Chapter 7

Chapter 7

[Episode 02] Unique (2)

Unique grade.

Unlike [Normal] and [Rare] grades, there was no one with the same class.

Literally meaning ‘unique’.

Moreover, in the Republic of Korea with a population of 50 million, the number was extremely small, only 9 people.

‘No, is it 7 now.’

The reason I was certain it was a Unique-grade dungeon upon seeing the [Lightning Staff].

It was because the appearance of that was very familiar.

A weapon I had seen several times even on YouTube or the news.

‘It’s Jeong Hana’s weapon.’

One of the [Unique] grade Explorers representing the Republic of Korea.

Thunder Mage Jeong Hana.

The fact that that weapon representing her had been released meant.

‘It means she died.’

How many died in the end.

In the worst case, there was also the possibility that all 8 of the Republic of Korea’s [Unique] grade party had died.

It made sense that the Management Bureau kept postponing the official announcement.

Because the moment this fact became known, chaos would break out nationwide.

‘For now...’

I have to perform the Tutorial first, right.

What appears in the [Unique] grade dungeon Tutorial is one elite monster.

In other words, one Goblin Warrior.

‘It’s fortunate I raised my specs.’

It was right after I had cleared all the 5th Floors of the Normal-grade dungeon yesterday.

Even if it was an elite monster, it wasn’t greatly frightening.

However, what was concerning was.

‘That this is a [Unique] grade dungeon.’

Even [Rare] grade had different states of goblins, didn’t it.

How different would the higher grade [Unique] grade be.

I didn’t know, but it was clear it would be incomparable to the Goblin Warrior encountered on the 5th Floor of the Normal dungeon.

‘How on earth did they clear it?’

Those who possessed [Unique] grade classes would also have been Level 1 when performing the Tutorial.

It means the sum of total stats is 50.

Even the current me who has stats incomparable to when I was Level 1 feels this stuck, how on earth were those people able to perform the Tutorial?

‘Let’s pull myself together.’

I carefully climbed the altar and picked up the Lightning Staff.

[Changing class to Heavenly Punishment Mage (Unique).]

[You have acquired the skill ‘Lightning Strike (Falling Thunder)’.]

[Lightning Staff]

-Item Grade: 「Unique」

-Effect: Magic Attack Power +80 / Magic Precision + / Mana +5 / Mana Sensitivity + / Lightning Magic Damage +200%

Indeed a Unique-grade weapon.

It was full of effects of a different class from [Normal] or [Rare] grade items.

‘...With this, it might have been possible.’

The reason it was possible to clear [Unique] grade while in Level 1 state.

Seeing the weapon with fraudulent specs, it made sense.

And.

‘If it was me with a much higher Mana value, I would be able to clear it more easily.’

First, I lightly tested the newly obtained skill.

“Lightning Strike.”

Crackle—

It was a little different from the start of the skill.

Lightning surging centered on the Lightning Staff.

After about 5 seconds of time passed.

Flash!

Without any precursor, a lightning strike fell toward the floor.

Rumble―

Thunder sounds echoing loudly throughout the entire starting room.

The air that had heated up hotly spreads in all directions.

‘This is...’

Lightning Strike (Falling Thunder) was overwhelming even among the other magics I had obtained so far.

Certainly, Unique-grade magic was different from the start.

‘...Should I have invested Skill Points here?’

To the point where the Skill Points I had invested in Energy Blade yesterday felt a little regrettable.

‘Is the cooldown about 10 seconds. With this, it should be sufficient.’

I immediately left the starting room.

Standing in front of the thick stone door, I took a deep breath once.

“Huu.”

Rumble—

Soon, at the same time as the stone door opened.

“Lightning Strike.”

I started casting the skill.

Crackle— Crack—

During the time the magic was completed, the stone door opened wide, and toward the elite monster in the center of the stone chamber, the magic—

“Eh?”

There was no goblin.

A stone chamber that was empty like a lie.

In the center where there was nothing.

Flash!

A lightning strike fell.

‘Dangerous.’

Feeling that something was off in the signs, I immediately loaded a new magic.

“Icicle!”

Unique-grade Tutorial.

The monster that appears is an elite monster.

And what an elite monster means is not simply ‘Goblin Warrior’.

Crack—

Perhaps because I didn’t use the Ice Crystal Staff, an icicle that was noticeably smaller than usual.

I shot it toward the floor.

Crush! Crack!

The icicle embedded in the floor slowly made the surroundings freeze.

In that state, I raised my tension.

Lightning Strike and Icicle.

The two skills were currently on cooldown.

The remaining skills were only the Normal-grade Energy Bolt and Energy Blade.

‘Energy Bolt is ambiguous.’

The opponent was an elite monster.

If I didn’t kill it for sure, it was obvious my life would be in danger.

“Energy Blade!”

1 second.

I started counting numbers inwardly.

Woom—

Blue light much more intense than usual forms at the tip of the staff.

Probably thanks to the correction effect of the Unique-grade item.

2 seconds.

The correction effect of the [Lightning Staff] is not simply raising Magic Attack Power and that’s the end.

It was a fraudulent item that evenly raised Magic Precision, Mana, and Mana Sensitivity as well.

Inevitably, the casting speed would also have become faster.

3 seconds.

Woom!

In the end, the magic was completed.

And right at that moment.

Crush!

A dull sound as if something was shattering was heard.

Exactly the place where the ice created by the Icicle magic was.

The thin ice film generated there had broken.

As soon as I confirmed that, I shot Energy Blade toward that place where nothing was visible.

Slice!

Along with the cutting sound, one goblin appeared from the empty air.

An appearance where the upper body and lower body were separated.

It seemed it had been hit by Energy Blade.

Soon after.

Puff!

The body collapsing into gray powder.

[You have defeated the Goblin Assassin.]

Rumble—

The appearance of the altar announcing the dungeon clear was complete.

Strength left my whole body.

“Puhah―.”

It was a gamble.

It was that I had cast Energy Blade immediately because I predicted the guy would attack before the cooldown of the ‘Lightning Strike’ skill I cast first turned.

If I hadn’t prepared in advance, it would have been my side that died instead.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I quickly left through the exit on the altar.

At the same time.

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

[Salvation Points are being settled.]

Certification that I had safely cleared the dungeon.

[{Notice} A new Unique-grade Awakened has appeared in Korea.]

It was shared with Awakened ones nationwide.

“Hmm. So it’s announced in this way.”

When a Unique-grade Awakened is born, the system hits a full notice.

Since it was shared only with Awakened belonging to the corresponding country, it was the first time seeing it with my own eyes.

‘That’s not the problem right now.’

I blankly looked at the newly acquired [Unique] grade equipment.

A long staff form.

It was smaller than the Ice Crystal Staff, but still impossible to put in the bag.

‘It can’t be helped.’

I had no choice but to carry it with the tip sticking out to one side of the bag.

No matter how famous the weapon, if I hid only the head part well, no one would notice.

Because people unexpectedly have no interest in others.

‘Done.’

After putting the head part well inside the bag, it didn’t stand out greatly.

After changing clothes, I came out of the bathroom.

It was time to go home.

***

[Chat: Unique grade appeared!!]

Bros, this is good news, right?

KOSPI is going to soar, right?

Even if Hyuk hyung went, a new Unique grade came out.

They’re coming to save us, right??

There are people on the 250th Floor!

┗ I immediately went in for bottom buying.

┗┗ I also immediately Samsung lol Explorer special is sweet~

┗┗ For real lol The system notice being shared only to Korean-affiliated Explorers is super honey. Foreigners who sold all stocks and left will shed blood tears.

┗ Ma! This is Korea’s power.

┗ Oi oi, I believed!

┗ Don’t believe the words of the idiots above. Seeing a Unique grade come out right after the incident, the one who died that day isn’t only Kang Hyuk. Definitely more died. Because the TO is that many, it came out right away. Everyone wake up and prepare to immigrate.

┗┗ Dread dread dread

┗┗ This seems to be the real reason, it’s a bit scary;;

┗┗ Is our country really collapsing?

┗ Let’s not abandon hope until the end. The country called Korea has always had superhumans appear in times of crisis.

┗┗ Unless General Yi Sun-sin is reborn or something, this country has no hope.

***

Shim Kang was sitting in a wheelchair blankly looking at the sky.

She had died and come back to life.

Unique-grade dungeon 50th Floor.

She thought she had died in that hell-like place, but when she opened her eyes, it was the hospital.

She had barely saved her life, but she heard that proper Explorer life would be impossible from now on.

Because she had lost her right arm.

If she had been of the Mage series, she wouldn’t have received a judgment of unable to recover. Because not having one arm didn’t mean she couldn’t use magic.

‘At least if it had been Warrior series...’

She would have been able to swing a sword with the remaining one hand.

However, her main weapon was a bow.

Without both arms, she couldn’t shoot a bow.

So she had no choice but to receive a combat-incapable judgment.

‘What can I do?’

Right now it was a national emergency.

Because more than half of the Unique-grade Explorers representing Korea were in a combat-incapable state.

To fill the Salvation Points target, not even a single day could be wasted.

If it were up to her heart, she wanted to buy even one sword and proceed with lower floor clears, but the place called Unique-grade dungeon was not a place so easy that it could be challenged in a defective state.

If she entered like this, even if it was a lower floor, it was dangerous.

If she died on top of that, it would be a major disaster.

Because even the millions of points she possessed would disappear.

In reality, her death would take the lives of millions of citizens of the Republic of Korea.

‘Please, someone save us.’

At that moment.

[{Notice} A new Unique-grade Awakened has appeared in Korea.]

The timing was subtle.

As if the sky had answered her.

Strangely, she felt hope blooming from one corner of her heart that had only been filled with worry.

Shim Kang, with a brighter face, said toward the caregiver pushing her wheelchair.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I can breathe a bit.”

“It was good to come outside, right?”

“Thank you for caring.”

Originally, it was a situation where she couldn’t leave the hospital room due to the Management Bureau’s strong control.

She had briefly come outside with the caregiver’s help.

Now it was gradually time to go back.

Because if she made a mistake, the caregiver who helped her would be in trouble.

“Let’s go back now.”

Either way, she had no choice but to wait for the Management Bureau to obtain an Elixir.

“Yes, then I’ll go back.”

Like that, while entrusting her body to the wheelchair and appreciating the scenery.

‘Eh?’

There was something that clearly entered her eyes.

The tip of a wooden staff.

For some reason, that strongly pulled Shim Kang’s gaze.

‘Why?’

It didn’t take that long to realize the reason.

‘Hana?’

It was the [Lightning Staff], Jeong Hana’s main weapon.

Because it was the weapon of a precious colleague she had continued clears with for a long time, she recognized it quickly.

Was she also in the middle of a short walk after escaping the strict security?

Becoming a welcoming face, the moment she confirmed the owner of it, Shim Kang froze as she was.

‘Why?’

Because a man she was seeing for the first time was there.

Soon, all the clues were rapidly rearranged in her head.

The Management Bureau’s suspicious response.

The Unique-grade Awakened who suddenly appeared.

The man holding her colleague’s weapon.

What that meant was—

‘Hana... died?’

© Araman#1683j