Chapter 89 – Blooming in the Swamp (6)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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[Swampland of Predators].

Facing the rift created on the Scandinavian Peninsula.

The ones who were overflowing with confidence more than anyone else were Europe’s strongest guild.

It was Bohemian.

“Until now, we were just unlucky.”

“Right! As if the Mage Tower wasn’t enough, why the hell were rifts only generated on the Asian side. It seems the balance is finally slowly fitting together now.”

“To be exact, it was either Asia or Russia, right? Just thinking about the cold in Moscow or Hokkaido gives me goosebumps. I thought I was going to freeze to death while taking a shower. Seriously.”

They received the full support of the European Union, the EU.

Is it thanks to that support.

The atmosphere in the beginning wasn’t bad.

The 1st place Paladin ranker and Guild Master, Guyver.

It was to the extent that he let out a smile for the first time in a while.

“When the rift raid is over, everything will return to normal.”

One of them was the guild ranking.

Following Shining and Unification of the World, Bohemian guild had been sticking to the eternal 3rd place position.

Even if the gap with those ahead of them was big. Guyver was overflowing with confidence that they wouldn’t be caught up to.

Even if there were latecomers.

It was only about Japan’s Inazuma or Korea’s Gaon.

No matter how much Players from those small countries perform actively, how much could they possibly do.

Even if they received national support, they wouldn’t have been able to chase after them who had the EU backing them.

However, something went wrong.

Eternal 3rd place.

Bohemian had their position stolen.

To the 5th place, Gaon, not even the 4th place, Inazuma.

“There’s no such thing as luck in the colosseum.”

Right, luck merely followed Gaon.

Guyver believed so.

So when the Predator Zone appeared as a rift.

He expressed that overflowing confidence.

“Not only Gaon but even Unification of the World……!”

Large and small guilds receiving EU support just like Bohemian. Since it’s a rift that appeared in Europe, their home ground. Guyver meticulously utilized all cards.

“Master. My mana has reached its limit!”

The supporter Players positioned in the rear.

Guyver sent them, the Players, out of the rift as if replacing machine parts.

“Team 2. Enter immediately.”

It was practically an allied front of dozens of guilds.

Because they filtered out high-level Players even from there.

The average level of the Players substituted in didn’t fall far behind either.

They were sufficient enough to support from the rear.

[You have leveled up.]

In the midst of that full support.

It was Guyver and Bohemian guild members who solely focused on monster hunting.

It had really been a long time since they saw such a steep experience point rising curve.

“We can save face for the first time in a while, can’t we? Don’t you think, Guyver?”

Guyver nodded his head silently.

Right, in this rift at least, it was okay to be conceited.

Neither Shining nor Unification of the World.

Were they showing an overwhelming hunting speed like themselves. Right, if they keep going like this. They would make sure the likes of Gaon wouldn’t dare covet the ranking again…….

“……Lee Ho-yeol entered the rift?”

Wait, who entered?

Lee Ho-yeol!

Grind!

At that name, a vein popped on Guyver’s forehead.

It was definitely a name that got on his nerves just by hearing it.

‘Gaon took the 3rd place position because of that guy.’

Various kinds of luck that followed Gaon.

Among them, the biggest luck was none other than Lee Ho-yeol.

Whether in the Yusra Kingdom or in the scramble for Frost.

Gaon had tremendously benefited from aligning with Lee Ho-yeol.

‘Those Berserker guys are the same.’

Since their guild ranking only went back and forth around the top 10.

They weren’t even worth considering as competitors yet but.

Berserker was also a guild receiving EU support.

‘Because the UK, Second Sun, is no longer part of the European Union.’

Within the EU, they were also the guild that occupied the position of the second-in-command following Bohemian. So Guyver couldn’t help but be sensitive to Lee Ho-yeol’s appearance.

‘What is he lacking to enter this kind of rift?’

No matter how much it’s a Predator Zone.

It would be a rift of too easy a level for Lee Ho-yeol.

He definitely must have another purpose.

‘……Could that other purpose possibly be?’

Perhaps Gaon or Berserker.

If not, what if it’s a matter related to another guild?

Bead by bead.

At that moment, beads of cold sweat formed on Guyver’s forehead.

‘I must definitely take responsibility for my remarks.’

The fact that they received massive support.

That they must produce results befitting it.

Impatience began to sprout inside Guyver’s chest.

“I will raise the pace. Team 1 re-enter!”

“Team 1 should still not be fully done recovering their mana, though?”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s a battle of speed from now on.”

In the midst of that, a message popped up.

[Someone has formed a contract with a spirit.]

“!”

It’s Lee Ho-yeol.

So a contract with a spirit was his purpose.

It was only for a moment that he thought it was at least a relief.

‘……Did he even know that a spirit was here?’

As expected, he’s amazing, Lee Ho-yeol.

However, Lee Ho-yeol being amazing wasn’t anything new.

Therefore, Guyver focused on the following message.

A whopping experience point and drop rate increase buff.

A bright color returned to Guyver’s face.

‘The judgment to raise the tempo was correct.’

A progression speed faster than any other guild.

Thanks to that, Guyver was able to reach the center of the swampland.

And he witnessed it.

“It’s a gift from god.”

The opportunity to seize a jackpot!

At the center of the rift, monsters were engaging in battle with each other.

The voice of the analysis team came through his ear.

-By their outer appearance, they are expected to be the Ragged Giant. And the Black Iron Eagle.

Information from the update details conveyed next.

[Ragged Giant : Lv.600]

[Black Iron Eagle : Lv.600]

Whopping level 600 named-class monsters.

Those two monsters were fighting a death struggle.

Was it a fierce battle proportional to their identical levels.

It seemed both of them had suffered considerable damage.

Guyver licked his lips.

“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Right, this was an opportunity to hunt two named monsters.

If it were a normal situation, it would have been overwhelming just dealing with one but. Because the guys were focused on each other. If they aim for that gap, catching them all in one net would be possible.

‘However, before they are stolen.’

Now that the experience point and drop rate buff has been activated.

Other guilds will also speed up like them.

He couldn’t miss this kind of opportunity right before his eyes.

Paladin ranking 1st.

The skill acquired as a reward for the class quest.

[Holy Warrior’s Protection] activation.

Hwaaaaaak!

Golden light began to spew out from Guyver.

Guyver shouted.

“Gather around me. We charge.”

An attack power and defense power buff to adjacent allies.

And a skill that deals continuous damage to enemies.

Befitting the reward of a class quest, its effect was outstanding, needless to say.

“Ohh! This is Guyver-ssi’s skill!!”

“The effect is considerable.”

“As expected, he’s a ranker for a reason.”

The morale-boosting effect from it was a bonus.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

Following Guyver’s command.

A pouring rain of arrows and attack skills.

The Players charging with Guyver at the forefront.

“We take care of the Ragged Giant first!”

They aim for its back, taking advantage of the moment the Black Iron Eagle is clinging onto it.

Flap!

“?!”

However, that plan ended up as bubbles with the flapping of the Black Iron Eagle’s wings.

The Black Iron Eagle that soared into the air changed direction.

It aimed for the supporter Players in the rear.

Guyver’s mind went blank.

“What exactly is this?”

The guys who were fighting as if to kill each other just until a moment ago.

Were joining forces in an instant and attacking them.

“Damn it……!”

Guyver shouted urgently.

“Everyone retreat! Protect the rear!”

Fleeing so fast their heels touch their backs.

The momentum of the charge could not be found.

Damn it, there was no disgrace like this disgrace.

Guyver gritted his teeth.

‘I admit I was impatient.’

But my judgment wasn’t wrong.

Isn’t this pattern too much?

This was a trap.

A clever trap that anyone would have no choice but to fall into……!!

*

……Wow, they fight so viciously.

The saying that monsters battle among themselves in the Predator Zone even when there are no Players was true. Aren’t those guys really fighting as if to kill each other?

A noble gaze.

The Nymph, who was watching that sight, opened her mouth.

“What should I do. Ho-yeol-nim.”

Spirits basically do not like fighting.

However, it’s a different story if they are a contracted spirit.

Even leaving aside the contract clauses, a spirit ends up being influenced by the contractor’s nature. In a word, the Nymph’s quick grasp of the situation is my influence.

Let’s see.

On top of a lotus leaf floating on the swampland.

I watched the state of the battle.

‘Is it the center of the swampland soon.’

According to what the Nymph said.

She had said that fights were happening even more actively in the center.

It meant it was because the loot was at that center.

‘As proof, starting from here they began grabbing each other’s collars.’

Players aside.

The monsters engaged in a death struggle among themselves.

‘Actually, if it were up to my feelings.’

I wanted to intrude into that battle.

Since both guys have lost their energy.

It meant I wanted to hunt both of them and eat both the experience points and the loot raw.

‘It’s not eating it raw, it’s a common sense judgment.’

Honestly, who could turn away from an opportunity like this.

However, as much as I’m crazy about battle.

In a different sense, am I not crazy?

I said to the Nymph.

“It is a battle staking their prides against each other.”

Right, I am crazy about pride……!

To prove their strength and to win the loot.

The monsters that flocked to the Predator Zone.

Granfel’s pride must consider that action reasonable.

Moreover.

“Intruding into that death struggle is an act that goes against pride.”

Interfering in that gap and aiming for their backs?

Likewise, unless there is a reason that conforms to pride.

It means I absolutely cannot eat it raw.

The Nymph elegantly bowed her head.

“Indeed, you had such a deep meaning. I will keep it in mind.”

Please don’t make an expression like you realized something so profoundly.

The pleading echoing in my chest was brief.

I gave up my lingering attachment.

‘Honestly, I don’t have the confidence to hunt them.’

Actually, I even lack the energy to use my chopsticks to eat it raw.

Above all, the amount of mana draining away due to the contract with the Nymph was a burden.

Since we formed a contract, the Nymph would also perform actively in battle, but it was unknown how much help that would be.

‘Because I’ve never seen a spirit.’

The ability of the spirit, Nymph, that I checked was only one.

Only the blessing that promoted the growth of the Four-Colored Mistletoe.

Actually, even just that made the contract with the Nymph a tremendous achievement.

Why, because I got an idea about 『The Cultivation Method of Elixir Herbs』 from there.

However, I had no intention of being satisfied with just that.

Because I witnessed it at that moment.

The {Nature} ability of spirits that is entirely different from yet another [Skill] or 『Magic』……!

That was also something distinctly specified in the books related to Spiritology.

‘I don’t know about other mages but for me.’

What those words meant was simple.

That the variety of Phenomenons I can use increases.

I mean I witnessed the possibility of Phenomenon in the last rift.

‘A rift fragment that couldn’t be pierced with 『Magic』 alone.’

Where was that magic an ordinary magic either.

If it was destructive power, it was Bangrit’s pure magic that would be counted on one hand even in the Mage Tower.

A rift fragment that couldn’t be pierced even with such Bangrit’s magic.

I’m telling you I pushed through it with [『Phenomenon』], a combination of [Aesthetics] and 『Magic』.

‘It could become [{Phenomenon}], or it could become {『Phenomenon』}.’

To put it simply.

It must mean that {Nature} has also become a hole to live in, a well I’ve dug.

And a well that doesn’t dry up easily at that!

“It is like the eye of a typhoon.”

Random thoughts end there.

I nodded my head at the Nymph’s words.

My appearance, fitting the word ‘leisurely’.

The closer we get to the center, to the loot.

The sight of monsters fighting death struggles among themselves was frequently seen. Because they were busy fighting each other, it must mean a low-level Player like me isn’t even worth paying attention to.

For me, it was actually something to be thankful for.

‘Because loot is as important as levels.’

Above all, there was a need to check.

The Predator Zone.

Called the predator.

Just what in the world is the loot that attracts named-class monsters?

As if possessed by something.

Right, as if caught in an abnormal status.

The loot that makes them fight each other.

‘The probability of it being a demon’s item is not low either.’

Right.

If there is even a sliver of possibility that a demon is involved.

It means Granfel’s pride won’t just stand by and watch.

‘He really steps forward and lives a tiring life.’

Soon, I reached the center of the swampland.

I saw Players in my vision.

Players who seemed to have messed with something very wrong.

‘This almost became a big disaster, didn’t it?’

A zombie giant and an eagle as huge as the giant.

I saw Players being helplessly beaten by the two monsters.

They say people’s thoughts are all the same.

‘It seems they put into practice what I only thought about?’

As a result, they seemed to be going through a dog’s suffering.

‘It means I could have ended up looking like that.’

Those Players at least have comrades.

I was alone.

‘I wouldn’t have even been able to properly enjoy the experience point and drop rate buff…….’

Without even being able to put up any significant resistance.

I would have headed straight to the netherworld just like that.

In the truest sense of the word, it meant I almost died while only doing good things for others.

It wasn’t enough even if I swept my chest with a sigh of relief.

I babbled shamelessly.

“The price of taking pride lightly is naturally steep.”

The Nymph nodded her head.

“Your words are correct.”

Then she looked at something and said.

“That giant rock is the loot the ones gathered here covet. To be exact, it’s the something inside that rock that must be drawing everyone in.”

The moment I saw it, I could understand.

Why hasn’t anyone been able to claim the loot until now?

Because it was a Predator Zone where battles never cease.

Each other to each other.

They probably didn’t give the opening to break that rock and claim the loot.

However.

“That is not a rock.”

The premise itself was wrong from the start.

As I said, since that wasn’t a rock.

“It is a seed.”

Right, the knowledge.

To be exact, the knowledge acquired with the [Pentagram of Pure Knowledge].

Was telling me.

That that isn’t a rock but a plant’s seed.

“……A seed?”

Even if she’s a low-ranking spirit, she was a forest spirit.

If it’s the seed of an existence that even a forest spirit doesn’t know about?