Chapter 13
8. The Imoogi’s Core Fragment (2)
Szzzzzt!
In an instant, a torrent of energy gathered inside his body.
“Guh!”
All the poisons and resentful thoughts the Imoogi had accumulated began to affect Lee Jinhyuk negatively.
[*Warning! You have ingested a large amount of poison! You are afflicted with <Status Effect: Poisoned>. Your health is steadily decreasing.]
[*Warning! An unknown will is attacking you! You are afflicted with <Status Effect: Cursed>. All stats are decreasing!]
[Due to the effect of the skill <Indomitability>, all status effects have been removed.]
But none of the negative effects of the <Imoogi’s Core Fragment> could touch Lee Jinhyuk.
Instead:
[Mana stat permanently increased by 3.]
[Mana stat permanently increased by 1.]
[Mana stat permanently increased by 2.]
Only his mana stat kept rising.
[The Constellation <Flame of Eternity> disapproves of your recklessness!]
[The Constellation <Fire That Killed the Mother Goddess> understands you.]
The Constellations didn’t know that poisons and status effects didn’t work on Lee Jinhyuk.
So they could only watch in either anxiety or fascination.
[The Constellation <King of Muspel> enjoys your recklessness.]
[The Constellation <Rising King of Zhonghua> is pleased by your enterprising spirit.]
Phew.
Lee Jinhyuk, the player who now had both the worry and admiration of the Constellations, managed to regain his full senses after some time.
‘That was brutal.’
Even though he was immune to status effects, the pain itself was still real.
‘If this keeps up, my mind won’t hold.’
[You have ingested the item <Imoogi’s Core Fragment>!]
[The item <Imoogi’s Core Fragment> has settled in your body.]
[The item <Imoogi’s Core Fragment> has been partially absorbed. (1/4)]
[You are now permanently afflicted with <Status Effect: Poisoned>.]
Item
<Imoogi’s Core Fragment>
Grade: Heroic (???)
Type: Miscellaneous
▶ A core containing the poison and mana the Imoogi gathered. It is tainted by demonic energy and malevolent will.
▶ Increases mana stat by half your level. (Current: [Mana +12])
You will always be afflicted with <Poisoned> status.
“Permanently poisoned, huh.”
Whoosh.
“Well, for someone like me with <Indomitability>, that’s just someone else’s problem.”
For any other player, this would’ve been a huge penalty—but to Lee Jinhyuk, it was meaningless.
More importantly, the core granted a huge merit: increasing mana just by leveling up.
No need for special methods or training.
“Mana is essential.”
For anyone bound to the Tower, mana was everything.
Spells, skills, transcendent power—all stemmed from it.
Even with <Pure Radiance>, the only reason players could survive was because they had mana.
“If we went purely by physical strength, we couldn’t even beat wild animals, let alone monsters.”
Thump. Thump.
Gurgle. Gurgle.
Lee Jinhyuk felt the gurgling energy of the core near his liver and resumed walking.
“This isn’t the end.”
Grin.
“There are at least three more fragments like this.”
His plan was simple:
Clear the second-floor trial.
Then move on and collect the remaining three <Imoogi’s Core Fragments>.
“Once I get them all…”
Clench.
“I’ll gain the full power of the Imoogi.”
And that wasn’t all.
The Imoogi’s power was connected to the next holy relic he needed.
“I’ll be able to fulfill Tang Sowol’s request too.”
Tang Sowol and other orphans with magical talent had been abducted and exploited by the infamous villainess, the Witch of Ruin—Mazuron.
He would steal the reward she was after.
[Multiple Constellations are watching you.]
Screeeeech—!
KREEEEEEH!
Jinhyuk retraced his steps through the deep underground temple.
The goblin undead still toiled away diligently.
“Finished cleaning up?”
Kerrek!
“Good. Carry all that and follow me.”
Once they arrived, the red rift slowly emerged before them.
[Remaining Time: 2 Hours]
Seeing the time, Jinhyuk instructed the goblins to start loading.
By tying bags together and stringing materials, they quickly gathered a mountain of loot.
[The Constellation <Rising King of Zhonghua> declares: only a greedy man who misses nothing can be king.]
[The Constellation <Rising King of Zhonghua> is satisfied with your greed.]
“Nice.”
By keeping things tied to his body, they’d be considered his possessions.
The disassembled Imoogi hide, the undead corpses, and all kinds of items from the floor—all would be taken to the second floor.
[Time Remaining: 0 Seconds]
[Commencing <Second-Floor Trial>!]
[Main Quest <Undead Race> acquired!]
[You may now cross the starting and finishing lines.]
With that, the clean-up period ended and the main quest resumed.
Szzzzzzt—!
Before the red rift could even fully open, Jinhyuk reached out his hand.
[*Reach the finish line in time! Otherwise, you will be “cleaned up!”]
[Time Remaining: 3 Days]
[Main Quest <Undead Race> Cleared!]
[You may now enter and exit Floor 2 freely!]
Even before the instructions finished, a quest-clear message popped up.
[<Divine Words> goal achieved.]
[You have gained 50,000 points.]
Thanks to the Divine Word promises made by <King of Muspel> and other Constellations, he gained 50,000 points.
Fastest time not only among current players—but in all recorded history.
[*Constellations are taking interest in you!]
[You may choose one to become your patron.]
[Displaying list of interested Constellations:]▶ <Rising King of Zhonghua>: Proposes “Second Apostle” position
▶ <Fire That Killed the Mother Goddess>: Proposes “Third Apostle” position
▶ <King of Muspel>: Proposes “Second Apostle” position
▶ <Flame of Eternity>: Proposes “First Apostle” position
“Oh, got a new one.”
Apparently, his use of fire and swords had attracted another being.
It was Kagutsuchi (カグツチ), a Constellation born from killing the Primordial Goddess of Takamagahara.
Master of fire and blades.
“Another heavyweight.”
Many others had shown interest, but those four were worth paying attention to.
“I’m not ready to make a contract yet.”
[The Constellation <King of Muspel> warns that you’ll need his help on Floor 3.]
[The Constellation <Flame of Eternity> is relieved you haven’t chosen another.]
[The Constellation <Rising King of Zhonghua> is disappointed to be only “second.”]
[The Constellation <Fire That Killed the Mother Goddess> continues to observe you.]
“I’ll see you again when the time is right.”
Jinhyuk smiled.
The more valuable he became, the stronger the Constellations that would pursue him—and the better their rewards.
He didn’t need to be a saint or apostle to gain benefits.
They’d all offer him “rewards” just to associate with him.
[You have not formed a Constellation contract.]
[Entering Floor 2: <Dead Run>.]
Floor 2: Dead Run
A highly dangerous area equipped with special facilities.
New players were summoned into designated areas so undead couldn’t attack them immediately.
“Yaaawn~”
The facility managers yawned and stretched.
‘Nothing to do for a while.’
Guiding newly arrived players was a cushy job.
Other staff had to constantly deal with undead trying to break in.
‘No new players for at least a day, though.’
The previous record for clearing the floor was around 12 hours.
So they weren’t expecting anyone soon.
“Looks like the trials will begin now.”
“Yup.”
“Want to hang out before someone shows up?”
“Sure.”
As they chatted—
Ding!
A sharp chime rang out from a preset timer.
The trial had begun.
But something was off.
“Huh?”
“Look over there, sir.”
“What’s the fuss? The test just started—”
Szzzzzzt!
The trial had only just begun—mere seconds ago.
Yet someone had already appeared.
“Huh?”
“Who are you?”
“What the hell?”
Everyone gawked at Jinhyuk, who emerged from the rift.
“Didn’t the test just start?”
“Is this a bug?”
“The Tower doesn’t bug out!”
“Then what the hell is going on?!”
Had he cleared the trial the moment it began?
“What’s that?”
“Aaaagh?!”
It wasn’t just Jinhyuk.
Thump! Crash!
Mountains of bags spilled out behind him.
So large, the entire waiting room was thrown into chaos.
“It’s a terrorist attack!”
“Call the guards! Hurry!”
While the 2nd floor residents panicked, Jinhyuk calmly stood with arms crossed.
He made no sudden moves.
He had to make it clear he wasn’t hostile.
“What’s going on here?!”
A knight in white armor arrived with escorts.
‘Dukeon?’
Jinhyuk recognized him but didn’t show it.
‘Didn’t expect the lord himself.’
This was the man who guarded the <White Castle>, the last refuge of the living on Floor 2.
“Who are you?”
Realizing Jinhyuk wasn’t hostile, Dukeon asked.
“Just…”
Jinhyuk raised both hands and approached slowly.
“…a normal player.”
“So, this… this is the cleaner’s scales and poison? And it’s all your property?”
“Yes.”
“Hah…”
The misunderstanding cleared quickly.
Thanks to the interface displaying:
<Floor 2 Record Rankings>
1st: Lee Jinhyuk (0.23 seconds)
2nd: Melidus (12 hours, 1 minute, 21 seconds)
3rd: Chun Hyangwoon (22 hours, 45 seconds)
All players on Floor 2 could access this interface.
‘Never seen anything like this in my life.’
Dukeon stared at Jinhyuk, baffled.
‘Even Melidus, a High Ranker and Apostle of <Pure Radiance>, took over 10 hours…’
It made no logical sense.
“What do you plan to do with all that stuff?”
“Sell it.”
“Sell… it?”
“Yes.”
Dukeon went quiet, thinking.
‘I don’t know how he did it, but he gathered all this and cleared the trial in less than a second.’
Gulp.
‘This guy’s bound to become a High Ranker. Or already is one.’
He had to leave a good impression now.
“Thank you for your cooperation. A resting place has been prepared.”
“…”
“No need to feel burdened. This is a service for first-place finishers.”
“Then I’ll gratefully accept.”
Lee Jinhyuk had unintentionally caused chaos upon arrival at Floor 2.
Because it was unprecedented, Dukeon personally oversaw the inquiry.
Jinhyuk answered selectively—revealing only what was needed.
Now, he was being escorted to his lodging.
Not out of kindness.
It was policy in <White Castle> to treat top-rankers well.
After all, they usually became future Tower elites.
‘Good.’
On his way to the room, Jinhyuk smirked.
‘Now let’s check the rewards.’
It was time to collect his spoils from the Floor 2 trial.
