hotmtlnovel Chapter 204: Change (4)
Chapter 204: Change (4)
【Second, if the monster provides a period of darkness, a small numeric indicator will appear above its head.】
‘This allows for pinpoint farming, specifically targeting monsters with a period of darkness.’
It was now possible to hunt targets more effectively.
Since one could determine in advance if the monster provided a period of darkness, it would be easier to focus on growth.
Of course, monsters that possess this period of darkness only appear in dangerous areas like Ground Zero or North Korea.
So, regardless of whether one knows if a monster has this ability or not, the hunting difficulty remains high.
However, just being able to avoid wasted efforts made this feature highly advantageous.
【Third, you can entrust one of your skills to the Dark Sanctuary and 'borrow' a skill that utilizes the period of darkness.】
“This... is the key.”
Kang-hoo’s eyes gleamed.
Entrusting a skill meant a conditional seal.
Even though the term “borrow” was used, it essentially meant that one could use the borrowed skill as if it were their own during the borrowing period.
You could give up a skill you didn’t use much and receive a more frequently useful one in return. And it would be a dark period skill.
Kang-hoo entrusted the most useless skill he had to the Dark Sanctuary.
【Devouring Appetite】
【Skill Mastery: Lv. Max】
【A skill that allows you to make spoiled food taste delicious.】
It was a skill he obtained from a Goblin mid-boss in the Gold Goblin’s Mine Dungeon.
He had never used it and couldn’t think of a situation where he would need it in the future.
He gave it up without hesitation. It was a skill that, even if lost, wouldn’t impact him at all.
In return, a list of dark period skills available for borrowing from the Dark Sanctuary appeared.
The term “Dark Sanctuary” wasn’t unfamiliar.
It was already known that there was a Guardian of the Dark Sanctuary among the constellations. This constellation had killed and plundered a fixer in the past. Ɽ
It seemed like the skill was sourced from there, possibly connected to the Calamity – the power of darkness.
Kang-hoo pondered for a long time.
Skills utilizing the dark period were destructive and valuable.
It wasn’t something to choose impulsively.
Especially considering the current limited application of dark period skills, careful thought was necessary.
How much time had passed?
By the time the water in the bathtub began to cool, Kang-hoo finished his deliberation and made his choice.
【(Ashen) Thorn Hell】
【Skill Mastery: Lv. Max】
【Utilizes the dark period to create a strip of darkness on the ground. Along the strip, sharp dark thorns will surge from the ground. If not carefully controlled, the thorns might rise in the wrong place or collapse.】
Seeing the parentheses in the skill’s name, it seemed that it was commonly abbreviated as “Thorn Hell.”
Upon learning the skill, information on how to manifest the Thorn Hell was directly instilled into him.
However, the precise control and regulation mentioned in the skill tooltip appeared to be something that required training. It wouldn’t be easy.
“I’ll take this.”
Kang-hoo made his decision.
In exchange for the strange skill of eating spoiled food and making it taste good, this was the best deal.
It also seemed like it would provide many tactical advantages in combat.
In terms of classification, it aligned more with black magic or shamanism, a skill that would be difficult to associate with an assassin.
Thus, Thorn Hell became Kang-hoo’s new skill.
His to-do list had grown.
He needed to work on mastering Thorn Hell and diligently continue his dual dagger training.
Moreover, he still had the matter of the Imbalance Point, so he needed to visit Sapporo.
He had already received a message from Fumiya earlier.
He was told everything was ready, and all Kang-hoo needed to do was go.
However, upon checking the dungeon’s details, it was clear that solo clearing wasn’t possible. So, he decided just to gather some experience points.
After that day.
He had also planned to have a drink with Ayane in the evening.
He wasn’t unaware of what an adult drinking session implied.
But he didn’t really care either.
The choices and responsibilities were all his to bear. As long as he wasn’t irresponsible or selfish, that was enough.
“This is my report on Cha So-hyuk’s death. I confirmed it personally, and no information has been omitted.”
“Is that so.”
“...Excuse me?”
“I said I’ve confirmed it. He’s already dead, so there’s nothing more for me to know, is there?”
“Boss.”
“What?”
“Don’t you feel any regret?”
“When So-hyuk was playing outside my control, I had already abandoned him. I knew this would happen.”
At that time, Kim In-ho was meeting Kang Tae-yang.
Kang Tae-yang, the leader of the criminal organization ‘Tae-yang,’ was also Kim In-ho’s superior and close to Cha So-hyuk.
However, Kim In-ho’s loyalty was entirely dedicated to Kang Tae-yang, and his heart leaned toward him as well.
No matter what, the top priority was always his boss, Kang Tae-yang.
Still, the fact that someone of Cha So-hyuk’s rank within Tae-yang had died left Kim In-ho feeling somewhat disheartened by how little remorse Kang Tae-yang showed.
“The same goes for when I cut ties with Dong-hyun. A younger brother who doesn’t listen to his older brother’s words... what use is there in that?”
“I was short-sighted. I’m sorry, Boss.”
“A prodigal son left home and died, and now my past is being dragged back up. Don’t worry about it.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Make a public statement. Say that Cha So-hyuk acted on his own and express deep apologies to both guilds. Assure them it won’t happen again.”
“I’ll do that.”
Although Kim In-ho had his regrets, he didn’t dwell on them.
After all, he was a part of the Tae-yang organization, and no one within the organization could rise above its leader.
Absolute obedience to Kang Tae-yang, the leader and pillar, was a given. Cha So-hyuk had failed in that.
Kang Tae-yang shifted the topic.
“By the way, that Shin Kang-hoo guy, he’s really something. He killed both So-hyuk and three hunters from the To-woo Guild, didn’t he?”
“There was sniper support.”
“But only one archer died from the sniper. In the end, it was one against three, and he won.”
“That’s correct. The sniper after that only interfered with movement and didn’t inflict any injuries.”
At the time, Kim In-ho had been surveying the scene.
One of his specialized abilities was being able to clearly observe a target, even from a great distance.
If one could compare it to a camera with zoom and shrink functions, that would be accurate. He had just that kind of ability.
“Now I understand why Dong-hyun issued a kill order. That guy must have really gotten under his skin. And he’s got skills too?”
“From what I’ve gathered, they even crossed paths at Club Hades.”
“And he escaped?”
“Yes. It seems he used some form of teleportation ability to disappear right in front of Kang Dong-hyun.”
“Puhaha! An assassin with teleportation?”
“Yes, it’s verified information.”
“That’s hilarious, really...”
Kang Tae-yang licked his lips with the tip of his tongue. He was more intrigued by Kang-hoo’s existence than by Cha So-hyuk’s death.
He had heard bits and pieces about Kang-hoo from various sources before.
At first, he thought Kang-hoo was just a mediocre hunter and had dismissed him as such.
But now, after hearing the news of Cha So-hyuk’s death along with the other hunters who had died in the process, his thoughts changed.
An assassin, a profession notorious for its vulnerabilities in group combat, had not only successfully defended against a 1v3 fight but also killed them all?
This was impossible without a foundational level of high skill.
It meant Kang-hoo was not an ordinary assassin.