce wont be right. If the strength of two people rowing on each side isnt simr, the direction might veer off. It wasnt for no reason that I paired a warrior and a rogue together. Then what should I Sit still. And. This was the key point. I lowered my voice and said, Never use fire magic. If you dont want to be fish food. Eloka froze on the spot. She looked like she had been hit hard on the back of her head. Oh, no Think about it. This is the sea. The boat is wood. If it catches fire, we all die. Elokas mes dont extinguish easily even when doused with water. Moreover, as the casting involves igniting the casters body, it was dangerous in itself. Thepatibility was the worst. If she had used wind magic, the situation would have beenpletely different. There would have been no need to row with such effort. Alright. Eloka lowered her head. There was no choice. Elementalists are the most affected by the characteristics of the field. If such fields continue after the 31st floor Shes out. Ill think about it after the mission is over. I grabbed the oar. We always end up doing all sorts of things. Velkist muttered from the opposite side. If its hard, let me know. Ill switch right away. Go to sleep. It wont be soon. It was nothingpared to our usual training intensity. I held the oar upside down and put it in the hole next to the boat. Then I let go and stood up. Ha. Bubbles were rising near the boat. Dark shadows emerged from the waves. [Carnivorous Shark Lv.18] X 9 [Merman Lv.31] X 2 Thud! Suddenly, the boat rocked violently. The boat, almost flipping over, barely stabilized. Oppa! I could handle ten or a hundred on solid ground, but this was above the sea. Dont panic. Get ready to fight. We all started preparing for battle. Sharks and mermen. Amonbination in the sea. If the boat flips, its over. Thud! The boat shook again. ck shadows moved chaotically under the water. The streamlined bodies briefly appeared. I took off my gloves and drew a dagger. Without hesitation, I cut my palm. Blood oozed out with a sharp pain. Jenna, cover me. I took off the swords sheath and ced it against the mast. Ssh! I dived into the sea. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 133: The Vast Sea (2) (1) Chapter 133: The Vast Sea (2) (1) Really, youre impossible to work with. p! Jenna smacked my back. Why hit me? It hurts. You should have said something before leaving. You startled me. I did say something. Is that what you call saying something? Jenna, cover me. And then you just jump into a sea teeming with monsters. I thought my heart was going to stop. Jenna finished wrapping a bandage around my palm and sprayed some potion on it. A sharp pain shot through my wrist. I moved my left hand. The pain was bearable. There was no significant hindrance in movement. Somehow, it worked out. I looked around. Shark and merman corpses were floating on the sea. The ocean was stained red with their blood. The tactic was simple. Using sharks attraction to the smell of blood, I cut my palm and then lured them away from the ship. The sharks were dealt with using daggers and Jennas covering fire. The mermen were handled by the rest of the party. It was an improvisation, but it seemed to work well. I put on a glove on my left hand and stood up. After gauging the direction on thepass, I grabbed the oar. Lets go. We dont have time. Can you row with that injured hand? Its just a scratch. Its nothing. Eloka sighed quietly. She hadnt been able to do anything in this battle. She had telekinesis, but it wasnt strong enough to be her main force. Sister. Jenna looked at Eloka with a bitter expression. Eloka hung her head and crouched in a corner of the boat. This isnt a ce Id like to stay long. Velkist rowed from the right side. I synchronized his movements. Thus, the boat began to cut through the sea with the power of wind and oars. The waves were almost non-existent. The water surface was calm, and the wind direction matched our destination. After about two hours. A column of water shot up, and a dark figure appeared. [Merman Lv. 32] About 2 meters tall. It had a bizarre appearance, like a mix of fish and human. Water dripped off its dark blue scales. Kyaaa! The creature that climbed aboard the boat spat and roared. Thud! Buahh! My oar, now half-crushed, collided with the creatures face brutally. After finishing off the twitching merman with a dagger, I threw it back into the sea. These guys have a habit of climbing onto boats, remember that. Itll be a big help. Wow, that was quick. Lets switch now. Neryssa and Jenna took over the oars. The boat resumed its voyage, though at a slightly slower pace. There werent any major crises. asionally, sharks would circle under the water, and mermen would cause trouble. After all, it was just a sub-stage. As long as we stayed alert, the chance of failing was almost none. The problem is when this mission ends. The boat steadily followed thepass. I needed to know whether the next mission would have a simr environment or if there would be changes. If the 32nd floor progresses like this It cant be helped. I looked at Eloka. Though she said she could row using telekinesis, it seemed difficult, and she ended up just being a burden. Why am I in this state He magician woman, why not try learning different magic? You think its that easy? The fundamental concepts arepletely different. Eloka pulled up her knees. Then, after a whole day and night. [Stage Clear!] [Han(), Jenna(), Level Up!] [Rewards 150,000G, Tropical Fruit X 3, Mermaid Scale(Low-grade) X 5] [MVP Han()] We cleared the mission on the ship at the sea. Its confirmed. The 32nd floor will be also on the same field. This mission is really annoying. Its cramped, my arms hurt, and its boring. Jenna murmured as if fed up and stepped through the space-time rift. Velkist followed, and Neryssa nced briefly at Eloka before heading to the za. Hey. What? It was at that moment that Eloka spoke. Anytng manipted the operation window. [Forming a party.] [Drag and drop a hero!] [Eloka() has been removed from 1st Party!] [Katiio() has joined 1st Party!] Ill try wind magic once we [Surpriiise!] Iselle appeared spinning a triple axel. [Eloka Revel Strassur! From today, youre out of the 1st party. Take a good rest until Master calls you!] After finishing, Iselle winked slyly and disappeared along with the light. I chuckled. Looks like thats the case. Take a rest? Yeah, its a holiday. For how long? The field concept tends to remain the same every 5 or 10 floors. I sighed and said. 35th floor or maybe 40th. Thats too long! If I rest that much, Ill get rusty! Cant help it. Its the Masters order. Theres no reason to object. If there was even a slight reason, I could have intervened, but considering the events on the 31st floor, there was nothing I could do. Elokas eyes shook as if there was an earthquake. Why such a reaction? You always sang about wanting to rest. But Dont worry. I wont abandon you. Ill call you when the time is right. Ugh, Ugh! Elokas face turned red, and she shouted. Master! To treat me as a hindrance! So Im useless, right? Ill learn other elements if I have to, just wait! Eloka stormed out through the space-time rift with angry steps. Different elements, huh. It wont be easy. Elementalists usually only have talent in one element. I should ask Chloe to make something tasty for her. It was unfortunate, but Eloka was out of this mission. I smiled bitterly and exited. The next evening. [1st Party, gather!] As expected, Anytng called the 1st party for the 32nd-floor stage. But there was one difference. Youre telling me to tag along with you? But the airship is still Stop talking ande. Wai-, wait! Aaah! I dragged Katiio down to the first floor. Afterwards, the door to the space-time rift closed. Eloka sister isnt here. Jenna twirled her red hair with her fingers. I told you. Shes noting this time. Hmm I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 133: The Vast Sea (2) (2) Chapter 133: The Vast Sea (2) (2) I dragged Katiio down to the first floor. Afterwards, the door to the space-time rift closed. Eloka sister isnt here. Jenna twirled her red hair with her fingers. I told you. Shes noting this time. Hmm Beforeing out, I saw her buried in a pile of books at the magic library. I spoke to Katiio, who was standing dumbfoundedly. From now on, youre temporarily part of the 1st party. Remember that. What, what? Why tell me this now! Youve been sleeping all day. I stayed up all night for maintenance! Anyway, thats how it is. Im sorry if its all of a sudden. Its, its okay. Katiio surveyed the 1st party members with unfamiliar eyes. Velkist narrowed his eyes. What are you looking at? Nothing. [Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is 32nd.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Get ready!] [Mission recording in progress. y records will be preserved.] The message for the mission start appeared. Well be back soon, right? Just before being engulfed in light, Jenna muttered. We will. Neryssa replied with a light smile. The view changed. [Floor 32.] [Mission Type Exploration] [Objective Search the designated area!] Salty wind brushed my cheeks. Sea and boat. The mission continued directly from the end of the 31st floor. The sea? Katiio tilted his head. I exined the basic outline of the mission to Katiio. Just follow the direction of thepass needle. Expect monster attacks along the way. Just follow thepass, right? Set the sail and row Why bother with that? Its so troublesome. Katiio spoke disdainfully and stretched out his hand. Magical threads spiraled behind the boat, forming a whirl. Whoosh! The boat shot forward like a motorboat. On the rocking boat, Velkist kept his bnce and asked. How did you do that? Is it wind magic? No, I created a makeshift propulsion device with magic. Strong wind hit my cheeks. Speed easily surpassing 20-30 km/h. The boat plowed through the water, leaving foam behind. Its a headwind this time. The wind was blowing in the opposite direction of our target. But the boat moved forward without any dy. Compared to the 31st floor, it was several times faster. It seems weve been toiling in vain till now. Velkist spoke with bitterness. Should we just throw away these oars? Just put them in the corner. In an instant, the oars had be useless. After a while. [Flesh-Eating Shark Lv.18] X 9 Dark shadows followed alongside the boat. I took off his gloves. I was the only one capable of swimming. Well do it the same way this time. You will lure them in and Ill cover, right? Thats right. I decided to cut my palm once I was in the water. Holding a dagger, I approached the edge of the boat. Hold on a second. Katiio dipped his right hand into the sea. Crackle! Float. Nine sharks surfaced around the boat, unconscious. Jennas eyes widened. What, what is this? I sent out an electromaic field to knock them out. Sharks have organs sensitive to electricity. Katiio answered. Velkist quietly spoke to me. What else can this guy do? Katiio waved his hand, and the boat set off again. I had asked what he could do before. I had even brought him to a battle to see it in action. But it seems there was so much more he was capable of doing. A mage schr after all. While individual mage schrs are talented in certain things, this one seemed capable of many things. I started an investigation with Katiio. You can manipte surface tension? Without hesitation, Katiio stepped outside the boat. Circr ripples spread as his feet touched the surface. Like this. Katiio was standing on the water. I can do this for you guys too. There are a few conditions though. It seems that we can move on the surface of the water if he supports us with his magic. While casting, other magic cannot be used, but the duration is almost infinite. If youre careful about strong impacts, it wont be dispelled even with rough movements. Its like acting on t ground. If this guy was with us on the 30th floor many things would have been different. Neryssa swallowed her words. Its not just water. You could even run vertically up a 90-degree cliff using magic. There would have been no need to risk climbing the arms of the statue. I was wrong about you. Youre very useful. Looking forward to working with you. Velkist said. Sister could do this too. She said shed learn it quickly. Elementalists cant. The nature of their magic is different. Katiio spoke firmly. Jenna lowered her head, looking disappointed. Well, well see. The boat continued to move. No need to row, no need to be on high alert. If enemies approached, Katiio would inform me before the appearance message even popped up. This mission seems ten times easier, doesnt it? Its just the right situation for it. Common foes were outrun by speeding up the boat, and if not, they were dealt with using auxiliary magic. The difficulty of this mission stemmed from the environment. With the conditions met, battles didnt evenst 5 minutes. Thus, a day and night passed. At the horizons edge. A faint brown dot floated. Neryssa narrowed her eyes. It looks like arge sailing ship. I looked at thepass. The red needle pointed in the direction of the ship. Thats the only option. Turning around, Katiio nodded and waved his hand. The speed of cutting through the water increased significantly. Gradually, the dot expanded. It was arge wooden sailing ship. Huge sails hung from multiple masts. The height difference was over 10 meters. Our boat slid through the water and attached to its rear. I looked up. On the railing inside the ship, someone was watching the sea with a troubled expression. Ha. A sigh escaped my lips. Golden eyes, holding the sea, suddenly suddenly shined on me. What! Did you fare well? What are you doing there! Its her again. I smiled bitterly. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 134: The Vast Sea (3) (1) Chapter 134: The Vast Sea (3) (1) As I finally came up on deck, Priasis retrieved the rope that had been draped over the railing. Her lips were tightly sealed in a straight line. Her eyes mixed with surprise and confusion. Her silver hair had grown a bit longer, and she wore a in dress. I looked around the ship. It wasrge enough to be called a sailing vessel, but there were hardly any people in sight. There was one man fiddling with the sail at the stern of the ship. You folks sure know how to surprise me time and again. Priasis spoke in a weak voice. Jennaughed awkwardly. Ah, hello? Whats with her? Why is she talking like that Ugh! Well be going inside to rest. Neryssa dragged Katiio into the ship. Youreing with me. I should leave too right? Yeah, it would be burdensome for the princess if we all crowded her at once, right? The other two also went inside. On the deck, only Priasis and I remained. As the silence lingered, I broke it. Should I go in too? I want to sleep. Priasis puffed her cheeks. Really! I have a mountain of questions. How did you end up on that small boat in the sea, how did you find the ships location, what on earth is your goal this time! Its a mission. Priasis looked at me, demanding a detailed exnation, but I didnt know either. How would I know? It just turned out this way while doing the mission. As I kept silent, Priasis sighed deeply. I thought I wouldnt get involved with you this time When we first met, you asked me to help. Why the change now? Back then I didnt know it would be this dangerous. Several of yourpanions have died, havent they? I told you to not feel burdened. Its not as easy as it sounds. Priasis hung her head. Indeed. It seems she feels burdened by us. I told her not to worry since we werent doing it for her, but knowing her personality, it wont be easy. So, where are we now? You came without even knowing that? Priasis looked at me as if it was ridiculous. Once again, I had no answer. We are in the southeastern seas of the continent, known as the Infinite Sea Got it. Tell me what youre looking for. Is it a key again? After a moments hesitation, she replied. Yes. The first was a desert, the second the sea. Quite the environmental shift. Priasis exined the events after the 30th floor. After defeating the statue, returning with the key, and having its authenticity recognized by the Assinis family, she was able to receive support for their subsequent search activities. This ship was lent by the family, as were the sailors. The man adjusting the sail nced over here before continuing his work. We also received a subsidy. I n to hire mercenaries on a nearby ind. With this, I should be able to find the key without your help. And if a monster like before appears? Priasis coughed awkwardly. Well, anyway, well turn the ship back to the port No need for mercenaries. Dont call anyone. If you dont want to increase the body count. Then Just show us the way. Well handle the rest. The situation was simr to the 30th floor. The only difference was a change in members. Still as stubborn as ever. Priasis gave a bitter smile. Sorry, but we cant refuse our mission, whatever it may be. What if the mission is to kill me? Id have to do it. Unless I want to die myself. I would regret it a lot, but I was already prepared for anything. Theres no guarantee that the mission will always be about helping others or defeating monsters. Alright. Priasis rummaged through her belongings andid down a small leather pouch. Gold coins glittered through the opening. This is all my wealth. Ill hire you as mercenaries. Im not that shameless. We dont need it. Dont make me feel ashamed. Then I wont refuse. I epted the gold coins. [Negotiation Sessful!] [Han() has acquired 10,000 gold from the special NPC Priasis.] 10,000 gold, huh. In Pick Me Up, its not arge sum. Its only enough to buy two horse statues. Nevertheless, I decided to ept it. Im counting on you again this time. Priasis reached out her hand with a slightly awkward gesture. When I grabbed it, her hand shook up and down. When you call me Kid? Call me Pria. Ill call you by your name too. Pria Its a nickname. Id prefer if you call me by it, Han. Priasis smiled faintly. Hmm. Well, it doesnt matter. Afterward, Priasis shared more details about her time at sea. Initially, they nned to stop by a pirate ind teeming with mercenaries to supplement their crew, but with us joining, there was no need. They decided to head straight to the location of the key. And one more thing about the key. Tell me. If we gather all the keys they can open a gate to a higher dimension. I froze at the unexpected statement. Seeing my reaction as out of the ordinary, Priasis blinked several times. Whats the point of doing that? Its obvious, isnt it? To save the continent What does a higher dimension have to do with the continent? That is. Priasis seemed unsure herself. Frustrated. I frowned. Even if I dont want to think too deeply, there are too many iprehensible aspects to the mission. The dream Anything can be a dream. Isnt that too convenient? In her dream, Priasis saw us fighting. She also saw a future of destruction and decided to save the continent. The keys were needed to open the gate to the higher dimension. Thinking about it, almost all the missions were connected to her. We directly encountered her on the 15th, 25th, and 30th floors, and the 20th floor involved a mission to subdue the leader of a force deeply involved in her pursuit. How is this going to save the continent. The 5th and 10th floors, preventing goblin attacks, were the only ones somewhat simr. On the windy deck, only Priasis and I were left. The man adjusting the sail was gone. Are you angry? No, just thinking. I shut my mouth. It feels like something is almost within reach, but not quite. I need more information. I looked at Priasis standing nkly and said. About that dream, tell me more I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 134: The Vast Sea (3) (2) Chapter 134: The Vast Sea (3) (2) It feels like something is almost within reach, but not quite. I need more information. I looked at Priasis standing nkly and said. About that dream, tell me more [Stage Clear!] [Velkist(), Katiio(), Level Up!] [Reward 170,000G, Lower Grade Shark Gills X 3] [MVP Katiio()] Light began to envelop me. Talk about timing. I smiled bitterly. Priasiss eyes sparkled as she watched me. That light Im returning to the original ce. The contract isnt over, so dont worry. Werent you going to ask something? Its fine. Ive changed my mind. I have no motivation to save this ce anyway. If nothing unusual happens, it should be okay to proceed as is. See you next time. Ah, got it. With Priasiss bewildered response, I returned to the round room. I first looked up. The Master had disconnected. Given the time-consuming nature of the mission, they couldnt have continued to watch. The current time in the waiting room waste at night. But still. Logs about Katiios actions would remain. I could also rewind the mission footage. Im satisfied. Velkist was smirking, looking at Katiio. What, what? Youre giving me the creeps. Will this kid join our training tomorrow? I think we need a different formation. Velkists gaze turned to me. I nodded. Come to the reception room by 7 AM tomorrow. I have to maintain the airship in the morning Do it at night. Velkist spoke as if it was nothing. Then its overtime! Thats different from the contract! Contracts always change before and after theyre made. Hey, I wont ept this abuse! I sighed. This doesplicate the schedule. An unidentified message popped up in the operation window of Anytng. [Master, from the 33rd floor, you can use the airship!] [Bring a Wizard ss hero, select the summon tab, and touch the airship!] [However, the airship must be in a summonable state.] An airship. The ship appeared in thetter part of the mission. This meant that ships could be reced by airships. Flying might not be possible due to field characteristics. And the airships maintenance wasnt finished yet. However, once you join Party 1, formation practice is essential. But neither can be excluded. Hmm. I cleared my throat and continued. Youll have to work a bit harder. Dammit. Id like to give you a rest, but theres no choice due to the schedule. I knew it. Katiio slumped his shoulders. When the schedule is over, Ill give you double the holiday. I promise. Fine, fine. Tomorrow morning at 7. Ill be there. Katiio walked out through the space-time gap with a fed-up expression. The other members also gradually left the room. I stared at the message on the mirror above the square that read Save the World! before heading to the square. And then I encountered an unexpected person. How was that wizard? Eloka stood there, wrapped in a scarf and coat given by the Master, instead of her usual dress. ording to Vel, he yed a significant part. Why are you here? Not on the 3rd floor? I came down for a walk and thought of you. A walk to the 1st floor? T-thats how I felt! Anyway, how was it? While you were in the mission Eloka spread her palms out. A breeze yed over them. I managed somehow. Just one month Iselle. [Appear!] Stardust twinkled next to us, and Iselle popped out. I asked Iselle, who was gazing at me intently. How many regeneration stones are left? [Hmm, about 7 left.] Give one to her. Log it in the system as if I took it. Shortly after, Iselle brought a ck stone swirling with energy from the warehouse. Whats this? A regeneration stone. It lets you view the mission footage. I ced the stone in Elokas hand. After giving Iselle a cue, the space-time gap opened. Youll know everything you need about him when you see it. Its the footage from when I wasnt there? Yes. Alright. Lets take a look. Eloka took a deep breath and entered the space-time gap. The door closed. [Eloka() has started viewing!] The 32nd floor is long, but the viewer can fast-forward if they wish. You should be able to get an estimate of a few hours-long mission. I settled on a nearby bench. Iselle pped her wings and said. [Arent you going to sleep? Itste.] Ill just rest for a bit. [Are you worried about the fire magician? I dont see why! Shes powerful indeed, but useless otherwise. I think the little wizard is much better.] I didnt respond. [That woman, always acting so superior. Serves her right, heh!] Iselleughed sinisterly and disappeared with the light. I sat on the bench and crossed my arms. asionally, heroes from the 1st floor appeared and passed by, staring nkly at me. And as dawn deepened. The door to the square opened with a thud. Did you watch it well? Didnt you go? I couldnt sleep. Why did you wait? Eloka, noticeably worn, sat next to me. He was impressive. Hes a wizard. The world is unfair. At such a young age. Back then, I hadnt even started my training. Wizards cant be judged by their appearance, can they? Its obvious hes young. Eloka sighed deeply. If I knew this would happen, I would have studied harder. If you wish, you can join another party I dont want to be anywhere but here. Eloka opened her mouth. I havent given up. Ill be there by 7 AM tomorrow, right? Im also a prospective first-party member, so there should be an opportunity. See youter. Eloka ended the conversation on her own terms, chuckled, and got up. She climbed the stairs and disappeared. This is something. Aaron was the same. I dont understand why theyre so fixated. It would be easier to shift to a researcher at this opportunity. The Master might dislike it, but I was willing to help with that. I had prepared a few reasons. I think I understand, but then again, maybe not. I shook my head and headed towards the stairs. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 135: Storms And Tsunami (1) (1) Chapter 135: Storms And Tsunami (1) (1) Several dayster. [The airship Capitalism haspleted its maintenance!] [You can now deploy the airship for missions. However, it can only be deployed within permitted areas.] Vroom. Capitalism, having finished its assembly, was now undergoing a test run. Its exposed interior was now covered with sturdy iron tes, and the fuel system expansion and other facility renovations were alsopleted. This is something. Watching the airship spinning around the rift of space-time, I clicked my tongue. After clearing the 32nd floor, we hadnt progressed in climbing for almost a week. Looks like someone was eager to use it. Though we had acquired the airship, there were hardly any sections where it could be used effectively. Then, just in time, we received permission to use it on the 33rd floor. Its natural to want to drive a new car. There was no way he wouldnt be excited. Buoyancy is good. Fuel efficiency is good. No damage seen. Radi, wearing a mechanics suit, filled out the airships inspection form with checks. With this, it should be ready for missions. We still dont have any facilities on board, and the weapons arent installed. We havent even done a flight check, have we? Katiio emerged from the cockpit and said. The airship had stopped at its original position. This ce is the ocean, right? Its not like we can fly anyway. That may be so, but If you want to do more maintenance, I dont mind. Enough! I feel like dying day by day. Katiio spoke as if he was fed up and then descended the stairs. Dark circles were etched under his eyes, a result of nearly a week of working through dawn. I was fooled. I was totally fooled. This is even tougher than Ha! Damn it. Katiio covered his eyes. [Katiio() expresses his dissatisfaction!] Anytng, noticing Katiios dissatisfaction, moved the operation window. The screen changed to the gift shop. [Gifting a Horse Statue to Katiio().] How many times are you going to do this? I told you I dont need this kind of thing! Katiio threw away the horse statue that appeared out of thin air with disgust. [Katiio() is disappointed with the Horse Statue.] [Affection decreased!] I picked up the horse statue that was thrown on the floor. An ownerless object. I decided to ce it in the disy cab. What are you doing here anyway? Am I not allowed to be here? I put the statue in my pocket and said. I came to see since it seemed like the airships repairs were finished. As you can see. For now, its operational capability is fine. Its navigable. But There are no facilities or weapons on board, right? It will take some more time. Its not something we two can handle. I nodded. Just repairing the exterior wasnt enough. Currently, the inside of Capitalism was eerily empty. To function properly, it needed various facilities and weapons to be installed. But why does that female mage keep fussing around? The partys supposed to be five members only. Katiio tilted his head. Try to understand. Iughed and said. When Katiio was included in the training Eloka was also there beside him. She ran around the field, did physical training, and practiced fire and wind magic in the newly established magic training ground. She couldnt participate in the formation training, though. A weekter. No progress, huh. The formation with Katiio was roughly organized, and the members roles were established, but Elokas wind training didnt progress much. She went from a breeze to a draft. Elemental mages fundamentally control only one attribute. Mages who handle more than two attributes are rare, with a probability of less than 10%. The likelihood that Eloka was among them was slim. Shes spinning her wheels. What Eloka needed wasnt wind magic. It was firepower worth taking risks for. Currently, Eloka was high risk, low return. Anyway, she was used from the beginning with risks in mind. To return, she had to realize that. I wanted to intervene, watching her struggle in vain, but I kept silent, thinking she should realize it on her own. Well, shell learn eventually. The climb had slowed due to the airship maintenance. Now was the time to prepare for the 35th floor. I listened to Katiio and Radi talking about the airships overall conditions for a while and then returned to my quarters. The next evening. [1st party, gather!] Anytng called the 1st party. Though it had been a while since we were called, everyone entered the rift in time and space with calm expressions. As expected. [Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is the 33rd.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Get ready!] [Mission recording in progress. y records will be preserved.] [The airship can be used.] The usual messages announcing the mission floor appeared. And one more notification. 33rd floor, huh. Itll continue on the ship, I guess. We exchanged trivial chatter as we were summoned to the mission field. Ssh. The sound of waves hitting the ear. The distinctive smell of the sea brushed against the nose. Were here. Priasis, who was sitting at the bow, turned to look at us. [Floor 33.] [Mission Type Exploration] [Objective Search the designated area!] The mission window popped up. A continuation of the exploration from the 32nd floor. [Ding!] [A branch urs!] [The sub-quest is updated!] ? [A sub-quest (branch type)] [Objective Summon the airship!] [Reward Opening of a hidden stage] Suddenly a sub-quest popped up. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 135: Storms And Tsunami (1) (2) Chapter 135: Storms And Tsunami (1) (2) The objective was even more nonsensical. Not a mission to deal with someone or protect something, but simply to summon the airship. I had seen and experienced many quests, but this level was rare. The reward was also strange. Hidden stage. Pick Me Up! was known as a luck-based game for a reason. While a bonus stage might provide hints for the next floor, I had no idea what the hidden stage would entail. One thing was for sure, the difficulty of the mission could significantly rise. Sub-quest? Like the one we did in the desert? Jenna, looking at the air, said. Summon the airship The content is simple. Suspicious, though. Velkist responded. Priasis approached. What are you discussing? Include me as well. Just wait. This is our business. Is that so Priasis made a disappointed face and then stepped back. [Would you like to ask for the heroes intentions?] [Yes(Selected) / No] [The heroes intentions are as follows:] [Han Slightly negative] [Jenna Neutral] [Velkist Slightly negative] [Neryssa Neutral] [Katiio Neutral] Anytngs operation window stopped. He seemed to be pondering. I could make a suggestion, but. Theres no guarantee its the right answer. Pria. What is it? How long has it been since we leftnd? Over a month. A month. It seems weve moved quite far from thend. As I remained silent, Anytngs patience seemed to reach its limit. [Little wizard!] A familiar voice resounded in my head. It was Iselles. It was clear that everyone could hear it, as the 1st party looked around. They were looking for Iselle, but she was nowhere to be found. Only the voice continued. [Master has ordered the summoning of the airship.] Here? [Yes, refuse and you know what happens.] Katiio looked at me. What should we do? I shook my head. [1st Partys leader, Han(), suggests rejecting the sub-quest.] We cant leave the strategy to chance. If its a sub-quest, there will be plenty of opportunities. Rushing into a decision could lead to disaster. My opposition seemed unexpected to Anytng, and he paused the operations. [Do you ept the suggestion?] [Yes(Selected) / No] It seemed to relent this time. The suspicious sub-quest ends here. Isnt the airship maintenanceplete? Do we not need to use it? Just bear with it a little longer. Its obviously suspicious. Thats true. The early incident on the 33rd floor was temporarily resolved. We each found our spots on the ship. Though it was a mission, there wasnt much to do. Small species like merfolk or sharks couldnt damage arge warship. It was almost like a time of rest. Exploration. I was able to get information about the destination from Priasis. At the end of the ocean, referred to as the Infinite Sea, lies an ancient dragon temple. It seems she saw a scene in a dream where a key was shining there. Thats convenient. I pulled a chair onto the deck and sat on it. Its nicer than I thought. It would have been good if sister was here too. Jennay down next to me. What are you thinking about so deeply, Oppa? About the mission. All day long, mission, mission. Youre not a machine, why not take a break? Its a sub-stage. Its nothing big. I chuckled and said. There are many whough it off and end up dead. But weve done it about 27 times so far, and there werent any major crises. Just because there werent any crises so far doesnt mean there wont be any in the future. After all, its a game of luck. Theres no guarantee that a difficulty harder than a boss stage wont appear. Though the chances are less than one in a thousand. Im not betting high either. Just thinking about the 35th floor. [1st Party has entered a special field, Divine Domain.] What? I got up from the chair. Looking around, it wasnt night yet, but the surroundings had darkened. ck clouds hung heavily in the sky. Huh? Jenna also widened her eyes and turned her gaze. Special field. The feeling wasnt good. I got up from the chair and went inside the ship. Priasiss room was the first on the 1st-floor corridor. I knocked and entered. Pria, sorry, but we have to turn the ship around. The information You wish to turn back after trampling our sacred sea with your dirty feet? Prias eyes were wide open. A harsh, grating voice came from her mouth. Is this mind control? Listen, false hero. Priasiss mouth moved on its own. We will not be hunted like other guardians. We will be the hunters. You will pay the price for viting thews. Who are you? The hunt begins. Thud. Priasis copsed after finishing her words. I quickly approached and supported her. Damn [Warning!] A warning message shed before my eyes. Iid Priasis on the bed and immediately went out to the deck. Boom! Suddenly, the deck shook violently. Ugh! Oh, Oppa! What is it? I dont know! Suddenly! Boom! With the sound of an explosion, a giant pir-like object shot up in a straight line. [Kraken Lv.38] Tentacles that seemed to be several meters long writhed while standing. Bang! Then the second tentacle rose. The third, fourth, fifth The tentacles wrapped around the ship from all sides. Hundreds of suction cups on each tentacle had des attached to them. This is insane. The ship swayed under the weight. If this continues, well be dragged into the water. Attack the tentacles! Start by cutting off the ones attached to the ship! I shouted to the members rushing out of the ship. Swoosh! I immediately drew my sword. The Krakens tentacles were wrapped around the center of the ship. As I gathered all my strength to sh down. Grrroooooooo. A pitiful scream echoed, and the tentacles wrapped around the ship receded into the water. Senior, whats going on! I dont know! I looked down beneath the railing. A huge ck shadow was thrashing below the waters surface. The sky was filled with ck clouds. The wind grew stronger. Soon, rain began to pour. Its aplete mess. Boom! Bang! Intense waves surged from the surface of the water. Each wave lightly lifted the ship. This is sudden! Priasis, having regained her senses, came out to the deck. I pointed to the helm and shouted. Pria, take the wheel. Turn the ship around! Han, this is Theres no time to exin. Ah, got it! Priasis rushed to the helm on the deck. She turned it round and round to the right. Creak. The ship slowly began to rotate. A scraping voice echoed in my head. On the side of the ship, a water column several meters high shot up, and a ck figure emerged. It was none other than the Krakens body. However, its tentacles werepletely torn apart. Bang! Once again, a water column erupted. And then. The creature in the air swallowed the Kraken in one bite. [Danger!] [Divine Dragon Ktaart Lv.64] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 136: Storms And Tsunami (2) (1) Chapter 136: Storms And Tsunami (2) (1) As the giant jaws closed, the flesh and blood of the Kraken poured out like a waterfall. The creature, having bitten into the writhing Kraken, shook its head from side to side before tossing it aside. Ssh! Soon, the Krakens corpse floated to the surface. Its flesh and innards were torn apart, leaving a gruesome sight. Isnt this the 33rd floor? Why all of a sudden! Jenna panicked as she drew her longbow. I inspected beneath the ship. The creature that had turned the Kraken into meat chunks in an instant had returned to the sea and was now swimming beneath us. A ck shadow moved in an octagonal pattern on the water. A boss appears on the 33rd floor? It was an anomaly. I bit my lip in frustration. We were utterly unprepared for this encounter. [The mission type has been changed.] [Mission Type Escape] [Objective Flee from the danger zone!] [Special Objective Survive Priasis Al Ragna] How do we deal with that thing? Velkist muttered. I looked at the mission window. The updated objective wasnt to subjugate. I felt somewhat relieved. We dont have to fight it. We run! How are we going to run? With the ship. Thud! The ship tilted sharply to the left. Whoa! Sliding noises. All sorts of objects on the deck slid to one side. One of the sailors adjusting the sails lost his footing and fell overboard. He didnt even have time to scream. Damn! I clung to the railing. Crash! The ship that had tilted to the left found its bnce again. Boom! An explosion of water shot up. Suddenly it appeared. Tens of meters in length, the creature had a body shaped like an eel. Gleaming with blue scales the Water Dragon roared. Kuooooo! [Water Dragon Ktaart roars.] [Blessing of the Water God has been applied!] This doesnt look good. Velkist muttered again. Yeah, were screwed. But. I cant die here. I drew my sword and shouted. This isnt a fight. We dont need to fight! With an eerieugh, the Water Dragon dove back into the sea. I turned to Priasis, who was whining beside me. We need to get out of here as quickly as possible. Take the helm. Is that possible? The wind is not favorable! I looked up at the mast. Whoosh! The sail was pping wildly. But the wind direction was erratic. The situation was not suitable for sailing. Damn Thud! The deck shook violently, possibly hit by the Water Dragon. Seawater poured onto the deck. If this continued, the ship would sink. Oppa, how do we counterattack? It seems to be attacking from underwater! Dont think about counterattacking. Diving into the sea in an attempt to fight back would quickly turn us into shark bait. Then, what? We have to run. It was an absurdly unfair mission, but there must be a way to ovee it. I looked at Priasis. Is there any special device on this ship? That Priasis furrowed her brow. There is. Ive searched the ship. Katiio approached the helm and fiddled with a pir. It seems like an old airship that was converted into a sailing ship. Its possible for a short time. What is possible? High-speed sailing. Katiio pressed a red button above the helm. [Nautilus high-speed sailing device is activated!] Vroom! A strange sense of buoyancy was felt, and the ship started to move forward quickly. Ill take the helm. The escort target is No, you prepare to summon the airship. What? We wontst long. Kuoooooo! A second roar from the Water Dragon followed. [Water Dragon Ktaart roars.] [The weather changes dramatically!] [Monster Wave!] [Mermaid Lv.33] X 32 [Baby Water Dragon Lv.39] X 5 [Water Dragon Ktaart casts Storm Surge!] The whole ship began to shake. Waves several meters high surged like a tsunami. Kwaaaaa! The Water Dragon chased the ship, streaming columns of water. Take the helm! Remembering that the helmsman had fallen into the sea, I shouted to Priasis. Priasis nodded and took the helm. Thud! A tail emerged in front of the bow. The ship turned to the right. The rain mixed with the strong wind pped my face. The attack came entirely from underwater. With no effective countermeasure ready, the system had designated survival as the mission objective. Human! Humaaan! Kyaaaa! Kill An arrow pierced the forehead of a Mermaid climbing over the railing. Finally, theres something for me to do. Velkist swept back his wet bangs and drew his sword. He ran towards the railing. Behind him, Jenna loaded her bow and said, Be careful not to fall off. Easy for you to say. The head of the Mermaid was cleanly sliced off. To think Im learning to steer the ship here Ugh! I caught Priasis as she staggered. Th-thank you. Its going to be hard to shake him off. The Water Dragon was faster than the sailing ship. A sailor ran up to Priasis. Theres a hole in the bottom of the ship. Water is How long can west? Uh, maybe 10 minutes Han! What should we do? Was this a trap mission from the start? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 136: Storms And Tsunami (2) (2) Chapter 136: Storms And Tsunami (2) (2) How long can west? Uh, maybe 10 minutes Han! What should we do? Was this a trap mission from the start? As soon as the special field appeared, we should have turned the ship around without looking back. Anytng will make use of this knowledge in the next missions. But Theres no next time for me. I snapped my fingers. [1st Party leader, Han(), suggests summoning the airship.] [Do you ept?] [Yes(Selected) / No] Permission was granted. Katiio! Katiios eyes sparkled blue. His hands crossed, and threads of magical power began to emanate. [Constructing a dimensional gate] [Current progress 03%] Arge eel-like creature leaped from the surface. It was a small Water Dragon. A Mermaid was riding on its back. Leaping dozens of meters like a flying fish, the Water Dragon dropped the fully armed Mermaid onto the deck before diving back into the sea. I lowered my stance and sprinted. In less than a second, I closed a distance of 10m. Swinging my sword, the Mermaids upper body was sliced off in one clean cut. Protect the dimensional gate! Dont let them touch it! Got it! They were swarming towards Katiio, who was summoning the airship through the dimensional gate. We formed a circle around Katiio to protect him. Kyak! A Water Dragon, carrying a Mermaid on its back, was hit by an arrow as it soared. Then, when the deck was drenched in the blue blood of the Mermaid. Kroong! A different kind of vibration shook the ship. A tail several meters long soared and swept across the ship horizontally. And then it smashed the sails and mast like wooden chopsticks. [Danger!] [Nautilus is in critical condition!] The progress is [Constructing a dimensional gate] [Current progress 73%] Magical threads were weaving a semi-circr gate. We cant hold out any longer Ugh! The Water Dragons tail wrapped around a sailors upper body. The sailor was dragged into the water. [Nautilus high-speed sailing device stopped working.] The ship halted. The deck of the sailing ship was riddled with holes, and all the masts and sails were broken. Water was leaking into the ship. The sailing ship rocked violently up and down, then slowly began to sink. Priasis let go of the helm. Is it going to end like this again? Get used to it if youre nning to stick with me longer. Thats true. Priasis smiled faintly. Open, the gate of dimensions! Katiio sped his hands together. Behind the sailing ship, a semi-circr dimensional gate appeared. [A dimensional gate has been created!] [Through the dimensional gate, vehicles, equipment, and consumables can be summoned to the battlefield.] The control window of Anytng moved. [You have selected the airship Capitalism. Do you wish to summon it?] [Yes(Selected) / No] ess granted. Come forth! sh. The bow of the Capitalism appeared. Ill go ahead. Teleportation. Katiio turned to look at me, then disappeared in a sh of light. The sailing ship continued to sink from the front. I supported Priasis and ran to the back of the ship. Members of the 1st Party chased after the Mermaids nearby. Even if you have several lives, it wouldnt be enough if we keep fighting like this. I ignored Neryssas joke and approached the railing. The fully revealed Capitalism was approaching the sinking ship. Crash! The tail struck one side of the ship. Wood splinters flew, and half of the sailing ship was shattered. What about the other sailors I shook my head. Priasis silently grabbed my cor. As I boardedst, the sailing ship sank helplessly. Thump! A column of water shot up. The Water Dragon, nearly 10m tall, shed its eyes. Its not a ship, its an airship. You anchovy. I raised my middle finger at it. [Capitalisms high-speed flight device is activated!] Vroom! The airship slightly lifted off the waters surface. Then, like a hovercraft, it sped across the waves. Flying is impossible, but Indeed, an airship is an airship. Its basic specs are different from a simple ship. The steel-covered exterior would not dent from ordinary impacts. Moreover, airships are fundamentally equipped with high-speed flight devices. [Summon the airship!] [You havepleted a sub-quest.] [A hidden stage, Hunt of the Water God, is unlocked.] [Limited to one attempt.] Leaving the Water Dragons roar behind, the Capitalism sped across the sea. Soon after, as if nothing had happened, the sea was calm again. A moment of silence followed. Unable to hold back, Jenna spoke up. What was that long monster just now? It looked like a dragon. Different from the one we fought on the 20th floor, though. Ive heard of it. Its called a Water God, an ancient species from the deep sea. Back in the early days of the empire Jenna, Velkist, and Neryssa began to chatter. I wiped the blood off my sword with a cloth and sheathed it. Then, I sat on the metal deck of the airship. If it werent for the airship, it would have been tough. It wouldnt have been a total defeat, but we would have struggled. Really shitty missions. Pick Me Up! is known for its high difficulty, but this was something else. If I were the master, I would haveined to customer service by now. In fact, when I was running Niflheimr, I did inquire a few times. Why is the difficulty set like this for my ount? Of course, the reply was always the same. If you dont like it, quit. Maybe I should have quit back then. I chuckled bitterly. Anyway I murmured and looked to the right of my vision. A message announcing thepletion of the sub-quest was disyed. It was almost forced upon us. A hidden stage, huh. [Stage Clear!] [Han(), Jenna(), Neryssa() level up!] [Reward 150,000G] [MVP Jenna()] Ill look into itter. Theres too much to do. The boss of the 35th floor is now confirmed. This time was a bust, but it wasnt without gains. Weve learned the basic specs and patterns of the boss. Ill ask the master for some time, then slowly prepare our strategy. Well need more than a week. The 1st Party members havent even learned to swim yet. It seems well need to add underwaterbat to our training. But first, well need a swimming pool [Water Dragon Ktaart is demanding prey.] [A hidden stage is unlocked!] Suddenly, Anytngs screen changed. [Tonight, we hunt!] [Hunt of the Water God] [S T A R T!] Crude dot graphics. In the sea, the shadow of the Water Dragon roars. [Returning to the lobby is not possible.] [You cannot escape the Water Gods domain.] [The airship Capitalism is set as a temporary base.] [The mission starts automatically.] [Floor 34.] [Mission Type ???] [Will you hunt or be hunted?] [1. The Water Dragon is searching for the masters hero.] [2. The Water Dragons detection area expands over time.] [3. Avoid pursuit while collecting resources in the field!] [4. When ready, start the Hunt of the Water God.] [For more detailed instructions, tap the Help tab!] What. What kind of shitty game is this? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 137: On The Sea (1) (1) Chapter 137: On The Sea (1) (1) I covered my forehead. A slight headache wasing on. This is a pattern Ive never seen before. Even I, who had reviewed and analyzed hundreds of missions, was encountering this type for the first time. Even Anytng seemed perplexed, as the control window wouldnt move. Whats this now?! Jennas scream could be heard. The other members also seemed visibly flustered. The mission was over, but we couldnt return. And then the next floor started. Sigh. I took a deep breath. Its okay. Theres always a way, a strategy. Keep calm. If we analyze the rules of the game, there will be a way out. As there always has been. Gather around! I called the members of the first party on deck. Ill exin the situation. I informed them of our current difficulty. We had summoned the airship, and by clearing a sub-quest, we had been dragged into a hidden mission. The rules of the Hidden Stage were slightly different from the usual missions. So were trapped here because of that Hidden mission thingy? Thats right. Such an annoying mission. Theres no easy way out, huh. Everyone grumbled, yet their expressions didnt change. We had all experienced situations like this countless times. We were past the stage of panicking like children. Hey, Han! Katiio rushed out from the cockpit. Panic was evident in his expression. Got it. Iming. I said, looking at Priasis standing around like a sack of rice. Jenna, please guide Pria to the cabin. Okay. I entered the cockpit with Katiio. An unfamiliar shape was floating above the hologram of the dashboard. A blue square. In the center was a red circle, with ck dots around the outside. On the right edge, a ship was drawn. [Tips!] [The red circle represents the detection area of the water dragon. It will expand over time.] [The ck dots indicate the presence of hidden items. There are multiple points of interest.] [The shape of the ship represents your current location.] A series of instructions popped up. What in the world is this? It means we have to carry out the mission ording to these rules. What? I took a closer look at the minimap. The red circle in the center was very slowly expanding its range. Its not that bad. It seemed we could hold out for at least a few days. I calmed myself down. The process had changed slightly. We are now going to prepare for the strategy inside the mission instead of in the waiting room. There was a set time, and a few restrictions, but other than that, it wasnt much different. There was even the advantage of being able to gather information about the boss. Previously, we could only get information upon entering the boss stage. [Master, the Capitalism has be a temporary base for the mission!] [The facilities onboard arecking. Please expand them!] Anytng immediately began to move his control window. The interior structure of the airship and the control window appeared on the screen. Capitalism, spanning three floors, was empty except for the core facilities. Of course, it was. We had removed all the facilities during maintenance. [Constructing facilities for the airship. Please touch the type of facility you wish to build.] [Lodgings Lv.1 selected. Do you wish to construct this facility?] [Yes(Select) / No] Zzzing. The space next to us split open, and Iselle popped out. [Cute fairy, Iselle appears!] Iselle did a spin in the air and then looked at me. [As expected, youre caught up in this.] Did you know? [A bit.] Iselle sighed and continued. [Anyway! Now that its a temporary base, I can be active here too. I n to assist with the operation of the airship until we clear the mission. First of all!] Iselle pointed a finger at Katiio. [Katiio, open a portal in section B-7 on the second floor! The supplies for the lodgings will be brought in.] Lodging supplies? [Well, the rooms are empty. You have to put in beds, desks, and all that kind of stuff. Youre not nning to sleep on the floor, are you?] Katiio looked at me. Go and open it. Shes not wrong. Its not a big deal. Katiio grumbled as he left the cockpit with Iselle. [Tips!] [Building facilities for the airship requires different materials than in the waiting room.] [For Lodgings Lv.1: 50 gems and lower-level or higher-quality beds, desks, and chairs.] After a while. [Good!] [Capitalisms section B-7 now has lodgings.] [The efficiency of the heroes rest increases.] A temporary base. A term used in long-term missions, also known as business trips. I looked at the regional map again. The water dragons detection area had hardly moved. Maybe more than a week. I peeked at Anytngs control window. At the top was the airship, and at the bottom, the map of the waiting room was spread out. Anytng was directing the carpenters in the workshop to make furniture. If were talking about a necessary facility A hologram window popped up. [First partys leader, Han(), suggests.] [Facility Summon Training Ground] Ordering a facility strictly forbat preparation. Anytng prepared for the next summons. This time, the facility to be built was a training ground. On the left side of the third floor of Capitalism, there was arge hall. The empty hall was filled with wooden dummies, practice weapons, and a swimming pool full of water. [Good!] [Capitalisms section C-2 now has a training ground.] [Special training at the temporary base is possible!] Anytng continued the facility summons. The items needed for the summon had been prepared in advance. [Good!] [Capitalisms section C-5 now has an armory!] [Summoning ofrge weapons is now possible.] [Good!] [Capitalisms section B-1 now has a waiting area!] [It is now possible to replenish and rece heroes in battle.] By evening, the interior of the airship was somewhat filled. I called the other members, excluding Katiio who was working, once again. So this airship is now in a simr state to the waiting room? Think of it as a kind of war base. Everyone caught on quickly. There was no need for detailed exnations. Next. I spread out a paper on the deck. It was a map modeled after the hologram map in the cockpit. The red circle in the center was the bosss territory. The ck dots on the outskirts were the points of interest. Once the basic preparations are done, well circle the outside, capturing the points of interest. We dont have much leeway, so well probably start tomorrow. Is there any benefit to capturing these points? We can get special items. I could guess what kind of items they were. Things that couldnt be made at the current stage. Mermaids Tears. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 137: On The Sea (1) (2) Chapter 137: On The Sea (1) (2) Mermaids Tears. An item that allows underwater breathing. However, the daily dungeon where the materials to make it could be acquired wasnt open yet. Mermaids Tears? You mean we can breathe underwater? Swimming is a separate matter. Therefore, while the airship is moving, we will practice underwaterbat. I continued. If you saw that anchovy, youd know that its not easy to attack on the water. If it wonte out of the water. We have to go in and deal with it ourselves. Into the sea? Thats a bit Weapons dont move well in water. For that, we have to learn a skill. Theres a skill for underwaterbat. It was absolutely necessary for the strategy. Dont worry. Theres no need to set yourself on fire this time. I went through the briefing, checking other matters. There were a total of four points of interest marked on the map. You could assume one of them was Mermaids Tears, but the other three were unknown. Wed have to go and see for ourselves. And the key is There was no information yet. Whether it was inside the water dragons body, somewhere outside the sea, or in the depths of the ocean. After conveying the mission-rted content to the party members, I looked out the window. It was alreadyte at night. Anytng had disconnected. There are four facilities. Lodgings, a training ground, an armory, and a waiting area. Having a waiting area means Its possible to replenish and rece heroes. Earlier, Anytng tried to call another party, but a message appeared saying the conditions werent met. Iselle. [Loki, did you call?] Iselle climbed onto my shoulder. After folding her wings, she looked at me intently. I want tomunicate with the heroes in the waiting room. Can it be done? [The flow of time is different. It might be a bit difficult] If it cant be done, then it cant be helped. [No, Ill try!] Iselle rolled up her sleeves. I chuckled and called the hero I wanted tomunicate with. After a while. Ediss voice resonated in my ear. Just a bit of camping. Anyway, I called because I have something to tell you. I conveyed the necessary information. The current field, the characteristics of the boss, and what needed to be done. Its not exactly underwaterbat, but just get used to fighting on the water. The master will soon make a swimming pool. Pass it on to the other party. Themunication ended. [Phew!] Iselle slumped down, sweating profusely. I smiled at Iselle. Theres one more person left. [Its not over yet?!] If it cant be done, its okay. [No, no! This is a piece of cake! Haaa!] Iselle waved her arms dramatically. [Fairy power!] Call Eloka. [The me mage? Got it!] Sparks twinkled from her wings. Its me. Inside the mission. If the stages time is three times that of the waiting room, it fits roughly. Is the training going well? Her voice faded. It seems its not going well. Drop the wind magic training. Use the me magic you used on the 20th floor. The one that explodes inside the enemy. Make it usable within 30 seconds. Or increase the firepower. Ah, and learn how to swim too. There might be a spot opening up in the first party. Currently, there are five members, but the number of participants will increase for the main strategy. A minor disadvantage of a wizard is that they cant simultaneously manage the airship and use support magic. When Katiio drives the airship he bes useless inbat. Then, theres no need to include him as a magician in the first party. Katiio doesnt seem to care about his position, either. I dont joke about these things. Then forget it Suddenly, my head rang. She surprised me. Alright. I said its not. A moment of silence followed. Stop, its giving me goosebumps. I told you because I need you. I ended themunication. [Ugh!] Iselle copsed on the desk. Its over. Good job. [Haah I thought I was going to die. But why make that decision? That woman doesnt need to be called.] If you take out Katiio due to airship operation, there will be one sport left, right? [But the mechanic can do that too] I coughed loudly. Iselles eyes widened in surprise. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 138: On The Sea (2) (1) Chapter 138: On The Sea (2) (1) The next day. At the airships third-floor training area. Bubbles fiercely moiled up from the water. An arrow sliced through the water, flying towards me. But its speed was significantly slow. By the time it reached in front of me, the arrow had almost lost all its power and feebly sank. Jenna frowned, then jumped off the waters surface. I followed suit. Ssh! Phew! Jenna took a deep breath. This underwaterbat thingy isnt working at all, isnt it? Jenna swept back her wet bangs. Instead of her usual leather armor and dress, she was wearing a simple swimsuit. The stance is hard to maintain, pulling the bowstring is tough, and the arrows dont fly properly. Can we even fight in this condition? It seems so for now. Arrows, swords, or spears, none were of much use here. We tried with dummies set up in the swimming pool, but unlike the first swing of a sword, maintaining bnce was impossible. The posture was all over the ce. Even if the weapons hit the dummies, they didnt deliver their full power. Cant the wizard do something? Id rather not go through this. Velkist was kicking the water while holding onto the pools edge. Ive realized now that Im practically useless in water. Ssh! Next to Velkist, Neryssa was practicing swimming along the rails, holding a kickboard. It was an unusual sight. The training facilitys swimming pool, with its modern look, didnt match the atmosphere of the rest area. Anyway, as long as proper training was possible, it didnt matter. The learning speed is Jenna mastered breathing techniques, kicking, and basic swimming in just 30 minutes. And now, several hourster, she could freely move underwater, shooting arrows and swinging a dagger. Neryssa, having grasped the basics, followed after Jenna. Velkist, the slowest learner, was still struggling with swimming basics. What if we fought using the wizards water-walking spell? That wont be enough. If the enemy goes to the deep sea, were done for. I continued. We need to learn underwaterbat skills. We have no choice but to dive in. I would rather set fire to my hand. Velkist spat out the water in his mouth. Jenna, again. Yes, Im going. Jenna took a deep breath, then submerged her head in the water. I entered the water as well. Jenna, positioning herself underwater, pulled the bowstring. The arrow flew toward me, inevitably slow. I gripped my swords hilt. The purpose of this exercise was to replicate the arrow-blocking training but this time underwater. Of course, Jennas arrow was ridiculously slow, and the speed of my sword was no different. Our strength and skill had improved several times over from before. However, swinging the weapon with more force only increased the water resistance, and the refined techniques were almost ineffective underwater. This is tough. Both Jenna and I were merely thrashing in the water. Thirty minutester, without any progress, we took a break. During the break, Katiio came to the training area to report. By tomorrow morning, we would arrive at the first base in the north of the map. Katiio was essentially not participating in the training due to managing the airships operations and facilities. We need to master this before that. For now, I gathered the weapons of the four of us. A greatsword, a longsword, a rapier, and also bows and arrows, and daggers. We need to start with modifying the weapons. Ah, right. Jenna picked up an arrow. The feathers are wide, so it encounters a lot of resistance. We need to change this. Right. When the master arrives today, well return your weapons through the portal. Well change their shape. The de will be slightly streamlined. The arrowheads and feathers will be reduced in size. I nced at Bifrost. Bifrost had a broad de, closer to a greatsword. A heavy sword focused on destruction. It was designed that way from the beginning. In water, however, such a structure was eating into its own flesh. I whispered softly while holding the sword hilt. Shape transformation. Click! The des edges folded inward and retracted. The de transformed into a streamlined shape. Its a fine weapon no matter how many times I see it. Is that so? The other weapons would be modified into underwater versions at the equipment workshop in the waiting room. Additionally, we nned to order a small crossbow as a secondary weapon suitable for underwater use. After deciding on the modifications for each piece of equipment, I directed the training to resume. The red circle was expanding moment by moment. There was no time to waste. And then in the evening. As soon as Anytng logged in, a notification popped up at the bottom of the screen. [Party 1 is undertaking a long-term mission (34th floor).] [Click here to check the status.] Clicking the notification split the screen into two. The top showed the airship, and the bottom the rest area. [Party 1s leader, Han (), proposes.] [Proposal Equipment Modification] [Tips/You can modify equipment ording to the characteristics of the field.] Anytng immediately entrusted items to the equipment workshop for modification. And also created a swimming pool in the waiting rooms training facility. The screen showed Party 2 starting underwater training as if they had been waiting. Eloka is there too. It seemed they were trying to learn swimming, Edis, who knew how to swim, was teaching them. I removed the control window from my view and continued training. The underwater trainingsted until dawn. Bubble. An arrow was shot from Jennas practice bow. I clenched my teeth. In water, simply applying force didnt make the sword strike harder. Instead, the right bnce was crucial. I rxed my body, utilizing inertia and sticity. Swoosh! The arrow was clumsily split in half. [Skill Awakening!] [Han ()s Heavenly Sword Spirit has leveled up to Lv.2!] the underwaterbat that I was seeking was still unreachable, and the level of Heavenly Sword Spirit increased. Its not unhelpful though Underwater, there were many more things to be mindful ofpared to onnd. Could it be considered a form of self-reflection? Jenna looked at me and raised her index finger. It was the signal for a second shot. I nodded in response. Gurgle. Jenna made a full turn underwater and then positioned herself. She took an arrow out of the quiver and nocked it on the bowstring. Then. [Skill Awakening!] [Jenna () has learned the Underwater Combat skill!] [Tips/Heroes who have learned certain skills experience a significant increase inbat power in special fields.] Ping! The arrow was shot with a speed iparable to before. So soon? It hadnt even been a day. I barely managed to swing my sword, but the arrowhead grazed my shoulder. Blood welled up. Jenna approached me in surprise, but I shook my head. I could endure this level of injury. Its better this way. Improving proficiency doesnte easily with mediocre challenges. I adjusted my sword. Again, the next morning. [Skill Awakening!] [Han () has learned the Underwater Combat skill!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 138: On The Sea (2) (2) Chapter 138: On The Sea (2) (2) After almost pulling an all-nighter, I learned the underwaterbat skill. My movements in the water definitely improved. The resistance of moving underwater felt significantly reduced. I could now somewhat counter enemy attacks underwater. However, since it was still level 1, my movements were not as fast as onnd. More training was needed. We seem to have arrived at the first base. I emerged from the water. Katiio was standing at the entrance of the training area. Stepping onto the deck, Katiio pointed to the left. See that? At the tip of Katiios finger was an ind, about 30 meters in size. It was a rock ind. [Capitalism has arrived at the first base.] [Obtain the first item!] Atop the rock ind, a small box was ced. Aside from the box, it waspletely empty. What shall we do? What about the water dragon? Its roaming nearby. I see. After two days of observation. The water dragon, indicated by the red circle, was patrolling the area in a certain pattern. If it didnt move from the center, it would be easy. If its too dangerous, we could wait for it to move away No, we dont have time. Theres one base in each cardinal direction. We dont have the luxury of time to just wait for him to get further away. Ill go. Should I call the other members? Im enough alone. Katiio began the chant. Soon, light wrapped around my body. It was the water-walking magic. I stepped over the railing onto the waters surface. Ah, I forgot to say. ? Start the airship. And be ready to flee at any moment. Katiio entered the cockpit. I approached the ind with my hand on the hilt of my sword. With each step, ripples spread from my toes. No monsters. The waters surface was calm. Not even a fish, let alone a monster, was in sight. I climbed onto the rock and approached the box. Hmm It was an obvious choice. To risk danger for an item, or to avoid danger by forsaking the item. The answer was clear. Bang! I kicked open the lid of the box. [Han () has obtained Mermaids Tears (Lowest Grade) X 5!] [Trigger activated!] Inside the box were ss bottles filled with a transparent liquid. I swiftly packed the potions into a prepared leather pouch and then quickly left the rock ind. Kwoooh! [Water Dragon Ktaart roars.] [Blessing of the Water Spirit is applied!] I knew it. The sky darkened to a navy hue. Wind and rain began tosh out. I ran across the churning waters surface. I jumped over the railing into the cockpit. The red circle of the domain was rapidly approaching. Han! Lets go. [Capitalisms high-speed navigation system activates!] I went to the deck. The partially submerged airship was moving. And behind the ship, something huge was breaking through the water, approaching. Its faster than before. We had easily fled the water dragon during our first escape, but this time, the distance wasnt widening as easily. Woooooong! The airships siren began to re. Soon after, members of Party 1 rushed to the deck in a hurry. Its already here? Wheres Priasis? I told her to stay in her room. Kwoooong! The water dragon leaped from the water, spraying a water column, and soared into the air. Opening its mouth in the air, it began gathering a blue light. [Ktaart casts Hydro Cannon!] I flung open the door to the cockpit. To the left! Got it! Kwaaaaang! The water cannon fired by the water dragon hit the right side of the airship. Creeeak! The airship tilted dangerously before righting itself. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] [Loadingplete.] [T O U C H ! (Select)] [Master, Party 1 is inbat.] [Click here to check the status!] Anytngs control window popped up. Did he just log in? Were not getting any distance! I spread out the leather pouch. [Mermaids Tears] [Grade: B-] [A magical potion that allows heroes to breathe underwater. However, there is a time limit.] This wont do. I closed the pouch. Even though I had learned underwaterbat, the skill was only at level 1. At this level, it wasnt effective enough. [Ktaart casts Hydro Cannon!] Boom! The water cannon struck the front of the airship. Capitalism sharply turned. Waves surged, and an unexpected deluge of water flooded the deck. Theres nothing we can do. Velkist clenched his teeth in frustration. [Master, the party is in crisis! Summoning weapons is rmended.] [Summoning requires a wizard. Would you like to issue themand?] [Yes (Select) / No] Iselle appeared above the control panel. [Little Wizard! The master has ordered a weapon summon.] What? Im swamped as it is! Bang! The water cannon grazed the corner of the deck. The iron ting was shaved off like tofu. I regained my bnce and shouted. Its okay, do it! If the high-speed device activates, no one but me can touch it! If I step away from the controls [Would you like to navigate the airship manually?] [Yes (Select) / No] Anytngs screen changed. It was an image of the airship racing across the sea. Behind it, the water dragon pursued. And above the screen, two buttons and a gauge bar appeared. [Manual Navigation Guide] [Tilting the smartphone to the right will make the airship turn right.] [Tilting the smartphone to the left will make the airship turn left.] [The red button elerates, and the blue button decelerates.] [When the gauge bar fills, a booster is avable.] The water dragon, now close, opened its mouth. [Ktaart casts Hydro Cannon!] Whoosh! A fierce wind noise followed, and the airship tilted sharply to the right. The water cannon brushed past it. [Nice Drift!] [The eleration bar is filling!] This was one of Pick Me Ups mini-games, activated under certain conditions. [Ktaart casts Triple Hydro Cannon!] The water dragon consecutively fired three hydro cannons. Anytng deftly dodged the water cannons by swerving left and right. [Nice Drift!] [The eleration bar filling up.] [Nice Drift!] [The eleration bar filling up.] [Nice Drift!] [Theeleration bar filling up.] Hes surprisingly good, isnt he? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 139: On the Sea (3) (1) Chapter 139: On the Sea (3) (1) sigh. I took a deep breath. My whole body was drenched with water. I had just let go of the ballistas aiming device. The sea, which had been stormy with waves and wind, was now calm. Weve passed the first one. Anytng was operating the waiting room as if nothing had happened. It was an unexpected performance. Anytng had managed to distract the water dragon easily until Katiio could summon the stationary ballista. He naturally dodged the water cannon, and he also managed to escape from sudden obstacles like reefs, sharks, and other monsters. Thanks to that, We were able to get through without facing any major crises. Why is he so good at driving? Katiio stood beside me, dumbfounded. From now on, just leave it to the master. You just cast support magic from the deck. The mini-game was simr to KartRider in its mechanics. elerating and decelerating to drift and collecting gauge through drifting to use boosters. Well, it was fortunate that it came in handy somewhere. There are three more bases left. At the first base, we obtained the mermaids tears. A core item for underwaterbat, enabling breathing underwater. However, it was not perfect. It was the lowest grade. With this, you could onlyst for 10 minutes. I can only hope for a more useful item at the next base. I had already grasped the pattern. Each time we obtain an item from a base, the water dragon appears, and it attacks the airship with various patterns during its pursuit. We have to shake off its pursuit and obtain items to counter it, and once all preparations are done, we just have to press the Start Hunting button at the bottom of the game. If Anytng is this capable It seems possible to gather all four items. No, we have to gather all of them. I recalled the chase from a few minutes ago. We had summoned the ballista prepared in the waiting room, and Jenna was ready to fire. The n was to inflict some damage, even if we couldnt kill it. However, [Blessing of the Water God activated!] [The monster is conditionally immune!] As the arrow struck its body, this log appeared. It was the same immunity message as seen on the 20th floor. But it was written as conditional immunity. I need to gather more information on it. In the end, whether I liked it or not, to strategize, we had to confront it beforehand. Next time we encounter it, try shooting arrows underwater. I told Jenna, who was practicing underwater shooting at the training ground. Jennas eyes widened. Underwater? You saw how its immune. We have to find another way. Tie a rope around your body, connect it to the railing, and jump into the water. Ill pull you up immediately after its done. Theres a risk of being swept away. Velkist, who was diligently training on the other side of the pool, said. Wouldnt it work if we use a strong rope? It seems like we need to test it. Jenna smiled brightly. Its much better to go in knowing as much as possible. Thats true, but. Then its decided. Lets do that tomorrow. Since Ive handed over the longbow for modifications, Ill use a short bow. I nodded in agreement. We were expected to arrive tomorrow at the second base. And you two are making slow progress. Donte out on deck even if it appears. Just practice in the training ground. Thats disappointing. Velkist swung his sword with a bitter smile. To reduce risk, it would be better if everyone coulde out on deck, but it couldnt be helped. If things continued as they were, the tour of bases would end in less than a week. We had to be proficient in underwaterbat to a usable degree within that time. Im no exception. Three hours of sleep a day was sufficient for me. I devoted all my remaining time to training. And the next day. Our journey to the second base ended rtively smoothly as well. Anytng was logged in just in time, and we left the driving to him while we secured the item. As expected, the water dragon appeared again. Im going in! Jenna saluted me and dived into the sea. Kwaaaa! I had heard the creatures roar so many times that it was now bing tedious. Jennas arrow, shot from underwater, hit the dragons body beautifully. The arrow didnt pierce the dragons skin but didnt bounce off either. It wasnt immune. Hes immune to attacks from outside the water. That was the blessing of the water god. I had somewhat anticipated this. Thats why we had practiced underwaterbat in advance. [Nice Drift!] [The eleration bar is filling up.] [Nice Drift!] [The eleration bar is filling up.] [Booster On!] [Capitalism sails forward rapidly] We sessfully evaded the second pursuit. I opened the treasure chest brought from the ind. [Model of the Great Sea Vessel] [Grade: C+] [When used, summons a Combat Vessel.] [Note 1 Can only be used in the sea field] [Note 2 Requires the goddesss blessing to use] [Note 3 Disappears after one usage] Inside was a reasonably sized wooden model of a ship. An unmistakable shape of a ship. Its simr to the warhorse statue. The difference was, unlike the warhorse, the ship model seemed to have a use. It was clear just from reading the description. It seemed like an item meant for use on the 35th floor. Can only be used in the sea field. Disappears after one usage. The goddesss blessing? The goddesss blessing is Ah! Jenna pped her hands as she examined the ship model. We can use it after activating the goddess statue, right? We should look for the goddess statue first when we go on a mission, like when we were hunting that stone statue. Jenna turned to me and smiled. She had almost fully grasped the rules of the game. Even without considering the training in Niflheimr, herprehension was excellent. She would make a good leader. Except for her slight softness. Of course, I had no intention of handing Jenna over to another party. The next day. We went to the third base. [Nice Drift!] [The eleration bar is filling up.] [Nice Drift!] [The eleration bar is filling up.] [Booster On!] [Capitalism sails forward rapidly!] After evading the pursuit. I opened the third box. Inside was a long, cylindrical machine that looked like a ss tube. [Oxygen Supply Device] [Grade: B+] [When equipped on the goddess statue, it can recharge the oxygen level of a hero in the Underwater Breathing state.] [Note 1 Requires the goddesss blessing to be used] The bottom of the ss tube had something that looked like a plug. It seems like you need to plug it into a hole to use it. I see. Drinking the mermaids tears puts one in an underwater breathing state. It seemed to extend the duration of underwater breathing. A kind of charger, it seemed. I have a rough estimate now. Unlike previous missions, this mission allowed us to grasp the attack pattern in advance. It was a significant advantage. The goddess statue is the key. The ship model and the oxygen supply device couldnt be used without the goddesss blessing. Considering the pattern so far Protect the goddess statue while another party attacks the water dragon. It would be nice if the goddesss blessing was permanent, but thats unlikely. Probably, wed have to split into attack and defense teams, with the defense team protecting the goddess statue until the attack team achieves its goal. Can only one party be used for the attack? The potion supply is limited. Up to five people. Judging by the fact that they offered us a ship statue model, it seems like we need a ship for attacking and another for defense. I recalled the personnel in the current waiting room and began to assign roles. It took us two days to arrive at thest base. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 139: On the Sea (3) (2) Chapter 139: On the Sea (3) (2) It took us two days to arrive at thest base. Now, the red circle indicating the water dragons territory had swallowed more than half of the map. And there was a slight anomaly at the fourth base. [Baby Water Dragon Lv.37] X 7 Several ck shadows were roaming near the ind. Lets handle it with the ballista No. I interrupted Katiios suggestion. Call Jenna. On her belt hung a crossbow the size of a pistol. The equipment arrived yesterday after going through modifications. The armor and undergarments were waterproofed, and various weapons were transformed into streamlined forms. My current level in underwaterbat was 3. Jenna was also at level 3, while Velkist and Neryssa were at levels 1 and 2, respectively. The two were still not quite ready for realbat, but Jenna and I were sufficient. Did you call me, Oppa? Look over there. There are monsters. Jennas eyes sparkled as she looked at me. They seem like a worthy opponent! Right, lets not touch the treasure box for now. Lets deal with the surrounding small fry first. Roger that! What about support magic? Were good. I blinked at Katiio, who was left behind and filled my lungs with oxygen. Ssh! I dove into the water. After adjusting to the underwater vision, I immediately kicked off and advanced. The 2m-sized water dragons had spotted us. They immediately bared their teeth and began to approach. I signaled to Jenna behind me. Jenna nodded and then clenched her fists. She pushed off with her toes. Her body shot forward at high speed. Its different from onnd. The most significant characteristic of underwaterbat is that it introduces an above-and-below aspect to the fight. Additionally, youre inevitably slower than onnd. It was important to secure a favorable position in advance and move ordingly. Sshh. Jennas arrow grazed by. I drew my sword and spun my body. Thunk. I plunged the sword into the roof of a water dragons mouth as it opened wide. Turning my head, I saw a water dragon writhing with an arrow lodged in it. I immediately tore through the dragons throat. The blue sea turned red with blood. The destructive power wasnt as strong as onnd, but the lethality was sufficient. Seven minutes. The time I could hold my breath underwater. It was initially three minutes, but I gradually extended it through diving training. Thanks to swinging my sword thousands of times underwater, I also gained some know-how. When about half of the oxygen in my lungs was used up. Phew. I raised my head above the water. Below, the bodies of the baby water dragons were sinking. Its not as efficient as I thought. The speed wasnt quite there. Compared to the water dragon, it was almostughable. Not to mention turning directions. As expected. I smiled bitterly and brought the chest from the ind. [The Water Dragon Ktaart roars.] [The Blessing of the Water God is applied!] Anytng immediately opened the control panel. [Would you like to manually operate the airship?] [Yes (Selected) / No] [Nice Drift!] [The eleration bar is filling up.] [Nice Drift!] [The eleration bar is filling up.] [Booster On!] [Capitalism sails forward rapidly!] [Hyper Booster On!] [Capitalism moves even faster] After evading the pursuit. I opened the fourth box. [Dimensional Summoning Stone] [Grade: B+] [Allows summoning heroes from the waiting room to the airship.] [Note 1 Without the goddesss blessing, only hero exchange is possible] Dimensional Summoning Stone. It summons heroes from the waiting room. Simple in function, but perhaps the most crucial item. I surveyed the sea. The red circle had consumed more than seven-tenths of the map. [Master, congrattions on gathering all the items!] [Touch the Start Hunting icon at the bottom of the screen to begin the boss stage.] It seems were somewhat prepared fundamentally. But the battle preparations were not yetpletely finished. Anytng closed the guidance window and entered the operation tab of the waiting room. It seems hes not yet ready to challenge. That night, I called everyone except Priasis. Weve gathered all the items. Iid out the four items and exined their uses. The mermaids tears, which enable underwater breathing. The Deep Sea Ship Model, which summons abat vessel to the battlefield. The Oxygen Supply Device, which recharges the oxygen of a hero in an underwater breathing state. The Dimensional Summoning Stone, which summons heroes from the waiting room. Will this be enough? We have to try. Thats why we gathered them. I continued. To be frank, the four of us on our own cant take that monster down. The original n was to include Katiio with the four of us to face the water dragon. Among the wide range of support magic a wizard possesses, there were useful ones even underwater. However, with Katiio handling the airship, inevitably, there was a w in the partyposition. When the master logs in tomorrow, well use this. I held out the glowing blue stone. It was the Dimensional Summoning Stone. We cant summon another party yet. Only exchange is possible. So, one of you will temporarily switch ces with Eloka until we enter the 35th floor. Eloka? Yes, she will be useful. If Eloka couldnt demonstrate her abilities, wed have to hand over the airship to a mechanic and use Katiio instead. Is that okay? Ive already spoken to her. Ill go back to the waiting room. Neryssa raised her hand. Is that okay with you? Yes, I have things to do there. Neryssa responded without hesitation. After a bit of thought, I agreed. After all, once the subjugation begins, Katiio will move to another party, and Neryssa will return. And the next evening came. I knew it woulde to this. Its only natural. On the third floor of the airship, in the waiting area. Eloka muttered as she stood on the magic circle. I just took a short break! And now its the glorious return of the genius magician, haha! You must have deeply felt how important I am! Did you learn to swim? Huh? Youve mastered the fourth tier of fire magic, right? The one that explodes inside the enemy. It seems like it could work underwater. And underwaterbat. Magic is not unaffected either. I should have mentioned this. Of course. Well, that I worked hard, but there was just too much Then well have to send you back. Wait, just give me a day! Just one day! Thats right! Dont be scared. I was joking. Iughed lightly. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 140: On The Sea (4) (1) Chapter 140: On The Sea (4) (1) The base capture process was over. We had gathered all the items needed for the subjection, and the party to kick off the mission was decided. Han, Jenna, Velkist, Katiio, and Eloka. Now, until the time for hunting came, all we had to do was sharpen and polish our swords. The next day, I gathered all members except Katiio at the training grounds. Hehe. Eloka was smiling for some reason, looking quite pleased. Ignoring her, I continued. Once the mission starts, well lead the airship and find the statue of the goddess as quickly as possible. And then activate the goddesss blessing, right? Right. With our current manpower, we wontst long. The more we dy, the more disadvantageous it bes for us. Reviewing the logs of Anytng, we could see that there were 25 heroes avable for the boss battle. It was the same setup as the 30th floor. We have five bottles of Mermaids Tears. That means five of us will fight at the forefront. The rest will defend near the statue of the goddess. I scanned the room as I spoke. The attacking team will be me, Jenna, Velkist, Neryssa, and Eloka. Thats how well split up. Is it possible to fight underwater? It wont be easy. I looked at Eloka. Eloka, can you use level 4 me magic underwater? Ive gotten used to it onnd. I can barely manage for 30 seconds. Underwater is well Speak clearly. I, I can do it! Good. Her response seemed uncertain, but as long as she could use it, that was enough. I exined the positions of the first party members. Velkist, Neryssa, and I would take the direct aggro of the boss in the front. Jenna would handle the minions likely to be near the boss and interfere only when possible. Finally Youre on the attack. Me? Our damage is weak underwater. Even with equipment modifications and training, it was inevitable that ourbat power would be reducedpared to onnd. Magic, as long as the environment was right, could unleash its full power anywhere. Well create an opening, and then you use your magic. Can you do it? Eloka hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly with a serious expression. Its not like theres no room. Just maximize the specs within that time. Understood. I directed the training. We skipped all training regimes other than underwater training, allowing only the minimum necessary rest. The training duration was about 20 hours a day. If it were in the waiting room, we could adjust the time, but we were in the middle of a mission. There was no time to rest. Lets start right away. I stood up, gripping my sheath. The most important thing is With Katiio excluded, the key to this battle was Eloka. She would be responsible for the primary attack of the first party. The training began. Eloka seemed to have learned basic swimming in the waiting room. She moved through the water easily, sshing around. But Magic is not that easy, okay? First of all, spells dont work underwater. You have to keep your mouth shut. If you dont chant spells it bes very difficult to control elemental magic. Eloka hurriedly added as I remained silent. Its not that I cant do it! I just need time, until I can perform silent chants. I pulled up Elokas status window. She had mastered multiple chanting and rapid chanting. Her magic casting onnd had noticeably sped up. Ive mastered the theory. I just need practice. Understood. I can do it. Eloka confidently tapped her chest and entered the water. She practiced magic on wooden dummies underwater. But for now, bubbles were just bubbling around the dummies. For now, all I can do is watch. I need to be able to y my part first. Clearing my mind, I dived into the pool. The red circle in the sea was gradually covering the entire field. The airship slowly retreated to the outskirts, and we dedicated ourselves to training day by day. Two dayster, Jenna and I were able to rise to level 4 in underwaterbat. After our skill level increased, we immediately measured our 100m time, and it barely broke the 40-second mark. World-record level. In a way, it was expected. As we approached level 30, we easily surpassed the limits of human physical ability. Diving with a handful of breaths became possible for up to 10 minutes. Late into the evening, after underwater practice, we dedicated ourselves to weapon skills training outside of the water. I took a breath. Filling my lungs halfway, I gripped the hilt of my sword firmly and put strength into my toes. I swung the sword horizontally. Boom! A V-shaped column of water exploded upwards. Swinging the sword had created a storm-like air pressure. As my level increased, my physical abilities surpassed human limits, continuing to improve steadily. The same was true for skills. Various passive skills, including swordsmanship, had noticeably improved since my visit to Niflheimr. But This is problematic. I opened my status window. [Han Israt () Lv. 33(Exp 134/330)] [ss: Warrior] [Strength: 73/73] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Stamina: 66/66] [Agility: 64/64] [Owned Skills: Intermediate Swordsmanship(Lv.4), Heavenly Sword Spirit(Lv.2), Power Strike(Lv.3), Insight(Lv.6), Fire Resistance(Lv.3) Pain Resistance(Lv.6), Composure(Lv.7), Frenzy(Lv.8), Invincible(Lv.3), Dragon yer(Lv.1), Horsemanship(Lv.1), Underwater Combat(Lv.4)] A total of twelve skills. Three rted to weapon skills. Three rted to mental abilities. Two resistances. Three auxiliary skills. And one extra. Its not good. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 140: On The Sea (4) (2) Chapter 140: On The Sea (4) (2) A total of twelve skills. Three rted to weapon skills. Three rted to mental abilities. Two resistances. Three auxiliary skills. And one extra. Its not good. Skills that could synergize were leveling up independently. Choosing a great sword over a shield wasnt just for show. A one-strike sword technique focused on destructive power. I had decided on my concept early on and developed myself ordingly. Heavenly Sword Spirit and Power Strike. Both skills were about adding destructive power onto sword attacks. However, they didntbine. Composure and Frenzy. Since the 5th floor, it has been the same. They had powerful effects, but the downside was a weakening of weapon skills. Insight and Invincible go without saying. When two skills perfectlybine, the effect improvement doesnt end at double. It will be at least triple the original effect. If more synergy is created, it could go up to ten times or more. This is called breaking the limit. Limit breaking is an essential process that lower-tier heroes must undergo to surpass the domain of higher-tier heroes. It was the part I paid the most attention to when training heroes. If done correctly, it could overpower the difference in stats. Theres no problem with the calctions Long ago, the blueprint for Han Israt waspleted. Although several problematic issues were ovee with the help of Niflheimr, the most crucial awakening had not urred. Initially, I thought time would solve it, but Bang! I swung my sword again. The water split violently to the sides, creating waves across the entire swimming pool. As expected, it cant be done like this. At this rate, Id just be a slightly more talented 1-star Hero. There was no way I could reach the five from Niflheimr. After countless battles and training, if there was still somethingcking I swung my sword tirelessly. Ah, Oppa? Eek! Jenna stumbled. She had entered the training ground entrance and got hit by a ssh of water. Why are you scooping water out of the pool with your sword? Itste. Arent you going to sleep? I smirked and threw a towel to her side. Jenna caught the towel and started drying her wet hair. I couldnt sleep, so I thought Id practice a bit more. What about you? As you can see. Im training. Isnt that enough? Youre already at the level of a human weapon. A human weapon, you say. Jenna continued. Swinging a sword to deflect ballistas, slicing through thick iron, and scooping pool water with a swing, if thats not a weapon, what is? This isnt enough. I shook my head. To survive, Im far from the goals Ive set for myself. How much stronger do you intend to be? Consider our feelings man, were trying to keep up. Thats for you to handle. I straightened my sword. The practice wasnt over yet. To clear myplicated thoughts, I nned to swing my sword throughout the night. Hmm. Jenna seemed to ponder something, then swiftly jumped to my side. It seems like youre troubled. Tell me. Its because Im weak. Satisfied? Wow, such deceit I can understand how Aaron felt. Jenna sat down next to me, pressing her hip against mine. Then she grinned and looked up at me, settling in as if she nned to stay. I decided to stop for a bit. Perhaps Jenna could provide a clue to break through the wall. Jenna had exceptional insight and understanding. And, More importantly This little had alreadybined skills. Jenna had acquired the special skill Side Winder, abination of Weak Point Detection and Rapid Fire. And she was aware of my skill situation. . Ah, so you think the conditions are right, but the skills arentbining. After listening to my exnation, Jenna pped her hands. The synergy just isnt there. Maybe because youre not in the same situation as when you obtained the skills? When I obtained them? Yeah, like, that time on the 5th floor? I narrowed my eyes. The situation when I obtained Frenzy. The 5th floor. It was a mission to survive against thousands of goblins. I barely survived, fighting to the brink of death. At that time, Oppa, you were, how should I say, extremely Extremely, what? Filled with madness? It was like a do-or-die situation. Thats right. But now, I dont really get that feeling watching you. You seem more calm? Well, Im more experienced now, and Ive mastered a lot of other skills. After the 5th floor. Precisely, after the 15th floor, there werent any critical crises. The 20th, 25th, and up to the 30th floor. All were missions I could clear without much difficulty with my power. The Oppa from before fought more fiercely, but now you feel more like a strategy machine. No matter what situation arises, you handle it coolly! Since its a mental skill, maybe that aspect is affecting it? Thats a tall order. I gave a bitter smile. Jennas advice wasnt much different from my analysis. Thinking back to the 317 cases of limit breaking in Niflheimr, 245 were during battles, 55 during training, and 17 were other cases. Force a crisis situation, is that what youre saying? It was an option I hadnt considered even when I was a master. Regardless of how talented a hero was, I didnt want to push a party to the brink of extinction just to focus on one person. Now that Im a hero, even more so. Jennas advice, though new to me, who had only thought of training from a masters perspective, was just that, nothing more. Analyze the heros talent and traits, then train the appropriate type of skills. That was the extent of my involvement in training as a master. Whether the flower blooms or withers away is up to them. There must be another way. I decided to think about it gradually. Does the environment when first obtaining the skill influenceter awakenings? It was time to verify if Jennas words were correct. A fresh theory. If I had still been a master, I would have prepared for experiments immediately. So, was it helpful? Jenna tilted her head. Its not that its not helpful. Though its hard to say if it will be helpful. Eh, whats that? So vague. We are already fighting fiercely. What more can we do? I said with augh. Being calm meant being efficient. It meant looking at the situation broadly. This was the optimal survival method I had developed through missions. There was no intention to change mybat style now. Bang! The third sword strike. The column of water shot up high. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 141: The Water God Hunt (1) (1) Chapter 141: The Water God Hunt (1) (1) Bubbling. Bubbles were dancing and twirling on the water. Inside the swimming pool, Eloka was looking at her target with tense eyes. Her hand moved. Crack! mes burst from the chest of the wooden doll, turning it into ashes in an instant. The blue me, not satisfied with just burning the doll, flickered in the water for a few seconds before disappearing. Phew! Eloka emerged to the surface. She had a face full of pride. How about that! Its perfect even underwater. The firepower seems a bit weak? I deliberately controlled it. The target is small, after all. Itll be different in actualbat. What about the magic efficiency? I can manage up to three times. After that, Ill need to drink a potion. Seeing that I didnt respond, Eloka looked at me anxiously with a changed expression. Its weaker than expected. The me magic I saw on the 20th floor wasnt like this. Even in a near-death state, it swallowed a ck dragon of several meters in size in one gulp. Well, still, if its at this level, its passable. It seemed like it couldnd an effective hit on the water dragon. She also confidently assured that she would increase the firepower in actualbat. So were going together, right? When have I ever said we werent? Youve tricked me a couple of times. Even if you dont like it, Ill take you, so stop worrying. Eloka gave a yfulugh and then got out of the pool. I looked around. Velkist was shing the straw doll in the water. Somehow, that guy had also grown to be able to do his part. The preparations are almostplete. The red circle was already covering the entire sea area. By tomorrow evening at thetest, the hunt would begin. That evening, I called Edis with Iselles power. Hows it going? The third party was a group of beastmen. It was Kishashas party. Race trait. Indeed. They have superior physical abilitiespared to ordinary humans onnd but receive penalties in other aspects. It wasnt too far-fetched considering the rules of Pick Me Up. Then stop teaching them how to swim. Itd be better to help them get rid of seasickness. I nodded. It seemed like Edis was doing a good job. If we had more parties, excluding the third party would be the answer, but we dont have the force to do that right now. We had to bring them no matter what. After all, we could fight even on the ship. I continued the conversation. The call wille soon. Be ready and join immediately. This field is. I shared the characteristics of the field I had deduced with her. The target of the subjugation was the giant water dragon. Edis was surprised to hear that it wasnt affected by attacks above water, but she calmed down as the exnation continued. Probably. That was just an ident. Responding to Ediss determined words, Iughed and replied. Lets end the call here. After I gestured, Iselle withdrew her hand. Iselle wiped the sweat from her forehead. [Phew!] Good work. [Its nothing. Loki, you can finish this mission in one go, right?] What are you talking about? If I cant finish it in one go, Ill die. [Thats true.] Iselle coughed a couple of times and then looked at the door. [It seems like someone is outside.] Knock knock. Someone knocked on the door. After Iselle disappeared into the light, someone opened the door and came in. It was Priasis. Are you busy? I was just about to go to bed. Sorry if I woke you. I grabbed Priasiss wrist as she was about to leave. Good timing. I had something to ask. Priasis hesitated for a moment and then looked at her wrist. I btedly withdrew my hand. Priasis sat down on the bed. Ask away. The ultimate goal of this mission isnt to subdue the water dragon. Its to find the key. The water dragon is just an obstacle to that search. It seems youll have to stay inside the ship this time. Ive heard that story about a hundred times. Well find the key. Just tell us its approximate location and what it looks like. After a moment of hesitation, Priasis meticulously informed me about the key. I engraved the location and image of the key in my mind. And the next day. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] Anytng logged in. [New!] [New version, update!] [Touch here to download.] [Downloading.] [The update isplete.] [T O U C H ! (Select)] After a somewhat unfamiliar screen passed, Anytng entered the main menu. I looked around. The weather was clear without a single cloud. All members of the first party were gathered on the deck. Are you all ready? Weve done as much as we can, right, sis? Of course. I wont have any regrets. Maybe. Eloka trailed off as she looked at Katiio. If youre not confident, mage, you can drop out. Shut up. Velkist gave a sneakyugh and continued to polish his sword with a cloth. Ill distribute the potions. Drink them when I signal. One bottle per person. I handed out the Tears of a Mermaid to the members. Neryssas share was to be kept by me. After reminding everyone of their positions and roles underwater, I looked to my right. Anytng was finalizing preparations for the sortie. [1st Assault Team (Small) is being formed.] [Party Composition 2nd Party, 3rd Party, 4th Party, 5th Party] [Total Heroes 20] [Leader of the Expedition Edis()] Edis was the leader of this missions expedition. Being underwater, it would be difficult for me to oversee the overallbat situation. I wouldnt have the luxury tomand either. It was a sensible choice. Anytng continued with the operation. The Start Hunting button at the bottom of the screen was shing white. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 141: The Water God Hunt (1) (2) Chapter 141: The Water God Hunt (1) (2) Anytng continued with the operation. The Start Hunting button at the bottom of the screen was shing white. [Master, would you like to start the next mission?] [Yes (Select) / No] [Ding.] [Moving on to the next stage!] [Now Loading.] [Building the field.] Ssh! Suddenly, the ship shook violently. The waves had grown taller. Its started. We can do it. Lets all return alive. Of course. As the waves slowly pushed the non-aerial ship into the deeper part of the sea, I touched the space behind the ship. My hand was gently pushed back. A transparent wall was surrounding the field. Katiio. Ill take the helm for now. Katiio entered the cockpit. [Water Dragon Ktaart Lv.64] Kwooooooo! From afar, the water dragon with red eyes roared. [Water Dragon Ktaart roars!] Kwoong! The sea churned, and the water rose several meters high as if a wall had been erected in the sky. With towering waves, it started to approach. [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [Floor 35.] [Mission Type Plunder] [Objective ???] [Special Objective NPC Priasis Al Ragnas survival] I quickly scanned the mission window and shouted. Everyone, to your positions! Velkist ran to the left side of the deck. A rapid-fire ballista was installed on the left railing. I ran to the right. The same device was there. I grabbed the aiming device and ced my hand on the trigger. It was already loaded. Kwooooooo! [Merman Lv.37] X 42 [Baby Water Dragon Lv.34] X 35 [Grown Water Dragon Lv.39] X 17 Within the waves, countless shadows flickered. Vroom! The non-aerial ship half rose from the water. Hold tight! Then it began to climb the waves. I braced my feet on the railing to maintain bnce. Kraaaaa! I pulled the trigger. A giant arrow lodged into the torso of a merman. Avoid them as much as possible. We need to find the statue first! You dont even have to say it! The ship slid on the tidal waves. The angle of the deck steeply tilted. Jenna fixed her feet in the grooves of the deck. Pulling the bowstring, an arrow lodged into the forehead of a water dragon. Dont bother with the mermen. Take down the water dragons first. That was the n. Velkist began firing. With each shot, gears moved, automatically loading the next arrow. Arge figure leaped from beside the wave. It opened its mouth. A water cannon. A pattern I had seen several times before. Katiio quickly turned the steering wheel. The water cannon shot past us. Eloka is. Holding the railing tightly, she watched over us. She was conserving her magic for when she needed to attack. Thwack! The ballista tore through both a water dragon and mermen at the same time. Reload. Fire again. And reload once more. I held the aiming device and continuously pulled the trigger. Wheres the object? This mission wouldnt stand without the goddess statue. While pulling the trigger, I diligently scanned the sea. Capitalism sailed around the water dragon, climbing against the waves. A few mermen that clung to the side of the ship fell as the ship changed direction. Were good so far! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! I was on the right, Velkist on the left. Jenna covered any gaps. The ship crested the wave and descended on the other side. Boom! A water cannon grazed over the ship. Hes such a whiner. Oppa, over there! As we descended to the surface, Jenna pointed upwards. I followed her finger with my gaze. Something was shining at the end of the receding wave. It seems to be at the top? Seriously. Should we turn the ship? No need for that. Itlle back on its own. The wave at the edge of the field suddenly began to return in the opposite direction, easily ignoring the flow of water. It really did. Katiio, get ready. I let go of the aiming device. Arrows were limited. There was no need to waste them in a preliminary skirmish. The ship again rode the waves upwards. [Merman Lv.37] X 57 [Baby Water Dragon Lv.34] X 42 [Grown Water Dragon Lv.39] X 25 The number has actually increased. Despite having dealt with so many. I rested my hand on the hilt of my sword. Katiio came out onto the deck. [Master, 1st Party leader, Han() proposes manual control. Will you ept?] [Yes (Select) / No] Anytng had watched us several times. He knew what needed to be done. The ship began to slowly slide on the wave. Be careful. I will. Katiio waved his hand. Magic threads spewed from his fingertips, gently wrapping around my entire body. A strange sensation of floating enveloped my body. Just draw its attention and break away. Ill retrieve the goddess statue. Ill cover you as much as I can. No need. I chuckled and leaped over the railing. Ripples spread from my toes, and my body rose above the water. Kraaaaa! Mermen immediately sprang forth. I lowered my posture and moved my hand. Swish. The water split and the mermans neck burst with blood. Another one. I swung my sword. A water dragon carrying mermen was split in two, spewing blood and entrails. What are you looking at?! Go the other way! Ah, got it! Capitalism began to distance itself. I dashed across the water. I just need to be careful of attacks from below. I leaped high over the waves. The jaws of a water dragon, filled with serrated teeth, snapped at where I had been. Landing, I shed behind me. The dragon was split apart with the waves. Bang! With each swing of my sword, water columns erupted, and blood and flesh fluttered in the wind. Nearby, the corpses of monsters surfaced. They would soon be swallowed by the flow of the waves and sink. I surged against the waves, elerating. A goddess statue in a swimsuit, wearing a round tube, was bobbing on the waves. Are you kidding me? A surge of irritation rose, but I suppressed it. The statue was glowing blue. It was clearly an important object. I tore through every monster in my path. Krak, mon, monster. Crack. I nted my sword into the forehead of a merman, half torn apart, floundering. And then I embraced the modest-sized goddess statue. On vacation, are we? [This is a ceable object.] [Insert it at a suitable location.] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 142: The Water God Hunt (2) (1) Chapter 142: The Water God Hunt (2) (1) Holding the statue of the goddess, I surveyed the opposite side where the airship and the water dragon were engaged in a chase over the swirling waves. First, we need to regroup. I crossed to the other side of the waves and dashed across the waters surface, ignoring the monsters that gathered. There was no time to look back. With a loud crash, I slid down as if sliding on ice, narrowly avoiding a water cannon shot over my head, powerful enough to sting my entire face. Had it hit directly, my head would have been obliterated. Over there! I pointed towards the outskirts of the field, a ce where the water was still gently rippling. After hitting the water dragon with several ballista bolts, the airship moved towards the designated location. I increased my speed as well. A merman lunged at me from beneath the water with a spear, but I caught it with my left hand and yanked it, pulling the merman out of the water. Both the merman and the spear were sliced in half. With two leaps, Inded on the deck of the airship, which began to move again. Did you secure the item? Here it is. I ced the statue of the goddess down. Quite the sight to behold, Velkist remarked with a click of his tongue. After securing the goddess statue to the railing with a rope, I surveyed the nearby waters. Since it was a deployable object, positioning was crucial, especially for a defensive battle. I also examined the control window of Anytng. A rectangr field, huh? Then, the best strategy would be to ce it near a corner rather than the center to avoid having to defend from all sides. [Master, 1st Partys leader, Han(), suggests to cancel the manual driving. Do you ept?] Anytng hesitated for a moment but then made a decision. [Yes(Select) / No] Good. Katiio, you take the helm now. Drive this airship to the farthest corner of the field. Well install the goddess statue there. Got it. Katiio obediently entered the cockpit, and the airship started moving at a slightly slower pace. I grabbed the left ballista and diligently fired arrows at the pursuing water dragon. [Blessing of the Deity activated!] [The monster is immune to physical damage!] [The monster is immune to physical damage!] [The monster is immune to physical damage] Although I couldnt inflict damage, it was possible to slow down its pursuit. I spared no effort in firing the ballista. After about a minute, Thump! The prow of the ship hit something. It was a signal indicating to us that there was no further passage; it was a transparent wall. I turned to look at Eloka, who stepped forward with a stern expression as the water dragon approached, coiling around in front of us. I can do this. Eloka muttered and then, Inre! Merge! Elokas dress fluttered as a me, akin to the sun, erupted right in front of the water dragon. [Blessing of the Deity activated!] [The monster is immune to magic!] [The monster is immune to magic!] [The monster is immune to magic] Elokas magic bought us some time. I grabbed the goddess statue and went below deck. Then, [Instation of the goddess statueplete!] [Blessing of the Goddess is activated throughout the field!] Everythings going ording to n. I opened the door and headed inside the ship, rushing down to the third floor. [Dimensional summoning stone activated!] [Master, reinforcements can now be deployed.] [Extend a helping hand to the heroes in crisis!] Anytng moved the screen. [Selecting reinforcements.] [Designated Party 1st Party (in battle), 2nd Party, 3rd Party] [2nd Party selected.] [Members Edis(), Roderick()] [Deploy on the mission?] [Yes(Select) / No] I opened the door to the waiting room, where heroes from the 2nd Party were being summoned one by one on the red magic circle. Han. Edis approached me. I nodded and then spoke. We dont have much time. Listen carefully. I had exined the basic details yesterday. I informed them of the current situation and what the reinforcements needed to do. Well defend the goddess statue on the ship, right? Thats right. Take Priasis with you. Ill do my best! A new member of the 2nd Party shouted enthusiastically. I said, Head straight to the deck. A ship will be summoned. I had already handed over the model ship to Jenna. [Ding!] [Jenna() has used Wooden Model Ship.] [Combat Medium Ship is summoned!] Shes doing well. It seemed she had figured out how to use it on her own. The 2nd Party left the waiting room. [Selecting reinforcements.] [Designated Party 1st Party (in battle), 2nd Party (in battle), 3rd Party] [3rd Party selected.] [Members Kishasha(), Lakari()] [Deploy on the mission?] [Yes(Select) / No] The 3rd Party was deployed. I hate water. Their expressions were grim. Kishasha sighed and then approached me. I heard about the situation from the human woman. Ill head out immediately. Im counting on you. This battle, Ill leave it to you. The beastmen left the waiting room. Summoning messages continued for the 4th and 5th Parties. I noticed some unfamiliar faces, likely new recruits. Sorry for beingte. Neryssa was thest toe out. Whats there to be sorry about? Hurry up. Yes. Neryssa and I left the waiting room together and ran back to the deck. As expected. Next to the airship, a wooden shiprge enough to easily exceed 10 meters was rocking. A small bridge had been set up between the two ships, and heroes from different affiliations, including Priasis, were transferring under Edissmand. Farmer sir, lets give it our all again! Lyman showed me a fist bump and disappeared into the ship. The boarding isplete! I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 142: The Water God Hunt (2) (2) Chapter 142: The Water God Hunt (2) (2) Farmer sir, lets give it our all again! Lyman showed me a fist bump and disappeared into the ship. The boarding isplete! Screech. The airship began to move forward, leaving the goddess statue behind. [Warning!] [Manual operation of the airship is now impossible!] Eloka, stop. Ugh! Eloka staggered back, caught by Jenna. Are you okay? Someway or another. Jenna took out a blue potion and brought it to Elokas mouth. Gulp, gulp. Bang! The water dragon leaped tens of meters into the air riding a column of water. [Ktaart casts Hydro Cannon!] A blue energy gathered in the monsters mouth. But this time, the target was not the airship. This much is! Crash! Although the wooden ships mast broke in the center, but it managed to evade the hydro cannon. Lets move. I took out a small cylinder from my belt pouch and approached the swaying goddess statue. There was a hole near its bottom. Click. It fits perfectly. [Oxygen Supply Device activated!] Is it time for the counterattack? Exactly. I opened my pouch. Inside the small ss bottle, a translucent white liquid was contained. Five bottles in total. They were mermaids tears. Drink it. I opened a bottle for myself and drank without hesitation. [Han() is blessed with Mermaids Blessing!] [The effect of the Oxygen Supply Device is activated. Duration is now infinite!] [Jenna()] [Eloka()] I looked back at Katiio. Take the airship to the center of the field. We had to keep as far away as possible from the defensive side. Just keep the airship safe while we dive. Understood. The airship rocked slightly. [Capitalisms High-Speed Navigation Device activated!] Boom! The airship darted forward, scattering intense foam. Good, follow us quietly then. Roar! [Water Dragon Ktaart roars.] [The Majesty of the Deity gathers!] [Monster Wave!] [Man-Eating Shark Lv.33] X 105 [Mermaid Lv.37] X 80 [Baby Water Dragon Lv.34] X 53 [Grown Water Dragon Lv.39] X 74 [Kraken Lv.41] As expected. Monsters from all over the field began to converge. Their target was the direction where the goddess statue was installed. Ediss voice reached me. I smiled and replied, I trust you. I brought my hand to my ear. There was no longer a need tomunicate. The airship reached the middle of the waters. Rumble! The water dragon was scattering water left and right as it followed. Are you ready? Yes. Of course! Absolutely. Ready. I nodded. Wait, take this. I caught the object Katiio threw. A small ss bottle containing a white liquid. Mermaids tears. I made it since we had the ingredients. Theres only one bottle, though. A spare, just in case. It seemed unlikely wed need it, but I put the potion in my pouch. Lets go. Ssh! We dived into the water. Amidst the boiling bubbles, the water dragons red eyes glinted menacingly. I spread my palm, signaling to form up. Me and Velkist at the front, Neryssa and Jenna in the middle, Eloka at the rear. I took a deep breath. Sweet air filled my lungs. Lets start. I drew my Bifrost sword. Then, I kicked off to the left and advanced. The water dragons forelimb swung at me. Well block it from the front. Elokas chanting had already begun. Thus, we couldnt let the water dragon go easily. I gripped the sword hilt tightly and shed upward. Thud! The w and the sword de collided. A heavy sound followed, and I was flung backward. Meanwhile, Velkist thrust his sword between the dragons scales. Red blood scattered from between the scales. Were inflicting damage. Everything was going as nned. I was to first block the dragons charge, followed by Velkist, then Neryssa, and finally, Jenna would stop the dragon. Meanwhile, ! mes danced in Elokas eyes. Near the dragons chest, bubbles began to rise. Boom! mes erupted. Flesh and blood dispersed in the water. The water dragon writhed in agony. I held up two fingers. Attack all at once. Velkist pushed me from behind. Gaining momentum, I struck at the wriggling dragons neck. Jenna followed with an arrow, and Neryssa pulled her crossbow. The dragon thrashed violently. The surging water pushed me away, but I was ustomed to resisting the flow from practice. Its not difficult. If only we could know in advance that this boss would appear, it might even be easier than other levels. [Ktaart casts Triple Hydro Cannon!] Blue magic gathered in the dragons mouth. The target was Eloka, who was preparing magic. I quickly turned back. After taking a deep breath and gathering strength throughout my body, Boom! A hydro cannon shot out from the dragons mouth. I positioned my sword in front, managing to deflect the first hydro cannon. Velkist blocked the second, and Neryssa and Jenna cooperated to stop the third. ! Boom! The dragons tail was severed in an explosion. Perhaps the aim was off, but it was certainly hit. I sliced through the dragons fins as I passed by. Well finish it off this way. If the initial magic hit its mark. Before it could recover, we would attack all at once to end it quickly. After retrieving the key, the mission would beplete. I approached the waters surface, passing by the dragon. The other parties were struggling against the monsters. As Edis had assured, there was no significant crisis. Even the 3rd Party, prone to seasickness, was performing well on board. This is all it takes. I dove deep again and approached the dragon. It was coiled up, silently. ? What is he doing? Eloka was casting magic. If he leaves her alone, he might suffer a fatal wound. ! Elokas third me magic. This time, no explosion urred. Instead, the dragons chest swelled visibly. mes churned inside it. The dragon moved towards the surface. I followed with my sword ready. If it tried to flee, I would finish it. Boom! The dragon leaped, scattering a column of water. Its jaws opened wide. [Ktaart casts Hydro Cannon!] A hydro cannon? This is! I clenched my teeth. Edis! Turn the ship, now! mes spewed from the dragons mouth, grazing the distant ships side. Fwoosh. Ah. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 143: The Water God Hunt (3) (1) Chapter 143: The Water God Hunt (3) (1) If it had been an ordinary water cannon, it would have merely brushed past the ship. However, what the water dragon spat out was mes. Dangerous enough to pose a threat upon mere contact. Damn. mes erupted from the side of the ship. Soon, smoke began to envelop the sky. Unexpected. I didnt consider the activation mechanism of the water cannon. I never expected it to spew mes from its mouth. Kuh, hahaha! Cough! The water dragon looked at me, blood dripping from its mouth, with a face full of mockery. If only I had thought a bit deeper. I bit my lip. Jennas gaze, peeking out of the water, turned towards the burning ship. Huh? Why is the ship suddenly like that?! I narrowed my eyes. The fire was spreading to the deck. On the deck, heroes and monsters were entangled in a bloody fight. Mermaids from below the sea were climbing up the side of the ship to the deck. The water dragon exhaled roughly and then re-entered the water. At the same time, other members also emerged from the water. Velkist, who noticed the anomaly first, furrowed his brows. Whats going on here? It spat out Elokas fire through its mouth. What? Does that even make sense? If its water cannon worked by shooting water and air from its lungs, it wasnt impossible. Just that I hadnt thought of it. A desperate voice came through my ears. A voice with a hint of youthfulness. It was Kishashas. No one told us that the ship would be on fire! We cant swim! What do we do? Wait. I looked around. The boss had gone deep into the water. It went to heal its wounds, perhaps. Under normal circumstances, I would have pursued it to finish it off, but there was no time for that now. First, we had to deal with the current situation. Katiio! The airship bounced in the distance and approached. Katiio rushed out from the control room. Im here! Go to the statue of the goddess. Help them. And you guys? Well stay. I looked back. Velkist, Neryssa. Follow them. Only three of us are going to fight the boss? Yes. If the statue of the goddess is taken, its all over. Losing the ability to breathe underwater would make it difficult to continue the fight. That was something we had to prevent at all costs. I had told Edis to practice swimming and underwaterbat, but ording to reports, their proficiency was not high. Losing the ship and being dragged into the water would mean immediate annihtion. I, I Quiet. Its not your fault. Eloka bowed her head. Its just a slightplication. We can straighten it out. Whoosh. The airship carrying Velkist and Neryssa took off. Then, messages indicating the heroes fear and bleeding status appeared on the right side of my vision. The messages soon changed. [Jeril() has returned to the goddess embrace! His fighting spirit will be remembered forever.] [Shurgan() has returned to the goddess embrace! His fighting spirit will be remembered forever.] Two deaths. Things have gotten terriblyplicated. Heroes had gathered near the area that caught fire. They had to fight the monsters in front while also looking for the fire behind them. Edis was desperately trying to handle the situation, but it was clear they were being overwhelmed. Im sorry. Its my mistake. The airship will head there soon. Abandon the ship. Move to the airship with Priasis. If you cant hold out, its okay to abandon the statue of the goddess. Just dont die. Click. I cut off themunication. Katiio would handle the rest. Is this okay? What are you talking about? Elokasplexion had turned pale. It spat out my fire magic, right? Yes. My magic caused the ship to catch fire [Aril() has returned to the goddess embrace. Her fighting spirit will be remembered forever.] [Lilinia() falls into panic. All stats decrease by 50%.] The weaker ones are going first. Neers were dying one after another. Monsters kept swarming the ship, attacking them. They didnt care about the statue of the goddess at the back. It seemed they intended to wipe out the heroes first before capturing the objective. Its my fault Sis. Jenna lowered her voice. Nobody knew this would happen. Right, Oppa? Sister Eloka is not at fault, right? Its not wrong to give your best. If theres a fault, its on me. Well, I wasnt expecting that kind of answer. Jenna sighed and then continued. What do we do now? The monster seems to have gone into the water. And it looks dangerous over there. The formation on the deck had copsed as the back of the ship caught fire. It was impossible to fight the monsters in front and extinguish the fire at the same time, turning the battle into a chaotic melee. In a melee, casualties were inevitable. A painful miscalction. I gritted my teeth so hard that I could taste the bitter vor of blood. I swallowed the blood. It wasnt over yet. Falling apart now would only make us aughingstock. The boss took damage too. It didnt attack us above water for a reason; it wasnt in a condition to do so. Shooting fire through its throat, couldnt have been done unscathed. Its insides must have been burnt to a crisp. I kept simting in my head, calcting the situation of both the enemy and us, thinking of ways to respond. Finally, I surveyed the situation on the ship. Most of the deck was upied by monsters, and the ship was slowly sinking. I sighed and then brought my hand to my ear. Edis. Abandon the statue of the goddess. Move to the airship. Well finish it. I will not let you get wiped out for being stubborn. Edis didnt respond. I continued speaking. Didnt you tell me you wouldnt let your party members die this time? Do you want them to die a dogs death? Edis answered reluctantly. I cut off themunication. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 143: The Water God Hunt (3) (2) Chapter 143: The Water God Hunt (3) (2) Edis answered reluctantly. I cut off themunication. Hey. If youre going to mourn your fate, save it forter. But! I pulled Eloka by the back of her neck. Our faces came closer. I decided to put you on this mission. Ill take the responsibility. I forced you into this! No one can force me. Elokas eyes wavered. I smiled slyly and then released my hold on Eloka. Eloka slumped over the water as if drained of strength. Take it somewhere else. Jenna muttered. W-What are you talking about. Eloka backed away, flustered. Iughed and then said. You seem to have spare energy. Shut up. Good. The three of us will finish the mission. How? Look at the mission window. I looked to the right of my vision. The missions objective window was disyed. [Floor 35.] [Mission Type Plunder] [Objective ???] [Special Objective NPC Priasis Al Ragnas Survival] Plunder or capture. Not extermination. It meant we didnt necessarily have to beat the water dragon. Probably the water dragon is just a mid-boss. A guardian of the ce where the key is located, something like that. Then. Just ignore it, steal the key, and hand it over to Priasis. The standard would be to hunt the water dragon and then enter the key storage, but now that was no longer an option. [The altar capture has been released!] [The goddesss blessing is lifted!] Survivors on the airship escaped the area. Monsters were swarming around the statue of the goddess. Recapturing it was difficult. To retake a territory once lost, in principle, several times the force was needed. Moreover, monsters were also swarming towards the airship. [Mermaids Tears] [Oxygen Concentration 100%] A time limit, huh. We had to drive into the water within a set time, steal the key, and return. I exined my n to them. I knew the approximate location of the key. I had heard about it several times from Priasis. Can we do it? We have no choice. Thats true. Then we must! Jenna rolled up her sleeves. Eloka also hardened her expression. Both seemed to have made up their minds. I nodded and then took a deep breath. And dove deep into the water. The boss was injured. Although we lost the statue of the goddess, we still had a chance to win. I moved my arms and legs, gliding through the blue waves. Jenna and Eloka followed behind me. At the bottom of the sea, theres a temple where blue light twinkles. I recalled Priasiss words. [Oxygen Concentration 93%] Oxygen is being consumed quickly. A huge shadow appeared in the water. The water dragon. It had shown up as expected. The wound on its chest that had been ragged was halfway healed. Swoosh! Jenna immediately drew her bow. The streamlined arrowhead lodged into its scales. Kuuooooo! The water dragon roared and approached us. I gestured to the two of them. Ignore it, that was the message. They nodded and briskly moved their feet. We can shake it off. It wasnt as fast as before. Its tail and fins were torn. I put strength into my arms and legs and moved forward. [Oxygen Concentration 73%] At the bottom of the sea. The blue light twinkled. It was clearly visible even from a distance. Bubble bubble. Jenna grabbed my cor and pointed behind us. I turned my head. [Mermaid Lv.38] X 32 A group of mermaids was approaching. I turned my body sideways. A harpoon whizzed past. Ignore them. The two nodded. We dodged the harpoons skillfully and moved towards the bottom of the sea. [Oxygen Concentration 43%] A huge temple submerged in water revealed itself. Of all ces, here. The depth was nearly five hundred meters. Not a ce to dive carelessly. Inded on the roof of the temple. Entrance is Not visible. Then well break through. I gestured to Eloka. Eloka immediately began casting. We need to protect her until its done. Mermaids fell one after another to Jennas shots. I deflected iing harpoons in front of Jenna. [Oxygen Concentration 35%] The more violently we moved, the faster the oxygen was consumed. I rxed my body, minimizing my movements. ! Boom! One side of the temples roof shattered. I signaled, and starting with Eloka, we began entering the temple through the hole in the roof one by one. Eloka first, then me, and Jennast. [Jenna() has been afflicted with a bleeding status. Health decreases over time.] Wended inside the temple with the flow of water. Move! As soon as we touched the ground, Eloka immediately gestured with her hands. Stones from the floor rose and blocked the hole through which water was pouring. Eloka gasped for breath. We can buy some time. It wontst long, though. I looked around. The ce wended was a huge cavity the size of a sports field, and the inside of the temple seemed not to be submerged. [Oxygen Concentration 28%] Can we make it back with this? We had consumed more oxygen than expected. Regardless, we had to think about thatter. Hey. Yes? I looked back. Jenna was hesitating on her feet. How badly are you hurt? Not much. Be honest before you get scolded. A little? Jenna smiled awkwardly. It wasnt the first time Id seen that expression. When this kid feels guilty about something, she makes that face. I strode behind Jenna. Her left calf was deeply gashed. Sigh. Hit by a harpoon? It hadnt stuck in, but it seemed to have scooped out a chunk of flesh as it passed. A potion will heal it quickly. It will heal, sure. If you stay still and dont move. I can still fight, you know. Boom! The cavity shook violently. It was the water dragons voice. Ouch! I sat Jenna down, then took out a potion and bandages. I opened the potion and poured it over the wound, then wrapped it with bandages. Wait here. I can fight too. Stop talking nonsense. Youre being unusually kind. I finished wrapping the bandage and took out a white potion. Mermaids Tears. I ced it beside Jenna. Why are you giving this to me? For emergency use. I continued. Eloka, you too Im not staying! Stay here? I wouldnt havee if that were the case! Really?! Yeah!! Eloka ced her hand on her chest. If I did something, I will take responsibility. Thats the duty of a noble. You too! Since you called me! Behave like a gentleman and escort me to the end! Eloka brushed her hair back andughed merrily. Her hands were trembling, though. This is I smiled wryly. Then lets go. What about me?! Ille back for you soon. Wait patiently. [Attention!] [This dungeon is designed for a 5-person party.] I brushed aside the message that appeared in my vision and moved forward. [The battle shop is now open.] [Do you wish to purchase the High-Quality Glow Stick for Support (one-time use, 100 gems)?] [Yes(Select) / No] Does this guy even understand the situation? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 144: Turmoil (1) (1) Chapter 144: Turmoil (1) (1) Light entered the corridor. The walls and floor were made of bluish stone, with nothing but white lights illuminating the space. There were neither theplex traps one might expect nor any vicious monsters appearing. The only urrence was the echoing of our footsteps with each step taken. Theres not much time left. Thud! A piece of stone crumbled and fell. The water dragon was destroying the temple. If this continued, the temple would be submerged along with the key. I hastened my pace. Eloka followed in rhythm. Listen closely. Turning around, I met Elokas gaze. She was tense, but she seemed to be trying to calm herself. Were the only ones left here. If a battle breaks out, I cant protect you perfectly by myself. Youll need to protect yourself. Can you do it? Protect myself, got it. Use magic for quick attacks and keep your body safe. If you feel in danger, you can rely on me. I wont rely on you. I can do my part. Eloka looked at me with determined eyes. I was about to say something but then closed my mouth. We had no choice but to keep moving. A dungeon for a five-person raid. Originally, this ce should have been entered after dealing with the water dragon, fully prepared. However, a minor incident twisted all ns, and we were on the brink of annihtion. If Eloka and I failed, it would be the end. We had used up the Mermaids Tears. There was no more time to spare. Thud! The ceiling crumbled, blocking our path. I lightly jumped over the stone and reached out my hand to Eloka. Thank you. Eloka grabbed my hand and came over. Minutes passed in what seemed like an endless corridor until the scene suddenly changed. Step. I stepped forward with my hand on the hilt of my sword. Arge circr chambery before us, bathed in a blue light. Large stone pirs were ced at regr intervals throughout the space. Eloka. Weve found it. Eloka pressed her lips tightly together. Shring. I drew my sword. A shadow that had been squirming behind a pir emerged. [Corrupted Merman Lv.41] X 5 Five of them. Their eyes were degenerated, and their skin color was unnaturally pale. They stood about 3 meters tall, considerably bulkier than a normal merman. Gurgle, gurr The merman approached with a boiling sound, wielding rusty swords and spears. Remember what I said? Quick attacks, avoid danger if necessary. I nodded, gripping my sword tightly. Come! Screaaaaam! The merman rushed forward with a tearing scream. ng! I blocked the massive axe de. The force was numbing. I gritted my teeth and deflected it. I turned my body,nding a spinning sh. A heavy impact traveled through my body, and the upper half of the mermans body flew into the air. ck blood and entrails poured out. Draste Siradus! The merman slipped on the ground. Elokas magic followed. Burn! mes roared! mes erupted from Elokas hands, engulfing the fallen merman. The merman screamed in agony, writhing. Always be aware of your surroundings! I moved quickly,unching forward and swinging my sword. The de sank into the neck of a merman attempting to stab Eloka. As I pulled my hand back, the severed head slid off diagonally. The five mermen fell without a trace. But then, Gurgle, kek, squeak. [Corrupted Merman Lv.42] X 5 More of them appeared from behind the pirs. Wheres the exit? The entrance we came through closed upon our arrival, and the doorway on the opposite wall remained shut. Do we have to defeat them all? Squeeeeeak! The merman screamed bizarrely, swinging its weapons. ng! I deflected the de with my left forearm guard, then plunged my hand into its eye. As I pulled out, the eyeball came out along with the optic nerve. Ugh! In a sh, I drew a dagger and stabbed it into the eye. I felt the sensation of stirring the brain. The creature copsed lifelessly. Ugh! [Eloka() is now in a bleeding state. Health will decrease over time.] I looked over. Elokas dress was torn, and blood was flowing. Im okay! Thump! Eloka clutched the hem of her dress and kicked the approaching merman. A fireball she had conjured smashed directly into the creatures face. I told you to retreat if its dangerous! I am doing so! I shook off my sword. ck blood sprayed. Ten corpsesy on the ground. The second wave was cleared. Gurgle, gasp, squeak [Corrupted Merman Lv.43] X 5 The third wave. I would have preferred traps or puzzles. Those can be solved intellectually. But this was a pure test of strength, and even here, misfortune yed its part. I clenched my teeth. [Han() is now in a bleeding state. Health will decrease over time.] Thest creature nicked my side as it fell. There was no time to take a potion. I roughly tied up my clothes and continued the fight. [Corrupted Merman Lv.43] X 8 As holes in the walls opened, creatures poured out in session. Bodies began to pile up under my feet. At the same time, my injuries increased. We had already exhausted a lot of our strength in underwaterbat, and with just the two of us, it was impossible to form any strategy. [Eloka() has entered a state of magical overdrive.] Eloka! Stick to the wall! [Corrupted Merman Lv.43] X 13 Crack! A mermans harpoon snapped. I pushed forward, my de slicing from the creatures shoulder down to its lower body. After kicking the corpse aside, I retreated to the wall. [Corrupted Merman Lv.43] X 21 Such brute force! They were swarming from all directions. Just overwhelming us with their numbers. [Eloka() is in a critical state. Her life is in danger!] Hey, you bastards! Have you no conscience? I shouted as I swung my sword, cutting through the mermen like they were straw. Their blood, entrails, flesh, and weapons were scattered everywhere. Even five people would have been in danger! [Corrupted Merman Lv.43] X 23 I advanced, clearing the corpses. I swung my weapon. And swung again. My vision darkened. I wiped the blood from my face and swung my sword again until everything went ck. And after a while, Ah. I took a deep breath. Nearly a hundred mermeny before me, all dead. The ck blood they spilled formed pools before me. As I wiped my sword de with a rag, it quickly turned into a useless cloth. I threw it away. She needs healing. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 144: Turmoil (1) (2) Chapter 144: Turmoil (1) (2) As I wiped my sword de with a rag, it quickly turned into a useless cloth. I threw it away. She needs healing. I approached Eloka, who was leaning against the wall. I took out thest potion I had. I uncapped it and brought it to Elokas lips. Drink. Im fine. I forced Elokas mouth open and poured the potion in. More than half of the potion overflowed, spilling onto the cor of her clothes. I lifted the hem of Elokas clothes and rummaged through her pockets. There was a stamina potion. I uncapped it and poured it into her mouth. This too spilled over. What a waste. I dont regret it. I chose to go with you. Is that so. I slumped to the ground. Was I helpful? Thank you. Half of the corpses were charred nicely. I had asked for simple magic, but high-powered spells were cast several times instead. Thats a relief. Eloka smiled weakly. Her splendid dress was soaked in blood. Theres a lot I want to say but somehow, I cant find the words. Anyst words? Elokas eyes dimmed. Last words? Speak. Ill remember them. Elokas voice faded away. Tears welled up. Blood leaked from her blue-stiffened lips. If its hard, stay quiet. I continued speaking. Im sorry for always scolding you. Idiot. [Eloka() has returned to the bosom of the goddess. Her fighting spirit will be remembered forever.] I closed Elokas eyes. Her body which was leaning against the wall, sank. Idiot. I admit it, I am an idiot. I underestimated this world. I had never failed before, and every attempt led to sess. Because I knew everything. I thought it would be okay to stray a little. Im an idiot. It wasnt Elokas fault. It was mine. For choosing Eloka instead of Katiio. For letting the water dragon breathe fire. For the ship catching fire. For everything leading up to this situation. I staggered to my feet. It wasnt over yet. The door to the next corridor was open. I dragged my feet forward. Should I use the weapon summoning? Impossible. To summon a weapon during a mission requires three chances, but Ive already used one, making summoning impossible. I had to solve the current situation on my own. Several chances to turn things around shed before my eyes. I erased that sight. Looking back now would mean Eloka died for nothing. A purple light flickered in front of me. Anytng was waving a light stick. Of course. Thats all you can do now. Boom! The ceiling shook once more. I moved through the corridor. Same structure as before. No difference. Except that someone next to me was gone. Did she call it breaking the limit? The situation when I acquired Frenzy. So, this is what itse to. Just as Jenna said. That sensation. When I thought everything would be fine no matter what happened. When I had no thoughts other than eradicating the enemy in front of me. A cold fire was burning in my heart. [Skill Awakening!] [Han()s Frenzy has been upgraded by two levels! Lv.10 reached!] [Han()s Frenzy has reached the maximum level.] If the conditions match, I must make use of it. [Skill Awakening!] [Han()s Composure has been upgraded by three levels! Lv.10 reached!] [Han()s Composure has reached the maximum level.] I moved forward. Once again, the space expanded. Boringlycking in personality. The same type of holes. Grr, grrr, grrrr [Corrupted Merman Lv.41] X 5 Mermen appeared from behind a pir. Their eyes shed as they screamed. The exit closed again, and I recalled the appearance of the temple I saw from outside the water. There are more few holes. Then, its still too early for Frenzy No. It doesnt matter. I decided not to make such calctions. Whatever lies ahead, however many enemies remain. Screaaa! There was no hesitation. [Han() has entered a Frenzy state!] A cold fire spread throughout my body. I gripped my sword tightly, spinning the de. Swoosh! Three mermen were sliced up at once. The de, not losing its strength after cutting through flesh, sliced the entire pir in front of me. Next. [Corrupted Mermen Lv.42] X 5 Crash! My de plunged from above. The mermen tried to block it with its weapon, but it turned into crushed meat as if hit by a hummer. [Corrupted Mermen Lv.42] X 13 The cold fire that was coursing through me began to expand its territory. From under the skin to the muscles. From the muscles to the blood vessels. Fiercely raging throughout my body. [Han()s Frenzy has met the evolution conditions!] This is not enough. If it evolves like this, it will just be a simple higher-level skill. Give me more. Its not enough. [Han()s Composure has met the evolution conditions!] Like fruits thrown into a blender, bits of their flesh scattered everywhere. My body moved beyond its physical limit. Every bone in me screamed with pain, but I didnt care. Still not enough. After all, Im alone. If I dont take this kind of gamble. Squeal, squeeeek! Mermen corpses and pirs were sliced and mixed together. Whether they wield weapons, hide behind pirs, or flee. One strike per enemy was all that it took. Click. Bifrost reacted. The de extended. Larger and wider. Heavier and more powerful. The weight doesnt matter. The heavier, the better. It allows me to put more strength into it. Boom! Just by setting it down, the sword stuck into the ground. Hundreds of kilograms. Impossible to lift. Then. My muscles twitched. The structure of my skeleton distorted. My body began to transform. [Master, Han()s soul is in turmoil!] Finally. I smiled bitterly. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 145: Turmoil (2) (1) Chapter 145: Turmoil (2) (1) I clenched my fist. Hundreds of kilograms of iron were lifted into the air. Kieeeek! A merman screamed and charged at me. I stepped forward and swung my sword. The air split in half and the creatures body was cleaved apart. The mermen behind him were thrown away and tumbled due to the sword pressure. Kyak! Kiaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak! Shut up!! Bang! Five mermen were smashed into pieces along with a pir nearby. Crunch. A sound of something twisting was heard. It wasnt from outside. It wasing from inside my body. [Han() has been afflicted with a bleeding status. Health decreases over time.] The wound on my stomach widened. But there was no time to feel it. Such pain was trivial. Crunch. Squelch. Bones misced. Muscles twisted mercilessly. A pain as if being torn to shreds burned through my whole body. My body was splitting from the inside. [Corrupted Merman Lv.43] x 11 They kept jumping out. Good. I couldnt handle it if I werent busy killing them. Come out more. If I leave my body like this, it will break down faster. Crack! I moved the sword. One at a time. No. Two. Three. Scattered flesh and entrails, blood dyed the pit. The bodies of mermen rolled around like trash. The great sword shattered the floor, pierced through pirs, and carved deep marks into the walls. Breaking the limit. I was already using several times more strength than my original ability. Every movement exploded with pain. A cold fire gradually heated, covering my whole body. I couldnt stop. If I stopped here, the path would close. I screamed silently and swung my sword. And after an immeasurable amount of time. Creak, creak I kicked the head of a merman that was groaning. The head shattered, spewing blood and brain matter. This was thest one. I looked around. Numerous bodies of mermen filled the cavity. None maintained their original shape. Cough! I knelt on one knee. My vision went dark briefly before returning. I staggered to my feet. This. It wasnt a rampage. I ced my hand over my heart. A violent thumping. It was beating wildly. A skill that puts a strain on the body. Temporarily grants explosive power to the body. However, the risk is entirely paid by the body itself. Extremely fierce. I moved forward. My left leg started to numb, so I used the sword as a cane. I moved my foot towards the door of the opened passage. Gurk! A merman jumped down from the ceiling. I moved my left hand. A fist extended like lightning, smashing the creatures head and shoulder in an instant. The one that lost its upper body copsed. Ugh! I staggered. A stream of blood flowed from my mouth. Adrenaline surged through my veins. I could no longer feel pain. Not yet. It wasnt over. Bang. I banged my forehead against the wall. [Skill Awakening!] [Han()s Pain Resistance has leveled up! Increased to Lv.7!] Once more. [Skill Awakening!] [Han()s Pain Resistance has leveled up! Increased to Lv.8!] For thest time. I banged my forehead until it bled. [Skill Awakening!] [Han()s Pain Resistance has leveled up by two stages! Increased to Lv.10!] [Han()s Pain Resistance has reached the maximum level.] Evolve. [Skill Evolution!] [Congrattions!] [Han()s Pain Resistance has met the evolution conditions and changed into Combat Wrath!] I started to feel my senses again. I moved forward. Soon, the third cavity appeared. Creak. A pir moved on its own and took the shape of a person. But it was only simr in shape. It was 4 meters tall. [Guardian Golem Lv.43 X 3] The golems approached me with shining eyes. I silently turned my sword. [Han() has fallen into an exhausted state. All stats decrease by 90%.] Again. [Skill, Invincible activated!] A fist like a cudgel flew at me. I firmly nted my feet. The great sword described an arc. With a loud explosion, the golems arm shattered. I inserted my fingers into the golems torso with my left hand. The leather glove tore, and my fingernails peeled off, bleeding. I ripped out the magic stone inside. Two more golems attacked from both sides. I clenched my fist. There was no escape. No, I didnt want to escape. More strength. My vision turned red. [Skill Awakening!] [Hero Han()s Rage and Calm have merged to create a new skill!] [Han() has acquired Ascend(Lv.1)!] Bang! The upper bodies of the two golems were instantly shattered. Only their legs remained, staggering before copsing. Ugh! I barely managed to stand, nting the sword into the ground. The consumption of stamina was more severe than expected. I rummaged through my belt, but no potion was to be found. Not yet. Its not enough. I bit my tongue until it bled. [Skill Awakening!] [Hero Han()s Ascend, Combat Wrath, and Invincible have merged!] [A new effect has been added to Ascend!] I limped through the passage. Not much left until the end. Damn it. Every second, my whole body was breaking down. It wasnt a consumption of mental strength. It was using my body to increase my abilities. The skill was too powerful for my current state to handle. But still, It wasnt over. Thanks to Combat Wrath and Invincible. Even if my body became a half-dead corpse, I could continue the fight. You pay the risk of using these skills after everything is over. The roar of the water dragon echoed through the temple. My ears were acting weird, or the creatures voice sounded distant. The sense of reality felt remote, like dreaming. It cant end here. If I cant handle even this I lifted my head. I entered the cavity. Blue crystals protruded here and there. Inside the cavity, on the altar, something was emitting a blue light. [Warning! Warning! Warning!] Crack! The crystals covering the wall shattered, merging into one in the center of the cavity. Eventually, a giant figure took form around the crystal. [Danger!] [Ancient Guardian Lv.61] The second boss, huh. I nted the sword and leaned my body on it. Just once. The limit of my body. Bang! One side of the cavity was breached, revealing the head of a water dragon. Seawater began to fill the cavity. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 145: Turmoil (2) (2) Chapter 145: Turmoil (2) (2) One side of the cavity was breached, revealing the head of a water dragon. Seawater began to fill the cavity. The water dragons massive mouth approached as if to swallow me. Simultaneously, a crystal golem rushed towards me. I lifted my sword. Just once. I stepped forward. The ground caved in and then cracked like a spiderweb. I gripped the sword with both hands. My grip was so tight that my hands bled. Durability was unnecessary. Stamina was unnecessary. All I need is a single moment of explosion. Kraaaaaaaah! The water dragon opened its mouth wide. I moved my hand. Every organ in my body rallied its strength to its limits for a single devastating strike. I didnt think about what woulde next. 100%, 200%, 300%. Even beyond. I put my soul into this ultimate strike. [Han() has fallen into a critical state. His life is in danger!] Crack. Every bone in my body shattered. All the veins in my body burst. My vision turned as red as blood. [Skill Awakening!] [Hero Han()s Heavenly Sword Spirit and Power Strike havebined to create a new skill!] [Han() has acquired Soulde Fusion(Lv.1).] I swung my sword sideways. Following the trajectory of my sword, my blood slowly scattered, and the de collided with the creatures teeth. [Skill, Soulde Fusion activated!] [Divine Protection of the Water God ignored!] The great sword pierced through the teeth, scales, outer skin, entrails, and shattered the brain. The body of the water dragon, tens of meters long, was split in half with a single strike. Then the golem behind it was hit. As the sword hit the golems transparent surface, blue mes sparked. Crack! [High-Intensity Force Field Shield ignored!] The guardians divided upper and lower bodies scattered to the sides. Boom! A column of water btedly shot up. Blood poured out from the water dragons corpse like a waterfall. The shattered crystal golems body didnt move an inch. Its over. I exhaled. And then I copsed. Upon examining my body, it was damaged beyond description. It wasnt a technique of sacrificing flesh for bones, but a technique of sacrificing flesh to take the enemys flesh as well. How absurd. Utterly ridiculous, indeed. I crawled on the ground. Using only my arms, I climbed the stairs to the altar and snatched the glowing blue gem at the center. This was the end. Cough! Spitting out a mouthful of blood, I leaned my back against the altar. Ediss voice was heard. I closed my eyes. Water began to fill the cavity. O. Oppa! I opened my eyes. Someone was shouting in front of me. Pleasee to your senses! What are you doing here?! What happened to you? What are these wounds? What happened that Sis Eloka is! She must have seen Elokas body. Jenna couldnt continue her words. I lifted my immovable arm with difficulty and handed the gem to Jenna. Take this to the surface and hand it over to Priasis. The mission will be over then. And you? I dont think I cane. Theres only one mermaids tear. I dont think I can swim. Even speaking was difficult. Can you stop saying this! Jenna snapped. Im sorry. Nows not the time for apologies! Jenna took out a potion, uncapped it, and tried to pour it into my mouth, but more than half spilled out. Jenna bit her lip hard then filled her mouth with the potion and pressed her lips to mine. This. I hadnt thought of this method. The potion flowed down my mouth. Really, really, really! I really wont forgive you if you die. Ill go to hell myself to bring you back. What are you doing, saying I should be careful and then doing something like this? Jenna took out a red cloth and began to tie me to her back. I squinted my eyes. The red cloth was a piece of Elokas dress. Living people should live, you shouldnt have such bad thoughts. Jenna took out a white potion. The mermaids tear. This time, she uncapped it and was about to fill her mouth with it. Hey. What. Just give it to me. Ill drink it. You should have said so from the start. Jenna ced the potion into my mouth. I coughed but managed to swallow it. Do you think dying with style will make anyone happy? Hell No! Sis Eloka.. Well talk about thatter. The water rose just below the altar. Living people must live. Jenna wiped the corners of her eyes and then tightened the cloth that tied her back and me once more. After emptying her portion of the potion, Jenna took a deep breath and dived into the water with me. I weakly watched Jennas back. Boom. The entire temple began to copse. Jenna, carrying me, swam through the water, dodging the rocks and debris being swept away. [Oxygen Level 39%] I moved my hand. I loosened the cloth tying Jenna and me so I could fall away easily if she reached her limit. Elokas sinking body appeared among the bubbles. Pushed out of the temple, she was being sucked into the deep sea along with the water dragons corpse. Is she going to rotten there. In the deep sea where no one woulde. Slowly disappearing. I didnt want to leave her there. The taste of blood was bitter. Jenna struggled upwards. She couldnt gain speed. Her legs hadnt fully healed, and she was carrying arge burden on her back. Nevertheless, Jenna bit down and continued to swim. Elokas body disappeared into the abyss. Jenna didnt look back. And just as I was about topletely untie the cloth, a vague shape swam down from above. They were moving their arms and legs swiftly,ing towards us. Theyvee out to meet us. Light began to enter my eyes. Foolish. How really foolish. I closed my eyes. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 146: Goodbye (1) Chapter 146: Goodbye (1) I opened my eyes. The grey sky was reflected in my view. A familiar scenery. It was the dormitory of the waiting room. I blinked my eyes. All injuries on my body were gone. Bones that had been shattered into hundreds of pieces, blood vessels that had spewed blood from every hole, muscles that had been torn to their limits were all as if they never had been damaged. I survived. In the end, I didnt die. I smiled bitterly and lifted myself up. I felt no pain at all. I was as good as usual. Only a slight numbness persisted in one side of my head. After strapping the sheathed sword that was lying next to the bed onto my belt, I left the room. The living room of the 1st partys dorm was empty. I looked at the clock. 2:45 PM. It was a time when everyone would be busy preparing for the party after clearing the boss stage. Didnt they call it a post-battle party? Back then, there were quite a few survivors. About 20 people had survived. What about now? Though I hadnt checked everyone, death messages kept popping up even as I was on my way to the temple. I stepped out into the square. Of course, there would be no preparations for such a party. The 3rd floor square was empty. Iselle was fluttering her wings, moving a cart near the open storage room door. [Ah, Loki!] Iselle, who was pushing the cart, approached me. [You woke up? I was so surprised! It was great you didnt die. Are you feeling okay?] As you see. I nodded my head. As long as one doesnt die, any wound can heal. Is that a memento? I looked into the cart. Inside the handcart were various items. From clothing to letters, a teddy bear, a metal cup, sewing tools, to books. [Yes. The master ordered to store them.] Iselle scratched her head. [But, only a few owners of these items are left. Eight? The others cant enter the storage.] How many died? [Thirteen.] I clicked my tongue. More than half of the raid team was gone. Naturally, there was no room for a party. There are eight who can enter the Cemetery. The remaining five They were forgotten without leaving anything behind. It couldnt be helped. The Cemetery space was limited. [Do you want to follow? The door is open now.] Sure. I followed Iselle. The entrance to the storage was located in a secluded part of the square. I followed Iselle, pushing the cart into the storage. Upon entering, a unique scent wafted through the air. I had smelled it before. Familiar yet strange. It was the scent of a columbarium. The interior was simr in structure. Long wooden disy cases lined up, with relics ced in eachpartment. How am I supposed to endure this! Someones scream was heard. I shifted my gaze. In the corner of the storage, Kishasha was sitting down. This isnt a death befitting a warrior If it was going to be like this Kishasha murmured, tears streaming down her face. Im left alone you guys Our eyes met as Kishasha was hunched over. Kishasha wiped her tears. Is it you? How many survived? Just me. Everyone else died. I closed my mouth. Its my fault. I couldnt lead my tribe properly, those who trusted and followed me. I Kishasha shook her head. Its okay. I dont me you. If it werent for you, we would have been all annihted. I decided to entrust it to you. Please, I want to be alone. Kishasha sat quietly in front of her tribes mementos. I turned my back and moved to the next section. Edis, Velkist, and the backs of two others were visible. There were casualties in the 2nd party as well. The always shy girl was nowhere to be seen. Was her name Lilinia? Iselle was storing sewing tools and a teddy bear in the upperpartment of the disy case. It seemed to belong to that girl. I watched their backs for a moment, then moved on. To the far left disy case. In the corner of the hallway, members of the 1st party, excluding Katiio, were gathered. You woke up, senior? Velkist turned around, noticing my presence. His expression was as calm as ever. The archer kid strongly insisted on having a memorial service. I wanted to train Neryssa kicked Velkist in the shin. Velkist frowned. What are you doing? It hurts. Insensitive jerk. Velkist didnt reply and crossed his arms. Even if youre a senior, youre not a god. In battle, there are sacrifices. If we dwell on every one of them, theres no end. Bing stronger is the way to honor the female mage. It only takes a day. Just one day. Jenna spoke in a low voice. We fought side by side, risking our lives. And they died protecting us. Cant we do at least this much? Thats not what I meant. Velkist frowned. Oppa,e here. Sister would have been waiting too. Dead people cant wait ouch! Neryssa punched Velkist in the sr plexus. Velkist staggered back. This is painful This guy You really cant help yourself. I passed by Velkist. At the very end of the disy case, on the top, Elokas mementos were contained within a square ss. A fur coat, a luxurious fur scarf, a fancy fan. Things I had given her in exchange for her research. They were all in pristine condition, well-maintained as usual. If I were a master, I could put the heros lifetime videos and illustrations in the archive, but Im just a hero. It would be nice if we could go back to the 35th floor. Jenna sighed. Then, she opened the disy case and took out a white envelope. Its sisters will. I thought itd be best for you to read it first, so I kept it. Me to read it? Of course. Sister would have wanted that. I silently opened the envelope. If I remember correctly, this will was written just before heading to the 20th floor. It was a bit old, but that didnt matter much. I started to open the envelope, then stopped. What a strange feeling. After realizing I was trapped in this world, I had decided not to care about anyones death. To never look back. Just moving forward. But now Well. I took the letter out of the envelope. I unfolded the crumpled paper and read it. Quite the bad handwriting. The letters were scribbled as if hurriedly written. (T/N: In the context of the trantion, Melong () is a yful, teasing expression used in Korean, often apanied by sticking out ones tongue to mock or tease someone. It doesnt have a direct trantion in English, but it conveys a sense of cheekiness or yfully taunting someone.) Next to peekaboo, there was a drawn picture of a squashed circle sticking out its tongue. It seemed to be a drawing of a persons face, but it was quite hard to recognize. The will ended there. I folded the letter. Did you finish? What does it say? Just some pointless doodles. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 146: Goodbye (2) Chapter 146: Goodbye (2) I folded the letter. Did you finish? What does it say? Just some pointless doodles. I smiled and handed the letter to Jenna. As Jenna read through the letter, Sis. She began to sob, burying her head in the disy case. Im going ahead. I quickly left the storage. Passing through the square, I headed back to my room in the dorm. I locked the door and sat down on a chair. Ha. It hurts more than I thought. More than any pain Ive ever experienced. My head felt like it was going to burst. Iselle. [Oh?] Iselle appeared with a light. Dead heroes I stopped mid-sentence. Why am I asking?! I already know! They cant be revived. I, a top ranker of Pick Me Up, knew this best. [They can be revived.] Iselle pushed forward her chest. [If you clear up to the 100th floor, a destroyed world will be reborn. Heroes live a new life there. They might lose their memories, though.] Is that so? [Yes. I heard it directly from the manager.] Good. I waved my hand. Iselle circled around me once and then disappeared into light. I didnt know. It was a fact I hadnt known. I closed my eyes. I opened my eyes. The ring on my left hand was emitting a ck light. Yu? Somehow. Ive also awakened. Indeed. I had seeded in breaking through a crucial gateway known as the limit. I smirked. What? Are you joking? Running away now? Dont ever say that again. Yus voice faded. I continued. Sorry. I dont seem to be in a good mood. I recalled. The five of them from Niflheimr werent always in the same party from the start. Each experienced numerous deaths ofrades in different parties. It was during those times that they came together as one. Of course. What do you take me for? Its just a days retreat. When tomorrowes, when its tomorrow I will forget. No. I need to bury it. So deep in my heart that it never resurfaces. Nothing changes. Ill climb the tower. Good to know. Yus voice faded. I took a deep breath. After a while, [Wee to Pick Me Up!] Anytng logged in. [Loadingpleted.] [T O U C H ! (Select)] Entering the main screen, Anytng immediately moved the waiting rooms disy. My sitting ce was zoomed in. Then Anytng continued with the next operation. [Gift Shop!] [Purchasing Warhorse Statue for 5,000 gold.] [Purchasing Wreath for 3,000 gold.] [Purchasing Flower Ne for 1,000 gold.] Huh? [Beginning item synthesis!] [Selected materials Warhorse Statue, Wreath, Flower Ne] [Finished item Unknown] [Proceed with synthesis?] [Yes(Select) / No] [tter tter!] [Fairy Power!] [Good!] [Synthesisplete!] [Youve obtained Mourning Warhorse Statue.] [Gifting Mourning Warhorse Statue to Han().] A light flickered in front of me, and the warhorse statue fell. I caught the statue. The horses head was adorned with a white wreath, and its neck was wrapped with a ne made of flowers. Mourning Warhorse Statue? Anytng seemed to be watching my reaction, not moving the screen. I burst intoughter, finding it absurd. To think of doing something like this. I stood up from the chair. I walked over and ced the Mourning Warhorse Statue on the disy stand. It stood out among the other statues. Mourning. Can you mourn the heroes within the game? As Loki, I couldnt. I treated the heroes who died during missions as mere expendables. Interesting. I rearranged the cement. Next to the central Mourning Warhorse Statue, other statues seemed to be galloping. [ying storage records.] [Selected hero Eloka()] Elokas illustration and status window popped up. Eloka was smiling confidently as always. Anytng watched that unchanged screen for a long time. Wait for me. It wont take long. Just a few more floors. Just up to the 100th floor. Just a brief moment of patience. As Anytng disconnected and dawn passed into the deep night, I watched her picture. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 147: Lost And Gained (1) (1) Chapter 147: Lost And Gained (1) (1) The next evening, at the training ground of Party 1. I was sitting on a chair, my sword resting on my knee. In the middle of the square room stood a practice steel dummy, without any other decoration. This was a personal training space set up for me. There were no special training schedules today. And it seemed there wouldnt be any for a while. I came to this room just to sort out my thoughts. The loss was significant. The raid of the 35th floor ended in sess, but the process was frustratingly inadequate. The death of Eloka, the only elementalist, was a tremendous loss, and Party 3, which was expected to be a main pir of our force, suffered near-total annihtion. In addition, most of the promising talents who were growing through the 30th floor died meaninglessly. Currently, Parties 1 and 2 each have four survivors. And a few remainders, including Kishasha from Party 3. The damage was significant. Like it or not, replenishing and restructuring our forces will take a considerable amount of time. I scratched the back of my head. The expected period needed for the towers next climb was over a month. The more I thought about it, the more I had a headache. Eloka was one thing, but Party 3 was a problem. ording to Jenna, Kishasha has been holing up in Party 3s quarters and refusing toe out. Party 3 was a forceparable to ours, but their power was halved due to the penalty of an aquatic environment and several unfortunate mishaps. Even if we wanted to replenish their numbers, the chance of non-human races joining was extremely rare. It was essentially a total loss. I exhaled softly. There were a mountain of issues to resolve, but I decided to check and implement what I could do, one at a time. Click. I drew my sword from its sheath. Before me stood a steel dummy, a fine item made with all the effort from the equipment workshop. I took my stance and drew my sword sideways. Crack! Sparks flew, and a dent formed in the middle of the dummy. But that was all. It didnt have that power to smash both water dragons and a golem at once like before. Ascend, and then Soulde Fusion. These were the two skills I acquired on the 35th floor. Ascend was abination of Frenzy and Composure, along with Invinciblity and Combat Wrath, while Soulde Fusionbined the essence of Heavenly Sword Spirit and Power Strike. As both were skill unique to me, they required analysis for efficient use. Ideally, I should have tested their performance through sparring and realbat. I nced at the hologram window on my right. The patch log updated in thest update came to mind. For the Master! [Convenience Update, The First!] [Curious about the heros skills? Stop flipping through guides!] [Skill window updated for easier, more convenient viewing! Viva!] [1. From now on, detailed specs of skills will be provided. Touch the skill in the status window and] A convenience update. Essentially, it meant that now masters could understand the detailed effects of skills without having to go through the hassle of searching skill databases on guide sites. Things have improved a lot. Back in my day, I had to figure everything out through trial and error. I felt a generational gap as I opened the status window. [Han Israt () Lv. 34 (Exp 280/340)] [ss: Warrior] [Strength: 75/75] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Stamina: 68/68] [Agility: 66/66] [Owned Skills: Intermediate Swordsmanship (Lv.4), Ascend (Lv.1), Soulde Fusion (Lv.1), Insight (Lv.6), Fire Resistance (Lv.3), Dragon yer (Lv.1)] First, the skill window had changed. Skills like horsemanship or underwaterbat had disappeared into another tab. Now, such skills were ssified as auxiliary and could be viewed separately. I touched the textbeled Ascend and pressed the View Details tab. [Ascend (Lv.1)] [Grade: B+] [Type: Unique] [Triggers the Heros body into a rampage, boostingbat power. However, it deducts the users vitality proportionally to the power boost. Death can ur at its maximum.] [Attributes: Immunity to status effects,bat wrath] [Remarks: Han Israt ()s exclusive skill] The effect of the skill was as expected. Boostingbat power at the expense of physical strain. Death could indeed be a consequence. That wasnt wrong. I had nearly experienced it myself. Then, I reviewed Soulde Fusion. [Sword Harmony (Lv.1)] [Grade: B-] [Type: Unique, Link, Double] [Passive: Activated in normal state. Adds power correction to the Heros swordsmanship.] [Active: Can be activated in Ascend state. Concentrates all amplifiedbat power into a single piercing sh. Part of the damage inflicted is also suffered by the hero. Death can ur at its maximum.] [Attributes: Fixed damage] [Remarks: Han Israt ()s exclusive skill] The descriptions were grim. Both skills could lead to death if misused. However, their power was undeniable. Having experienced them firsthand, I couldnt deny their effectiveness. Unique skills. The concept and identity of the respective hero. They could be obtained through breakthroughs and possessed several times the potential of ordinary skills. Training the hero was the part I paid the most attention to. Stats were foundational, but ultimately, the heros final performance depended on how the skills synergized. I corrected my posture, lowering my lower body. The basic stance. I moved my hands while giving sticity to my legs and waist. At the same time, I flipped the switch in my mind as if using Frenzy. Activate. [Han () has entered Ascend state!] Crunch. A feeling of bones misaligning followed by intense pain wrapped around my body. A sensation of being torn apart. I could feel the risk of Ascend even before seeing the status window. Ugh! I staggered and deactivated Ascend. My entire body felt as if it was on fire. Its a skill that consumes vitality. It couldnt be maintained for long. On the 35th floor, the aftermath of awakening somehow worked out, but it wont be easy next time. Every use was a gamble with my life. I massaged my tingling wrist. Ten seconds at most. Any longer would put my life in danger. Although it was a continuous skill, I could only use it temporarily as I am now. I copsed into the chair, contemting how to utilize it. The final phase of a mission would be the right time to activate Ascend, then move on to Soulde Fusion. A sort of finishing move. To be used when certain of victory. This is practically a self-destruct skill. I knew simr skills would appear, but I didnt expect them to be this intense. I stood up again. More precise calctions were needed. Once more. [Han () has entered Ascend state!] A cold fire wrapped around my entire body. I clenched my teeth until they bled, preparing for the next move. Gripping the sword handle as if it would break, I maintained myposure to the end and swung the sword. Boom! With the sound of an explosion, the steel dummy in front of me vanished without a trace. Not satisfied with breaking steel, a deep sword mark was etched into the metal wall in front. I tossed my sword aside. Then, I copsed in a sprawl. Sigh. Troublesome. I felt dizzy. The skills power was excellent. However, this method didnt allow for the full potential of the skill to be utilized. In the end, I need to get stronger to withstand the bacsh. My body had already entered the realm of superhumans, but it was ridiculously insufficient. I needed a skill that significantly increased my bodys vitality. I had to subject my body to extreme stress. Pain tolerance training seemed trivial byparison. I got up, nning tomorrows schedule. [Loki! I have news Whoa!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 147: Lost And Gained (1) (2) Chapter 147: Lost And Gained (1) (2) I got up, nning tomorrows schedule. [Loki! I have news Whoa!] Iselle, who appeared beside me, screamed. [Why are you covered in blood? And why is the room such a mess again!] Training. [What kind of training leads to this!] This isnt the first time you see me like this. Whats up? I casually tidied up the room and sheathed my sword. Iselle coughed a few times before looking at me. [Remember, you told me to let you know if the master uploads a strategy video.] Did I say that? [I remember clearly. So, Ive been watching MyTube daily with my eagles eye.] Did Anytng upload a video? Iselle nodded. [He did upload. Except for the 35th floor.] He left out the 35th floor? [Yes, he downloaded it but] Anytng began recording videos from the 15th floor. That meant he uploaded videos of the 15th and 20th floors, but skipped the 35th. It had been a massive loss. Still, given the intensity, it could have been a popr video. [Anyway, Ill show you.] Iselle gestured in a circle with her arm. [Haah! Fairy power!] A light gathered in the right side of my vision, conjuring an inte window. A red rectangle with a y triangle. The icon of MyTube. I navigated to Anytngs channel using the cursor. Sure enough. New photos and videos had been uploaded. I tapped on the first video. The video was nothing special. It showed the conquest of the 15th and 20th floors. The views are quite high. It had exceeded 300,000. I scrolled through thements with an indifferent expression. [The more I watch, the better this hero seems to perform. Not incredibly strong, but seems to understand the rules well. Looks risky but ends up clearing easily. Enjoyed watching.] [Not incredibly strong? How strong does one need to be? To my eyes, hes at least 4 stars.] [Have you never seen a real monster? Go watch Lokis videos. Seris alone decimates everything.] [Thats because Loki raised them well. Even Seris looked mediocre in initial videos. But this one performs like this from low levels. Surely a hidden gem?] [I wanna lick Seris armpits. Lick lick!] [No video for the 35th floor? I bet it was a smashing sess too. Hurry up and upload it!] [Hasnt it been quite a while since they uploaded floor 30? Did his party got annihted or something?] [Thats possible. This person only knows how to ride the bus and does nothing else. Even if the hero performs well, theres a limit to it.] [Some grind all day and their hero is so weak theyre stuck on floor 20. Meanwhile, someone else gets lucky and climbs with just one hero. Is this even a fair game? When Mobius go bankrupt?] [Agree. Its fun but the bnce is trash. If I had drawn that character, Id have reached floor 50 by now. Is this even a game!] [Recruiting elite n members to control server 2. For more details] [Such a waste of a hero. Picked the wrong master. Id be too embarrassed to upload if it were me. He dosnt even have Tactical Center yet. Just watching. Do something man. If you cant handle it, sell it or something. Ill buy it for a high price.] I scrolled down through thements. The reactions could be condensed into three main points. Hurry up and upload the next video. Really lucky. Andstly, such a waste of a hero. Towards thetter part of thements, the majority opinion was that the hero was too good for his master. What are you doing in the back? Why wave those useless light sticks? Why take screenshots? After a few passionate instigations, thement section became nearly toxic with personal attacks. [Ha! Stupid people. Theyre just jealous. Theyre jealous because they dont have a hero like Loki.] Iselle puffed up her cheeks. Was the ID Lollipop? Though it was a hard-hitting truth bomb. The purpose behind posting thement seemed somewhat petty. Doing nothing in the back. It wasnt incorrect. While a master couldnt directly intervene in missions, they could influence in other ways. Tactical Center. A facility through which a master could get involved in missions. However, this was a double-edged sword. Ive seen dozens of masters, who knew nothing, trying to meddle and leading their parties to annihtion. Thats why Ive refrained from saying anything to Anytng until now. But after failing on floor 35, even my thoughts had started to change. I closed the inte window with a bitter smile. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] At the same moment, Anytng logged in. [Loadingpleted.] [T O U C H !(Select)] Right after connecting, Anytng went straight to the facilities tab. Exceptionally quick touch. His emotional state was palpable. [Constructing a facility. Please touch the type of facility you desire.] [Tactical Center Lv.1 selected. Would you like to build this?] [Yes(Select) / No] Anytng touched Yes without hesitation. Got mad because they called you useless? I smirked. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 148: Lost And Gained (2) (1) Chapter 148: Lost And Gained (2) (1) The entire square began to tremble. It was a phenomenon that urred when the facility was being constructed. Arms crossed, I waited for itspletion. Shortly after, [The Tactical Base has beenpleted! The Tactics tab will now be avable.] [Master, from now on you can use tactics!] [Tips/Tactics can be used in a limited manner within missions.] [Notice!] [About Tactics] [Activate tactics by touching the Tactics button at the bottom of the screen. You can give specific signals to your heroes.] [You can use it freely at the beginning of a mission, but once you fully dive into the mission, penalties will be added. Use your limited opportunities carefully. As you level up the Tactical Base, more diverse functions will be added.] I looked to the right of my field of vision. Inside the waiting room, a new facility had been established. A small room with a miniature table and a map. It was the Tactical Base. Anytng was checking the help guide. It would be hard to understand it all at once. It was quiteplicated. Im not sure how this will go. Tactics can be a godsend, deciding the sess of a mission if used correctly and at the right moment. But thats only when used well. Across all of Pick Me Up yers, there are few masters who can properly utilize tactics. It depends on whether you can grasp the flow of battle or not. How the mission flows, whats dangerous, and whats needed. If you dont know these things, its no more of a pearl ne on a pig. It would be fortunate if you didnt just throw your party into disarray. Of course, most masters are so used to nkly staring at the screen that they fail to grasp the essence of the mission. The trend these days was to leave the Tactical Base unused and entrust the strategy to the heroes. I recalled the situation on the 35th floor. One party fought the boss underwater, while another party was repelling a monster wave on the boat. Then, an ident happened. At that time, Edis couldntmand properly. A heros vision is limitedpared to a masters, likely too preupied with blocking the monsters in front. If there had been a Tactical Base then, and if I had been the master at the time, the situation would have changed. Once the mission starts in earnest, tactics are greatly limited. At best, you might be able to disy an arrow or a gathering indication. But even just giving a retreat signal could have greatly reduced the sacrifices. If only I had realized it sooner. Something might have changed. We might not have lost. I tried to take on everything in the mission by myself. We could have quickly retrieved the nonbatants. Then, Eloka I shook my head. It was already over. [Tactical Base, huh. What a useless thing to make! Are you trying to cause trouble?] Iselle was grumbling while looking at the screen. She didnt seem to like Anytngs actions. Why so? You said youd do it. [The master just watches from above. What would you know about the field?] I used to think the same. [Its different with Loki. Tactics should only be used by Loki. A sparrow trying to follow a phoenix will only tear its groin. Just leave it to Loki to figure it out] Sorry, but Ive changed my mind a bit. [Huh?] I stood up from my chair. Ignoring Iselle, who was looking at me with nk eyes, I left the personal training room. ng! ng ng! In the sparring area, Velkist and Neryssa were fervently crossing swords. Both were bleeding but didnt care. The fight was intense enough to be called a real battle. I nced over briefly before stepping out into the square. The door to the Tactical Base was installed on the left side of the rift of space. I walked down the stairs and entered the facility. A circr table with a white map was ced inside. I sat down in the chair in front of the table. Lets test your skill level. I flicked my finger. [Master, Han() proposes a mock battle. Would you like to ept?] [Yes / No] Mock battle. A kind of mini-game that bes avable after installing the Tactical Base. There are two yers. Each ys as heroes and monsters, respectively. The mission and flow are simr, and through mock battles, you can check and train your tactical skills. [Yes(Selected)/ No] After a moment of contemtion, Anytng touched Yes. [Ba-dum!] [Starting the mock battle!] [Type 1 VS 1: Battle against artificial intelligence] Artificial intelligence, huh. I smirked wryly and prepared for the game. [Now Loading.] [Configuring the map.] The map on the table changed. A square model field was created, with ck and white pieces appearing on both sides. ck pieces are monsters, white pieces are heroes. The rules are simple. The monster side aims to destroy the stronghold, and the hero side defends it. However, monsters and heroes are basically moved by AI. The yer can only make a few signals before and after starting the game. [Field configurationplete!] [Master, you are Heroes.] [The mock battle will start shortly. Get ready!] [60 seconds to game start!] The map on the table waspleted. It seemed like I was the one ying from here. Next to the map were a red pen and a blue pen, tools for tactics. I examined the map. The stronghold was in the center. Theres an object on the left side. The monster formation seems to start from the bottom of the field. Unlike when I was a master, it was analog, but still a familiar method. For the first game, I decided to use basic tactics. Easy to counter. Dividing the forces in half and deploying them to the object and the stronghold. I divided the ck pieces on the map, then circled them and drew arrows to indicate the direction of the troops. This mini-game could get deep if you delve more into it. The type of field is random. The effect of the object is also random. Each troop is divided into three professions, each with different abilities. There are numerous variables, and since professions, formations, and strategies bite each other, among the masters of Pick Me Up, there are quite a few who delve solely into mock battles. Consider it an honor. Youre the only one receiving a 1-on-1 lesson from the champion of the International Mock Battle League. I started cing the pieces with a smirk. [10 seconds until the game starts.] [Get ready!] The cement was finished. I waited for the start with my hands off. [Game start!] Thud. The ck pieces on the map wobbled and then started moving on their own. The monster-shaped pieces advanced as I had directed. And 10 minutester, The first game ended. Hmm. This is quite, surprising. I set up for the next game. This time, I decided to change the strategy. All-in. Ignoring the object and cramming all forces into the stronghold. Its a gamble, but if youre clever, its easy to catch your opponent off guard. Another 10 minutes passed. I set up for the next game. Again, I decided to change the strategy. [Game over!] And the result was in. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 148: Lost And Gained (2) (2) Chapter 148: Lost And Gained (2) (2) I set up for the next game. Again, I decided to change the strategy. [Game over!] And the result was in. I crossed my arms and looked to the right. Anytng was staring hard at the win/loss screen. Three rounds of mock battles. This guy, Is unbelievably Terrible. Really. First game. Anytng didnt move from the stronghold. I easily took the object and then used the buff to breach the defense of the stronghold. Second game. Anytng sent all forces to the object. It didnt take 30 seconds. I entered Anytngs stronghold without shedding blood. Third game. In this game I did nothing. I just watched. I left the game to AI. Yet Anytng lost. This guy what? Astounding. Innate game sense. Its the first time Ive seen a master worse than automated progression. I didnt even use anyplicated techniques. After all, its just a practice game. I chose strategies that one could easily counter after seeing them once. Did you stuff doll eyes in your head? Having watched the mission videos tens of times, one would expect to get a feel for it. I clicked my tongue and folded the map. [Thats what I said!] Iselle appeared spinning and snorted. [Racing games seem to be his forte. Dumb in other areas, I told you! Loki should take full responsibility for the missions.] Ha. I sighed. An unexpected hurdle. Meanwhile, Anytng was waiting on the main screen. Not performing any operations. Waiting for me to propose the next game. After about 5 minutes, Anytng moved the control window. [Master proposed a mock battle to Han ().] Iselle stared nkly at me. I shook my head. [Han() has declined the mock battle!] After closing the rejection window, Anytng touched again. [Master proposed a mock battle to Han ().] [Han() has declined the mock battle!] Anytng moved again after pondering. [Gift Shop!] [Purchasing Warhorse Statue for 5,000 gold.] [Gifting Warhorse Statue to Han()!] Pop. A Warhorse Statue appeared on the table. Thinking I would be swayed by such a shallow trick. Ill y just one game. I pocketed the statue and flicked my finger. [Ba-dum!] [Starting the mock battle!] [Type 1 VS 1: Battle against artificial intelligence] And, [Gifting Warhorse Statue to Han().] [Ba-dum!] [Starting the mock battle] [Gifting Warhorse Statue to Han()] [Ba-dum!] [Gifting Warhorse Statue] On the table, numerous Warhorse Statues were lined up. A total of ten. [Hey, this is a bit harsh] Iselle scratched her cheek. Iselle, who had been ming the master up until the third game, began to feel sympathy as the game went past seven rounds, even cheering for a single win. Anytng was waiting at the control window. After ten straight defeats, he did not attempt a rematch. [Master, would you like to disconnect?] [Yes(Selected)/ No] [Then, farewell!] After a while, Anytng disconnected. Iselle, resting her chin in her hands, said, [Whats the problem? Lack of talent?] Who knows. Thirteen rounds. I reviewed Anytngs y records. Theres at least a will to learn. Given the gold expenditure for retries. The minimum condition was met. Its just that the results didnt follow. Strange. Even if hes talentless, watching the mission videos shouldve led to some realization. But when facing Anytng, it felt like I was up against aplete novice. Iselle. [Hmm?] Show me the mission videos the master uploaded again. Iselle blinked but obedientlyplied. Videos from the 5th to the 30th floors quickly yed in front of me. [So, Loki, do you see anything?] I closed the window. After watching up to the 30th floor, it was clear. This kid [Huh, huh.] Was only watching me. Up to the 10th floor, the camera would rotate to check on other party members. But from the 15th floor onward, the focus was on me. It only briefly shifted when an important object appeared. The masters focus, which should have been revisiting the entire flow of the mission, was directed solely at me. It was no wonder the timing for taking screenshots was lightning-fast. Having watched from the start, there was no way to miss it. Other members were left out in the cold. At best, he would asionally nce at a member of the 1st party. No wonder theres no improvement. Anytng had developed bad habits. But my failure to recognize this beforehand was also at fault. I looked up. The dark sky. Somehow, I could sense what Anytng was feeling right now. Disheartened by theck of results. Wanted to be helpful. Perhaps he felt something while watching the 35th floor. I smiled and leaned back in the chair. Iselle, can I ask you one more favor? I want to use the inte. [The inte?] I want to send an email. I took out a notebook and began to write down letters. Detailing the flow of battles from the 5th to the 30th floor. Compared to the strategy documents I sent, even a brain filled with noodles could easily understand. Right now, Im not asking for much. When I cant look after the party. When the entire raid is in crisis. I need you to have the ability to help once. Ill just im Im a channel subscriber. Well, even if there was no talent, I was nning to force it through him. If not ten times, then a hundred times. If that doesnt work, a thousand times more. Until its hammered into his head. I said Id make you the best. After all, it was work that needed to be done. I wrote down the letters in the notebook with a smile. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 149: Past present and Future (1) (1) Chapter 149: Past present and Future (1) (1) Several days passed. Anytng, who had received my advice, did not send a response. However, it was clear that his attitude had changed. ording to Iselle, there were signs that he had repeatedly watched the mission videos on his phones records. He had started to study on his own. He has the desire to improve. He didnt seem to be ying mindlessly. This meant he had met the basic requirements to be a ranker. There were many masters who questioned why studying was necessary for gaming. Although immediate effects were unlikely for Anytng, it would improve over time. I was satisfied with this and devoted myself to training. At the daytime training center. Do we really have to go this far? Jenna looked troubled. She was holding a whip with thorns on it. Its too harsh. I think its okay to ease up. I dont want to waste time. Even so Jennasplexion darkened. In the training centers sparring ground, I was catching my breath, my upper body undressed. Next to me was a bathtub filled with a red liquid. It was filled with dozens of bottles of healing potions. I need to build endurance. It was a decision made to properly use Ascend and the Soulde Fusion. The previous methods were not enough. A drastic measure was necessary. Thus, this was the method I had chosen. Repeating physical damage and recovery in the sparring ground where healing was ineffective. For this, I had raided the storage for arge quantity of healing potions. To make me do this to my Oppa Theres no one else but you. Youre used to shooting arrows at vital points, but now you fuss over a few whipshes? But! This is the best way. I dont want to repeat the experience of level 35. There were weaker methods. But they took longer and were less efficient. I had no intention of choosing my methods anymore. Reluctantly, Jenna nodded. Hit with full strength. Ill know if you hold back. Understood. I turned my back to Jenna and bit down on a gag. The pain was real. I recalled the appearance of the whip. It was made from animal tendons, with thorns on the end designed to tear flesh and muscle. It was closer to a torture tool than a weapon. Its okay. The pain was unbearable. However, I did not want to taste the emotion from before ever again. I reminded myself once more. Here I go! The whip tore through the air. Crack! Stars burst in front of my eyes. Damn it The whip tore through the skin and muscles on my back, digging deep inside. I bit down on the gag. I could still endure it. Covered in blood with just one hit Effective indeed. I caught my breath. Hesitant at first, Jenna moved her hand again. Ssssh! The second strike. My entire back felt as if it were on fire. It felt as though my skin had beenpletely peeled off. It hurts more than I thought. Sweat blurred my vision. I then gestured with my eyes. A signal to continue. The whipping continued. Three, five, nine times. I gathered my fading consciousness. It was just a preparation process. Nine! One more! Thats enough. Why go this far I looked back. Beyond the metal wall, my bloodied back was visible. Looks like it even reached the bones. I immediately entered the adjacent bathtub. The potion began to seep into the wounds. UUUUUGHHH! This time, I couldnt endure it. Spitting out the gag, blood flowed from my mouth. Are you okay? Of course. Just one set. I had to go through at least thirteen sets a day. If done correctly, I would possess great endurance and recovery ability. The time for mere sandbags had passed. Now, training intensity suitable for a superhuman physique was needed. Next. Whoosh! A log hung from steel ropes was swinging back and forth. It was being shaken by a mechanical device. One. Two. I timed it, then squeezed between the logs. A giant log, meters in length, approached head-on. I lowered my body and swung my wooden sword. Bang! It felt like hitting a truck. The actual impact was probably no less. I endured. I added strength to my hands. Trying to maintain bnce, my feet slipped. The log that pushed me started swinging back and forth again. What kind of training is that? Velkist, who had been watching, spoke. I looked down at my grip. Blood flowed from a torn spot. Its to build resistance. Training to block the logs with a wooden sword rather than breaking them. To my eyes, it seems nothing short of madness. It might seem that way now. I had to let a shockwave of several tons pass through my body. I could smash it head-on and destroy it, like annihting a ballista. But that would defeat the purpose of the training. It was all about sensing and skill. Either way, it takes a long time. The phase of immediately recruiting heroes was over. Recovering the power lost at level 35 would take time. Whether through paid or free draws. I had to simultaneously refine missions while raising levels and skills to the appropriate level. Is it time to move on to the next phase? Anytng must be feeling it by now. The need for a more systematic structure had arisen. It was time to flesh out the operations. Well, that too would ultimately require time. I nned to continue my personal training until Anytng made a decision. Reforming the attack party, and creating a new system, it would all be futile without the masters will. Dont make me wait too long. I gripped the wooden sword tightly and leaped in front of the log. Some timeter. [Skill Awakening!] [Han() has acquired Regeneration(Lv.1)!] After repeatedly enduring torture, I finally acquired the desired skill. Regeneration. As the name implies, it was a skill that enhanced the bodys natural healing abilities. However, since it had little corrtion with physical endurance, I did not stop. Every evening, I served as a sparring partner for Anytng. Several days passed, and Anytngs skills had improved to beginner level. Although not exceptionally talented, his enthusiasm was evident. He seemed to be studying hard. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 150: Past Present and Future (2) (1) Chapter 150: Past Present and Future (2) (1) The next evening. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] [Loading isplete.] [TOUCH! (Select)] The sky brightened. As always, Anytng logged in. However, there was an unfamiliar message below. [Ding!] [Master, you have 1 unidentified mail. Would you like to check?] [Yes / No] Anytng touched Yes. [Title Additional Training Notification] [Sender Loki (Niflheimr)] [We are contacting the masters of every top student of each training batch about our additional service. In this course, we n to supplement the unfinished training, and your hero, Han It, has been specially selected due to his excellent performance.] It was a dispatch request sent by Yu. I dont talk in such a stiff tone. I watched the situation with a smile. [The author requests the dispatch of the hero Han(). Do you ept?] [Yes / No] Anytng did not press ept. The additional training service for top performers. He must have had many concerns. Its obviously a lie. Whats the point of doing something that doesnt benefit me? Anyway, Anytng froze for several minutes with the mail disyed. Unable to watch anymore, I stepped in. [Master, the hero Han() requests to ept the dispatch.] Anytngs deliberationsted for an hour. [Do you ept the dispatch?] [Yes (Select) / No] Eventually, Anytng epted the dispatch. For him, Loki was no different from a benefactor who sent valuable strategy documents and numerous pieces of advice. It would not be easy to refuse. Theres no need to refuse when they say theyll nurture you. He might wonder why. He wouldnt know until he finished the game. As soon as the decision was made, I gathered the members and announced the news. That I would be away from the waiting room for a while because of the dispatch. Jenna spoke first. How long will it take? It wont take long. Ill be back in a week. I didnt n for a long battle. Jennas face brightened. Youre often away. Who am I going to fight when the senior is gone? Also, whats good about that ce? Its a wonderful ce. Theres a lot to learn. Jenna continued with a regretful tone. I wanted to go to the additional training too Theres nothing special. Behave yourself while Im gone. Itll get busy again when I return. Im already busy. Ill be stronger too. I finished exchanging words with each member and then informed Edis as well. I couldnt meet Kishasha. I only saw the empty scenery of the forest that once served as the lodging for the third party. Ill have to think about what to do with that girl. That would be after I return. I packed my things. It was just bringing casual clothes, leather armor, and a sidearm. I probably wont need to use any weapons. Early the next morning, Yu contacted me again. Its done. Theres nothing much to prepare. Ha. She called because she needed me. I couldnt think of it as anything but a forced invitation for a good excuse. After receiving the report on the Union Guilds power, my suspicions only grew bigger. Alright, I get it. Yusmunication was cut off. I looked down at the desk. Papers where I had transcribed Yus reported contents were ced. Detailed powers of the Union Guild were meticulously written down, from the number of hidden factories to the ss of ships, the number of elite heroes, noteworthy aces, and the main tactics used. Theres one strange thing. I pointed to the very bottom of the paper with a pen. Among the heroes affiliated with the Union Guild, theres one exceptionally outstanding one. The sub-master of the Union Guilds leader. The topmander on the heroes side. This hero infiltrated the core of the Bartz Alliance alone and wiped out its leadership. Mocking the escort forces of dozens, in essence, the Bartz Alliance, which once opposed the Union Guild, was annihted by a single hero. ording to survivors a candidate for 7 stars? Well, it was amon story. Even with the same grade and level, there can be a world of difference in a heros specs depending on their training. Seris was also under suspicion of being a 7-star. I briefly memorized the information and organized the documents. The details will be checked on-site. And then, Ill decide how to respond. Anyway. We will win. As always. The next afternoon. While I was reviewing the report once more, a message popped up with a sound effect. [A flying ship from Niflheimr, Landgrid07, requests to dock.] [Automatically epted.] [Opening a rift in dimensions!] Anytng is not logged in. Due to yesterdays dispatch eptance, the rift in dimensions was automatically opened. Landgrid07. The model that transported me to Niflheimr the first time. I finished preparing and left the dormitory. After greeting the members who came to see me off, I went down to the second floor, where the rift in dimensions was located. [LOKIIII!] I turned back. Iselle was rushing towards me breathlessly. [Are, are you really going?] I forgot to tell you. [To Niflheimr? Are you noting back? Are you leaving me and going?] Dont make a fuss. Ill be back soon. [But .] Iselle looked sad. I ced my hand on her head. Ill be back. Take care. I entered the rift in dimensions. On one side of the airfield, a flying ship was waiting for me. Click, click. The stairs came down. I climbed the stairs and set foot on the deck. Oh, long time no see! A girl in a ck uniform saluted me. Her name is Lydel. She was the same exclusive sorceress of the flying ship that had transported me before. Im sorry for not recognizing youst time, master! Lydel apologized in a lispy voice. Yu must have revealed my identity to her. Well, it doesnt matter. I smiled wryly. Shall we depart? Ill do as you wish. Yes! Vroom. Landgrid07 gently lifted into the air and began to approach the whirlwind of dimensions. [Master, the dispatch begins!] [Dispatched Hero Han()] [Region Niflheim (101.***.***.***)] [Duration Undefined] [Ding!] [Landgrid07 from Niflheimr sets sail.] A message announcing the departure appeared. I entered the ship and found a suitable room. I thought of taking a short break. I hadnt slept much the previous day, analyzing the report. Ill arrive by dawn today. Ignoring Lydels guidance, I closed my eyes. How many hours had I slept? Thud! I opened my eyes. Boom! With a loud noise, the hammock shook violently. ? I looked out the window. The sky had darkened. It seemed like night had fallen. But whats this vibration? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 150: Past Present and Future (2) (2) Chapter 150: Past Present and Future (2) (2) How many hours had I slept? Thud! I opened my eyes. Boom! With a loud noise, the hammock shook violently. ? I looked out the window. The sky had darkened. It seemed like night had fallen. But whats this vibration? The entire ship was shaking at regr intervals. It didnt seem to be an aftereffect of the dimensional leap. I dressed in armor and armed myself before heading outside. As I emerged onto the deck, the situation became clear. ugh! Lydel was gritting her teeth, waving her hands. Bright strands of magic power were bursting from her entire body. She was using magic. Whats happening? Well, thats Ah, I see. I looked to the side of the railing. A giant purple hull caught my eye. The metallic surface was decorated with dragons and swords, intertwining and wriggling with the logo of the Union Guild engraved on it. That was quick. Bang! The heat from the cannon hit Landgrid07s protective barrier. A blind attack. Since Niflheimrs mark was visible, it would be easy to distinguish. It seemed like we were intercepted on our way from Townia to Niflheimr. Landgrid07 quickly advanced, widening the distance, but the pursuing flying ship followed. A mans gruff voice echoed. Lydel looked distressed. Im sorry. I didnt expect this! What should we do? This isnt abat ship, and we dont have weapons I looked around the deck. It seemed there were no crew members except for Lydel. Moreover, a sorceress is a purely auxiliary ss. She practically had nobat power. Im sorry, Im so sorry! Why are you apologizing so much? But, to put you in danger While Lydel apologized, the flying ships cannons fired. A decisive blow. With the sound of breaking ss, Landgrid07 staggered, and the protective barrier shattered. Ill buy us some time! Lydel, with a determined expression, held her staff. At the same time. sh. Several figures appeared on the deck. It was an infiltration by teleportation magic. This is bad. Trouble from the very beginning. A man with a grim face licked his de. Then, a man with a frivolous look drew his dagger. Only two of them. Lucky. Hehe, Ill make you regret being born. I assessed them one by one. There were eight in total. They didnt seem very strong. Though they would likely be much higher level than me. Can you use fortification magic? Yes? Thats possible Good. I reached for my sword sheath. Oy, Oy. Do we look this weak? Youre only level 34 and you want to fight us? Hehe, you dont know your ce! Im level 50! Ill slice your limbs into pieces Theres a magician over there. They caught onto my status. Still, it was kind of them to reveal their own level. Ill decorate my room with your skull Ascend. [Han() enters Ascend state!] Crack! The head of the man who was babbling vanished. Before the recoil of the skill hit, I shouted. Lydel, use fortification magic! Understood! Strands of magic power wrapped around my entire body. The imbnce in my body settled down. I should be able to hold out for 30 seconds. Feeling explosive power, I swung my sword at the next target. Then. You little bastard! Bang! The des collided. However, it only pushed him back without killing him. The man momentarily looked shocked, then his eyes filled with killing intent. You, a mere lowbie you are dangerous! Hes about level 70. As expected, it was no good. Even if I managed to deal with a level 50 due to a moment of carelessness, the basic spec difference was too vast. I bitterly smiled and deactivated Ascend. Lydel panicked. What should we do? Im not sure. Maybe I should buy us some time I shook my head. The enemies started to approach. Ill send both of your heads to Niflheimr! Whatever. Ill kill you first! The man stomped his foot. His figure blurred, and the distance of a few meters closed instantly. Indeed, he was high-level. To die Suddenly, lightning struck out of the blue. The lightning struck the man charging at me, and at the spot, a golden sh erupted. The enemies expressions froze in an instant. Rumble! A second lightning bolt struck. Lightning took on the shape of a person. A ck uniform covering the entire body. Long, tinum hair from which electricity sparked. A youthful face with a mischievous smile was directed at the enemy. Who, who are you?! At the speed of light. The girl smiled broadly. Ever been hit at the speed of light? What? Ultra-fast Ziri Punch! Crack! Lightning shed, and seven bodies disappeared. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 151: Past Present and Future (3) (1) Chapter 151: Past Present and Future (3) (1) Nahaha. The girl who had just defeated seven opponents with ease wiped her nose. Sorry for beingte. Got lost on the way. She scratched her head andughed. Yu said it was to the right, but it turned out to be to the left. Ended up going round and round the same ce for an hour Boom! The airships cannon fired. The girls fist blurred, then with a sh of lightning, the cannonball vanished on the spot. I squinted my eyes. You are Just wait a sec. Let me handle this annoyance first. The girl extended her right hand. Come forth, Bryunak! Crackle! Golden lightning began to gather in her right hand. The lightning formed the shape of a winged bow. It was Bryunak, one of the five legendary weapons exclusive to the first party. As Nihaku mimed drawing the bow, a golden arrow materialized. Bang! Crackle! A golden sh enveloped everything in sight. The lightning bolt shot from Bryunak pierced through the airships protective barrier as easily as tofu and prated the deck. And then Boom! The massive airship exploded instantaneously. It breached dozens of magical barriers and steel tes in a single strike, a demise so trivial it was almost pathetic for its size. Lets see, about twenty-five. Three of them were magicians. A fair division ofbor. Master, you look a bit odd. Is it my way of speaking that bothers you? Sorry, it didnt work out the way I wanted. The girl scratched her head, looking somewhat embarrassed. Yus voice tickled my ears. The heroes who first encountered her had all reacted in unusual ways. Well, I was already aware of her unique personality. Its fine. I was expecting this. The girl before me was the most lively and active among the five heroes of the first party, and the youngest. She was Nihaku Guestfel, ranked fifth in Niflheims hierarchy. That is you are Lydel stuttered, staring at Nihaku. From the 13th floor Nihaku. Its an honor to meet a hero of your renown! Theres no need for such honorifics. Lydel vigorously shook Nihakus hand. Just as the rumors said, youre strong! To think you could destroy an airship with a single strike! Youre overreacting. Its nothing special. Nihaku brushed off Lydels hand and looked at me. Then, she bowed politely. I am Nihaku Guestfel. Its an honor to meet you, Master. I heard you visited before, but you were already gone I was quite saddened. I thought maybe you didnt like me. Theres nothing to like or dislike. Its good to see you here. Master, youre as cool and dashing as I imagined! Lets skip thepliments. I looked to the side. Crackle, crackle. Electric currents swirled around the remnants of the destroyed airship. It was an astonishing disy of power. This airship was far more advanced than any I had faced in Ha. It was protected by a high-intensity magical barrier, but Nihaku destroyed it with a single strike. Seeing it from a heros perspective really brings it home. As a Master, I had only ever looked down upon these events. Of course, Nihaku hadnt shown her full strength. That had been merely a yful gesture. Anyway. The problem was solved. I returned inside the ship. We were close to our destination. I had nned to get some sleep. Why are you following me? Cant I? Nihaku clung to my side. I shook my head and entered my room. Nihaku tried to follow me into the hammock like a pet snuggling up to its owner. I pushed her away. Nihaku Guestfel. When she was first summoned, she did nothing. Justy in her room as if dead, barely breathing. A total dud. I nearly reced her several times but refrained. If I hadnt identally discovered her talent forbat, she would have been fused away. After that, it was a test of endurance. She was so stubborn. Looking back, it became clear. These beings were indeed alive within the game. I had harbored deep-seated prejudices. What good does it do now? Later, Lydels guidance woke me up. We had arrived at our destination. After dressing, I looked down to see Nihaku sleeping soundly below. I left her there and went out. Upon reaching the deck, I was met with an unexpected scene. Landgrid07 was sliding over the airfield towards the hangar, but there were no guides in sight. This wasnt a portal to Niflheimr. Secondster, I realized where we were. Brunhild? Yes! Our destination is not Niflheimr. Lydel saluted me. Brunhild01. The gship of Niflheimrs fleet. We were inside the hangar of Brunhild01. Ill leave you here, Master. It was an honor to serve you! nk. Creak. The airships stairs began to unfold. After thanking Lydel for her service, I descended the stairs. Wee back, Master. Have you been well? Yu greeted me with a smile below, dressed not in her usual voluminous white robe but in a ck uniform decorated with white embroidery. Im so sleepy. Please,e this way. Weve prepared a ce for you. An elevator descended from above. I boarded it, and it began to ascend. Did you receive the report? Ive got a rough estimate. The Bartz Alliance, was it? Itd be helpful to have footage of the attack. Of course, its prepared. The elevator continued its steep ascent. The scenery changed. The interior of Brunhild unfolded before us. Where are we? This doesnt seem anywhere near Niflheimr. Were not far from the assembly point of the Union Guild. A forward base, then. Yu had adapted to the situation appropriately. This location was actually more convenient for rapid action. But Master. I have a request if youd permit. What is it? Its to preserve the masters dignity. Yu smiled softly, sending a chill down my spine. You wont refuse, will you? Depends on the need. Its absolutely necessary. The elevator stopped. The top floor corridor of Brunhild appeared. This way. Yu opened a door on the side of the corridor and led me in. I followed, though with a puzzled expression. A circr room lined with mirrors. A mannequin, modeled after my physique, wore a stunning uniform. You cant mean Ive designed this with great care, the uniform of Niflheimrsmander. You expect me to wear this? The uniforms chest was adorned with borate golden embroidery. The epaulets, the shiny metallic belt, the ck leather boots, and the cap It was beyondprehension. This is! There are other crew members in themand bridge. A fitting presence for the Master No way, I refuse! What Why? I made this outfit specifically for you. Yus shoulders drooped. Its absurd! Leather armor is enough for me! If themander appears in shabby attire, it might affect the morale. This was madness. I shook my head. I thought you said youd agree to anything I never said that. Its disappointing. To think you dont appreciate my efforts for you. Yu wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Really Cant you reconsider? Yu looked at me with a pleading expression. This maniptive 30 minutester. Bravo! Quiet! I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 151: Past Present and Future (3) (2) Chapter 151: Past Present and Future (3) (2) Yu looked at me with a pleading expression. This maniptive 30 minutester. Bravo! Quiet! I was walking down the corridor. With every step, the stiff sensation brushed against my entire body. You look magnificent. Its truly breathtaking. Didnt I tell you to be quiet? This is quite the imposition. I felt mortifyingly embarrassed. I pressed down the caps brim. Silently, I walked down the corridor. Yu followed, continuously expressing her bizarre admiration. Annoying. Given her personality, shes bound to keep a photo of this. Today, a dark history has been made. Of course, Yus point had some merit. I was the one who had provided the heroes with their uniforms to foster a sense of belonging. Yu was wearing one of those uniforms. I never imagined I would end up wearing one myself. After about five minutes of walking, themand bridge of Brunhild was revealed. The size of a small sports field. The leaders seat was at the center, with the control station and crew seats arranged in a circle. Several heroes who were busy with their duties turned to look at me and bowed. The identity of the Master wont spread. Only those with tight lips were selected. I hope so. I looked away. The ss showing the blue sky was visible. Please, take a seat. Yu pointed to the leaders seat. I clicked my tongue and sat down. In front of me was a circr table with a hologram map floating above it. First. Yes. Have we located all the members of the first party? I needed Yu because I didnt havemand authority over the first party. Without the five from the 13th floor, there could be losses. Yu nodded. As you can see, Nihaku has already joined us. Ridgion wille rushing if you give the word. Weve received a reply from Myuden. However Its Seris were missing. It seems shes quite far away. What would you like to do? We can call her if necessary. Leave her be. Seris wasnt necessary. That was the conclusion I reached after analyzing the Union Guilds forces. Understood. Ill immediately issuemand authority in your name to the other members. Do that. Ill be stepping out for a moment. Yu bowed respectfully. Thebat data you requested will be brought by a new intern. Intern? Theyll be here shortly. Yu left with a meaningful smile. I examined the table. It was covered in documents with various information, including Niflheimrs mobilizable forces and various details about the Union Guild. I used to receive this information digitally when I was a Master. Looks like I wont be sleeping tonight. I started flipping through the documents at the front. Then, suddenly. [Urgh!] A small fairy, struggling with a document bag, flew towards me. [Why does that fox always make me do this! Go make coffee or something! Always nagging! Im so annoyed! Just you wait, when Loki recognizes my value, Ill show you] Our eyes met. [You, youre!] How have you been, Pirate King? [I didnt hear you wereing. When did you arrive?] Just now. Iselle ced the document bag on the table. I looked her over. She wasnt wearing her Pirate King outfit, but she had on a ck uniform and a cap. The eyepatch covering her left eye remained. Adjusting well? You were dreaming abouting to Niflheimr. [Well] Not as easy as you thought? [Hmph! Did you think it would be? To abandon my grand dream of soaring through the skies, to be suddenly kidnapped and turned into a ve. Its miserable. So miserable. The name of the Pirate King cries out] Then Ill release you. [Aaah!] Iselle spread her hands. [Being Niflheimrs intern is the best!] Iselle spun around, and in her right hand appeared a MIXIM brand instant coffee packet, and in her left hand, a paper cup filled with hot water. She quickly made the coffee and ced the paper cup on the table. [Coffee, scanning, copying! Im perfect. Dreams change. From now on, Ill be the King of Interns. Remember that!] After doing this and that, Iselle zoomed away. I opened the document bag. It contained records of the attack on the Bartz Alliance. As I touched the edge of the paper, it crumbled into light. [The record has been entered.] The tables hologram disyed the text. So its digital after all. I drank the coffee. It tasted just like the coffee I used to have on Earth. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 152: Past Present and Future (4) (1) Chapter 152: Past Present and Future (4) (1) It was onlyte in the evening that I could finally go through all the documents. The content was truly extensive. The report included not only basic specs like troop numbers or airship counts but also detailed personal records of every member of the Union Guild, their spending history, and wide-ranging information up to notable heroes characteristics and biographies. I have to read all this? While I admired Yus ability to not miss even the smallest details, the tiredness was overwhelming. Well. It was me who had requested this form of reporting. Back then, it felt like ying a game, but now I shook my head and took a sip from the cup. It was empty. I reached out my hand. [Whiz!] Iselle made a sound effect with her mouth and instantly prepared a mixed coffee. I gulped down the hot coffee. [How do you think it will go?] While I was drinking the coffee, Iselle peeked out. She had been in and out several times to carry the document bag, so she must be curious. [I know because Ive been in Ha, but the Union Guild is really strong. Especially their leader, hes incredible. He hasnt lost even once up to the 70th floor. I only saw that guys hero once] Iselle shivered. You saw him? [It was a demonstration duel. Dozens of kids fell without being able to touch even a hair. Whats scarier is that this guy is only considered slightly stronger than the other members of his main party!] Of course. The spending history of that leader was astronomical. He poured in billions of won in less than three months. He owns nearly thirty-five-star heroes by birth. The power of money. It cant be ignored. Though Im known as a model non-spender, my own spending amount was significant. Over 40 million won over two years, not just for hero summoning but also for building facilities and enjoying other conveniences. I hardly do it anymore, though. I went over the Unions gathered forces. There were 578 airships. The number of heroes was close to 5,000. Considering most of them arebatants, it was a staggering number. Niflheimrs total membership is 20,000, but the actual number of members who engage inbat isnt much. There must be more in reality. They said they owned nearly 1,000 airships. Almost double the number of Niflheimr. The heroes would be the same. [Even for Loki, who wins every battle, this wont be easy!] Iselle raised her snout proudly. Why are you proud? Youre part of Niflheimr now. [Uh, cough! Its just a warning. Since the Union is not to be underestimated, I meant to say give it your all.] Iselle approached me with sparkling eyes. [So, Loki, whats the n? Do you have a secret weapon to turn this disadvantage around? Some ingenious strategy that deceives the heavens and covers the earth] Theres nothing like that. I sipped my coffee. [Eh?] Theres no such strategy. [What, what do you mean? How will we turn this around? If we face them head-on, well lose? Niflheimrs forces are] You know it right. 20,000 heroes. 427 airships. Iselle looked stunned. I smiled faintly and looked at the hologram. There, a deration of war sent by the Union Guild to Niflheimr was posted. Lets fight fair and square in one ce. Until one side is annihted. The winner takes all. And well broadcast our victory? The Union Guild seemed to want a massive fleet battle. One thing to note was their intention to broadcast the battle on Oneinch TV. From the beginning to the end of the battle. They intended to show the world Niflheimrs downfall. A broadcast? None of my opponents had ever done such a thing. The deration ended with an offer to acknowledge the regime if I admitted defeat and joined the Union Guild. After reading the words once more, I turned off the hologram. The battle is scheduled for tomorrow. Not real-time. Tomorrow in-game time. This news would have spread to all Pick Me Up! sites, including the official cafe by now. If I dont show up, theyll mock andugh at me, turning me into a joke. A shallow trick. The deadline is extremely short. A trick to reduce the preparation time for the battle. [Uh, this is dangerous] Iselle, who was looking at the deration with me, held her head, sweating profusely and swaying her body as if defeat was already certain. [It would be better if you surrender to the Union, andter Ack!] Iselle spun like a windmill and flew away. Then Yu entered the bridge and bowed to me. Please forgive me. It seems my inexperience led me to a careless mistake. Theres nothing to forgive. I dont mind. Master, have you decided on a response? I nodded. Where are the other two? Ridgion has just arrived through the dimensional gate. Myuden will take a bit more time. That makes sense. Hes far away. I emptied the cup in one gulp and said. Tomorrow, Ill go out at the time theyve set. What about the deploying of troops? I opened my mouth with a smile. The next evening, I, Ridgion, at your service, Master. A young man in uniform kneeled before me. I still cant get used to this. With a bitter smile, I helped Ridgion to his feet. With this, all three members of the first party had gathered. Master, here are the current forces of the Union Guild. Yu waved her hand, and hundreds of red dots appeared in front of us. One dot represented an airship. There were now 600 ships, more than yesterday. 8 PM, huh. I looked at the table. The current time was 7:42 PM. There were less than 20 minutes until the confrontation. To go through all this trouble. I looked to the right. [http://go.onewinch .tv/ Oneinch TV] [Pick Me Up! Union Guild VS Niflheimr] [Viewers: 213,053] The broadcast was already a hit. Not just on Oneinch TV, but famous BJs were also broadcasting the scene on their channels. On the broadcast screen, hundreds of airships were floating. I didnt expect it to be a spectacle. Its unbelievable. Dont worry. Masters face will not be revealed. Otherwise well be in trouble. I crossed my arms and looked ahead from the captains seat. [Dimension 7375 McKernus] The meet-up ce was an ownerless dimension. Beyond the sky dyed with deep sunset, hundreds of airships were lined up in formation, visible even with the naked eye. Iselle shivered. [So, so many of them.] They feel buzzing with life. Doesnt it look like itll be fun to shoot? Nihaku, squatting down,ughing. [Fun to shoot? Wed be rags just from their volley! Why do we only have one ship? Niflheimr also has a magnificent fleet] A sword silently extended to Iselles neck. Mastersmand. Stop whining. [] Ridgion sheathed his sword. Iselle looked at him with a pale face. It seems to be starting. Yu, standing next to me, said. Looking at the map, hundreds of red dots were approaching. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 153: Past Present and Future (5) (1) Chapter 153: Past Present and Future (5) (1) Please, take a seat. Yu guided me to the captains chair. I sat down, leaning back in the chair. Beyond the bridge, the view outside was revealed. He must be watching. In Pick Me Up!, multi-perspective viewing is supported. The masters of the Union Guild would have seen what happened inside the bridge. Of course, because its in the game, so there would be differences from what I experienced, but they could grasp the situation to some extent. [Leroy (Jenkins): ??????] [SuperSuper: What just happened?] [HanZoTokTokTok (Trolpick): Suddenly awkward?] [Sigin (Sigin333): Cant you see? Loki Hero sliced through our forces with a single strike.] [Magnum (Raass13): Were there not a lot of max-level heroes?] The broadcast was the same. Dozens of chat lines refreshed simultaneously. I clicked my tongue. It wasnt exactly a spectacle I wanted others to see. Master, yourmand. What are you talking about? Pleasemand us to victory. I narrowed my eyes. Yu was bowing her head beside me. Ridgion and Nihaku were doing the same. We cannot move without the Mastersmand. Such troublesome matters. The three surrounded me, not moving an inch. This was not something I was used to. I sighed and muttered. Win. As the Master wishes. All three knelt simultaneously. I, being their Master, knew best. Now that I had be a hero, I felt it even more. These guys Are strong. Incredibly so. Unimaginably so. Lets begin. Yu stood up. A white light shed in her eyes. Ch-ching. Surrounding Yus entire body, countless bookshelves unfurled. Then, Yu dipped her fingers into the control hologram floating in the cockpit. [Unknown Error!] [Unknown Error!] [Unknown Error.] Hundreds of warning messages popped up in the hologram along with the rm. However, the messages disappeared in a few seconds. [Configuration changeplete!] [Reassigning the master of the fleet control system.] [Current Master Loki] In less than 10 seconds, Yu, having seizedmand over hundreds of airships, proceeded with the next action. [Issuing a simultaneous bombardment order to the entire fleet!] [Warning The target is friendly!] Of course, the warning was lightly ignored. You have an impressive weapon. Yu smiled softly. Along with that, the Union Guilds gship, Acherus, began to slowly rotate. The main cannons targeting system aimed at a cluster of airships. Fire. Yu pressed the button hard. Kwaah! The entire bridge shook, and a massive pir of light pierced through the cluster of airships. A few secondster, a frantic voice echoed through the bridge. It, it wasnt me! The captains face turned pale, and he slumped down. Its about time they react. I looked to the right side of my field of vision. It seemed like the masters on the Union Guilds side had given their orders as well. Fire, fire, fire. Bang! Bang! Bang! Every time Yu pressed the button, explosions followed explosions. Hundreds of airships aimed their cannons this way. Light began to emerge from the cannon muzzles. A sign of a volley of fire. However, just before firing, the cannons directions inexplicably shifted. Kwaah! Cannons fired at each other instead. Dozens of airships were shattered into debris. This is fun. Yu covered her mouth and chuckled. Hmm. I looked at the control hologram. Inside the airships, countless red dots appeared. They had teleported the Union Guilds elite heroes to suppress us. They were quickly advancing toward the bridge. Come. Ridgion extended his hand, and a dazzling silver de was drawn. With his stance ready, Ridgion moved his hand. A white sh sprinted through the bridge. The red dots on the internal map rapidly disappeared. Long-range ughter. The sword strike was delivered over tens of meters. It was an attack that ignored walls, shields, distance, everything. Goodness. Im at a loss for words. Nihaku Guestfel, taking off! Nihaku turned into a streak of lightning and burst through the ceiling. She was holding a golden bow. Yus eyes glowed white. Yu ced her finger on my forehead. Simultaneously, my field of vision widened. It was the scene when weapons were summoned. The field of view was 360 degrees, with an observation distance of several kilometers. It allowed for piercing vision, even discerning the weaknesses and strengths of the opponents. Outside the bridge, in the corridors. Countless dead bodies were scattered. Heroes who had descended to the deck were instantly bisected by Ridgions sniping swordsmanship and disappeared. Airships continued to fire cannons at each other. The crew tried desperately to stop it, but the main cannon kept loading and firing. It was useless to try to stop. This fleet was under Yusplete control. Hyper Zziri Zziri Lightning! From Bruknak, lightning with a diameter of several meters burst forth. The lightning, stopped in mid-air, split into dozens of strands, urately piercing the weak points of nearby airships. The sky shed. The thunderstorm swept through the airships around it, continuously striking. [What, what is this] Iselles eyes widened, frozen in ce. Thats why strategy is unnecessary. I smiled bitterly. Like in the missions, if the forces were perfectly bnced orcking, I might have had to use my head. But no matter how many times I reviewed the report and reyed the footage, there was no angle. [It doesnt make sense! Just the three of them against thousands?] Iselle winced. [The opponents have dozens of natural 5-stars, and there are so many 6-stars max levels!] Leveling up isnt everything. Stats are just the basics. No matter how many natural 5-stars there are, if the master neglects them, they be nothing special. They cant ovee their limits. It seems they were too arrogant. These guys didnt understand their ce. I looked at the broadcast screen. Rather than a cauldron of enthusiasm, the chat room had a chilly atmosphere. They wouldnt have known. Thest time I posted a video was six months ago. That too was an old video. They might have heard that I won a fight, but they wouldnt know how. [Lodestone (Fiei053): The gap is too vast?] [The broadcast has ended!] With thatstment, the broadcast on One-Inch TV turned off. I continued to observe the battlefield. The cannons were more harmful than not using them at all, and due to Yus hacking,munication between ships was impossible. The invading forces were being destroyed as soon as they arrived by Ridgion, and the fleet was being roasted by Nihakus shooting. Oh ho, that is A purpleet trailed as it fell towards us. Armageddon? A high-level magic spell was activated by twenty wizards at the cost of their life force. Ive seen it a few times before. It seems so. Yu slowly waved her hand. Theet, hitting an invisible barrier, naturally dissipated. Then, lightning from Bruknak sprinted through the sky. Numerous blessings and magical barriers tried to block its path, but they were pierced through one by one. An airship exploded and broke apart. [Master, 587 unidentified channel chats have been detected.] [Would you like to check?] [Yes / No (selected)] I ignored it. Theres nothing to discuss with those about to die. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 153: Past Present and Future (5) (2) Chapter 153: Past Present and Future (5) (2) [Master, 587 unidentified channel chats have been detected.] [Would you like to check?] [Yes / No (selected)] I ignored it. Theres nothing to discuss with those about to die. I spoke up. Hows the situation with their other forces? Myuden is suppressing them along with the 1st fleet. Good. I crossed my arms. The Union Guilds total power was about 1,000 airships. They deployed about 600 of them here, while the rest went to attack Niflheimrs main base. There was no need to investigate. It was expected. A decoy from the start. What we brought to the battlefield was merely a small airship. We couldnt sacrifice thetest airships for this battle. [Union Guild member Rodika has dered surrender!] [Do you ept?] [Yes / No (selected)] [Union Guild member Kilyud has] [Union Guild member] I rejected all the surrender derations in session. I leaned deeply into the back of my chair. The clear sky was now colored red with the glow and sh from the burning airships. You bastards! sh. A light appeared in a corner of the bridge, and several heroes appeared. It was clear at a nce. They were the Union Guilds key figures, each with a twisted expression. We will erase you from this world, even if it costs us our lives! A knight in white armor, wielding a shining sword, charged at me. Before he could take a few steps, he was split into dozens of pieces and scattered. The woman behind him gritted her teeth. You wont even ept a surrender! At least the innocent crew members Ridgion. Snikt. As if they never existed, they disappeared. I cooled my gaze. Not a single one of them should be spared. As youmand. The airships attempting to leave the area returned to their ces as if nothing had happened. Their piloting functions had been taken away. I cant forgive backstabbers. They said they would settle everything in one ce but went to attack the main base on the other side. They had sold their consciences. [What are you?] Iselle looked around at Yu. There was fear in her gaze. Yu smiled. If you want to stop of being an intern, get used to it. [To what?] Winning. Anyway. I moved my hand to the control window on the left side of my sight. It was Yus doing. The masters screen was disyed. I entered the hero tab and adjusted the fleet. The target was the bases of Union Guild members we had identified in advance. Not a single de of grass would be left. The n was to uproot thempletely. Millions will fly away in minutes. Well, its not my money. I ordered the advance. Considering everything, there were hundreds of airships and thousands of men. They had used so much, yet survivors remained. However, they had lost all theirbat capabilities. They wouldnt be able to resist. Its about time they showed up. I rested my chin in my hand. There were those who hadnt appeared until now. A particrly notable group among the Union Guilds heroes. Master, its them. Yu whispered in my ear. I nodded. They are quitete. They should have incurred enough losses by now. Swoosh. In the left corner of the bridge, dark shadows gathered. Shadows that appeared with an ominous aura rose up, each taking the form of a person. Three individuals, two men, and one woman, their profiles popped up in my sight. [Uruka Dije Lv.99] [Siha Niatra Lv.99] [Nord Lv.?] A robust old man, a woman with a bursting figure, and a young man with a pallid expression like a corpse. Each had a distinctive appearance. Themander of the airship opened his mouth. Those are! Who are they? They are direct heroes under the Union Guilds leader! Be careful. They are on a different level from the heroes weve faced so far! Why are you speaking as if youre on our side? Youre an enemy. Realizing his mistake, themander had a dumbfounded expression. The woman looked at themander with a flirtatious gaze. Commander, you were trusted with this position by the leader, and you betray us like this? No, I argh! Suddenly, ck blood flowed from the captains eyes, nose, and ears, and soon he copsed onto the floor. Then, after twitching, his movements stopped. He was dead. Ha, what a death befitting a bug. The womans gaze turned towards me. Oh my, a handsome man. Wont you y with me? The old man burst intoughter and stepped forward. Ahaha! Wee, warriors of Niflheimr. I am Uruka Dije, an advisor of the Union Guild. I look forward to working with you! Im Siha Niatra, in charge of beauty in the Union Guild. Nice to meet you. Siha winked at me. The young man with the paleplexion said nothing. You might think youve won against us, but dont be mistaken. These are just a small part of our forces. Theyre as insignificant as bugs. Siha swayed herrge chest as she walked forward. Uhuhu, I am a witch cursed with seven gues, an incarnation of immortality. An eternal witch who is not permitted to die. I shall grant you a painful and beautiful death, the absolute Crack! Lightning struck, and Sihas upper body disappeared. Her lower body, left behind, trembled and then copsed to the side. Oops, shot her by mistake. Nihaku, having returned at some point, smiled sheepishly. Uruka smiled warmly. Dont worry. She wont die from this. Come on, get up, we have guests waiting. Twitch, twitch. The legs that showcased her figure trembled and then slumped. And then they moved no more. Why arent you getting up? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 154: Past Present and Future (6) (1) Chapter 154: Past Present and Future (6) (1) Uruka looked down at Sihas corpse with a flustered expression. However, even after a few seconds, there was no movementonly blood soaking the ground. Hey! Is this, is this some kind of joke? Nihakus lightning isden with various prations and curses. It was a necessary measure to deal with monsters living above the 80th floor. Shes dead. I smiledzily. Nonsense! Siha coulde back to life even if torn into hundreds of pieces! Master, you dont need to speak to him. Yu stepped forward. A murderous gaze shifted toward the corpse. How dare you wag your tail at our master. With a gesture from Yu, Sihas legs disintegrated into particles and vanished. Complete annihtion. Uruka stared at us with a dazed expression. Yu smiled. So, when will the Union Guild show its real power? Uruka bit his lip, then shouted as if in defiance. This wench was just a figurehead for the Union Guild. Ill show you my real power! A book flew out from Urukas heart. The cover of the thick book was made of human skin. A sickening smell of blood emanated from the book. Hmm. A grimoire, it seems. I had a rough guess of what was his profession. A necromancer, no doubt. Rise! Purple magic power emanated from Uruka. Simultaneously, corpses scattered across the bridge began to rise. Hehehe Ill add you to my collection. Combining four of your corpses will be just perfect. Go, my immortal army! Feast upon them to your hearts Disappear. Yu swiped her hand. The corpses filling the bridge shattered as if they never existed. Eh? Uruka staggered. Rise! Rise, I said! What, what the Damn, what is this sorcery! Not really anything special. Ah, go to hell! ck light emanated from Urukas fingertips. Before the magic could be fired, a sh of light sliced, and his right arm fell to the ground along with spurts of blood. Gah, ah, ack! Uruka writhed on the ground, clutching his severed arm. Such a miserable endpared to his initial showdown. I turned my gaze away. Behind the blood-covered duo, a young man observed us without any change in expression. [Nord Lv.?] A question mark next to the name tag. There were two possibilities. Either he possessed a skill to hide his level, or perhaps Is he the candidate for the 7 stars? Surely, its him. The sub-master of the Union Guild and the sole infiltrator of the Bartz Alliances leadership, who massacred hundreds of heroes. ording to eyewitness ounts, he overcame the resistance of high-ranking heroes, as easily as taking a candy from a baby. Hey, you! If its you Soaked in blood Uruka approached the young man. Then, he grabbed his clothes in desperation. Kill them all. The power of the Union Guild A smirk appeared on the young mans face. His pale hand grabbed Urukas cor, and then a dark shadow rose behind him, swallowing his whole. Crunch, crunch. Spit. A few bones flew out from the shadow. Its clear now. Yu smiled faintly. That hero is not an ordinary 6-star. You might not have seen it before, Master, but a 7-star can perform synthesis on its own. Are you saying the thing he just did was synthesis? Ridgion stepped forward, continuing the conversation. Stand back. This might get a bit intense. Indeed. He didnt seem like an ordinary hero. 7-stars. The hero grade I so desperately wanted to have while ying Pick Me Up! I needed a specific item called the Reversed Heaven Scroll. I scoured every information site and searched every sector like hunting a mouse, but in the end, I never got it. That was one of the reasons I came here. It was rted to the ultra-grade dungeon. But this guy, he felt different from the 7-stars I knew. I shook my head. Doesnt seem like a 7-star. It appears to be iplete. Yu replied. I looked to the right. The One-inch TV broadcast had long been turned off. In the channel chat, all the masters except for the Union Guilds leader had left. Kaiser32. The nickname of the leader. I moved my hand to bring up the virtual keyboard and typed. Loki> Where did this heroe from? Kaiser32> None of your business. Loki> If you dont tell me, you die. As soon as I finished typing, Nords eyebrows twitched. His blue lips parted. Kuk, youll kill me? His voice was like scraping metal. The emotionless young mans expression became vibrant. Fools, youll kill me? Merely data, and you think you can kill me? Ahahaha! Dont you get it? I, who have obtained infinite power, cannot be killed by the likes of you! Contempt and cynicism settled on the young mans face. Then, he stomped his foot. A dark red aura erupted from his entire body. [Danger!] [Nord Lv.143] Nords right arm wriggled, transforming into a demonic mouth. A maniacalughter erupted from him. Ill devour you! Boom! Just the act of stomping his foot shook the ground. The next moment, his figure reached Ridgion. The demons mouth opened wide. Let me take a bite sh. Nords right arm was severed. He continued his sinisterughter. And then the regenerated demonic right arm chased after Ridgion. Wow, is this guy like a cockroach trio or what? Nihaku loaded a golden arrow onto her bow. Cockroach extermination requires DDT, ya know. Wait. I blocked Nihaku. A necromancer witch or something. An old necromancer who deals with corpses. And a demonic young man. A notably peculiarbination indeed. Lets watch a bit longer. We might get some information. I agree. Eh? But its boring Nihaku reluctantly dismissed the arrow. Heh, haha! What leisure do you have! Soon, youll all be digested in my stomach! Even as his body was sliced and chopped, Nord continued tough maniacally. His body was a cycle of severing and regeneration. Go ahead, cut more! Kill more! The more I am killed, the moreplete I be! Master, Ive brought warm tea and cookies. Coffee? Tea? Coffee. As you wish. A small table and chairs appeared. I sat down and drank the coffee Yu had poured for me. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 154: Past Present and Future (6) (2) Chapter 154: Past Present and Future (6) (2) Master, Ive brought warm tea and cookies. Coffee? Tea? Coffee. As you wish. A small table and chairs appeared. I sat down and drank the coffee Yu had poured for me. Look! I grew even stronger. Eventually, I will make all the worlds kneel before me! [Nord Lv.164] I savored the coffee while observing him. His level rose each time his body recovered. A fascinating trait indeed. Its not just that. Hes gaining resistance to being cut. Augh. This swill is terrible. Thats not swill; its coffee, a delicacy from Earth. Ptui, its so bitter. I dont see the appeal. I watched, nibbling on a cookie. The level and resistance increase with each regeneration. Indeed, he seemed capable of annihting a guild on his own. How does it taste? I baked them myself. Too sweet. Is that so. In the future, I will Argh! You bastards! What kind of party are you throwing in front of others! Nord charged at us with his eyes shing red. With a sh of Ridgions sword, his limbs were sliced apart. Nord, regenerating in less than a second, extended a demonic arm. Ill you kill all! Dont interfere. Suddenly, Nords body was flung tens of meters away, rolling on the ground. Yu smiled gently. Continue, Ridgion. Until the Master is satisfied. Thats the n. Ridgionughed heartily, his sword hanging down. These bastards, I will definitely kill them. A deep murderous intent shed in Nords eyes. As he reached out his hand, the pool of blood gathered into his shadow. [Nord Lv.176] His level rose again. It seemed he had absorbed the essence of the corpses. Hmm. An interesting ability. Intern!! [Y-yes?] What are you doing? Record this. Its valuable data. [Oh, right!] Iselle hurriedly opened her notebook and started writing. Nord roared. Not only his right arm but every part of his body from his limbs to his chest started to transform into a demon. Transformation is possible too. [Ah, transformation is possible. Note that!] You jerks! The young man, now fully transformed into a monster except for his face, roared. He was about 3 meters tall. His skin, covering his muscles, rippled, exerting an immense pressure, it felt as if a lion was facing a mouse. How ugly. Ridgion adjusted his sword expressionlessly. As Nord moved, shockwaves erupted, crushing and destroying the surrounding objects. Ridgion, moving as light as a feather, inscribed shes on the demons steel-like skin. It seems the test subjects resistance to shing has reached its limit. About 90% resistance. [90% resistance? But hes cutting through it like butter?] I typed on the virtual keyboard. Loki> Where did this guye from? Kaiser did not respond. Doesnt want to talk, huh? Or Is he unable to respond? I watched Nord. Despite appearing to press Ridgion hard, the reality was quite the opposite. From the beginning, it was like that. Nords attacks couldnt even graze Ridgions clothing, let alone damage him. Despite his level and resistance rising with each regeneration, the situation did not improve after dozens of recoveries. Even though hes being given a lot of leeway. I sighed. This was one of the reasons I decided to leave Niflheimr. Being with these guys skews your sense of power. [Nord Lv.185] It seems this is the limit. Yu spoke up. True to her words, his level wasnt increasing anymore. Master, weve collected enough data. If we analyze it back home, I believe well find meaningful results. Let him go. Its pitiful. As youmand. Ridgion! I heard you. Ridgion, who had been engaging Nord, stepped back. Nord, with a wild roar, charged in. His steel-like ws, nearly 1 meter long, gleamed threateningly. And then. With a single strike, Nords entire body was sliced into dozens of pieces. I was getting tired of ying. Ridgion spoke in an unimpressed tone. Like being put through a blender, the sliced pieces of meat didnt move an inch. It was over in one blow. Its done, Master. The victorious Ridgion bowed to me. You did well. A sword is meant to look good in front of the Master. It wasnt that great. Ridgion then stood behind me. I finished the rest of my coffee. Hows the situation elsewhere? Currently, the 1st, 3rd, and 7th fleets are infiltrating the Union Guilds base. The situation is smooth. There are resisting groups, but no casualties on our side. On the operation screen to my right. Blue dots were attacking the red dots, encircling them. I touched the tactical tool and rearranged the fleet. Then, I slightly adjusted the attack formation, and that was it. Theres not much strategy needed. After all, we could just crush them without any special tactics. Unique tactics that others dont usually use require a certain level of risk. Theres a reason these tactics arent standard. As Sun Tzu said. Win first, then fight. Keep the distance and suppress with superior range. The technological gap. The range of our firepower is almost twice that of the enemys. If the enemies approach, order a retreat; if they flee, advance. Its a very basic tactic, but its effective for that reason. In asymmetric warfare, victory is a must. The quality of our heroes is overwhelming. On the Masters screen, Myuden, flying on a spear, was sessively destroying the enemys key airships. Next to him was A familiar figure was swinging his spear alongside Myuden. I couldnt help butugh. He was alive after all. Anyway, the battle on the other side was also a sweeping victory. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 155: In The Darkness (1) Chapter 155: In The Darkness (1) I crossed my arms. Even Party 1 didnt participate, todays oue would have been the same. It was just a matter of how quickly or slowly it would happen. [Was he always this strong?] Iselle muttered, peering into the screen. What is? [Oh, no I heard you were strong, but this is strange. Didnt they struggle when they were attacked from another server? Said they nearly lost several times!] There were indeed such stories. Iselle seemed to be in a state of shock. Master, congrattions on your 130th victory. I did nothing. Such modesty doesnt suit you. [Look! That time the fourth-ranked yer attacked, remember? Level 350! You nearly faced annihtion then!] That never happened. There seems to be some misunderstanding. The seven-star guy from back then was the real deal, he was indeed strong. But even he fled, barely saving his life after losing to Seris. Thats why Im obsessed with 7 stars. Especially given how things stand now. If it move up one more grade Its frustrating. But leaving that aside. I zoomed in on Aaron fighting. He was holding his own against two attackers. His spear-wielding form was quite fierce. He has gotten much stronger. Myuden said so. Said hed never seen someone socking in talent. Really? To send him back where he belongs, well need a bit more time. Hes just learned the basics. I nodded in agreement. Aaron has indeed gotten stronger. Its palpable even through the screen. If we bring him now, he could do more than his fair share. A great boon to the battered forces of Townia. But what a foolish notion. Youre nowhere near ready to descend. Myuden wouldnt ept him a second time. I need to squeeze out as much value as possible. I closed Aarons screen. Master, this battle will soon end, but what will you do? Will you return immediately? That was the n Yus expression darkened suddenly. but Ive changed my mind. I see. Yu nodded, her mood lightening. I pointed to the dismembered corpse of Nord. I n to stay until the analysis on this guy isplete. I hadnt expected to find a clue about the seven stars here. A stroke of fortune not to be missed. And I still have time until the week I promised the kids from Townia. Three days should do? I told myrades Id return by then. That will be sufficient. At Yus gesture, the flesh trembled and was sucked into a dimensional portal. I turned to Ridgion and Nihaku standing behind me. Youve also worked hard. Hehe, thank you! Its all thanks to the master. The two bowed side by side. I smiled. Never thought Id face off with characters I trained. After some minor post-battle tasks, I returned to the gship Brunhilde. I nned to stay here until the analysis results came out. In ce of the busy Yu, I handled Niflheims affairs. With Yus help, I opened the master control window, managing it as I would on Earth. I received reports from my subordinates and decided on the direction to proceed. Business as usual. And in my spare time, I continued my duel with Ridgion. Remarkable. Thats not for you to say. Cough. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth. Ridgion stood in front of me with a stiff expression. What I did was simple. I had hammered him with Ascend followed by a Soulde Fusion in one go. Just once, wringing it all out. Still, huh. I continued speaking, clutching my trembling legs. I managed to push him back. Ridgion had retreated five steps. Although we adjusted our stats to be on par for a fair fight, the oue was praiseworthy. Only moving him back five steps with a full-powered finishing move felt somewhat sad. I feel like Im going to die. I downed a high-level recovery potion. The pain gradually subsided. Even with minimized power, I couldnt withstand the bacsh. I survived because the entire training area was enchanted with healing magic. In a real fight, I wouldve been knocked out instantly. This skill has tremendous growth potential. Reminds me of the old Seris. Ridgion smiled softly. The old Seris? Shecked in many areaspared to me, but hse overcame those with a mysterious power. It wasnt that mysterious. To me, it was. Well, it was a rare opportunity nheless. Who knows when Ill get to cross swords again once I return. I positioned myself and raised my sword. A few dayster, in the evening. One day remained until my return. I nned to return tomorrow. I could receive reports from Townia as well. As I was handling work in Brunhildes temporary office, the door burst open. Yu? Yes. Excuse me. Yu slowly walked towards me. She carried a briefcase at her side. Master, the analysis isplete. Good work. Put it there. I opened the briefcase Yu ced down. Blue letters were etched on the dense papers. The documents had been magically processed. Inserted into the shredder below the desk, they could be viewed as holograms. I reflected on the battle with the Union. Kaisers sub-master, Nord, had ultimately reached level 185. ording to Yu, he met all the conditions for seven stars. If it werent for our prior knowledge, we might have found him troublesome if he had carefully cultivated his power. Where did hee from? A Heaven-defying Book is required for ascending to seven stars. The Heaven-defying Book can be obtained at a low probability from the Supreme Advent Dungeon. This was introduced in the official guide of Pick Me Up! Theres no doubting its credibility. Skipping what kind of item it is. The Unions leader, Kaiser32, vanished after the battle. Despite numerous attempts at contact through chat and mail, there was no response. Hisst message was, You dont need to know. You dont need to know I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 155: In The Darkness (2) Chapter 155: In The Darkness (2) Yu stood beside me. This girl had more information resources than I imagined. Not just in Mobius. Shes renowned as a skilled hacker on Earth too. Apparently, magical forms and hacking codes have simrities. [Kaiser32 and Nord Sickle] The reports introduction came to mind. I started scrolling down. First, Kaiser32. [Name Seo Tae-jun] [Age 32] [Origin Earth, South Korea, Seoul] His personal details were recorded alongside a photo. So, he was 32 because of his age. Quite the sense of humor. I chuckled lightly as I continued reading. Born with a silver, no, a diamond spoon with his history of spending millions in games. The third son of the Changshin Group. Changshin Group is one of the top conglomerates in Korea. Originally, he was to inherit one of the associates and live a luxurious life, but He was ousted in the session battle. Caught in the crossfires of power struggles, he was pushed out and sent to live in the provinces with nothing but his wealth. And so, he turned to gaming. Investing millions into every game, he dominated the rankings as if it were childs y. Hmm. He threw money around, ying the king among his circle of acquaintances. Testimonies of his distinctive influence were attached to the report. Unable to exert such power in real life, he desired to be the king at least in the virtual world. The fifth game was L. Famous for its exorbitant spending policies. After conquering L, he moved on to Pick Me Up with his n members That was three months ago in real-time. What followed was as I knew. He splurged on heroes, climbing the ranks through looting and destruction until he was utterly defeated by Niflheimr. To think she could even dig up the masters origins. I clicked my tongue and said, How did you find out all of this? Well, since its recorded on Mobiuss server Yu cleared her throat before continuing, Master, the next part might be shocking. Please brace yourself. What do you mean? Kaiser32s current situation. I think I know where this is going. What became of him. I scrolled down. The next page of the report was nk. But slowly, the noise began to creep onto the screen, and a ck-and-white video started ying. [Cam. 32] A dark room. The curtains were drawn, and the door was firmly closed. Not a single light entered the space. The only thing in the room was a solitary bed. And on the bed Whats this video? I frowned. Its from a hospital. The security was quite tight, so it was challenging to get through. CCTV footage. Yes. Changshin General Hospital, basement level 3. That man is Seo Tae-jun, 32 years old. He was dered brain dead about a month ago. So, it was as I suspected. Various pieces of the puzzle, which I only had suspicions about, clicked into ce. I smirked bitterly. Wheres my body then? Im sorry. Thats something we havent been able to find out. I thought so. Alright. Just give me a moment. Id like to be alone. Excuse me, then. Yu bowed and left the room. I ced my hand on the table. The man in the video was sleeping like the dead. In reality, thats probably what he was. Being brain-dead meant he was nothing more than a living corpse. So Kaiser32 and Nord were the same person after all. Theres no other exnation. Half-hero, half-master. The condition for bing a seven-star, as Yu once exined. As I sorted through the information, The more engrossed a master bes in the game, the closer they get to Mobius. Thats why, as the floors get higher, the concentration of interference grows. Like what Anytng is experiencing now. Heroes be stronger, and missions can be more significantly influenced. The Heaven-defying Book. Even the name was nonsensical. Defying () Heaven (). I see. The condition to be a seven-star was simple. The fusion of hero and master. In the process, the master dies. Just like Seo Tae-jun ended up a corpse on that bed. From the first to the fourth rank. Theres almost no publicly known information about them. Only that theyve reached floor 90. But it wasnt always like this. There were a few who were treated like celebrities onmunity sites back in the day. I even received help from one when I was a newbie. They vanished all of a sudden. Did they die? Among them was a genius I even admired. If Kaiser32 is dead, then Nord was the actual leader of the Union. After obtaining the power of a seven-star, he invaded Niflheimr pretending to be a master. There was a justification. Even if someone familiar with Seo Tae-juns situation appeared, they could simply im it was autonomous action. The ounts above me were no different. I closed my eyes. Her voice slowly rewound in my mind. The one who summoned me here. That irksome voice is still clear. You cant possibly believe that. You are a special being. This ce is a gift for you. A stage prepared for you, the glorious ranker of Pick Me Up. Dont hate too much. Your summoning to Mobius was also unexpected for me. An unforeseen ident. You were the only one who truly realized the meaning of those words. Among a hundred million masters, you were the only one. But you were different. The only master who truly dominated the waiting room was you. All of it. Smooth talk. I wasnt summoned by him. It was just an ident. Her intention from the start was singr. To kill me. Seris would have been the target for fusion. The purpose is obvious. A seven-star. For that reason, she opened the Supreme Advent Dungeon in my ount. However due to some unknown cause, the fusion failed, and I survived. So, she thought it over. To recycle me. Quite the frugal one. Would make a great housewife, dont you think? Isnt that right? Tel. I muttered the name of the person I knew. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 156: Townias Submaster (1) (1) Chapter 156: Townia''s Submaster (1) (1) Two days had passed since I received the analysis on Nord. Are you really going? Yu asked with a forlorn expression, looking down. I was stepping onto the airship bound for Townia. Should I stay then? Of course! No way? I need to go. Youre too much. Yu nced at me sideways. I smirked and stepped up the stairs. I couldnt stay in Niflheimr. Staying here would make mecent. I could never move forward. There were things I had to take responsibility for in Townia too. My second visit to Niflheimr wasnt long, but I had achieved some meaningful results. Firstly, I was able to raise my intermediate weapon skills to level 5 through duels with Ridgion. Secondly Incredible. I had managed to grasp an outline of the method to ascend to a 7-star. The synthesis of a master and a hero. I cant be 100% sure. However, thepleted hypothesis matched the information I had. Its over 90% likely to be correct. Trustworthy my foot. I chuckled bitterly. Yu, Ridgion, and Nihaku came to see me off at theunch pad. I cant rely solely on those guys. If I dont be stronger, its all for naught. Ill be waiting. Ridgion bowed his head. Nihaku waved her hand. Come again next time! Im not sure when thatll be. Once a week seems reasonable, doesnt it? I cante that often. Ah. The stairs carrying me went up to the deck. Master, dont forget to contact us this time, please. I entered the airship, ignoring Yus warning-not-warning. The airship began to move. The guide this time was also Lydel. It would take a day to arrive. I need to change the operation method in Townia. Late at night, I spread out some papers on the desk in my cabin. The current structure of Townia was drawn on them. Its a three-story building. Initially, heroes are assigned to the first floor upon summoning. They live almost like beggars, eating only potatoes and water for a while. Only after obtaining their roles do they move up to the second floor. Though its a significant advancement from the early days of the waiting room, where everyone lived on one floor and controlled heroes through synthesis, Its stillcking. Its somewhat primitive. The scale of heroes has grown asrge as it can, approaching 200 members. Its almost like arge vige now. Well increase it to at least 300. The rate of hero consumption in missions is too violent. The reason is simple. An unexpectedly ridiculous difficulty level. If this trend continues, many will die in each mission. To quickly replenish the forces, we need to increase the pool of heroes. For that Anytng better do a good job. My guide of strategies, named The Book of Sky by Iselle, includes such intermediate operational methods. The core remains the same. If you do well, you rise; if not, you fall. Just maintain the basics while adding a bit of seasoning. There are two viable operation models. The model I used in Niflheimr and the one once used by the legend who was ranked No. 1. His active period was long before I became a ranker. He was a true genius. If my guess is correct, hes no longer alive. As I pondered, time flew by rapidly. I opened my eyes to Lydels announcement. A message indicating the location appeared on the right side of my view. [Dimension 1935 Townia] Townia. As I stepped onto the deck, the airship was entering the dimensional whirlwind. Seeing me, Lydel saluted with a respectful tilt. It was an honor to serve you! Honor, my foot. Dont overdo it. By the way, when will you return to Niflheimr Lydel looked at me with a hopeful, yet subtly expectant gaze. Was it Yus doing, or just pure sentiment? Who knows. I lightly dodged the question. And then. [Dispatch Complete!] [Han() has safely returned from Niflheimr.] [Han() is now under your control.] [The heros status has changed due to the dispatch effect. For more details, check the Hero tab!] Landgrid07 docked in the dimensional gap. I stepped back into the waiting room, receiving Lydels salute. Then! Booom. Not long after, the airship disappeared from view. Hmm. I looked up. The sky was tinged with a gloomy light. Anytng was not connected; judging by the color, it waste evening. Thud. The sound of my footsteps echoed hollowly on the metallic floor. I took a deep breath of air. Exiting the dimensional gap, I headed straight to the second-floor za and then climbed the stairs to the third floor. It was dark. The lights in the za were off. I hadnt encountered anyone on my way here. Even though it waste, it was an unusual situation. As I was about to enter my quarters, the stairs leading to the fourth floor caught my eye. Theyve built a fourth floor. It seems the waiting room has changed in my absence. I turned and stepped onto the stairs to the fourth floor. Soon, the panorama of the fourth-floor za was revealed. Fundamentally, it was simr to other zas. However, the difference was that it had expanded to the size of arge sports field, and instead of pathways leading to dormitories or training centers, an unfamiliar building stood. I chuckled to myself. A luxurious mansion that seemed straight out of a photograph stood there. It was three stories tall, surrounded by a fence. I think I understand Anytngs intention. He had built a private residence for me. This is unexpected. I opened the mansions front door and entered. Inside the spacious hall, fanfare erupted, and then. Congrattions, Loki! Iselle, wearing a party hat, flew towards me. Following her, the interior of the hall was revealed. The walls, decorated with balloons and paper, had a garish banner on the left side saying, Congrattions on Your Appointment! Whats all this? [Poo! Poo!] Iselle blew a party whistle that shot out pieces of paper. Im going to bed. [Wait, wait! Please! I worked hard on this!] Iselle hurriedly flew towards me. Whats all this about? [Its a celebration of Lokis appointment!] Appointment? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 156: Townias Submaster (1) (2) Chapter 156: Townia''s Submaster (1) (2) [Wait, wait! Please! I worked hard on this!] Iselle hurriedly flew towards me. Whats all this about? [Its a celebration of Lokis appointment!] Appointment? Iselle waved her hand in a circle, and a past system log appeared. A hologram window decorated in white, with a blue potion bottle icon. It was the research tab. [Ding!] [Research, Hero Responsiveness, has reached Lv.10.] Following that, a guidance message appeared. [You can now appoint a Sub Master!] [The Sub Master acts as the Masters deputy, overseeing the waiting rooms operations and battles, and assisting in the Masters tower conquest.] [Tips/Sub Master is granted broader authority. Depending on the situation, the Sub Master can autonomously strategize for tower conquests. Experience the limits of AI that mimics human intelligence!] I could guess the rest of the log without seeing it. I closed the hologram window. So? [Yep, from now on, Loki is the Sub Master of Townia!] I dont see why youre making such a fuss about it. A lethargic Velkist yawned as he walked out. Beside him were the figures of Jenna and Neryssa. Edis was there too. What are you all doing here? I was bbergasted. [Everyones here to celebrate ack!] Iselles cheeks were pulled mercilessly. Is this your doing? [No, no, I just I was worried Han might leave Townia] Dont be so mean. That fairy did it thinking of you. Edis walked out with a smile. Congrattions, Han. Youve been recognized. [Ahem, dont get cocky now. Your ranks are different now, you know!] Should I start using honorifics? Han-nim. I might die from cringing, so lets not. If you say so. Edithughed and stepped back. I looked at Iselle. She was fidgeting with her hands sped. [Youre a Sub Master now dont go anywhere strange.] Was there an issue? [Well, I heard that a new lucky person entered Niflheimr] Iselle whispered so only I could hear. I smirked. She was worrying over nothing. It must have been Iselle who rmended me as the Sub Master. It was apletely different matter from just showing tips. She must have put in a lot of effort. Isnt it something to celebrate? Jenna spoke up. Being a Sub Master is the highest position here, right? [Ahem, except for the Master.] I knew I picked the right line. Jenna winked at me. I said despairingly. Is this why you all gathered? To offer congrattions? Youve been looking downtely. Since that incident. That incident being Eloka, perhaps. Sis wouldnt me you. If I were her, Id feel the same. You dont have to me yourself. I never did. Then that settles it. Jenna chuckled and backed away. Im sleepy. Can I go to bed now? Stay put. Neryssa stepped on Velkists foot. But being a Sub Master, is there anything special about it? Not really. Its not something to celebrate. Its tiresome. I scratched my head. Now that Anytng had appointed me as Sub Master, he would be sure to dump various troublesome tasks on me. Well, it was necessary. I looked around the room. The assembly members were Jenna, Velkist, and Neryssa from the first party, and Edis from the second party. Additionally, Iselle was included. They were the core members responsible for Townia. Its a pity Kishasha isnt here. It seems more time is needed. I brushed the confetti off my head and sat down on a chair. Sit down, everyone. A party? Hardly. Iughed. Itd be a hassle to gather everyone againter. Im just telling you in advance. Members took their seats around the rectangr table one by one. I spread the papers on the table, drawn with the current structure of the waiting room. Although it had be a four-story building, exining the situation should be no problem. Whats this paper for? Its the structure of our current waiting room. You know, the situation has changed from before. Its crowded with more kids. I pointed to the first floor of the waiting room. There are nearly 150 heroes staying on the first floor, right? [Yes! Nothing much has changed.] We need newbat members. We lost a bunch on the 35th floor. And this will only continue from now on. I pointed to the third floor. Well, its practically the fourth floor now. We need to change the operating method to smoothly supply forces and for future mission raids. Isnt that the Masters job? Of course, that guy will handle the main tasks. But with the huge increase in personnel, it will be difficult for him to manage alone. Appointing me as Sub Master was also out of necessity. When the number of people was small, it was possible to look after each one and decide on their use. But now, the situation is different. Even when the numbers were small, Anytng wasnt able to make efficient decisions. After all, he wasnt watching the heroes 24 hours a day. It was necessary after all. It was even overdue. I opened my mouth. Whats needed for one ruler to efficientlymand many? The faces of the members hardened. Velkist, with his arms crossed, spoke. Do you mean Are we acknowledging the Master as our ruler? There. He didnt hesitate to probe. Yes. I nodded. Velkist frowned unhappily. I heard the Master considers us mere pawns on a chessboard. To him, were just toys, whether we live or die. Plus, were being pushed into these dog-like missions because of him, arent we? Youre not wrong. And you want us to help him? I cant agree. Velkist looked up at the ceiling with a coldugh. The sky was in that direction. All this time, it was my desire for improvement that kept me alive. If there was anything else, it would be your help, senior. Has that Master ever helped me? All he does is watch from above and throw us into battle. If you were the Master, I might have agreed. But not him. In my eyes, hes ipetent. Unlike you, senior. Velkist sneered. Then Edis raised her hand. From what I know, we were dragged here because of the Master. We were basically kidnapped. Kidnapped. This was also not wrong. We follow because we dont want to die, we want to live. But if we consider him our ruler, it changes the meaning. It means were cooperating voluntarily. Lets be clear. Forget being a Sub Master or whatever. Its like a ve bragging about their chains. I disagree. What? Velkists expression soured. The disappointment in his gaze turned towards Neryssa. I think we should help the Master. This is disappointing. I didnt expect this from you. Dont judge emotionally. You look like a fool. Is there a guarantee of reward? Are we supposed to help that bastard who might change his mind and kill us? This is the way for us to live. Thats hrious. An argument erupted between them. [Ah, wait, why is this happening? Were here to celebrate Hans return!] Iselle fluttered her wings in a panic. Iughed. Well, as expected. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 157: Townias Submaster (2) (1) Chapter 157: Townia''s Submaster (2) (1) I could understand Velkists feelings. We are considered pawns on a chessboard. It was not merely an incorrect statement. But its not a clear answer either. However, this was a different issue. As soon as I tried to intervene between the two, Jenna raised her hand. May I speak? What is it? Velkist spoke disinterestedly. Jenna lowered her voice. I dont think the Master considers us disposable. Think about it. Whenever we wanted something, it was granted. The food is delicious, the beds are soft And he even mourned the death of ourrade, didnt he? If the Master thought of us as nothing, he wouldnt have treated us this way, remember what happenedst time. When we rebelled. We all could have died, right? But we survived. Its different. Velkist clicked his tongue. Jenna continued with a smile on her face. Maybe theres a different reason why we are here. Saying its all because of the Master might be a bit off. Above all Like it or not, we have no choice but to help. I spoke up. As the two of you mentioned, the reason were here is rted to the Master. But we cant just ignore it. Remember what Iselle said, if we want to return, break through the 100th floor. Thats also my opinion. If we help the Master, the benefits will directlye back to us. It will increase the sess rate of our missions. It doesnt have to be so forced Jenna scratched her head, looking troubled. That girl had timely intervened, reminding us by mentioning the deeds of Anytng, making us think of a hero. That girl intervened at the right time. She spoke as if she were thinking of a hero, mentioning the things that Anytng had done to us. Thats why welfare is important. Caring for the welfare of heroes results in high morale and loyalty in return. Apart from the missions, ensuring each individuals rights and freedoms was one of the things I concentrated on while managing Niflheimr. Im just saying thats what happens if we help the Master. I didnt say that I didnt like it. Edis grimaced. Your words keep changing. Arent you ashamed? Though we were kidnapped, were treated well. The synthesis was a thing of the past. If we want to go back, we need to break through up to the 100th floor. And the key to that lies with the Master. So, even if reluctant Edis looked at me. It was a sign of implicit agreement. All that was left was Velkist. Everyones gaze turned to Velkist. What are you all looking at. Its bothersome. Damn. Velkist spoke as if spitting out. Fine, have it your way. Feels like Im being pricked to death. Any objections? No one answered my question. Only Velkist turned his head sharply. That settles it. Somehow, weve crossed the threshold. If Anytng had indulged in synthesis and neglected welfare like other masters, the oue would have been entirely different. Cooperation it is. Joint operation of the Master and heroes. It was the banner I had raised in Niflheimr. On the other hand, we have the methods of the top-ranked master That method can only be digested by no one else. I spread out a crumpled paper. So, Han, what should we do? Edis asked. *** The next morning. I went down to the training center on the first floor. Its been a while, Hyung-nim! A familiar young man bowed to me. Dika. A member who was briefly part of the first party. He is now an active training instructor. Have you been well? Yes. This role seems to suit my aptitude well. I am finding it fulfilling. Thats good then. Dika guided me to a seat. I sat down and looked around the training center. Several heroes were practicing weapon skills in the yard. The heroes I trained Im sorry. Its not your fault, Hyung. It was my inadequacy. Dika smiled bitterly. Then, Dikas expression returned to normal as he spoke. Hyung, what brings you here today? Remember what I told youst time? To train up candidates for instructors. Oh, a few months ago Yes, it was a few months ago. Yes, Hyung. As per your instructions, I ensured that each one could develop a specialty. I nodded. The groundwork seems to have beenpleted. The training center has changed a lot. The first training center was just arge rectangr room with training equipment scattered around. But now, buildings soared high beyond the yard. It seemed Anytng had built it while I was away. Good. Anytng understands what we need too. If that building hadnt been there, I would have sent a mail asking to build one. That building will now serve as a school. Shall I call the candidates? Yes. Please wait a moment! Shortly after, ten individuals lined up in front of me. Six men and four women. Dika cleared his throat and then said. Say hello. This is the person I told you about. Nice to meet you! All ten bowed in unison. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 157: Townias Submaster (2) (2) Chapter 157: Townia''s Submaster (2) (2) Nice to meet you! All ten bowed in unison. Oh, weve heard a lot about you. Weve also seen you fight! The Stone. Yes, Master showed it to us. Surprising. It was Anytngs doing. Quite meticulous. Thanks to that, Im skipping tedious processes. Hyung, starting from the left, Ill introduce them. This guy is Jess, he was a hunter beforeing here. Dika started introducing them one by one. The heroes gathered here were talented individuals in specific fields. Swordsmanship, archery, spearmanship. Basic weapon skill instructors, two for each category. Following them, four instructors to teach survival, hunting, infiltration, and otherposite missions. They should be able to pull their weight inbat. You paid attention to the recruitment criteria, right? Yes, only those with the talent to teach were called. Good job. I examined each ones status. Their levels were not high, but they excelled in skills in one area. If these guys join the raid team. We could recover our strength in less than a week. But thats not an option. They are the cornerstone for the future of the training center. Dika included. Eleven instructors. One more person is added here. I called someone waiting outside. Shortly after, a middle-aged man with a bitter expression entered. Arge build contrasting his wrinkled face, wearing worn leather armor, he was Roderick, the spearsman from the 2nd party. Im sorry. No need to apologize. Its something I asked for. I ced Roderick in front. From now on, this person will be in charge of the training center. Oh? Its been a while. Rodericks appointment as head of the training center was strongly rmended by Edis. She said Roderick mourned unusually long whenever arade died. It was unbearable to watch. Additionally, he had an exceptional talent for teaching. Thus, after Edis persuaded him all night, it was finally settled. This gentleman is retiring too. He had been the frontline of the 2nd party for so long, never backing down. Having experienced realbat for a long time, he would perfectlypensate for theck of experience among the other instructors. After organizing everything, I immediately entered the training center building. The building was three stories high. You climb up from the first floor of the waiting room to the third floor. The structure was all too familiar. It resembled the initial training center of Niflheimr. This part seemed to mimic the strategy document. Pre-built. A systematic system is necessary. Anytng must have thought simrly to me. Though the strategy document might have said so. With this, the conditions were met. The first condition for Townia to move to the next stage. Namely, specialized education. Even a naturally 1-star could grow like a 5-star, but thats when the environment supports it. Top-tier talents might end up tilling fields or baking potatoes in a weekly dungeon. To not miss talented individuals, a solid educational curriculum was necessary. Since Ive taught the basics, under Rodericks leadership, the instructors willplete the Townia educational system. Naturally, its efficiency cannot bepared to when the heroes were training on their own. The second is I went up to the second-floor square. The square, which should have been quiet in the morning, was filled with people. Oppa, over here! A familiar voice called out. Jenna was waving her hand next to the fountain. I approached Jenna. I gathered them just as you said, Oppa. There are too many. Um. Is that so? Well, its fine. I walked to the center of the fountain. About 20-30 heroes had gathered in the square. I cleared my throat and then spoke. You are former public servants from Townia, correct? They murmured among themselves, but no one objected. What I asked Jenna to do was to gather people who worked in administrative positions beforeing to the waiting room. I received a paper. The origins of the people gathered here were recorded on the paper. From clerks to warehouse keepers, and librarians, a variety of professions were gathered. They were currently working in crafting or gathering jobs in the waiting room. From now on, you will be doing something else. Just like in Townia. It will be a cushy job. A middle-aged man stepped forward. Apparently, this man seemed to represent the heroes gathered here. I spoke while looking at the man. Record everything in this waiting room urately. What do you mean? The number of people and their levels, current jobs, and floors. The types and quantities of items in the warehouse. The current state of facilities. The daily yield of weekly dungeon materials. The daily production rate of the equipment factory, etc. Organize and write down everything that happens in the waiting room, without missing anything. When youre done, report to me. What? Why should we do such a thing [Heh, thats because Han is the Masters representative!] Iselle appeared, spinning around. Fear appeared on the heroes faces. Well, they had seen Iselle execute syntheses several times. Even now, lower-tier guys are asionally synthesized. [Listen well. Just one word from Han to the Master, and you all could be gone.] Iselle threatened, clenching her tiny fist. It wasnt my style, but as long as the job gets done, it doesnt matter. What are you trying to do? Jenna whispered in my ear. Creating a fourth job in the waiting room. The first wasbat. Next, crafting. The third, gathering. Thest, administration. Its too chaotic here. Needs organization. Basic details could be checked through the Masters control panel. But that wasnt enough. The basics of management are urate information. How much materiales in a day, how much money is made, how much equipment is produced, how much material is used. Addition and subtraction must be clear to estimate management costs. The Master decides policies based on this and directs the path forward. Deliveringmands throughout the waiting room and ensuring their execution was also the job of administration. They were like public servants performing government tasks. Iselle has been handling administrative work until now, but it will gradually change. The sub-master is the representative of the administration. I divided the people in the square, assigning each a section to investigate. I did not forget to bluff that they would be synthesized immediately if the investigation was inurate. They nced at Iselles expression and left the square. [Ahem, my power is this much. Even crying kids stop and run away.] Youre not entirely unhelpful. [Thats right, am am!] Iselle nodded several times. Oppa, is it over with this? If only it were. This is just the beginning. Theres an endless amount of work to do. Probably wont be able to sleep until dawn today. Ha. I sighed and looked at the sky. Dark and cloudy. The Master is not connected. Lucky guy. It took me a year in real time to get to this stage of Pick Me Up without any guidelines. I had to start over several times. Such orders were also given from the Masters position. Naturally, the transmission is much less effective than directmunication. I went through dozens of trials and errors. But you My stomach hurts. Your heroes do everything for you. I walked away, smiling. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 158: Townias Submaster (3) (1) Chapter 158: Townia''s Submaster (3) (1) The structure of the waiting room had changed much more than I had expected. From the 3rd to the 4th floor, it wasnt just an increase in the number of floors. A school containing the entire training facility had been established, and every facility from the warehouse to the equipment manufacturing shop had been upgraded by one level. A foundation for systematic operation had been established. There were changes in the luxury amodations on the 4th floor as well. Each party was allocated a mansion. The mansion included not only private rooms but also arge dining hall, a lounge, a bathhouse, and a private training room. There was no longer a need to go anywhere else. If one more thing was added. An office had been created. A wooden desk and chair, and drawers for stacking documents. The desk was piled high with papers. These papers contained various matters regarding the waiting room, investigated by prospective administrators. What, what is this? Who are you! In front of the desk, a man scowled fiercely. The man was on his knees, and Velkist stood behind him with an indifferent expression. Is this the guy? Thats right. Velkist answered. Mark Kein. Correct? You, you bastard, acting tough just because youre a bit strong, but even rats and birds Ah! Thwack! Velkist continued speaking after pping Marks cheek. Answer the question I asked. You damn to think youll be safe after this Cough! Velkist began to beat the man mercilessly. A merciless flurry of blows. Blood and broken teeth scattered on the floor of the office. Hmm. I watched the man with my hands resting on the table. This hero in front of my eyes, named Mark, belonged to the 1st floor. Two months ago in waiting room time, he was summoned here as a 2-star hero. But his actions afterward were somewhat unusual. Unlike other heroes who chose to train and be stronger, he chose to remain on the 1st floor. Sto, stop Mark, with a bruised face, mumbled. Velkist snickered and then kicked his face. Ack! You wont die from this. Are you nning to kill me? That wouldnt be too bad, right? Youre trash anyway. Hes trash indeed. This guy, seizing the moment when the Masters attention was elsewhere, organized a special gang on the 1st floor. What was its name again? I cant quite remember. But one thing is clear You diverted and hid items from the waiting room, right? I spoke up. No Dont say no. I know everything. Ive just been turning a blind eye until now. It would have been fine if it were just diversion. But assault, threats, robbery. Youvemitted every crime there is. I nced at the testimony. It was written by a female hero belonging to the 1st floor. Mark, after silently bowing his head, began to sob. Damn it, to hell with this Crying out as ifmenting. What do you want me to do! They dragged us to a ce like this, to fight and die! If you didnt want that, you shouldnt have summoned me in the first ce. Do you think I wanted this! Making us eat potatoes three times a day, what do you expect Thwack! Velkist pped Marks face again. The fallen man did not get up. The trash dares to talk back too. How should we deal with this? Perhaps synthesis? I believe there are a few more people. All have been caught. They wont be much different from this one. Well done. I did well to leave it to you. Well done my foot. Dont ask me to do this again. Its annoying to death. Velkist spat out. The task I had given him was to eliminate the gang created on the 1st floor. They were more like thugs than a gang. Active stealthily when the Master was not connected, extorting items from other heroes, andmitting various crimes. Ive left them alone because we were busy elsewhere. But now, the situation is different. Previously, heroes were summoned and then left to fend for themselves in the waiting room. Now, from the moment of summoning, education and management are introduced. The goal is efficient training and motivation. Mandatory education is implemented. Soonws will be established too. Well, its notplicated. Kill and you die. Steal from the Master and you die. Do anything harmful to the waiting room and you die. Townia changed from being a simple gathering of heroes to a group with rules and discipline. And the Sub-Master stands at its apex. Senior, are you nning to continue with such troublesome work? Velkist, wiping his bloody hands, asked. I dont think I can focus on training. Youre right. Its getting busy. Busier than imagined. I havent finished skill training yet. At this pace, Ill be stuck in the office without being able to move an inch. Isnt it a loss? It would be nice if there were someone suitable to entrust it to The Sub-Master is the strongest in the waiting room and the most beloved hero, but fundamentally, a delegate is appointed to handle the work. Time was too tight to juggle training and work. I feel the same. I havent even touched my sword today. Ill find someone and get you off this job quickly. It wont take long. The beginning is us setting an example. After that, its not possible. We are the main raid team, after all. We had to find administrators to manage the waiting room. That role is currently being handled by Neryssa. Anyway, leave it to me. I will sort it out within three days. Velkist dragged Mark out of the office. Left alone, I sighed deeply and picked up the documents. The daily yield of iron ore is I pulled out a white paper and began to write with a blue ink pen. I was making a report to submit to the Master. And that evening, [Wee to Pick Me Up!] [Loading isplete.] [T O U C H ! (Select)] The sky beyond the window brightened. Anytng had logged in. The Master is the sky, huh? I sat in the chair and crossed my legs. If I eat that guy, I could be the Master of Townia. My climbing speed would increase several times. The detailed method Well, Im sure Ill find it out as I go along. Nonsense. Iughed bitterly. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 158: Townias Submaster (3) (2) Chapter 158: Townia''s Submaster (3) (2) [Master, there is an unverified report.] [Reporter Sub-Master: Han()] [Would you like to verify?] [Yes(Select) / No] The document appeared in the Masters operation window. The document disyed the content I had written with the ink pen. The report was 23 pages long. Quite lengthy. From the basic matters of the waiting room to the change in the training system, the identification of criminals, and proposals for future operations. [Tips/Special roles assigned to heroes allow them to report and suggest to the Master. To expand the role, further research into Hero Responsiveness at a higher level is required.] [Sub-Master, Han() suggests the public execution of Mark().] [Sub-Master, Han() proposes the creation of a new hero profession, Administrator.] [Sub-Master, Han()] Anytng started to touch Yes recklessly from the middle. Whether it was trust in me or justziness to read, I couldnt tell. However, I received ten. I ced the statues given by Anytng in the disy case. Two spaces were filled with warhorse statues. 976 more to reach a thousand. It seems Ill need to make about fifty-five-story disy cases. Was I always such a cheap person? Well, it doesnt matter. As long as its fun. I whistled as I left the office. Anytng was performing various tasks ording to my report. It must be quite a headache. The operation area has be several times moreplicated following my suggestions. Before, it was just a few simple tasks to manage. It cant be helped. If its ordinary, itll just be the same as others. To climb higher, theres no choice but to endure more hardship. But There is a possibility. In such a state, there are more than a few Masters who throw everything away because itsplicated and bothersome. But not Anytng, he didnt give up and steadily been doing it. It has been like that since the first 4-star was lost. His mental strength and perseverance were admirable. Otherwise, I would have given up long ago. Or I would have been dead. It was a gamble, but it worked out well. Being summoned by this guy was also a stroke of luck. While seeming clumsy, everything that needs to be done is done. If Anytng had been hated by the heroes, we wouldnt havee this far. While the Master was handling the work, I decided to do something else. I equipped myself lightly and left the mansion. On the opposite side of the square, another mansion was situated. It was the exclusive lodging for Party 2. As I entered through the door, Edis in casual clothes came out. Oh, youre here? Where are the newbies? Theyre waiting in the reception room. They wanted to see you too. Good. I followed Edis to the reception room on the 2nd floor. Two people were sitting demurely at the table in the neatly decorated inner room. They were the new members of Party 2, filling the spots of the retired Roderick and the deceased Lilinia. Lets see, their names were I looked at the summoning logs of the two that I had opened beforehand. It was the history of Anytng doing paid summons in my absence. [Tk, Durururu!] [Thwack!] [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Raine()!] [Thwack!] [Rare!] [Master Anytng has acquired the hero Maine()!] A double summon. But even here, luck yed a role. [Ding!] [A strong connection is felt between the two summoned heroes.] [The bond The Double Harmony of Wind and Ice has been formed!] Just from the Bond Name, its evident. I turned my gaze to the table. Oppa Han is here! As if nned, the two voices ovepped. Achirping high tone. I am Raine. I am Maine! The two stood up from their seats and bowed to me. Both were girls who looked to be barely in their twenties. Their slightly wavy hair reached their waists. Dont be so formal. Just sit down. The two sat on the sofa. I sat on the opposite sofa and bluntly began. You two. Yes. Are magicians. Of course! Their immediate response. Twins. Excluding their hair color, their appearances were almost identical. Edis, who was sitting next to me pouring tea, spoke. Raine specializes in wind, and Maine in ice elemental magic. Thats right, sister. We were quite famous in the north. The blue-haired girl, Maine, smiled brightly. Theyve gone through a demonstration battle. Both are excellent. They will be a great help in future battles. Thats expected. Since they are magicians. Each elemental magic has its own advantages depending on the attribute. Fire Magic has the strongest single-target firepower but can cause damage to allies, consumes a lot of mana, and has poor sustain in battle. Wind and iceing together And as a bond. Its an incredibly rare event. They are not pr opposites like fire and Ice. Weve hit the jackpot. So far, Anytng has done several paid summons, but this is the first time weve been this lucky. The other newly summoned advanced heroes are probably undergoing their initiation on the 3rd floor. But, Han. While pondering over thebination of the two, Edis whispered to me. Is it okay to put two magicians in Party 2? This concentrates the power too much. Thats true. You said so before. Its better to distribute the power evenly. I nodded. I did say something like that. Equal distribution of power. My thoughts on that havent changed. However, that was in ordinary situations. Townias missionposition is anything but ordinary. Ive realized this after going through several boss stages. First, the difficulty is absurd. Moreover, the basic specs required of the main raid team are enormous. A basic ten-to-one is the norm. In such situations Its impossible to divide the power fairly. A different approach is necessary. It was my suggestion to include the two in Party 2. Anytng agreed to it. Well have to change the raid strategy. This way wont work. How? Create a throwaway team. Edis blinked in surprise. I took a sip of water before speaking. From now on, all members except for Party 1 and 2 are disposable. What? Thats Think of them as something to be used and discarded. Wa, wait! What if the roles are divided like on the 20th floor? Well cover that. We dont have magicians for nothing. Edis seemed not to understand. I finished my tea. If its impossible to divide the power the only option is to gather more. Overwhelmingly. To ensure we wont fall in any situation. Other parties are just there to buy time. I finished all of my tea. Kishasha. First, we need that girl. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 159: Descendants of the Beast King (1) (1) Chapter 159: Descendants of the Beast King (1) (1) After several days, the basic tasks werepleted. The overhaul of the training system, the creation of administrative positions, and the rification of rules. It was not yet perfect, but it was a section that needed to be refined over time. Well, anyway, the operating system would slightly differ from that of Niflheimr. But then. I was in my personal room at the lodging, arms crossed. It waste evening. Anytng had disconnected. It was the time when everyone would be asleep. Theres one troublesome issue. A reporty on the desk. The report detailed the exclusive lodging for the third party. Originally, five beastfolks were supposed to stay in that forest, but now only one lives there. The four others had all died. It seems like Anytng tried to fill it. This summoning that brought the twin mages, its original purpose must have been to replenish the third partys ranks. But it did not turn out that way. It was, in a way, expected. The chance of summoning a non-human species was extremely rare. So, what this lone survivor does now is. Nothing. Thest time I saw Kishasha was exactly there. Standing dumbfounded in front of the columbarium that contained the relics of the fallen four. Since then, I never saw her again. If you look at Anytngs operation window, its clear that its stuck in the exclusive forest most of the time. He rarely looks at others. Sigh. A sigh came out involuntarily. I understand the situation, but. After pondering for a moment, I got up from my seat. I couldnt just leave it. Kishasha was the only natural 4-star in the waiting room. Having fought her in person, I knew of her potential. If I leave her alone, the fate of losing her was clear to see. Even if Anytng is reasonable, they wouldnt leave a useless hero unattended. Silent protests dontst long. I put on the sheathed sword and armor hanging on one wall. After drinking my cold tea, I left the room. I swiftly exited the darkened mansion and went down to the za on the third floor. I see you quite often these days. I ran into Velkist on the stairs. Whats the matter? At this hour. I came to deal with a neer who seems promising. What brings you out here at dawn, senior? Im going to see Kishasha. Hmm. Velkist stroked his chin. If shes sitting there, shes nothing special, right? Just leave her. What you do with strength if your spirit is too weak. Kishasha ended up like this partly because of me. You seem different from before, senior. How so? Youve be kinder. Kinder? Ill leave you to your babysitting. Take care. Velkist chuckled and passed me to go up the stairs. I didnt think so. The annihtion of the third party was indeed my responsibility. It was my decision to include Eolka in the mission. I was the one who dragged the third party, which only led to their demise. It was my mistake that needed to be repaid. Well, if Kishasha had been a worthless hero, I wouldnt bother doing this. Kinder. Thats just a hasty assumption. I smirked bitterly as I stepped out into the third-floor za. Passing through the darkened za, I headed towards the lodging. If you walk for a while down the hall from the entrance of the lodging and turn right Crunch. The sound of dirt and leaves being stepped on. The first time I came here, a noisy little one was hanging on my right hand. Now dead. I continued down the hallway. The metallic floor changed to dirt and grass. But there was no sign of life. It was hard to distinguish anything in the hallway, and only the chill could be felt from the once-fresh forest breeze. It seems like it hasnt been managed for a long time. Well, there was no need. I moved forward, crushing the dry leaves underfoot. It didnt take long to arrive at the exclusive lodging for the third party. The vige in the forest. This ce, decorated by Anytng for the beastfolks, now had no use. Once Kishashas treatment is decided, it will be demolished. Its quiet. A clear outline emerged from the darkness. The effect of the Night Vision skill. I walked down the forest path that stretched out from the center of the lodging. Kishasha. I murmured softly. Beastfolks have exceptionally keen hearing. She must have heard me clearly. Ivee to pick you up. I know youre there. I stopped in the clearing of the forest. The branches and leaves rustled annoyingly in the wind. Have you made up your mind? Come back. We need you for the mission strategy. Mission. I turned my gaze to the left. In the upper part of arge tree, within the dense leaves, a shadow flickered. Thats right. Whats the point? All of my folks are dead. There was no emotion in the voice. How does helping you humans benefit me? You can revive them if you reach the 100th floor. You know that. Is there a guarantee your words are true? None. But I think its a trustable word. Huhuhu. A coldugh echoed. I thought it would be okay at first. I am a worthy warrior of the Storm Tribe who went through theing-of-age ceremony. I am the sessor recognized by the Beast King. Thats right, youre a warrior. So But no. Go back. As expected, this was the response. I closed my eyes for a moment and then opened them. I dont me you. Its all my fault. My mistake led my folks to death. What pride is left for me? Do you know what will happen if you continue like this? I know. Yes, I know well. Ill die. Just die. Maybe thats not such a bad end. Pathetic. I shook my head. At that time, that girl was shining. But the Kishasha here is just a remnant? Am going to be consumed by you? What an honor. Really? And what are you going to do about it? Are you going to just sit there? No answer came back. Yeah. I had been expecting it in a corner of my mind. Its not the first time Ive seen this. There have been several simr cases in Niflheimr. When heroes lose all theirrades in a party, they often end up like this. So, I tried not to end up like this from the beginning. To not be swayed by anything. To avoid giving affection as much as possible. But in the end This is something. Peoples affection is sometimes strange. Even I cant fully understand my own heart. I understand, Kishasha. Go back. I dont want to. Click. I drew my sword from its sheath. In the darkness, the de gleamed coldly. You cowardly b$tch. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 159: Descendants of the Beast King (1) (2) Chapter 159: Descendants of the Beast King (1) (2) I drew my sword from its sheath. In the darkness, the de gleamed coldly. You cowardly b$tch. What? Iselle, Ill make it clear. Dont interfere. ? I turned the de to the side. The weight was felt on my shoulder. Lowering my lower body, I eyed the direction where Kishasha was and leaped forward. Whoosh. The wind grazed my body. And then. What are you doing?! Crack! The top of therge tree was split open. From among the scattering branches and leaves, a ck figure leaped out. If you want to die, die here then. ! What? Didnt expect me toe out like this? Kishasha jumped to the opposite tree. I wont miss it. I chased after her across the broken treetops. The sword again drew a curve. The shadow agilely jumped. It looks like you dont want to die. Are you mad?! I chased Kishasha, breaking and smashing every tree in my path. The heavy sword cleaved through the air, scattering debris from the destroyed forest in all directions. Talking big about being a warrior and all. Then why are you whining now? Pathetic. Come at me. I wont go easy like before. The trees were in the way. Kishasha, with her unique mobility, jumped between trees, shaking off my sword strikes. Then. I struck down every tree in sight. With a loud noise, one side of the forest was erased as if a bulldozer had pushed through it. As expected, shes fast. I grinned bitterly. The leaves fluttered slightly, and in no time, she had moved to the opposite side. I didnt think you were like this. A hint of emotion was in her voice. Iughed out loud. Shut up with your bullshit. Han! Something long sprouted from the shadows arm. I know. Ive seen it before. The ws of a beastfolk. Harder than most steel and with a cutting edge superior to a mechanical cutter. Scared? Do you want to die! Still a brat. My prediction was correct. I spun my body around, swinging my sword. Bang! A thrilling shock throughout my body. The ground under my feet caved in. I was finally able to face Kishasha. Kishasha was looking at me with zing eyes. Its been a while. What are you thinking? This is what Im thinking. I drew a dagger with my left hand and threw it at Kishashas left eye. Kishasha dodged with a head tilt. Twisting her wrist, she shook off the ws and swung diagonally. Kishasha dodged the sword strike with acrobatic movements close to stunts. Thud! I kicked her abdomen. Ugh! Kishasha slid back. I threw daggers one after another. As she dodged, I rushed in again. Slippery as an eel. Several sword strikes followed horizontally and vertically. Kishasha dodged the sword strikes by jumping over and climbing with movements akin to gymnastics. But then. [Kishasha() has entered a bleeding state. HP decreases periodically.] Ugh! Kishasha retreated with a groan. I spun the dagger in my left hand. Blood spattered. Does it hurt? Why? You should endure. Youre just full of bullshit! I threw the dagger in my hand straight. Aiming for the heart. Kishasha swatted it away with her ws. At that moment, my sword thrust targeting Kishashas groin. Im disappointed in you. Kishasha kicked the surface of the rising sword de. Immediatelyafterward, the ws were swung. Bang! When the w met the sword de, sparks, and a loud noise erupted. Still strong. Ive be several times stronger since then. But the feeling of confrontation remained the same. Deceptive speed. But the movements were efficient. The power in the ws was tremendous. My wrist tingled. Kishashas movement pattern began to include attacks. Approaching as if retreating, and retreating as if approaching. ws-like des targeted vital points from all directions. Whoosh. One side of my thigh was deeply shed. Blood gushed out. [Han() has entered a bleeding state. HP decreases periodically.] Stop here! Thump! I mmed Kishashas stomach with the hilt of my sword. Kishashas body bent like the letter L. I hit the back of her head with my elbow and then drove my knee into her. As I was about to tear her throat with my sword, Kishasha jumped back significantly. Ugh Things have changed sincest time, have you been fooling around all of this time? Dont make meugh. If I really wanted to Kishasha spit out blood-stained teeth. Youre just one hit away from dying. Bang! Scooping up several handfuls of dirt, Kishasha charged. The ws scraped up from below. I blocked it with a punch-like sword strike. A cannon-like kick aimed at my head. I hurriedly ducked. The right side of my face was numb. This brat is Still strong. It seemed she shifted up a gear. It was like her body split into several parts due to the speed. The ws began to scratch and wound my entire body, hitting the armor here and there. Is this all youve got! The ws barely grazed the skin on my neck. If it had gone a bit deeper, I would have been spilling blood and falling. Thank goodness were in the waiting room. At least Im recovering. Kishasha spun in the air, aiming her ws at my lower body and her kick at my upper body. I pulled the sword towards me and swung it long. Bang! I was pushed back several meters by the terrifying force. Blood flowed from her torn hand. But there was no pursuit. I murmured. Why stop? Lets stop here Dont run. You just know I will kill you if we continue. Kishasha, who was about to turn her back, looked back at me. Her shoulders twitched, and then her small mouth moved. Only you. Only you if it werent for you! Han Israt! My skin prickled. A clear murderous intent. Shes really pissed off. I grinned. Ill kill you! Kishashas eyes turned red. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 160: Descendants of the Beast King (2) (1) Chapter 160: Descendants of the Beast King (2) (1) I caught my breath. Kishashas eyes were bloodshot, her eyebrows bristled, and her sharp ws peaked out. Her vertically slit eyes gleamed. I could die with one wrong move. A tingling sensation spread across my skin. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and gripped the hilt of my sword. Kishashas nails shone chillingly. Are you sure you want to provoke me this much? Bring it on. As you wish! In an instant, Kishashas entire body seemed to press against the floor, and then she was rushing towards me in no time. Her nails swiped at my heart. A graze would lead to near death, a direct hit would be instant death. Feeling the adrenaline rush through my body, I twirled my sword. Boom! I forced my body, which was trying to back away, to hold its ground. Kishasha continued with her next attack as if she had anticipated it. Her movements were still unpredictable as if she was leaping in every direction. However. ng! ng ng! Sparks flew. The de of Bifrost repelled her nails without fail. Kicks, knees, elbows, I blocked and repelled them all. They were too fast to see properly, but I was familiar with this kind of movement. Ive fought countless times against people faster than her. Minimize movements. By observing the start of a movement, I could predict the point of impact. This was the domain that Ridigion had taught me. Move lightly. With the minimum necessary motion. The sword trembled. Absorb the impact. tter tter ng! A relentless barrage of ten consecutive strikes didnt leave a single mark on me. Kishasha leaped to the other side to continue her assault, dazzling me with sudden stops and elerations, all the while scattering her de-like ws. Hmm. I drew my dagger with my left hand. I wasnt used to fighting against dual des, but it wasnt impossible. I deflected the ws targeting my heart and neck with the dagger, swinging my sword with my right hand. ?! Kishasha hastily retreated, but the de grazed her white forearm, leaving a cut from which red blood flowed. A strike targeting the flow of her movements. Kishasha bit down on her ws and shook her hand. Were you hiding your strength? I never hid it. Hmph! Kishasha kicked off a tree stump and lunged at me from the air. I nted my feet firmly on the ground. At this point. I couldnt afford to miss it. This battle revealed that Kishashas initial power level was among the top of the four-star category. Moreover, herbat strength hasnt faded at all since reaching mid-stage. Her talent is also top-tier. Its regrettable. If both of us had grown normally, I would have been at a disadvantage. But I can be a bit underhanded. Master, the most important thing in a duel is. Ridigions voice echoed in my head. I know. Observe the opponent. Kishashas form blurred, aiming her ws at my ankles. I stepped back and swung my sword. Kishasha rotated in the air. I swung again. And again. Left. Left. Right. Up. Up. Center. Theres no need to observe the entire movement. If I can just scan the core movements, I can handle any speed. Therefore. Urgh! [Kishasha () has entered a bleeding state. Her health will decrease over time.] Kishasha staggered back. I flicked my sword, scattering droplets of blood into the darkness. Youve be much stronger since then. Ive been through a lot. My mindset has also changed a bit. I smiled and threw my dagger away. Kishasha deflected it as if it was nothing. I guess the dagger has served its purpose. Well, I wont need it anymore. I let my sword hang at my side. Transform. Click. With a mechanical sound, the de of Bifrost extended. It transformed into a greatsword. Its hefty weight. I gripped the sword handle shorter. You are Before Kishasha could finish, I charged in. The greatsword moved diagonally upwards. Whoosh! The air screamed as if being torn apart. I pulled the sword back and then turned around, connecting a second horizontal sh. Bang! Kishashas body flew far away, crashing into a thicket. She managed to block somehow, but it seemed she couldnt handle the impact. Its a loss. Killing Kishasha would be a waste. Shes the only one from the waiting room worth ying with. Jenna and Velkist are following, but theyre not there yet. I aimed my sword at the thicket. Its not over yet, is it? Rustle. The thicket stirred. The shadow writhed. [Unique skill, Beast Transformation activated!] [Kishasha () transforms!] Kraaang! I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 160: Descendants of the Beast King (2) (2) Chapter 160: Descendants of the Beast King (2) (2) [Unique skill, Beast Transformation activated!] [Kishasha () transforms!] Kraaang! With the roar of a beast, something burst out. This time, I couldnt even grasp its form. Instinctively, I positioned my greatsword in front. It felt like being hit by a truck. I was sent flying backward, rolling several times. Immediately, I corrected my posture and backed away again. The ground erupted, and pirs of dirt rose as if a bulldozer was digging through the earth. I dusted the dirt off my head. What stood before me was a girl in the form of a beast. Her eyes werepletely slit, fangs protruded from her lips, and her hair spiked out like a mane. A striped tail appeared behind her hips. Is this her beast form? What I saw before was just a tiger. It seems she can transform into two forms, human and beast. Krurr Kishasha bared her teeth. As if proving her hostility, her raised tail wagged. This form seems to be stronger in purebat power. Come at me. I tensed my eyes and pointed my sword forward, ready. And then Kishasha disappeared. ?! I hesitated for a moment. Kishasha had scooped up the dirt under my feet. Dust clouded my vision. I rolled on the spot right there. Boom! A huge mound of dirt erupted. Shes just a monster. Its okay to call her a living excavator. I smirked and lowered my sword. Again, ws and de shed. Kraaa! Beyond the ws, there was no hint of rationality in the beasts eyes. She seemed to havepletely lost her mind, attacking without hesitation even at vital points. Its better this way. ng! tter ng! I flicked away her ws, smirking. Better than being stuck in a hole. I leaped away as if flying. Once more. I ran to the opposite side of the forest. Kishasha chased after me, scattering debris and leaves from the trees. From the shadows, the beasts eyes dimly emerged. Left foot back. Right foot forward. I firmly gripped my sword and flipped a switch in my mind. [Han () has entered Ascend state!] Crack. The sound of bones misaligning came from within. The pain of muscles and bones tearing apart without exception filled my body. My vision blurred. I bit my tongue hard enough to bleed. My vision cleared. Kishasha, charging towards me, appeared in my sight. Like lightning. A burning, hot blood spread throughout my body. Time slowed down. In the slow-flowing seconds of time. Get your mind together. [Skill Awakening!] [Han ()s Spiritde Fusion has reached Lv.2!] I lowered my greatsword. And then, Thump! Space itself seemed to rip apart. 30 minutester. I was sitting on a shattered rock, gulping down a water bottle. It hurts like hell. I had minimized the output. To the size of an ants nail. Even though the recovery power of the waiting room was in effect, the burning pain didnt stop. It felt as if my muscles werepletely torn apart. Ugh. Kishasha, who had been lying face down in arge X shape, opened her eyes. Are you awake? I, I am Get up already. Sleepter. I threw her a recovery potion. Clink. Kishashas hand touched the air, and the ss bottle shattered, spilling the potion. What a waste. Well, she should be fine. Kishasha blinked several times while lying down, covered in mud and blood, but had returned to her human-girl form. Her expression was strangely serene. I lost, didnt I. Yes, I won. I looked into the depths of the forest. It could no longer be called a forest. The earth and grass were torn apart, and not a single intact tree could be found. In the middle of the forest, the ground was split in half as if by an earthquake. You really have be stronger. Like I said, Ive been through a lot. But why didnt you kill me? It seems that you havent had enough yet. Talking nonsense again. Cough. Coughing brought up blood. This power is overwhelming, but its too difficult to use. I need to find a way to use it properly. Did it relieve some of your stress? If you had someone to talk to, it wouldnt havee to this. Taking a troublesome detour. Kishasha blinked her eyes several times, looking up at the ceiling. If it were someone else, they might offer someforting words here, but thats not really my style. I just sat on the rock, continuing to drink my water. Heheh. Kishasha let out a faintugh. My tribe Theyre all dead. Noting back. I decided not to mention that climbing to the top might bring them back to life again because its not 100% certain. Even if they were toe back, theyd likely lose all their memories, making things different from before. I understand. I get it. Kishashas smile turned bitter. My tribe is dead because of you, Han. Yeah, that was a misjudgment on my part. I should have ced Katiio instead of Eolka on the 35th floor. There were other mistakes, but that was the crucial one. Make it right. How? Thats I waited for an answer, but after a few minutes, there was none. I turned my gaze away. Kishasha had fallen asleep in a sprawl, her small chest rising and falling with each breath. She really can sleep through anything. It seems I dont need to worry anymore. Igroaned as I stood up, feeling sore all over. The surrounding forest was destroyed. This ce will soon Be demolished. Theres no reason to keep it. After all, I destroyed it myself. I looked up. The sky was a mix of white and grey light. It was morning. This is bad. I had a tight schedule from the morning. And I hadnt slept at all. I patted my sore back and sheathed my sword. I nced at Kishasha, who was sleeping unaware of the world, and left the forest. A few hourster. I was in the office dealing with documents with Velkist. You smell of blood. Who did you fight with? Velkist turned to look at me. Does this guy have a dogs nose? Oh, yesterday. That monster brat. Did you win? Would I lose? Of course, I thought as much. I put the sorted documents in the drawer. The rearrangement of the waiting room is almostplete today. Training resumes tomorrow, and if all goes well, we n to continue our ascent of the tower in a week. So, what happened after you won? Did you personally take her head off? Nonsense. Really. He seems to say whateveres to mind. Hows the training going? Its been a while since we fought. Not bad. Its because youve been avoiding fights, senior. Im ready anytime. Once todays work is done, prepare for the next selection battle. Velkist stopped moving. What are you talking about? The next selection battle? One strong person will join us. But there are only five spots. Me, Jenna, Katiio, you, Neryssa. Just these five. Excluding myself. Jenna, the only long-range dealer in the party, cannot be left out. Katiio, the mage, is the same. I wouldnt leave him out even if I needed an airship mechanic. If an airship is necessary, I n to use a mechanic. You once said it yourself, didnt you? If youre weak, you go down, and if youre strong, you move up. I did say something like that. Put it into practice. Theres no such thing asradeship anymore. It means no mercy. The roster for the second party is also full. If you fall this time, theres noing back. Unless a spot opens up or a new main party is formed, youre out. What are you talking about Bang! The door to the office was flung open. Velkist and I turned our gazes to the door at the same time. So this is your room? A girl, who could pass for mid-teens at best, dressed in leather clothes and barefooted, spoke up. Hm? Velkist looked bewildered. I expected this. I finished putting the documents away. It smells weird. Is this what human houses are like? Kishasha sniffed around and walked up to the desk. Han. Kishashas gaze met mine. Put me in the first party. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 161: Descendants of the Beast King (3) (1) Chapter 161: Descendants of the Beast King (3) (1) [Date: XX Month XX Day] The document began with a date. I continued to read the text below. [I received a strange file from someone named Loki.] [Its filled withplicated words. I didnt fully understand its meaning, but I read it through. It seems like the person who organized and analyzed the data must be remarkable.] [Wouldnt it be better to use such skills outside of gaming?] [Anyway, I decided to keep a record of my own gamey as well. It seems fun.] This is [It seems like he kept a diary of his gamey.] I let out a dryugh. Someone still writes these kinds of things in this day and age. And on a phone, no less. Its said that he received a strange file. The diary seems to have started from when I had sent the strategy document. [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Cleared level 15. Han almost died.] [It was because of Aaron. It got messed up because Han tried to save that guy.] [That guy tries hard, but his skills dont improve.] [Useless fellow.] This. I felt sorry for Aaron. [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Cleared level 20. Han took down a dragon by himself.] [I heard that 1-star born heroes are weak? Maybe the strategy is weird.] [Anyway, it seems like he did well, so I gave him a warrior statue. Han was also happy.] [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Han was dispatched to Niflheimr.] [I looked into Loki, and he seems to be a more incredible gamer than I thought.] [But no matter how much I think about it, I cant understand why hes interested in me. Why? Although Im grateful for the help, I think Im starting to enjoy it, even though I thought about quitting.] The diary was written in quite some detail. Including the expansion of facilities and the history of hero summoning. Most of it matched my memories. It means that nothing was omitted. Surprisingly. [Date: XX Month XX Day] [My mom nagged me to stop ying games.] [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Cleared level 25.] [Kishasha is also useful. It was good to invest in her. Though it looks like Ill be eating ramen for a while.] Most of the content could be skipped, but the impression of Pick Me Up! from Anytng seemed quite valuable. It became easier to understand his ying style going forward. While reading the diary, I stopped at one part. Level 35. The tone changed from there. [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Level 35, a member of party 1, Eolka, died.] [I thought Han was going to die in thest dungeon.] [d hes alive. But he seems sad that a colleague died. I gave him a warrior statue tofort him.] [Even though its AI, it feels strange.] [Could such sophisticated artificial intelligence exist?] [It feels almost like its alive.] [I told a coworker, and he mocked me a lot, asking if I was out of my mind. He also rmended quitting, calling me a game addict. I dont really want to quit.] [Have I gone crazy?] [Someway, I feel close to the heroes.] I looked over at Iselle. She seemed to be reading the same part, sighing deeply with aplex expression. Could it be, hes suspecting? I hadnt imagined it. Just an ordinary gamer. I shook my head absentmindedly. You may be impressed by its realism, but you wont believe its real. I think its just a momentary feeling. After that, the usual content continued. [Date: XX Month XX Day] [This doesnt seem right.] [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Han thrashed me in a mock battle.] [Review of the strategy video for the 5th floor] [05:35 Han gathers members for a meeting. Afterwards, the formation is set. Barricades are built, and they start defending against goblins from three directions.] [06:43 Battle starts.] [08:29 Why split the members into three directions? Jenna at the intersection in the middle] I narrowed my eyes. It seemed to have been written rtively recently. Anytng was reviewing the strategy video for the 5th floor, analyzing why I distributed the party like that, how the battle was conducted, and how it was cleared. Not just the 5th floor. The strategy review was thoroughly written up to level 35. Of course, the analysis wasnt perfect, just a rough guess [I dont want to just wing it like I usually do.] [This time, Han might die.] This kind of determination is hard to find in just a normal gamer. [Who is this user, Loki?] [The more I see, the more remarkable he is. The answers to the doubts I had while operating the waiting room are detailed here. Its admirable that someone can invest so much passion in a game.] [If Loki had been the master here Han wouldnt have had to suffer alone.] Thats funny. To others, Im just a gaming addict. [Can I be like this too?] A total addict. I couldnt help butugh. The diary also recorded daily life incidents while being hooked on Pick Me Up!. Getting caught using the phone during work hours or hitting a pole while walking. And being nagged daily by parents. But still. [I dont want to quit.] I closed the folder. The day after, early in the morning. Members gathered at the training ground on the first floor of the mansion. Me, Jenna, Velkist, Neryssa. The entire first party, except for Katiio, who was at the workshop. And a girl crouching in one of the corners. It was Kishasha. Um So. After a round of exnations, Jenna opened her mouth with a bewildered expression. Her gaze was partly on Kishasha. Did she really ask to join our party? I nodded. As you all know, Kishasha is the highest-ranked hero in the waiting room. I guarantee her abilities. Shes worth taking on. Wouldnt it be a waste to let such talent go unused? So, when you said I should prepare for the selection match, you meant this. Velkist smirked bitterly. Already in a battle stance, Velkists hand rested on his sheath. So likest time, the winner takes the spot? For now. Im ready. It will be different from before. Velkist red at Kishasha. This guy was thoroughly defeated by Kishashast time when I was in Niflheimr. Since then, he has been grinding his teeth and training hard. Its better this way. Saves the trouble of having to go find and stick to someone. Kishasha yawned with azy face. How interesting. Velkists mumbled. Then Ill be Your turnes muchter. I shook my head. Jenna stood next to me with a tense expression. She didnt look like she was backing out, nor did it seem like she had any intention to, but it looked like she was preparing for something. Jenna first. So Im to fight first, huh? It will be a good experience for both of you. Alright. Ill give it a try. Jenna, with her quiver and bow strapped to her back and a dagger sheath at her waist, stepped into the arena. As I gestured, Kishasha, who had been lookingzy, lit up her eyes and followed Jenna. So, Im fighting that human girl? Your first opponent. Theres a second then. Well, it doesnt matter. I nced at Velkist and Neryssa. The reason for having Jenna spar, firstly, is to gather a wide range ofbat data, secondly, to increase Jennas experience, andstly, to offer a small advantage to these two. To give them a chance to observe the opponent. This should be fine. At the very least, Im offering a minimal merit. Whates after, theyll have to handle on their own. Velkist, seated on a chair, watched Kishasha with zing eyes. Always full of fighting spirit. Even if he falls this time, hell rise again soon. So, I can also make decisions without hesitation. She seems a bit cooler. Neryssa seemed to be thinking something else. With a face showing no interest, she alternately looked at Kishasha and Velkist. Something changed in her. Her attitude was different from before. At first, I thought she was simr to Velkist. Neryssa suddenly looks a lot like me. Our eyes met. She made an indescribable, peculiar expression, then turned her head away. The duel began. Jenna, as usual, retreated while unleashing a barrage of arrows. Moving nimbly to maintain distance, she dragged the battle into a mid-to-long-range fight. If the enemy managed to break through, she would confront them with a dagger, looking for an opening. This was Jennas mostmon tactic. However. Huh? The oue was decided in the blink of an eye. Having never fought anyone faster than herself, Jenna was caught by Kishashas dazzling speed. Kishasha easily deflected the arrows and dagger, then ced her w at Jennas throat. About 20 seconds. I, I lost. Jenna raised her hands. For a human, youre fast. And skilled too. But dont rely too much on your legs. Jenna nodded her head to Kishashas advice with an awkward face. Kishashas advice was simple: change the battle pattern ording to the opponents characteristics. In a speed battle, Jenna couldnt win against Kishasha. If she had fought differently, she could havested at least twice as long. Hey, Oppa! Jenna, who was deep in thought while descending from the arena, called out. What? Can I try one more time? Go ahead. Ive cleared the schedule for today anyway. It doesnt matter. Im always ready. Kishasha smirked. Jenna bowed to me and Kishasha before stepping back into the arena. Her expression was filled with determination. Theres plenty of time. Since I cleared todays schedule. Sis was incredibly fast. Referring to someone visibly younger as sister must be due to her understanding of the different races. Kishasha simply lifted her w without a word. 30 minutester. I lost. Jenna shook her head. Jennas final record was 6 losses out of 6 matches. In thest match, she managed to hold out for nearly 5 minutes, but still, she didntnd a single effective hit. Youre strong. I see potential in you. Thanks for thepliment. When my secret technique isplete, lets match again. Will do. Jenna descended the stairs with a look of regret. Secret technique. That reminds me, she didnt use the skill she acquired from skill synthesisst time. It seems iplete. Next. My gaze shifted to Velkist. Naturally, his winning rate wasnt high. At best, it was less than 10%. But it didnt seem like he had any intention of backing down. On the contrary, he was even smirking while handling his sheath. Am I next? Yes. If I cant beat that archer, Ill be the target for this selection. The same goes for other roles. If I lose, Ill leave the first party. Isnt that right? I didnt lie. I affirmed Velkists words. This brat is still monstrously strong. Its like looking at the senior. But I havent been just ying around either. Lets do this. Velkist chuckled, drawing his sword. And just as he was about to step up the stairs. Ill step down. A dispassionate voice shook the training ground. I turned around. Neryssa had her hand raised. What did you say? Velkist muttered. Ill step down from the first party. You must be joking. Are you serious? Serious. Neryssa answered without hesitation. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 161: Descendants of the Beast King (3) (2) Chapter 161: Descendants of the Beast King (3) (2) Then she looked at me. You know, it would be more beneficial for me to step down than Velkist. My role isnt something only I can do. If its just reconnaissance, Jenna is there, and this beastwoman can do it too. So please remove me. I sighed and then spoke. If you step down on your own, you can nevere back. Do you understand what youre saying? Yes, Im prepared. There wont be a ce for you in other parties either. I know. Neryssa! Ignoring Velkistpletely, Neryssa continued. I know the waiting room work is busy. If you entrust it to me, I think I can handle it smoothly. Someone has to do it anyway. As Neryssa said. For me to focus on tower assault, someone needed to take over the sub-master duties. But this wasnt the way I wanted it to happen. Han, can I step down now? Kishasha stretched in the arena. Standing tall, I slowly nodded. This is unbelievable. As Kishasha passed by, Velkist spat out. You tell us to prepare for a selection match, and this is how it ends? Dont let your emotions control your judgment. Efficiencyes first. Its better for me to step down here. Neryssa spoke coldly. Then, with softened eyes, she looked at Jenna. Jenna can take over my role. Did you teach me those weird things just for this? Jenna looked dumbfounded. I sat down, crossed my arms, and plunged into thought. The worst possible way to form a party is to forcibly take along members who dont want to be there. Id like to talk to you alone. Neryssa spoke demurely. That woman seems out of her mind. Its not even worth listening to. Clear the room. I spoke in a low voice. Kishasha was the first to leave, followed by Jenna, who had been contemting the entire time. Velkist, who had been ring at Neryssa until thest moment, left the training ground. Now its just the two of us. Neryssa chuckled bitterly. What are you thinking? Suddenly saying youre leaving. Its not sudden. Ive been thinking about it for a while. You gave a whole speech about survival when you joined. Whats changed? Ill say it again, its not over just because you lose to her. There are always opportunities. Ill help you guys too. Despite that, Neryssa shook her head. She seemed to have made up her mind. Why? When I first arrived here, I couldnt trust anyone. Everyone felt like an enemy except for myself. Neryssa looked down. Just, my thoughts have changed a bit. I dont really get it. Just as I said. Neryssa took a few steps away from me. Her deep blue hair swayed. If it were you, I thought it would be okay to entrust the princess to you. What? Neryssa turned her back to me. Her cor slowly slipped down, revealing the curve of her shoulder and gradually the contours of her body. That is On the curve of her waist. A strange pattern was engraved. It looked like a rose and emitted an ominous light. This is called the Twilight Mark, a special technique of the Halkion family. Its a magical pattern thatpels absolute obedience to its master. Besides, it has several other functions: physical enhancement, brain function improvement, shortening lifespan while maintaining youth, and memory enhancement. Neryssa continued. For some reason, the pattern remained even aftering here. I see. She had mentioned she was from Halkion. She didnt speak highly of them. I said, Do you still have memories from your lifetime? Yes. Most of them came back to me as I leveled up. Neryssa redressed. The afterimage of the pattern lingered before my eyes. Neryssa began to exin. She was originally a noble, but during a power struggle, her family declined, and she was sold into very. Then, she received a special curse from the Halkionfamily and was sent as a gift to the second princess of the empire. Princess Priasis Al Ragna. She was my master. She didnt treat me as a ve. She seems not to remember me though. Neryssa said. This world was created for the restoration of Townia, wasnt it? Having her memories back. Denying it wasnt an option now. I nodded. I thought you knew already. Although I had my suspicions. Neryssa smiled slightly. When will the others learn the truth? After the 40th floor. Level 40. The restriction for 4-star promotion is lifted. I recalled my time as a Master. Theres a clear difference between 3-star and 4-star. Its not about game performance. Their attitude towards missions was different. 4-stars know. Themon point between Kishasha and Shay. They knew the purpose of the mission. Unlike the current 3-stars, who are somewhat reluctantly carrying it out, they act with knowledge. The subtle difference is even felt as a master. Time to exin wille. It wont be long. Just proving that what I saw directly is true will suffice. I was curious too. During the promotions to 2-star and 3-star, you only see sorry sights. They probably couldnt understand what was being said. But the 4-star promotion will be different. There will surely be a clear hint. Wait a moment. But what does that memory have to do with you leaving the party? Cough. Neryssa cleared her throat. If theres a need to fight, you should try harder. I am trying harder. I was originally responsible for misceneous tasks back home. That sounds suspicious. To be frank, I want to conduct a personal investigation. If I remain in the first party, I wont have any free time. Investigation? There are several things that differ from what I know. Especially Neryssa furrowed her brows. Its nothing. Ill tell you when Im certain. ? Anyway, I hope youll allow it. Velkist is more useful than I am right now. If you really think so, I cant stop you. Thats a relief. Neryssa smiled. Isnt it pitiable? If that fool was kicked out after rolling around in the training ground all day. Hes bound to lose. Murmuring as if talking to herself, Neryssa left the training ground. I was left alone, flicking my foot. The memories of a hero. At this stage, its unknown. Not asking Neryssa for detailed contents of the memories she had is also due to the uncertainty. As I climb the tower, I will find out. 40th floor. Upon promotion to 4-star, the attitude of heroes changes slightly. 4-star heroes can utilize the heros third ability, the engraving. Anyway. Ive found a hero to take over the sub-master duties. Neryssa should do well. She belongs to the diligent type and meticulously handles the tasks shes given. Its time to resume tower raids. This time, more quickly. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 162: Mosaic War (1) (2) Chapter 162: Mosaic War (1) (2) Three dayster.We were sitting on the waiting seats in the za on the first floor.It was early evening. Lights were on in the sky, and on the game screen to the right, Anytng was familiarly manipting the waiting room.Climbing, it has been a while.Jenna breathed nervously.Lets not let anyone die this time. Ill only trust you, Oppa.Dont trust me. Its burdensome.Ill trust you too.I told you not to trust. If you get hurt, Its not my fault.I brushed aside Jenna and Kishashas words and looked to the side.In the corner of the bench, Velkist sat with a sullen expression, his legs crossed.He had been like that since Neryssa left. Well, he didnt cause any trouble.Is the airship maintenance finished?Its perfectly done. Ready to deploy anytime.Katiio nodded.And so, we waited for deployment amidst a bit of silence.Neryssa must be busy.She wouldnt have time to rest.Despite having several secretaries, the workload was beyond imagination.As soon as the foundation was established, Anytng summoned dozens of heroes at once. To submit each heros report to the master on time, she wouldnt have a moment to spare. I wanted to help, but she made it clear not to touch anything and focus on the mission.Therefore.With some free time, I slightly reorganized the first partys formation and matched our pace in the lower dungeon.One thing I could feel was Kishashas excellence. Not only is she outstanding one-on-one battles, but shes unparalleled in a melee. It was worth the hassle to bring her along.Personal training also paid off.Following Ascend, I could now use the Soulde Fusion at least once.It was when output was at its minimum, but unlike before, I wasnt hindered right after using it. I could maintain about 50% of mybat power. Of course, if used at full power, Id be instantly knocked out.I hope we get a normal mission this time.Jenna sighed.Anytngs work was also nearingpletion.On the 30th floor, it was a desert, the 35th section is the ocean. I have no clue what wille out on the 40th floor.Whateveres out, just do what we have to do.I tightly fastened the sheath of my dagger to my belt.Get ready.Anytng brought up the deployment window.[Open, the Rift of space and time!]Iselle appeared in the air and pointed at the door.The rift opened left and right.[Han, this time its the 36th floor. Good luck with the conquest!]Thanks.I passed by Iselle and entered the rift.One by one, the members of the first party followed me.[Climb the tower, save the world!][Main Dungeon: Current Floor 35]36th floor.A sub-stage for the 40th floor.I waited for entry while making idle talk with Jenna.Its not something were experiencing for the first or second time.The familiar sense is gone.Two members.Suppressing the strange feeling, I epted the light enveloping me.The sensation of floating wrapped around me, and then,Its a in.We were summoned to an unfamiliar in.Are we, alright?Jennas eyes widened.It wasnt a desert, ocean, orbyrinth. It was a normal field for a change.A in in broad daylight. A cool breeze came down from the hill above.Its a bit hard to breathe, but not too bad.Well, its a minor difference.I looked to the left.[Floor 36.][Mission Type Raid][Objective Steal the designated goods!]Huh?I frowned.A different type of mission appeared.Raid? Whats this about?Just as it says.I looked around.The in was spread out wide, with grass and rocks here and there.However, due to the many hills, the horizon wasnt visible.It seemed we were below a hill.Oppa, shall I scout ahead?No need. We can see everything once we go up the hill.I began to climb the slope.One by one, the members followed me.Han, I hear something strange.Kishashas ears perked up.Then, she sniffed around.And a strange smell.What smell?Iron and blood!Kishasha did a somersault and started to sprint up the hill at a fast pace.Cant stop her now. I followed her slowly. Kishasha was looking at the other side from the top of the hill.This is.Kishashas eyes sparkled.There are a ton of humans. Too many to count.Yeah, a lot.I narrowed my eyes.At the foot of the hill in the vast in, countless humans were gathered.Easily thousands by rough count. Numerous gs fluttered in the wind. The faint sounds of shouts and sword shes hit my ears.Its a war.Velkist spoke softly.The battlefield on the vast in was hundreds of meters away. That made it even more visible.The two sides of the army shed, grinding each other down.Soldiers armed with armor and swords wielded their weapons against the enemy.Cavalry trampled the infantry in front, and arrows from archers stuck in the horses heads. From above, the magic of me and ice raged, coloring the sky.The sounds of shouts and screams from the battlefield faintly echoed.Where is this?I dont know. Does anyone?I looked back, but there was no one who would know.Neryssa might have given some answers with her extensive knowledge.I looked at the army that was gaining the upper hand.They had a silver background with a winged cross emblem on their military g. They were overwhelmingly pushing the opponent with their superior numbers.They have a lot more men.I knew what the emblem meant.I saw it during the mission to rescue Priasis on the 15th floor.Was it the Goddess Cult?The group that frantically tried to kill Pria, calling her a witch and whatnot.After escaping the city, they also ced a huge bounty on Prias head. Speaking of whichDid she escape safely?In the middle of the sea.There wouldnt have been a boat to go to the maind.Well, she must have escaped safely.I shifted my focus.More importantly, whats before me.The path seems blocked.Katiio withdrew his hand.He seemed to have scanned below the hill with magical waves.If the way is blocked is it that invisible wall from before?Yeah, a no-pass zone.As Katiio and I talked, the war continued.They were already retreating. The right formation tried to pull back, but the left formation of the Cult army surrounded them like spreading wings, devouring them in the process.Tens of people died every moment.If they were a bit closer, it would be a spectacle of blood and entrails.Horrible.Jenna remarked briefly.Kishashas eyes narrowed.Nothing here to do. Lets go back.I turned my gaze.We didnte here to watch.Lets see, what else is there.Bingo. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 163: Mosaic War (2) (1) Chapter 163: Mosaic War (2) (1) The dense scent of blood drifted on the wind.For ordinary people, it was a smell that would instinctively make one pinch their nose. However, we let it pass without any concern. That time when we would get nauseous had long passed.Hmm.I looked down beneath the carriage.Beneath the shattered twin carriage, a thick blue liquid formed a pool.The blue liquid, mingling with the steamy blood of a soldier, turned a purplish hue as it sloshed about. Beside it, granted ss shards sparkled in the sunlight.Its a magic potion. There must be hundreds of bottles.Katiio, having dabbed some of the liquid on his finger, said.His gaze then shifted towards the battlefield where a fierce battle was ongoing.It seems to have been in the process of being transported. Perhaps for the magicians to restore their mana?Now that you mention itJenna looked to the right.I followed her gaze. The light of magic that had been painting the sky in various colors was fading.Its to cut off their supplies.It seemed like the magic-using side was the main army of the cult.Given the direction of movement was from left to right.On the other side, the troops are less than half. The number of magicians is also few, and the formation has copsed.I briefly assessed the situation on the battlefield.In a word.Theres no hope.Even possession of the mana potions would soon cut off the magical bombardment, it didnt seem like it would significantly affect the overall tide of the battle.The cult army still had an overwhelming advantage. When we were first summoned, it was already a losing battle.Are we going to get involved in this war? It seems difficult. No matter how much we are worth, even if every single one of us is worth a hundred, against thousands, wouldnt we be like ants before an elephant? You cant cover the sky with your hand. Even after calling over other members, it would be simr.Thats possible.Crunch.I stepped on a piece of ss beneath my feet.More information is needed.I waited for the mission to clear.There was a need to refine the information after returning.Comparing it with the strategy data in my room[Ding!][The mission type has changed.][Mission Type Unknown][Objective Unknown.]A strange message popped up.A sudden change in the mission type.This doesnt seem like the end?Jenna twisted her head in confusion.Katiio looked up with a puzzled face.Unknown? What is this? It says unknown.I got up from the carriage wheel.This isnt the end. Its not a search type.Nothing particrly worth noting.A field mixed chaotically with rocks, meadows, hignds, and londs.Aside from the battlefield in the middle of the field, nothing stood out as being rted to the mission or noteworthy objects. If there were, it would be the supply troops we just dealt with.Everyone was looking at me.They were waiting for instructions.This has be troublesome.Information is hidden.Unknown, huh.The mission is telling us to find the objective ourselves.I narrowed my eyes.Oppa, what should we do?Well have to look around a bit more. What else can we do?I dusted off my sleeves and secured my sheath to my belt.Get ready. Were going to climb higher.A gentle hill was visible in the distance.Higher and wider in the field of view than the hill we first climbed. It would allow us to grasp the situation on the battlefield at a nce. Regardless, it was clear that this mission deeply involved the battle over there.Armed and ready, we immediately ascended the second hill.Even as we climbed the hill, the battle was progressing moment by moment. The infantrys formation copsed, and high-ranking officers who seemed to bemanders were falling and dying in session. The number of gs fluttering on the right rapidly decreased.At the top of the hill, the situation became even clearer.The bnce is severely off.The cult army was making proper use of their overwhelming number of troops.Pushing with the infantry in front while sending out the cavalry from behind to strike the nks.A ssic and golden tactic symbolizing encirclement. The hammer and anvil.Thatmander on their side is quite capable.The state of training was also decent.Thousands of troops moved as if they were one body.However, conversely, it meant that the opposing forces were not up to par.Thud!A massive fireball swirling in the air hit the center of the troops directly.The soldiers in the center disappeared without a trace, and those nearby were even less fortunate. They were instantly swallowed by mes. Magical bombardment. This too was the work of the cult army.We cant go there, right? For sure?If youre curious, try it.Jenna immediately shot an arrow towards the battlefield.The rotating arrowhead shattered against an invisible wall.Youre right. We can only watch.Jenna slung her bow over her shoulder with a bitter expression.Theres nothing we can do. Only watch.Of course, in such a situation, observing was also the best option.Thus, we watched the battle for tens of minutes.It feels unreal.It would seem so from a distance.It was like watching a CGI of arge-scale war in a fantasy movie.I didnt feel particrly bored, and it even felt like being in a cinema.I even thought it would be nice to have popcorn or c.The most entertaining thing is watching a fight, after all.Huh?While watching for a while, Jenna blinked her eyes.Whats wrong?My hand seemed to fade for a moment. Look, like this!Jenna extended her right hand.Her semi-transparent forearm was allowing sunlight to pass through.This, its that, right! The signal that were returning to the waiting room. There was a time during a search mission when this happened!Right. There was such a time.I vaguely remembered.Was it the 6th floor? When we were carrying out a search mission, there was a time before returning that our bodies became transparent.Jenna sighed in relief.Phew, thats a relief. I thought we were stuck without being able to move.Archer, what are you talking about?Were going back. It seems like well return to the waiting room once the fight over there ends?Jenna pointed to the battlefield.A long time had passed, and the battle was nearing its end.The retreating troops, blocked by an iing army from behind, were being ughtered en masse without being able to escape.Oh, soStrong humans.Kishasha bared her fangs.Her beastly eyes were directed towards the rear.I also concentrated my vision.It was immediately clear. The ones who ambushed the retreating troops were entities that stood out even on the vast battlefield. Riding ck horses that were twice the size of ordinary horses, wearing full ck te armor, and wielding greatswords, they were like tanks one by one.Those guysI had seen them before.And fought against them.The escort mission on the 15th floor, in thetter part, blocking the entrance, the ck knights. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 163: Mosaic War (2) (2) Chapter 163: Mosaic War (2) (2) Those guysI had seen them before.And fought against them.The escort mission on the 15th floor, in thetter part, blocking the entrance, the ck knights.Dozens of ck knights were blocking the retreat route, driving the troops into a corner. Their movements surpassed the human limit. As someone in the same position, I could tell. They were of our kind.Their number is about thirty.Where did theye from?It seemed like they werent there when I first looked.Those guys will be fun to fight.Velkist smirked.The ck knight unit was blocking the troops retreat route and carrying out a one-sided ughter.A few soldiers resisted but were soon trampled like ants and crumbled. The cults forces were pressing in from the front. The oue was decided. It was aplete annihtion.What are they trying to show us?I nced at my wrist.The flesh, translucent like jelly, allowed light to pass through. My body was gradually bing faint.A sign for our return. As Jenna said, once they werepletely annihted, we would be able to return to the waiting room.Jenna, Kishasha!Yes?Yea.Pay more attention to the battlefield. If you notice anything, let me know immediately. I have a bad feeling.Both nodded.Strange.Call it a masters instinct or whatever; even if it was a linked quest, there was no need to drag it out like this.A foreboding feeling came over me.I also diligently scanned the area, but the distance was quite far.While I could understand the overall flow, the details were not visible.Even with the power of deep insight, this was as far as I could go. But Jenna and Kishasha would be different. I should be able to receive meaningful reports from them.Han.When a general riding a white horse fell and the troops were reduced to a quarter, Kishasha spoke.Did you find something?Its that human female.What do you mean, human female?I found the female who bothered me. Asking to save humans and such. The human woman from that time is over there.Kishasha pointed to the lower right of the battlefield.I followed the thin finger of Kishasha.Where my gazended, there were dozens of ck knights and!When I came to my senses, I was running down the hill.Where are you going?!Han, I said it was blocked!I cant just watch!I shouted as if spitting out the words and increased my speed.My hand was already on the sheath at my belt.Why is she?Questions followed one after another.Even as I pieced my thoughts together, my pace quickened.A full sprint.Gathering all the strength in my body, I dashed forward.The wind whipped my face like a whip.I cant understandWhen could I ever understand?I gritted my teeth and ran.The battlefield, which had seemed far away and like a scene from a movie, was erging before me.The sound of spears and swords, the thick scent of blood, the smell of flesh, the desperate screams.Within thatPriaI shouted at the top of my lungs.The next moment, my shoulder collided with the invisible wall.I swallowed the pain that felt like I was about to shatter and corrected my posture.Answer me! Priasis! Pria!My voice seemed to be buried in the noise of the battlefield, and she did not turn to look at me.Aaagh!Please, save meI surrender, I surrender! PleaseThe soldiers nearby were killed off like straw.Begging and pleading were useless. Resistance even more so. The ck knights methodically reaped their lives.Within that encirclement, Priasis Al Ragnar stood with a stern expression.Her silken silver hair was dirtied with dust and blood, her pale face smeared with sweat and dirt.The formal armor she wore was dented all over. Holding a half-broken sword in her right hand, Pria shouted as if in a frenzy.Didnt I say I surrender!Ill give my life! So let these people go! Wasnt it my life you wanted?The ck knights did not answer at all.Hot blood sttered from a severed neck, soiling Prias slender neck.Who exactly are you? Why are you tormenting me so much! I only wanted to save the peopleHer golden eyes twisted, and her voice choked with sobs.WhyBang!I kicked the wall with all my might.But the wall didnt budge.What is this?It was iprehensible.Hey! Can you hear me?!You bastards, who do you think I am! I wont die easily!Finally, only Pria was left on the battlefield.Dozens of ck knights surrounded her. Beyond them, hundreds of infantry were in the first line. Further beyond, the second line of infantry. And then the third.All dead.Pria bowed her head.I am of the royal family leading the peopleOut from the ck knights visors, a boiling voice leaked.The thirty ck knights spoke in unison.As if in a choir.I withdrew my hand from the sheath.At most, the distance was 5m. But I couldnt possibly ovee the wall that seemed like mere paper in front of me.There was no way, and I, being a former master, knew that best.Tell me. Where did I go wrong.What nonsense.I frowned.Priasis screamed with bloodshot eyes.What do you mean? What did I sell out! To whom exactly!The ck knights did not answer.They only raised their swords, sticky with flesh, innards, and blood.I let out a bitterugh.And quietly shouted.Brat.Finally, Freyas gaze shifted.It wasnt a loud shout, but it caught her attention.Her golden eyes which were filled with despair and resignation lit up with a spark. Han.I said nothing.After all, it was over. My body was enveloped in light.I have nothing to say.Not even a goodbye.It would be awkward to tell her to rest well.Im d youre alive.Pria smiled at me with tears in her eyes.And amidst countless shes, Prias body was hacked to pieces and disappeared without a trace.[Stage Clear!][Han (), Jenna (), Kishasha (), Level Up!][Reward 300,000G, Wraith Fragment (Low)][MVP Kishasha ()][Ding!][Notification You have 4 attempts left!]I returned through the rift in space-time.Except for Kishasha, everyone had a dazed expression.Even though the distance was far, they must have clearly seen Pria, who had been a key figure in the mission, die.4 attempts left.It was a clear hint.Thest message gave me confidence.Loop.I stepped out of the rift in space-time. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 164: Mosaic War (3) (1) Chapter 164: Mosaic War (3) (1) That night, I sat in a chair in my room, deep in thought. This mission is. I let out a sigh. Though the battle on the 36th floor itself ended with a rather mundane fight, there were several troubling issues that couldnt be ignored. Feeling a deep sense of fatigue, I decided to recollect my thoughts. First. The situation on the battlefield. The cults army was fighting against another force. I decided to name this other force the Lion Army because their banner depicted a lion with a sword in its mouth. Anyway. Its incredibly unfavorable. In terms of numbers and training of troops. The efficiency of formations,petence ofmanders, quality and quantity of asymmetric forces including mages and cavalry, the morale of the entire legion, and the equipped gear. There was not a single aspect that was advantageous. Everything indicated a clear red g. Saying there are four chances means that if we dont achieve our objective within four simr situations, its considered a mission failure. A mission that involves achieving a goal within repeated simr situations. This is called a Loop, and its notoriously difficult to defeat. Unlike other missions where multiple chances arent given, the difficulty in achieving sess is extremely high. Im not certain, but. It might not be a Loop. What I saw was just a small part of the field. Tomorrow we will probably raid the 37th floor. I had to get a clear answer there. If my guess is right, then I needed preparations for a smooth conquest. I wont be able to sleep tonight. I smiled bitterly and got up from my chair. The next evening, [Party gatheringggg!] Iselles loud voice shook the whole hall. I wonder how long I will be able to hear that voice. After getting ready for battle, I went down to the za on the first floor. Are you saying that girl might not be dead? In the za, members of the first party were already waiting on a bench. Velkist asked, and Jenna replied. Yes, thats what I think. Its strange, isnt it? After all the trouble we went through to help the princess, it would be anticlimactic if it ended here. Plus, it seems like time and space dont really matter in the mission. Then Going back to when she was alive and starting over! Maybe? I have a simr thought. She wouldnt die so easily. A heated discussion was taking ce among the members. I chuckled and walked over. Kishasha, who had been sitting hunched over and excluded from the discussion, approached me. Han! Why are you all by yourself? Theyre talking about things I dont understand. No consideration at all. I gently stroked Kishashas head and then interjected into the conversation. Starting over, huh. Oppa! Youre here? Ahem, I had a brilliant idea! Swoosh. I pulled something out of my pocket and tossed it. Jenna, who caught the item reflexively, blinked. Whats this? A pocket watch. Its expensive, so dont lose it. A watch? I had requested this from Anytng at the gift shop. The purchase cost was 100,000 gold and lower-grade magicponents. As expensive as it was, Anytng hesitated, but couldnt refuse my request in the end. Its portable. Keep it safe for the mission. I muttered and looked towards the door at the front of the square. A faint light was leaking from the cracks in the space-time rift. There were a few minutes left to enter. Going back to when she was alive and starting over. Well said. I learned it in Niflheimr, you know. Jenna scratched her head sheepishly. Indeed, shes quite sharp. I continued. Your words have a high chance of being correct. Then, Oppa, what should we do? We have to look again. See how the situation unfolds. Thats why I prepared the watch. Everyone, gather around. Ill exin briefly. The members crowded around me. I spread a 1m wide white paper on the ground. The paper had a map of the field we passed through yesterday. The battlefield in the center. And, surrounding it, were the wide expanses of hills and hignds. This is where we were summoned. I pointed to the southern part of the field. Hills and ins were represented with contour lines, and a path crossing the battlefield was also drawn. In the middle of the southern path, I wrote an A with a red pen. It was the ce where the battle with the Cults supply unit took ce. Besides the middle and the bottom, everything else is ck. What does it mean? Cant you see? Its ces we havent been to. If the same field appears this time, we need to fill in the map. Completely. Jenna, if your words are correct, then the most important thing is definitely information. The ins on the 36th floor were vast. The areas we had identified, excluding the center, were at best one-fourth of it. Excluding the south, where our summoning location was, all areas were unknown. Actually, we hadnt even properly explored the south. After dealing with the supply unit, we focused only on the battlefield. We cant enter the battlefield. Because its blocked by an invisible wall. If the mission type of the 40th-floor segment is a loop, and if Prias survival and the mission objective are connected, then there must be a way to enter the battlefield hidden somewhere. [Excuse me] Iselle was sweating at the entrance of the rift of time and space. It seemed we were a bitte. When I gestured with my eyes, Iselle made a distressed face, unable to do anything. [Delivering themand.] [Now Loading.] Sorry, but please bear with it. With limited opportunities. I couldnt skip the exnation and move on. I exined the n to the party members for about ten minutes. By the time Iselle was about to cry, we were finally able to enter the rift of time and space. [Main Dungeon, current challenge floor is the 37th.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Prepare!] 37th floor. As I predicted, Anytng chose to climb to the 37th floor. Well, if he had sent us somewhere pointless, I would haveined about climbing up. As the signal for summoning came, I looked at the members. Pop! A feeling of floating enveloped me. A strand of wind caressing my nape. The familiar scent of grass grazed my nose. [Floor 37.] [Mission Type Unknown] [Objective Unknown.] The mission objective window was unhelpfully vague. I slowly exhaled. My vision expanded. Grass, rocks, and hills. It was the same field as the 36th floor. And then. Theres a smell of blood and iron. Kishasha sniffed. Here is. Right. Iughed heartily. Weve returned to the beginning. If we climb the northern hill, well see the battlefield. It would be proceeding in the same way. The cults army would be overwhelmingly pushing back the Lion Army. And as time passed, Pria would die in the same situation, and the mission would be cleared. If we lose all our chances. The floor will drop, or perhaps it will stagnate. The certain thing is, We wont be safe either way. Lets start. Yes! Ill go first! I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 164: Mosaic War (3) (2) Chapter 164: Mosaic War (3) (2) Lets start. Yes! Ill go first! Jenna saluted me and then ran towards the northern hill. Her role was simple. To apprehend the missions time limit. That is, from start to finish, how long we canst. Thats why I gave her the pocket watch. Precisely. The time limit must be measured down to the second. Also, she must record without omission the events happening on the battlefield during her observation. To use as milestones for measuring branching points. At least for this turn, Jenna wont participate in the battle. Next. Take care. Leave it to me. Were not called the Gale for nothing. Kishasha grinned, showing her fangs. She then dropped down and ran across the ins like a beast on a sprint. She will perform reconnaissance by circling around the field in a counter-clockwise direction. Kishasha is also out for this round. . Katiio had his eyes closed. He was holding a rainbow-colored stone in his hand, and blue magical waves were spreading from his entire body. Hes also. Useless. He was synchronizing the visions of Jenna and Kishasha. The scenes seen by the two would be preserved as video data in the magic stone. Just the two of us left. Thats enough. Of course. Velkist silently smiled and drew his sword. I smiled back and unbuckled my sheath. Ahead, a convoy of wagons loaded with supplies stretched out. Hey, did you hear something strange just now? Strange sound, you say? I dont know what you mean. Like, you know, the rustling of a mouse Swoosh! The necks of the two chatting soldiers were simultaneously severed. Before the blood spurting from their necks could hit the ground, I twirled my sword and leaped to the front of the convoy. Who are you?! Velkist leaped gracefully, creating a hole in the chest of the leading soldier. The blood soared. There was no time to mingle with these guys. I drew my sword and ran. Ugh! Spare me its a monster! You brutes! I, Silver Pdin acting as the wrath of the goddess, Kyle von Strauss! About ten minutester, Numerous bodies were strewn across the ground. After shaking off the sticky blood from my greatsword, I turned my back. Blue potions leaked from beneath the shattered wagons. If we deal with this supply route. The cults magical bombardments will stop. In other words, it buys us time. Hurry. I know. Without even catching our breath, we continued our run. To the next area. Over the hill, towards the west. Theres something prepared by Anytng. I snapped my fingers. [Master, Han() requests a mount summoning!] [Do you ept? Summoning requires a Summoning Stone.] [Yes(Select) / No] [Swipe the screen!] [Give wings to your hero, Master!] [Ding!] [Gandalf() is summoned to the battlefield!] [Saruman() is summoned to the battlefield!] sh. A summoning gate opened beside me, and two robust horses appeared on the ins. A gray and a white horse. Prepared in advance by Anytng during my confrontation with the Union, these horses were captured from a weekday dungeon and trained in the stables. Heeheeheeng! I mounted Gandalf. With a kick, the horse neighed and began to gallop across the ins. Velkist followed on Saruman, mounted behind me. Velkist! What? Split to the left. Check the boundary of the field! Got it. Be careful! Velkist turned the horses head. Shortly after, Velkists figure, along with the horse, faded into the distance. The field is wider than I thought. It seemed right to summon horses just in case, but it looks like I made the right choice. I gripped the reins and kicked Gandalfs nks. Heeheeheeing! Riding the horse across the ins, I put my hand to my ear. Katiio, hows themunication line? Connect me to Kishasha. The left side of my vision blurred, and an image appeared. Kishasha running across the ins. But behind her, strange figures riding ck horses were following. [ck Knight Lv.41] X 13 I frowned. ck Knights. They were the ones who had broken into the rear of the army and wreaked havoc. Those guys were chasing Kishasha at a speed not inferior to hers. Kishasha. Where did they appear from? Kishasha gestured with her head towards the right. On a red rocky hill, a ck castle stood. Thats. A suspicious aura emanated from the entire castle. A peach-colored statue was glimpsed through the slightly open gate. It was immediately recognizable. The missions most crucial object; the statue of the goddess. At least two, then. Can you shake them off? I removed my hand from my ear, and the image disappeared. Kishasha would handle the right side of the field. I needed to check the left. Gandalf carried me across the ins to the west. Before long, I found the second location. Far away, hundreds of people were walking in groups. Heading towards the battlefield. Activating my deep insight, I could make out their attire. They were wearing steel armor and carrying quivers of longbows. An archer unit. Elite archers. Eliminating them would dy the annihtion of the Lion Army even further. The missions scope was beginning to take shape. On the left, there are dy points, and on the right, there are fortresses containing objects. Then. Dual simultaneous assault. Considering the information gathered so far. Its the worst. It boasted the highest difficulty among Loops. Time is limited, forces must be split without fail, there are multiple points to capture, and there are enemies chasing us. Is this also part of your n? Did you increase the games difficulty to this absurd level just to mess with me? It doesnt matter. I shook my head. No matter what missiones, Ill just break through and smash it. Youve messed with the wrong person. I tightened my grip on the reins. Gandalf galloped towards the archer unit, mane fluttering. However, between the archer unit and me, an endless cliffy. On the cliff, a shoddy stone bridge crossed it. It was clearly an unnatural terrain. Dont stop. I kicked the horse once more. Theres no time to y. Cross the bridge in one go and head towards the archer unit. From the west to the north, run and join Kishasha. That was the ultimate goal of this second round. Crack! Gandalf! Heeheeheehee! Gandalf let out a pained cry and copsed sideways. It happened while we were speeding at tens of kilometers per hour. I was flung from the saddle, flying through the air. I quickly regained my bnce mid-air andnded, scraping the dirt ground. [Gandalf() has been unsummoned!] What happened? Soon, I understood the cause. I dusted off the dirt on my armor and looked across the stone bridge. On the opposite side of the cliff, next to the stone bridge, stood someone. He wore a dark feathered hat and a ck cloth with wide sleeves, his face was hidden behind a mask. The man lifted his longbow. [Danger!] [The Marksman of Death Lv.?] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 165: The Reason We Dont Give Up (1) (1) Chapter 165: The Reason We Don''t Give Up (1) (1) [Stage Clear!] [Velkist(), Katiio() Level Up!] [Reward 320,000G] [MVP Kishasha()] The stage clear message appeared. A light wrapped around me. I looked at my right shoulder. A ck arrow was embedded there. Bloodstains spread from the wound like a stain made by a flower. Each breath spread a dull pain. On the opposite cliff, the archer ced a hand on his forehead. A confident smile blossomed under his mask. It seemed like he was saying, Come whenever you want. Huff. Damn. To put it simply. I couldnt break through the bridge. Whether the arrow disappeared, split into several, or bent strangely, he used all kinds of extraordinary shooting techniques. If it had been a wide ce, I might have found an opening, but it was just a narrow bridge entrance. I barely avoided a fatal wound, but it took too much time. Is the western scout a failure? Some strange guy interfered, and it all became absurdly tangled. In the end, while this guy who was supposedly a demon marksman blocked me, the archery squad safely joined the battlefield, and what followed was predictable. Looking to the side, I saw the full view of the troops. Under the torn lion g, countless bodiesy. Pria must be among them. The stages clear message meant that the missions ending conditions had been met. That meant Prias death. This was the second chance. As my vision blurred, Jennas voice rang out. I know. How many minutes? About three hours. Within that time, all the strongholds on the field must be taken, ultimately joining the battlefield. It was tight. It would have been much easier without those weird guys around. Lets see next time. It doesnt end here. Stubbornly, I snapped the arrow shaft embedded in my shoulder. [Ding!] [Notification You have 3 chances left!] With a flimsy sound effect, we were moved through the gaps in space-time. The central mirror emitted a faint light. Katiio frowned deeply and sighed heavily. This is tough. Why is this mission so difficult? Magician kid, you used to sing about wanting to do missions, and now youre scared? Its too much. He, the ce where I came from, was manageable as long as you keep your wits about you. But why is it so strange here? Floor 35 and now this. The missions Ive seen through the regeneration stone were all crazy too. The arrow stuck in my shoulder disappeared. I sheathed my sword and caught my breath. Though we cleared the stage Im not happy at all. At least, it wasntpletely useless, so lets gather and sort it out. Right, Oppa? Even if its an impossible mission, since its a game, theres always a strategy. But executing that strategy is a different matter. Oppa? What? Is something wrong? You look upset. Just tired. It was just an annoying thought. Except for the 25th floor when I wasnt there, every segment of the missions was set to be incredibly difficult. As if asking me if I could still beat it. Do we have to deal with this crap until the 100th floor? We had already experienced one failure on the 35th floor. There wouldnt be another one, but the results then were more fatal. I looked up. The sky shone with a rainbow light. Anytng was watching us. What shall we do today, Han? Are we gathering again? Itste. How about we gather up again tomorrow? That sounds good. Everyone, analyze todays mission well. At least by the third round, we should have an estimation for clearing it. In this second round, we learned the mission time limit and the information about the field stretching from south to northeast. Also, we know that a quite annoying named character appears from the western cliff. I felt a headache as I exited the rift of space and time. Starting with Velkist, the members scattered noisily. I have no thoughts of running away. The decision was already made. After Eloka died, it became impossible to escape. But thinking about the future was troublesome. My room. Lets see. I updated the map of the ins. To the west, there are supply depots and archery units, and handling this point dys the time of total annihtion of the lion troops. To the east, there are fortresses and statues of goddesses. Three fortresses. ording to Kishasha, there are three fortresses in the east. At least three fortresses must be taken within three hours, while also avoiding the pursuit of the ck Knight. Of course, the western strongholds must also be dealt with. Scouting there hasnt finished yet, and there will be other obstacles. Its infuriating. From the heros perspective, the things one can do are limited. If I had been the master if only I could handle tactical tools I could have properly nned the strategy. [Loki?] As I sat nkly in my room, a sparkle twinkled beside me. It was Iselle. [Any issues?] It was that obvious. I thought I had a poker face. I spoke. Iselle. [Yes!] What do you think about the difficulty of these missions? [The mission difficulty? You mean Townia?] Yes. Iselle thought for a moment and then sighed deeply. [If it wasnt for Loki it would have ended long ago.] Is the difficulty determined by luck? [Not really. I heard from the director that theres a reason. I didnt get the exact words.] Who created these missions? That director or whatever his name is? Iselle nodded. So thats it. Its annoying. [Hey, youre not thinking of returning to Niflheimr, are you? Huh? If Loki leaves, its the end here! Im done for too! Dont go. Ill do anything!] Dont make a fuss. Im not going. Well, enough of theints. I smirked and turned the chair. The updated map was on the desk. It was time to focus again. As I picked up the pen to write down a detailed strategy. [] Iselle hadnt left yet. Sweat trickled down her cheeks, which still had baby fat, apletely different look from usual. Hey, arent you leaving? [Um, um] Iselle swallowed her saliva. [A message came from the director.] A message? I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 165: The Reason We Dont Give Up (1) (2) Chapter 165: The Reason We Don''t Give Up (1) (2) Hey, arent you leaving? [Um, um] Iselle swallowed her saliva. [A message came from the director.] A message? Iselle fluttered her wings vigorously and spun around in the air. Stardust scattered following the trajectory of her wingbeats, and a small hologram window floated up. [Warning GM exclusive line] ? Tel> Hello there. I looked at Anytngs control window. Anytng was deeply engaged in a mock battle with an AI. He seemed unconcerned with the message above. Can only I see it? Iselle looked at me anxiously. Tel> Its been a while, I reckon since your first promotion. Long time no see. This brat surely not. Tel> Dont be surprised, Loki. If you want, you can meet me anytime. I thought you would call at least once, but you didnte to meet at all. You really dont understand womens hearts. I tapped the virtual keyboard shing below the chat window. Han> Never called you. Get lost. Tell> Did you receive my gift? If you had used that guy properly, one of your hounds could have stepped into 7 stars. A gift. Is she talking about the Union? I turned to Iselle. Did you speak to her? [No, I] Forget it. If you can disy tips and web surfing, among other things, it wont be difficult to connect to Mobius chat line. Iselle was just a subordinate of that woman anyway. She couldnt outright resist. Tel> Anyway, Loki. Im surprised youre still alive in that failed ount. Seriously. I even gave up on saving Townia. It just didnt work out. Han> It didnt work out? Tell> In todays terms, that ount is totally screwed. The bnce is ruined, right? I even admit it. Tel> I thought you would contact me by the 20th floor at thetest. Yousted a long time. I think you showed a performance worthy of your name. I acknowledge that. Thats the part I recognize. Do I admit it? I really do! Is she trying to y with me? Even as I ignored her, the messages continued. Tel> Has the master there not quit yet? It would be normal if he had. Tel> I told you before, but that ount is not ordinary. Its not just unbnced, itspletely ruined. The chat window refreshed soon after. Tel> I wonder how long you canst? Tel> Anytng, was it? Do you think the guy who only knows how to wave glow sticks behind you can lead you? You know best. If the master is ipetent, no matter how excellent the hero, theres no answer. Its the end. Han> Stop the bullshit. Just tell me what you want. Tel> Ill give you the masters position in Townia. Tel> Dont worry. Its definitely not a ve contract. Justply with a few conditions. Of course, if you clear up to the 100th floor, a return to Earth and a substantial reward are guaranteed. Tel> Isnt this an SS-tier proposal? I turned off the chat window there. Theres a lot I want to ask, but Ive decided not to care about this woman anymore. Anytng was still intensely engaged in a mock battle with the AI. Competing against a low-level bot. Considering he had been losing even to the lowest level before, he hade a long way. If you utilize the fairy and the Bifrost there, it might be okay even without a master. The interference power of that sword is incredible. I remembered what Yu had said sometime back. That there would be no problem even if the master quit. It meant that I could possibly take on the role of the master. Initially, I could barely see the system log, let alone the masters control window. However, as time passed and I climbed the tower and leveled up, the masters screen gradually came into my view. If that guy quits. For Anytng, this ce was just a game. Fun to y, and no big deal if he just quit. His resolve was different from ours, the heroes who had our lives on the line. Giving me the masters position meant. Did it mean excluding Anytng from Townia? Then the difficulty of the current mission would change. In such missions, where role and power distribution are important, the masters tactical ability is much more crucial than the heros. Im not sure. I smiled bitterly. It would be fine if the difficulty was ordinary, but in such a ce, theres a limit to what I can do alone. I had handed over the Book of Heaven to Anytng and had not spared any advice or assistance but the mindset of a ranker and a regr user toward the game was different. Can I take Anytng to the 100th floor? In the end, it was a matter of his motivation. How much passion and desire for improvement he had for the game. It would be difficult for an ordinary user to go that far. [Warning GM exclusive line] [An unidentified chat message is present.] It seems she hadnt cut off the connection with me. I turned to Iselle, who was fidgeting beside me. What do you think? [] Her words seem to imply that. To climb the tower, we need to get rid of the master. [I think] Iselle, who had been closing her eyes, spoke. [Maybe its okay to leave it to the master?] At first, you called him a blockhead. [Its different now. Hes a bit clueless and has strange tastes, but hes not bad. At least he doesnt treat Loki carelessly. Hes serious about the game and even spends money on it.] He sounds like a game addict. Iselle chuckled. [I have something to show you, Loki.] What is it? [Anytngs phone usage details!] I blinked. I didnt quite understand. Regardless, Iselle focused and began waving her hand. [Haah! Appear!] Pop. Along with the light, another hologram window appeared. A familiar screen. It seemed like a phones storage device. Iselle touched some documents inside the Download folder. Text appeared on a white background. [Ta-da, this is the book of heaven! Lokis gifted document is saved on the masters phone, and was opened as many as 132 times.] Iselle raised her nose proudly. But just looking at it doesnt mean anything. As I remained silent, Iselle flipped the screen to thest page of the document. [This is what Anytng wrote after thest page of the Book of Heaven.] The text appeared. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 166: The Reason We Dont Give Up (2) (1) Chapter 166: The Reason We Don''t Give Up (2) (1) [Date: XX Month XX Day] The document began with a date. I continued to read the text below. [I received a strange file from someone named Loki.] [Its filled withplicated words. I didnt fully understand its meaning, but I read it through. It seems like the person who organized and analyzed the data must be remarkable.] [Wouldnt it be better to use such skills outside of gaming?] [Anyway, I decided to keep a record of my own gamey as well. It seems fun.] This is [It seems like he kept a diary of his gamey.] I let out a dryugh. Someone still writes these kinds of things in this day and age. And on a phone, no less. Its said that he received a strange file. The diary seems to have started from when I had sent the strategy document. [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Cleared level 15. Han almost died.] [It was because of Aaron. It got messed up because Han tried to save that guy.] [That guy tries hard, but his skills dont improve.] [Useless fellow.] This. I felt sorry for Aaron. [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Cleared level 20. Han took down a dragon by himself.] [I heard that 1-star born heroes are weak? Maybe the strategy is weird.] [Anyway, it seems like he did well, so I gave him a warrior statue. Han was also happy.] [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Han was dispatched to Niflheimr.] [I looked into Loki, and he seems to be a more incredible gamer than I thought.] [But no matter how much I think about it, I cant understand why hes interested in me. Why? Although Im grateful for the help, I think Im starting to enjoy it, even though I thought about quitting.] The diary was written in quite some detail. Including the expansion of facilities and the history of hero summoning. Most of it matched my memories. It means that nothing was omitted. Surprisingly. [Date: XX Month XX Day] [My mom nagged me to stop ying games.] [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Cleared level 25.] [Kishasha is also useful. It was good to invest in her. Though it looks like Ill be eating ramen for a while.] Most of the content could be skipped, but the impression of Pick Me Up! from Anytng seemed quite valuable. It became easier to understand his ying style going forward. While reading the diary, I stopped at one part. Level 35. The tone changed from there. [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Level 35, a member of party 1, Eolka, died.] [I thought Han was going to die in thest dungeon.] [d hes alive. But he seems sad that a colleague died. I gave him a warrior statue tofort him.] [Even though its AI, it feels strange.] [Could such sophisticated artificial intelligence exist?] [It feels almost like its alive.] [I told a coworker, and he mocked me a lot, asking if I was out of my mind. He also rmended quitting, calling me a game addict. I dont really want to quit.] [Have I gone crazy?] [Someway, I feel close to the heroes.] I looked over at Iselle. She seemed to be reading the same part, sighing deeply with aplex expression. Could it be, hes suspecting? I hadnt imagined it. Just an ordinary gamer. I shook my head absentmindedly. You may be impressed by its realism, but you wont believe its real. I think its just a momentary feeling. After that, the usual content continued. [Date: XX Month XX Day] [This doesnt seem right.] [Date: XX Month XX Day] [Han thrashed me in a mock battle.] [Review of the strategy video for the 5th floor] [05:35 Han gathers members for a meeting. Afterwards, the formation is set. Barricades are built, and they start defending against goblins from three directions.] [06:43 Battle starts.] [08:29 Why split the members into three directions? Jenna at the intersection in the middle] I narrowed my eyes. It seemed to have been written rtively recently. Anytng was reviewing the strategy video for the 5th floor, analyzing why I distributed the party like that, how the battle was conducted, and how it was cleared. Not just the 5th floor. The strategy review was thoroughly written up to level 35. Of course, the analysis wasnt perfect, just a rough guess [I dont want to just wing it like I usually do.] [This time, Han might die.] This kind of determination is hard to find in just a normal gamer. [Who is this user, Loki?] [The more I see, the more remarkable he is. The answers to the doubts I had while operating the waiting room are detailed here. Its admirable that someone can invest so much passion in a game.] [If Loki had been the master here Han wouldnt have had to suffer alone.] Thats funny. To others, Im just a gaming addict. [Can I be like this too?] A total addict. I couldnt help butugh. The diary also recorded daily life incidents while being hooked on Pick Me Up!. Getting caught using the phone during work hours or hitting a pole while walking. And being nagged daily by parents. But still. [I dont want to quit.] I closed the folder. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 166: The Reason We Dont Give Up (2) (2) Chapter 166: The Reason We Don''t Give Up (2) (2) [I dont want to quit.] I closed the folder. Looking to the corner of my vision, Anytng was still fervently engaged in a mock battle with AI. Even though it was time to disconnect, he was still ying. If anything, it seemed like his ytime had doubled since that day. Once the basic operations werepleted, he repeatedly engaged in mock battles. Continuously, until he exited the game. Youck talent. He was still struggling in the lower difficulty levels. Looking at all aspects, from room operation to party formation and hero training, there was almost nothing remarkable about Anytng. At best, he was good at racing games. In other aspects, he was either average orcking in skills. But still Not wanting to quit. Not just because its fun Maybe he wants to keep ying for another reason. This is weird. It reminded me of myself from before. Except for theck of talent. I had quite a sessful career. Everyone called me mad. Just for a game. Are you sane? Are you throwing away reality for a game? Its not just because its fun. I saw something different on the screen. I couldnt pinpoint exactly what it was. It wasnt really for Niflheimr. That was probably the difference between Anytng and me. Niflheimr and its heroes were a kind of tool to test my limits. It might have felt like climbing a high mountain. The brutal missions of Niflheimr had forced me to exceed my capabilities time and time again. Up until just beforeing here, I had yed Pick Me Up! within the fixed notion of a game. This guy Simr yet different. Different yet simr. Interesting. He had beaten astronomical odds several times. The probability that I would be summoned by Anytng. The chance that Anytngs hand would slip and I would survive in synthesis. And the probability that Anytng wouldnt quit. That he would decide to continue. [Loki.] What? [What should I do? Should I ept the directors proposal?] Would you do it? You should have been backstabbed once or twice to know. Next time, just block that b$tchs messages. I dont even want to hear her name. [Then] I wont quit, I have to see it through. What else is there? Afterwards, Iselle closed the proposal window from Tel. Thats the end of the discussion. I will never think about the change of master again. Im not sure if its good or bad luck. If the difficulty of Townia had been easy, would this guy have thought like this? Like many other masters, he might have quit without hesitation if he got bored of the game. I chose to think positively. He has willpower, at least. This mission is too hard for me alone. The masters power was essential. Tactical Center. If youve built a facility, you should use it. If my view of the hero is two-dimensional, the masters perspective is close to three-dimensional, with multiple viewpoints. He can look down broadly from above and see different parts of the battlefield simultaneously. I dont expect too much from the start. Ill n the basics. You just need to give the orders at the right time. Anytng was still not skilled enough to develop strategies on his own. Perhaps he could, if he kept at it consistently. In my experience, that process was more painful than enjoyable. It was no longer a game to be enjoyed. Iselle. If you told me not to abandon the master, you must have a n, right? Can you mess with the mock battle system? I want to change the map. I directed my gaze to the desk. The map of the ins was almostplete. When the mock battle starts, print out the map as it is. Leave the center empty, ce three fortresses on the east, and two strongholds on the west. I put on my coat and left the room. Anytng was reviewing a rey after a disappointing defeat to a low-tier bot. Iselle followed me with a stiff expression. If this girl belonged to Mobius, what she was doing now is directly against thepany. She overturned the n of thepanys highest-ranking executive, the director. Has she already made up her mind? Otherwise, she wouldnt have shown me that document. I untied the sheath strap and handed it to Iselle. Since the sword itself is a mass of interference power, it should be helpful. [Lets try this!] If it doesnt work out, dont force it. There are other methods. Iselle disappeared with a sh of light. I walked down the dark staircase to the first floor. The tactical center was situated next to the rift of space and time. When I opened the door and entered, a familiar table and chairs were visible. The difference from before was that the map on the table was changing. A non-existent map was being created. While the field was being set up, I examined Anytngs control window. It seemed like Anytng was looking at me, who had suddenly entered the tactical center. Its been a long time. I muttered as I looked up at the sky. Give and take. Even if I understood your thoughts, the basics havent changed. [Master, Han () proposes a mock battle. Will you ept?] [Conditions Warrior Statue (5,000G) 1 piece per round] [Yes(Select) / No] [5,000G will be automatically deducted!] Anytng epted as if he had been waiting, and the warrior statue was ced on the table. I pushed the statue to a suitable ce and dusted off my hands. The map wasplete. I would arrange the hero formations. Anytng took the monsters side. I need to guide the strategy. Even a fool would understand the meaning after repeating it. Of course, the mock battle continues after the third round. Until the perfect strategy is found. I cant clear it alone. Even when I was a master. Although I couldnt talk directly, I used to n mission strategies with Seris and Yu. The means ofmunication was also through mock battles at the time. [Para-bam!] [The mock battle begins!] [Type 1 VS 1: Battle against AI] Thanks to Iselles intervention, the monster formation in the mock battle was overwhelmingly advantageous. If I defend and drag out the time, I win the game. In contrast, I have to split my meager forces and simultaneously attack strongholds and fortresses. Figure it out. What this mock battle means. What you need to do to be of help to us. If you cant figure it out, Loki has no choice but to appear. If you have any concerns, you can at least send an email and ask for consultation. The methods were endless. Naturally, excluding the master was not among the methods considered within me. Im curious. What will happen to this guy in the future? After all of this, would he backstab and quit the game? Its not entirely impossible. Then I would really look like an idiot. Or A new ranker will appear in Pick Me Up. Rapidly climbing the tower vertically. The ount difficulty being hard was not only a disadvantage. The more rugged the climb, the steeper the incline, the more the heroes grow to exceed their limits. Otherwise, they wont survive. Again, I dont expect much from you. Just dont give up and stay with us. If that can be done. Ill do the rest. Of course, its not free. Youd have to pay at least the ticket price. I smiled and waited for the mock battle to start. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 167: Swift As The Wind (1) (2) Chapter 167: Swift As The Wind (1) (2) You! I, the Silver Pdin, Kyle von Strauss, acting as the wrath of the goddess! Enough already. I instantly cut off the neck of the one making a fuss. After quickly dealing with a few key knights Velkist, you can handle it alone, right? Dont worry. Good luck! The key to this mission was how much we could shorten the time. We couldnt afford any time wasting. We needed to achieve maximum efficiency with minimal manpower. After leaving Velkist alone, we ran again. [Slide the screen!] [Please put wings on the masters hero!] [Ding!] [Gandalf () is summoned to the battlefield!] [Radagast () is summoned to the battlefield!] Anytng called for a mount. I jumped onto the horse running next to me. Jenna quickly climbed onto the horse and pulled Katiio up behind her. The second section. It was the ce where we failed during the second loop. The cliffs where the archer appeared, blocking ess with all sorts of bizarre archery. Ready? I firmly gripped the reins. Katiio nodded silently. Dont hesitate for even a second. Were going right away. Oppa, I trust you. Just do well, thats all. Katiio pulled a magic stone from his pocket and handed it to Jenna. Jenna attached the magic stone to an arrowhead and immediately strung it on her longbow. Even while riding, her shooting stance was steady. Jennas arrow was already aimed at the cliff on the other side. [Danger!] [The Marksman of Death Lv.?] Across the stone bridge. The archer, who had been sitting leisurely, stood up. His dark bow gleamed with a ck light. Thump. A light sound. I instantly drew Bifrost and swung it. Ah! Bang! The joint in my right arm creaked. The first shot hade from behind. Troublesome bastard. Initially, I couldnt see the arrow he had shot properly. The direction was random. Although he shot from the front, it appeared from the side or behind. The direction would change abruptly, or sometimes it would suddenly shoot up from the ground. I can handle up to five shots. As the shooting continued, its power increased, and strange effects were mixed in. The archer was about 50 meters away on the other side of the cliff. His second shot followed. I knew this pattern too. I let go of the reins and drew my dagger. ng! Above my head. Below my left rib. The distance was now about 30 meters. I looked at Jenna. She was riding, pulling the bowstring, and staring at the other side of the cliff. Arrows wont work on him. Jenna tried to restrain him with arrows, but they didnt work at all. We had tried magic defense, but it was easily prated. We all knew it from experience. So, Lets go! With a livelymand, Jenna released the bowstring. The arrow shot out from the longbow at a ferocious speed. The archer had released his third shot just then. Hihihihi! [Gandalf () is unsummoned!] A hole appeared in the horses forehead. As Jennas arrow crossed paths, it embedded itself in the lower part of the cliff where the sniper was standing. Connect! Katiio shouted with a voice filled with magical power. Before the horse fell down with a scream and my body hit to the ground. Theres only one chance. I tightened my grip on the sword. A tingling sensation wrapped around my entire body. Teleport! sh! The scenery changed in an instant. Below was endless darkness. Above was the blue sky and the archer looking down at me in surprise. He was flustered but preparing to shoot. Do you think itll work? I kicked off the ground and rushed up to him. I headbutted him right in the face as he was about to pull the bowstring. He staggered. ! Thud! I tripped him and then kicked him hard. He fluttered down the cliff in his pping coat. The end. I brought my hand to my ear and spoke. Velkist, are you done? Same here. Join up with the other two and handle the archer unit. Jennas horse was crossing the stone bridge. When I signaled with my eyes, Katiio formed another hand sign. We cant use the normal way. There isnt enough time. No matter how we nned the route, we couldnt meet the clear time. If thats the case, we had to use an anomaly. A Wizard is weaker than an Elementalist in a head-on battle, but they enable a clear in another way. Spacepression using teleportation magic. This allowed us to ovee the limits of distance without forcibly dividing our power. Connect! Katiio cast the second teleportation. When I came to my senses. I was on Kishashas back. Next. There are three fortresses in the eastern field. The final goal is to capture all the fortresses But theres a priority. Theres an object in one of the fortresses that can summon the rearguard. For a quick clear, its natural to summon the rearguard first. The problem is that the object appears randomly in one of the three fortresses. Of course, I dont know the right answer. [Ding!] [Opening the tactical tab!] Right. Anytng selected amand tool and drew on the screen. Zing! A red arrow appeared in the sky. The arrow pointed northeast. Lets go. Kishasha changed direction and ran across the meadow. Twice the speed of a horse. The fortressndscape quickly approached. A ck fortress wall several meters high appeared. [Cult Archers Lv.36] x 15 Pipipipip! Kishasha zigzagged through the volley of arrows and approached the fortress wall, then jumped vertically. One of the archers caught in Kishashas fangs turned into shreds. Afternding on the fortress wall, Kishasha swung its front paws, tearing apart three more before leaping into the fortress. A white marble statue of a goddess was emitting a blue light. [Danger!] [High-ranking Inquisitor] [The Mighty Rodvik Lv.46] He appeared as expected. In front of the goddess statue, a giant nearly 3 meters tall in iron armor held a mace. The sinister voice flowed from the devil-masked helmet. Death to the heretics! He raised his pir-like mace. We had wasted a lot of time here during the third loop. I smirked and held my sword horizontally. Ascend. [Han() enters Ascend state!] I collided my sword with the mace he was trying to bring down on my head. Then, Crack! With a st, the mace-wielding giants right hand was blown off. Uooooo! Kishasha smashed the giants chest with its front paw. The iron te crumpled, and the giants huge body fell to the ground. Die. I thrust my sword into the slit of his helmet. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 167: Swift As The Wind (1) (1) Chapter 167: Swift As The Wind (1) (1) And then, a month had passed. Early evening. Our first party was gathered at the za on the first floor. Anytng was busy on the right side of my view, distributing potions and other consumables, checking the status of the party. Haah. Jenna inhaled nervously. Her lips trembled slightly. We can do it. We can do it. Aya Aya, fighting! Jenna, fists clenched, looked around at us. We can do it, right? Weve worked so hard already! Since its thest time, lets break through without any trouble! Well, whether it goes well or not, it doesnt matter, right? If we fail, we all go down together. Velkist grinned. Jenna puffed up her cheeks. What a bad thing to say. Doesnt anyone want to cheer up? If you want that kind of atmosphere, why dont you go there? It seems like a perfect match. Velkist nced behind him. There, the members of the second party were gathered. Edis was brightly smiling and patting the shoulders of his party members. Andbehind the second party, Numerous heroes were shoulder to shoulder. [Forming the first attack squad (small).] [Party Configuration First Party, Second Party, Third Party, Fourth Party, Fifth Party''] [Total Heroes 25] [Raid Leader Edis ()] Anytng hadpleted configuring the raid and entered the mission tab. The mission would start soon. A month had passed since the second attempt. We had been given five chances, and we had already failed twice more. Therefore, this was thest chance. However. It wasnt that we hadnt gained anything from the failures. The strategy for this mission was alreadyplete. We had identified every point and variable in the field and had figured out how to deal with them. The rest depended on whether or not the n was executed properly. Its up to you. I looked up. The n to clear the 40th floor was conveyed through simtions. If Anytng messed up, we would be left there to rot. [Caution!] [This mission requires five parties in a medium-sized task. If there arent enough party members, use paid or free summoning to replenish heroes!] [This mission has predefined vanguard and rearguard roles. If certain conditions are met, the rearguard can join the battle!] Anytng pressed the challenge for the 40th floor, and the missions cautions popped up. It was simr to the 20th floor. The vanguard would enter first, followed by the rearguard. The difference, however, was that the vanguard couldnt be changed. Like it or not, the first party had to go. It made sense. The loop had been discovered by the first party. Until the mission was cleared or everyone was wiped out, the target wouldnt change. [Caution!] [This is yourst chance.] [If you fail this time, all heroes from the First Party will be annihted, and you will start again from floor 31.] Can we do it? Katiio looked at me with a worried expression. If it seemed impossible, I wouldnt havee. Just do as we discussed. I feel like I came here for nothing, just to suffer. Its better than where you were. Thats true. Katiio sighed deeply. I checked whether my dagger sheath was securely fastened and the end of my pouch was properly tied. Anytngs preparations were almostplete. Bang! Finally, a loud noise as the gate opened. Next to the gate, Iselle pped her wings. [Alright, the rift is open. First Party, enter!] I led the way into the spatial rift. The central mirror was already glowing. Following me, the members entered one by one. The second party and the rearguard were waiting in the za. Edis and I made eye contact. Edis nodded at me. Our discussionhadended yesterday. There was nothing more to say. Only the real battle remained. I might not be able toe back. The mission itself was extremely tough. If anything went wrong in the n, it would be the end for all of us. [Main Dungeon, Current Floor: 40.] [10 seconds until the door opens. Get ready!] [Recording the mission. y records will be preserved.] [The tactical tab is active and avable for use.] The countdown started. I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. Han. In the silence, Kishasha whispered. I opened my eyes. Kishasha, on tiptoes, whispered into my ear. If I die in battle, dont leave me behind. I dont want to be alone anymore Ouch! I pinched Kishashas cheek. Is nonsense a specialty of your species? Say something sensible. But I have no intention of dying. Were all going back alive. But! Of course. Were going back alive. Jenna smiled brightly. Velkist also shed a cold smile. When its time to fight, youre fierce, but now you turn into a child? Arent you ashamed to call yourself a warrior? Dont disappoint me or the first party. Kishasha grimaced. Got it. I wont say such a thing ever again. Thats good. Velkist turned his head. At the same time, a dazzling light enveloped me. The sh of summoning. Once the light cleared, the mission would begin. I rested my hand on the hilt of my sword. Ive said it so much that I feel so tired. Is there anyone who still doesnt understand? It feels like Ive heard that talk more than ten times. Ive memorized it perfectly. Me too. That was expected. After finishing the fourth loop, Ihadexined the n to the members several times. There must be no deviations. The timing of each member had to fit together like gears in a machine to properlyplete the n. There can be no failure. I slightly drew my sword from its sheath. [Floor 40.] [Mission Type Unknown] [Objective Unknown.] A breeze carrying the scent of grass brushed my cheek. This was the fifth time we faced the ins field. Thest loop had started. Three seconds into the mission. Thud! A loud noise could be heard as the sky was lit with mes. It was magical artillery. Move! I immediately sprinted across the meadow. The members began their respective actions. Roar! Kishasha roared loudly. [Unique Skill, Transformation Activated!] [Kishasha () transforms into a giant tiger!] Transformed into a giant tiger, Kishasha bared her fangs and ran towards the east side of the field. The other four. To the west. Just then, a supply convoy was heading towards the battlefield. We jumped right into the middle of the convoy. You! I, the Silver Pdin, Kyle von Strauss, acting as the wrath of the goddess! Enough already. I instantly cut off the neck of the one making a fuss. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 168: Swift As The Wind (2) (2) Chapter 168: Swift As The Wind (2) (2) Quite troublesome. I couldnt revive the experience from the 35th floor. The waters flow was too strong, even for water-walking magic to get through. Therefore. Katlio drew arge circle with his hand. An egg-shaped blue portal appeared, and following Katliosplex hand seals, the portal glowed and two figures emerged. Right here! The twin mages of wind and ice have arrived! Raine and Maine. The twin elemental mages from Party 2. The two, as if in unison, smiled wryly at me and began chanting in magical tongues. A wind summoned by Raines right hand soared into the sky, while ice cast from Maines left hand fused with it. The twins smiled lightly and looked at Katlio. Phew, really. Just kill me, kill me. Katlio exhaled deeply and reached up to the sky. Threads of magic intertwined with the cold and wind, weaving the two spells into one. [Ding!] [Combined Grand Magic, Howling Storm () has been activated!] [Casters Rein (), Main (), Katlio ()] Whooooosh! Thats quite shy. Velkistmented. Indeed, a swirling storm of dozens of meters in diameter was forming in the sky. Combined grand magic. When mages ofpatible elements weave their magic and spells together, they can cast much more powerful magic. Katlio pointed at the mage across the river. Simultaneously, a wall-like storm slowly moved forward. Good luck! Were going ahead! See youter! After finishing their task, the twins winked and disappeared back through the portal. Velkist exchanged a nce with me and immediately began running. I followed him. The storm advanced over the river, sweeping away the currents. It acted as a kind of shield. That guy is immune to magical damage. Ranged magic was ineffective. Therefore, we had no choice but to break through the river directly. We led the way with the storm. Although the mage cast various hindering spells, they were rendered powerless with Katlios support. Screech. In the end, the mage sumbed to Velkists de. psed time. 103 minutes and 22 seconds. 80 minutes left. I tossed away the watch. After all, whether it works out or not, this is thest chance. No need to check the time anymore. No more I cant! Katlio copsed behind me. His face was deathly pale. Good job. Well take it from here. Ill leave it to you. Katlio sprawled out on the ground. This was where he dropped out. He had performed his role adequately. Thest point. If we cross the river, a vast in will spread before us. Unlike previous bases, there were no supply or archery units here. Just a barren field. I climbed a hill and looked down below. Two armies were entangled in a bloody battle, with the Cults forces ringly exposed from behind. The optimal attack point. The best location for a surprise attack. With no defensive troops in sight, a well-organized attack could yield maximum effect. Jennas excited voice echoed in my ears. Good job. Come back straight away. The rest Its up to you. Anytngs screen was busily moving. Well, when you really get down to it, its nothing special. Just issue an attack order at the right location. I had designed the strategy to minimize the burden on Anytng as much as possible. Attack, upy, and move on. Anytngs role here was to guide the troops along the correct path. There would be various obstacles to the east, just like here, but I had found shortcuts. All that was needed was to lead the heroes to those positions. Edis would take over the detailedbatmand. That alone was enough. [Object effect activated!] [The dimensional wall is starting to get destroyed!] Crack. A fissure formed on the transparent wall separating us from the battlefield, like a crack in ss. One left. I dusted myself off and stood up. From the north of the hill, Kishasha and Jenna were racing across the in. Behind them, dozens of ck knights were fiercely chasing the two. Ourst stand in this field. The remaining role of Party 1. To wipe those bastards out. If left unchecked, they would enter the battlefield and disrupt Prias side. I put my hand on the hilt of my sword and opened themunication. Edis, once the third statue is destroyed, the path to the battlefield will open. Join up and hold the defense line. Just keep the formation from breaking down. Well create havoc from the rear. Edis chuckled lightly and ended themunication. Now I would only see her face after the mission was over. Theyreing. Should we go to meet them? Velkist drew his sword. Thats right. Lets go. We slowly descended the hill. The knights on horseback charged, kicking up clouds of dust. Right in the direct path. If we collided head-on with the cavalry, it would be a massacre. Ha. I gripped my sword firmly. I had wondered before. I couldnt cut through steel back then. So I had to use various tricks to deal with those d in te armor. How about now? Fwoosh! The leading horses snorted fiercely. Their eyes were bloodshot and unfocused. All in one go. I loosened my grip on the handle. I swung my sword, letting BiFrost hang low. Click. A mechanical sound was emitted as the de expanded. A Greatsword was formed. The heavyweight climbed up my arm. Oppa! From atop Kishasha, Jenna waved her hand. As I nodded, Jenna strung her longbow. The sound that shook the earth began to pound in my ears. Straight ahead. The leading knight swung hisnce. I cant use Ascend. I couldnt rely solely on special skills. I swung my sword in full force, my muscles strained to their limit. The greatsword, cleaving through a horses head like butter, shattered the ck knightsnce and then sliced horizontally through the torso d in te armor. Unable to ovee inertia, the ck knight flew meters before scattering blood and flesh. Kill them all! I gritted my teeth and shouted. In that instant, Kishasha bit and chewed a knights face, while Jennas arrow pierced anothers throat. Velkist, who had mounted a charging horse, thrust his sword into the back of another knight. [Object effect activated!] Just then the third statue was destroyed. [Destiny Break!] Crash! A sound like breaking ss emitted and the wall that had blocked the battlefield shattered into the light. [The mission has been updated!] [Mission Type Conquest] [Objective Turn the tide of war!] The ck knights blood soaked my face. It was the first time we had made it this far. Are we supposed to win this? The conditions were ridiculous. Despite various tricks, the tactical situation wasughably unfavorable. A few could never turn the situation around. Such was the overwhelming disparity. But still. I thought of the members of Niflheimr. The reason they were called true heroes. Because they made the impossible, possible. Now it was my turn. Amidst the sticky smell of blood, I smiled. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 168: Swift As The Wind (2) (1) Chapter 168: Swift As The Wind (2) (1) I cooled my head, which felt as though it were burning. [Hans () Ascend state has been deactivated!] Phew. My whole body creaked. This was just from a slight activation. But it was much better than the first time. I drank a stamina potion and looked around. Troops were gathering inside the fortress. Kishasha. Crunch! The statue of the goddess shattered under her fierce forepaws. A bright blue light scattered, shooting into the sky. [Object effect activated!] [Master, reinforcements can now be deployed.] [Reach out with a helping hand to the hero in peril!] A good start. Things were going as nned. After tossing away the empty potion bottle, I climbed onto Kishashas back. [Selecting reinforcements.] [Designated parties Party 2, Party 3, Party 4, Party 5] A summoning message appeared. By now, freshly summoned heroes would be clustering at the starting area of the field. As Kishasha scaled the walls of the fortress, I put my hand to my ear. Edis, its me. Can you hear me? Theres no time. Move out with your members immediately.Masterwill tell you where to go. Youve seen it before, so you know the drill. Takemand of the details. And as I said, quickly leave anyone who looks like they cant keep up. We dont have time to spare. Make sure to bring the twin mages. Im counting on you. I ended themunication. The role of Ediss party was clear. If we were the special forces moving across the entire field dealing with major obstacles and named monsters, they were the infantry troops directly nting gs in enemy territory. Kishasha growled as we escaped the fortress. Two left. Down we go. Each fortress had its named monster. Each had distinct characteristics. The first was brute strength. The others specialized in speed and skill. All three were rather troublesome if confronted head-on. [ck Knight Lv.41] x 5 Behind the fortress, the gate opened and knights riding ck horses charged out. A pursuit squad to chase us. This was also within expectations. If we drew the attention here, it would make the assault teams upation easier. Lets go. The assault team would take directions from Anytng to circle right and upy the fortress. I raced south with Kishasha. We had to clear the obstacles before they reached the first fortress. Its been 32 minutes and 33 seconds. The second hand of my pocket watch was ticking. We had about 2 hours and 30 minutes left. [Danger!] [High-Ranking Heretic Inquisitor] [Speedster Razalka Lv.46] In front of the second fortresss object. The ck knight twirled his twin swords extravagantly. With incredible speed, he moved in a way that dazzled the eye. Hehe. The knight gave a smugugh, then vanished from sight. Im familiar with this pattern. I smiled in response. Ive fought too many faster opponents to count. From Ridigion to Kishasha. I suddenly reached out with my left hand. Ugh! My w-like left hand gripped his neck. As I lifted my hand, his body dangled loosely. Squeezing the grip, I felt his neck bone snap along with his body stretching out. Weak after all. I threw the corpse aside and faced forward. [Order of the Cult Soldiers Lv.26] x 157 Numerous soldiers were swarming in front of the statue of the goddess. We could break through and destroy the statue now, but it wasnt yet the right time. The annoyance was dealt with. The rest could be left to Ediss party. One left. I nced at the soldiers and then rode Kishasha out of the fortress. The ck knights relentlessly pursued us. Katlio, can you hear me? Ive dealt with the second one. Its your turn. Secondster, light began to envelop my body. A signal for spatial discement. I lightly stroked Kishashas mane. Im off. See youter. sh. When I opened my eyes again, I saw numerous corpses strewn across the ins. The sickly smell of blood from the archers who had tried to join the battlefield tickled my nose. Velkist, who had been sitting on a rock, got up. Youve arrived. We were just about to set off. Katlio gulped down a magic potion, gasping for breath. Jenna was nowhere to be seen. She must be dealing with the third named monster with Kishasha. The matchup was more in her favor than mine. The state of the battlefield I nced to the side. The Cults forces were devouring the Lions troops in an encirclement. A fierce ze erupted on the right side of the Lions troops. It had been about 73 minutes. The Lions troops were about halfway to annihtion. Thats it. Katlio stood up, fatigue evident on his face from overusing teleportation magic. Just hang in there a bit longer. Its almost over. I patted Katlios shoulder. Katlio gave a wry smile and mounted his horse. Thest one. There is a river crossing the ins to the north, andscape as awkward as a cliff in its unnatural cement. And beyond that [Danger!] [ck Maelstrom Mage Lv.?] The mage that had thwarted me in my third attempt was waiting there. Wrapped up like a mummy, the mage barely moved his lips. Rumble! A sound of thunder followed, and the rivers flow intensified. Suddenly swollen, the river currents spiraled into a raging torrent. It was a kind of barrier. Its like saying, you shall not pass this point. Quite troublesome. I couldnt revive the experience from the 35th floor. The waters flow was too strong, even for water-walking magic to get through. Therefore. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 169: Swift As The Wind (3) (1) Chapter 169: Swift As The Wind (3) (1) Dozens of ck knights passed by me, swinging their weapons. Greatswords plunged down, maces rushed forward, and spears were thrown. I firmly stood my ground and parried every attack. Although the area was chaotic with dust and shing sounds, it was not a significant hindrance to me now. If anyone showed even a slight opening, Swoosh! One knights head soared into the air. Following the path of the severed head, ck blood scattered. Please do. Edis and about twenty other heroes advanced to join the defensive line. However, they couldnt y a decisive role. At best, they could only dy defeat. Right now, the true agents of change in this battle were none other than us. Whatever the method, it had to be done. Otherwise, wed all die. Among these methods It has to be me. I blocked the enemys attacks and asionally counterattacked, pondering over the situation. A way for a few to influence the oue of the battle. This should do it. Surprisingly, the method was simple. As three ck knights simultaneously thrust their spears and swords, I rolled on the ground to dodge and shouted to the members fighting nearby. Move! We need to change the battleground! Where to? Cant you see? Just guess! I got up and immediately ran. At the end of a steep downhill slope was the rear of the battlefield. There, mages from the Cult army were gathered in small groups, preparing for the next magical barrage. I see. Fight in enemy territory. Obviously. We all had experience in chaotic fights. Of course, it would be more dangerous, but to sow confusion, we had no choice but to fight rightin the midst ofthe enemy. I tensed my leg muscles and pushed off the ground. My body slid down the slope like an arrow. Oppa! Jenna, riding Kishasha, reached out her hand. I grabbed her hand and with agile movements, mounted the tigers back. ck knights furiously chased us from behind. Velkist, handle the mages! Just make sure they cant cast their magic. Will do. Velkist raised his blood-soaked sword. We broke through the middle of the downhill slope. Normally, we would be blocked by an invisible wall here, but now the path was clear. I calmed my frantic breath. This brawl was just a warm-up. The real fight was still ahead. What, what! A mage at the very back locked eyes with me. Ping! Jenna quickly silenced him. As quickly as possible. Even now, the cult army was continuously charging the lion soldiers at the front. Haah! As Jenna took a short breath, a hint of red light flickered in her eyes. Three arrows were notched on the bowstring of her short bow and fired in different directions, piercing three mages. The mages who sensed the ambush toote shouted. Rear! Watch the rear! Its an enemy attack! What are the guards doing! Heavily armored infantry stepped forward. It seemed they were specially assigned as guards for the mage unit. With their shields raised, the mages started casting towards us. Swoosh! An arrow from Jennas short bow unexpectedly curved like a snake, passing through the gaps in the shield wall. A mage continuing his chant got his head pierced. Abined skill, Sidewinder. It was an advanced archery skill that curved the trajectory of the shots. The formation of shield bearers faltered. While Jenna continued shooting, I stroked Kishashas mane. Break through them in one go. I loosely held the hilt of my sword with my right hand, then gathered strength. Stay calm! Focus on the enemy! Raaaaah! Kishasha leaped over the shield wall, biting off the head of an officer. Simultaneously, I swung my greatsword. The soldiers caught in its path were swept away like toys in the tide. Ill take care of the mages! Screech! With every pull of Jennas bowstring, another mage fell. Her skill was frightening. Even with shield bearers in front and hiding behind the terrain, her arrows unfailingly curved and cut off their air supply. This isnt enough. The mage troop was only a part of the cult army. With an emotionless expression, I bisected a fleeing mage. Who are you! Where did youe from? There was nothing on the scouts Gah! An officer in splendid armor clutched his throat and fell. Velkist passed by him, retrieving a dagger from the officers neck. Go ahead. Ill take care of this. Dont die. Does it look like I will? Velkist grinned wickedly and lifted his sword. To the ce where themander is. If we could ughter all the high-rankingmanders, it would greatly disrupt the enemys morale andmand. Kishasha turned her head and charged forward again. Behind us, Velkist was engaged in a sword fight with a ck knight. Jenna, if you see any of the high-ranking ones, kill them all. Just target the ones in sparkling armor, right? Leave it to me. What is this Argh! A supply officer leading his group was hit by an arrow and copsed. The soldiers eyes widened with panic. No wonder, since two people riding a giant tiger were wreaking havoc in their rear. Ignore them. The small fries werent worth our attention. Our target was the three-story tent beyond the hill. Many gs fluttered there. It was clearly themand center. The problem is, even if we deal with this, can we win? Well strike first and thinkter. We sped past a unit preparing for a cavalry charge, creating chaos in our wake. It seemed like the enemys counterattack was beginning. Archers had appeared on the distant high ground. Fire! Nearly a hundred archers simultaneously released their longbows. As Kishasha faltered, Jenna shouted. You dont need to dodge! Keep going! Jennas hands moved at a blinding speed with her short bow. The direction was upward. The arrows flying towards us were smashed to pieces by Jennas arrows. What is that?! An officer was momentarily dumbfounded. Shooting down iing arrows mid-flight was beyond human skill. Shes a monster. Well, if she wasnt, we wouldnt stand a chance. Screaaak! As Kishasha approached, the archers scattered like ants. No matter how much themander tried to hold them back, it was futile. He too fell victim to Jennas shooting. The path to themand post. [Cult Army Soldier Lv.21] X 217 [Cult Army Knight Lv.25] X 28 It was swarming. Hundreds of troops were gathered. A defensive line meant to prevent themand post from falling. Edis, hows it going? Have you contacted the captain? No retreat. Tell them to fight. After a brief pause, Edis spoke again. There are mages there, right? Connect me directly. I called Katiio, who was resting and asked for a connection to the captain. Shortly after, a strangers voice was heard. Cut the greetings. We dont have time. I continued. Running away is not allowed. You must win. Ill kill all the big heads for you. That should solve it. I cut off themunication. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 170: Swift As The Wind (4) (1) Chapter 170: Swift As The Wind (4) (1) Time seemed to slow down as if a slow-motion camera was capturing everything. Spears targeting vital spots converged from all directions. ! Bang! The spear shed with my sword and snapped like dry reeds. Before the spear wielder could react, his entire body disintegrated into dust. Suppressing the burning heat within my body, I continued to exert force. One is not enough. The high-rankingmanders of the Cult Army were conveniently assembled together. Now was the perfect opportunity to turn the tide. In a single stroke. A blue light lingered on my de. It was the dazzling radiance I had seen when I had shed through water dragons and golems at once. Soulde Fusion. A deadly strike, pulling up all the potential energy from my Ascend state. Though there would be a recoil proportional to the power used, I wont save any of my strength. Hngh! As I took a breath, feeling like my lungs would burst, the flow of time resumed. Immediately, weapons aimed at my head, neck, heart, and lungs surged forward. And then. Thump! With a crisp sound of impact, everything around me was shattered. After the sword strike, a dust storm swept over the hill where themand post was located. I barely moved my creaking arm to nt my sword into the ground. Soon the dust cloud cleared. The scene at themand post unfolded before me. ? The eyes of a nearby soldier zed over. All kinds of enchanted and intricately crafted weapons and armor, the bodies of name warriors, and even parts of the hillsndscape werepletely devoured. The top of the hill was hollowed out as if a meteor had struck. There was no trace of the once formidablemand post. Naturally, there was no one intact other than myself. Most had been obliterated without leaving a corpse. Cough. Crimson blood spilled from my mouth. I staggered for a moment but managed to regain my posture. What in the world Oppa! Jenna, jumping over the dazed soldiers, approached me. She whispered, leaning on me. Are you alright? Do I look alright? My reflection in the de was covered in blood. My legs trembled slightly as I stood on the ground, and my leather armor was torn in all directions. I looked nothing short of ragged. Then, Kishasha ran up to me. She looked like a girl whose makeup had been washed away. Is he a demon? A knight standing at the foot of the hill sighed. Amon emotion appeared in the eyes of the soldiers of the Cult Army. It was fear. To the ordinary human eye, I was a monster who had shattered dozens of square meters with a single sh. However, I could barely control my body now. Standing with the support of my sword was all I could manage. I was only pretending to be alright. Even now, my vision was blurring, but the hundreds of soldiers surrounding us couldnt easily approach. They only stared from afar. Haha, awesome, Han! Youre the best! Kishashaughed heartily, pping my back. Moderate your strength, damn it. If you hit me harder, I might die. Ugh! A groan was heard. In the corner of the shatteredmand post, a knight covered in bloody fallen. [Cult Army General Commander] [Ironblood Vallention Lv.56] He wasnt dead. The man was rtively in the back. Thanks to the others acting as meat shields, he seemed to have saved his life. Looking at his condition, he wouldntst long. I should make a deration. Using my sword as a cane, I approached him. The knights initially dignified appearance was nowhere to be seen. You, you bastard! Good thing you didnt die. It feels more real. I stomped on the mans face and then grabbed him by the cor to lift him. Look well. This is your leaders state. With a grip, the knights neck bone broke, and his body slumped. Given his title and level, he was among the top-ranked named characters. If things had gone as nned, he should have been locked in fiercebat with heroes. But it didnt turn out that way. He met a dogs death. I tossed the limp body down the hill. The soldiers and officers hesitated en masse. It was a show meant to demoralize them. It seemed to have worked. Hhehehehaha. Oppa, youre totally a demon now. Even yourugh is evil. We have to break their morale. Keep them from charging. Cough. Damn, it hurts. I was close to revealing my pain. I immediatelymunicated with Katiio. The connection target was the Lion Armymander. Themand post, positioned on a high hill, had surely seen everything. You, you are Just as I said. Ive wiped out the top brass. Can we win now? Will, will try! Its not will try, it should be will do. Speak clearly. I looked out over the battlefield. The soldiers of the Cult Army, who had been surrounding them on three sides and unleashing a furious assault, began to falter. News that theirmand had been annihted must have reached them. I had even staged a show to amplify the effect. Meanwhile, led by Edis, the Assault Squad was relentlessly breaking through the Cult Armys right nk. They advanced unimpeded under the cover of magic from the twin elemental magicians. Ive made a good move. We were strategically smashing one wing to break the enemys encirclement. Imunicated with our sidesmander. The enemy is leaderless. Theyre not an army but a gathering of individual soldiers now. If you cant win here, youre worse than a soldier. Understand? Dont provoke me. Im aware. Good to hear. Thats set then, Ill go ahead. After that, themunication was cut. As the battlemenced, the movements of the Lion Army, which had been only retreating, changed. The cavalry, which had been desperate to flee to the rear, now took action. It seemed to be working. Of course, since we were still objectively outmatched in terms of forces, it was just the beginning. If the Lion Armysmander cant capitalize on the situation weve created, its all over. What are you all waiting for! A young knight drew his sword. It seemed some had regained their senses. But, but Dont you see! Even that demon is not in good shape. If we join forces, we can surely defeat them. Will you really let them win? Are you going to ignore Lord Vallentions death? Following the knights lead, a few began to move. It seemed a critical moment of survival had arrived. Kishasha and Jenna stood tensely beside me. Can you fight? If its too hard, dont push yourself. Haha! Dont bother! We can fight, so its fine. Dont talk nonsense. I drew a dagger. Though intense movements were difficult, I could still fight. If it were just ordinary soldiers, I could take on at least ten. The problem is how long can I hold out. Certainly, the situation had shifted from defense to offense. But that didnt mean the mission was over. Down the hill, they were approaching us with murderous intent. We had to hold out until the situation ended. If it came to abandoning me, Jenna and Kishasha could escape. But they didnt seem inclined to listen to me. [Cult Army Soldier Lv.21] x 643 [Cult Army Knight Lv.25] x 87 Take revenge! The Goddess watches over us! y them! y them! y them! The soldiers began to surge forward like a tide. I stood shoulder to shoulder with the two, silently gripping my dagger. Just before colliding with the front line of soldiers. [Ding!] [Allied NPC Radasteri Knights joins the fray!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 171: The Curse (1) Chapter 171: The Curse (1) Whoosh! Each time I rushed through the trees, the sharp wind pped against my cheeks. My breath formed white clouds as I exhaled. The forest was lush with greenery, yet the chill was believable enough for winter. Oppa, to the left! Jenna, who had been running atop the branches, shouted from above. As I turned left, a shadow darted away through the bushes. Ill block them from the front! Jenna leaped like a flying squirrel andnded on the branches of the opposite tree. Then she disappeared. Her agility in moving through the trees was enough to rival that of a monkey. I shook my head and jumped over a root protruding from the ground. Why we were enduring this hardship was clear: [Floor 41.] [Mission Type Pursuit] [Objective Chase and annihte the remnants!] A mission window on the right side of my vision flickered. Floor 41 was an extension of Floor 40. The goal was to pursue and annihte the remnants of a previous battle. This forest was connected to the ins of Floor 40. Normally, we would have rested. As we did after every boss stage. But this time, we didnt rest. I had insisted to Anytng to challenge Floor 41 immediately. The first reason was curiosity about whaty beyond Floor 40, and the second was because a 4-star promotion was imminent. Just one level up to 40. My experience bar was nearly full. Completing this mission would satisfy the conditions for my promotion to 4-stars. Its better to finish up and then rest, rather than stop at an awkward point. I thought it was a breather mission Personally, I wanted to discuss with Pria and learn about the backstory of Floor 40. But here we were, dropped into this location with a mission to annihte the remnants. Probably after this mission, Id have a chance to speak privately with her. I decided to resolve all the umted questions then. It wont take long. The bushes were stained red here and there. Signs of bleeding. The wounds werent shallow. There was no need to hurry; the target wouldntst long. I followed the trail with a dagger in my left hand, held in reverse grip. Technically, it was a breather mission. The target had been severely injured even before encountering us. Chasing a half-dead man to finish him off. Jenna was quickly making her way through the forest to the right. Velkist and Kishasha were circling the outskirts of the forest, blocking the exit. Katiio had also spread out search magic just in case. There was nowhere for the target to escape. How about it, do you think you can catch them? Prias voice echoed in my ears. It seemed that they were usingmunication magic at the other camp. Of course. They wont escape. Is it possible to capture them alive? Why? The one you are chasing is the only surviving officer from the Cults army. We want to extract information through interrogation. They want to interrogate them. Does that mean even Pria doesnt know the full story? As you might expect, I came here with the support of the Assinis family to find thest key. Then the Cults army showed up. Its as if they knew. Hmm. I am curious. I wonder why they call me a witch, why they hate me and try to stop me so vehemently. I want to know. Im sorry to ask, but could you do it, Han? Ill try, but I cant promise anything. Thank you. I ended themunication. Capture alive? That wasnt mentioned in the mission. Well, I decided to give it a try. If things go south, I can always finish them off quickly. The trail of blood droplets continued. A murky, dark red mixed with dim light. It was visible even from afar, so there was no worry of losing track. Aaaagh! [Cults army soldier Lv.23] On one side of the bush. The soldier let out a strange scream as he charged at me. I lightly dodged his spear and then plunged my dagger into his neck. Gah! Such a pathetic surprise attack. The soldier clutched his throat and fell sideways. This is how the targets guards often block the way. But theyre hardly considered a threat. Come to think of it. It was strange. If you look closely at the system messages and objects, an entity called the Goddess is assisting our mission. When a hero dies, a message appears saying they have returned to the embrace of the Goddess, and all the objects in the mission are shaped like statues of her. But the main enemy in the mission is the Cults army. The very people who worship the Goddess. It doesnt add up. It was a needless sentiment. All I needed to do wasplete my assigned mission. Strange thoughts only served as distractions. I ughtered the obstructing soldiers and pursued the target. By the time I reached the middle of the forest. I got him! Jennas shout came from beyond the trees. It seemed she had caught a big fish on her side. I quickly jumped over the bushes and headed towards her. Over here, Oppa! In a clearing in the dense forest. Jenna was aiming her bow at the target. [Silver sh of Versace Lv.47] On one side of the clearing stood a knight in shattered armor. The armor, which should have been shining silver, had long lost its luster. Her long tinum hair was clumped together with blood and dirt. Two arrows were lodged under her left chest. Ive dealt with theckeys. Did well, didnt I? Jenna looked back at me and shed a grin. Near the knighty soldiers with arrows in their heads. The knight looked at me with emotionless eyes. I sheathed my bloodied dagger and spoke. Drop your sword and kneel. If you follow orders, I wont kill you. Jenna looked at me as if to ask what I was talking about. Pria wants us to bring her back alive for interrogation. Will that even clear the mission? It should. The mission system should allow for that much flexibility. You heard him, sister. Just listen and it wont hurt. Hehe. A bitter smile appeared on the knights lips. Why would I listen to a traitor? Traitor? Jenna blinked in surprise. The knight smirked menacingly and muttered. I wont forgive. Never, never will I forgive. Never, ever What is she talking about? I dont know. In that case, die without knowing!!! The knight drew her sword and charged. Ping! Jenna pulled her bowstring. The arrowhead pierced the right side of the knights chest, but still, she didnt stop. I stepped firmly on the ground, drew my sword, and shed long and deep. Pluck. The crimson blood drew an arc. Thud. The knights body split in two fell to the ground. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 172: The End Of The World (1) (1) Chapter 172: The End Of The World (1) (1) The Following Evening I sat on a bench in the second-floor za. Heroes passing by near the square looked at me with strange eyes, but I didnt mind. [I wonder when they wille] Next to me, Iselle fluttered her wings anxiously. In her hand, she held a rainbow-colored stone, and around her forehead, a white band that read Wishing for Sess! [It must not fail, not fail, not fail] Iselle tightly closed her eyes. I wonder why youre so frantic. I looked up. In the sky, a dark shadow loomed like clouds. From 4-stars onward Theres a chance of failure. The likelihood is low, even generously less than 1%. But the probability undeniably existed. Dont worry. It will definitely seed. [But.] Its only the inept ones who fail. A hero who has grown normally cannot fail. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] A notification message from Anytng popped up. He logged in at precisely the same time every day. I like that. [Loading isplete.] [T O U C H! (Choose)] [Dont miss it! Fun is great! Rewards are double great!] [Ladies and gentlemen, you have been waiting for a long time. The festival of all masters is about to open!] [Especially this festa, there are enormous rewards that any master would drool over! Shall I tell you? Rainbow-colored stones for S-rank engravings. And 5-stars Ahem, thats all for now. A second announcement will be released soon. Please check there for more details!] Its already the 7th season. Well, its still a long way off from starting. Right now, there are more urgent things. The contents of the notice can wait. Anytng skipped the announcements and entered the main screen. [Master, there is a hero awaiting promotion!] [Possible heroes for promotion Han (), Jenna (), Velkist ()] A green notification window popped up at the bottom of the screen. Anytng immediately entered the hero box. A list of heroes he owned appeared in quick session. [Here we gooo!!!] Iselle shivered as if she had been struck by lightning. [Master, the promotion begins!] [Target hero Han ()] [The hero will be promoted to 4-stars. The promotion has a low probability of failure, and if it fails, the hero will fall into a corrupted state. Would you like to proceed?] [Yes / No] [Tips/ From 4-stars, there is a chance of failure. Heroes who fail the promotion be corrupted, and in this state, they lose their reason and go berserk.] Anytng hesitated for a moment. He seemed hesitant at the warning of possible failure. Naturally. A hero who is corrupted is unusable. Theres no choice but to discard them. I looked at Anytng, hesitating, and thought strongly. Do it. [The leader of the first party, Han () requests promotion.] And then. [Yes (selected) / No] Thud. The door to the synthesis room opened. Inside was the promotion chamber. I stood up, taking the promotion stone that Iselle handed me with trembling hands. Iselle clenched her fists as she looked at me. [Fighting! You cant lose!] Thank you. I smirked and headed toward the synthesis room. Jenna and Velkist should have been here too. But we could only make one. Even though it was a 50% chance, it failed more than ten times. Only one promotion stone was made. What can we do? We have to gather more. The other members of the first party were currently rolling in the daily dungeons. Ill have to share my experience after its over. I ced the rainbow-colored stone on the altar in the promotion chamber. Threads of magical power, like spiderwebs, sprouted from the altar, wrapping around the stone, and simultaneously, the magic circle below began to glow purple. It begins. Vroom. ? I looked down at my belt. Bifrost in the sheath was vibrating. Before I could wonder, a sh of light burst from the magic circle and enveloped me. When I opened my eyes again. [Dimension 0000 Townia] Just as I thought, I was thrown into a strange space. First, I looked up. The pale violet sky. Huge pieces of ss slowly rotated and floated around. Beyond that, the scenery was covered in darkness. Sigh. I sighed and lowered my gaze. And then, I narrowed my eyes. An impressivelyrge pce was disying its magnificence ahead, with a tower stretching up to the end of the sky beside it. Where is this now? Nearby, there was a garden full of nameless flowers and stone walls. No people were in sight. [#!Empty#^Ture##@] Crackle. Crack. With a noise, letters carved themselves into the air. [Floor 0.] [Msigsw %#!Type ?!#?] [Mokmok Email Protected] Is this a joke? I couldnt understand the letters. The only thing I could read was the Floor 0 at the top. Floor zero? Of course, there is no such thing as a floor zero in Pick Me Up. What this meant, I would have to find out by going to the end. I followed the marble path leading to the grand doors of the pce. Where is this ce. It was obvious this was no ordinary ce. The air was as cold as if I had entered a freezer, and the surrounding scenery was desaturated. As if the saturation had been lowered. As I nearly reached the grand doors, arge sign hanging above caught my eye. I read the letters, which were decorated with jewels, on the sign. [Ragnasars Pce] [Throne for the Master of Gold] Prias face came to mind. Was this a ce where the emperor of the empire stayed? I pushed the gold and silver decorated grand doors. Creak. With an old metallic sound, the doors began to open. Bang! As I entered, the doors closed as if they had been waiting. I pushed slightly, but they didnt budge. They seemed locked. The space inside was endlessly vast. On both sides were pirs made of marble, and a red carpet led to the center. [The Golden Court] It was kindly informed. This was where the emperor stayed. I had always wanted to see his face. I followed the carpet. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 173: The End Of The World (2) (1) Chapter 173: The End Of The World (2) (1) She was crouching in the corner of the table. Her slender silver hair was adorned with a golden crown, dressed in a silvery white gown. I squinted my eyes. I had seen her several times before. I couldnt possibly mistake her. Just days ago, we had faced each other directly. Pria. Her appearance was strangely unfamiliar. Tears were welling up in her golden eyes, and she bit her lips hard enough to bleed. What is she so grievous about? Sigh. I sighed and settled into an empty seat. After crossing my legs, I slowly looked around. Even though we have been defeated, I do not regret it. Everyone did their best and did what they could. We were united beyond ss and racial differences and fought with one body and one mind. The young mans speech continued. Several at the table were moved to tears. A groan escaped from Prias lips. I shifted my gaze across the table. Behind the vacant throne, there stood a twin goddess statue made of marble, their hands sped together. One of the faces remained vividly in my mind. I snickered. In truth, it was obvious who it was. No need for predictions. The twin goddesses ruling over Townia, as Neryssa had told me. The two goddesses are called Tel and Ikar. It was said that the saintess directly receives the oracle from the goddess. I crossed my arms. The goddess statue, which should have been just a decoration, had its eyes glowing red. However, almost no one seemed to notice. Everyone was engrossed in the young mans speech. Thump! The entire pce shook violently. Stone debris from the ceiling smashed part of the table. Theres not much time left, it seems. The young man smiled bitterly. The knight standing beside him spoke. ording to reports, within an hour they will storm the pce. It means we only have that much time left. My apologies. No, its not your fault. We all did our best. Who can me anyone? As the young manforted him, the knight bowed deeply in gratitude. Well, at first nce, it was a heartwarming scene. How disgusting. A sinister voice, as if scratching the inside of the ears, emitted. I looked across the table. Where previously there was no one, a shadow writhed and then formed a shape. [SSSH Lv.999] What do you think, dont you agree? A girl with ebony hair looked at me and smiled. She had a definite presence in the faintndscape. Its been a while since Ive seen you in person like this. Youvee this far alive. Truly, youre the master Ive chosen. Tel smiled softly. Why did youe out? I hate seeing you. Im saddened. I barely managed to squeeze in time amid preparing for the event. Go away, will you. Tel gulped down a tar-like viscous liquid from a wine ss. Isnt it disgusting, Loki? They lost. Pathetically failed. But now they say they did their best, they have no regrets. Theyre justforting themselves. Except for one, theyre all trash. Not worth saving. Tel, with a sensual motion, stroked Prias cheek, who remained crouched, seemingly feeling nothing. [Hehehehe] Tel let out a chillingugh, then dispersed into shadows. I leaned back in the chair deeply as the young man continued speaking. Does anyone have anything else to say? Anyone is fine. If you have something to say Pria raised her hand. At the same moment. Uh? A loud rumble began. I gripped the sheath of my sword; the shaking soon subsided. My precious sister. You too have worked hard. You have supported us wholeheartedly Your Highness. Pria spoke clearly. I do not wish for it to end here. The atmosphere in the room tensed. Bang! Everyone listen! Pria suddenly stood up and mmed the desk. For such an ending, for such a conclusion, did we fight, shedding blood and sweat? We did our best but lost? Are you satisfied with just this? Was this all that you sought to protect? Is this how you break in the face of crisis? Are you not even not even angry! Pria screamed as if in agony. The previously peaceful atmosphere at the table turned icy cold. The smiles vanished from everyones faces. Look at the faces of our kind behind you. They are scared. They are frightened. And you, who are supposed to lead, have you given up with your hands still free? Arent you ashamed before your ancestors! This insolence! How dare you speak such nonsense! Even if you are of golden lineage Shut up! Pria shouted. I will not ept such an ending. To enjoy a banquet here and then just let it end? Ridiculous! Even now, our warriors outside are shedding their blood! So what do you propose, Your Highness? The purple-robed sorceressughed. A name tag above her head read Head of Shutenberg. Its not that we are not upset. But nothing worked. In the end, this is how it turned out. What would Your Highness like to do? Rage and stomp around? I understand Your Highnesss heart, too. But an unavoidable oue has been reached. Sometimes, we need to ept fate. Thats thest pride left to us. But there is still one way. Pria spoke quietly, her gaze turning towards the lectern on the right side of the table. Saintess, has not an oracle from the goddesse down? I heard it contains a crucial clue to save the continent. Then why keep it a secret? The girl called the saintess, wearing a white coat, remained silent. The female knight beside her spoke. Your Highness, the saintess did not arbitrarily hide the oracle. You may be mistaken. Silver sh Versace. Yesterday, I personally sliced that woman in two halves. Pria shook her head at Versaces words. Its no mistake. I clearly heard it. The goddess offered us one chance a chance to start everything over. Your Highness, what are you saying? Turn back time. To a few years ago. A hint of an answer was slowly forming. The reason for showing this scene seemed clear. Informing the heroes of the purpose of their mission. If thats the case Would the next heroes to be promoted see a simr scene? It was natural for their attitude to change after their promotion. Of course, it was still too early to judge. There were still unanswered questions. Turn back time. The sorceresss eyes narrowed. Pria looked around at those present and continued. If we go back, a different oue might be possible. Isnt it too regrettable to sit down without knowing anything, not even knowing the identity of the enemy? I cant ept it. Even if theres a very low chance, shouldnt we try every possible method? Is that true? The eyes of the Beast King narrowed towards the saintess. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 174: The End Of The World (3) (1) Chapter 174: The End Of The World (3) (1) I sheathed my sword. The vibrations of Bifrost had ceased, and the ck mes that had once enveloped the de had vanished. I widened my eyes and looked ahead. The pce, once in ruins, now looked as if nothing had happened. Theyout of the table remained unchanged. The blond young man at the head, the chieftains and leaders of the various races around, the cults officers, and even Pria in the corner. Everything is aligned. But an unresolved question lingered. A scene I just witnessed that couldnt be exined. Above all, my instincts, honed through countless brushes with death, were screaming rms. It was too calm, too peaceful for someone who had been betrayed as often as I had. Crack. Crackle. The noise blocking my vision dispersed. I sat down at the empty chair at the table once again. I will not ept such an ending! Lets see how the situation will unfold Pria stood up abruptly, passionately protesting. To enjoy a banquet together and then just let end it all? Thats absurd! Our warriors are still shedding their blood outside! So, what do you propose we do, Your Highness? Hmm. This part seems familiar. It hasnt changed much. Thats as far as it goes. I listened to the conversation that followed, my hand resting on the table. The flow of the argument was no different from what I had just seen Pria was furious, and both the sorceress and the old knight tried to calm her down, suggesting that they must ept the situation since no other option remained. And then Pria spoke again. There is one more way left. Prias gaze shifted to the Saintess. Saintess, hasnt the goddess sent an oracle? I heard it contains a crucial clue to saving the continent. Then why keep it a secret? I scrutinized the Saintess sitting to the left of the table. A young girl d in a white robe with the churchs insignia, draped in avender cape. Her expression carried a calmness that belied her youthful appearance. The subsequent flow was simr. The Saintess argued that she wouldnt hide the oracle, countered by the knight, and Pria bit back, Youre mistaken. I clearly heard it. The goddess has given us one chance a chance to start over. Princess, what do you mean? To turn back time. To go back several years in the past. To turn back time. If we could return to that time, maybe a different oue is possible. Isnt it too sad to sit down resignedly, not knowing anything, not even the identity of our enemy? I cant ept it. Even if the chance is slim, shouldnt we try? Is that true? The goddess did indeed send such a prophecy Why did you hide it? That is This is where it starts. I took a deep breath. Pria. But the next person to speak wasnt the Saintess; it was the young man at the head of the table. Pria red at the young man. Your Highness, did you know about this as well? I knew. I knew. Then why! Do you understand what we would have to give up? Of course. A different turn of events unfolded. If it were truly possible to save our people and the continent, would I have hesitated? Answer me. Do I seem that insignificant to you? But! The prophecy is true. We were indeed given the option to turn back time. The young mans face was sculpted with distress. For one chance, would you push all life on the continent into the abyss of hell? What do you mean? Princess, theres a price to pay. The Saintess shook her head. Our goddess is not an omnipotent creator. To perform a miracle, sacrifices, and restrictions are necessary. I saw it. The Saintess bit her lip. Bing someones pawn, trapped in endless suffering, neither dead nor alive. The whole continent would be torn apart, and both past and future would lose their meaning. Wed be mere ves. That that is To be trapped as a pawn, neither dead nor alive. To suffer endlessly, losing all meaning of past and future. I remembered the monsters trapped in the tower. They revive no matter how many times theyre killed, serving as precious fodder for heroes experience. In a way, the heroes were no different. Ultimately, whether monster or hero, were just toys for the master. Its just a game, after all. Pria. The young man looked at Pria with a gentle expression. I understand you. I do. How could I not be angry? After all the blood and sweat weve poured, to end it like this how could we simply ept it? The young man closed his eyes. Nothing is eternal. Not humans, not other races, not empires, not even this continent or the universe itself. Everything that begins must end. It just so happens that the end hase to us. For a moment of self-satisfaction, lets not gamble everything. Pria said nothing. Her expression twisted as she sat down again, bowing her head deeply. Is this how it ends? A sobbing voice emerged. The people of the empire, the lives of other races, our children Who could possibly ept that, Princess? The old sage next to the young man spoke. His name tag read Head of Lantia. If it were possible, I would wish to save them. But if we resort to such actions, what would be of the many heroes who have sacrificed their lives for the continent? We may have lost the war, but not our pride. This pride is all we can take with us. Moreover, Your Royal Highness. Speak. This isnt the end, is it? The young man grinned. Of course. We still have our pride. We must strike onest blow. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 175: The End Of The World (4) (1) Chapter 175: The End Of The World (4) (1) The girl slowly walked towards where everyone was gathered. Each step of her small, bare, white feet made the massive shadow behind her waver. The shadow, engulfing the light around it, billowed in deep ck. [Nothing but fools and ignorants all around.] The girl smirked. [Heroes, you say. Even when given a chance to redeem yourselves, you boot it away. How utterly foolish. Or are you scared? Either way, its pitiful.] What are you! How rude! A knight drew his sword and stepped forward. The girl snickered and then reached out her hand towards him. Ah! As if grabbed by an invisible hand, the knight was hoisted into the air. As the girl clenched her fist, the knight was crushed, sending fragments of his armor and stters of blood and flesh scattering. She dusted off her hands andughed. [A dog that doesnt recognize its master doesnt deserve life, dont you think?] The saintess murmured quietly. O Goddess. [Yes, I am your master.] Members of the church knelt all at once. The girl looked down at the saintess with an expression dripping with displeasure. [I clearly gave an oracle. Why act on your own?] We just [No excuses needed. Are you really my apostles? You only use me when its convenient, but turn your backs when I truly need you.] The girl looked over the heroes standing stiffly. [I, Tel, made it clear. I gave you all a chance to start over. And you dare refuse? Theres a limit to shamelessness.] We are thankful for the grace bestowed by the Goddess. However, we desire we wish for the end that we want. Please grant us that! The saintess bowed her head to the ground. At the same time, the clerics and pdins also bowed their heads. [Hehehe..] Tel grabbed her forehead and burst outughing. Augh that grated on everyones nerves. [Since when did dogs begin to object to their mastersmands?] We are not dogs [Your words, the air you breathe, the bread and meat you eat, the ground you stand on, even down to each hair and soul, are all mine. All just my ythings. You wish to die with dignity? Who gave you the right.] Tel stepped on the head of the saintess. The saintess did not move. [This is not the end of Townia, right?] Tel smirked and looked at Pria. Pria flinched silently. Step aside. The smile disappeared from Tels lips. A young man d in a golden coat came forward. The Goddess has indeed granted us grace. But the right to decide our fate lies with us. [You speak too boldly.] Return from where you came. Let us meet a proper end. Tel red at the young man. [Impudent.] I am of a golden lineage that dates back to the dawn of the empire. I believe I have the right to speak to the Goddess in such a manner. [A monstrous hybrid, arent you?] As soon as Tel uttered hybrid, weapons were pointed from all around. Tel smirked. You stopped worshiping me, and now this defiance? The Goddess has changedpletely. I do not know what happened, but I will no longer tolerate this tyranny. I sat in the chair, crossing my legs. I had already predicted that the person who brought me here was Mobius director and Goddess, given the many hints. However, this development was quite unexpected. Were they adversaries? Given the Goddesss actions, she seemed not to be omnipotent. If she were an infinite being, she could simply reverse the world with her powers, no need for an oracle or consent. A price must be paid for miracles. Just as she used the Earth to twist Mobius spacetime. What then is the price for this descent? Only one thing. I turned to Pria. Once a hero, Now turned into a witch, the reason these spirits curse and resent Pria. I sighed. [You wont tolerate it?] Thats right. Return. Tel sneered coldly. [Sorry, but the contract has already been signed.] [Arent you curious how that child knew about the oracle?] Tel pointed at Pria. Pria trembled and shouted, What are you talking about! I never made a contract with you [That child said she would give everything to save Townia.] Prias face filled with confusion. Everyones gaze turned to Pria. No, no! I never said that! I dont even know this woman! [She told me that she wanted to do it again, even if it meant risking herself and everything around her.] Tels lips curled into a cold smile. [I, the Goddess of Purity Tel, dere upon my soul that this is the absolute truth.] Dont lie! [Are you saying you dont want it? If I go against this deration, I may go forever and you will never get this chance again. Dont you understand this?] Wait wait Pria stumbled back. D-Did something like this happen? [Yes, youve sold them out.] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 176: The Intent To Kill (1) Chapter 176: The Intent To Kill (1) Several evenings had passed. In the living room of the mansion exclusively for Party One, on the fourth floor of the waiting room, the major heroes of Townia had gathered. Ahem. Edis cleared her throat as she looked at me, signaling her intention to start speaking. I nodded in agreement, and Edis took a deep breath before she began. I think everyone here must have witnessed a simr scene. Silence filled the room. Most of the heroes gathered here were four-star heroes. From Kishasha and Katiio, who had been four stars since their summoning, to heroes like Jenna and me, who had started at one star and promoted up to four stars. Indeed, there are six four-star heroes now. Kishasha, Katiio. Myself, Velkist, Jenna. Andstly, Edis. This was the list of four-star heroes in Townia. Except for Edis, everyone else belonged to Party One. Nevertheless, as members of the other parties were also scheduled for promotion, the ranks of the four stars would gradually increase over time. To be honest Jenna sighed. Its incredible. I dont know what it means exactly, but I can tell its significant. Are you talking about those people who were crowded in that pce? Velkist chuckled, arms crossed. Jenna continued. I just did as I was told from above, but it seems there was a meaning to all that. I should have paid more attention. I dont quite understand. Could someone exin? Werent we just supposed to annihte those enemies? There was meaning to the missions we undertook. Im not so sure. I have no interest in solving riddles. It just looked like a bunch of humans and monsters gathered in a splendid pce, squawking at each other before it all ended. What meaning does that have? If you didnt know the full context, it could be confusing. The story had shifted to a strange ce once we had promoted past two stars. Its a bitcking in hints to discern the purpose of this worlds existence. Its terribly vague. If youre going to inform us, you should do it properly. Thats true. There are many confusing parts. If you dont know, let me exin step by step. Neryssa spoke up from a corner of the table. She was the only three-star among the heroes here and knew quite a bit about this world and the missions, so I called her. Neryssa cleared her throat and spoke. To put it bluntly, our homnd, Townia, is already ruined. And the reason we were summoned here is to reverse that past and save Townia. Velkist furrowed his brow. The scene you all saw was just before Townias destruction. Its meant to show how this world was created. This is a bit Let me exin slowly. Neryssa nced at me before continuing: Our homnd, Townia, was long destroyed, and we had to return to Townia before its destruction to carry out our mission. The heroes summoned to the waiting room are chosen to save the world, and the princess ys a key role in the mission. Uh, its a bitplex Jenna nervously scratched her head. I dont quite understand. Even if what Neryssa said is right, I dont remember agreeing to any contract. When I came to my senses, I was here. My analysis is that lower-grade heroes might have been brought here against their will. It seems different for higher-grade heroes. So in the end, I was dragged here against my will. It seems so. Everyone contributed to the discussion as the meeting proceeded. It seemed Jenna and Velkist were still not convinced. Neryssa continued to exin, breaking down the information into understandable chunks. My memory is different. Ive never seen that blond woman. Maybe your memories will return with the next promotion? I also seem to remember hearing someones voice. Its a very faint memory, but it might have been the goddess. Kishasha objected, and Edis calmly countered. Either way, nothing changes. We still have to break through up to the 100th floor. Whether Townia is in trouble or not is just an annoying issue. Nothing changes. But if this information spreads carelessly, it could disturb the others. Lets keep our mouths shut about this among ourselves. Han, what do you think? About the lower floors Han? Edis approached me. I want to hear your thoughts. You havent said anything so far. Thats true. Brother, what do you think about what we saw? All eyes were now on me. I clicked my tongue and finally spoke. I dont care. Do as you please. What? Let me know how you decideter. Ill follow along. I stood up from my ce. Edis followed, looking flustered. Where are you going? Sorry. Im not feeling well. I quickly left the drawing room. Even if I stayed quiet, Neryssa and Edis would lead the meeting. The conclusion would be reached soon enough. The truth of this world would be kept secret except for majorbat details, and we would not discuss it carelessly with others. That was the direction the meeting was taking. All of it is a lie anyway. What I had seen was not something I could tell anyone. Whether they would believe it or not, the information itself was dangerous. If the heroes knew the goddesses treated the people of Townia like toys, their morale would drastically drop. I opened the door at the end of the hallway. It was my room. I copsed onto the sofa beside my bed. Its annoying. Everything was soplicated. I didnt even know how many times I had been betrayed. The scenes I had witnessed were spinning in my head. I need to organize this. For that, I needed help. I snapped my fingers, and immediately next to me, stardust twinkled. [The first of Lokis subordinates, Iselle arrives!] Iselle spun around and perched on my shoulder. I began to unravel the tangled information, piece by piece. Iselle watched me thoughtfully. [Youve been strange for a few days. Whats going on?] I have a question. Can you answer it? [Of course! Ask me anything!] Iselle boldly thumped her chest. Anything, huh? Lets see. I smiled and began. I saw something interesting at the promotion ceremony. [Yes, the four-star promotion ceremony here received a lot of attention from the director. It was specially made for Townia, so it should be easy to understand] They did a good job of spinning a convincing tale. Iselle flinched. [What do you mean, Loki?] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 177: For Just Once (1) (1) Chapter 177: For Just Once (1) (1) The Next Morning The results of the meeting hade out. Of course, the conclusion was not unexpected. It was decided to thoroughly hide the truth from the lower-grade heroes while urging them to redouble their efforts inpleting their missions. Edis and everyone else finally understood the reason for fighting and appeared a bit more relieved. Last night, Neryssa hade looking for me. She had subtly asked if I knew anything, but I had sent her away without a word. Neryssa might have exined to the other members the situation, but if her memory wasplete, she should have realized something was amiss. Still, I couldnt tell her. Sigh. A secret had formed that needed to be buried in my heart. It was bothersome, but unavoidable since I had already been hiding things. Regardless, the goal remained unchanged. We would rest and then climb the tower again. But before that. [Do you wish to be stronger?] On the right side of my field of vision. A video was ying on the screen of Anytng. In the video, a giant dragon was spewing fire. [Do you wish to test your limits?] Dozens of airships were hovering near the giant dragon. The shadows of numerous heroes were visible among the airships. [Then challenge yourself! The lofty glory will be yours, Master!] [Coming Soon!] The video ended with the giant dragon and the heroes colliding. Anytng, having paused operations for a while, pressed the triangle button to start yback again. Like unting the wealth of the Moebius Company, the PV wasvishly decorated with 3D and various CG effects. A new season has began. Periodically, once every certain period. Arge event that epasses the entire server is held. One of them was the seasonal World Raid Festa. [Masters, the long-awaited Festa is back!] [An event for those who cant control their power, the high rankers, and for the masters aiming for the top ranks! Here are the details.] I read through the announcement below. It was not much different from the previous ones. The condition to participate in the event was to join a Dimensional City ced in certain sectors. Of course, since it involves outdoor activities, airships were necessary. Its tough without airships. Well, some folks would somehow manage to rent airships and make it. The main event is the World Raid. Arge monster appears at a certain point. Masters form a joint front to collectively beat down the monster. Of course, the rewards are rare materials typically unobtainable by normal means. I had obtained the items used for the 5 Legendary Artifacts from this raid. Other rewards include top-grade soul stones, promotion stones, and special airship blueprints. [Do you wish to be stronger?] Anytng yed the video once more. He seemed quite hooked on the event. However. Youre not up to snuff. Would a low-level master butt in where ranks in the double digits swarm? No, even those around rank 100 cant easily join the World Raid. Those who carelessly scoop up spoons Get smashed by Niflheimr. From my perspective, it was natural. After all the hardship, when Ive beaten everything down, they casuallye and tap a few times to receive the rewards. While they were just watching from behind during the fierce battle. Those bastards get crushed. While other servers share rewards amidstughter and joy, theres no such thing in Server 2. If one does not do their minimal share, they will be torn apart under the barrage of the Niflheimr fleet. Of course, the share is an absolute evaluation, and currently, Townia has no chance of doing its share. Wake up. Even if you participated, youd turn to dust at the gesture of the raid monster. Townias forces are at best a medium-sized airship and a few 4-star heroes. Its better to join the main event when youve grown a bit more. What Im aiming for is something else. [During the Festa period, special events will be held in various ces in the Dimensional City.] [Excellent performances in these events will earn heroes points and prizes! umte points and buy various materials and items from the Event Shop.] Below, the list of prizes was detailed. From high-grade potions and other consumables to top-tier promotion stones and blueprints for advanced facilities, along with various rare materials. However, at the very bottom, highlighted with shy effects, were two items. [Rainbow Advent Stone] Hit the jackpot. My hand involuntarily tensed. I had been promoted to 4-star, but my engraving slots were still empty. Typically, youd have to grind exploration dungeons to gather Advent Stones. At best, you could get a B-rank Advent Stone given the low climbing floors. But the Rainbow Advent Stones avable in this event Are up to S-rank. Engravings could be obtained by clearing Advent Dungeons, but we have the chance to get our hands on something big. Nice. It was an opportunity to dramatically speed up my sluggish growth. I was determined to participate in this event. After deciding, I scrolled down. The second highlighted item was shining. [5-star Summon Ticket] Uh? The rainbow-colored ticket was sparkling. I rubbed my eyes and looked again. The holographic text hadnt changed. The color of the ticket was the same. Has the gamepany lost its mind? Theyre going to release a 5-star summon ticket. Anytngs gaze had also turned this way. Are they sane? A 5-star guaranteed summon ticket. An item that had never been released during the seven previous Festa events. And it isnt even a main event reward, but a sub-event one. Of course, it wouldnt be released inrge quantities, but having even one is different from having none at all. I sighed. Anytngs control window was locked onto the 5-star summon ticket. I could tell how he felt just by looking at the screen. Anytng immediately clicked on the banner floating at the top of the screen. [If you want something right now, pay immediately!] [Moebius supports the Masters choice!] [Festa Special Package (1) selected.] [Package Contents 2,000 gems, 100,000 gold, high-grade soul stone] [With great benefits!] [10% extra bonus points for Festa event prizes!] [All this for just 110,000 won!] [The amount will be billed together with next months mobile phone bill. Would you really like to proceed?] [Yes (selected) / No] A true game addict. Well, if youre aiming for high ranks, its not too bad. [Paymentpleted!] [Products have been sent to your mail. Please check!] After receiving the items, Anytng immediately started purchasing other packages. Simr yet more expensive packages. With this, Anytng received a total 30% extra points buff for this event. [Gift Shop!] [Buying Warhorse Statue for 5,000 gold.] [Giving Warhorse Statue to Han().] The warhorse statue thudded onto the desk beside me. I clicked my tongue. I could clearly understand Anytngs intention. You want me to bring the 5-star summon ticket? With just one warhorse statue? Make sense. There would be at least hundreds of masters participating in the event. Only one ticket might be released. To get the ticket, one must sweep through numerouspetitive events. [Buying Warhorse Statue for 5,000 gold.] [Buying Warhorse Statue for 5,000 gold.] [Buying Warhorse Statue for 5,000 gold] [Giving Warhorse Statue to Han().] [Giving Warhorse Statue to Han().] [Giving Warhorse Statue to Han()] Warhorse statues were cascading into the corner. I lined up the statues spilling out in the disy case. Before long, half of the disy was filled with statues. Ultimately, my goal was the Rainbow Advent Stone. Getting the first engraving right was crucial as it would determine the course of my growth. The 5-star summon ticket if theres a chance, Ill take it as well. I reviewed the event rules once more. Entry to the Dimensional City, the venue for the event, was limited to one party per master. Additionally, there were entrance restrictions based on rating. For example, the Dimensional City closest to this waiting room was a 4-star exclusive area. They want us topete at simr levels. I like this. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 178: For Just Once (2) (1) Chapter 178: For Just Once (2) (1) A cold breeze swept across my nape. I squinted my eyes open. Far away, a whirlwind of dimensions was raging. Beyond it, thendscape of a vast city was visible. [Event Area!] [Dimensional City Helis] Days had passed since the event notification was posted. After establishing a basic strategy, we moved to participate in the event, soon approaching the event zone. I looked around. Besides the Capitalism, on which we were aboard, numerous airships,rge and small, were scattered everywhere. The fleet of airships stretched from right beside us to where the eye could see. ¡°There are so many airships!¡± Jenna scratched her cheek.¡°We have to rank first among all these people. I wonder if it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°If it happens, good; if not, oh well. Don¡¯t feel pressured.¡± ¡°If we return empty-handed, Master is going to scold us terribly.¡± ¡°Well, what can we do?¡± I chuckled. I¡¯ll do my best, but there¡¯s always a chance. Since there¡¯s no dying in such an event, I decided to enjoy it with a light heart. Jenna stretched out her legs and then headed inside the ship. She was going to join up with the other members at the airship¡¯s training area. ¡®The Raid Festa¡¯s special event consists of three parts.¡¯ Individual tournament. Team tournament. One is undisclosed. Anyway, to get the 5-star summon ticket Anytng wants and the high-grade ascension stone I need, we must ce high in the special events. ¡®We have exactly five people, so the number is perfect.¡¯ One for the individual tournament. Three for the 3v3 team tournament. Thest person for the secret event. Those who finish the event quickly will roam the city and challenge minor sub-events. Then we¡¯ll aggregate the scores and im the rewards. That¡¯s the nned scenario, at least. Ooooong. The noise from numerous airships rang in my ears. With five people per airship, at least a thousand participants are in the event. More will keep arriving after us. Consider it a gathering of masters who can operate airships at the 40th level from the second server. ¡®It¡¯s a relief that the high-levels aren¡¯t here.¡¯ Masters with 5-star or higher grades have moved on to upper-tier dimensional cities. That was fortunate. If it¡¯s apetition among simr levels, it¡¯s definitely manageable. Although numerous, most are just dregs. I recalled various games from past Festas while waiting for our arrival. 30 minutester. The broadcast from Townia¡¯s mechanic, Radi, came through. I opened my eyes. Capitalism, having prated the dimensional whirlwind, was entering the docking station. The scale of the docking station was at least several kilometers. Hundreds of airships that had arrived earlier were positioned. Ooong. The Capitalism made a low-altitude flight and stopped in an empty parking area. Thunk. The airship came to aplete stop. The event participants walked out onto the deck. Jenna, Velkist, Kishasha, andstly, Edis from the second party. ¡°What should I do?¡± Radi, dressed in a mechanic¡¯s outfit, pointed at herself. ¡°Just have fun and take good care of the airship.¡± ¡°Sure. Good luck.¡± Click. Stairs descended from the airship¡¯s railing. I stepped down the stairs and set foot on thend of the dimensional city. ¡°These buildings look peculiar. It¡¯s my first time seeing such structures.¡± Edis muttered. That would be expected. Except for me, none of the other members had seen such a scene anywhere. ¡®They¡¯ve set up an interesting prank.¡¯ This time the setting was a modern city. Fourne roads stretched out at right angles, and between them, high-risemercial buildings and tall buildings soared like forests. [Master, ¡®Bring the Ticket!¡¯ party has arrived in the event area!] [The event screen can be checked through the ¡®Festa!¡¯ icon in the main menu.] [The event screen disys the points earned, the list of prizes, the status and morale of the heroes, and the list of events happening in the city. Some of these will require the master¡¯s assistance. Check carefully each time to score high. We support you, Master!] [¡®Festa Package Buff (Bonus Points + 30%)¡¯ is applied.] ¡°There are so many people. It¡¯s annoying.¡± Velkist scowled. It was literal. The square outside the docking station was so crowded there was hardly room to stand. Dozens of buses parked on the road were busy transporting people, but there were even more heroes pouring in. Buzzing. The noise from the countless crowd rang in my ears. ¡°Line up, one by one! No cutting in line! If you fight arbitrarily, you¡¯ll be kicked out right away!¡± Some personnel stood out. They moved among the heroes in well-tailored suits. A blue ID badge hung around their necks. ¡®Moebius Corporation¡¯s employees¡­ perhaps?¡¯ It seemed so. They soothed heroes who were dazed by the unfamiliar ce and sometimes soothed them, loading them onto buses. They also mediated between quarreling heroes. ¡°There are¡­ too many people. It smells¡­¡± Kishasha gagged. Edis nced at me and then took the staggering Kishasha to a less crowded ce. It seems our turn to board the bus will be quitete. ¡°Oppa, I¡¯ve brought something helpful.¡± Jenna handed me a long rectangr piece of paper. I scanned the topmost letters. The pamphlet included a background of the city, usage of facilities, a simple exnation about vehicles, etc. ¡°They call that a bus. It¡¯s a horseless carriage. It moves on wheels and carries people.¡± ¡®I know that without exnation.¡¯ I nodded reluctantly. ¡°Ah, it seems we will sleep at a ce called a hotel. Meals are buffet style¡­ hmm?¡± Jenna¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°We can take as much delicious food as we want! This is absolutely¡­¡± ¡°Are all the people here 4 stars?¡± Velkist interrupted Jenna¡¯s words. Jenna handed the pamphlet to Velkist. Velkist snatched the pamphlet and skimmed the guide. ¡°It seems so.¡± Velkist frowned. ¡°Why? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t seem very strong. Weren¡¯t 4-stars supposed to handle at least a few minions?¡± Velkist¡¯s eyes moved. I knew where he was looking. The footsteps, posture, hands, and gazes of nearby heroes. Velkist, particrly sharp-eyed, could gauge the strength of a target just by observing. ¡°Wake up from your dreams, strongest 4-star hero.¡± I patted Velkist¡¯s head. ¡°Boring.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 179: For Just Once (3) (1) Chapter 179: For Just Once (3) (1) ¡°Why on earth are these people here¡­!¡± The elderly gentleman spoke up. ¡°You will be in the way of our guests. Would you mind stepping aside?¡± The woman stepped back, looking bewildered. Soon after, the main subjects of discussion appeared. Two men and two women, all d in stiff ck uniforms, walked towards a parked limousine with deliberate steps, arranged in pairs. ¡°That uniform¡­ it looks familiar.¡± Jenna tilted her head in thought. I clicked my tongue.¡°How could you forget already?¡± ¡°Ah, ah, I remember now! Niflheimr! That really strong ce. But why are they here? I thought those people yed in bigger waters.¡± I narrowed my eyes. There¡¯s no reason for Niflheimr to be here. Not even high-grade advent stones or 5-star summon tickets are worth their attention. Yet, here they are, having given up even the chance to enter a higher-tier dimension city. ¡®Ah.¡¯ This is too much. I haven¡¯t heard of such a story. ¡°Please, get in,¡± the old man said, opening the door of the limousine. ¡°There¡¯s still one person left. Please wait a moment.¡± The young man in the lead shook his head. A white cross mark was embroidered on the left chest of the uniform. It was the emblem of a senior trainee issued by Niflheimr¡¯s training center. The other three also wore simr badges. They only brought the core members. All four, as far as I recall, seemed to have been summoned during my absence, but it was clear that they were the best 4-stars currently avable in Niflheimr. Their senior counterparts would have be 5-stars long ago. ¡°Why is Niflheimr here?¡± The blonde woman who had been out of the loop for a while stood nkly. The superior trainees of Niflheimr stood unshaken under the gaze of onlookers, seemingly waiting for thest member. Shortly afterward, the final member joined. He hurried after the waiting members, a steel spear strapped to his back. ¡°What were you doing? You¡¯rete.¡± ¡°Sorry, I was changing my clothes.¡± He scratched his cheek with an embarrassed expression. The limousine, carrying the Niflheimr event party, exited the square. Jenna, watching foolishly, muttered, ¡°Did I see that wrong?¡± ¡°I was wondering where he disappeared to. So he was over there?¡± Velkist sneered. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about Niflheimr too. They say it¡¯s the strongest in this district. If he¡¯s being treated like that, doesn¡¯t that mean that he has made some progress? Good for them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange. Aaron¡­¡± ¡°But wouldn¡¯t he prefer them over a ce like ours?¡± ¡°It¡¯s better to wait and see. There might be some circumstances we don¡¯t know about.¡± Edis, who had joined by then, added, ¡°Even if he has chosen them over us¡­ it should be something for us to celebrate. Our situation is indeed harsh. Isn¡¯t it, Han?¡± ¡°Well, yes.¡± I responded with a smirk. Thest member of the event party was Aaron. His height was towering, and his face was somewhat naive, but his aura had clearly changed. ¡°Hmm.¡± The reward doesn¡¯t matter, but it¡¯s a matter of Niflheimr¡¯s external image. They would never send any mediocrity. ¡°This could be tricky¡­ We might not even get a chance to grab the summon ticket.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t push yourself too hard. It¡¯s just a warm-up.¡± Ultimately, my goal was the advent stones. The summon ticket was a bonus¡ªtake it or leave it. This event had attracted many special guests. It was a good chance to gauge how much I had grown. As the transport buses began to decrease the crowd in the square, our Townia party boarded thest bus leaving the square. ording to the pamphlet, the opening ceremony was tomorrow. We were supposed to rest at the hotel tonight. ¡°Are you listening?¡± ¡°What?¡± As I looked out the back of the bus, Velkist spoke to me. ¡°From what I know, that senior had no talent. Right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Even ten of him wouldn¡¯t match up to you.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s strange that he¡¯s here¡­¡± ¡°He must have gotten stronger.¡± I leaned my arms on the window sill. Anyway, Niflheimr was an enemy in this Festa. They would be the strongestpetitors, especially in the main tournament, and it was very likely that one of their members would be Aaron. ¡®Are they sending Aaron to gain some experience?¡¯ I expected it, but the exact intention was unclear, whether it was the will of Yu or Myuden¡¯s intention. I could get an answer immediately if I called, but I didn¡¯t want to rely on them here. ¡®Or¡­¡¯ There was a chance that Aaron hadpletely switched sides. No one can predict how people will change their hearts. ¡®If he has switched, there¡¯s nothing I can do.¡¯ Better to livefortably in Niflheimr than to die like a dog in Townia. That¡¯s how I see it. I pondered these thoughts until we arrived. Before I knew it, we had arrived at a skyscraper hotel in the city center, and under the bellboy¡¯s guidance, we unpacked our luggage at the hotel. Upon seeing the scale of the building for the first time, Jenna was overly excited, and Edis couldn¡¯t hide her surprise. Kishasha was dizzy and vomited several times. I exined the facilities and other precautions to the members, helping them to adapt. ¡°What?!!!¡± ¡°Niflheimr is here?¡± ¡°Why would they¡­?¡± ¡°What¡¯s all this fuss about??¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you heard of Loki before? Niflheimr?! The strongestbat group on Server 2?! You know, the Union Guild incident. They wiped out hundreds of airships with just four people¡­¡± The hotel floors and hallways were abuzz with talk of Niflheimr. ¡°Niflheimr, Niflheimr. My ears hurt.¡± In the hotel¡¯s 8th-floor corridor. Jenna was pushing a metal cart. The cart was stacked with numerous dishes from the buffet restaurant on the first floor. Our assigned quarters were a triple room on the 8th floor, prepared with five rooms and three double beds. Arge table suitable for strategy meetings was also set up in the living room. ¡°But really, has Aaron switched sides? Do you know something?¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ll know when we talk.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where he is. The counter won¡¯t tell me. I should have asked when we parted ways with Niflheimr.¡± ¡°What will you do if he has switched?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll persuade him! Tell him toe back.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s no ce for him if he returns.¡± ¡°That¡­ I don¡¯t know. Anyway, I don¡¯t like the idea of fighting against Aaron.¡± Jenna sighed deeply. It was a rarely seen sorrowful face. Jenna chided me not to tease her as Iughed and tapped her shoulder. ¡®Anyway.¡¯ I¡¯ll have to talk to him myself. As soon as possible. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 180: Just For Once (4) (1) Chapter 180: Just For Once (4) (1) The next morning. The opening ceremony of the event began. A representative from Mobius gave a purpose speech and briefly exined the rules. Here, I was able to get a clear schedule of the event. The event willst for three days. The first day includes the opening ceremony and the preliminaries of the three major events, the second day features the main rounds, and the final rounds and the championship take ce on the third day. There were also minor events scattered throughout the schedule. Although Mobius and Earth have different time flows, thepany adjusted the time axis specifically for this festival. The special event venues varied, so we had to scatter immediately after the opening ceremony.Of course, having boiled Katiio alive to equip portablemunication devices allowed us to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances. I immediately boarded a transport bus to move to the event venue. While moving, I reviewed the details I heard at the opening ceremony. One important detail was that even if one dies in the dimensional city, they can be resurrected without any degradation in abilities. However, a resurrected hero loses the right to participate in the event. Another point was that the recovery abilities of the waiting room do not apply here. ¡°¡­¡± Did Aaron say he would return if he won the one-on-one tournament? Aaron¡¯s voice lingered in my ears. It didn¡¯t seem like a joke. After a brief conversation with me, Aaron left to prepare for thepetition. ¡®I¡¯m curious.¡¯ Velkist was participating in the one-on-onepetition. I wanted to see the battle up close if possible. To do that¡­ ¡®I have no choice but to finish as quickly as possible.¡¯ Looking at the schedule, the singles event is heldst. If I finish the preliminary round quickly, I might be able to go watch the singles event. I should start with my part first. I looked out the window. The fourne road was filled with transport buses. All were heroes participating in the random events. This category had an unusually high number of participants. It couldn¡¯t be helped. With rumors spreading that Niflheimr would participate in the individual and team events, many decided to withdraw from the events. Conversely, there was a rush of applicants for the random event, in which Niflheimr was not participating. ¡®It seems total victory isn¡¯t their goal.¡¯ Judging by their withdrawal from one category, it seemed like they wanted to give the superior trainees some practical experience. They didn¡¯t seem particrly greedy for the five-star summon ticket. ¡®Well, what can I say?¡¯ This Festa was an event for non-rankers. The current rankers didn¡¯t have the luxury of time for such petty tricks, being busy with the groundwork for the World Raid. Essentially, Niflheimr was giving up on this raid. Rare materials were so abundant for them that skipping once didn¡¯t really matter. Soon, the bus stopped. Along with the other participants, I followed the guidance of a staff member waiting in the parking lot and entered a huge domed stadium. ¡°You can wait here. The person in charge wille soon.¡± A female staff member quickly walked us into a spacious auditorium and then exited hurriedly. ¡°What are we supposed to do here?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m wondering. It¡¯s a strangely designed facility, but it doesn¡¯t seem special.¡± ¡°Why is it taking so long? Call the manager quickly!¡± Murmurs filled the dome. I leaned against the wall at the corner of the indoor stadium. ¡°There¡¯s a damn lot.¡± Only one person among these can win the prize along with the championship. It was an exceedingly stingy event. After a few minutes, a tiny dot appeared at the distant lectern. The creature pped its pair of wings before folding them and sitting on the lectern. [Heroes participating in this event!] The fairy spoke. Her ck hair was long and braided, and she wore a form-fitting women¡¯s suit. Her cheeks puffed up like steamed buns, tinged with a hint of red. [Hello everyone! You all exude the dignity of heroes. Thank you for participating in this battle royale I¡¯m hosting. You truly have discernment. I¡¯m moved by your enthusiastic participation.] The fairy giggled, covering her mouth. Then, a line of Mobius¡¯s temple staff stood at ease behind her. [As for me¡­] ¡°Iselle?¡± Someone at the front spoke. The fairy with a gentle smile on her face suddenly stiffened. Bang! As if triggered by thement, the fairy pped her wings with a tremendous boom and moved in front of the man at high speed, a sonic boom evidence of her speed. [What did you just say?] ¡°Ah, no¡­¡± [You¡¯reparing me to some house fairy?] The fairy aggressively thrust her temple ID in the man¡¯s face. [Can¡¯t you see this? It¡¯s a golden temple ID gifted to me personally by the CEO! Don¡¯t evenpare me to the irregr ves clinging to your homes! That if you don¡¯t want your head smashed, understand? Huh? Do you get it!] The man dumbly nodded. The fairy snorted and stepped back onto the tform. [Ohoho! Heroes, this event is a coboration with a famouspany~ Coboration~ It¡¯s a great honor. I hope you all enjoy it. The masters are also watching. This is your chance to prove your courage and ability. Fight on!] With a charming voice, the fairy shouted and began to spin in the air. [Twinkle! Fairy power!] sh! A blue sh lit up the entire stadium, and a holographic message appeared in front of everyone. [Raid Festa!] [¡®yerKnown¡¯s BattleRoyale¡¯] [¡ùNote!] [This is not a knockoff.] [It¡¯s a coboration~.] [Let me exin the rules of thepetition.] [A special super-dimensional field is prepared for the event.] [1. Participants start barehanded, returning all equipment, and must fight until only one remains by acquiring hidden items and equipment throughout the field.] [2. The field shrinks at regr intervals, and magical items, including supplies, are dropped.] [3. Participants can form temporary parties for amon goal.] [¡ùAttention!] [This is not a knockoff.] [Please believe us.] Below the message, a simple map of the field used for thispetition was disyed. I quickly scanned the rules and map. [What you see before you are the result of our excellent capabilities! yerKnown¡¯s Battle Royale!] ¡°¡­¡± [Oh! If anyone speaks strangely, it¡¯s an officially permitted coboration~ with another gamingpany. Ohohoho!] ¡®Doesn¡¯t this vite copyright rules?¡¯ Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. They say it¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not my business if they get sued. After a heartyugh, the fairy pped her hands as if remembering something and pulled out a jewel box from her robe. [Pay attention! This is a special prize for the winner of this event.] The fairy opened the box. A rainbow-colored stone sparkled on a soft cushion. [A top-grade advent stone! Such an item that even idiots like you¡­ no, heroes, would struggle to obtain.] Click. The box closed. My eyes narrowed. ¡®I came to the right ce.¡¯ I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 181: Just For Once (5) (1) Chapter 181: Just For Once (5) (1) I looked outside through the shattered shop window. Near the dark, unlit intersection, shadows were squirming about. They were one of the groups of survivors from this preliminary round. The party, consisting of two men and a woman, was crossing the crosswalk, each armed with a bow, a spear, and a shield. [Survivor Count ¨C 6] White letters shed in the upper right corner of my view. The number of survivors left on the field. 14 out of 20 had died. It was the result of one hour since the start. ¡®It¡¯s been dragging on for quite a while.¡¯ The map wasrger than I thought.It had taken me more time than expected to find them. If only the field had been half as small, I would have already gone to watch the individual preliminaries. They were passing right beneath me. I had a spiked metal pipe slung on my belt. Following that, I slid down the building¡¯s drainpipe. ¡°Wha!¡± I locked eyes with one of the men. I immediately drew my hand crossbow and pulled the trigger. Ping! With a crisp sound, the bolt lodged itself in the man¡¯s nape. ¡°Gurk!¡± [11Kill!] ¡°Enem, enemy attack¡­!¡± Ping! Ping! Ping! The two managed to dodge the three consecutive shots by leaping. Even the least skilled were 4-stars. Physically they were superhumans. I thennded in the alley and stomped the ground, wielding my metal pipe. ¡°Wait! There¡¯s no need for this¡­!¡± Thud! The man attempted to block with his crude wooden shield. The metal pipe smashed halfway through the wooden shield. I then kicked the staggering man and mmed his head onto the asphalt. [12Kill!] ¡°Augh!¡± The woman, perhaps a thief ss, sprang onto the roof of a two-story building like a squirrel and began to flee. I climbed the wall and pursued her. As she fired several arrows while running, I dodged them all and continued the chase. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they hit!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Stop following me! Mon, monster!¡± Thud. Soon, the woman caught by the nape died instantly with a dagger lodged in the back of her head. [13Kill!] Why wouldn¡¯t they hit? Such arrows are child¡¯s ypared to Jenna. I kicked the sprawled woman. Her body turned into light and slowly disappeared. ¡®That leaves two.¡¯ I spent almost 30 minutes searching the entire field, dealing with the survivors. I formed no alliances. The power of the 18th group in the preliminaries, which included me, had already been fully assessed from outside the dimensional gate. After using my Insight skill to check the power of the heroes in my group, I decided that there was no one worth guarding against. Meaning, there was no need to waste time. Although I would need to be somewhat cautious in the finals where thest 100 gathered, I can be a bit reckless here. I casually picked up items left by the fallen heroes and moved toward the center of the field. Thest survivors of this preliminary round were gathered in a half-constructed abandoned building in the middle of a junction. ¡®They¡¯ve made quite the nuisance.¡¯ Barricades were set up at the entrance of the building. Through a gap, the aim of a crossbow was fixed on me. ¡°Hey, hey you. Who are you? You¡¯ve been wiping out the participants all by yourself. Are you really the same 4-star as us?¡± ¡®You¡¯re weak. How did you manage to be 4-stars without polishing any skills properly.¡¯ Most of these heroes were the product of ipetent masters. Of course, even if their abilities were higher, the oue would have been the same. ¡°No matter who you are, you can¡¯t break through this barrier!¡± The building entrance was blocked with a solid steel te. Through a small gap, numerous spearheads gleamed. They seemed to have put quite an effort into it. And on the second-floor window of the building, a familiar object was installed. It was a ballista. ¡®So they¡¯ve got their hands on one of those.¡¯ All I had were a metal pipe, a hand crossbow, and a few daggers. ¡°Just die quietly!¡± Thwack! The ballista ejected arge arrow. Where I had been standing was deeply gouged out, and asphalt debris flew everywhere. In that moment, I dodged a crossbow bolt aimed at exploiting my motion. ¡°¡­¡± Annoying. I strode straight towards the barricade. The reloading of the ballista had started. Hmm. It indeed seemed a bit difficult to break through the sturdy barricade with just a metal pipe. I grabbed a streemp lying beside the road. The smashed middle of the streemp seemed like it could serve as a handle. ¡®¡­Hup!¡¯ With all my strength drawn up, I lifted the streemp. Kwoong. Hundreds of kilograms of streemp were lifted into the air. ¡°That crazy bastard¡­!¡± ¡°Quick, shoot him dead!¡± Thwack! The second ballista shot. I lowered my stance and swung the streemp. The ballista arrow that hit the side of the streemp shattered into pieces. ¡®As expected.¡¯ This streemp was considered a ¡®great sword¡¯ and received skill adjustments. Then, it was easy. I immediately hurled my body towards the barricade. Bang! With one strike, I smashed through the barricade. After tossing the streemp aside, I entered with the metal pipe in hand. What followed was a rapid series of actions. [14Kill!] [15Kill!] [#1/20] [You won! Tonight¡¯s dinner is chicken!] [You have won the preliminary round!] [Look forward to the first main round tomorrow!] sh. Light enveloped me, and before I knew it, I was back at the stadium. From entry to clear, it took exactly 90 minutes. A female staff member approached me dazedly. ¡°Uh¡­ Congrattions on passing the preliminaries.¡± ¡°Can I go now?¡± ¡°Yes, yes yes. Pleasee by 8 a.m. tomorrow.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really amazing! The fastest to pass!¡± I received my equipment from the showcase and walked out. Inside the indoor stadium, heroes who had been eliminated from the event were gathered. Among them were those I had personally hunted. ¡°He¡¯s the mad dog of the battle royale!¡± A mad dog? I looked toward the source of the sound. The heroes were murmuring and ncing at me. ¡°They say he nailed a hero¡¯s forehead and killed him¡­¡± ¡°He tore apart a hero who surrendered and then ripped him to death.¡± ¡°The moment someone requested to party, he smashed their head.¡± ¡°He¡¯s truly a blood-crazed beast!¡± It seemed I had gotten a strange nickname. It didn¡¯t matter. I decided to ignore the losers¡¯ barking. It would quiet down by tomorrow. I unfolded the information flyer. The flyer listed the routes and schedules of shuttle buses traveling throughout the city. The bus to the individual tournament preliminaries was arriving in 5 minutes. Fortunately, I wasn¡¯tte. In less than 10 minutes, I arrived at the venue for the individual preliminaries. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 182: Just For Once (6) (1) Chapter 182: Just For Once (6) (1) The first day of the festival had ended. The results were as I had anticipated. All the members who participated in the three events passed. It would have been problematic if they had been eliminated from the preliminaries already. ¡°Niflheimr¡¯s team seems a bit strong, but it still looks manageable!¡± Jenna rolled up her sleeves and raised her arm. After finishing the day¡¯s schedule, we were in our room holding a performance review and strategy meeting. ¡°If we don¡¯t make any mistakes, I think we can win. Don¡¯t you think so, sisters?¡± ¡°I was nervous because they were heroes from other waiting rooms, but it wasn¡¯t as difficult as I expected. Maybe we were just lucky.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down. If we fail even once, we will be eliminated.¡± I looked at the paper on the table in the middle.It listed the points the Townia team had earned on the first day. ¡®126 points.¡¯ While the heroes werepeting in the preliminaries, mini-games for the masters were being held in the dimensional city. 126 points were the result of Anytng¡¯s participation in about ten events. ¡®He¡¯s really bad at this.¡¯ Winning the airship race earned us 65 points. In other games, we continuously rankedst. A total of 126 points put us in the lower ranks. Although it¡¯s a small scorepared to the three major events, not stacking up points in the mini-games would be a significant loss. Anyway. Given Amkena¡¯s poor gaming skills, we had to win all three major events to earn the ticket. ¡°Bring out the tournament bracket.¡± Jenna and Velkist took out a blue paper. The paper contained the main tournament bracket. Tomorrow would determine the top 16 in the first main round, and the day after tomorrow would be the top 16 and the finals. The list of teams participating in the first main round was densely packed on the paper. We already had a good grasp of the high-level master teams including Niflheimr. I quickly scanned the individual and team tournament brackets and thought hard. There are many participants in the first main round, so there is some leeway, but the second main round involves continuous fighting, leaving almost no time to rest. Unlike the waiting rooms, there is no automatic healing, and Mobius headquarters doesn¡¯t provide medical staff, so a serious injury means immediate disqualification. ¡®Jenna¡¯s group chances don¡¯t look good.¡¯ Jenna was assigned to Group B, which was filled with high-level users. Moreover, ording to the tournament bracket, she would have to y three consecutive matches with minimal rest time. The likelihood of injury was high. At best, all we could do was provide her group with the emergency healing potions that we brought with us. Next, I scanned Velkist¡¯s tournament bracket. Fortunately, he wouldn¡¯t meet that swordsman or Aaron until the finals. It seems he has good luck with the draw. On the contrary¡­ ¡®Aaron will sh with that guy in the semi-finals.¡¯ I ended the meeting quickly. Velkist and Jenna¡¯s team was going to train in the hotel¡¯s underground personal training area, which spans several tens of floors, to prepare for the main round. Left alone again, I was lost in thought in the living room. ¡®¡­Not yet.¡¯ Myuden had only been able to take his ce in the first party of Niflheimr from the higher floors of the tower. Aaron returned too soon. Why did hee back? I wanted to ask Yu right away. But I barely managed to suppress my curiosity. That guy wouldn¡¯t do something pointless. There must be another meaning. I couldn¡¯t know what it was right now. For now, I need to focus on my own event. I can¡¯t afford to be eliminated and lose face in front of the other members. As I was strategizing for the main round, there was a knock at the door. ¡°¡­¡± This hotel doesn¡¯t have room service. I opened the front door. A familiar face. It was Aaron. ¡°Did I disturb you?¡± ¡°No,e in. I¡¯m the only one here.¡± Aaron hesitated at the entrance but then stepped into the living room. I offered him water. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I drank my water silently. Aaron sat down in the chair and bowed his head. I had seen this look before. It was the same expression he had after losing to Velkist when he first joined. Aaron seemed like he had something to say but didn¡¯t start talking right away. ¡°How was it there?¡± I decided to break the ice. ¡°It was a strange ce.¡± After a moment of silence, Aaron answered. ¡°I learned that a year spent there could be just a day outside.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can¡¯t remember my sister¡¯s face.¡± Aaron¡¯s eyes became blurry. ¡°I had to write down memories of the past in a notebook every day, or I would forget everything. Eventually, I could barely remember my own name.¡± I suppose so. No one else but Myuden could have endured it. Niflheimr had many people like Aaron. Heroes who tried to ovee theirck of talent through effort. But the results were invariably miserable. ¡°You were also watching the tournament, weren¡¯t you? How did you see me?¡± ¡°You were decent. It seemed like you had mastered intermediate spearmanship.¡± I answered honestly. Aaron had grown beyond recognition. He could be considered at a usable hero level. ¡°I see.¡± Aaron forced a smile at my response. ¡°That took me 57 years.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°How many years would it take for me to look like you?¡± Aaron brought the empty water cup to his lips. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean toin.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s me who sent you there. I should at least listen.¡± ¡°Thank you¡­¡± ¡°But why did youe out so soon? Shouldn¡¯t you have rolled around there a bit longer?¡± Aaron shook his head. ¡°The master told me I wascking something.¡± ¡°It can¡¯t be talent¡­¡± Not talent. That¡¯s a foolish answer. Iughed. ¡°Did youe out to find what you¡¯recking?¡± ¡°More urately, I was kicked out.¡± Aaron briefly shared his experiences. Deemed inadequate to follow in his footsteps, Aaron was criticized by Myuden and transferred to the training center in Niflheimr. That was two weeks ago. And now, he was participating in the current event as a trainee. ¡®¡­¡¯ Aaron spoke calmly, but I could roughly guess his feelings. Did they call him the seconding or something? Anyway, he was a genius who had surpassed decades of training in the special dimension time in just a few days. ¡°That guy is amazing. I couldn¡¯t understand theplicated principles even after hearing them hundreds of times, but he realized them in a day and applied them the next. When I watched him train, I couldn¡¯t help but exim. It seemed like he was truly chosen by the gods. Just like you.¡± Aaron scratched his nose and smiled. ¡°If I bring up how Ipare to him here, the mood will turn gloomy. I won¡¯t say that.¡± ¡°Are you confident you can win?¡± ¡°I¡¯m nning to do my best. For now.¡± I sighed. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 183: Just For Once (7) (1) Chapter 183: Just For Once (7) (1) As the familiar sensation of weightlessness enveloped me, a hologram message appeared, signaling the mission. [Floor ?] [This is a special event field.] [Objective ¨C Survive until only one remains!] The matrix revealed a torn mattress and a toppled bookshelf, the chaotic scene of a modern-style room disyed. It seemed I had been summoned to an isted building again. [Danger!] [The field will shrink in 5 minutes!] [Move to the marked safe zone on the map!]As soon as it started, a warning message popped up. Looks like it will end quickly this time. The number of participants had decreased too. I¡¯m rather weing of it. I scouted the interior of the building for useful items. Outside the window, at the intersection, yers were running. Three in total, running in the same direction. It seemed they were gathering in the middle area of the map. Clearly, the collusion among the other yers had finished. They had formed a party of nine and decided to deal with me first. Given this situation, there wasn¡¯t much time. I took out the weapon I had found in the house. And then I jumped out of the second-floor window. [1Kill!] ng! A clear and beautiful sound echoed as a man copsed in mid-run, his head caved in. A dagger flew from the hand of another man nearby. ng! I deflected the dagger with a frying pan in my right hand, then immediately got close and struck him under the chin. Thump! Then, I drove my heel into the back of the fallen man¡¯s head. ¡°Argh!¡± [2Kill!] Thest one. He was already running away far in the distance. I threw the frying pan at him. Thump! The man was hit on the head by the edge of the pan and fell sideways. I dashed up and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. He wasn¡¯t dead yet. ¡°Where were you supposed to meet?¡± Despite bleeding from his forehead, the man kept his mouth shut. But his eyes briefly darted to a ruined building across the intersection. ¡®That¡¯s the ce.¡¯ It was easy to predict. If there¡¯s a conspicuous ce where scattered members could quickly gather, it had to be there. ¡°You crazy mad dog¡­ even if you¡­¡± ng! ng! ng! ng! ng! I hit the fallen man¡¯s head with the frying pan five times until he was finally deemed dead. [3Kill!] ¡®It will get annoying if it drags on.¡¯ Under normal circumstances, this would have been the perfect time to leisurely farm items and camp¡­ Sigh. I ran down the road with the dented frying pan. [http://go.onewinch.tv/ ¨C One Inch TV] [Pick Me Up! ¨C Huh? A lunatic appears in the battle royale?] [BJ ¨C Assmu ikum] [Viewers: 1,053] ¡®This ****.¡¯ First a crazy dog, now a lunatic out of control? Unfortunately, the map was obscured by the viewer¡¯s screen. However, I could see the viewers¡¯ chat. [RoadWarrior (HMDM11): Is that the lunatic? Looks familiar.] [DietDouble: Only 5 minutes in and already 3 kills. Crazy¡­] This is distracting. I moved the broadcast screen to the corner and continued my pace. Along the way, in a trash-filled alley, I found a rusty iron pipe. And a minuteter. I arrived at the rendezvous point. The square in front of the ruined building. Three men, two women. Five in total were waiting for me. They were armed with swords, spears, shields, and bows. They made no effort to hide their presence, surely aware that I wasing. ¡°You.¡± The man at the front, with a serious expression, spoke. ¡°What.¡± ¡°Are you a born 4-star?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± I held a frying pan in my left hand and the iron pipe in my right. And 10 minutester. ¡°¡­¡± I was squatting on the ground of the square. Ptui. I spat the blood pooled in my mouth. I hadn¡¯t expected a magician to be among them. It took quite some time to deal with them. ¡°Ugh¡­ ack¡­ ack¡­¡± Groans were heard. Turning around, I saw five stacked bodies looking like blocks. The one on top seemed alive, though he looked like he would die soon from his wounds. ¡°Monster¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a monster.¡± Work hard first beforeining. Losing to a frying pan while armed with swords and spears doesn¡¯t make sense. I clicked my tongue and stood up. [Taiwan (No1): What? Killed them all with just a frying pan?] [Psyco53: Lmao real psycho lol] [Sans (Papyrus): Wow! A frying pan! And an iron pipe! PPAK!] [Niceguy33: I think I¡¯ve seen him before. Remember that viral video? That hero who carried his clueless master.] [ToMuch7: Oh! That video, I remember. I was in LA back then¡­] [LastRive (Neven13): Isn¡¯t that him? Check it out. I think there¡¯s an update for the 40th floor too.] [TooMuchPain (SeeyouAgain1): Was that him? He was really strong! Why hasn¡¯t hepeted in singles? He could rival Niflheimr.] One left. He must be here somewhere. Seems like a rogue ss, trying to stay hidden. I spun the blood-soaked frying pan and said. ¡°Come out in 10 seconds. If you get caught by me, you¡¯re dead.¡± ¡°Ah, what if I don¡¯t get caught?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll still die.¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± The presence vanished. Annoying. When a rogue hides like this, it¡¯s bothersome to seek them out. [Danger!] [The field will shrink in 1 minute!] [Move to the marked safe zone on the map!] As soon as the message appeared, the curtain of a three-story building in front fluttered. There he is. I stood up with a smile, holding the blood-stained frying pan. [9Kill!] [#1/10] [You won, cluck! Tonight¡¯s dinner is chicken!] [You have won the main event!] [Look forward to the final match tomorrow!] I returned to the arena. ¡°Congrattions on making it to the finals!¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 183: Just For Once (7) (2) Chapter 183: Just For Once (7) (2) I returned to the arena. Congrattions on making it to the finals! The clerk next to the dimensional gate handed me a pass. I looked around. The arena was noisy with the sounds of other contestants. Besides those eliminated, it seemed a few had passed faster than me. It wasnt much of a hassle. Given the small field and fewer participants, some matches had ended very quickly. [Ohoho! That was quick! Reducing the number of participants was the right decision. We should proceed like this for the next 8th Festa preliminaries!] Excuse me, but that proposal was rejected for the 8th [What did you say!]The central giant monitor in the stadium was ying highlights from the matches. Todays footage of my performance was also shown. This would also contribute to the rumors about me. Yesterday, I left immediately after the preliminaries, so I hadnt seen these highlights. I sat near the monitor in the waiting area. Watching the match videos throughout today seemed like a good idea to spot any troublesome opponents for the finals. That was impressive. Suddenly, a can of drink was offered from beside me. I took the can somewhat dumbfounded. To defeat nine people with just some junk. You were impressive yesterday too. Im Sadine Nibel. And you? A woman with her blonde hair tied back sat down gracefully beside me. A familiar face. Han. Good, Mr. Han. The reason I approached you You want me to join your party for the finals tomorrow. You catch on fast. Sadine covered her mouth andughed. Then she gestured behind her. Those two are going to be in my party tomorrow. There will be 100 contestants in the finals. Isnt the survival rate too low if youre alone? No matter how strong you are, its tough to handle a surprise attack or face many opponents by yourself. Especially someone like you, a person of interest. Sadine emphasized the term person of interest. That makes sense. From the rumors alone, someone like me, the mad dog, would be a primary target and face concentrated attacks. Meaning, my chances of winning were slim. Well take you in. No other party will let you join. I remained silent. This woman clearly spread the rumors about me. Talking with her rified her intentions. Join, or die alone? It was a cute tactic. She had nothing to lose. Even if I didnt join the party, since I moved alone, they could handle me with abined attack. If I joined, it would be good firepower for them. Think carefully. Yourpetitors are 99 tomorrow. Can you beat that many people alone? Wouldnt it be better to create allies, think about it logically? I did some digging, and you have a pretty solid background. A top external student from Niflheimr. Thats worth some respect. What do you say? If you perform well in thispetition, I can ask my master to pull you out of that miserable waiting room. You could evene to our waiting room. I listened silently as Sadine coughed slightly. Hey, why arent you saying anything? Im thinking. I considered theposition of her party. Sadine was a knight. The other two were rogues. The other two party members seemed to have been eliminated in the preliminaries. This battle royale was so variable that even a born 4-star could easily be eliminated. Its bothersome to move alone. In this game, it was clear that parties had a higher survival rate than solo yers. Whats more, having rogues who could do things I couldnt, like scouting and tracking, was appealing, despite the obvious intent. If these three were from the same waiting room and aiming for the championship prize, when thest four remained, I would be facing a 3-to-1 fight. If they were from the same group, it wouldnt matter who won. Dont take me lightly. I have an engraving, and so do the other two. We started as born 4-stars. Were confident even if we start with just us three, but to avoid any unexpected issues Alright. Really? Ill join. Sadines face lit up. Then we have a deal. Come to room 2101 at the hotel tonight. Well have a brief strategy meeting. Oh, and just so you know, if you betray us, it will not be just about this event. This deal involves the honor between masters. Your master isnt much, right? Hes just level 40, right? You wouldnt want him to taste bitterness, so its best to keep to the agreement. She talks too much. Sadine pressed me several times with threats of retribution from her master if I betrayed the party, and then she left. The only condition for the partys dissolution was one. When four remained. As soon as the party disbanded, I would face the focused attacks of three yers. It was a clearly visible scenario. I crossed my legs. The monitor was still broadcasting the match videos. Tomorrow would be the final main and championship matches of this Raid Festa. The winner of the three events and the owner of the 5-star summon ticket would be determined. Since there was no contact from Jenna and Velkist, it seemed there had been no issues in their progression. The battle royale finals would start early in the morning. If it ends quickly, I might even go watch other events. I was good on my own, but now I had found a suitable use for them. Dont betray? Of course, I wouldnt betray. I didnt want to create a hassle with conflicts. Just a bit of a detour. I gulped down the now-cold can of drink. This bastard It was mint chocte vor. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 184: Just For Once (8) (1) Chapter 184: Just For Once (8) (1) If we coolly evaluate, the most advantageous ss in this Battle Royale finale was the rogue. In the finals where the number of participants is small and the map is narrow, other sses could also perform to some extent. However, in a massive game involving about 100 participants, it was a different story. [Survivor Count ¨C 21] I looked up at the screen above. 21 survivors left. The unskilled fighters who had been brawling chaotically were already filtered out. Now, the likelihood of arge-scale frontal assault among the survivors was slim. Everyone was aiming for a windfall. If no frontal assault urred, it was the rogues¡¯ stage to shine, capable of stealth and ambushes, and excellent in locating enemies. ¡°Are you d you joined our party?¡± Sadine spoke in a gentle tone.¡°Imagine if you were alone. You wouldn¡¯t be able to farm items, and other parties would have ganged up on you. It¡¯s so much easier with a rogue around. To scout ahead and pinpoint enemy positions.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± This woman. As I felt yesterday, she talks a lot. Especially after we fought over the ownership of this building. I had single-handedly knocked out three people. ¡°Han, I was impressed with the fight earlier. You are exceptional. I can¡¯t believe someone like you came from a level 40 waiting room. Consider my proposal carefully. With you and me¡­¡± I examined the holographic map. The safe zone was marked with a white circle. We were located in a small town¡¯smercial area, right at the center. A prime zone littered with high-end items, with simple traps installed at all exits including windows to detect intrusions. Quality leather armor and a usable longsword. Throwing knives and a crossbow as well. All enchanted. Consumables too. It seems we¡¯ve farmed enough. ¡°Our Lakereia, you see, has seven floors and various luxurious facilities¡­¡± ¡®4 teams.¡¯ Out of 21 people, 17 were operating in teams. The remaining four were solo yers. These were the results of constant searches by the four-star rogues in my party. Theposition and operational areas of the enemies were almost fully understood. It really is useful. I wouldn¡¯t have gotten this information if I moved alone. ¡°How did you find the beverage I gave you yesterday? Wasn¡¯t it incredibly tasty? I¡¯m quite picky, but it was quite good¡­¡± I wonder how Jenna¡¯s party is doing. By now, the group finals must be in full swing. The individual match, starting in the afternoon, is still pending. ¡®I¡¯m curious but.¡¯ I decided to focus on my own tasks first. After tallying the points I collected yesterday, tofortably secure the overall first ce, we had to win in all three major events. The score from the mini-game Anytng yed was despairing. I leaned against the wall. There was some time left until the next zone restriction. No need to fight, so, rx¡­ ¡°Oppa, can you hear me?¡± I opened my eyes. ¡°It¡¯s me. Jenna.¡± A marstone hidden in my chest emitted a faint light. Katiio¡¯smunication stone. I had kept it as an emergency item, managing to hide it by tucking it into the crease of my cor. ¡°Excuse me for a moment.¡± ¡°Where are you going? We¡¯re in the middle of strategizing¡­¡± ¡°Bathroom.¡± I answered briefly and headed up the stairs. After distancing myself a bit, I grasped themunication stone in my hand. Then I whispered, ensuring no one could hear. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Ah, so you can hear me. I thought it was broken.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bit busy now. In the middle of a match.¡± ¡°Sorry. I have something to report.¡± Jenna continued. ¡°Edis was poisoned in the recent match.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°The healing potions aren¡¯t working. It seems to be a special kind of paralytic poison. They won¡¯t give us an antidote. The next match is soon, what should we do?¡± I sighed deeply. ¡°We¡¯ll try something, just Kishasha and I.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible with just the two of you. Niflheimr is also there.¡± If we even manage a second ce in one of the events, it¡¯s over for us. Damn it. ¡°Sorry, Oppa. I told you I was confident¡­¡± ¡°How much time till the next match?¡± ¡°About 10 minutes.¡± ¡°That should be enough. Run now and find Velkist in the individual match arena. There are no restrictions on participation.¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you read the flyer? If it¡¯s the same affiliation, there are no restrictions on yer recement.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re ruining the individual match! If we just endure and find a way to heal Edis¡­¡± ¡°The effect willst at least three hours, by then the finals will be over. Hey, stop wasting time and do as I say. Take Velkist, put him in for Edis. Win no matter what. Or do you want to see the master crying?¡± ¡°But the individual match¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll participate in it.¡± I cut off themunication. The holographic map disyed a clock. 10:57 AM. The individual match finals started at 12 PM. ¡°What took you so long? Besides, about the proposal¡­¡± Ssshhh. I drew my sword from its sheath. All enemies¡¯ locations were known. Our allies¡¯ locations were the same. I had previously embedded a magic item, the Tracker¡¯s Scent, on the two annoying rogues. I prepared to jump out of the window. ¡°Wait, what are you doing?! Our strategy is to wait until the very end¡­¡± ¡°The situation has changed. Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t betray you until only four people are left.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°And don¡¯t drink trash drinks like mint chocte.¡± Thud. I jumped down from several meters high andnded on the ground. At the same time, an arrow aimed at my forehead flew towards me. I waved my left hand. The arrow shaft was caught at my fingertips. A team was hiding in the building right in front. I quickly calcted. Including the travel distance¡­ How much time is left? 10 minutes? ¡®Phew.¡¯ I didn¡¯t want to use this. I flipped the switch in my mind. [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has entered Ascend State!] ¡°Come out, you bastards!¡± And then. ¡­ [Wow, amazing! I couldn¡¯t even imagine this. Are you Rambo or something? Truly the mad dog of Battle Royale! I hope you participate in the next event as well. Here is the prize and the winning trophy, a golden frying pan¡­] I snatched the Advent Stone from the rambling fairy¡¯s hand. The aftereffects of Ascend blurred my vision. I passed the dumbstruck fairy and pushed through the crowd. [Wait! The golden frying pan!] ¡°Don¡¯t want such trash, you take it.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 185: For Just Once (9) (1) Chapter 185: For Just Once (9) (1) It was a single strike. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Amidst everyone¡¯s silence, I sheathed my sword. Whoosh. Blood spurted like a fountain from the giant¡¯s neck. My strike had split his massive steel axe, then separated his head from his body. Thud. The body, now headless, staggered and fell to the ground. ¡°So, that means¡­¡± ¡°I won, didn¡¯t I.¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Han Israt, victory!¡±The judge raised my hand in victory. I flicked the blood off my sword de and stepped down from the stage. The blood seeping into the cracks of the floor gradually became light and disappeared. That guy will be resurrected in the stadium¡¯s waiting room shortly. That¡¯s why I could cut him down without hesitation. ¡°Impressive, Hyung-nim!¡± Amidst the silence, Aaron shouted. Stop embarrassing me. I chuckled and headed towards the corridor connected to the waiting room. Blood dripped down the path I walked. I opened the door marked ¡®yer¡¯s Waiting Room.¡¯ I copsed onto a sofa in the corner and took out a healing potion. This was thest potion I had. Corbone, ribs, lower abdomen, thigh, calf. All the annoying ces were injured. Each time I applied the potion to the wounds, a fierce pain surged. If I hadn¡¯t learned the regeneration skill I would have beenpletely unable to fight much earlier. The match I just finished was the round of 32. I need to win four more times to win the individualpetition. ¡°¡­¡­Impressive.¡± I looked to the side. A man in a Niflheimr uniform coat was watching me. Ah, this guy. He is called the ¡®The Second Coming of the Sword Demon.¡¯ ¡°I watched the video in the waiting room. That was a fine sword fight.¡± He approached me. I nodded absently. Speaking of videos, I turned my head and there was arge TV installed on the waiting room wall. ¡°My name is Vanil Norchev, a senior trainee from Niflheimr. And you are¡­¡­¡± ¡°Han, from Townia.¡± ¡°Townia? You mean Aaron¡¯s?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He was originally part of our party.¡± ¡°There¡¯s quite a difference in level between you two.¡± Vanil said expressionlessly. ¡°I saw the finals of the Battle Royale too. That was praiseworthy. How about it, joining Niflheimr? I heard you were an external trainee as well. You must know about Niflheimr¡¯s excellence. I¡¯ll suggest it to the director when I return.¡± He¡¯s spouting fantastic nonsense. I silently wrapped a bandage around my wound. ¡°I think you¡¯re one of my kind.¡± ¡°One of your kind?¡± ¡°Born different, possessing a unique vessel like Lord Ridigion.¡± Vanil gripped his scabbard tightly. ¡°If a rabbit eats meat and a lion grazes, would the world operate correctly? It¡¯s the same with people. Everyone lives ording to their given vessel.¡± When he mentioned ¡®rabbit,¡¯ Vanil¡¯s eyes narrowed. I knew exactly who he was thinking of, and Iughed. ¡°Go. I¡¯m not interested.¡± ¡°¡­¡­That¡¯s regrettable.¡± At that moment, a call for Vanil resonated in the waiting room. It seemed it was his turn to participate. Vanil left the waiting room after giving me a nod, suggesting I could always change my mind. ¡®Rabbits and lions.¡¯ I don¡¯t me him. To him, that was the only logic. Aaron, trying to climb up even though he wasn¡¯t fit to, must seem like a rabbit attempting to eat meat. ¡®What happened to Aaron.¡¯ I was the only one left in the yer¡¯s waiting room. I gulped down thest of the healing potion and then nced at a bulletin board on one side of the room. A hologram screen was updating the bracket in real-time. Fortunately. Aaron¡¯s name was still in the mix. He hadn¡¯t been eliminated from Group A. I finished the emergency treatment in the waiting room. The bleeding had stopped, and I was feeling better, but it would be difficult to fully recover today. The aftereffects of Ascendst for several days. Carrying this penalty, I had to win the individual match. Once my body felt somewhat okay, I left the waiting room. Most of the yers were watching the matches on-site. That would be better for scouting the opponents. I decided to go to the stadium to watch the match as well. Vanil was just defeating his opponent. This time, he used only his fists. I watched Vanil, who seemed to take it as a matter of course, then turned towards the second floor of the spectator seats. ording to the bracket, it was Aaron¡¯s turn next. Aaron, holding a spear, was heading towards the stage. ¡°Whew, the hero called the ¡®The Second Coming of the Sword Demon¡¯, he¡¯s really something. The depth of his skill is unfathomable.¡± From beside me, the spectators were chattering. ¡°Who¡¯s the other guy? I¡¯ve never seen him before.¡± ¡°He¡¯s from Niflheimr, just like the Sword Demon.¡± ¡°Oh, then is that man also exceptional?¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s ordinary. He doesn¡¯t overpower his opponents like the Sword Demon. Niflheimr doesn¡¯t really suit him. If you bet on that man, you¡¯re likely to lose everything. He¡¯s lucky to have made it this far, but he¡¯ll probably drop out in the semifinals.¡± As I listened to the heroes who had been eliminated in the preliminaries, I smirked and watched Aaron. Facing a dual swordsman, Aaron thrust and swung his spear. The dual swordsman countered by skillfully maneuvering his weapons against Aaron. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special.¡± ¡°Right? There¡¯s no impact. It¡¯s not even fun to watch.¡± The spectators gossiped. That¡¯s to be expected. Aaron didn¡¯t overwhelm his opponent, nor was his fighting style fast or shy. Aaron¡¯s techniques were simple thrusts and swings. Any novice spearman could perform such basic movement. His movements were neat like a machine, but nothing more. Aaron had not used any of the profound martial arts techniques that involved deep principles of weapon handling. ¡°He¡¯s so boring. Who else is a contender for the championship?¡± ¡°There¡¯s the ¡®Mad Dog¡¯.¡± ¡°Mad Dog?¡± ¡°Hemitted a massacre in the Battle Royale before entering the individualpetition. They say he split his opponent¡¯s weapon and head in half with a single blow. He seems to be in poor physical condition, but that mad beast is essentially a monster¡­ Uh!¡± A spectator who made eye contact with me gasped and quickly left his seat. ¡°What, what?¡± ¡°Come with me!¡± In an instant, two seats beside me were vacant. Am I even considered a hero anymore? I clicked my tongue and turned my gaze away. Or, I tried to. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Someone was sitting there. As if they had always been there naturally. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 186: For Just Once (10) (1) Chapter 186: For Just Once (10) (1) Aaron¡¯s quarterfinal match had just concluded. His opponent was a rare ss, a Magic Swordsman, blending magic with swordsmanship which gave Aaron a hard time. After a grueling 20 minutes ofbat, Aaron emerged victoriously, albeit with his body marked by numerous wounds. The audience, bored by the lengthy battle, yawned throughout. Next was Vanil¡¯s match. The entire stadium roared with cheers. Vanil, responding to the crowd¡¯s enthusiasm, wielded his rapier, striking his opponent¡¯s vital points with butterfly-like steps and dazzling hand movements. Soon after, the results of Group B, which I was part of, were announced. Naturally, I advanced to the next round. This time, the matchsted about 3 minutes. After the quarterfinals, the contestants were given a short break to prepare for the semifinals and the finals. [http://go.onewinch.tv/ ¨C One Inch TV] [Pick Me Up! ¨C 4-star dimensional city, Geomjae VS Mad Dog sh?!][BJ ¨C Lanata] [35,643 viewers] Niflheimr¡¯s fans installed safety devices between the stands and the stage and brought in a professionalmentator. The stadium was nearly full. After the semifinals and finals, there would be an award ceremony and the closing ceremony. It seemed that all the heroes from the dimensional city had gathered. The order of the matches was decided by spinning a roulette. As a result, I was the first in the semifinals. My opponent was a four-star Elementalist with a fire attribute, which made meugh since I had faced this type too often. The Elementalist was beaten into a pulp within a minute. Now, only Aaron and Vanil¡¯s match remained. [Tazza11 (Toto is my life): Who do you think will win? I bet everything on the sword master. If he loses, I¡¯m going to Han River.] [Hou38: LOL you know nothing. Haven¡¯t you seen the Mad Dog in the battle royale? Prepare to freak out.] [ToMuch7: Oh, the sh of rivals. I can¡¯t wait to see that hero in action¡­] Three heroes remained in the waiting room. Because the wounds opened up during the semifinals I was wrapping my hands again with bandages while looking around. Aaron sat on a bench in the corner, his expression unreadable. In contrast, Vanil appeared rxed, practicing his sword swings. ¡°The semifinal Group A match will now begin! The winner of this match will face another contestant in the finals. What will the oue be? Both contestants, pleasee to the stage!¡± The broadcast announced. Vanil sheathed his sword and left the waiting room without hesitation. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Aaron and I locked eyes. I opened my mouth. ¡°Win.¡± ¡°At all costs¡­ you mean?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Aaron clenched his lips tightly and looked back at me before slowly leaving the waiting room. Even if memories fade, the body remembers. Yet, he still only knew intermediate spear techniques. I also grabbed my sheath and left the waiting room. ¡°You, the contestant, should wait in the¡­¡± ¡°Who cares? It¡¯s thest one anyway. I¡¯m just going to watch from the stands.¡± I pushed past the staff blocking my way and walked down the corridor. Aaron¡¯s figure receded in the distance. ¡®Should I drink it now?¡¯ I took a potion out of my belt. A brilliant red one. Jenna had secretly entered the waiting room and handed it to me. It was a top-quality potion made by Anytng for moments like this. Drinking it would restore my original condition for about an hour. I should be able to hold out until the finals. I downed the potion in one gulp and stepped into the arena. I moved stealthily between the spectator seats and the stage. Vanil and Aaron were already climbing onto the caged stage. Even though they were both from Niflheimr, the atmosphere was starkly different. Vanil, whose uniform was spotless, contrasted sharply with Aaron, whose clothing was torn from fierce battles. ¡°Who do you think will win,mentators?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s obviously Vanil. From what I¡¯ve gathered, he has never lost in Niflheimr¡¯s training programs.¡± Commentators¡­ ¡°Win, Second Coming of The Demon Sword! Tear him apart!¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t one of them forfeiting? What is Loki thinking?¡± Spectators¡­ [Tazza11: F*cking! Win!] [Hou38: Not expecting much. Just drain his stamina.] Even the onlookers joined in. I found a secluded spot and sat down. The two heroes faced each other from opposite sides of the square stage. I ignored everyone and listened to the two of them in the square. ¡°You made it.¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve worked hard too.¡± ¡°You just had a good draw. You shouldn¡¯t havee to this event. You¡¯re going to tarnish Lord Loki¡¯s reputation.¡± Vanil drew his spear. It wasn¡¯t his primary weapon. Aaron also took out his spear in response. Peep! The whistle blew, and Vanil quickly lunged forward. His lightning-fast thrust aimed at Aaron¡¯s entire body. Aaron calmly rotated his spear to block the attack. Vanil held the spear shaft shorter, and this time, his shing attack stormed from all directions around Aaron. Speed, weight, posture. From thrusting to shing, from shing to pulling, and back to thrusting. Vanil connected these three basic movements to pressure Aaron. For now, Aaron calmly defended against them. ¡°Shall we move on to the next?¡± Vanil held the spear longer. The shaft vibrated and bent as the thrust shot forward. Multiple shadows of the spear tip scattered. These were not basic movements. Softness (?), swiftness (?), illusion (?). Techniques Aaron could never mimic. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± The spear tip grazed Aaron¡¯s shoulder, bursting the bandaged wound open, and blood spurted out. ¡°I¡¯ve heard your story. You spent 57 years there.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not him. He¡¯s special. You¡¯re not someone who can follow him.¡± Vanil¡¯s fierce attack continued. Various spectacr techniques unfolded from his fingertips. ¡°You can¡¯t beat me even with a spear. Talent is such. Even if you train for a million years¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­Shut up.¡± Aaron¡¯s face contorted. Yet, his hurled spear was effortlessly blocked. Vanil smirked. ¡°It¡¯s textbook-clean. But that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°If you came to fight, then fight. Why¡­¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m giving you some advice. You¡¯re also a Niflheimr affiliate. Your path isn¡¯t here. Give up.¡± Ping! Aaron¡¯s fingertips shot the spear. Vanil slightly moved his head to dodge. As if he saw it alling. ¡°He¡¯s just ying with him. I don¡¯t need to see more.¡± ¡°Hurry up and finish this. I want to see the fight with the Mad Dog in the finals.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s fun to watch! The spear moves so swiftly.¡± ¡°He¡¯s just dodging everything!¡± The spectators murmured. I sighed. Aaron relentlessly thrust, but Vanil evaded all with light movements. That was his domain. To break through one domain, one must acquire simr capabilities. ¡®Couldn¡¯t he even learn that?¡¯ A skill essential to mastering intermediate weapon techniques, yet it seemed he had failed to master even that. He had forced himself beyond an originally impossible realm. His movements became devoid of unnecessary motions. Moreover, they sharpened and became more precise. But that was all. ¡°That¡¯s your 57 years.¡± Vanil spun his spear. Aaron¡¯s spear attack didn¡¯t even touch Vanil¡¯s coat. ¡®¡­¡­Win.¡¯ I told Aaron. You can¡¯t win with just technique. If it were all about technique, Ridigion would have been the strongest. Surpass that level. Otherwise, you can¡¯t reach where I am. ¡°Kuh!¡± Aaron staggered. Vanil¡¯s spear de deeply gouged his side. Blood seeped through his uniform. ¡°Surrender. I don¡¯t want to hurt apatriot.¡± ¡°Be quiet¡­¡­¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Vanil scoffed and rotated his spear. ¡°I¡¯ll make you understand your ce.¡± Countless spear strikes wereunched at Aaron. Aaron swung his spear to defend his vitals, retreating step by step. Until he reached the edge of the square stage. ¡°Now sleep!¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 187: For Just Once (11) (1) Chapter 187: For Just Once (11) (1) The main event of the third majorpetition. The individual finals had begun. ¡°Crazy dog! Cut that bastard into pieces!¡± ¡°Looks like he¡¯s about to die anyway.¡± ¡°The Demon Sword and the Mad Dog should¡¯ve shed in the finals! Not this weakling!¡± Booooo! The audience continued to jeer. I stepped forward. [Tazza11: F$ck!!! jhwaemuraengnlinri!! My bet!!!!!! Aaaahhh!!][Hou38: Lol, easy money. Totally honey-butter tier! Agree? Agree!] [Tazza11: Kill him! Kill him!!!] How noisy. There are too many low-level spectators. I loosely gripped my sword and took another step forward. Aaron stood motionless in ce. Of course. Just standing there must be hard for him. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if he was already dead. ¡°Ah¡­ Urgh¡­¡± Aaron groaned heavily. Barely using his spear as a staff to support himself, His arms and legs trembled incessantly, and sticky blood dripped from his mouth. ¡°Do you resent me?¡± ¡°¡­No, Hyung-nim.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie. I know everything.¡± I sneered. If I hadn¡¯t persuaded him, Aaron wouldn¡¯t have to endure this pain. He would have livedfortably as a trainer in Townia. Though he once struggled with being behind others, if I didn¡¯t run my mouth, now he would be content with his life like Dika. I knew. What kind of end did the heroes who went there with high hopes meet. What despair and loneliness they faced, I could see it clearly as a Master. Even knowing that, I persuaded him. I made Aaron like this. There were countless challengers. Those whoughed through grueling training, who didn¡¯t blink an eye at anything, who wanted to sell their soul to be stronger. They easilysted a year. Manysted ten years without difficulty. But when it went beyond a hundred years¡­ ¡®It¡¯s easier said than done.¡¯ The moment they realized they had no achievements in all those years. The moment they realized that there were others who negated their hard work in just a few months. ¡°Aaron.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Give up. You have no talent.¡± I let my sword hang down. ¡°Return to Townia. I¡¯ll give you the trainer¡¯s position. Livefortably there.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Your path is a thorny one. There¡¯s nothing there. If you choose it, you¡¯ll never change until you die. You¡¯ll live in pain all your life.¡± Aaron wavered. I took a step closer to him. ¡°What¡¯s the point of bing stronger? To show off to others? To act superior? Don¡¯t seek what is beyond your capabilities. Everyone has a suitable ce.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If you do your job, you¡¯ll naturally rise up with us. I¡¯ll save your sister too. You can go back home. You don¡¯t have to dirty your hands.¡± Aaron¡¯s lips moved, but only blood-mixed saliva flowed out. ¡°Just nod your head. I¡¯ll make it easy for you.¡± I looked ahead. Above the audience, near the ceiling, a boy sat by the venttion. Wearing a pressed-down hat, the boy looked down at Aaron on stage. ¡°Answer me, Aaron.¡± I said. Aaron¡¯s lips moved again. ¡°¡­No.¡± ¡°What? I can¡¯t hear you.¡± ¡°No¡­ Hyung-nim¡­¡± ¡®Is that your answer.¡¯ I smiled faintly. Then I aimed my sword at him. ¡°¡­¡­¡± At that moment, I realized Aaron had lost consciousness. He still stood upright, but his eyes had already lost their light. My figure, reflected in his eyes, pointed the sword. ¡®Let me show you.¡¯ I scraped the floor with my sword. Whoosh! Blue mes sparkled brilliantly. [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has entered Ascend state!] Crack! The marble tiles tore apart like tofu. The swirling mes burned fiercely to the end of the stage. Boom! I stepped forward strongly. The ground caved in, and spiderweb-like cracks spread in all directions. Maximum output. No holding back. Despite top-grade potions, wounds opened, and blood burst from my body. Crack. Muscles tore, bones broke, and the sound echoed in my ears. Time slowed. 1/100 of a second. 1/1000 of a second. Aaron¡¯s eyes stillcked light. Toward the half dead Aaron, A great sword enveloped in blue mes swung down. [Skill, ¡®Soulde Fusion¡¯ activated!] You and I started from different points. Though both are 1-star we were iparable. I mastered all the strategies of this world, had talent, willpower, and even an invincible force behind me. But you¡­ ¡®You had nothing.¡¯ At first, you cried at the back, unable to fight. Later, you tried desperately, but even that didn¡¯t work out. Whoosh! Space itself was being torn apart. mes devoured everything they touched, burning fiercely. ¡®Show me.¡¯ Just before the mes engulfed Aaron. ¡°¡­¡­¡± He moved. Grasping the spear with his blood-soaked hand. Empty eyes reignited. Hundreds of shadows appeared on the stage. The shadows, each in a different stance, wielded spears like Aaron. But it was a fleeting moment. The illusion that filled the stadium returned to Aaron¡¯s body. ¡®¡­¡­¡¯ Aaron thrust his spear. Thousands of shadows appeared near the spear de. Not thousands. I widened my eyes. Tens of thousands. Whoom. The shadows, like bees¡¯ wings, surrounding the spear de soon merged with it. I knew it. Condensing tens of millions of thrusts into a single one¡­ Myuden¡¯s secret technique, a deadly spear art. ¡®Did he perfect it?¡¯ Bang! I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 188: Just For Once (12) (1) Chapter 188: Just For Once (12) (1) I opened my eyes. The striped pattern on the ceiling came into view. It seemed like a private hotel room. However, it wasn¡¯t the room I had been in. A king-sized bed with pristine white luxury sheets. Lavish wooden furniture was ced around the room. ¡®¡­Good grief.¡¯ I got up from the bed. There wasn¡¯t any pain. The aftereffects of Ascend werepletely gone. My body seemed to have returned to normal. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡±As I was yawning, a woman in uniform entered the room. It was Yu. Well, there was no way she wouldn¡¯t appear here. ¡°You¡¯ve been sleeping all day. I thought you were dead.¡± ¡°You were here.¡± ¡°Yes, even before Master arrived.¡± Yu smiled and handed me a ss of water. I drank it down in one go. ¡°What happened with the event?¡± ¡°After the Master copsed, the closing ceremony was held. Since then, a day has passed, so everyone has returned to their original waiting rooms. The only ones left here are our Niflheimr and your Townia.¡± I looked out the window. The sun was caught halfway up a building. In the distance, a wave of light was engulfing the city. ¡°The dimensional city will disappear by today. If we leavete, we¡¯ll get swept away too.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve prepared breakfast. Would you like to eat?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± My armor and coat were hanging on a hook next to the bed. After putting on my outfit, I picked up the scabbard lying beneath it. Kaak. With a scraping sound, the de of Bifrost was drawn and broken in half. Finally, I could grasp the reality of what happened with Aaron. ¡°It was a splendid duel. Even Ridigion couldn¡¯t stop admiring it. He¡¯s looking forward to when you be a six-star.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Master, you¡¯re truly remarkable. To win two championships. Both Earth and Mobius are buzzing with your story. This event has made even the rankers pay attention to you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s annoying.¡± I didn¡¯t want unnecessary attention. Well, I was the one who gave them a reason. Even if I could have gotten through with Ascend, I couldn¡¯t hide the power of the Soulde Fusion. Any Master with a keen eye would grasp the significance of the technique I used. After all, I broke through the protective barrier set up outside the stage. ¡®I didn¡¯t want to be noticed¡­¡¯ But there was no way around it without using the Soulde Fusion. No regrets. It was something that would happen eventually anyway. ¡°Like I mentioned yesterday, please get this repaired.¡± ¡°Leave it to me.¡± I tossed the sword to Yu. A space next to Yu opened up and swallowed the sword. Although Bifrost has a self-repair function, the technique used was beyond its capability. I left the bedroom and headed to the living room. Judging by the outside view, we were on the top floor of the hotel. Waves of light were swallowing traffic lights, roads, and various buildings. ¡°Aaron?¡± ¡°He¡¯s in the next room. Should I bring him?¡± ¡°Leave him be.¡± I¡¯ve said everything I needed to. When I meet that guy again, it¡¯ll be in Townia. By then, Aaron will likely be very different from the one I knew. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°What?¡± As I was preparing to leave the room, Yu spoke. ¡°Myuden suggested that Aaron defect.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just a suggestion; he seems quite adamant about it. He¡¯s even throwing a tantrum, saying he won¡¯t let him go, even if he has to cut off his legs. What will you do?¡± ¡°Tell him to knock it off.¡± ¡°Pardon me, but I also agree with the suggestion.¡± I turned to look at her. Yu had her eyes closed. ¡°One of Niflheim¡¯s 13th-floor seats might soon be vacant.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Myuden has lived too long. Longer than we can imagine.¡± Here we go again with the strange talk. I sighed. ¡°Are you trying to stop him froming back?¡± ¡°Not exactly. We¡¯ll have to send him at the right time. It¡¯s about what happens after that. After the matter with Townia is settled. If he doesn¡¯t choose to return to his original world¡­ it¡¯s worth considering.¡± ¡°Do you think Niflheimr will still be around then?¡± ¡°Of course. We¡¯re quite fond of the Master and this world. If possible, we¡¯d like to stay until we grow old and die.¡± Yu smiled at me. Until she grows old and dies, she says. What a joke. ¡°Lend me a sword. I don¡¯t have one to use while this is being repaired.¡± ¡°Take the one by the entrance.¡± A sword identical to Bifrost was in the umbre stand. Checking the item, it was of A-grade. Good enough as a spare while the original is repaired. I attached the scabbard to my belt. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°What now?¡± ¡°They are waiting.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± I smiled and left the entrance. Returning to my original room on the 8th floor of the hotel, I found all four members waiting for me. ording to Jenna, shortly after I went missing, Niflheimr¡¯s staff contacted them saying I was being treated. ¡°That¡¯s amazing. It didn¡¯t seem like a wound that would heal in a day.¡± ¡°We need to leave here. We can have the after-party in the waiting room. They said the dimensional city will disappear soon.¡± ¡°Sure. Is everyone packed? Sister Radi said she has the airship waiting right out front.¡± Everyone left the room, chattering. The heroes who had filled the corridor were no longer in sight. After the closing ceremony, they had been forced to disband. ¡°By the way, are you even human? I saw the Battle Royale video. You were beating everyone up. And then, with that body, you went to the individualpetition and won.¡± ¡°Right. Unlike someone who was struggling with poison.¡± ¡°Hey, sis did great too.¡± Jenna and Edis were chatting as they walked ahead. Behind them, Kishasha was chewing on jerky, and at the very back, Velkist was walking with a sour expression. I chuckled. ¡°Are you that upset about not participating in the individualpetition?¡± ¡°Not particrly. It¡¯s just a shame that my eyes were ying tricks on me. To win, it was right for you to go. If I had gone¡­¡± Velkist squinted. As if recalling that time. ¡°I want to ask one thing.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Are you sure your Soulde Fusion was pierced by that technique?¡± ¡°I¡¯m d that was all.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Velkist smirked and closed his mouth. He has sharp eyes as expected. Velkist seemed to have grasped a little of Aaron¡¯s technique. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 189: Advent Dungeon (1) (1) Chapter 189: Advent Dungeon (1) (1) After returning from the event site, we were given a few days of rest. Since we obtained the key materials from the event, Anytng would have needed some time. Anytng was preparing to expand the waiting room and construct a new airship. A hangar facility was created next to the dimensional rift, where production workers, led by a mechanic, were building the frame of the airship. I had other things to do. Though it was supposed to be a break, there were things that could no longer be postponed. Engraving. A hero¡¯s third ability, which could be awakened from 4-star, could be obtained from the Advent Dungeon. ¡¸¡­¡­.¡¹ The item synthesisb of the Magic Hall.Katiio was chanting a spell with his eyes closed. Every time the magic power rose from Katiio¡¯s body, the magic circle responded by shining brightly. [Oh! You! Light! Fall! Ah! On!] Iselle was tap dancing beside him in a cheerleader outfit. ¡®¡­¡­So noisy it¡¯s killing me.¡¯ Clicking my tongue, I moved my hands. [Starting item synthesis!] [Selected materials ¨C Intermediate Advent Stone, Dragon¡¯s Blood, Sharp ck Dragon Scale, Heavenly Dew, Queen of the Forest¡¯s Blood, Trace of the Dead, Prickly Mushroom, Dragon¡¯s Eye] [Completed item ¨C Unknown] [Sess rate ¨C Unknown] [Synthesis method ¨C Manual] I ced the prepared materials into the magic pot. When Katiio waved his hand, a purple sh of light emerged from the pot. This was one of the reasons magicians were favored. Magicians are usually excellent enchanters. When ced in the synthesisb, they receive significant bonuses for attribute imbuing andbining. [Please select puzzle difficulty. The higher the difficulty, the greater the rewards!] When I pressed the start synthesis button, a difficulty selection window appeared. No need to think about it. I chose the bottommost hell difficulty. [Kyaah! As expected!] ¡°Be quiet. I need to concentrate.¡± [Oh, okay.] Even if I did it roughly, there wouldn¡¯t be much difference, but there was always that one chance. I started solving the puzzle that appeared on the screen. [¡ï!Super Sess!¡ï] [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has created ¡®Intermediate Advent Stone (ck Dragon Soul)¡¯!] Thepleted item jumped out of the pot. I picked up the ck glowing stone. The surface of the Advent Stone was covered with dragon scales. It didn¡¯t look particrly good, but it meant sess. ¡®It came out well.¡¯ Given the high synthesis difficulty, it would have been hard without Katiio. I was d I forced him toe. After putting the Advent Stone in my pocket, I spoke to the sweating Katiio. ¡°Good job. You were a big help.¡± ¡°Whew¡­¡­ I thought I was going to die. But, what are you doing? That thing you just made¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find outter.¡± After patting Katiio on the shoulder, I left the Magic Hall. It was 1:45 AM. Anytng had logged off, and except for a few heroes, everyone was asleep. I chose this time on purpose. It would be a pretty difficult scene to exin. I walked through the darkened square and headed to the second floor of the waiting room. To the ce where the dimensional rift was located. ¡°There won¡¯t be any problems afterward, right?¡± [Of course. I manipted the logs perfectly. No one will suspect anything!] Iselle followed me. I descended the stairs, touching the Advent Stone in my pocket. ¡®It would be troublesome if the master found out.¡¯ What I was doing now would be the most suspicious incident among all the things I had done so far. I had taken some safety measures in advance, but it would be hard to avoid suspicion. All I could do was hope Anytng would let it slide. Because that¡¯s the best scenario. [With Loki as the sub-master, passing authority has be easier. Soon, you might be able to do it without me.] ¡°That would be great.¡± It¡¯s bothersome to ask Iselle every time. I arrived at the second-floor za. The door to the dimensional rift was already wide open. I took out the Advent Stone from my pocket. To obtain the engraving, one must go through quite aplex process. First, you need the Advent Stone, which is not easy to acquire, and then you must clear the Advent Dungeon that the stone opens. Of course, if you die during the conquest, that¡¯s the end. I moved the master¡¯s control panel that Iselle handed over. [Master, opening the Advent Dungeon!] [Tips/ Advent Dungeon is a special stage that can be opened with special events or Advent Stones. You can engrave heroes there.] Done. I walked toward the dimensional rift. Iselle waved goodbye behind me. [Loki, don¡¯t die! You muste back!] ¡°Of course.¡± Clunk. When I entered the circr room, the door closed. Threerge mirrors stood tall like tombstones. Each symbolizes the main dungeon, daily dungeon, and exploration dungeon. But now, there was one more addition here. [Prove your strength!] [Advent Dungeon: Difficulty ¨C ???] Advent Dungeon. Though it wasn¡¯t considered one of the main missions, the difficulty could be even higher. There were numerous heroes who had died trying to get an engraving. ¡°Yu, are you ready?¡± I asked, bringing my hand to my ear. ¡°Don¡¯t make any mistakes. One misstep and it¡¯s over.¡± A lightugh was heard. I approached the mirror inscribed with Advent Dungeon, holding the Intermediate Advent Stone. [¡ùCaution!] [If you die in the Advent Dungeon, you cannot revive.] [There is a failure rate in engraving. Heroes who fail the engraving fall into a ¡®contamination¡¯ state.] I erased the system messages that appeared in my view. I already knew all this. [¡ùCaution!] [The higher the engraving grade, the harder the difficulty.] [Choose an easy difficulty at first!] I put the Intermediate Advent Stone into the mirror. The surface of the mirror that swallowed the Advent Stone began to ripple ck. [The conditions for opening the Advent Dungeon have been met.] [Intermediate Descent Dungeon (Hall of the ck Dragon ¨C Party Rmended) is open.] [Entry in 10 seconds.] I exhaled. Hall of the ck Dragon. It seems to have worked. If I had offered an attribute-less Advent Stone, the stage would have opened randomly, but by inserting a synthesized Advent Stone like this, I could enter the desired ce. Now¡­ All I had to do was win. [Dum-dum!] [The Advent Dungeon is opening!] sh. A ck sh from the mirror engulfed me. When the light faded, I opened my eyes. A circr arena covered in sand. A man in a ck cloak stood there. [Head of Halkion] [Ricardo von Halgiraf Lv.???] The man¡¯s eyes turned to me. I had seen this guy before. This ce was also very familiar. We had fought here not too long ago. This was the field of the 20th-floor stage. ¡°¡­¡­Heh heh heh.¡± The manughed, covering his face. ¡°Being summoned here means¡­¡­ you want to devour me.¡± ¡°You know well.¡± I drew my sword. Advent Dungeon. Here, heroes devour monsters and make their abilities their own. That was the engraving. ¡°I can¡¯t rest even if I want to, huh.¡± ¡°Same for me.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± The manughed bitterly. ¡°It won¡¯t be the same asst time.¡± ck scales began to sprout from the man¡¯s skin. Crack. Giant arms and legs burst through his skin. His limbs twisted at odd angles, and his body swelled like a balloon. Finally, as the blood mist scattered, his form was revealed. [Danger!] [ck Dragon Halgiraf Lv.64] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 190: Advent Dungeon (2) (1) Chapter 190: Advent Dungeon (2) (1) [Do-doong!] [The Advent Dungeon is opening!] [Warning! Warning! Warning!] Whoosh. ck mes engulfed the entire sky. Boom. Boom boom. Boom boom boom. The ground shook violently, and the walls of the arena crumbled. mes surged through the gaps in the copsed walls. A rift in the sky.The enormous eyes of a dragon were looking down at me. ¡®Bingo.¡¯ I remembered what Neryssa had told me. The blood of the heads of the four great families of thest generation was so diluted, that they couldn¡¯t harness the powers they were supposed to have. What I was trying to summon was one of the four ancient species that made a contract with the Emperor when the Empire was created. It was said to split the earth with a gesture and set mountains aze with a nce. [¡ùCaution!] [Current power level insufficient to clear this difficulty.] [Retreat is rmended.] Numerous warning messages filled my vision. I waved the holograms away and exhaled. The hot air filled my lungs. Just by its presence, the temperature had risen by several dozen degrees. ¡®This is more like it.¡¯ I smiled, looking up at the dragon. Its burning eyes were staring at me. ¡°Give it to me.¡± ¡°Your power.¡± The dragon¡¯s pupils narrowed vertically. Whooosh! The wall of mes surged intensely. [Danger!] [Primordial ck Dragon] [Halkion Syraos Lv.???] A man surrounded by ck mes slowly descended to the ground. Three pairs of wings fluttered behind him. Holding a ck spear and d in jet-ck armor, the man spoke. He continued. ¡°We won¡¯t know until we try.¡± The man smirked. Simultaneously. ¡°¡­!¡± I fell to my knees on the spot. An unbearable pressure, as if my body would be crushed. It felt like the blood in my veins was boiling backward. Barely supporting my copsing body, I nced to the side. Crack. The ground, unable to withstand the pressure, was cracking like a spider web. This was not psychological intimidation. Gravity¡­ perhaps. ¡°¡­Is that so.¡± If Yu says he¡¯s strong, then he really is. I grinned. ¡°Then I can¡¯t let this slip away.¡± ¡°Give me a hand. I don¡¯t want to stay crouched.¡± I heard Yu sigh. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as apliment. This won¡¯t take long.¡± Bwoong. A dimensional gate opened above, and a double-edged sword covered in scales impaled the ground. I grabbed the sword while still kneeling. The dragon-ying sword Ascalon. A magical sword capable of dealing fixed damage to dragons. If the user had the dragon-ying skill, the efficiency would be multiplied several times over. [Ascalon¡¯s effect activated!] A white steel gauntlet fell from the dimensional gate. The gauntlet wriggled as if alive and attached itself to my right hand. ng. [Draupnir¡¯s effect activated!] Next was a small wooden box. Opening the lid revealed a crimson apple. I took a big bite out of the apple. [Idun¡¯s Apple effect activated!] Numerous weapons began to fall from the dimensional gate. [Argos¡¯ Eye effect activated!] [Fragarach¡¯s effect¡­] [Meginjord¡¯s effect¡­] This was myst chance. I had been saving them for this moment. ¡®Ascend.¡¯ [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has entered Ascend state!] Hundreds of kilograms of pressure were pressing down on me from all sides. I gritted my teeth. Clutching Ascalon, I firmly nted my feet on the ground and stood up. Oh, my foot! I turned the de and charged at the creature watching me. [Skill, ¡®Soulde Fusion¡¯ activated!] Boom! The first strike. The full-powered Soulde Fusion exploded against the ck dragon. Amidst the mes, thick dust billowed. Just as my body was about to scream from the recoil damage, a cold sensation from my abdomen spread throughout my body. It was the effect of Idun¡¯s Apple, which temporarily amplified healing ability by hundreds of times. [Skill, ¡®Soulde Fusion¡¯ activated!] [Skill, ¡®Soulde Fusion¡¯ activated!] [Skill, ¡®Soulde Fusion¡¯ activated!] With strength unimaginable for my current self, I relentlessly unleashed Soulde Fusion. Each swing of Ascalon released red lightning with dragon-ying properties, and the damage from Ascend and Soulde was continuously healed by Idun¡¯s Apple. Though my body was healing, the pain did not disappear. I gritted my teeth to the point of breaking and swung the sword. There was no time to rest. Between the dust, mes, and flying rocks, I could clearly see the creature standing there. ¡®It¡¯s too much.¡¯ Even after using the weapons of Niflheimr, there was no guarantee of victory. Such a risky gamble. The old me would never have attempted this. I could have obtained a high-grade engravingter, after growing sufficiently. But¡­ ¡®That¡¯s not enough.¡¯ Even now, when I close my eyes, ites to mind. If I had been stronger back then, I wouldn¡¯t have had to witness such a sight. I refuse to go through that again. ¡°If you understand, why don¡¯t you die already? This is exhausting.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 191: Engraving (1) (1) Chapter 191: Engraving (1) (1) The day after clearing the Advent Dungeon. Yu¡¯s nagging parade continued. Why did I take on such a reckless challenge? What would have happened if I had died? I had to listen to her lecture for about two hours. Since there was nothing wrong with what she said, I quietly listened. If things had gone even slightly wrong, I would have died, making all my previous efforts meaningless. A high rank and rarity don¡¯t necessarily mean a good engraving. Just like a hero¡¯s birth, it¡¯s all about how you use it. I did get greedy. If I had known that the engraving I risked my life to obtain was only A-grade, I would have reconsidered. Anyway, I used up all my stacks of weapon summons, and unless it¡¯s a very unusual case, I will have to fight with my own strength from now on. I didn¡¯t want to bring Niflheimr into small-scale disputes among masters. I didn¡¯t want to instill bad habits in Anytng, who had found his resolve. ¡®ck Dragon Blood.¡¯ That is the name of the engraving I obtained yesterday.I nned to embed the engraving today and test it out. However¡­ ¡°Neigh!¡± A gray horse raised its head and neighed. Kishasha approached the horse, holding a bundle of hay in her arms. ¡°Sorry, Gandalf. It¡¯s feeding time.¡± When Kishasha ced the hay in the horse¡¯s trough, Gandalf started devouring it hungrily. ¡°Eat up. There¡¯s plenty more.¡± On the second floor of Townia. I was in the stable, an auxiliary facility of the time and space rift. Kishasha was busy feeding the animals in the stable. She diligently carried hay, swept the dirty floor with a broom, and reced the water in the troughs. ¡°Need help?¡± ¡°No. It¡¯s my hobby.¡± Kishasha, with a serious expression, swept the hay on the floor with a rake. I could only watch from the corner. She would absolutely refuse any help. Taking care of the animals in the stable was her only remaining hobby. She said she had raised many animals in her hometown as well. ¡®The third floor dorm is gone too.¡¯ The forest and vige on the third floor of the waiting room, which had a simr environment to Kishasha¡¯s hometown, had been dismantled a long time ago. Well, since she wants to do it, I don¡¯t want to interfere. I sat down on a pile of hay and watched Kishasha busily working. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I¡¯m not here because I want to be. To embed the engraving, I needed a ce where I could be alone. The mansion on the fourth floor where I stayed was a mess due to remodeling. I had nned to embed the engraving in my room, but Neryssa practically kicked me out. The training center was the same. It was undergoing facility upgrades. For facilities above a certain level, expansion takes time. Therefore, the only ce where there wouldn¡¯t be anyone around at this time was here, the stable. I could do it at dawn, but including the test time, it might be dyed. It was currently the time when Anytng wasn¡¯t logged in. ¡°I¡¯ll finish this quickly and leave.¡± Kishasha mumbled while refilling the water trough in the stable. She seemed to know why I was here. ¡®For now¡­ three horses.¡¯ I looked around the stable. Currently, Townia has three horses. Each was Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast. They were captured by Jenna and Kishasha in the weekly dungeon. As the scale of missions gradually increases, the number of necessary horses will also increase. In higher-level missions, there will be not only horses but also other mounts. ¡°By the way¡­¡± I pointed to an animal bustling in the corner of the stable. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Ah, that.¡± Kishasha smiled and approached the animal. ¡°I forgot to feed you. Let¡¯s eat!¡± ¡°Coo¡­ Coo¡­¡± A chubby pigeon fluttered around Kishasha. ¡°I brought it from the dimensional city. It followed me to the airship when I fed it. Isn¡¯t it cute?¡± The pigeon began pecking at the feed frantically. Pigeon, my foot. It¡¯s more like a chicken pigeon. It was so fat that its neck was almost invisible. ¡°Its name is Goo Goo Corn.¡± ¡°Goo Goo Corn?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t it coo~? Huhuhu.¡± Kishasha patted the pigeon¡¯s head lovingly. The pigeon didn¡¯t care, busy eating the feed. ¡°Coo, coo¡­¡± I decided to respect her tastes. Kishasha¡¯s beast base should be a tiger. She was the one who calmly ate raw meat during mealtime. Katiio was horrified to see her tearing into the hind leg of a deer, dripping with blood. ¡®It¡¯s a wonder she doesn¡¯t eat it.¡¯ It¡¯s fat enough. Come to think of it, it¡¯s been a while since I had chicken. I thought it would taste good if fried. ¡°Coo¡­!¡± The pigeon looked up at me and shuddered. Kishasha also red at me. ¡°Han, you aren¡¯t thinking anything bad, are you?¡± ¡°What are you talking about.¡± She has sharp intuition. I chuckled and crossed my arms. While Goo Goo Corn was eating, Kishasha cleaned the birdhouse and filled the feed trough. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. It seemed she was almost done. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. Don¡¯t do anything weird.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t touch it.¡± ¡°Then.¡± With a refreshed face, Kishasha left the stable. She seemed to have relieved some stress. Fighting for a long time inevitably builds up stress. If not relieved in time, it can lead to poor conditions. Each member of Party 1, including myself, had a hobby to relieve stress. For now. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 192: Engraving (2) (1) Chapter 192: Engraving (2) (1) After a while. I was sitting against the wall, clutching my arm. The wound on my left arm had disappeared, but the burning pain lingered as if I had been burned. ¡°¡­¡­Hoo.¡± I sighed. Luckily, I acted quickly; if I had been a bit slower, it would have been irreversible. ¡°What do you think?¡± I looked down with a tone full of irritation. At my feet, a plump pigeon was pping its wings.The pigeon spun around in ce, inspecting its wings and body. ¡°You said you wanted a body, right? I gave you what you wanted. Instead of thanking me, you¡¯re angry?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Goo¡­ Goo!¡± The pigeon¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You¡¯re a pigeon now.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it great to have a body? By the way, that pigeon¡¯s name is Goo Goo Con.¡± Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect it to turn out this way either. I didn¡¯t expect a monster from the Advent Dungeon to appear before me. Even though I¡¯ve witnessed countless advents and engraving processes, this was my first time seeing this. ¡®Anyway¡­¡¯ I sat down on the floor. After gulping down the second potion, I looked at the pigeon again. The pigeon was waddling clumsily, looking down and examining its wings. It seemed unable to grasp the situation. After about five minutes of inspecting its body, the pigeon finally seemed to ept reality and scolded me. ¡°How do you want me to return you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking because I really don¡¯t know. It just happened, so tell me how, and I¡¯ll consider it.¡± The pigeon spread its wings after a moment of contemtion. ¡°Goo goo! Goo¡­ Goo!¡± The pigeon¡¯s beak opened and closed widely. ¡°You want to take over my body. If I return you, won¡¯t I die?¡± As I remained silent, the pigeon covered its beak andughed. ¡°Kukukuk¡­¡± ¡°Kuek!¡± I grabbed the pigeon by the neck and lifted it. ¡°Chickens sure make a lot of noise.¡± ¡°Kuak!¡± Ssh! I plunged the pigeon¡¯s head into the nearby water barrel. The pigeon pped its wings and struggled, but a mere bird couldn¡¯t have much strength. I pushed it deeper, to the bottom of the barrel. ¡°Kuek, kehek, kururuk¡­!¡± After counting to thirty seconds, I pulled it out of the barrel. Second plunge. I counted another thirty seconds. Third plunge. This time, I counted for a full minute. ¡°Kkirarak!¡± It wasn¡¯t until the fourth time that the pigeon quieted down. I pressed down on the pigeon¡¯s head as ity on the straw heap. ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me.¡± ¡°Kur¡­ Kurur!¡± ¡°Shut up, it¡¯s noisy.¡± I mmed the pigeon¡¯s head onto the ground and forced its beak open, stuffing it with straw. The copsed pigeon pped its wings weakly. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to understand the situation. Great race or whatever, right now, you¡¯re just a pigeon-like weakling. Got it? If you don¡¯t like it, try transforming into that proud dragon body of yours.¡± ¡°Still don¡¯t get it?¡± I smirked and stepped on the pigeon¡¯s head. Its skull was pathetically fragile. Just a little pressure and its head would shatter like a potato chip. ¡°I don¡¯t care. I¡¯ll just consider it bad luck and find a new engraving. Better than being taken by a pigeon chick who doesn¡¯t know its ce.¡± I applied a slight pressure with my foot. ¡°Kuek!¡± The pigeon pped violently. I had expected contamination, but not like this. I was quite annoyed. To the point where I didn¡¯t care what happened to the engraving. I almost ended up in an unpleasant situation. ¡°Why should I?¡± ¡°I said I don¡¯t need you.¡± ¡°Kueeeeeek!¡± The pigeon, coughing up straw, squirmed left and right. ¡°Do you get the situation now?¡± ¡°Good thing you understood, even ifte.¡± I eased the pressure off my foot. The pigeon was panting, lying on its side. ¡°Alright, Goo Goo Con.¡± I moved my foot. ¡°Good.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 193: The Black Seed (1) (1) Chapter 193: The ck Seed (1) (1) Several dayster. Early in the morning, in the private training room of the training ground, I was catching my breath. In front of me stood a row of dummies resembling humans. They were made of solid steel, tough enough to withstand most attacks without a scratch. If it were the old me, I wouldn¡¯t have dared to challenge them. ¡®But now¡­¡¯ Sreung! In an instant, I drew my sword. Simultaneously, I lowered my stance and switched on. [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has entered Ascend mode!]Before the searing pain spread throughout my body, I swung my sword, scraping the floor. [Skill ¡®Soulde Fusion¡¯ activated!] ¡®¡­Here.¡¯ [Unique Skill ¡®ck Dragon Scales¡¯ activated!] Dragon scales sprouted all over my left arm. The whip-like sword cut through the foremost dummy. The de, slicing through steel as if it were tofu, continued to leave a mark on the metallic wall of the private training room before disappearing. Crack! As I sheathed my sword, the shattered steel fragments fell in a heap. The recoil that used to torment me whenever I used Soulde Fusion waspletely gone. All I felt was a slight stiffness in my left arm. I sat on the iron chair and murmured. ¡®Status window.¡¯ [Han Istrate (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï) Lv. 40 (Exp 193/400)] [ss: Fighter] [Strength: 90/90] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Health: 83/83] [Agility: 81/81] [Skills: Intermediate Swordsmanship (Lv.6), Ascend (Lv.4), Soulde Fusion (Lv.3), Dragon Slicer (Lv.1), Insight (Lv.8), me Resistance (Lv.3), Dragon yer (Lv.3)] [Engraving Slot: 1/1] [1: True ck Dragon Blood (S, Lv.2)] [Proof of pure bloodline of the ancient ck dragon.] [Effect: All attribute defenses +20%] [Unique Skill: 1. ck Dragon Scales (Duration 1 second)] The description of the status window had be quite long. Currently, my level is 40. Recently, Ipleted my promotion to Fighter. Although my weapon skill levels increased only by 2, the growth of Ascend and Soulde Fusion was significant. Well, it¡¯s because I practiced them intensively. Additionally, I gained an engraving slot and a new skill. I touched the holographic graphicbeled ¡®Dragon Slicer.¡¯ [Dragon Slicer (Lv.1)] [Grade: C+] [Type: Unique, Link] [A linked skillbining Soulde Fusion and ck Dragon Scales. It nullifies the recoil damage of the Soulde Fusion. However, it can only be cast with the left hand, and its power is significantly reduced.] [Attribute: Fixed Damage] [Note: Exclusive skill for ¡®Han Istrate (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯] Dragon Slicer. A skill that nullifies the recoil of Soulde Fusion using the damage nullification property of ck Dragon Scales. It was the result of my all-night effort to make use of the engraving. However, it wasn¡¯t without its drawbacks. For one, it could only be used with the left hand where the scales appeared, and the skill¡¯s power was considerably reduced. Soulde Fusion is a skill that utilizes the entire body, while Dragon Slicer only amplifies the power of the left arm. The dragon scales only sprouted up to my left shoulder. I had no particrints. The piercing attribute remained, and even with the reduced power, it was sufficient as a finishing move. There was no need to use Soulde Fusion in useless ces and end up exhausted. ¡°¡­Phew.¡± I wiped the sweat off my forehead with a towel. To acquire this skill, I had to synchronize the activation times of Ascend, Soulde Fusion, and ck Dragon Scales within one second. Repeating the activation and deactivation of Ascend, I had endured hellish pain. ¡°Goo Goo!¡± I looked under the chair. A chubby pigeon was looking up at me. Crack! I stomped on the pigeon¡¯s neck. ¡°Kuack?!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky.¡± Crunch. Twisting my foot on the pigeon¡¯s neck, I said. ¡°Sure you were.¡± When I lifted my foot, Goo Goo Con rolled on the floor, coughing several times. I took him out of the stable because he didn¡¯t want to stay there, and he was wandering around the waiting room as if it were his own home. It had be a routine for him to intrude into my private training room where even Jenna couldn¡¯t enter. I nodded. So far, the scales only sprouted from my left arm. Moreover, the duration was less than a second. Once used, it couldn¡¯t be used again for at least an hour. I hadn¡¯t yet discovered what the hidden engraving skill was. It¡¯s probably thanks to the seven-star constitution mentioned by Yu and Ridigion. That¡¯s likely the reason this guy could enter my body even for a short while. After tidying up the training equipment, I started to loosen up my body. The maintenance after the mission had been longpleted. The facilities of the waiting room had been expanded once, and the construction of the second airship was sessfully underway. The promotions and job changes of thebat personnel, including mine, as well as the engraving events, had been safelypleted. It was time to go on a mission again. Yesterday, Anytng distributed consumables to the heroes. So, it was likely that the mission would start this evening. ¡°Stop with the nonsense.¡± ¡°Gu gu gu gu gu!¡± Goo Goo Con pecked the floor fiercely. ¡°¡­Iselle.¡± Iselle appeared, scattering stardust, and looked at Goo Goo Con with disdain. [ Is it you again? ] [ Quiet. I heard you tried to backstabl Loki! Just follow quietly without disturbing! ] Iselle took Goo Goo Con away. Left alone, I started stretching again. The penalty of Ascend doesn¡¯t disappear easily. I needed to return to normal condition by the evening when Anytng was logged in. And that evening. [ Wee to Pick Me Up! ] Anytng connected. [ Loadingplete. ] [ T O U C H! (Select) ] Entering the main menu, Anytng opened the item window. He then touched the rainbow-colored ticket at the top, and the antique-patterned ticket erged. [5-Star Guaranteed Summon Ticket] [Grade: S] [Use to summon a natural 5-star (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï) hero.] [Note 1 ¨C Grand prize of the World Raid Festa] [Note 2 ¨C Congrattions on winning the event!] After scrutinizing the ticket for a while, Anytng closed the item window and started the schedule. He received the operation report from Neryssa, the deputy sub-master, the training report from the training director, Roderick, and the equipment manufacturing report from the representative of the equipment manufacturing facility. Anytng quickly skimmed through the reports filling the screen and continued giving instructions. ¡®¡­He¡¯s not using it.¡¯ He didn¡¯t use the 5-star ticket. I thought he would use it immediately upon arrival, but he just stashed it in the warehouse. The reason wasn¡¯t hard to guess. He probably wants to prepare thoroughly for growth. Until now, Anytng has summoned heroes and left them on their own to grow. In other words, he didn¡¯t manage them at all. However, as the training ground level increased and instructors appeared, he became able to designate training methods directly. It seemed he wanted to nurture a hero with his own hands. It will take some time before the 5-star arrives. But¡­ ¡®It¡¯s suspicious.¡¯ Originally, there was no item called a 5-star summon ticket in Pick Me Up. Even I, who memorized thousands of items, had never heard of it, and it was suddenly released in this event. ¡®Tell said there are no natural 5-stars in Niflheimr.¡¯ If Niflheim obtained a 5-star summon ticket and used it? Would it end up as a failure? Surely not. ¡°¡­.¡± Maybe it¡¯s fortunate that the 5-star summon is dyed. I strapped my sword to my belt, donned my armor, and left the training room. Just in time, Anytng was selecting the party for the mission. [1st Party! Assemble!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 194: The Black Seed (2) (1) Chapter 194: The ck Seed (2) (1) I shook off my sword. Sticky droplets of blood sttered everywhere. The opponent died as a piece of meat, unable to preserve even one limb. ¡®It¡¯s a decent power.¡¯ Dragon Slicer. It seems like a technique that will be useful enough in the future. After wiping the blood off the de, I sheathed my sword. The ck knights, including the man, were already sprawled on the ground. Although it was an extermination mission, we didn¡¯t even need to step in. ¡°Who the hell¡­ are you!¡± The knight at the front stepped forward.¡®They can see us.¡¯ Not only the enemies but also the allied NPCs can see the heroes. It was one of the changes that happened as the floors went up. ¡°Are you also part of the cult army? State your affiliation!¡± The knight pointed his sword at me. I smirked and said. ¡°If you have a brain, think about it. Would we be here if we were with the cult army?¡± ¡°You insolent¡­!¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± Someone walked out, parting the encirclement. An impression that seemed familiar from somewhere. Wearing a helmet engraved with a crest, the young man underneath had a youthful look. The young man looked back and forth between me and the knight and spoke. ¡°This man is the hero who helped us in the battle a week ago. Do you remember? The man who ughtered the cult¡¯smanders in an instant. Without them, we would have been buried there.¡± ¡°Then, could it be¡­¡± ¡°Yes. He is our ally.¡± The young man bowed his head to me. ¡°It¡¯s the second time meeting our benefactor. I am Adel Radasteri, a knight of the Assinis household.¡± ¡°I am Han Israt. Over there¡­¡± I pointed to the 1st party members standing awkwardly in the corner. Jenna awkwardly waved her hand. ¡°They are mypanions.¡± ¡°We need to talk. This ce is chaotic, so I will arrange a ce. I¡¯ll also inform the captain and the princess of our benefactor¡¯s arrival. Follow me.¡± At Adel¡¯s gesture, the soldiers withdrew their encirclement. Adel nced at me to follow him, then started walking ahead. [Ding!] [Mission type has changed.] [Mission Type ¨C Exploration] [Master, there is a possibility of a long-term mission!] [Even if you log out, the mission situation will continue to be updated. You can revisit the missed mission videos from the menu.] The mission window updated. Exploration and long-term mission. It meant it wouldn¡¯t end in a couple of hours. I looked back. The members were following me, ncing at the mission window. The ce we arrived at after following Adel was arge multi-story barrack. It was constructed with leather and wood, closer to a building than a barrack inpletion. After waving to the guards, Adel guided us to the third floor of the barrack. ¡°Captain, I¡¯ve brought the hero.¡± Adel knocked on the third-floor door of the barrack. Soon the door opened, and just as Jenna was about to go in first. ¡°Excuse me, but I only have business with the leader.¡± ¡°Business?¡± ¡°There is something to investigate separately.¡± Velkist looked at me. I nodded. It was enough for me to handle the conversation alone anyway. The other members went downstairs with Adel. Beyond the door was the captain of the lion army. I¡¯ll know when I see it. I entered inside. On the wooden desk. A girl wearing a in mask was sitting. The girl with gray hair down to her back was looking at me, wrapped in a white fur coat. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You look like you¡¯ve seen something unusual.¡± A neutral tone voice leaked out from behind the mask. The captain I saw on the 40th floor didn¡¯t look like this. The build, voice, and gender were all different. ¡°That guy was demoted. From now on, I am the captain of the dispatch army.¡± The girl smiled. [Eldest Daughter of the Assinis Household] [Delphin von Asinia] ¡°As you can see, I look like this. It¡¯s not easy to show my face.¡± Delphin stroked the white horn growing beside her mask. Indeed. This must be the result of a strong mix of non-human blood. ¡°Are you Han Israt?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you from Pria. They say you came from another dimension.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Did she even tell her that? ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. It¡¯s true that we received your help. Without you, the army would have been annihted before I arrived. I express my gratitude.¡± Delphin lightly stood off the desk and bowed her head to me. ¡°I am Delphin von Asinia, the sessor of the Assiniss household, and the inheritor of the white dragon blood.¡± ¡°I am Han.¡± ¡°Take a seat first. I need to tell you about the current situation we are in.¡± Delphin handed me a chair. Once I sat down, Delphin began to talk. The background of the battle on the 40th floor. And the purpose of Pria and the dispatch army, and their current situation. ¡°That¡¯s the exnation.¡± The corners of her mouth curved under the mask. ¡°If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I¡¯ll tell you as much as I can.¡± ¡°This ce is¡­¡± ¡°The floating ind Asrank in the extreme west of the Townia continent. It is located thousands of meters in the air. We came here by airship to find the final key.¡± Delphin continued. ¡°From then on, it¡¯s as I exined earlier. We tried to retrieve the key with Pria¡¯s help. But suddenly, they appeared. We were ambushed.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Originally, we didn¡¯t want to interfere in this matter. We thought the key was just a myth, and we didn¡¯t care what happened to the wanted Pria. But the situation changed.¡± Delphin narrowed her eyes. ¡°Those guys are doing something insane. They¡¯vepletely changed since ten years ago. The prince, the cult, and the other households.¡± I see. It seemed like the reset point of Townia was ten years ago. The heroes who became monsters seem to have retained some memories. That¡¯s why they are desperately trying to kill Pria by issuing bounties and sending assassination squads. I quickly summarized Delphin¡¯s exnation. Initially, the Assinis family didn¡¯t trust Priya, but as she started finding the keys and her prophecies of destruction began toe true, they changed their minds. When she was finally looking for thest key, they provided substantial forces and airship units. The ce where the third key is hidden is a huge floating ind in the western continent. There, Pria and the dispatch army encountered disruptors. The cult¡¯s army. This was the background of the 40th-floor battle. ¡°Do you know¡­ the reason behind this?¡± ¡°Why are you asking?¡± ¡°Just in case you know.¡± I shook my head. The background of the creation of the wraiths was not something that NPC needed to know. Anyway, the rough estimate of the 45th-floor mission was clear. Retrieve thest key piece. Probably, the cult¡¯s army will interfere severely during that process. ording to Delphin, a massive number of troops are gathering at the rear of the floating ind. ¡°I can¡¯t understand. Why are they so obstructive?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of your valor. I¡¯ve seen it through magical videos. With that level of skill, I think you can be a great asset to us. Help us with the key retrieval.¡± ¡°I was going to do that anyway.¡± Even if I didn¡¯t want to, I have to. Because that will be the mission. ¡°Thank you. The assault on the cult¡¯s fortress will begin in a week. I¡¯ll prepare a ce for you at the strategy meeting. Feel free to share any opinions. For amodation and meals, you can talk to Adel. I¡¯ll prepare the best for you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 195. The Black Seed (3) (1) Chapter 195. The ck Seed (3) (1) The next evening. I was receiving a status report inside the tent provided by Delphin. ¡°There is a fortress built by the cult¡¯s army here.¡± Adel pointed to a spot on the map spread out on the table. I squinted my eyes. A square wooden structure stood in a gap blocked by cliffs on both sides. ¡°As you can see, unless we break through here, we can¡¯t go down to the underground of the floating ind where the key is located. ording to our reconnaissance, there are 3,000 troops stationed here. The walls are 8 meters high, and there¡¯s even a moat. It¡¯s hard to believe they built this fortress in just a month.¡± Adel rubbed his chin with a serious expression. He was giving me a preliminary briefing for the strategic meeting to be held the next morning. He was quite a kind person. ¡°A fortress, huh.¡± If the previous missions focused on defense, it seems we are on the offensive this time. We need to gather all the keys before the egg hatches. If that thing wakes up, it will be a real headache. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you will be helping us. It will be a great help.¡± Adel looked at me with admiration in his eyes. This man was the second son of the Radasteri family, a branch of the Assinis family, and one of the key staff members of the current expedition. Radasteri. That was the surname of Shay, the four-star knight I devoured when I first was summoned here. I asked if there was a woman named Shay in the family, but Adel shook his head, saying he hadn¡¯t heard of such a name. ¡°There¡¯s one possibility.¡± It seems that memories in Townia are erased or overwritten when one is being summoned as heroes to the waiting room. Thinking of Shay and Neryssa, who was Pria¡¯s maid, made it clear. Pria didn¡¯t recognize her at all. ¡®One four-star and one five-star remain in Townia.¡¯ That meant the man in front of me was a strong four-star candidate in Townia. He was said to be the most outstanding among the branch family members, except for the main family¡¯s sessor. Of course, the five-star candidate was also easy to guess. Delphin von Asinia. I recalled what Adel had said about her. ¡°The strongest in the Empire.¡± Unlike the diluted bloodlines of families like Halkion, Lantia, and Shutenberg, the Assinis household maintained their pure bloodline, making their strength on a different level. Adel also said that if Delphin had been at the 40th-floor battle, the situation would have been different. ¡®That kid is a five-star candidate?¡¯ Well, we¡¯ll find outter. I continued listening to Adel¡¯s exnation. Our role was simple. When the main force attacks the front of the fortress, we will nk it, infiltrate, disrupt their formation, and open the gate. It was a straightforward yet effective strategy. ¡°Once the fortress is breached, elite troops including Her Highness and our captain will infiltrate the enemy¡¯s stronghold. We would appreciate it if the heroes could then join the main force and clean up the remaining troops.¡± ¡°Clean up the remaining troops?¡± I continued. ¡°So, you want us to stay in the fortress?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Adel nodded. ¡°There will be fierce resistance from the enemy underground. We don¡¯t want to burden the heroes with such dangerous roles. We have our pride too, so we will not rely on you for everything.¡± I crossed my arms. The implication was clear. After the fortress assault, we were to step back from the front lines once the underground infiltration began to steal the key. ¡°That¡¯s a bit problematic.¡± If they could retrieve the key on their own, there would be no reason for us to be summoned. Something was bound to go wrong. I decided to stay quiet for now. There was no need to create conflict unnecessarily. I could step in if things went southter. At that time, we could do what we needed to, no matter what anyone said. ¡°I don¡¯t n to show the same disgrace as before. If our captain is present¡­¡± ¡°Is she that strong?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± Adel looked at me with eyes full of pride. Well, being called the strongest in the Empire, she must be strong. This guy had seen me fight firsthand, so Delphin¡¯s strength seemed to beparable to mine. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± There would be a chance to see her skills at least once. To see what abilities she had, and whether she was fit to join the heroes in the waiting room. If she met my expectations, I nned to recruit her actively. It was easier to tackle missions with heroes rather than mere NPCs. ¡°By the way, where are yourpanions? I heard they¡¯re not outside the tent, and they¡¯re not here either.¡± ¡°They returned to their original ce. They¡¯lle back when the assault begins, so you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± ¡°Their original ce¡­ Do you mean the other dimension?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± Adel fell silent with a stiff face. He must know that we were unusual beings. Appearing and disappearing suddenly, different every time they saw us. ¡®They went back to their original ce.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t a tale. It was the truth. When the first party entered their dedicated tent, the mission status was updated. The time ratio between the mission and the waiting room was fixed at 1 to 1, allowing heroes to move freely in and out. So I stayed to convey the situation, and the rest of the members returned to the waiting room for the basic briefing andbat preparations. Anytng even turned off the gamepletely. The party members were probably talking with Edis. Other parties would also participate in the fortress assault. Edis¡¯ first assault team was scheduled to support the main force in therge-scale battle. I looked at the corner of the tent. Adel didn¡¯t seem to see it, but a blue light emanated from the oval-shaped portal. It led back to the waiting room. ¡°Strange mission indeed.¡± The missions in Pick Me Up were usually simple, like hunting, survival, and offense or defense. There were rarely suchplex missions. From the beginning, this ount was strange. Survival did appear on the 5th floor, corpses revived on the 10th floor, immune monsters emerged on the 20th floor, and suspicious stages like sea hunting appeared on the 35th floor. Evenpared to Niflheimr, it was abnormal. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I shook my head. Even I couldn¡¯t interfere with the mission format. If there were no options other thanpleting the mission, unnecessary thoughts were pointless. ¡°All the officers of the expedition will attend the meeting tomorrow morning. We¡¯ve prepared seats for the heroes as well, so please feel free to share your opinions.¡± Adel finished speaking and left the tent. I put my feet up on the table with the map of the floating ind spread out. ¡°Hmm.¡± I probably won¡¯t have a chance to voice my opinion at tomorrow¡¯s meeting. Whether we were benefactors or not, we were outsiders from a suspicious ce. Delphin invited me to the meeting out of courtesy, but that was likely the extent of her consideration. If they gave us preferential treatment, it would surely cause discontent among the officers. For the morale and operation of the unit, we would follow the ns they set. ¡°Pria is in the same boat.¡± She was in a simr position. Deprived of her status and pushed out by the Empire. Respected as a member of the royal family, but without any real authority. She didn¡¯t even have a seat at tomorrow¡¯s meeting, making her more of a figurehead. Well, I had noints. We wouldn¡¯t stay here long anyway. It was just a temporary alliance. Once the task was done, we would part ways, and if useful, we could re-establish the rtionship. I closed the entrance of the tent and returned to the table. There was something to do before morning. ¡°Where will the variablee from?¡± Whether the problem would arise during the fortress assault or during the infiltration. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 196: The Black Seed (4) (1) Chapter 196: The ck Seed (4) (1) I wiped my cheek. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Blood sttered from Delphin¡¯s body. The one Adele praised as the strongest in the Empire had be a bloody mess with just a wave of that woman¡¯s hand. She died, without any proper resistance. ¡°You worm-like b$tch.¡± Perseine looked at Delphin¡¯s corpse with disdain before shifting her gaze to me. A soft smile appeared on her lips. ¡°You are worlds apart from that trash who moved without any thought or belief. It was impressive how efficiently and effectively you killed ourrades.¡± I frowned. Judging by her speech, she seemed beyond the usual category of monsters. ¡°Did you think we wouldn¡¯t realize that we were mere sacrifices for the growth of you heroes? Did you really think we¡¯d quietly die by your hands?¡± Perseine smiled brightly. ¡°In other worlds, it might be different, but here, we have our great Prince.¡± I lowered my stance. Ready to move at any moment. The creature before me had ground Delphin to pieces in an instant. Using some unknown magic. I couldn¡¯t let my guard down even for a moment. ¡°Oh my, there¡¯s no need to be so wary.¡± Perseineughed gracefully, covering her mouth. ¡®¡­This is bad.¡¯ I never expected things to turn out like this today. Right now, neither Jenna, Velkist, nor Anytng were here. It was just me. ¡®I need to buy time.¡¯ We¡¯re supposed to contact the waiting room periodically. If they don¡¯t hear from us by morning, they¡¯ll send reinforcements immediately. ¡°What is your goal?¡± I opened my mouth. ¡°Is it revenge?¡± Perseineughed bitterly. ¡°I¡¯m not really interested in revenge. We¡¯re already done with that. We¡¯re just remnants now, just like the current Townia.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°First, we want to return the humiliation we suffered, not just equally, but a hundred, a thousand times over.¡± She said she wasn¡¯t interested in revenge. Perseine threw Delphin¡¯s bloody horn to the ground. ¡°And second¡­¡± ¡°Is it liberation?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like men who interrupt. But fine. Liberation, yes, that¡¯s part of it. Ever since this happened¡­¡± A bulging ck vein throbbed next to Perseine¡¯s eye. She gritted her teeth as if in considerable pain. ¡°Every moment feels like madness, every day like hell.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°But revenge or liberation, those are just secondary objectives. We don¡¯t cling to such trivial things. We only follow the Prince.¡± Perseine cradled her cheek with her hand, mumbling with a dreamy expression. ¡°Oh, Prince¡­¡± She seemed out of her mind. I spun my sword. I intended to cut her neck if I saw an opening, but even while she was dazed, her fingers were pointed at me. ¡°We will¡­ transcend.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°And liberate. All who suffer. That is our cause. That is the will of his majesty the great Prince.¡± Transcend. Liberate. Suddenly, a thought struck my mind. What these lunatics aimed to achieve. ¡®They¡¯re aiming to ovee the shackles of the missions, fields, heroes and monsters.¡¯ Is that even possible? ¡°You figured it out, didn¡¯t you? As expected, you¡¯re smart, Hero. It¡¯s worth having an eye on you. You¡¯d be perfect as the Prince¡¯s left arm. I¡¯m the right arm, so that¡¯s out of the question.¡± ¡°Are you recruiting me right now?¡± ¡°Is that a problem?¡± Perseine winked at me. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about your exploits. It would be a shame to waste your abilities. Haven¡¯t you had enough of ying the hero? Join us. We¡¯ll treat you well.¡± I see. So she hadn¡¯t picked a fight with me right away and had exined their goals in detail to recruit me. Anyway, there¡¯s only one thing to say. ¡°My answer is¡­¡± ¡°Screw you.¡± The next moment, her finger pointed at my heart. I threw myself t on the ground. Boom! With a deafening roar, one side of the barracks flew away like a torn sheet of paper. ¡°Hahaha!¡± A cheerfulugh flowed from the dust. ¡®This is¡­¡¯ Disadvantageous. I threw myself into the hole outside. Then, spinning my body once in mid-air, Inded on the ground. Boom! A massive vortex erupted from the roof of the barracks, shattering the three-story building to pieces. Soldiers scurried about in panic, screaming. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the captain¡¯s barracks?¡± A blue shadow jumped out from the rubble of the building. Perseine. She was floating in the air, humming a tune. ¡°You bastard! Who are you?¡± A knight drew his sword and shouted. Perseineughed joyfully and pointed at the knight. sh! The knight was turned into a chunk of meat in an instant. Perseine¡¯s deep blue robe fluttered wildly. Soon, magical spheres began to float around her robe. Dozens of magical spheres gradually transformed in the air. They burned or froze, spinning fiercely and sending lightning bolts in all directions. ¡°Therefore, Imand you.¡± The soldiers didn¡¯t even have time to react. The magical spheresunched from Perseine¡¯s robe began to bombard the camp indiscriminately. Boom! ¡°Argh!¡± A man¡¯s flesh was torn apart. The magical spheres incinerated several meters radius wherever they fell. Flesh flew, barracks burned, and the ground was upturned. ¡°Hahahahaha!¡± Boom! Boom boom boom boom! Perseine fired magical spheres with catastrophic power like a machine gun. I dodged the bombardment points and ran towards the barracks. There¡¯s a dimensional gate connected to the waiting room there. I needed to call the first party members. ¡°Oh, by the way, Hero.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You seemed quite fond of one of my disciples.¡± I frowned. ¡¸La Grand Sedus.¡¹ I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 197: The Black Seed (5) (1) Chapter 197: The ck Seed (5) (1) Ping! The dagger shot out from my left hand and embedded itself into the chest of the saintess. Taking advantage of her stumbling, I pushed off the ground and ran backwards. I had no time to deal with them; finding Pria was my top priority. ¡®All of them are boss-level monsters.¡¯ A woman who fires magic like a machine gun, a beastman with immense strength, and even a saintess with strange powers. I had seen them as major figures in the promotion ceremony, but I never expected them all to appear here together. If it was one by one, maybe, but against three, I couldn¡¯t guarantee victory. I moved towards the outskirts of the camp and looked back. They seemed to be dealing with the troops first, as they were no longer chasing me. In the distance, I saw thousands of soldiers being swept away. I scanned the area. Beyond the hill where the camp¡¯s entrance was, I saw units among the fluttering gs. It was the church¡¯s army. (T/N: I¡¯m using Church instead of Cult from now on.) ¡®Maybe they were never a match from the beginning.¡¯ I thought they might be somewhat useful. I clicked my tongue lightly and increased my speed. [Church Army Soldier Lv.25] X 32 [Church Army Knight Lv.28] X 2 The church¡¯s forces had already infiltrated the whole area. I kicked away one rushing at me and stabbed his chest with my sword. Then, I cut down three more in session and headed for Pria¡¯s tent. I lifted the entrance p. ¡®¡­¡­She¡¯s not here.¡¯ The interior was neatly organized. It didn¡¯t seem like she had been here and left. This meant she wasn¡¯t in the tent when the invasion urred. ¡®Where could Pria have gone¡­¡­.¡¯ There was only one ce that came to mind. I turned and headed towards the path leading to the cliff. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Save me! Please, save me!¡± There, too, the massacre continued. Soldiers were screaming in despair, swinging their swords. They were killing and being killed by each other in terror. Friendly fire. In the midst of the screams and scattered corpses, the saintess stood. With each sh of violet light from her half-open left eye, the soldiers¡¯ movements became more intense. My sword pierced the saintess¡¯s heart. I threw the saintess into the bushes. Her body, spraying blood, wriggled on the dirt. The scattered blood was gathering into the hole in her heart. I had pierced her vital point with a de, yet here she was, appearing unharmed. ¡®Regeneration?¡¯ Spitting out blood-mixed saliva, I ran again. Good thing I didn¡¯t deactivate my Ascend state. I almost got caught again. Her technique seemed to be a type of magic eye. Likely some form of control magic. I¡¯ll keep that in mind for when I face her againter. Gradually, a fog spread before my eyes. From within the fog came the sounds of screams and shing weapons. I loosely gripped my blood-stained sword hilt and leaped in. ¡°Ugh!¡± Pria, holding a rapier, was struggling against five soldiers. However, she was outmatched. A thick spear de grazed Pria¡¯s forearm. She groaned and dropped her sword. Various weapons aimed at her vital points. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ I intervened just then. I spun my body as I approached Pria. The circr sword strike split two spear des and one axe in half. Then, I kicked one who was about to stab Pria with a dagger and swung my left hand. I caught the sword aiming for Pria¡¯s neck. Pulling the sword towards me, I disarmed the soldier. And then. Crack. The five soldiers fell simultaneously, their bodies shattered. ¡°Whew.¡± I shook my left hand. Blood was seeping out from the outside of my hand. ¡°Han¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Why so surprised? It¡¯s not the first time. Skip the greetings. Just by looking, you can tell the situation isn¡¯t good.¡± ¡°What¡¯s¡­¡­ happening?¡± ¡°The church¡¯s army invaded and is causing chaos. We¡¯re getting thrashed.¡± I steadied my breath. [¡®Han(¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯s Ascend state has been deactivated.] Staggering, I managed to suppress the pain and dizziness. ¡°Then we must fight back! Where is Sir Delphin¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°Eek!¡± There was no time to exin. I grabbed Pria¡¯s wrist and led her out of there. If we took the left path from the camp, we¡¯d reach thending zone. I nned to hijack an airship and escape into the sky from there. ¡®But¡­¡­.¡¯ I held my forehead. In the distance, mes were rising from thending zone. A few airships that had taken off were also turning into fireballs and crashing down. ¡®Damn.¡¯ ¡°Han!¡± Then where should we go? If we exit through another part of the camp, it leads to the ins. Though spacious, it¡¯s wide open and not suitable for escaping. ¡®There¡¯s no other choice.¡¯ With thending zone blocked, the ins were the only option. I pulled Pria¡¯s wrist and changed direction. ¡°I said let go of my hand. I will follow.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± I released her hand. Pria rubbed her wrist, tears welling in her eyes, and looked at me. ¡°You have the key, right?¡± ¡°I always keep it with me.¡± ¡°Stick close to me.¡± The main force of the church¡¯s army seemed to have entered the camp as well. Wherever we went, there was blood, and screams echoed loudly. It was a one-sided massacre. I moved, hiding my body among the trees and bushes. Pria followed awkwardly behind me. ¡°What is¡­¡­ happening¡­¡­.¡± Bang! Bang bang bang! Persene was firing magic bullets from the sky. Pria¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°That is¡­¡­.¡± ¡°d to see her again?¡± ¡°The calm andposed Sir Persene is acting like¡­¡­ Mm!¡± I covered Pria¡¯s mouth. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 198: The Black Seed (6) (1) Chapter 198: The ck Seed (6) (1) Drip. A drop of water fell from the tip of a stctite. I looked up. A faint light seeped through a hole in the ceiling. The temperature was cooler than expected. It was cold enough that without extrayers of clothing, one would feel chilly. I sat on a protruding rock in the corner of the cave and gulped down a potion. This was my second bottle. With this, I had exhausted all the healing potions I had. However, the throbbing pain that seemed toe from deep inside my body, likely due to the prolonged use of Ascend, remained unchanged. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± I looked to the side. In front of theke in the middle of the cave, Pria was crouched, sitting. ¡°The troops¡­.¡± ¡°They must be annihted.¡± I answered briefly. There was no point in hiding the truth. The Assinis army dispatched to the floating ind to retrieve the key had beenpletely wiped out. All the key officers, including Delphin, had been killed, and the remaining forces at the camp had been massacred without a centralmand. They were now non-existent. ¡®This is troublesome.¡¯ I brought the empty potion bottle to my mouth. The escape mission had seeded somehow. Knowing the escape route in advance when scouting the camp and nning at the lodging was a huge help. The floating ind Asrank had an underground passage almost as vast as the surface. One of the hundreds of entrances was on a cliff. However, the cliff where the cave was located was sharply cut, so I had to perform a near-acrobatic feat of climbing from thousands of meters above ground. I put down the potion bottle. Though the escape was sessful, I couldn¡¯t return to the waiting room, and the dimensional gate didn¡¯t open either. I was still trapped here. ¡®Is this still a personal mission?¡¯ I looked to the right side of my field of vision. The mission objective window, which should have been there, was empty. There were no floor or objective notifications. I had experienced unknown missions before, but never to this extent. Even the stage clear message hadn¡¯t appeared. I had no idea what floor I was on or what type of mission this was. What is this? I bit my lip. Three boss-level entities had appeared simultaneously, and fragments of the series that would normally appear on the 80th floor or higher had appeared. This exceeded any difficult levels. It could be called a bug. ¡®Didn¡¯t she say something about transcending?¡¯ I recalled Perseine¡¯s words. Transcending. Liberating all who suffer. If the current situation was intended, they were clearly irregrs. ¡®This is¡­ a headache.¡¯ There was no improvement at all. It was impossible to summon the members of the waiting room. There was no contact. It seemed I had to proceed with the mission as it was. Without being able to receive supplies like potions. ¡®For now¡­.¡¯ I held my throbbing head. I had to organize the tasks I needed to do and prioritize them. There was no time to dawdle. If the monster inside the egg awakened, the situation would be much worse. Time was not on my side. Ipiled the information I had heard from Delphin, Adel, and Pria. Though the mission window wasn¡¯t visible, I could roughly grasp the objective. Collect thest key somewhere underground and return the egg on the surface to its original ce. The time limit is before that thing hatches. ¡®The problem is¡­.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t engage in a direct confrontation. I couldn¡¯t guarantee a win against even one of the three. If only the bosses were present, it would be somewhat manageable. But theymanded thousands of soldiers. On the other hand, I couldn¡¯t even summon the members of my party. I¡¯m sure they also know the mission objective. That¡¯s why they weren¡¯t chasing me directly but waiting for me in a suitable location. I was the one in a hurry. ¡°Phew.¡± A sigh escaped naturally. It had been a while since I felt like this. ¡®No answer.¡¯ A direct confrontation was impossible. I couldn¡¯t call for support. What was I supposed to do? Was I supposed to perform a suicide attack? ¡®At least if there were any surviving troops¡­.¡¯ If there were survivors from the expedition troop, I could use them as bait and infiltrate. However, judging by the camp¡¯s situation, the probability of survivors was close to zero. The enemy¡¯s forces consisted of well-trained soldiers numbering in the thousands and three monsters that surpassed the standard. And on this side¡­ there was only a 4-star hero and a nonbat NPC. ¡®I wonder what Anytng would think.¡¯ If he logged in in the evening, he would be able to grasp the situation. How the mission was going. After that, he might send a bug report to Mobius. In my thesis analyzing hundreds of missions, there had never been such a case. ¡®It¡¯s impossible.¡¯ My instincts as a master told me. The probability of sess in this mission was nonexistent. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ I gritted my teeth. So, was I supposed to die here? When did I ever move based on the sess rate? ¡°Han.¡± I turned my gaze. Pria¡¯s shoulders, crouched in front of theke, had shrunk. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°If the expedition team is annihted, can we retrieve the key?¡± ¡°We won¡¯t know until we try.¡± ¡°I am powerless. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look down. It¡¯s not over yet. We have to try what we can.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± This is frustrating. I approached Pria. She was crouching, hugging her knees. Her small, white hands were trembling. ¡°I¡¯ll go out, so stay still. If something happens, shout.¡± ¡°Where are you nning to go?¡± ¡°We need to eat.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 199: The Black Seed (7) (1) Chapter 199: The ck Seed (7) (1) I recalled the scene from the 4-star promotion battle. In the golden pce, there was a throne. However, the figure who appeared to be the emperor did not show up. So I asked Neryssa, and she said that the empire had no emperor since the first one and that the de facto leader of the empire was the first heir to the throne. The position of the emperor in the empire seemed to be simr to a permanently retired position. The sparrow closed its beak. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The prince inherited that blood. I had a rough idea of what this guy wanted to say. ¡®The emperor is¡­¡­.¡¯ He could use the interference power. I folded my arms. The outline gradually began to form. ¡®Was that man from Earth too?¡¯ Interference power. I heard about it endlessly from Yu. It was the power to twist space-time and reverse causality in this world. The source of that power was¡­¡­. ¡®The higher dimension.¡¯ The purpose of the game ¡°Pick Me Up¡± and the reason for the master¡¯s existence was to obtain this interference power from the higher dimension. ¡°Does that mean the blood has awakened?¡± What a fantasy-like story. I clicked my tongue. The following story was as I expected. That man used interference power to merge the four torn dimensions into one. And after gathering the lives from the four dimensions into one continent, he became the first emperor of the empire. That was Townia. ¡°What, did he marry all of you?¡± I just said it as a joke¡­¡­. Besides, wasn¡¯t this guy a man? When I saw him in the Advent Dungeon, he looked like a man in armor. As I looked at him with questioning eyes, the sparrow spread its wings. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to tell me that.¡± ¡°Chirp!¡± ¡°I told you to stop.¡± I pressed down on the sparrow¡¯s nape. Enough with the nonsense. I got the gist. The emperor married the four ancient species that ruled each dimension and one ordinary human woman. The descendants of the ancient species became the founders of the four major families, and the descendants of the human woman became the imperial family. He had five wives. Four of them were of different species. What a weird guy. Anyway, I think I know why Anytng¡¯s ount has been acting strange. Townia was not just a lower dimension, and there was a special being involved in its creation. And this time¡­¡­. ¡®Pryos Al Ragnar.¡¯ I recalled the man wrapped in red bandages. If he inherited the blood of the Earthlings and that blood awakened for some reason, it would not be impossible for him to exceed the standards. ¡®So he became a 7-star monster.¡¯ Given his origin, there would be no need to devour a master. Of course, there would be a few differences from a typical 7-star hero. If they were half-hero, half-master, the prince would be half-monster, half-master. The puzzle pieces started to fit together. The reason why Delphin, who was said to be the strongest in the empire, fell so easily. Originally, she would have been the strongest in the four major families. But if the prince¡¯s blood awakened, and if the prince could infuse his subordinates with interference power as a master does to heroes, then it would be no surprise if that magician became significantly stronger. ¡°The King of Beasts and the Saintess belong to different floors, right?¡± So they are jumping between floors. Changing missions¡¯ objectives arbitrarily too. It couldn¡¯t be more troublesome. ¡®Still, it doesn¡¯t seem perfect.¡¯ They are half out of the standard, but notpletely. If they hadpletely exceeded the standards, I would already be dead. ¡°Han? It¡¯s almost ready!¡± Pria¡¯s voice echoed from the back. It seems our time for idle talk is over. I walked out with the sparrow. Meat was being roasted over the campfire. ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee the taste. There¡¯s no salt¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± I took the rabbit meat skewered on a stick off the campfire. It¡¯s cooked but doesn¡¯t taste great. The smell is strong. ¡°By the way, aren¡¯t you going to eat that bird?¡± ¡°It¡¯s pitiful.¡± ¡°Pitiful¡­¡­?¡± Pria looked at me as if she couldn¡¯t believe it. Well, I have no intention of exining. I chewed the meat. I had obtained most of the necessary information. I also figured out what the current mission was about. My goal hadn¡¯t changed. To find the beastmen¡¯s base somewhere underground and steal thest key fragment. ording to the sparrow, the three keys are called the Essence of the Sky, the Vessel of the Earth, and the Chalice of the Sea, and they are divine items used by the emperor to seal the torn dimensions. ¡®Only those who inherit the emperor¡¯s blood can use the keys.¡¯ I looked at Pria. She was eating the meat with a sullen expression. ¡®Not all the news is bad.¡¯ Even if they borrowed interference power, they couldn¡¯t stay out of their assigned floors for long. In other words, except for Perseine, the 40th-floor Floor Master, the other two would soon return to their original floors. Luckily, I didn¡¯t have to worry about being ganged up on by three of them. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± After filling my stomach, I drank water by the campfire. ¡®What should I do?¡¯ I figured out why Townia got twisted, but nothing had changed. I was still alone, I still had toplete the mission within the time limit, and the enemy¡¯s strength was overwhelming. I looked down. The sparrow was pecking at small pieces of meat. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 200: The Black Seed (8) (1) Chapter 200: The ck Seed (8) (1) I squinted my eyes. A massive fortress was blocking the narrow canyon. It had towering walls, various magical cannons, and even a moat. Itspleteness was hard to believe for something built in such a short time. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ If things had gone ording to the normal scenario, I would have attacked that fortress with the Assinis expeditionary force. But things got tangled up. A sparrow at my feet chirped. ¡°I know.¡± Guards were stationed heavily on the walls. Such forces for just one person. How ttering. ¡®The mission objective is¡­¡¯ I nced to the side of my vision. [Floor 44.] [Mission Type ¨C Siege] [Objective ¨C Break through the fortress!] The disappeared mission objective had returned. As the sparrow said, it wasn¡¯tpletely off course yet. To some extent, the game rules were being maintained. The problem was that the reinforcements had disappeared. ¡®A solo infiltration, huh.¡¯ The final key was hidden deep underground in the floating ind. We searched for a ce to infiltrate from the cave we were in, but we couldn¡¯t find one in the end. Well, if there was such an entrance, there would be no need to build that fortress or for the expedition to prepare for war. The practical entrance to the underground temple was only beyond the canyon blocked by that fortress. I reviewed the current situation again. One hero, me. And one sparrow that can¡¯t do anything. I left Pria in the cave. I thought about bringing her, but it would be too inefficient to fight while protecting her. I¡¯m nning to cause havoc. The enemy¡¯s forces included one boss-level entity and hundreds to thousands of underlings. They were stalling for time inside the fortress. ¡°¡­¡­Ha.¡± It was stressful just thinking about it again. It would be nice if there was an object that could call allies like in previous missions. If this mission was a trap set by them, it was likely that there wouldn¡¯t be one. I would probably have to proceed through this section alone. ¡®Well, technically, not alone.¡¯ There was a sparrow chattering incessantly beside me. I snapped my fingers. [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ requests an ¡®Emergency Healing Potion¡¯. Upon purchase, the hero will acquire the ¡®Healing Potion¡¯. 500 gems will be consumed, and it can be purchased ¡®only once¡¯ in this mission. Do you wish to purchase it?] [Yes / No] A red potion appeared along with the purchase prompt on Anytng¡¯s interface. It was an emergency healing potion sold in thebat shop. Of course, there was a penalty. It could only be bought once per battle, and despite its low efficiency, it was extremely expensive. A whopping 500 gems. The amount to pull a premium draw once. [Yes(Selected) / No] [Emergency Healing Potion has been granted to ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)!¡¯] sh. A light shone above my head, and a red potion bottle fell. I caught the potion bottle and put it in my belt pouch. In the end, Anytng bought it. An absurd item that no one buys. After logging into the game and assessing the situation, Anytng neither reported it to the headquarters nor posted on the forums. He just sent one mail to my email ount. After contacting Iselle through the sparrow, I wrote a reply suggesting it would be better to watch the situation a bit more. ¡®You can report it if I die. Until then, I¡¯ll handle it myself.¡¯ A week. The time I spent here after the expedition was annihted. I had stayed quite a while. I was busy training. There was no trickery. Even after discussing with Pria and the sparrow and running multiple simtions. The conclusion was that any method, like disguising as a soldier or sneaking in via a supply wagon, wouldn¡¯t work. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Therefore, There was only one method left. I nodded. A week was enough stalling. Any longer and it would be dangerous. ¡®It won¡¯t take long.¡¯ Either I die. Or the mission ends. One of the two. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± I dashed out of the bushes. Then I walked up to therge iron gate fortified with steel. If infiltration is difficult, there¡¯s no need to hide. ¡°Stop!¡± Someone shouted from atop the wall. I looked up. A soldier in armor was looking down at me. ¡°Are you Han? We have a message from Lord Perseine.¡± I kicked a stone at my feet. Then grabbed it with my right hand. ¡°The lord says she¡¯s giving you onest chance. To achieve glorious liberation with us¡­!¡± Thwack! The stone I threw pierced the officer¡¯s helmet and smashed his skull. Since I had long surpassed human limits, my stone-throwing was no different from a bullet. ¡°This, this bastard¡­ Prepare for attack!¡± A man who seemed to be the officer¡¯s deputy drew his sword. Archers dozens deep drew their bows. The muzzles of magical cannons aimed at me. ¡°You don¡¯t say?¡± Strictly speaking, it¡¯s foolish. Even calling it a strategy is embarrassing. But¡­ what can I do if there¡¯s no other way? ¡°Shoot!¡± Papapapapapapapap! Hundreds of arrows flew at once. Then, Boom! The muzzles spewed fire. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Simultaneously, the sparrow spread its wings. Sizzle. Dark red lightning sprang from the sparrow¡¯s beak and wrapped around my left arm. ¡°I know.¡± I extended my left hand. [Unique Skill, ¡®ck Dragon Scale¡¯ activated!] Swish. Scales sprouted on my left arm. Immediately after, arrows and cannonballs rained down. [This hero is immune to physical attacks!] [This hero is immune to physical attacks!] [This hero is immune to physical¡­!] ¡°What, what is that?! Just shoot! Turn him to dust!¡± ¡®Activate.¡¯ [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ enters Ascend mode!] Crunch. The feeling of my entire body¡¯s bones shifting had be familiar. I lightly stomped my foot. The scene of the gate dozens of meters ahead quickly zoomed in. ¡®They said it¡¯s beyond the monster¡¯s limits.¡¯ This side is no different. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Bam bam bam bam bam bam bam! All the magical bombardment was neutralized. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 201: The Black Seed (9) (1) Chapter 201: The ck Seed (9) (1) Tuweh. I spat out the blood that had filled my mouth. No matter when I taste it, it always feels disgusting. After shaking off the blood from the halberd, the corpse of the knight, which had been cut in half, finally fell to the ground. ¡°Stop bragging ande back.¡± The sparrow turned into a red lightning bolt and returned to my left arm. I lowered the spearhead of the halberd. The soldiers hesitated and stepped back. ¡°What the hell is that guy¡­?¡± A knight muttered with a hardened expression. I took a deep breath. It felt like my lungs were burning from swallowing mes. I might not look like it, but my body was already damaged from the inside out. ¡®I wish they would just run away like this¡­¡¯ They hesitated, but they didn¡¯t retreat. They were facing me, using barricades and obstacles as cover. ¡®Haa, how annoying.¡¯ Support troops were rushing in from behind. I spun the halberd around. ¡°Move away.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t retreat! Hold on until reinforcements arrive!¡± Of course, they don¡¯t listen. I aimed the halberd at the officer and then charged. Arrows rained down immediately, but I spun the halberd like a windmill to deflect them all and then sliced through the officer who had drawn his sword. I leapt over the 2-meter-high barricade in a single bound. ¡°Die!¡± A soldier thrust a spear at me. ¡®I can¡¯t afford this.¡¯ I didn¡¯t have the luxury to deal with all of them. I drew on the power of Ascend, dodged the spear, and stepped on the soldier¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Aaah!¡± Stepping hard, it seemed I had broken his corbone. Before the soldier fell, I jumped again. ¡°Stop him! Don¡¯t let him pass!¡± Pipipiping! Arrowheads grazed my thigh. A shallow trickle of blood spattered. I dodged all the spears and swords the soldiers swung at me and ran toward the cave entrance. A ck knight d in iron armor blocked the cave entrance. ¡®Not yet.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t die here. Whoosh! I dodged the greatsword swinging at my head and kicked the knight¡¯s back as I passed by. Then I quickly dashed into the cave. [Church Army Soldier Lv.25] X 523 [Church Army Knight Lv.31] X 53 [ck Knight Lv.38] X 13 Looking back, the enemies were swarming like ants. ¡°Pursue him!¡± Just before Ascend ended, I raised the halberd towards the cave ceiling. [Skill, ¡®Soude Fusion¡¯ activated!] A hundred percent powered into the Soude Fusion using my entire body. Boom! The sound was like dynamite exploding, and chunks of stone fell from the ceiling. Soon after, the surroundings darkened. The ceiling had copsed, blocking the entrance. ¡°¡­Haa.¡± I threw away the halberd that was now just a spear shaft. Copsing, I leaned against the wall and closed my eyes. [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has left the Ascend state.] There wasn¡¯t a part of me that didn¡¯t hurt. I was nearly in a critical state. It was hard to move my body. I took out a potion from the pouch behind my belt. Pop. After several slips, I managed to open the potion. Gulp. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous.¡± I had only broken through the first stage, and he¡¯s saying I¡¯m at my limit. I drank the potion and looked around. Lamps were lit at various points in the cave passage. Somewhere in this ce was the third key. And¡­ ¡®That woman must be waiting.¡¯ Despite causing such amotion at the fortress, she didn¡¯t appear, so something must be going on. ¡®Anyway, this was self-inflicted suffering.¡¯ If I threw away everything like Eolka, Anytng, and Townia, and moved on, I could livefortably. I don¡¯t even know why I¡¯m doing this. Why I¡¯m taking the hard road, I can¡¯t understand. If I had stayed when Yu asked me to remain in Niflheimr, I could have enjoyed all the luxury and livedfortably. ¡®Have I gone mad?¡¯ I was no longer normal. At some point, I knew. Even if I returned to Earth, I would never be the same as before. No matter how delicious the food, casual chatting, or fun games, I wouldn¡¯t be able to enjoy anything. Everything was gray. The only moments I felt joy, It was when I sent flying the opponent who was sneering at me. When I ripped off that guy¡¯s head. ¡®¡­Hah.¡¯ I¡¯m aplete psychopath. ¡°Of course.¡± My body was slowly regaining some vitality. ¡®I went through such hardships.¡¯ I even trained with Jenna holding a whip, to endure pain. It seemed the special training paid off. Even though I used Ascend to its limit, after a short rest, I recovered enough to move again. Physical training really is the best. ¡°Grrk!¡± When I pulled out the arrow stuck in my back, blood flowed out. I poured the almost depleted healing potion on the wound. ¡°Is the ck Dragon Blood back?¡± That¡¯s enough. I think I¡¯m ready. I stood up, leaning on a protruding stone on the wall. The cave was a straight path, so there was no worry of getting lost. I caught my breath and moved inward. After walking for about 10 minutes, the scenery changed. The cave widened, and a rotten smell like decaying meat filled the air. I looked down. ¡°¡­.¡± Corpses were scattered all over. I knelt and examined one of them. ¡®Is this a Joind tribe?¡¯ I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 202: The Black Seed (10) (1) Chapter 202: The ck Seed (10) (1) [Slide the screen left and right!] [Show your support for the hero!] sh! A glowing stick began to shake in front of my eyes. It was the master¡¯s support visible only to me, and I smiled as I prepared to dash out. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re pretty hurt. Can you still swing that sword of yours properly?¡± Perseine sneered at the corner of her mouth. Magic spheres were swirling near her robe. ¡°You may not know this, but I am the pinnacle of all magicians in Townia.¡±Boom! The magic spheres spun fiercely. If I were to even get grazed by one of those magic spheres, my flesh would be torn apart as if it had been put through a blender. ¡°Pinnacle, huh.¡± I calmed my breath. The sparrow whispered in my mind. I know. I¡¯ve heard this guy¡¯s specs endlessly. The head of the magic family, called the Devil of Shutenberg, a title that has been passed down since ancient times. Even after casting hundreds of spells, she doesn¡¯t get tired. Perseine had a nearly infinite reservoir of magical power. In contrast, I¡­ Throb. The pounding in my heart grew stronger. My body was warning me. It was dangerous to keep moving. ¡®What a joke.¡¯ All I needed to do was kill the woman in front of me. It was toote to say I couldn¡¯t now. Don¡¯t be ridiculous. ¡°Die.¡± Perseine¡¯s eyes dimmed. At the same time, the magic spheres scattered, leaving afterimages. I forced my unresponsive body to move. Boom! The ground I was standing on just a moment ago caved in. ¡°Heh heh heh.¡± Perseine¡¯s body floated gently into the air. Fire, ice, wind, and lightning. The magic spheres containing the four elements scattered and shot towards me. I dodged the magic spheres, weaving between the pirs. ¡°Smart, but if I destroy those pirs, it will be the end!¡± Boom! Lightning bolts started to smash the pirs with intense light. ¡®There¡¯s no time.¡¯ If this dragged on, it would be my loss. While her magic power was infinite, my stamina was limited. My body was already in a wrecked state even beforeing here. It seemed unlikely I couldst even five more minutes. I know that too. If I use the Soulde Fusion, I could kill the woman in front of me. But, with my already weakened body, I would not survive the bacsh either. I came here to win, not to die. Fwoosh! A hellish me spread out in front of me. I climbed the broken pir, stepped on the ceiling, and dodged far away. As soon as I came down, lightning chased me, and when I ducked, an ice spear brushed past my head. ¡®Aplete mass destruction weapon.¡¯ It felt like she could sweep through thousands alone on the battlefield. ¡°How long will you keep running? You can¡¯t kill me like that.¡± ¡°Are you fighting with your mouth?¡± I pulled out a dagger from my belt and threw it. Ting. The dagger de made a pathetic sound as it bounced off Perseine¡¯s barrier. As expected. Rushing in recklessly would have been a bloody mistake. I hid my body behind a split pir. Boom! Bang! Boom! It seemed she intended to destroy the entire cave. Magic was pouring down from all directions. ¡°Either way, I die. So what should I do?¡± It wasn¡¯t entirely hopeless. There was a chance of victory for me. If I didn¡¯t believe that, I wouldn¡¯t havee. ¡®She doesn¡¯t know.¡¯ What kind of power dwells in my left arm. What kind of technique I use, and how much explosive power I can generate. Exploiting that was the only path to victory. I rolled on the floor. Rock des stabbed into the ce where I had been. Finally, her magic reached this far. ¡°Come to think of it, you seemed pretty close with my disciple.¡± Trying to provoke me was useless. My mind was endlessly calm. Countless possibilities and variables shed through my mind like lightning. ¡®It¡¯s almost over.¡¯ I wouldn¡¯t drag this out any longer. My left leg had already stopped responding. ¡®¡­¡­¡¯ Beyond where Perseine stood, the glowing stick was rippling violently. Anytng was swinging the support stick with all his might. ¡®Watch closely.¡¯ Just once. I twisted the sword handle. Cracks ran all along the de, and magical bombardment was about to rain down from above. ¡°Farewell, pathetic hero.¡± Perseine aimed her magic spheres at me. Simultaneously, dozens of magic spheres attacked from left and right, from above and below. I flipped the switch in my mind. [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has entered Ascend mode!] Gulp. At that moment, blood spurted out of my mouth and my vision went white. I bit my tongue hard enough to bleed. Only then did my vision return. A fireball was shooting towards me from right in front. I twisted my body to the right and stepped on the floor. Bang! My body shot out like an arrow. ¡°¡­¡­?!¡± Perseine¡¯s eyes narrowed. Indeed. I could move this fast. ¡°Hmph.¡± Perseine snorted and swung her hand. Crackle! A wall of lightning rose right in front of me. I reached out my left hand. [Unique Skill, ¡®ck Dragon Scale¡¯ activated!] [This hero is immune to magic!] As the lightning touched my left hand, the lightning wall vanished. I increased my speed even further. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Perseine¡¯s expression twisted in frustration, but she quickly swung her hand again. ¡®Quick judgment.¡¯ Light beams shot from the sides and behind. A ce my left arm couldn¡¯t reach. She instantly figured out the weakness of the ck Dragon Scale. ¡®This much¡­¡­¡¯ I twisted my body. The light arrows pierced through my forearm and thigh. If I couldn¡¯t avoid them, I made sure they hit non-lethal spots. [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ is in a critical condition. His life is in danger!] It¡¯s okay. I reached this point before. I drew back my right arm holding the sword. To kill her in one strike. ¡°Even so, it¡¯s no use.¡± Perseine twisted her lips. Then her lips moved silently. ¡°Imand you.¡± Perseine pointed at me with her right hand. ¡®It¡¯s here.¡¯ The mysterious technique that killed Delphine, the strongest in the empire, and the leader of the Joind tribe, the White Feather, in one strike. The sparrow said it was an ancient power that had been lost long ago. ¡®The Death Eye.¡¯ Just by seeing, just by pointing and speaking, it could instantly kill one designated target. When I first heard about it, I thought it was absurd, but¡­ No, it really was a cheat skill. Perseine¡¯s pupils split sideways, revealing dragon eyes. The ck Dragon Scale won¡¯t stop it. It wasn¡¯t really a magic spell. Therefore. ¡°Screech!¡± A dark red lightning burst from my extended left arm, and the sparrow shot out. ¡°¡­¡­?!¡± ¡®I¡¯m not alone here.¡¯ Crack. The sparrow flew and instantly scattered into blood clumps. Its body here was dead, but the pigeon in the waiting room would still be alive. I grinned. The hand covered in dragon scales touched the magical barrier. [This hero is immune to magic!] And then, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Crack. The de pierced her heart. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 203: do not hit even with flowers (1) (1) Chapter 203: do not hit even with flowers (1) (1) After returning to the waiting room, I had to spend the next two days almost bedridden. If it were just wounds from swords or arrows, it wouldn¡¯t matter, but the aftereffects of Ascend couldn¡¯t be cured by simple recovery. From beside my bed, Jenna, who was pestering me about what had happened, was given an exnation of the recent events. The type of mission had suddenly changed, leaving me alone, and in that state, I managed to clear up to the 45th floor. For more detailed content, they could check the rey stone. It would be okay to leave out the conversation with the sparrow that included the imperial secrets since its voice would only be audible to me. Anyway, the important thing was not the events on the 45th floor. No matter how difficult it had been, it was already a past mission. What mattered was the future. ¡®The mission on the 50th floor is almost set.¡¯Arge-scale battle with monsters would take ce. To prepare for that time, we needed to enhance the power of the waiting room. Not just in quantity, but also in quality. The members of Party 1, including myself, were not yet familiar with thebat method involving engravings. To smoothly handle boss-level entities in future missions, we needed to improve this as well. ¡®We¡¯ll have to do something about Anytng too.¡¯ After returning from the 45th floor, a red warning icon with a notification window was disyed on the right side of the menu screen. [Warning!] [The next main mission has a time limit.] [If you do not clear it within the designated period, the difficulty will increase significantly.] The designated period meant before the eggs hatched. Anytng would roughly grasp this as well. The fact that if we didn¡¯t hurry to clear the 50th floor, it would be troublesome. It was impossible not to be bothered by the warning window shing every time he logged in. Thus, the entire waiting room was in a state of emergency. ¡°A summary of the current waiting room situation.¡± A few dayster, in the mansion¡¯s office. I received the paper handed over by Neryssa. On the white paper, the progress of the ¡®Townia Power Enhancement n¡¯ was detailed. ¡°We¡¯ve recruited 100 lower-level heroes and added 5 high-level heroes. They are all currently receiving training from the instructors in the training center. In the equipment workshop¡­.¡± Neryssa calmly recited the contents of the report. The content was nothing special. It stated that we had summoned a bunch of heroes and were frantically making equipment. ¡°It seems we can deploy them to the front line within a month at thetest.¡± ¡°A month, huh.¡± The period should be longer than that. I had set the deadline at about two months. ¡°Once these guys be useful and the equipment is roughly in ce, we will have about 200bat positions.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°How about it? Do you think it will work?¡± Neryssa furrowed her brow. She had also watched the video of the 45th-floor section via the rey stone. In that record, there was a scene where I, along with Pria, looked down on thousands of monsters stationed near the eggs. ¡°Unless there are reinforcements or a special object.¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be reinforcements. Nor special objects.¡± ¡°In that case¡­.¡± Neryssa did not answer. Well, she meant it would be tough. ¡°Our numbers arecking. Would it be okay to recruit more?¡± ¡°It will be difficult.¡± Neryssa shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s a limit to the materials we collect from the weekly dungeons.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± I tapped the desk in the office with my forefinger. Currently, the total number of main and subbat positions in the waiting room is about 100. We had just recruited another 100, making it 200. But simply recruiting was not the end of it. We had to feed them, equip them, train them, and maintain their morale. ¡®We can¡¯t manage any more.¡¯ The master¡¯s level was 45. At most, an intermediate weekly dungeon was open. Since the amount we could collect in a day was limited, there was a limit to relying only on the weekly dungeons. ¡®I can¡¯t just feed them potatoes either.¡¯ Anytng knew about this too. Recruiting recklessly would not make them stronger. Without proper support, it would be meaningless. ¡°If we can¡¯t increase the quantity, how about improving the quality?¡± ¡°We¡¯re doing that.¡± Velkist was acting as a daily instructor in the training center. This morning, I had forcibly dragged him from the private training room where he was rolling around. He was so stubborn about not wanting to go. In the afternoon, Jenna was supposed to go, and in the evening, Edis. We also prepared arge number of rey stones to supplement the new recruits¡¯ck of mission experience. They would experience the recorded videos from the 5th to the 45th floor. And they would start leveling up from the 1st floor. ¡®One unique point is¡­,¡¯ It was impossible to repeatedly challenge floors 41 to 44. Even though it was a sub-stage, there was a lock on it. As a result, new recruits found it hard to reach level 40 and above. This was one of the adverse conditions. ¡°What¡¯s the status of the airship?¡± ¡°Early yesterday morning, Lucette waspleted.¡± Neryssaid out the report on the desk. It stated that Capitalism had been upgraded forbat, and the second airship, Lucette, waspleted. At the bottom, there was a note from the responsible magical engineer requesting a week¡¯s vacation due to working over ten days of overtime and catching a cold. ¡°Tell them to prepare for the construction of a third airship.¡± I tore the report in two and threw it in the trash can. Neryssa cleared her throat a couple of times and said. ¡°I will convey that.¡± ¡°If that person tries to run away¡­.¡± Neryssa took out a rope and handcuffs from her pocket. Good. Well prepared. I nodded in satisfaction. ¡®Is this enough to ry to Anytng.¡¯ I took out a white paper from the drawer, dipped a quill in blue ink, and started writing a report to show Anytng. ¡®The heroes are being trained in the training center¡­ Another airship has beenpleted¡­ It would be good to start constructing the third airship¡­.¡¯ The report I wrote would appear at the top of Anytng¡¯s game screen when he logged in. Just like how Seris used to do. ¡®So busy I could die.¡¯ Originally, after clearing a boss stage, a brief rest was given, but not this time. We had to go straight into a war footing. There wasn¡¯t a moment to spare. There wasn¡¯t even proper rest. Even while suffering from the aftereffects of Ascend, I handled the duties of the waiting room. ¡®Receiving reports in the morning, writing reports in the afternoon, conveying Anytng¡¯s orders in the evening, and personal training at dawn.¡¯ My daily sleep was about three hours. It was a murderous schedule. ¡°How much material is left in the warehouse? We received a lot of materials as an event rewardst time.¡± Neryssa immediately handed over the warehouse item list. I couldn¡¯t help but sigh. It was almost depleted. It seemed most of it had been used up in building the new airship. ¡°Building a third airship¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s tough, isn¡¯t it.¡± It was not just wood or metal, but the core materials like levitating stones and blueprints werecking. These items did not drop from weekly dungeons. They either came from exploration dungeons very rarely or had to be sourced from ces other than the waiting room. ¡®We need at least five more.¡¯ Airships were useful battle tools and also essential for transporting heroes. They were crucial for operatingrge-scale troops. ¡°Shall we cancel the construction order?¡± ¡°No, tell them to prepare. I¡¯ll find a way to get the materials.¡± Neryssa looked at me with doubtful eyes. It was not unreasonable. There were no more sources for the materials now. Currently, with Townia¡¯s resources alone, we could not increase our forces any further. ¡®But that¡¯s only here.¡¯ Anytng had studied Pick Me Up quite a bit. He woulde up with a solution on his own without me having to force advice. I decided to wait until he logged in that evening. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 204: do not hit even with flowers (2) (1) Chapter 204: do not hit even with flowers (2) (1) A holographic window popped up on Anytng¡¯s screen. [Tips/What is a Ruin?] [Ruins are special areas ced in each sector. In Ruins, you can obtain various rare materials and gems that cannot be acquired in the weekly dungeon. However, items can only be collected while you are upying the Ruin, so if another Master is upying it, you must take it from them, so if you are the one upying it, you must defend it solidly, right?] In fact, there were Ruins near the 30th floor where the Dimensional Rift opened. However, since the 30th floor area focused on small-scale battles, resources were not needed much, so they were left alone. But now the situation has changed. There was a limit to increasing power through self-sufficiency. Even if it meant fighting against other users sitting in the Ruins, resources had to be collected.¡®You know exactly what to do.¡¯ Anytng was looking into the Ruins. Avoid unnecessary fights, but do not shy away from necessary ones. This was one of the irond rules to bing a top-tier Master. Anytng immediately opened the airship menu and began refueling. Then, she pressed the ¡®Sector¡¯ button in the Dimensional Rift tab. A wide map in the form of a grid appeared. The blue tower icon in the center was the location of the current waiting room. There were two red tower icons not far away. These were the coordinates of other ounts. However, an ¡®X¡¯ was marked in the center of the red towers. Inactive ounts. In other words, ounts that had been abandoned. ¡®You¡¯ve got everything ready.¡¯ Most of the map was covered in fog, but at the northeast end of the current location, a crystal tower icon was ced. It was a Ruin. After capturing Capitalism, he had already instructed the mechanic. To find Ruins in the sector when there was time. It would eventually be used. [Master, starting the dispatch!] [Avable airships for dispatch ¨C ¡®Capitalism (¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯, ¡®Lucette (¡ï¡ï)¡¯] [Avable personnel for dispatch ¨C ¡®1 Party¡¯, ¡®2 Parties¡¯] Next, the dispatch window popped up on the screen. Selecting an airship and party to leave this ce would send the designated members to the specified coordinates. [Select all!] [Will you dispatch ¡®1 Party¡¯?] [Yes / No] No. I looked up at the sky. [Sub Master, ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ suggests.] [Dispatch members ¨C ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯, ¡®Jenna (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯, ¡®Velkist (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯] There was no need to take the entire 1 Party. Katiio was an indispensable talent for airship construction, and Kishasha was enthusiastically helping the neers at the training center. ¡®Three will be enough.¡¯ In a war to obtain resources, I did not intend to consume manpower. After pondering my suggestion for a moment, Anytng eventually limited the dispatch personnel to three. ¡°Are you saying we are going with just three people?¡± ¡°Yes. Too many would just be cumbersome.¡± ¡°I like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not so sure. Couldn¡¯t the opponent pressure us with numbers?¡± ¡°We have to aim for an advantage. We can¡¯t afford to wastebat troops in such a fight. Once things are somewhat settled, we¡¯ll call in others.¡± From the 40th floor, the novice restriction was lifted, and in PVP, if a hero died, it was the end. ¡®We can do it.¡¯ In the Ruins, usually two to three forces are at odds. If you properly insert yourself between them and instigate, you can be effective even with a small number. And at the critical moment, bring in the main force to suppress them. I had used this method to upy Ruins in Niflheimr without suffering significant losses. Of course, for the vanguard, you needed top-tier members who wouldn¡¯t get hurt in an ordinary fight. That¡¯s why I called Jenna and Velkist. [Starting dispatch!] [Reservation has been applied.] Anytng had set up a reserved dispatch. He must know that it¡¯s the heroes¡¯ sleep time now. The coordinates were the medium-sized Ruin in the northeastern sector. The Ruin upation would begin tomorrow afternoon, based on the waiting room¡¯s time. ¡°Tomorrow, the three of us will head out to the Ruin first. Bring potions and weapons.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Velkist left the training room with a cold smile. He seemed quite excited. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t like fighting against others, but¡­ given the situation, it can¡¯t be helped. I¡¯m in your care tomorrow, Oppa.¡± Jenna greeted me and headed to the dormitory. ¡®An upation battle, huh.¡¯ It¡¯s been a while. After Niflheimr settled, there were no more troublemakers. The basic strategy was for us to go out as the vanguard, clear the enemies, and then bring in the main force, but if possible, I wanted to end the situation with just the three of us. It was more efficient that way. [Master, will you log out?] [Yes (selected) / No] [Goodbye then!] After finishing her work, Anytng logged out of the game. It waste at night. I needed to prepare for tomorrow as well. There would be fierce days ahead for a while. Not that it was ever different. ¡®Sleep well.¡¯ I said good night to Anytng and left the training room. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 205: Do Not Hit Even With Flowers (3) (1) Chapter 205: Do Not Hit Even With Flowers (3) (1) ¡°It might not be to your taste.¡± A steaming cup of tea was ced on a square wooden table. It was filled with green tea. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Would you like some snacks too? I baked them myself¡­¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s okay!¡± Jenna hurriedly responded and took a sip of the green tea. Velkist sat with his arms crossed, eyes closed. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since we¡¯ve had guests. We only saw the same faces every day, it¡¯s refreshing.¡±The young man smiled innocently. His clothes were loose, and his sses were old. He didn¡¯t carry a single dagger on him. He waspletely unarmed. ¡®What is this ce?¡¯ As soon as we arrived at the port of the ruins, a young man with a gentle impression stood before us to wee us, saying he wanted to host us. Following his guidance, we came to a vi on the outskirts of the ruin ind. If this was a trap, we were ready to turn it around, but no matter how much we looked around, it didn¡¯t seem like there was any ambush or attack nned. It was just a genuine wee. ¡°What should we do? These people don¡¯t seem to want to fight.¡± Jenna whispered to me with a troubled expression. I could only sigh. I wanted to intimidate them and take all their items, but¡­ ¡®I don¡¯t know what Anytng¡¯s intentions are.¡¯ We could easily counterattack if they attacked us first. However, initiating the attack ourselves was a difficult decision to make without our master. Especially against nonbatant yers. ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait.¡± ¡°Until the master arrives?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± If we wiped out these people, Anytng would bebeled. It would be said that we indiscriminately ughtered innocent nonbatant yers. If we were unlucky, some righteous master might start stalking us. It had happened before. ¡°You carry a sword.¡± As I sat silently, the young man spoke up. I looked up at his face. There was no change in his expression. He just kept smiling gently. ¡°So what?¡± ¡°Are you here to take over this ce?¡± There was no need to pretend. I nodded up and down. Still, the young man¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°You¡¯re not actually here to fight, but you need resources, right?¡± I narrowed my eyes. Sharp guy. Indeed. If we were here to attack, they wouldn¡¯t have let us in. Even in a nonbat zone, strength is still necessary. Somewhere around here, there must be forces to guard against outsiders. ¡°Yes, we have an important mission ahead. A lot of monsters areing out¡­ You know how it is. We need resources from this ce to strengthen our forces.¡± Jenna spoke frankly. The young man nodded. ¡°My master would probably help. We share all the items we can. If you exin your situation, he will understand.¡± I chuckled in disbelief. How ridiculous. We were led to the guest room on the second floor of the vi. We had to wait there until Earth¡¯s evening when Anytng would log in and make a decision. ¡°But senior, don¡¯t we need a lot of resources? Even if they share, it won¡¯t be as much as if we monopolized it. It won¡¯t be enough, I think.¡± ¡°Probably, since there are 24 masters here.¡± ¡°This is frustrating.¡± Velkist bit his lip in frustration. He came expecting a fight, but now we were just waiting. I recalled the young man¡¯s exnation. His name was Adilung Rizos. He was a schr from the Radelsi continent. He said his master, ¡°Saechoom,¡± was originally mission-focused but changed suddenly on reaching the 44th floor, turning peaceful, decorating the waiting room, raising heroes, forming a guild, and mingling with peaceful like-minded users. ¡°They don¡¯t seempletely unguarded. I felt a presence.¡± Jenna, who had a sharper sense than me, spoke up. I looked at the tightly secured scabbard on my belt. ¡®Did they reallye here with just five people to take over this ce?¡¯ Originally, this ruin was upied by a PVP-oriented user. He strengthened his forces with resources from here, imposed taxes on other masters, and ruled tyrannically. Eventually, the masters of the ¡°Silver Star¡± guild, including Saechoom, united and fought a liberation war. After winning the war, the Silver Star guild started epting new members and sharing the ruins¡¯ resources to avoid repeating the tyranny. It was a heartwarming story. ¡®Notpletely nonbatant.¡¯ Of course. I looked out the window. A crystal dozens of meters tall stood on a low in. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] It became evening, and Anytng logged in. [Loadingplete.] [T O U C H! (Select)] As soon as the main screen appeared, the deploymentpletion screen and selection screen appeared. [Ding!] [Master, the deployment isplete.] [Do you want to check the results?] [Yes (Select) / No] The ind view appeared on Anytng¡¯s screen. It was a ruin field. There, the heroes of the Silver Star guild were peacefully gathering resources. They were cutting rare trees, hunting animals, and mining ores. Anytng watched the scene nkly for a while. [Master, you can issue attack orders to the heroes.] [The heroes will immediately start upying the ruin! Do you want to give the attack order?] [Yes / No (Select)] Sigh. I knew it. Anytng declined the attack. If they were PVP-oriented, he would have attempted plundering long ago. [Master, an unidentified channel chat has been confirmed.] [Do you want to check it?] [Yes (Select) / No] This time, a chat connection appeared. The screen changed immediately. [75-219 Channel] Saechoom> Is this Anytng? Saechoom> I¡¯m the master of the Silver Star guild, Saechoom ^^ Saechoom> I saw your heroes at our ruin, do you need resources? Anytng typed on the virtual keyboard: They are needed for missionpletion. Saechoom> We confirmed it¡¯s our sector. If you meet a few conditions, we can share them with you! Saechoom> You¡¯re probably aiming for the 50th floor. Feel free to stay here and join our guild if you like. I enjoy chatting with everyone. ^^ Saechoom> If you can do this, I¡¯ll make an exception for you! I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 206: Do Not Hit Even With Flowers (4) (1) Chapter 206: Do Not Hit Even With Flowers (4) (1) The guild life of Anytng had begun. Since only the master of the same sector could join the Silver Star Guild, Anytng was a temporary member. However, Saecheorom, the guild leader, did not particrly discriminate against him, giving him item distribution rights and assigning him the rank of a full guild member. After all, the Silver Star Guild imed that all members were equal, whether they were the guild leader or temporary members. At least, on the surface. ¡°It seems our turn will nevere around.¡± In the temporary quarters on the second floor of the vi. Velkist was skimming through the ledger. ¡°As far as I know, two people received resources yesterday. Yet, our turn is stillst.¡± ¡°Ah, they were given priority due to urgent circumstances. There¡¯s nothing we can do about it, right?¡±¡°Do they think they are the only ones with urgent circumstances?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­¡± Velkist and Jenna both looked at me. Their expressions were asking what to do. Receiving distribution rights was good. But even after three days, our turn was still thest. ¡®It¡¯s because of those so-called vigntes.¡¯ Besides the woman from the other day, several vigntes had taken others¡¯ turn. ording to Adng, they were heroes who had made significant contributions in capturing this ruin from PvP yers and were practically the muscle of the Silver Star Guild. Well, it made sense. No matter how remote it is, there will always be PvP yers approaching the ruins. Jenna reported that during her reconnaissance around the ruin ind, she spotted a pirate fleet lurking from afar. They would attack the moment they saw any weakness. The woman¡¯s words from yesterday, saying that if Silver Star Vigntes weakened, enemies would invade, were not unfounded. ¡°An ideal paradise where everyone is equal and peaceful?¡± Velkist sneered. It was what Adng had told us when introducing the Silver Star Guild. ¡°The talk of a person who knows nothing about the world. I can¡¯t understand how they reached the 40th floor. Maybe they only faced easy missions.¡± Velkist half-drew his sword from its sheath. Then he looked at me with cold eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s overturn it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You should know better. This ce is a mess. It¡¯s full of hypocrites. The strong take everything. It has always been that way. How long do we have to y this child¡¯s game? Isn¡¯t that right, Archer?¡± ¡°Well, I¡­¡± Jenna scratched her cheek. ¡°Isn¡¯t the Master¡¯s opinion more important than deciding among ourselves?¡± ¡°Ah, right. That annoying fellow. But isn¡¯t he just your puppet anyway?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the puppet. Watch your words.¡± ¡°My apologies.¡± Velkist crossed his legs. The reason I couldn¡¯t make a decision. It was because of Anytng. Ultimately, the master overseeing Townia was Anytng. How Anytng handled this incident would determine our future path. Of course, even if I overturned this ce, Anytng would not me me. At most, he would consult Loki¡¯s email address. I could just answer as Loki and cover it up appropriately. ¡®Puppet.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. Most of the waiting room had flowed in the direction I wanted so far. ¡®If I were the master¡­¡¯ I would never get involved with a guild like this. In some ways, it¡¯s more troublesome than PVP guilds. They choke you with pens instead of swords. During my time as a master, I was marked for months on a majormunity site as a prime example of an ill-mannered user. Until the misunderstanding was cleared, I had to fight countless users. There are always such idiot people. If they were PvP-oriented users, I could fight to my heart¡¯s content, but dealing with these guys is quite tricky. Unless they are masters with no future. Anytng was a promising figure with a bright future. ¡°What would you do if you were the master?¡± ¡°I would endure it for now.¡± ¡°Endure? That¡¯s not like you.¡± ¡°Could you fight two fronts?¡± Capturing the ruins doesn¡¯t end it. If you¡¯re marked as an ill-mannered master, many masters would simply invade your main base. With the 50th-floor strategy ahead, it would be burdensome. ¡°But if they keep acting like this¡­ would you still endure?¡± I picked up the statue on the table. A size that fits perfectly in one hand. A finely crafted body. Holding up two muscr legs. It was the ¡®Brave Warhorse Statue¡¯ that Anytng had gifted me as a 45th-floor clear reward. I was d he gifted me this statue. Just touching it brings peace of mind. ¡°Well.¡± I said, rolling the statue in my hand. I looked down at the sword sheath below my belt. It wasn¡¯t Bifrost, but it was a well-made longsword crafted with great care at the item workshop. ¡®Well, for now¡­¡¯ I should observe how things go here. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 207: Do Not Hit Even With Flowers (5) (1) Chapter 207: Do Not Hit Even With Flowers (5) (1) The second-floor lodging of the vi. I was looking out the window. Two young girls were ying with flowers in the meadow, where various flowers were in full bloom. The girls, who looked to be in their mid-teens at most, were throwing flowers at each other andughing. Behind them, a young man from the vignte team, carrying a spear, was watching over them. A dramatic, peaceful moment. I shifted my gaze to the desk. A withered flower was floating in a water bottle. ¡®It¡¯s a dream.¡¯Adilung had said. He wanted to protect this paradise forever. He was willing to make any sacrifice for it. ¡®A dream, huh.¡¯ It¡¯s good to have a dream. Life without a dream is too bleak. Especially in a ce as crazy as this. Most of the masters in the Silver Star Guild had given up climbing the tower. They were focusing on decorating their waiting rooms, enjoying the game in their own way. In fact, there were more of this type in Pick Me Up. As you climbed the tower, the waiting room got bigger, and there were dozens of things to manage. Hardly anyone studied thick books just to y the game. ¡®Are you happy?¡¯ I looked at the two girlsughing. They must be happy. They don¡¯t have to fight monsters. They don¡¯t need to do harsh training. The risk of synthesis is almost nonexistent. To them, this world would appear as a paradise on a higher dimension, not a hell where life and deathe and go several times a day. Come to think of it, I remember Jenna¡¯s words when Anytng hadn¡¯t logged in for a long time. She said it wouldn¡¯t be bad even if the master didn¡¯te. ¡®Does she still think that way?¡¯ I chuckled lightly. It was the afternoon, not long before evening. The twilight was faintly shining over the towering crystal. It had been a few days since then, and our turn was still thest. Anytng logged in early for the first time in a while, and the guild chat was still buzzing with conversations from the pacifist users. ¡®They¡¯re here.¡¯ Footsteps were hearding down the wooden corridor. I closed the curtain. Bang! The old wooden door was roughly opened. ¡°I need an answer today.¡± A woman with a single-edged sword slung diagonally across her body stood at the door. Sijal, the captain of the vignte team. She kepting here, despite being rejected. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of this?¡± ¡°Think of it as sincerity.¡± Isn¡¯t the atmosphere a bit too rough to call it sincerity? I looked past Sijal. Several armed members of the vignte team were ring at me in the hallway. It seemed they wanted to intimidate me. It was rather cute. ¡°If you join the vignte team, I can guarantee you a good position. I know you¡¯re strong. We don¡¯t n to stay on the 40th floor. We¡¯re going higher. If you join us, you¡¯ll receive a lot of help. I can guarantee it.¡± Such noisy nagging. I toyed with the wooden horse figurine on the desk. I wanted to draw my sword. But it¡¯s not the time yet. ¡°You are¡­ Ha, forget it.¡± After babbling alone for about ten minutes, Sijal looked at me with weary eyes. ¡°Stay here for the rest of your life. Let¡¯s how long will it take for your turn toe.¡± Sijal snorted and left with the vignte team. If she wanted to conquer this ce so badly, she had plenty of chances before. She seemed reluctant to do it, despite her disgust. *Trickster93> Why are you rejecting it?* Meanwhile, a noisy master had intruded into Anytng¡¯s chat. He was a member of the vignte team and had been incessantly chatting after Anytng refused to join. *Trickster93> Your hero is super strong. Isn¡¯t that Israt guy famous? You don¡¯t need to help much. Just lend us that guy, and we¡¯ll handle the rest.* *Anytng> Sorry, I¡¯m not interested.* *Trickster93> Are you scared?* *Anytng> Yes. I can¡¯t afford to get hurt here.* *Trickster93> LOL, unbelievable.* The chat continued. *Trickster93> You¡¯re a girl, right?* *Anytng> What?* *Trickster93> You¡¯re a girl? You seem super scared. I¡¯ve seen your videos on MyTube, and you didn¡¯t do much. Your hero is carrying you. Aren¡¯t you just a typical girl gamer who got lucky? I didn¡¯t expect to find one even here, LOL. You even get carried by a virtual character, LOL.* Anytng didn¡¯t respond. I started rolling the wooden horse figurine in my hand. *Trickster93> Do you think you amount to anything because your hero wins events? Have you done anything properly? If I were that hero¡¯s master, I would already be a ranker.* *Trickster93> Stop rejecting and lend him to us. LOL. We¡¯ll show you how to use him. You can¡¯t handle him with your skills.* ng. The closed door opened again. It wasn¡¯t Sijal, Jenna, or Velkist who appeared, but a skinny, bony man. The man, with a gaunt appearance, had two daggers at his waist. ¡®This must be Trickster93¡¯s hero.¡¯ Perfect timing. ¡°The master has a message for you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get straight to the point. Your master is ipetent. Join us. Don¡¯t you want to work under a capable master?¡± The paint on the wooden horse figurine chipped a bit from my grip. *Trickster93> If you¡¯re a girl, you should just y with flowers like the others. Why pretend to be a ranker? You¡¯re in the perfect ce, so why act different? You¡¯d get along well with that flower maniac Blue Rose.* Anytng remained silent. I didn¡¯t speak to the man in front of me either. ¡°At least pretend to listen when someone talks. You have no manners. Even though you¡¯re the winner of a major tournament, you¡¯re just a coward.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Stop fiddling with that useless figurine!¡± The man knocked the figurine out of my left hand. Crash. The head of the wooden horse figurine smashed horribly as it hit the floor. [Ding!] [You have blocked ¡®Trickster93¡¯.] ¡°Are you ready to talk now?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good¡­¡± Before he could finish, the de of my sword was driven into his left shoulder. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 208: Do Not Hit Even With Flowers (6) (1) Chapter 208: Do Not Hit Even With Flowers (6) (1) A man clumsily thrust a spear at me. I easily deflected the spear and plunged my sword deep into his abdomen. His eyes widened in disbelief. Kicking him, he tumbled backwards and soon stopped moving. ¡®There sure are a lot of them.¡¯ It was a guild with 24 masters. Even if each user sent five heroes, there were well over a hundred. ¡®Pacifist users sure are stingy with their troops.¡¯ Most of those blocking our way seemed like they had never held a sword. Who knows what they were told, but even heroes outside the vignte teams had started to step in. They were probably told that they couldn¡¯t protect it alone and would lose everything if they didn¡¯t join in.¡°You evil bastards!¡± Another simr guy charged at me. I stabbed my sword into one fallen man while simultaneously pulling out a dagger with my left hand. ¡°Ugh!¡± The swiftly thrown dagger pierced his throat. He copsed, clutching his neck. Dead. From level 40, PVP protection does not apply. In other words, dying here meant it was truly the end. Nevertheless, Silver Star¡¯s heroes kept swarming in. Well, our task was clear. We just had to deal with the moths that were rushing at us. ¡°Why are you doing this! Is there some special reason!¡± I heard Adilung¡¯s voice from beyond the screams and shouts. A special reason. Why don¡¯t you look for it in your grave? [There are 211 unread guild chat messages. Would you like to check them?] [Yes / No (select)] Anytng ignored the guild chatpletely. Negotiations were already over. ¡°Don¡¯t let them into the fortress! Stop them by any means!¡± ¡°Geez, just barking orders from behind.¡± Velkist chuckled as he slit the throat of a swordsman. A silver sh, and the two men awkwardly standing beside him met the same fate. They were cut down without even having the chance to swing their swords properly. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of them, but they¡¯re just a messy rabble.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve never fought properly.¡± Jenna twirled the dagger in her left hand. Blood from the corpses below sttered on the de. ¡°Die! Please!¡± A disheveled woman rushed at me. She was holding a broken dagger in a torn dress. I dodged her thrust by turning to the left. ¡°We were living peac¡­¡± Thud. The woman copsed. ¡®Pathetic.¡¯ In a siege, you should concentrate your firepower. This isn¡¯t a tournament, yet theye at us one by one. Those in the distance just watched, only a handful actually approached. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to fight, move aside!¡± Sijal and the vigntes pushed through the spectators. Their well-fitted armor straps and gleaming des marked them as Silver Star¡¯s elite. Despite facing a battle, they showed no signs of panic. It meant they had quite a bit ofbat experience. ¡°Just over 50.¡± Jenna whispered in my ear. Sijal bared her teeth at me. ¡°I should have known you I verified that you were really the Mad Dog.¡± It would be troublesome to fight here. These weren¡¯t all the heroes in this ce. I signaled Jenna and Velkist with my eyes. They seemed to understand my intention and nodded. ¡°Hey, why are theying here!¡± sh. Velkist, leading the charge, beheaded one of them. Gripping his sword long, Velkist swung it mercilessly left and right. Limbs of the heroes caught in his trajectory flew into the air. ¡°This¡­ this madman¡­!¡± ¡°Breakthrough! Head for the fortress!¡± [A siege has begun!] [upying the objective allows you to temporarily expel other heroes from the ruins!] The left side of the encirclement was breached. They were just clueless amateurs; this was simple. ¡°Not so fast!¡± Bang! A transparent wall blocked my path. Adilung¡¯s defensive magic. ¡°Not really.¡± I gathered my strength and swung my sword. Crash! The sound of breaking ss apanied the shattering wall. I discarded the broken sword in my hand and took a spare one from Velkist. ¡°We take the fortress. Velkist, lead the way. I¡¯ll be in the middle. Jenna, cover the rear.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Jenna¡¯s hand moved, leaving an afterimage. From her short bow, arrows rained down on the vigntes at the rear. Ping! Ping ping ping! Several heroes struck by the blind arrows fell to the ground. ¡°Contact the fortress! Lock the gates and send up the troops!¡± ¡°Yaaargh!¡± I punched a guy who charged at me with a scream. He fell, blood pouring from his nose. ¡°They¡¯reing!¡± ¡°I know.¡± Heroes of Silver Star were descending the slope leading to the crystal. Dozens of them. Not just that. ¡®They¡¯re totally pissed off.¡¯ I looked around. Heroes were moving from the harbor on the outskirts of the field. The pilot¡¯s voice echoed. The Lucette was docked there too. I brought my hand to my ear. ¡°Launch the airship and send it this way.¡± ¡°Leave the driving to the autopilot. Load the cannon and shoot anyone who approaches.¡± ¡°Does a rookie get to talk back? Want to get your ass handed to you?¡± Vroom. The Lucette began to lift off from the dock. Boom! Fire spewed from the Lucette¡¯s cannon. Several heroes heading towards the dock turned to ash. The bodies Velkist had dealt with rolled down the hill. Beyond the hill, the huge crystal and surrounding walls came into view. ¡®They¡¯ve already fortified it.¡¯ Cannons and ballistae atop the fortress walls were aimed our way. Ready to fire the moment we were in range. ¡°Oh, Oppa! This is strange! They¡¯re heading somewhere else!¡± Jenna pointed to the dock. Three medium-sized airships were rising into the air from a corner of the dock. Armored and armed with cannons, they were warships. But their prows were facing the opposite direction. They were moving outside the ruins. ¡®They¡¯re heading to attack the main base.¡¯ The target was the waiting room of Anytng. ¡®This is why I hate Pacifist.¡¯ They should just fight for the ruins, but they insist on turning it into a full-blown war. This fight won¡¯t end with just capturing the ruin. They¡¯lle after our main base for revenge or whatever. There¡¯s only one way. As always, we have to annihte them, Boom! Boom boom! One of Silver Star¡¯s airships heading out of the fortress burst into mes and crashed. It wasn¡¯t the Lucette¡¯s doing. They came after all. Bandits circling the ruin waiting for an opportunity. It was a fleet of PVP users. Boom! Silver Star¡¯s second airship exploded. Caught off guard, they had no chance to resist. They were indiscriminately bombarding even the evacuation airships fleeing the ruin. The left gate of the fortress opened, and cavalry rushed out in a panic. They didn¡¯t even nce our way, heading straight for the harbor. Of course. If those guysnd, things will get ten times moreplicated. It¡¯s no longer one-on-one. In a one-on-one-on-one, it¡¯s impossible to tell front from back. ¡®But that¡¯s their problem.¡¯ I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 209: Do Not Hit even with Flowers (7) (1) Chapter 209: Do Not Hit even with Flowers (7) (1) The fortress built to guard against enemy invasions had long since lost its function. Now, it was merely a battlefield where dozens of Masters and hundreds of heroes were fighting. ¡°Now, this is more like it.¡± Velkist swung his sword at an enemy jumping from the fortress wall stairs. At his feet, corpses piled up, whose owners were unknown, and his leather armor was already stained red with blood. Ping! Ping ping ping! Arrows flew from Jenna¡¯s short bow. The arrows struck four bandits climbing the fortress wall usingdders. ¡°Kahahaha! Kill them! Kill them!¡±¡°Get inside the fortress! We can¡¯t let them take the goddess statue!¡± ¡°You think that¡¯s possible?¡± Inside the fortress, where it was hard to distinguish between allies and enemies, heroes swung their weapons at each other. They didn¡¯t care whether they hit an enemy or an ally. Every building in the fortress was engulfed in hot smoke and mes. The sounds of weapons shing, desperate screams, explosions, and the sound of flesh being torn apart, mingled with manicughter, echoed like an orchestra throughout the ruins. ¡°How many of them are there?¡± Jenna whistled. She didn¡¯t stop shooting her short bow. ¡°Ugh!¡± I swung my sword without looking back. Blood gushed from the diagonally severed torsos of two men. ¡®There are quite a lot.¡¯ We stood on one side of the fortress wall, observing the situation. Just fighting recklessly wasn¡¯t the answer. To enjoy a delicious meal, you need to let it simmer. In a siege, killing many didn¡¯t yield much benefit. Whether you killed a hundred or one, the side that captured the central objective of the fortress would be victorious. If one side sessfully upied it, the other forces wouldn¡¯t be able to enter the ruins for a certain period. ¡®The vigntes must be there.¡¯ If there were magicians, they could quickly move through the dimensional gate. They would be forming the final defensive line in front of the objective to block the enemies. Boom! An airship spewed fire and crashed into the fortress. When the bow hit the fortress wall, the debris flew in all directions. Crash. A few heroes fighting nearby turned into minced meat. I looked up. An aerial battle was unfolding in the sky as well. Three airships with different emblems were chasing the Lucette. Bang! Bang! Bang bang bang! Scarlet artillery fire bloomed in the air. The Lucette dodged left and right, avoiding the bombardment. ¡°Take good care of it. If you blow up our new toy, there won¡¯t be any soup or rice.¡± We¡¯re down here, and you¡¯re up there, how can we help? ¡®Handle it yourself.¡¯ Once we capture the ruins, we can mass-produce those airships. We can just make new ones. ¡°You mad dog¡­!¡± I stabbed a flustered man in the gut. Mad Dog. Whoever gave me that nickname, If I ever meet them, I¡¯ll grind them up nicely. I squinted my eyes. Heroes from each faction were fighting frantically on the fortress walls, roads, and alleys, but the key forces weren¡¯t here. They had gone inside where the objective was. ¡®It¡¯s about time we went in too.¡¯ I didn¡¯t n to drag this out. I looked at Jenna and Velkist alternately. The two nodded silently as if they had sensed my thoughts. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Without hesitation, I jumped off the 8-meter-high fortress wall. Thud. Inded on the roof of a building inside the fortress and jumped to the next building 2 meters away. The two quickly followed behind. sh. As I cut down an assassin on the roof, my vision blurred. [http://go.onewinch.tv/ ¨C One Inch TV] [Pick Me Up! ¨C Mad Dog reappears in the ruins?!] [BJ ¨C Sigin] [Viewers: 511] Someone seems to have started a broadcast. It¡¯s rare to see such arge-scale battle in the 40th floors. ¡®Move away.¡¯ I moved the broadcast window to the right. The viewers were chattering about something, but I decided to ignore them. Let them watch if they want. My skills were already revealed in the event match anyway. From roof to roof. From wall to wall. We cleared away any annoying enemies and moved toward the inner fortress. ¡®As expected.¡¯ Here, it¡¯s a bit more distinguishable. In the middle of the inner fortress, a crystal symbolizing the ruin rose like a skyscraper, And around the crystal, the Silver Star vigntes had set up barricades. ¡°Kya ha ha! Kill them!¡± ¡°Kill those herbivores!¡± And raiders swarmed the barricades like ants. ¡®There it is.¡¯ I noticed a narrow staircase leading underground in front of the crystal. If we go in there, there will be a goddess statue overseeing the entire ruin. ¡°What should we do? Should we sneak in?¡± I shook my head. The entire barricade was surrounded by a transparent barrier. It was the magical barrier of a mage. ¡®That¡¯s why mages are a nuisance.¡¯ Sneaking in is the most efficient. The underground path of the ruin is very narrow, so three people could block it sufficiently. The original n was to deal with Adilung and then proceed, but some crazy guy got on my nerves, messing things up. ¡®If they know we¡¯re here, they¡¯ll give us a warm wee.¡¯ Because we¡¯re the ones who caused this chaos. ¡°Block them at all costs! Contact the other Masters! Call in everyone, whether they¡¯re here or not!¡± In front of the barricade, Sijal shouted as she cut down the enemies. Well, whether the message got through or not, reinforcements for the Silver Star kepting to the barricade. Cannons inside the defensive line fired continuously, checking the airships in the sky. There were 24 Masters from the same sector. It was not a small number. ¡°It seems there¡¯s no choice but to break through the front.¡± Velkist raised his sword. He had cut down so many that the de waspletely dull. ¡°I¡¯ll take the lead.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± If we join the fray, there¡¯s a risk of being attacked by both the Silver Star and the bandits. If they know anything about me, they won¡¯t hesitate to team up. I looked back. Masters from neighboring sectors seemed to have caught the scent too. Another fleet of airships was gathering. ¡®We need to finish this quickly.¡¯ We could call for reinforcements from the waiting room, but it would be a waste to use them here. I thought for a moment and then looked at the two. ¡°So we¡¯re breaking through the front?¡± ¡°Yes. But I¡¯ll go alone.¡± I continued. ¡°I¡¯ll draw attention over there, and you two sneak into the underground entrance. Block the front and take control of the ce.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Can you do it alone?¡± ¡°What choice do we have? We have to try.¡± ¡°Oppa you will cause amotion, and we¡¯ll sneak in, right?¡± Jenna smiled brightly. I nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you. Vel oppa, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Velkist looked slightly displeased but soon hardened his face and followed Jenna. After confirming that the two had disappeared, I jumped off the wall. ¡®The strategy is bing simr each time.¡¯ This time too, it¡¯s causing a ruckus. Well, this is the most efficient way, so it can¡¯t be helped. I smiled as I spun my sword and slowly approached the barricade. ¡°Halkion Syraos.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 210. Do Not Hit Even With Flowers (8) (1) Chapter 210. Do Not Hit Even With Flowers (8) (1) I was sitting on arge rock. The bacsh from the Soulde Fusion had turned the sword into powder, and even the sturdy leather armor was in tatters. My body was in a terrible state as well. Even with the defensive effects of the ck Dragon Scale, I had suffered penalties from Ascend and the Soulde Fusion, and had fallen from a height of several tens of meters at super speed. ¡®Still¡­¡¯ I had achieved the goal of drawing attention and causing a disturbance. Jenna and Velkist had entered the underground of the ruins. I looked down. The ground of the field, which was once lush with grass, was overturned. The ce where I had fallen had turned into a small crater as if a meteor had struck, and fragments of shattered rocks were scattered around it.This wasn¡¯t just a disturbance. Even finding a corpse was difficult. Human flesh would likely have turned into ashes and disappeared. ¡°What the hell¡­¡± I turned to the side. Far off, the heroes who had been squabbling near the barricade were now staring at me. They had even forgotten to swing their weapons. ¡°Eek¡­!¡± The man who made eye contact with me turned pale. He started to back away slowly, then turned and fled in a panic. Hispanions did the same. Dozens of heroes who had been attacking the Silver Star¡¯s guild fled towards the fortress en masse. [http://go.onewinch.tv/ ¨C One Inch TV] [Pick Me Up! ¨C The v -Mad Dog Reappears in the Ruins?!] [BJ ¨C Sigine] [Viewers 8,312] I sighed and got up from the rock. Then I walked slowly towards the crystal where the barricade was set up. Like ants scattering, people backed away from the direction I was heading. [??? (Pikapik3) : ?????] [???? (NolJulAra) : Oh~ This guy knows how to y?] [LandOver17 : That guy is insane. Isn¡¯t this a level 40 ruin?] [RRAAR : Yes. It¡¯s a level 40 ruin.] [LandOver17 : I¡¯d believe it if he said he was a 6-star.] [???? (Readq2) : Super Meteor Strike!] I cleared the chat window once more. Even though I had pushed it to the corner, dozens of lines of chat appeared simultaneously, blocking my view. ¡°Everyone, prepare for battle!¡± One of the vignte members hastily drew his sword. He pointed his trembling right hand with the sword at me. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared! It¡¯s just one enemy! Don¡¯t let the ruins be taken!¡± ¡°But, Sijar-nim is¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be alright!¡± Come to think of it, I don¡¯t see that woman. She was in the center of the st zone, so she probably turned to powder and disappeared. The others who had picked a fight with me probably met a simr fate. They should have listened to Jenna. The heroes of the ruins who had gathered to attack me were annihted all at once. They were the leaders of the Ruin upation force and elite heroes from each master. A significant gap had formed in the battle. The Lucette ship hovered above me. The other airships had disappeared. ¡°Not really.¡± It was clear that I was a 4-star. Compared to high-level heroes, my stats were average, but the level of my skills and engraving, and my proficiency, were on a different level. The best I could achieve with the engraving in this section was to make my body became slightly faster, tougher, and stronger. However, it was not enough to overturn a battlefield alone. This skill had great destructive power, but the movement was big, making it easy to predict thending point. Furthermore, once used, Ascend and ck Dragon Scale could not be used for a while, so it was hard to call it a perfect skill. If they had moved out of the way as soon as I jumped, the damage would have been much less. This is the difference in experience. The heroes here probably had little experience fighting enemies with superhuman strength. ¡®¡­It¡¯s funny.¡¯ It¡¯s like fighting a monster, indeed. Large movements and predictablending points? Easier said than done. A 80-ton object falling at supersonic speed. I clicked my tongue. With a single show of force, the battle hade to a halt. I looked around the outskirts of the ruins. Most of the ones who hadnded to take the ruins were fleeing. With the death of the leader-level heroes, they probably thought continuing to fight would result in greater losses. It seemed they thought I could use that technique several times. I turned my eyes to the Silver Star¡¯s barricade. The vignte members with drawn weapons were facing off against me. But they had no intention of charging at me. They watched me with frightened eyes from a distance. One familiar young man stepped forward. ¡°Even with such power¡­ you had¡­¡± Adng Rizos, the leader of the Silver Star heroes. His neat outfit was dirty with dust and blood. His lips were blue as if his magic had backfired. Adng looked at me with vacant eyes. ¡°From the beginning, were you ying with us?¡± ¡°What are you talking about.¡± ¡°We just¡­¡± ¡°Enough of your nonsense. I¡¯m sick of hearing it.¡± I scoffed. This guy was no fool. He must have known that the vignte group was going to stab the Silver Star in the back. ¡°We¡¯re finished, aren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Seems so.¡± I answered emotionlessly. All the Silver Star heroes in the fortress were dead. There weren¡¯t many left near the barricade, and the elite heroes had been annihted. Even if we retreated now, others would soone to take the ruins. ¡°Innocent people were killed too.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± The entire ruins had be a battlefield. Most of the nonbatants of the Silver Star here would have died. PVP users indiscriminately bombarded airships carrying refugees. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I had other options. I could have helped the Silver Star to drive out the vignte group and received the resources I needed. There would have been no need for such bloodshed. Adng showed no will to fight. By now, he must have heard that Jenna and Velkist had approached the goddess statue. But he said nothing, only showing a bitter smile. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to fight, then stay in the waiting room and nevere out.¡± I spoke. ¡°Live self-sufficiently with the kids in the waiting room. Don¡¯t instill weird ideas in others. It will never go the way you want.¡± The Silver Star guild was already in ruins. Even without me, it would have soon disbanded. I had just elerated the timing. ¡®Is this rationalization?¡¯ Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. I leaned against the rock behind me. [Global Announcement!] [Master ¡®Anytng¡¯ has sessfully upied the ruin.] [Heroes of other masters will be automatically removed from the area in 10 seconds!] sh. The crystal beyond the barricade turned blue. It was a notification of a sessful upation. ¡°Han.¡± ¡°What.¡± I looked back at Adng. His body was faintly shimmering. Reverse summoning. He was returning to the waiting room. ¡°We will not forget today¡¯s events.¡± ¡°Do as you wish.¡± Adng disappeared into the light. The other heroes who had been pointing their swords at me awkwardly disappeared one by one. Eventually, no one was left here but me. [Congrattions, Master, on your sessful upation of the ruin!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 211: Guaranteed 5-Star Summon (1) (1) Chapter 211: Guaranteed 5-Star Summon (1) (1) As a result, our stay at the ruinssted just over a week. We didn¡¯t want to gather resources up to the second upation battle. Anyway, once we moved up to the 50th floor, it was a ce we would never return to, and as long as we uses the resources properly in the first week, we could meet our target. A few dayster. While we were in the midst of strengthening our forces for the 50th-floor attack. ¡°Ugh¡­! Ugh, ugh!¡± I looked at the man kneeling in front of the desk in my office. The man, whose left eye was swollen blue and covered in blood scabs, was tightly bound all over his body. ¡°What do you want, causing trouble?¡±¡°Ugh!¡± Perhaps because of the gag in his mouth, the man just squirmed. Yesterday at dawn, Velkist said he heard suspicious noises during training. The sound was of another master¡¯s airshipnding in the dimensional rift. Velkist, who went to the rift first, quietly drew his sword after discovering the enemy group preparing an ambush. And this was the result. Out of 13 enemies, 12 were killed. One prisoner was captured. I approached the guy and removed his gag. ¡°You damned bastard! I¡¯ll make sure you pay for the atrocities youmitted at the ruins¡­!¡± Smack! I kicked the guy¡¯s mouth with my boot. ¡°Ugh!¡± The man spewed blood and copsed. I expected this. An ignorant master saw the reports about Anytng on the official caf¨¦ and attacked after getting riled up. A single small airship and 13 lousy heroes. How pathetic. ¡®But still¡­¡¯ Since it was deep in the early morning, if Velkist hadn¡¯t discovered them first, the nonbat personnel might have suffered significant damage. Things are bing more bothersome. If these guys appear sporadically, we won¡¯t be able to focus solely on the attack. If we send all thebatants on arge-scale mission, we might find the waiting room in chaos when we return. I had no interest in seeing such a pathetic scene. ¡°What a nuisance.¡± I clicked my tongue. We needed to leave some troops in reserve. Each person was crucial at this time. Well, equipping the dimensional rift with defensive facilities and creating a dedicated defense unit would improve defense efficiency. It would be like an external defense force. ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°What else? Feed him to an appropriate guy.¡± This guy was useless. Neryssa dragged the struggling man by the nape and left the office. I roughly mopped up the blood sttered on the floor and sat down on the chair. Reports from Neryssa were piled up like mountains on the office desk. They detailed how manybatants had increased, what equipment had been made, and the progress of the airship construction. ¡®I can manage somehow.¡¯ Except for the itch on the back of my head, things were going smoothly. After sipping the green tea on the desk, I skimmed thest report with my eyes. It was a n written by Anytng yesterday. ¨C Leave it to Han. I sighed. What kind of crappy n is this? It¡¯s just passing the buck. I understand, though. 5-star heroes were significantly different from 1-4-star heroes. If other grades were elementary students, 5-stars were college students. If they received the same education at the training center, it might not be suitable for their level. Therefore, He wanted me, the senior in the waiting room, to mark them personally. I read the training n roughly and signed the signature line below. When Anytng logged in today, it would show that I had agreed to the proposal. ¡®So it¡¯s today, huh.¡¯ I finished my green tea. I decided to see what woulde out. [Wee to Pick Me Up!] [Loading isplete.] [T O U C H! (Select)] That evening. As usual, Anytng logged in. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I sat on a bench in the first-floor za. I was waiting to see what woulde out of the summoning center. ¡®A guaranteed 5-star summon ticket.¡¯ It was something I obtained through hard work at the Raid Festa. The system said it would unconditionally give a born 5-star hero, But this was a bit different from what I learned about 5-star heroes. Born 5-stars might not be obtainable even if you spend billions. Starting with myself, several users who threw the equivalent of a foreign car and a house price failed to get a 5-star. After falling into this world and bing a hero, I realized that 5-stars might not exist depending on the circumstances of the world. Niflheimr was such a case. ¡®But they said it¡¯s 100% 5-star.¡¯ I rubbed my chin. It was suspicious. Anytng started rummaging through the warehouse. It didn¡¯t take long before I saw the item. [Guaranteed 5-Star Summon Ticket] [Grade: SS] [Guaranteed to obtain a born 5-star hero.] [Note ¨C Congrattions on winning the overall victory in the 3rd Dimension City Event!] A ticket shimmering in rainbow light. Anytng touched the ticket. [Do you want to proceed with the guaranteed summon?] [Yes / No] ¡°They say born 5-stars are strong?¡± Jenna, sitting next to me, swung her legs. When I told her the master was going to use the 5-star ticket, she tagged along to watch. ¡°Will it be stronger than you?¡± ¡°Probably not.¡± No matter how strong a 5-star is, it starts at level 1. However, the starting point and talents would be different. ¡®Well, I understand.¡¯ If it was a key figure in the world, it would have some unique skills hidden. I watched Anytng¡¯s screen as he tried to touch ¡®Yes¡¯. [Yes (Select) / No] [Ding!] [Master, the special summon is starting!] [Click, drrrrr.] [Boom!] [Iselle: No, this feeling?!] Light started pouring out from the open door of the summoning center. The white shing light gradually turned golden. [Quaaang!] [The summoning center starts to tremble at the emergence of a true hero!] [Iselle: Wow! It¡¯s dazzling!] I don¡¯t know how many times I spun gacha to hear those cringe-worthy lines. [The hero among heroes!] [Meet the hero who left a mark in history!] [¡¸Hyper Rare!¡¹] [Master ¡®Anytng¡¯ has acquired the hero ¡®Wiryung (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯!] Amid the shy sound effects, small footsteps were heard. I looked at the summoning center. Someone was walking out of the light. ¡°Wee to the waiting room!¡± Jenna ran up to the 5-star. ¡°I¡¯m Jenna Shirai! From Townia¡­ huh?¡± Jenna furrowed her brows. Her dark eyes blinked endlessly. ¡°You look¡­ bizarre.¡± Jenna smiled awkwardly. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 212: Guaranteed 5-Star Summon (2) (1) Chapter 212: Guaranteed 5-Star Summon (2) (1) The ce for the newly summoned 5-star hero, Wiryung, was decided to be the fourth floor. Well, given her superior basic specs, it wouldn¡¯t make sense to treat her the same as the other new recruits. Her amodations were also assigned next to mine. It seemed that Anytng, who specially designated the arrangement, wanted me to take extra care of her. Even Neryssa seemed to have received some orders, as the schedule of the sub-master suddenly became empty. ng. I threw the practice iron sword. The sword ttered loudly as it hit the iron floor of the fourth-floor training room. ¡®Noting.¡¯ I had confirmed that she was in her room in the morning. had also mentioned that there were some basics she needed to know and told her toe to the training room.But several hours had passed, and that door hadn¡¯t opened. ¡°Is she ying hard to get because she¡¯s so valuable?¡± Velkist sneered coldly. I had called him to urately gauge Wiryung¡¯s strength. ¡°Shall I go get her? I can drag her out by her hair.¡± ¡°Leave it.¡± Velkist, who was about to leave the training room, stopped. He looked at me nkly and sighed. ¡°Do as you wish.¡± Velkist entered the private training room in the corner of the training hall. I sat on the rest couch with my arms crossed. It had been half a day since Anytng summoned Wiryung to the training room. I still didn¡¯t hear even the sound of footsteps. ¡®They said she was in a state of despondency.¡¯ Despondency. One of the status effects that heroes suffer when their stress levels reach their limit. A hero in a state of despondency cannot be dispatched on missions, and all abilities, including skills and engravings, are significantly reduced in battle. It¡¯s practically a groggy state. Yesterday, Anytng, who had just summoned the 5-star Wiryung, wanted to send her on a test mission but couldn¡¯t. Anytng tapped Wiryung in the Hero Box dozens of times and searched through the help menu but couldn¡¯t find a proper solution. He just ced Wiryung in the waiting room and logged off. It was understandable to be bbergasted. They had drawn a 5-star hero, which was supposed to be so powerful. Yet, she was unusable as soon as she was summoned. I could understand the situation indirectly, but Anytng wouldn¡¯t have a clue. It was almost time for Anytng to log in. I tidied up the practice tools roughly and stood up. And then, Click. Without knocking, I opened Wiryung¡¯s door and went in. ¡°¡­¡­¡± It was the same as when I came in the morning. Wiryung was sitting on the bed, nkly staring at the floor, On the table, the fried eggs and milk had turned cold. I sat down on the bed. ¡°Hey.¡± She still looked down without answering. It was like talking to a wall. ¡®This is a nuisance.¡¯ Even if I coaxed andforted her, it wouldn¡¯t be very useful. There was a special restriction on her engraving. At this rate, should she be synthesized? Being a natural 5-star, I would grow quite a bit if I consumed her. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± I let out a sigh deep enough to reach the ground. Then I approached Wiryung and raised my right hand. ¡°Snap out of it.¡± p! ¡°Ugh?!¡± Wiryung, pped, rolled over. ¡°What is this¡­!¡± Wiryung looked up at me. Her right cheek was swelling red. I snorted and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what your problem is, but this is not Muryeon. If you don¡¯t want to die, follow the rules here. Or should I synthesize you right away? Your experience points seem quite juicy.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Wiryung¡¯s expression changed as she looked at me. Finally, she spoke in a low voice. ¡°Sorry. I was reminiscing about that time.¡± ¡°That time?¡± ¡°When Muryeon fell.¡± Wiryung¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°I¡­ could do nothing. I was supposed to protect him¡­ but I just¡­¡± ¡°Stop annoying me with these sad stories.¡± ¡°Heh, that¡¯s right. This isn¡¯t Muryeon.¡± Wiryung smiled bitterly. It seemed like she had regained some of her senses. I handed her the cold milk from the table. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Let me tell you about your situation and what our current situation is.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± ¡°You were summoned to Townia as a 5-star hero. And we¡¯re facing a tough mission. We need all the help we can get, so we called you to use your full strength.¡± ¡°Is that so? Another chance means this¡­¡± ¡°Another chance?¡± ¡°The priestess said so.¡± The ¡®priestess,¡¯ another unfamiliar term came up again. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess who it was. ¡®Tel.¡¯ I knew that the top-ranked Muryeon ount was annihted for some reason. Whether it was due to external invasion, mission failure, or some other reason. But now wasn¡¯t the time to care about that. I might die anytime soon. As I said before, I really wanted any help I could get, even a finger from an ant. ¡°Anyway, tell me. Will you fight or not?¡± ¡°Sorry¡­ I can¡¯t fight.¡± Wiryung shook her head. ¡°I am bound by the Oath of the Sworn. I can¡¯t properly wield a sword.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I clicked my tongue. At this rate, her future was clear. She would have to bear the consequences of her choice. I turned my back and walked to the door. ¡°Wait.¡± ¡°What now?¡± ¡°By any chance, does this world belong to Zone 2?¡± Such vague terms were confusing. After thinking for a moment, I realized that ¡®zone¡¯ was synonymous with ¡®server.¡¯ ¡°And so what?¡± ¡°I have a job to do. Help me just once.¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking for help when you have no intention of pulling your weight?¡± I looked at Wiryung with cold eyes. Wiryung swallowed hard. ¡°I know it¡¯s shameless. But¡­ I must do this.¡± ¡°And what does that have to do with me?¡± ¡°If you help me, I¡¯ll try my best too. Conditions might be met. Of course, it¡¯s not a one-sided request. I will surely repay the favor.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it if you¡¯re useful.¡± Wiryung stood up. Oaths and conditions, it¡¯s all a hassle. That¡¯s why 5-stars are no good. Shortly after. Wiryung and I arrived at the training room. In the center of the training room, there was a duel area surrounded by iron fences. ¡°A duel?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I spoke to Wiryung standing in front of me. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 213: The First (1) (1) Chapter 213: The First (1) (1) El Cid. The master, named after the legendary Spanish hero, was the first beta tester of ¡°Pick Me Up.¡± Additionally, he was the first ranker, the first to possess a 7-star, and the first to clear the 80th floor. And currently, he holds the number one ranking. Although he barely participated in themunity, he was the reason I, a mere light user, became deeply engrossed in ¡°Pick Me Up.¡± Initially, I regarded the game as just another pay-to-win, but my perception changed dramatically after encountering him. I nodded at Yu¡¯s words. Although the third ranker is excellent, he falls far shortpared to Muryeon. The following ranks were simr. And since Muryeon doesn¡¯t actively tackle missions, there¡¯s only one reason he would copse. ¡°Do you know him?¡±Wiryung squinted at me. She seemed puzzled. Understandably so. The number one ranker disappeared a year ago in real-world time. In Mobius time, it has been well over three years. As sub-master of Townia, my activity time didn¡¯t align with someone like him, so my reaction was suspicious. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of him before.¡± ¡°Anyway, I need to ry this news to the rumor lord of Tachunhyang.¡± ¡°And what will you achieve by doing that?¡± ¡°¡­I can¡¯t say that.¡± She¡¯s full of secrets. I ced the practice iron sword on the disy stand. ¡°¡­.¡± At this timing. I frowned. If it were after clearing the 50th floor, it might be possible, but now I was in the middle of a busy period. ¡®Everyone is being a bother.¡¯ ¡°Fine. I¡¯lle.¡± I could spare a day or two. Yu ended themunication with a slightly brighter voice. I spoke to Wiryung, who was staring at me with eager eyes. ¡°You wanted to go to Niflheimr, right?¡± ¡°Yes. It doesn¡¯t matter how long it takes. I¡­.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll send you today.¡± Wiryung¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°I told you I have connections. I¡¯lle to pick you up at dawn, so be ready.¡± ¡°Are you serious?!¡± Wiryung rushed to me and grasped my hand tightly. Her eyebrows were even wet. ¡°Thank you so much! I¡¯ll never forget this favor. I¡¯ll repay it with all my heart!¡± ¡°Alright, let go of my hand. Wait quietly in your room. Don¡¯t wander off.¡± ¡°I understand! I¡¯ll stay quietly, like a mouse, no, like a corpse!¡± ¡°¡­There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Wiryung hurriedly ran out of the training center, regardless of my words. Left alone, I sighed. ¡®It would be nice if he stayed quiet.¡¯ The golden vige, El Cid¡¯s domain, was strong enough that Niflheimr would have to prepare for a total war. I couldn¡¯t grasp the exact strength, but knowing his capabilities, he must have grown tremendously. If a conflict urred between the two, I couldn¡¯t stay in Townia any longer. I would have tomand them directly. I recalled the number one ranker¡¯s y. Although there were no videos or guides, I happened to see his y by chance. ¡®I understand it now.¡¯ Now, as a hero who fell here, I could understand things I didn¡¯t back then. He already knew that the heroes of ¡°Pick Me Up¡± were alive. ¡®The timing of El Cid¡¯s disappearance and obtaining the 7-star is simr.¡¯ He likely disappeared because of the 7-star. Probably, it was the Book of Reversal. ¡®Then, is the current ruler a hero, not a master?¡¯ I couldn¡¯t be sure. Although the condition for advancing to 7-star is the fusion of hero and master, it¡¯s not 100% certain. To understand how Muryeon fell, what El Cid did, and what message Wiryung has for us, I had to go to Niflheimr. That night, I asked Iselle to manipte the logs. I requested her to erase the log showing that a Niflheimr airship was dispatched and to make it appear as if Wiryung and I had gone to the weekday dungeon if we didn¡¯t return by the next day. Iselle readily agreed, and at dawn, a small Niflheimr airship secretly docked at Townia. ¡°Who¡¯s you¡¯re connection in Tachunhyang? For a single word from you to bring an airship immediately, you must be quite something.¡± On the airship to Niflheimr, Wiryung spoke. Even her manner of address had changed. ¡°¡­.¡± I kept silent. She would find out eventually, but I didn¡¯t want to reveal my identity here. The airship Yu sent seemed to be a high-speed model; we arrived at a ce of lightning and brimstone in less than an hour. It was Niflheimr. Whrrr. The dimensional vortex began to envelop the airship. When the light faded, I was not greeted by a hangar but by the scenery of the 13th floor of Niflheimr, with its five distinct regions. ng. The airship that had dropped off Wiryung and me slid down to the lower floor with a small mechanical sound. ¡°Apologies for thete hour. We have been expecting you.¡± Yu bowed deeply to me. I shook my head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I called because I needed to.¡± ¡°Anyway, I have prepared a ce. Please follow me.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Wiryung tilted her head. I spoke to Wiryung, who couldn¡¯t grasp the situation. ¡°Follow me.¡± Yu guided us to the pitch-ck castle in the center of the 13th floor. It was a ce prepared for my return. In the hall on the first floor, arge conference table was set up. ¡°Please sit here.¡± Yu pulled out the chair at the head of the table. And she patted the cushion, signaling me to sit. ¡°¡­.¡± Well, it¡¯s not the first time. I sighed and sat down. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 214: The First (2) (1) Chapter 214: The First (2) (1) Although I said I would stay in Niflheimr until the investigation results came out, I couldn¡¯t dy for long. Even now, the eggs of the fragments must be stirring in Townia. The maximum time I could stay in Niflheimr was three to four days. After that, I had to return immediately. ¡°It¡¯s a mess in both ces.¡± I sighed and continued to look through the documents on the desk. These were documents on power expansion brought from Townia. Since I had to start finishing the work as soon as I returned, there was no time to rest. ¡°The target troop count is 400, with five medium to small airships. The heroes must be at least level 40, and the leader-level heroes must have suitable skills and engravings.¡± When I was the master of Niflheimr, I could delegate work to suitable people, but now it wasn¡¯t easy. I couldn¡¯t pull the already busy Nerissa away for other things. There wasn¡¯t anyone among the existing heroes who was suitable for administrative positions.¡°Please have some.¡± A steaming teacup was ced on the desk. When I turned around, Yu was standing there, having arrived unnoticed. ¡°The first results wille out by this evening at thetest. There¡¯s no need to rush. We understand well that this is an important time for Townia.¡± I drank the hot tea and spoke. ¡°You¡¯re not telling me to stay put like before.¡± ¡°I would like to, but I¡¯ve realized that the master has an attachment to that ce.¡± ¡°Attachment?¡± I clicked my tongue. It was more of a stubbornness than attachment. It was a matter of whether I die or they die. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a kind of attachment too?¡± Yu smiled faintly. ¡°At first, I was uneasy about letting the master go alone, but now I¡¯ve decided to just watch quietly. I¡¯ve realized that it has meaning too. If the master hade straight to Niflheimr, it might have taken you a long time to adapt.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit of a stretch to call it meaningful? You know as well as I do that it¡¯s a ce where all sorts of people make a mess.¡± ¡°The gates of Niflheimr are always open, master. Please stay if you wish.¡± I kept my mouth shut. It was me who said I would stay in Townia. ¡°No matter what crisises, I believe you will ovee it. We are just watching from afar.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite reassuring.¡± I gulped down the tea and continued to organize the documents. Once this was done, the verification work that kept me up all night would almost be finished. ¡°Master, what do you n to do with Wiryung?¡± ¡°I have to take her to Townia. The master is watching.¡± I couldn¡¯t stay away for long under the excuse of the weekly dungeon. Besides, I found a way to use her. Someone had to do that job, and it was a role that was urgently needed in Townia. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll prepare the airship for tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°I see that you want to get rid of me quickly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to get rid of you, master. I just want to see you finish your job there as soon as possible.¡± ng. A ck sheath was ced on the desk. It was made of a special metal, ck iron, not wood. A long sword hilt peeked out from the sheath. ¡°The repair of Bifrost isplete. It has been adjusted to fit the engraving you have, so it should be much easier to handle than before.¡± I hung Bifrost on my belt. It felt slightly heavier than before, but its unique weight was still there. ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll use it well.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± Knowing her personality, she must have added all sorts of functions to Bifrost. I decided to do a test run once I returned to Townia, in actualbat. ¡°Sorry for showing such disgrace, lord.¡± That evening, Wiryung came to me and apologized. ¡°I was overwhelmed with excitement and showed an unsightly appearance. I ask for your generous understanding.¡± ¡°You were speaking informally just a moment ago, and now you¡¯re using honorifics. Just speak like before.¡± ¡°But you are the master of Toetianhyang¡­¡± When I red, Wiryung flinched. I opened my mouth. ¡°If, as you said, Dorado attacked Muryeon without any reason, we won¡¯t just sit back. We don¡¯t know when we¡¯ll get stabbed in the back too. We¡¯re investigating now, so don¡¯t make a fuss about revenge or righteousness, and stay quiet.¡± Wiryung nodded awkwardly. Fortunately, she seemed to have regained her reason. If she had continued to spout nonsense, she would have been disposed of by Anytng as soon as we returned to Townia. She barely escaped synthesis. I informed Wiryung of her role in Townia. Due to the Oath of the Sworn, she couldn¡¯t exert her full power in the mission field. However ording to Ridigyon, she won¡¯t receive any penalties outside of missions, so there was only one role for her. ¡°She will be in charge of external affairs.¡± Because of the recent gossip from the Silver Star Guild, public opinion about Anytng was not good. Sometimes, trash would attack. If such trash attacked while we were on a mission on the 50th floor, Townia could suffer devastating damage with only a small number of people left. ¡°Someone has to stay.¡± If we properly raise Wiryung¡¯s level, who was originally a six-star max level, she could handle dozens of heroes alone. I proposed this role to Wiryung. ¡°Is it a temporary job?¡± ¡°It¡¯s best if you join the mission, but for now, do that.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Wiryung immediately answered. It was a waste to use a five-star hero for external affairs, but it was much better than discarding her through synthesis. That early morning, I stood alone in the annex on the 13th floor. Yu called me here, saying a special procedure was needed to receive the investigation report. ¡°Master, thank you for waiting. The investigation results are ready.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 215: The First (3) (1) Chapter 215: The First (3) (1) Ranking #1, El Cid. The first Master and the first ranker of Pick Me Up. And just now, he became the first user to clear the game. After calcting the timing, it appeared that El Cid invaded Muryeon after clearing the game. What came next was crucial. To prepare defenses in advance, I needed to know the reason for his attack on Muryeon. As a Master who was not yetplete, with Seris absent, Niflheimr would have to brace for significant losses if he attacked. We could even be defeated. ¡®Why?¡¯ The report from Yu contained only a recreation video of Muryeon¡¯s destruction and the induction of the first ranker into the Hall of Fame. Other information was still pending, and they were investigating as best as they could. Moreover, Yu mentioned that obtaining any more meaningful information would be difficult. Given the immense distance between servers, even the sessful recreation of the video was considered a miracle. Should I take action proactively?Or should I wait and observe? There wasn¡¯t much time to ponder. I was about to face the 50th floor, a core section of Townia. ¡°You seem to be deeply troubled.¡± In the special room installed in Niflheimr¡¯s 13th-floor castle, Yu handed me a cup of tea. The finest teacup made of pure white porcin. As I took a sip, a sharp fragrance wafted to my nose. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Aren¡¯t you about to face an important battle? The mission there must not be hindered by matters of Niflheimr.¡± ¡°Yet you told me not to go before.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s what the Master desires, I¡¯m here to pave the way for you. Of course, it¡¯s not like I have no desires myself. For instance¡­ you¡¯ve been distancing yourself from metely, but it¡¯s such a trivial thing. Now that I think about it, when was thest time I received a personal message from the master? I don¡¯t remember.¡± Yu smiled faintly. I silently drank the tea. ¡°Anyway, even if we sh with them, it won¡¯t be anytime soon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s still frustrating.¡± No theories fit the situation. The first theory was that El Cid, after clearing the tower, shifted his ystyle to PvP since he had no more goals. But that didn¡¯t make sense. Although I didn¡¯t know him well, we had talked a few times, and I had even received tips about the game from him. More importantly¡­ ¡®Why didn¡¯t he return?¡¯ If he, like me, had be a hero and fallen into Mobius, he could have returned to reality after clearing the game. He could have left this chaotic world. If it were me, I would have headed straight back to Earth without looking back. But El Cid didn¡¯t leave. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°We are gathering personal information on the current rank 1. You should have it by the time you clear the 50th floor.¡± So, we still don¡¯t know why. ¡®I don¡¯t understand.¡¯ I recalled the conversation I had with Tel during the 2-star promotion ceremony. The purpose of Pick Me Up. ¡®To restore a destroyed world.¡¯ For that, the power of Earth, a higher dimension, was necessary. Hence, this ce was designed like a mobile game to attract Earthlings. ¡®If El Cid climbed the tower to the end¡­¡¯ Did the world of Dorado revert to its original state, free from the tower¡¯s format? What is happening there now? That, too, is unknown. ¡°¡­This is annoying.¡± I scratched my head. I didn¡¯t want to dwell on questions with no answers. But it was too important to ignore. It seemed that he voluntarily gave up returning to Earth. Perhaps Tel betrayed him too¡­ ¡®I really don¡¯t understand.¡¯ I scratched my head harder. ¡°You¡¯ll lose your hair like that.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t happen, so mind your own business.¡± I responded irritably and stood up. Yu was right. Even if we were to fight El Cid, it would be after clearing the 50th floor. There¡¯s a sequence to everything. Dwelling on questions without answers yields nothing. ¡®I should visit Wiryung.¡¯ Wiryung had agreed to guard the waiting room while we were on our mission. It was as crucial a role as excelling in the mission itself. Nothing would be more demoralizing than returning to a ruined waiting room. I needed to check her condition and reaffirm her resolve. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I can do it. I won¡¯t just sit around wasting food.¡± Wiryung answered with a smile. Though the shadow on her face had notpletely lifted, she seemed much better than when she first arrived. ¡°Just one request. If the dayes when we fight him¡­¡± Wiryung looked down. ¡°No, it¡¯s too shameful for someone who hasn¡¯t achieved anything to ask such a favor of you. I¡¯ll tell you when the dayes.¡± ¡°Do that.¡± If the day came for a fierce battle with him, I could listen to her then. Until then, she would act as a hero of Townia, not Muryeon. ¡°I¡¯ll find a way to use the Oath of the Sworn. It¡¯s not the time to uphold pride.¡± ¡°I like that thought. The sooner, the better.¡± ¡°But why do you endure such hardships? The master of a great sect guarding a trivial border. Is it a form of training?¡± ¡°¡­You could say that.¡± Exining everything would be tedious. I gave her a vague answer. ¡°Lord, can I ask one more question?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s something I can answer.¡± ¡°Do you know what the First District is?¡± I narrowed my eyes. I couldn¡¯t understand the intention behind the question. Why suddenly ask about the First Server? ¡°I heard Laskanda mention the First District.¡± ¡°He did?¡± I asked again. Perhaps my gaze was intimidating, as Wiryung hurriedly responded. ¡°No, it was very brief. I might have misheard.¡± ¡°The First Server is a test server. No one can go there.¡± The First Server was the ce used during Pick Me Up¡¯s beta test, where the main system overseeing all areas of the game was located. It was closed when the game officiallyunched. So, Laskanda mentioned the First Server. I hadn¡¯t heard this information when the scene from Muryeon was recreated. Suddenly, a premonition struck my mind. ¡°¡­¡± But I shook off that thought. I would ponder about himter. Now, the 50th floor came first. ¡°Sorry for the unnecessary words. It was probably a mistake.¡± Wiryung bowed her head to me. Well, that can wait for now. Next, I exined the schedule to Wiryung. We would take an express airship back to Townia at dawn tomorrow. Once back in Townia, we would begin the final preparations for conquering the 50th floor. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 216: Incongruous (1) (1) Chapter 216: Incongruous (1) (1) Muryeon and I returned to Townia. Due to Iselle¡¯s maniption of the log, it would have seemed to Anytng that we had been at the Weekly Dungeon. Given that we were away for more than a day or two, there was enough room for suspicion, but without evidence, nothing happened. Anytng continued operations as usual. With resource extraction from the ruins, there were no longer issues in terms of quantity. If desired, we could recruit hundreds of lower-tier heroes. The third airship, Tia, waspleted in the hangar, and now the fourth and fifth airships were under construction. Moreover, as our power increased, Anytng dispatched Party 1 to the 46th floor. The mission was to bring Pria, trapped on the floating ind, back to the ground. It was as expected. I hijacked the Church army¡¯s airship that was wandering the outskirts of the floating ind and sessfully rescued Pria to the ground. Up to this point, it was as smooth as other sub-stages.Some enemies appeared, but they were negligible, and we overcame them without significant difficulty. But the 50th floor would be different. It would probably be thergest mission since I started conquering Townia. ording to Goo Goo Con, it was highly likely that named monsters like the Beast King and the Saintess, whom I encountered on the 45th floor, would appear simultaneously. Such monsters cannot be dealt with by sheer numbers. Sending a bunch of underlings would only result in a massacre. We needed to confront them with elite heroes and end it. ¡°Elite heroes, huh.¡± The heroes who could be considered elite in Townia were the members of Party 1 and Party 2. There were ten in total, and they had significantly higher growth rates than other heroes. Among them, Party 1 stood out. With top-tier 4-star Kishasha, the mage Katiio, the exceptionally talented Jenna, the fiercelypetitive Velkist, and finally, myself. Even if transferred to aparable high-level ount, they were heroes worthy of being in the top tier. ¡°The problem is¡­¡± The difficulty level of Townia is not ordinary. In addition to being fundamentally difficult, a prince who can manipte interference power is causing trouble. I have gotten stronger by obtaining the ck Dragon Blood, but it still feelscking with just me alone. Of course, given enough time, the party members could catch up to me, but we didn¡¯t have much leisure. We had to rapidly increase our strength in a short time. The easiest way to strengthen heroes quickly is to raise the level of their engravings. ¡°So¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re suggesting summoning another ancient species.¡± In my private room on the 4th floor of the training center. Goo Goo Con was diligently pecking at the feed bowl. Kishasha had set up a feed bowl and water bottle here because a pigeon was roaming around. ¡°If you could fully handle my power, it wouldn¡¯t matter, but you¡¯re still far from it. Tsk tsk, suchzy boy. With such potential, you can only use the third stage. If I had your body, by now¡­ Ahem!¡± When I grabbed his neck, Goo Goo Con cleared his throat. ¡°Anyway, look at this.¡± Goo Goo Con held out something he was holding with his wings. It was a small scale with a pale gray tint, an old, worn-out keratin. It was an item picked up by a hero who went on an exploration dungeon mission, called ¡®Unidentified Shedding.¡¯ With just the description, it was unclear what it was for, and Anytng had nned to discard it but left it as a junk item. ¡°This is the scale of that annoying guy,¡± ¡°Annoying guy?¡± ¡°The White Dragon Assinis.¡± Assinis was one of the four founding members of the Townia. A monster on par with the ck Dragon. ¡°If you use this as a catalyst, it seems possible to summon him through the summoning ritual.¡± ¡°Summoning an S-ss summoning monster with just one scale?¡± I clicked my tongue. The reason I was able to summon this guy was because of the power of a top-tier summoning stone. Of course, there was no leftover. The one I won as a prize in the battle royale was all I had. Top-tier summoning stones don¡¯t evene out of ruins. ¡°I don¡¯t have any summoning stones that can be used right now.¡± ¡°No need for such troublesome items. Just let me enter the dungeon, and I¡¯ll summon him.¡± Peck peck peck. Goo Goo Con spoke while still diligently pecking at the feed. ¡°Have you opened the second engraving?¡± I narrowed my eyes. I had an idea of what Goo Goo Con was talking about. As a 4-star, I could only hold one engraving. To add another engraving slot, I had to advance to 5-star. In other words, I needed to be 5-star to have two engravings. ¡°Level 55.¡± That was the requirement to advance to 5-star. After clearing the 49th floor and using synthesis well, achieving level 55 with the current floor was not difficult. ¡°Are you saying to use the White Dragon Blood as my second engraving?¡± ¡°Are you nning to give it to your subordinate?¡± ¡°Efficiency-wise, that¡¯s correct.¡± If I obtained the White Dragon Blood now, it would be like wielding two weapons with one hand. Even using just the main engraving wouldn¡¯t add to thebat efficiency, so it was more efficient to pass the White Dragon Blood to others. ¡°Do you really think an ordinary human can handle that power? Foolishness. Even if they are blessed by the goddess, their vessel cannot contain us. If you try to force it, it will overflow and spill out.¡± Goo Goo Con stopped pecking at the feed and looked at me. ¡°Use it yourself. Our power is only granted to transcendent beings.¡± The higher the engraving grade, the higher the dungeon¡¯s difficulty, and the higher the failure rate when engraved on a hero. The price of failure is contamination. In other words, it¡¯s the same as the hero dying. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Unlike with me, there will be no trial or whatever to survive.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 217: Incongruous (2) (1) Chapter 217: Incongruous (2) (1) Preparations for opening the Descent Dungeon were progressing steadily. Obtaining the scale, a summoning catalyst for the ancient species that once ruled Townia, the White Dragon Assinis, was sessful, but it was not the end. We had to create a dedicated summoning inscription stone based on it. Here, I once again borrowed Iselle¡¯s power. At first, Iselle opposed knowing that Velkist, not I, would gain the high-level engraving, but eventually, she was persuaded. [¡ï!Super Sess!¡ï] [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has created ¡®Advanced Descent Stone (White Dragon¡¯s Soul)!¡¯] I sessfully made the summoning stone. Even without the top-grade descent stone, there were spare advanced descent stones obtained from events. ording to the pigeon, while the ck Dragon was summoned through the method of secondary summoning, this time it would be different. He said that if he followed, he could summon it directly.¡®Is this why connections are important?¡¯ And so, during the early morning when everyone was asleep. A rift in the dimension on the first floor of the za was open. I looked back. Velkist was sitting on a bench with his legs crossed. ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Velkist stood up from the bench. Clink. The scabbard hanging from his belt shook. Goo Goo Con, who was next to Velkist, jumped down to the ground. [Not sure if it will work out well, this is not even for Han.] Iselle fluttered her wings. Without Anytng, we couldn¡¯t open the dimensional rift without borrowing Iselle¡¯s power. Iselle, still upset, puffed out her red-tinged cheeks. [It¡¯s a pity. If it were Han, he would use that power better. That fool with that head of him full of fighting¡­ Wah!] ¡°Don¡¯t mind her.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± [Waaaaah!] Ssh! Iselle, who spun like a pinwheel, crashed into the fountain. Entering the Descent Dungeon was again done without Anytng¡¯s knowledge. If Anytng were here, he might have had other ideas. He might use the engraving on me or even on Jenna. ording to what I heard from Goo Goo Con, the abilities of the White Dragon Blood were more suitable for a closebat hero than an archer like Jenna. It¡¯s no wonder the Assinis family uses swords. ¡®Hmmm¡­¡¯ I thought of Delphine, the heir of Assinis. She died absurdly during a mission despite inheriting the White Dragon Blood. She couldn¡¯t resist at all. If the 5-star summoning ticket prioritized summoning heroes from the same ount, Delphine might have been summoned instead of Wiryung. Goo Goo Con said that Delphine, said to be the empire¡¯s strongest, could not fully utilize the power of the White Dragon Blood. Before the world transformation into a game, Townia¡¯s military power seems to havegged behind expectations. ¡°If you gain the favor of that White Dragon or whatever inside, shouldn¡¯t that be better? Is it okay to just fight it?¡± [It says you¡¯d be useless in a fight, you will be crushed like a bug.] Iselle, who had returned, tranted Goo Goo Con¡¯sints. Velkist frowned slightly but didn¡¯t touch Goo Goo Con. Then he muttered with his eyes closed. ¡°I¡¯m here to escape being a bug.¡± I chuckled. I feel like I¡¯ve heard this kind of dialogue before. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s in there, but I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll fight. The rest is up to you. Do your best.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Velkist jingled the pouch he held in his left hand. Inside was the summoning stone I made. ¡°I¡¯m off.¡± Velkist walked into the dimensional rift. Goo Goo Con followed Velkist briskly. Thud. The door to the dimensional rift closed. Soon, a faint light seeped through the crack in the door. Velkist and Halkion must be moving to the Descent Dungeon. [But Loki, isn¡¯t a high-level engraving a bit tough for a 4-star hero?] Iselle sat on my shoulder. She wasn¡¯tmenting that I couldn¡¯t use the White Dragon Blood. She was simply curious. ¡°Normally, yes. It¡¯s tough for a 4-star.¡± Iselle wasn¡¯t wrong. Even if one obtained a high-level engraving above grade A, using it on a low-level hero would likely result in failure. Adapting to high-level engravings required a process. Starting with lower-grade engravings, the hero had to grow. As the hero¡¯s grade increased, gradually bestowing higher-level engravings would make it manageable up to the grade A engraving at the 6-star max level. ¡®It¡¯s a gamble.¡¯ I don¡¯t like gambling. Minimizing variables and increasing opportunities to intervene with skill. That¡¯s also a basic condition for being a ranker. ¡®But here, I can only gamble.¡¯ So far, most have worked, but I might fail someday. I just hope the cost isn¡¯t too high. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± It was near dawn when I met Velkist again. I examined Velkist. He hadn¡¯t changed outwardly. He was the same as when he went in. ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°It was nothing much. Just a few trivial questions and answers.¡± Velkist handed me a leather pouch. When I opened the pouch, a white glowing bead was visible. The abilities of the inscription appeared right after. [True White Dragon Blood (S, Lv.1)] [Proof of the pure bloodline of the ancient White Dragon. It contains unprecedented power.] [Unique Skill: 1. White Dragon Horn] [¡ù Other unknown skills exist.] Like the ck Dragon Blood, the inscription window was simple. Only a few lines of description. ¡®S-grade.¡¯ An engraving grade sought after by many masters in Pick Me Up. S-grade engravings were difficult to obtain and had boundless potential. And Townia had already obtained two S-grade engravings with this. ¡®The rewards match the difficulty level.¡¯ Knowing this, some hardcore users might deliberately try to increase the difficulty. Goo Goo Con walked out. ¡°Wave King, huh.¡± Velkist murmured. It seemed he could hear Goo Goo Con¡¯s voice during the descent process. Goo Goo Con continued in a bored tone. ¡°I don¡¯t care what that is. But¡­ I like that I can be stronger.¡± ¡°Can we start right away?¡± Velkist looked at me. I shook my head. ¡°We need preparation. You must be tired too.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll go first. Thank you for your help.¡± After bowing his head to me, Velkist took the pouch with the engraving stone and went up the stairs. [Wave King? What a cool name. It should have been used on Loki.] [So, if you two fight, who would win?] [That¡¯s not a clear answer. Will you lose?] Leaving the two fools behind, I climbed the stairs. I¡¯m curious about Anytng¡¯s reaction. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 218: Incongruous (3) (1) Chapter 218: Incongruous (3) (1) Velkisty t on the floor. He clenched his hands into fists. He was straining so hard that his entire forearm was trembling. [Danger!] [¡®Velkist (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ is beginning to be contaminated!] ¡°Ka¡­ hak¡­!¡± A hissing sound escaped from Velkist¡¯s gaping mouth. ck veins emerged beside his eyes. Clearly contaminated.¡®Not yet.¡¯ During the process of engraving a high-level imprint, it was inevitable to go through a state of contamination at least once. From now on, it was crucial. If he could ovee it, he would be the master of the imprint. If he couldn¡¯t¡­ Sreeung. I half-drew the sword from the sheath Velkist had given me. ¡®He still has his reason.¡¯ Although his face was twisted in pain, there was still light in his eyes. Thud! Thud-thud! Velkist mmed his fist on the floor. After a few more hits, blood began to seep through his clenched fists. [Danger!] [¡®Velkist (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯s contamination is worsening!] [Master, be careful! A contaminated hero cannot be recovered.] Riiiip. With a tearing sound, ck veins appeared all over his body. Velkist vomited ck, viscous blood from his mouth. Goo Goo Con hurriedly approached Velkist. The pigeon tried to push away the glowing white orb near Velkist. ¡°¡­Stop, Ra.¡± Velkist grabbed Goo Goo Con¡¯s wing. ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ over yet.¡± Velkist brought the orb to his abdomen as if embracing it. Then he muttered in a voice mixed with a metallic sound. ¡°I¡­ I need¡­ to be stronger¡­.¡± The pigeon looked at me with fierce eyes. I continued to watch Velkist, with my sword half-drawn. ¡°Don¡¯t stop him.¡± Velkist looked up at me with bloodshot eyes. ¡°This is¡­ my chosen path. I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± ¡°Just dying won¡¯t count as responsibility.¡± ¡°Of course¡­.¡± Cough! Velkist vomited ck blood once more. ¡°I decided to die on the battlefield.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°So I won¡¯t die in such a disgraceful manner.¡± The sound of Velkist gritting his teeth echoed throughout the room. ¡®It wasn¡¯t from the beginning.¡¯ I recalled Eloka¡¯s precedent. In terms of efficiency, she shouldn¡¯t have participated in the Sea Dragon subjugation. But she begged me several times to let her fight with us. This is no different. A 2% chance gamble. I once again indulged arade¡¯s whim. Of course, there¡¯s no turning back now. If I stop here, Velkist will resent me for the rest of his life. ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± Velkist looked at me and managed a difficult smile. I sighed deeply. Now, all I could do was watch to see what would happen to him. Crack! The sound of bones dislocating. The skin tore, and pure white scales emerged from the gaps. Velkist let out a silent scream. Crack. From his temples, white horny growths started to emerge. They resembled those of the legitimate sessor of Assinis, Delphine. I gripped the sword handle tightly. The contamination was still progressing. ck blood flowed from his eyes down his entire body. The characteristic ck veins of a contaminated person were so prominent they protruded outside the skin. The moment these veins invaded the heart, he would turn into a monster. ¡®Not yet.¡¯ White dragon scales and horns continued to emerge. The jewel-like sparkling white scales gradually covered Velkist¡¯s skin. The ck veins receded as if pushed back by the white dragon¡¯s aura. Goo Goo Con exhaled as if in disbelief. ¡®Is it a sess?¡¯ But something was off. It was different from my experience. When I engraved the ck dragon blood, it seeped in naturally. But the white dragon¡¯s blood seemed to be rampaging inside Velkist. Velkist asionally twitched his body, but showed no other reaction, as if he had already fainted. Through his torn clothes, his flesh and bones were exposed. If you didn¡¯t look closely, you wouldn¡¯t recognize who he was. ¡°¡­.¡± Twitch. Velkist, who was lying down, moved his fingers. Then, slowly, he began to rise. Goo Goo Con took a few steps back from Velkist. Velkist¡¯s eyelids lifted as he stood still. Silver eyes that seemed to pierce through everything. His mouth opened and closed. The first words from Velkist¡¯s mouth were sincereints. Goo Goo Con scratched his wing with his front paw. Iughed bitterly. The ancestor of the four great families, Assinis, who had possessed Velkist, looked at me. A look of surprise crossed Assinis¡¯ eyes as he scanned me. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between him and me? We are all the same.¡± The white dragon Assinis had an endlesslynguid look in his eyes. I continued speaking. ¡°Sorry to say this at our first meeting, but help him out. He tries hard and won¡¯t cause any trouble.¡± ¡°So what.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± ¡°Maybe now, but who knowster.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t really know. He might be incredibly strong.¡± Assinis tilted his head. ¡°Yes, so what?¡± Assinis smirked sinisterly. ¡°¡­.¡± Assinis lowered his eyes and said. Crack. The horn that had sprouted from his temple disappeared. So did the white scales and the ck veins that signaled contamination. Assinis¡¯ eyes closed. At that moment, Velkist staggered and copsed against the wall. [Ta-da!] [Engraving isplete.] [A special ability is inscribed in ¡®Velkist (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯s body!] Finally, the engraving message appeared. There was no failure. But the subsequent exnation made me sigh. [True White Dragon Blood (S, Lv.1)] [Blood that proves the pure lineage of the ancient white dragon. It holds unprecedented power.] [Unique Skill: 1. White Dragon Horn] [¡ù There are many unknown skills.] [Note 1 ¨C ¡®True White Dragon Blood¡¯ cannot be used for some reason.] The worst-case scenario of falling into contamination was avoided. However, it was hard to call this a sess. ¡®It¡¯s sealed.¡¯ I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 219: A Gold Coin (1) (1) Chapter 219: A Gold Coin (1) (1) Until Velkist returned from the exploration dungeon, his absence was filled by a hero named Bennick from the second party. Originally, Edis had volunteered to substitute after hearing about Velkist¡¯s departure, but she was responsible formanding all the heroes outside of the first party. Unless absolutely necessary, she couldn¡¯t be hastily deployed for missions. Bennick, who joined the second party after clearing the 20th floor, was a thief ss known for his calm demeanor and cool-headed judgment. He was also someone Edis rmended. At least, he should be able to handle himself. ¡®Though there might not be any fighting.¡¯ I looked up. [Floor 47.] [Mission Type ¨C Exploration] [Objective ¨C Investigate an Unfamiliar ce!]The mission objective window was disyed. An exploration mission type I had experienced several times before. Nothing special. ¡®So it¡¯s a reconnaissance mission.¡¯ The current time was bright midday. The sun was shining from the clearing where we were first summoned. But now it was pitch dark. The branches of a gigantic tree extending a hundred meters up were blocking the sky. This ce in the middle of the forest was as dark as night. ¡°Quack! Quack-quack!¡± I looked to the side. Monsters were shrieking in the dark, dense forest. Their eyes glimmered ominously. If not for the transparent barrier between us, I would have been in a fierce battle with them by now. Only observation. The monsters outside the barrier couldn¡¯t touch the heroes, so the heroes could stroll along the inner paths of the field, easily assessing the enemy¡¯s strength for the next mission. It had been a while since we had such a traditional mission. ¡®It doesn¡¯t look any different.¡¯ The leaves under my feet crumbled. The fallen leaves scattered throughout the forest path were pitch ck, and the ckened trees were grotesquely twisted. And, Uooohhhh. An unidentified monster was wandering on the left side of the forest. Its body, extending above the trees, was at least 30 meters tall. It was arge one. ¡®There are many.¡¯ They were hiding all over the forest. The lush branches were shaking in all directions, and the bushes were constantly rustling. Just as I was watching them, they were also watching me. I narrowed my eyes. Hundreds of meters ahead, a rounded object resembling a high-rise building stood tall. Its shell pulsated as if it were about to hatch soon. The forest, once serene, had turned into a ce of horror due to that egg. ¡®It seems all the monsters in Townia have been mobilized.¡¯ Near the egg, shadows towering high swayed. Dozens to hundreds ofrge monsters. They were eagerly waiting for intruders. In the sky visible through the gaps in the trees, numerous dots floated. This time, they were flying monsters. Known as the nemesis of airships. How many are there? I roughly counted the heads of the monsters I had seen while passing by. The number was not in the tens or hundreds. Thousands. Considering the hidden ones, it could be in the tens of thousands. ¡®Too many.¡¯ Since clearing the 45th floor, we have steadily increased its forces. As a result, Townia could muster a massive force unmatched to before. But even then, it was only a few hundred. Goo Goo Con had said. He spected that the prince who could interfere with missions had used the monsters from the upper floors. If we could clear the 50th floor, the following missions would be easy. ¡®It¡¯s easier said than done.¡¯ This meant the mission difficulty on the 50th floor would be beyond imagination. It¡¯s not just the number of monsters. I recalled the two named monsters that had troubled me. The Beast King and the Saintess who were former heroes. They were likely to appear on the 50th floor. Considering the gravity of the situation, even the prince, the boss of the 80th floor, might show up. ¡®No more.¡¯ Even with resources, it¡¯s impossible. At the current ount level, we couldn¡¯t increase our forces any further. Only after breaking through the 50th floor, conducting research, and significantly expanding our facilities once more could we manage thousands of heroes. The absence of the Assinis family was deeply felt. If they were here, they would have been excellent shields. ¡®They said they were in seclusion.¡¯ Pria had told me after visiting the Assinis family. Priasis, who seeded in escaping to the surface with our help on the 46th floor, had visited the Assinis family again. However, the head of Assinis, shocked by the loss of his heir, dered that he would no longer involve himself in the empire and the church¡¯s affairs, effectively rendering Assinis out of our reach. ¡®He said he was sorry.¡¯ I couldn¡¯t count how many times I heard that from Pria. Unable to persuade them, Pria had looked at me with a near-crying expression. And now, she was patrolling the forest outskirts with the other members of the first party. ¡°Kiiik! Kiiik! Kikik!¡± Kang! Kangkang! Kang! Goblins that appeared on the forest path bared their teeth at me. They relentlessly stabbed their daggers into the transparent barrier between us. It was a futile effort, but they didn¡¯t stop. Blue sparks scattered from the wall where the des were embedded. ¡°Kaaaak! Kaakak!¡± [Corrupted Goblin Lv.38] X 31 Their once green skin had turned ck. Their bodies were bulging with hideous veins. Level 38. The monsters here were not only numerous but also significantly stronger. ¡®¡­¡­Sigh.¡¯ I could only sigh. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 220: A Gold Coin (2) (1) Chapter 220: A Gold Coin (2) (1) A young man known as the Mercenary King and a rough-looking man moved through the forest, bickering as they went. I followed them, keeping low. ¡°It¡¯d be better to stop now. What if we attract their attention by going deeper? A few monsters are no problem, but if all the monsters in this forest gather, we¡¯ll have a headache.¡± ¡°We¡¯re just here to see that egg bringing peace. It¡¯s not visible from here.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get why that egg matters at all.¡± ¡°You can go back first if you want.¡± ¡°How could I leave my brother here? My wife would kill me.¡± ¡°Then just follow quietly.¡± The two men pushed through the thick branches and bushes, moving forward. As the young man said, the egg standing tall in the middle of the forest was not visible due to therge trees blocking the view. However, after about five minutes of walking, they woulde across a clearing where they could see the egg. ¡®Is this the item that brings peace to the continent?¡¯The Empire and the Church announced it as such. Well, if ¡®peace¡¯ meant everyone dying, they might be right. ¡°There are a lot of presences, but no monsters are attacking.¡± The young man looked puzzled. ¡°Aren¡¯t they afraid of you?¡± ¡°Afraid? ?And I told you not to call me brother. Call me boss.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not used to that weird title.¡± ¡°How long will you cling to old-fashioned titles? We need to change too.¡± ¡°Okay, boss.¡± Boss, huh. I smirked. He didn¡¯t seem like an ordinary mercenary. ¡®Brother Yoshu.¡¯ The man had called the young man that. It sounded familiar from somewhere. Following them for a few more minutes, I began to recall forgotten memories. The conclusion came quickly. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Yoshu. He was a kid I bought information from in the city during my first dungeon exploration. He begged for a gold coin, talking about some brilliant business idea. I gave him a coin to get rid of him because he kept bothering me. ¡®Ridiculous.¡¯ Less than half a year had passed in the waiting room since then, but it seemed different inside Townia. The kid who barely reached my waist had grown up significantly. But the most surprising thing was something else. ¡®A kid I helped by chance on the street has be such a big shot?¡¯ And he showed up right when help was needed. A probability less than a fraction of a percent. It couldn¡¯t happen without several coincidences stacking up. ¡®It¡¯s not just a coincidence¡­¡­¡¯ I sighed. Even if it was close to reality, this world was ultimately a game. ¡®System adjustments were made.¡¯ The original reinforcements disappeared. Therefore, they added a new group of NPCs to assist the hero¡¯s mission. And they appeared in the scouting mission before the boss stage to inform us. ¡®They can¡¯t escape it.¡¯ No matter how much the prince and his followers tried to overturn it, the rules didn¡¯t change. A mission that couldn¡¯t bepleted couldn¡¯t exist. No matter how difficult, there was always a strategy. They only twisted the situation briefly, but the world remained the same. ¡°That¡¯s the egg.¡± The clearing on the forest outskirts. The young man muttered while looking at the tall egg in the distance. The monsters scattered around didn¡¯t attack the young man and the man. More precisely, they couldn¡¯t attack. ¡°It looks horrific.¡± The man spat out. The egg was tens of meters in size. The translucent outer shell quivered with greyish flesh underneath. In the middle of the shell, a red eyeball with blood vessels spread out swayed. The young man frowned while staring at the egg. ¡°I need to check it out properly.¡± ¡°What do you n to do after checking it?¡± ¡°The Empire and the Church are hiding a lot of things from us. They suddenly put a bounty on the princess and this incident too. They don¡¯t tell usmoners anything.¡± ¡°What if the high-ups are lying?¡± ¡°Then¡­¡­¡± The young man hesitated and then shut his mouth. He shook his head. ¡°Let¡¯s go back for now.¡± The young man turned around. As their figures gradually faded, I stood up from the bushes only after they disappeared from sight. The mission-clear window didn¡¯t appear. I thought the reconnaissance was sufficient. ¡®No.¡¯ Since the clear window didn¡¯t appear, there must be something left to do. I brushed off the leaves on my shoulder and headed to the members¡¯ gathering ce. ¡°In this case, a breakthrough is the only answer.¡± ¡°A breakthrough?¡± ¡°Form the airship fleet into a wedge formation and pierce through the monster horde. We can¡¯t engage in a full-scale battle. We have to get to the egg quickly and finish the task.¡± ¡°That means that we will have to make a lot of sacrifices.¡± ¡°More than half of our forces will be lost, but we have no choice.¡± Jenna and Katiio were intensely discussing mission strategies. Ignoring the monsters and breaking through to the egg toplete the objective was one of the strategies I had considered. I passed by Bennick, who was silently sharpening his dagger, and Kishasha, who was yawning. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Priasis sat at the base of arge tree. She had a visibly gloomy expression, her silver eyebrows furrowed. ¡°Ah, Han¡­¡­ you¡¯re here.¡± Seeing me, Pria forced a smile. Then she raised her voice a little artificially. ¡°Do you want my help with anything? I have nothing to do anyway.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that you can¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°I have no skill for fighting. I¡¯ve practiced swordsmanship consistently, butpared to you, I¡¯m like a firefly before the moon.¡± Of course. The growth rate of heroes, enhanced by skills and engravings, couldn¡¯t bepared to NPCs. Pria had practiced swordsmanship for years but could only handle one or two monsters at most. ¡°Do you want to borrow my sword? Or maybe¡­¡­ do you need a massage? Your shoulders must be aching a bit.¡± Pria¡¯s smile was yful but tinged with bitterness. ¡°I don¡¯t need¡­¡­¡± I stopped myself. I remember being scolded by Edis for saying that before. She said I had no understanding of people¡¯s feelings. ¡°Come here.¡± Pria patted the spot next to her. I sat down without a word, and Pria started to massage my shoulders. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 221: Mission Type, Complex (1) (1) Chapter 221: Mission Type, Complex (1) (1) Time flowed without stopping. While continuing to train my weapon skills and the ck Dragon¡¯s Blood, I also handled the duties in the waiting room during my spare time. I checked the heroes¡¯ training progress and the construction progress of the airships, organized parties considering the heroes¡¯ temperaments and professions, and designated leaders for each party. The final decision on partyposition was up to the Master, but Anytng never rejected my suggestions. Thus, now on the eve of the 50th-floor raid, Townia¡¯s forces exceeded our expectations. Fivebat airships. Approximately four hundred heroes. An incredible force for a 49th-level ount. ¡®Our rear defenses are also perfect.¡¯While the main force was on a mission, the defensive troops led by Wiryung would guard the waiting room. They had already sessfully repelled a couple of invasions. ¡®Velkist is back.¡¯ I thought Velkist would return just before departure, but he came back much earlier than expected. I didn¡¯t ask Velkist about the sess of his mission. Just by looking at his expression, I knew the result. Goo Goo Con was clicking his tongue in disbelief. ¡®My level has increased enough.¡¯ Level 53. That was my current level. We cleared the 48th floor after the 47th, and we safely broke through to the 49th floor. Coincidentally, there was a mission on the 49th floor where we could gain a lot of experience by hunting monsters. Although we couldn¡¯t upgrade to a 5-star rating due to theck of experience points, we reached the limit of the 4-star rating. This was the same for the other members as well. The ck Dragon¡¯s Blood, which had been stuck at stage 3, recently broke through to stage 4. Now, I wouldn¡¯t lose in a 1-on-1 fight against any average boss monster. Before entering the main raid, Anytng wanted to send unnecessary heroes as a vanguard to the 50th floor. He probably wanted to understand the patterns in advance. [¡ùMission deployment impossible!] [This mission requires an airship!] However, when Anytng touched the deployment button, a message popped up, and the mission window closed. A mission requiring an airship. However, there were no airships in Townia that could be discarded as a sacrificial pawn. In the end, we had to give up on the vanguard reconnaissance. Now, we had only one choice left. To gather all our forces and breakthrough in one go, just as we had always done. Thus again, The time for departure came. ¡°Take a deep breath, take a deep breath!¡± Rain, the twin mage from Party 2, patted Edis on the back. Edis, with a pale face, was reading the paper in front of her. ¡°Hey, can¡¯t Han do it? I can¡¯t do this¡­¡± ¡°But you¡¯re the leader.¡± ¡°No! The raid leader should be the sub-master!¡± ¡°But you¡¯re good at leading people.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? I¡¯m trembling to death.¡± This ce was the hangar located in the dimensional rift. A vast space that could be called the second za. All thebatants belonging to Townia gathered in the dimensional rift. They stood in line, looking up at us on the podium, specifically at Edis, who was appointed as themander of this raid. Behind the heroes were five airships lined up. The airships, named Capitalism, Lusette, Tier, Easy, and Fran, were all set to participate in this mission. Heroes responsible for piloting, maintenance, and artillery stood on their decks. ¡°Giving a speech out of nowhere, a mere mercenary like me¡­¡± ¡°A pre-battle speech is essential for morale, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Absolutely! Absolutely!¡± Rain and Main echoed my words. ¡°If the leader can¡¯t step up, how can the subordinates go!¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°This is crazy¡­¡± I left the sweating Edis and came down from the podium. There, the members of Party 1, responsible for hitting key points under the mobile force in this mission, were gathered. ¡°There are more enemies than expected. Can we manage with this?¡± Katiio sighed. He had said that a hundred times since returning from the 47th floor. ¡°Aren¡¯t reinforcementsing? Wasn¡¯t it the Mercenary King?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t even know if they¡¯reing. We should exclude uncertain forces.¡± ¡°They¡¯re not uncertain.¡± ¡°So they¡¯re definitelying?¡± ¡°If my prediction is correct.¡± They wouldn¡¯t appear for no reason during a mission. If the system was working properly, Pria would surely return. The problem was whether we could hold out until then. ¡°Dad ising, right?¡± Kishasha clenched her fists. ¡°Will you be alright?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ve barely seen him. He¡¯s said to be the strongest warrior, so I just want to fight him.¡± Kishasha¡¯s face hardened coldly. Even though she said it didn¡¯t matter, it wouldn¡¯t feel good to hunt down someone she shared blood with. ¡°Velkist, are you ready?¡± ¡°Always ready. I want to use it as soon as possible.¡± Velkist grinned sardonically. He would use it so much that he¡¯d get sick of it once the actual battle started. Halkion¡¯s voice echoed in my ears. Originally, he was supposed to join us in the form of a pigeon, but Kishasha¡¯s rampage prevented that. Still, as long as we couldmunicate remotely, it didn¡¯t mean we couldn¡¯t use the power of the ck Dragon¡¯s Blood. ¡°This is always nerve-wracking.¡± Jenna was taking slow, taking deep breaths. ¡°I hope no one dies this time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible.¡± ¡°I know. I just hope the members of Party 1 are safe. We don¡¯t want to go through what happened on the 35th floor again, do we? You or I.¡± That was true. I looked at the podium. Edis, with a stiff expression, was stepping up to the lectern. ¡°Hah.¡± Edis took a deep breath and opened her mouth. And the speech began. The content was nothing special. In summary, ¡®everything in the waiting room depends on this battle.¡¯ ¡®Everything.¡¯ It was true. Anytng invested everything in her ount for this raid. (T/N: Lately in the original Korean text the author started to refer to Anytng as a female, so it seems it¡¯s finally confirmed that she¡¯s a female yer.) If the heroes were annihted, the waiting room would suffer irreparable damage. Given that we had gathered forces beyond our capacity, it was uncertain whether we could rebuild a simr force again. In other words, Anytng had bet too many chips. This attempt would likely be thest. ¡®It¡¯s a wonder she didn¡¯t give up.¡¯ A single touch could end everything we had built so far. Some masters, unable to withstand this pressure, voluntarily gave up while preparing for the raid. I was the same. No matter how many missions I had been through, my hands always trembled when pressing the deployment button. Fortunately, Anytng, like me, only hesitated briefly and did not give up on the mission. [¡ùCaution!] [This mission requires a hundred parties for arge-scale operation! If youck party members, use paid or free summons to replenish your heroes!] [This mission requires an airship for special means! Gather resources and blueprints to create airships!] [Tips/ You can group parties to form a raid. ] [Tips/ You can group airships to form a fleet. ] Arge-scale mission on just the 50th floor. We were unfortunate to get such a mission. ¡®There is no vanguard.¡¯ As soon as the mission started, Townia¡¯s raid would be deployed simultaneously. [Han, we must win!] Iselle, with a victory headband tied on her forehead, pointed at me. [No matter who it is or what tricks they pull!] ¡°Of course.¡± I smiled. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 222: Mission Type, Complex (2) (1) Chapter 222: Mission Type, Complex (2) (1) The field type was darkness. In the settings of ¡°Pick Me Up,¡± it was an unknown location named a hyperdimensional space. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I looked around the area. In the sky, which had turned purple, residual light flickered like an aurora. And below the sky, a vast forest spread out. At first nce, it seemed no different from the previous fields, but the forest, ckened and discolored, was writhing as if alive. And then. [Warning!] [¡®Egg of Chaos¡¯ is beginning to activate!]Thump. The eye of the giant egg in the middle of the forest opened. ¡°Oppa, over there¡­!¡± ¡°I know.¡± Goooooo. The scream from the Egg of Chaos echoed throughout the field. Tentacles burst out from the ashen shell and began to wriggle. ¡°Kaaargh¡­?!¡± The tentacles whipped through the sky, capturing a swarm of wyverns that were flying nearby. Then, it brought its prey into a mouth that had formed in the middle of the shell. Crunch. Countless teeth started to chew on the wyverns. At the same time, dozens of tentacles spread in all directions, indiscriminately sweeping through the monsters. ¡°¡­¡­It¡¯s not a pleasant sight.¡± Jenna smiled bitterly. Well, that egg never looked pleasant. [Danger!] [Master, ¡®Egg of Chaos¡¯ is hunting the nearby monsters! When the evolution score reaches 100, ¡®Egg of Chaos¡¯ will evolve into ¡®Chaos Embryo.¡¯ Fulfill the mission conditions in time!] [Current Evolution Score: 001 / 100] Gooooooo! The egg, which had swallowed a building-sized giant monster whole, roared. ¡®The goal is set.¡¯ Time Attack. Before the evolution score reaches 100, we either have to deal with the egg or slow down its evolution. There was no time to hesitate. I surveyed the field again. Over ten thousand monsters swarmed beneath the airship. If that¡¯s all, it would be enough to handle about 30 monsters per hero, but the monsters kept appearing from somewhere, faster than the tentacles could consume them. ¡®Is it an impossible difficulty?¡¯ Novice masters often make premature judgments based only on the beginning of a mission. They think it¡¯s absolutely impossible to clear. However, Experts are different. They know the higher rules of ¡°Pick Me Up¡± well. ¡®¡­¡­No matter the mission,¡¯ Even if gods or demons appear, There is a strategy to clear it. Edis¡¯s voice quietly resounded. It was a privatemunication that only I could hear. I put my hand to my ear. ¡°First, slowly circle around the egg and survey the field. There must be a hint for the strategy somewhere.¡± I checked the notification window on the upper right of my vision. [Current Evolution Score: 001 / 100] The evolution score wasn¡¯t rising quickly. There was enough time to survey the field slowly and reorganize the attack squad. ¡°Considering the type of mission, there should be a goddess statue hidden somewhere in the forest. It¡¯s dangerous to approach the egg, so let¡¯s circle around the forest and look for objects. Tell those with good eyesight to search carefully.¡± Edis, who ended themunication with me, immediately began to spread my words through themand channel. ¡®There aren¡¯t many scared ones.¡¯ A few heroes appeared to be in fear or panic but quickly recovered. They could fight well enough. Wooooong. The Lucette turned its bow. As per Edis¡¯s instructions, they began to circle the egg and survey the field. ¡°Now they¡¯lle.¡± Velkist, who had his arms crossed, muttered. He was right. ¡°Screeeee!¡± The flying monsters that had been hiding in the darkness of the forest took off all at once. When they took off, part of the sky seemed to turn ck. Even a rough count showed hundreds. Naturally, their target was Townia¡¯s airship fleet. Raddi, Townia¡¯s chief mechanic and now fleetmander, shouted loudly on themand channel. nk. Creak, creak. Mechanical sounds followed, and the four airships trailing behind Lucette each revealed their weapons. From the basic armament ofrge ballistae to rapid-fire catapults and magical cannons, they were items crafted by the master craftsmen of the equipment workshop, who had invested day and night in their creation. On the other side, the voices of mages chanting spells could be heard. In addition to the twins from Party 2, Anytng reinforced several mages through premium draws. Magic shes were rising from each airship. ¡°Screee! Screeeee!¡± [Corrupted Harpy Lv.48] X 321 [Corrupted Wyvern Lv.51] X 32 [Corrupted Chimera Lv.53] X 11 Boom, boom, boom, boom! The airships¡¯ sides simultaneously erupted in cannon fire. Harpies hit directly by ballista bolts were torn apart, and wyverns struck by cannon fire had their wings shredded. Spears of ice and bolts of lightning, each several meters long, pierced a Chimera from head to tail. Bang! Bang, bang, bang, bang! Like a fireworks disy, the sky was stained with mes, blood, and the screams of monsters. The monsters that broke through the airship and mage¡¯s barrage had to face the archers¡¯ rain of arrows. Thwap, thwap, thwap, thwap! The leading Chimera turned into a pincushion and fell out of the sky. Unfortunately, the Lucette, being a high-speed ship, was unarmed. ¡°It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve shot arrows without worrying about running out.¡± Jenna was standing on a column on the deck. At her feet were several quivers filled with steel arrows. Jenna grinned and nocked an arrow to her longbow. [Unique Skill, ¡®Steel Storm¡¯ activated!] Fwoosh! A sh streaked, and monsters caught in the arrow¡¯s trajectory were shattered into pieces. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your strength, just do enough to support. We¡¯re not here to handle the small fry.¡± ¡°I know, I know. I¡¯ll only help when it seems dangerous.¡± Thwack! Jenna, who killed a chimera several meters long with a single shot, prepared for her next shot. ¡°She¡¯s more than a ballista.¡± The flying monsters, continuously emerging from the forest, were being exterminated by the barrage and arrow fire. Not a single one seeded in attaching to the airship¡¯s hull so far. ¡®It¡¯s about time.¡¯ I looked beyond the sky. The prince who turned the field into darkness had vanished somewhere. He must be watching us whileughing with his subordinates. ¡®It won¡¯t end here.¡¯ I ced my hand on the hilt of Bifrost. [Danger!] [A Dark Dimensional Portal is forming!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 223: Mission Type, Complex (3) (1) Chapter 223: Mission Type, Complex (3) (1) Gunfire exploded incessantly, and mes painted the sky a crimson hue. Countless monsters soared from the ground or leapt from dimensional rifts on the airship, descending onto the deck. Townia¡¯s fleet of airships was advancing deeper into the forest, enduring the relentless attacks of the monsters. ¡°Kyaaa!¡± Two goblins with dark red skin charged at me from both sides, wielding daggers. I stepped back, letting the dagger des slice through the air in front of me. I swiftly swung Bifrost. ¡°Screeech!¡± The goblins¡¯ bodies split apart, falling lifelessly onto the deck. I had already dealt with dozens of monsters.But this wasn¡¯t enough to make a dent. The other members of the 1st Party were in the same situation. ¡®It¡¯s fine.¡¯ Even though the Lucette and other airships had some injuries and damaged parts, they hadn¡¯t suffered any critical hits. At this rate, we could hold out for hours, even if the enemies kepting. [Current Evolution Level: 008 / 100] However, this mission was a time attack. We had to meet the mission criteria within a set time limit. If we failed¡­ we¡¯d probably all be wiped out. Crash! The Lucette plowed through the harpies blocking its path with the bow of the ship, moving forward rapidly. Ahead, massive trees entwined like a coiled snake, with ominous purple clouds writhing above them. As the Lucette entered the sea of clouds, the entire airship was enveloped in a dense fog. [Entering Chaos Depths (Stage 1)!] [A debuff is applied to the entire raid!] [Debuff Applied: All hero stats decreased by 5%] I felt my body get slightly heavier. I furrowed my brows. A curse? Edis whispered through the private channel. ¡°Stat decrease. Don¡¯t worry about it. 5% isn¡¯t a big deal.¡± It seemed there were penalties for entering deeper into the field. In this area, located at the forest¡¯s edge, all heroes were experiencing a 5% stat decrease. The nest was still a ways off. If my prediction was correct, the debuffs would worsen the deeper we went. ¡°Ignore it and keep moving.¡± Ending the call with Edis, I saw her issuemands through themand channel. The fleet, led by the Lucette, formed a wedge formation and advanced through the clouds. Though our surroundings turned hazy, visibility wasn¡¯t significantly impaired. ¡°Kiyaaa!¡± Boom! Boom boom! Boom boom boom! The fleet, having withstood a heavy assault, scattered bombardment left and right. Monsters, turned into chunks of meat by the volley, continuously fell to the ground below. [Current Evolution Level: 011 / 100] While clearing monsters on the deck, I surveyed the first stage area. If there were any objects, they¡¯d surely have markers. But even using my insight, I found no significant results. ¡®Maybe in the next area.¡¯ The Townia fleet broke through the cloud sea on the outskirts of the forest. The color of the surrounding fog turned reddish. [Entering Chaos Depths (Stage 2)!] [A debuff is applied to the entire raid!] [Debuff Applied: All hero stats decreased by 10%, Status Effect: Poison] The acrid air invaded my lungs. It felt like swallowing fire. ¡°Oppa, poison¡­!¡± A poisoned status effect. I coughed up my breath. It seemed the entire atmosphere was contaminated. ¡°Katiio.¡± ¡°Leave it to me.¡± Katiio closed his eyes and crossed his hands. Threads of magic spread from his fingertips, creating a transparent barrier. It was a unique air purification spell for magic users. Finally, I could breathe easier. ¡°We¡¯re fine now. But the other parties seem to have no way to cope!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a deadly poison. As long as they take antidotes in time, they can withstand it.¡± If it were a deadly poison, we¡¯d have to escape immediately, but this status effect was a few levels lower. ¡°Edis, there should be emergency antidotes in the ship¡¯s storehouse. Distribute them to the members on deck.¡± ¡°We have no choice but to go on.¡± I looked down over the rail. A Chimera spewed mes from its mouth. The crimson mes heated the underside of the Lucette. ¡°Kiyaaa!¡± Thwack! An arrow from Jenna lodged into the Chimera¡¯s throat, stopping its mes. [Current Evolution Level: 011 / 100] All stats decreased by 10% with a poisoned status. The debuffs were piling up. Soon, casualties would start urring. [¡®Raqil (¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has returned to the embrace of the goddess! His spirit will be remembered forever.] The first casualty on the heroes¡¯ side had urred. A monster had clung to the deck, causing them to fall together. [Danger!] [Additional dimensional rifts are forming!] ¡°It¡¯s getting crowded.¡± Velkist muttered while cutting down a troll. Indeed, more monsters were pouring out of the dimensional rifts. Flying monsters were now starting to prate the bombardment and enter. Crackle! The electric barrier increased its output. ¡°Where is the goddess statue?¡± ¡°Then move to the next area. We can¡¯t waste time.¡± I nced to the right. [Current Evolution Level: 017 / 100] Already 17%. The nest was devouring monsters at an elerating pace. [Entering Chaos Depths (Stage 3)!] The nest was getting closer. The Townia fleet broke through the second area of the forest, the reddish fog zone. ¡®This debuff is¡­¡¯ [A debuff is applied to the entire raid!] [Debuff Applied: All hero stats decreased by 50%, Status Effect: Deadly Poison] [¡®Abyssal Maw¡¯ begins its activity!] Boom! A massive maw erupted from one side of the forest. ¡®¡­Damn it.¡¯ I brought my hand to my ear. ¡°Retreat immediately! Go back to the second area!¡± Wailing sirens red. The fleet, having just entered the third area, frantically turned back. ¡®50% stat decrease and deadly poison?¡¯ I grabbed the railing. The Lucette shot upwards. Crash! A hundred-meter-long maw snapped shut. Had the Lucette not ascended, we would¡¯ve been devoured. The Abyssal Maw. A rare trap-type monster, a nightmare for airships. It devours everything passing above it. ¡®Damn it¡­¡¯ We couldn¡¯t operate here. With the heroes¡¯ stats halved and facing deadly poison, not to mention the maw¡¯s activity, the Townia fleet wouldn¡¯tst ten minutes. [Entering Chaos Depths (Stage 2)!] [Debuff is mitigated!] The fleet returned to the second area. [Current Evolution Level: 023 / 100] The evolution level continued to rise. Edis¡¯s voicecked confidence. I crossed my arms. ¡°Wait. I¡¯m thinking.¡± The esction of the debuff was too steep. Jumping from 10% to 50% was excessive. Five times the penalty? ¡®There must be something in the third area.¡¯ I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 224: Mission Type, Complex (4) (1) Chapter 224: Mission Type, Complex (4) (1) I looked ahead. The Beast King Kiadni was a middle-aged giant over 2 meters tall with bulging muscles. His mane-like hair and protruding sharp fangs gave him a fierce appearance. The leader of the Church, Saintess Liane, stood quietly with her eyes closed, wearing a robe marked with the symbol of Tel and Ikar. In the spectator¡¯s seat, the prince looked down at us with an indifferent gaze. ¡°You defeated that crazy witch, I see.¡± Kiadni continued speaking. ¡°Very good! It¡¯s been a while since I felt this excitement. Show me your strength! Show me how much you¡¯ve grown¡­.¡± Kiadni¡¯s gaze turned to Kishasha. Kishasha bit her lip silently.¡°I will watch closely.¡± Kiadni grinned and clenched his right hand, which was asrge as a mace. ¡°I don¡¯t care!¡± Kiadni¡¯s face showed a moment of displeasure before heughed. Liane stepped forward. Liane bowed her head to us. [Warning!] [Warning!] [Warning!] A triple warning message appeared, signaling the arrival of a formidable enemy. Woooong. In the sky above the arena, a white light began to ripple. [Configuring the field.] Thud! A long object shot out from the light and embedded itself in the sandy ground of the arena. It was a statue of a goddess praying in a solemn posture, something we had seen countless times before. [The blessing of the goddess descends upon the entire field!] Wooooong! The goddess statue trembled once and then emitted light. [Goddess statue¡¯s divine power ¨C 50%] [Blessing granted ¨C Prayer of Purification] [Debuffs applied to the entire area of Chaos Depths have been removed.] I finally grasped the rules of this mission. I spoke to the members who were looking tense. ¡°Listen carefully. Our goal is to protect this goddess statue while dealing with those guys. We need to clear a path for the main force. As long as we protect the statue, the main force can enter the field without being affected by the curse.¡± I checked the message on the right side of my view once more. The divine power was at 50%, and the blessing called ¡°Prayer of Purification¡± was applied. This blessing would nullify the debuffs. ¡®The divine power can increase or decrease depending on the conditions. The problem is¡­.¡¯ I looked at the two bosses. Liane seemed to understand my intentions and smiled lightly. Liane pointed to the wall. When I shifted my gaze, a ck dimensional gate was wriggling there. [Corrupted Human Soldier Lv.53] X 17 [Corrupted Human Knight Lv.61] X 3 Soon, soldiers began to emerge from the dimensional gate. Their eyes, devoid of reason, were fixed on the goddess statue. ¡®So we have to protect the goddess statue from monsters while fighting the bosses.¡¯ If we performed well, we would receive a bonus; if we failed, we would face a penalty. The rules were clear. ¡°I¡¯m a bit too busy to exin. We won¡¯t be able to return for a while. Just head deeper into the forest.¡± I cut offmunication with Edis and spoke. ¡°We¡¯ll split into defense and attack teams. The defense team will protect the goddess statue, and the attack team will go out and fight the bosses. The defense team will be Jenna, Katiio, and Velkist. The attack team will be me and Kishasha.¡± Velkist looked at me. I shook my head. ¡°Kishasha is better suited to face the Beast King than you are.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± ¡°Form a formation, but don¡¯t be too rigid. We can be affected by each other¡¯s imprints.¡± Everyone nodded. Formation and cooperation were necessary, but there was no need to cling to it excessively. I had the ck Dragon¡¯s blood, and Velkist had the White Dragon¡¯s blood. Moreover, with Kishasha¡¯s transcendent beast transformation and Jenna¡¯s Wind Arrow blessing, along with our other excellent skills, it was clear that the time to adhere strictly to formations had passed. [Monster Wave!] [Round 1.] Soldiers jumped down from the wall. They approached the goddess statue, brandishing their weapons. Liane, who was watching us, smiled softly. As she said. Each member of Party 1 was close to being a human weapon. They could each handle hundreds of such small fry on their own. I lowered my sword and stepped forward. Kishasha followed beside me. ¡®When I signal¡­ strike all at once.¡¯ Even without words, our intentions were understood. Kishasha nodded. My skill and engraving setup were specialized for short-term battles. There was no need to drag this out. I nned to end it with maximum output from the beginning. ¡°Hahaha. You want to end this feast right away?¡± Kiadni slowly walked towards us, a twisted smile on his lips. ¡°The more delicious the feast, the longer you should enjoy it. To do that, why not get rid of the unnecessary decorations? Both you and I.¡± Feast, my foot. I spread my left hand. ¡°Halkion.¡± Crackle! Dark red lightning started crackling from my left arm. The precursor to the activation of the ck Dragon¡¯s blood. ¡°Hahaha! It¡¯s a warrior¡¯s fight! Let¡¯s enjoy it!¡± Bang! Kiadni stomped his foot. The sand pit rose high, and his massive body rushed at me with tremendous speed. I gripped Bifrost in a reverse grip. It was the stance for the activation of Soulde Fusion. ¡®I will end this in one blow.¡¯ I had no intention of ying along with trivial tricks. Crackle! Lightning gathered at the tip of Bifrost. ¡®Die.¡¯ [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has entered the Ascend state!] [Unique skill, ¡®ck Dragon¡¯s Scale¡¯ activated!] [Skill, ¡®Soulde Fusion¡¯ activated!] mes imbued with lightning enveloped the sword. Kiadni was swinging his fist right in front of me. I swung my sword down. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 225: Mission Type, Complex (5) (1) Chapter 225: Mission Type, Complex (5) (1) ¡®A fair fight.¡¯ Engravings and skills do not only apply to heroes. Monsters are the same. As the King of Beasts said, this fight will be determined solely by physical strength and weapon mastery. [Monster Wave!] [Round 3.] [Corrupted Human Soldier Lv.53] X 29 [Corrupted Human Knight Lv.61] X 6 I nced back. Jenna was swiftly cutting down the soldiers with her daggers. Beside her, Velkist was finishing off the enemies she missed. On the other side, Katiio¡¯s summoned sand golem was crushing the soldiers. The three formed a triangr formation, organically swapping positions and blocking the offensive perfectly. The situation was no different for Kishasha and me. The King of Beasts, having lost his abilities, was merely a powerful martial artist. His punches were certainly astonishingly strong and ferocious, capable of obliterating a skull if theynded properly. But this wasn¡¯t my first time facing such punches. Bang!Kishasha blocked the King of Beasts¡¯ punch with her palm. The ground she stood on caved in, but she did not retreat. My de targeted his throat immediately after. Slice. Finally, blood spurted. It was the first wound the King of Beasts received. ¡°Ha ha ha!¡± The King of Beastsughed loudly and threw another punch. ¡°Not a chance!¡± Kishasha thrust out her elbow. Bang! Her body slid back, but she didn¡¯t get thrown off. I lowered my stance and charged forward from below her. ¡®If Kishasha withstands the attack¡­¡¯ Kishasha¡¯s martial arts had already reached a level of mastery. Thus, her physical abilities like strength and agility were far superior to mine. In closebat, she was beyond a 4-star, reaching a high level of 5-star. Crack! Kishasha blocked another kick from the King of Beasts. During that time, I thrust my sword again. ¡®I will counterattack.¡¯ It was a simple strategy, but it required perfect coordination between the two of us. ¡°Excellent!¡± Wounds began to umte on the King of Beasts¡¯ body. The defense squad was also wlessly repelling the monsters attacking the Goddess Statue. [The Holy Power of the Goddess Statue increases to 62%!] [The Blessing of Radiance is bestowed!] [A buff is applied to the entire Chaos Depths!] [Buff Applied ¨C All hero abilities increase by 10%] The light emitted by the Goddess Statue became even more intense. ¡°Keep going.¡± The field map in the upper right corner of my vision showed the position of the Townia fleet advancing into the depths of the forest. [Current Evolution Rate: 039 / 100] We were close to the egg. There was no need to forcefully deal with the King of Beasts. Just by holding out and increasing the holy power, the main force would take care of the target. ¡°As expected! You have been training hard for a long time. Excellentbination!¡± The King of Beasts looked down at the back of his hand. Blood was flowing from the sword mark I had made. ¡°I want to enjoy this a little longer. Can¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s no choice.¡± Kiardni smirked. ¡®He¡¯s up to something again.¡¯ It seemed we had broken through the first phase of the boss fight. I took a deep breath slowly. My stamina was sufficient. ¡®No matter whates, stay calm.¡¯ I had ovee the missions of Niflheimr and Townia as a master and hero. This wasn¡¯t even considered a crisis. [¡®Right Eye of the Earth Devourer¡¯] Opposite the purple eye floating above the arena, a new orange eye appeared. Once more, a fiery gaze swept through the arena. ¡°Show your fighting spirit!¡± Kiardni clenched his fist and stomped the ground again. Kiardni was charging towards us. Our tactics remained unchanged. Kishasha would defend, and I would attack. But Kishasha stood motionless. ¡®¡­¡­?¡¯ She wasn¡¯t moving to respond at all. Kishasha was fumbling in the air as if confused. ¡°¡­¡­Kishasha?¡± She turned her head towards me. The light had disappeared from Kishasha¡¯s eyes. ¡®This is¡­¡­!¡¯ I urgently ran towards Kishasha. Kiardni¡¯s fist was racing towards her face. ¡°Damn!¡± I forcibly intervened, deflecting the fist with the t of my sword. An awkward posture. Snap. A disturbing sound apanied my right arm joint bending the wrong way. ¡°What are you doing!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t¡­¡­ I can¡¯t see!¡± She can¡¯t see? I hurriedly pulled Kishasha back, holding her by the waist. A tearing pain surged from my right arm. ¡®My right arm¡­¡­.¡¯ It was broken. Damn it. I switched my sword to my left hand. [The Holy Power of the Goddess Statue drops to 43%!] [The Blessing of Radiance and Prayer of Purification are canceled!] [A debuff is applied to the entire Chaos Depths!] The defense squad was also in chaos. Taking advantage of the gap where Katiio¡¯s magic barrier was lifted, three soldiers infiltrated the Goddess Statue. ¡®Why did this happen?¡¯ I quickly surveyed the members. Everyone¡¯s movements were different from usual. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ I widened my eyes. I could see clearly. My vision was normal. I could hear as well. ¡®What isn¡¯t working¡­¡­.¡¯ I lightly bit my tongue. A bitter sensation was transmitted to my brain, but I couldn¡¯t taste the blood. Nor could I smell the metallic scent of blood. ¡®I get it.¡¯ I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 226: Mission Type: Complex (6) (1) Chapter 226: Mission Type: Complex (6) (1) The enemies appeared relentlessly. There wasn¡¯t a trace of rationality left in those who were once human. The soldiers, repeating screams and groans, surged towards the statue of the goddess like a tide. ¡°Five on the left!¡± Sssk. Bifrost¡¯s de cut through both steel and flesh alike. It sliced through everything it touched. Not being able to see was an absolute handicap. Yet, even in the pitch-ck darkness, I could clearly see the ones charging at me.Synesthesia. Ridigion had said it. If you stack countless drills and realbat, eventually, you¡¯ll see what you couldn¡¯t see before. ¡®Ridiculous.¡¯ It seems I¡¯vepletely transcended human limits. My brain was converting sounds and smells into visuals and projecting them onto my retina. This wasn¡¯t a skill. It was simply the result of umted training and experience. Of course, I couldn¡¯t fully exhibit mybat power as usual. The same went for the other members. However, they didn¡¯t retreat even an inch while fighting the enemies. [The Right Eye Devouring the Earth] My senses tangled again. As the darkness lifted before my eyes, There were countless corpses scattered across the sandy floor of the arena. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kishasha, who had been fighting Kiadni, turned to look at me and whispered something. Only her lips moved, no sound was heard. ¡®Let¡¯s go.¡¯ It seemed Kishasha couldn¡¯t see either. I swapped ces with Kishasha. ¡®Now it¡¯s me and Velkist.¡¯ Both were types who mixed strength and technique appropriately. The bnce wasn¡¯t bad. ¡®Your arm doesn¡¯t seem to be in good condition.¡¯ I read Velkist¡¯s lip movements. Beyond that, a bleeding Beast King was charging with a clenched fist. ¡®I¡¯ll go forward.¡¯ A soundless world. Velkist¡¯s sword and the Beast King¡¯s fist shed once more. I ducked low as if to crawl, and sprang forward, aiming at his gaps. [The Holy Power of the Statue of the Goddess rises to 62%!] [The Blessing of Radiance is granted!] [Buff applies to the entire deep chaos zone!] [Buff applied ¨C All stats of heroes increase by 10%] The Holy Power rose again. [Monster Wave!] [Round 7.] [Corrupted Human Soldier Lv.53] X 53 [Corrupted Human Knight Lv.61] X 11 The number of enemies increased with time, but they all turned into corpses andy on the ground. ¡®A boss fight where we can¡¯t use skills and engravings.¡¯ This mission was testing the heroes. Whether they had neglected their body and weapon masteries by relying only on skills and engravings. Moreover, it was testing if they could match the synergy with their party members under periodic sensory restrictions. Naturally, I was confident in this aspect. By the time several cycles had passed, [The Holy Power of the Statue of the Goddess rises to 82%!] [The Blessing of Radiance is enhanced!] [Buff applies to the entire deep chaos zone!] [Buff applied ¨C All stats of heroes increase by 20%] Finally, the Holy Power surpassed 80%. ¡°Hahaha! Magnificent!¡± The scarred Beast Kingughed loudly as he looked at us. His disheveled hair was wild, and his steel-like muscles were marked with wounds. In contrast, we had some minor injuries, but they weren¡¯t severe. ¡®What tremendous recovery power.¡¯ I shook my right hand. It had broken when I wrongly blocked Kiadni¡¯s punch, but after drinking a potion and waiting, it was reattached. Now, I felt no pain at all. ¡®Have I really transcended human limits?¡¯ Even without the influence of the ck Dragon Blood, it was like this. I gripped the sword with my right hand again. ¡°Is that all? This fight is getting boring.¡± Velkist jeered at the Beast King. Kiadni clenched his fist and stepped forward. ¡°I was thinking the same! Left eye or right hand, such petty tricks are boring, aren¡¯t they?¡± ¡°I¡¯m tired of listening to your whining. Even your talk of liberation is nonsense!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Bang! Kiadni thrust his fist into the air. An invisible shockwave surged, and the saintess who had appeared moved aside. Kiadni looked back at the prince sitting behind. ¡°Prince! I¡¯ll do it my way now. Don¡¯t interfere!¡± ¡¸Liane, release the magical eye.¡¹ The prince¡¯s lips moved. ¡¸Let him fight as he wishes.¡¹ The saintess hesitated for a moment, then waved her hand. The pair of eyes burning in the arena¡¯s sky disappeared. Only then did the strange aura swirling around my body vanish, and my senses returned. ¡°Why are they fighting among themselves?¡± Jenna whispered in my ear. ¡°How would I know? It¡¯s good for us, though.¡± I chuckled. [Monster Wave!] [Round 8.] [Corrupted Human Soldier Lv.53] X 75 [Corrupted Human Knight Lv.61] X 13 Vrrmm. The ck dimensional gate on the wall shook, and soldiers and knights sprang out. The eighth monster wave had begun. ¡®The eyes have been released¡­¡¯ I looked at my left arm. Crackle. A streak of dark red lightning jumped up. The ck Dragon Blood was back. ¡°Graaaah!¡± A soldier, his eyes shining, rushed at me. ¡°Get out of the way, grunts!¡± Ahead of the soldiers, the Beast King moved like lightning. Boom! Boom! Boom! A series of shockwaves and explosions like dynamite bursting out followed. Shortly, red remnants that looked like human flesh rained down all over the arena. Liane nced at Kiadni and turned away. Soon, the saintess¡¯s body was engulfed in darkness and scattered. ¡¸¡­¡­.¡¹ Afterwards, the prince sitting on the throne also disappeared. Left in the arena was the Beast King, massacring soldiers indiscriminately. Boom! He crushed the ck knights emerging from the dimensional gate. [The Holy Power of the Statue of the Goddess has reached 90%!] [The Blessing of Radiance is enhanced!] [The permanent debuff in the deep chaos zone has been lifted!] [Buff applied ¨C All stats of heroes increase by 25%] Sizzle. The Beast King¡¯s muscles expanded to their limits, twitched. Hot steam rose from his skin. ¡°Hero? Monster? Mission? What a joke all this is!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I just want to fight without regrets until the end!¡± Rip! The Beast King tore apart thest remaining soldier and looked at us. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 227: Mission Type, Complex (7) (1) Chapter 227: Mission Type, Complex (7) (1) After a storm passed, I lowered the sword I was holding. Looking ahead, I saw the destendscape of the arena. The sand that covered the ground had beenpletely dug up, and the exposed earth underneath was cracked as if an earthquake had struck. And atop that, the King of Beastsy fallen. Goo Goo Con muttered in admiration. ¡°Gr¡­ uu¡­.¡± The King of Beasts was gasping for breath. The once-proud figure was nowhere to be seen, and his entire body was covered in wounds. He wouldn¡¯tst long and would soon die. The King of Beasts¡¯ chest slowly rose and fell. Cough. Dark-colored ck blood trickled from his mouth. I did not respond to his words. I couldn¡¯t deny that my current strength was beyond the level of a 4-star. The severe side effects that used to apany the use of major skills have now been mitigated to a bearable level. Surpass. I realized he wasn¡¯t just referring to reaching 7-star. Even if I advanced to 7-star and surpassed the hero¡¯s limit, I wouldn¡¯t be able topletely break free from the rules of Pick Me Up. I would still be bound by the game. ¡°Take care of yourself.¡± Kiadniughed, baring his teeth. Then he stopped moving. [The divine power of the goddess statue has reached 100%!] [The blessing of radiance is maximized!] [The debuff in all areas of the Chaos Depths has been permanently removed!] [Applied Buff ¨C All hero stats increased by 30%] The goddess statue emitted a dazzling light, then scattered into particles. I took a deep breath and gripped the sword hilt tightly. [Current Evolution Progress: 064 / 100] The mission was not over yet. So far, all I had done was lift the barrier blocking the field. The main mission of repelling the Egg of Chaos remained. ¡®The ck Dragon Blood¡­¡¯ I looked at my left hand. Crackle. A dark red lightning sparked, but its intensity was much weaker. I wouldn¡¯t be able to use a finish move like that again. ¡®It doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯ My physical condition wasn¡¯t bad. It wasn¡¯t as if I couldn¡¯t use the engravingpletely. I nced at the corpse of the King of Beasts for a moment, then stepped into the shimmering dimensional rift in the corner of the arena. ¡°¡­¡± When I opened my eyes, a familiar sight came into view. I quickly realized I was on the deck of the Lucette. With the pilot¡¯s desperate scream, the Lucette rapidly descended. Something ck loomed ahead. I instinctivelyy t on the deck. Whoosh! Crash! Something long and ck swept across the deck of the Lucette. Steel pirs snapped like twigs and fell overboard. Jenna, lying next to me, smiled brightly. ¡°You¡¯re notte, Oppa.¡± ¡°I told you I¡¯d hurry. So, what¡¯s the situation now¡­?¡± The Lucette spun around, narrowly avoiding the gap. ¡°It¡¯s not looking good.¡± [Chaos Depths (Level 7)] [Applied Buff ¨C All hero stats increased by 30%] The Townia fleet seemed to have entered the forest. The thing that just swept across the deck was the tentacle of the Egg of Chaos. We had finally entered its range. The tentacles were hundreds of meters long, still far from the main body. ¡®How many are left?¡¯ I scanned the status window of the raid team floating on the left side of my view. About 100 were dead. Another 50 were severely injured and unable to continue fighting. So, we had around 250bat-capable members left. The five airships were all damaged to varying degrees but none had crashed yet. The fact that all airships were still airborne was a good sign. ¡®I don¡¯t know how long we can hold out.¡¯ The magical engine was reaching its limit, and the electric barrier of the airship was down. I drew a dagger from my belt and threw it. The de pierced the head of a harpy trying toe through the bottom of the ship. [Chimera Lv.53] x 5 Chimeras appeared in front of the Lucette, evading the tentacles. mes were gathering in their mouths. Whoooosh! A transparent barrier blocked the mes pouring down on the deck. It was Katiio¡¯s magic barrier. ¡°These guys are endless!¡± Katiio gritted his teeth. Flying monsters were still emerging from the forest. [Danger!] [A Dark Dimensional Gate is forming!] Vwoooom. Several ck holes appeared in the sky above the fleet. And from the holes, monsters began to pour out. Monsters from above and below, And massive tentacles several meters thick continuously attacked from the front. Roar! [Giant Lv.64] A giant hand quickly approached the airship. The Lucette elerated once more, slipping through the fingers. ¡®Evenrge monsters have shown up.¡¯ If we hadn¡¯t received the buff from the Goddess, we would have been wiped out by now. I put my hand to my ear. Then I opened a private channel with only Edis and me. ¡°What¡¯s the current situation? Have you found any other objects?¡± I frowned. It wasn¡¯t Edis¡¯s voice. ¡°Injured?¡± I checked the raid window again. ¡®¡­Damn it.¡¯ Why hadn¡¯t I noticed? I had assumed Edis was safe and hadn¡¯t properly checked her status. I zoomed in on Party 2¡¯s status. A red light was on next to Edis¡¯s name. [¡®Edis (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ is in a critical state. Her life is in danger!] ¡®Critical.¡¯ Not good. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 228: Mission Type, Complex (8) (1) Chapter 228: Mission Type, Complex (8) (1) Bang! Bang, bang, bang! The fleet unleashed a barrage upon the monsters in the outer area. Hundreds of monsters were pulverized into dust simultaneously. However, as many as died, more monsters emerged from somewhere, charging toward the fleet. ¡®We won¡¯tst long.¡¯ Even if ammunition was unlimited, the durability of the cannons and ballistae had limits. Smoke was already rising from the muzzles of several cannons. Unable to fire. The continuous bombardment since the beginning of the mission seemed to have caused some to malfunction. Although it would be reasonable to pause for repairs and reorganization, the fleet did not stop the bombardment. They were faithfully following my orders to prevent the monsters from reaching Party 1.[Current Evolution Progress: 092 / 100] Crack. The outer shell of the egg began to crumble. A huge crack spread vertically from the ck pupil. ¡®The final step is straightforward.¡¯ I gripped the sword in my right hand firmly. The de of Bifrost was emitting a dazzling light. It was as if it was saying it would lend its power, so deal with it yourself. Rumble. The entire forest was shaking. The trees in the forest were smashed simultaneously as if swept away by an earthquake, and the ground heaved and subsided. [Current Evolution Progress: 093 / 100] Crack. The egg, which had swallowed severalrge monsters whole, quivered. ¡°Listen up, mechanic. From now on, the Lucette will approach the egg at maximum speed.¡± The tentacles that had spread around the egg rippled all at once. ¡°If we can¡¯t handle it, we¡¯re finished. We don¡¯t have time for wordy. So, can you do it or not? Answer quickly!¡± Bang! I stomped on the deck hard. The thrusters at the back of the airship spewed fire. High-speed navigation. The Lucette rapidly approached the egg. Tentacles curved towards the airship. [Airship ¡®Lucette¡¯ is heavily damaged!] Boom! With a momentary vibration, the ship shook violently. The long, thin tip of a tentacle scraped along the side of the airship. ¡°This much is fine! Ignore it.¡± The Lucette evaded the approaching tentacles, twisting and turning as it gradually got closer to the egg. The deck shook like a rollercoaster. I held on tightly to the railing. Although the ship flipped upside down and changed direction sideways, everyone maintained their bnce and held on well. ¡°Leave it to us.¡± ng! The tentacle that was about to strike the ship bounced off an invisible barrier. Katio¡¯s magical barrier. Boom! Arge projectile burst and a steel arrow pierced through the middle of a tentacle. Jenna, standing upside down on the flipped deck, was rapidly firing her longbow. She couldn¡¯t eliminate the tentacles themselves, but it was enough to change their trajectory. [Current Evolution Progress: 094 / 100] Roar! Suddenly, the Lucette was pushed back. A roar that made the atmosphere tremble. Crack, crack, crack. The crumbling outer shell fell like rain. Boom! A tentacle shot up from below the forest, piercing the rear of the airship. [Airship ¡®Lucette¡¯ is critically damaged!] ¡®The magical engine¡­¡­.¡¯ A third of the Lucette was smashed. It had to be the part with the engine. The Lucette, having lost its propulsion, began to plummet rapidly. ¡°You can do it!¡± Katiio waved his hand. Light blue magic ensnared the entire airship like a spider¡¯s web. Buzz. The Lucette, which was plunging, halted in mid-air. ¡°Go again!¡± No response. I hurried into the control room. A girl in a mechanic¡¯s uniform was tumbled over the control panel, bleeding. It seemed she had hit her head badly when the ship shook. ¡®Unconscious.¡¯ However, there was no manpower to spare for piloting the airship. I snapped my fingers. [Ding!] [Master, ¡®Han(¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ requests manual control of the Lucette!] An alert popped up in Anytng¡¯s control window. Anytng, who was organizing the fleet formation with tactical tools, quickly turned her focus to Lucette on the screen. [Will you operate the airship manually?] [Yes (Select) / No] The Lucette slowly floated up. Seven tentacles were rushing towards it. Zing! The Lucette spun five times in a row, dodging the tentacles. An impressive maneuver. ¡®Just keep driving.¡¯ And prepare a statue of a warhorse for me. Boom! The Lucette surged forward at high speed. [¡®Katiio(¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ enters a state of magic overload.] [Tips/ Magic overload is a status effect that urs when a mage uses magic excessively.] ¡°Ugh!¡± Blood gushed from Katiio¡¯s mouth. He was substituting his body for the role of the magical engine. Even for a skilled mage, this would be too much to bear. [Current Evolution Progress: 095 / 100] Beyond the half-shattered egg, its form began to faintly emerge. ¡°Jenna.¡± ¡°On it!¡± Bang! Bang! Bang! The tentacles pierced by steel arrows recoiled and withdrew. ¡°Velkist.¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°Kishasha.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± I nodded. Only 30 meters to the egg now. A scene reminiscent of a massive ck cliff unfolded before my eyes. ¡°Good job. We¡¯ll finish this ourselves.¡± ¡°Oppa, I too¡­¡­.¡± ¡°No, protect the airship. We need a retreat path.¡± Jenna, looking reluctant, nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± I gripped my sword firmly. A tentacle was rushing towards me. [Unique Skill, Transformation (Transcendent) activated!] [¡®Kishasha(¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ transforms!] One more transformation. Kishasha, in her transcendent form, struck the tentacle with her fist. Thwack! A shockwave spread from the point of impact, causing the entire tentacle to ripple like a wave. ¡°Roar!¡± Kishasha roared and jumped over the railing. She began running directly atop the swaying tentacle. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted from waiting.¡± Velkist stepped to the bow of the ship. [Unique Skill, ¡®White Dragon Horn¡¯ activated!] A white horn began to protrude from Velkist¡¯s head. ¡°I can only use this power once. But I can clear a path.¡± Buzz! Velkist¡¯s sword slowly vibrated. ¡°Go ahead.¡± I nodded. Then I leaped into the sky beyond the railing. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 229: Mission Type, Complex (9) (1) Chapter 229: Mission Type, Complex (9) (1) I leaned against the pir while sitting down. A number of mercenaries that could fill the entire forest and more were gathering here. Thousands of horses ran in unison, shaking the ground. ¡°That egg is not a symbol of peace. If it hatches, tens of thousands of people will die! If you don¡¯t want to lose your family and friends, risk your life and charge!¡± Yoshu, atop his horse, drew his sword at the forefront of the cavalry. ¡°The first squad will deal with the enemies inside the forest with me. The second squad will break off to the sides and clear the forest perimeter. Whatever appears in front of you, don¡¯t stop! Don¡¯t cken the reins!¡± Waaaah! Countless people¡¯s shouts shook the entire field. On the ins outside the forest, dust clouds rose long and high due to the impact of the charge.¡°Kiaaaak!¡± ¡°Krurr!¡± Monsters hiding inside the forest revealed themselves. From goblins to trolls, orcs to harpies, lizardmen to the church¡¯s soldiers, they all held their weapons, ready to face the cavalry. The mass following Yoshu seemed endless. The cavalry filled the ins to overflowing. The monsters hastily set up their defenses, but¡ª Crunch! The monsters trampled by hooves were crushed en masse. Their loss from the initial sh alone numbered in the hundreds, but the monsters couldn¡¯t even leave behind bodies. The first squad of the cavalry pierced through the monsters¡¯ defensive line like paper and drove into the forest. ¡°What should we do?¡± Jenna scratched her cheek beside me. I sighed and replied. ¡°What do you mean? Just sit back and watch.¡± ¡°The number is huge. They seem to be at least twice as many as the monsters. But isn¡¯t there something we can help with?¡± ¡°Our turn is over.¡± I looked back. Nearly a hundred airships filled the sky. Compared to that fleet, our assault team was no more significant than a firefly before the moon. And from the gship of that fleet, Pria was overlooking the battlefield. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ A lot had changed. The girl who was middle school-aged when we first met had now be ady. At first, she was just a na?ve brat with high status. She used to make reckless ns to build her own force using a weird dream as an excuse. I don¡¯t need to mention how much I suffered because of her. ¡®I thought it would be at most a few hundred people.¡¯ I thought it would be good if we could just buy some time. The Assinis family, which was in a supportive position for the mission, was exactly like that. But this is too many. I asked for reinforcements, and she brought an army. I don¡¯t know how she persuaded them. It was true that I owed Yoshu, a famous mercenary, a debt, but it wasn¡¯t enough to raise such arge force. ¡®Is this that kid¡¯s ability?¡¯ Mercenaries move for money. Pria must have ovee numerous hardships to persuade them. ¡®I want to know.¡¯ How she united hundreds of different mercenary groups. How she made them risk their lives on a battlefield without marypensation. Standing resolutely on the deck, Pria showed no sign of wavering. ¡°She seems like a different person from the princess I knew.¡± Jenna looked up at Pria, squinting as if dazzled. I chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s acting. Inside, she¡¯s probably shaking like a leaf.¡± Pria had no talent for swords, magic, or tactics, but she seemed to have a talent for one thing. In a way, it was the most needed ability in today¡¯s Townia. Before Townia¡¯s fall, there was a prince who could have taken her role. But now that he had sided with the monsters, the stage was set. As if the scenario of Townia was written just for her. ¡®It¡¯s nothing special.¡¯ She just needed to put on airs and look impressive in front of others. My words are absolutely right. Just shut up and follow me. If this works¡­ ¡°Charge!¡± For one person, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of people would willingly risk their lives with a smile. ¡°If it goes like this¡­ it¡¯s practically a civil war.¡± Katiio, who had been drinking a mana potion, muttered. Katiio had learned quite a bit about the political situation of Townia. He knew that the empire ruled over the entire continent. ¡°So the empire and the church led by the prince are fighting against the mercenary groups supporting the princess. By the looks of it, it¡¯s hard to even call them mercenaries.¡± ¡°Yes, it would be the start.¡± Until now, we had been busy running away, but now the bnce of power had roughly evened out. The mercenary fleet began to advance. The sides of the airships opened their gunports simultaneously. Boom boom boom boom boom! Overwhelming firepower. The sky turned red as if there was a fireworks disy. Dozens and hundreds of flying monsters caught in the barrage vanished simultaneously. On the ground, the cavalry, and in the sky, the fleet was clearing Pria¡¯s path. ¡®One more left now.¡¯ Pria had to prove herself. She was wearing a silver dress and a crown. The same outfit as when we first met. Her clear golden eyes stared straight ahead. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Pria¡¯s lips moved slightly. It seemed like she was chanting or praying. Above the railing. A sparrow that had appeared without notice closed its beak. Of course, Kishasha¡¯s gaze was directed at the princess. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Halkion gazed distantly at the princess. Pria extended a small silk pouch. Inside, various colored beads shone brightly. ¡®The essence of the sky, the vessel of the earth, the cup of the sea.¡¯ What Pria took out were the ¡®keys¡¯ we had collected through various arduous missions. The former emperor had used them to stitch together the torn dimensions, but since no suitable heir had emerged among the descendants, they had been scattered across the continent. Pria¡¯s lips moved again. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 230: After the Ending (1) (1) Chapter 230: After the Ending (1) (1) The day after sessfullypleting the 50th floor strategy. A joint funeral was held for the heroes who died during the mission. There¡¯s nothing particrly special about the funeral. It¡¯s just a time to put the heroes¡¯ relics into the storage and have a moment of mourning. However, due to the limited space in the storage, some lower-ranked heroes couldn¡¯t even have their relics stored. ¡°It¡¯s really sudden.¡± At the top floor of the storage. This ce was specially prepared by Anytng for the higher-rankedbat personnel. On the left side of the disy case at the top floor, right next to where Eolka¡¯s memorial tablet was stored, was Edis¡¯s spot. ¡°I never imagined that Edis would go like this.¡± Jenna sighed deeply.There were hardly any personal belongings of Edis in the lodging. All she had brought when summoned was an amber pendant. ¡®¡­It¡¯s a shame.¡¯ Edis¡¯s death was a significant loss to the power of the waiting room. If the airship was broken, it could be rebuilt. If lower-ranked heroes were lost, they could be recruited and trained to fill the gap. However, finding an experienced leader to guide the party was not easy. Edis was more popr in the waiting room than I was, had a flexible mindset, and was rich in mission experience. ¡®¡­¡¯ That dawn. Before Jenna and I arrived, dozens of heroes, including the members of the second party, had visited this ce. ¡®Should I have pushed harder to save her?¡¯ It would not be easy to fill her absence. Although there are recements, they allck something to be like Edis. I shook my head. It¡¯s all in the past now. ¡®They¡¯re people I¡¯ll never see again.¡¯ Eolka, Edis. And other heroes who will die in the future. Even if all missions are cleared and Townia is restored, by then I wouldn¡¯t be here. We would not see each other again. ¡®But¡­¡¯ I took a deep breath. A part of my chest felt heavy as if pressed by a stone. The death of arade I fought alongside was not something one could get used to, especially if the rtionship was deep. ¡®A character in a game.¡¯ In my left hand was an amber ring. It was not something I prepared. Anytng had bought it from the gift shop for Edis. ¡®It¡¯s absurd.¡¯ I looked up. It was dawn, and Anytng was offline. He was quite a peculiar one. Most users would have quit the game long ago. But Anytng persisted, continuing to y steadily. Moreover, how many users would mourn over a piece of data in a game? ¡®I don¡¯t know.¡¯ It¡¯s hard to tell what kind of person she is. I should look her up when I get back to Earth. I ced the amber ring inside Edis¡¯s relic box. ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡± I said to Jenna, who was looking sad beside me. Jenna nodded silently and turned away. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Yea?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t die.¡± Jenna¡¯s eyes widened in surprise for a moment, then she smiled faintly. ¡°Of course, do you know who I am?¡± ¡°Make sure you practice that. Train harder, and don¡¯t underestimate the enemy even if they look weak. You and I could go in an instant.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you let your guard down either. I¡¯m not dying until the end.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t argue uselessly.¡± I chuckled and opened the door to the za. I couldn¡¯t stay here any longer. Although we had conquered the massive 50th floor, there was still a mountain of work left. Over the next week, Anytng underwent extensive maintenance. She repaired the damaged airships and gave the heroes who had fought fierce battles some rest. She also began looking for recements for the keybat members who had died in battle. But I, unintentionally, had to take a break. Whenever I tried to handle the tasks in the waiting room, Neryssa would show up from somewhere and nag me to rest. She said she had stayed out of the strategy group for this reason, and I had no words to counter that. That didn¡¯t mean I nned to ck off. ¡®The hurdle is over.¡¯ After the 50th floor, the difficulty of the missions would drop for a while. So it was time to focus on areas other than internal affairs. The first thing I looked into was the trends rted to the incident in the Conquest War. Our Townia, having conquered the 50th floor, was automatically moved to a higher sector. So there was no chance of encountering the Silver Guild. ¡®It¡¯s already quietened down.¡¯ It fizzled out as quickly as it red up. After Wiryung and the defense team repelled the intruders a few times, the groups that had been raiding Townia noticeably quieted down. To the users on the official cafe, it was just that kind of thing. Dozens of posts about incidents and idents are uploaded daily on the cafe¡¯s incident board. The incident with Anytng and the Silver Guild had long been forgotten. Of course, there was another reason why the Anytng and Silver incident was quietly buried. In the official cafe andmunity sites for ¡°Pick Me Up,¡± there was an unusual level of excitement. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 231: After the Ending (2) (1) Chapter 231: After the Ending (2) (1) A few dayster, in the evening. [Wee, Master Anytng, to Pick Me Up!] As usual, Anytng logged in. The loading bar on the screen began to slowly rise. [Loadingplete.] [T O U C H! (Select)] As Anytng quickly tried to skip the announcements, a banner popped up with a cheerful sound effect. [Thanks to the support shown by many masters in the 7th Raid Festa, a special event will be held once again! For details, touch ¡®here¡¯!] The announcement, wanting to catch attention, sparkled in colors.After a brief hesitation, Anytng pressed the word ¡®here¡¯ written on the screen. The screen went dark, and a video started ying with a burning effect. [Do you want to be stronger?] A vast twilight sky. A small airship with no insignia or markings was heading somewhere. [Do you want to test your limits?] The airship zoomed in. On the deck, someone was standing. Their face was obscured by the backlight, but the figure looked strangely familiar. [Then challenge it! The highest glory is yours, Master!] [Coming Soon!] With a static noise, the video ended with the man on the airship as the final shot. For an event promotion video of a popr game, it wasughably crude. It repeated the tagline from the 7th Raid Festa and didn¡¯t include any grand battle scenes to excite the yers. Just showing one man on an airship, and that was it. [The first user to clear Pick Me Up, El Cid!] [The final destination for the ranker who cleared all stages is indiscriminate PVP?!] A detailed guide followed. [Masters, a sudden crisis has struck the peaceful Mobius where heroes and monsters live together!] [So you¡¯ve cleared the game and now you¡¯re ughtering low-level masters because there¡¯s nothing else to do? That won¡¯t do! Show the clueless Rank 1 your strength! Show him that life is a real battle!] [Massive rewards for the master who defeats the main boss ¡®El Cid¡¯!] [Additional rewards based on contribution to defeating the boss!] [Various items stored in the golden warehouse will be avable as clear and participation rewards! There are many amazing items, so don¡¯t miss out.] [¡ùNotice] [This raid is an event limited to ¡®Server 2¡¯ only. Masters from other servers cannot participate, so be aware!] Anytng read through the announcement. The event would start early next week, less than a week away. Forrge events like joint raids, notices were usually posted weeks in advance, but this time it was too sudden. No preparation time was given. ¡®They must be in a real hurry.¡¯ Following Anytng¡¯s gaze, I scanned through the list of rewards. The way items were distributed was different from the world raids. In world raids, the high-ranking yers took most of the loot, but this event offered substantial rewards just for participating in the raid. I had anticipated this. The timing of El Cid¡¯s activities and the surprise event announcement matched perfectly. He had crossed the server barrier that normal heroes couldn¡¯t, and he had destroyed Muryeon, one of thergest waiting rooms. It seemed the headquarters decided to intervene directly due to the situation. ¡®Still¡­¡¯ It was a significant gamble. Turning a normal user into a scapegoat for the event. Masters who didn¡¯t know the circumstances might let it pass, but those familiar with El Cid would find it suspicious. ording to Yu¡¯s exnation, Mobius had its own enforcement group. Their main role was to sanction masters and heroes who broke the game rules. However, considering they asked other masters for help, it seemed this target was a big deal. ¡®Well, he is Rank 1.¡¯ I chuckled. Anytng, after closing the event notice, checked the official forum. The forum was buzzing with excitement due to the unexpected event. [Lol, so Rank 1 was just an event ount created by the headquarters. No way a user could clear this dead game.] ©¸ [So, El Cid registered in the Hall of Fame wasn¡¯t a real user?] ©¸ [Probably an event promotion ount. I think it¡¯ll be removed after this raid. It never participated much and then suddenly cleared the game, so it¡¯s obviously a fake. It¡¯s just thepany¡¯s production.] ©¸ [I don¡¯t think they¡¯d mess with records like this¡­] ©¸ [When has Mobius ever managed things properly? Just go with it. We didn¡¯t have anything to do anyway, and now there¡¯s an event. Let¡¯s just grab the rewards.] [Is this event limited to Server 2 only? What about users on other servers? Are we supposed to just watch? Is it okay to discriminate like this because of different servers?] ©¸ [Are you¡­ upset?] ©¸ [If you¡¯re upset¡­ you know what to do, right?] [El Cid always seemed strange. Today¡¯s announcement confirms it was a dummy ount created for the raid. Does this mean other top rankers might be the same? Up to Rank 4, they were no different from El Cid.] ©¸ [Top 5 rankers, except Loki, are all detached. But even Loki has been quiettely.] [That¡¯s odd. I¡¯m a beta tester and have talked to that user. And now you¡¯re saying they¡¯re all fake?] ©¸ [Would they really pull this stunt on a real user? Thepany would get in trouble immediately if there wereints.] Anytng closed the official forum. Then immediately opened the airship tab. [Airship ¡®Lucette¡¯] [Grade ¨C Small] [Current Status ¨C Under Repair (64%)] [Manager ¨C Katio (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)] Anytng pressed the wrench icon next to ¡®Under Repair¡¯. [Ding!] [You can order the manager to work overtime. The manager¡¯s stamina will decrease, but the repair speed will increase. Would you like to order overtime?] [Yes (Select) / No] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 232: After the Ending (3) (1) Chapter 232: After the Ending (3) (1) I organized the reports I received from Yu. El Cid, the top-ranked yer on the European server, had cleared all stages of Pick Me Up and secured his ce in the Hall of Fame. However, he was significantly dissatisfied with the process and believed the only way to resolve his grievances was to storm Mobius¡¯s headquarters. ¡®This is the first cause.¡¯ El Cid seemed to be genuinely angry. Though he had never shown interest in PVP before, he devoured hisrades and other unrted heroes alike. ¡®There¡¯s something more to this.¡¯ After Yu and Wiryung left, the empty reception room fell silent. I continued to ponder deeply, leaning back into the sofa. The sole hero and sub-master of the current Dorado, Laskanda, was highly likely to be the same person as El Cid.Like me, he had fallen into the game and be a hero. The difference between us was that he fell into the game much earlier than I did and eventually cleared Dorado¡¯s scenario. ¡®Why is he so angry?¡¯ Despite clearing the game, he couldn¡¯t return to Earth? I brought my hand to my mouth. ording to Iselle, even a goddess cannot break a promise made on one¡¯s existence. The promise Tel made to me during the 2-star promotion ceremony to return to Earth upon clearing the game and transfer Mobius¡¯ shares was likely sincere. However, El Cid remained in Mobius despite reaching the top. Information wascking. I discovered he intended to go to Server 1, but the exact reason was unclear. After learning his objective, I couldn¡¯t disregard it as unrted to Niflheimr. ¡®He used a lot of influence power moving to Server 2. He needs to replenish it somehow.¡¯ I recalled Yu¡¯s words. ¡®Eating lower-tier heroes won¡¯t easily restore his influence. He¡¯ll need to devour heroes of higher rank. In that sense, our Niflheimr is¡­ the best prey.¡¯ The best prey. Yu described our predicament that way. ¡®Is a confrontation unavoidable?¡¯ El Cid had been issued a manhunt by the headquarters. He was turned into a raid boss. By now, all the masters in Server 2 would have assembled a strike team. No matter how strong he was, it would be hard for him to survive alone. I tightened my lips. I would also be participating in this raid event as part of Townia. Of course, not with full force. Even with minimal participation, the rewards were sufficient, so Anytng would likely deploy only the bare minimum. It might seem like we¡¯re just tagging along, but given the high-level mission we justpleted, it was an unavoidable choice. We had only the Lusette airship avable for immediate operation. ¡®Would two be enough?¡¯ Wiryung and I. Even observing his end from afar should be fine. If that didn¡¯t work¡­ ¡®¡­¡­¡¯ I leaned back into the sofa, staring at the ceiling. And a few dayster. The day of the raid event arrived. [Pick Me Up!] [Wee to the Dimensional Cafe!] Early in the morning, Anytng, who had logged into the game, was browsing the internalmunity of Pick Me Up, the Dimensional Cafe. ¡õ Recruitment Board The recruitment board. Commonly, this was where masters looked forpanions toplete rmended party events. Thousands of posts were up, refreshing the page constantly as more were added. For the first time, headquarters had organized a surprise event outside of their regr schedule. Numerous streamers were also preparing their broadcasts to cover it. ¡°I will see how he dies with my own eyes.¡± The Dimensional Rift Hangar. Wiryung looked up at the departing Lusette airship with murderous eyes. It was understandable. Muryeon and its lord had done nothing wrong to El Cid. Her hometown Muryeon had been destroyed for ridiculous reasons. ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, don¡¯t act out if he¡¯s in front of us. If you n to, say it now. I¡¯ll go alone.¡± ¡°You need not worry about me, Young Master. While I might have behaved rashly in Muryeon, I am aware of our current situation. I simply wish to witness the end of that wicked man.¡± nk. Click-ck. The steps from the Lusette airship descended to the deck. Wiryung climbed them without hesitation. Only Wiryung and I were participating in this event. Anytng epted my partyposition suggestion without hesitation. ¡®El Cid.¡¯ Or rather, Laskanda now? Yu was still investigating his identity on Earth, Once that was clear, we¡¯d likely understand why he hadn¡¯t returned to Earth and his purpose for going to Server 1. Securing the Bifrost¡¯s sheath to my belt, I boarded the airship heading to the event location. A few minutester. Lusette, now at the boundary of the Townia zone, began to be enveloped in light. sh, a dazzling re made the view white. And after a while, the light cleared. I squinted. The sky was painted red. An endless expanse stretched out above and below. The exact ce is shown in the raid event¡¯s promotional video. [1297th Dimension ¨C Nisand] The vast sky was filled with countless airships. Too many to count at a nce. Roughly estimated, thousands. Including those beyond my sight, there might be over ten thousand. Someone¡¯s voice had been heard for a while. ¡®There it is.¡¯ I looked far ahead. Fleet formations that dwarfed normal masters¡¯ airships, clearly belonging to rankers, stood in formation. The voice wasing from the gship there. ¡°Who do they think they are, ordering us around. Annoying.¡± Next to me, a man on the airship¡¯s deck grumbled. Despite his words, his airship was reversing. [Dimensional Channel ¨C 13,639 participants] Iclios> Low-level yers can just watch! We¡¯ll handle this! Melt> So many people. Are they all here for a free ride? NanAhrayo> No shame, lol. Over half just brought their bodies here to join in. nning to freeload? If Loki were here, you¡¯d all be dead. CoinWorld> By the way, where¡¯s Niflheimr? The server representative should be¡­ Dozens of chat messages were popping up by the second. I took my eyes off the guild chat window and looked around again. Approximately 14,000 masters had joined this surprise event. With all the airships mobilized, there were over 25,000. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 233: After the Ending (4) (1) Chapter 233: After the Ending (4) (1) The sky waspletely engulfed in mes. The sound of cannons exploded continuously, scattering the clouds and shaking the atmosphere. The number of airships bombarding the area was not just in the tens. At least hundreds. These were not the products of low-level masters but cannons forged with high-level magical technology, constantly spewing fire. ¡°Fire!¡± Boom! Boom! Boom! Simultaneously, the second wave of attacks from the mages in the fleet followed. The entire sky turned red as if it were a grand fireworks disy. ¡°Such a fierce wee. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to deal with the enemies of your world with the bombs you¡¯re using on me?¡±Even amidst the deafening roar, Laskanda¡¯s mutterings were clearly audible. And then, as the relentless bombardment subsided, Laskanda¡¯s figure slowly emerged from the mes. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The wolf fur coat Laskanda was wearing fluttered. The remaining embers in the sky faded as if they were extinguished. Of course, he was unscathed. ¡°That airship¡­!¡± Wiryung¡¯s eyebrows shot up. Laskanda¡¯s appearance hadn¡¯t changed, but the airship he was riding on had transformed. The small airship, which had resembled a boat, had turned into a massive airship nearly a hundred meters long. It was asrge as Niflheimr¡¯s gship. The streamlined hull, tinged with a pale golden color, had a g with a red vortex pattern fluttering atop it. ¡®That mark¡­ it¡¯s from Dorado.¡¯ The emblem on the g was the symbol of El Cid, who had once inspired awe among the masters of the entire server before I made my mark in Pick Me Up. ¡°This is my final adventure.¡± El Cid spread out his wolf fur coat. ¡°Let it begin.¡± Rumble! A fierce storm erupted from the hem of El Cid¡¯s coat. The storm enveloped the airship he was on and spread outward. From within the storm, shadows began to slowly emerge, one by one. ¡®The strongest of the 7-stars.¡¯ There are fewer than five heroes with a 7-star rating in Pick Me Up. Each of them is so powerful that they cannot even bepared to ordinary heroes, possessing abilities close to those of a transcendent. They were the kind of beings that could even make the undefeated Niflheimr in PvP, contemte defeat. Among them, the first and strongest 7-star, Laskanda El Cid. When I was on Earth, I tried to find out his specs in every way possible, but I ultimately failed. Even Yu¡¯s investigation only yielded fragmentary results. ¡®They call him a king.¡¯ I recalled Yu¡¯s words. ¡®They say there¡¯s an entire world within his body.¡¯ And then the storm cleared. El Cid opened his eyes wide. Behind him, heroes d in dazzling armor were lined up in formation. [Danger!] [Army of Conquest Lv.???] X 1024 [Super-Large-ss Airship ¡®Jimena¡¯] X 1 ¡®A world within his body.¡¯ When I first heard Yu¡¯s report, I had a faint suspicion. If he was truly a 7-star, he might have such an ability. ¡®It seems I was right.¡¯ I narrowed my eyes. These were the heroes who had conquered all the stages of Dorado with El Cid. Each one was an elite among elites, having fought countless battles. Hero summoning ability. It seemed that El Cid could summon the heroes he had devoured. In other words, he himself was an entire army. ¡°Once more!¡± El Cid opened his eyes wide. ¡°Once more. For Dorado, charge!¡± The heroes of Dorado raised their weapons. At a nce, it seemed like a scene of an army responding in unison to theirmander, but I noticed that their eyes were empty. ¡®They have no sense.¡¯ They were merely puppets following El Cid¡¯s orders. It was inevitable that they had lost their personalities during the fusion process. ¡°What a repulsive act. To use even yourrades as mere pawns!¡± Wiryung muttered, grinding her teeth. ¡°Does he have another purpose? I can¡¯t believe it! No doubt, it¡¯s all for his own selfish desires. Please, give me permission, Young Master. Let me cut that bastard¡¯s head off right now¡­¡± ¡°Stay put. The master hasn¡¯t given permission yet.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°If this ce is breached, Niflheimr will deal with him. You haven¡¯t forgotten the promise, have you?¡± At my words, Wiryung fell silent. Soon, Wiryung clenched her fists with her head bowed. ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Just watch quietly.¡± I crossed my arms. The Army of Conquest appeared with El Cid¡¯smand. Undoubtedly, it was the most powerful ability of a single hero. [Dimensional Channel ¨C 15,327 Participants] Gigigipa > He summoned his subordinates? About 1000 of them. lSSSELAM > LOL 1000? How many do we have? If you count the low heroes, it¡¯s probably around 100,000? LOL! RustyHeart > Still, it¡¯s a manageable numberpared to the boss in thest World Raid. That one came out in the thousands. Despite the first bombardment being futile and El Cid summoning a thousand of his guards, the raiding party wasn¡¯t flustered. It was something they were ustomed to when facing World Raid-level bosses. The raiding party was reassembling their formation based on the vanguard ranker fleet. ¡®It¡¯s not just one or two.¡¯ There were 15,000 masters participating. And that number was still rapidly increasing. Compared to the raiding party¡¯s airships and heroes that filled the field, El Cid¡¯s army was just a speck. ¡°Back then, the enemy filled the horizon as well. Doesn¡¯t it bring back old memories?¡± El Cid said, looking behind him. But there was no response from anywhere. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 234: After the Ending (5) (1) Chapter 234: After the Ending (5) (1) I thought it didn¡¯t make any sense. Being able to summon the heroes I¡¯d consumed without any penalty seemed too good to be true. ¡°The more heroes you summon, the lower your level gets.¡± Which means¡­ ¡°It¡¯s not his own power, but rather an additional ability he gained after bing a 7-star.¡± With this assumption, everything starts to make sense. I had seen many techniques that temporarily strain the body, but I had never seen one thates with a permanent penalty. ¡°So those who fall to him are unable to find peace, even in death?¡± Wiryung, gripping the railing of the Lucette, burst out in anger.Had I not restrained her, she would have charged out by now. And she would have been burned out gloriously. Maybe she could have done something when she was a max-level 6-star, but the current Wiryung is just a low-level hero in the 40s. In any case, the forces of the punishing expedition continued to assault El Cid¡¯s gship like water pouring into a basin. Once one party was dealt with, another Master¡¯s partynded, and after fending off that party, dozens of raids would advance next. This war of attrition might be painful for mid- to low-level Masters, but it¡¯s not much of a blow to high-level Masters. They have thousands of heroes waiting in their lobby. They selectively send out the less useful ones as sacrificial pawns. While keeping their true elites hidden. Once you reach a certain level, it¡¯s not difficult to raise a newly summoned hero to max level. The same goes for promotions. Even if they all get annihted here, you can just summon and train them again. The rewards from clearing a raid far outweigh the losses of losing worthless heroes. I used to operate like that as well. Absolute efficiency-centric management. In a way, those guys learned it from me. ¡®To me, El Cid and the other Masters don¡¯t seem that different.¡¯ I chuckled. One of the reasons the exchange rate between El Cid and the raid forces wasn¡¯t favorable was because the morale of the raid forces had plummeted. To other Masters who were hammering away at their virtual keyboards in chat, these heroes were just game characters, but I knew all too well. They weren¡¯t just simple game characters. Even thosending on the Himena knew. They knew they were being used as mere disposable tools, thrown into death. ¡®Treat the heroes in your lobby as if they were real people. They will reward you ordingly.¡¯ This was one of the pieces of advice El Cic had given me during the early days of Pick Me Up, back when it was a single server. Treat your heroes like people. If we do, they will respond to us, the Masters. ¡®If I were one of the rankers over there¡­¡¯ I would still use sacrificial pawns but in a slightly different way. Throwing them out like trash doesn¡¯t suit my style. Well, it¡¯s pointless to think about it when I¡¯m just watching from the sidelines. [Dimensional Channel (Advanced yers Only) ¨C 58 Participants] *Iclios* > This is a war of attrition. Look at the boss¡¯s level. It¡¯s dropping every time he summons more minions. If we keep at this, it¡¯ll be over. I¡¯ll bring out one more fleet, so everyone else, bring out whatever you¡¯ve been saving up. The rewards this time are too good to miss. In the midst of the ongoing war of attrition between both sides, even the leader of the raid noticed something unusual. The Army of Conquest might keep reviving no matter how many times you kill them, but El Cid¡¯s power wasn¡¯t infinite. [Danger!] [Conqueror of Fate] [Raskanda El Seed Lv.588] His level had dropped into the 500s. [Dimensional Channel (Advanced yers Only) ¨C 58 Participants] *Iclios* > If we kill all the minions, it¡¯ll move to the next phase. Stay calm and watch the patterns. ¡°Patterns, huh?¡± El Cid sneered. The wolf fur coat he was wearing was soaked with red blood. [Dimensional Channel (Advanced yers Only) ¨C 58 Participants] *Iclios* > Just a little more, and¡­ El Seed flicked his coat. A mist-like wind spread from his feet, swirling across the deck of the airship. Dozens of wind currents coiled and scattered, enveloping the entire deck. Then, they began to greedily devour the corpses of the heroes lying on the floor. The masses of blood and flesh transformed into particles of light, which were absorbed into El Cid¡¯s body. The level tag floating above his head rapidly climbed. From the 580s to the 590s. From the 590s to the early 600s. ¡°¡­Synthesis.¡± He was absorbing the souls of the dead. Like a wraith. The fallen Army of Conquest rose to their feet simultaneously. At this rate, his power is limitless. As long as the raid forces continue to suffer casualties, El Cid¡¯s Army of Conquest will keep reviving. The difficulty of the pattern strategy just skyrocketed. ¡°You know it too, don¡¯t you? To the Masters, you¡¯re nothing but expendable tools. Even knowing you¡¯re destined to die and be discarded, you still rush at me? Is the Master¡¯smand really that important to you?¡± El Cid said to the heroes of the raid forces, who were locked in a fierce battle on the deck. ¡°Shut up! If you just die quickly, it¡¯ll be over! Acting so high and mighty¡­!¡± A female archer growled as she aimed her bow. Ping! The arrow sliced through the air like lightning and grazed El Cid¡¯s cheek. Soon, a thin line of blood appeared on the right side of El Cid¡¯s face. ¡°¡­Pity.¡± A trickle of blood ran down El Cid¡¯s cheek. ¡°The Masters are sacrificing your lives just to gain a few pieces of data.¡± ¡°What do you want us to do about it? Just die already if you¡¯re going to talk so much crap!¡± ¡°I suppose.¡± El Cid¡¯s expression remained indifferent as he nced around the deck. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 235: After the Ending (6) (1) Chapter 235: After the Ending (6) (1) ¡°What is this? Are they not going to defeat it? They said they¡¯d take care of it even if we just watched from the back¡­¡± In the rear of the field, other onlookers like myself murmured. It was understandable, as the main raiding party of high-ranking yers was rapidly withdrawing. They were each turning their ships and moving away from El Cid. I clicked my tongue. ¡°There is a strategy.¡± The high-ranking yers hadn¡¯t yet shown their full power. Only third or fourth-tier heroes were present here. Surely, among the high-ranking yers, there would be a master with heroes capable of standing up to those three. The problem is that the cost-benefit analysis doesn¡¯t add up. Even though special rewards are promised, these veteran yers already possess most rare materials. Thus, there¡¯s no need to reveal their full power and engage in a bloody battle with El Cid. ¡°I have no business with you. Go your own ways.¡± El Cid¡¯s voice reverberated across the entire field. That alone made the heroes waver and lose their fighting spirit. They were probably proposing a retreat to their waiting rooms.¡°The one I want to meet is¡­¡± El Cid¡¯s gaze turned in this direction. He was looking at me. ¡®Well, if interference is what he needs, there¡¯s no better ce than Niflheimr.¡¯ Even if he swept everything here, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for Niflheimr. Especially by absorbing the first party members, the interference power he could gain would be enormous, as they each have the powerparable to 7-star heroes. Therefore, it¡¯s likely that the one he has business with is me. ¡°Is it time to go back?¡± I never expected El Cid to kneel in this raid anyway. Moreover, I didn¡¯t walk away empty-handed. I considered myself lucky if I could at least see his cards through this raid, and I learned more than expected. A difficult opponent, that¡¯s for sure. Objectively speaking, his forces might be superior to Niflheimr. But it was also clear that he wasn¡¯t invincible. His greatest ability, summoning an army,es with a critical penalty: the more he summons, the more his level drops. In this battle, hepensated for that by absorbing the raiding party, but¡­ ¡°It won¡¯t be easy.¡± If I organize an elite team focused on endurance, one that won¡¯t easily die, and induce a war of attrition, I could continue the battle from a more advantageous position. Even if El Cid has a power I¡¯m not aware of, as long as we don¡¯t suffer any casualties, it¡¯s doable. The first party excels at endurance. If we can wear him down and then concentrate our power when he¡¯s weakened, we can definitely turn the tide. I¡¯ll show him the endurance we honed on the 80th floor. ¡°¡­..¡± When I turned my head, Wiryung was biting her lip hard enough to draw blood. She must have realized the gap between herself and that guy. Even if there were a hundred Wiryungs in their prime, they wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat El Cid. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take revenge.¡± I rotated the ring on my left hand to the right five times, signaling Yu to pick me up. Speed is essential for proper countermeasures. If I return to Townia from here, I¡¯ll miss the right timing to respond. I had already requested Iselle to manipte the logs, so it would look like I returned safely if the raid party failed. By now, Iselle should be struggling with Anytng¡¯s game screen. I snapped my fingers. [Master, hero ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ requests to withdraw from the field!] [You can re-enter the event zone anytime, and the rewards you can obtain will not change. Are you sure you want to withdraw?] [Yes (Select) / No] Anytng didn¡¯t hesitate. The airships that were watching the battle with me also started to retreat. Even the Lucette was turning its bow to prepare for escape. El Cid didn¡¯t touch the retreating raid party. He seemed focused on absorbing the heroes lying on the deck. The wind pouring from his cloak swept across the entire airship, devouring the corpses. He had eaten about half of them. If he absorbed the rest, he would regain all the interference power he used in this battle. ¡°Back to full strength, huh?¡± Tch. I clicked my tongue and turned away. I had no more business with this raid. ¡°This won¡¯t do.¡± Suddenly, the sky darkened. And a familiar voice echoed across the field. ¡°¡­..¡± It was a lilting, girlish voice. I knew this voice all too well. ¡°I worked so hard for these kids, and now they¡¯re all running away because they¡¯re a little pushed back? Masters in the old days didn¡¯t act like this. I don¡¯t know where they¡¯ve all gone.¡± I looked up to the right. Anytng¡¯ control screen disyed a red-tinted message. [Now Loading¡­¡­.] [There was a server error, and the connection was lost. Please wait a moment.] This time, I looked to the side. Wiryung, who was about to say something to me, was frozen with her mouth open. The Lucette, which was turning its bow, and the airships moving in the distance were all stopped. A world where everything hade to a halt. ¡°Don¡¯t you think so, Number 1?¡± A wooden desk and a leather chair floated in the air. A ck-haired girl in a sharp ck suit looked at El Cid. She ced her legs, d in ck stockings, on the desk. Her name tag slowly appeared. [SS?SHü\¡Ñ¡Ê¡ù Lv.999] Crackle. A burst of static followed. [Mobius Inc.] [T E L Lv.999] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 236: After the Ending (7) (1) Chapter 236: After the Ending (7) (1) The number of participants in the advanced channel was steadily increasing. It was as if all the top rankers from Server 2 were gathering. The fleet that had just appeared in the field was no longer a ragtag bunch, thrown together haphazardly as before. Instead, it wasposed of advanced airships lined up in formation,parable to the battleships of Niflheimr and equipped with thetest technology. A fleet of rankers lined up in front of the Himena ship. This had happened in less than 30 minutes after the operators announced the rewards. [Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) ¨C 312 Participants] Although the number of participants had increased significantly, the advanced channel was eerily quiet. Everyone was likely assessing the situation. ¡°They¡¯re after the ¡®Book of Reversal.¡¯¡±This was the most coveted rare material in the game, one that any master of Pick Me Up would desperately desire. The ¡®Book of Reversal¡¯ was a crucial item needed to upgrade a 6-star max-level hero to a 7-star. In the past, rankers, including myself, from across all servers had made every effort to obtain this item but had ultimately failed. Now, the game¡¯s developers were offering this item as a reward. They promised the Book of Reversal if we could defeat El Cid. The attitudes of the rankers, who had been lukewarm about the raid, instantly changed. Even those who had been watching from afar like bystanders began dering their participation. ¡°I see some familiar emblems.¡± Rankers within the top 100 of Server 2 started appearing one after another. Even those who I thought had quit the game were showing up, as well as members ofrge guilds. Various types of airships appeared in the field through the dimensional vortex. One thing they had inmon was that their power far exceeded that of the ordinary masters El Cid had faced so far. And it was understandable. The 7-star rank was a legendary level that could elevate a master to the highest echelons just by its existence alone. The top four rankers all possessed 7-stars. One of the points of criticism I received, despite being rated higher in many respects, was that Icked a 7-star hero. If I were on Earth, I would have abandoned everything else to log into Pick Me Up. And I would have deployed the best possible force. In a way, thebat power El Cid had just disyed served as a sort of advertisement, demonstrating how powerful one could be by reaching 7-stars. ¡°It¡¯s no wonder they¡¯re losing their minds.¡± I had suspected as much when they suddenly started promoting the raid. But I didn¡¯t expect them to respond in this way. [Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) ¨C 347 Participants] LiveOut> Warning: Those below level 70, please step back, as you¡¯ll just be in the way. If you haveints, talk to our guild. LiveOut. Currently ranked 11th. He was the leader of Liberty, thergest guild on Server 2, and ranked just below me. [Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) ¨C 351 Participants] LiveOut> Sorry to the other rankers, but please yield this time. We¡¯llpensate you generously. Tteokbaeghibang> What a show-off, lol. Stop trying to act tough. LiveOut> Anyway, our guild is going to take the Book of Reversal. The master known as ¡®Tteokbaeghibang¡¯ was ranked 21st but was recognized as the best PvP yer on the server. He was famous for wandering alone without joining any guild. [Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) ¨C 356 Participants] Tteokbaeghibang> If you want it,e at me. I¡¯m kind of greedy about this reward, so I think I need to get it. A pitch-ck airship, reminiscent of a ghost ship, came forward. A dark red skull emblem was painted on the front of the ship. On the deck stood heroes d in ck, exuding a sinister aura. These were the elite heroes of Tteokbaeghibang,monly known as the ¡®yers.¡¯ They weren¡¯t the only ones. All the rankers who had joined the fray had deployed their elite heroes. It was impossible to know when such an opportunity would arise again. Moreover, with ¡®Death Protection¡¯ applied, there was no reason not to participate. [Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) ¨C 362 Participants] Tteokbaeghibang> Shall we go at it one more time? You guys have numbers, but we all know you¡¯re all bark and no bite. LiveOut> I¡¯m also tired of your bluffing. This time, I don¡¯t even need my guild members. I can take you on alone. Sigin> How amusing. Neither of you can even make a peep in front of Loki. He may not be participating this time, but if he were here, both of you would have been the first to be eliminated. Let¡¯s focus on the raid first. We can decide who gets the reward once the boss is down. If we mess this up fighting amongst ourselves, who¡¯s going to take responsibility? Just as it looked like two rankers were about to fight, a mediator appeared. In the end, the situation, which was on the verge of exploding, led to a temporary truce. LiveOut and Tteokbaeghibang distanced themselves, turning their ships toward El Cid. ¡°¡­Yes.¡± El Cid chuckled bitterly. ¡°You¡¯re right. If you defeat me, your master might achieve the 7-star rank you¡¯ve all longed for. Perhaps, depending on your merit, you might even achieve more.¡± El Cid finished speaking and nced at me. Then, he turned his gaze forward again. There, standing before him, were the rankers¡¯ true forces, iparable in scale and power to the first extermination squad. ¡°¡­¡± The elite members of the extermination squad, following their masters¡¯ orders, prepared for battle. There were no worthless battle cries, no jeers or boos. They simply prepared for the fight in silence. Only weak dogs bark loudly. ¡°So, you want to stop me.¡± El Cid looked up at the sky with a faint smile. The table and chair where Tel had been sitting had disappeared without a trace. ¡°Do you want to kill me?¡± El Cid¡¯s cloak fluttered. Behind him stood Reltea, Kirzak, and the army of conquest, lined up in formation. ¡°I have endured hundreds of battlefields and thousands of fights. Before you came here, even after you arrived here. Before overwhelming numbers like these, before despair even greater than this.¡± The scattered forces of conquest lined up behind El Cid. [Dimensional Channel (Advanced Users Only) ¨C 384 Participants] The rankers remained silent in the chat. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 237: After the Ending (8) (1) Chapter 237: After the Ending (8) (1) On the way back to Townia, I was transferred to the airship sent by Yu. Iselle¡¯s maniption of the logs had ended there. Anytng would think I had safely returned to Townia. But even so, I couldn¡¯t keep up the ruse for long, so I needed to finish my business as quickly as possible. I headed straight for Brynhildr01, which was waiting in a nearby sector. Brynhildr01 was currently the gship of the Niflheim fleet, capable of serving as a temporarymand center. ¡°I never thought he¡¯d actually win¡­¡± Yu sipped the steaming tea she brought to her lips. ¡°He¡¯s quite a remarkable man, perhapsparable to the Master. Though, of course¡­ the Master is still superior.¡± Yu smiled as she looked at me. Following her, her aide Nisled ced a teacup on the table. I smiled bitterly and took a sip of the green tea.In front of me, the reporter news from the Pick Me Upmunity site was disyed. It was news that the raid team, which included a significant number of rankers, had been defeated in a surprise raid event. Thement section was filled with criticism towards Mobius and insults directed at the rankers who had engaged in acts of control and tyranny. It made sense because the raid team had a high chance of sess. No matter how strong El Cid was as the top-ranking yer, it wouldn¡¯t be easy for him to win against hundreds of rankers. That was true for Myureon, Niflheimr, or any other ranker. But they self-destructed. In front of tens of thousands of viewers. In the midst of the raid, a fight broke out over who would take the Book of Reversal. It started with Liveout from the Liberty Guild and a solo PvP yer. Even those trying to stop the fight got drawn in by provocations, leading to a full-blown internal conflict. If Mobius had announced the rewards in advance, such a chaotic oue might have been avoided. They would have found a way to reach an agreement somehow. The problem was that Mobius suddenly decided to stake the Book of Reversal during the raid. The rankers didn¡¯t have time to discuss the issue of distribution and El Cid didn¡¯t miss that opportunity. ¡°Theycked unity.¡± Even though they were called a raid team, they weren¡¯t a single force. They were just a group of hyenas each seeking their own gain. Thus, the raid turned into a chaotic melee with no clear allies or enemies. Adding to this, the death protection system was a bonus. There was a penalty for resurrection, but since they could be revived, they probably attacked the master next to them with a lighter heart. This wasn¡¯t the first time something like this had happened during a world raid. I used to be the one to keep order in such situations. If someone tried to disrupt things, I would take the lead and beat them down. The rewards for this raid were substantial, so even if I had intervened, the result might not have been different. ¡®The management is really a mess.¡¯ If they had thought a little more, they could have easily subdued El Cid. Mobius probably didn¡¯t intend to give away the Book of Reversal at first but decided to offer it as a reward when the raid team started to struggle. As a result, no one from the raid team obtained the Book of Reversal. They scattered, leaving behind numerous casualties and lingering resentment. Thus, this event became the first failed world raid. ¡®He timed it perfectly.¡¯ It seemed reckless, but in hindsight, it was a perfect charge. At that time, the rankers were probably arguing behind the scenes about how to handle the Book of Reversal. Before the meeting ended, before they could findmon ground, El Cid charged into the ranks of the rankers with his army. What seemed like a suicidal charge turned out to be the decisive move. ¡®Even so¡­¡¯ Even if he was as the top-ranking yer. Even if he had surpassed the level of a mere hero or monster, even if he had the god-like ability to freely summon the heroes he had devoured¡­ Even if he found a path to victory in a situation where defeat seemed inevitable due to overwhelming power disparity¡­ ¡°¡­¡­¡± I looked ahead. A holographic window appeared on the control room¡¯s dashboard. The red arrow pointing at him was moving straight towards Niflheimr. ¡°He¡¯s reallying.¡± I continued. ¡°What are our chances?¡± ¡°If the fleet engages, it¡¯s 100%.¡± Yu answered without hesitation. ¡°And if we don¡¯t deploy the fleet?¡± ¡°About 100% as well.¡± ¡°What if we send out just one party?¡± ¡°100%.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± I finished my green tea. El Cid¡¯s improvisation was impressive. In that moment, he found the best strategy and made the best choice avable. But¡­ Even the raid team, which had been embroiled in internal conflict, realized that things weren¡¯t going well. They realized that if things continued as they were, they would gain nothing. In thetter half of the raid, it turned into a siege. El Cid withstood that onught. Not only did he endure, but he counterattacked. One man. One hero withstood the onught of hundreds of rankers, which tranted to thousands or even tens of thousands of heroes. ¡°They said his vessel broke?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yu lowered her eyes. ¡°The power he used in that battle was enough to create a new ount. However, it seems that the excessive use of interference power permanently damaged his abilities.¡± He had summoned thousands of elite heroes and resurrected them when they died. He repeated that process countless times. Moreover, countless master-ss assassins reportedly attacked him. He must have constantly exerted his power. ¡°So his vessel broke.¡± ording to Yu¡¯s report, he even vomited blood profusely in thetter part of the battle. He lost most of his army of conquest, and Reltia and Kirzak, known as the Three Heroes along with Laskanda, also died due to repeated assaults. El Cid couldn¡¯t resurrect them again. ¡°And yet he¡¯sing to Niflheimr?¡± ¡°It seems like a death wish to me.¡± Yu murmured. She was right. It looked that way to me too. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 238: After the Ending (9) (1) Chapter 238: After the Ending (9) (1) Not long ago, he was a formidable warrior who single-handedly defeated the second-ranked in the rankings. He had also survived against an army of over ten thousand hunters, making it this far. If not him, no one else could have aplished such a feat. Level 99. His level had now dropped to 6-star. At that level, it might be easier to manage. ¡°You¡¯re not in good shape.¡± There was no sign of the former grandeur in El Cid. The wolf fur coat he used to wear as his mascot was now covered in sand and dust, and his body was covered in wounds. The left side of his face was a mess from the blood that had run down from his forehead that was nearly unrecognizable. Yet, the look in his eyes as he gazed at me remained steady. ng, thud. The airship he was on collided with the railing of Brynhildr 01. At 448 meters, it stood as tall as a super skyscraper, andpared to Brynhildr, the airship El Cid was on seemed incredibly shabby.¡°Phew, that must have been tough.¡± El Cid jumped over the railing andnded on the deck of Brynhildr 01. After dusting off his clothes, he began to slowly walk toward me. ¡°The world has be vast while I was away. It has developed so much. There are so many strong people now who could even stand shoulder to shoulder with myrades. Thanks to that, I¡¯m alone again.¡± El Cid gave a bitter smile. Then he looked at me and lifted the corners of his mouth. ¡°You too, friend. The novice who knew nothing has now be the ruler of an entire world.¡± ¡°Don¡¯te any closer to the Master.¡± A dagger was pointed at El Cid¡¯s neck as he approached me. Behind him, Nisled wore a cold expression. It wasn¡¯t just him. Assassins were targeting El Cid from every possible hiding spot: from behind the pirs on the deck, inside the ship, beneath the railings, and behind the cargo. There were a total of 27 of them. They were Master Assassins from Niflheimr, specializing in assassination. With this many assassins, even a single party member¡¯s life could be at risk if they were careless. ¡°I see.¡± El Cid¡¯s gaze shifted around, urately identifying the locations of the hidden assassins. ¡°You¡¯re well-prepared. Killing you here would be difficult.¡± ¡°Arrogant.¡± Nisled¡¯s dagger dug into El Cid¡¯s neck, drawing a thin line of blood. ¡°You won¡¯t be able to handle me.¡± El Cid lightly stamped his foot. His movement was almost like a dance. Nisled, having grasped the situation, tightened her grip on her right hand. With a sound like the wind brushing by and the flutter of a coat, Nisled was suddenly sprawled on the ground. ¡°Ugh!¡± El Cid pointed a dagger at Nisled¡¯s neck, a weapon he had somehow seized in the process. ¡°Master, this man is dangerous¡­¡± ¡°No.¡± Suddenly, El Cid dropped the dagger to the floor. ¡°I¡¯m tired of killing. I¡¯ve done it enough that it¡¯s be boring.¡± He stood up and started walking toward me again. Yu stepped forward silently. ¡°It¡¯s okay. There¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± Even I, at just level 50, could tell. That guy couldn¡¯t fight properly anymore. ¡°He¡¯s a dangerous man, even unarmed.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t let him get too close.¡± No matter what happened, Yu would handle it. I took a deep breath and slowly walked forward. ¡°I thought you¡¯d run away, but you actually came. Did you want to die?¡± ¡°What a joke. I just wanted to have a talk with an old friend.¡± El Cid smiled. ¡°When were we ever friends?¡± ¡°Then, are we brothers?¡± ¡°That¡¯s even more ridiculous.¡± El Cid and I stopped at the same time. The distance between us was about 10 meters, close enough that we could reach each other with a single step. ¡®¡­He¡¯s nervous.¡¯ I nced back. Every hero present, including Yu and Nisled, was watching us. If El Cid even hinted at drawing his sword, they would all rush to cut his throat. ¡°I never expected you¡¯d end up here. When I first heard it, I thought it was a joke. The guy who never listened to me¡­¡± ¡°Who would listen to you?¡± ¡°You at least pretended to.¡± He once asked a crazy question about whether a game character could be alive. Of course, I thought he was out of his mind. Still, I stuck around with him for a while. He knew a lot and was good at the game, so there was a lot to gain from him. This was during the early days of Pick Me Up, when all the users of the world were ying on the same server. Before we scattered to different servers, I used to discuss tips and strategies with this guy using the in-game chat. All of my theories and analyses were based on what he had created. But no matter how much I tried to adjust, I could never follow his ystyle. I controlled the waiting room with precise calctions, but El Cid¡­ ¡®I could never understand.¡¯ When he wanted to do something, the heroes of Dorado would pour all their effort into helping him. I gave orders andmands to the heroes, but El Cid didn¡¯t need to do that. At first, I thought he was using some kind of illegal program. It was like magic. As if he were actually connected to the heroes in the game. ¡°¡­.¡± I nced back. Yu nodded. She cast a soundproof spell so that our conversation wouldn¡¯t leak outside. ¡°I don¡¯t know your real name. I don¡¯t even know what you do on Earth.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve forgotten that too.¡± El Cid grinned. I took a deep breath and spoke. ¡°Go back.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°If you stay here, it¡¯ll be a pointless death. Even if you kill me here, it¡¯ll be the same. The other Masters will chase you to the ends of the server.¡± The first event had ended in failure, but M?bius hadn¡¯t made an announcement yet. They imed that if El Cid, somewhere on the server, was caught, the Book of Reversal could still be obtained. Of course, I knew that was a lie. As Yu said, if his vessel was broken, he would lose his qualifications as a 7-star. It would be useless to capture him, even if we seeded. So, there was no value left in El Cid¡¯s life. ¡°She said you could go back home. Isn¡¯t it still possible?¡± ¡°Yes, the contract is still in effect.¡± ¡°Then what are you doing here? If you can¡¯t contact her, I¡¯ll put you in touch. To pay back the debt from before, I can buy you some time. It¡¯s all pointless. Forget about the first server nonsense and just live on Earth. They even offered you enough money to live on for the rest of your life. Don¡¯t ever touch this crappy game again.¡± I muttered in a low voice. ¡°I¡¯m going to clear this damn game and go back to where I belong.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 239: After the Ending (10) (1) Chapter 239: After the Ending (10) (1) El Cid is dead. The remains of the creature that Wiryung dealt with soon dissipated into light, leaving behind only a few items. The once infamous El Cid, who had spread terror across the entire Pick Me Up ranking, disappeared just like that. His name and achievements will soon be forgotten. I gave the order to disband the heroes who were preparing for battle on the deck and solidified the defenses of Niflheimr. Since El Cid had infiltrated this area, other rankers might be nning something as well, though what exactly was uncertain. However, days passed, and the rankers remained quiet. It seemed they believed I had obtained the Book of Reversal. Even if I told them that the vessel was broken, they certainly wouldn¡¯t believe me. Now, themunity sites would be buzzing with rumors about Loki having acquired the Book of Reversal and how the bnce of the rankers was about to shift. I decided to let them have their fun andughed it off. ¡°Anyway¡­¡± The incident had ended, but I hadn¡¯t yet left Brynhildr01.There were still a few loose ends to tie up. Although these were minor issues that didn¡¯t require my presence, I decided to handle them since I was already here. After all, once I return to Townia, I won¡¯t being back here for a while. #### que of Appreciation [Acknowledging Loki and Niflheimr for defeating the notorious El Cid, who disrupted the order of Mobius.] [Mobius Inc.] A rectangr silver que with a ssic design sat on my desk. Mobius HQ sent it immediately after El Cid was defeated. Although Wiryung was the one who dealt the final blow, and Anytng got the actual kill, they must have known the full story. #### Invitation [To celebrate the top-ranking Loki and his heroes who saved us from a crisis, a party has been arranged! As soon as you RSVP, we will prepare the venue¡­] I shoved the gold-embossed paper into the trash can. Ridiculous nonsense. When I first opened the box, I couldn¡¯t help butugh at the absurdity of it. I didn¡¯t fight El Cid for such trash. I fought him with everything on the line for the survival of Niflheimr. If Tel hadn¡¯t intervened, El Cid and I would have had a proper battle. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past now.¡± I sighed and threw the que into the trash as well. Thud. A heavy sound echoed through the office. Most of the work in Niflheimr was now finished. Tomorrow morning, Wiryung and I would board a high-speed ship back to Townia. Today was thest day I¡¯d spend here. What should I do? Most tasks were alreadypleted, and Yu would take care of the rest. So it was time to handle something I had been putting off. I took out a document from the bottom drawer of the table. This somewhat crumpled report was sent to me by Yu the day after El Cid died, detailing his personal information. In other words, it contained details about El Cid¡¯s life on Earth. At this point, it seemed pointless, but I had nothing else to do, so I decided to go through it for fun. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± He was born in a small country in Western Europe. His parents were from a well-known political family in that country, wealthy enough to own arge mansion with servants and butlers. He seemed to have led a rtively affluent life. Compared to me, who was abandoned by my parents before I even turned ten, he was quite fortunate. ¡°By this point, you¡¯d think he might be living in heaven¡­ but no.¡± It seemed something unimaginable in secure South Korea had happened. ¡°An assassination by a political rival, huh.¡± It was more of a massacre than an assassination, as multiple bombs exploded in the mansion, and his parents and siblings were found riddled with hundreds of bullets. It was a scene I couldn¡¯t easily picture, being from the other side of the world. What followed was as expected. Left alone, he lost the will to live. He wandered aimlessly until he stumbled upon the game Pick Me Up, and then becamepletely absorbed in it. As if escaping from reality. ¡°How predictable.¡± He had no ce to belong on Earth. That much was easy to guess. I chuckled and put the report away. It was a great tragedy for him, but not an umon story in the grand scheme of things. ¡°People who lose the will to live find something to cling to.¡± For El Cid, that something was the game. Compared to drugs or alcohol, it was several times healthier, at least. Next, I opened the middle drawer of the table. Inside was something much more important than the report. #### Book of Reversal [Grade: U] [Contains the memories and hopes of a certain adventurer.] [Note ¨C Damaged. Unusable.] This Book of Reversal fell from his body. It was an essential item for advancing to seven stars, a material coveted by countless masters, but now it was just an empty shell. The excessive use of power during the raid had wiped out El Cid¡¯s interference. However, it was only temporarily damaged, so there is a way to restore it. Though it¡¯s incredibly difficult. ¡°¡­¡­¡± I ced the Book of Reversal on the table. ¡°A book¡­¡± The Book of Reversal appeared as a thick, leather-bound book. Its cover was in, with no decorations. I took a sip of warm tea and turned the first page. ¡°From here on¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t the story of a young man who gave up on life, but rather the biography of a great hero. A great hero. I couldn¡¯t help butugh. No, that couldn¡¯t be right. Every world within Pick Me Up is stained with blood and death. It would be difficult for an ordinary young man to handle. If it weren¡¯t for my experiences as a child, I would have died long ago. I slowly began to read the book. El Cid fell to Dorado on the 53rd floor. Two years ago, there were barely any masters who could surpass the 30th floor, so his progress was remarkable. The difference between us was that the heroes there didn¡¯t know El Cid was a master. He had to start over as a mere hero. ¡°So that¡¯s why he went silent.¡± I nodded. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 240: Stop Playing So Much (1) (1) Chapter 240: Stop ying So Much (1) (1) The matter with El Cid was now over. Of course, a few questions still remained. First, why El Cid had tried to go to Server 1. This wasn¡¯t too hard to deduce. During the process of clearing Dorado¡¯s scenario, he became dissatisfied with the game developers and decided to take matters into his own hands. ¡®Dissatisfaction¡­¡¯ I recalled the contents of the Book. From the 50th floor, where El Cid had fallen into the game, up to the 80th floor, where he was called a king, the text and illustrations were well-documented. The problemy beyond that. ¡®The final story is likely a fabrication.¡¯ The story awkwardly appended at the end of the book depicted El Cid saving Dorado, bing its king, and then setting off on another adventure. The true history of Dorado was probably written on the pages where the ink had smudged, making it unreadable. ¡®There must have been issues after the 80th floor.¡¯The fragment series truly began to emerge after the 80th floor. It seemed the scenario had diverged drastically from El Cid¡¯s expectations at that point. Judging by how El Cid devoured his subordinates, it¡¯s evident that they couldn¡¯t return home even after reaching the top of the tower. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ This is bing quite a headache. There are too many questions. Why didn¡¯t El Cid fuse with the sub-master and instead fall into Dorado as a one-star hero? What did he see at the end of his mission? And why did he recklessly confront me, even though it was akin to suicide? ¡®Would he rather hand over his legacy to me than die at the hands of an unworthy master?¡¯ It¡¯s toote to ask now. I decided to set these questions aside. No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn¡¯te up with any answers. Ultimately, the answers would only be clear if I ascended the tower to the very top. In any case, The Book of Reversal, which was both the final raid reward and the key material for a seven-star promotion, was now in Anytng¡¯s possession. However, with Iselle¡¯s maniption of the log, Anytng might not even know she has it. If The Book of Rebersal were usable, I would have handed it to one of the members of Niflheimr¡¯s first party, but right now, it¡¯s nothing more than a decoration. For now, I decided to keep it. I might need itter. After Wiryung and I returned to Townia, we were given another long period of rest. Passing through the 50th floor had caused significant losses. Edis and other elite heroes had died, and most of the airship fleet had been damaged or destroyed. It would take quite some time to regain our original strength. So, I¡¯m spending a rare vacation. Well, it¡¯s more of a personal training time than an actual vacation. Due to all the recent work, I¡¯ve neglected my training, so I needed to catch up. ¡®Let¡¯s keep an eye on the surroundings too.¡¯ As I sucked on the straw, a refreshing liquid slid down my throat. It was a special energy drink made by a Townia-affiliated pharmacist, designed to enhance training efficiency. As I moved my feet on the pedals, two wheels spun wildly. This was a new piece of training equipment that Anytng had ced in the training room on the 4th floor. Jenna had jumped in surprise at such a novelty, but I was already bored of seeing this sort of thing on Earth. It was an exercise bike. The carpenter at the equipment workshop made the body based on Anytng¡¯s blueprint, and Katiio made the power engine. Though it looked clumsy, it was actually quite well-made. If you added a weight of about 50 kg, it was effective for training. I pedaled while asionally sipping my drink, a towel around my neck. With my left hand on the handle, I used my right hand to touch a holographic screen. [MyuTube?] [Pick Me Up¡¯s Master, ¡®Anytng¡¯s Channel] [Subscribers: 13,253] Since surpassing the 50th floor, one of the benefits has been the increased amount of time I could spend online. Moreover, I no longer needed to hear Iselle¡¯s ¡°Fairy Power¡± chant to ess sites. ¡®The subscriber count has increased.¡¯ I scrolled down. A video titled ¡°Townia, 50th Floor¡± has been uploaded under thetest uploads. The view count had reached 320,000, easily surpassing that of any famous BJ. I clicked on the video and browsed through thements. Great video ^^ The scale of this stage is enormous! Thumbs up! Looking forward to the 55th floor! Why does the fragment series start from the 50th floor here? Isn¡¯t that a bugged ount? As far as I know, they only appear after the 80th floor. At first, I thought you were just catching a ride, but it seems like Anytng¡¯s skills are improving rapidly. The more I see Han, the stronger he gets! Isn¡¯t he almost at the level of Seris now? Ha, seriously, this game is so luck-dependent. Everyone else has good heroes, and I¡¯ve got nothing! So, Anytng, are you going to apologize for massacring the Silver Star Guild? Thements were different from before. Up to the 30th floor, half of them wereints about Anytng being a ¡°bus rider,¡± but now, there were hardly any such remarks. At most, a few people were criticizing the Silver Star Guild incident. ¡®Anytng has improved a lot too.¡¯ At least she doesn¡¯t just sit back and watch anymore. On the 50th floor, she had helped reorganize the fleet¡¯s formation, supplied items, and warned us of dangers¡ªvarious small but crucial contributions. Compared to the old Anytng, it was like night and day. She had evolved from a mere freeloader to a master who could handle more than her fair share. It was a dramatic transformation, akin to an ant evolving into a Brachiosaurus. ¡®Her ystyle has changed too.¡¯ I looked up. Even though it was nearly dawn in Earth time, Anytng still hadn¡¯t logged off. She was diligently handling tasks in the waiting room. Her average online time had more than doubled. If it were just for a day or two, I¡¯d let it slide, but this has been going on for nearly a month. And if that weren¡¯t enough, she¡¯s been spending nearly 100,000 won every few days on gems. ¡®A light free-to-y user¡­ has turned into a hardcore addict.¡¯ If you add up Anytng¡¯s spending, it¡¯s easily surpassed a million won by now. Although there¡¯s some ie from MyuTube, the personal expenses must be considerable. ¡®She¡¯s bing a seasoned yer.¡¯ ording to Iselle¡¯s report, Anytng has started sharing Pick Me Up tips with her MyuTube subscribers. The content has also changed. She no longer shares useless tips like ¡°Give a military horse statue to your favorite hero, and they¡¯ll carry you.¡± Now, she seems to have learned how to manage her heroes to some extent. Right after clearing the 50th floor, Anytng awarded rewards to the mainbat units. For Kishasha, it was premium-grade beef, for Velkist, a training outfit, for Katiio, a neck pillow for rest during endless overtime, and for Jenna, a hunting bow. Lastly, for me¡­ ¡®Why is it still a military horse statue for me?¡¯ There seems to be a problem. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 241: Stop Playing So Much (2) (1) Chapter 241: Stop ying So Much (2) (1) Early morning after Anytng logged off. After finishing my personal training, I called for Iselle. ¡°What¡¯s up, Loki?¡± Iselle, dressed in loose pajamas, rubbed her eyes and floated over to me. It seemed like she had just woken up from a deep sleep. I felt bad for waking her, but I had something urgent to ask. I cleared my throat and quickly exined the situation. ¡°Aha.¡± Iselle nodded. ¡°So, the Master made a friend? And that friend is close to him on Earth. But soon after that friend started the game, they want to send you as a helper?¡±The Pick Me Up system is quiteplex, and even veteran yers can get confused. One of the confusing parts is themunity system. Masters below level 20 can¡¯t use themunity system. In other words, even if Anytng wanted to send me to Jinho-Jang¡¯s waiting room, it would be impossible because the ¡®Dimensional Rift¡¯ hadn¡¯t opened yet. Unless Jinho cleared the missions up to the 20th floor, Anytng couldn¡¯t help him. But lo and behold, here I was, receiving orders to be dispatched along with the Lusette ship. This meant themand went through. ¡°There should¡¯ve been a message saying it¡¯s not possible. Could this be a bug? So, I wanted you to check¡­¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not a bug.¡± ¡°What?¡± Iselle drew arge circle with her right hand. Stardust fluttered, and a holographic window popped up in the middle. [An update by newbies, for newbies, and about newbies!] [1. Huh? Giving up already?] [Two premium summoning tickets are awarded ¡®immediately¡¯ to new Masters whoplete the tutorial. Here¡¯s your chance to get a 5-star hero for free! Start the game now; it¡¯s the perfect time!] [2. Go to your friends!] [Is your newbie friend struggling with the tough difficulty? Was it hard to watch? No worries! NO NO NO! As long as you¡¯re friends, even Masters below level 20 can use the ¡®Dimensional Rift¡¯ feature, albeit with limitations!] [3. Invite friends and get rewards Pak Pak Pak!] [This event is for existing users¡­] I slowly read through the notice. The problem was with point number 2, the ¡°Go to your friends¡± section. ¡°So if you¡¯re friends¡­ even below the 20th floor, you can send a dispatch?¡± I looked at Iselle quietly. ¡°When was this patched?¡± ¡°Right after Loki reached the 50th floor.¡± Iselle cleared her throat a couple of times before continuing. ¡°There was an emergency at thepany. Apparently, a game that copied Pick Me Up¡¯s concept has been climbing the app store rankings. They¡¯re sucking up all the new users. So, to attract new customers¡­¡± ¡°They changed the system.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± I held my forehead. I never expected to be blindsided like this. The Dimensional Rift had been part of the system since the game¡¯s release. I never imagined it would change overnight. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a game, after all.¡± This ce was both a reality and a game. Rules could change anytime due to patches. I seem to have forgotten that for a moment. ¡°So, this dispatch isn¡¯t a bug either.¡± ¡°Soon, you¡¯ll be sent to the friend¡¯s waiting room.¡± I frowned. I thought I¡¯d finally have some personal time. ¡°But it¡¯s just a dispatch. Think of it as a vacation and take it easy while you¡¯re there. You don¡¯t n on staying there, right¡­?¡± ¡°No. Absolutely not.¡± ¡°Phew.¡± Iselle let out a sigh of relief as if she was d to hear that. Then, with a cheerful voice, she winked at me and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care if that Master¡¯s waiting room gets ruined or not, so go ahead and cause as much chaos as you want! Loki, good luck!¡± With that, Iselle waved her right hand at me and spun around before disappearing. ¡­So I¡¯m supposed to help, huh. ¡°This is ridiculous.¡± I sighed deeply. I didn¡¯t know what Anytng was thinking; the reason I had helped the Master so far was for my own benefit. The stronger the Townia, the more it directly impacted my survival. But this has nothing to do with my survival. Even if Jinho-Jang quits, it wouldn¡¯t affect me. This time, there was no benefit to me; it was purely volunteer work. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll just kill some time ande back.¡± Anytng probably doesn¡¯t expect much from me either. There wouldn¡¯t be much I could do once I got there. Clear the missions? That¡¯s impossible since I belong to a different faction. I might be able to redo a floor they¡¯ve already cleared, but I can¡¯t climb the tower in their ce. At best, I could offer a few suggestions. And even that would require Iselle¡¯s help, and the Master would have to ept them. Townia is unique; ordinary heroes have very little to do. The scheduled departure time for the dispatch was early morning. The distance between Anytng, who is in the 50s, and Jinho-Jang, who hasn¡¯t even reached the 10th floor, must be quite far. It seemed like it would be a tiring journey. Even if I returned to the dormitory now, I wouldn¡¯t get more than three hours of sleep. It would be better to sleep on the way there. ¡°Sigh, this is so annoying.¡± I closed the door to my personal training room. And so, morning came. ¡­ Without even getting to say goodbye to my team members, I boarded an express airship. After some time had passed, [003117 Dimension ¨C Ram] I arrived at a ce presumed to be Jinho-Jang¡¯s dimension. The name of the dimension was Ram. A tower of unimaginable height stood above a vast, blue sea. Woooom. The Lusette ship I was on slid into the swirling vortex of the dimension near the corner of the tower. There was no dock here, so I would have to jump directly into the vortex. The waiting room facilities were sparse, so it was to be expected. It was a hassle, but there was no other choice. Well, if I just kill time here, Anytng will probably realize it¡¯s pointless and send me back. At that moment, the airship flew right next to the dimensional vortex. I lightly jumped over the railing and threw myself into the spiral. The familiar sensation of falling, which I had experienced hundreds of times, swept over my body. When I opened my eyes again, a scene that was both unfamiliar and familiar entered my view. A dark room. Metal shelves were set up. Large and small cardboard boxes were scattered all over the shelves. ¡°A waiting room storage?¡± It was more of a shack than a storage room. Well, since it¡¯s only level 1, there¡¯s nothing that can be done. Townia also used to store items in ces like this. Creak. With a creepy sound, the storage door opened. A cold wind brushed against my cheek, revealing a wide-open space. It was the waiting room za. ¡°The Master is logged in.¡± The sky was shing white. It was an indication that the Master was logged in. An announcement window must have popped up on Jinho-chan¡¯s screen, telling him that a friend¡¯s hero had arrived. But judging by theck of response, he was probably doing something else while the game was running. ¡°A hero¡­¡± ¡°Wow, a really strong-looking person is here!¡± A voice, unsure if it was an exmation or just talking to herself, echoed. Then, I heard someone running over. I turned my head. ¡°Hey, mister, can you see me?¡± She was waving her hand in front of my face. ¡°You¡¯re not blind or anything, right?¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 242: Stop Playing So Much (3) (1) Chapter 242: Stop ying So Much (3) (1) I sat down in the za of the waiting room and chatted with Kardia. Well, I sat, and she just kept talking non-stop. Kardia didn¡¯t hold back, even telling me all sorts of things about her personal life that I didn¡¯t ask for. ¡®Annoying.¡¯ Jinho-Jang still seemed to have the game on without ying it. What a waste of battery. ¡°So, where are you from, mister?¡± ¡°Townia.¡± ¡°Townia? Never heard of that ce.¡± ¡°Of course you didn¡¯t. It doesn¡¯t exist in your world. I¡¯m from another world. I¡¯m only here for a short while before I return.¡±Kardia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. I smirked and continued. ¡°It means I¡¯m not your ally. Don¡¯t forget that.¡± ¡°Oh, so¡­¡± ¡°There are tens of millions of ces like this one. I just started before you, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really understand. There are tens of millions of ces like this?¡± Kardia looked around the za, clearly confused. Well, there wasn¡¯t much I could do to help her understand. Exining it would only make her head spin even more. ¡®I¡¯ll just watch for now.¡¯ I unsheathed Bifrost from its scabbard. Crackle! As soon as I touched the de to the ground, crimson lightning sparked violently from it. [¡ù Alert!] [Authorization requested.] Bifrost itself was a manifestation of interference power, and Iselle had added some extra measures. If this were a newly created beginner¡¯s ount¡­ Ding! [Master, the hero is awaiting yourmand!] A holographic window popped up on the right side of my vision. It was Jinho-Jang¡¯s control screen. His security was practically non-existent due to his low level, making it easy to hack into with basic skills. I ignored Kardia, who was staring at me with a nk expression, and returned Bifrost to its scabbard. ¡°You said you received a revtion from a goddess?¡± ¡°Oh, yes! She said that if I want to return home, I need to save Ram with the help of my allies.¡± ¡°I see.¡± At least a four-star, then. Jinho-Jang seemed to have incredible luck. I clicked my tongue and sat back down on the ground. Kardia kept pestering me about what I had just done, but I remained silent. It wasn¡¯t until two hourster that Jinho-Jang finally started moving. When he was back to the game, Jinho-Jang immediately went to the mission tab. Creak. The door that connected to the rift in space-time opened wide. Kardia, who had been chattering like a sparrow, turned her attention to it. ¡°That¡¯s the signal! I¡¯m off, mister.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But¡­ Are you really noting?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go even if I wanted to.¡± ¡°Right! I¡¯ll be back soon!¡± After energetically replying, Kardia straightened her clothes and dashed into the rift. The door in the center of the za closed silently. ¡®Going solo up to the fourth floor?¡¯ This guy wasn¡¯t just a casual yer; he was beyond clueless. He hadn¡¯t even used his summoning tickets for premium summons or even free ones. No items, no facilities built, and he only sent the basic hero out on missions. Once Jinho-Jang finished hismands, he went back into a long period of inactivity. I sighed. ¡®¡­¡¯ I drew Bifrost once again. cing the de on the ground, crimson lightning sparked up once more. But this time, it wasn¡¯t for hacking. Once the current was strong enough, I grasped the hilt with both hands and plunged the de deep into the ground. Crackle! [Whaaa!] A small girl appeared, bursting out of the air with stardust surrounding her. Iselle copsed onto the ground, twitching uncontrobly. [Hold¡­ holding on¡­ hold ooonnn!] After writhing around and shouting nonsense, Iselle sprang to her feet. She red at me with sharp eyes. [What the heck?! I was in the middle of the perfect selling point!] Her hair was a mess like a bird¡¯s nest, and she was carrying a ck stic box at her waist. Smoke drifted out from the edges of the box. [Wait a second!] Suddenly, Iselle opened the lid of the stic box. Inside were a bunch of rectangrponents connected by wires. I quickly realized it was a miniature graphics card. [Why isn¡¯t the fan spinning? Is it¡­ broken? No way! It¡¯s broken?!] ¡°¡­¡± [Noooo! My Freedom XY-46!] Iselle copsed to the ground, shaking her head in despair. [You monster! You broke my Freedom XY-46!] Beep. A warning sound came from the wristwatch she was wearing as she red at me. [Oh no, it¡¯s almost trading time¡­ Just you wait! Once I escape from here, you¡¯re done for!] ¡°¡­¡± [This is¡­!] I grabbed Iselle by the back of her neck before she could run off somewhere, causing her to fall to the ground once again. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± In the past, I had to watch as Iselle disappeared after saying whatever she wanted, but not anymore. ¡°Isn¡¯t this ount under your care? Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a bit negligent? I came to help, and yet you don¡¯t even show up.¡± [Oh, right. They did say someone would be sent.] Iselle blinked at me nkly, then closed her eyes. [Go back.] ¡°Hmm?¡± [Just go back. This ce is finished anyway. Can¡¯t you tell? The master has no intention of ying the game. That guy has Pick Me Up open while he¡¯s ying another game!] ying another game? I looked up. The sky was sparkling, but the control screen still hadn¡¯t moved. [If he really wanted to y, he shouldn¡¯t have installed it in the first ce. And here I am, a top graduate from the Fairy School, reduced to scrounging for coins¡­] Iselle looked like she was about to cry. [Anyway! Don¡¯t bother me! I need to earn money and escape this ce! And I¡¯ll make you pay for wrecking my Freedom XY-46! Now if you¡¯ll excuse me¡­] I tripped Iselle as she tried to run away, and she fell face-first into the za floor. [Ack!] ¡°We¡¯re not done talking.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 243: Stop Playing so Much (4) (1) Chapter 243: Stop ying so Much (4) (1) It was clear that Anytng¡¯s obsession with the game was beginning to interfere with her everyday life. I had been through the same phase myself. Back when I worked for a majorpany, I dreaded going to work every day. The feeling of liberation when I mmed my resignation letter on my boss¡¯s desk made me feel like I owned the world. ¡®Well, I did manage to seed somehow.¡¯ After that, I built a stable ie by amassing hundreds of thousands of subscribers on MyTube, but I couldn¡¯t guarantee that Anytng would have the same sess. ¡®But quitting the game is not an option.¡¯ It was just the beginning. No one leaves before finishing what they started. An hourter, Kardia returned from her mission. As soon as Kardia saw me, she waved her hand and ran over.¡°Mister, you¡¯re still here? Were you waiting for me?¡± ¡°Good thing you¡¯re not dead yet.¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯m super strong, you know. I totally took care of those goblins with a swift sh, sh, bam!¡± Kardia mimicked the motion of swinging a sword, smiling brightly. However, she couldn¡¯t hide the fatigue etched into the corners of her face. I could tell by now. This little one hadn¡¯t experienced much realbat. The psychological toll of real battles, where blood and flesh fly, must have been significant for her. ¡°But, Mister¡­ could you apany me from the 5th floor onward? I promise I won¡¯t be a burden.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go, even if I wanted to.¡± ¡°What do you mean? The Goddess said a powerful ally would fight alongside me!¡± ¡°That ally¡¯s definitely not me.¡± Jinho-Jang¡¯s control window moved. He was checking the results of the stage clear. Perfect timing. I snapped my fingers. [Master, congrattions on clearing the 4th floor!] [The 5th floor is expected to be a boss stage! How about recruiting a new hero to strengthen your team? Currently, you can get two premium summon tickets as part of an event! Don¡¯t miss the chance to get a 5-star hero!] A tip popped up on Jinho-Jang¡¯s screen. I had prepared Iselle for this moment in advance. I¡¯d tantly disyed the message, and even if Jinho-Jang wasn¡¯t interested in the game, he¡¯d have to at least follow the prompt. Stopping Jinho-Jang, the assassin sent by Anytng¡¯s mother, was simple. Just get him addicted to the game too. He doesn¡¯t need to y it all the way through. As long as he doesn¡¯t quit before Anytng clears the 100th floor, he¡¯ll be a perfect shield for her. Luckily, Pick Me Up had a unique charmpared to other mobile games. That¡¯s why new yers that came to me to help rarely quit. Once I guided them to a certain point, they wouldn¡¯t need me anymore. ¡®After summoning a hero¡­¡¯ I¡¯d build the training facility. That¡¯s where the first main party woulde together. I waited for Jinho-Jang to start summoning. [Master, would you like to log out?] [Yes (Select) / No] [Goodbye!] The screen went dark. Jinho-Jang had logged out without summoning, ignoring the tip altogether and just closing the game. ¡°¡­¡± This guy has absolutely no interest in Pick Me Up. If he showed even a little enthusiasm, I could guide him like I did with Anytng, but when he¡¯s like this, it¡¯s troublesome. I can only interfere in limited ways since I¡¯m just a character within the game. ¡®Should I try a different approach?¡¯ There were other options, though they were far more tedious and time-consuming. For now, I decided to watch the situation. Jinho-Jang didn¡¯t seem to be pressuring Antyng too much at the moment, either. My lodging was set next to Kardia¡¯s room. There were only about ten rooms in the level 1 lodging to begin with. The kitchen had nothing but potatoes and water. That night, I was able to have grilled potatoes for the first time in a while. The next day. Jinho-Jang logged back into the game. [Master, give your heroes the chance to grow stronger!] [How about building a training facility? The heroes will train themselves, thanks to Pick Me Up¡¯s sophisticated AI system! Would you like to build a training facility?] [Yes / No (Select)] Jinho-Jang ignored Iselle¡¯s tip again. I pushed Iselle to disy several more tips, but each time, Jinho-Jang rejected them outright. ¡ª Anytng: How¡¯s it going? wlsghWkd: This game sucks. It¡¯s no different from all the other auto-games. You summon heroes, send them into dungeons, and just watch. If you don¡¯t pay, you¡¯re stuck. Antyng: You¡¯re just low-level. As you y, there¡¯s way more to do. There¡¯s plenty to manage. Give it a little more time. My heroes are good, right? wlsghWkd: Not really. The game¡¯s just boring. Amkena: ;;; ¡ª I clicked my tongue. He¡¯s calling it boring without even trying. Jinho-Jang¡¯s indifference was starting to show. Of course, Anytng wouldn¡¯t quit easily. But if things continued like this, her ytime would naturally decrease. This wasn¡¯t a good situation, especially with how busy things were right now. ¡°Sir! What do you think? I¡¯m good enough to be yourpanion, right? Take this chance to recruit a cute and strong genius swordmaster! You won¡¯t get another opportunity¡­.¡± In the lobby of the level 1 lodging, Kardia swung her sword in front of me. Blue mes flickered along the de. It was a basic weapon enchantment spell. ¡°Hi-yah!¡± I ignored Kadia¡¯s shy moves and looked ahead. Iselle was slumped over, clutching a crypto-mining rig. [Didn¡¯t sell my¡­ Batcoin¡­ in time¡­ cuz of that sucker¡­] ¡°¡­¡± [It¡¯s all over. This ce is done for. Master¡¯s going to quit. I¡¯m going to disappear. Damn it¡­ if I had sold just one day earlier¡­ Uwaaah!] Iselle sobbed, clutching her head. I had grown used to this sight. ¡°If you don¡¯t know how to handle it, you should have just taken a part-time job instead.¡± Tsk. I spoke up. ¡°When the master logs in tomorrow, show the tip again. You can adjust the graphics, right? Make it a bit shier with some sparkling effects. Also, let him know there¡¯s a new event.¡± [What¡¯s the point? He¡¯s not interested! He¡¯s definitely going to quit!] I half-drew Bifrost. [Eek! Alright, alright! I¡¯ll do it!] ¡°Twenty goblins showed up on the 4th floor, you know. And I¡­¡± Both of my key allies were crazy in their own ways. One had their head in the clouds, and the other was a sucker. I was the only sane one here. ¡®It¡¯s tough to keep my head straight as it is.¡¯ By now, I should¡¯ve been ready to upgrade to a 5-star. Instead, I was stuck cleaning up after these idiots. ¡®They¡¯re dragging me into their mess.¡¯ I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 244. Stop Playing So Much (5) (1) Chapter 244. Stop ying So Much (5) (1) ng. The iron gate on the right side of the za opened. It was a ce that hadn¡¯t opened even once since I arrived in Rame. It was the summoning hall. [¡ù You currently have 2 ¡®Advanced Summoning Tickets.¡¯] [You can summon ¡®twice¡¯ for free. Further summons will require 500 gems.] [Tips/ Special opportunity for new Masters! Don¡¯t forget the newbie package!] A white light started to pour out from the open door of the summoning hall. Kardia¡¯s eyes sparkled as she traced a heart shape with her hands. ¡°The Master is really bringing newpanions, Nico!¡±¡°You don¡¯t need to speak like that.¡± [Master, initiating advanced summoning. Let¡¯s see which hero appears!] [Click, whirl.] [Boom!] [Rare!] [Master ¡®wlsghWkd¡¯ has acquired the hero ¡®Leon (¡ï¡ï¡ï)!¡¯] [Rare!] [Master ¡®wlsghWkd¡¯ has acquired the hero ¡®Veda (¡ï¡ï¡ï)!¡¯] Beyond the light of the summoning hall, two shadows emerged. Two paid summons using tickets. Judging from Jin-ho¡¯s control screen, it seemed he had no intention of summoning any further. There are always yers like this. Some don¡¯t bother summoning low-tier heroes, iming they¡¯re useless. Butpared to earlier when he waspletely disengaged, this was a huge improvement. ¡°Next.¡± ¡°Understood, Nico!¡± Kardia responded energetically, striking another pose. ¡°From my heart to your heart! Nico Nico Ni! Sending you smiles¡­!¡± She seemed excited, shouting lines I hadn¡¯t even taught her. >[Master, the hero ¡®Kardia (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ requests the ¡®Training Hall¡¯ facility!] ¡°Love Nico!¡± [Constructing facility. Please select the type of facility you wish to build.] [¡ù New Master Event! ¨C The first facility construction will not cost gems.] [You have selected ¡®Training Hall.¡¯ Would you like to proceed with construction?] [Yes (Selected) / No] Rumble. With a strange noise, the gate on the south side of the za opened this time. It was the training hall. ¡°This is incredible¡­ Is this some kind of magic spell, Nico?¡± ¡°Not exactly.¡± The cosy was more effective than I¡¯d imagined. Jinho quickly epted Kardia¡¯s suggestion without hesitation, from summoning heroes to building the training hall. I scratched the back of my head. Though it worked, this was only a temporary fix. No matter how much attention the cosy and show might attract if Jinho didn¡¯t truly get interested in the game, it would all be for nothing. Of course, that¡¯s a matter of personal preference, so there¡¯s nothing I could do about it. For now, I decided to use Kardia as a guide to provide the basic game instructions. The time frame that Anytng gave me for this dispatch was about a week. Not much time left. ¡®To the 5th floor, at least.¡¯ I had to make sure Jinho experienced the boss stage, which was central to Pick Me Up. After that, I¡¯d just have to watch. ¡®If that doesn¡¯t work, I may have to resort to threats.¡¯ However, threats ran the risk of exposing my true identity. That would have to be ast resort. I nodded and looked to the right. The two newly summoned heroes were walking into the za. One was a mage. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a ck robe, and holding a crooked wooden staff, their attire clearly advertised their profession. The other was a warrior. Dressed in leather armor, they carried a wooden shield on their back and had a long sword strapped to their waist. ¡°Nico!¡± Kardia smiled brightly and drew a heart with her hands. [Forming a party.] [Drag and drop the heroes!] [¡®Veda (¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has joined ¡®Party 1¡¯!] Jinho ced the mage into Party 1, where Kardia was already assigned. But that was it. The party menu closed, and the main screen reappeared. The sky above turned a hazy shade. ¡®He minimized the screen.¡¯ He was doing something else now. I could now guess whether or not he was ying the game. When the screen is turned off, the color changes. In Party 1, the mage joined Kardia, but Jinho didn¡¯t touch the warrior at all and left the game idle. I could guess why. ¡®Is this guy serious?¡¯ The mage, meeting my gaze, bowed slightly. ¡°Pardon me, but could you tell me where this is?¡± A soft voice. The woman, who had pressed down on her hat, smiled with her eyes as she looked at me. ¡°And who are you? Where is this ce?¡± The boy, with a rough demeanor despite his young face, spat on the ground as he nced between me and Kardia. Though he looked youthful, his wild aura ruined his overall impression. He reached for his sword¡¯s hilt. ¡°Did you bring me here?¡± ¡°Hello!¡± Kardia bent at a 90-degree angle to greet them. ¡°My name is Kardia! I look forward to working with you as apanion in battle.¡± ¡°Companion? What nonsense is that?¡± ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± Kardia looked at me and gave a bashful smile. Sigh, how bothersome. I stepped forward. It took half a day to exin the situation to the two of them. There was no need to mention things like world destruction or goddesses. They wouldn¡¯t believe it anyway. The core message was simple. If they wanted to return home, they had to fight monsters and survive. The survival instinct is the strongest motivator of all. Making them believe it wasn¡¯t hard either. While Jinho was away, I took the two of them through a lower-floor trial. Though the ce hadn¡¯t fully unlocked autonomous actions yet, I secretly bypassed that restriction using Bifrost¡¯s power. After a few rounds of exnation¡­ ¡°I understand. To some extent.¡± That night, at the training hall. The female mage ced her wide-brimmed hat on the floor. Her name was Veda. Her specialty was maniption and telekinesis. ording to Kardia, the sight of goblins swinging swords at each other was quite a spectacle. ¡°You¡¯ll learn more as you climb the tower.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± Veda smiled softly. She was quick to grasp the situation. Even in her first real battle, she didn¡¯t panic. ¡®She¡¯s on a whole different level.¡¯ Forget top-tier heroes. I used to challenge the boss stages with just one-star heroes. If I had someone like her when I attempted the 5th floor in Townia, the difficulty would have dropped exponentially. ¡°It¡¯s infuriating. Is the so-called master controlling me?¡± The three-star warrior, Leon, frowned as he fiddled with his sword hilt. Unlike Veda, Leon had been harder to convince. He had rebelled, shouting that this was all nonsense, and had even drawn his sword at me. But I had quickly made him quiet down. ¡°Filthy monster.¡± I can hear you. ¡®We just need to clear the 5th floor.¡¯ Once we got past the boss stage, I¡¯d be able to gauge Jinho¡¯s attitude. By then, my dispatch period would almost be over. As a member of Townia, I wasn¡¯t supposed to intervene directly in this ce. These three would have to clear the 5th floor themselves. Jinho didn¡¯t seem interested in summoning any more heroes. Even if the party was short-staffed, with one four-star hero and two three-star heroes, including a rare ss like a mage, we had more than enough to clear the stage. The partybination was perfect. The warrior would take the front line, the mage would handle firepower, and the magic swordsman would fill in the gaps. With a bit of basic teamwork, I could train them well enough. ¡®The problem is¡­¡¯ I recalled Jinho¡¯s gamey. He summoned two heroes but only ced one in Party 1 and favored the female while leaving the other untouched. Veda and Leon. The mage and the warrior. A woman and a man, respectively. ¡®¡­¡¯ Some Masters insist on ying inefficiently for absurd reasons. Jinho was one of the worst. ¡®A guy who only uses female heroes.¡¯ I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 245: Stop Playing So Much (6) (1) Chapter 245: Stop ying So Much (6) (1) Jinho-Jangined for a while about theck of hero-voice features for Anytng before stepping away. I gave a signal with my eyes to the two standing in the middle of the square. Kardia and Leon stopped moving side by side. ¡°Damn it¡­ I won¡¯t let this slide¡­.¡± Leon mumbled while ring at me. It seems like he¡¯s building up quite a grudge against me, but with his current skills, he¡¯s still got a long way to go. I opened the door leading to the training room. ¡°I¡¯ll help you up to the 5th floor. If you listen to me properly, I¡¯ll be of great help in the future.¡± ¡°Yes, teacher!¡± Kardia saluted and ran toward the training room.A teacher, huh. That¡¯s a title that doesn¡¯t suit me. ¡®Well, there¡¯s nothing else to do.¡¯ If Ram¡¯s trio were wiped out on the 5th floor, Jinho-Jang would probably quit the game. If that happened, all my efforts would be wasted. Shaking my head, I stepped into the training room. Behind me, Leon followed, still casting murderous nces in my direction. I blew the whistle I got from Iselle and trained the three of them untilte at night. The 5th-floor entry was approaching soon. Instead of training their stamina or weapon skills, which wouldn¡¯t yield significant results in such a short period, I focused on improving their teamwork. Leon had several outbursts during the training, but I tolerated it. Kardia and Veda followed my instructions withoutint, even though the training continued into the early hours. Especially Veda, the mage. Even when I deliberately pushed her hard to build stamina, she didn¡¯t utter a single word of protest. She¡¯s nothing like that other mage girl who used toin all the time. Always grumbling at the slightest task. ¡®¡­.¡¯ Is itplete? I set down the memo book filled with notes on the desk. The memo contained a list of things to do after clearing the 5th floor. ¡®He¡¯ll have to recruit more heroes.¡¯ They need to form a five-member party. They also need support heroes to back up theirbat roles. ¡®And They¡¯ve got to fix the master¡¯s habits.¡¯ They can¡¯t keep dressing up male heroes in female attire every time. Once Jinho-Jang starts taking Pick Me Up more seriously, that should naturally improve. The memo book also contains various know-how I¡¯ve gained while ying as Loki in Niflheimr and Han in Townia. As long as they follow it, they won¡¯t die without being able to do anything. The three of them were still grinding through training even as dawn approached. I¡¯ll have to return to Townia soon. So, if Jinho-Jang hesitates and doesn¡¯t challenge the 5th floor today, I n to use Kardia and Leon to push for it. A few hourster, Jinho-Jang logged in. The first thing Jinho-Jang did upon entering the game was¡­ [Gift Shop!] [With 30,000 gold, you have purchased ¡®Rabbit Headband (X3)¡¯!] [You have gifted ¡®Rabbit Headband¡¯ to ¡®Kardia (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯!] [You have gifted ¡®Rabbit Headband¡¯ to ¡®Veda (¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯!] [You have gifted ¡®Rabbit Headband¡¯ to ¡®Leon (¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯¡­] Unbelievable. Instead of using the free draw, wasting gold on such useless things. Anyway, I have to keep the master in a good mood. The three of them agreed to wear the rabbit headbands whenever Jinho-Jang was logged in. ¡°When we get out of here¡­ I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Leon gritted his teeth, looking up. Kardia gently touched the rabbit ears on Leon¡¯s head and said, ¡°It suits you.¡± ¡°Do you want to die, huh! First, you put me in a short skirt, and now this garbage?¡± ¡°But it¡¯s so cute, hehe.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m teamed up with people like this¡­.¡± Despite their bickering, the three of them entered the dimensional rift. Jinho-Jang had finally decided to enter the 5th-floor challenge. Surprisingly, Jinho-Jang was paying close attention to the game screen. In the past, he would often send them on missions and immediately go AFK, but this time, he seemed intent on watching how the heroes fought. ¡°See youter!¡± Kardia waved at me before stepping into the dimensional rift. Clunk. The door closed, and the three disappeared. About half a day passed. Ram¡¯s first party sessfully cleared the boss stage without losing a single member. Although they were one member short, everyone was at least three stars, and the partyposition was bnced. Barring some exceptionally bad luck, their strength was more than enough to pass the 5th floor without issue. This was how things should be. Townia was unusually difficult, spewing thousands of goblins at us even on the lower floors. ording to the reports, they did face some crises on the 5th floor, but it seems the three of them worked together to ovee them. ¡®It was practically an Easy mode.¡¯ Some people struggle, life and death at every 5th floor, barely crawling their way up. Well, as long as they cleared it, it¡¯s fine. That concludes my job. Soon, I¡¯ll be boarding the airship from Taonia, set to depart at dawn. Thankfully, Jinho-Jang seems to be intent on continuing the game. ording to Iselle¡¯s report, after subscribing to Anytng¡¯s MyTube channel, he¡¯s been watching Mission Clear videos. At the very least, he¡¯s taken an interest in Pick Me Up. Whether this interest is temporary orsting, only time will tell. It¡¯s too early to judge now. [With 10,000 gold, you have purchased ¡®Kitty Pajamas¡¯!] [You have gifted ¡®Kitty Pajamas¡¯ to ¡®Kardia (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯!] His ystyle seems twisted, but it¡¯s better than indifference. After giving Iselle my email address, I began preparing to leave. If Jinho-Jang shows any suspicious activity, I¡¯ll be notified immediately. His blog address or the CocoaTalk group chat link wille in handy at that time. ¡®It¡¯s been an odd way of living.¡¯ It was too peaceful. I couldn¡¯t even remember thest time I spent my time with such trivial thoughts. In a way, this assignment with Ram felt like a kind of vacation from the missions and training that had consumed me. ¡®Once I return¡­.¡¯ Things will get busy again. The break is over. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 246: Demonized Human (1) (1) Chapter 246: Demonized Human (1) (1) When I was sent out to Jinho, it seemed like Anytng had been preparing to tackle beyond the 50th floor. Upon returning to the waiting room, the squad¡¯s maintenance was nearlyplete. The repairs on the damaged airships had been finished perfectly, and the spots left by the heroes who died on the 50th floor had been filled. Now, even without me, Townia could function to some degree. It felt somewhat strange when I heard the news that Jenna, Velkist, and the rest of the first party had been promoted to 5-star status. The promotion level for 5-star is 55. The first-party members seemed to have gained the necessary experience by repeatedly clearing the 51st floor. Since the 51st floor was purely a monster-only leveling stage, it made sense. I, too, had been able to meet the 5-star promotion requirements by massacring monsters on the 51st floor under Anytng¡¯s orders. Even after a 5-star promotion, one doesn¡¯t suddenly be drastically stronger. Only the limits of stats, skills, and engravings increase. Thus, even after promotion, unless one pushes their abilities to the limit, there¡¯s not much difference from a 4-star.¡®I saw something interesting during the 4-star promotion ceremony.¡¯ However, I didn¡¯t gain any notable clues during this 5-star promotion. The scene that surfaced this time wasn¡¯t of Townia before its downfall, nor was it of Han Istrat, who was supposed toe here in my stead. Instead, it was of me being abandoned by my parents. I thought I¡¯d forgotten it all. The fact that my past memories emerged during the promotion ceremony suggests that I and that guy are gradually blending. Although it was a memory that didn¡¯t stir much emotion after all these years, it didn¡¯t feel good. I watched the scene unfold before me indifferently. [Ta-da!] [Congrattions, Master!] [The forgotten memory of a hero awakens.] [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ promotionplete! You¡¯ve reached 5-star status.] [The illustration is updated.] [The level and skill cap increases.] [The hero¡¯s second engraving is unlocked.] Thus, I seeded in promoting to 5-star. The most noteworthy aspect was that my second engraving slot had been unlocked. After clearing the 50th floor, Goo Goo Con had been pestering me multiple times a day, telling me to hurry up and reach 5-star. Apparently, I needed to at least be 5-star to fully harness the power of the ck Dragon¡¯s Blood. ¡°Goo, googoo!¡± On the 4th floor of the training center, in the private practice room. Goo Goo Con was pecking at a feed tray. While furiously pecking at the feed, Goo Goo Con spoke to me. ¡°Ready for what?¡± Peck! Peck, peck! With sharp pecks, corn kernels flew out of the feed tray. After finishing its meal, Goo Goo Con spread its wings and looked at me. ¡®Ready?¡¯ Come to think of it, this guy had mentioned it before. The ability I¡¯m using isn¡¯t something a normal human can handle. Goo Goo Con had said that if I wasn¡¯t born with a special constitution, I would have been corrupted a long time ago. Even Velkist had to undergo a special procedure from the Assinis family to wield his power. Goo Goo Con waddled its fat bottom as it approached me. Goo Goo Con closed its beak. ¡®Is it talking about Ascend?¡¯ No, I shook my head. Not just Ascend, which boosts output at the cost of damaging my body, but even its derivative, the Soulde Fusion, was a skill that eroded the body. The ck Dragon¡¯s Blood also increased the contamination level as soon as it activated. As Goo Goo Con said, I was shouldering significant risks every time I fought. ¡®I¡¯ve been thinking about it.¡¯ To be stronger under the same conditions, I had to take risks. High risk, high reward. In Pick Me Up, it was a given, but my risk level had be too extreme. The probability of dying from penalties was higher than being killed by the enemy. ¡®Should I reduce the intensity of my skills?¡¯ There was a way. The power would drop slightly, but the safety would increase exponentially. I wouldn¡¯t have to use my skills with the mindset of facing death every time. Goo Goo Con opened its beak. Sometimes it spoke as if it was reading my thoughts like this. ¡°Then what should I do?¡± ¡°I¡¯m already doing that.¡± I¡¯d been working on increasing my body¡¯s durability ever since I acquired Ascend. The only problem was that it wasn¡¯t fast enough to keep up with my power. ¡°I know I¡¯m not in the best condition. It¡¯ll take at least a month to improve. I¡¯ll have to work on skillbinations while progressing through the 50th floor section¡­¡± I frowned. It hit right where it hurt. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 247: Demonized Human (2) (1) Chapter 247: Demonized Human (2) (1) I opened my eyes. A dull, metallic wall came into view. Various training tools were scattered haphazardly around the room. I was sitting slumped in a steel chair propped up in a corner. ¡®Is it over?¡¯ I remembered Halkion reaching out to me, and the crimson mes engulfing me. But after that, my memory was aplete nk, as if the film had cut out. ¡°Coo, coo¡­¡± A pigeon was leisurely pecking at food beneath my feet. I blinked and opened my eyes again. Nothing much seemed to have changed. The only notable difference was a system message hovering in my field of vision. Slowly, I began reading the words in the hologram.[Master, ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯s soul is in turmoil!] This¡­ it was the log from the time of a breakthrough. I¡¯d seen it just once before, back on the 35th floor. The messages continued to appear without stopping. [Ding!] [Master, ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯s body is undergoing drastic changes!] [Is this a sign of transformation?!] [Tips/ In very rare cases, a hero may experience an awakening event.] [Imprint Evolution!] [The imprint of Hero ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯, ¡®True ck Dragon¡¯s Blood (S)¡¯, has evolved to a higher grade.] [New traits and abilities have been added. Check the hero¡¯s status!] [Skill Awakening!] [¡®True ck Dragon¡¯s Blood¡¯ has begun resonating with Hero ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯s skills!] [The ¡®Ascend¡¯ and ¡®Invincible¡¯ skills of Hero ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ have merged into a new skill¡­] [The ¡®Soulde Spirit¡¯ of Hero ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯¡­] The windows announcing skill awakenings continued endlessly. Too many changes to easily track. As the grade of the ck Dragon¡¯s Blood increased, most of my skills either merged or evolved. I had experienced minor changes while mastering the ck Dragon¡¯s Blood before, but never anything like this¡ªaplete overhaul. ¡®Anytng would be shocked.¡¯ She wasn¡¯t online at the moment. Just thinking of how to keep this hidden from her was starting to give me a headache. Well, it wasn¡¯t the first time something like this had happened. She might just let it slide. Let¡¯s see. I stood up from the chair. Though the log showed tremendous changes, I hadn¡¯t fully felt them yet. ¡®Status window.¡¯ I mumbled lightly, and the hologram popped up. [Han Istrat (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï) Lv. 55 (Exp 031/550)] [ss: Dragon yer (Dragonian)] [Strength: 125/125] [Intelligence: 10/10] [Health: 118/118] [Agility: 113/113] [Skills: Intermediate Swordsmanship (Lv.10), Insight (Lv.10), Fire Resistance (Lv.3), Dragon yer (Lv.5)] ¡®¡­¡¯ A lot had changed. I never chose the Dragon yer ss. I had been forcibly promoted without even noticing. And my skill window, which should have been filled to the brim, was nowpletely clean. [Imprint Slots: 2/2] [1, 2: Demon Dragon Spirit (SS-, Lv.1)] [The spirit of a demon that once trampled and ruled over a world in ancient times. Its power can alter the very essence of existence.] [Unique Skill 1: Demonization] [Unique Skill 2: ck Dominator Sword] [Note ¨C Bound by the ¡®ck Dragon¡¯s Contract¡¯. The imprint cannot be removed by any means, and if the hero¡¯s territory is changed, the hero will permanently vanish.] I furrowed my brow. It trampled and ruled over a world, and can change the essence of existence. Just reading the description was chilling. ¡®The ck Dragon¡¯s Contract¡­¡¯ It must be the price Halkion spoke of for this power. From now on, I could no longer switch to a different waiting room than Townia. If I did, I¡¯d be punished for breaking the contract and die instantly. The path behind me had vanished. Overall, the skill and imprint windows had been simplified. Ascend and Soulde Fusion, which had been mypanions until now, seemed to have been consolidated into the new unique skills of Demon Dragon Spirit: Demonization and ck Dominator Sword. ¡®It doesn¡¯t really feel different yet.¡¯ My species had definitely changed. But at the moment, I couldn¡¯t tell the difference from when I was still human. The pigeon, Goo Goo Con, who had been pecking at food nonstop, looked up at me. I scratched my head. ¡°Not really.¡± It seemed I needed to conduct a trial run. I drew the Bifrost from the sheath hanging at my waist. The familiar weight settled into my hands. ¡®So Ascend has merged with the ck Dragon Scales, huh.¡¯ Along with Invincibility. It was a skill I had honed to withstand the recoil of Ascend. Now, the three skills had merged into a higher skill: Demonization. Soulde Fusion, Dragon yer, and other various skillsbined to form the ck Dominator Sword. I gripped the hilt tightly and flipped the switch in my mind. It was the sensation of activating Ascend. Crack. I heard the sound of bones and joints dislocating in my ears. The familiar ritual that came with every use of Ascend. But this time, there was no pain. Nor did I feel the usual crushing pressure, as if my body was being burned alive. Instead, only a cold sensation spread through one side of my chest. ¡®¡­?¡¯ I turned my gaze. At that moment, my reflection appeared on the drawn de of Bifrost. The first thing I noticed was the vertical, slit-shaped ck pupils in my eyes. [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has entered a state of Demonization!] Sssshhh. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 248: The Princess of the Sun (1) (1) Chapter 248: The Princess of the Sun (1) (1) [Party 1, assemble at the first-floor za! Now!] Late into the evening, Iselle¡¯s voice rang out loudly in the waiting room. ¡°Tch, it was just getting good,¡± grumbled Goo Goo Con as he shook his head and slowly slipped out. It was good timing, to be honest. Had they been ten secondster, I would have been sliced to pieces by Halkion in the illusion void. ¡®Come to think of it¡­¡¯ I had been so focused on mastering the engraving that I hadn¡¯t been paying attention to anything else. The waiting room had finished its adjustments, and the climb had been progressing. The ones responsible for the 50th-floor segment were Party 2. While we from Party 1 were engrossed in our individual training, they were carrying out missions. Every evening, Neryssa would report on their progress. Edis, the leader of Party 2, had been reced by the middle-aged spearman Roderick, who had once retired. He was a 3-star warrior summoned alongside Eloka during the initial climb. Although he had stepped down from the assault team to serve as the training camp director, he rejoined when there was a gap in the personnel, acting on orders from Anytng, which he couldn¡¯t refuse.In any case, with Roderick leading the restructured Party 2, they took over the mission¡­ and now, our names were being called for another mission. ¡®The 55th floor, huh.¡¯ They¡¯re moving fast. I drained the water bottle next to my chair in one go and stood up. Once I descended to the za on the first floor, I could see the rest of Party 1 gathered. ¡°Oppa, over here! Over here!¡± Jenna waved energetically when she saw me. The other members of the party stood in line next to her. ¡°It¡¯s been hard to even see each othertely. Especially you guys¡ªyou¡¯ve been holed up in your rooms, training nonstop¡­ It¡¯s the first time we¡¯ve all gathered since the 50th floor, right?¡± Jenna squinted her eyes at me. ¡°We used to be all in sync, the five of us.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a natural change. Everyone¡¯s had their own tasks to focus on. Isn¡¯t that right, senior?¡± Velkist, leaning against the wall, smiled. He was no exception either. Ever since he obtained the White Dragon¡¯s Blood, he had locked himself in the training room,pletely absorbed. ¡°I just wanted one day of rest,¡± Katiio muttered with a pale expression. He hadn¡¯t had a break, busy maintaining the airship. ¡°¡­Hoohoo.¡± Kishasha let out a strangeugh. She imed to have found a unit made up of beastmen within the Pria Mercenary Corps. Plus, she said she had been able to evolve her engraving with an item she got from the Beast King. All of us in Party 1 had been busy with our own training, striving to get stronger. ¡°Oppa, give us a briefing like always, please,¡± Jenna requested. ¡°There¡¯s not much to say,¡± I replied. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that.¡± Annoying. Clicking my tongue, I began to exin. I already knew the basic details from Neryssa. ¡®A small-scale mission requiring just one party.¡¯ The airship couldn¡¯t be deployed. Compared to the 50th-floor mission, which had required dozens of parties, this one felt almostughably insignificant. And the difficulty? Party 2, which had been handling the climb in our ce, had cleared the 54th floor without facing any serious resistance. Judging by the patterns so far, whenever we had an easy floor, a tough one was bound to follow. The sub-stages were always easy, while the boss stages were a different story. It had always been that way. ¡®They said they even gathered forces meant for the upper floors.¡¯ The reason the 50th-floor mission had been so difficult was that the challenge had been stacked. ¡°As long as you stay sharp, it shouldn¡¯t be too hard,¡± I concluded. ¡°But it¡¯s a boss stage,¡± Jenna pointed out. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter,¡± I replied as I stepped into the wide, shimmering rift in time and space. I could hear the footsteps of the others following behind. [Climb the tower and save the world!] [Main Dungeon: Current Floor ¨C 54] The mirror in the center of the room glowed brightly. I ced my hand on the hilt of the sword strapped to my belt. Soon, I felt the familiar sensation of floating enveloping my body. It was the signal that the mission had begun. [Main Dungeon: You are now on the 55th floor.] [The door will open in 10 seconds. Prepare yourself!] [Mission is being recorded. ythrough data will be preserved.] ¡°Don¡¯t butt in.¡± Goo Goo Conughed heartily in my ear. Closing my eyes, I let the waves of light wash over me. When I opened them again¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s give those bastards who dared invoke the goddess¡¯ name a taste of our spears!¡± ¡°Charge!!!¡± Bearded men were charging across the ins. Their weapons and armor were mismatched, but they moved efficiently, cutting down any soldiers in their way. Despite their wild appearance, their movements were sharply honed for battle. Blood sprayed across the ins with every sh of their des. ¡®Mercenaries,¡¯ I thought, surveying the field. [Human Mercenary Lv.??? x 8473] Countless mercenaries marched under various banners, moving forward. All around us, the sounds of battle roared. Shouts and screams filled the air, mingled with the relentless ng of weapons. The war had already begun. ¡°Oh, this is¡­¡± Jenna stepped forward, ncing around. We hadnded in the middle of the battlefield. [Floor 55.] [Mission Type: Siege] [Mission Objective: Seize the stronghold!] [Special Objective: Ensure the survival of NPC ¡®Priasis al Ragnar¡¯ and NPC ¡®Yoshua Girze¡¯.] The mission objectives shed before my eyes. ¡®A siege, huh.¡¯ To the right, I spotted a towering wall that resembled a cliff. Nearly ten thousand mercenaries were advancing towards it. ¡°It looks like a civil war has broken out,¡± Katiio murmured as he observed the battlefield. ¡°Though it seems pretty one-sided. I don¡¯t think we even need to step in.¡± I raised an eyebrow. Katiio was right. The mercenaries were pushing forward relentlessly, while the soldiers of the opposing church army were falling back, leaving a trail of corpses. ¡°This is awkward. We¡¯ve always fought on the losing side,¡± Jenna said, scratching her cheek awkwardly. Taking a deep breath, I turned to Katiio. ¡°Katiio, can I leave this to you?¡± ¡°Huh? What are you leaving to me?¡± ¡°I want you to take charge of Party 1 while I¡¯m gone. Watch the battle, and jump in at the right moment. Don¡¯t do anything too risky. I have somewhere I need to be.¡± ¡°W-Wait, you want me to¡­?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± I patted Katiio on the shoulder and took off. The wind brushed past my face as I leaped several meters in a single bound. ¡®There was a special objective.¡¯ That meant that person must be here somewhere. I picked up my pace, drawing closer to where the two forces were shing. Eventually, the mercenaries on the field started to notice me. ¡°What the hell is that? Why¡¯s he so fast?¡± ¡°Is he heading this way¡­? Is he an enemy?¡± I stopped in my tracks. The mercenaries had just finished off a group of soldiers and were making sure none survived. The man who seemed to be their leader pointed a bloodied sword at me. ¡°Who the hell are you? What gives you the right to barge in like this?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Pria?¡± I asked. ¡°Pria?¡± ¡°Priasis al Ragnar. I¡¯m looking for her.¡± The man¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Y-You crazy bastard¡­ How dare you speak the princess¡¯ name so casually¡­¡± ¡°Are you an assassin sent by the church? Heh, you¡¯re dead meat! Consider this your funeral!¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± I hadn¡¯t expected them to cooperate. ¡°I¡¯ll just cut off an arm and drag you back!¡± barked a bald mercenary as he swung his sword at me. ¡°Ugh!¡± Crack! A quick jab sent him flying, blood spraying as he tumbled to the ground. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 249: The Princess of the Sun (2) (1) Chapter 249: The Princess of the Sun (2) (1) The inside of the tent was simple, contrary to its grand exterior. There was a carpet made of wild animal skins, and on top of it, there was only a round table and an undecorated wooden chair. Pria stood next to the chair. With her back to me. ¡®She¡¯s changed.¡¯ I could tell at a nce. Her once short silver hair, which barely brushed her shoulders, had grown to her waist, and her once wooden frame had filled out into the shape of a proper youngdy. She wore the same silver dress she had when we first met on the 15th floor. ¡®Back when she was a kid, it was like putting pearls on a pig.¡¯But now, I had to admit it suited her. I slowly approached Pria. ¡°Sorry, I had some issues, so I¡¯m a bitte.¡± ¡°¡­¡­I see.¡± ¡°I tried to get here as quickly as I could, but it took me three years.¡± Pria turned to face me. She wore a soft smile. ¡°If you were busy, it couldn¡¯t be helped. I¡¯m just d you¡¯re safe.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°While you were gone, I did my best to fulfill my role. What do you think? Am I not fitting of the title of princess now?¡± Pria lifted the hem of her dress and spun in a circle. ¡®She¡¯s not saying anything.¡¯ I expected a few words ofint, maybe some resentment, but nothing. Her appearance had changed, but her atmosphere was simr to when we were on the 50th floor. It was hard to believe what Yoshua had said¡ªthat she had spent her nights in tears, waiting for me. ¡°Three years¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I know you¡¯re alive, and that¡¯s enough. No need to apologize anymore. We¡¯re on a battlefield after all; this isn¡¯t the time for trivial greetings. Even now, warriors are fighting for us.¡± Pria spoke in a low voice. Then, sheughed softly. ¡°Well, a member of the royal family should know how to separate work from personal matters, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve grown a lot.¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯t, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to face you. I had to change¡ªfor me, for you, and for Townia. Anyway, Han, wee back. We are d to have you.¡± Pria gently wiped the tears forming in her eyes and hardened her expression. I took a deep breath. ¡®Three years¡­ really can change a person.¡¯ It seemed she had learned how to control her emotions. Or rather, she was forced to change. If she hadn¡¯t, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to lead. ¡°What¡¯s the situation outside? If there¡¯s a dangerous spot, I¡¯ll help.¡± I spoke up. Since I¡¯d been given a mission, I had to do my part. Pria pointed to the map on the table. The thick leather map showed the current state of the battlefield. It seemed to be enchanted, as the images on the map moved continuously. ¡®It looks like we¡¯re winning.¡¯ The blue arrows on the left side of the map were pushing back the red arrows. ¡°Yoshua, exin the situation to Han.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± Yoshua entered the tent. He bowed to me and pointed to the map with the hilt of his sword. ¡°Our situation is overwhelmingly favorable. The ratio of forces is more than 10 to 1. The church¡¯s army is in retreat, and the battle should be over in no more than 30 minutes.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a wall though, right?¡± ¡°Our elite forces have already infiltrated it. Once the main army arrives, we¡¯ll open the gates from the inside.¡± ¡°In other words¡­.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, it seems you won¡¯t be needed in this battle, hyung. Feel free to have a nice chat with the princess. The battle is practically over.¡± ¡°Is that so? I don¡¯t need to go out?¡± Yoshua nodded. I crossed my arms. There were times when missions cleared themselves without the hero doing anything. Was this one of those missions where we just coast through? I hadn¡¯t expected to encounter such a stage in Townia. ¡°Are you sure? There¡¯s no difficult enemy to deal with or anything like that?¡± ¡°The elite forces of the church fled a long time ago. What¡¯s left are just remnants.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± It was baffling. Every mission I had undertaken until now had been a series of extreme situations, but now, the battle was clearing itself without me even having to lift a finger. ¡®Was the impact of the 50th floor that significant?¡¯ There were thousands of monsters. Still, it was surprising. I almost felt like if I didn¡¯t rush out, I¡¯d get a mission failure message. ¡°Yoshua, I¡¯ll go outside and encourage the soldiers. Can you entertain Han in the meantime?¡± ¡°As youmand.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll finish our conversationter.¡± Pria smiled at me and left the tent. The sound of multiple footsteps suggested that more guards had joined her. Now, only Yoshua and I remained in the tent. ¡°This is something.¡± The situation hadpletely changed. I had always fought under unfavorable conditions. ¡°So, you said the prince was involved in this civil war? What¡¯s the overall situation?¡± ¡°The prince is entrenched in the imperial capital, and the church is holding its ground in the holy city. If we capture these two regions, the prince¡¯s forces will be eliminated from Townia. This is thest fortress standing before the holy city.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°It¡¯s safe to say we¡¯ve practically won.¡± I scratched the back of my head. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 250: The Siege of the Holy City (1) (1) Chapter 250: The Siege of the Holy City (1) (1) After clearing the 55th floor, Anytng didn¡¯t loosen the reins. The very next day, we moved on to the 56th floor. Our first party took the lead in this section, easily clearing the sub-stages focused on hunting and exploration while gathering information about the 60th floor. ¡®The 60th floor will be the Siege of the Holy City.¡¯ Holy City Delhive. Located at the southernmost point of the Townia continent, this massive city was also the sacred ground for Tel Ikar Church, thergest religious organization wielding influence across the entire empire. Capturing this ce meant severing the lifeline of the church that had tormented heroes for so long. On the 59th floor, I got in touch with Yoshua and gathered a basic outline of the Holy City siege. Three critical pieces of information stood out. First, Delhive itself was a fortress city with defenses rivaling that of the imperial capital. Second, all the church¡¯s forces, including the Holy Maidens and the Holy Knights, had gathered there. Monsters had also joined the church¡¯s forces, with their estimated numbers exceeding ten thousand.Formidable defenses and a vast army. Even the imperial princess¡¯s army, which had easily overpowered the church¡¯s forces so far, would find these conditions challenging. Lastly, the leader of Tel Ikar Church, the Blind Saintess Irine, possessed a mysterious power. This was something I was all too familiar with. After all, I had faced it personally on the 50th floor. Her left eye vited the heavens, and her right eye devoured the earth, with abilities to seal skills, engravings, and senses. She was beyond troublesome. ¡®It won¡¯t work on me twice, though.¡¯ After mastering the ck Blood Dragon, my abilities had grown exponentially. Moreover, I had prepared countermeasures just in case. If the saintess dared to use the same tricks, she would have to prepare for her own death. In the strategy room on the 4th floor of the waiting area, Roderick stared down at the map on the table and muttered, ¡°So, we¡¯re working with the imperial princess¡¯s army.¡± Once a retired training camp director, Roderick had returned to lead the party after Edis¡¯s death. ¡°What¡¯s our role?¡± ¡°Aerial assaults on key points using airships.¡± I pointed to the center of the map. It depicted a circr city surrounded by five thickyers of walls. In the middle of the city stood a massive temple that resembled a towering skyscraper. It was an eagle¡¯s-eye view of the fortress city, Delhive. ¡°The imperial princess¡¯s forces will take the ground assault. Once the operation starts, the Townia raid team will break through the aerial defenses and infiltrate inside the city walls. From there, we¡¯ll cause chaos by sweeping them from the inside.¡± I gestured toward the outer walls, and Roderick, with a grim expression, looked up at me. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll move separately. We¡¯re going deeper in.¡± I pointed to the temple at the center of the city. ¡°That¡¯s where the church¡¯s key figures will be. We¡¯re going to wipe them out.¡± ¡°¡­Understood.¡± Roderick gave a bitter smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to be back on the battlefield. I wonder if I can still pull my weight.¡± In all honesty, this man couldn¡¯t fully fill Edis¡¯s shoes. He could only cover part of the gap. The rest would have to be handled by the master. We were past the days of cheering from the sidelines. It was time to expect more from him. ¡°Well, then, I¡¯ll brief the other party leaders. Thanks for your work.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± Roderick trudged out of the strategy room. I stayed seated, staring at the map. ¡®The operation begins tomorrow.¡¯ The current time waste at night. Anytng had logged out afterpleting her final preparations. And I had just finished my tasks as well. A dark crimson bolt of lightning sparked from my right hand. As I clenched my fist, the lightning disappeared as if crumbling away. Whenever I had time, I trained with Halkion in my mental world. More than a year passed in that time frame. At first, this power felt foreign, but now I could wield it as if it were my own. ¡°¡­Yu.¡± I muttered quietly, and the air in front of me distorted as a fog in the shape of a person flickered into view. ¡°How¡¯s the investigation going?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief. I thought it would take years.¡± Yu chuckled, covering her mouth. She was still investigating the El Cid incident. From start to finish, there were far too many unclear points in the case. It was too suspicious to let it be. ¡°I did.¡± Yu¡¯s shadow crept closer. ¡°Reconsider? What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already made the contract. How could I change it now? That doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s possible, I won¡¯t do it. I¡¯m sticking with Townia until the end. It¡¯s toote to back out now.¡± ¡°No buts. Don¡¯t bring this up again. This is my decision.¡± Yu fell silent. In exchange for the power from Halkion, I had agreed to clear Townia¡¯s missions. Even if the contract lost its binding force, I intended to uphold it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I can take care of myself. I can¡¯t keep relying on you guys forever.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll contact you when I get back.¡± The fog dispersed. ¡®I¡¯m different from that woman.¡¯ I don¡¯t break promises. No matter what the oue, I¡¯ll see it through to the end. I gripped the hilt of my sword. ng. The de of Bifrost scraped against the sheath with a metallic sound. The next evening, Anytng assembled a party for the 60th-floor attack. Four airships would be used for the operation. Three of them were assigned to the first raid, led by the second party, while thest one was for our first party. [Warning!] [This mission is a medium-sized operation requiring ten parties! If your party is short on members, use paid or free summons to recruit more heroes!] [This mission requires airships for a special operation! Gather resources and blueprints to craft airships!] [Tips: You can form a raid bybining parties.] [Tips: You can form a fleet bybining airships.] As the warning message appeared, Iselle reached out, and a massive mirror appeared from a dimensional rift. [Climb the tower and save the world!] [Main Dungeon: Current Floor ¨C 59] Theunchmand had already been given. The giant mirror began to glow, and the lead airship slowly rose into the air. [Main Dungeon, Current Challenge Floor: 60] [The gate will open in 10 seconds. Prepare yourselves!] [Mission is being recorded. Your ythrough will be saved.] Our airship, the Lucette, began moving toward the mirror. I leaned against the railing and stretched out my right hand. ¡°Iselle.¡± Iselle appeared, sharply dressed in a ck suit and adjusting her sunsses as she approached me. ¡°Something clean and heavy.¡± Iselle twirled her right hand, and stardust burst forth, revealing a white cloth-wrapped object. I ran my hand over it. ¡®This texture¡­¡¯ ¡°Model 137?¡± ¡°Good choice.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 251: Siege of the Holy City (2) (1) Chapter 251: Siege of the Holy City (2) (1) I wiped the blood off my cheek. The ck Knights, who had boasted their might just moments ago, were now nothing but chunks of flesh. Their remains were scattered around, mixed with the corpses of mercenaries. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The mercenaries stared at me with nk eyes. There was no need to talk to them. After ncing at them briefly, I left the scene. Battles were breaking out everywhere. ¡°Prepare to fire! Rain the Goddess¡¯s wrath upon these heretics!¡± A knight atop the city walls drew his sword, and archers simultaneously pulled back their bowstrings. Thwack, thwack, thwack! Thousands of arrows rained down on the ins, skewering the mercenaries like meat on a spit.¡°Fire!¡± Boom! Cannons hidden along the walls fired, spewing mes. Simultaneously, pirs of fire erupted from the ground and the sky. ¡°Damn it! Archers, counterattack! Raise the shields!¡± ¡°Kill them all!¡± ¡°Long live the Princess!¡± Bang! A mercenary¡¯s body exploded into two pieces, hurling chunks into the air. I took a step to the side, just as blood and flesh sttered onto the spot where I had stood. ¡®The counterattack from the Church¡¯s army is fierce.¡¯ The situation felt different from the one-sided battle on the 55th floor. The Church¡¯s forces, entrenched in their stronghold, rained arrows, cannon fire, stones, and magic upon us, defending both the ground and the sky. They had arge number of troops, and their morale was high. Kaboom! An arrow pierced a cannon barrel just as it was about to fire, causing it to explode. That arrow had been shot by Jenna. Bang! Boom! Boom! Countless arrows and explosions flew between the two sides. I walked calmly through the battlefield, where arrows and mes fell like rain. ¡°We¡¯re meeting inside the temple, right?¡± Katiio¡¯s voice echoed in my ear. ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve wrapped things up here. I¡¯ll be heading over now. Don¡¯t waste time on the small fry; move straight to the entrance. We¡¯ll meet there.¡± Click. I cut off themunication and kicked off the ground, scaling the tall wall as if it were t ground. ¡°What the¡ª! Die¡­¡± A knight¡¯s head disappeared with a single punch, and his body slumped to the ground. I walked past the corpse and entered the fortress. Inside, Townia¡¯s heroes and soldiers, who had alreadynded, were engaged inbat. ¡®There¡¯s no need to waste time here.¡¯ I dealt with anyone who blocked my path, continuing forward. Whether they were conscripted soldiers or trained knights, they all fell with a single blow. Only corpses remained in my wake. ¡°What¡­ What is he¡­?¡± After crossing the outskirts of the wall where fierce fighting was taking ce, I entered the inner part of the fortress. The soldiers who had been preparing their defenses turned their eyes toward me. I walked leisurely down the city¡¯s main road. ¡°You heretic! You¡¯ll face divine punishment!¡± A young knight charged at me, but¡ª Thud! His face caved in, and he copsed, spraying blood. The soldiers who had been watching the scene hesitated and began to back away. I chuckled and passed by them. Even if a thousand of them came at me, they wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. There was no need to bother with them. ¡®I just need to take care of the Saintess.¡¯ The Saintess of Blindness, Irine, was the Floor Master of the 60th floor and a close confidante of the Prince. By now, she must have received the report that I was heading toward the temple. I had be far stronger than I was on the 50th floor. She¡¯d do well to pray and wait. I kept walking, killing any Church soldiers who stood in my way. Every step I took left a trail of blood, with red liquid dripping from my right hand. Halkion muttered as I raised my gaze. The temple towered endlessly into the sky, its heightparable to a skyscraper and its size resembling a massive stadium. ¡®They sure went all out with this ce.¡¯ At the temple gate stood a statue of twin goddesses holding hands. With my hand on the hilt of my sword, I entered the za at the temple entrance. On one side of the za, the Lucette hadnded, and next to the mountain of guard corpses, my party members were waiting for me. ¡°Oppa! Over here!¡± Jenna waved at me. I nodded and approached the group. ¡°Are the Church leaders gathered in this temple?¡± ¡°They should be.¡± ¡°Go in and clean them out. Leave no rats behind.¡± ¡°What if there are civilians? They¡¯re innocent, aren¡¯t they?¡± Katiio spoke up. I shook my head. ¡°There are no civilians here.¡± Even beyond soldiers and knights in armor, I had been attacked multiple times by ordinary-looking citizens, including housewives. True to its title as the Holy City, everyone here was a loyal follower of the Goddess¡¯s Church. ¡®We need to minimize the mercenaries¡¯ casualties.¡¯ We would need these forces when the war with the Prince began. There was no reason to prolong this battle. We had to quickly clear the temple and eliminate the Church¡¯s leader, the Saintess. ¡°We¡¯re splitting into teams now. Jenna and Kishasha are Team 1. Velkist and Katiio are Team 2. I¡¯ll be Team 3. Team 1, take the lower levels of the temple. Team 2, the upper levels. I¡¯ll handle the top.¡± ¡°The top floor¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s where the Saintess will be.¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯ll be fine alone? She¡¯s supposed to be really strong.¡± I smiled silently. Then I kicked off the ground. Crackle! Lightning erupted from beneath my feet and enveloped my entire body. I stuck to the temple¡¯s wall and began to sprint vertically up the building. I nced down for a moment and saw my team preparing to enter the temple. In the past, I would¡¯ve been down there, forming up and getting ready to fight with them. But things were different now. ¡®Team tactics, huh¡­¡¯ A bitter smile formed on my lips. It was time to move on from that. While formations and cooperation were the fighting style of the weak, the strong had their own ways of fighting. wDon¡¯t cling to them, Han. You are standing in different ces now.> ¡°I know. I was just checking if they were doing okay.¡± I shifted my gaze upward. Endless marble walls stretched out before me. I passed by terraces, stained ss, and statues as I ascended. The towering temple gradually revealed its peak. Finally¡ª Crash! I broke through the ss at the top floor and entered the temple. The room was dark, with faint light filtering through the stained ss. A strong scent of grass filled my nose in the darkness. ¡°She¡¯s here.¡± A small garden had been set up on the top floor of the temple. I stepped into the garden¡¯s entrance. ¡°This is as far as you go.¡± A middle-aged man in silver armor emerged from the bushes. His sharp features resembled a finely honed de. His short hair and stoic expression revealed no trace of emotion. [Danger!] [Commander of the Church¡¯s Holy Knights] [Dozmek, Sword of the Goddess Lv. 85] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 252: The siege on the Holy City (3) (1) Chapter 252: The siege on the Holy City (3) (1) I opened my eyes. As the blinding light receded, the surroundingndscape gradually came into view. The first thing I noticed was the acrid air flowing in through my breaths. It was as if I had inhaled sulfur, a nauseating stench that shook my head. ¡®¡­Where is this?¡¯ They said it was a world of illusions created by Irine. I looked around. The air was cool. A blood-red full moon bloomed against the deep blue dawn sky. Below it, rows of stone buildings lined up in order under the moonlight. ¡°Kill.¡± ¡°Kill the heretics.¡± ¡°Hang them. Hang them!¡±The constant murmur echoed from all directions. I turned my head. The ce I had been summoned to was a vast, circr za. Men and women of all ages crowded around a fountain in the center, leaving no space to step. They were all staring at the temple in front of them. More precisely, they were looking at a woman standing on the terrace at the very top of the temple. ¡°Kill! Kill the traitor! Kill the traitor who sold us out!¡± A girl, who appeared to be barely in her twenties, screamed while shaking her fist in the air. I bit my lip. Where her eyes should have been, there were only ck, hollow sockets. [Angry Citizens Lv.54] x 658 The people hurled curses and objects toward someone at the top of the temple¡¯s terrace, spitting out venomous usations. ¡°Don¡¯t let her live! Tear her limb from limb and execute her!¡± ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± ¡°How dare she¡­ betray the prince¡­!¡± I clicked my tongue. I finally understood where I was. ¡°Is this one of your tricks?¡± I red at the pair of eyes floating in the sky. ¡´This ce is an illusion, but it is also the truth.¡µ ¡°An illusion but also the truth? Sounds like nonsense to me.¡± ¡´Then feel it for yourself.¡µ The eyes vanished with a faintugh. At that moment, a headache surged. I rubbed my temples and looked ahead. Soon after, a system message popped up with a sound effect. [Ding!] [Hero ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has entered the World of Illusion.] [A special mission has been assigned. If this mission fails, Special NPC ¡®Priasis Al Ragnar¡¯ will die. Master, monitor the situation carefully!] Crackle. Crackle. Static filled the air, and the mission target updated in front of my eyes. [Floor 15(?)] [Mission Type ¨C Escort] [Objective ¨C Protect the designated individual.] Rows of buildings and streets lined up like a checkerboard. The za was filled with countless citizens, and a temple stood on the inside. There was no mistaking it. This was the city of ¡®Adilt,¡¯ the stage of the 15th floor. The 15th floor. This was the mission where Priasis first appeared, and as a boss stage, it had been quite the ordeal. The only difference now was¡­ The citizens were rioting. And I was the only hero here. Lastly¡­ ¡°This¡­!¡± Priasis, standing on the terrace railing, opened her eyes wide. She looked around in a panic. Of course, she would be shocked. The location had suddenly changed, and people were ring at her as if they wanted to kill her. [10:00] A timer appeared on the left side of my field of vision. Ten minutes. ¡®There¡¯s no time to think.¡¯ I began walking forward. ¡°You, what are you doing? Don¡¯t interfere¡ªAgh!¡± I grabbed the wrist of the man who blocked my way and twisted it. ¡°Aaargh!¡± Thud! A kick to his chest sent him flying into the fountain with a loud crash. ¡°Wh-where is this ce?¡± Priasis shouted, but no one answered her. The only sounds were the cries of rage from the crowd. A shadow flickered behind the curtains of the terrace. [09:43] I leapt to the top of the fountain, then jumped again. In one motion, I ascended several meters, kicking off window ledges and railings as I climbed. Inded on the terrace in an instant. ¡°Eek!¡± Startled by my sudden arrival, Priasis copsed to the floor. ¡°Han?! What is this ce¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time to exin. We need to escape in ten minutes.¡± ¡°What are you saying¡­¡± Whoosh! A sharp sound cut through the air. I swung my right hand. A crossbow bolt fell to the ground from my open palm. If I had been just a little slower, Priasis would¡¯ve had a hole in her forehead. ¡°Doesn¡¯t this situation seem familiar?¡± ¡°Y-yes, it does.¡± ¡°We need to get out of here. Hold on tight.¡± Priasis bit her lip and nodded. She wasn¡¯t the naive little girl I first met. Over the years, she had grown through countless battles and hardships. With a resolute expression, Priasis wrapped her arms around me. And at that very moment¡­ ¡°Graaaaaah!¡± They appeared. [Angry Church Soldier Lv.61] x 316 [Angry Church Knight Lv.67] x 17 [Angry Assassin Lv.66] x 21 From beyond the terrace, across the street, from the temple gates, and from the za below, soldiers poured out like a flood. Bloodshot eyes. Blood oozed from every pore in their bodies. They were no longer human; they were more like monsters. ¡®So this is the big trick, huh.¡¯ The boss stage I had already cleared, but now on hard mode. Quite the charming twist. I chuckled as I hugged Priasis and leapt off the terrace. Clearing a 5-meter gap, Inded on the rooftop of a nearby building. ¡°Kill! Kill them all!¡± Citizens, soldiers, knights, assassins¡ªit didn¡¯t matter. They all swarmed toward Priasis. Dozens of people were crushed to death in the stampede, but no one seemed to care. There wasn¡¯t a shred of reason left in them. Ping! Ping-ping-ping! The assassins fired their crossbows. Dodging the bolts, I sprinted from rooftop to rooftop. ¡°Are they really human?¡± Priasis asked, looking behind her with a pale face. The soldiers were leaping several meters into the air to reach the rooftops. As soon as one locked eyes with me, their eyes rolled back, and they dropped to all fours, running like animals. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not sure either.¡± I had memorized theyout of the city. I dashed through the alleys, passing countless branching paths as I moved. With Priasis next to me, I couldn¡¯t make anyrge movements, but this was enough. I swung the sheathed Bifrost and shattered the heads of the enemies blocking the way. It wasn¡¯t hard to shake them off. The problem woulde when we tried to leave. The exits were limited, and they would definitely be guarding them. ¡®Well, I¡¯ll have to break through regardless.¡¯ I burst out of the alley. The exit should be just ahead. Sure enough¡­ At the end of the main road, a gate stood. Twenty soldiers were standing guard. ¡°Graaah! Kyaaaaah!¡± I nced behind me. The mass of citizens and soldiers, a tangled crowd, was rushing toward us. A massive wave of bodies. If we got caught in it, I might survive, but Priasis wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. ¡®As fast as possible¡­¡¯ ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± I flung Priasis into the air. ¡°¡­?!¡± She screamed as she soared upward. I snapped my fingers. Zap! Lightning sparked from my fingertips and wrapped around Priasis, suspending her in midair. A simple gravity-binding spell. ¡°What the¡­!¡± ¡°Gyaaaaah!¡± ¡°What a strange sound.¡± I ced my hand on my sword¡¯s hilt. Red-ck lightning began to crackle around the grip. ¡´So, this is your pathetic attempt to stall for time. Even the saintess of the church has reached her limit.¡µ Halkion clicked his tongue in disapproval. A pathetic stall for time. He was right. ¡°Graaaaah!¡± Before the soldiers could swarm us, I flicked my thumb and unsheathed my sword. Swoosh. A crimson arc of energy swept through a 10-meter radius. The people caught within the arc hesitated for a moment before copsing into neatly severed pieces. A total of 20 enemies. The once-clean street was now smeared with blood and chunks of flesh. Click. I sheathed my sword. As I lowered my right hand, Priasis, who had been suspended in midair, slowly descended. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 253: The Siege on the Holy City (4) (1) Chapter 253: The Siege on the Holy City (4) (1) ¡°Uwooooo!¡± The statue writhed, twisting its upper body. I firmly nted my feet on the ground and twisted the hilt of my sword. The de, hundreds of meters long, dug deeper into the statue¡¯s body. Crackle! Crimson lightning sparked incessantly across my entire body. I gritted my teeth until they nearly bled. ¡®It¡¯s still¡­ not easy.¡¯ Even though the penalties from Ascend or ck Dragon Scales had vanished, Dragon Soul wasn¡¯t a skill I could use indefinitely. There were clear limits. This skill amplified the sword¡¯s gravity while requiring precise control on my part to handle it. If I made even a single mistake¡­ everything near Pria, myself included, would be crushed.Bifrost cut through half of the statue. The statue staggered and red at me. Its massive eyes, resembling ss orbs, started to flicker white. [The Ancient Statue is casting ¡®Eye Beam¡¯!] Bzzzzz! A blinding light shot out from its eyes, piercing toward me. [This hero is immune to magic!] [This hero is immune to magic!] [This hero is immune to magic!] [This hero is immune to magic¡­] Crash! The beam merely dissipated when it struck the barrier in front of me. I sneered and tightened my grip. With one swift stroke, I shed across. Complete dissection. With a roar that sounded like an explosion, the upper half of the statue began to slide diagonally. I flicked my sword. Swish. Bifrost instantly reverted to its original form. ¡°Han, just what are you¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a pleasant sight.¡± I brushed off the dust from the de. Pria looked up at me with trembling eyes. Reflected in her golden pupils was the image of me, a monstrous figure. ¡°That¡¯s not it. It¡¯s just¡­¡± ¡°Just?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. It was my choice. Let¡¯s save the chit-chat forter. We need to get out of here first.¡± Boom! Atst, the upper half of the statue fell to the ground. A massive cloud of dust rose alongside a pir of sand. I swung my sword downward. The sandstorm that had been sweeping toward us dissipated instantly. ¡®¡­That¡¯s the end of it.¡¯ The ancient statue stopped moving. On the sand, only its waist and legs remained, left there as remnants. It had been taken down with a single strike. Thinking back to how I once struggled with a party of dozens just to defeat this thing¡­ its end now seemed almost absurd. Though the golem was easily defeated, the illusions were not yet over. I looked down the slope. A vortex of light was swirling violently. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Ah, understood.¡± Pria grabbed my hand and stood up. My hand was covered in scales, making it prickly to hold, but there was no helping it. [Drag and drop your screen! Extend a helping hand to the NPC trapped in the illusion!] Anytng swiped across the screen again. [sh!] [A dimensional gate connected to the illusion has opened!] ¡®I need to end this quickly.¡¯ I clenched my fist. I couldn¡¯t maintain my Demonization state indefinitely. I had to break through all the illusions within a certain time limit. ¡°No, it¡¯s just a bit annoying.¡± Yeah, just a bit of a hassle. I took a short breath and moved toward the vortex of the third dimension. The sensation of floating, which I had now grown ustomed to, enveloped my entire body. Before long, I opened my eyes again. Ding! [Hero ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ has entered the ¡®Third Illusion World.¡¯] [A special mission has been assigned. If the mission fails, special NPC ¡®Priasis al Ragnar¡¯ will die. Master, monitor the situation carefully!] I surveyed my surroundings. Rippling waves and the sound of the sea. I had been thrown onto a raft in the middle of a vast ocean. ¡®This is it.¡¯ There was still no sign of Pria. I looked up. ¡°Is this all you¡¯ve got? Don¡¯t you have anything stronger?¡± I smirked. All that talk about ancient magic and now it had gone quiet. A grinding voice echoed. The source was beneath the water¡¯s surface. Rough waves surged, rocking the raft as if it were about to capsize. I steadied my sword. Well, this should be easy. It seemed I was its target this time. [Floor 35(?).] [Mission Type ¨C Subjugation] [Objective ¨C Exterminate the Water Dragon!] Roar! With a roar, a massive pir of water shot up. [Water Dragon Kraat Lv. 81] A colossal, streamlined body emerged from the surface of the sea. The water dragon, which had tormented me on the 35th floor, appeared, its red eyes gleaming. Halkion sneered. I had a simr expression. I had a grudge against that thing. ¡®You won¡¯t be given an easy death.¡¯ Even if it¡¯s just venting my anger, I didn¡¯t care. I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword. ¡°Yeah, the hunt begins.¡± Boom! I kicked off the raft andunched myself forward. The shattered pieces of the raft scattered through the air. I no longer cared whether it was the sea or the sky. I leaped toward Kaat, skipping across the water like a stone. ¡°You won¡¯t die easily.¡± Crash! I pierced the water dragon¡¯s nape as it tried to bite down on me. And then, I shed again and again. Until the sea turned red with its blood. ¡°Whew.¡± I flicked the blood from my de. Far off, Pria, who had been floating on the waves, looked at me with a dazed expression. ¡°So, what¡¯s next?¡± I smirked and looked ahead. The vortex of light continued to swirl on the sea¡¯s surface. But the light had dimmed noticeably since the beginning. It seemed the saintess¡¯s magic was reaching its limit. ¡®I¡¯m at my limit too¡­¡¯ But I couldn¡¯t show it. Taking Pria with me, I entered the next illusion. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 254: What you cant have (1) (1) Chapter 254: What you can''t have (1) (1) At the top of the temple. I walked out onto the terrace. A thunderous cheer erupted, so loud it hurt my ears. The mercenaries filling Delhive¡¯s city center were chanting the princess¡¯s name. The two forces were evenly matched, but the result ended in a resounding victory for the princess¡¯s army. There were likely many reasons for thismander skills, the morale of the troops, and the presence of our heroes. ¡°Well¡­ either way¡­¡± We sessfully cleared the 60th floor. With the stronghold of the cult army conquered, the only ce left was the imperial capital, where the prince was staying. Yoshua said the capital was already surrounded, and the prince¡¯s army wouldn¡¯tst much longer. From the beginning, the princess had the moral high ground in this war. News of the prince summoning beings from another world in the forest had spread across the continent.¡°¡­.¡± I sat in a chair on the terrace, looking down below. Tap, tap. The sound of small footsteps made me turn around. ¡°Phew, we barely won.¡± Jenna ran up to me, wiping blood from her cheek with her sleeve. Her leather armor was covered in blood and dust, evidence of the fierce battle she¡¯d just fought. ¡°I heard the civil war is almost over. Do you think we can go home soon?¡± Jenna perched on the table next to me. ¡°We still have to clear up to the 100th floor. There¡¯s a long way to go.¡± ¡°Still¡­ we¡¯ve done well so far. I¡¯ve gotten so much stronger, and you, well, that¡¯s obvious. If we keep trying at this pace, I think we can make it to the 100th floor. Keep counting on me, Oppa!¡± Jenna bowed cheerfully, in a gesture that didn¡¯t suit her, making me chuckle. ¡°Ahem, even the other mercenaries recognize me now. I was just a country bumpkin when I first came here. When we finish our mission and return, don¡¯t you think we¡¯ll be treated like heroes? I wouldn¡¯t mind justzing around all day instead of working.¡± Jenna muttered. Is she nning to live off her pension? Not a bad future. ¡°What about you, Oppa? You were a farmer, so¡­ Ah.¡± Jenna lightly smacked her own forehead. Then, with a sly smile, she nced over her shoulder toward the terrace. ¡°Oops, I¡¯m being nosy again. See you in the waiting room!¡± She jumped off the terrace and disappeared through a lower window. ¡°You¡¯re not really being nosy.¡± I sighed. Though Irine had died and we had almost finished upying the holy city, we hadn¡¯t officially cleared the mission yet. There were still scattered pockets of enemy forces in the city, which meant it would be a while before we could head back. ¡®Come to think of it¡­¡¯ Didn¡¯t I make a promise with that person? I scratched my cheek as I heard footsteps approaching from the hall connected to the terrace. I didn¡¯t need to turn around to know who it was. The sound of hesitant, shuffling footsteps was all too familiar. ¡°Is this a good time?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t have much to do anyway.¡± I replied, still seated in my chair. Pria slowly stepped onto the terrace, leaning on the railing. From here, the distance to the ground was over 100 meters, and the mercenaries below looked like mere specks. ¡°It¡¯s alling together. We¡¯re one step away from the emperor now.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Pria opened her pale pink lips. ¡°I¡¯m not worthy.¡± ¡°Worthy? What does that even mean? If you can do it and you want to, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not like my brother. We are cut from a different cloth.¡± ¡°You know what your brother has done, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°There must be some mistake. The brother I know would sacrifice himself for both the empire and its people. He¡¯s nothing like selfish me.¡± ¡°Selfish?¡± Pria closed her eyes. ¡°I have a half-brother.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°We were separated when he was very young, but he was truly like an angel. In the stifling pce, he gave me strength. Without him, I might have harbored dark thoughts.¡± ¡°And?¡± ¡°My reason for fighting isn¡¯t like my brother¡¯s noble cause for all people. I fight for one person alone. I want to create a world where my brother can live peacefully. For that, I¡¯m willing to sacrifice anything. Isn¡¯t that truly selfish?¡± Pria smiled faintly. Then she looked at me. ¡°But one thing has changed.¡± Pria ced her hand on her chest. The silver bell adorning her silvery white dress chimed softly. ¡°I want to indulge in luxury. That¡¯s why I aim to be emperor.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have no shortage of that. You¡¯ll be drowning in money¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that.¡± Pria¡¯s golden eyes locked onto mine. ¡°I want something I can¡¯t have.¡± I didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Pces, jewels, beautiful clothes¡ªthey mean nothing to me. Han, do you know what it is I truly want?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I know we live in different worlds. Even if I reach out, I can¡¯t touch you. But if I be the emperor, maybe¡­ just maybe, it will be possible, right?¡± I swallowed a bitter smile. It wasn¡¯t like I hadn¡¯t expected this. But I didn¡¯t think she¡¯d be so direct. ¡°After this fight is over, you¡¯re nning to go back to where you came from, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want that. I still need you. I¡¯m tired of wearing this mask in front of everyone. I need someone I can talk to, someone I can open up to. Without that, I might crumble one day.¡± ¡°What about Yoshua¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not Yoshua.¡± Pria cut me off sharply. I could only remain silent. ¡°You must be carrying more burdens than I am. I know you don¡¯t have the luxury of time, and I understand you need time. I just wanted to say it.¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. I didn¡¯t have the luxury of time. We cleared the 60th floor, but who knew what mission mighte next? Besides, I had no idea what might happen in the outside world. Back when I was a Master, every time I thought things were going smoothly, something would always go wrong, and I¡¯d end up paying the price. ¡°This wasn¡¯tpletely fruitless. I¡¯m seeing you flustered for the first time.¡± Pria smiled yfully at me. Feigning ignorance, I asked, ¡°So, what¡¯s your conclusion?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Pria puffed out her cheeks. ¡°A lifelong contract. I want you to make a lifelong contract with me, Han.¡± ¡°A lifelong¡­ what?¡± Pria stepped closer to me. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 255: Requiem (1) (1) Chapter 255: Requiem (1) (1) After breaking through the 60th floor, Anytng began arge-scale expansion of facilities. First, with the resources that had umted, we raised the level of the waiting room by one floor. Additionally, I ordered upgrades for everything from the equipment workshop, storage, and training facilities to the magic researchb. ¡®This will take some time.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t as simple as just pressing a button and watching it magically get built like before. Once the facility level reaches a certain point, upgrading requires not only arge amount of materials and craftsmen but also a long construction period. As a result, for a while, the waiting room was filled with noises reminiscent of a construction site, and the heroes were given personal time to prepare themselves while the work was beingpleted. During the day, I toured the lower floors to level up, and at night, I dedicated myself to sparring with Halkion. I decided to spend my time training until Yu¡¯s investigation waspleted. ¡®There¡¯s something¡­ on the higher floors.¡¯That thought had grown stronger after breaking through the 60th floor. If it were simply about fighting powerful enemies like the Prince or the Fragment series, we could handle it. However, there was a possibility of unexpected variables I hadn¡¯t predicted. If things went wrong, there would be no turning back. Every night, I reread the book. A picture book depicting El Cid¡¯s past. The content didn¡¯t change; it was merely a repetition of the story I already knew. This routine continued until the day Yupleted her investigation. One evening, in my room on the 4th floor of the waiting room, located in the lodging for the first party. A vague mist began to form, shaping into a human figure. I turned my chair to face the shadow. Yu¡¯s image slowly emerged from the darkness. ¡®Looks like the investigation is over.¡¯ It had taken about a month. Considering that I had ordered the investigation immediately after El Cid¡¯s death, it had taken longer than expected. ¡°You¡¯re not here just to say hello, are you?¡± I took a sip from my teacup. Regrmunication could easily be done through thework. There was only one reason to appear in person like this. ¡°Good job. You¡¯ve worked hard.¡± I nodded. Yu approached me, and before I could say anything, she bowed deeply. ¡°What do you mean? Sorry for what?¡± She spoke with her head still bowed. I remained silent. ¡®Failure?¡¯ I hadn¡¯t anticipated that. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Raise your head. If it didn¡¯t work, it didn¡¯t work. You¡¯re not all-powerful, after all.¡± ¡°Enough already. You¡¯re making me ufortable.¡± Yu slowly lifted her head. Her expression remained unchanged, but I could read her emotions in her eyes. ¡®There¡¯s nothing more to say.¡¯ It was me who had asked her for the favor. Getting upset over a bad result would only be childish. ¡°More than that, I¡¯d like to hear the reason why the investigation failed.¡± Yu began her exnation, and I listened attentively from start to finish. Yu¡¯s basic method of gathering information was through essing Mobius Corp¡¯s database using a virtual ID. She hacked into the gamepany¡¯s system, created a virtual ount, and gave it high-level permissions to retrieve internal data from Pick Me Up. But this time¡­ ¡°Even your ount couldn¡¯t ess it?¡± I frowned. The task I had assigned Yu was simple. Find out about Dorado¡¯s ending. ¡®It must be there.¡¯ The reason El Cid was willing to wage war against all of Mobius to reach the 1st server. ¡®I can guess.¡¯ But I couldn¡¯t be sure. And now this result. ¡°Is that so?¡± I clicked my tongue and responded. ¡°Then forget it.¡± ¡°You said there¡¯s a risk of being caught, right? What¡¯s the point of pushing that far? Just let it go.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. You¡¯ve worked hard. Go get some rest.¡± I closed my mouth. I was curious, but I wasn¡¯t willing to put Niflheimr in danger just to find out. If Tel discovered we had stolen ssified information, who knows what she¡¯d do. Yu bit her lip. Her figure slowly dispersed into mist and disappeared. I turned my chair toward my desk. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ They went to great lengths to hide this, huh? Tel had said it herself. This game was created to restore a broken world. So why go to such lengths to conceal the ending? ¡®Something doesn¡¯t add up. But still, I need certainty¡­¡¯ Only with evidence could I devise a proper strategy. But with Yu¡¯s failure, the path to obtaining that evidence was blocked. ¡°¡­Sigh.¡± Still, I can¡¯t just sit around doing nothing. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 256: Requiem (2) (1) Chapter 256: Requiem (2) (1) A few dayster,te evening. I looked up. The sky, dyed in ash gray, caught my eye. Anytng had disconnected. No need to worry about being discovered. After all, this party was just a one-day event. [Invitation Ticket] I squinted. A golden tickety on the desk. It had arrived the night I contacted Mobius.[How to use] [Tear the ticket, and a ¡°dimensional gate¡± linked to the party will open!] [However, you must observe the entry time.] [Entry time ¨C 201X. XX. XX, 20:00] [Note ¨C Please use it where no one can see. It may raise suspicion. ^_^] [Mobius Inc.] I picked up the ticket. The emblem of Mobius Inc. was embossed on its cover. ¡°A congrattory party?¡± I couldn¡¯t figure out why they¡¯d throw a party. Moreover, why invite me, of all people? The whole situation reeked of suspicion. But still, I¡¯d already made up my mind to attend¡ªthough I wouldn¡¯t let my guard down. I snapped my fingers with my left hand. [Hooray!] Iselle twirled in front of me, appearing in a sh. Instead of her usual ck dress, she wore a short frilled gown. [What do you think, Loki? Does it suit me?] ¡°Where did you get that?¡± [Ahem, it¡¯s party attire. I spent my entire paycheck shopping for this!] Iselle cleared her throat and dusted off the hem of her dress. [Are you really going dressed like that, Loki? You don¡¯t look any different from usual.] ¡°Why bother dressing up? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going there to have fun.¡± I was in leather armor with a sword belt strapped on. It wasn¡¯t full armor, but I was prepared to react to any emergencies. Clink. I adjusted the dagger sheath attached to my belt. [But it¡¯s a party¡­] ¡°This isn¡¯t for fun. I¡¯m going to investigate.¡± I calmed my breathing. In the worst case, the party itself could be a trap targeting me. I¡¯d need to stay sharp. ¡®It¡¯d be great to bring someone from the first party¡­¡¯ Anyone I brought would be excellent protection. The problem was whether they¡¯d even let me bring someone along. They¡¯d likely object with both hands raised. After checking the state of the dagger sheath, I covered the belt with my cloak. Then, I firmly locked the door. Even the gap at the bottom of the door, which I usually left open for Goo Goo Con, was blocked. No one should know about this trip. ¡°Are you ready?¡± [Yep.] I nodded and held the ticket. Then, without hesitation, I tore it. Rip. The golden paper tore, and light began to ripple from within. [A ¡°dimensional gate¡± linked to ¡®???¡¯ has been created.] Vwooom. The dimensional vortex swirled and spun. Once I stepped through, I¡¯d be in enemy territory. I reminded myself to stay focused and took a step forward. A familiar feeling of weightlessness washed over me as light wrapped around my body. ¡ª [Royal Cruise Ship] [Wee aboard the dimensional passenger ship ¡®Pioneer¡¯!] I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was the vast ocean beyond the steel railing. The moonlight shimmered gently on the surface of the water, stretching to the horizon. ¡®This ce¡­¡¯ I turned around. Above the steel deck, a sleek, streamlined structure towered into the sky. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± [It¡¯s the legendary¡­ Pioneer!] Iselle¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at me. [It¡¯s the luxury passenger ship for officials!] ¡°Officials only?¡± [It¡¯s where Mobius employees go for vacation. It has the finest hotel amodations, a golf course, swimming pools, all sorts of leisure facilities! There¡¯s everything from restaurants to a grand ballroom!] Iselle¡¯s cheeks flushed. She seemed lost in her own world. ¡®They have everything, don¡¯t they?¡¯ At this point, nothing really surprised me. ¡°Are you a guest?¡± I turned at the unfamiliar voice. A man in a suit was staring at me. He seemed to be an employee of Mobius, judging by the employee ID hanging from his neck. ¡°Excuse me, could you show me your invitation? Unauthorized individuals cannot enter.¡± I pulled out the invitation from my coat and handed it to him. The man inspected the front and back of the ticket before looking back at me. ¡°Are you alone?¡± ¡°Iselle is with me.¡± ¡°I see. One person and one¡­ pet.¡± [P-pet?!] Iselle¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Please follow me. They are waiting for you.¡± The man bowed his head slightly and began walking ahead on the deck. Without a word, I followed him. When the man swiped his ess card at the entrance to the cabin, therge doors opened sideways. He climbed the stairs without hesitation. ¡®So that¡¯s how it is.¡¯ I quickly scanned the structure of the cabin. In my mind, I mapped out the cruise ship and calcted possible escape routes. I also didn¡¯t forget to identify ces where I could fight if outnumbered. Security guards were posted throughout the ship. ¡®Their weapons¡­¡¯ I observed a passing man. He wore a bulletproof vest over his suit, with a gun holster at his waist. ¡®No des.¡¯ I clicked my tongue. The superiority of knives versus guns was clear. So Mobius¡¯ armed forces operated like this. ¡°This way.¡± The man led us into arge elevator. After about a minute, the doors opened. ¡°When the doors open, you¡¯ll be in the ballroom.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Ah, but before that¡­ could you leave your weapons with us? We will store them safely.¡± So, they knew. With a sigh, I unbuckled my dagger sheath. ¡°Please hand over the sword as well.¡± The man smiled, his face wrinkling. I unbuckled Bifrost and handed it to him. ¡°Thank you for your cooperation. Please enjoy your time.¡± The man smiled with satisfaction and covered the weapons with a cloth. The elevator doors opened, revealing a grand ballroom exactly as expected. The enormous ballroom, asrge as a sports field, was covered in luxurious carpets. An elegantly dressed orchestra yed ssical music, while various expensive liquors and buffet dishes were on disy. ¡®How typical. Too typical, really.¡¯ I smirked. The ballroom was filled with men and women in suits and dresses, enjoying the party. ¡°Are all these people Mobius employees?¡± [Yep!]* Iselle replied energetically. She pointed to a corner of the room. A group of small fairies had gathered and were buzzing around. [Look, my colleagues are there too.] ¡°Go have fun, then.¡± I whispered to the confused Iselle. ¡°Gather some information about Alpha Zero.¡± I gave Iselle a little push on her back. She looked a bit flustered but flew off toward her colleagues. Left alone, I moved to the corner of the ballroom and found a spot to settle down. ¡®Let¡¯s see what they¡¯re talking about.¡¯ The ballroom was a cacophony of voices from people chatting. I sat down and focused my hearing. Gradually, the chaotic noise began to sort itself out. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 257: Requiem (3) (1) Chapter 257: Requiem (3) (1) Creak. As I descended the stairs to the end, a part of the steel corridor wobbled, making an uneasy sound. I calmed my breath, concealing my presence, and began walking stealthily down the passage. ¡®Let¡¯s organize my thoughts.¡¯ It was 2 a.m. A meeting of the executives would be held at the top floor of the cruise. During that meeting, there would be a screening of Dorado¡¯s ending. If I could learn what that ending was, it would provide a crucial clue about El Cid. Of course, there were a few problems. The first was that the security was unbelievably tight. The second was that you needed an ess card to enter the top floor. I could somehow avoid the guards, but the door to the top floor wouldn¡¯t open without swiping the card.¡®The ess card¡­¡¯ I recalled the clock I saw in the banquet hall. 9:45 p.m. There were about four hours left until 2 a.m. While there wasn¡¯t much leeway, dying too much would lead to failure. I couldn¡¯t be sure I¡¯d get another chance. I had to seize this opportunity to get a clue, no matter what. ¡°Who are you?¡± I turned my gaze. At the end of the outer corridor, a guard in a bulletproof vest rested his hand on his gun holster. He didn¡¯t let his guard down as he spoke. ¡°Don¡¯te any closer. This area is restricted.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± I had followed that arrogant guy all the way here. It seemed this wasn¡¯t a ce just anyone could wander into. ¡°I¡¯m lost. What¡¯s this ce?¡± ¡°This is the VIP lounge.¡± ¡°VIP?¡± Could he really share that kind of information? I smirked slightly. If I caused amotion here, word would spread quickly. He must feel confident. ¡°Leave, or I¡¯ll call for reinforcements if you do anything suspicious.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± It would be no trouble to take him down. But if I acted rashly and Mobius found out, things would get troublesome. Sigh. I let out a sigh and raised my hands. ¡°Turn around and walk slowly. You¡¯ll find the banquet hall elevator if you go up the stairs.¡± The distance between us was about 30 meters. His movements were well-practiced. It would take about 0.1 seconds for him to draw and fire. Even if he missed, if the gunshot rang out, it would be over. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°If youe closer, I¡¯ll shoot.¡± The guard drew his gun and pointed it at me. I turned my back to him, raising my hands, and walked towards the exit. As I walked, I lightly flicked the index finger of my right hand. Whirrrr. A ck hole opened up behind the guard. ¡°¡­?!¡± Thwack! The sheath of Bifrost struck the back of his head. With a spurt of blood, he copsed. I slowly approached the guard lying in the passageway. ¡®Now, let¡¯s see.¡¯ A gun and a radio. This cylindrical piece¡ªwas it a silencer? I took some of his belongings and tossed the man overboard. He plummeted into the dark sea. ¡®I won¡¯t even need to use my sword.¡¯ I had never fired a gun before, but I knew how to use one. Just point the muzzle and pull the trigger. Whirrrr. I flicked my finger again. Bifrost disappeared back to where it had been. I attached the silencer to the gun and opened the door. ¡°Hmm?¡± I locked eyes with a guard standing in the corridor. ¡°Who are yo¡ª¡± Bang. I shot him between the eyes. He copsed without a scream, his body sprawled in the corridor. How disappointing. If this is the level of security here, it seemed this guy¡¯s rank wasn¡¯t that high either. Leaving the narrow corridor, I entered arge hall. There were no guards here. However, CCTV cameras covered the hall from every angle. ¡®¡­¡­.¡¯ I kicked off the wall beside the corridor door and leaped lightly. My feet adhered to the ceiling as I began walking upside down along the ceiling¡¯s surface. Even though there were no blind spots below, there were blind spots above. I passed through easily. I encountered a few more guards, but I put a bullet in each one as I came across them. By the time I had emptied an entire magazine, I reached a door that was ornately decorated. From inside, faintughter could be heard. Bang. I opened the door and entered. Inside the luxurious lounge, a blond young man was drinking. ¡°¡­¡­?¡± A man stood right next to the door. Bang. Without turning my head, I shot while keeping the muzzle aimed to the side. To the left of the lounge, there were three more people by the pool. One guy was ying chess on the table. Another guard was watching the CCTV. Yet another was pointing a gun at me. Bang bang bang bang. I fired indiscriminately, sweeping through the left side of the lounge. The recoil of the pistol didn¡¯t affect me at all. ¡°You crazy bast¡ª¡± Tat tat tat tat! One of them fired a rifle right at my face. [This hero is immune to physical attacks!] [This hero is immune to physical attacks!] [This hero is immune to physical attacks!] [This hero is immune to physical att¡ª] Bang. That was the end of it. I tossed the gun aside and approached the blond young man, who was trembling behind the sofa. ¡°Y-you¡­ how the hell¡­?¡± ¡°The ess card?¡± ¡°What about the guards¡­?¡± ¡°I asked, where¡¯s the ess card?¡± ¡°You bastard, you think you¡¯ll get away with this? I¡¯m a full-time employee of Mobius! You, a lowly Master, don¡¯t know your ce! How dare you cause this kind of mess in thepany¡¯s facilities? You may have earned the CEO¡¯s favor, but you won¡¯t get away with this! The enforcers will find you and tear you apart!¡± I spoke in an emotionless voice. ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter, does it?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter? This doesn¡¯t matter?! You dare cause this mess at an invitation-only event¡­!¡± ¡°The CEO said he¡¯d make me his right-hand man, didn¡¯t he? He¡¯ll probably let this slide.¡± If this guy were really someone important, he¡¯d have personal bodyguards with him. Like Alpha Zero. Just by looking at that middle-aged man¡¯s secretary, Cizel, you could tell she was a formidable opponent. ¡°I¡¯ll just make something up, and they¡¯ll let it go. Don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± ¡°Well, don¡¯t you?¡± I kicked his shin hard. With the sound of a bone breaking, his leg bent backward. ¡°Aaargh!¡± ¡°Yeah, I thought so.¡± I chuckled as I rifled through his suit pockets. It didn¡¯t take long to find the ess card. ¡°Ugh! Ugh! Huff! Huff!¡± The young man was rolling on the floor, crying and gasping, his face twisted in agony. Even as he screamed, he red at me with hatred. ¡°You¡­ you bastard! As if smashing my limited-edition Lamborghini during the event wasn¡¯t enough¡­!¡± Crack. I stomped on his face with my heel. He convulsed for a moment, then went limp. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 258: Requiem (4) (1 Chapter 258: Requiem (4) (1 I studied the man called the Director. Short, graying hair mixed with strands of white and a vacant expression. There wasn¡¯t a hint of sharpness in his eyes. Could this guy really be the lead developer of Pick Me Up? If this were any other ce, I would have smacked him across the head and told him to stop lying. ¡°Seris-chan¡­¡± ¡°Is he acting like that on purpose?¡± I pressed my fingers against my temple. Cizel cleared his throat. ¡°It¡¯s not intentional. His health is not in good condition.¡± ¡°And being unwell makes someone like that?¡±¡°Of course¡­ there are other reasons too.¡± Cizel looked at the Director with a pitying gaze. ¡°To evade thepany¡¯s surveince, he had to be like this. A half-hearted act wouldn¡¯t have worked. He had no choice but to actually go mad. Without that, inviting you here would have been impossible.¡± Invite. I squinted my eyes. Cizel ced a hand on the Director¡¯s shoulder and spoke. ¡°There should be a small room behind the office. You can watch the ending of the Dorado mission that you¡¯ve been wanting to see there.¡± I turned around to see a in metal door with no decorations. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange some time for you to speak with the Director when you return. If he takes the special medication, you two should be able to have a proper conversation for about 10 minutes.¡± Cizel bowed to me before wheeling the Director away somewhere. ¡®So there was another motive behind all this.¡¯ What would have happened if I hadn¡¯te here? Who knows? I shrugged my shoulders and opened the door, stepping inside. The air was cold. I took a deep breath. In the small room, which couldn¡¯t have been more than about five square meters, there were countless monitors installed. They covered the walls and ceiling. Each monitor,rge and small, was emitting different static noise. ¡°¡­¡± And in the center of the room, on a small table, There was an old videotape. I picked it up to inspect it. On thebel of the tape, the words #EL CID, DORADO were written. ¡®El Cid.¡¯ The former number one ranker, and the only yer to have cleared every stage of Pick Me Up. And someone who, in a way, had be a hero himself. Afterpleting every mission, El Cid suddenly turned on the other heroes nearby, devouring them one by one before breaking through the server¡¯s boundaries. Even the second-ranked Muryeon was among his victims, and if circumstances had been just a little worse, Niflheimr might have joined that list. He had only one goal. To reach Server 1. ¡®What¡¯s in Server 1?¡¯ From what I¡¯d heard, the headquarters of Mobius was there. I¡¯d know what he intended to do there once I watched the video. I took a deep breath and inserted the videotape into the yer. Static filled the air. Then, one by one, the noise cleared from the monitors. Following that, videos began to y sequentially on the peripheral monitors. The lower-level missions of Dorado. I¡¯d seen these scenes before in the Book of Reversal. I shifted my gaze. The centralrge monitor began disying the key scenes. Critical missions, farewells withpanions, sessive awakenings, and fierce battles. He lost countlessrades and faced death many times, but in the end, El Cid triumphed. He defeated the monsters invading the city, repelled a mountain-sized giant monster, and even prevailed against past heroes who had turned into monsters. Afterward, alongside the allied NPC forces, he reached the 80th floor, continuing relentless battles against enemies swarming from all over the continent. [Fragments of Chaos Lv.113] [Fragments of Despair Lv.108] [Fragments of Resentment Lv.121] The so-called ¡°Fragments Series.¡± They were mysterious, attributeless monsters that consistently appeared from the 80th floor onward. They were immune to physical and magical attacks,cking fixed attributes, which meant devising new strategies for each mission. Numerous rankers were thwarted at this point. ¡®No form.¡¯ Sometimes they appeared as goblins. Other times asrge dragons. Or even as amorphous blobs. ¡®No emotions either.¡¯ Mental attacks didn¡¯t work on these creatures. Fear, confusion, courage, or inspiration¡ªnone of these status effects had any impact. They simply consumed and devoured all life around them. I looked ahead. Therge screen in front of me. On the screen, the heroes of Dorado were fiercely battling against the Fragments. [Floor 80.] The 80th-floor stage. Though thousands of Fragments swarmed them, El Cid emerged victorious once again. The next mission would be the same. The oue was already set. I shifted my gaze back to therge screen. The small monitors, which had been showing videos of the lower-level missions, began turning off one by one. On the central screen, videos of the post-80th-floor missions continued to y in sequence. 81st floor. 82nd floor. 83rd floor. Gradually, the floor levels rose. In the ruins of Dorado, El Cid and hispanions continued their endless battle against the Fragments. 84th floor. 85th floor. 86th floor. 99% of the civilian NPCs of Dorado had perished. Yet, the heroes continued to fight. The Fragments kept appearing without end. 87th floor. The current floor reached by Niflheimr. This Dorado mission was simr to Niflheimr¡¯s. Dealing with the Fragments that poured in from all directions. Their numbers far exceeded tens of thousands. El Cid lost half of his forces but broke through the 87th floor. They suffered wounds with each mission, but they continued to push forward to the next floor. 88th floor. 89th floor. And then¡­ sh! A blinding light burst from therge screen, engulfing my entire body. I was pulled into the video before I had time to react. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 259: Requiem (5) (1) Chapter 259: Requiem (5) (1) The video ended with countless shards rushing toward El Cid. I stood silently in the center of the darkened monitor room. Images of El Cid and hisrades swirled around in my head. ¡®Just now¡­¡¯ The meaning of what I had witnessed. Judging by the reactions of the heroes, it seemed that Tel¡¯s words about saving the world by clearing the mission were a lie. A mild headache spread from my temples. ¡®I don¡¯t know what¡¯s real and what¡¯s false anymore.¡¯ The higher the floor, the more deste the world became, eventually turning into a barren wastnd. A ce where no life could exist.I had expected this. It was clear why El Cid, having given up on returning to Earth, was carrying out the mission. Even if the mission was cleared to the end, the ruined world wouldn¡¯t be restored. The only reason El Cid sacrificed hisrades to reach Server 1 was for that purpose. Now, that expectation had turned into certainty. To resolve another question, I opened the door of the viewing room and stepped outside. The Director¡¯s office. Outside the viewing room, a middle-aged man in a wheelchair was coughing. I squinted as I observed him. His previously vacant eyes had regained their rity. ¡°Loki¡­¡± The Director¡¯s gaze met mine. I immediately pointed at the viewing room door and spoke. ¡°Is that real?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ real.¡± The Director¡¯s wrinkled eyes turned toward me. He looked more like an old man than a middle-aged one, worn out with exhaustion. ¡°So your boss lied to me again.¡± I let out a hollowugh. ¡°She said it was made to restore things? What a load of crap. How is that supposed to bring anything back? There¡¯s nothing left after it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°Indeed¡­ cough!¡± The Director brought a white cloth to his mouth. Red blood seeped into the handkerchief he was holding. ¡°Even if the mission is cleared to the end¡­ the ruined world will not be restored¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± I clenched my fists. If this man were Tel, I might have smashed his skull right then and there. ¡°Then what is the purpose of this game?¡± ¡°To change¡­ the fate of destruction.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y with words.¡± I lowered my voice. ¡°I told you earlier. Even if the mission is cleared, it remains the same. So what¡¯s all this about changing fate?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ iplete.¡± The Director threw the blood-stained handkerchief into the trash. ¡°Originally, from Floor 90 onwards¡­ stages meant for restoration were supposed to be prepared¡­ That¡¯s why I¡­ cooperated with those two¡­¡± ¡°But.¡± The Director spoke in a low tone. ¡°We failed.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°It was impossible¡­ to make possible¡­¡± He had been spouting nonsense from the start. I moved closer to him. With a slight gesture, I could summon Bifrost and take off the old man¡¯s head. ¡°I won¡¯t tolerate any further disrespect.¡± I stopped in my tracks. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Cizel aiming her sword at my neck with an ice-cold gaze. Drip. The skin on my neck peeled slightly, and a thin trickle of blood flowed. ¡®It pierced the ck dragon scales¡­¡¯ I steadied my breath. ¡°No matter what violence youmit here, nothing will change.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Making you y this iplete game is something we, as developers, are deeply sorry for. Inviting you to this ce is part of our atonement.¡± Click. Cizel sheathed her sword with a smooth motion. ¡°The Director is right. Originally, Pick Me Up was designed for 100 floors, but due to design ws, stages beyond Floor 90 were never implemented.¡± ¡°So, you released an unfinished game.¡± What do you call something like this? Early ess? Closed Beta? Whatever the case, it was a ridiculous scam. ¡°¡­We¡¯re sorry.¡± Cizel bowed deeply to me. I smirked. ¡°So, even if I clear the mission to the end, the ruined world won¡¯t be restored. Because it¡¯s an unfinished game?¡± ¡°Since the release, we¡¯ve been continuously working to resolve the issue, but the situation has been difficult to handle.¡± Cizel bit her lip in frustration. ¡°So, the Director requested that the game be taken down¡­¡± ¡°And that was rejected?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I folded my arms. Whom should I trust now? If everything is a lie, then isn¡¯t Tel¡¯s im that Pick Me Up was created to save the world just as suspicious? Maybe there¡¯s another hidden motive¡­ ¡°It¡¯s not¡­ a lie¡­¡± The Director muttered. As if he had read my mind. ¡°The purpose of the game is¡­ to save Mobius¡­¡± ¡°But it¡¯s unfinished. You said the problem can¡¯t be fixed.¡± ¡°She just¡­ doesn¡¯t acknowledge it¡­¡± ¡°What exactly is the problem that makes the game iplete? It¡¯s been over two years since the release, and you still haven¡¯t fixed it?¡± Cizel interjected. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the design ws are ssified information. We can¡¯t share the reasons with an outsider like you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°This is a real headache.¡± I sat down on a nearby metal chair without care. ¡°Yourpany is a total mess. Releasing an unfinished game. Kidnapping yers and trapping them inside the game. Lies and deceit are everywhere. And now you won¡¯t even exin why. Don¡¯t you have any shame?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I went through hell because I believed you. Somehow, I survived. And now¡­ this is how it ends?¡± I closed my mouth. Cizel shut her eyes, and the Director just stared into the void. ¡°If you¡­ were no longer an outsider¡­ then things would be different¡­¡± The Director murmured nkly. ¡°¡­Like El Cid.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°After he cleared the game¡­ I contacted the Ranked 1¡­ And¡­ we made a contract¡­¡± The Director turned his gaze to me. His eyes, nestled between wrinkled skin, gleamed with an eerie light. A contract with El Cid. I recalled what that guy had attempted to do. El Cid had absorbed hisrades in the waiting room and even heroes in nearby rooms to gain enough influence to reach Server 1. ¡°It¡¯s the same this time too, right? You won¡¯t tell me the terms of the contract.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± I¡¯m tired of hearing that. I clicked my tongue and kept my eyes on the Director. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 260: Requiem (6) (1) Chapter 260: Requiem (6) (1) I opened my eyes. A cold, metallic room greeted me. This was my quarters, located on the fourth floor of the waiting area. A steel bed, a wardrobe, a desk, and a chair. To the left of the room stood arge disy case meant to hold various sculptures. The shelves up to the eighth one were nearly filled. I might have to ask the carpenter to craft a new one soon. I took off my armor andid out the items hidden in the safe onto the floor. El Cid¡¯s twin swords, Cda and Tizona, a wolf fur cloak, and the Book of Reversal. Squatting down, I flipped through the pages of the Book of Reversal. ¡®A master key for Server 1, huh?¡¯ To solve this problem, I¡¯d need to go to Server 1. So, no matter what I do here¡­ the oue is already predetermined.¡®The fall of Townia.¡¯ Thankfully, there¡¯s still time. Anytng has only climbed to the 60th floor. I still have enough time to make decisions before it¡¯s toote. [Hup!] I looked up while still squatting. Iselle was floating around the room, her face flushed red. She must have drunk a considerable amount of alcohol, and her fluttering wings seemed unstable. [¡°Loki¡­ is the best.¡±] Iselle slurred her words. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, go to bed.¡± [¡°He even¡­ beat the number one in the rankings.¡±] She was talking nonsense again. He didn¡¯t beat him. They didn¡¯t even fight properly. If Tel hadn¡¯t intervened, maybe there could have been a fierce battle between Niflheimr and Dorado. But the result would¡¯ve been the same. The guy wasn¡¯t really interested in fighting in the first ce. He probably fought half-heartedly and then pretended to lose. Just thinking about it made me angry. ¡®This isn¡¯t my style.¡¯ nk. I drew a sword from its scabbard on the floor. A pure white de that resembled a streak of lightning. It was as high-quality as any of the Five Relics of Niflheimr. [Glug, glug¡­ gulp¡­] Next, I examined the wolf-fur cloak. ording to the scan, aside from its durability and excellent instion, it didn¡¯t have any special abilities. It was likely just a symbolic item representing El Cid. [Puha!] Iselle raised the empty ss bottle high. ¡°What are you doing?¡± [¡°Hangover remedy!¡±] It seemed to be working well. With more stable movements, Iselle flew over to me. [¡°Loki, what were you doing? I couldn¡¯t reach you at all.¡±] ¡°I was investigating El Cid. There were too many suspicious things about him.¡± I briefly exined the battle with El Cid to Iselle. She tilted her head and examined the spoils of battleid out on the floor. [¡°So, these are El Cid¡¯s items?¡±] ¡°Yeah. I was lucky enough to grab them.¡± [¡°Oho¡­¡±] She picked up the book, which was about her size, and quickly flipped through its pages. Then, as if she¡¯d been electrocuted, her hand started trembling, and she threw the Book of Reversal away. [¡°Aaaah!¡±] ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± [¡°The interference is immense! Almost like a solidified force.¡±] It didn¡¯t cause me any problems when I read it. Iselle turned her attention to the twin swords lying beside the book. [¡°These items are really good! At least SS-grade.¡±] ¡°Well, they¡¯re hard to use.¡± If the twin swords were more versatile, I might¡¯ve given them to someone like Velkist. However, these weapons were exclusive to El Cid, only demonstrating their true power in his hands. And even if I could use them, I already had Bifrost. [¡°Are you just going to leave them here?¡±] ¡°I was thinking of recrafting them.¡± With a grunt, I ced the book of Reversal back in the safe. Then, after fastening the twin swords at my waist and draping the wolf-fur cloak over my shoulders, I opened the door. ¡°Come along.¡± There were still a few hours left until morning. The staff at the item workshop wouldn¡¯t arrive for another six or so hours. The wolf-fur cloak had exceptional durability, enough to block swords, arrows, and even bullets if handled properly. As for Cda and Tizona, they were imbued with top-tier magical forms. Although transferring the materials might be difficult, it should be possible to move the magical forms. Some degradation might ur, but it¡¯s better than letting them gather dust. ¡®Item synthesis.¡¯ The workshop¡¯s facilities had improved significantly. With Iselle¡¯s support, we could create some decent items. Of course, there was one more person I needed aside from Iselle. I reached the end of the dark hallway, in front of a certain door. ¡°Are you asleep?¡± Knock, knock. No response. Well, it was prettyte. I opened the door and stepped inside. ¡°Hmm¡­ nyah¡­¡± Katiio was sound asleep on the bed. I slung Katiio over my left shoulder. ¡°¡­Ugh?!¡± At that moment, Katiio¡¯s eyes snapped open. ¡°What, what is it, Han! Do you know what time it is¡­¡± ¡°Keep your voice down. You¡¯ll wake the others. I need a favor.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting a whole week to sleep in this room! Please!¡± Was it that bad? Katiio, draped over my shoulder, was on the verge of tears. ¡°Can¡¯t you ask during the day?¡± ¡°It has to be now.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you the morning off.¡± ¡°Do you know how many times I¡¯ve fallen for that?¡± ¡°This time it¡¯s for real. You can trust me.¡± There was no one else who could do it besides Katiio. His abilities far exceeded my expectations. He crafted an airship with minimal materials that had yet to break down once. On top of that, he maintained and repaired everything perfectly. His support magic andbat skills were superb, and his enchanting skills were top-notch. ¡®There¡¯s a reason we work him so hard.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t by chance that he got pushed so hard in the waiting area. He was too useful to leave idle. ¡°Liar! You¡¯re lying! Let me go! I want to sleep¡­ mmph!¡± I carried the struggling Katiio with me. When we arrived at the item workshop, Katiio finally quieted down, epting his fate. ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± He seemed ready to work now. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 261: Like Killing Insects (1) (1) Chapter 261: Like Killing Insects (1) (1) I stepped out from the dimensional rift. Even in just the first-floor waiting room, there were already hundreds of heroes. The za was bustling with countless passersby. ¡°Phew, repeating the same mission is getting pretty dull.¡± Next to me, Jenna stretched as she spoke. Velkist silently fiddled with his sword sheath. [Master, there are heroes waiting for promotion!] [Heroes avable for promotion ¨C ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯, ¡®Jenna (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯, ¡®Velkist (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯] A holographic window flickered green before me.With thepletion of thetest mission, all three of us had reached the level required for promotion. Level 70 is when a six-star promotion bes possible. On the lower floors, the experience table is set up so you can raise your level by ten every ten floors, but things are different above the 50th floor. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t be able to max out your six-star rank before clearing the 100th floor. In Townia, where we¡¯d already cleared the 60th floor, reaching level 70 was fairly easy with a bit of grinding. The result of that was the three of us. After clearing the 60th floor, Anytng repeatedly sent me, Jenna, and Velkist back into missions on the 59th floor, and before long, we all hit level 70. ¡°My level went up a lot, but I don¡¯t really feel stronger. I used to really feel the difference, but now, it¡¯s kind of meh.¡± We boarded the elevator to the upper floors. Now, even Townia has high-level facilities like elevators. ¡°Now, it seems like abilities don¡¯t really matter.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± I nodded in agreement. Strength, Intelligence, Stamina, Agility¡ªthere are four main stats in Pick Me Up, and they can be raised as your level increases, but after reaching higher levels, the efficiency of those stats drastically diminishes. This is known as the ¡°Stat Limit.¡± ¡®100 points is the baseline.¡¯ Once your Strength goes over 100, raising your stats doesn¡¯t make much of a difference. At best, it could slightly turn the tide with skills and engravings. Sure, there are differences, and stats are still important, but¡­ It¡¯s not enough to guarantee an absolute advantage like it used to. As a result, battles between high-level heroes are decided by a mix of factors like skills, engravings,patibility, and thebat environment. ¡®Still, being born a 5-star does make a difference.¡¯ The starting point is just different. Ding I stepped out as the doors opened. Thepleted 5th-floor za of Townia greeted me. After parting with the other two, I headed to the left sector of the 5th floor. There, Anytng had prepared a private residence just for me. It even had maids to handle household chores and a personal secretary. ¡®It¡¯s nicely built.¡¯ It seemed they paid close attention to every detail before construction. The 5th floor of Townia was designed so that even if other heroes tried to invade, it would be easy to defend. There were surveince towers, barriers, gates, and magical traps scattered throughout the area. With so many pesky folks lurking aroundtely, it was necessary. I entered the room and locked the door, then opened a small book. [Ding!] Along with a faint sound effect, a window popped up. This book was a personal inte ess device Iselle had prepared for me. All I had to do was open it, and I could connect to the inte anytime, plus it could charge on its own. It was only visible to me, of course. I moved the cursor and entered the MyuTube homepage. [MyuTube?] [Master of Pick Me Up, ¡®Antyng¡¯s¡¯ Channel] [Subscribers: 31,253] Thirty-one thousand subscribers. That number had nearly tripled. Thetest uploaded video was from the 60th floor. I casually scrolled through thements. ¡®The reactions are pretty positive.¡¯ There weren¡¯t many people using the term ¡°bus rider¡± anymore. While I was shing with the Saintess in the fantasy world, Anytng had been leading the outside fights brilliantly. It seemed like we were even gaining some fans. asionally, there werements demanding the sale of a hero or apologies regarding the Silver Star Guild, but they were immediately bombarded with dislikes and hidden. The reaction in the official cafe was simr. Anytng, having cleared the 60th floor in record time, was making a name for herself as one of the fastest Pick Me Up yers. [Isn¡¯t this a record? Cleared the 60th floor in less than half a year. It¡¯s like a speedrun.] ©¸ [Isn¡¯t it all thanks to her heroes? Her heroes are super strong, carrying everything by themselves.] ©¸ [That¡¯s only true for the lower floors. If you watch the 60th-floor video, it¡¯s not really like that. Her personal skill isn¡¯t bad either.] [When is the serverg going to be fixed though? I keep getting disconnected, it¡¯s driving me crazy.] ©¸ [Most of it¡¯s bugs.] The conversation continued along simr lines. The infamy of being a ¡°bad manner user¡± who massacred passive guilds had died down. Anytng was now recognized as an emerging top yer in Pick Me Up. Every day, she received guild invitations and friend requests. There were also constant offers to sell me as a hero, though Anytng declined all of them. ¡®Things are going well.¡¯ Almost too well. There were no major problems. Anytng¡¯s skills had improved, and the heroes were getting stronger and stronger. The mission difficulty after the 50th floor had decreased, and various other favorable conditions were lining up for Anytng. [Help] [About External Promotion Stations] [If promoting heroes inside the waiting room is difficult, you can use an external promotion station installed outside the waiting room.] Anytng was researching the requirements for a six-star promotion. That made sense. I can¡¯t be promoted to six-star in Anytng promotion room. In a ce like Niflheimr, you could handle everything internally, but Townia still relied on external assistance for some tasks. ¡®I guess we¡¯ll head there.¡¯ The dimensional city, Beta. A few months ago, a convenience patch had introduced a help center there. Its purpose was to support low-level masters and close the gap with the top-ranked yers. The center was also equipped with facilities for six-star promotions. It wasn¡¯t far, located in the 60th-floor sector. If we took an airship, we¡¯d probably arrive within three days. Knock knock. There was a knock at the door. I turned my head. ¡°Master, the cleaning is finished. What should I do next?¡± Master? I frowned but replied indifferently. ¡°If you¡¯re done, go back to your room.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s still work hours¡­¡± ¡°You finished cleaning, didn¡¯t you? There¡¯s nothing else to do.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you.¡± The footsteps grew distant. Such a nuisance. These were the helpers Anytng had forced into my house after expanding the waiting room to the 5th floor. They were in charge of cooking, cleaning,undry, and other chores. Even though I said I didn¡¯t need them, they wouldn¡¯t budge. Now, we were practically living together under one roof. ¡®What a bother.¡¯ I had many things to hide. I had no choice but to keep them at arm¡¯s length. After that, it was back to the waiting room duties. Neryssa soon came in with paperwork, and I reviewed the management details of the waiting room from my room, preparing a report to send to the master. Once Anytng confirmed the report, the day¡¯s schedule wasplete. [Master, would you like to log out?] [Yes (Selected) / No] [Goodbye!] Anytng logged out. The sky that had been shining white now turned dark. Now it was the heroes¡¯ free time. Usually, this was when I would begin my training sessions with Halkion, but for the past few days, I had been on a break. ¡°Yu, can you hear me? If you can, answer.¡± I muttered, sitting in my desk chair. Turning the ring on my left hand, I tried again. ¡°Yu. Yu.¡± No response. I clicked my tongue. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 262: Like Killing Insects (2) (1) Chapter 262: Like Killing Insects (2) (1) The smell of blood filled the room. I frowned and looked down. The bed, nket, and sheets were soaked in red. There was no need to exin what had happened to the person inside. ¡°How many is this now?¡± ¡°Eight.¡± Katiio scratched his head with a grimace. Eight people in three days. Including those killed in the initial attack, nearly fifteen heroes had died. Moreover, the body before us wasn¡¯t even abatant. It was a neer who worked as a kitchen assistant and handled ingredients in the dining hall.Not just this one, but all the deceased had no rtion tobat. They were killed simply because they were part of the same waiting room as me, even though it had nothing to do with them. ¡®So they want me to cough it up, huh.¡¯ The message was clear. If I didn¡¯t want more people to die, I had to hand over the Book of Reversal. Even though Anytng had detected the assassin¡¯s infiltration, tightening security was useless. We increased the number of guards threefold, deployed patrol units, and Katiio cast detection magic all over the ce, but the deaths continued. If they hadunched a full-scale attack, we could have at least had a proper battle. But after the initial attack, the killers had vanished, picking off members of the waiting room one by one. ¡®I¡¯ve heard rumors about their reputation¡­¡¯ Anytng must be losing her mind. We couldn¡¯t even identify the intruders, and all attempts at increasing security were ineffective. We had no idea when or how it would end. ¡°Who the hell is it? No surveince, no detection magic, not even traps work on them!¡± Katiio burst out in frustration. It was natural for him to be angry. High-ranked assassins could perfectly hide their presence. None of Townia¡¯s barriers, traps, or magic were effective against them. They only showed themselves once: when they were about to kill me. If our waiting room level were higher, it might be different, but as things stood, Townia¡¯s facilities weren¡¯t enough to stop them. ¡°What are they after¡­?¡± ¡°They¡¯re after me.¡± I fiddled with my sword sheath. They were making a statement, for my eyes. ¡°Tell everyone to lock their doors before going to bed. Report anything suspicious immediately, and don¡¯t wander around at night. Post guards near the support crew quarters for patrol.¡± I left the room. None of this would really be effective. ¡®Can I just hold out?¡¯ Until Yu notices what¡¯s happening? No. The fact that they took the ring meant they knew reinforcements were a possibility. If another faction got involved, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they staged a massive attack on the waiting room. Dozens, maybe hundreds, could be killed at once. ¡®This isn¡¯t good.¡¯ It was certain that they had an airship waiting outside. But I had no way of finding it. This was how hunters worked. Like a spider trapping its prey, they waited for their victim to weaken and die. I never thought I¡¯d end up as the target. If they had focused on me directly, I would have had a chance to counterattack. But they were thoroughly going after those around me. Soon enough, they¡¯d switch targets tobatants, as I continued to refuse to hand over the Book of Reversal. The first targets would likely be Velkist, Jenna, or Kishasha. If any member of Party 1 was assassinated, it would cause huge problems for our strategy. There wasn¡¯t much time left. And there was no way to catch them. That meant¡­ ¡®I¡¯ll have to draw them out myself.¡¯ I looked up. The sky was shrouded in gray fog. Anytng wasn¡¯t logged in. Even if she were here, she would just panic and run around. This was my problem to solve. Handing over the Book of Reversal might end this, but there was a 100% chance I¡¯d be stabbed in the back. Once they had what they wanted, there¡¯d be no reason to let me live. Total destruction was the essence of PVP. I passed through the midday square. Gone was the bustling crowd of passersby. Only grim-faced, armed heroes were moving around. ¡®Let¡¯s see.¡¯ The only thing I had was¡­ that they wanted the Book of Reversal. Was that enough? I opened the door to the airship hangar. The hangar, usually bustling with activity, was nowpletely empty. I headed for the ship on the far left: the Lucette. I checked the airship¡¯s status from the control panel. Repairs had beenpleted long ago, fuel was full, and the autopilot system was ready. I could take off at any moment by entering the coordinates. Leaping a few meters, I grabbed the steel railing and jumped onto the deck. Heading for the cockpit, I set the navigation system. [Master, dispatch starting!] [Dispatch Heroes ¨C ¡®Han(¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï),¡¯ ¡®Jenna(¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï),¡¯ ¡®Velkist(¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯] [Region ¨C Dimensional City Beta (144.**.*.**)] [Type ¨C Unknown] [Duration ¨C Undefined] [¡ù Caution!] [This dispatch is initiated as ¡®Automatic Dispatch¡¯ by the heroes themselves! If you do not wish for this, turn off the Autonomous Action feature in the settings!] Sorry, but I¡¯m making a detour. Boom! I pressed the Lucette¡¯s elerator. Woooooooong! The Lucette rose into the air and shot into a dimensional vortex. The change was instant. [1535th Dimension ¨C Townia] A tower of endless height spread out behind me. The suffocating, acrid air stung my lungs. I stepped out onto the deck and called out. ¡°Stop messing around ande out.¡± Rustle. Beyond the mast, a barrel shook. At the same time, someone rolled onto the deck. She stood up in one swift motion. ¡°As expected, I¡¯ve been caught?¡± Jenna grinned. Caught? Your name shows up in the dispatch window. I asked bluntly. ¡°Why did youe? I didn¡¯t tell you to.¡± ¡°You were trying to have all the fun for yourself. Your right-hand woman can¡¯t just sit back and watch.¡± ¡°All the fun?¡± Jenna cleared her throat. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 263: Like Killing Insects (3) (1) Chapter 263: Like Killing Insects (3) (1) [Dimensional City Beta] I surveyed the area. On the concrete airstrip, dozens of airships were neatly parked in rows. NPCs and heroes from the M?bius side were buzzing around. In the midst of the noise, our airship glided down smoothly. The faint hum of the engines signaled thending of the Lucette. ¡°Wee! I¡¯ll assist with your registration.¡± A woman in a business suit approached us. She pulled out some papers and nced between them and us. ¡°First, let me confirm. Han of Townia, Jenna, and Velkist, correct? Your purpose is a 6-star promotion, and your master is Anytng, right?¡± I half-listened to the attendant¡¯s words while silently scanning my surroundings. The targets were not visible.Well, we arrived first. Even though they were at least 100 meters away, the difference in travel time was less than a minute. They¡¯d show up soon enough. ¡°First, there¡¯s an important rule you must follow here: PvP between heroes is strictly forbidden. This rule was revised recently due to a mass massacre. Please sign here if you agree.¡± I took the pen from the attendant and signed carelessly. [Restrictions will apply in the event zone.] [PvP is prohibited! You cannot use ¡®Engravings¡¯.] ¡°No Engravings?¡± ¡°Yes. Regr skills are allowed. It would be inconvenient for customers if you couldn¡¯t use your skills at all. Thepany can handle the rest.¡± It was simr to the conditions during the battle with the Beast King on the 50th floor. I flicked my hand, but the ck-red lightning, symbolizing the ck Dragon¡¯s Blood, didn¡¯t appear. Now, I had only my physical strength and skills. ¡°Could the two behind you also sign?¡± ¡°Sis, if PvP is banned, does that mean we can¡¯t counterattack?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­¡± The attendant looked troubled. I chuckled and walked past the attendant, not forgetting to snatch the pamphlet from her hand. [6-Star Promotion Guide] [To be promoted to 6 stars, the highest practical rank in Pick Me Up, a procedure is required. Please note that there is no high-grade promotion center in the waiting area.] In short, it was simple: If you want to advance to 6 stars, take a test. There was a station at the airstrip, and you could travel to and from the test site by train. ¡®Estimated travel time¡­ 6 hours.¡¯ That¡¯s quite long. The bottom of the pamphlet had a guide for heroes unfamiliar with modern technology, exining the concept of trains. Jenna and Velkist quickly skimmed through it. ¡°A big, silent carriage?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t we see it before in the Dimensional City?¡± Jenna tilted her head in confusion. It was time she got used to modern technology. About ten minutester, I was seated on the train heading to the test site. The city¡¯s scenery continuously passed by outside the window. ording to Yu¡¯s exnation, this city was a crude imitation of Earth. Despite the well-kept buildings and roads, there wasn¡¯t a single car or person in sight. ¡°Oppa, aren¡¯t you drinking?¡± Jenna handed me a can of soda. On the round can were images of mint leaves and chocte. It was part of the in-train meal service given out by the stewardess. Only Jenna and I were sitting here. Velkist had gone to the lounge, saying he wanted to take a nap. ¡°It¡¯s really tasty!¡± Jenna gulped down the contents of the can. ¡°Don¡¯t drink a lot.¡± I responded half-heartedly, then looked around. Heroes in various outfits filled the seats ahead and behind us. ¡®Among them must be the targets.¡¯ I hadn¡¯t identified the exact details of the assassins¡ªneither their appearance nor their gender or age. How would they approach? The most likely scenario was an ambush during the test. In such a situation, it could easily be disguised as an ident. Causing trouble here would be too risky, even for them. There were at least a hundred people on this train. ¡°Hey! You there! I¡¯ve been calling you, why aren¡¯t you answering?¡± Even if the thug Skullcrusher was a ranker, he didn¡¯t have any backers. If he acted recklessly, he would self-destruct. He was known as a PvP specialist, so he must have had some sense. ¡°Oppa, someone¡¯s calling you.¡± Jenna tapped my shoulder, and I turned to look. A strange woman was ring at me. ¡°Finally, you look at me.¡± She exhaled deeply. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since west met, hasn¡¯t it? How have you been?¡± ¡°Sorry, but who are you?¡± The woman¡¯s face briefly twisted in displeasure but quickly regainedposure. ¡°Sadine Nibel from Ariana. You don¡¯t remember? We teamed up at Raid Festa. I¡¯m d to see you here.¡± Ah, now I remember. There was a woman who pestered me to form a team during the battle royale. Sadine Nibel. A blonde knight who was born a 4-star. I had eliminated her in the final match of the event. She was quite skilled for a 4-star, but she couldn¡¯t withstand Ascend¡¯s power. ¡°Oh, right. Good to see you.¡± I replied indifferently and turned my gaze back to the window. ¡°You¡¯re still as rude as ever.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bit busy. Got a lot going on.¡± ¡°You seem quite leisurely, gazing out the window like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m thinking about a hundred different things.¡± In reality, I wasn¡¯t thinking much at all. The real battle would begin after the test. A chance for a counterattack woulde, without a doubt. No matter how crazy they were, they wouldn¡¯t act here¡­ ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s cut to the chase. Join us. We¡¯ll treat you well. Our master holds you in high rega¡ª¡± Suddenly, green gas began pouring from the venttion system in the ceiling. ¡°Huh?¡± The light green gas billowed out, engulfing Sadine¡¯s face as she was in the middle of her long speech. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡­?¡± ¡°Get down.¡± I grabbed Jenna, who was drinking her mint-chocte soda, and pushed her head down, pressing her body t against the floor. ¡°What the hell is this?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t order this kind of service! Call the attendant!¡± As the green smoke filled the train, the passengers¡¯ shouts grew louder. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± ¡°The windows won¡¯t open¡­!¡± Thud. Sadine copsed silently to the floor. ck blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. ¡®Damn lunatics.¡¯ They had gone too far. ¡°Poison! It¡¯s poison!¡± ¡°Argh!¡± Still crouching, I kicked at the window with my foot. Thud! The window barely rattled. ¡®Reinforced ss, huh?¡¯ Even with enough force to dent steel, the ss didn¡¯t crack. All the windows were locked. The passengers were desperately trying to open the windows, but they didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Cough! Cough!¡± Thud. Heroes without poison resistance began dropping one by one. ¡°Oppa, this is¡­!¡± Jenna whispered in a panic. I bit my lip. ¡°They¡¯ve filled the train with poison gas.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 264: Like Killing Insects (4) (1) Chapter 264: Like Killing Insects (4) (1) I kicked open the door to the control room. The windshield was smeared with blood. Crackle. Fizz. Sparks flew from the broken controls and dashboard. On top of themy a corpse, so mangled it was unrecognizable. I kicked it aside, and the body toppled over. It seemed to be the train engineer. ¡°No one here.¡± The control room held only the corpse. The scenery beyond the ss was obscured by blood. I approached the controls, hoping to stop the train, but it was on autopilot, and stopping it manually didn¡¯t seem easy.I closed the door and stepped back out. I had walked from the engine room at the far end of the train to the first car, but I hadn¡¯t seen any sign of them. Which left one possibility. I entered the passage connecting the engine room to the first car. I grabbed the next door handle and pulled it. As the door opened, a fierce wind sted in, and the green gas filling the cabin began to slowly seep outside. ¡°No telling how much time I have¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t an instantly lethal poison, but prolonged exposure could be deadly. ¡°Focus.¡± Negotiation andbat. I checked my hand of cards once more. In my right hand, I held a sword, and tucked inside my coat was the Book of Reversal. I analyzed the situation, reying the enemy¡¯s likely reactions and my possible responses over and over. What they wanted, what I could do. ¡°Phew.¡± Stay calm. I couldn¡¯t let my emotions take over. After calming my thoughts, I dashed out the door. Whoosh! The wind, like a whip, hit my entire body. If I let go of the doorframe, I¡¯d be thrown from the train speeding at hundreds of kilometers per hour. With all my strength in my limbs, I flipped myself up. On top of the moving train. ¡°I was wondering when you¡¯d show. I¡¯ve been waiting for ages.¡± The enemy was there. I straightened my body. Standing firm against the wind, I looked forward. The city rushed past at high speed. And someone stood on top of the train. ¡°You know we¡¯re short on time, right?¡± She smiled slyly. Wearing a tight leather outfit reminiscent of a racing suit, her purple curly hair glinted ominously in the wind. ¡°Assassins always have that look.¡± Her appearance was as I expected. I spoke. ¡°The antidote?¡± ¡°Right here.¡± She opened her jacket. Inside the inner pocket were bottles of blue liquid. ¡°Just so you know, that poison¡¯s one of a kind. If you don¡¯t drink the antidote within half a day, not even a goddess could save you. Pretty impressive, right? It¡¯s simple¡ªhand over the Book of Reversal, and I¡¯ll give you the antidote. I¡¯ll even give you five bottles, for your subordinates.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Still don¡¯t know why the poison didn¡¯t affect you. It¡¯s strong enough to ovee most resistance.¡± The assassin chuckled. ¡°If I hand it over, will you leave peacefully?¡± ¡°Of course. No reason to stick around. Who knows when more nuisances will show up?¡± She was lying. I didn¡¯t need to see her to know that. ¡°That book doesn¡¯t suit you anyway. Leave it to us, and we¡¯ll make good use of it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll regret it.¡± ¡°Regret? I don¡¯t have time for that. Life¡¯s tough enough without regrets.¡± I rummaged through my coat and pulled out the Book of Reversal. Her eyes darkened. ¡°Toss it over.¡± ¡°The antidote first.¡± ¡°Huh? You seem confused about who¡¯s in control¡­¡± I smirked and pressed my sword against the Book of Reversal. The de pierced the leather cover. ¡°Like you said, I¡¯m just a five-star, a nobody, so I don¡¯t really need it. Good timing¡ªI wanted to test its durability anyway.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hand over the antidote. I won¡¯t ask twice. In ten seconds, I¡¯ll press down.¡± Sss. The de dug deeper into the book, now touching the pages inside. It might be an S-rank item, but it¡¯s still just leather and paper. If it¡¯s torn to shreds, who knows what will happen? ¡°You crazy bastard.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re scared, feel free to die.¡± ¡°Where do you get off threatening me? I could just kill you and take it.¡± ¡°Three seconds left.¡± Two seconds. One second. I pressed down. ¡°¡­Stop.¡± At that moment, she bared her fangs. I loosened my grip slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s exchange at the same time. We throw them to each other. I¡¯ll throw the antidote, and you the book. Noints that way, right?¡± ¡°When?¡± ¡°When this coin hits the ground.¡± She pulled out a gold coin. I nodded silently. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s keep it clean.¡± She rolled the coin in her hand and flipped it high into the air. As the spinning coin fell halfway down, whoosh! A gust of wind swept it away. ¡°¡­¡± The woman threw the antidote. At the same time, I threw the book. Though neither of us aimed where the other wanted. The antidote flew high above my head, soaring out of the train. In an instant, I dashed after it, hurling myself forward. Just before it fell off the edge, I reached out and caught the ss bottle with my fingertips. I nearly lost my bnce, but managed to recover. Looking ahead, I saw the assassin¡¯s frustrated expression. ¡°Is this so important to you?¡± Atop the first car of the train, Velkist was flipping through the Book of Reversal. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like much. Just a boring picture book.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That special poison? Lame. Way worse than that other girl.¡± Velkist smirked. ¡°As expected.¡± I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 265: Like Killing Insects (5) (1) Chapter 265: Like Killing Insects (5) (1) The assassin girl, skilled with her sickle, met a fate far too hollow for her abilities. Had she been able to use her engraving powers, the oue might have been different. I flicked the blood off my sword. Jenna, her face pale, coughed heavily. ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Somehow¡­ it seems like¡­ I didn¡¯t die. Cough!¡± ¡°That¡¯s all that matters.¡± I helped her up. ¡°Whew¡­ I really thought I was done for,¡± Jenna said, wobbling to her feet. From the front car of the train, the sound of shing steel continued intensely. Two shadows collided sporadically, sparks of blue light bursting between them. With a loud ng, the two figures separated.¡°You¡¯ve gone awfully quiet. Nothing more to say?¡± Velkist wiped the cut on his cheek with his arm. It wasn¡¯t a minor wound. His sleeve was soaked in blood. In contrast, Spira stood unharmed. She twirled her dark kukri, then looked at us. ¡°Heh, I taught you not to let your guard down. Guess the second-string just couldn¡¯t help it.¡± Even though herrade had died, there wasn¡¯t an ounce of disturbance in her demeanor. Instead, the smile on her lips grew even wider. I left Jenna where she was and joined Velkist. The situation: two against one. ¡°Well, I could finish you both off here¡­¡± Spira¡¯s eyes shifted. A couple of helicopters, armed to the teeth, were approaching alongside the speeding train. ¡°But I can¡¯t use my assassination techniques here, and it seems I don¡¯t have the time either.¡± ¡°Always barking orders like a pack of dogs.¡± The Vulcan cannons mounted on the helicopter pointed in our direction. Spira licked her lips with her tongue. ¡°Stay hidden here for as long as you can. If youe out¡­ you¡¯ll die instantly. Oh, and by the way, my eldest sister¡¯s going to make her move soon, so enjoy yourst moments while you still can.¡± Spira grinned broadly as she tucked her kukri back into her sleeve. ¡°Esten, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°See you soon.¡± Spira winked at me. Boom! Boom! Boom! There was a light explosion from the front of the train. I leaped backward in a hurry. Screeeeech! The st caused the train to partially derail from the tracks. Despite the sparks flying from the wheels, the train continued to push forward. ¡®Of course¡­ she had more allies.¡¯ This was just the beginning. Judging from her calm demeanor, it seemed they had prepared a backup n in case the ambush failed. ¡®Annoying.¡¯ Just when we were about to press on with our mission, these nuisances showed up. I sheathed my sword. Winning a fight or two wouldn¡¯t bring this to an end. ¡°She¡¯s stronger than I expected,¡± Velkist spat, wiping the blood from his lips. Even Velkist, who was toughened through countless battles and drills, had a hard time. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d be pushed back like this by anyone other than my superior.¡± ¡°Well, she¡¯s a ranker.¡± It was fortunate we were fighting here. If we had been outside, the situation would have been much worse without our engravings. Given the circumstances, it was a relief that we could even engage in closebat. ¡°By the way, are we just going to stand around like this?¡± Jenna scratched her cheek. ¡°Because, you know, it feels like the train is about to fall.¡± Velkist and I both looked forward at the same time. The train, now half off the tracks, was plummeting toward the buildings below. ¡°¡­..¡± After escaping the train, we were subjected to a lengthy debriefing by thepany officials. Jenna, veins bulging on her neck, passionately argued our case. She insisted that they had provoked the fight first and that we were not to me. And honestly, she wasn¡¯t wrong. The others, unlike Jenna, hadn¡¯t received the antidote. True to the ims about the special poison, ordinary antidotes had no effect. Most of the others were in critical condition. The security chief had evene by to issue a stern warning that the ringleaders of this terrorist attack would pay the appropriate price. ¡°What¡¯s the n from here?¡± ¡°Who knows?¡± We were back on the deck of the Lucette, our airship. Iy down, one foot propped up against the railing. ¡°What do you think we should do?¡± ¡°Of course, we should pursue them! Sitting here won¡¯t aplish anything. Doing something is better than nothing.¡± ¡°There are times when doing nothing is the best course of action.¡± The promotion test for the six-star rank had been canceled. Most of the participants had been eliminated beforehand, so there was no way it would proceed as nned. We returned to the Lucette on the docking tform to discuss our next move. ¡°I think Vel¡¯s right. We have to do something! I need to pay them back for what they did to me!¡± Jenna rolled up her sleeves. ¡°¡­..¡± I looked up at the sky. We could move out right now. But what if they were lying in wait outside? ¡®Would dragging this out really work to our advantage?¡¯ They had figured out that Niflheimr and I were connected. There¡¯s no way those assassins would have attacked blindly without any n. No matter how confident they were in their abilities, the truth was the same as before¡ªassassins are inherently weak in openbat. If Spira hadn¡¯t been an assassin, this fight would have yed out very differently. ¡®Hmmm.¡¯ I turned my gaze to my left ring finger. There used to be a ring there, a gift from Yu. It was called the Proof of the Fallen. A symbol of my position as the ruler of Niflheimr. Without it, it was hard to stay in touch with her. If I couldmunicate with her, the situation would be much easier¡­ I swallowed hard. The familiar voice echoed in my head. ¡°Give me a moment. I¡¯ll be back in ten minutes.¡± I stood up and headed inside the ship. I entered the storage room and locked the door. ¡°How are you contacting me? I don¡¯t even have the ring.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you contact me for a week¡­?¡± An investigation. I narrowed my eyes. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 266: Dethronement (1) Chapter 266: Dethronement (1) She walked out of the mes. The hot air entering my breath felt like walking into a hazardous gas chamber. She was holding back. If she had willed it, we would have been incinerated along with the Lucette. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Seris spread her left hand as she stepped forward. The mes encasing her body dispersed, revealing a red sword. The me Sword, Levatein. The greatest masterpiece among the Niflheimr I created. ¡°Since we met in Niflheimr, this is our first encounter again, isn¡¯t it?¡± The fiery glow that had surrounded her hair faded.Her eyes returned to their usual green. A blonde, green-eyed female knight in silver armor, exactly as I had pictured her. ¡°Isn¡¯t this reunion a bit sudden? It was a busy time.¡± ¡°The name of Makramda will no longer be heard on the second server.¡± Seris descended to the deck of the Lucette. At that moment, the waves of me sweeping over the field dissipated. The heated atmosphere cooled instantly. ¡°Master, just focus on your original mission. Clear every floor and return to Earth. Until then, we¡¯ll handle any nuisances that arise.¡± She spoke without a hint of emotion. Her chiseled, wless features showed no movement, like a statue. ¡°And the first thing you say to me is that?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not in the kind of rtionship for tearful embraces, are we?¡± It might have been a throwawayment, but her face showed no hint of a smile. ¡°As the sub-master of Niflheimr and the leader of the first party, who has been with you for a long time, allow me to say something.¡± Seris looked at me with a clear gaze. ¡°Close your eyes, cover your ears, and obediently return to Earth. Forget everything that happened here and live your old life. In the end, time will resolve it all.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Master, how many times are you going to be deceived? You don¡¯t need to heed the honeyed words of the CEO or the nonsense of the director. From the beginning, you were forced into this ce; it¡¯sughable that you even consider listening to them. All that talk of M?bius and the first server¡ªjust let it all go. It¡¯s nonsense even a dog wouldn¡¯t listen to.¡± I stayed silent. As she said, Seris and I didn¡¯t have a rtionship that warranted a tearful reunion. In the distant past, we used to bicker endlessly. We disagreed on every little thing, causing endless headaches. Every time I tried to do something, she would raiseints. If she hadn¡¯t been the only natural-born four-star, I would¡¯ve likely reced her early on. But that was back in the lower levels; as we climbed higher¡­ things changed, I thought. Was that just my misconception? I swallowed my bitterness and spoke. ¡°Seris.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Is this why you came all the way here? To say such trivial things to me?¡± I opened my mouth. ¡°What have you been doing all this time? I heard you were investigating something. Since I arrived here, in fact. You seem to know quite a bit that I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Seris continued. ¡°I know, and that¡¯s why I¡¯m advising you.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be mistaken. You¡¯re no longer the Loki of old. Here, you¡¯re just another hero. You have no right tomand me.¡± ¡°That much is true.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve¡­ grown weaker. The old you wasn¡¯t this soft. You were thorough. Cold, decisive, efficient. You were perfect. That¡¯s why we respected you as our master. But now¡­?¡± Seris looked behind her. Floating around us were the remains of the airship, burnt to cinders. ¡°Even after being deceived countless times, you still trust their words?¡± ¡°I never really trusted them.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s true.¡± Seris held out her hand to me. ¡°Hand over the Book of Reversal. You can reach seven stars without something like this. It¡¯s just a pass to the first server. And yet, you hold onto it.¡± ¡°Seris, you¡¯re too agitated.¡± ¡°I am extremely calm.¡± ¡°What happened¡­¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Seris shouted, gritting her teeth. She muttered quietly. ¡°There is no hope in this world.¡± A hollow look crossed her face. The face of someone who had abandoned all hope, someone in utter despair. But that expression was fleeting, quickly reced by a stony, expressionless mask. In that moment, I realized where Seris had been staying all this time. The first server. ¡°Master, hand over the Book of Reversal.¡± ¡°¡­.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t ask again.¡± Whoosh. A crimson me ignited along Levatein¡¯s de. ¡°No need to resort to outright robbery, right?¡± Seris nced coldly to the side. There, Velkist was leaning against the railing. Given that Seris didn¡¯t particrly care about secrecy, our conversation must have been overheard. ¡°I don¡¯t know what rtionship you have with him, but isn¡¯t it about time you stop?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Jenna leapt out from behind a pir, puffing her cheeks in defiance. ¡°He doesn¡¯t want to hand it over. That item is something he risked his life to protect. Just taking it for some vague reason is¡­ inconsiderate.¡± Seris¡¯ eyes glowed red. Before the two could be reduced to ashes, I threw the Book of Reversal her way. ¡°Take it. Don¡¯t harm them.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Seris caught the Book of Reversal in her left hand and opened it. ¡°I will purify this worthless object.¡± Whoosh! The edges of the book began to burn. Even treasures of unfathomable value have durability. The red mes quickly spread through the Book, consuming it entirely. ¡®That¡­¡¯ It was a keepsake left to me by El Cid. It contained the hopes and dreams of the fallen Dorado. I don¡¯t know how he would react, seeing it destroyed like this. ¡°Why did you give it up so easily?¡± ¡°Yeah, why? If we join forces, who knows what might happen!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even think about fighting. Not if you want to live.¡± It wasn¡¯t just a matter of grade or level. ¡°Is it she that strong?¡± Velkist caressed his sword. Jenna kept ring at Seris. ¡°But we might find a weak point¡­¡± ¡°There are no weak points.¡± I asserted. If anyone knew, it was me. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 267: The Golden Legacy (1) (1) Chapter 267: The Golden Legacy (1) (1) As I opened my eyes, a familiar ceiling came into view. It was the bedroom of my private quarters on the 5th floor of the waiting room. There was no trace of the bomb explosion that hadpletely consumed it. When I returned from the dimensional city, the damaged facilities had been fully restored, as if nothing had ever happened. Anytng had imposed no sanctions on me. It had simply filled the newly built disy cases with statues. Although nearly a million gold coins had vanished as a result, Anytng hadn¡¯t hesitated¡ªdespite the Lucette being half-destroyed and my promotion mission failing. Of course, some things had changed. I changed into my casual clothes and looked at my left hand. The ck ring that had always been on my finger was now gone without a trace. It was the mark of a fallen being, a symbol of being a master, Loki, handcrafted and gifted to me by Yu. With the power of that ring, I hadmunicated with her. ¡°¡­¡±In the early morning, the master was not logged in. After drinking some water, I headed down to the backyard training grounds. The moment I opened the yard door¡ªthunk! The sound of an arrow striking a scarecrow echoed. ¡°You¡¯re a bitte today!¡± Jenna, dressed in training clothes, was practicing her archery. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°This ce is perfect for practice. The air feels¡­ right.¡± Ping! An arrow embedded itself in the left chest of the scarecrow. I sat down on a wooden chair. ¡°If you have something to say, just say it. I don¡¯t like beating around the bush.¡± ¡°No, I just wanted toe¡­¡± ¡°Is it about yesterday? Curious about my identity? I won¡¯t bother with small talk. It¡¯s exactly what you think it is. Though I guess you probably already knew.¡± Ping! The arrow Jenna shot pierced straight through the center of the one already lodged in the scarecrow. Without a word, she prepared for her next shot. ¡°Anything else you¡¯re curious about?¡± Jenna didn¡¯t seem particrly surprised. It made sense. We hadn¡¯t just spent a day or two together. There had been enough incidents for her to suspect my true identity long ago, but she must have been pretending not to notice, so as not to make me ufortable. ¡°Master¡­¡± Jenna muttered. ¡°You were once a master. The people we saw back then were your heroes, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I raised them to be the best.¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s why you knew everything¡ªthe ways to clear missions, the ways to be stronger. I thought it was incredible¡­ because you never seemed to not know.¡± ¡°What? Are you disappointed?¡± ¡°No, not really.¡± Jenna folded her bow and walked over to sit across from me. ¡°You weren¡¯t originally from Townia. You had another hometown. Was it Earth?¡± ¡°Yeah. Not from Townia.¡± Jenna stood up and, turning away, continued speaking. ¡°That sister¡­ she went too far. Threatening you like that. She¡¯s disqualified as a subordinate. If it had been me, I would have done a really, really better job. I should have been the one summoned there.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t ask anymore. I know it must be stressful for you. But one thing!¡± Jenna turned back and pointed a finger at me. ¡°I¡¯m going to get back at that arrogant woman somehow! I can¡¯t just let her walk all over you. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Get back at her?¡± ¡°She seems really strong, but¡­ if I push myself, can¡¯t I surpass her?¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t know her, do you?¡± Jenna wiggled her finger. ¡°I know. I heard stories about her in Niflheimr. ¡®Invincible Seris.¡¯ But she¡¯s still just like me, so if I work hard, I think I can surpass her. Just wait and see. I¡¯ll show her what a genius can do!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m off to continue training! Take it easy today, Oppa. And don¡¯t stray off. No matter what choice you make, don¡¯t forget I¡¯m always on your side!¡± Jenna leaped lightly over the backyard wall and disappeared. I chuckled. Was it a difference that could be ovee by effort? I certainly didn¡¯t remember training Seris half-heartedly. That I used to be a master. That I was summoned from somewhere other than Townia. Jenna didn¡¯t pry beyond that. ¡®Is she being considerate on purpose, or does she just hateplicated things?¡¯ I smiled. It¡¯s hard to tell. But one thing was certain. ¡®Get back at her, huh.¡¯ It was absurd. No matter how extraordinary Jenna¡¯s talent was, it was iparable to Seris. I had seen it firsthand. Jenna must know that too. There was no way she didn¡¯t. Bragging had its limits. Seris was the culmination of all my efforts and research. She wasn¡¯t someone who could be surpassed through talent or luck alone. ¡®And yet she says that.¡¯ Surpassing Seris would mean surpassing my former self. ¡°¡­¡± I drove Bifrost into the ground. ¡°Who¡¯s watching me?¡± In the empty backyard, I stood and murmured. ¡°Don¡¯t just hide. Come out. I know you¡¯re there. It¡¯s not Seris or Yu. It doesn¡¯t fit Ridigion or Nihaku either. That leaves only one.¡± I turned around. A shadow rustled in the corner of the backyard bushes, and a small boy emerged. He looked no older than mid-teens, wearing a cap pulled low over his face. Under the brim, violet eyes glistened at me. Myuden Naidelk. ¡°You caught me.¡± ¡°Did you think I wouldn¡¯t?¡± Naturally, I wasn¡¯t strong enough to detect his presence. It was a logical deduction. For something as significant as surveince, there was no way they wouldn¡¯t send someone. ¡°What¡¯s your role?¡± ¡°Guard and surveince.¡± Myuden answered bluntly. ¡°You and Seris didn¡¯t get along well.¡± ¡°Hah, I hate this job too. Should¡¯ve reced the sub-master earlier. The kid¡¯s special move was almost ready.¡± Was he talking about Aaron? Seems he¡¯s doing well. ¡°You seem to know what¡¯s in the first server too.¡± ¡°I do. I heard it from Seris. I don¡¯t really care, but she insisted. Had no choice but toe along.¡± Myuden let out a dryugh. ¡°Don¡¯t expect my help, Master. I don¡¯t particrly like you. Got used as cannon fodder more times than I can count, saying I had no talent. You really put me through the wringer.¡± This guy was fundamentally stoic and detached. Even during the first battle, when teammates were dying around him, he hadn¡¯t panicked. Seris must have picked him for the surveince job because of that. The other three would have been too unpredictable. ¡°Just follow what Seris says. Clear the mission and go back to Earth. We¡¯ll take care of the external distractions. With your ability, you can handle that. I mean, you broke records¡ªclearing up to the 60th floor in less than half a year.¡± Myuden smirked. ¡°Thanks to you guys.¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± ¡°Are the others listening in on this too?¡± I pressed on, wondering if he was hiding it or genuinely clueless. ¡°First, I want to say thank you.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I would¡¯ve struggled a lot more without you all. Thanks to you, I got herefortably. That¡¯s the truth. I quickly dealt with nuisances and became stronger. If it weren¡¯t for your help, it would have been a much longer road. It felt great having such powerful support. Didn¡¯t know having a powerful backer was this nice.¡± I lifted Bifrost from the ground. ¡°But I wasn¡¯t your king.¡± It was an illusion. The unexpected hospitality, the overwhelming support. They treated me like royalty and showered me with privileges. They treated someone who saw them as mere data as a king. If I said I hadn¡¯t indulged in it, it would be a lie. ¡®I wascking.¡¯ I knew them as game characters, but not as people. That was the difference between me and El Cid. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 268: The Golden Legacy (2) (1) Chapter 268: The Golden Legacy (2) (1) Late afternoon. I returned to the mansion after leaving Iselle¡¯s room. El Cid¡¯s engraving. This must be the golden legacy Alpha Zero spoke of. It was much more useful than the mythical server master key nonsense. The engraving used by the number one ranked yer. Its power needed no further exnation. Of course, I couldn¡¯t use it yet. The book hadn¡¯t been fully deciphered. But someday, it would definitely be in my hands.¡®Do I need to reach 7-star?¡¯ The conditions were already set. I was well aware that it would be insufficient to end my growth at 6-star. The existence of the 7-star prince, the monstrous difficulty level surpassing ordinary ounts, and even Seris¡¯s involvement. The environment around me was shifting drastically. ¡®For those without power¡­¡¯ There was no right to choose. They would be swept away like a buoy, just as I was recently overpowered by Seris. This was merely a dy. I was sick of being dragged around by others. I didn¡¯t want to run away, ending things without knowing anything. Call it greed if you want. I had experienced countless things here, changing from head to toe. I probably wouldn¡¯t be able to live the same life even if I returned to Earth. I didn¡¯t want to do anything I¡¯d regret. I would choose. Whether I stayed or returned. For that, I needed power. ¡®At the very least, I need to pay back what I owe.¡¯ After all, I had suffered enough from Tel. It was only right to return the favor. *** [Master Anytng, wee to Pick Me Up!] A holographic window appeared in front of me. Anytng¡¯s connection message. [Loadingplete.] [T O U C H! (Select)] Initially, his login time waste evening, but now it had shifted to the afternoon. Even just calcting ytime showed it had nearly doubled. He had crossed into the realm of addiction. [You have received a report from Sub-Master, ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯. Would you like to check it?] [Yes (Select) / No] The report screen appeared on Anytng¡¯s control panel. It was something Neryssa and I prepared together each evening. It detailed resources like food, wood, and ores, along with policy suggestions, operational directions, and the growth trends of heroes. Anytng, with a deft motion, scrolled through the report. Game on. It was yed much like a simtion game. Upgrading facilities, assigning heroes to different floors, and designating appropriate roles. Thanks to diligent studying, Anytng was now fully adept. Compared to the haphazard way I used to manage things, it was night and day. ¡®Still indifferent when ites to tactics.¡¯ The mission strategy was almostissez-faire. It was left mostly to the mainbatants, including myself. Tactical tools were sometimes used depending on the battle situation, but generally, the heroes¡¯ discretion was respected. The reason for that was likely trust in me. [¡®A Horse Statue¡¯ is gifted to ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯.] [¡®A Horse Statue¡¯ is gifted to ¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯.] [¡®A Horse Statue¡¯ is¡­] Pop! With a childish sound effect, statues started piling up in the disy case. I watched the growing collection with indifferent eyes. They thought that manufacturing and giving them out like they were from a factory would be well-received¡­ [¡®Han (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï)¡¯ is delighted to receive the ¡®Horse Statue¡¯.] [Affection increases!] Did they even know? What was really happening in the game they yed. That the heroes in the game were, in fact, living beings, and that this world harbored great secrets. Well, they couldn¡¯t even imagine. Anytng seemed suspicious based on journal entries, but it was probably just a passing thought. Something that had nothing to do with them. [Memory Album] After finishing daily tasks, Anytng clicked the book icon on the right side of the screen. The Memory Album, content was added in a new patch. It was designed for light users who liked decorating. [Here, you can review photos and videos taken in-game. Relive the precious memories you¡¯ve built with your heroes!] Recently, Anytng had been spending time on this album afterpleting daily tasks. Most of the album entries featured me. [Album No.032 ¨C Han Taking a Nap] [Album No.033 ¨C A Moment with the Horse Statue] [Album No.034 ¨C One-sh Victory] The photos in the album were rendered with in-game graphics. Wasn¡¯t this a bit too much? It would be nice if they considered my feelings too. ¡°¡­¡± Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. What kind of person was Anytng? It might not be a bad idea to look them up if I ever returned to Earth. They wouldn¡¯t believe it even if I revealed my identity, and I had no intention of doing so, but seeing their face would be enough. I looked to my side. A chubby pigeon waddled in. ¡°Coo!¡± Thud. I grabbed the pigeon by the scruff of its neck and lifted it. ¡°Are you really invincible? I feel like I¡¯ve been scammed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s within Townia. Outside, who knows?¡± I hadn¡¯t called this guy on purpose. I was curious about how he would react if he saw Seris¡¯s power. ¡°Well, I was about to get moving.¡± I got up from my chair. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 268: The Golden Legacy (2) (2) Chapter 268: The Golden Legacy (2) (2) ¡°Well, I was about to get moving.¡± I got up from my chair. The destination was the special training ground on the fifth floor. Anytng had prepared it for the first party, and no matter what chaos ensued, it wouldn¡¯t be destroyed.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°Squawk!¡± With the pigeon still in hand, I headed for the training ground. After greeting the guard at the entrance, I opened the steel door and stepped inside. ng! ng, ng! A fierce battle was already underway in the training hall, which was asrge as an auditorium. ¡®Jenna and Velkist.¡¯ Neither seemed to notice I had arrived, engrossed in their training. They leaped from the floor to the ceiling and walls, sparks flying, sometimes clumping together before scattering again. It seemed they were practicing purebat without using their abilities. Oh, right. Since obtaining the Dragon Heart, I had been training with Halkion in the mindscape separately. It was far more efficient, and besides, this pigeon had raised a fuss, saying I was beyond sparring with them. It wasn¡¯t even a real space to begin with. ¡®The others¡­ aren¡¯t here.¡¯ Katiio was likely busy with various tasks, and Kishasha seemed preupied with the newly summoned beast heroes. These two were the ones who had witnessed my sh with Seris up close. Naturally, they knew my true identity. ¡°Hey! Stop, stop for a moment!¡± Velkist¡¯s longsword halted just before Jenna¡¯s neck. ¡°Surrender?¡± ¡°Not surrender! Oppa is here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. Such lies won¡¯t work¡­¡± ¡°Has it really been that long since we were together?¡± I walked slowly into the training area. Velkist chuckled dryly. ¡°¡­It¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. Why wouldn¡¯t it be?¡± Jenna wiped the sweat from her brow and folded her bow. ¡°Oppa, I didn¡¯t expect you to actuallye.¡± ¡°What changed your mind? I thought you didn¡¯t hang out with us anymore.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± I tossed the pigeon I had been holding. Seris might be watching this. Though she had retreated, I couldn¡¯t be sure she wasn¡¯t observing from the shadows. Not that it mattered. ¡°Do you remember the woman who pointed her sword at me a few days ago?¡± I began. Jenna nodded several times, while Velkist grimaced in displeasure. ¡°The insolent knight.¡± ¡°That woman¡¯s name is Seris Argentheim. Back when I was the master, she was my top subordinate. I can assure you, she¡¯s unbelievably strong. Even if I multiplied myself dozens of times, I¡¯d still be torn apart. And there are four more like her. Altogether, five. All monsters.¡± ¡°Why tell us this?¡± Velkist spoke. I smirked. ¡°Think about it logically. Isn¡¯t 5 versus 1 unfair?¡± There was no need to fight them. Their goal was to send me back to Earth. It matched my old objective. If so, I only needed the strength toplete the mission. I didn¡¯t have to force myself to get stronger beyond that. But¡­ ¡®At least.¡¯ I wanted to end this on my own terms. I didn¡¯t want to be dragged back after all I had endured. After all I went through, what was the point if I didn¡¯t have control over the ending? ¡°Aha, so we need a 5 versus 3 to make it interesting.¡± Jenna nudged Velkist¡¯s side. ¡°The choice is yours. I¡¯m not forcing you.¡± Velkist crossed his arms and closed his eyes. Then, after a brief silence, he spoke. ¡°How strong are they?¡± ¡°Beyond what you can imagine.¡± ¡°Then.¡± ¡°We need to get stronger.¡± ¡°How much stronger can we get?¡± ¡°There¡¯s enough potential.¡± Velkist opened his eyes. ¡°Then there¡¯s no reason to refuse. We owe you that much.¡± ¡°Just so you know, this isn¡¯t rted to any mission. It¡¯s my personal matter.¡± ¡°No matter. Let me know when the n is set. I¡¯ll be warming up until then.¡± Velkist sheathed his sword and confidently exited the training ground. ¡°I was worried you¡¯d brush it off, but this is more like you, Oppa.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°If it were, it wouldn¡¯t be fun.¡± Jenna winked at me. The pigeon looked between me and Jenna with a nk expression. ¡°Hey. I¡¯ll give you a week. Let those two enter the mindscape.¡± Halkion stared at me in bewilderment. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s more efficient, right?¡± The ce where time flowed differently would provide training effects simr to the distorted dimension where Myuden resided. That was where it would start. First, I needed to coax this one. I knew a pretty effective way to do that. ¡®This one likes water.¡¯ If I dunked him head-first into a puddle, he¡¯d be thrilled. He¡¯d give me an answer within three days, tops. ¡°Coo, coo¡­!¡± I grabbed the bouncing Halkion tightly. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 269: Crossroads (1) Chapter 269: Crossroads (1) Halkion¡¯s resistance was quite fierce. He stubbornly argued why he had to exert himself for something like this. However, after three days of my sincere persuasion, he eventually surrendered. Perhaps the heavens recognized my dedication, for he epted with a delighted face. It couldn¡¯t have turned out better. Ordinary training would never allow us to catch up to those guys. Regardless of talent or effort, the first party members of Niflheimr had honed themselves long before we arrived here. The time and experience they umted were on a different level. Thus, we had to resort to extraordinary means. Fortunately, we held cards powerful enough topete. The Book of Reversal, left by El Cid, and the training I underwent in my mental world were key. By leveraging these two, we could at least seize one opportunity. ¡°Everyone ready?¡± I spoke up.Jenna and Velkist nced around, bewildered. The surrounding red-brown ins stretched endlessly beyond the horizon. It was a barrenndscape. ¡°This ce¡­ is the mental world? It¡¯s hard to distinguish from reality.¡± Velkist frowned. ¡°Think of it as reality. Everything is the same, except that you revive after dying.¡± ¡°My actual body is in the waiting room, right? Then I can fight without worrying!¡± The man d in jet-ck armor muttered. His characteristic dark expression¡ªHalkion¡¯s human form. ¡°What did you say?¡± Halkion waved dismissively. It seemed there was no need to persuade him further. Jenna nodded, watching him. ¡°You seemed like a pigeon outside, but this is how you really look.¡± ¡°This man sure gets angry easily.¡± ¡°He just acts grumpy on the surface. You should help these two as well. It¡¯s better if we fight together, it¡¯s more efficient.¡± I set down my backpack. When I opened it, colorful stones glittered inside. They were all engraved stones, extracted by Iselle from the book of Reversal. Although the core engravings, including El Cid¡¯s, couldn¡¯t be taken, these were treasuresparable to S-rank items. ¡°Upon reaching 6-star rank, three engraving slots be avable. We need to experiment freely to find the optimalbination. Depending on the need, synthesis is also an option. They can even be enhanced.¡± There was an abundance of inscribed stones. An unbelievable treasure trove, as if the entire server had been looted. ¡®Though the base is set, there¡¯s a wide repertoire to explore.¡¯ Both Velkist and I had the blood of ck and white dragons. We had to maximize strengths and eliminate weaknesses. Meanwhile, Jenna needed to gain new power that would be effective against higher beings. I looked to the side. A nonchnt woman in a robe stood to Velkist¡¯s right. Nearly two meters tall with long, pure-white hair. Horns protruded from the sides of her head, and patches of her skin were covered in snow-white scales. Delta Ari Assinis. Like Halkion, she was one of the progenitors of the Four Great Family and another ancient being dwelling within Velkist. ¡°Pardon my intrusion.¡± Velkist shrugged. Assinis continued, indifferent. Was she referring to the remaining ancient beings? Assinis scanned us with a cold gaze. The two exchanged nces, mouthing silent words. No sound leaked out. It was as if they were conversing in mute. ¡°It¡¯s gettingplicated.¡± Jenna whispered to me. ¡°Don¡¯t mind it.¡± We only had to focus on our task. ¡®Now that I think of it¡­¡¯ There was one more troublesome matter. Phrios Al Ragnar. The brother of Priasis and the first heir to the empire¡¯s throne. Suspected to be the final boss of the Townia scenario. ¡®He must be insanely powerful.¡¯ His estimated level was at least over 300. The boss was no joke, as befits an S-rank challenge. The discussion seemed to have ended. Halkion roared, unable to hide his anger. He stood abruptly. Then, with murderous eyes, he red at Velkist and Jenna. Jenna nodded hesitantly. ¡®Well, it¡¯s better than grumbling.¡¯ We now had two instructors. I knew their strength firsthand. It would be a tremendous boost to our training. ¡°You heard him? He won¡¯t go easy.¡± I smirked at the two. ¡°He really won¡¯t. So brace yourselves. You agreed to this. No turning back now.¡± ¡°Please take care of us!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this.¡± Their determination seemed solid. ¡®Time to focus.¡¯ Ensuring growth wouldn¡¯t be hindered. I knew how important my role was. A wrongbination of engravings could lead to disastrous results. The goal was beyond merely bing a high-ranking yer¡ªto reach the peak of a 6-star hero. Facing Seris would mean surpassing even that. The journey ahead was daunting. ng. I drew Bifrost. First, we needed to evaluate each other¡¯s strengths. Understanding our current state was essential forying a foundation. The two noticed my intent and, without hesitation, drew their weapons. ¡®This is it.¡¯ There wouldn¡¯t be many more training opportunities. We would push forward relentlessly until the final mission waspleted. At the end of it, I would decide. Based solely on my judgment. The training was for that purpose. To end this journey, which had been akin to hell, with my own hands. ¡°For now¡­¡± I gripped the hilt. ¡°Come at me, both of you.¡± Crackle! Sizzle! A crimson lightning coursed through my body. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 270: Catastrophe (1) (1) Chapter 270: Catastrophe (1) (1) A red square with a white y button. The icon of the world¡¯srgest video channel, MyuTube?. I tapped the icon floating in the hologram and went to my subscription feed. As expected, a new video has been updated. [MyuTube?] [Channel of the Pick Me Up Master, ¡®Anytng¡¯] [Subscribers: 318,119] The subscriber count had surpassed 300,000. It wasrge enough to call her a popr MyuTuber. Compared to a few months ago when it wavered around 10,000, it was unbelievable growth. I scrolled down.The freshly uploaded video from yesterday has attracted numerousments. The title was Townia, 75th Floor. [Comments: 875] 15 minutes ago GreenVein, 1 hour ago: Merian, 2 hours ago: TheSquealer, 35 minutes ago: EnterOut, 1 hour ago: SerisLover, 2 hours ago: [View all 2 replies] SerisLover, 2 hours ago: SerisLover, 2 hours ago: YoonKiki, 3 hours ago: SkullCracker, 3 hours ago: Thements were more filled with criticism of Pick Me Up in general and rumors about Anytng than with genuine reactions to the video. Comments ranged fromints about ranking in a dying game, conspiracy theories that Anytng and Loki were working together to dominate the second server, to calls for quitting the game altogether. The frustrations were understandable; there were too many suspicious details. Anytng had reached the 75th floor of Pick Me Up, which was said to be nearly impossible, in less than a year. Being within the top 100 out of millions of Masters was an extraordinary feat. Themunity even coined a term for an obscure group called ¡°Amjinyo,¡± demanding the truth about Anytng. They were convinced Anytng was using an operator¡¯s ount with cheats. And I was also under suspicion. Any Master who picked a fight with Anytng ended up decimated. The theories circting on the boards imed: Anytng is Loki¡¯s alt ount. They are married. They¡¯re both using operator ounts. No matter what, one thing was clear¡­ The game was on a decline. Before I got sucked into this world, Pick Me Up was the most popr mobile game worldwide. But within a year, that glory faded. It had dropped out of the top 10 revenue games long ago and was bombarded with criticism as a ¡°luck-based money pit¡± where whales ruled. The steep learning curve, veteran yers¡¯ gatekeeping, and aggressive PVP had deterred new yers significantly. Above all, server issues and bugs gued the game. Servers would crash every few days, which became a routine urrence. Previously, these outages were spaced out, but now, they happened at least once or twice a week. Complete server breakdowns weren¡¯t unheard of either. yers reported missing heroes and forced stage terminations due to bugs. More than just a decline. If things continued this way, Pick Me Up would soon fall into obscurity or even face aplete shutdown. All games have a lifespan. As the moon waxes and wanes, every popr game eventually sees its prime pass and decline set in. Three years was already a long run for a mobile game. Revenue had been milked dry, and even a public service termination wouldn¡¯te as a shock. ¡°But still¡­ This is problematic.¡± ¡°What¡¯s problematic?¡± I looked up. Jenna, dressed in her dark blue leather coat, was tilting her head at me. ¡°Oppa, we¡¯re ready to go.¡± ¡°Already finished?¡± I nced around. The view unfolded below the railing. A vast space. Simply calling itrge didn¡¯t do it justice. [¡ù Caution!] [This mission requires over a hundred parties! If you¡¯re short on members, use the paid or free summons to recruit more heroes!] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 271: Catastrophe (2) (1) Chapter 271: Catastrophe (2) (1) I opened my eyes. [FLOOR 76.] [Mission Type ¨C Exploration] [Mission Objective ¨C Search the Imperial Pce ¡®Ragnasars¡¯!] The mission window appeared on the right side of my vision. This time the objective was exploration, something I had already expected. The forces defending the imperial capital were nearly decimated on the 75th floor. In the battle, most of the high-ranking officers, including themander, were annihted, leaving behind only a few scattered remnants. ¡®The imperial capital, Bardia.¡¯ It was the capital that started with the empire.A beautiful city that seemed like it came straight out of a painting, built around a grand imperial pce. Crack, boom! The debris from the golden roof fell. The city was burning in many ces. ¡°His Highness the Prince¡­ long live.¡± The head of a kneeling soldier flew off. The mercenary, with a patchy beard, wiped the blood from his de and urged his subordinates. ¡°There might still be some rats left. Find them all and kill them!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The garden outside the pce. Corpsesy scattered between the marble columns. The screams of the dying mixed with the thick smell of blood, spreading through the air. ¡®No need to fight¡­?¡¯ I looked up. Above the twilight sky, a fleet was floating. It was an allied force formed by heroes and the princess¡¯s army. The prince¡¯s forces had been effectively crushed after clearing the 75th floor, but the allied fleet, determined not to show anycency, prepared for bombardment. A thunderous voice echoed from the gship of the fleet. ¡°Good grief, how noisy.¡± Velkist picked at his ear. ¡°It¡¯s to boost our morale. It¡¯s a deration that we won, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jenna nodded as she surveyed the surroundings. ¡°The civil war is almost over now. We¡¯ll be back home soon. All that¡¯s left is to catch that prince or whatever he is.¡± ¡°He¡¯s the problem, isn¡¯t he?¡± Velkist clicked his tongue lightly. Since the 50th floor, up to the 75th, the prince never appeared as his loyal subordinates fell one by one. If he had intervened, the war¡¯s course would have undoubtedly changed. ¡®What¡¯s his n?¡¯ If his original purpose was ¡®liberation¡¯ as he had imed, he should have shown himself much sooner. Even now, as the princess¡¯s army¡¯s sword pointed at his neck, he remained hidden. I mulled over it several times, but there was no clear answer. I had to confront him directly to find out. I looked to my side. The garden and passageways surrounding the pce. At the center, a grand gate led to the imperial throne room. And¡­ ¡°¡­Han.¡± There stood Pria, wearing a silvery-white dress. ¡°I knew you¡¯de.¡± Pria looked at me and smiled, a dimple forming lightly by her lips. Dressed in an elegant gown and crown, nked by vignt guards, her demeanor was naturally regal. Back on the 60th floor, she had appeared so innocent and naive. Now, she exuded solemnity. ¡®Now¡­¡¯ There was no trace of that little girl left in Pria. Well, she was nearing her thirties. She had be older than me now. ¡°Wee, Hyung.¡± Next to her, Yoshu, sword at his side, bowed his head. His face bore numerous scars, and he had grown a thick beard. He had shed all traces of his youthful fragility. ¡°Thanks to you and the heroes, our army has won. Now all we need to do is nt the g on the throne.¡± ¡°There¡¯s still one left. Don¡¯t celebrate yet.¡± ¡°There¡¯s only so much one person can do. And no matter what he does, we have nothing to worry about. We have the invincible warrior.¡± Yoshu chuckled. ¡°Yoshu, don¡¯t burden Han any further. He has already done enough.¡± ¡°It was just a joke, Your Highness.¡± ¡°¡­I am not ¡®Your Highness.¡¯¡± Pria sighed. ¡°At any rate, this wretched war is drawing to a close. Now we must join forces and move into a new era.¡± ¡°Open the gate.¡± Creak. At Yoshu¡¯smand, the grand gate to the pce¡¯s interior opened. A cold wind blew from inside. ¡°The prince should be in here. We should deploy the elite forces immediately¡­¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll go alone. I have things to discuss with my brother.¡± ¡°It¡¯s dangerous. Please remember, Your Majesty, that your body is not yours alone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m with the most reliable knight of all.¡± Pria turned to me. ¡°Will you wait outside?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°If my brother had intended to fight, he would have shown himself already. Trust me just this once. Can I also ask this of the warriors behind us?¡± ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± Jenna nced at me. Pria was a primary guard target. Separating from her would leave a significant gap in security. The risk of an attack would increase exponentially. But Pria¡¯s words made sense, too. If the prince had the will to act, he would have done so much earlier. I nodded. ¡°Thank you, Han.¡± Pria grasped the hem of her dress and bowed to me. Then she walked slowly into the pce. I followed her, gripping the sheath of Bifrost. Boom. As soon as we entered, the gate behind us closed. Thenterns hanging on the marble columns lit up simultaneously, illuminating the space. ¡®Well, it¡¯s not like I came without a n.¡¯ I muttered so Pria wouldn¡¯t hear. ¡°Velkist, Jenna, be ready toe in as soon as I give the signal. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious.¡± ¡°Old man, you get ready to move in as well.¡± Roderick, themander of the Townia¡¯s aerial squad, responded too. That set up basic insurance. Whatever happened, if I could buy a bit of time, reinforcements would soon rush in. ck. The empty halls of the pce. Pria¡¯s heels clicked softly against the marble floor. ¡°Han.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m aging. Do I look worse than before?¡± ¡°Worse? Not at all.¡± ¡°Phew, then it was worth the effort to maintain myself.¡± Pria looked younger than one might expect. If someone said she was in her early twenties, they would believe it. ¡°The answer from back then¡­ you haven¡¯t made up your mind, have you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ true.¡± ¡°Take your time. I¡¯ll make sure not to displease you in the meantime.¡± Pria muttered with a sigh. ¡°I may have aged a decade, but¡­¡± I didn¡¯t respond. I only gripped the sheath of Bifrost tighter. ¡°It¡¯s all so unclear. Everything is full of questions. What was the dream that drove me? Why did my brother do what he did, and why did youe to us? This distortion¡­¡± ¡°Who knows? Maybe that guy will tell us.¡± I spoke, looking ahead. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! Chapter 272: Catastrophe (3) (1) Chapter 272: Catastrophe (3) (1) I wiped the de with a cleaning cloth. Once. Twice. Three times, the signature dark luster of the sword gleamed even more seductively. ¡®Not much time left.¡¯ The crack I briefly saw in the sky before returning to the waiting room yesterday was a sign that they wereing. The Fragment Series. Monsters of the highest grade appearing from the 80th floor and above in Pick Me Up. The Fragment Series earned the nickname ¡°Bnce Breakers¡± for humbling rankers who managed to clear the challenging stages. Five people across the entire server. That was the number of users who had broken through the 80th floor out of a hundred million Masters. They were ranked from 1st to 5th ce. Even the most skilled users who poured thousands of dors and countless hours into their strategies found the 80th floor an insurmountable barrier. The reason? The 80th floor was notoriously difficult.When even the famously persistent Korean gamers gave up, that said it all. In the end, yers either settled for staying on the 79th floor or sought other content besides tower climbing. ¡®Is it my turn to take on that challenge?¡¯ I looked up. [¡®Forming a Large Attack Unit (4).¡¯] [Party Composition ¨C ¡¯37th Party¡¯, ¡¯38th Party¡¯, ¡¯39th Party¡¯, ¡¯40th Party¡¯, ¡¯41st Party¡¯¡­] Anytng, who had logged in early after a long absence, was organizing a new raid group. She was assembling an efficient team for the 80th-floor attack. If we failed here, we would lose not just me, but all the heroes involved. The thought of losing the heroes I had spent time and money raising in an instant was horrifying. ¡®The final battle is the 80th floor.¡¯ The prince had once made an ominous statement. Based on that clue, I had formted a few hypotheses. Most of them were negative, but I didn¡¯t let that bother me. For now, I focused solely onpleting the mission. [Attention! This is Iselle. Can you hear me? I am informing all waiting raid members. The following individuals should prepare for battle immediately! First, our unbeatable ace, Han¡­] Iselle¡¯s voice echoed. Oops. Looks like we¡¯re about to climb the 77th floor. I sheathed Bifrost and left the room. The heroes called this time didn¡¯t even make up a full party. Just me, Jenna, and Velkist. Only three in total. Anytng must have realized that the real battle would start from the 80th floor. We entered the rift in spacetime in a calm atmosphere. It was my second time entering the imperial city. As the image of the pce loomed, a holographic window appeared. [FLOOR 77.] [Mission Type ¨C Exploration] [Mission Objective ¨C Search the Imperial Pce ¡®Ragnasars¡¯!] The objective was identical to that of the 76th floor. It was so uninspired it almost made meugh. Jenna muttered irritably. ¡°What is this? It¡¯s exactly the same as thest floor! Did the mission creator getzy?¡± ¡°Not entirely wrong.¡± I replied with a smile. First, night had fallen. Looking up, the sky was full of stars. Secondly, the streets were cleaner. The remnants of the imperial army seemed to have been almost wiped out. Only armed mercenaries patrolled the roads with stern expressions. I made eye contact with one of the patrols. The mercenary whispered to his colleague and then approached me. ¡°Excuse me, are you Sir Han Israt?¡± ¡°And if I am?¡± ¡°His Majesty is looking for you.¡± He left with those short words. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Should we leave you alone again this time?¡± Velkist muttered. I nodded silently. ¡°If anything happens, call us. We¡¯lle running.¡± ¡°This is so boring.¡± The two vanished into the dark alley. Left alone, I turned and walked towards the main street in the center of the imperial city. Passing through the guards was not difficult. They cleared the way as soon as they saw my face. At the entrance to the sealed pce, I found Pria waiting for me. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Pria, leaning against the garden¡¯s stone wall, straightened up. She was wearing a simple white dress, not her usual ceremonial attire. When my eyes fell on her, Pria scratched her cheek. ¡°¡­Does it not suit me?¡± ¡°No, I was just wondering why you wore that.¡± ¡°I wanted to change the mood.¡± Pria started walking ahead. Through the open doors of the pce. I quietly followed behind her. ¡°My memories¡­ have returned.¡± Pria mumbled as if speaking to herself. ¡°Townia had already perished once.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Now, I feel as if a weight has been lifted from my chest. You were the helpers the goddess sent to me. I now understand why they hated me.¡± The sound of her footsteps echoed down the dark hallway of the pce. Dim lights illuminated parts of the interior. ¡°What I thought was a dream was proof of a foolish contract. If it hadn¡¯t been for me¡­ they would have met an end more fitting of their honor. They wouldn¡¯t have been branded as traitors or used of selling out the empire.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°For my greed¡­ I may have betrayed them. What happened to the prince was my do.¡± Pria¡¯s face was hidden in shadow. I spoke softly. ¡°So, do you regret it?¡± ¡°Half and half.¡± ¡°Half and half?¡± Not fried half-and-half, for sure. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t betrayed Townia, I wouldn¡¯t have met you, would I?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pretty dangerous statement.¡± I wondered how Yosh would have reacted to hearing that. ¡°Hehe, didn¡¯t I tell you? I¡¯m a selfish person. I¡¯d do anything for my desires.¡± Pria chuckled softly in the glow of the lights. It seemed she had recovered her memories without too much shock. This was a sign that she had matured. ¡°Han.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Do you remember that promise?¡± I nodded. She was talking about that lifelong contract request. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it. It seems I¡¯ve burdened you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°And now you¡¯re canceling it all of a sudden?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s how you see it¡­¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet. I need more time to think.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not over. Neither for you, nor for me, nor for this ce.¡± I stated firmly. Pria bit her lip. ¡°¡­Understood.¡± ¡°The others are probably waiting. Let¡¯s go.¡± I wondered what nonsense they¡¯d spout this time. I opened the doors to the throne room and stepped inside. Starlight streamed down through the ceiling vents. I saw the vacant throne. The prince was absent this time. Instead, the boy who had served him stood looking at me. I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 273: Catastrophe (4) (1) Chapter 273: Catastrophe (4) (1) The next day, starting from the 78th floor climb, Anytng did not send me out on missions. She must have realized that it wasn¡¯t necessary to deploy the top force before reaching the 80th floor. Thus, the first party was given a bit of rest. ¡®Not that we¡¯ll be resting for long.¡¯ It seemed that Anytng had made her decision. Whether it would work or not, she was ready to face it head-on. We were climbing one floor per day, elerating to a final push. As always, when she thought we were prepared, she would send us into action without hesitation. It was something I needed to be mentally prepared for. Even in my days as a relentless gaming machine, I had a rough time on the 80th floor.I couldn¡¯t guarantee a 100% sess rate even if I were to go back to that time. It was true that the sess of conquering the 80th floor depended not just on skill but on luck as well. ¡®But still¡­¡¯ The Niflheimr acted as if my sess was guaranteed. When a game¡¯s difficulty skyrockets to extreme levels, luck bes just as crucial as skill. From their perspective, they couldn¡¯t know how much my hands were trembling when I conquered the 80th floor back then. Maybe they thought I cleared it smoothly. But that wasn¡¯t the case. I was incredibly tense. I looked up. Anytng was logged in. Lately, she was always connected to Pick Me Up, preparing without rest. She rearranged the raid party numerous times, reorganized tactical tools, inspected the airship, and nurtured the heroes. By the looks of it, she didn¡¯t seem to be sleeping. There was no stopping for the master. And that was what mattered¡ªif she had been afraid of failure and halted the expedition, I wouldn¡¯t have stayed in Townia. Although I cursed her a lot at first, looking back, it seemed I had chosen the right person. ¡®Well, at least she follows instructions well.¡¯ And she takes good care of the heroes too. I looked ahead. The hall of the mansion. Arge metal disy case stood there. ¡®Finallypleted.¡¯ A collection of one thousand warhorse statues. It was one of my goals before leaving this ce. Like collecting stamps. Just fighting and training would make life too dull. Although some were lost during an explosive ident, I managed toplete the warhorse collection somehow. Step. I approached the first statue in the disy case. Well-tanned bronze skin and a muscr body. Its two raised hooves exuded wild power. Statue number 37. This one was chosen as themander of the cavalry. It was the only warhorse that survived the explosion. Its name was¡­ ¡°Seris.¡± I chuckled. Then, I picked up a handful of horse statues from the side and put them in my pocket, ringing the bell mounted on the wall. Ding. A clear sound resonated, and a girl in a maid¡¯s outfit came out. She was the exclusive maid assigned by Anytng to handle various household chores. ¡°You called, Master Han.¡± ¡°I have a favor to ask.¡± The girl bowed deeply. ¡°When I go to the 80th floor, dispose of all these statues.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± ¡°You can throw them in the trash or burn them all at once. I¡¯ll leave it up to you.¡± ¡°M-Master Han!¡± I turned my back and walked out. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s a bit wasteful to discard something given by the master, huh?¡± ¡°Perhaps reconsidering¡­¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll give them to you. Take them all. How does that sound?¡± The girl¡¯s expression stiffened. She finally stuttered as she spoke. ¡°How could I¡­ with such valuable items that the master cherishes¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard all this time. Consider it a reward from me.¡± The girl hesitated. She seemed touched by the high-value gift. ¡®Well, I¡¯ve had enough fun with them.¡¯ The statues had helped me manage stress. They were quite effective. That maid must be under a lot of work stress too, so I hoped this gift would be beneficial to her. I stepped out of the mansion. As soon as I did, a pang of pain swept through my chest. I finally understood how Gyebaek felt when he killed his own family before heading to Hwangsanbeol. ¡®It¡¯s a shame¡­¡¯ No, I shook my head. The warhorses must have been itching to move after being stuck in one ce. It would be good for them to find a new owner. Judging by her attitude, the girl would take good care of them. I whistled and rode the elevator down to the lower levels. To a secluded corner of the second-floor za. The storage area was located in a hidden spot, away from foot traffic. I passed through the guards and went into the depths of the storage. There stood disy cases holding the relics of past Towniabatants. Each case had a namete. Among them were Eloka, who had died on the 35th floor. The early members, Geed and Hanson, had their ces too. Not far from there was Edith, the leader of the second party. I opened the ss case blocking thepartment and ced the horse statues from my pocket inside. ¡®No regrets.¡¯ Letting Geed and Hanson die on the fifth floor. Not saving Edith, who had been left alone on the burning airship. In the underwater temple, watching Eloka bleed out and die¡­ ¡®Thest one¡­¡¯ A lie. I tried not to leave regrets, but I couldn¡¯t avoid them. I had often thought about going back to change the oue. I looked at the high-quality fan and fur coat inside the case. Eloka¡¯s memento. The only blemish I regretted, over and over. If I closed my eyes, I could still see her being dragged into the deep sea. ¡®They said they would bring her back.¡¯ If I climbed to the top, Townia would be restored to its original state. But could I still make that promise now? I sat on the chair in front of the disy case. [Is there something on your mind?] Tinkle. Iselle appeared, scattering stardust. She seemed to have been watching me. Well, they say when people start doing unusual things, it¡¯s near their end. ¡°Just tidying up.¡± [Tidying up?] ¡°I might die on the 80th floor. Just making sure there are no loose ends.¡± [What? You, Loki, die? The same Loki who defeated El Cid and climbed to the 88th floor of Niflheimr? Ridiculous!] Iselle waved her hands vigorously. I didn¡¯t respond, just smiled. ¡°Hey, Iselle. I¡¯ve been wondering.¡± [Yeah? What is it? Ask away.] I leaned back in the chair. I recalled the scene I witnessed during the sixth-floor promotion ceremony. It wasn¡¯t anything significant, just a glimpse of myself when I was abandoned at the orphanage. So this was more about confirming something simple. ¡°What kind of person was Han Istrat?¡± [Han Istrat?] I''m currently Tranting the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level yer. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!