Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Unfortunately, there were no items or Runes especially worth taking.

Still, we had obtained an enormous amount of Etherium, so it was not a loss.

We divided the Etherium according to the ratio we had agreed on.

Once the distribution was finished, around two hundred and fifty pieces of various Etherium belonged to me.

It was a little unfortunate that nearly two hundred and forty of them were 1-Star Etherium, but there were fifteen 2-Star Etherium pieces and even five 3-Star Etherium pieces, so this was more than enough profit to be satisfied with.

‘What should I do with these?’

I could not get a feel for how I should use the Etherium.

If I had been an Awakened of the Warrior Role Category, in other words, a Damage Dealer, I would have consumed the Red Etherium first.

But as a [Guide], I had no idea at all what kind of Etherium I needed to consume for it to help me.

“I am thinking of resting for a while before we go. What do you think?”

“Sounds good.”

“Then let us rest for about an hour.”

Thanks to Captain Im suggesting a rest at just the right time, I had some time to think.

1-Star Etherium had little value to me.

Etherium was most efficient when consumed at a rank that matched one’s own.

Now that I had become a 2-Star Awakened, even if I consumed 1-Star Etherium, the amount of Ether I could gain would be very small.

Conversely, even if I consumed 3-Star Etherium, I would not be able to obtain much Ether.

Of course, it would still be better than 2-Star Etherium.

‘For now, let us try eating one of each.’

With the intention of experimenting directly on my own body, I swallowed a 2-Star Red Etherium.

Whoooosh!

The Ether contained within the Red Etherium seeped into me.

[2-Star Red Etherium] has been absorbed!

Ether has increased!

Strength has increased!

Attack Power has increased!

Vitality has increased!

•  
•  

Up to this point, it was an expected reaction.

I had consumed Red Etherium, so it was only the corresponding response.

But something was strange.

I had clearly eaten Red Etherium, yet other things were rising.

Spell Power has increased!

Defense has increased!

Intelligence has increased!

(omitted)

•  
•  

Looking closely, all of my stats were rising at once.

‘What is this? Why is everything increasing?’

It was an effect that defied common sense, so I could not understand it at all.

‘Did something go wrong?’

Just in case, I tried consuming a 2-Star Green Etherium this time.

[2-Star Green Etherium] has been absorbed!

Ether has increased!

Strength has increased!

Anti-Magic Power has increased!

Attack Power has increased!

Vitality has increased!

•  
•  

Poison Resistance has increased!

Healing Power has increased!

The main effects of Green Etherium were to raise healing power and poison resistance.

But aside from that, various other stats were rising along with them.

‘It cannot be that no matter what I eat, all of my stats go up. No way.’

I continued the experiment by eating other 2-Star Etherium.

Purple, Gold, White, Black…….

The result was the same.

No matter what I ate, all of my stats grew evenly.

‘Th-That is impossible!’

Afraid that someone might hear, I screamed inwardly.

The fact that all of my stats increased no matter what kind of Etherium I ate was an incredible blessing and a miracle.

Did other people not obtain only specific stats from specific Etherium?

‘Is this why my secondary Role Category was marked as infinite?’

An absurd thought occurred to me.

My Role Category, [Guide], might be a near-omnipotent existence that encompassed every Role Category.

***

Apparently, watching me conduct biological experiments on myself by eating Etherium looked like a foolish thing to do from the side.

“Just picking up and eating anything does not make it work, you idiot.”

“Why are you insulting me again?”

“You have to eat the one that suits you.”

Choi Yura advised me.

“Eat the one that matches your Role Category. That is how you get stronger. Now, look. My Role Category is Warrior. I am a Damage Dealer. Do you think I would get stronger by eating Blue Etherium?”

Yes, yes. I am sure that is true for you.

“Well, I guess your Ether would rise a little and that would be it.”

“So you do know that much?”

“That much is on Google.”

“You know that, and you still just pick up and eat anything?”

“What does it matter? I am eating what belongs to me.”

“Sigh. Forget it. I will stop talking.”

Choi Yura had gone out of her way to advise me, but perhaps she thought my reaction was hopeless, because she shook her head.

‘If it is 2-Star Etherium, I should just pick it up and eat it for now. That way, I can raise my rank quickly.’

Raising one’s rank became difficult starting from 3-Star, but as long as there was enough Etherium to support it, it did not take long for a 2-Star to become a 3-Star.

‘I should test the Alchemy card.’

While I was at it, I took out the [Alchemy] card I had obtained this time.

※ Etherium can be embedded into cards to strengthen them.

※ Captured Spirit Swords can be combined to create a new Spirit Sword.

※ Etherium can be embedded into Spirit Swords to strengthen them.

Ah!

So that was why I could capture Spirit Swords?

Feeling that this was it, I took out the Spirit Sword cards.

Nearly twenty cards floated up around me.

(Slot)

(Slot) (Slot)

Without thinking much, I inserted three cards into the [Alchemy] card.

Whoooosh!

Just as Ether seemed to surge out of the Alchemy card, I heard a sound like a hammer striking metal.

CLANG, CLAAANG!

[Critical Strike]

Equipment Card

★★

A dagger specialized in stabbing vital points.

‘This is a little underwhelming.’

I added two more cards and used the [Alchemy] card again.

CLANG, CLAAANG!

The sound of a hammer striking rang out, and a new Spirit Sword was created.

[Rusted Longsword]

Equipment Card

★★

A rusted longsword.

The second result was not particularly good either.

‘I will just keep going. There is nothing to lose anyway.’

I pushed in two more cards and combined them with the [Rusted Longsword].

I combined them, and combined them, and combined them again.

Excluding the cutter, which seemed like it would be useful in many ways, I placed the Spirit Swords I possessed into the [Alchemy] card and combined them.

Whoooosh!

Along with an intense release of Ether, a hand axe tinged with red light floated into the air.

[Butcher of Madness]

Equipment Card

★★★★

A hand axe imbued with terrifying killing intent.

It is extremely sharp and heavy.

“This is…….”

As if I could not believe it at all, I looked down at the [Butcher of Madness] in my hand.

To think that a mere 2-Star Hunter like me had a 4-Star Spirit Sword in my hand.

‘This is tremendous.’

I instinctively felt that the [Butcher of Madness] was an extremely powerful Spirit Sword.

I also liked that it had the form of an axe, which was familiar to me.

At long last, the era of blunt weapons had arrived.

Whether it was person against person was another matter, but when facing monsters, the weapons most useful after guns were those belonging to blunt weapons such as axes, maces, tonfa, and clubs.

‘If I fight with this…… I might be stronger than most Damage Dealers.’

Of course, it was only a feeling, but somehow, I thought it might be true.

“What are you?”

“What exactly are you, Mr. Eunseong……?”

Choi Yura and Captain Im were staring at me with eyes full of disbelief.

Capturing the Spirit Swords of the dead and combining Spirit Swords to create a new Spirit Sword must have been something that shattered existing common sense.

‘Let us stop here for now.’

I wanted to try embedding Etherium into a Spirit Sword or a card to strengthen it, but showing even that much seemed like revealing too much of my combat power, so I stopped.

“Let us rest a little, clear the dungeon, and leave. We will break jars along the way too.”

“Fine.”

After taking a little more rest, we left the Rift and headed to the ninth floor, where the boss was located.

***

From the seventh floor to the ninth floor, fewer monsters appeared, but stronger individuals emerged instead.

And most of those monsters were beings in human form, not beasts.

Sching!

Those who gave off the stench of rotting corpses blocked our path.

Knights, attendants, maids, soldiers, and so on.

All kinds of human figures had become cursed beings and were revealing hostility toward us.

“What are you doing? Wipe them out.”

RATTLE-RATTLE-RATTLE!

As if she had been waiting for it, Choi Yura swung her iron chain.

“Do not forget that Mr. Eunseong is our top priority! Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

Captain Im’s group faced the approaching monsters while surrounding me as if to protect me.

And I ran straight forward.

“Mr. Eunseoooooong!”

“He is charging out again!”

“Please, just stay still!”

At my sudden action, Captain Im’s group let out shouts that were almost screams.

I was sorry.

Honestly, it was a nuisance.

I was making things difficult for the people who were supposed to protect me.

But there was nothing I could do.

I wanted to fight.

Right now, I did not want to be protected.

I wanted to test it.

Whether I could function as a ‘Damage Dealer’ or not.

Grip!

I gripped the [Butcher of Madness] tightly.

I could see an enemy.

The opponent was a cursed attendant.

It was not an overwhelmingly powerful individual, but it was still a 4-Star monster.

For a Hunter with a support-type Role Category, it would be a difficult opponent.

Could I really face a cursed attendant?

An opponent I would have had to risk my life against in my previous life as a Supporter?

SWISH!

From above to below.

I swung the [Butcher of Madness].

CRAAACK!

The cursed attendant’s head split vertically.

But that was not the end.

The [Butcher of Madness] did not stop until it split the cursed attendant’s head and continued down through its chest.

The cursed attendant collapsed, split open in the shape of a V.

“It... it works.”

I was stunned.

I could not believe it at all.

To think that I had split a cursed attendant apart with one swing of an axe.

‘More…… more!’

I did not want to stop.

I wanted to fight more.

I immediately swung the [Butcher of Madness] toward the next opponent.

SLASH!

The cursed soldier’s head flew off.

This time, it was a knight.

Since it was armed in plate armor, I had doubts about whether my attack would work.

It did not matter.

It was fine even if I could not cut or split an enemy apart in one strike.

What mattered was whether I could fight or not.

THUNK!

The axe blade split the plate armor and cut into the cursed knight’s chest.

“……!”

The cursed knight swung its sword in a counterattack.

Calmly lowering my head to avoid the sword, I pulled out the axe and swung it toward the creature’s thigh at the same time.

SLASH!

CRASH!

The cursed knight lost one leg and toppled over.

‘Now.’

Without missing the chance, I swung the axe toward the fallen knight’s head.

CRACK!

The knight’s head split open.

Had it taken about ten seconds?

That was how long it took me to take down three high-level monsters from a 4-Star dungeon.

A surge of some indescribable emotion welled up in my chest.

I could feel the corners of my eyes growing moist.

Perhaps all the resentment that had built up until now was overflowing.

‘Get a hold of yourself, Cha Eunseong. This is not the time.’

Grind!

I gritted my teeth.

It would not be too late to let out my emotions after the battle was over.

If possible, it would be even better after clearing the dungeon and returning home.

‘I am no longer…… a Supporter.’

With that thought, I focused on the battle.