113. Massacre (1)
“True Blood Demon Sword”
“Grade: A-”
“Reaction Speed +15%”
“Attack Speed +15%”
“Treasure that was once descended from the Blood Demon Cult of Murim One of the famous swords.]
「All potential abilities were unlocked by the user who reached the stage of sword flame.」 「
When challenger Han Seong-yoon uses it, the exclusive effect ‘Blood Energy’ can be activated.]
「Blood Energy . (血气) has an indestructible property and temporarily improves cutting power.」
「Challenger Han Seong-yoon can activate the exclusive effect ‘Blood Eat’ when used.」
「Blood Eat is a Blood Demon Sword. When you designate and kill an opponent, you can absorb the opponent’s blood into the blade to increase the overall item performance and achieve random skill imprinting.」「At this time, up to three skills can be imprinted with blood, and the imprinted skill
is It doesn’t cost anything.」
I was impressed when I appraised the newly changed Blood Dragon’s Eye.
The rate of increase in reaction speed and attack speed has also increased, and exclusive effects have also grown and been added.
‘That’s great.’
I narrowed my eyes as I looked at the curly letters engraved on the blade.
Even if the appearance is not very good, the Blood Heaven Demon Sword is no longer just an ordinary item.
It has become a growth-type item with two exclusive effects with official names, so it’s a considerable benefit.
‘Originally, it was usable in its own way, but now it’s a monster-like spec.’
There was even a function called skill imprinting for the exclusive effect of the newly created blood formula.
I had never heard or seen that a skill could be used without a cost once the skill was imprinted.
‘If there is a flaw, it must be that only up to three skills can be imprinted.’
Of course, there was no limit to skill imprinting, and this level of limit was a matter of course.
Although it was a bit unsettling to have a skill imprinted randomly, if you just imprinted a good skill, you would be able to see an effect beyond imagination.
‘I can see why only users who have reached the level of swordsmanship can unlock their potential.’
It was natural that there should be some restrictions if such a fraudulent ability could bloom.
After confirming that the Blood Heaven Demon Sword had completely changed before I knew it, I invoked the Ordeal Command.
“Would you like to challenge the 13th floor?”
Now it was time to climb the tower again.
***
「Enter the 13th floor of the Tower of Trials.」
「Difficulty – Hard」
「The subject of this ordeal is ‘Strategic Battle’.」 「
I hope that the challenger’s choice will result in a satisfactory outcome.」
I looked around silently, watching the messages floating in the air.
The stage on the 13th floor was in the form of a forest that I had experienced before.
‘It’s quiet.’
Should I say the feeling of falling alone in a forest full of green light?
I finished my exploration of the surroundings, feeling the smell of fresh grass permeating deep into my lungs.
And looking at the message that followed, I frowned.
That should be the case…
「Start the 13th floor ordeal.」
「Remaining time – 14 days」
「Order breakthrough condition – Cooperate with colleagues to kill the Vampire Count within the remaining time」
「Order failure condition – teammate annihilation or The end of the remaining time”
「Trial breakthrough reward – Random skill book (A+)」
「Trial failure penalty – death」
This is because the 13th floor ordeal was an integrated ordeal after a long time.
It was always annoying whenever I went through trials with my teammates, so I wasn’t very happy
about it.
‘It’s a random skill book.’
Judging from the fact that a better reward was offered than expected, it seemed that there would be a pretty good harvest from this ordeal.
If you’re lucky, you might catch the manager’s attention and receive the patronage of power, so it was only natural that your bad mood would get better.
「Assignment of team members begins.」
Uuuuuuu!
Then, three portals were opened nearby, and a mini-map was created in the field of view.
「Opens the 13th floor trial map.」
「Displays cities occupied by vampires.」
「Displays hidden priests in cities occupied by vampires.」
「Location of vampire counts in cities occupied by vampires. is displayed.」
It was the shape of the minimap I had seen once before, around the time of the second ordeal.
‘Did this mean a strategic battle…’
Perhaps this 13th floor ordeal had to find a priest in the city and kill the Vampire Count.
However, I am a bit dissatisfied with this.
‘Can’t we just break into the city and kill everything we can find?’
I think that would be better than bothering to find a cleric.
In fact, I currently have enough power to destroy a city.
It was clear that a large-scale battle would serve as a considerable advantage for me.
With necromancy, you can use the spirits endlessly to recover your physical strength and magic power… If
you combine skills like Seeker of Blood, it would be fair to say that I am the strongest in a melee.
It was the moment when he seriously considered the melee in the city, lost in thought.
“The assignment of team members has been completed.”
“The assigned team member’s nickname is displayed for smooth play.”
Three challengers appeared from a portal that was created nearby.
I slowly rolled my eyes and examined the faces of the challengers.
「Andrei Tarkovsky」
“It’s rotten… I wonder why the system expands, but was it an integration ordeal?”
Starting with Russians who openly use their real names as nicknames.
「Legendary Ninja」
“Uh… Hello. Haha nice to meet you all.”
By way of a pretty good-looking Japanese who doesn’t suit a fairly childish nickname.
「Wizard of the Clock Tower」
“…Nice to meet you.”
Even an Englishman wearing a robe that barely shows his face…
I took a look at them and soon realized two things.
They were challengers from different countries and at the same time were ranked at the top of the settlement board.
Andrei Tarkovsky, a topless man showing off his tattoos, was ranked seventh.
The Wizard of the Clock Tower was a skilled player who reached the 6th place in the rankings, higher than Andrei Tarkovsky.
I felt like I saw a Japanese man with a childish nickname called Legendary Ninja at the top of the rankings.
To be a top-tier challenger from another country…
It was something I couldn’t help feeling even if I didn’t want to be interested.
But the others started talking right away, as if it didn’t matter that they were ranked high.
“Now we have to cooperate with each other for 14 days, so let’s start with the voice. I am Andrei Tarkovsky.”
The Japanese challenger reacted to his words, showing off his tattoos without wearing any clothes on his upper body.
There was a strange look in his eyes, as if the current situation was quite interesting.
“Andrei Tarkovsky… I was dubious when I looked at the rankings, but as expected, you are Russian…”
“I have no intention of hiding it. Yes, I am the head of the Carpe Diem Guild. why? Isn’t it strange that the head of Russia’s largest guild is in the tower?”
At that, the Japanese challenger smiled bitterly and waved his hand.
“It is not. It’s just amazing that there are people in the same situation as me. Ah, I am Sachio Michimoto, an S-class hunter from the Japan Hunter Association.”
“Oh, you were more precious than me. That you are the only S-class hunter in Japan…”
“Because that doesn’t matter in the Tower. Just feel free to call me Sachio. The one who wears a robe…”
The topic turned to the wizard of the clock tower, followed by an old man wearing a robe.
“My name is David Taylor. I am a lowly wizard belonging to the Clock Tower.”
“Are you an archmage on the brink of retirement? But to be dragged to the tower… Your luck is really bad.”
Andrei said as if he was sorry, but David laughed as if he didn’t.
“I think of it as luck in later life. A mysterious essence like a tower is an interesting subject for a mage to explore.”
After the introduction of the three people, their eyes naturally fell on me.
The head of Russia’s largest guild, the only S-class hunter in Japan…
Even though the banquet of the titans continued, including the archmage on the verge of retirement.
I took their gaze casually and introduced myself calmly.
Compared to them, he considered himself lacking in nothing.
That’s what he should be…
“I’m Han Seong-yoon, a Korean C-class hunter.”
This is because currently I am the highest ranked challenger on the global level.
***
The conversation after that was a useless formality.
What if I didn’t know that the challenger at the top of the settlement rankings was a C-class hunter…
Of course, such a story was short-lived, and soon, starting with David, the story of the ordeal came and went.
“On the subject of strategic battles, defeating the Vampire Counts… It’s an interesting ordeal.”
“I don’t know if it’s fun, but it annoys me. You can’t just proceed in a straight line.”
“I guess I should find a priest in a city occupied by vampires and defeat the vampire count.”
The conclusion came out fairly simply.
“Let’s infiltrate the city, save the priest, and then kill the Vampire Count.”
“It’s simple… but I wonder if it’s possible to sneak into the city.”
It was a story about infiltrating the city, meeting the priests, and killing the vampire count.
“Don’t worry about that. I don’t waste my age, so I can use stealth magic. If you don’t have a skill like the detection skill, you won’t get caught.”
“It’s nice to hear that. However, as far as I know, the duration of stealth magic is not very high…” “
Even so, we can keep it until we invade the city. Of course, if you can’t use it in battle, it won’t be useful if you get detected.”
“Oh, then I will use my unique trait to secretly inspect the outskirts of the city and come back. That will make breaking in easier.”
“That’s good.”
I just listened to the whole conversation without giving an opinion.
This is because I was curious about how top-level challengers in other countries think and overcome trials.
I thought maybe there might be a better strategy than fighting melee within the city.
But as I listened quietly, I soon began to feel a sense of disappointment in my teammates.
‘It’s good to look carefully and break in and explore the city… Even if you’re careful, you’re too cautious.’
Even Andrei, who was shirtless and showing off his tattoos, was more prudent than he thought.
Even this Russian challenger, who was clad in magic tools-like accessories all over his body, was like this, but the others had no choice but to be more cautious.
Sachio Michimoto is more accustomed to raiding and stealth than hand-to-hand combat due to his unique nature as an assassin, and David was no different.
Knowing how to use stealth magic, this English mage favored fairly clever combat.
As if he would not deviate from the subject of the ordeal, he was trying to conduct a thoroughly strategic battle.
It was self-evident that perhaps, if he continued like this, he would be able to smoothly overcome the ordeal without failing.
But…
‘Then I may not be able to get an additional breakthrough reward.’
I wasn’t afraid of the 13th floor ordeal to the extent that I followed the clever fighting method.
Top is the type who always suggests a straight attack method, but following it as it is is foolish.
Even in the 11th floor ordeal, it was a nuance that it seemed like you just had to break through each gate, but in
reality it was a great system that allowed you to pursue more perfect growth only after passing through all the gates.
In fact, thanks to that, in the 11th floor ordeal, I got a good amount of additional breakthrough rewards.
‘I can create a stage where I can make use of my strengths like a melee, but there’s no reason to avoid it.’
So I had no intention of following the plan of the three people, and soon put that thought into my mouth.
“I think everyone is misunderstanding something…”
“…?”
“It is not efficient to break through trials like that.”
“What does that mean that the efficiency is not good… Does that mean there is a better way?”
I nodded my head at David’s question, who was in charge of the discussion.
“Isn’t it natural to be there?”
At those words, Sachio Michimoto, who was discussing it in front of him, lit up his eyes.
“Ohh…then can you tell me what that method is?”
“All right. It’s not that difficult, so you’ll understand easily.”
Andrei and David also responded as if they were curious about my thoughts.
“I am curious too. I can’t believe there is a more efficient way than this. It sounds like a lot of fun.”
“As expected of a world number one challenger, it seems he had his own secret to clearing the ordeal.”
It’s a secret…
If you look at it closely, wouldn’t this be a kind of secret method?
“There is no better way than this scheme to be simple.”
I put the 13th floor strategy in my head into my mouth.
“If you just shut up and charge, you can kill them all and pass the ordeal.”
In its raw form, as if it were really raw.
