Chapter 47
In Suhyeok’s previous life...
Bong Taesu had once returned to the 20th Floor shortly before the raid on the 78th Floor.
He had stood proudly in front of Suhyeok.
Ahem.
Taesu began posing.
Hyung.
Don’t I look different somehow?
His expression screamed that he wanted to show something off.
Suhyeok barely reacted.
Taesu looked disappointed.
Haah.
You still don’t see it?
He pointed at himself.
I thought you’d notice, hyung.
Then he exposed his right shoulder.
This.
Can’t you see it?
Where a rough scar had once covered his shoulder...
There was now a tattoo formed from countless black lines.
Taesu grinned.
I told you before.
I happened to help some barbarians once.
Then he tapped the mark.
I used the token they gave me to receive this.
He smiled proudly.
Cool, right?
The barbarian secret art.
The Warrior’s Engraving.
It was painted onto the body so a warrior would never lose the path to Valhalla.
But...
It was not merely a tattoo.
It raised the body’s physical limits to the maximum.
And granted special abilities.
Mihyeon suddenly popped up behind Taesu.
The lines are really unusual.
Her eyes sparkled.
She poked the tattoo with one finger.
It looks simple, but somehow it draws your eyes.
According to Taesu...
There were two kinds of Engravings.
One granted regeneration strong enough to restore severed limbs.
The other directly enhanced physical abilities.
Mihyeon asked,
Then which one did you get?
Taesu proudly answered,
Enhancement.
He rolled his shoulder.
My body feels lighter, and my attacks hit harder.
Then he laughed.
At this point, I might actually beat you in a spar, noona.
Mihyeon raised an eyebrow.
What?
She grinned.
Then want to spar right now?
She pointed toward Suhyeok.
We can have Lee Suhyeok judge like last time.
Taesu immediately rubbed his shoulder.
His expression became troubled.
Haah.
I know I said that, but today is impossible.
He winced.
My shoulder still hurts.
Suhyeok looked at the tattoo.
It looks fine from the outside.
Was it really that painful?
Taesu waved both hands.
Don’t even ask.
His face twisted.
I’m not exaggerating.
Every single line felt like I was dying.
Then he sighed.
One was already brutal.
If I received two...
He shuddered.
Someone apparently had one engraved directly over the heart.
Taesu shook his head.
That person must’ve been incredible.
Taesu had cleared four stages.
All except the fifth.
Only those who cleared the fifth...
Could obtain both Engravings.
Step. Step.
Suhyeok entered the Hidden Dungeon.
[Entered Hidden Dungeon ‘Trial of the Warrior’.]
[First Trial: ‘Birth of a Warrior’.]
The space was empty.
Everything was made of stone.
An old wooden table stood before him.
Three silver cups were placed on top.
There was no smell.
No color.
Yet Suhyeok immediately understood.
Every cup contained poison.
Deadly poison.
A single sip could melt a person from the inside.
[Clear Condition: Choose one cup, drink all of it, and survive for 1 minute.]
[Reward: All Stats +8.]
Several Constellations reacted.
[‘One-Eyed White-Haired Elder’ and several other Constellations have high expectations.]
[A certain poison-loving Constellation looks forward to seeing whether you can endure it.]
Leon recoiled.
[Ugh.]
He looked disgusted.
[I don’t even want to touch those things, nya.]
Then he pointed.
[How long has this place been abandoned?]
[Even the silver cups are rusted.]
Leon grimaced.
[Just looking at them makes me sick, nya.]
Seong-a covered her mouth and giggled.
[Hahaha!]
[Kitty, your face looked really ugly just now.]
Leon immediately exploded.
[W-Who are you calling ugly, nya?!]
He puffed himself up.
[Find me a cat cuter and more handsome than me, nya!]
Suhyeok stared at the cups.
Then...
He picked up the middle one.
Leon froze.
[W-Wait.]
He stared.
[You’re not actually going to drink that, are you, nya?]
His voice rose.
[Without even preparing an Elixir first?!]
Leon was right.
If Suhyeok drank one cup...
Then immediately used an Elixir...
The trial would be easy.
He had prepared several spare Elixirs.
But...
Then he would not obtain what he truly wanted.
Gulp. Gulp.
Suhyeok drank the middle cup.
Then set it down.
But he did not stop.
He picked up the second cup.
Then the third.
One after another...
He drank all three.
Leon screamed.
[Y-You’re insane, nya!!]
He flew around Suhyeok.
[Why would you drink all of them?!]
[Quickly!]
[Drink the Elixir, nya!!]
Seong-a looked worried.
The Constellations were shocked too.
[?????]
[Wasn’t he only supposed to drink one?]
[He’s seriously drinking all three?]
[Is that actually safe? I’m pretty sure that isn’t some mild poison.]
[Is he crazy? That amount should be insanely painful.]
[What if he dies before he can use the Elixir? Look at him.]
Burning energy flowed down Suhyeok’s throat.
His blood vessels bulged as though they would burst.
His face slowly turned purple.
Suhyeok clenched his teeth.
Not yet.
Not yet.
He remembered what Taesu had told him.
The first stage was Birth of a Warrior.
Then...
First Steps.
Each stage reflected part of a warrior’s life.
Suhyeok’s goal...
Was Poison Resistance.
Something needed for the next trial.
To obtain it...
He needed to accept the poison directly.
Neutralize it himself.
Only then use the Elixir.
[Danger! Excessive poison has accumulated inside the body.]
[The user is approaching their limit.]
[HP is rapidly decreasing due to poison.]
Warning messages continued appearing.
Suhyeok sat cross-legged.
Then slowly accepted the poison into his body.
Instead of spreading it everywhere...
He gathered all the poison inside his dantian.
“Hng...”
Bzzzz.
