Monopolizing Skills to the 666th Floor - Chapter 24

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

Skill Devouring to the 666th Floor Episode 024

24. Mind Control

‘Why, why is this happening? Why are these words coming out of my mouth…?’

Words that came out regardless of his own will.

Jo Do-pal panicked and waved his hands frantically.

“I-ignore what I just said. Those weren’t my words!”

After blurting that out, he realized his mistake.

Those weren’t my words?

What kind of stupid thing was that to say?

They clearly came from my own mouth.

‘But it’s true! Those words didn’t come from my own will!’

He hurriedly tried to salvage the situation, but it was already too late.

Everyone’s eyes were filled with distrust.

“What? Suckers?”

“Extorting money under the guise of counseling?”

“Now I see you’ve been playing with us?”

“So you’re not Amon but an imposter?”

“No! I am Amon. I’m really Amon!”

He shouted as if sincere, but it was already too late to turn public opinion around.

“Hey. Show us proof that you’re Amon.”

“Uh… well…”

He had already earned people’s suspicion.

‘Damn it. At this rate, I’m completely screwed!’

This won’t do.

There’s no other way.

I have to make a run for it.

“Hey? That bastard’s running!”

“So he wasn’t Amon after all?”

“Catch him!”

If the Apostles caught him, there was no telling what they’d do to him.

Jo Do-pal began his desperate escape.

‘He ran away.’

It didn’t matter if he ran.

I had already captured this entire scene with my mobile phone.

He would pay the price for tarnishing Amon’s name.

‘If I upload this to ViewTube, the view count should be quite profitable.’

I was planning to start filming videos from Floor 30 anyway.

You can bring mobile phones and even action cameras into the Labyrinth.

‘Even now, many people are uploading videos to ViewTube.’

At first, the Labyrinth was treated as a dangerous space that threatened humanity’s survival, but not anymore.

Once people got somewhat used to it, it began being used as a means of making money.

This phenomenon would only get worse over time.

‘Once it becomes known that you can obtain Magic Stones starting from Floor 15, many people will use it as a means of livelihood. Even ordinary civilians will try to enter.’

When that happens, the Government will begin full-scale control measures.

‘The number of people trying to film and upload videos to milk view counts will also increase.’

I’m included among them.

I plan to film videos starting from Floor 30 to grow my ViewTube channel.

‘From Floor 30 onwards, written strategy guides won’t be helpful. Filming and uploading videos will be more useful.’

For the early stages from the 1st Floor to the 29th Floor, written strategy guides were sufficient.

But from Floor 30 onwards, there are trap missions.

Sharing videos would be much easier to understand.

The revenue from increased view counts would be a bonus in the process.

‘I’m hungry, should I go eat some jjajangmyeon?’

After ending the video recording, I searched for nearby restaurants.

Meanwhile, I could hear murmuring sounds.

“Fuck, to think we fell for that scammer bastard’s words.”

“I even saved his contact info thinking he was really Amon…”

“Everyone here was completely fooled by his claim to be Amon.”

“That imposter bastard. He was probably the one who suggested meeting up in the first place.”

‘Huh?’

“Let’s go on Transcendence Net right now and leave hate comments, everyone.”

‘Is this how it’s going to turn out?’

I was indeed the one who posted about meeting up.

But due to Transcendence Net’s characteristics, duplicate nicknames are allowed.

That means if I wanted to, I could impersonate Amon’s name.

Since IP tracking doesn’t work, it’s entirely possible.

Of course, just posting strategy guides would easily prove it’s me.

‘Everyone’s misunderstanding that an imposter called for the meetup?’

Since it’s come to this, it’s better to go with that narrative.

Rather than having my image damaged for standing someone up.

‘Let’s go eat some jjajangmyeon.’

As I leave my seat, the noisy sounds diminish.

While the sounds grow more distant.

“Excuse me.”

A sweet voice pierces my ears.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

A woman is staring intently at me.

‘Was it Seo Mina?’

The woman who was hitting on Jo Do-pal earlier.

She was also the owner of the Mind Control skill.

“You used a skill just now, didn’t you?”

“A skill?”

“Don’t try to fool me. You used Mind Control on that scammer, didn’t you?”

Oh no, did she catch me?

She must have seen my eyes when I used the skill.

When casting Mind Control, the caster’s eyes also turn purple.

“You made him confess, didn’t you? That person’s scamming activities.”

“….”

“How did you know he was a scammer beforehand? I had no idea.”

“….”

“Hey? Answer me. Or else.”

Seo Mina approaches me.

“Should I use Mind Control to make you confess obediently?”

“Are you threatening me right now?”

“Yes. You’re on cooldown anyway, so you can’t use your skill. So don’t think about escaping half-heartedly.”

What kind of bold woman is this?

She’s got guts too.

“Now I get it. The reason you’re doing this.”

“What?”

“You’re upset because I stole your meal ticket, right?”

“….”

“You approached that scammer planning to fleece him from the start. Since if he was really Amon, he’d have lots of items. Right?”

Seo Mina’s eyes widened as if her true intentions had been exposed.

“You’re sharper than you look? Even figuring out that items were the goal.”

“….”

“But it’s too late. I didn’t want to do this between fellow Apostles of the same patron… but you brought this on yourself, so accept it. This is punishment for stealing my prey.”

Seo Mina’s eyes turned purple as she revealed her true nature.

I can feel mana rapidly entering my mind.

The opponent’s Mind Control.

But there’s nothing to worry about.

I had a skill prepared for situations like this.

[Mana movement detected.]

[Cloud’s Protection effect activated.]

[Blocking mana approach.]

Seo Mina smiled with satisfaction as she used Mind Control.

‘Got him perfectly.’

A skill granted by her patron, the Seductive Succubus.

With this, she had controlled various Apostles so far.

‘Against opponents with high resistance, the duration drops, but…’

It was enough to fleece an Apostle.

The method was simple too.

Just command them to open their inventory themselves.

By the time they came to their senses, their items were already stolen.

However, the gains weren’t much.

‘Who knew there would be so few Apostles with items.’

Like herself, there weren’t many who had items.

‘I’d like to extort money at least, but that would leave a trail.’

She had planned to make money by acquiring items, but it wasn’t easy.

That’s when she saw a post on Transcendence Net.

Amon’s post suggesting a meetup.

‘If it’s Amon who conquered up to the 29th Floor, he must have tons of good items.’

That’s the thought that brought me here.

But who would have thought the one claiming to be Amon was an imposter?

It was unexpected, but I found out who made my prey escape.

‘I should at least steal this guy’s items.’

However, Seo Mina couldn’t do that.

“What are you doing right now?”

“…?”

“I’m asking what you’re doing standing there dazed.”

Because her opponent was standing there nonchalantly.

‘H-how is this possible?’

When she belatedly saw the message that appeared, bewilderment washed over her.

[Mind Control skill has been blocked by a protection skill.]

‘My skill was blocked?’

How could this happen?

A skill that had never been blocked before was stopped by a protection skill?

‘What kind of skill could it be… wait.’

Come to think of it, didn’t her opponent have the same Seductive Succubus as his Transcendent Spirit?

But how did he activate a protection skill?

‘Don’t tell me… he has another skill?’

Shocked, Seo Mina couldn’t collect herself.

“Now it’s my turn, right?”

Because she saw her opponent’s eyes turn purple as his cooldown returned.

“Hand over all the items you have.”

At Lee Tae Seong’s command, she opened her inventory.

By the time she came to her senses, everything had already been taken.

“Ah… my, my items…”

Seo Mina clutched her head as she confirmed her completely empty inventory.

“Aaaaah―!”

‘What a loud scream.’

I didn’t hear it from close by.

I confirmed it from afar through Parasite.

Naturally, I had planted a parasite in Seo Mina as well, following Jo Do-pal.

‘That woman’s skill is useful after all.’

Parasite is a skill that plants parasites made of mana into targets’ minds to steal sensory information.

Not only what the target sees, but also what they hear is all transmitted.

Even from far away, if I just close my eyes and focus like this?

‘I can see and hear everything they’re looking at and saying.’

However, while the sound comes through clearly, the image quality isn’t better than CCTV.

Should I say it only shows outlines like radar?

‘Though this much is enough for identification.’

A moment ago, I robbed Seo Mina’s inventory with Mind Control after the cooldown returned.

She was too detestable to let slide.

Honestly, I didn’t expect much, but she had several useful items.

[Random Orb Fragment 3/8]

―Category: Possession

―Description: An extremely small fragment of an orb. Collecting 8 fragments converts them into 1 piece.

[Unique Laurel Leaf (F)]

―Category: Possession

―Description: A leaf with a unique and strong fragrance. Used as a spice.

‘She had three fragments. These aren’t items that come out easily as regular rewards…’

She probably extorted them from other Apostles using Mind Control.

If I collect five more fragments, I’ll be able to make a Random Orb piece.

‘Anyway, it was good that I cast the buff in advance. Without Cloud’s Protection skill, I would have been the one caught.’

When I first arrived, I had obtained a skill from a certain woman.

▷Cloud’s Protection (S)

―Effect: Places a shield on yourself or a desired target. When a threat is detected, the shield automatically activates, making you invincible for 5 seconds.

A buff-type skill from the Transcendent Spirit called Mother of Clouds.

It’s an invincibility skill that also blocks mental attacks, quite good for preparing against unexpected ambushes.

‘I planted a parasite in that woman too.’

I closed my eyes to see if it was working properly.

When I thought of the target to monitor, I could faintly see an outline.

Even her voice.

―It wasn’t Amon after all… I made a pointless trip.

―Ah, it’s Manager calling. I have to take this.

―Yes, Manager. I’m on my way now. No, I just stepped out to the convenience store for a moment. Don’t worry.

Seeing that she has a manager, she must be a celebrity.

From listening to the call, her name seems to be Han So Ra…

Who is she? Is she famous?

It doesn’t matter anyway.

I’m only interested in the fact that I planted nine parasites and permanently copied their skills.

‘Originally it’s ten, but I left one spot open.’

For whom, you ask?

There is someone.

A man with the fraudulent skill called Time Regression.

The next day at Incheon International Airport.

“Oh, Tae Seong!”

A blonde foreigner waves his hand from far away.

It’s Joshua, my benefactor from the past who possesses a fraudulent skill.

“Good to see you, Tae Seong. It feels different meeting in Korea.”

“Is this your first time in Korea?”

“No. I stopped by once before for business. I was too busy to properly enjoy it though.”

Before, I didn’t know his name so I called him Amon, but now I call him Tae Seong.

It would be rude to call him Amon in such a crowded place.

“I’ve been reading your posts on Transcendence Net. Clearing up to the 29th Floor is really amazing…”

“Let’s keep our voices down. Someone might hear.”

“Oops, sorry.”

Even though we’re speaking in English, he’s being so careless…

‘First, let me get that skill.’

I used Parasite to plant a parasite in him.

Joshua doesn’t seem to notice that something entered his head.

Even Apostles can’t detect mana.

Unless they’ve trained for 18 years like me.

[The target only has one skill, so copying will be attempted immediately.]

[Skill ‘Time Regression’ has been copied.]

‘This skill is mine now.’

Kairos, the God of Time, probably doesn’t know.

That the skill given to only one person is now shared with me too.

‘With this, I’ve used up all 10 parasites.’

The skills I’ve acquired are as follows:

―Dice Roll (A)

―Neurotoxin (A)

―Flight (B)

―Camouflage (B)

―Dragon’s Breath (A)

―Prison of Death (S)

―Cloud’s Protection (S)

―Mind Control (S)

―Whip of Seduction (A)

―Time Regression (SSS)

These aren’t temporarily acquired.

I obtained them permanently through linking with Parasite.

Of course, they’ll disappear if the targets die.

“Since you said you couldn’t enjoy it before, I’ll show you around Korea.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Think of it as repayment for maintaining a good relationship with me.”

Actually, it was repayment for letting me copy a good skill.

“Before I show you around, shall we finish business first?”

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