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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Thorn Hide
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I got everything I needed from the trading post.
I immediately turned and headed for the lake.
"Hey, are you just buying that moonstone and leaving?"
The dwarf merchant blocked my path.
"Yes. That's what I came for."
"Don't be like that, take a look at some weapons too. Swords crafted by dwarves boast the best performance!"
"You're bound to get injured in the tutorial. You should buy a potion."
The dwarf and elf merchants held onto me.
Well, a sucker walked right into their arms; they wouldn't want to let me go.
Originally, the [Midron Trading Post] is ignored by players climbing the lower floors of the Tower.
That's because you have to pay with points earned on that floor to buy anything from the post.
Naturally, the more you use the post, the worse your rewards become.
[Yoo Jinho – 27 Points]
[Points acquired are too low to be ranked.]
See?
I used up points buying the moonstone and got knocked off the rankings.
For a Player, the trading post is a double-edged sword.
'Honestly, there's no need to use the trading post in the early stages.'
It's been ten years since the Tower of Babel appeared all over the Earth.
Things like low-grade potions were developed by pharmaceutical companies long ago.
The technology to craft equipment from monster hides and ores found only in the Tower has also advanced considerably.
Though it's not enough to compete in the mid-to-late stages of the Tower.
It was far better to buy equipment and consumables outside than to use the trading post in the tutorial.
"I'm broke, so don't bother trying to sell me anything."
"Now that you mention it."
"No, but why would you spend points on a trash item like that moonstone..."
The two merchants grumbled, their faces crestfallen.
You wouldn't know.
Where the true value of this item lies.
"See you next time. Though I doubt we'll have a reason to."
I waved my hand and submerged myself in the lake.
* * *
Right after getting out of Snain Lake.
I headed southwest and walked aimlessly.
After walking for some time.
[Your current location is the mountain region.]
[Mountain Region – Mana consumption increased by 10%]
I had entered the foothills of Mount Emirate.
The real climb hadn't even begun, but the penalty was already in effect.
'The penalty here isn't the tricky part.'
Players who have just entered the Tower of Babel typically have one or two skills on average.
A 10% increase in consumption isn't something they'd feel acutely.
The real problem is the mountain terrain itself.
A mountain of rock.
Unlike a well-maintained hiking trail, just finding a foothold to climb Mount Emirate is an ordeal.
There's one more thing that torments Players.
"There it is."
I pointed to a silhouette faintly visible in the moonlight.
A monster the size of a boulder.
A Porcupine Boar.
"Hmphh!"
The Porcupine Boar snorted.
As its name suggests, the creature is a monster with spines embedded in its skin.
Its only attack pattern is a charge.
It feels similar to the Horned Rabbits I faced on the plains, but it's much trickier to deal with.
The reason is the spines covering its entire body.
Even if you narrowly dodge its charge, you'll often get scratched by the spines and injured.
Although its charge is slower than a Horned Rabbit's, you have to move much more to avoid it.
'The terrain is also a problem.'
The Porcupine Boar's habitat is the mountains.
Rugged, rocky terrain at that.
The beast moves freely as if in its own home, but a Player's range of movement is restricted.
A tricky monster, but in a different way than the Silver Fangs.
"Grrrroooan!"
The Porcupine Boar kicked its hind legs and shot forward.
A head-on confrontation is impossible.
In that case.
'Of course, I have to aim for its side.'
I leaped to the left just before colliding with the Porcupine Boar.
At the same time, the gray hide wrapped around my side.
Skrrraape! The sharp spines on the boar's skin scraped against my side.
Large and small sparks flew from the point of impact.
A spectacle created by the frictional heat generated as the hide and spines met.
The hide's durability was reduced by 7%.
That's quite a bit of damage for just a passing graze.
Well, this is manageable.
'It's faster than a Horned Rabbit, but it takes time to change its attack direction.'
[Activating Hide.]
This time, I covered my entire body in the hide.
To attack the Porcupine Boar, I have to jump right into the middle of those spines.
It would be a different story if I had a spear, arrows, or a ranged attack skill.
For a melee fighter to take down a Porcupine Boar, they had to be prepared to take damage.
[Activating Sharp Claws.]
Claws extended about twenty centimeters.
With my claws sharpened, I jumped onto the back of the slowly turning Porcupine Boar.
The spines embedded in its back pierced my hide.
No, in this case, it was more like I ran into the spines.
[Hide durability decreased by 1%.]
[Hide durability decreased by 1%...]
The hide I'd formed on various parts of my body was being worn down simultaneously.
Hehehe.
Without the Ironclad Armadillo's essence, I wouldn't have even been able to attempt hunting a Porcupine Boar.
I swung my raised claws with all my might.
[Activating Superhuman Strength.]
Shh-thwack!
Red blood shot into the air, shimmering faintly as it met the moonlight.
"Squeal."
The Porcupine Boar lowered its head to the ground.
Blood gushed continuously from its torn-apart nape.
[Experience increased by 7.5%.]
I attacked its weak spot, the nape, and ended the fight in a single blow.
It was thanks to the Silver Fang's essence, [Sharp Claws].
The Porcupine Boar's hide is quite thick.
Regardless of whether I used [Superhuman Strength], without reinforced claws, I would have struggled with the Porcupine Boar for much longer.
It was worth absorbing several essences beforehand.
Of course.
Being able to use the abilities of multiple consumed essences is thanks to the [Dragon's Heart], which increases mana recovery.
"Time to eat."
I predated the Porcupine Boar's essence.
[Predating the Porcupine Boar's essence.]
[Essence Grade: Normal]
[Essence Predated: 2.8%]
The sensation of filling my stomach.
But this wasn't enough.
At the first taste of this essence, my stomach rumbled and churned.
'The night is long, anyway.'
With much lighter steps, I began my ascent.
* * *
As I moved forward, stepping on rocks large and small, I frequently encountered Porcupine Boars.
Was it because it was night?
The Porcupine Boars' active territory was wider than I remembered.
'All the better.'
Seeing the Porcupine Boars charging at me in a rage, a smile naturally formed on my face.
How wonderful it is when the essences I need to predate fall right into my lap.
[Predating the Porcupine Boar's essence.]
I hadn't been climbing Mount Emirate for long, but I'd already filled over 50% of the essence.
If I had to point out one minor drawback, it would be that the clothes I was wearing were in tatters.
"I didn't think of this."
I gave a bitter smile.
The [Hide] could only protect my skin.
It was a close call even when I was hunting the pack of Silver Fangs.
The dense spines covering the Porcupine Boar's body had torn my clothes to shreds.
It'll be awkward if I run into another Player.
I'll just have to cover my whole body with the hide then.
I didn't dwell on it.
What's done is done. No point worrying about something with no solution.
"Where was that red rock?"
I muttered to myself as I followed the ridge.
There's no need to go to the summit before the full moon rises.
I'm going to take everything I can get before then.
-As you climb Mount Emirate, there's a red rock halfway up. If you go behind it, you'll find a cave. Inside the cave is Vigorous Moss, an ingredient for high-grade potions.
Vigorous Moss is a high-end ingredient, worth about ten million won per root.
A hidden area discovered in the third year of the Tower of Babel.
Players in this run would all have read the guide and memorized it.
It'd be good to dig some up before the competition arrives, right?
'And get some essence while I'm at it.'
I licked my lips and continued my search for the red rock.
As I traversed the mountainside with the moonlight as my lantern, Porcupine Boars charged at me one after another.
[Predating the Porcupine Boar's essence.]
[Essence Predated: 100%]
[You have perfectly absorbed the essence of one species.]
[Strength + 3]
[Toughness + 3]
[Skill - Spines has been added.]
[Spines]
Grade: ★
Type: Active
Creates sharp spines on the skin.
Consumes a small amount of mana.
In the process of searching for the red rock, I managed to fill the Porcupine Boar's essence to 100%.
All the better.
Since it was night, the tutorial points were doubled, making it a triple win.
Killing two birds with one stone.
But the changes didn't stop there.
[The Ironclad Armadillo's essence is reacting to the Porcupine Boar's essence.]
[You can fuse the two essences to create a new skill.]
Skill fusion.
This is what happens when the synergy between essences of similar properties is maximized.
I had already expected this.
Without panicking, I spoke.
"Fuse."
[Thorn Hide]
Grade: ★★
Type: Active
Creates a spined hide on the skin.
Consumes a small amount of mana.
As a test, I deployed [Thorn Hide] on my forearm.
Drrrrt!
A gray hide covered my right arm.
The difference from before was that sharp spines now densely covered the hide.
"Nice."
I muttered, looking at my spine-covered forearm.
The length of the spines was shorter, but their penetration power and durability were higher than the original.
Thump. I lightly tapped the Thorn Hide with my left hand.
'The shock absorption rate has increased.'
A higher level of durability.
Spines that could injure enemies at close range were also added.
Before my regression, I was too cautious and never obtained abilities like this in the tutorial.
Knowing the future is truly...
'The best.'
I smiled.
* * *
I found the red rock around dawn.
Recalling the guide, I went behind the massive boulder.
A crevice just large enough for one person to squeeze through.
I have no idea how anyone discovers these things.
"Excuse me."
I muttered to myself and pushed my body into the crevice.
Inside the rock, there wasn't a single speck of light.
-The Red Rock Cave is a straight path.
-Big Bats reside in the cave. They will attack Players if they see light or hear loud noises, so it is recommended to pass through without provoking them.
-Vigorous Moss is bioluminescent, so it's easy to find.
A strategy revealed in the third year after the Tower of Babel opened.
Naturally, it's knowledge that most Players at this point in time would have memorized.
The standard method is to tread lightly and move forward slowly to gather the Vigorous Moss, but...
I have another purpose here besides the Vigorous Moss.
Thump—Thump— The distinct sound of footsteps echoed loudly through the red cave.
By the time I took my tenth step.
The sound of flapping filled the cave.
"Kieeeeeek!!"
A shriek that pierced my eardrums.
It was the cry of the master of the red cave, the Big Bat.
"Well, that's a fiery welcome."
With my entire body covered in hide, I charged in the direction of the shriek.