Monopolizing Skills to the 666th Floor - Chapter 40

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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 040

40. Pre-Regression Self

Some might say.

What’s so surprising about dueling with myself?

Since I already faced a Doppelganger on the 9th Floor, such words would be understandable.

But this time is different.

‘The opponent isn’t simply me. It’s me from a different timeline.’

The Hobgoblin’s Machete and Light Armor are proof of that.

They were the equipment I wore when conquering the 50th Floor before regression.

‘To think myself from a different timeline would appear as a duel opponent. How absurd.’

How is this possible?

The answer was simple.

‘The system must have stolen my memories again.’

Just as it created Park Se Hee’s illusion in the Bottomless Pit, this time it used my memories as material to create an enemy.

‘I fought against myself before regression too. Back then, I was holding a spear…’

Coincidentally, what’s gripped in my hand right now is also a spear.

‘Whatever the case, I’ll kill it.’

As soon as the start message appeared, I kicked off from my position and lunged forward.

‘Time Stop.’

One second of frozen time.

During that interval, I closed the distance and thrust my spear.

Thunk!

A pierced head.

If this were real, blood and contents would have spilled out, but.

Hissss―

The torn area was covered with light.

The opponent whose defeat was confirmed also vanished like a mirage.

《Victory!》

《My MMR 1,020(+20) points》

[You have acquired 20 Battle Points.]

An easy victory.

I gained points and BP.

A good start.

[50th Floor Clear Time: 1 second]

[You have cleared in the shortest time!]

I killed my past self.

In just 1 second, no less.

[An Achievement will be unlocked as a record clear reward.]

[Achievement ‘One-Hit Kill (F)’ has been unlocked.]

[If a new record appears within 10 days, you must return the Achievement.]

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

▶One-Hit Kill (F)

―Acquisition Path: Labyrinth Underground 50th Floor

―Effect: Deals 7% additional damage on first attack.

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

‘A good Achievement for landing the first strike came in.’

Since there’s no time limit, it should be practical to use.

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

[Please set the name to be registered.]

As I set the name as Amon like always, a guide message appeared.

[Acquired BP can be used at the Arena shop.]

[The Arena shop can be accessed after duels end.]

[Would you like to open the shop now? Y/N]

When I pressed Y, a window popped up like with the Dimensional Shop.

╔══ Arena Shop ══╗

BP Owned: 20

• Strength +1 Enhancement (10 BP)

• Penetration +1 Enhancement (10 BP)

• Durability +1 Enhancement (10 BP)

…

…

…

╚══════════╝

With the 20 BP I just earned, stat enhancement was possible.

Twice, even.

But my finger indifferently scrolled down.

• Skill Effect +10% Enhancement (200 BP)

‘I have no interest in stats. The only thing I want to raise is skill effects.’

Between 20 stat points and 10% skill effect, which would be more important?

Obviously skill effects.

For me, who could obtain countless skills through Skill Copy, there was no better choice than this.

‘To get stronger, the best way is to enhance Parasite and increase the number of copies. But S-Rank Skill Enhancement Orbs are hard to obtain…’

For now, this was the only method available.

‘200 BP… I could gather that with just 8 consecutive wins.’

Stats would rise on their own anyway even without investing in them.

Like this.

[You have cleared Labyrinth Underground 50th Floor!]

[As a reward for clearing the 50th Floor normally, ‘Weak Essence of Penetration’ will be granted.]

[13,000 Credits have been granted.]

They came in as basic rewards.

[As a reward for first-time clearing the 50th Floor, ‘Weak Essence of Agility’ will be granted.]

And they also rose from first-time clear rewards.

[Would you like to descend to the Next Floor? Y/N]

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

‘Let me try for consecutive wins with this momentum.’

I pressed Y as if it were obvious.

[You have entered Labyrinth Underground 51st Floor.]

《Type: Battle》

《Condition: Alone without help from others》

《Mission: Win in a 1-on-1 Arena Battle.》

[You cannot exit until you complete the mission.]

Earlier I could predict my opponent, but from this 51st Floor onward, I couldn’t know who would appear.

It was impossible to find out even with Clear Mind Like Still Water.

‘There’s no way the same opponent from before my regression would appear. The time and timing are all different.’

Since they appeared randomly, I didn’t know who I would face.

I could only prepare for whoever came out.

‘Fortunately, there’s no need to rush. The record measurement is already finished.’

I turned on my Action Camera and waited for my opponent.

[A matching opponent has been found!]

[Your duel opponent will appear before you in 10 seconds.]

[Prepare for the duel.]

Indeed, what kind of opponent would appear this time?

[The duel begins!]

[Time remaining until duel ends: 9 minutes 59 seconds]

Light burst in front as my opponent appeared.

At the same time, the force that had been restraining my body also disappeared.

I could only move once the duel had started.

‘What is that? A monster?’

My opponent was a giant monster I’d never seen before.

Its body was as large as an elephant, it carried a turtle shell on its back, and its head was that of a lizard.

‘Let me try Skill Copy first.’

[Since the target has only one skill, copy will be attempted immediately.]

[Skill ‘Crouch’ has been copied.]

▷Crouch(F)

―Effect: Crouches down to protect the head.

I grasped my opponent’s characteristics through Skill Information.

‘Simple skill, and not much attack power either.’

Its movements were also slow, so it didn’t seem like I needed to be very wary.

However, since its skill was annoying, it would be better to finish this quickly.

Tssss―

I summoned the Transformation Branch and made it into a spear.

Then I charged at my opponent and tried stabbing its torso.

This was to confirm my opponent’s reaction and abilities.

But.

“Kuuuuung.”

Far from counterattacking, it pulls its head into its shell.

Just like a turtle.

Ting! Ting!

‘My attacks aren’t getting through at all.’

But this was expected.

‘Time Regression.’

I rewound time by 3 seconds.

Back to before it crouched down.

As soon as that happened.

Tssss—

I changed the tree branch into a throwing spear.

And then.

Swoosh!

I threw the spear at high speed before the opponent could react.

Thunk!

“Groooooar!”

The spear pierced directly into its eyeball.

It must have penetrated all the way to the brain.

Sure enough.

Sssss—

The Turtle Monster breathed its last and disappeared.

《Victory!》

《My MMR 1,042(+22) points》

[2 Win Streak Achieved!]

[Win Streak Bonus (+2) applied.]

[22 Battle Points acquired.]

With this, a 2 win streak.

‘Let’s keep this momentum going to the 59th Floor.’

If I encounter an opponent with useful skills along the way?

I’ll definitely plant a Parasite on them.

‘I wonder if Parasite will work on cosmic beings too?’

I headed to the next floor with curiosity.

“Huff, huff.”

Park Se Hee, who had just emerged from the sinkhole, caught her breath.

‘The 4th Floor was really tough. Without Light of Harmony, I wouldn’t have been able to clear it.’

The 1st Floor Dark Slime section was easy.

The monsters burst helplessly with a single Light of Harmony.

The 2nd Floor Dark Rabbits were the same.

They were quick, but not enough to avoid light-type skills.

‘From the 3rd Floor, the difficulty was definitely higher.’

Dark Goblins with daggers chased her menacingly, and she barely managed to clear it using Light of Harmony.

‘I got slightly cut by a dagger though…’

It healed cleanly as if nothing had happened.

Thanks to Light of Harmony, which could also be used for recovery.

‘S-Rank Skills really are good.’

Park Se Hee remembered a post she saw on Transcendence Net.

Most apostles receive A-rank or B-rank sponsorship, and if unlucky, even C-rank.

‘But I got S-rank from the start. Plus, they said there’s a chance to contract with other gods if I prove my qualifications…’

It was clearly a more special condition than others.

She had also met the qualification requirements.

‘They said they’d make me an apostle if I safely cleared up to the 4th Floor alone, right?’

As if they hadn’t forgotten the promise, a divine message appeared at just the right time.

[Kairos, God of Time, encourages you for your hard work in proving your qualifications.]

[Orcus, God of the Underworld, acknowledges you as a human worthy of becoming an Apostle of the Three Gods.]

[Harmonion, God of Balance, declares that he will accept you as an Apostle of the Three Gods.]

[The Three Gods of All Things have offered you to become their apostle.]

[Will you become an Apostle of the Three Gods of All Things? Y/N]

Park Se Hee nodded and selected Y.

Soon, the ‘God of Time’ and ‘God of the Underworld’ were added to her sponsoring spirits, and all her stats increased by 2.

She had finally become an Apostle of the Three Gods.

But even while feeling the power that had grown stronger than before, Park Se Hee remained skeptical.

‘Is conquering the Labyrinth really connected to saving people?’

They said she would become stronger and receive sponsored skills, but what she would receive was unknown.

What if it was a skill that harmed people?

‘Would conquering the Labyrinth have any meaning then?’

Park Se Hee’s current interest was solely in saving patients.

She had no interest in anything other than Recovery Skills.

But then.

[In commemoration of becoming an apostle of the God of Time ‘Kairos’, you receive the skill ‘Breath of Regression (SS)’.]

[In commemoration of becoming an apostle of the God of the Underworld ‘Orcus’, you receive the skill ‘Annihilation of Pain (S)’.]

Park Se Hee’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s as she read the skill descriptions.

“Th-this is….”

Just as she had hoped, they were all Support Skills.

[Oh… I didn’t think she’d conquer up to the 4th Floor with those skills, but I acknowledge it!]

[Are you looking down on my skills right now, Orcus?]

[It’s the truth. Recovery Skills like Light of Harmony make it difficult to conquer the Labyrinth.]

[It can be used for attacks too, you know? How well-balanced of a skill it is!]

Orcus and Harmonion bickered back and forth.

Between them, the God of Time Kairos silently gazed down at Earth.

[It went as Tae Seong said. Park Se Hee truly proved her qualifications and became an Apostle of the Three Gods. Her claim of being one of the Twelve Apostles before regression wasn’t a lie.]

[Still, I have doubts. What’s the point of raising a supporter….]

[Park Se Hee will succeed. She’s my apostle, no one else’s. I’ll make sure of it.]

Look at her, smiling brightly while using the sponsored Support Skills.

[See? My apostle seems motivated. There shouldn’t be any problems with Labyrinth conquest from now on.]

[Who knows. She might not enter the Labyrinth for a while and just treat patients again.]

[You don’t need to worry about that. It’s going as Tae Seong said. Park Se Hee will fully fulfill her role as one of the Twelve Apostles and as a supporter.]

[Still, isn’t specifying even the Sponsorship Skills a bit too much interference?]

Lee Tae Seong had told them.

What skills to sponsor when they became Apostles of the Three Gods.

Both Joshua and Park Se Hee received sponsorship according to his plan.

[Don’t you all think we’re getting too involved?]

[Since we’re trying to do well, wouldn’t it be better to follow his words?]

[He said that sponsoring mainly Healing Skills would increase her motivation for conquest, so let’s not complain too much.]

The other two gods agreed, but Orcus was still dissatisfied.

[What I’m most dissatisfied with isn’t just that guy’s interference, but there’s another problem too.]

[What’s that?]

[He has too many secrets.]

[Secrets?]

[Look over there.]

Where Orcus pointed, there was Lee Tae Seong soaring up using his Flight Skill.

[He’s freely using Transcendent Spirit Skills. And that’s in an Arena Battle where there are no apostles around.]

Lee Tae Seong flying up with Flight and striking down his opponent to claim victory.

It was a scene that had been repeated several times since a while ago.

[Hmm… I find that puzzling too. How can he freely use apostle skills?]

[That’s right. I thought Skill Copy couldn’t be used without apostles nearby….]

As their doubts deepened.

[C-could it be…?]

Kairos’s eyes widened.

[Did he find a way around Skill Copy’s weakness?]

[Huh? Is that possible?]

[That’s impossible. There’s no way such a method exists, right?]

He eliminated the penalty through a method even the Three Gods didn’t know?

If that were the case, it would explain it.

This absurd phenomenon of using skills without apostles present.

[I’ll have to ask him next time. Exactly what method he used to eliminate the penalty.]

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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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