Chapter 35: Everlast Ruins (2)

“……Wow, they really made this to kill people, huh.”

I muttered blankly as I rubbed Potion on my side.

The spot where the arrowhead had struck and been pulled out healed in an instant, but the shock of being hit by an arrow for the first time was significant.

Just when I was getting a little too confident, deliberately stepping on traps and dodging them with ease—

Suddenly, two arrows rained down at once.

Of course, I knew there was a pattern like this, but I didn’t know exactly when it would appear…

Thunk!!

“Whoa! Aaagh!”

I managed to dodge one arrow, but the other ended up lodged in my side.

A pain so intense it turned my vision black for a moment wracked my whole body.

[Status abnormality ‘Severe Pain’ has been inflicted.]

Wow, so this is what it feels like?

This ‘Severe Pain’ status abnormality slows down a character’s movements and interferes with the activation of Skills that require concentration.

But the ‘Severe Pain’ I felt was literally just excruciating agony—so bad I couldn’t even breathe properly, let alone use a Skill.

Well, I guess if you’re completely incapacitated, that means the effect is working perfectly!

Just as I was writhing in pain—

[The trait of Fate ‘Mercenary Gladiator’ resists the status abnormality ‘Severe Pain.’]

Suddenly, the pain subsided.

And as if someone else was controlling me, I sat up and grabbed the arrow stuck in my side.

The next moment—

“Ugh!”

Pluck.

Even I was surprised at how deftly and fearlessly I pulled the arrow out.

Ping.

“…?”

I stared blankly at the arrow rolling on the floor, then belatedly realized what was happening and opened my Inventory to hurriedly stop the bleeding.

‘Right, I do have the Gladiator trait.’

Back when I was a slave gladiator, I never had to deal with bleeding this badly, so I never got to use it.

But resistance to bleeding injuries is precisely a unique trait of the Gladiator class.

Namely, the ‘Fast Adrenaline’ trait.

It regulates the effect of adrenaline in crisis situations to rapidly reduce pain.

The higher the grade of the card, the more special abilities like this you gain.

Well, for now, at this C-rank, it’s just Fast Adrenaline.

“Even with the trait, it still hurts like hell.”

After yanking out the arrow and slathering on a healing Potion, I carefully stored the remaining potions in my Inventory.

Being able to save leftover potions like this is something different from the original game.

‘Nice, since I can save and use them as needed.’

I didn’t have unlimited Potion, so I couldn’t afford to waste any.

Alright, anyway…

‘Now the arrow patterns are starting to get complicated, huh?’

That meant the Dungeon Guardians would start appearing soon.

In terms of overall dungeon progress, I was not quite at 20% yet.

‘In the game, this path only took ten minutes, but I think it’s been two hours here.’

It couldn’t be helped.

Back then, it was a game—now, it isn’t.

Obviously, I had to secure my safety as much as possible while moving forward.

‘So, now’s the time to try out this Skill.’

The moment I stepped forward—

Ziiiing.

The magic circle drawn on the ceiling above my head reacted.

It sensed my movement and began to glow with a dangerous red light.

‘Is it two arrows again this time?’

As if answering my thought, arrow slits opened on both sides.

‘If that’s the case…’

I activated ‘Gale Commission.’ And at the same time, I used another Skill.

Suddenly, my Inventory felt so much lighter!

…Probably just my imagination?

[Evasion Technique: Gale Commission]
[Defense Technique: Gold Bar Commission]

Whoosh!

I barely managed to dodge the arrow flying at my shoulder, scraping by just enough.

But…

Swish!

The other arrow, aimed at my lower body, was a different story.

It was set at a cunning angle to target my shin.

That’s exactly why I needed this Skill.

‘Gold Bar Commission.’

Tsss…

A sensation of hardening crept up from my fingertips and toes.

It was as if my skin was solidifying, turning to stone.

A faint golden sheen appeared on the back of my hand.

This was the effect of the Skill called ‘Gold Bar Commission.’

‘The most mercenary-like Skill!’

And also the most nerve-wracking.

Taaang!

The arrow should have pierced my leg, but instead, it bounced off with a loud clang, like a gong.

And all that was left on my shin was a slight scratch.

Far from piercing, the arrow simply bounced off—my skin had become that tough.

…That was the effect the Skill gave my skin.

“Now that’s some serious defense.”

[Defense Technique] Exclusive Skill for Mercenary Gladiator. Consumes Gold Coins in possession to offset incoming damage. The amount of Gold Coin consumed is proportional to the amount of damage offset by a special ratio. There are no restrictions on usage time.

In other words, it’s a Skill that lets you spend your gold for absolute defense.

It’s so straightforward it doesn’t even need further explanation.

“All hail capitalism, huh.”

And there’s not even a cooldown?

[Cost incurred by Skill usage.]
[4.75 Gold Coins have been deducted!]

As long as you have money, you can keep up this amazing defense—even if arrows hit you, you’ll only get a scratch!

Once activated, your whole skin is reinforced like armor, so you don’t even need to control it.

‘And you don’t even feel pain?’

No more flinching!

Isn’t this totally broken and overpowered?

‘Yeah right, what a joke!’

I wanted to smack the sweet voice inside my head.

Read the description more carefully!

[The amount of Gold Coin consumed is proportional to the amount of damage offset by a ‘special ratio.’]

What does that mean?

The more damage this Skill blocks…

The amount of Gold Coin I have to pay increases exponentially.

Right now it’s 4.75, but later it could be tens of thousands.

Maybe even hundreds of millions of Gold Coins.

‘And that’s just for blocking a single hit!’

As the game scenario progresses, the level of the enemies I have to face rises, so the math works out like this.

There’s no way I could ever afford it.

Once you’re past level 20, you’ll probably go bankrupt with a single use.

If you don’t have enough Gold Coin to pay, you take the difference as direct damage.

It’s the very definition of a double-edged Skill.

‘It’s only useful in the early stages.’

And for me, passing through the early game now, it’s a last-resort Skill.

Soon, this trap-filled section would end and the Guardians would appear.

I could save it for a truly dire crisis.

So for now, I had to get thoroughly used to using it here.

[Cost incurred by Skill usage.]
[8.75 Gold Coins have been deducted!]

…Should I just seal this Skill away right now?

Am I going to go bankrupt just trying to clear this Dungeon?

The first section of the Dungeon ‘Tomb Ruins’ Sealed Passage,’ made up of nothing but traps, was finally over.

In the meantime, I had become nearly a master at dodging arrows.

Thanks to that, I had a very clear grasp of ‘Gale Commission.’

And as for ‘Gold Bar Commission’…

‘178.85.’

That was the exact number of Gold Coins I’d spent just to get through the first section.

“Damn it!”

My hard-earned money!

I tried to save myself from bleeding, but ended up bleeding money like water!

Seeing my visibly depleted bundle of Gold Coins, I could only let out a bitter sigh.

I really earned like a dog and spent like a dog.

‘But it can’t be helped.’

Right now, I had to use every Skill I had to grow as quickly as possible.

And prepare for real combat.

‘The Guardians will show up soon.’

I steadied my breathing and slowly moved forward.

Schling.

I drew my ‘Ordinary Steel Sword’ from my waist.

Up until now, I’d been fighting inanimate traps, focused only on dodging and blocking…

‘From here on, I need to attack the things that attack me.’

The real enemies were about to appear.

‘If I can’t kill them, I’ll be the one to die.’

The weight of the solid steel in my grip made that perfectly clear.

The moment I stepped over the invisible line, torch and sword in hand—

KWAUUUUUUNG!

A fierce metallic roar exploded from the darkness.

Its owner slowly emerged from the shadows.

A humanoid beast, half steel, half earthenware.

That monster, with its blue glowing eyes, was the Dungeon’s Guardian: the ‘Golem Warrior.’

I swallowed dryly.

‘That’s some serious presence.’

But there was no need to be intimidated.

The Golem Warriors in this sealed section were running on weakened protection magic.

In other words, they were inferior versions.

Proof: even though it unleashed its crowd control Skill ‘Howling,’ I didn’t suffer any status abnormality.

No reason to shrink back.

‘Besides, in terms of level, it’s only around 12 or 13.’

I had more than enough power to overturn that gap.

“…Alright, let’s do this.”

As I activated my Skill, I kicked off the ground and charged.

This time, I was using the first form of Haewoo Swordsmanship.

The very sword technique I used when I fought Marquis Reith.

[Attack Technique: Fierce Sword Style: Form 1]

CLANG!

Two blades collided, producing a sharp metallic shriek.

And I moved naturally.

Instead of matching brute strength, I turned the enemy’s own force against them.

That was the secret I learned from fighting Marquis Reith.

The added effect of swordsmanship combined seamlessly.

Slick.

I deflected the warrior’s sword and instantly slipped into its guard.

And in the next moment, I drove a heavy fist square into its torso.

[Attack Technique: Direct Fist Strike]

Thud…

I hadn’t used a single bit of mana, but the impact was substantial.

The monster, which had been right in my face, was knocked back some distance.

“Tsk.”

But as I loosened my wrist, I clicked my tongue quietly.

There was something I realized as I struck each hit point the swordsmanship showed me.

“Failed. That was a failure.”

It looked impressive, but ultimately, my attack just now didn’t deal any real damage.

“Grrrrrr…”

The Golem Warrior stood up as if nothing happened—that was proof.

In other words, the secret of redirecting force didn’t work properly.

Back when I dueled Marquis Reith in the Empire, if my counter used his strength at 100%…

‘Now it’s maybe a 7? Or 8 at best?’

The efficiency was literally scraping the bottom.

There were several reasons.

‘First, swordsmanship advantages don’t work at all against monsters.’

‘I have to deal with random patterns, so my hit point targeting is a mess.’

And most of all—

‘…This isn’t a duel where it ends by knocking away the opponent’s sword.’

This wasn’t a duel, but a battle.

A life-or-death struggle with a monster trying to kill me.

So my goal in redirecting the enemy’s power had to change as well.

‘This time, I’m not just parrying the sword—I have to break it and cut the neck.’

When our blades clashed, I was clearly aiming for its neck.

But I couldn’t see an opening.

There was no timing or path to strike down the Golem Warrior’s neck in one blow, so I had to give up.

‘This is my current limit.’

Not landing a critical hit meant just that.

…I needed to grow.

My own growth, of course, was a given.

‘Haewoo Swordsmanship’s growth.’

It was a moment when I keenly realized I needed to feed experience into my S-rank swordsmanship.