novelraw Chapter 120 : Chapter 120
Chapter 120 : Chapter 120
Chapter 120: Sanctuary
‘So this is what it feels like to see it in person.’
The sight unfolding before my eyes was literally otherworldly.
The outermost wall made of rock enclosed the space like a giant dome.
Inside, hundreds of giant trees soared up like pillars from below, weaving their trunks and branches together.
In other words, a structure where trees built the structure themselves.
What I was stepping on was also a branch.
It would be problematic to think of a normal tree branch.
The width alone reached several meters, and its hardness was no different from ordinary rock floors.
A giant tree city hidden inside a rock cave.
A soft green light spreading through the grain of the wood filled the surroundings gently.
This place was the Sanctuary.
The center of the mountain and the birthplace of the guardians, situated deep below the summit, Baengnokdam.
The breath of the trees was felt.
The ground, the air, and the faint beams of light were all connected as part of the existence called Hallasan.
I was lost for words for a moment at that sight.
‘Hmm, it’s huge.’
It’s a bit embarrassing that this is the only appreciation I can come up with while looking at this sight.
I should have read more books.
This place is originally a hidden dungeon.
Access itself is impossible through normal routes; a special method was required.
I arrived at once using mimicry, but based on the original game standards, it was virtually bug-like play.
Because the system of copying the target’s passive as is didn’t exist in the game.
If there was a concept of a developer, I might have been subjected to an emergency patch.
Anyway, I arrived.
Now it was time to find the item.
I looked around slowly.
Giant trunks connected like walls, and countless branches connecting between them extended like roads.
Various guardians appeared above them.
From the basic tree-human type guardian I am currently mimicking, to forms reminiscent of golems, quadrupedal types close to beasts, and even insect-type entities climbing tree trunks were visible.
It was a mechanism where such variant entities appeared the stronger the intruder was judged to be, and the closer one got to the summit.
At that moment, a bizarre sound was heard directly above my head.
Gurgle, gurgle-
Looking up following the sound, something caught my eye under the branch hanging over my head.
Green pouches hanging like fruits.
They were filled with squirming liquid, and something was wriggling inside.
Soon, the fruit pouch trembled slightly.
RIIIP-!
The outer skin split open and water poured down.
‘Ugh.’
If I had been a little more to the side, I would have been drenched in water.
After all the water flowed out, something fell to the floor with a dull thud.
It was a reconstructed guardian after destruction.
The wooden human shook its shoulders, clenched and unclenched its fists, examining its own body.
‘So it was like this.’
Reconstruction.
I, too, had gone through that process to be in this spot right now.
According to the lore, guardians are agents of the mountain, and even if destroyed, transcendent power repairs their bodies.
The effect of the passive merely displayed that construction process systematically.
‘It would be nice if I could keep using it.’
An ability that retrieves and regenerates you if you get beaten by an intruder, how fraudulent is that?
But unfortunately, this trait is limited to the range of Hallasan.
It means it’s literally useless in places where the mountain’s power doesn’t reach.
WHIIISH-!
The guardian reborn next to me suddenly jumped down.
Anyone watching might think the guardian was committing suicide, but that wasn’t the case.
A swirling portal was shining below.
‘Warp.’
Passing through that portal allows one to return directly to the outside of Hallasan. Specifically, towards the summit area.
That was the reason guardians could immediately return to chase the intruder again even after being ruthlessly destroyed.
Originally, I too should have thrown my body into that portal to stop Lee Junhyeok who destroyed me.
‘Can’t do that.’
I plan to engage in sabotage as a guardian.
Whether protecting the mountain or not, that’s none of my business.
My goal is only one.
To get my hands on the desired object.
I carefully moved along the branch.
Pretending to patrol the surroundings so as not to look awkward.
Every time I moved a step, I felt gazes from somewhere.
The feeling that other guardians kept looking at me.
It was fortunate that I was in guardian state.
If I were the human Ryu Jinwoo, cold sweat might be trickling down by now.
‘Stop staring……!’
Since most guardians were standing still without moving, it seemed just walking made me stand out.
But that doesn't mean my disguise was blown, so let's calm down for now; I practiced mind control.
Above all, mimicry time is not infinite, so I had to achieve the goal as quickly as possible.
‘It should be nearby.’
There is only one thing I am looking for.
The center of the Sanctuary, the most gigantic tree.
And not long after, it caught my eye.
Overwhelming size that couldn't even be compared to other trees.
A magnificent silhouette was revealed between layers of hanging branches.
‘There it is.’
The central sacred tree was visible at a point roughly tens of meters away.
The problem is how to get there.
In the game, pressing direction keys and jump keys somehow worked, but now that it became reality, the movement route was quite difficult.
It seemed it would take a lot of time to move from branch to branch one by one.
Falling into contemplation was brief.
I saw some movement from afar.
It was a guardian.
And moving using vines hanging from tree trunks as ropes.
‘That’s it.’
Long vine stems were attached to every tree.
I thought they were cumbersome as they kept getting caught on my feet, but they had such use.
I pulled a thickly extended stem to check the tension, then loaded my body onto it.
SWISH-!
My body rode down between the branches.
‘This is nice?’
As the wind brushed past, my vision opened up wide.
I felt like Tarzan.
Being careful not to crash in between was a struggle, but there was a strangely addictive part.
Moving while transferring between a few vines like that, the giant central tree was right in front of my nose before I knew it.
Overwhelming magnificence where the width filled my vision completely and the height went up endlessly.
If I had ample time, I would have wanted to admire it for a while, but now was not the time to be leisurely.
As I descended to the bottom of the central tree, a structure made of glowing stones appeared.
A bizarre building that looked like a temple or a fortress.
Above it, a natural beam of light continued straight up to the ceiling way up high.
‘I’m here. I’m here……!’
Finally.
I went down instantly riding a branch.
Whether guardians stare at me or not is none of my business now.
The Altar of the Sanctuary.
I must secure the item hidden here.
I caught my breath for a moment in front of the entrance and approached slowly.
Guardian’s steps.
Guardian’s presence.
Current me wasn’t an intruder.
In this form, no one suspects me.
Guardians can freely enter and exit the Altar of the Sanctuary.
I peeked inside through the gap of the open stone door.
Inside was a spacious area.
On one side was an altar where soft light settled, and on the opposite side stood a giant sentinel of bizarre form.
Skin made of hard wood, curved wings and hardened horns, and a sturdy jawline.
‘Guardian Colossus of the Mountain.’
A guardian taking the shape of a gargoyle was situated there.
The Guardian Colossus was revealing its intimidating presence without hiding it.
An existence that immediately eliminates intruders judged to have approached.
Although it is staring piercingly at me, staying quiet until now must be thanks to recognizing me as kin.
What if by any chance I end up fighting that guy?
I started imagining but stopped soon.
No matter what, what’s not gonna happen won’t happen.
The possibility of winning converges to zero.
There is no reason to fight either.
‘Let’s quickly grab it and quickly bounce.’
I moved my feet towards the altar with a natural gait.
In front of me, several guardians were kneeling and lining up below the altar.
Cutting through the dim space, a thin beam of light fell from the ceiling.
PLOP-
Something fell onto a guardian’s hand.
It was an object like a well-trimmed fragment.
The guardian carefully lifted it and put it in its mouth.
The moment it swallowed, a soft light spread from its body, and the guy soon stood up quietly and walked outside.
Acts performed like a reverent ritual.
And for me, it was an excellent manual.
From now on, I just have to act like them.
Thinking about it again, it was fortunate that guardians didn't have hearts.
If I had one, how much would it be pounding right now.
Sending off the passing guardians, I stood in front of the altar.
I reached out my hand.
As my hand cast a shadow over the light beam, a minute ripple spread over the water gathered on the altar.
Then the light began to shake carefully, and a thin crack appeared.
And from that gap.
PLOP-
A small stone fell.
A rock, small but with a strangely significant presence.
Faint light leaked from inside the silver-gray surface.
An object that naturally captivates the eye.
DING-!
[Moonlight Stone]
[Moonlight Stone: A gem reminiscent of moonlight reflecting on the surface of Baengnokdam. It seems a special effect will manifest on days when the full moon rises.]
‘Got it!’
I obtained it.
Securing the mimicry condition by destroying a guardian, fighting entangled with Lee Junhyeok in that state, and coming here through the passive…….
After going through all kinds of chaos, I finally arrived here.
I obtained the desired object.
Now only one task remained.
Going outside and throwing my body into the warp portal below like other guardians.
That’s right, bouncing.
I turned around with satisfaction.
It was the moment I started moving towards the door.
RUMBLE-!
Along with a heavy vibration, the open stone door closed.
‘Uh?’
The door closed completely, and silence coiled around.
CREAK- SCREECH-
Subsequently, the Guardian Colossus of the Mountain, which hadn't moved a bit until now, raised its head.
‘What? What is it?’
I’m bewildered.
The Guardian Colossus moved its massive body.
The giant body, seemingly filling the surroundings, took magnificent steps and approached this way.
‘…….’
Don’t tell me, I got caught?
I instinctively gripped the Moonlight Stone and thought.
No, that can’t be.
If my identity had been revealed, guardians would have rushed at me as soon as I arrived at the Sanctuary.
But didn't I come here safely?
It meant it still recognizes me as a guardian.
Then why is this colossus approaching me?
‘Don’t tell me.’
I looked at the Mimic.
DING-!
[Body Transformation: 100%]
[00:01:59]
‘This isn’t it either?’
Mimicry isn’t wearing off either.
It’s close, but about 2 minutes remained.
If time was short, I would have boldly given up the item and thrown myself into the warp.
In other words, the calculation wasn’t wrong.
I obtained the Moonlight Stone, and now I just need to ride the portal, naturally move to the high grounds of Hallasan, and finish the midterm evaluation well.
But the door closed, and the Guardian Colossus is coming towards me with suspicious eyes.
‘What is the problem, exactly.’
I calmly began to examine the closed door closely.
No gaps, no other exits.
Since it closed like that, there is no way to open it from my side.
‘No detours, of course.’
This is a place made to not let intruders in, and at the same time, not let them out.
Moreover, detecting strangeness and closing the door means the Guardian Colossus manages the door directly.
That means, soon, I can only leave if the Guardian Colossus opens it itself, or if I defeat it by force.
‘……1 minute left. Mimicry.’
Emergency, it’s an emergency.
[00:01:13]
Exactly 73 seconds left until mimicry wears off.
The moment it becomes 0, I return to the human Ryu Jinwoo again.
I become recognized as an intruder in this place and immediately become a target for elimination.
‘I’m f*cked.’
What on earth is the problem.
Go back to your spot quickly and guard it!
And open the door again, hurry!
I shouted like crazy inwardly.
But the Guardian Colossus, unaware of my feelings, approached steadfastly.
And super slowly while acting heavy.
At this rate, I had to prepare for the worst.
‘Wait, isn’t it fine if I destroy my body?’
I suddenly realized.
I am a guardian right now.
If I get destroyed to a combat-incapable state, the power of Hallasan will reconstruct me again.
Then I can escape this space for now.
[Reconstruction: If destroyed by an intruder, returns to the sanctuary to reconstruct the body.]
Of course, the phrase ‘by an intruder’ bothers me a little, but attempting it first…….
THUD-!
But it failed spectacularly from the first attempt.
The moment I tried to plunge the spear into my own body, something like an invisible barrier reacted.
As if not permitting acts that harm oneself like self-harm or suicide.
‘It doesn’t work.’
Well, there’s no way an existence called Guardian of the Mountain, molded by the mountain’s will, would be designed to die by its own hand.
The instruction ‘by an intruder’ written in the passive might also be related to this.
Anyway, it means I have to find another way.
‘Mimicking a guardian once more is impossible.’
One cannot mimic the same target consecutively.
There is a cooldown.
Of course, mimicking a different target immediately is possible.
But now that the guy is openly staring at me, would changing form have any meaning?
“Wooooooo-”
At the moment I was racking my brain, a bizarre sound echoed from the Guardian Colossus’s body.
If I were in human state, it would have just sounded like a heavy instrument sound, but to me in guardian state right now, the meaning was conveyed.
[Stigma confirmed. System error detected.]
Like this.
If I had an expression right now, it would have crumpled properly.
System error, what on earth is that.
It was then.
SIZZLE-!
A burning sound spread.
It was from my chest area.
‘This is?’
Looking down, a red pattern slowly emerged on the tree bark skin.
It was a brand seared as if by a red-hot iron.
‘What is this all of a sudden?’
At the same time, there was a scene flashing through my mind.
That time when I was destroyed by Lee Junhyeok, the hot sensation felt in my chest.
‘I did feel something like a hot stamp.’
If the thought occurring now is correct, this is a mark of defeat.
A failure mark left by the guardian system.
Then don’t tell me.
‘If one doesn’t chase again after being defeated by an intruder, it’s sabotage and an error?’
The image of the guys throwing their bodies into the portal down there as soon as they were reconstructed next to me came to mind.
And even the gazes that followed every time I walked the path.
Don’t tell me, the meaning of all those gazes was the look watching a wage thief?
‘How am I supposed to know such a system exists, damn it.’
Subsequently, a heavy resonance burst out from the Guardian Colossus’s body.
“Wooooo-!”
To ears in guardian state, it was heard clearly.
It meant this.
[Processing abnormal entity.]
The guy started lifting a giant axe slowly.
[00:00:01]
To make matters worse, the timer ran towards the end.
The giant shadow of the Guardian Colossus cast over me, and the moment the timer reached 0.
DING-!
[Mimicry is released.]
Like peeling tree bark, the guardian’s outer skin fell off rapidly from my whole body.
Sensations of skin regaining flesh color and joints returning to human structure rushed in consecutively.
With a burst of breath, my gaze turned upward.
The Guardian Colossus was looking down at me.
“Wooooooooo-!”
The guy made a new sound.
Although I couldn't understand it anymore.
‘Intruder discovered, commencing elimination,’ wouldn't it mean something like that roughly.
One thing is certain.
That it is slamming down an axe on the crown of my head in real-time.
Damn it.