Phantom Dragon, Ride the Wind (4)
[Perm’s Javelin]
[B-rank]
[Special Ability: Perm]
+Perm: Destroys all magical power. The probability of this occurring increases in proportion to attack power.
Kang Shin-hyuk’s first B-rank masterpiece, the spear, which fully expressed the ability of the metal called Alite, was stuck in the center of the magic circle, leaving a golden afterimage behind it. He could feel power bursting out of the spear in a brilliant display of light. The spear, backed by the power of an S-rank strength, shot right through the magic circle without any heed for its strength.
-Kiiii!
-Click click click
The magic circle began to splash unstable sparks, sowing confusion in the spiders flocking around it. For Kang Shin-hyuk, it was the perfect opportunity. In that gap of attention, he began to destroy all the egg clutches remaining in the cavern.
-You have suppressed several beings that are harmful to the order of things. Bonus based on membership level! You received 152,500 HP! As a VIP bonus, you received an additional HP equivalent to 50% of the reward, for a total of 228,750 HP!
-Your strength became A-rank!
Finally, his strength reached A-rank, pushing the buff even higher. At this point, he didn’t have to run away to deal with them. He charged right in, wielding the forelimb blade.
“Go away!” Everything in the path of his blade fell. The spiders couldn’t resist as they were split apart, still focusing on the magic circle.
-Kwooom
The magic circle began to disappear with the sound of glass breaking, unable to overcome the power contained in the javelin.
-Kwooooom
The magic circle shattered, countless particles of light scattering in the air as vibrations shook the cavern. Each spider let out a cry of excitement, flocking forwards to protect the egg, but it only encouraged Kang Shin-hyuk.
“Get off!” He had two minutes left to destroy the egg. He moved forward, wildly swinging his sword in all directions. His wind blades cut through the spiders but weren’t able to break the egg.
“How annoying…!” He picked up a javelin in his free hand as he kept cutting down the waves of spiders.
Even his javelin, backed by S-rank strength, was blocked by the bodies of the spiders trying to protect the egg.
-Myu!
Looking down, he found Onyx at his feet. In his tiny hands was the other half of the marble he found earlier.
“You…where?”
-Myu!
Onyx cried out proudly. Apparently, he found it stuck to the egg in the middle of the magic circle. He was able to retrieve it once the circle was destroyed. Kang Shin-hyuk wondered what the true purpose of the magic circle was, if not just to protect.
-It looks like it was used to instill spiritual power into the eggs. The damage is severe; it won’t be usable right away.
“Did the spiders go into the mantis lair for the other half…?” Kang Shin-hyuk was convinced when he recalled the spider who searched the mantis nest. He thought it had been looking for him, but instead, it was searching for this marble.
‘Into the inventory you go.’ He stored it right away, praising Onyx. He only had one minute left and thirty meters between him and the egg. He thought it couldn’t hatch without that marble fragment, so all he had to do now was smash it. However, Kang Shin-hyuk could not cross that thirty-meter distance.
-Vwowooooom
Like it suddenly sprang to life, a black tentacle came out of the egg. It groped the air in search of something, quickly stabbing through the nearest spider. Dozens of tentacles joined it, piercing and absorbing the nearby spiders.
-Click, click-click-click
-Kiiiii!
-Click-click
The spiders didn’t reject it, moving around excitedly. They were prepared to give everything to the egg. Realizing this was a part of the incubation process, Kang Shin-hyuk let another javelin sail to interrupt it, but it only broke through a few tentacles. The spiders threw themselves in his path to the end.
“Huh…!” When the tentacles finally moved back into the egg, no spider had survived. Cracks began to split the sides of the egg like lightning. Inside was, of course, a massive spider. It was the owner of this gate: the spider queen.
“Huh…Haaaaaaa!” Kang Shin-hyuk threw a javelin with the last of the power he had remaining in him. It was aimed right at the queen’s head but could not pierce the leg that was swung to block it.
-Kuoooooooh!
At the very least, he could be a little glad he broke the leg. The queen cried out, angry over the injuries she suffered. It was a roar filled with terrible power, like the one that changed this gate to A-rank. Soon after, what he had already expected came over him.
-The effect of all status potions has disappeared.
-The effect of the eggs has disappeared. As a side effect, strength and stamina will decrease by two ranks for thirty minutes, and your body will sustain serious injuries.
The moment after the messages filled his retina, Kang Shin-hyuk ground his teeth in pain as it felt as if all the muscles in his body were contracting. It seemed like all the bones in his body were twisted and broken, blood welling up out of his body. The three minutes of invincibility had passed.
-Kuooooooh!
-Member!
The pain was so severe that he couldn’t respond properly to the administrator. No, rather, if he had time to react, he had to focus on the queen’s attack. She was stepping out into the cavern, pushing away the eggshell around her to shoot a web at him.
“Khh!” Even in the midst of that pain, he was somehow able to throw his body away from the attack. Instead, the webs covered over the ground where he was standing, emitting an ominous purple hue.
-Kuooooh!
The queen spider carefully climbed out over the ground and spat out more web. Thanks to one of her forelimbs being destroyed, she was moving slower. If his agility had weakened instead of his strength or stamina, this battle would’ve already been over. The webs that were now filling the floor was a trap that could kill him with a touch.
‘Not good.’ There was no retreat. To defeat it, he would have to get closer somehow. If he continued only to dodge, his death was assured. But how? With his strength and stamina falling to B-rank, how could he confront the queen and win?
‘… It’s useless to think about it. I have to crush this guy even if it uses up everything I have.’
-Myu…!
His head became hazier as he continued to bleed out. Onyx began to cry out anxiously.
“Onyx…It’s alright, I just had a hard time.”
-Myu?!
He patted him lightly, assuring him it was all fine, then put him in his inventory. He had already done his part by finding the marbles; now, he would be in danger.
“Administrator, please recommend an item that can heal my wounds and eliminate the side effects, if you could.”
-Member.
Kang Shin-hyuk hadn’t given up hope yet. He needed to destroy this monster to escape this irregular gate, and he still had the Hero Universe. He had secured more than five million HP so far, that had to be enough…!
-I apologize, member. At this stage, potions that eliminate the side effects cannot be sold. Originally, I would have ignored the restrictions through my own authority.
Again, he jumped away from the spider web. The next moment, he had to fire off a wind blade to stop the next one from reaching him. If it weren’t for Wind Master, he would’ve already been caught.
-Fortunately, there was no need for that.
“Damn…what?” The administrator who always sided with him made a voice he couldn’t understand. He wondered if he was disappointed with his display of weakness. His mind was so hazy that he could entertain such a ridiculous thought.
-The bartender sent a gift. Would you like to confirm?
The angel’s gift arrived without warning.
“My sister…?! Yes, give it to me right away!”
-You received the Alchemist’s Special Transcendent Potion (SS-).
The Hero Universe also provided the Gift system. It allowed for the direct transfer of objects between people registered as friends. It was limited to objects not provided by the Hero Universe, and a considerable amount of HP was consumed in sending one. There was also a limit to how many gifts could be sent, so it wasn’t a service that could be used lightly. However, Claire had sent him a gift right now.
‘You heard.’ When he contacted Shin Eunah, he knew there was a time difference between here and the outside. She must’ve contacted Claire after contacting him. She must’ve immediately begun to make potions to send his way right after. Shin-hyuk felt so moved, he thought he would begin to cry, but he had no time for delays. He picked up the potion straight away and drank it.
-The Alchemist’s Special Transcendent Potion (SS-)
Explosive power ran through his body, burning away the pain of the side effects.
-All wounds below fatal have been healed. The effect has been amplified by the spiritual power contained in the potion. All wounds and abnormalities will be healed, and the remaining healing power will stay in the body for a while to protect you.
-Temporarily (10 minutes), all stats will increase by two ranks. Spiritual power has amplified the effect in the potion. Temporarily (20 minutes), all stats have been boosted by three ranks.
-With your spiritual power, you have succeeded in releasing the limit of the power contained in the potion! The rarity and proficiency of all skills have increased by one rank during the duration of the potion.
It truly was a potion to be described as transcendent. He felt a small bit of pride in his role as Claire’s assistant.
-Quooooooo!
Realizing that the atmosphere around Kang Shin-hyuk had changed instantly, the spider queen had a tense appearance to her. Thanks to the side effects disappearing and the potion, Kang Shin-hyuk’s status was now at the level of S-class.
“Thank you, sister.” He let go of the javelin and summoned the Godslayer to his hand. In one hand, he had the forelimb blade, and in the other, the Godslayer. With his current status and skill, he felt like he could manage it. He wanted to send a message right away to Claire, but he had to face this monster first.
Only
“Hoo!” With a smile, Kang Shin-hyuk kicked off the floor. The queen spider’s webs were blown away by the forelimb blade. He jumped up into the air with the help of Wind Mastery, narrowing the distance between them to less than three meters. The queen swung her legs to attack him, but he cut them off with ease in mid-air.
-Kuoooooooooh!
The wind generated by his power of Wind Mastery lifted him up a little higher; the queen was right in front of him now. A huge spider body with a slightly smaller head attached to it. Perhaps it hatched in an incomplete state.
-Member, the enemy’s attack…!
“Yes, I know.” It’s huge body surged forward, an ominous purple haze emanating from its back. Without hesitation, Kang Shin-hyuk threw the forelimb blade forward.
-Kuooooooooh!
“Ha!”
With his other hand, he thrust the Godslayer through the head of the queen spider.
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