Chapter 14: Phase 2 (5)

Comments refreshing the auction house.

The overall reaction was chaos itself.

-What on earth is an elite monster?

-It’s on a whole different level from zombies!

-It’s a truly unbelievable monster. In our area, over dozens of people have already died.

-Is there any way to take this thing down?

Surprise, confusion, shock, and so on.

Reactions conveying various emotions.

These were similar to the impressions Han-seong had when he first saw the elite monster.

-Elite monsters in Phase 2…

-It really feels like we’ve entered some kind of game.

-No, it’s not. If it were a game, there’d at least be a respawn function, but we don’t even have that now.

↳ Just think of it as hardcore mode.

↳ This isn’t the time for jokes, so shut up.

After checking additional comments, Han-seong learned that elite monsters had appeared worldwide.

Well, given that the area of appearance was 100km², it seemed that a larger number of elite monsters than expected were roaming this world.

But does that include ocean areas too?

If so, the number would be far beyond imagination.

As an ominous feeling suddenly crept over him, Han-seong swallowed hard. Just then, a notification appeared saying that a new item had been registered.

[Item for Sale]: Soul Stone of the Monstrous Bird

[Starting Bid]: 1,900 Coins

[Immediate Purchase Price]: 5,000 Coins

“What? A soul stone?”

Han-seong’s eyes widened in surprise.

He couldn’t help it. The soul stone was loot dropped by elite monsters.

The fact that this was registered as an item meant that someone had defeated an elite monster.

Not long after, other survivors also realized this fact and began to leave comments.

-What’s a monstrous bird’s soul stone?

-Wait, it says elite monster, doesn’t it?

-What? Then that means they subjugated one?!

-They defeated an elite monster?

-Can you share some information please?

As comments updated rapidly like a flood, the seller left a comment.

[Seller]: The monstrous bird is a monster that flies through the sky and spits out highly acidic poison.

[Seller]: It has a characteristic of persistently targeting women and children.

[Seller]: When attacking survivors, it’s often in the air, but it always descends to the ground when devouring its prey.

The seller elaborated on the information about the monstrous bird in as much detail as possible. Watching this, Han-seong belatedly realized something.

“So it’s not just the Collector.”

He had thought all elite monsters were Collectors, but it seems there are quite a few types.

By the way, a monster that flies through the sky.

What if such a thing appeared where Han-seong was living? And if it had detected his current location and attacked?

It would have been difficult to defend against, for sure.

Unlike when dealing with the Collector, the decoy dummy wouldn’t work. He probably would have died, unable to cope, with high probability.

As he involuntarily shuddered, survivors continued to ask questions.

↳ But how did you really catch it?

↳ Attacks didn’t work at all, did they?

↳ Something about a big level gap…

Level gap? Was there such a thing?

Han-seong tilted his head in confusion. Just then, the seller reappeared and replied.

[Seller]: The monstrous bird is a level 20 monster.

[Seller]: If there’s a level gap of 10 or more with the target, there’s a possibility that skill activation will be canceled.

[Seller]: And if there’s a level gap of 5 or more with the target, the skill itself activates normally, but its effect may be reduced.

According to the seller, if there’s a certain level difference with the target, various penalties are imposed.

On the other hand, when Han-seong faced the Collector, he was level 19, so he didn’t receive any penalties. In fact, the impact was just less powerful, but it wasn’t ineffective.

But then a comment of rebuttal was posted.

↳ I think that analysis is a bit off.

↳ Who are you?

↳ We are a survivor group based in Heidelberg Castle, Germany.

↳ We just retreated after facing an elite monster, and my skills didn’t work at all.

↳ Your level must have been low.

↳ No. I’m a level 12 sniper.

If what the German survivor was saying was true, it contradicted the seller’s words.

As other survivors began to offer their opinions on this, the seller immediately replied.

[Seller]: You can’t just attack recklessly.

[Seller]: Just as zombies have a weak point in their head, elite monsters also have weak points.

Han-seong agreed with this statement.

There was a significant difference between when he targeted the Collector’s weak point and when he didn’t.

Meanwhile, survivors asked how to find the weak points, and soon an answer came.

[Seller]: You need to use a skill that identifies weak points. These skills are mainly found in assassin, sniper, and mage job classes.

↳ Unfortunately, I don’t have such a skill.

↳ Then what do we do?

[Seller]: In that case, the only way is to have a survivor with a level gap of less than 10 strike all body parts to figure it out.

This was the method Han-seong had first thought of.

Survivors asked if there was no other way, but the seller just repeated the same answer.

Then a new question was posted.

↳ Does the level gap also affect stealth skills being detected? My companion was a sniper, but he was discovered and killed while using a stealth skill.

Han-seong’s eyes lit up when he saw this.

The question that had just been posted was similar to the doubt he had been harboring.

I was detected too, after all.

Open Map’s special function, Precise Observation.

While observing the survivor group in the underground shopping mall through this, Han-seong was detected by the Collector as being watched.

So he waited for the seller’s reply with vague expectations, and soon an answer came.

[Seller]: I’m not certain, but I suspect that stealth or clone skills being detected is affected by the skill level.

↳ Skill level? You mean the level of the skill itself that increases every 10 levels?

[Seller]: That’s right. Currently, most survivors’ skills are at level 1 or 2. On the other hand, all elite monsters’ skills are at level 3.

“Ah, so that’s why I was detected.”

It was a plausible analysis.

The moment he heard the seller’s opinion, the doubt floating in his mind was instantly resolved.

Han-seong nodded silently.

Along with that came admiration.

This person has good insight.

To glean this much information from a battle with an elite monster, and from just one battle at that.

The survivors with this person must surely feel reassured. With such keen insight, it would definitely be advantageous for future survival.

↳ By the way, what achievement did you get?

↳ Right. It seems like we get a new achievement notification for everything we do.

↳ First to subjugate an elite monster, wow…

↳ Can I ask what reward you received?

Various questions continued to follow, and the seller answered them step by step.

[Seller]: The reward for subjugating an elite monster is 1,000 Coins, distributed according to contribution. And as for loot, we obtained a skillbook and a soul stone.

[Seller]: However, we didn’t achieve the first subjugation achievement. It seems there’s a survivor group that subjugated one before us.

At those words, Han-seong smiled awkwardly.

It was Han-seong himself who had achieved the first subjugation achievement the seller mentioned.

Meanwhile, the reactions in the comments were skeptical.

↳ There’s a group that subjugated one before you?

↳ But why aren’t they posting anything?

↳ It’s not right to hide information when we should all be working together to overcome this crisis.

↳ Maybe they died while fighting?

↳ Or they could be unconscious.

Suspicion, criticism, and even guesses close to the truth.

Watching these various reactions, Han-seong realized something.

That’s right. It would be better to disclose the information.

The battle he had experienced.

Sharing the information and conjectures gained from this process would be helpful to survivors in other regions.

Belatedly realizing this, Han-seong was about to write a comment recalling his battle with the Collector.

But at that moment, a post by the seller caught Han-seong’s attention.

[Seller]: If the first subjugator is reading this post, I have something I’d like to say.

Huh? You have something to say to me?

Han-seong watched the seller’s post with slightly widened eyes. Soon, a reply followed.

[Seller]: I am the leader of a survivor group based at Los Angeles Airport.

[Seller]: If you are a survivor in the western United States, I’d like to request that you join us. After all, it’s better to be in a larger group than a small one.

“Ahaha, that’s a bit…”

Realistically, it would be very difficult.

Not only because of the distance, but also because Han-seong was currently in a situation where he couldn’t freely go outside.

So he didn’t even feel particularly regretful.

Some time after that, no more posts from the seller appeared, and survivors also stopped mentioning questions related to the monstrous bird.

Instead, other posts started to appear.

-Does anyone know information about the Giant Rock Monster?

-Urgently seeking the Butcher’s weak point. Will compensate!

-How the hell do you deal with this Human-faced Fish bastard?

Comments asking for information about elite monsters.

More than 90% were question posts, but occasionally there were replies. These were replies from other survivors who had encountered the monsters mentioned in the questions.

Just then, a question that Han-seong could answer was posted.

-Does anyone know where the weak point of the elite monster called the Collector is?

-If you do, please let us know.

-Half of our companions have died. At this rate, we might be completely wiped out…

Elite monster, Collector.

Seeing the question, Han-seong immediately wrote a reply based on his experience.

↳ The weak point is the contact surface where the victim’s head is attached to the Collector’s body. If you target and attack that area, you should be able to take it down.

↳ Ah! Thank you. We’ll try that.

↳ Wow, looks like this person also succeeded in subjugation.

↳ What kind of monster is the Collector? I’d like to know for reference in case I encounter one later.

Then a series of replies followed below.

To this, Han-seong carefully wrote down everything he knew. Hoping it would be of help to other survivors.

↳ I agree with the opinion above.

↳ We also faced a Collector, and it was almost exactly as described above.

↳ What loot did you get?

↳ Unfortunately, just a few Coins. That’s because the one who actually took down the Collector on our side was essentially a person called the Mage of Fire Thunder.

Then someone sympathized with Han-seong’s words and mentioned the existence of the Mage of Fire Thunder.

But every time the other person described the Mage, Han-seong felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.

A Mage who uses spreading fire and lightning.

It was a skill with effects very similar to Tinder and Call Lightning, which Han-seong mainly used. Han-seong muttered with a face that seemed to wonder if it could be.

“…Surely it’s not talking about me?”

Such a thought suddenly occurred to him, but he soon burst into laughter. It must be a coincidence. The world is wide and there are many survivors.

Also, just looking at the Collector alone, it seems to have appeared in at least twenty different places.

That many survivors had replied saying they would refer to the information.

“Alright. This should be enough.”

Han-seong smiled with satisfaction after writing down the information about the Collector in as much detail as possible.

Then, just as he was about to start browsing the auction house in earnest, suddenly a loud fireworks sound rang out along with a flashy guide message.

[10 Elite Monsters Subjugated!]

[A special event (2nd) will be held!]

[Don’t miss out on the limited quantity products.]

It’s here!

Han-seong’s eyes lit up brightly.

The sale of limited products had begun, just like when he obtained the Inventory skill.

There are three registered products in total.

Like last time, there was only a starting bid price, and no immediate purchase price was written.

However, there was no problem.

That’s because Han-seong had a voucher that could immediately purchase limited products. So he looked over the products with a more relaxed mind.

[Item for Sale]: Memorizing Ring

Acquisition Condition: 2nd Tier, 2-Star Rank

[Starting Bid]: 3,000 Coins

[Immediate Purchase Price]: No limit

“This is…”

The first product was a quite worn-out ring.

It was an antique that you might see in a museum.

And the effect of storing skills. It’s the same function as the bracelet Han-seong is currently wearing.

But it’s not as good as my bracelet.

Unlike the bracelet that can store up to three skills, the ring was specified to be able to store only one skill.

A clearly inferior product.

Moreover, the caution written at the bottom of the product completely dropped Han-seong’s desire to purchase.

[Caution]

▷The effects of all equipment in the Memorizing series do not stack.

In other words, even if he bought the ring, he wouldn’t be able to use its function. After all, the bracelet Han-seong owned was also named Memorizing Bracelet.

With no reason to buy the ring, Han-seong turned his gaze to the next product without hesitation.

[Item for Sale]: Infinity Shotgun

The second limited product was a double-barrel shotgun commonly seen in games or movies.

The effect was also simple and clear.

“The magazine is infinitely loaded?”

That’s not all.

Every time the shotgun is fired at an enemy, it’s treated as an attack skill influenced by the user’s skill level, according to the explanation.

This surely means it can inflict effective damage even on monsters.

It’s certainly an attractive weapon, but…

It was of no use to Han-seong.

It would need to be fired at close range to the target, but he had no occasion to go outside in the first place.

Although it was a bit regrettable, if there’s no use for it, it’s a useless item. Han-seong shook off his lingering attachment and looked at the last product.

[Item for Sale]: Skillbook – Replica

Job Restriction: Mage, Alchemist

Acquisition Condition: 3rd Tier, 3-Star Rank

The third product was a skillbook.

Fortunately, it was a type that mages could learn. Han-seong opened the detailed description of the skillbook.

[Skillbook: Replica]

▷You can create and control elite grade or higher monsters as familiars. However, the soul stone of the corresponding individual is needed to create a Replica.

▶Limited Quantity: 1

I was wondering where to use the soul stone of an elite monster, so this is where it’s used.

Han-seong wore an expression of understanding.

At the same time, he repeatedly went over the explanation of the Replica skill.

Creating an elite monster as a subordinate, huh.

It seems quite useful.

He could send it out to hunt zombies or use it as an escort.

Or he could order it to bring items that are outside the collection range of the inventory. The ways to utilize it were endless.

“This is the best one after all.”

Although it was written that it could only be learned from the 3rd tier onwards, there was no problem. He would be able to reach the 3rd tier soon enough by repeating meditation.

Han-seong ended his deliberation.

“I’ll buy this.”

If only the limited product purchase voucher didn’t have an expiration date, he would have watched a bit more before deciding.

But unfortunately, there was an expiration date, and furthermore, it was uncertain when limited products would be registered in the auction house again.

So it would be better to use it safely now.

[Do you want to use the purchase voucher?]

[The product will be purchased immediately.]

Han-seong touched the button.

[You have purchased the product.]

Right after purchasing the limited product.

Comments exploded.

-Huh? What? It’s sold?

-Wow, it really is.

-How did it sell when immediate purchase isn’t possible?

-It’s a bug. Lol I’m reporting this.

Most reactions showed doubt.

However, there was no reason to answer them, so Han-seong just left the auction house. It was to examine the skillbook in more detail.

But there was a problem.

“What’s this now? Materials?”

It was about the materials needed to create a Replica.

He thought he only needed a soul stone, but reading the skillbook revealed that wasn’t the case. Han-seong narrowed his eyes as he looked at the materials.

Materials needed to create a Replica

▶Soul stone of elite grade or higher

▷Essential materials for body composition

↳ 500L of purified water

↳ 340g of iron

↳ 920g of potassium nitrate

↳ 42L of ammonia

There were twenty-five necessary materials.

Moreover, he had no idea where to get some of these materials. Faced with this unexpected variable, Han-seong muttered in exasperation.

“Why are so many materials needed…”

If I had known this, I wouldn’t have bought it.

Feeling somewhat cheated, he frowned, when a phrase written at the very bottom caught his eye.

-However, if the body of the individual that becomes the model for the Replica exists, the above materials can be omitted.

The model for the Replica?

In Han-seong’s case, it was the Collector. He only had the Collector’s soul stone anyway. More importantly, if the model’s body exists, the materials aren’t needed?

The moment this occurred to him.

Han-seong’s eyes widened.

The Collector’s body!

Come to think of it, unlike zombies that always turned into ashes, he remembered that the Collector’s body was in a relatively intact state.

Han-seong quickly looked out the window.

Perhaps because not even a day had passed, the Collector’s body was still in fairly good condition. Although it was quite battered, its form was still recognizable.

So he immediately took action.

[Activating skill.]

[Remote: Inventory (Storage)]

[Storing all items at the coordinates.]

Fortunately, the Collector’s body was within the collection range, and Han-seong was able to successfully put it into his inventory.

The problem was that by storing the Collector, the inventory became full. But since he had already taken out all the food in advance, there was no need to worry.

“Now it’s really just meditation.”

To rank up to the 3rd tier as soon as possible, if only to turn the Collector into a Replica. With renewed determination, Han-seong immediately began meditating.

Continuing without rest until daybreak.