You Know (7)

“It’s a skill stone…”

-That’s right.

Kang Shin-hyuk was thrilled when he realized the identity of the loot left by the Poison Mist. Skill stones were traded for billions of dollars even if they were low-end ones, but an SS+ boss monster dropped this one. He had just obtained one of the rarest types of loot possible.

-Your expectations are probably correct. It will be SS+ rank or higher. Moreover, you don’t need to worry about the match, so don’t worry and take it right away.

“Ah, even though SS-rank is the limit for skills and traits…”

-As previously explained, that is just the typical limit for a mortal.

In rare cases, a trait or skill could exceed that limit to reach the rank of SS+. Kang Shin-hyuk had experience in that himself, with his Golden Dragon, and resist poison. The current number one, Ju-young Oh, was known for having an SS+ trait as well. If one of the conditions for becoming a high-ranker was having something of SS-rank, then having something that went beyond that was a natural prerequisite to becoming a top-ranker.

Of course, Shin Eunah, who had an SSS-class trait, was beyond all that.

“Maybe…depending on what this skill is, I can be helpful in that gate.”

-Come on, come on.

The administrator urged Kang Shin-hyuk on. With a bitter smile, Shin-hyuk exuded his spiritual power and took in the skill stone at once. The energy contained in it responded to his spiritual power, absorbed into his body with a brilliant light. His trait activated instinctively, and he could feel his spiritual power growing with the possibilities.

-You have absorbed the essence of the skill stone. The unique skill [Soul Poison (SSS)] has been awakened! By absorbing the [Resist Poison (SS+)] skill, the effect of the skill has been amplified, and its skill level has grown to S+.

-You have grown to the SS-rank from the stimulation of your spiritual power.

Kang Shin-hyuk remained silent, unable to speak. It was beyond even when he had awakened the Golden Dragon Fighter. Perhaps that was because it was a skill directly connected to the spirit. His body began to convulse as his soul changed.

“Soul poison…”

-The administrator was also surprised by it. Originally, I thought you would acquire [Poison Master (SSS-)]. You, the master of spiritual power, have transcended what was thought possible. A 10,000HP bonus for this new miracle!

The administrator was truly surprised, but Kang Shin-hyuk felt like it was a lie. Particularly because of the suspicious bonus.

[Soul Poison (SSS): Sprays poison that digs into the source through spiritual power. It is invisible and powerful. Only those who deal with the power of the source can resist you. You have a strong resistance to all types of poison, and whenever you dig into another’s source, your own source is strengthened.]

It was a scarily usable power that cuts through to the core of a person. The Gaia system could not fully explain it. But Kang Shin-hyuk was already grasping its capabilities through his spiritual power.

-If this is the case, you can enter the gate even without a Hero Universe product. What do you think?

“I think so too.” It wasn’t just poison. The skill gave fangs to the spiritual power that had limitless possibilities.

“I will.” Kang Shin-hyuk was convinced that he had just gained the strength needed to reach the higher ranks. Even without borrowing the power of the scythes or the Godslayer, he might’ve been able to reach this conference by his own power.

-However, you should be careful when using it. I believe that you will have control over it, but…

A power to harm the soul. Kang Shin-hyuk knew of that fear well, from Anvil, who had made countless soul weapons with his own hands…

“But now I have to protect what is precious.” Kang Shin-hyuk corrected his mask and fired five strands of poisonous web toward the ceiling. The threads were imbued with spiritual power that allowed them to dig through his target. He watched with a small smile at the faint scenery that emerged.

“It works.”

-I will assist you.

“Please.” The threads projected by Kang Shin-hyuk stuck to the ceiling, drawing dozens of circles round and round it. He used them to tear off a chunk of it, like removing a manhole cover to reveal the interior beyond. He threw himself into it without a second thought.

-Forcibly entering the SSS-class gate [Thirteen Passages].

The first thing he saw inside the gate were several magical volleys flying toward him. He fired off his ten threads, intersecting them in the air to block the attacks and dismantle the magic cannons that were the source. The spiritual power flowing through the threads cut through it with ease.

“How?!” He heard the voice of a young woman. Turning his head, there was a girl with a ponytail dressed in black, looking at him with an expression of horror. She was sitting on the shoulder of an ogre, making her identity explicitly obvious.

“Her character is so intense…no doubt the culprit.”

-It appears her trait is magic alteration. With the current you…three seconds.

“That’s too quick!” However, it was true that the match-up was good for him. Magic alteration could be used to nullify an opponent’s abilities, but Kang Shin-hyuk had no magic for it to work on. Moreover, the deterioration of magical power could be seen as an act of manipulating the source, in a strict sense. That was something Kang Shin-hyuk was now familiar with, thanks to his soul poison.

‘The problem is the monsters. There’s no way to get past them, and I can’t kill them quickly enough. I could try the thread…I have Wind Mastery, no, what is it…?’

“Death puppeteer?!”

“How’d you get in?” The hall was revitalized. Kang Shin-hyuk noticed that the leader of the UN committee, who he had seen on TV many times, was dead on the ground, and SSS-class monsters were overflowing from everywhere. They had been able to defeat quite a few superhumans already, so Kang Shin-hyuk doubted he could fight them one-on-one. However, even the monsters of SSS-rank wouldn’t find him easy prey.

‘Noona? Found her.’ Kang Shin-hyuk, who gave up on killing Bomber girl, for now, moved quickly to find Claire. She was leaning against one wall as she confronted the monsters narrowing around her, Juno nearby with his dual pistols. He fired off threads to block the monsters movement for just a moment, throwing himself through the gap he created to land next to her.

“Ah!” The expression she made was one of shock, happiness, and a slight regret. Probably she was worried that she had put him in danger.

“I’m here, noona.” Kang Shin-hyuk quickly turned to Juno Valentine, putting Claire behind him.

“Is he okay?” Kang Shin-hyuk was conscious of both Juno and the monsters as he readied his threads. Juno was nervous himself, having seen Kang Shin-hyuk enter the gate at will and also cut through Bomber girl’s magic cannon. However, the confrontation was resolved quickly by Claire putting a hand on his shoulder.

“This man is annoying, but not an enemy.”

“That’s good. Just one traitor?”

“No, I think there are more.” Her hand trembled slightly. If Shin Eunah were by her side, she wouldn’t be so nervous, but what had happened? Kang Shin-hyuk turned his gaze, noticing a massive amount of magical power exploding in the gate’s center.

“She’s fighting a boss monster.”

“…” Kang Shin-hyuk grasped the situation in a moment. A traitor had appeared among the top-rankers, killing one of the important civilians. At that moment, the monsters had started coming in earnest. Shin Eunah and the others had been fighting them while keeping Bomber girl in check, being steadily pushed by as they worried about other traitors in their midst. It was then that Kang Shin-hyuk had broken in.

“If so…” The conclusion was swift.

“I’ll get people out.”

“What?”

“If you let traitors or the others out of the gate, they won’t be able to act easily. At least, it’s better than leaving them trapped inside.” Additionally, if you removed the people who were burdens, Shin Eunah could unleash the full explosive power of her magic. It was evident that she was restraining herself to curb the collateral damage she was causing.

“Out of the gate? Shin-hyuk, that’s…”

“It’s okay.” Kang Shin-hyuk gently swung his hand and wrapped numerous threads around it. Claire’s eyes flashed momentarily, noticing how his thread manipulation had become faster. However, his next action was even more frightening. He slammed it into the floor and punched a hole through the gate.

“Noona, go first.”

“You, that…”

“I’ll send more after you, so prepare for it.” Kang Shin-hyuk smiled and pushed her through. Claire couldn’t respond as she fell out of the gate.

“Uh…”

Only

“You can help me save people.” Juno Valentine tried to follow after her but stopped moving as he watched Kang Shin-hyuk cover the hole with his foot.

“Hey, I won’t be very helpful either.”

“I need a shield.”

“Hey, do you speak English?”

“Right, let’s start.”

“Fuck, I hate the idea of going to Korea now.”

“Don’t come.” Kang Shin-hyuk waved his glove menacingly and began to drag him along.

It was the start of Operation Gate Escape.