NOVEL NEXT chapter 16
16 – First Floor, Battle for the Class Ticket.
One hand cannot block ten hands.
Similarly, one skill cannot block ten skills.
If it’s not a defensive skill but an offensive skill, the situation becomes more disadvantageous.
Because while clashing weapons with the opponent, you’re almost defenseless.
‘The best scenario is one where only I am attacking.’
The F-rank skill, Smash, has no cooldown or mana consumption.
As long as you have the stamina, you can use Smash indefinitely.
‘It means you have the advantage in a one-sided scenario.’
But such scenarios are rare.
The opponent isn’t a fool.
If they are grouped together, the opponent will try to stab you simultaneously.
My vitality has its limits.
It’s practically impossible to withstand all of the opponent’s skills.
‘So, it becomes extremely difficult once there are more than three.’
I recalled the time of crew making.
I found Eun Seoryeong and Baek Song surrounded by the Black Sword warriors.
I planned to help the two in distress and form a team of three.
My unconscious mind led my body, thinking that women would be better than those rough-looking men.
Although the plan succeeded, during the process, I had to realize my own instability once again.
‘If I recklessly rely on Smash without any other skills, I might really die without anyone noticing.’
The reason for trying to obtain at least one skill through Kim Minseong.
To create a means to respond to unreasonable scenarios.
Here arose a problem.
Kim Minseong’s anxiety was reducing his efficiency.
How can I take the course ticket with the burden of Kim Minseong?
How can I safely land a Smash with these lousy stats?
The method was simple.
I just had to use the Earth’s people’s carelessness against them.
‘Why did the Red Dragon die?’
Because I didn’t expect it to suddenly use Hatchling Breath there.
Carelessness.
‘Why did so many players die?’
I didn’t know a mere Earthling’s skill could be so destructive.
Another lapse in judgment.
The operation was successful.
“We… we did it!”
Kim Min-seong, who had once knelt before the Black Path warriors.
He approached me, cheering.
He frowned at the sight of the Black Path warriors’ corpses, but he didn’t vomit.
Having gone through the tutorial and crew-making, he had somewhat adapted to brutal situations.
“I can’t believe this worked…!”
The look in his eyes as he gazed at me was unusual.
A gaze close to reverence, lightly stepping into the realm of discomfort.
“Let’s start by finding the course ticket fragments.”
“Yes!”
I gave Kim Min-seong a command that wasn’t quite a command.
Without hesitation, he went around picking up the course ticket fragments.
Thinking they were his, his enthusiasm seemed to overflow.
I gathered the Black Path warriors’ weapons instead of the course ticket fragments.
I checked to see if there was anything decent.
‘Nothing good. They’re all tutorial weapons.’
Blood Shadow Sword, Yunnan Twin Ghosts, they had such grandiose nicknames.
But the weapons they wielded were cheap, F-rank, purple-colored junk.
It was absurd.
“These guys. Just as Mr. Oh said, they were real trash. Four of them, and how many course tickets do they have?”
The number of course ticket fragments was more than I expected.
When combined, it was enough to make three complete course tickets.
It meant they had killed that many players.
“How did you know?”
“It seems there are different types of martial artists. White Path, Black Path, something like that.”
“Is it similar to martial arts novels?”
Kim Min-seong muttered.
I glanced at him and asked.
“…Do you like martial arts novels?”
“I’m not really a huge fan. I’ve just read the famous ones.”
“How does it feel? Compared to these guys?”
After a brief moment of contemplation, Kim Min-seong nodded and replied.
“The imagery is quite similar.”
I didn’t particularly like novels.
The act of reading itself was tiring.
My concentration would wane in such areas.
To be honest, I wasn’t very good at studying.
That’s why I sought Kim Min-seong’s help.
‘It might be good to know.’
In the 0th floor tutorial, I met a knight who seemed like she came straight out of an anime.
Based on the aura she blatantly exuded, I predicted her disposition and found a way out.
I might face a similar situation against martial artists.
So, I wanted to know at least a bit about them.
“I don’t know much either. At best, I know about Jongnam’s return…”
Kim Min-seong explained as much as he knew.
Orthodox sect, unorthodox sect.
White path, black path.
“Is there a sect called Jeomchangpa?”
“I know it’s one of the Nine Great Schools. I don’t know what kind of martial arts they use, though.”
Eun Seol-ryeong of Jeomchangpa, Baek Song of Hwasanpa.
Both were members of fairly prominent sects.
‘So that’s why they held out quite well against those black path b*stards.’
They might be more formidable martial artists than I thought.
“This way.”
Kim Min-seong’s steps became noticeably lighter.
They say generosity comes from a full granary.
As soon as his pockets were filled with course tickets, he regained his enthusiasm.
He started exploring on his own without me having to urge him.
‘Efficiency has improved too.’
The skill effect itself should be fixed.
‘…It varies depending on the person’s personality.’
Some people focus better when they have leisure time.
Others show their potential when they are cornered.
Kim Min-seong was closer to the former.
“Here it is. The box.”
He showed results.
He finally found a random box.
The course ticket fragment obtained this time was Beta.
Since Beta was what we lacked the most, we focused on finding Beta.
“This is the skill.”
There was something else in the box.
A round crystal.
A mysterious light flowed from the fist-sized crystal.
I received the crystal from Kim Min-seong and checked the contents.
[Iron Cloth Skill 鐵布衫功][E]
By concentrating, you harden your body, increasing durability by 『1,070』 for 20 seconds.
Cooldown: 1 minute
Mana consumption: 20
《Race Specialization》
1. Martial Artist
Duration increased by 10 seconds.
《Skill Specialization》
1. Introduction to Shaolin Seventy-Two Arts 少林七十二藝.
Durability ＋100
I read through the skill information.
And I covered my mouth.
‘…Crazy!’
To increase endurance by 1, you need to increase stamina by 1.
1 point of stamina equals 1 point of endurance.
However, Iron Armor Triple Technique increases that endurance by about 1,000.
Though it’s only for 20 seconds.
‘For those 20 seconds, I’m practically invincible!’
Thank goodness.
I’m glad I got a skill that makes the Rune of Healing worth it.
Without hesitation, I acquired the skill.
Thanks to the Illusory Tome, my wisdom stat was inflated, so I could easily learn the Iron Armor Triple Technique.
“…How much time until the next detection?”
“One minute.”
“Let’s move quickly.”
I was itching to try out the Iron Armor Triple Technique.
Then.
A group appeared beyond the bushes.
“Beast… Beasts!?”
Kim Min-seong stepped back in surprise.
There was a hint of disappointment in his muttering voice.
“Beasts? Did you just call me a beast, human?”
The opponent, who didn’t miss that small voice, roared angrily.
It wasn’t a metaphorical roar.
Baring sharp fangs, ready to bite at any moment.
Like a wolf.
‘I knew it.’
Fluffy dog ears and tail.
The epitome of beastmen.
‘…Reality is much harsher.’
The beastman before him was closer to a beast than a human.
Though it walked on two legs like a human, the head on its shoulders was not human.
That’s why Kim Min-seong sighed.
Grrrr-.
“Oh, Mr. Oryuin!”
It didn’t take long for that disappointment to turn into fear.
Awooo-!
“Eek!”
Kim Min-seong, frightened by the howling of the beastmen, quickly hid behind Oryuin.
“How dare you. Mistake a warrior of the Lunacolis tribe, Zar Fel, for a beast-like vermin.”
The enraged beastman glared at Kim Min-seong with his bright yellow eyes.
Then he opened his mouth wide and roared ferociously.
“No matter if you’re a human from another dimension, I cannot forgive you!”
“You won’t die peacefully! Human!”
He’s huge.
I’m not small, but he’s at least two heads taller than me.
At least 2 meters 30 centimeters.
His arms are long, making it hard to close the distance, and his thighs are bulging threateningly.
There are five of them.
‘Kim Min-seong must have been killed without even resisting.’
Not just Kim Min-seong?
The vast majority of Earthlings wouldn’t be able to stand properly in front of Zar Fel.
‘But I’m different.’
I waited for Zar Fel and his group to make the first move.
‘No.’
There’s no need to wait.
“If you’re not beastmen, then what are you? You dog-headed b*stards?”
The first weapon Earthlings can use.
Inducing carelessness.
The second.
“What, what? Dog-headed?”
Provocation.
‘Nothing scratches like a little punk acting tough.’
Roar!
It roars.
Earlier, it was a roar directed at Kim Min-sung, but this time, it was aimed at me.
Wide-area provocation.
Even without using a specific skill, the aggro of five beastmen focused on me.
“I’ll kill you!”
Zar Fel was the first to extend his arm.
His claws flashed like lightning.
Without thinking of dodging, I immediately used Iron Armor Triple Strike.
Slash-!
Zar Fel’s claws raked across my chest.
Only my clothes were torn.
There wasn’t even a scratch on my body.
“Tsk. Did a mosquito bite me?”
Reduced health?
【149】
Only 1.
‘I don’t know how strong the opponent’s attack is, but…
Unless it’s a formidable opponent, it’s hard to see my blood in the battle for the course registration ticket.
Smiling with satisfaction, I swung a powerful strike.