Chapter 7: The Spoils of Death

-Clang!

-Stab!

Lee Tae-sung fought with everything he had.

Since dying didn’t matter anyway, he was prepared to actually die.

At a low level of cultivation, this kind of fighting spirit was more important than one might think.

It shifted the momentum of the battle and changed the atmosphere.

“Th-this crazy bastard!”

“Are you trying to take us down with you?”

Because it was a virtual reality that felt far too real, even Out-of-Worlders were reluctant to openly risk their lives.

The sensation of dying wasn’t exactly pleasant.

Thus, Lee Tae-sung’s behavior was rare, and it sowed confusion among the Crimson Brotherhood members.

-Stab!

-Slash!

Lee Tae-sung’s sword cut through them.

A sword wrapped in flames.

“Aaaaagh!”

It didn’t matter if he failed to cut them.

Even if they thought they had dodged, the heat of those flames scorched their skin.

That heat and the instantaneous flinching of the nerves were things a human could not endure.

Aiming for the gap in their instincts, Lee Tae-sung’s follow-up strike connected.

-Stab!

Despite being only a 3rd-class member, Lee Tae-sung was the most active person on the battlefield.

“Hahaha! You certainly deserve to be here!”

“Did you say you were recommended by the Chief Manager? As expected, the Chief Manager has a keen eye.”

1st-class members threw themselves into the fray, calling out to him as they attacked.

Lee Tae-sung’s performance was quite impressive for someone of his rank.

They rushed in as if flying, seeking out opponents suited to their own levels.

True to its name, the Soaring Dragon Sect specialized in lightfoot techniques.

While the advantages of lightfoot techniques were diminished in narrow indoor spaces, it was effective because Lee Tae-sung had created a bit of distance.

After that, the enemies regained their composure, and a brief lull in the battle ensued.

‘It’ll be hard to do anything more from here.’

Lee Tae-sung glanced toward the center.

There was the Crimson Brotherhood officer, still throwing punches that sprayed light and noise, and Elder Dam Ho-poong, who was thrusting his sword at lightning speed against him.

The Crimson Brotherhood officer’s fists were launched with a loud noise, crackling with electricity.

Each punch was powerful enough to show that a single hit meant death, and they were even fast.

Elder Dam Ho-poong, who stood his ground against that, seemed incredible.

Not only Lee Tae-sung but everyone else cast their eyes in that direction.

They all knew.

No matter what they did among themselves, the side with the winner of that battle would be the victor.

Therefore, the lull persisted.

Only Lee Tae-sung put strength into his legs, preparing to move at any moment.

‘Is there anything I can do?’

He didn’t want to just watch and leave his fate to chance.

Moreover, a quest like this wasn’t easy to come by.

If he performed well here, he would be able to make a good impression on Elder Dam Ho-poong.

That was why Lee Tae-sung was able to charge in the moment Elder Dam Ho-poong seemed to be pushed back slightly.

The Crimson Brotherhood officer used one of his arms as bait to aim for Elder Dam Ho-poong’s life.

Since their skills were so similar, he tried to end the match quickly using a “flesh-for-bone” tactic.

Elder Dam Ho-poong’s face momentarily turned pale.

He had blocked several lightning-wrapped punches, but the scales had already tipped.

In just a few more exchanges, he would surely lose his life.

-Whoosh!

That was when Lee Tae-sung’s flame-wrapped sword intervened.

Because he had been preparing in advance, he was able to capture that final moment and dive in.

“Wha—?”

Naturally, a Crimson Brotherhood officer wasn’t the type to be hit by such a sword strike.

He easily tilted his head back to dodge, but a massive opening was created because of the intense heat and his injured arm.

Elder Dam Ho-poong’s eyes flashed as he thrust his sword forward.

-Slash!

The sword cut deep across the chest.

It was a fatal wound.

The match was decided.

-Stab!

And Lee Tae-sung also thrust his sword into the man’s lower abdomen.

“You brat…!”

Even with blood dripping from his mouth and his eyes bloodshot, the officer glared at Lee Tae-sung.

To think his nearly won battle was ruined by a single damn 3rd-class member!

His rage burned hotter than his physical pain.

He squeezed out his last bit of strength and threw a punch at Lee Tae-sung.

He was more annoyed by Lee Tae-sung than by Dam Ho-poong.

The lightning-wrapped fist pierced through Lee Tae-sung’s chest.

“Argh!”

A jolting pain surged through him.

It was a relief that his pain sensitivity was restricted; otherwise, he might have died from shock.

And as if that was the officer’s last bit of energy, the light vanished from his eyes.

-Ding!

[You have contributed to defeating an enemy with an overwhelming difference in strength.]

[Level Up!]

[Level Up!]

A whopping two level-ups!

This alone was worth the price of his life.

Moreover, it wasn’t over.

Since the officer had died while piercing Lee Tae-sung’s chest, he collapsed right toward him.

Finding himself in an embrace, Lee Tae-sung immediately fumbled through the man’s inner pocket.

‘Something useful. Please. You’re an officer!’

An officer-level character was likely to carry something good.

Then, feeling something in his hand, he immediately gripped it tight.

This way, it would be counted as a possession, allowing him to keep it when he resurrected after death.

-Ding!

[You have died.]

Immediately after, a death message appeared, and the world began to be tinted in black and white.

‘Thank goodness.’

He had leveled up and gained something, though he didn’t know what it was.

This was satisfying enough.

***

His first death in Dreamworld.

As Lee Tae-sung lay inside the capsule staring into the air, a notification appeared before him.

This time, it wasn’t an in-game notification, but a real-world one.

-Ding!

[You have met your death in “Dream.” One of the skills you possess in the Dream will be deleted.]

“Wha-what?”

Lee Tae-sung felt as if cold water had been poured down his back.

A skill was being deleted?

Then, the message continued.

[The Three Talents Sword Technique skill has been deleted.]

When he opened his status window to check, it was true.

His remaining skills were now only “Dream” and the “Flame Sword Technique.”

“Haaa…”

Lee Tae-sung let out a deep sigh.

That was a close call.

‘To think there was such a penalty for dying in Dreamworld…’

Just now, if he had been unlucky, the Flame Sword Technique would have disappeared.

He didn’t care about the Three Talents Sword Technique since he wasn’t using it now, but the Flame Sword Technique was a skill that was currently everything to him.

It absolutely could not disappear.

From now on, he would have to refrain from rushing in recklessly like he just did.

Of course, he had no choice earlier.

If Elder Dam Ho-poong had lost, every Soaring Dragon member there would have died anyway.

In that case, gambling his life was the right choice.

‘Should I learn some low-level techniques as soon as I have spare skill points?’

Since it said they disappeared randomly, having a few skills like the Three Talents Sword Technique would reduce the probability of an important skill disappearing if he happened to die.

He decided to worry about that later.

Regardless, the result this time was good.

The skill deletion was shocking, but it was a skill he didn’t use, and in exchange, he had leveled up and acquired an item.

-Pshhh.

The capsule opened, and Lee Tae-sung stood up.

As soon as he stepped out, he paced around the room.

“Ah. What was it? Please don’t let it be something useless…”

Since it was a small studio apartment, he was mostly just walking in place, but he couldn’t stay still.

He searched his memory, trying to recall the sensation in his hand at that moment.

Something… something…

“I think… it was like a book.”

He wasn’t certain, but it was something with a wide, rough surface.

If so… there was a high probability it was a manual.

“Could it be a secret manual?”

Lee Tae-sung’s eyes sparkled.

He wondered if he was being too optimistic, but shouldn’t he at least hope for the best?

Just as everyone who buys a lottery ticket dreams of winning first prize.

Perhaps the Three Talents Sword Technique had disappeared because a future where he obtained a new manual was approaching?

It was a stretch, but he wanted to think that way.

He turned on his phone to check the time.

Dreamworld had a 24-hour login restriction after death.

He hoped the time would pass quickly.

And at that moment, a notification rang on his phone.

-Ding!

[Lee*sung. Internet deposit of 71,006,541 from the National Hunter Association. Balance 89,112,465]

“!!!”

Lee Tae-sung’s eyes widened.

“Wha-what is this?”

Spam?

Voice phishing?

Those were his first thoughts, but on second thought, it wasn’t.

After clearing his first Hunter mission, he had used all 6,000 plus points to purchase mana stones.

Since he had asked the association to sell them, this was clearly the settlement.

Then, a text followed.

-Ding!

[Hello, Hunter. This is Manager Song Sang-yeop from the NHA. I have processed the settlement for the mana stone sales. You worked really hard, and we look forward to working with you in the future~ :)]

He had heard many times that hunters earned well, but receiving it himself felt different.

“Wow…”

His hands clenched involuntarily.

He could hardly speak.

To think a huge sum of 71 million won had come in all at once!

The money he had saved his entire life wasn’t even half of that, and his dopamine was surging.

It felt like he could gather hundreds of millions in no time with just a few missions.

He had long since given up on buying a house, but after a few more missions, owning a home in Seoul didn’t seem like such a distant future.

Of course, it wouldn’t be easy.

If he had only brought back Starflower Grass from the first mission, he would have only earned 10 points, which would have only bought one low-grade mana stone. But there was no need to be negative.

Who knew if the next mission would go just as well?

“Should I go one more time?”

Lee Tae-sung knew well how dangerous Hunter missions were.

He had almost died by a hair’s breadth.

However, he was very different now compared to his first mission.

The level of his Flame Sword Technique had risen to 3, and he had become more vigilant.

If he went on that first mission now, the result would surely be vastly different.

Since he had died in Dreamworld anyway, he had nothing to do for 24 hours.

‘Should I go… No. No. Let’s wait for now.’

He didn’t have an extra life in reality.

Therefore, he had to be cautious and double-check everything.

‘I obtained something that’s likely a secret manual. Let’s check that before going.’

If he was anxious with just the Flame Sword Technique, he could just learn an additional skill.

While it might not be a secret manual, it was right to wait a day and verify it.

***

The next day.

Lee Tae-sung even checked the time by turning on a timer.

And the moment it reached 24 hours, he immediately logged into Dreamworld.

When he closed and opened his eyes, his field of vision changed.

What he saw was a familiar ceiling.

It was his room in the Soaring Dragon Sect.

‘I heard that if you have your own house and die, you wake up there when you resurrect.

I guess my quarters in the Soaring Dragon Sect were set as my home.’

It was said that if you didn’t have a home, you simply woke up in a corner of a market alleyway.

Regardless, Lee Tae-sung immediately checked his bosom as soon as he woke up.

His belongings were still there.

And then, there was the thick object he felt in his hand.

With a pounding heart, he pulled it out immediately.

As he had guessed, it was a book.

And on the front, these words were written.

[Thunder Fist (Rare)]

– Grade: 3rd Class Hybrid Magic Martial Art

“…This is huge!!”

Lee Tae-sung cheered.

It was definitely the technique the Crimson Brotherhood officer was using while fighting Elder Dam Ho-poong!