Absolute Dweller

[Episode 08] Summon Familiar (5)

Rumble rumble―

Cyclops spewed out thick flames.

The flames, initially jetting out straight ahead, soon shot high into the sky.

Haaaaa―!

The surrounding air seemed to warm up, but soon, nothing could be felt.

‘It’s blocking the air.’

The homebound area had blocked the air that had become excessively hot.

The giant that had been spouting out flames for a while knelt to the ground.

Then, in that position, it began to lean forward.

The giant’s shadow was gradually turning towards this direction.

“Huh? Whattt?!”

“I-It’s falling this way!”

“Run!!”

I calmly spoke to the people who were frantically trying to escape.

“Stay in your positions.”

Everything was going almost perfectly as planned.

Now, citizens could concentrate their firepower on the fallen giant’s head on the defensive barrier.

It was a sure killing.

‘I hope the finishing touches are done by the vassals.’

It would have been most ideal if Ha Dong-geon or Oh Eon-ju could finish it, but unfortunately, they still hadn’t shown up.

Just as I was seriously considering handing a gun to Seo Ye-jin, who was standing right next to me with a knight title, a black shadow covered me.

I thought I would hear the sound of the giant’s body hitting against the defensive barrier.

But.

“M-Mr. Jaehyun! Behind, behind!!”

Choi Hyeong-jun, with a pale face, was pointing behind me.

‘…’

By now, I should have heard the sound of the giant’s head hitting the defensive barrier, but there was no sound at all.

Feeling uneasy, I slowly looked back.

And there.

-Arrrrgh

‘…This can’t be.’

The giant was looking straight down at me with red, bloodshot eyes, exhaling dense smoke from its mouth.

“Fire! Begin firing! Protect Mr. Jae-hyun!”

With Choi Hyeong-jun’s urgent voice.

Bang― Bang―

Guns held by the citizens fired in unison towards the giant’s eye.

-Grraaagh!

They were impactful hits in their own way.

Even though it was just a handgun, guns were still guns, and the concentrated gunfire from over a hundred handguns was quite threatening.

The hail of bullets turned the giant’s eyes into a honeycomb.

The Cyclops’ eye seemed to have completely lost its function.

However, this monster had survived a gas explosion from inside its stomach. It wasn’t something that could be ended with a .38 caliber revolver.

-Grraaargh―!

The giant roared in rage, and the once bold sounds of gunfire abruptly stopped.

Immediately after, the giant raised its fist.

As if to say it was now its turn.

‘It’s coming…!’

Was it due to tension?

The massive fist dropping down seemed to play out in slow motion.

For the first time, a profound fear of impending death crept in.

‘Can I block it?’

Could my skill withstand that overwhelming fist?

I had some confidence, but I wasn’t certain.

Among the monsters that had attacked the defensive barrier so far, the strongest was the Kellican at level 28.

The shadow of death loomed thicker over my head.

‘Invisible Hand.’

As a precaution in case of emergencies, I prepared a last resort.

‘Gigantification.’

Before starting the operation, I had invested the skill point I had saved and acquired a new ability.

The invisible hand that protruded from my body instantly transformed into a gigantic form, preparing to block the giant’s fist.

And at that moment.

KWAAAANGGG!!!

[Unauthorized entity attempting entry.]

The defensive barrier perfectly blocked the full-force punch from the Cyclops.

‘…Blocked it!’

The defensive barrier that blocked the giant’s fist didn’t have the slightest tremor.

It stood firmly in place without showing any weakness.

Whether the giant was aware or not, it continued to punch in anger.

Bang― Bang!

[Unauthorized entity attempting entry.]

[Unauthorized entity attempting entry.]

Each time, a heavy impact sound echoed, but no shock was transmitted into the area.

“Woooow!”

For some reason, the citizens who were watching started to cheer.

“Shoot! Fire!”

Empowered by the solid defense, the citizens regained confidence and launched a counterattack.

Dududududu―

Bullets started hitting the giant’s fists, arms, legs, and body incessantly.

-Graaaah!

At that moment, Seo Ye-jin said while holding her head.

“Mr. Jae-hyun, what should we do? Should we try again?”

“Do you think it’s possible?”

“I think I’ll be able to endure at least one more time.”

I gritted my teeth, watching the giant strike the defensive barrier with clenched fists.

“How do I get a rat into its mouth?”

Perhaps conscious of the rat bomb, the giant kept its mouth firmly shut even while launching its attack.

‘There was an impact.’

The sacrifice of the rat and the subsequent gas explosion seemed to have had an effect.

Additionally, the continuous gunfire from the citizens was accumulating wounds on the giant’s body.

‘If we continue like this, we might be able to hunt it, but…’

The monstrous vitality of the giant made it uncertain when it would finally succumb.

We needed the means to deliver a decisive blow.

Just then.

Swoosh!

A spear came flying from somewhere, penetrating through the giant’s side.

‘They’re here.’

I could see the rest of Team 1, including Ha Dong-geon, arriving.

Oh Eon-ju, now healed thanks to Kim Da-jung’s treatment, was also among them.

‘Summon supply spears.’

I continued to summon supply-type spears to ensure Ha Dong-geon’s free movement.

He naturally grabbed a spear from the air and hurled it towards the giant.

Fwoosh!

-Graaaah!

The giant also struggled in irritation, perhaps feeling the spears piercing its body.

Pierce!

However, whether the giant was annoyed or not, the number of spears piercing its body continued to increase.

Then.

Shoooo! Thud!

Arrows shot from the rooftop of the apartment, piercing the giant’s body in various places.

Kim Ga-yeong’s arrows, imbued with piercing, also joined in poking holes in the giant.

Everyone was united in their determination to kill the giant when…

Ding!

[The Three-Legged Crow has leveled up.]

[The efficiency of the solar power generator has increased by 100%.]

[The solar power generator has reached maximum efficiency.]

The notification indicated that Kkami had reached level 10.

[The Three-Legged Crow partially unlocks the power of the sun.]

[Inherits some of the sun’s power.]

[Basic Magic Attribute (Fire) evolves into Intermediate Magic Attribute (Fire).]

As with the previous upgrade, knowledge of intermediate fire magic flowed into my mind, increasing my understanding of fire.

However, it didn’t end there.

[The Three-Legged Crow detects the invasion of enemies in the area.]

[The Three-Legged Crow requests the release of power.]

[Do you permit?]

[Yes/No]

‘What?’

A strange notification appeared.

‘Release of power?’

Considering the mention of enemy invasion, it seemed to be referring to the Cyclops. But what was this little guy going to do?

‘Let’s try.’

At that moment.

[300,000,000 won has been consumed.]

‘Huh? 300 million?’

Simultaneously, light emitted from the solar generators installed in the 13 apartments.

The destination of the light was my home.

It concentrated on the living room window on the 30th floor.

Paaat!

After the intense sunlight focused there.

Kwaaak!

Something enormous burst through my living room window.

‘That…?’

The creature that spread its wings was a crow at least three times bigger than a Kellican.

With glossy black feathers and three legs, it was unmistakably the three-legged crow.

‘…Kkami?’

A giant Kkami was flying towards us.

Then, facing the giant, it opened its beak.

Ziiiiing—

A powerful laser shot from Kkami’s mouth, piercing straight through the giant’s chest.

And the next moment.

Baaaang!

Cyclops’ upper body slid down.

Kkami’s strike had split the giant’s body into two.

“Whoa…”

The sound of gasps could be heard—it was an unbelievable sight.

-Graaaaaagh!

The Cyclops, with only its upper body left, flailed its two arms as it fell onto the defensive barrier.

At that moment.

“Raaah!”

As if she had been waiting for this very moment, the transformed Oh Eon-ju ran onto the fallen giant’s back.

Ascending to the Cyclops’ shoulder in an instant, Oh Eon-ju swung her claws at the giant’s neck.

Psshhhh!

As her claws sliced through the giant’s flesh, blood sprayed, and simultaneously, Oh Eon-ju’s eyes turned red while her body swelled.

“Raaaah!”

Roaring, she continued to deepen the wound on the giant’s neck with her claws.

-Graaaah!

As the giant raised its hand to push Oh Eon-ju away.

‘Invisible Hand, Gigantification.’

The enlarged invisible hand stretched out to block the giant’s hand.

Boom!

As a result, Oh Eon-ju could focus on attacking the giant’s neck.

Rip, rip!—

Finally, her claws tore through the Cyclops’ carotid artery.

Spray—

Blood began to gush from Cyclops’ neck.

The giant’s blood poured down against the barrier like a waterfall.

[You have hunted Cyclops (Lv. 51).]

[You have gained a massive amount of experience points.]

[31,925,374,089 won has been deposited into the Absolute Dweller’s Wallet.]

At the same time 30 billion was deposited.

[Skill level has increased.]

[Skill level has increased.]

[Skill level has increased.]

[Skill level has increased.]

My level increased by four at once.

‘Ugh!’

Afterwards, I could feel the area expanding along with a dizzying sensation as usual.

All of the remaining 12 buildings became part of my domain.

As soon as the entire complex was engulfed, a different change occurred.

‘!!!’

If the pain was too severe, you wouldn’t even be able to scream.

My current state was exactly like that.

As the entire first district was covered, the expanded area underwent an explosive increase in size.

Up until now, the homebound area had been expanding along buildings and surfaces, but now it seemed to devour the air too, ultimately forming a dome-like shape.

[Congratulations!]

[You have declared the area over the entire Apartment Complex 1.]

[10,000,000,000 won of construction support funds has been deposited.]

As rewards poured in, system notifications sounded, and when the intense pain that felt like my body was about to burst finally subsided, I collapsed on the spot.

“Mr. Jae-hyun!”

Choi Hyeong-jun, who had come next to me, caught my falling body.

“Are you okay?!”

“I’m… fine.”

“You don’t look good! Let me take you home!”

“Please, if you don’t mind…”

Choi Hyeong-jun lifted me by holding my back and knees.

“…”

Being carried like a princess by him, I thought to myself.

‘This is a bit…’

Embarrassing.

“…Wait a minute.”

“Yes? Why? Is there something uncomfortable?”

Just as I was about to ask him to lift me normally.

-Cheep…

A small bundle of feathers landed on my stomach.

“You little…”

I can’t believe you spent over 300 million won at once.

Furthermore, it was just a single attack.

‘But that attack was crucial.’

Of course, it went without saying that the 300 million won spent by Kkami was not regrettable at all.

After all, the money earned afterward exceeded 30 billion, so that amount was insignificant.

‘Summon Familiar. Even if its activity is restricted within the homebound area, it’s incredibly cost-effective.’

In addition, the 1 billion won spent summoning it wasn’t a waste either.

‘Should I fill up all 10 slots?’

Considering the performance, there was no need to hesitate.

When I thought so and looked at the Summon Familiar button.

“…?”

I doubted my eyes.

[Summon Familiar] (10,000,000,000 won) {Deactivated}

Why does it look like there’s an extra zero?

’10 billion? Is it really 10 billion?’

Moreover, it was completely blocked, making it impossible to test.

At the moment curses were about to burst out.

[Citizen Oh Eon-ju has completed a quest.]

[Quest cost: 324,576,089 won.]

There was the sound of Oh Eon-ju’s wish being fulfilled.