Chapter 4

Chapter 4

[Episode 01] Solo Infinite Tutorial (4)

Dungeons have grades.

According to that grade, the grade of the class is determined.

[Normal], [Rare], [Unique]

Unlike the common [Normal] grade, [Rare] and [Unique] grades were extremely rare, just like their names.

Especially the [Unique] grade was an extremely small minority.

In the population of the Republic of Korea exceeding 50 million, only 9 people were [Unique] grade Explorers.

There were reasons of their own for the holders of higher-grade classes being so few.

‘[Rare] grade is three goblins, [Unique] grade is one elite monster, they said.’

Tutorial, the first battle.

Moreover, it is Level 1.

Whether [Normal] or [Unique], the total stats are fixed at 50.

In reality, one had to take a much more difficult test with the same specs.

Even a single goblin was sufficiently capable of killing a person.

Because experience stories of almost dying to goblins were pouring out in reality.

But three at once.

Normally.

‘They would die with a high probability.’

Right now, I was in such a situation as well.

The only consolation was that my stats had been inflated to an absurd degree while clearing countless Normal-grade dungeons until now.

‘...I can manage. As long as it’s not [Unique] grade.’

I scanned the choices on the altar.

[Spear], [Crossbow], [Ice Crystal Staff]

Among the three choices, there was only one that I could choose anyway.

[Ice Crystal Staff]

The problem was.

‘Whether the Mage class remains as is even if I choose that.’

The moment I chose that staff, I would change class to a [Rare] grade class.

Then there was the possibility that the existing Mage class would disappear.

My Mage class, even though it was (Normal) grade, was not ordinary.

Because a total of six Tutorials had overlapped, allowing me to shoot 6 Energy Bolt skills at the same time.

I might lose this great advantage.

“Tch.”

But even so, it was not something I could not choose.

Because if I didn’t choose that, I could not move forward.

‘Worrying is meaningless anyway.’

Anyway, there is only one choice.

I chose the [Ice Crystal Staff].

The altar sinking into the floor and disappearing.

At the same time, a system notification floated up.

[Changing class to Ice Mage (Rare).]

[You have acquired the skill ‘Icicle’.]

‘It’s [Rare].’

It was a relief.

Because [Rare] grade only required catching three goblins.

Since it was something I was going to challenge anyway, as long as I pulled myself together, it looked sufficiently possible.

‘Status Window.’

Fortunately.

[Class]: Mage (Normal) / Ice Mage (Rare)

[Class Skill]: Energy Bolt (Lv. 1) / Icicle (Lv. 1)

Mage and Energy Bolt remained as they were.

It seemed it was not a method where the existing class disappeared.

“Huu.”

As my mind stabilized, I first checked the effect of the item in my hand.

[Ice Crystal Staff]

-Item Grade: 「Rare」

-Effect: Magic Attack Power +33 / Magic Precision +25 / Ice Magic Damage +50%

Certainly, as it was [Rare] grade, the item’s effect was several times better.

I lightly tested the skill first.

“Energy Bolt.”

Woom!

The intensity of the blue light gathering at the tip of the staff was different from the start.

Moreover.

‘1, 2...’

Even before counting to 3 seconds.

The completed blue light was shot toward the stone chamber wall at a speed that was clearly faster than before.

Bang!

“!”

A sound like a bomb exploding and the stone chamber wall deeply gouged.

Rustle—

The sound of stone powder falling was heard amid the dust scattering hazily.

‘...This is crazy.’

A world of difference from when using the Normal-grade item [Wand].

‘They said Rare-grade items start at hundreds of millions...’

Having used it directly, I could understand the reason.

‘Is the reduced delay because of Magic Precision? Good.’

Even ordinary ‘Energy Bolt’ is this much.

Then what about the ice magic that receives a +50% damage correction?

“Icicle.”

Woom—

The first start was not greatly different from Energy Bolt.

Starting with blue light flickering at the tip of the staff, it soon flowed cold chill around.

Crack—

Soon a completed icicle the size of a forearm.

Soon after.

Whoosh—

The icicle that flew cutting through the air dug into the center of the shattered wall.

An icicle embedded in the wall like a dart.

Right after that.

Crack—

Part of it froze from the place where the icicle was embedded.

‘...This is good?’

I immediately left the starting room and headed toward the room where three goblins were waiting.

Rumble—

At the same time as the door began to open, I uttered the activation words.

“Icicle.”

The casting delay of Icicle was about 5 seconds.

Since it was a bit on the long side, I had prepared in advance.

-Kiririk?

-Krek.

-Kyak?

Three goblins that entered my eyes as soon as the door opened.

As expected.

However, it was a slightly different appearance from the picture I had expected.

‘...These are not ordinary goblins?’

Overall, the average height was also larger, and decisively, the degree of body development was different.

It was not a skinny body, but they had well-trained muscular bodies.

-Kyaaaaak!

One of them took the start.

I calmly aimed the staff at the guy.

Crack—

The completed icicle flew toward the guy’s face, and

Thud! Crack—

[You have defeated the Goblin.]

Instant death in one shot.

The remaining two charged while going berserk, but

What greeted them were two Energy Bolts that had become much stronger than before.

Bang! Baaang—!

[You have defeated the Goblin.]

[You have defeated the Goblin.]

Situation over.

The altar rising from the floor informed that the clear was complete.

“Huu.”

I let out a sigh of relief and left the dungeon through the exit as I was.

[You have cleared the Rare Dungeon (1st Floor).]

[Salvation Points are being settled.]

As usual, the level did not rise.

However.

{Bonus Stat Points}: 10

10 bonus points at once.

Bonus stats amounting to twice that of a Normal-grade dungeon.

It was the price of clearing a [Rare] grade dungeon.

A structure where the difference would inevitably widen as the level rose.

However, unexpectedly, among high-ranking Explorers, the number of [Rare] grade Explorers was on the small side.

Having experienced it directly, I could realize the reason.

‘The difficulty is different.’

Not only the number of goblins, but the combat power of each individual goblin was completely different.

Since it was like this from the 1st Floor, the difference would become more severe the higher one went.

To the point where 10 bonus points per floor looked rather insufficient.

‘If a Rare-grade dungeon had come out from the very beginning...’

Would I have been able to survive?

The possibility was not that high.

It was truly fortunate that I had raised stats step by step with Normal-grade dungeons and then a Rare dungeon got caught.

At the same time, my heart became a little impatient.

Because.

‘The fact that a Rare grade got caught means I might be called to Unique grade later.’

Performing the Tutorial is forced.

Therefore, to survive, I had to become strong enough to be able to catch an elite monster alone at least.

‘Then rice-eating on the 3rd Floor won’t do.’

Of course, even with just that, points would continue to be obtainable.

Because I was being called to the Tutorial every day.

But if I were called to a [Unique] grade dungeon right tomorrow?

‘I need to clear the highest floors of all dungeons right now.’

Four 4-floor ones.

One 3rd Floor.

One 2nd Floor.

If I cleared all of these, I would be able to earn 30 bonus points in just one day today.

Before embarking on the full-scale clear, I first used the newly obtained 10 bonus stats.

[Mana Sensitivity value has become 30.]

A stat directly connected to the mana tank and mana recovery power, etc.

I had been investing in Mana Sensitivity since I judged that I had raised Mana sufficiently.

‘I should look at the 4th Floor clear first.’

I roughly knew what form it was, but I needed to memorize it even more perfectly.

Because traps appear from the 4th Floor.

I needed to know the more detailed dungeon structure and trap locations to be able to clear it safely.

It was when I entered the Explorer community to look up the strategy like that.

The atmosphere was strange.

[In this situation, people who haven’t gotten insurance, get it even now]

[Is our country going to collapse like this?]

[When is the Management Bureau’s official position coming out? It seems really screwed]

In the short time I went for a dungeon clear, the community bulletin board was on fire.

Scrolling down the bulletin board, I was able to discover the post that became the cause.

[Breaking News: Posting on behalf of my son’s account. You may not believe it, but it is the truth.] @{Unique} Kang Hyuk

Hello. I am Kang Hyuk’s father.

Two days ago, my son died during the 50th Floor clear. The Management Bureau only repeated “under investigation” and did not tell me when the results would come out, how he died, nothing.

It seemed they were trying not to even hold a proper funeral, so I am informing like this.

The attached photos are my son’s photo and the death notification.

I hope my son did not die in vain. I only hope the nation gives a proper explanation.

[Smiling photo.jpg] [Death notification.jpg]

┗ Wait a minute. Is this real?

┗ If it’s Kang Hyuk, isn’t he Unique grade?

┗ Isn’t it aggro?

┗┗ It’s a verified account, you idiot.

┗ I don’t know what words of comfort to give... May the deceased rest in peace.

┗ I seriously pulled out all my KOSPI after seeing this

┗ Something big is coming. Take a short position

┗ I’m looking into immigration applications, does anyone know?

┗┗ Crazy traitor bastard

┗┗┗ People who want to live should live, right? Do you not know how big the Salvation Points one Unique grade bears?

┗ Everyone calm down a bit... The Management Bureau hasn’t even announced yet.

┗┗ That’s why I’m more worried. Seeing that they still haven’t announced even though the death was two days ago, there might be something more.

┗┗ For real, there’s something

┗ Kids... Shall I tell a scary story. Among Unique grades, except for 1 who does solo play, 8 all form parties and proceed with clears. Kang Hyuk is one of the 8... Do you think only one out of 8 died?

┗┗ Dread

┗┗ If this is real, isn’t our country really screwed?

A post with shocking content had been uploaded.

***

The previous night.

Explorer Management Bureau Situation Room.

“...Confirmed deaths are only 4 people.”

The voice of the person giving the briefing trembled thinly.

The inside of the conference room was filled with silence.

No one opened their mouth first.

The faces of those seated around the round table were all bloodless.

“...The remaining 4?”

The director barely squeezed out a voice.

“They survived, but all were evacuated in a combat-incapable state. One of them is said to have a poor prognosis.”

“Wasn’t there an Elixir?”

“By consuming all 3 Elixirs we possessed, we were able to save the lives of Explorers Kim Gi-hong, Choi Seol-hwa, and Nam Jae-hyun.”

“······Ha.”

A groan leaked from someone’s mouth.

Out of the total 9 [Unique] grade Explorers, 8 were one party.

Half of them had disappeared.

The remaining four were also not in a complete state.

In reality, the frontline power of the Republic of Korea had received a blow close to annihilation overnight.

“What is the status of Salvation Points?”

“A total of 14 million points have evaporated...”

When an Explorer dies, the Salvation Points they possessed also disappear together.

There was no need to calculate.

If it continues like this, the Republic of Korea is finished.

Heavy silence pressed down on the conference room again.

Eventually, the old man sitting in the highest seat opened his mouth for the first time.

The final decision-maker of the nation’s Explorer policy.

“What can we do right now.”

“...Commemoration and support for bereaved families, and investigation for recurrence prevention or so...”

“I’m not asking that kind of thing.”

The old man’s voice lowered.

“The 14 million points with a hole. Can you fill them?”

“······.”

No one could answer.

“With the five who are alive right now, we can’t hold out. Even without calculating, it’s clear.”

The old man lightly tapped the table.

“In the end, there is only one answer.”

Everyone’s gaze focused on him.

“We must find a new [Unique] grade, by any means. Or create one.”

The old man’s eyes sank coldly.

“Since the TO is empty, [Unique] will appear. Promise the best treatment and bring them. Whether foreigner or domestic, it doesn’t matter. That is the only way to save this country.”

© Araman#1683j