Chapter 202 - Second Side Mission
[A hidden side mission is available]
<Side Mission>
Overcome adversity without the summoner's aid
Reward for success ▶ Immunity Potion granted
[You have completed the side mission!]
[The Immunity Potion has been delivered to the inventory.]
The group members who received the side mission reward were perplexed.
It was an unexpected message.
"Even Black Scythe received the side mission reward...?"
"Yes, I received it."
Although a potion whose value could not be determined was delivered, Ryu Min knew of its worth.
[Immunity Potion]
Classification: Consumable
Rank: Legendary
Effect: Immunity to all attributes for 1 minute
Usage Restriction: Master Rank or higher
Description: A potion that allows complete resistance to any attributive damage. Bitter to taste.
A potion of unbreakable resistance had already appeared in the Tower of Trials.
"It was a potion that blocked 95% of resistance to the three major attributions."
But this item was of a higher category, with a resistance rank of 100% and an even wider range of attributes.
Although the duration was short.
"It's a potion that is greatly helpful in critical moments. Especially when facing a strong opponent."
Even with 95% resistance, if the opponent's attributive damage is unbearable, you could die with just 5% damage.
"That's why a potion that blocks 100% has much greater value."
Therefore, the Immunity Potion was not easy to obtain.
"Perhaps Victor has to reach the maximum level to be able to do something like this?"
Although he didn't need it at the moment, it could be useful in the future.
However, the group members' surprise was not only because of the reward.
"The mission condition was to overcome adversity without the summoner's aid..."
If they hadn't followed Black Scythe, they wouldn't have obtained the mission.
"Did Black Scythe know? Did he know there would be a side mission?"
"I'm not a prophet, how would I know?"
"Really didn't you know?"
"That's right."
Although Ryu Min maintained his stance of ignorance in response to Min Juri's question, it didn't dispel her doubts.
"Then, how did you know about the traps and avoid them? It wasn't visible at all, except for the back of the person in front..."
"It's intuition."
"What?"
"I just avoided it by instinct."
Although it was a vague answer, Min Juri didn't argue and simply accepted it.
"I guess Black Scythe has great perception..."
He might have runes that allow him to decipher traps of that kind.
"With this, we have completed the five trials."
"Not yet. One person is missing."
"Ah, you mean Lord John Delgado."
After observing Ryu Min's expression, Min Juri spoke after some thought.
"Speaking of the earlier conversation, it seems like the relationship between you two isn't good..."
"Something like that happened. It's not something you should worry about."
"Oh, I'm not gossiping. I just wanted to warn you after hearing the conversation. There's no danger to Black Scythe, right?"
"There's no danger at all. You don't need to worry. Besides, it's unnecessary advice on my matter, I have no malicious intentions towards him."
"Ah, I'm not worried. I just wanted to say it because looking at that person's actions, I felt it was appropriate to warn."
"Thank you for the advice. Take care."
"No, it's nothing. Advice on my area of expertise, nothing more. I interfered without apparent reason. There's no danger to Black Scythe, right...?"
"I'm also human, so it could be dangerous. Just the fact that you care is enough, thank you."
"Yeah..."
Min Juri, who heard words of thanks twice, seemed to have a shy heart.
"Speaking of which, when do you think John Delgado will come? Will he come after all?"
"If he doesn't want to die, he's probably on his way."
"And if he doesn't come? He could stay to seek revenge on us."
"Don't worry about that. He'll surely come."
Despite those words, Min Juri looked at the route of the dark passage with concern.
She couldn't help but feel nervous since all group members had to arrive before planning the strategy.
----------
"What the hell...?"
John Delgado looked at the dark passage with a perplexed expression.
"Did he really leave? Did he ignore my proposal?"
Instead of listening to the summoner's words, Black Scythe simply walked away into the darkness with his group mates.
"A fool who sacrifices his life for pride?"
Honestly, he didn't know if the guy was dead or alive.
He tried tracking him using his skills, but it was in vain.
Apart from the summoning ability, nothing else worked.
"He's probably dead. Yeah, he must be dead."
John was sure of it.
He couldn't advance much before disappearing with his group mates.
Even if it was Black Scythe, wouldn't it be impossible to see through the darkness?
"Idiots. To die so pathetically just because I met a wrong leader."
John summoned and said: "I have to stay alive."
Then, using summoning as a shield, he advanced through the darkness.
Along the way, he fell into traps several times, but summoned again and found the way back.
So ten minutes passed overcoming traps.
"Seeing the light there, it seems like this is the end."
Finally, John reached the end of the passage and stepped on the ground with a smile.
It was at that moment.
"Already here? You took your time."
John's face froze quickly as if he had seen a ghost.
Black Scythe was alive.
"How...?"
"How did I survive? I survived by avoiding the traps and crossing."
"... "
And not only Black Scythe, his group mates also looked at him safe and sound.
With different looks than before.
"Curse it! My image is ruined."
There was no reason to stand out, but there was no reason to receive those accusing looks either.
To shout now wasn't the issue.
The real issue was Black Scythe in front of him.
"What did I say before? That you would give me 10 million points and kneel asking for forgiveness?"
"W-well..."
"Let's talk after we get out of here. It seems we need a face-to-face conversation."
Understanding the meaning of those words, John scratched his head.
"Curse it, this is a disaster."
John regretted his previous bullying behavior.
"Anyway, I have to stay alive."
With that, he arrogantly strode with his summoner into the darkness.
He didn't realize he was no longer in a position to mock others' luck.
"If you're a summoner, you've passed the fifth test and reached the end."
[Those who don't even consider their teammates will be penalized.]
[All permanent stats will decrease by 50%.]
[All permanent stats of summons will decrease by 50%.]
"What the hell is this, damn it?"
Upon reading the message, an involuntary curse slipped from his lips.
All his permanent stats would decrease by 50%?
And not just his, but his summons' too.
It was simply incomprehensible.
As unexpected situations kept arising, they were left speechless.
"Why? What's happening?"
Though Black Scythe asked indifferently, he didn't even have the energy to respond.
His mind was completely stunned by despair and frustration.
"It seems like his sanity has completely gone."
Ryu Min, who had discreetly smiled according to plan, looked away.
Now, even John Delgado no longer posed any threat.
His stats had dropped to a level below level 30.
"Although I can't leave it like this."
Since he had used up all available options, he wouldn't mind killing him.
Or better yet, it would be best to cleanly handle him just in case future problems arose.
"First, let's see the Messiah's situation."
There was no need for an immediate decision, so he decided to stay alive for the time being.
[You have successfully passed the fifth test.]
[Total time to conquer the team is 00:15:49.]
[Congratulations! You have passed all the tests.]
[Experience rewards according to the record of each test will be granted soon.]
[Calculating experience. Please wait a moment.]
Finally, the experience was distributed among the group members.
The group members, who had no particular expectations, were surprised to see they had leveled up from 10 to 12 all at once.
"Oh, Lord Black Scythe! I've become a master level!"
"It seems you've reached level 60."
"Me too! I've finally become a master."
"I've learned new skills."
Min Juri, Jeffrey, and Joo Sung-taek excitedly checked their skill windows.
They had all reached level 60 and become masters.
Apparently, John Delgado was no exception either.
"I've only leveled up once?"
He chuckled seeing he was now at level 91.
Well, it didn't matter.
He could reach the maximum level in one go with experience points.
After all, he was deliberately holding back his level.
"Min Juri, what skill have you learned?"
"It's a skill called [Buffer Zone]. Do you want me to use it?"
Ryu Min nodded, and Min Juri reapplied the three sets of buffs as before.
[Skill Bless Effect: All stats increase by 80%.]
[Skill Swift Effect: Increases attack speed and movement speed by 80%.]
[Security barrier skill has been activated.]
[Can receive protection from up to 2 physical attacks.]
The enhanced buffs turned out to be more powerful as they leveled up.
"Now I'll use the Buffer Zone."
When Min Juri cast the skill, a yellow magic circle appeared under her feet.
It was an area skill that covered an area as wide as 30 meters.
"What's the effect?"
"While in the area, it will increase the potency of the buffs I've applied by one level. It will also reset the duration."
Upon confirmation, he indeed noticed an increase in Bless's stat boost.
"Did it increase by 100%?"
Swift was also at 100%, and the security barrier provided protection up to 3 times.
"Isn't it like the buffs strengthen when you reach the maximum level?"
So what happens if you cast the Buff Zone when you reach the maximum level?
Shouldn't it exceed 100% and even reach 120%?
"It's an amazing skill."
At that moment, Min Juri wondered what skill she would learn when she reached the maximum level.
So far, she had never seen anyone survive to that point.
"This time I'll take it to the end," said Ryu Min, who was laughing satisfied, suddenly turning serious.
Biological reaction was detected at a distance of 60 meters.
"Who is it?"
There shouldn't be anyone appearing at this moment, just as the test is about to end, except for the guiding angel.
"No, angels don't enter here either. They just wait in the colorless air space."
The tension that had suddenly relaxed tightened again.
Min Juri, who was staring with a serious expression, asked, "Why do you say that, Black Scythe?"
"Look there."
In the darkness Ryu Min was looking at, a human figure appeared.
"An angel?"
The group members couldn't help but look at each other with mouths shut.
Until that moment, they had thought it would only be a common guiding angel.
The fact that this angel was different was evident.
The group member who was stunned for a moment regained composure with the angel's appearance.
Ryu Min immediately identified the newcomer's identity.
"Has an archangel appeared?"
He could even read his thoughts and know his name.
It was Sariel, sixth in the hierarchy of archangels, and there was something strange about him that made him feel a strange familiarity.
"So you are Black Scythe."
Sariel, with a low voice, drew a blade from between his wings.
"If you don't want to die, don't resist. It's a silent order to bring you."
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