NOVEL WEB Chapter 43
Chapter 43. Promotion Battle (1)
TL: xLordFifth
ED/PR: The reader
[The effects of the elixir increase your strength by 5.]
[The effects of the elixir increase your agility by 4.]
[The effects of the elixir increase your stamina by 10.]
[The effects of the elixir slightly increase your flexibility.]
[The effects of the elixir slightly enhance your natural healing ability.]
A flurry of delightful messages.
Was it because he gained a bunch of stats all at once?
“I feel a lot healthier.”
Shimun could physically feel strength coursing through his body.
“It was worth focusing on a stamina-enhancing elixirs.”
The result was a total stamina stat increase of 10.
Perhaps because of the increase in physical flexibility and healing power, he felt refreshed, as if he had just woken up from a good sleep.
‘This should significantly reduce the strain of human alchemy.’
In essence, though alchemy relies on the alchemy energy, it is the body itself that has to withstand the enhanced abilities.
If alchemy energy is the fuel, then the body is the vessel that contains it.
Strengthening such a vessel, the fatigue from human alchemy should lessen.
“I really want to test this out now.”
Just as Shimun smiled contentedly,
[You have manufactured and consumed an enhanced elixir.]
[Your alchemy energy has increased by 1.]
[The level of the Philosopher’s Stone has increased by 1.]
Messages he didn’t expect appeared before him.
‘Ho? My alchemy energy and the Philosopher’s Stone both leveled up?’
His alchemy energy, which was 44, increased to 45.
The level of the Philosopher’s Stone, which was 24, increased to 25.
Especially, the level up of the Philosopher’s Stone was a very welcome development.
‘That’s a nice experience gain.’
For Shimun, who shares growth experience with the Philosopher’s Stone,
the considerable performance meant that even a single level gain was very precious.
And there was more.
[You have raised the original grade of your alchemy item by one level.]
[You have achieved the achievement. ‘Level Up My Alchemy Item.’]
[You receive 1,000 achievement points.]
[The options for the title. ‘Pioneer of Alchemy’ have grown.]
“Achievement points and a title too?”
1000 achievement points and the growth of a growth-type title.
Immediately, Shimun checked the title section.
[Pioneer of Alchemy] – Growth-Type
A title given to an alchemist who has synthesized all mythological products of alchemy.
-Receives a very small bonus in fortification related activities.
-The alchemy energy consumption decreases by 10%.
‘The second option has risen to 10%.’
Originally, the second option decreased power consumption by 5%.
But with this growth, it had increased to a total of 10%.
“Ah, sweet!”
Feeling as if his mouth had automatically sweetened, Shimun said,
“Having come this far, I should properly enjoy the sweetness.”
He picked up his Arena connection device.
* * *
[Welcome to the Galaxy Arena.]
[This Arena’s event is. ‘Survival,’ with a total of 100 participants.]
[The Arena will start once all participants are present.]
An empty black space.
Entering what is known as the waiting room, Shimun checked the message floating in the air.
-Siha~.
-Bro, I’ve been waiting so bad for the broadcast… What? It’s the national competition?
-Woah! It’s the national competition!
-Really? Kim Shimun’s national competition, we can’t stop this.
-I came as soon as the notification popped up. This is awesome lol.
The viewers who logged into Arenia also felt the same.
‘The national competition, huh? This is good.’
The survival with 100 participants.
Known as ‘the national competition,’ this Arena is a popular event that satisfies both players and viewers.
And for good reason.
As it often proceeds purely on skill without much variance, due to the competition’s nature,
and with each rank bracket and map providing a fresh feeling under different conditions.
-Which map will it be?
-Wherever it is, Finger-mon will find the answer!
-It’s not about finding the answer, it’s about creating one lol.
-Yeah! Totally possible! Shimun’s smile naturally formed as he checked the chat.
‘It’s a perfect time to check the spec up.’
Wasn’t the initial stat, not even a 1 stat point, something that could be greatly felt in the early stages?
There’s no better map than survival to check it out.
“Hello, everyone. It’s my first time in survival, so I’m quite nervous.”
-Are you shaking lol? Who, the enemy?
-Ah, it’s your first time! It’s our first time with you guys!
-This person seems to have never tried survival before. Interesting. It’s a popular event.
-That makes it even more exciting since it’s your first time (>o<)/!!
-Shimun, you're going for first place this time, right?
"Haha! I'm aiming for it, but I'm not so sure. The arena matching has been getting tougher lately."
Shimun waited for the matching participants as he conversed with the audience, his eyes filled with anticipation.
In front of such Shimun.
[For player Kim Shimun, this arena will be applied as a promotion match.]
An unexpected message popped up.
"Promotion match?"
-Eh? A promotion match? Bro, is this a promotion match for you?
-LMAO, it's a promotion match? Bro! Change the room title quickly. The viewers are gonna flood in.
-So we got matched with national players because it's a promotion match?
-This is gonna be epic fun. BRB, gonna post this on the community lol.
-It's chicken dinner time. Everyone, order up!
-It feels like it's gonna be over before it even starts lol.
The chat went wild at the mention of a promotion match.
Just the thought of promotion was already thrilling.
Especially when it's the beloved 100-player survival.
However, Shimun's feelings were a bit different from the reactions in the chat.
It was expected.
'They give out a promotion match without any prior notice?'
The viewers couldn't see the personal message, so they thought Shimun knew it was a promotion match from the start. But for Shimun, it was a sudden development.
'Why?'
Usually, a promotion match would be indicated in advance, like the last time he obtained the stigma.
Suddenly announcing it like this? Of course.
[In the Silver Rank, player Kim Shimun can no longer be adjusted by MMR, so achieving the TOP 10 will automatically promote you to the Gold Rank.]
[A penalty will be applied to your status window if you fail the promotion.]
Upon seeing the following message, he could understand the current situation.
'My specs have gotten too high.'
The MMR system itself is divided into stats, traits, equipment, and history, right?
'Well, it's ridiculous that I'm still in Silver.'
From the moment he was assigned a rank after finishing the placement test.
The Galaxy Arena was hoping he would go to Gold.
It was just that he had no choice but to make Silver an option because of the entrance item [Doria Mountain Mithril Ore].
'And they even applied a 30% penalty for a decreased clear reward.'
Of course, since his clear score was always the highest, he hardly felt the penalty.
But now that the special arena was over and.
He had achieved overwhelming results in the last arena, including one-shotting the boss and killing the hidden boss.
It no longer made sense for him to stay in Silver Rank.
'And I've also increased my stat growth…'
After consuming the three elixirs, his strength stat had significantly increased.
For the Galaxy Arena, they couldn't just sit and watch anymore.
'Well, it's better for me.'
Wasn't it a situation where he had to reach Gold as soon as possible?
Shrugging his shoulders, Shimun looked at the void.
Everyone had been matched.
[All participants have been matched.]
[The map is. 'Gloomy Sewer'.]
As the message followed, the surrounding space twisted.
There was little difference from the dim waiting area.
"Ugh."
The faint stench, the fishy smell of water, and the musty air pricked his nose.
-Lol look at his grimace. Must really stink?
-Not joking. The smell is one thing, but it's also oddly humid and uncomfortable.
-True. Damp farts are somehow the worst~.
-That wasn't a fart, you know?
-Eugh… I got matched there yesterday, and now I've got PTSD.
As the map materialized, responses came in waves.
With its winding paths and dark zones scattered throughout, like in the mine map.
The. 'Gloomy Sewer' was a map no one could like in any aspect.
However.
'The map itself is not really a problem.'
For Shimun, it didn't apply.
As long as he had human alchemy, most maps didn't affect him due to his compatibility.
It was just. "Is it because my stats have gone up? This environment feels extremely uncomfortable."
Was it due to the increase in stats?
While the stench was one thing, the strange humidity and the musty air were particularly irksome.
[The Arena begins.]
[Eliminate other players.]
As soon as the system's notification appeared.
"I need to finish this quickly."
With a flick of his fingers, Kim Shimun immediately synthesized [Black Panther's Physique] and [Moon Owl's Physique].
* * *
"Damn it! It's so damn dark."
"Shut your mouth, idiot! What if someone hears us?!"
"Ah… sorry."
In a dark space where not even silhouettes were clear,
the two men, located in what is often referred to as a Dark Zone, crouched down, reducing their profiles.
One of them, who had just scolded his companion, carefully advanced.
"Just follow quietly behind me. I'll lead us strictly."
"I'm jealous! If I had vision-related abilities, then this…"
"Shush! Lower your voice!"
The man admonished again.
He adjusted his grip on his dagger and scanned the surroundings.
"Since it's a Dark Zone, let's suck up as many kills as we can here and leave when the number of people decreases."
"You mean just to defend our ranks?"
"We have to at least try that. Didn't you see the Arena board? Two freakin' monsters have been matched with us!"
The man following nodded silently.
At the moment, there were two players dominating the Arena board.
Needless to say, they were in the first and second places.
"But is it really okay to team up so openly? What if we run into a well-known guild or something…"
"This is the Dark Zone. They'll die without even knowing we're teaming up."
The very existence of Dark Zones in maps meant that teaming was inevitable.
Hidden in the unseeable Dark Zone, attacking together,
without specific abilities, there was no way to notice the teaming up.
"But what if they see us first?"
"Idiot, we're in a corner. Whoever camps here first always has the advantage."
"I guess…"
"So just shut up and cast your magic toward where I throw my dagger. It's a guaranteed stealth kill."
"Okay, got it."
The timid response came from a man who possessed rare magical skills. Being in the silver rank, the resistance to magic and countermeasures were quite bleak.
Having the initiative essentially meant invincibility. That is, if one could seize it.
Suddenly,
"Huh?"
An unidentified small sound. Though faint enough to be mistaken for the wind brushing past, such minor noises were unlikely to be heard without reason in the dark zone that was as silent as a still night.
Moreover, players with vision-related traits and assassins had keen senses, not easily fooled.
However,
"Something's coming over there…"
Was it due to the limitations of being silver-ranked? Or was the opponent just too formidable?
With a snap, the man wielding the dagger couldn't even react before his neck was twisted.
"Jae, Jaehyun!"
The desperate voice of the companion echoed in the Dark Zone. Even a magic user couldn't ignore the sound of breaking bones.
"You bastard!"
Fueled by the voice of his friend that wouldn't return, the magic user hastily gathered his mana.
A small flame that could illuminate the dim Dark Zone sprouted in his palm. And before it could take shape,
Crack.
The chest of the one preparing the flame spell sunk in. With the sewer's stench abruptly cut off, as his vision turned gray.
'Am I really dead?'
The magic user could realize his own death.
'What was that? A monster? Lizardmen often appear in sewer maps… but that was too fast…'
Then, between his fading vision, the dying flame in his hand briefly illuminated the face of the attacker.
'A human? No way, a human?'
Was it due to the dark environment?
With beautiful features glimpsed last, the mage's vision fell into darkness.
Thud.
The unique flapping of the robe slapped against the floor.
-"Wow… Fuck. Is this even human?"
-"Crazy. How did you know they were in the Dark Zone?"
-"Seeing them call out names earlier, looks like they were teaming up?"
-"Yeah. Means nothing in front of Finger-mon."
-"This isn't even Finger. Just straight-up demolished them, lol."
A man looked down with disdain at the bodies of the two players who had collapsed in an instant.
-"Mining shaft run season 2. The sewer run is a disaster."
-"Seriously. This guy was tearing through the Dark Zone in the mining shaft map last time too. Must have a related trait."
-"So what does he not have?"
-"He doesn't have me."
-"LOL. Ridiculous. Hope you die next."
Despite the chattering chaos in the chat fueled by his achievements, Kim Shimun wasn't feeling too great.
The reason was simple.
1st – Choi Jinsu 13 kills.
2nd – Kim Shimun 10 kills.
…
The arena board displayed the current situation.
‘I never thought I'd lose the top spot.’
At the top, it was someone else's name, not his.
‘Choi Jinsu… why does this name feel so familiar?’
Kim Shimun rhythmically tapped his chin, as if habitually, and not long after,
“Ah!”
He couldn't help but exclaim.
‘The Beast King, Choi Jinsu!’
The Beast King, Choi Jinsu.
A high ranker of the Myth Guild, shining as the second top in the nation right after Holy Trinity.
More precisely,
‘So he must've been Silver around this time. Makes sense, Choi Jinsu is a slow starter like Malsuk.’
‘That would explain his performance. Probably sweeping through the sewers with his Beastification trait…’
Beastification, an SS grade trait that allows transformation into any beast. It had quite a few similarities with human flexibility.
‘And before awakening, he was a heavyweight UFC fighter.’
Choi Jinsu, fairly well-known Asian martial artist. Naturally, his combat sense was on a different level from ordinary players.
‘Tch. I was hoping to enjoy my stat boost a bit.’
Acknowledging that just human flexibility wasn't enough to secure the first place, Kim Shimun mused,
‘Philosopher's Stone.’
-Yes, oppa.
‘Give me an estimate for this.’
He transmitted an image of the transformation material suitable for the current situation to the Philosopher's Stone.
-Oh? Certainly, there's nothing quite like it. Almost excessively so.
‘How much would it cost?’
-Well, this is a bit of a special case. If it's urgent, it can be synthesized in a single use like Astrape.
The Philosopher's Stone's tone was peculiar. Kim Shimun quickly grasped the implied meaning.
‘Meaning it's also possible to synthesize it permanently?’
-Right. For this material, in particular, that's more efficient.
‘But you mentioned a single use because of the cost?’
-Right. Being of a higher hierarchy, for the first alchemy alone, ten thousand points are necessary.
‘Ten thousand points…’
A cost similar to the Obsidian Tablet.
Kim Shimun opened his status window to check his achievement points.
‘Let's see. Currently, I have 10,500 points. So even if I spend ten thousand, I could still use Astrape once.’
He still had emergency points left. Without hesitation, Kim Shimun nodded.
“Okay. Proceed.”
-Okay~!
[The Philosopher's Stone requests 10,000 achievement points to establish an equivalent exchange.]
[Do you accept? (Yes / No)]
A message appeared as if it had been waiting.
Kim Shimun immediately touched ‘Yes’.
Oom.
A familiar energy flowed into his fingertips, making up for the insufficient equivalent.
He flicked it, and two streams of light converged over Kim Shimun's hand, transforming into a golden spherical shape.
Holding it,
[The Constellation Thor shows interest in the sudden appearance of the Eye of the King.]
[The Constellation Heimdall shows interest in the sudden…]
[The Constellation Loki shows…]
A series of messages unfurled.