Monopolizing Skills to the 666th Floor - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Skill Devouring to the 666th Floor Episode 012

12. Labyrinth Underground 20th Floor

Each floor of the Labyrinth has its own concept.

If Floors 1-9 were annihilation and Floors 10-19 were collection, then what about Floors 20-29?

[You have entered Labyrinth Underground 20th Floor.]

《Type: Survival》

《Condition: Within the time limit of 1 hour》

《Mission: Survive from the monsters.》

[You cannot exit until you clear the mission.]

It was a survival mission.

Tick.

[Time remaining until mission end: 59 minutes 59 seconds]

The timer starts immediately.

A simple mission where I just need to endure for 1 hour.

But it’s not easy.

Monsters pop out from everywhere.

The level of monsters increases as you go to higher floors.

“In a way, Apostles with mobility skills would have an advantage. They just need to keep running away.”

Of course, I have no intention of running away.

The 20th Floor is where you set records.

Records are determined by how many monsters you kill within the time limit.

To do that…

“First, I need to find a good position.”

When I equipped the Tattered Hood from my Inventory, my agility increased.

I felt more nimble.

I moved quickly before the monsters arrived.

The environment had many Rocky Mountains around, which seemed good for cover, but…

‘The monsters know my location. They’ll follow me wherever I go.’

Due to the nature of the mission, even if I hide, I’ll be discovered quickly.

Therefore, using the terrain to fight back is the only shortcut to survival.

If I just keep running away, I’ll reach a point where I can’t handle the accumulated monsters.

‘But there’s another method too.’

Tssss—

After summoning my spear, I waited at the location I had scouted with Clear Mind Like Still Water.

After a short while.

A human outline took shape with a rippling effect before my eyes.

It was a Dark Goblin.

“Ki…”

Thunk!

I pierced through the goblin’s head as soon as it was summoned.

“Kiki…”

“Kii…”

Goblins appearing from here and there.

Thunk! Thunk!

I stabbed them to death mercilessly.

They died as soon as they were summoned, without a chance to move.

‘Just running away isn’t the only way to survive. There’s also the method of finding where monsters are summoned and launching preemptive attacks.’

This way, I can minimize damage while killing faster than anyone else.

However, it’s a method that’s difficult to sustain for long.

The summoning speed is faster than my killing speed.

‘They’re being summoned simultaneously from various places.’

At this rate, I’ll be surrounded by monsters and face the danger of death.

The best strategy is to hit and retreat appropriately.

Thunk!

Thuunk!

Corpses piled up here and there, and the number of goblins gradually began to increase.

‘If I stay here longer, I’ll be surrounded.’

Hunting at the summoning points is now over.

I retreated at the right moment.

‘I need to create as much distance as possible.’

I can see goblins summoned in the distance.

They belatedly come to their senses and chase after me, but I’m already under the Rocky Mountain.

Using the terrain, I can buy time.

But that doesn’t mean my position won’t be discovered.

‘I’ve bought time until the monsters arrive. About 5 minutes.’

I plan to prepare a trap during that time.

Thanks to the Labyrinth Hunter effect, I can visualize how to set it up in my mind.

‘The problem is the location of materials to use for the trap.’

But even that can be solved thanks to what I recalled with Clear Mind Like Still Water.

I hurriedly put away my spear and searched for materials to prepare the trap.

Soon the monsters would appear.

“Kek! Kekkek!”

A Dark Goblin appeared exactly at the 5-minute mark.

Since it wasn’t a difficult opponent to deal with, I immediately.

Thunk!

Pierced through its head.

‘The trap is ready. Now all I need to do is fight them moderately.’

I’ll fight while conserving my stamina.

Dozens of them will swarm over as time passes anyway.

“Kiaak!”

“Kyaa!”

Sure enough, I could hear the voices of goblins approaching.

I positioned myself in the Narrow Passage where only one could enter at a time.

It was the Prime Spot I recalled with Clear Mind Like Still Water.

Thunk!

Thunk! Thunk!

I killed the ones that came and killed them again.

Corpses piled up in the narrow passage.

After killing about ten of them.

“Kiek!”

“Kik!”

The Dark Goblins couldn’t enter due to the path being blocked by corpses.

Eventually, they went around another way.

I also changed positions and lured them.

Even in the midst of that.

Swish! Thunk!

I pierced through the head of a pursuing goblin.

One-hit kill.

I repeated the same thing with every one I saw.

A tower of goblins was built.

Even so, the number of pursuing goblins didn’t decrease.

Roughly 100 or so just from what I could see.

Anyone else would have been terrified and run away from this situation, but.

‘I’ve gathered enough.’

A smile bloomed on my lips.

Because I had prepared a trap with the intention of killing them all.

‘Shall I begin?’

When I changed position, the goblins immediately gave chase.

These creatures could track my location even with their eyes closed.

I used that trait to lure them to the Slope Path.

When I thought quite a few had gathered.

‘Now’s the time.’

Snap! Snap snap!

I cut the rope tied to the boulder.

Then.

Rumble rumble rumble―!

The house-sized boulder couldn’t hold and rolled down.

Down, down, continuously.

“Kiek?”

“Kiik?”

The goblins below stopped mid-climb and panicked.

A stone much taller than their height was rolling toward them.

Crunch―!

Crunch crunch―!

Goblins turned into bloody pulp.

They tried to flee in panic, but.

“Ki, kiek?”

They soon realized it was a dead end.

Because I had blocked their escape route with the goblin corpses I had piled up beforehand.

‘Even when killing them, I need to use them to block paths.’

I didn’t kill that goblin earlier for no reason.

It was all for this purpose.

Thud!

The rock hit the wall and stopped.

In its wake lay a line of flattened goblin corpses.

‘I caught 100 in an instant.’

Quite a fast hunting speed.

I’d like to use this method again if I could, but that’s impossible.

This was the only place with a slope path and rocks.

But there’s no need to worry.

‘I’ll prepare a new trap before the goblins gather.’

Three minutes is enough.

I’ve already scouted the location for the trap.

Dash!

I quickly moved and prepared the second trap.

Meanwhile, I could hear the goblins chasing after me.

‘Skill Copy.’

[Since the target has only one skill, attempting direct copy.]

[Successfully copied skill ‘Call for Support’.]

I secured the Dark Goblin’s skill.

Now to lure the goblins to the second trap.

‘Right here.’

This time I prepared a pit trap.

I jumped high to avoid falling into the trap myself.

The goblins didn’t even know why I jumped and just blindly chased after me.

The result?

“Kieek!”

“Kiit!”

It led to the goblins being buried alive.

Over 30 goblins fell into the pit.

It was a bottomless abyss, so falling meant a one-way trip to the afterlife.

“Ki, kiit!”

The goblins following behind hesitated and stood still because of the trap.

It wouldn’t be easy to cross.

However.

“Kiaaat! Kakkat! Kirurururu!”

When I used the Call for Support skill I had copied.

“Ki, kit!”

“Kiit!”

The goblins jumped into the pit to save their comrades.

Such touching camaraderie.

‘It’s an exploit using the skill’s compulsive nature, but.’

What would goblins know?

They’re just moving due to the system’s compulsive force.

‘Did I catch around 50?’

This is practically a record.

The goblins who saw the pit turned back.

‘It’ll be hard to use this trick again.’

Now I have 20 minutes left.

I’ve used everything I could for traps.

Swish—

‘Nothing left but hunting.’

I held my spear and waited at the Prime Spot.

The heads of goblins approaching without fear.

Thunk!

I pierced them in one strike.

When corpses piled up, I moved to another location.

I continued killing goblins.

Being careful not to get surrounded, I made maximum use of the terrain.

‘Even I would struggle if surrounded by dozens of goblins.’

Despite hunting this much, I wasn’t tired.

Thanks to the Vitality skill that boosts stamina.

It was when I was completely focused on hunting.

Fwoosh―

All the goblins in the vicinity disappeared at once.

[The mission has ended as the time limit has passed.]

[You have survived for 1 hour.]

A welcome notification.

[You have cleared Labyrinth Underground 20th Floor!]

[A ‘Very Weak Life Essence’ is awarded as the Floor 20 normal clear reward.]

1 stat point accumulated from the essence reward.

[You are the first to clear Labyrinth Underground 20th Floor!]

[A ‘Very Weak Essence of Mana’ is awarded as the Floor 20 first clear reward.]

One more bonus stat.

On top of that.

[Number of monsters killed on Floor 20: 366]

[Cleared with miraculous play!]

[An Achievement is unlocked as a record clear reward.]

[Achievement ‘Offense is the Best Defense (F)’ has been unlocked.]

[If a new record appears within 10 days, the Achievement will be returned.]

[If no new record holder appears, you will permanently acquire the Achievement effect.]

▶Offense is the Best Defense (F)

―Acquisition Path: Labyrinth Underground 20th Floor

―Effect: Gain a shield every time you kill 10 monsters. The shield stacks up to 10 times.

―Time remaining until permanent acquisition: 9 days 23 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds

An Achievement that’s quite good even among F-rank ones came in.

The shield effect isn’t that great, but.

‘It’s a different story when stacked ten times.’

It’s enough to save my life once.

[Your clear record will be registered in the Hall of Fame.]

[Please set the name to be registered.]

Name? It’s that one again this time.

‘Amon.’

[Registered under the name ‘Amon’.]

【Labyrinth Underground 20th Floor】

【Conqueror: Amon】

【Number of monsters killed: 366】

Why do I keep insisting on using Amon?

As I mentioned before, it’s preliminary work to eliminate the penalty of Skill Copy.

‘I’ve used Amon’s name three times now.’

With this, the preparation is complete.

Lastly?

‘I need to get that item. The one that can summon Specter.’

The item to summon Specter comes from Floor 25.

‘Should I rush to Floor 24 then?’

[Would you like to descend to the next floor? Y/N]

[If you select N, you can return to Earth.]

I pressed Y without hesitation.

There’s a saying.

Those who have, get more.

Just like that saying, the rich constantly want to make more money.

Because they’ve discovered the joy of making money.

Isaac Everett, owner of a renewable energy company, was the same.

A life of constantly making money.

Such a man had been troubled lately.

‘If the world ends, what happens to all the money I’ve saved? Does it become worthless paper?’

The Labyrinth incident that occurred a few days ago threatened humanity’s survival.

‘Destruction when the time limit passes. This is too much…’

The only fortunate thing was that the countdown was displayed so clearly that they could know when the end would come.

‘Is it better than not knowing when you’ll die? Sigh…’

Isaac, running his fingers through his blonde hair, couldn’t focus on work at all.

How could he concentrate on work when everything he’d built would crumble in just a few days?

But such worries were short-lived.

[Someone has conquered Labyrinth Underground 1st Floor!]

…

[Someone has conquered Labyrinth Underground 5th Floor!]

…

[Someone has conquered Labyrinth Underground 14th Floor!]

…

[10 days have been added to Earth’s destruction countdown.]

The exponentially increasing time until destruction gradually gave him hope.

Perhaps the life he had built wouldn’t crumble after all.

Perhaps he could continue making money.

‘The survival period that was 30 days has increased to 218 days in just a few days.’

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Definitely.

At this point, he couldn’t help but be curious.

Who was this person conquering at such rapid speed, extending their survival time?

‘I know the name. Someone called Amon, supposedly Korean?’

He wasn’t an Apostle so he didn’t know for sure, but apparently strategy guides had been posted on something called Transcendence Net.

The story was that this person was Amon, and since it was posted on the Korean Server, he was presumed to be Korean.

This was already well-known among ordinary people.

‘I don’t know who he is, but I’d like to meet him and give him a kiss.’

He was no different from a lifesaver.

He was someone who extended the lives of not just himself, but all of humanity.

‘Isn’t there some way to meet him? If I could just meet him, I wouldn’t spare any support for him…’

Unfortunately, there was no way to meet him.

The posts on Transcendence Net had no IP, making them untraceable.

They were anonymous, so there were no real clues.

Only the information that he was Korean.

There were countless people besides himself who wanted to discover Amon’s identity.

Every rich person in the world owed him a debt.

‘No, does all of humanity owe him a debt? Haha…’

While he was absorbed in thoughts about him.

[Someone has conquered Labyrinth Underground 20th Floor!]

[Labyrinth Underground Floor 21 is now open.]

[10 days have been added to Earth’s destruction countdown.]

[Time remaining until destruction: 228 days 13 hours 10 minutes 55 seconds]

The message appeared, reassuring the entire world.

The message was visible to ordinary people too.

‘It’s definitely Amon. Who else could it be but the person who posted strategy guides up to Floor 19?’

Respect welled up in him, but unfortunately there was no way to support him.

There was no way to know his identity beyond the virtual nickname Amon.

‘Phew… I should stop thinking about him and focus on work.’

He accessed his email as usual.

Since he had many businesses running, numerous work-related emails had piled up.

Among them.

‘Hm?’

Isaac saw an email that caught his attention.

[Sender: Amon]

【Subject: I am Amon.】

‘Amon? There’s no way that could be…’

Even if it was spam, it was a subject line he couldn’t help but click.

Click—

The content was even more surprising.

└Content: Hello, Isaac Everett.

You’re the American tycoon and owner of a renewable energy company, right?

I contacted you because I have something that could be useful for your business.

It’s called a Magic Stone, a magical item that can replace all energy sources.

It’s an item obtainable from Floor 15 of the Labyrinth onwards. Would you like to take a look?

If you’re interested, please reply.

It was written in English, so there was no inconvenience in reading it.

But Isaac’s attention was focused elsewhere rather than on the item.

‘Amon? Is this person really Amon?’

If so…

‘There’s no reason not to meet him.’

Isaac immediately sent a reply.

A reply saying he would visit wherever the location might be.

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