Chapter 85

◈ Chapter 85. Blossoming in the Swamp (2)

“What a load of crap.”

When he first saw the post.

He thought it was just another low-level troll.

-Everyone, did you know that Ho Yeol can use sword skills too?

It doesn’t make any sense.

“Sigh. Look at the level of this.”

Who is Ho Yeol?

A player who receives the same treatment as the great chief mage of the Magic Tower. Even without considering his halo, what has he shown in battles? Hasn’t he displayed magnificent magic skills?

Tap tap tap!

The keyboard being struck with a sigh.

Drip drip drip─

The comment section refreshing.

-What a load of crap, seriously lolololol

-It’s not crap? It’s real

-It sounds like crap. Have you even played Arcana? You’re showing your ignorance

They still haven’t grasped the situation.

They don’t seem to know what kind of game Arcana is.

The class system in Arcana isn’t there for no reason.

Let’s say, for example:

If, by any chance, Ho Yeol wanted to learn sword skills and started swinging a sword.

-What, do you think sword skills will just pop up like that???

No matter how much he practices, it would be a waste of time.

It would be a futile effort, as skills, stats, and everything else would be useless.

Players cannot overcome the limits of their class.

That’s the common sense in Arcana.

So it was natural for the post to be treated as a troll.

But something was off.

“What is this? They’re spamming it in groups?”

Ho Yeol picked up a sword.

The absurd story kept appearing on the board.

Under normal circumstances, he would have thought it was some guy spreading rumors.

But a paid shill?

That doesn’t make sense, does it?

‘…Does Ho Yeol have any reason to spread rumors?’

What could be lacking?

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t come up with a good reason.

Moreover, this wasn’t a promotion or praise.

The idea of a mage-class Ho Yeol using a sword was absurd.

So naturally, his mind started to wander.

“These must be some dirty people.”

Ho Yeol’s haters must have hired shills.

When you browse community forums, you start to notice things.

The mouse started to move sharply.

“Damn scumbags. I’ll catch you if you show your face.”

They would surely spread absurd rumors.

And subtly try to sell positive evaluations of themselves.

But.

“…?”

No matter how hard he looked.

There were no stories about other guilds or players.

It was all about Ho Yeol.

What was this, a feeling that common sense was breaking down?

The sense of discomfort made it impossible to stubbornly deny it.

“Fine. I’ll fall for it just this once. I will.”

With that mindset, he clicked on the NetTube link.

Soon, the screen on the monitor.

There, Ho Yeol was really pointing a sword…!

“Crazy!! What is this?!”

That’s right.

At this moment.

The battle between Ho Yeol and [Predator Anaconda] was being broadcast through dozens of cameras around the world.

The meaning was simple.

This live footage was unaltered reality.

“Can’t do anything, can he? A level 530 monster?”

To describe that battle, one word was enough.

Annihilation.

Ho Yeol was hunting the swamp lord, Anaconda.

No, calling it a hunt would be an understatement.

Since the battle began, Ho Yeol hadn’t moved even once.

“Wow. He’s on a whole different level…”

“While others are struggling in the mud.”

“Considering this is Ho Yeol, who cleared a level 1000 rift. What’s the problem?”

The players hunting in the rift understood the implications more deeply.

Against an Anaconda, there’s no need to swing a sword.

“He’s not just acquaintances with Harcon.”

The stance with the sword.

Seeing that stance, one could understand Ho Yeol’s connection to the Lion Heart Knights.

Ho Yeol is clearly deeply involved with the Lion Heart Knights.

The same stance as Harcon was proof.

“He might even have a position in the Magic Tower.”

“It’s practically confirmed. And it’s not just any position, right?”

“To be called sir by the great Harcon.”

“So, he must have connections with the imperial royal family, right…?”

“Really! Does that even make sense!!”

The strongest military force on the continent, the Magic Tower.

The strongest knight order of the empire, the Lion Heart Knights.

How could a player have a position in both groups?

And not just any position, but a significant one?

The more he thought about it, the more questions about Ho Yeol grew.

“How did he not cause any rumors until now?”

Even now, Ho Yeol’s presence can’t be hidden.

He must have stood out even when Arcana was just a game.

But no such stories came to mind.

The past of such an unconventional player was seriously intriguing!

Just as those watching were thinking this.

Thud─

The Predator Anaconda.

Its breath ceased.

The battle, which couldn’t even be called a battle, was over.

The Predator’s Swamp.

A coliseum where battles never cease.

As the victor of this intense battlefield.

Ho Yeol’s appearance showed not a single sign of disorder.

It was as if he was in a different space.

No, it was as if he was in a different genre.

Yes, Ho Yeol’s appearance was incredibly alien and noble.

Like a lotus blooming in the swamp.

*

…Really, it’s like a documentary.

One that doesn’t let you relax for a moment.

An extreme real documentary.

I checked the message that appeared.

[Level up.]

[Level up.]

[Level up.]……

At least the experience points were a comfort.

[Predator Anaconda].

The experience points it dropped were considerable for its level.

Not on the level of a boss monster like a great evil or a demon king.

But I had monopolized that experience.

[Name: Grangfel Claudius Arpeus Romeo]

[Class: Demon Hunter]

[Level: 314]

[Stats]

Strength: 53 / Agility: 60 / Magic: 244 / Luck: 5 / Aesthetics: 下

[Available Points: 18]

A jump of 18 levels in one go.

It’s only because my absolute level was low that I gained so many levels.

But if this is the case, I welcome it.

Whether it’s three in the morning or four in the evening.

‘I’m not in a position to be picky.’

Even when I reviewed the battle with Anaconda just now.

If, for a moment, I had let my guard down.

If my stance with the sword had wavered.

‘I would have allowed a counterattack immediately.’

Without the [Predator] relationship activated.

No matter how much I had boosted my Strength and Agility stats through class quests.

I had invested all the points I gained from leveling up into Magic, occasionally into Luck.

‘Avoiding with physical abilities would have been impossible.’

Naturally, I would have had to manifest magic.

I would have had to minimize the damage.

Then, a terrifying vicious cycle would have started.

Unexpected magic manifestation → Absolute lack of Magic → Predator territory, back to battle → Unexpected magic manifestation again → Absolute lack of Magic → Back to battle……

So.

‘I was serious.’

I don’t know how it looked to a third party.

But I didn’t let my guard down for a moment during the battle.

As a result, I was able to gain both experience points and loot.

[Thick Anaconda Skin] - [Grade: Rare]

[Melting Amber] - [Grade: Rare]

[Poison-soaked Birch] - [Grade: Unique]

Three pieces of loot.

All of them were Rare, Rare, and Unique.

‘No wonder my stomach felt so full.’

They were all material items.

But there was no reason to complain if they dropped in threes.

Most importantly, I had acquired knowledge of all the minerals and plants on the Arcana continent through the [Pentagram of Pure Knowledge].

“Seems to have some value.”

The melting amber.

And the birch soaked in Anaconda’s poison.

I immediately understood how to use them.

Of course, since they were loot from inside the creature’s stomach.

‘Some processing will be needed, but it’s not a big problem.’

‘Time to pull out the Magic Tower’s pillar.’

The ability to use the Magic Tower’s services freely.

And for free.

It was also a legitimate right of the chief.

‘Still.’

There’s really no time to rest, is there?

The Predator territory.

Rustle─

As soon as I took down one, another monster appeared as if it had been waiting.

A snake, and next, a rat? Of course, it wasn’t an ordinary rat.

[Cruel Janitor: Level 550]

Its size is similar to a human.

Not just in size, but it walks on its hind legs and holds weapons in its front paws.

A crossbow, an axe, and a shield.

It’s not just equipped with one or two items.

Indeed, not all rats are the same.

Its long tail twitched.

Maybe because I still had my sword in hand.

It didn’t rush in recklessly.

‘Then, first.’

Let’s invest the points.

Each stat point is precious to me.

I had 18 available points.

I was about to invest them all in Magic but left 1 point.

…Yeah, there’s a saying that luck is 70% and effort is 30%.

Even if I invested 1 more point in Magic.

This is a level 500 rift, isn’t it?

It’s better to hope for a stroke of luck than to expect a dramatic effect from 1 point of Magic.

I invested 1 point in Luck.

[Luck: 6]

…But why 6?

A sudden memory.

I clearly invested 2 points to avoid the Death point.

In the end, I had to pass through the number 6, the number of the devil.

This isn’t a coincidence, is it?

But now, I have no more points to invest.

“Superstition is just superstition.”

I shouldn’t be the one saying this, having invested in Luck.

Yeah, I can’t keep worrying about superstitions.

Especially since it’s the number of the devil.

‘It’s not bad, actually.’

No, if a devil appeared, I would be grateful.

As long as the [Predator] relationship activates.

There would be no need to ride on lotus leaves.

I wouldn’t have to make a documentary all by myself.

That was the end of pointless thoughts.

Creak─!

What’s that sound? What is this now?

I looked at where the sound came from.

A giant tree rising from the swamp.

The creature was gnawing at the base of the tree with its teeth.

Creak─!

Maybe because its teeth are large.

The tree leaned and fell with a loud noise.

The creature’s intention was clear.

‘It’s trying to make the battlefield more advantageous for itself.’

The moment the tree falls.

The swamp will shake.

It’s trying to take advantage of that moment.

‘Indeed, it’s not easy to deal with.’

If we use the terms from when Arcana was just a game…

We could say the pattern is insane.

Even though they’re just named monsters, not bosses.

They’re all difficult to deal with.

However, despite the effort.

Crack─!

To the point of skipping the exploration process.

I know all the plants in Arcana.

Naturally, I can interfere with the tree the creature was gnawing on.

[Chukira Tree].

Crack─?

Exploration skipped.

Interference with moderate reinforcement.

Eventually, it manifested.

Crack─?!

It means the creature can’t knock down the tree no matter how hard it tries.

I stared at the surprised giant rat, [Cruel Janitor].

Unnecessary dialogue was not needed.

I manifested magic while pointing my sword.

There was no need to add [Aesthetics] against a frozen enemy.

The only thing I considered was the Magic efficiency.

Among the many spells I cast on the creature.

[The Cruel Janitor has been inflicted with ‘Frostbite’.]

Finding the spell that deals the most damage to the creature.

It may seem crude, but there’s no choice.

To deal with enemies much stronger than my level one after another.

This is the only method.

‘I don’t need to know the reason, nor do I want to know.’

I just need to know that it’s effective.

‘Frostbite means cold is a weakness.’

I manifested the advanced freezing spell [Frost].

Swoosh─!

The frost spikes extending towards the creature.

[Frost] has a slow projectile speed.

But it’s classified as an advanced spell due to its destructive power.

Crack─!

Naturally, the swamp froze instantly.

Crack─!

The pressure from the sword tip pointing at it.

The reduced movement speed due to the ‘Frostbite’ status.

The frost creeping closer.

I said in a voice colder than the cold.

“I have no intention of playing in the water.”

It means I won’t let a single drop of mud from the swamp splash.

‘Moreover.’

I looked at the tree, the Chukira Tree.

Specifically, the ‘Herb’ glowing at the top of the swaying tree.

‘If the tree falls, the herb will fall into the swamp, right?’

That’s something I can’t bear to watch.

Knowing what effects the precious herb has.

I, who knows better than anyone!