120. Myth (4)
The integration ordeal of the 13th floor has come to an end.
Sachio Michimoto, Andrei Tarkovsky, and even David Taylor….
I had a rare experience meeting famous hunters from all over the world, but I was not very interested.
‘The gap has widened beyond my imagination.’
If it was me who had just entered the tower, I would have known, but now I felt that their level was low.
So, without further discussion, I skipped over the portal while talking casually.
Faith had been harvested, and now there was nothing more to gain from the 13th floor.
I wondered if a challenger with a similar rank to me would do the same, but there was no way to know.
‘If there’s another integration ordeal later, I’ll meet people of higher rank.’
I just think we’ll meet when the time comes.
「You have entered the waiting room on the 14th floor.」
「The system is expanded.」
「Layer intrusion-exclusive items are added to the contractor-only shop.」
「Halo enhancement items are added to the contractor-only shop.」
「Types of elixirs to the contractor-only shop. Items will be added.」
After going through the space through the portal, a familiar waiting room appeared.
When I return to the waiting room where there is nothing but loneliness, I feel calm.
Now this waiting room was familiar enough to call it my home.
‘Another system expansion…’
This time, the system expansion was the addition of items related to the contractor-only shop.
Layer intrusion items, halo enhancement items, and elixir-type items…
Many high-quality items were added, so I was interested in the contractor-only shop.
‘Come to think of it, I’ve never opened a skill or item item in a contractor-only shop.’
It was worth it.
I thought it would be a waste to spend special points on anything other than authority.
Every time I break through a floor, now the special points add up to 10,000 when
I add up the additional breakthrough rewards.
So, of course, I didn’t even open items like skills and items.
‘But things have changed.’
Now, the contractor-only shops started selling halo enhancements and elixirs.
Even special items related to layer intrusion were added, so it was natural to be interested.
Even if I couldn’t pick and choose what to buy right away, I had to know what had changed.
Always recognizing and adapting to new changes is a basic skill of a challenger climbing the tower.
“Exclusive shop.”
「Contractor Exclusive Shop」
「SP – 11500」
「Category: Skill」
「Category: Authority」
「Category: Goods」
「Contractor: Iron Blood Lord and White Crane Swordsman」
「Remarks: Administrator The first contractor and administrator of ‘Iron Blood Lord” I am the apostle of the White Crane Swordsman.」
Originally, I would have looked at the Authority first, but this time it was the opposite.
I selected the item category under the power category.
「Browse the contractor-only shop “Category: Goods.”」
And.
「Listed based on available items.」
A list of items that had never been seen before appeared.
「No.387: Sorcery Engineering Suit」
「Sacrificial Gospel of the Devil Worshiper」
「Cursed Crow’s Mask」
「Sacred Knight’s Gray Greatsword」
「Nameless Sword God’s Scabbard」
.
.
.
“…”
All of these items were great, but they didn’t fit my interests.
Even if I looked down the screen, I didn’t see anything I was interested in.
It was self-evident that continuing the search like this would only take an unnecessarily long time.
I immediately went into the gear-shaped settings at the top of the screen and set a new setting.
Twice in total was enough to get the settings right.
「Listed based on class intrusion item.」
「Class intrusion penalty alleviation stone」
「Grade: A-」
「Price: 8000 SP」
「Basic explanation: When consuming the item, the skill limit and stat reduction, which are the penalty for intrusion into the class, are reduced. can alleviate. However, this item can only be used when intruding into the layer of a challenger whose layer difference from the user is around 6th floor
.
「Listed by halo enhancement item.」
「Halo Enhancement Stone」
「Grade: A-」
「Price: 10000 SP」
「Basic Description: When consuming the item, the halo is strengthened to increase the unique powers and halo effects to potential abilities. can be strengthened accordingly. However, if the item has insufficient potential, the halo effect may not be enhanced.”
Another setting was to list items related to halo enhancement.
Both of them were set up and displayed only one item each, but…
Both had unusual effects at a level that defied common sense.
In fact, I was able to pass it by thinking that it was the halo reinforcement below.
It was an item that could be a loss to enhance depending on the person, and in fact, I didn’t feel the need to strengthen the halo itself.
However, it was not an item related to layer intrusion.
‘Alleviating the penalty for intrusion into the hierarchy…’
It was a very dangerous item.
If Namgoong-hyeok were to use these items, he would become a formidable enemy.
Of course, if the difference in class is so great, it is impossible to use and the price of the item is not cheap… but
a challenger like Namgung-hyuk will not spend much points, so he should have enough power to buy.
That was the problem.
‘Namgoong-hyeok didn’t show me his strength.’
At that time, I was only bound by penalty by the authority of Catherine Bennett.
Had they continued to compete in a normal state, they would have reached a complete defeat, let alone a draw.
But it was also true that things were different back then.
Climbing the three tiers made me grow considerably.
He learned sword fighting, realized his talent, and even fully expressed his divine power.
Even force wasn’t the only thing that changed.
‘I’ve changed my mind.’
Unlike before, he has a mindset as a complete warrior and his mental strength has also improved.
The results of this growth could be clearly identified through the settlement rankings.
Now I was close to the strongest among the challengers at the Earth level.
So, he had a hunch that the aspect of the battle would be different from before.
‘Even if Namgung-hyuk is in perfect condition, the aspect itself will be different from the battle in Tokyo.’
But that didn’t mean that he would face the next ordeal unprepared.
If Namgung-hyeok didn’t have to bear the penalty for intruding into the hierarchy, this side had to be just as cautious.
‘I have to buy powers and improve my fighting ability itself.’
It was an intention to purchase one of the manager’s powers and increase the power.
And it was already decided which authority to buy and practice.
「Authority: Sword Demon’s Path (S)」
「Price: 10000 SP」
「Description: It is an Authority that sword wielders often get from among those who fall into contradiction, becoming stronger to live and then living to become stronger. Regarding the sword, you can develop your own skills and it will be easier to embody your own enlightenment.”
Originally, it was an Authority that would not have been considered due to low talent, but
… I bought it.」
「10000 SP will be deducted.」
This was not the case anymore.
Leaving aside all the rhetoric, I was drawn to the fact that I could develop my own sword skills.
Not only the swordsmanship he stole from Namgung-hyeok, but also the swordsmanship he will steal from now on…
Thinking about the future, this power will surely be of great help to me.
only.
‘I don’t know how to develop skills.’
I couldn’t get a good sense of how to activate this authority to develop skills.
You cannot activate the power arbitrarily, and there is no special feeling.
“….”
I stood still and pondered my question.
But the curiosity did not last long.
Come to think of it…
「The manager ‘Baekhakgeomseon’ invites you to the manager’s area.」
It was enough to ask questions directly.
***
「Accept the invitation and go to the manager’s area.」
「You have entered the forest.」
“It’s been a while. Sungyoon.”
When I entered the Chinese-style mansion, a white crane sword greeted me with a smile.
From the white hair to the pure white uniform with no wrinkles…
She was still the way I remembered her.
but.
“…?”
For some reason, Baekhak Geomseon’s attitude slightly changed.
I think it was definitely you in the past, but you call me by my first name in a familiar way.
He was even staring at him with twinkling eyes, as if he was curiously looking forward to it.
‘what…?’
It was a time when I felt a question in my heart in the eyes of unknown anticipation.
“I heard from her. They say they have the Namgung family’s child as their enemy.”
I cut off the thought of following Baekhak Geomseon’s words and opened my mouth.
“Yeah…. Somehow, I ended up looking like a mortal enemy.”
“I understand. Warriors like fighting to subdue each other.”
At those words, I kept my mouth shut for a while and looked at Baekhak Geomseon, who was still smiling.
“It reminds me of the old days. Once, when I was climbing the tower, there were days when I fought just like Sungyoon…”
Namgunghyeok, who rushed at me like an animal without a good reason, took it for granted.
Judging from the way he speaks, it seems that he has been through many of these cases.
“…”
As expected of a manager from the Moorim dimension, he seemed to easily understand that esoteric way of thinking.
Even if it wasn’t so, I thought Baekhakgeomseon’s temper was uncharacteristic of a Moorim native
…
As I was thinking about that, Baekhak Geomseon’s words continued before I knew it.
“It must be because of Namgung-hyeok that Sungyoon bought my power using the special points.”
“That’s right. And I accepted the invitation because I wanted to hear advice about that authority.”
“Whoops… If that’s the case, Sungyoon definitely made a good choice.”
“…?”
Looking at Baekhakgeomseon, who was proud for some reason, she soon opened her mouth again.
“Sung-yoon can be called a genius, to use a commonly used expression.”
“Genius… not really. I’m just good at imitating a little bit.”
It really was.
I did not completely copy the martial art technique of the Moorim dimension.
I simply took only the usable parts of Namgung-hyeok’s swordsmanship and modified it to fit me.
Of course, if you look at it from the perspective of another dimension, it was clear that I had something to call a talent.
However, my swordsmanship was still in the realm of imitation, so I wasn’t at the level of being called a genius.
“At one point, I instinctively followed a swordsman’s formula without even knowing the exact composition, and it went beyond the realm of simple imitation.”
But maybe even that was actually a very rare case…
“In the 12th floor ordeal, you even grasped the sword’s will and improved the swordsmanship itself into a double swordsmanship.”
Baekhak Geomseon just cut it off and said that I was unique.
“That’s not an area that could be more called imitation.”
In fact, I didn’t know much about martial arts, so I didn’t have the knowledge to talk about this and that.
“…”
Because of that, I kept my mouth shut and listened to Baekhakgeomseon’s words.
“Even if I didn’t learn all the herbivores of the Namgung family’s Changcheon sword type, I have the qualities of a great master just by acquiring and improving some of the herbivores.”
“The great servant…?”
“It means that as the beginning of a sect, it would be nothing strange to set up a gate.”
“…”
“From that point of view, the authority Seongyoon chose this time was an excellent choice.”
Baek Hak Geomseon looked at me with twinkling eyes…
“Now, everything Seong-yoon learns and realizes will be turned into a technology approved by the TOP.”
Soon, she averted her gaze as if she was slightly embarrassed, and continued talking.
“I will teach you that part from now on. All just… I have a suggestion.”
and.
“A suggestion…?”
“…I hope you learn from me.”
“learning? Ah, is it about divine power? If that’s the case, it’s been solved to some degree now…”
“No, it’s not like that… it’s just… pure technical learning.”
From Baekhakgeomseon’s words that followed, I realized why she was so close to me.
“So, to put it simply, we want to establish a relationship between a teacher and a teacher…”
It was the moment when an unexpected teacher came into being.
