Peng Jin-ah (4)

As always, <Synthesis> appeared at an unexpected timing.

I wish it would at least signal,
But it appeared right in front of me as if there was no such thing.

I blinked my eyes.
I tilted my head for a moment.
Then, I scratched my head.

‘Ah, no, why is this…’

Why did it suddenly come out?

Two hours ago from now.
The training at <Sword Heaven Eastern Mansion> was slowly coming to an end.
It was time to part ways.

‘…Sword Empress and my teacher said they would enter the unexplored floor.’

I heard about it during the meal.

There is an unexplored floor in this <Sword Empress’s Tower> that was left untouched as it didn’t greatly affect the aftermath.

I heard it was very strong and difficult.

It was said that powerful rewards were guaranteed, and if you succeed in clearing it, you can climb even higher.
They planned to challenge it aiming for that.

‘……’

It would be a lie if I said I wasn’t worried.

I don’t know much about <Sword Empress’s Tower> since it wasn’t explained in ‘GAL’, but I had experienced the unexplored floor myself.

It’s a kind of hidden stage.
Usually, after defeating the floor lord of the <Tower>, this place appears as an epilogue concept.

‘They all had insanely difficult levels.’

But I didn’t say anything to provoke.
I now knew well what determination they had to climb.
Still, it wasn’t easy to hide my worry.

Maybe she read my feelings.
Peng Jin-ah gently embraced me.
Her unique sweet café latte scent.
Her appropriately warmed body heat rushed into me.

If it were before, she would have been embarrassed because of the onlookers.
Maybe because of a change in feelings.
She did not hesitate.

“Don’t worry, Cadet Yu Seha. My master and I will definitely conquer it and return.”
“…I believe you.”
“Hmm, also before the raid… I will definitely come. The chairman will contact us… and there is a way to get there immediately. So don’t worry. You just act as you think.”
“Yes.”

And surprisingly…
Peng Jin-ah deeply bowed her head to Su Ok-bin.
She said to take good care of me.

Could it be that the <Overlord Sword>, who seemed to be enemies, would bow their heads?
I still vividly remember Su Ok-bin’s flustered expression.

Anyway, back to the present.
Tomorrow, I will take Su Ok-bin’s car and go meet the girls.
I was preparing for that.

Just as I hurriedly packed my things.
A small pouch caught my eye.

“…Ah.”

The second pouch that Su Ok-bin had prepared.
It was a pocket dimension pouch containing byproducts of the Qilin.

Actually, I hadn’t opened it until now.
The reason was simple.
I was worried that if I opened it, the huge contents of the Kirin might burst out.
I didn’t know well because the Kirin was far away.
If you get close, it’s a monster over 50 meters long.
Since these are byproducts of such a creature, how big could they actually be?

At this, Su Ok-bin chuckled.

“Mr. Yu Seha, you didn’t know, did you?”
“Yes?”
“Originally, the pocket dimension pouch enchanted with byproduct-specialized magic reduces the contents as well, including weight. This is so that each item can be properly displayed at the auction. You have to chant the spell inside to return them to their original size and weight.”

Hmm.
I was embarrassed.
Because it was literally the worry of a country bumpkin who knew nothing.

But I couldn’t help it.
I had to use such an expensive pouch to know.
I bet even our Meowi wouldn’t know?

‘Since it’s come to this, shall I take a look?’

When I opened it, I saw meticulously and carefully organized byproducts.
Surely, it was proof of Su Ok-bin’s unique meticulous personality.
As I placed each on the table, there were quite a few types.

‘Scales, bones, leather, and this sealed pack… ah, it’s Qilin’s blood.’

Including muscle fibers and so on.
She really took care to prepare everything meticulously.
I thought the generous older sister would be very pleased to receive this.

Soon, something caught on my hand.
Looking inside, the pouch’s grand highlight.
I saw a note written by Su Ok-bin herself saying ‘Handle with care!’
There was a long object wrapped tightly in bandages.

The identity was Qilin’s horn.
Even after death, it seemed to hold electricity, glowing with a blue light.

Crackle, crackle-!
It would probably hurt a lot if touched.

But I didn’t care.
As if it was nothing, I grabbed the horn with bare hands.
Electricity ran down my arm as if it had been waiting.
It flared up wildly as if saying, “Take this!”
Of course, it didn’t affect me.

[‘Roaring Thunderstrike’ additional option activates.]
[100% immune to <Lightning> attribute damage.]

A small sigh of admiration.
Even in ‘GAL’, achieving 100% immunity to a specific attribute was difficult.

You could see how the admins had blocked it from happening anywhere.
I could guess the reason.

‘This is really an electric attribute killer?’

I examined the horn.
Unlike ordinary wild beasts, it boasted unique patterns of distinct beauty.
I wondered how much this would be worth.
It must be worth hundreds of millions.

‘Would the generous older sister faint if I gave this to her?’

Personally, I wanted to ask her to make me a spear.
Just as I was daydreaming like that, chuckling.

Brrr-!

“… ?”

A small vibration.
I wondered ‘What is this?’ and looked down.
The source was the [Slasla] I was holding in my hand.

It began to shake violently.
It was a reaction similar to when I fed it a pet evolution item a month ago.

Swallow-!

“…Huh?”

Then it grew entirely…
And swallowed the horn I was holding whole.

‘…Fuck?’

I was dumbfounded.
It was so sudden I couldn’t react.

Trembling.

Just as I was about to get angry and ask what the hell was going on.

Ding-!

“Huh?”

[‘Slasla’ absorbs ‘Qilin’s horn’.]
[One condition of ‘Julius’s Legacy’ is satisfied.]
[Remaining conditions: 2.]

I looked at the <Information Window> with surprised eyes.
Then an old memory came to mind.

‘Ah, right, there was something like this!’

I had explained it once.
The great mage and summoner Julius.
His legacy and a rare Myth-level item in ‘GAL’, [Balance’s Reins].

It required six materials.
But gathering and synthesizing the materials was the role of ‘Tang Seo-ran’, not the ‘Instructor’.
Therefore, it was a drop item from defeating ‘Dang Seoran’.

Because I cleared <Sea Dragon Shrine>, the story diverged and I ended up collecting them myself.

‘I didn’t forget, but…’

This really had no hints,
So I had no proper means and basically left it alone.
But now I satisfied one of them.
I never thought Kirin’s horn was a material…

Currently, I have acquired four materials of the legacy.

‘Slasla, Nameless Reins, Sea Dragon’s Heart, and now Qilin’s Horn.’

That leaves two materials remaining.
I pressed my temple gently.

In other words, I have to get two more from beings at least as strong as Kirin?

‘How on earth did that bitch Tang Seo-ran gather all these…?’

Though a villain, I couldn’t help but feel respect.
Anyway, good is good, so I let it go.

It’s a pity the materials flew away, but I still had a truckload of scales and bones.
This was enough to substitute.

Ding-!

“Huh?”

But what?
That wasn’t all.

[‘Reverse Heaven’s Eye’ finishes analyzing Qilin’s horn.]
[From now on, you can copy skills from beings possessing ‘Divine Status’.]
[‘Reverse Heaven’s Eye’ defies the laws of heaven and devours beings of higher rank.]
[Target: <Death God Beast @Qilin>.]
[Acquired ‘Lightning Flash’ from <Qilin>. It is an 18-level Hero skill, adjusted to level 5 upon acquisition.]
[The owner’s rank is too high. Acquisition rewards are reduced.]
[Acquisition reward: Speed increases by 2.]

‘Wow, crazy?!’

I clapped my hands involuntarily.
The [Lightning Flash] skill.
It’s a movement skill as good as [Swift Step] I recently got from ‘Kwae’.

‘You can never have too much movement speed.’

I chuckled happily,
But this eye turned red as if telling me not to be satisfied with this.

[The power of the ancient ruler ‘Dragon’ is contained in your eye.]
[‘Path of Synthesis’ activates.]
[There is a new skill available for synthesis. Please check.]

“Hmm.”

And so it comes to now.

“Hmm?”

It was unexpected, but I didn’t hesitate.
Why?
Because synthesizing doesn’t make the lower skills disappear anyway.

I accepted without hesitation.
Soon, a phrase that made my heart race appeared.

[Synthesis in progress.]
[Underwater Dash, Unstoppable Dash, Swift Step, Lightning Flash are selected.]
[In total, 2 Rare skills and 2 Hero skills.]
[The level rating of the combined ‘High-Rank’ skill is 7.]
[Congratulations. Your soul has succeeded in advancing toward a higher wall.]
[Acquisition rewards: Speed +4, Durability +3, Spirit +3.]
[Acquired ‘Gear Limiter’.]
[It is a Legendary, High-Rank grade skill.]

“…Gear Limiter?”

As expected.
This time too.
And just like before!

…I don’t know!

Judging by the materials, they are all enhancement abilities.
I figured out why synthesis was triggered.

‘Looks like I met the condition by acquiring [Lightning Flash].’

I guess this is also a type ability.
Before checking the <Information Window>, I tried activating it as a test.

Vroom-!

“Huh?”

Somewhere unknown.
I heard a noise like a car engine.

No, not quite.
Is it a bit different from that?

Like energy gathering…
Well, to be specific, a ‘whirring!’ feeling?

I looked down.
My arms and legs were shining pure white.

Looking closely, geometric patterns were drawn…
It felt like I was wearing prosthetic arms and legs.
On my right shoulder, there was a small cylindrical…
What should I call this?

‘A spike…?’

Anyway, three spikes just under 10cm floated around.
They looked like wing ornaments.

I guessed this was used to produce some effect.
I canceled the use.
I intended to go to the training ground immediately.

Then, a sharp knocking sound.
Su Ok-bin peeked her head out.

“Mr. Yu Seha? If you’re ready, we’re about to depart.”
“Ah, yes!”

I hurriedly packed my bag and slung it over my shoulder.
A slight regret.
Well, it’s okay.

‘The skills aren’t going anywhere anyway…’

For now, I’ll get in the car and check the <Skill Window> there.

“……”

Peng Jin-ah silently looked down.
The very top floor of the towering <Sword Empress’s Tower>.

Beyond the magical window, Yu Seha was seen getting into a Ferrari.

Far.
Truly a long, long distance.
Unconsciously, Peng Jin-ah traced the window with her finger.

A desire to hold Yu Seha in her arms just once more welled up.
At that moment.
Sword Empress’s voice was heard from behind.

“…Can we stop saying goodbyes now?”
“…It’s okay, teacher.”

Peng Jin-ah shook her head.
It’s okay.
No matter how far, Yu Seha is always deep in her heart.

Warmth was felt.
Desire, passion, courage, and so on.
These indescribable emotions soon transformed into power.
Immature and weak, but a definite S-rank realm.
Having stepped into that place, Peng Jin-ah turned her head and looked at Sword Empress.

“Master, let’s go.”
“Yes.”

Without anyone leading, they walked out.

A black, sticky gate appeared before them.
It swirled round and round.
As if inviting the two to enter quickly.

The <Unexplored> floor, temporarily blocked because it was so dangerous.
A cursed section from at least the 191st to the 200th floor.

[Entering the 191st floor of ‘Sword Empress’s Tower’.]
[This is a demonic realm where all laws do not apply.]
[Good luck.]

They drew their respective swords.
To become stronger.
For revenge.
And for the people they must protect.

The Overlord Sword and the Plum Blossom Sword Empress.
The moment the two sworn sisters’ challenge began.