Artifact-Devouring Player Chapter 191

191
At that moment.

“It’s a crack of a type I’ve never seen before.”

Sang-Hyeon’s expression was gradually darkening as he entered deeper into the crack.

It was the expression that usually appeared when one had a lot to think about. Lips tightly shut, brows slightly furrowed.

The usual cracks always had a specific historical background.

For example, a feeling that symbolizes the modern era, or modern times, or the Middle Ages or ancient times.

There may be some disparate parts that do not match reality.

There was always a background that I had heard or seen somewhere that decorated the crack’s background. It was always like that.

but.

This crack was different.

It was as if I was in the middle of some planet in space. That was what the sky looked like in the background.

A view of various planets, stars, and satellites that you might see in a documentary or movie about space.

It was an unfamiliar yet incredibly beautiful sight, as if I had teleported somewhere in space.

“You all are fast.”

When Sang-Hyeon looked down, he saw someone’s footprints clearly marked.

Although it is a recently made footprint, there are still traces of mana, albeit in small amounts.

This means that before Sang-Hyeon arrived, there was already a player who had received permission from the association agents and entered.

A crack that suddenly appears is also a dangerous place with no inside information.

At the same time, it is also a land of opportunity.

The rift is because all loot obtained inside belongs to the players until the association takes direct control.

Moreover, if you quickly clear the inside of the crack or even attack it.

He is credited with rescuing civilians and helping to quickly stabilize the rift.

Usually, along with awards and medals, they receive special privileges for various other approvals from the association.

Of course, all of this is a carrot to quickly get players involved when the cracks start to appear.

“… … .”

Judging by the fact that the center of gravity of the footprints was increasingly shifting forward, it seemed like they were running from this point on.

What could it be? There must have been a good reason for the sudden increase in speed.

Sang-Hyeon’s gaze also naturally turned in that direction.

“hmm?”

The reason became immediately apparent.

As if it were a relic stuck in front of an old ruin, a sharp spear was stuck diagonally into the ground.

The color was somewhat faded, but the energy felt quite strong from the window itself.

You can feel it instinctively.

It is an artifact of great value. It is a treasure that should never be overlooked.

An artifact is placed in a place that catches the eye more than expected.

Is this really a windfall?

It could be like finding money on the street.

‘It’s too easy.’

But Sang-Hyeon’s cautious personality saw something hidden behind what was visible.

and.

Pfft!

Using the fantasy mediation skill, he made his clone quickly charge forward.

Whenever you activate arbitration, you can swap the illusion and your position at will.

Even if it wasn’t necessarily used in combat, it was possible to use illusions for reconnaissance in this way.

Not confining the use of skills within a set framework.

That was the first premise and advantage that Sang-Hyeon had in utilizing the skills he possessed.

The illusion of Sang-Hyeon, which had reached top speed, arrived in front of the window.

After activating the arbitration in this state and changing the position, you can obtain it by simply grabbing the spear.

But Sang-Hyeon held back once more, and made Hwan-Sang only ‘pretend’ to grab the spear.

At that moment.

Quagagagaga!

The weapon that had clearly been in the shape of a spear just a moment ago suddenly changed into a completely different form.

The volume expanded rapidly and transformed into a shape reminiscent of a hedgehog.

It was a guy with thorns sticking out in all directions, so much so that he could be called a walking weapon.

Wow!

As if he thought this was the moment, the guy bit Sang-Hyeon’s illusion with his huge mouth that could easily fit an adult.

But of course, it was in vain, and his angry gaze searched all around frantically before finding Sang-Hyeon.

“That’s why there were no blood stains.”

The owner of the previous footprints probably went into that mouth and disappeared without a trace.

The body would have been eaten whole without any room to cut apart, so no traces would have remained other than footprints.

Red glowing eyes.

Four legs that seem to be specialized for quadrupedal walking, and countless thorns sprouting all over the body.

It was clearly a completely different type of monster than the countless monsters that Sang-Hyeon had faced so far.

That wasn’t all.

The guy’s body kept flashing red and blue lights alternately.

I guessed it.

Usually, such visual effects occur when the monster in question has some kind of ‘resistance’.

But the two colors intersecting each other… … .

“It could be basic attack or skill attack resistance. Or it could be physical attack or magic attack resistance.”

It was a headache no matter which option I chose.

Because if the resistance value is 100%, all attacks will be nullified.

A guy who seems like he’d be difficult.

But I didn’t want to just pass it by.

This is because he clearly believes that this crack has a stake in the future that he has changed.

“Let’s see what your skills are!”

Sang-Hyeon started to rush in without thinking for a long time.

As the distance closed and we approached with a brave charge, a change occurred in the name indicated by the question mark.

[Marlos, Pioneer of Destruction]

The name itself was unusual.

The monster you meet in the crack has the epithet pioneer. Where are you pioneering? Earth?

‘Let’s just get started.’

Even if you let your imagination run wild, all that’s left is a delusion. First, subdue the guy, and then worry about it.

* * *

Same time.

“hmm…….”

Lee Si-yeon opened her eyes with difficulty.

Certainly, the human body is extremely fragile, and there were too many parts that were incomprehensible.

Lee Si-yeon was already in poor physical condition due to having lived a limited lifespan.

Of course, I ‘borrowed’ her body for a while with her consent, and I didn’t resent the suffering it caused.

It was just that a corner of my heart became complicated because I could feel the hardships she must have gone through as the real owner of this body before.

Anyway, Lee Si-yeon woke up with bleary eyes and looked for Sang-hyeon, but he was nowhere to be seen.

It was a late night at 3 AM, with a long way to go before morning came. Sang-Hyeon had no reason to go out, but something felt strange.

Right then.

Tingle! Tingle!

Lee Si-yeon frowned as she felt something pressing down hard on her head and headed towards the window.

This was not the pain of stimulation that ‘Lee Si-yeon’ felt.

It was a stimulus that was coming from the goddess of fortune, Marinne, who was possessed by Lee Si-yeon.

‘Why do I have this feeling here?’

A special energy that can only be felt in the dimension is felt in this world.

Strictly speaking, this is impossible.

The dimension is a world that exists far away from here, that is, Earth.

The influence or message of the constellations or deities may reach you, but their energy cannot be felt.

There is only one case where this can happen. It is when a world or space connected to a dimensional layer is opened.

“That’s ridiculous.”

She immediately opened the curtains and looked out the window.

Then, a huge crack appeared in the area around Jamsil Station, which was visible at a glance from Player Town.

It was exactly that location.

Dimensional energy is exploding out from within me.

“……why?”

She couldn’t understand.

The dungeons, gates, and cracks that players are challenging are all trials created by the ‘Absolute’.

That is, it is a kind of practice space that has been meticulously conceived and designed from the beginning.

Of course, in that practice space, many players die. Or they grow.

But in any case, from the perspective of the constellations and gods, it was clearly a place for training and practice.

It’s different now.

The unidentified crack connected to the dimensional plane is connected to somewhere within it.

In other words, there might be a dimensional sheriff inside me.

Or maybe they’re connected to creatures somewhere in the dimensional realm. Things with destructive powers.

“This is… … .”

Lee Si-yeon’s eyes wavered.

There is no way Sang-Hyeon didn’t know that there was a crack. If so, then it is obvious that he would not have gone.

Although she always trusted Sang-Hyeon without a doubt, this time she couldn’t help but be very worried.

The monsters created by the Dimensional One are incomparably stronger than those created by the Absolute One.

of course.

There were certainly some aspects to think positively about.

For example, special traits, blood, or buffs that only those guys can obtain.

She pressed her lips together tightly.

Something unexpected happened.

Clearly, this current situation did not seem like a picture carefully designed by an absolute being.

In other words.

“accident.”

That’s exactly it.

I thought that this was an unintended situation.

Or maybe it’s a constellation that’s being relentlessly pursued. It could be the result of a model student constellation that’s been waiting for a long time.

My head is getting complicated.

* * *

‘Isn’t this too much of a scam?’

Meanwhile, Sang-Hyeon was having a peculiar experience while dealing with Marlos.

Even though I didn’t kill the guy, but just cut him down or avoided his attacks, my experience kept going up.

It was as if every single action had some kind of meaning, and everything was connected to experience.

Just by fighting for about 5 minutes, my level was raised to the full 1 level.

So at some point, even though I could have been more aggressive, I didn’t.

Of course, it wasn’t easy.

As Sang-Hyeon had expected before the battle, the flashing lights symbolized endurance.

They were resistance to physical and magical attacks respectively.

Most of Sang-Hyeon’s swordsmanship skills had two types of damage, so they could not fully demonstrate their power.

‘I’ve been thinking about attribute powers for a while now. Now I really need to make them concrete. It’s definitely hard.’

Actually, I’ve been thinking about attribute weapons or attribute-specific skills like the Flame Sword or Ice Flame Sword for a long time.

The reason is that guys like Marlos appear more frequently as you go up to higher dungeons.

However, it was not urgently needed right away, so it was put on the back burner.

But when I faced Marlos, my thirst for attribute power suddenly increased.

Although Sang-Hyeon was so focused on the battle that he was sweating profusely.

Marlos was in perfect condition, except for a small, deep bleed on his side.

however.

‘Since a while ago… … .’

Sang-Hyeon was constantly concerned about the murderous aura he felt from behind.

It’s not possible to openly step back and watch because you’re already in a battle with Marlos.

Because the guy moves so nimbly, it was difficult to pull the wire back.

Moreover, after seeing the fantasy mediation once, it seemed like he had finished learning and was not fooled by the same repertoire.

‘It’s a feeling between mana and life that you can feel from players, not monsters. … Why on earth?’

If he had reinforcements to help him, he would have joined the fight against Marlos long ago.

Holding my breath behind me.

The fact that he hid his appearance and watched the situation clearly meant that the target of the plot was Sang-Hyeon himself.

‘It seems like the twisted future isn’t just a crack.’

Sang-Hyeon bit his lips tightly.

Someone is risking their life in the midst of the chaos.

This too.

This is something that never happened in a past life.