Chapter 22
Suhyeok kicked off the ground and leaped forward.
The rock above the entrance cracked like a spiderweb before collapsing.
He had only one chance.
He took a deep breath.
Then he slammed his feet against the ground and threw himself through the falling rocks.
BOOM!
He barely made it inside.
But it was far too early to relax.
The ceiling was collapsing, and rocks of every size continued raining down.
Rumble! BOOM!
Suhyeok stepped through every small opening he could find, dodging the falling stones.
At this rate, the mine itself would not last much longer.
Anything he could not dodge would have to be cut apart.
Whoooosh...
A huge boulder fell toward his head.
Its shadow was large enough to swallow everything around him.
Suhyeok tightened his grip on his sword.
Slice!
The boulder split apart.
He continued cutting through every rock that fell in his path.
Dust exploded outward, creating a small open space.
At that moment, light flashed from his shoulder.
Then a familiar voice rang out.
“Hahaha! Lee Suhyeok, you should’ve seen what happened back there when...”
A large rock crashed right beside Leon.
BOOM!
“NYAAAGH?!”
Leon’s fur stood on end.
He dug his claws into Suhyeok’s shoulder so he would not fall off.
His eyes squeezed shut as he screamed.
“W-Where the hell are we, nya?! You scared me to death, nya!!”
Before Suhyeok could respond...
Crack!
The ground started collapsing too.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Suhyeok quickly rushed deeper inside while avoiding the broken floor.
There were fewer and fewer places left to step.
...I’ve come pretty far inside, but I still can’t sense anyone.
Bern was either unconscious...
Or dead.
Suhyeok focused.
The flow of time seemed to slow.
The bluish energy surrounding his body spread throughout the dark cave.
...Found him.
Bern seemed to have survived because the collapsed rocks had created an empty pocket around him.
His breathing was stable.
It looked like he had simply lost consciousness and had no serious injuries.
I need to get him out before this place collapses any further...
Suhyeok suddenly stopped.
Something was strange.
He felt a mysterious sense of familiarity.
It stretched deeper into the cave like an invisible thread.
He did not know what it was.
But for now, that was the only direction he could go.
The instant his foot touched the ground, strength gathered in his legs.
Crack.
“Swift Movement.”
[The effect of ‘Seong-a’ activates the skill ‘Swift Movement (B)’.]
[The user’s Agility temporarily doubles.]
Light flowed from the sword and surrounded Suhyeok.
His body became lighter.
Then he rushed through the falling debris.
Swish!
His body moved like a snake tracing a line through the air.
He slipped between the falling rocks.
At the end of the collapsed passage, he finally saw the lower half of a miner’s body.
There.
Whoosh!
BOOOOM!
Dust scattered everywhere.
Suhyeok barely reached the enclosed space.
Leon jumped down from his shoulder and collapsed onto the floor in relief.
“I-I thought I was going to die, nya... What kind of place is this, nya?”
“You’re an administrator. Even if a rock hits you, you won’t die.”
“NYAAAGH! That’s not the point, nya! I might not die, but getting hit still hurts like I’m dying, nya!”
“I believe you.”
“Y-You senile bastard! Die, nya! Just die!”
Press. Press.
Leon angrily pawed at him.
Ignoring him, Suhyeok quietly looked behind them.
The rocks he had avoided earlier had completely blocked the entrance.
Worse, he now had to carry Bern.
“This is troublesome.”
If he forcibly destroyed those rocks, the entire area might collapse again.
In the end, there was only one choice.
“We’ll have to go deeper and find another exit.”
He lifted the unconscious Bern onto his shoulder.
Then Suhyeok looked toward the passage where he had sensed that strange familiarity.
The tunnel stretched far into the darkness.
It was not simply because the cave was dark.
Even though Suhyeok had spread his energy far ahead, it suddenly stopped as though there were a wall blocking it.
A memory suddenly surfaced.
It was from the time he had recklessly forged a weapon in Dolkin’s workshop.
Clang!
Do you even know what kind of metal you’re using right now?
You have plenty of money, so stop complaining. I’ll pay you back later.
Ha! You really are unbelievable.
When Suhyeok remained completely calm, Dolkin snapped in frustration.
To your eyes, this probably just looks like high-quality iron. Have you ever even heard of ‘Adamantium,’ you brat?
Dolkin stroked his beard and laughed loudly.
Hehehe! Finally, you look surprised. Even with those impressive eyes of yours, it’s difficult to recognize.
Adamantium.
A rare mineral thousands of times stronger than ordinary steel and naturally resistant to magic.
It was so rare that even a blacksmith of Dolkin’s level had only barely managed to obtain some.
Ahem. Give it here. There’s something I want to show you.
Dolkin grabbed a sword hanging on the wall and struck the Adamantium.
CRASH!
The sword snapped cleanly in half.
And that sword had been made from a magic stone with eighty percent purity.
Hahaha! Did you see that? It cut through it as easily as tofu! The funniest part is that this Adamantium is only thirty percent pure.
Dolkin’s laughter echoed throughout the workshop.
He clearly wanted to brag.
And honestly, his reaction was understandable.
Adamantium was created when ordinary minerals absorbed enormous amounts of the Tower’s energy over time.
Like Moonstone, it could only be obtained once every few hundred years.
Do you understand now? Do you finally realize how valuable the material I let you refine was?
I’m always grateful. Without you, I never would’ve had this opportunity.
Embarrassed by the sincere response, Dolkin awkwardly cleared his throat.
Ahem! Well, if you’re really that grateful, you could still become my apprentice... Ahem.
Apparently moved by his own words, Dolkin rubbed beneath his nose.
Suhyeok calmly looked between the Adamantium and the broken sword.
It certainly is impressive.
Then he added,
Especially since you destroyed one of your favorite swords just to show me.
...Huh? W-Wait a second!
Didn’t you say that was one of your greatest masterpieces?
Dolkin suddenly came back to his senses and hugged the broken blade.
Noooo! Do you know how expensive this was?! Pay me back, you brat! I broke it because I was trying to show you!
Dolkin had caused the problem himself, yet somehow became angry at Suhyeok.
Suhyeok could only stare at him.
I heard a dwarf’s beard grows longer the more careless he is. Looking at you, Dolkin, I suppose that saying must be true.
W-What?! Do you want to get punched by a careless dwarf?! Damn it...!
Remembering Dolkin, Suhyeok finally understood the source of that familiar feeling.
Adamantium.
“Apologize already, nya! I’m not moving until you apologize!”
Suhyeok grabbed Leon by the back of his neck and pulled him off his face.
“Leon, we don’t have time for this. Turn the broadcast back on.”
Leon, still dangling from Suhyeok’s hand, sharply turned his head away.
His entire body screamed that he was angry.
“Hmph! Why should I, nya?! I’m not doing anything until you apologize! Hurry up and apologize, nya!”
Since Leon refused to give in, Suhyeok pulled a small pouch from his inventory.
“Sniff, sniff... W-What’s that, nya? Don’t tell me...?”
“It’s premium Churu. Unfortunately, I suppose I’ll have to throw it away...”
Snatch!
“W-Why are you taking that out now, nya?!”
Leon immediately stole the pouch.
He opened it and checked the contents.
Then he cleared his throat and spoke as if he were doing Suhyeok a great favor.
“Ahem! Since you’re showing this much sincerity, I’ll forgive you just this once, nya! Hehehe!”
“......”
For one brief moment, Suhyeok wished Leon would at least wipe the drool from his mouth before lying.
Step. Step.
They moved deeper into the cave.
Suhyeok gathered mana into his eyes to improve his vision.
Leon floated beside him, eating Churu with an expression of pure happiness as he held both cheeks.
[Th-This taste is heavenly, nya...! It melts in my mouth, nya... I want to keep eating forever...]
The Constellations began chatting.
[Oh? Where is this place? And why is he carrying some weird guy? lol]
[I came back because watching those idiots get beaten up was funny. Where are we now?]
[Looks like some kind of cave. The atmosphere is creepy.]
[Something feels really strange here. Could it be that?]
[Probably. I’ve noticed it before, but this guy is incredibly lucky.]
It had not been long since the broadcast restarted, yet many Constellations had already joined.
Messages poured into the chat.
A few seemed to have realized that Adamantium was hidden here.
So they’re not simply watching through a screen.
After walking for some time, Suhyeok saw the place where the flow of energy had been blocked.
Hummm. Hummm.
[Lee Suhyeok, look at this, nya. It’s blocked like there’s a wall here, nya.]
The strange flow of energy was almost visible to the eye.
It felt as though someone had deliberately separated this area from whatever lay beyond.
Then the Adamantium must be on the other side.
Suhyeok carefully pushed his hand through.
Hummm...
A crushing pressure immediately surrounded him.
He had only inserted his hand, yet his entire body suddenly felt heavy.
[What are we going to do now, nya? It looks difficult to enter...]
Leon sounded worried.
Suhyeok already had an idea.
He spread the energy that had been concentrated at one point evenly across his entire body like a protective coating.
It was the same method he had used on the 50th floor to block the surrounding energy.
He put his hand through again.
The pressure disappeared.
After surrounding Bern with the same energy, Suhyeok slowly stepped inside.
[W-Wait. You can pass through it that easily?]
[Oh, so that method works too. Is he naturally talented?]
[He’s definitely different from the Players I’ve watched until now. I never imagined someone would use energy that way.]
[I agree. I’ve been watching him carefully. He’s good.]
Some Constellations reacted favorably.
Then, for the first time, one openly complained.
[Isn’t there anything where someone dies? This is getting boring. Smashing heads is more entertaining, right?]
[Stop complaining and just watch. There’s nothing else interesting right now.]
[Ha. What did you just say to me?]
[Constellations should maintain some dignity. How pathetic.]
[Listen to this bastard talking about dignity. Want to go somewhere private and see who’s above who?]
The chat was moments away from becoming a complete mess.
Suhyeok calmly looked at it.
“Unless you’re planning to send me some Coins, you should stay quiet.”
[Ha! What a joke. I’ll say whatever I want. What are you going to do about it, you insignificant Player?]
[He’s starting again. Is this that guy?]
[Seriously, read the room. Even his title is that one.]
The Constellation only became angrier.
A system window appeared.
[Would you like to block ‘The One Who Threw the Most Beautiful Golden Apple’?]
[Y/N]
When Leon had explained how the chat worked, there was one thing he had repeatedly warned Suhyeok about.
I’m telling you just in case, but never kick a Constellation out, nya. Understand?
Even when Suhyeok asked why, Leon had only insisted that he must never do it.
Leon never gave him a proper reason.
But Suhyeok could guess.
If a Player kicked out a Constellation, rumors would probably spread.
If authoritarian Constellations took offense, it could cause serious trouble.
But that only mattered to Players who had to constantly worry about pleasing them.
[The user has been blocked.]
[Their chat and sponsorship messages will no longer be visible.]
The chat exploded.
[He actually did it lolololol]
[Finally. That guy’s been annoying for ages.]
[Exactly. Troublemakers should be removed.]
[First time I’ve ever seen someone kick out a Constellation lol]
[That was satisfying.]
Suhyeok looked at the chat.
“If any of you have complaints in the future, I’ll block you exactly like that.”
His voice remained calm.
“So go ahead. Say whatever you want.”
Leon was so shocked that the Churu fell from his paws.
[Y-You kicked out a Constellation, nya?! I already knew you were crazy, but... I didn’t know you were this insane, nya!]
Suhyeok simply continued forward.
About ten minutes passed.
Even though he had covered himself with energy, each step became heavier the deeper they went.
[Ugh... So heavy, nya... I feel like I’m being crushed. H-Huh? What’s that, nya?]
Bright light flickered around the next corner.
“...Found it.”
They turned the corner.
A huge open space appeared.
A massive ore deposit stood before them.
It was covered in translucent stone, making it easy to mistake for an ordinary mineral.
The actual Adamantium inside was only about the size of a fist.
Even the Constellations could not hide their surprise.
[Wow. It’s been forever since I’ve seen one. What purity is that?]
[It appears to be around seventy to eighty percent. Even I have never seen Adamantium this pure.]
[You can tell it has absorbed energy for an extremely long time. I can’t believe something like this existed on the 10th floor.]
[Look at all the blacksmiths suddenly appearing in chat.]
Suhyeok gently placed Bern on the floor.
Then he tightened his grip around his sword.
Shing.
I’ll cut it out in one strike.
Just as he prepared to swing...
Hummm. Hummm.
The sword began vibrating.
Suhyeok felt the tremor through his palm.
The closer the sword came to the Adamantium, the stronger the vibration became.
...No way.
Curious, Suhyeok brought the tip of the blade against the Adamantium.
“Synthesis.”
[‘Seong-a (Unique)’ and ‘Adamantium (Mythic)’ are being synthesized.]
Powerful light erupted from both the sword and the ore.
The completely dark cave was swallowed by white light.
Fwoooosh...
Slowly, the light faded.
Suhyeok opened his eyes.
A series of messages appeared.
[Synthesis successful.]
[Synthesis (B) has evolved into Synthesis (A).]
[‘Seong-a (Unique)’ has transformed into ‘Seong-a (Mythic)’.]
[Achievement ‘Sword With an Ego’ acquired.]
And in Suhyeok’s hand...
Was the newly transformed Seong-a.
