Chapter 43

Chapter 42: Infinite Proliferation (4)

"Keeeeeek!"

"Kiiiiiie!"

The two hornets let out long roars.

[Due to the Hive's ability, the 'Fear Resistance' effect has been activated!]

Jinhyuk's 'Gap' stat, which overcomes or widens the fundamental gap with the target.

The 'Fear Resistance' effect paralyzes part of the senses, causing the enemy to bite and tear until death.

It's quite a troublesome ability.

Especially for something that doesn't die and continues to split.

Buuuuu!

The hornets started flying from the left and right.

They were looking for an opportunity to descend from above, just like before.

'Now.'

Jinhyuk took out an item he had bought from the 'Coin Exchange' earlier.

[Gigantification Pill (C)]

A special item that can increase the size of the target up to 10 times.

He had prepared this trump card specifically for this moment.

"Stupid! Did you think you could survive the poison just by increasing your size?!"

Anubis burst into laughter as he watched.

The enhanced hornet's poison from the Hive could kill even giants with poison resistance.

A mere Gigantification Pill, even if you ate a hundred, would be useless.

However, Jinhyuk didn't eat it.

"Who said I was going to eat it?"

Instead, he threw it towards the mouth of the flying hornet.

A straight trajectory.

Glug!

The pill slid down the hornet's throat.

"Keeek?"

"What, what... are you... doing...!"

Anubis was taken aback, but Jinhyuk didn't respond.

Instead, he pushed off the ground and ran forward.

'I have to finish this before the pill is fully absorbed.'

About one minute.

There was that much time before the gigantification began.

The distance closed in an instant. Jinhyuk approached the hornet that had swallowed the pill.

The hornet reflexively moved its tail.

The stinger, dripping with venom, aimed for Jinhyuk's neck.

'As expected, it's aiming for the carotid artery.'

Aim for the vital points; it's their instinct.

Jinhyuk slightly moved his neck to avoid the stinger. At the same time, he stretched out his arm and climbed onto the hornet's back.

It was a natural movement, like water flowing.

"Keeeeeeek!"

The hornet twisted its body violently.

"Whoa! Whoa!"

Stop thrashing around.

I'm getting motion sickness.

Jinhyuk firmly grabbed the hornet's wing joints from its back.

Then he pressed the area where the nervous system was with his thumb.

Then.

"Kiiiiii..."

The hornet's movements noticeably calmed down.

Stimulating the central nervous system, it couldn't help but do so.

This allowed him to control not only the direction and speed but also the aggressiveness.

'What I did with insects in a flying race back then is really coming in handy now.'

This is why even the most bizarre experiences can be useful at times.

Of course, at the time, the memory of crashing more often than flying was more prominent.

Buuuuu!

Jinhyuk rode the hornet and flew towards the Hive.

"What are you doing! Kill him! Kill him right now!"

Anubis ordered the remaining hornets.

"Kiiiiie!"

The hornet that received the order pursued Jinhyuk closely.

Now, only 30 seconds remained.

Faster...!

Just a little faster!

It was hard to even open his eyes against the wind pressure, but Jinhyuk increased his speed.

20 seconds, 19 seconds... and finally, when only 10 seconds remained.

[You have used an Unknown Cube (D).]

Jinhyuk used another item he had obtained from the Coin Exchange.

Wuuuuu!

A translucent cube about 2 meters in size enveloped the entire Hive.

Of course, Jinhyuk had already escaped just before one of the cube's sides fully closed.

Leaving behind the hornet he was controlling and the one that was chasing him.

'Now to finish it.'

[Combining 4 items to enhance the Unknown Cube!]

[Ability Enhancer (D)]

[Sticky Glue (F) x 4]

[Spider Web from the Kaltris Forest (F)]

[100mg of Twin-Headed Ogre's Snot (F)]

When all the remaining items were used, a spider web pattern was engraved on the translucent membrane.

"Keeeeeek!"

"Keeek!"

Bang!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The hornets slammed their bodies against the walls, but not a single crack appeared.

For something hastily created within the limit of the coins he possessed, it boasted quite excellent performance.

Good.

This sets the stage for the final act.

"The opening ceremony should start with fireworks, right?"

Since there's no time, I'll skip the opening speech.

Jinhyuk brought his index finger and thumb together.

[Lv4 'Fire Element' activated!]

Just as the gigantification was about to begin.

Inside the cube, the fireworks he had left with the hornets reacted.

Pew pew pew!

A massive flame erupted.

The explosion in the enclosed space was beyond imagination.

The hornets, now completely charred.

However, the broken fragments began to twitch as if nothing had happened.

Proliferation and regeneration were occurring simultaneously.

"Kiiii..."

"Keeek!"

"Keeeeeek!"

Hundreds of new hornets were born, matching the number of broken fragments.

An enormous number.

An enormous number, but the problem was...

The space inside the cube was limited.

Crack!

Creak!

Unable to handle the overwhelming number, the hornets' exoskeletons began to crack under the pressure.

[Gigantification Pill (C) dropped.]

[Level up!]

The 'Gigantification Pills' that were not fully absorbed from the crushed corpses fell to the ground.

'Just as I expected.'

The corners of Jinhyuk's mouth turned upward.

The reason he had been so determined to keep the one-minute time was for this.

If he fed the Gigantification Pills to the infinitely proliferating creatures and killed them before the effect took place...

The pills would also proliferate and drop.

Of course, he could have used the same method to obtain other items in large quantities, but he chose the Gigantification Pills for a reason.

High-rank or large-volume items couldn't be fed, and he needed as many pills as possible to tackle the fourth floor.

'Already two levels up, huh.'

Thanks to the mass slaughter, similar to a large-scale hunt, his experience points skyrocketed.

It's like...

A cold beer on a hot summer night is enough, but adding freshly fried chicken to it.

The combination of sweet rewards made him feel intoxicated.

'This is why I can't give up on the first underground floor.'

Crawling into a damp and stuffy pit to fight disgusting insects is far from a pleasant task.

But he could endure it with a smile because of the reward at the end.

"Keeeeeek!"

"Kiiik!"

The hornets died, were reborn, and died again.

A Möbius strip, one leading to the other.

All he had to do was fold his arms and watch.

Items and experience points would come in automatically.

[Gigantification Pill (C) dropped.]

[Level up!]

[Gigantification Pill (C) dropped.]

[Level up!]

[Gigantification...]

[Level...!]

Watching the status windows pour in, Jinhyuk thought.

By now... Anubis must be seething with rage.

***

"This, this is...!"

Anubis' eyes bulged.

It was undoubtedly a plan boasting a surefire kill.

Even renowned strongmen had fled in terror when faced with infinitely proliferating insects.

But.

He never imagined there could be a way to undermine the foundation of the Hive like this.

He couldn't help but be shocked.

'Could he have been provoking me from the start, aiming for this?'

Given that he had already prepared the items for synthesis, it was certain.

Everything was a trap.

Crunch!

A terrifying sound came from Anubis' clenched teeth.

Thinking of himself as a puppet dancing on the palm of his hand, his anger threatened to overwhelm his reason.

But he didn't have time to vent his anger right now.

Jinhyuk was leveling up like crazy.

The longer it took, the stronger he became.

He had to make a decision.

As quickly as possible.

"Damn it."

The only way to stop this disaster.

It was...

Anubis spread his palm.

Then, after a moment, he clenched his fist with his eyes tightly shut.

[Anubis destroys the 'Hive'!]

Kaaaaa!

The Hive inside the cube exploded.

***

"Of course, it would end like this."

Jinhyuk, who was enjoying leveling up, clicked his tongue regretfully.

He knew the sweet moment couldn't last forever.

But when it actually came, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

"You!"

Anubis bared his teeth.

They looked sharp and white, capable of cleanly separating bone and flesh with a single bite.

But there was no need to be afraid.

With the Hive destroyed, this fight was essentially over.

"I know you're angry, but try to relax. You know, it's the worst to drag things out after losing."

"Do you really think you can get away with this?"

"Yep."

Not just get away with it.

He planned to live a long and healthy life, eating three meals a day, and pass away at around 100 years old.

Short life and sudden death were not in his vocabulary.

"Kraaaaaa!"

Anubis, unable to control his anger at Jinhyuk's nonchalant attitude, stomped his foot.

Bang! Bang! Kaaaa!

Cracks appeared in the floor.

Furious and wanting to kill the creature in front of him.

But the reality of being unable to do anything was incredibly frustrating.

"Make sure, make sure you survive and come back up. Human! When that time comes, I'll personally rip out your spine and neck with my hands."

"I was planning to do that anyway. Oh, of course, I'll keep my neck in its original position. I don't want to look like a combination robot with a detachable head."

"..."

Anubis was at a loss for words.

The more he talked, the more stress he accumulated.

Every second he stood here only intensified his shame and anger.

Finally.

"Remember my face well."

With a short warning, Anubis destroyed the statue that contained his soul.

Ku ku ku ku!

[Anubis' vessel is destroyed!]

The fragments collapsed.

At the same time.

[Conditions met!]

[Anubis' Judgment]

Acquisition difficulty: Overrank

Description: Ask the target three questions. If the target answers all three questions, the conditions are met, reducing the target's stats by 50% and restricting the use of skills and unique abilities for one minute.

[However, this ability can only be used once on the same target, and abusing it may incur the wrath of the Egyptian deities.]

He had obtained a new ability.

An Overrank ability imbued with divine power.

'This is like getting a Christmas gift too early.'

Reducing the target's stats drastically with just a few questions.

This is completely overpowered.

Even with the restrictions, it wouldn't be a problem if used at the right time.

Just then.

[The deities of Egyptian mythology take an interest in your existence.]

[Some of them express strong hostility!]

A red status window appeared.

Anubis must have run to his fellow deities to vent his frustration.

'Gods are always so quick to speak.'

Tsk tsk.

Jinhyuk clicked his tongue inwardly.

'I'll think about the upper floors of the tower later. First, I need to allocate my stat points.'

The Egyptians weren't a priority; he might not even see them again.

What mattered was his current growth and the upcoming third-floor boss.

He had leveled up 18 times since coming here, accumulating 54 stat points.

It was insane growth.

But it was understandable.

A ranker, supported by a large guild, could barely reach level 20 after a month of exclusive dungeon hunting.

Achieving that alone in just one day, who would believe it?

'I need to think about where to invest these stats.'

Just as Jinhyuk was about to open the stat window.

Wuuuuu!

A status window requesting a call appeared.

"Who is this?"

Jinhyuk's eyes narrowed.

The name displayed on the screen was...

Quite an unexpected person.