Meep (4)

“Guruk.”
“Pururuek??”
“Kueeeek?!”

The appearance of the [Slot Machine] projecting a brilliant light.

The dozens of [Frogmen] couldn’t do anything.

They stood dumbfounded, staring at the machine that had appeared out of thin air.

As if they were under some kind of massive status ailment.

Having lived in the dark [Underground Sewer], it seemed like it was their first time seeing something so bright.

“K-Kueek!”

One of the [Frogmen] threw the iron spear it was holding at the [Slot Machine].

But it was a meaningless act.
The spear just passed through with a swoosh.

The [Slot Machine] was an object skill that was considered invincible as long as Choi Mari didn’t die.

I realized that this was the perfect opportunity, with all the monsters stunned.

I grabbed the shoulder of a dumbfounded Meowi, who was murmuring, “Meeeow…”

“Meowi!”
“…S-Seha? Wh-what is that?”
“I’ll explain later. First, you pull that!”
“Meeow?!”
“Meep?”

Not expecting this, Choi Mari also looked on with a surprised expression.

Probably, given Choi Mari’s personality, she never imagined someone else would pull it.

After all, in her setting, she hated gambling, thinking, ‘Gambling is sinful!’ and had sealed away the skill after trying it a few times.

“……”

Meowi stared at me for one second.
Surprise and hesitation melted away like snow, replaced with trust.

In the [Garden of Pearl Spitting Tortoise], during a crisis where she could have died, she had picked up her shield without hesitation at my command.

Myangy crouched down and, with a nimble leap, launched herself toward the slot machine.

“Meeeoooow!”

Her tiny hand grasped the slot machine’s lever.
Using her weight, she pulled it down forcefully.

Creak!

A loud noise, and the pictures on the screen began spinning.
Soon, three images of Choi Mari looking embarrassed lined up.

“Alright!”

I involuntarily clenched my fist.

As expected from the symbol of luck, Meowi had hit the jackpot on her first try.

Soon, a brilliant radiance emanated from the [Slot Machine], seeping into Choi Mari’s dumbfounded body.

“M-M-Meep?!”

That was Choi Mari’s [Intrinsic Skill].

An Epic-grade skill, [Lucky Machine].

Just by looking at its form, you could tell what it was.

Choi Mari was a unique character with ‘gambling’ as her main theme.

When I first saw her character, like many Supervisors, I was dumbfounded.

Choi Mari’s personality was the epitome of a nun—someone who protects the weak, reaches out to those in need, and strictly follows the rules of her god with a warm heart.

It was natural for her to dislike and avoid the act of ‘gambling.’

Additionally, in terms of performance, the compatibility between [Lucky Machine] and Choi Mari was the worst.

There was nothing wrong with [Lucky Machine].

It was Choi Mari’s luck.

Choi Mari had no problems in daily life, but her luck was terrible when it came to gambling.

To the extent that even if she spun that roulette all day, it was uncertain whether she would get a single win.

Moreover, the developers had blocked her luck stats, so she couldn’t even cover it with equipment items.

In conclusion, Choi Mari was a mismatched character whose innate abilities, personal disposition, and conditions to control her abilities did not align.

Therefore, it was natural that Choi Mari was ‘abandoned’ by the Supervisors.

Yes.

It’s in the past tense.

Nowadays, she’s considered a must-have in any party, regarded as a broken character by Supervisors.

That’s what happens when you dive deep into the mechanics.

They discovered a synergy that eliminated her flaws and brought out only her strengths.

‘The trick is to add a <Cat Attribute> to the party.’

It’s detailed in her personal story, but Choi Mari is crazy about cats.

Especially the [Myoin Tribe].

However, the characters from [GAL]’s [Myoin Tribe] were few in number, and unless you showered them with love as I did, they couldn’t really pull their weight.

So, Supervisors equipped characters with <Cat Cosplay> outfits and [Luck] boosting gear to spin the [Lucky Machine] in Choi Mari’s place.

The result was a jackpot.

Literally, it was the birth of a fraudulent combination that wrecked the PVP arena.

‘But I don’t need to do that.’

My sweet angel, Meowi.
She’s the real deal, an authentic [Myoin Tribe] member, far beyond such gimmicks.

Moreover, Meowi is a character born with high luck. Hence, she didn’t need any special [Luck] equipment.

Thus, the combination was born.

Nicknamed the <Meow Mari> combo.

This was the secret to how I raised Meow Mari into the ranks.

‘…The first was enhancement through the [Rune of the Earth Origin].’

And this was the second.

“Wh-what on earth is this…?”

Choi Mari’s mouth dropped open in astonishment at the vast divine power visible to the naked eye.

She seemed at a loss for what to do with the absurd power coursing through her body.

Kang! Ka-gak!

“Keuk!”
“Senior Mari!”
“Y-yes?!”
“Divine Light Garam!”
“Yes?”
“Wish to become like Senior Divine Light Garam!”

Now, the real show begins.

When Choi Mari enters the <Bingo> state, she not only gains a boost to her stats but also acquires a special effect.

In some ways, it resembles the [Eyes of Reversed Heaven].

‘It’s the ability to summon powers.’

The power to summon and manifest the abilities of others.

Of course, there were limitations.

She could only summon powers related to ‘Holy Arts,’ and she had to have some idea of the power in her mind.

Lastly, it had to be a power that Choi Mari could handle.

The power that demonstrates incredible abilities in ‘GAL’ when conditions are met.

Commonly, among Supervisors, Choi Mari was referred to as such.

Always the heretic of the ‘Divinity Profession’…

She’s the <Joker> for creating wild variables.

“I-I’ll try!”

Choi Mari knelt down and prayed.

Holy power spread throughout her body.

It bypassed allies and transformed into the holy light of judgment that blinded only the enemies.

Ziiing!!!

“Croak?!”
“Croak!”

The eyes of all the <Frogmen> within range turned white.

They staggered as if they had gone blind, then stood still in place.

‘Wow, as expected…’

True to PVP scam character Divine Light Garam’s abilities, it was indeed a powerful area debuff.
If it were a <Boss>, the duration would have been reduced by 50%.
Since they came out in numbers, it was even more effective.

“Meeep…”

Choi Mari, having finished her prayer, collapsed on the spot as if she had exhausted all her strength.

The [Lucky Machine] above her head and the light surrounding her body faded away.

And that light…

“Meooow?”

…transferred to the body of Meowi, who was next to her.

Meowi seemed in disbelief at the power surging through her entire body.

Now the real deal begins.

The hidden additional effect of the [Lucky Machine].

If there’s a [Myoin Tribe] member in the party, any remaining residual power from Choi Mari is transferred to them, boosting all their stats for the duration.

While she couldn’t use [Summoning Divine Law], that alone was already a huge help.

‘This is the reason I paired Meowi with Choi Mari.’

At the same time, this was the great fortune I was bestowing upon Meowi.

In this state, though it only happens once, after the battle ends, Meowi’s stats and potential would permanently increase.

Meowi seemed to instinctively realize this, staring in awe at her glowing arms and legs.

“M-Meow?! Wh-what is this…?”

Looking at the shining <Super Meowi>.
I sensed it was time to end this farce.

“Meowi! Run to the center and use taunt!”
“B-But… the range won’t reach…”
“It’s okay.”

Trust me!

“…Okay!”

Meowi nodded at my words.

She ran to the center of the unconscious <Frogmen>.

She slammed the shield she was holding down.
She powerfully used [Taunt’s Shout].

Then, an amazing thing happened.

A cat-shaped force spread in all directions.

Its size swelled as large as a house, showing a much larger range than usual.

“Meow…?”

Choi Mari’s buff didn’t just boost stats.

Her true value lay in the ability to increase [Skill] range.

‘…Although the duration of the taunt doesn’t increase.’

It was already enough.
Sure enough.
The [Frogmen] who had been knocked out staggered and gathered around Meowi.

A combination of stun, taunt, and mob gathering.

For a main dealer like me, there was no more beautiful sight.

I summoned [Saint’s Sword] from [Slime’s Arsenal] instead of the [Gravity Sword].

To inflict greater damage on them, I unleashed [Burning Flames].

The bulging veins on the back of my hand gripping the sword granted a monstrous strength beyond human limits.

The increase in physical power came from the [Strange Monstrous Strength] I had acquired from defeating the [Lizardman Warrior].

Additionally, the boost from [Pure Bone Strength] allowed my body to withstand such power.

I stepped on the ground and charged forward with vigor.

Recently, I had been receiving consistent guidance from Peng Jin-ah, and through my own realizations, I had grown stronger.

The [Sword Technique] symbolizing my status as her disciple unfolded like a catastrophe.

Crackle!

The recoil on my body?

Any restrictions about not being able to use it in my current state?

All of those were gone.

It was literally the perfect sublimation of the [Overlord Sword Technique].

With a sense of exhilaration that seemed to burn my mind, I performed a sword dance.

This wasn’t the mediocre strength and speed I practiced in the training room.

This was a powerful slash based on terrifying cutting force.

A heavy, powerful sword.

Finally, the key was the mastery of ‘softness’ that controlled everything, sending vibrations from my wrist to my entire arm.

Shwoooosh!
Kraak!

Croooak! Krkrrk!
Frooook!

30 seconds.

In just 30 seconds, I successfully slaughtered all the <Frogmen>.

The battle was over without the need to combine any other abilities.

‘Phew…’

Soon, an angelic voice was heard.

“Seha~~~”

When I turned around, the still dazzling Super Meowi ran towards me with a ‘Meow!’

I held her tightly in my arms and spun around in circles.

20 minutes later.

After organizing the confirmed ability rewards and loot.

“Hmm…”
“Meooow.”
“Meeeep.”

I frowned as I looked at the item in my hand.

[Dungeon] closure artifact.

It wasn’t fake with a [Demon Stone] inside like last time.

It was a genuine, properly made item.

But…

“Meeeooow? Seha, it isn’t activating.”

That’s right.

No matter how much magic I infused, the [Closure] countdown didn’t start.

It wasn’t that there was a defect in the [Artifact] either.

This could only mean one thing.

“Meowi, can you focus on your hearing?”
“Hearing?”
“Yes, there is probably a gap somewhere that lets the wind through.”

Meowi clasped her cute little hands and nodded at my request.

Using her [Cat’s Intuition], she soon opened her eyes and pointed to a spot on the blocked wall.

“The wind is coming from there.”
“Hold on a second…”

I pressed here and there.
It must be there.
There was no other explanation.

Sure enough.

Rumble!

The stone wall rotated sideways, revealing a hidden passage.

“Meow?! A secret passage? Could it be a new dungeon?”
“To be exact, this is the main dungeon.”
“What?”

I walked out slowly and cautiously.
The underground was filled with well-carved stairs, each one slick and wet.

“…Why is it so wet…?”
“Meow, does it perhaps lead to the sea?”
“……”

I felt a slight unease for a moment.

Soon, I sensed a great power lurking not far away.

Following that, a place where it seemed like space was cracking and revealing a gap.

A familiar sight.

“…Meeep? Wh-what is that?”

Choi Mari tilted her head, seemingly seeing it for the first time.

But Meowi, having seen it once before.
Opened her eyes wide and her mouth agape.

Shaking her head vigorously as if in disbelief.
Her two tails spun like propellers, whirling around after a long time.

“M-M-M-Meeeeooowww?!”
“H-Hana?!”

Despite Choi Mari’s concern, Meowi was busy shouting.

“Se-Seha! Th-that… n-no way…?! Did we find it again?!”

I stroked Meowi’s head, smiling broadly.

“Yes, it looks like we found it again.”

A crack in the dimension that tore through space.
There was no doubt about it.

A hidden space that only appears in dungeons under extremely rare circumstances, or ones that have always been there from the start.

The greatest opportunity and danger that all <Hunters> shout for and desire.

It was precisely a <Trial>.