Chapter 218
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Translated by Jinmu
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Tat-!
Han-bit’s party, stepping out from the tree root, began to run immediately. At the same time, a fierce noise roared from the sky behind.
Jjeong-!
Kwagwagwang-!
Golden lightning roared as if exploding, and green ripples spread as if to swallow it. Han-bit knew the identity of that power.
‘He sure got a Dragon’s treasure well.’
The green patterned sword and gloves Ryu Seong-ryong possessed were part of the Green Dragon’s treasures. It was a being that presided over nature and poison. He had several treasuries, but finding a valid one was truly in the realm of luck.
Han-bit, who was running, immediately activated the stream.
—?
—What, when did he come out?
—Streaming is possible?
—But what happened to Odin?
—Who is the person who blocked him?
—Dunno. I couldn’t see the nickname because of the lightning.
Viewers, whose video had been abruptly cut off, expressed doubts. But for now, it was best to leave it at that state.
Keureuk-
Kkigigik-!
Right then, the sound of monsters swarming from the forest path was heard. Han-bit, looking at them, handed the Giant Snake’s Heart held in his hand to Ping-pong.
“Use this.”
“Eh? Ah, I understand!”
Ping-pong, who quickly received it, immediately used the heart.
Kwajik-
The remains of the heart flowed down with the sensation of something being crushed. The message followed soon.
Ttiring-
[Effect: Death’s Pulsation is applied.]
[Causes a fear effect in the area around the user and makes movements sluggish.]
“Ugh.”
Ping-pong, who was looking at the grotesque remains of the heart, made a strange sound. Of course, the effect was certain.
“Oh, they’ve slowed down!”
“It seems they can’t even come close!”
The twins raised their voices while looking at the state of the swarming monsters. Just as written in the description, they were having difficulty approaching with slowed movements. The three party members, including the user Han-bit, were free from that influence.
“Ignore them and run.”
Han-bit continued to run forward. Meanwhile, those who were not monsters also attempted an ambush.
“Over there!”
“Kill them!”
Three players were starting to be seen from beyond the forest. They were people who didn’t look that great.
“You guys keep going.”
Tat-!
Han-bit, sending the party ahead, kicked off his feet and rushed towards them.
“Eh?”
“What kind of speed…!”
The enemies, who lost his movement from their vision, made flustered voices. Their mistake was not switching to a defensive posture somehow.
Chwaak-!
A shadow that appeared from a blind spot brushed past in an instant. It was instantaneous that lines were drawn on the necks of the two people on guard.
“Keuok!”
“Ugh!”
The two surprised players’ bodies scattered with a death cry.
“Tsk!”
The woman, seeing the death of her companions, quickly retreated and aimed her bow. But that reaction was too late.
Swiik-!
Han-bit’s sword, rushing in while cleaving the wind, was thrust. That attack split the bow of the woman who was about to pull the string and was stuck in the dead center of her neck.
“This crazy…”
Ttiring-
[Experience points have increased by 3,300,000.]
[Experience points have increased by 3,500,000.]
[Experience points have increased by 3,600,000.]
[Faction Points have increased by 40.]
[Faction Points have increased by 41.]
[Faction Points have increased by 41.]
Messages that popped up as soon as their bodies scattered.
Keureuk-!
Right then, the monsters whose Death’s Pulsation effect disappeared began to move again. Han-bit, who picked up the items and gold dropped on the ground, immediately kicked off his feet to follow the party.
Dash-!
As he increased speed, the backs of the three people were soon seen. Han-bit, having finished joining up, moved forward while guarding the surroundings. And when about 10 more minutes passed, the surrounding scenery changed.
Ttiring-
[Area Effect: Taunt is released.]
[Area Effect: Distortion is applied.]
[Terrain and the forms of creatures are greatly distorted within the area.]
“Ugh!”
“What is this!”
“V-vision has become strange!”
Terrain features and human forms were distorted in an instant. The shimmering scenery shook uncomfortably as if to induce motion sickness.
—Ooh;
—Dizzy as hell;
—How do you walk here?
—S-stop…
—Teacher, my stomach feels bad.
Viewers also showed a painful reaction to the flustering sight. Certainly, it was understandable if one’s stomach felt bad experiencing this for the first time.
“You guys close your eyes and stay here. The heart effect is still there.”
“Eh? I want to go together!”
“I’ll go too!”
“Uwaaa…”
The twins tried to follow, along with Ping-pong who couldn’t come to his senses. But it was faster to move alone here.
“It’ll be over soon so wait. The heart effect works on players too, so don’t worry.”
Tat-!
Han-bit, leaving the three behind, began to run through the distorted scenery. The terrain seemed utterly difficult to distinguish, but there was a way of his own.
‘Finding the rift was difficult, indeed.’
It was one thing he had discovered after rolling around for a long time. The distortion effect of this area was not continuous. There were clear boundaries and gaps in the space divided like small lumps. Using this as a marker was the way to break through this space.
Keureuk-!
Screech-!
Those who tried to commit ambushes from all directions tried to thrust their respective claws and teeth. But they couldn’t catch Han-bit, who was running alone.
Whoosh-!
The speed, added with Wind’s Leap and Shadow Step, made even the distorted surrounding scenery faint.
He ran for a while like that. Reaching near the center, he slowed down. At the same time, the shimmering space turned normal.
—Eh?
—Is it the end?
—Did he finish it?
—Isn’t it like the eye of a typhoon?
—Something’s over there.
—Look at that tree, how splendid;
A faint light was rising from the short grass on the ground. On a large tree at the center, pink flowers were in full bloom.
Jeobeok-
Han-bit, approaching close, reached his hand into the lush flowers. Then, as if deciding to react to that movement, the branches opened and a space began to be revealed.
Sarak-
A small flower bud appeared inside. A yellow key fragment was placed there as if being embraced.
Moving his hand carefully, Han-bit grabbed and took out the fragment.
Ttiring-
[You have obtained the second Secret Room key fragment.]
—?
—Already found it? This easily?
—Where did the Han-bit who was being eaten by a snake go?
—Fact) You guys can’t even come this far.
—Real. I’d pass out from dizziness.
Viewers showed dumbfounded reactions, but as some chats said, this place was by no means an easy area. Because it was easy to fall into a situation where one circles around the same space like crazy if careless. There were also members of the Investigation Team who met a futile death here.
Tat-!
Kicking off his feet again, Han-bit headed to where the three people were.
“Oh!”
“Black Dragon-nim!”
As he returned quickly, the twins welcomed him. The state of Ping-pong standing beside them was still not good. But he was ready to react immediately with the shield’s effect deployed. He didn’t miss flinching at the same time as Han-bit’s approach.
‘Is it the last one now.’
Now only one key fragment remained. This one required a bit of design.
“We’re going to the Poison Area from now on. Everyone hold one of these.”
Han-bit took out small silver crystals from his inventory and handed them to everyone. It was an item that could rarely be obtained from Crystal Golems inhabiting the glacier zone. It was a consumable worth millions of won that allowed one to resist poisoning effects for a certain period of time when used.
“Let’s go.”
Han-bit led the three towards the other boundary.
Keureuk-!
Creek-!
Monsters trying to approach froze and fell into fear. Because of the nature of the space, they encountered no other players.
Ttiring-
[Area Effect: Distortion is released.]
[Area Effect: Poison is applied.]
[Randomly exposed to one type of poison effect within the area, and additional poison effects by terrain features are applied.]
Stepping out of the boundary, the surrounding scenery changed with an alarm. It was the sight of a forest emitting an ominous aura. Black-purple fog and sticky liquids were seen everywhere on the ground, bushes, and trees.
“Wow!”
“The poison really doesn’t work!”
“Ooh…!”
The three people who saw the crystal’s effect showed surprised reactions. But Han-bit’s situation was different.
[Effect: Deadly Poison is applied.]
[Vitality decreases by 10 percent per minute.]
“Eh?”
“Black Dragon-nim!”
Whether they saw the stream screen, the twins opened their eyes wide. Han-bit, looking at that reaction, said calmly.
“I didn’t use the crystal.”
“Eh? Why? Is it because of us?”
“By any chance, was the number not enough…”
The two surprised people made flustered voices. Before apology appeared on those faces, Han-bit corrected the misunderstanding.
“I didn’t use it on purpose. It’s needed for finding the key fragment.”
—?
—What is he going to do again;
—If he’s eaten again this time, I’ll acknowledge it.
—The impact of the snake that cannot be forgotten.
The condition for finding the key fragment in this area was simple but unique. It was one among dozens of poisoning effects. Because one had to find it and receive it with the body. One couldn’t reach it if they possessed the crystal.
“I will protect you!”
Ping-pong raised a happy voice after escaping from the distortion. It seemed it had been considerably difficult.
“I’m fine. Anyway, you won’t have the mind to do so.”
“Eh? What does that…”
Hwareuk-!
Right then, a fireball flew from the dark forest.
“Ugh!”
Surprised Ping-pong quickly turned his body in that direction.
Peobeobong-!
Magic exploded fiercely as it collided with the shield. The attack did not end with that.
Pajik-!
Slash-!
Electric spheres, sharp water streams, and wind wedges, flying in succession, covered Han-bit’s party. But Ping-pong’s Shield of the Guardian was firm.
‘A lot of them gathered.’
As the aftermath of the magic scattered from his vision, a group of players standing at a distance was seen. Their number was close to twenty. Whether it was coincidence or intention, they were all Holy State players seen at the entrance.
“They’re not coming close.”
The Giant Snake’s Heart was still exerting its effect. As if they checked the stream, they gave up approaching and chose long-range attacks.
“Shall I handle them?”
Haneul said while adjusting her dagger. But it was still a dangerous situation.
“They’ll have detoxification-related items too. Wait a moment.”
Slide-
Han-bit lowered his posture and took a drawing stance. The group of players who confirmed that immediately began corresponding for defense. With players using magic, magic tools, and shields, it was a full preparation in their own way.
Peobong-!
Pajijik-!
In the meantime, attacks continued to fly in. Han-bit, trusting Ping-pong’s defense, focused without shaking. And the moment enough wind was condensed…
Swiik-!
The sword was drawn greatly.
Huuk-!
The wind blade created along the trajectory split the air and rushed fiercely.
However.
“Huh?”
“The direction of that…”
The twins showed flustered reactions. Because the wind blade was headed above them, not towards the enemies. It was to the extent that the thorough defense prepared by the enemies was meaningless. Of course, that too was as planned.
Seogeok-!
The wind blade that hit dozens of trees extended with light cutting.
Slip-
The trees whose upper trunks were cut tilted and fell to the floor as they were.
“Ugh!”
“Dodge!”
The surprised enemies quickly retreated to the side to avoid the falling objects. But that distance was not enough.
Kwagwagwa-!
The upper trunks of the trees that fell to the floor shook the ground with a roar.
Chwaak-!
At the same time, sticky liquid spread like a flood. It was poison that the leaves and branches had contained.
“Ugh!”
“W-what is this! Why is there poison…!”
“Damn it!”
The players covered in that poison flailed with flustered voices. There were numerous messages that would be popping up in front of their eyes. It was obvious that poisons of an amount difficult to even grasp the count were being overlapped.
[Randomly exposed to one type of poison effect within the area, and additional poison effects by terrain features are applied.]
The reason why the Poison Area was dangerous was not because of random effects. It was because of additional poison from terrain features. There was no set limit to that influence. If what dozens of trees contained were dozens of poisons, it was a space where all those effects would encroach on the body. Even items dealing with poisoning would be broken by the poisoning.
Han-bit, who confirmed the enemies fallen on the floor, said while looking at the three people.
“Let’s go. You can kill them all.”
“Yes!”
“Understood!”
“I’ll help too!”
Slash-!
Peobong-!
Han-bit’s party, who immediately approached, lightly handled the neutralized enemies.
[Level has increased by 2.]
[2 Stat Points are added.]
[860 Faction Points are added.]
—Shivers;
—He died so helplessly. lol
—If you struck first, you should die.
—The reward is sweet.
—Maybe it’s better if they come in a group?
The number was handled quickly as the four people moved. Since the influence of poisoning was large to begin with, most of the contribution was Han-bit’s.
Jeobeok-
Having finished collecting gold and items, they leisurely moved their steps inward. It was soon that they arrived at the destination, the Poison Swamp.
“Stay here.”
Slash-
Han-bit, calmly stepping inside, entered the sticky swamp.
[Effect: Deadly Poison is applied.]
[Effect: Paralysis is applied.]
[Effect: Weakening is applied.]
…
Poisoning effects overlapped rapidly every time he moved his body. Arms and legs stiffened, and vision gradually blurred.
Kkuduek-
Han-bit gradually approached the center. Then he suddenly dove into the swamp.
Thump-
A hand fumbled inside where nothing could be seen. When it grabbed something like a rock, the message he was waiting for popped up.
[Effect: Void Poison is applied.]
[Entering the Void State.]
Syuuk-!
His vision dyed black along with a line of text. With Han-bit’s body left alone, nothing was felt. But he knew well that it was a curse of illusion.
Slide-
Even in the sensation where time seemed to have stopped, Han-bit walked through the void space searching for the target. The search had taken more than 10 hours at the first attempt. The time that decreased thereafter reached 5 minutes. And that effort brought a quick result this time as well.
Ttiring-
[You have obtained the third Secret Room key fragment.]
[All applied poisoning effects disappear.]
Seureuk-
The scenery returned in an instant along with the following message. The Poison Swamp Han-bit had been in was in a state of being cleared out enough to be futile.
—??
—Pardon?
—What’s this?
—Is it a trick?
—No, it was real?
There were viewers who didn’t understand even while watching the stream. It was also the reason why the Investigation Team didn’t even find a trace of the key fragment.
Slide-
Han-bit took out the 3 key fragments from his inventory. As he carefully overlapped them, a message popped up again.
[You have obtained the Secret Room Key.]
The key was completed in less than 30 minutes. Now what remained was only putting the relic into his hands.
Han-bit, turning his body, said to the three people waiting.
“Let’s go.”