“Whoa…”
As we crested the hill, following the enchanting scent of the Gold Eternal Flower, a gasp of awe escaped Bi-soo’s lips.
Sparkle.
A plain made of sparkling, multicolored minerals stretched out endlessly before us. A plain of jewels, you could call it. The sight alone was enough to make one doubt if this was truly a Poison-type dungeon.
“Clan Leader! Look at this! Isn't it beautiful?!”
“Hmm… It looks like a giant acupressure mat.”
“…I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Bi-soo sighed and crouched down, trying to mine the minerals on the ground. The mining device she held was forged from a high-strength material. However, no matter how hard she struck, she couldn't even scratch the minerals covering the ground.
“Aish. Why is this so hard?”
She switched the mode to ‘Auto’ for maximum output, but the device’s drill just spun in place.
“Let me try.”
Iron Arm had everyone step back, then slammed his own equipment into the ground.
CLANG!!!
With a clear ring, a large object flew into the air. Bi-soo’s face, which had brightened thinking a mineral had been mined, quickly turned to horror. What flew up wasn't a jewel from the ground, but the blade of the equipment Iron Arm had struck with.
“To think it would break… I’ve never seen anything this hard.”
For the Cleanup Clan and other ‘cleaners’, the most important piece of equipment is the ‘mining device’. Durable blades are essential for continuous mining, so their products are made from the strongest alloy in existence. Although their office was shabby, the mining equipment owned by the Cleanup Clan was top-grade.
And yet, such a piece of equipment was shattered during the mining process. Iron Arm seemed more shocked by the hardness of the minerals on the ground than by the fact that his expensive equipment had broken.
“Let’s figure out how to mine this later.”
“Yes?”
“The most important thing is nearby.”
The scent tickling my nose was coming from just beyond. The ground was covered in a dizzying array of colors, but following this scent, it shouldn't be hard to find the Rare herbs. While we were walking across the uneven ground, I suddenly felt a tingling sensation.
“Stop for a moment.” !!!
At my reaction, both Iron Arm and Bi-soo’s faces tensed. The Gold Eternal Flower was definitely somewhere on this ground. We frantically looked around, and soon, a startled cry came from Iron Arm.
“H-here!!!!”
Sparkle.
I’d had a preconception without realizing it. Since the Silver and Copper Eternal Flowers were as their names suggested, I naturally assumed the Gold Eternal Flower would be gold. That’s why we couldn’t find it right away, even when we were so close.
The Gold Eternal Flower I saw before me was brimming with a brilliant array of lights, just like the ground here.
“It’s so… beautiful.”
I couldn't help but nod at Iron Arm’s words. It was like a delicate glasswork piece painted with every imaginable color. As if it held all the shining colors of the world, a single palm-sized flower was filled with countless subtle hues.
Is this what it feels like to be happy just by looking at something? For a while, we could only stare at the Gold Eternal Flower as if mesmerized.
“Wait…”
My trance-like admiration of the Gold Eternal Flower’s beauty was brief. I was suddenly gripped by a doubt. For the Gold Eternal Flower to be in such good condition meant that the boss was still intact.
Since we entered this dungeon before the Association's investigation team, there was no chance someone had already defeated the boss. Considering how in the past, a boss would appear as if to protect the Rare herbs whenever I found one, the current situation was highly unusual. This wasn't just any dungeon, but a 7-star dungeon.
Where on earth is the boss?
Crack.
A great dissonance. The sound of something huge splitting apart could be heard.
“An earthquake?”
There was no other way to explain it. The ground shook, and cracking sounds echoed from all directions.
“That’s not it!”
Bi-soo shouted in a sharp voice. She pointed to one spot, and only then did Iron Arm and I grasp the situation.
Crack.
The angle of the ground was gradually tilting. No, the word ‘ground’ was no longer appropriate. The massive thing we thought was the land was, in fact, its ‘body’.
The creature that had been one with the jewel plain raised its upper body with a deafening noise.
“My god…”
A Monster twice the size of the Gray Golem we had just encountered finally revealed itself. -ROOOOAAAARRR! The Giant Treasure, awakened from a long slumber, opened its massive maw and roared. Its motley colors and ridiculously large frame created an absurd contrast.
‘Indeed, its stats are worthy of an 8-star.’
Physical Level: S. A rank I have never faced before. Its Other Attributes are mediocre, but that’s little comfort. To think that its already tough-looking body also has the Unique Trait of ‘Rigidity’.
While I was checking the information, I might as well find out what Pranium is.
‘V1. What is Pranium?’
Gulp.
My throat went dry as I processed the information on the ‘Giant Treasure’ and ‘Pranium’. Until now, no matter what Monster appeared, I was confident I could defeat it. A single tiny wound was enough for the deadly poison of my Black Ether.
But the ‘Giant Treasure’ before me seemed like it wouldn't even allow that one tiny wound.
“Get back!”
After warning Iron Arm and Bi-soo, I used ‘Poison Step’ to leap up onto the Giant Treasure’s body. I transformed Exa into its ‘White Dream’ state and, as a test, slashed with all my might at the nape of its neck.
Ting.
Is this really the sound a sword makes when it strikes? With a light sound reminiscent of a music box, Exa was repelled. Exa’s blade is fundamentally a substance condensed from my Black Ether.
Whether it's the offensive version's black blade or the ‘White Dream's’ white blade, there’s no difference in their hardness.
And yet.
This blade, which had cut through any Monster like tofu, was ineffective. Even worse, for the first time ever, I discovered ‘damage’ to it.
“H-Hunter Cheon Hae-seon. The blade…!!”
Iron Arm groaned, his face stiff. A white fragment lay demurely on the sparkling ground. The blade in its ‘White Dream’ state had shattered. -ROOOOAAAARRR.
The Giant Treasure, attacked at its neck, raised its arm high. So sensitive for something that didn't even get a scratch. For now, I retreated from its attack range.
Or so I thought.
Whoosh.
The fist it raised separated from its wrist. It’s not a rocket, why would it detach its own fist…? For a moment, my body froze.
The information from V1 flashed through my mind.
“Danger!!”
I focused all my activated Ether into my legs and used ‘Poison Step’ toward Iron Arm and Bi-soo.
Fwoosh.
I used all my strength, so Iron Arm and Bi-soo didn't even realize they were being dragged away by my hand.
“Kyahh!”
Normally, it would be impossible to leap while carrying a person under each arm, but with my D-rank physical body, I could easily handle Iron Arm's weight. The problem was, we were completely defenseless against its ‘Fragmentation’ skill.
Thud-thud-thud.
“Keuk…”
“Hey! Are you okay?!”
Bi-soo asked, blood streaming from her forehead. She hadn't escaped the ‘Fragmentation’ attack unscathed either, but her wound wasn't life-threatening. Compared to me, who had three forearm-sized fragments piercing my body.
“Hunter Cheon Hae-seon!!!!!”
I waved a hand at the horrified Iron Arm, then raised both my hands and placed them on their bodies.
Shhh….
The sharp wounds on Bi-soo and Iron Arm healed in an instant. At the same time, the Pranium fragments embedded in my body were slowly being pushed out.
“This is the healing energy of an S-ranker… It’s truly incredible…!!”
His grief-stricken face brightened as if it had never been. Hmph, he’s so simple-minded, it’s convenient.
“Stay right here and don't move. I’ll take care of that thing.”
“It’s impossible alone. If I can be of even a little help…”
“No.” I shook my head firmly.
I could try to persuade them nicely, but there was no time for that now.
“The longer I fight while healing both of you, the lower my chances of winning become.”
Simply put, their very presence was holding me back. For Bi-soo it might be one thing, but for a Knight like Iron Arm, it was a humiliating thing to hear. But it couldn't be helped.
In a situation where ‘Fragmentation’ could fly at us again at any moment. There was no time to consider anyone's feelings.
“I’ve made myself clear!” …!!
With those final words, I leaped to the opposite side of my party.
Having S-rank Healing Ability means many things. For example, being able to heal multiple people at once, or healing hundreds without depleting my energy. Or having a Self-Healing Ability that works without conscious effort.
In that sense, I fully deserved my ‘S’ rank.
“Gasp… gasp.”
After all, I was still standing after suffering hundreds of fatal wounds.
Sshhh.
The speed at which my wounds were closing noticeably slowed. It meant the healing energy left in my body was running out. -ROOOOAAAARRR. Was I imagining it, or was there a hint of annoyance in the Giant Treasure’s roar?
It had every right to be annoyed, seeing me get turned into a honeycomb by its ‘Fragmentation’ over and over, only to keep regenerating. While using up all the healing energy left in my body, I did make some gains. First, that damned ‘Fragmentation’ skill could be activated from any part of its body.
Without needing to separate a limb, it could launch ‘fragments’ from any part of its body if I got too close. Thanks to that, I had to experience the pain of my body being pierced countless times. Second, there was a substance that even the mighty ‘Pranium’ couldn't block.
It was none other than the source of my Black Ether—my blood. The surface covered in my blood showed a momentary crack. The problem was that the beast would tear off that part like it was molting.
V1’s briefing that an attack other than a physical one was needed had been accurate. If I could create a crack with a special means like psychic power, and then shove Exa in with strong physical force, I might have a chance. The problem was the standard for ‘strong physical force’.
Could my D-rank physical strength possibly break through that hard Pranium? No, I had to break through. Because those two idiots, far from running away, were coming this way.
“It’s no use trying to stop us anymore…!”
Iron Arm raised his voice, his resolve firm.
“Clan Leader.”
“I told you, it’s no use trying to stop us!!”
“Let’s do it together then.”
“There’s absolutely no way we’re doing this togeth—??”
Iron Arm’s eyes widened at the sudden change of plans.
What.
Did he think I would keep stopping him? I had no intention of doing this alone anymore. Because alone, there was no way to beat that glittering monster.
“I’ll heal you, but your body will be torn to shreds. It’s going to hurt.”
It was a plan that couldn't be executed without considerable resolve. But Iron Arm looked at me with an almost offended expression.
“I’ve watched you get turned into a human skewer countless times, Hunter Cheon Hae-seon. Please, do not insult me, a Tanker, any further.”
So it's fine for me to be turned into a skewer, but not for you to be insulted? I chuckled and explained the plan to Iron Arm.
“I don’t have any more healing energy or Ether left. The next attack is the last one, live or die.”