Leveling
CH 74

"The top floor is a different level"

Jin Woo remembers the first and only boss of the Demon Castle that he has fought,

The Overlord of the Lower Floors, Volkhan of Avarice.

That bastard's title is "Overlord of the Lower Floors".

After going above the 50th floor where the Demon was located, the difficulty of each floor increased

quickly.

Previously, he could climb 10 floors a day, 20 floors if he wanted to.

Now, he can hardly clean 7 ~ 8 floors a day.

Jin Woo is currently on the 74th Floor.

The normal batch here were the Top-Level Demon's and sometimes the Archdemons.

They were in a different class from Low-Level and Mid-Level Demon's.

stab!

The Top-Level Demon's size was equivalent to a two-story building complete with tanto

which is sticking out of his chest.

Koong!

[You have defeated Top-Level Demon's]

[You have gained 1,700 EXP points]

[You got 1 Demon Soul]

Jin Woo retrieves Baruka's Tanto from the chest of the fallen Demon.

It was the last enemy of the newest group.

Another battle was won.

The Shadow Soldier's who had won all gathered in front of Jin Woo.

He saw his army.

It was impossible for an undead army, but Jin Woo swore his soldiers were indeed

really look tired.

That was how difficult the monsters that were upstairs were.

Fortunately, Archdemon was not involved in the battle earlier, so it was relatively easier

than any other.

"Each of those damned monsters is the same as a Boss Class"

This is not a conclusion casually made.

The description of Marble of Avarice suggests that Volkhan himself was an archdemon.

While Volkhan might be the boss of the lower floors,archdemon was just a monster

normal upstairs.

After the 70th Floor, they began to appear more often.

"If it's just a monster that's getting stronger, I can handle it ..."

But there's a bigger problem.

It was a change in the environment upstairs.

Starting with the 51st Floor, the city was on fire.

The fire became stronger on each floor.

After the 70th floor, the heat became strong enough to reduce his HP.

Just moving his body alone had already slightly increased his fatigue.

Not "Demon Castle", it's more appropriate to call this Dungeon "Tower no Fire.

The feeling he had before entering the place was right on target.

'...Let's go.'

He'll end his Raid here.

He needed a way to deal with the heat of the fire.

"I need to obtain an artifact that can increase my resistance to fire-type magic"

The equipment used by high-level Hunters was extremely expensive.

Moreover, if they were to be enchanted with his protective magic, it would be double the price again.

He recalled seeing on the news that some of the more expensive items cost tens of billions of won.

While she has earned a bit of real money while Raid with Yoo Jinho, Jin Woo

not sure if it would be enough to buy the artifact he needed.

So he needs bail, then,

"It should be pretty good."

Jin Woo looked at the Marble of Avarice in his storage and smiled.

Any Hunter Class Mage would drool at such an item.

What would happen if he auctioned this marble?

If the effect was proven, the high-level Hunter Class Mage would line up at the door for it.

Jin Woo closed the storage.

His goal in this Dungeon was to level up.

He has achieved that goal wonderfully.

He did not feel ashamed to delay Raid for later.

However, one thing interrupted his mind.

He raised his head.

[Collected Demon Souls: 9,624/10,000]

"Only 400 more souls"

Just a little more, and he was able to complete the Quest.

Today is the 6th day.

One more day would be more than enough to gather the rest.

The silver lining from the top floor was a Demon existence that gave many souls.

400 Can be collected in an instant.

‘Let's go after completing Quest’

With that determination, Jin Woo kept moving.

Since he had a strong goal in mind, there was more power in his footsteps.

[Floors 1 to 74 open]

[What floor do you want to go to?]

In the middle of the magic-circle, Jin Woo spoke, saying,

"Floor 75."

________________________________________

What is this unexpected gift?

Jin Woo stared at the monster who was guarding the transfer magic circle from a distance.

‘The Guide of Souls, Metus’

Looking at that name, it was clear that it was a boss Class monster.

The monster was wearing a black robe, and was wearing a silver necklace.

‘And it must be definitely the Monarch of Demons’ Necklace.'

In the moment he was planning just to finish the Quest and leave, he suddenly

find the next part of the item set.

However, the reason why Jin Woo smiled was not because of the item.

No matter how good the item drops, you can't get it if you

can't kill the monster.

Jin Woo smiles when he realizes there is something very different about

this monster is going to help him kill him.

Jin Woo held the two daggers in his hand and ran forward.

A skull-shaped monster that was a Class Mage wearing a robe

black found.

ring ~

[The Guide of Souls, Themetus has noticed an intruder!]

As expected of a boss-class monster, the Antus completed its spell in an instant.

A blood-red magic circle appeared at his feet and a gloomy energy gathered

around it.

[The Guide of Souls, Theus has used 'Cursed Voice']

Receiving Metus' call, the undead army rose from the ground.

There are thousands of them!

A normal person would suffocate to death just by looking at this terrifying army, he said,

but Jin Woo doesn't feel that way.

'As I thought…'

He predicted this.

Of the entire Demon Castle, this was the first place he saw there was black smoke

familiar with it emerged from the ground.

Seeing the strange phenomenon, it was easy for Jin Woo to know what kind of monster Metus was.

‘The Guide of Souls’

The boss's title only added to his suspicions.

And as expected, Petus had summoned a powerful undead army.

However, in that field, Jin Woo has a stronger class.

"RISE!!!"

UWAAAAAH!

With a piercing scream of pain, the army rose from the shadows of Metus' forces

the non-living.

They are hundreds!

It was sorely lacking for Metus' army, but it was more than enough.

The one who does the job will be his true army.

"Make me walk!"

And here there's a real army.

A pitch-black army rises from Jin Woo's shadow.

Hundreds of soldiers made from Shadow Extraction distract Metus' forces.

Meanwhile, the true Jin Woo squad member, after leveling up along with

their master while clearing the Demon Castle, opened the way for Jin Woo.

There is only one target!

Ygritte and Iron took the vanguard and cut off the undead at incredible speed.

The distance between Jin Woo and Metus had shortened in an instant.

"It's pretty good."

Jin Woo ran in front of the knights.

‘Sprint!’

[‘Sprint’ has leveled up!]

After using it during his time in the Demon Castle, Skill 'Sprint' leveled up.

'All right'

Jin Woo smiled broadly.

After escaping the encirclement of undead soldiers in an instant, Jin Woo stood in front of Metus.

The two undead commanders looked at each other.

"Aren't you expecting this?"

While the light of victory filled Jin Woo's eyes, Metus' shoulder jumped as

seeing Jin Woo.

At least, that's the way it looks.

"Can monsters be afraid?"

Well, this is not the time to think about such things.

The flashing daggers moved at such speed that they

creating dozens of shadows.

thud

Jin Woo knows from his experience that a Class Mage monster commands subordinates

very weak in one-on-one combat.

He's known this since he saw Metus for the first time.

Jin Woo returned the weapon to storage.

ring ~

[You have defeated the Guide of Souls, Metus]

[You've earned 200,000 EXP points]

[Soul Demons sealed within the Metus pendant have been released]

[You got 220 Demon Souls]

[You level up!]

[You level up!]

Jin Woo raised his fist in victory.

He had gained 220 souls in one go.

What an unexpected gift.

[Collected Demon Souls: 9,971/10,000]

A smile appeared on Jin Woo's face.

"Live a little more"

There are 29 souls.

He only needed to kill a few more Demons.

Jin Woo quickly retrieves the item from the boss' corpse and moves it to the magic circle.

[What floor do you want to go to?]

"Floor 76."

________________________________________

East Coast, United States.

A sleeping man struggled like he was having a nightmare, then woke up

with shock.

It was Hwang Dongsoo.

‘...?’

The first thing he saw was a white ceiling.

In an unfamiliar environment, the man looked left and right.

"The Hospital?"

Dreamlike.

Is that a dream?

When Hwang Dongsoo wiped the sweat under his chin with the back of his hand,

he found something.

On top of the hospital gown, an infusion needle was attached to her hand.

The man's face hardened.

A cold voice came out from his mouth,

"Tell me what you need here and go"

The Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Hunters (FBH) stood across the room.

He was a middle-aged American man with more white hair

from his black hair.

The man slowly approached Hwang Dongsoo.

"I have something I want to ask you, so I'm waiting here"

What does he want to ask?

Hwang Dongsoo raised his head.

The vice director met his gaze and spoke,

"That man, Sung Ilhwan ... Are you really sure he's a monster?"

"Do you think I'm attacking an ordinary person?"

"It's not that I don't believe you.I just want to confirm what I saw

with my eyes”

The deputy director handed the phone to Hunter.

Video playing.

"What's this…?"

"That's security footage from that day."

In the video, an Asian man rescues an FBH employee from a collapsed building.

Hwang Dongsoo did not need to ask who the man was.

How could he forget?

It was the last face he saw before he lost consciousness, Sung Ilhwan.

The vice director continued with a dark expression,

"I'm .. I've never heard of a monster that helps humans

sure that guy was a monster?"

"... He must be a monster"

"Is that so."

The deputy director kept the phone, though,

"After you're out, come to FBH, there are some things we need to take note of"

As the deputy director turned to leave, Hwang Dongsoo asked,

"What happened to that man?"

“He disappeared after fighting you.While the bureau worked hard to track him down,

we're not sure if we can get someone who can beat you ... "

Before leaving, the deputy director asked one more question with great difficulty,

"Do you ... happen to know a place he might visit?"

"..."

Watching Hunter close his mouth tightly, the deputy director walked out of the room

infirmary.

As the man left, Hwang Dongsoo pulled out an infusion needle from his arm.

"Fuck up!"

Hwang Dongsoo traces his memories.

It was an embarrassing defeat.

Before he realized what had happened, Sung Ilhwan's foot was on his neck.

He was lying on the floor like a weakling.

As he coughed, Sung Ilhwan spoke to him, saying,

“Don't step into Korea.This is for your good, not my son.If you do, you do,

you won't be able to rest even in death"

And he couldn't remember anything after that.

When he opened his eyes, he was already here.

"I won't be able to rest even in death?"

What does that mean?

Was it a threat that he would be cruelly killed?

"You dare ... threaten me?"

Hwang Dongsoo's fist shook.

It was quite embarrassing for him to be defeated, but to think that he would be more

humiliated by threats.

"I know where he's going"

He's gonna kill that guy.

But how?

Is he really a monster, Sung Ilhwan is undeniable if he is very strong.

"I need the right equipment to beat him"

Fortunately, it would be easy to obtain such equipment.

"I'll call the Guild"

Hwang Dongsoo's Guild, Scavenger, was one of the top Guilds worldwide.

Only the value of the artifacts possessed by the Scavenger was even greater than the small state budget.

‘It won't be a problem as long as I can borrow some of their artifacts'

Hwang Dongsoo's eyes flickered with a powerful light.

To Korea.

The man decided on his next destination.

________________________________________

[You have defeated Archdemon]

[You have gained 2,200 EXP points]

[You got 1 Demon Soul]

[You have obtained 3 Demon Souls from Archdemon slaves]

‘AKU DONE!’

Jin Woo can't hide his excitement.

Fortunately, the last monster he defeated gave him four souls, the exact number

all it takes to complete the Quest.

[Collected Demon Souls: 10,001]

ring ~

[You have completed an Ordinary Quest: Gathering a Demon Soul!]

[The reward for completing the Quest has arrived]

[Do you want to verify? (Y/T)]

'Of course!'

With his mental answer, a gift appeared.

[You have received the prize below]

[Gift 1. Select one item from each possible item]

[Gift 2. Stat Points +20]

[Gift 3. Unknown Gifts]

[Thank you all?]

Of course, every one of his gifts was amazing, but Jin Woo was most interested in the first prize.

It was worth it to complete a Quest just for that reward.

‘Receive 1.’ Prize

ring ~!

[You can select one item from each possible item]

[Which item do you want?]

The item I want.

There's one.

It was an item that Jin Woo had been thinking about ever since he saw Quest.

He recalls going back to the day he had to make a similar decision.

What would happen if he chose another item?

It might have been troubling his mind ever since.

He was not sure if the item was here but he decided to give it a try.

[You can select one item from each possible item]

[Which item do you want?]

As if pressing on it, the System asked again. Jinwoo spoke after thinking,

"Cursed Random Boxes"

...Note: The artifact is the same as the magic item, so if you see this do not be surprised, then you like to change...

... of items, magic tools, fittings, similar equipment artifacts....