IF Chapter 33

Chapter 33

 

As my vision slowly darkened and I felt like being sucked into a different space, I slowly opened my eyes.

At the edge of my sight, I saw a room with dark blue wallpaper and an equally gloomy atmosphere.

“Huh?”

I heard Da-in’s voice behind me as she followed me in.

“There’s nothing here?”

That can’t be right? Her voice was full of bewilderment.

Da-in kept rubbing her eyes, repeatedly checking if there really was nothing there.

Then she carefully took a step forward.

“Wait—”

Just as I was about to warn her.

Swoosh!

A giant hand suddenly protruded from the wall and lunged at Da-in.

“Aah!”

[Using skill, ‘Boundary Line (C)’!]

As I used the skill, I grabbed Da-in’s arm and pulled her sharply towards me. I let out a hollow laugh as Da-in screamed in surprise behind me.

‘Found it.’

[SYSTEM] The master of the Blue Zone, [Twelve Hands (A)] has revealed itself!

“W-what is that?”

I looked around as I heard Da-in’s startled voice.

Twelve hands protruding through the walls.

[Skill ‘Boundary Line (C)’ is active.]

Fortunately, the hastily drawn boundary line was used before the hands could invade the space, allowing for perfect body protection.

However, I couldn’t be completely at ease.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

[‘Boundary Line (C)’s durability is rapidly decreasing!]

The creatures kept trying to break through the boundary line I had set up.

“It’s a skill I used in a hurry, but it won’t last long.”

[‘Boundary Line (C)’s durability is rapidly decreasing!]

The alert popped up once more.

I bit my lip hard as I watched the boundary line barely holding them back. This is a C-rank skill. That monster is A-rank.

Remembering how easily it had scattered with one hit from S-rank Lim Yuchan, I grew more anxious.

‘It would be better to deal with it before the boundary line breaks.’

[Using skill, ‘What’s Yours is Mine (-)’!]

[Attempting to steal skill ‘Sin and Punishment (B)’ from target ‘Cha Si-hyeon (S)’!]

And at that moment.

[Not enough mana!]

What?

[Failed to steal skill ‘Sin and Punishment (B)’ from target ‘Cha Si-hyeon (S)’!]

As I was bewildered by this unexpected situation and the message I was seeing for the first time.

Bang!

[‘Boundary Line (C)’s durability has hit rock bottom!]

[‘Boundary Line (C)’ is disappearing!]

I’m screwed. Dismay flashed across my face.

The boundary line broke.

Skills can’t be used.

It’s the monster’s turn to attack.

With just those three sentences, I could easily tell that I was in trouble.

Whoosh! As the giant hand came flying towards me as if it had been waiting, I unconsciously squeezed my eyes shut.

“Yi-joo-ssi!”

Instead of the expected pain, only Da-in’s cry echoed. When I belatedly came to my senses and opened my eyes wide, I saw a giant palm stopped in front of me.

More precisely…

[Using skill, ‘Lasso (B)’!]

I saw the monster unable to move, bound by Da-in’s skill.

I could see the hand wriggling and struggling.

Coming to my senses, I immediately drew my sword and slashed the palm. Splat! The monster’s unique rotten-like purple blood splattered.

The hand, seemingly surprised by the sudden attack, retreated back. And hid into the wall.

Taking advantage of that gap, I swung my sword to prevent the other hands from coming.

While Da-in caught the ones rushing towards my back, I attacked the ones in front and then the ones behind.

Repeating this, the protruding hands seemed to become scared and went back inside.

‘They’ll come out again soon.’

We don’t have much time since we didn’t completely kill them.

Da-in, having confirmed that they all went back into the wall, turned to look at me.

“They seem more cowardly than I thought.”

“I dealt with eleven of them earlier.”

“That means…”

This monster’s hands are, true to its name, twelve in number. While I was attacking eleven hands, only one hand didn’t even show itself.

“Looks like there’s a separate main body.”

Da-in was quicker on the uptake than I expected. I thought she was just a gentle person, but having cleared the first dungeon, it seems that wasn’t the case.

“So, about that skill from earlier. Can’t you use it on multiple targets?”

If we could bind multiple hands with that skill, we could focus on finding and attacking the main body. My mana is recharging in real-time now, so I should be able to use a skill at least once.

“…Well, seven is the maximum.”

Well, being a B-rank skill, I didn’t expect too much. Seven lassos. Then, a way to bind the remaining five…

“I have another B-rank attack skill, I think I can drive out one more with that.”

Is she talking about the ‘Swinging (B)’ skill?

‘Come to think of it…’

Just as a certain question popped into my mind.

Whoosh!

One of the hands that had retreated suddenly protruded and attacked me. This time, I didn’t blink.

[Using skill, ‘Lasso (B)’!]

Gi Da-in immediately used the lasso skill to tie up the hands.

‘Don’t attack, lure them and avoid them.’

Avoiding the hands that started to pop out one by one again, I voiced the question I hadn’t been able to ask before.

“Gi Da-in-ssi, do you only have two B-grade attack skills?”

Just as I was about to say she didn’t have to tell me if it was burdensome.

“I have one S-grade.”

Gi Da-in said. As I thought. The skills I had seen were definitely three.

Lasso (B), Swing (B), Rising (S).

Gi Da-in wasn’t using the most important Rising (S). Before I could ask about it, Gi Da-in spoke first.

“But I can’t use that skill.”

What?

“I don’t know how to use it.”

A bitter expression flashed across her face. I confirmed that the fifth hand that had just popped out was tied up with the lasso and looked up.

‘If that’s the case…’

[Would you like to check the detailed information of the skill ‘Rising (S)’ of the target, ‘Gi Da-in (A)’? (Y/N)]

“I’ll tell you.”

“Pardon?”

[Displaying information for the skill ‘Rising (S)’!]

My Peek (S) skill can check information in detail, you know. But…

[Skill Name: Rising

Grade: S

Description: Everything rises.]

Is this all?

💎

Usually, when I check the detailed information of a skill, the description tends to be very detailed.

‘What’s Yours is Mine (-)’ is the ability to steal the skills of others.

‘Peek (S)’ is to check the information of others.

‘Extraordinary Brain (E)’ allows for cool-headed judgment.

‘Trick of Trick (B)’ is to move to a desired location within a 30M radius for 30 seconds and then return.

‘Boundary Line (C)’ is to draw a blue boundary line to defend against threats from enemies.

Yes, it was explained clearly, and it was neither too long nor too short.

But…

[Everything rises.]

What does that even mean?

I couldn’t understand. Everything rises?

“I’m not even sure if it’s an attack skill. I’ve tried using it on underdeveloped trees, but it’s useless, and I’ve used it everywhere I can, but nothing has changed.”

From Gi Da-in’s explanation, it doesn’t seem to make things grow either. Damn, so in the end, the only usable attack skills are two B-grade ones?

I bit my lip hard and looked ahead. What should I do?

What we need now is at least four lassos. I don’t have any suitable skills to block the other four.

Since it’s not ‘copying’ skills but ‘stealing’ them.

If I steal Gi Da-in’s skill with ‘What’s Yours is Mine (-)’, Gi Da-in won’t be able to use that skill.

‘Damn. If only Gi Da-in’s skill effect was a little better.’

At that moment, something suddenly flashed through my mind.

I lifted my head and looked at the text once again.

[Everything rises.]

Could it be, that S-rank…

“Yi-joo-ssi!”

[Using the skill ‘Swing (B)’.]

“This is the limit!”

Gi Da-in shouted.

After using the last skill to tie up eight hands, the ninth hand was popping out from another wall.

‘In this case…’

It’s a gamble.

[Using the skill ‘What’s Yours is Mine (-)’!]

[Successfully stole the skill ‘Rising (S)’ from the target, ‘Gi Da-in (A)’!]

Feeling all my mana draining, I immediately activated the skill.

[Using the skill ‘Rising (S)’ on the target, ‘Gi Da-in (A)’!]

Towards Gi Da-in, that is.

“Huh? What—”

And at that moment.

[All of the target ‘Gi Da-in (A)’s skill grades, abilities, and traits rise by one level!]

“Use more lasso skills! Quickly!”

[The number of usable ‘Lasso (A)’ has increased!]

[Using the skill ‘Lasso (A)’!]

Gi Da-in immediately used the upgraded lasso. The lasso became stronger and could be used in larger quantities.

Looking at the twelfth giant hand popping out of the wall, I raised my sword.

“Found it.”

💎

[SYSTEM] You have defeated the master of the Blue Zone, ‘Twelve Hands (A)’!

[SYSTEM] You become the master of the Blue Zone.

[SYSTEM] You can create a faction. Do you want to create a faction? (Y/N)

After ending the battle that was short if short and long if long, the system window popped up.

Looking at the last sentence, I took a deep breath and exhaled. Then I said.

“I’ll create one.”

At the same time, the ground of the space began to shake.

“What’s this…?”

I pulled Gi Da-in, who was staggering, and regained my balance. The room that had been dark until now was filled with blue light, and a pillar was erected in the center. Then, it changed into something like a small house.

“Wow, this must be the faction area.”

Gi Da-in muttered blankly. That’s right.

Only then did it sink in that the battle was over, and I sighed. I checked the system window again as I heard another alert sound.

[SYSTEM] Please name your faction.

There’s a lot to do.

First, before that…

I turned to Gi Da-in again.

“Da-in-ssi, you don’t have a faction, right?”

“Ah, no…”

Gi Da-in answered my question, though I already knew. I smiled brightly.

“Then do you want to create a faction with me?”

💎

Thank you for reading! ♡