I Became a Disaster-Class Newbie by Stealing Abilities - Chapter 70

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 70. The Dungeon ‘Jamsil World Tower’ (5)
Whoosh.
Jusang retrieved a massive staff and a small box from Erman’s remains, which had been reduced to ash.
Of course, a Binding Curse was attached to them.
That’s fine—once he met the theft condition, it wouldn’t matter anyway.…
The real problem was this creature.
“Grrrrr.”
Karshephon approached, drool dripping in thick streams.
Its eyes held nothing but raw greed.
If he so much as prevented this thing from eating the Artifact, it looked ready to tear him apart whether it meant minor disaster or complete calamity.
‘Winning isn’t feasible.’
However.
Running away was….
Entirely possible.
Fortunately, the gusts that had hindered movement before had vanished completely.
The breath’s effect had absorbed every trace of magic in the area.
“You like tag?”
For the record, he rather enjoyed it himself.
Boom!
Jusang launched himself from the ground.
Instantly, dozens of spells detonated around him.
‘He used Skill Fear and the amplification trait, so next he’ll deploy an area-effect technique involving poison.’
He knew every combination and sequence this monster favored.
He’d researched strategies for Named Monsters so thoroughly he could have published a dissertation on them.
So then.
Bang-bang-crack!
Boom-boom-boom!!!
He could evade.
Jusang slipped through each crisis by a hair’s breadth, hurling himself toward the exit.
[You are the first to clear the 100th Floor of World Tower.]
[The achievement ‘One Who Stood Against Karshephon, Guardian of the Highest Floor’ has been registered!]
[Clear Time: 68H:11M:52S]
[First Clear rewards are being calculated.]
[You will be transported to a random point outside World Tower in approximately 10 minutes.]
Status windows cascaded across his vision.
At the same moment, Karshephon—about to charge—dissolved into smoke and vanished.
The World Tower had been cleared at last.
“Phew.”
Jusang exhaled deeply, working to calm his hammering pulse.
What would appear now, he wondered?
Since he’d managed the clear in under seventy hours, the most generous rewards would manifest—and his anticipation soared.
[You may select 1 item from the 3 options below.]
A choice was possible?
This was unexpectedly fortunate.
He could pick whichever he needed most from the three.
[Karshephon’s Claw (Degraded)]
[Acquisition Difficulty: S]
[Description: A portion of Karshephon’s body, which guards the highest floor of World Tower. Can serve as material for crafting cold weapons. Any weapon modified with it gains a guaranteed +1,000 additional physical damage.]
[Blade Gust]
[Acquisition Difficulty: S]
[Description: A skill that activates continuously on the highest floor of World Tower. Upon acquisition, you can summon gusts imbued with [Knockback] and [Freeze] effects.]
[Double Bond]
[Acquisition Difficulty: S]
[Description: Doubles the effects of Set Items. Provides a clue to locate one of the Set Items that no one has yet discovered.]
The moment he saw them, a low whistle escaped his lips.
Each option was a temptingly sweet prospect he’d be loath to pass up.
‘The Claw can make a sword either I or Baek Seol-gi can use.’
Degraded though it was, a blade forged from a dragon’s claw transcended all ordinary valuation.
As long as he remained in Korea, he wouldn’t need another weapon.
For now, he’d set this aside.
Next is the skill Blade Gust, and….
A skill with knockback that pushes enemies away, plus a freezing effect attached to it.
I coveted it desperately.
Crowd control abilities are steadying just to have on hand, like a bowl of rice soup, but here there were two of them stacked together.
‘I almost wish the reward had been just one.’
Then I wouldn’t be agonizing over the choice like this.
But the moment I saw the final option, I made my decision in my heart.
‘This is insane.’
Double Bond—it not only doubles the effect of set items, but can even uncover hidden additional set items.
It was the perfect synergy with what I already possessed.
[Cabala’s Grimoire]
[Acquisition Difficulty: SS]
[Equipping this increases your Magic stat by +1,000,000.]
[You can increase the comprehensive stats of evil-aligned monsters and villains by +10%, and gain access to special skills such as Demon Summoning, Black Magic, and Corpse Crafting.]
This grimoire was a holy relic stolen from Lucian, a cardinal of the Immortal Order.
To be precise, Boradoli handed it over after using Attribute Destruction.
[Set Effect]
[Additional Magic Attack Power +300]
[Additional Physical Attack Power +300]
The short sword and grimoire—having collected 2 set items, I gained the additional options.
Since Cabala’s Short Sword had a base attack power of 3,000, this meant roughly 20% additional attack power was added on top.
And in both physical and magical damage combined.
If I use Double Bond on this….
[Set Effect]
[Additional Magic Attack Power +600]
[Additional Physical Attack Power +600]
The effect applies doubled.
‘Damn. This is sweet, so sweet.’
This is why set items are broken.
The more you collect, the more insane the synergy becomes.
Right then.
A map marked in golden light fluttered and fell before me.
‘Jeju Island?’
My eyes narrowed as I checked the location.
That’s right.
So that’s why the Immortal Order couldn’t secure it no matter how hard they searched.
Beyond the wall was an extremely perilous unknown world, but Jeju Island in particular was a place so terrible it qualified as a calamity.
‘I can’t go there yet.’
I’d need to reach at least 8-Star Rank.
Baek Seol-gi, Amy, and Heuk-bi would all need to grow much stronger, and I’d have to equip them with specialized gear suited to each of them.
Only then could I even attempt it.
Well, there’s no rush on this, so I can think it over slowly.
Next….
Time to check the box I took from Erman.
Click!
When I opened the lid, a lens covered in the rune script I’d seen at the drinking session came into view.
[Shakespeare’s Fountain Pen activates!]
I corrected some of the rune script written there.
I redrew the stroke of that very character Erman had mentioned.
Hummm!
Magic naturally flowed into magic, and the formula was reconstructed.
At that very moment.
Ding!
Brilliant light burst forth from the lens.
[You have completed the Eye of Worldlines!]
[Acquisition Difficulty: Unmeasurable]
[Durability: 100/100]
[Description: You can identify the type and nature of attributes. Durability may be consumed depending on the type and grade of the attribute upon use.]
[Plunder condition satisfied.]
[Binding effect will be destroyed!]
A low growl of satisfaction.
Among all the opportunities I’ve gained since entering the World Tower, I’m certain this is the finest.
* * *
“Sixty, sixty hours! A sixty-hour clear has appeared!”
“I can hardly believe it even watching it happen. Has there ever been a case of someone clearing a hundred-floor tower in such a short timeframe anywhere in the world?”
“Not that I know of. The world record has to be somewhere in the 238-hour, 33-minute range.”
“And they say he even fought the dragon on the top floor? Dodging the 100th-floor gatekeeper is the standard rule, but this guy actually went mad and fought it. I can’t believe it.”
Exclamations burst forth one after another.
The gap was so overwhelming that few complained about failing to claim the reward for themselves.
But that didn’t mean the guilds were abandoning the other two rewards.
Speed Run and Most Kills.
These two, if nothing else, had to be secured even if it meant staking the guild’s very fate on it.
And so the main attack parties of each guild gathered before the reset World Tower.
Learning from their initial failure, they swore this time they would achieve results.
At that same moment.
At a café located before Seokchon Lake, Jusu and the remaining members were enjoying a modest tea time.
Since they’d already claimed their reward, they planned to relax and watch the others scramble.
“A First Clear achievement. It truly suits you.”
“I’ve already heard the news, but allow me to offer my congratulations once more.”
“Your renown spreads across the land, it seems.”
Baek Seol-gi, Amy, and Heuk-bi.
Three calamities spoke through mouthfuls of cake and black tea.
“Well, I just did it as light exercise, and before I knew it, I’d ended up in first place.”
Jusu’s shoulders puffed up with pride.
To maintain dignity in front of these three, one had to bluff as much as possible at times like this.
“Since you’ve come all this way, how about making an attempt? If you manage first place, I’ll give you one Wish Ticket.”
With that, I casually threw out the wager.
A Wish Ticket.
I had no idea what kind of ripple that carelessly uttered word would cause.
“A wish…you say?”
“A wish, meaning you’d grant us anything we desire? Anything at all?”
“To make a request of Your Highness…”
All their eyes shifted.
A snort of amusement.
Jusu let out a dry chuckle.
I understood they were enthusiastic enough.
But it wasn’t that simple.
The World Tower was something that could only be cleared by fully deploying the vast knowledge and distinctive sensibilities that a veteran player possessed.
‘You’d have to stand before Karshephon to really understand.’
That terrifying dragon just starts breathing flames and spamming area attacks left and right, and—well.
If you don’t wet yourself, that’s already a victory in itself.
* * *
Baek Seol-gi was the first to enter the World Tower.
“Hmm, something seems off about that person?”
“Yeah. It’s a Speed Run, so why are they just staring at the ceiling?”
People voiced their doubts, but only briefly.
In a situation where every second counted, no one had the luxury to watch another person’s every move.
While everyone else hurried toward the second floor.
Baek Seol-gi slowly drew her sword into stance.
Whoosh!
Rising ice flames.
Crackle-crackle!
Spreading frost merged into one.
-Show me. Reveal the caliber of one who would become my vessel.
A soft aura spread outward from Baek Seol-gi’s form.
The highest absolute technique taking shape.
It was the beginning.
Secret Technique.
‘Mistletoe’.
Shimmer.
The blade was drawn.
A pristine white line erupted skyward, cutting through the heavens.
The slash that began on the first floor.
Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash! Crash!
Pierced through.
The ceiling.
And the ceiling of the next floor.
Thud! Bang!
On and on….
On and on.
Boom! Crash! Roar!!!!
At last, the frigid blade that stretched forth reached Karshephon’s heart on the hundredth floor.
“Krrrraaaaahhhhh!!!!”
A death cry so piercing that the entire Seokchon Lake convulsed echoed across the World Tower.
Defeating the boss monster on the highest floor satisfied the special condition for a clear.
[Speed Run Record]
[Rank 1: Baek Seol-gi, Eoyeongsah – 100th Floor Clear ’27 seconds’]
[Rank 2: Lee Seong-tae and 85 others, Jushin Guild – 9th Floor Clear ‘1 hour 25 minutes 33 seconds’]
Ju Sang, sitting in a café, tore at his hair as he watched the records appear on the screen.
Damn it.
‘What does that make me now?’
The sixty-eight grueling hours felt as though they were evaporating before his eyes.
But despair was only beginning.
—O holy mother of death!
—We shall obey. We shall transform every last creature into the mother’s devoted servants.
An enormous number of corpses stood in attendance beside Amy.
“I will pray for these precious offerings, sacrifices so that I might remain with you, Ju Sang.”
Amy’s eyes had taken on a gray pallor.
Her gaze was hollow and vacant, fixed solely on a single presence beyond the lake.
“I serve you, Heuk-bi. I will devote all my strength to receiving only your grace.”
The mouths of the spirit servants that appeared on all sides kindled with the power of the Five Elements.
What followed was a bombardment that painted the entire world.
[Yin-Yang Five Elements Technique ‘Heaven and Earth Catastrophe’ activates!]
The entire floor became an inferno or sank beneath the waters.
Earthquakes struck, and landslides tore through the tower.
“Chirp! Chirp-chirp!”
Spirit servants scattered in all directions searched for traces of monsters and reported back.
“Yes, so there is a colony nest over there. I can certainly sense the mark of death in that place.”
Cackle-cackle-cackle-cackle!
Standing atop the writhing earth, Heuk-bi immediately moved toward the location of the next prey.
[Most Kills Record]
[Rank 1: Amy, Eoyeongsah – 120,535 creatures.]
[Rank 2: Heuk-bi, Eoyeongsah – 109,664 creatures.]
[Rank 3: Kang Ha-yun and 228 others, Taesan Group – 3,055 creatures.]
All records.
Surpassed.
“Hah. Ha… is 27 seconds even possible? Some kind of glitch?”
“Over a hundred thousand? And they weren’t crushing bacteria. Does that even make sense? And it’s two of them competing.”
“What kind of organization is Eoyeongsah that such monsters gather there?!”
Even those actively challenging the World Tower.
Even those watching with fascination.
Could only fall into shock.
Not a single thing defied common sense.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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