The Regressed SSS-Rank Supporter Who Turned Dark - Chapter 22

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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 22
Unfortunately, there were no particularly valuable items or runes to salvage.
Still, I’d acquired an enormous amount of Etherium, so it wasn’t a loss.
I divided the Etherium according to our agreed ratio.
Once the distribution was complete, roughly 250 pieces of various Etherium became mine.
Nearly 240 pieces were 1-Star Etherium, which was disappointing, but with 15 pieces of 2-Star Etherium and 5 pieces of 3-Star Etherium, this was more than sufficient earnings to be satisfied with.
‘What do I do with these?’
I had no idea how to use the Etherium.
If I were a Warrior-class Awakener—a damage dealer—I would have consumed the red Etherium first.
But as a Guide, I had absolutely no way of knowing which Etherium would be beneficial for me to consume.
“Would you mind if we rested for a bit?”
“That works.”
“Then I’ll rest for about an hour.”
Fortunately, Lim Captain’s suggestion to rest gave me time to think.
1-Star Etherium held little value for me.
Etherium was most efficient when consumed at one’s own grade level.
As a 2-Star Awakener, consuming 1-Star Etherium would yield very little Ether.
Conversely, consuming 3-Star Etherium wouldn’t grant much Ether either.
Of course, it would be better than 2-Star Etherium.
‘Let me just try one at a time.’
Deciding to experiment on myself, I swallowed a 2-Star Red Etherium.
Whoooosh!
The Ether contained within the Red Etherium seeped into me.
You have absorbed [2-Star Red Etherium]!
Ether has increased!
Strength has increased!
Attack Power has increased!
Vitality has increased!
·
·
Up to this point, the response was expected.
I’d consumed Red Etherium, so this was the natural reaction.
But something was odd.
I’d clearly consumed Red Etherium, yet other stats were rising.
Spellpower has increased!
Defense has increased!
Intelligence has increased!
(Continued)
·
·
Looking more closely, I realized all my stats were rising simultaneously.
‘What is this? Why are they all increasing?’
The effect defied all conventional understanding—I couldn’t make sense of it.
‘What’s going wrong?’
Curious, I decided to consume a 2-Star Green Etherium this time.
You have absorbed [2-Star Green Etherium]!
Ether has increased!
Strength has increased!
Demon Resistance has increased!
Attack Power has increased!
Vitality has increased!
·
·
Poison Resistance has increased!
Healing Power has increased!
The primary effects of Green Etherium are supposed to boost healing power and poison resistance.
Yet various other stats were rising alongside them.
‘Surely not everything I consume raises all my stats. That would be absurd.’
I continued my experiment by consuming other 2-Star Etheriums.
Purple, Gold, White, Black…
The results were identical.
Regardless of what I consumed, all my stats grew evenly.
‘This… this can’t be real!’
I let out an inward scream, careful not to be heard.
The fact that every Etherium I consumed raised all my stats was an extraordinary blessing—a miracle.
Didn’t everyone else only gain specific stats from specific Etheriums?
‘Is this why my role was marked as infinite?’
An absurd thought crossed my mind.
Perhaps my role, [Guide], was an all-encompassing existence that transcended all other roles.
* * *
My behavior—conducting self-experimentation by consuming Etheriums—must have looked foolish to those watching.
“You can’t just pick up and consume anything, you idiot.”
“Why the criticism again?”
“You need to consume what suits you.”
Choi Yu-ra offered me her advice.
“Eat what matches your role. That’s how you grow stronger. Look, my role is Warrior. I’m a damage dealer. Do you think I’d grow stronger consuming Blue Etherium?”
Sure, sure, if you say so.
“At best, only my Ether would rise slightly.”
“So you do understand that much?”
“It’s basic information you can find on Google.”
“You know that and still just grab whatever and eat it?”
“What’s it to you? I’m eating what’s mine.”
“Sigh. Let’s not do this.”
Choi Yu-ra shook her head in disappointment, having offered advice only to receive such a response from me.
‘With 2-Star Etheriums, I need to consume whatever I can get. That’s the only way to rank up quickly.’
Ranking up becomes difficult from 3-Star onward, but with sufficient Etheriums backing me, a 2-Star card becomes a 3-Star in no time.
‘I should test out the Alchemy card.’
I pulled out the [Alchemy] card I’d just acquired.
※ You can strengthen cards by embedding Etheriums.
※ You can combine looted Spirit Blades to create new Spirit Blades.
※ You can strengthen Spirit Blades by embedding Etheriums.
Ah!
So that’s why I was able to loot Spirit Blades?
Convinced this was it, I pulled out my Spirit Blade cards.
Nearly twenty cards floated around me.
【Spirit Blade Combination】
(Slot)
(Slot) (Slot)
Without much thought, I inserted three cards into the [Alchemy] card.
Shhhhh!
Ether poured from the Alchemy card, and then came the sound of a hammer striking—clang, clang!
[Fatal Strike]
Equipment Card
★★
A dagger specialized in striking vital points
‘Not particularly impressive.’
I added two more cards and used the [Alchemy] card again.
Clang, clang!
The sound of hammering echoed, and a new Spirit Blade was created.
[Rusted Longsword]
Equipment Card
★★
A rusted longsword
The second result wasn’t particularly good either.
‘I’ll keep trying. There’s no loss anyway.’
I pushed in two more cards and combined them with the [Rusted Longsword].
Combining, combining, and combining again.
After putting all my Spirit Blades into the [Alchemy] card except for the cutting tool that seemed useful in many ways, the results were:
Shhhhh!
A hand axe gleaming with crimson light materialized, accompanied by an intense burst of ether.
[Madness Butcher]
Equipment Card
★★★★
A hand axe imbued with terrifying murderous intent.
Exceptionally sharp and hefty.
“This is….”
I stared down at the [Madness Butcher] in my grip, scarcely able to believe my eyes.
A 4-Star Spirit Blade in the hands of a mere 2-Star Hunter like myself.
‘This is extraordinary.’
Instinctively, I could sense that [Madness Butcher] was an exceptionally formidable Spirit Blade.
The axe form itself was familiar to me, which only added to my satisfaction.
The age of blunt weapons had truly arrived.
Against monsters, blunt instruments—axes, maces, tonfa, clubs—proved second only to firearms in utility, unlike combat between humans.
‘If I fight with this…I could outmatch most damage dealers.’
It was merely intuition, but something told me it was true.
“Who exactly are you?”
“What on earth are you, Cha Eun-sung?”
Choi Yu-ra and Lim Captain stared at me with eyes that refused to accept what they were witnessing.
After all, acquiring Spirit Blades from the dead and crafting new ones from them shattered all conventional understanding.
‘Let’s stop here for now.’
I wanted to attempt reinforcement by embedding etherium into the Spirit Blade or card, but revealing that much felt like exposing too much of my capabilities, so I refrained.
“Let’s rest a bit longer, then clear this and head out. We can open the urn on the way.”
“Understood.”
After taking a brief respite, we exited the Rift and made our way toward the 9th Floor where the boss awaited.
* * *
From Floor 7 to the 9th Floor, the number of monsters dwindled, but far more formidable specimens emerged.
Most of these creatures bore human form rather than appearing as true beasts.
Whoosh!
Figures reeking of decayed flesh blocked our path.
Knights, servants, handmaidens, soldiers—countless varieties.
A diverse array of human forms, now cursed beings, revealed their malice toward us.
“What are you waiting for? Sweep them away.”
Clang clang clang!
Choi Yu-ra swung her chains as if she’d been waiting for this moment.
“Don’t forget—Cha Eun-sung is our top priority! Understood?”
“Yes!”
Lim Captain and his unit surrounded me protectively as they engaged the approaching monsters.
And I charged straight forward.
“Cha Eun-sunnnnnng!”
“He’s bolting again!”
“Just—stay still for a moment, would you?!”
Lim Captain and his unit nearly screamed in protest at my sudden recklessness.
I was sorry.
Honestly, I was being a burden.
I was causing trouble for the people tasked with protecting me.
But I couldn’t help it.
I wanted to fight.
I didn’t want protection right now.
I needed to test myself.
Could I function as a ‘dealer’ or not?
Crunch!
I gripped the Madness Butcher tightly.
I could see my enemy.
A Cursed Attendant stood before me.
Not an exceptionally powerful specimen, but still a 4-Star Dungeon monster.
For a Hunter with a support-class role, it would be a formidable opponent.
Could I truly stand against a Cursed Attendant?
An enemy that would have cost me my life in my previous existence as a supporter?
Whoosh!
From above to below.
I swung the Madness Butcher downward.
Crack!
The Cursed Attendant’s head split vertically in two.
But it didn’t end there.
The Madness Butcher cleaved through the creature’s head and bisected its chest before finally stopping.
The Cursed Attendant collapsed, split into a V-shape.
“It—it works.”
I was stunned.
I couldn’t believe it.
I had just split a Cursed Attendant in half with a single swing.
‘More… more!’
I didn’t want to stop.
I wanted to fight more.
I immediately turned toward the next enemy and swung the Madness Butcher.
Slice!
A Cursed Soldier’s head flew clean off.
This time, a knight approached.
Clad in plate armor, I doubted my attacks would even land.
It didn’t matter.
Even if I couldn’t cleave or split my enemy in a single blow, that was fine.
What matters is whether I can fight or not.
Thwack!
The axe blade cleaved through the plate armor, splitting open the cursed knight’s chest.
“…!”
The cursed knight swung his sword in a counterattack.
I lowered my head calmly to evade the blade, then withdrew the axe and swung it toward his thigh in one fluid motion.
Rip!
Crash!
The cursed knight lost one leg and collapsed.
‘Now.’
Without hesitating, I swung the axe toward the fallen knight’s head.
Crack!
The knight’s skull split open.
Ten seconds? Maybe.
That’s how long it took me to dispatch three high-tier monsters from a 4-Star Dungeon.
A surge of indescribable emotion welled up from deep within my chest.
I felt moisture gathering at the corners of my eyes.
All the accumulated sorrow came flooding back.
‘Get a grip, Cha Eun-sung. This isn’t the time.’
Grrr.
I clenched my teeth.
I could process my emotions after the battle ended.
Better yet, after clearing the dungeon and returning home.
‘I’m no longer… a support.’
With that thought, I refocused on the battle.

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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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