Episode 38.

Marina Bissett, a twenty-two-year-old woman on the border of twenty-three, was among the first to be granted the Player status at the very moment the Sky Castle appeared ten years ago. She was a native of California in the United States. She was a born genius with a great desire to become stronger. She was naturally gifted with an excellent command of mana and a strong sense of combat. The moment her wings grew, and mana had awakened in her body, she instinctively knew how to deal with it.

She cleared the test dungeon with ease and finesse. For that, she was granted the world’s first Magic Shot skill, the simplest yet most powerful attack involving the pure use of mana. With overwhelming mana, unlike any other, she broke through the dungeon using only Magic Shot, and she performed this feat alone. However, her independence wasn’t brought about by some unwillingness to connect with other players. She didn’t mind getting help or granting it if she could be stronger. She wasn’t socially awkward, nor was she arrogant or lacking in consideration. The only reason she operated alone was that no one else could keep up with her growth.

She was incredibly fast and strong. She swiftly adapted to the Sky Castle like it was her natural home, and she enjoyed seeking thrilling adventure rather than settling for a safe search. While other players who had just finished the test dungeon went on to challenge Stage 1 or 2 dungeons, Marina went above and beyond the norm. She left California and explored other states to find more dungeons that suited her abilities. She had no reason nor room to wait for others to catch up to her level. If they couldn’t match her, then they should expect to be left behind.

Upon breaking through the dungeon up to the tenth level while going solo, she gained the Magic shooter title. She then became even stronger and had determined the direction she wished to grow. After that, her already fast growth speed picked up the pace. She paved her way to the dungeon by securing skills, raising levels, and hoarding weapons like crazy. The cash rapidly accumulating in her inventory was just a bonus. But three years ago, Marina’s rapid growth reached its limits. No matter how good and strong she was, it was impossible to clear the 30th level by herself.

Eventually, she was forced to rest. At that time, most players were barely challenging the 25th level. She knew she couldn’t just stand by and wait until they reached the 30th stage, so she decided to become a mercenary and help in the dungeon quests of every country’s guilds. Thus, the legend of the world’s strongest mercenary began.

“She also joined us when the Soaring Tempest Guild invaded the 32nd level of the dungeon. Everyone kept saying that Korea was the best in the world, but in reality, the attack would’ve failed without her help.”

Soo Ah-rin quietly explained all this to Jung Si-woo so that Marina Bissett wouldn’t hear.

“They really kept it a secret, huh?”

Only then did Jung Si-woo understand how Soo Ah-rin knew her. On the other hand, despite being an elite member of Soaring Tempest, it was Yong Se-ha’s first time meeting Marina Bissett. He couldn’t help but admire her skills and appearance, but he made sure not to show it.

“As if it wasn’t enough to be a top player, she also gets to be pretty. I don’t like it. She annoys me.”

Soo Ah-rin muttered, full of envy. Jung Si-woo merely chuckled upon hearing Soo Ah-rin’s words, for he thought she was also pretty for a top player. Then his eyes shifted to Marina Bissett. She had cool features, and her skin was clear and free of blemishes. Whether it was due to her player status or because she ate well and exercised hard, one couldn’t tell. She was tall, and for a moment, Jung Si-woo was worried that it might interfere with the battle, but even her body was perfect.

At this point, no one could certainly deny her rare beauty. If she weren’t a player, she would probably be a model or a Hollywood actress. However, in Jung Si-woo’s eyes, her twin-tailed blonde hair and emerald round eyes made her seem more like a child than a woman.

“Teach me that skill!”

Marina exclaimed, her eagerness visible in her eyes.

“I’d rather not.”

Jung Si-woo calmly declined.

“Teach me!”

“I’d rather not.”

Upon finding out a skill as unique as Jung Si-woo’s, Marina had resorted to acting like a child.

“Miss, I’m afraid I cannot disclose my skills.”

“Arghhhhhh!”

Marina Bissett stomped her feet on the floor like a child throwing a tantrum. She refused to accept Jung Si-woo’s response.

“Please… It’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone who handled such a peculiar Magic Shot skill other than me. As the first and last Magic shooter, I invoke my right to know the secret of that skill!”

“Congratulations! You have realized that the world is wide, and you also realized that some skills couldn’t be developed by being in groups.”

Jung Si-woo mockingly replied as he began cleaning up the site. The recently concluded battle was his most intense fight since he entered Mt. Seorak, and there had been many elite monsters. He thought it would be possible to obtain mana crystals from these elite monsters like the one he obtained from the Goblin Centurion. He was right, of course! With every bone he smashed or heart he burst, he had obtained a new mana bead.

“Oh, you also knew about the gemstones! …However, that’s not it.”

She faced Jung Si-woo once more. This time she was ready to employ another tactic: using seductive body language.

“What the hell is that Magic Shot, huh? Tell me, tell me!”

She pouted her lips and placed her loose hair behind her ears as she said those last words. She was convinced she looked enticing, and a few guys would’ve already been victims of her seductive stunt if they were here, but she didn’t expect what happened next. Jung Si-woo began to laugh out loud.

“Female cats are cuter than that!”

Jung Si-woo said in between giggles.

“Ughhhh!”

Marina’s frustration reached its ceiling as her plan failed. All she could think of was either this guy’s reaction was late, or he was not into women!

“Hey! I’m not a bad guy!”

Jung Si-woo added. He was still laughing at Marina’s expression, who seemed on the verge of crying. Marina Bissett could’ve acted differently to get what she wanted, but surprisingly she did not even think of using force. She thought she was much stronger than Jung Si-woo, whether it be in terms of magic or power. However, despite knowing she bested him in these aspects, she also knew that he had the upper hand since she was the one begging in this situation. She realized some problems couldn’t be solved with strength, so she resorted to using another way. She was still very young compared to Jung Si-woo, so her other options weren’t very refined, but she couldn’t accept rejection. She knew she had to find another way. These thoughts flooded her mind, but they were soon interrupted by Jung Si-woo’s voice.

“Fine! I’ll tell you my secret if you give me something in return. How’s that?”

“Huh?”

Rather than a threat or the use of force, Jung Si-woo offered Marina a bargain upon understanding each other’s perception.

“It means I will disclose it but at a reasonable price. If you think my information is worth it, you have to come up with something that’s worth just as much.”

“Well… Okay, that’s reasonable.”

If Marina wanted to receive something, then she must be prepared to give something in return. She was initially displeased at that thought, but she quickly got over it and searched her inventory for something worthy of the information she sought.

“I really can’t give this up to others…ugh! But I guess it can’t be helped if it means I get to learn about that skill…”

“Well?”

Jung Si-woo waited with anticipation of what Marina might be talking about. Suddenly, an item, which stretched over a meter long, popped out of Marina’s inventory.

“Uh, it’s heavy, heavy, heavy…get it fast!”

“Yes, yes…?”

Jung Si-woo was startled by the sudden shift of events. He didn’t expect Marina to hand over such an item, but he took it, nonetheless. The item was heavy, seeming to weigh over a few hundred kilograms! Unsurprisingly for Jung Si-woo, it weighed just a little heavier than a feather. He was used to wielding a full-powered hammer that weighed more than a ton, so this was nothing. Marina Bissett was appalled as she saw him take the object effortlessly.

“I’m still getting the hang of swinging my hammer, and I can feel that this object is also very strong. I don’t think I could use it.”

“Actually, that’s why I couldn’t use it. It’s beyond my strength, but I can acknowledge that if used properly, it could be better than my pistols!”

“You’re giving me this because you couldn’t use it anyway, right? You’re wasting it.”

“I’m giving it because it’s such a good item! If you could handle it, you will be able to fire shots like a real gun.”

Jung Si-woo was still confused, but with a bitter smile, he checked the identity of the item he had just gained. It was a pitch-black weapon with a lustrous, thick, and long exterior. There’s also a huge hole at one end, and Jung Si-woo could barely make sense of what he saw.

“This is the Neo-Armstrong Cyclone Jet Cannon! It’s perfect, but…”

“No, it’s not!”

Marina Bissett countered, crossing her arms and hitting Jung Si-woo on the shoulder.

“This is a rifle all the way…but I can’t understand why it’s called the thunder god’s rifle.”

Jung Si-woo couldn’t believe what he heard, so he double-checked the weapon’s information and was surprised to see it was true.

[Thunder God’s Rifle (sealed)]

[Rank B+++]

[Attack power: 1750-2550]

[Proficiency: 0/1000]

[Option: ???]

[A weapon that is said to have been made by the God of thunder. At the time of the armament acquisition, it was converted into a rifle to consider the master’s ability. The shape was fixed and never changed again. If you have magical skills, you can use this rifle to perform magic and fire more powerful magic. However, the armament’s true ability is sealed, and the primary seal can only be opened by completing all of the proficiency and achieving special conditions.]

“Wow!”

Jung Si-woo was completely blown away. He had gained an outrageously powerful item. Its attack power was ridiculously high, even when it was said to be sealed. It was also the first time that he heard God being mentioned in a weapon’s name too! He thought about it for a while, then he sighed and finally offered the weapon back to Marina.

“I can’t take this. It is much more valuable than the information I have.”

“No! Magic Shot’s reinforcement is at least as valuable to me as that treasure, or even more valuable. So please tell me, please!”

Marina pleaded. Was she that obsessed with Magic Shot? Or maybe she was just stubborn? Jung Si-woo thought about his response then smiled bitterly.

“You’re really willing to exchange it for information that could only be gained and understood if you have a specific skill?”

“Then, I will learn that skill!”

Marina’s resolve was as solid as cement. Perhaps it was her mercenary-like spirit that led her to be this desperate to learn a skill. Having realized this, Jung Si-woo thought hard if there was a need to reject the deal. He shrugged, then put the Neo-Armstrong Cyclone Jet Cannon in his inventory. After that, he told her about the process of achieving the Critical Bullet skill. She was astonished, of course.

“Oh my god! Battle Sprint…? That skill can enhance the fundamental power of Magic Shot? No way! In the first place, who would’ve thought you could combine close combat and magical skills like that?”

Marina Bissett circled Jung Si-woo in frustration.

“How did you do that? Even if you know how to do it, it’s easy to miss!”

“Then, will you take the rifle back?”

“No! Take it! Critical Bullet, I will definitely learn it!”

Indeed, Jung Si-woo wasn’t one to waver and turn back once he convinced himself to do something. He was a strong man with equally strong willpower. Marina Bissett, on the other hand, finally stood in place. She then said something that had been on her mind for a while.

“By the way, I couldn’t sense just how strong you are. Can you tell me?”

“Because I don’t really know you, I’ll say we’re even.”

“Ah…right.”

She soon realized that she hadn’t even said hello to Jung Si-woo.

“I am Marina Bissett. I went into the dungeon with the Soaring Tempest Guild of Korea and came out because it was impossible, but I came here to help.”

“Okay. Well, my identity is a secret.”

“Ahh…”

Jung Si-woo thought Marina would persist, but she calmed down unexpectedly. She realized that if Jung Si-woo has been good at hiding his identity so far, then she wouldn’t be able to make him reveal his identity that easily.

“Damn, I’m not a player that just gets teased by other people like this…”

“That is the most unbelievable remark I heard from you today.”

The conversation was over, Jung Si-woo thought as he turned around without regret, but Marina Bissett caught up to him.

“Hey! Our destination is the same anyway. Let’s team-up.”

“What?”

When Jung Si-woo thought about it, he realized that it was true. They were both trying to track the escaped monsters. However, Jung Si-woo was in a tricky position. He needed to conceal his identity, and it would be hard if he were asked to show his wings. Above all, Soo Ah-rin and Yong Se-ha’s identities were at risk of being discovered. Nevertheless…

“I know what you’re thinking…if you step out of here, I might end up beating you to the finish line. Aren’t you aiming for the boss anyway?”

Marina Bissett laughed, imitating a bully mocking her victim. Then, Soo Ah-rin tugged Jung Si-woo’s sleeve and spoke in a low voice that could only be heard by him.

“We won’t be caught…and it might be better to clean up the monsters with her.”

“I agree! Besides, I want to observe Marina Bissett more closely…oh! Sorry. Ouch!”

Jung Si-woo pondered on their words for a while, then he shrugged and looked away.

“Okay, let’s hurry.”

“You should’ve agreed sooner.”

Marina Bissett laughed proudly. She was just glad to be able to check Jung Si-woo’s power and his magical weapon closer. Just like that, a temporary party between Jung Si-woo and Marina Bissett was formed.