Chapter 78 : Chapter 78

Chapter 78 - Quagmire (3)

In fact, it was a rather obvious story if you thought about it.

Teams that had already dropped below a certain number during the first stage had been automatically ‘eliminated’.

And the fact that there was a ‘selection’ process based on such criteria meant that there would undoubtedly be an evaluation of the climbers participating in the current ordeal, ranked in some way.

If so, those who knew how to use their heads a little would have quickly realized that this ordeal was a place where one could obtain something better depending on their ‘rank’.

“So, you’re saying that the guys trying to beat us up now have all come to that conclusion.”

As Yoo Ho-jun said that, Seo Hye-in and Darien, who were quietly leaning against a tree, nodded their heads simultaneously.

‘…These people seemed so prickly when I first met them.’

After feeling down about not being helpful to Kim Gyu-sik a while ago and then resolving to work together, they now got along swimmingly.

Every time I saw something like this, I was always reminded of what the nexus of the network that guy had spread around him was.

And there was only one thing Yoo Ho-jun could say to such a close friend.

‘Die, you popular guy.’

And the two people who would surely get angry if they heard such words still nodded their heads and replied.

“In short, since it’s a competition rather than a cooperative effort, it means that fights between climbers will now become more active.”

“...To think they would try to harm the Avatar of the Savior without knowing their place. All pests must be exterminated.”

After saying that, Darien and Seo Hye-in put away the mana recording device from their bosoms.

I wondered why on earth they would bring something like that to the Tower, where life-and-death situations were commonplace.

“Then let’s conclude our information gathering on Mr. Gyu-sik here. As always, thanks to you, Mr. Ho-jun, it’s always helpful.”

“Hmm... so. His favorite food. Places. Atmosphere. Attire. I’ve memorized everything up to here. Next, I should investigate his hobbies or preferences-”

…It was for reasons like this.

I couldn't count how many times I had been held captive and bombarded with questions just because I was Kim Gyu-sik’s longtime friend.

As Yoo Ho-jun once again chewed over the thought that popular guys should die, Seo Hye-in sighed and drew her sword.

“For now, shall we clean up the surroundings? Mr. Gyu-sik’s task… shall we complete it later?”

She said so, looking down at the logs scattered on the floor.

They were in the middle of tying the logs that Seo Ah-in and Lee Si-yeong's team had diligently felled, but they would have to postpone it for now.

“...But this, it’s a raft, right?”

“It seems so to anyone who looks.”

“A raft out of the blue in the middle of a forest, he’s quite… a wise person.”

“...Isn't that usually when you say he's strange?”

Of course, even as he said that, Yoo Ho-jun couldn't bring himself to say that his words were right.

How many times had that guy given a bizarre instruction, only for it to fit the situation perfectly?

Just look at how he had placed him in the Seo Hye-in-Darien team, which had the highest combat synergy.

He must have known something like this would happen in advance and assigned him, a non-combatant, to this team.

“...”

And in reality, there was nothing for Yoo Ho-jun to do.

First of all, there was someone who could see where the enemy was as if it were right in front of her eyes, even in a place where visibility was not secured due to the insanely pouring rain.

And if such a person was combined with someone who could fight on equal terms if only she could approach the enemy directly, a person you'd have to search the entire planet to find.

The result was obvious.

“Wh-what? Where did you come from?”

“Engage! Everyone, form up and... Gak!”

It took less than 10 minutes for a little over a dozen climbers to collapse to the ground.

“It’s going smoothly.”

“It’s almost too easy. I wonder if the other teams are okay?”

“Well, the Guild Master and Seo Ah-in’s team won’t be easily defeated, and as for Gyu-sik and Meirin’s side…”

As he was about to say that, Yoo Ho-jun suddenly shut his mouth with a sense of foreboding.

‘…Isn’t that side lacking any real safety net?’

Of course, Kim Gyu-sik was a man he was confident would survive no matter where you put him, but the problem was Meirin, who was with him.

At least, the person she had shown during training was by no means someone who demonstrated the strength of a human weapon like Seo Hye-in.

To make matters worse, as if adding insult to injury, a flinching Seo Hye-in next to him uttered some ominous words.

“...Just a moment. It’s a familiar mana wavelength.”

“Pardon?”

“The ‘Black Lion’ is heading towards Mr. Gyu-sik. We must join them quickly!”

Hearing the urgency in Seo Hye-in's voice, he must be a very strong climber.

When asked about his grade, she said he was a B-grade who could chase right up to the heels of an A-grade climber. Apparently, if he had been a little luckier during the test, he would have easily obtained A-grade.

‘Huh.’

Yoo Ho-jun felt his face turn slightly pale and swallowed dryly.

This.

I don’t think so, but.

Is this really turning into a big problem?

And at the same time he had that thought.

-!

A white flash of light erupted from within the forest.

It was definitely.

In the direction where Kim Gyu-sik was.

“...Let’s hurry.”

“Yes!”

***

Hmm.

I'm screwed.

I never thought even I would end up in a situation like this.

Just looking at Meirin's pale face next to me, I could tell how messed up the current situation was.

“No... way... Mr. Gyu-sik...!”

Under the pouring rain, Meirin’s trembling, agitated voice echoed.

The blood dripping from my body was also washed away by the rainwater.

My breathing is labored. My vision blurs. The world is tinted white.

“...Ah.”

A weary sigh escaped my lips.

“Couldn't even do a single test. So damn weak.”

“...”

Meirin looked at me with an expression that seemed to question if those were words that could come from a human being’s mouth.

In front of us, about 50 climbers lay unconscious on the ground.

They were all humans swept away by the ‘single blow’ I had just unleashed.

“Th-this... how did you do it?”

“It is the result of a fusion between myself and Meirin.”

“...Pardon? Fusion?”

“It's a thing.”

Most veteran Conqueror users would probably agree, but there was only one reason to stuff martial arts-related skills into Meirin, who had no combat skills.

This person.

Is the best ‘auxiliary battery’ in this world.

“...”

No, really, there's no more fitting explanation than that.

That's because this person has a skill like this.

[ Source / NPC-Chang Meirin’s Unique Ability ]

[ You become particularly sensitive to feeling the resources required to use various skills. Once you can fully feel the resources, you will have the authority to arbitrarily control, absorb, and transfer that energy. You have absolute priority, especially regarding Qi. ]

It was written quite vaguely.

But to put it simply, this person is extremely sensitive to both mana and Qi, which means she can handle them much better than others.

There was a reason why she could feel enough mana to be the face of the Martial Arts Alliance, even in China where mana-sensitive individuals were nearly extinct.

‘And on top of that…’

If she started handling Qi that was particularly well-suited to her body, she would boast outstanding compatibility.

So, I also equipped this person’s Source skill from my skill share slot.

I had her ‘transfer’ her Qi to me.

Just as she could feel the energy sensitively, the transferred Qi was also absorbed smoothly without any loss.

I packed it directly into the Cheonryongpo and released it.

The result?

“...Those people, they’re not dead, are they?”

“I think they went to a similar level. How can they not even withstand a single blow?”

All 50 people, including the B-grade climber ‘Black Lion’ who boasted of his strength in side quests in the game, were neutralized in a single blow.

Although it was just a one-shot attack that could only be used with this person by my side, its power was comparable to a high-level vanguard skill.

‘…This is so broken, really.’

Thinking that, I fiddled with the Cheonryongpo equipped on my right arm.

No matter how much this amplified the effects of Qi-related skills, the ability to unleash such a powerful blow was purely because Meirin could accumulate an absurd amount of Qi in an instant.

Who would believe that this was someone who had only started to feel Qi a few hours ago?

“...”

And.

Considering this person's talent, this amount of Qi accumulation was just the beginning.

Depending on what I feed her from now on, she could become the world's strongest auxiliary battery, capable of supplying all sorts of energy...!

Do your best, Meirin...!

“St-still, I was helpful in some way, right...?”

To Meirin, who asked with her eyes rolling around, I approached with a smirk.

And I ruffled her hair vigorously a few times.

“Huh? Uh, uh? M-Mr. Gyu-sik?”

“No. No matter how I think about it, I’m glad I brought you.”

If she was this helpful to me, I had no choice but to treat her like a lucky charm.

She was also much younger than me, so it somehow felt like I was taking care of a niece.

My precious, my precious.

As I was messing up Meirin's hair for a while, she hesitated, trying to say something, then glanced at me, and then moved her head a little closer to me.

What's this. Does she want more? She's like a pet.

“...They say a rolling stone gathers no moss, but this is a rolling stone kicking out the original stone.”

“Why, why have you never done that for me...!”

“...”

A terrifying voice was suddenly heard from nearby, so I stopped.

When I turned my head, I saw the Seo Hye-in-Darien duo making the world's most wronged expressions, and Yoo Ho-jun with narrowed eyes, looking this way.

“Gyu-sik.”

“...What.”

“Can you handle it later?”

Handle what.

What do I have to handle.

“...No, well. Right. You probably won't die.”

“Stop talking nonsense. What happened to the task I left you?”

“Building the raft? It’s almost done, but… why do we even need that in the first place?”

As Yoo Ho-jun scratched his head and asked, I checked my watch first instead of answering.

If it's almost done... right. We should be able to make it in time.

“The stage name is Quagmire, Quagmire.”

“Huh?”

“It's not a name given for no reason.”

Thinking that, I looked up at the sky.

The sky was still pouring down rain like crazy.

I didn't know how the others were preparing.

But that.

It's going to be a very big variable.

“...”

I sighed and checked the schedule in my head.

Now that I've awakened the abilities of Seo Ah-in and Meirin, the preparations are as good as done.

So, the first thing to do in this situation is.

“...”

What else.

It's to smash everything and charge forward.

“Tell Seo Ah-in and Lee Si-yeong to join us here too.”

I said with a smirk.

“Because the real thing starts now.”

Right.

The preparations are finished.

Now it's time to go on a solo run in earnest.

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