novelraw Chapter 83 : Sky Ocean Cruise (2)
Chapter 83 : Sky Ocean Cruise (2)
Chapter 83: Sky Ocean Cruise (2)
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Status windows appeared in succession.
[The ‘Onboard Auction House’ has opened!]
[A golden opportunity to purchase various items necessary for the episode!]
[The currency allowed for bidding is not money, but only specific resources recognized by the organizers.]
[Additionally, several unexpected events may occur during the voyage.]
Wooooong!
Something appeared on the bodies of the passengers.
Accessories shaped like red roses.
Though they varied—rings, necklaces, earrings—they all shared one trait: they stood out.
“Pretty….”
“Wow. It looks expensive. They’re just giving this away?”
Civilians who hadn’t yet grasped the situation were captivated by the accessories.
A beauty on a completely different level from ordinary jewels.
The soft radiance emanating from within the mineral felt as though it was peering into one’s very soul.
However—
“…….”
“Gather the raid team on Deck 2-B.”
“Do not lose the accessories you were just given under any circumstances.”
Hunters who had survived numerous ordeals roughly grasped the nature of this event.
An auction house filled with incredible opportunities.
To obtain what they wanted there, they would need to secure currency.
And naturally—
One or two wouldn’t be enough to place a bid.
In other words, it was a structure where they had to take from others.
Even if it meant taking their lives.
‘Of all things, we got the worst-case scenario.’
Johan clicked his tongue.
Of the five possibilities, this was the most blood-soaked one.
The leisurely cruise of enjoying the sea was officially over.
“Ahaha. Oh, right. I should also tell you about the third episode. Fortunately, just like the second episode, it is limited to a specific region.”
The Administrator waved her hand in the air.
[#Main Episode (3) – ‘Royal Bloodline’.]
Duration: 21 days
Description: The Hestia Empire, a massive force that has long been hostile to humanity due to the Second Impact. The current political situation is extremely unstable and hostile toward humanity.
Objective: Form alliances with factions within the Hestia Empire and guide them to choose coexistence with humanity.
Failure: Within 45 days, the Second War between the Empire and humanity will begin.
The details of the third episode appeared.
A chaotic empire entangled with countless factions and interests.
The key to this episode was deciding who to ally with and which faction to support.
‘If things go wrong here and we trigger the invasion war route, it’s over.’
Even if humanity won the war against the Empire, the damage would be catastrophic—
And they would lose all of the Empire’s core talents.
Even if they somehow made it to the mid-point of the episode, the latter half would be practically impossible to clear.
‘More importantly, the Imperial Princess must never become an enemy.’
If the one with dragon blood stood at the forefront of an invasion war—
Tsk. Just thinking about it made cold sweat run down his hands.
“Johan…-nim.”
“This… is giving me chills. Did you see everyone’s eyes?”
Scarlett and Park Yeri each spoke while scanning their surroundings.
Just as they said, the atmosphere had changed.
Awakened individuals were gathering mana, ready to act at any moment.
“Those affiliated with guilds won’t move recklessly. At least not for now.”
However, for those who would use any means necessary to grow stronger—
That was a different story.
In cases where this event occurred on a cruise ship, at least half the people usually died.
“Let’s go to the cabin.”
For now, they needed a place with a single entrance that was easy to defend.
＊＊＊
[Scarlett activates Skill Lv1 ‘Blood Barrier’!]
Wooooong!
Red inscriptions formed throughout the room.
Any unauthorized intruder would immediately be afflicted with ‘Bleeding’ and ‘Pain Amplification.’
Park Yeri also fortified the spacious VIP room by installing various traps.
With this, even if an entire raid party stormed in, they could hold out.
But then—
Creeeak…
A sound like metal screaming and bending echoed.
KWA-A-A-A-NG!!!
A massive explosion shook the entire ship.
“Ugh!”
“Kyaaa!”
It felt like the ship had flipped over.
An explosion inside?
Or had something collided with the ship?
No way to know.
But instinctively, they could feel it—
The peaceful time was over.
As if proving it—
“Aaaaargh!”
“W-What are those things!?”
Screams tore through the sound of waves.
It was the latter.
Uninvited guests had entered the ship.
“Kiik….”
“Kikik….”
Something scraped against metal with multiple legs.
Creatures began roaming inside, hunting.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A nearby room was breached.
“Aaaah!”
“S-Save me!”
The sounds of fleeing.
Flesh tearing. Blood spraying.
Everything was drenched in red.
“Kiiieeeek….”
Through the broken window, a massive monster filled the corridor.
A 3-meter ‘Armored Crab.’
Both its physical and magical defense exceeded 80.
Its HP surpassed 2,000.
Unless its weak point was precisely targeted, killing it was extremely difficult.
And the bigger problem—
They lived in swarms.
‘At least 200 of them.’
The ship had become a massive nest of Armored Crabs.
KWA-A-A-NG!
The wall shattered as one charged in.
Its mouth was stained red, as if it had just devoured people next door.
“You insolent vermin….”
[Scarlett activates ‘Blood Threads’!]
Shrrr—
Dozens of crimson threads wrapped around the Armored Crab.
Crack!
Crunch…
Its thick shell split, and blood seeped out.
With ‘Pain Amplification,’ its senses were pushed to the extreme.
Boom! Boom!
Park Yeri’s ‘Corpse Explosion’ engulfed the wounds.
But—
“KIIIEEEEK!!!!”
It didn’t stop.
Even as its limbs were torn apart, its instinct to devour prey remained.
[Armored Crab activates Skill ‘Foam’!]
Bloop… bloop…
Transparent bubbles poured out.
The Blood Threads became slippery.
“What…!”
Before she could react, the crab slipped free and lunged.
KWA-A-A-NG!
Its massive claws ravaged the room.
Crunch! Crunch!
“KIIIEEEEK!”
If caught, they’d be nothing more than crab feed.
Johan immediately reorganized his mana.
A newly acquired skill after defeating Gluttony.
[Skill ‘Area Freeze’ is activated!]
A square sheet of ice appeared beneath the crab.
A white boundary about 1 meter wide and tall.
Crack—
Everything within began freezing rapidly.
Next—
[Skill ‘Fire Arrow’ is activated!]
A blazing bow and arrow formed in Johan’s hand.
Basic low-tier skills had 40 attack power.
But lower-tier skills exceeded 120.
Even with double mana consumption, it was worth it.
Thud!
The arrow struck just beneath the crab’s right eye.
“……!!!”
The intense pain burned its eye, freezing it for about a second.
The only spot where [Slow] could be applied.
At the same time—
A small gap opened near its shell.
Its vulnerable flesh and organs were exposed.
[Void Magic ‘Black Flame’ is activated!]
Though it consumed 5 more mana than Black Devourer, its sustained damage was far superior.
Whoosh!
Black flames ignited—
The bow and arrow turned pitch black.
So this is how it feels.
Every cell.
Every last sense burning.
Still at the very beginning of this path—
And yet—
Thump.
His heart raced.
His lips dried with anticipation.
The unknown.
The void.
If he could obtain all the magic and knowledge that existed there—
This time, he would definitely—
‘Reach it.’
The 32nd episode he had failed in every cycle.
And—
Even the final 33rd episode beyond it.
[Skill ‘Acceleration’ is activated!]
A blue magic circle formed around the bow.
A storm surged as the arrow trembled violently.
And then—
Paaang!
The fully drawn arrow was released.
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA!
‘Black Gale.’
A streak of light that incinerated everything along its path.
“Keeeeeeek!”
“Graaaargh!”
Not just the one in front—
But even the Armored Crabs in other rooms were pierced through.
Black embers lingered in the air.
“J-Johan-nim… that ability…”
“How strong have you gotten…?”
Scarlett and Park Yeri stared in a daze.
Even after enduring Blood Threads and traps—
Those monsters were wiped out in a single strike.
It destroyed over five rooms.
The power was beyond imagination.
The hidden class ‘Magus of the Void.’
Indeed, choosing this class had not been a mistake.
Thud.
“Oh?”
Not just one per crab.
Two each.
Some even dropped three.
Johan picked up the red gemstones scattered from the corpses.
[You have obtained 12 ‘Bio Rubies.’]
Their shine and form resembled the accessories given by the Administrator.
These too must be recognized as ‘currency.’
In the end—
Either steal from people or kill monsters.
Though, realistically, the former would be easier.
But then—
Tap tap! Bzzzzt…!
[Ahem…! Passengers. This is the captain of the ship. I will now deliver an emergency announcement. Please listen carefully and follow instructions.]
An announcement echoed from the ceiling.
[Currently, multiple unidentified lifeforms have infiltrated the ship… bzzzzt… bzzzzt…]
The signal was unstable.
It kept cutting in and out.
[…Despite the Hunters’ efforts, maintaining the ship’s safety is impossible… bzzzzt! Therefore… if you wish to live… proceed immediately to B3… the panic room… and hold out until rescue arrives…]
Click.
The broadcast cut off.
“So rescue is coming.”
“L-Let’s go! He said B3, right?”
“Wait.”
Johan stopped them.
“Something bothering you?”
“It’s strange to tell everyone to gather on B3 when Armored Crabs are everywhere.”
The casualties would be enormous.
Normally, they’d designate multiple safe zones—
Or have people stay in their rooms.
But the captain gave only one option.
As if not going there meant certain death.
“Maybe it’s just urgent?”
“Maybe.”
But there was something else.
“The voice sounds different from when he greeted us earlier.”
He had a guess.
But needed time to confirm.
The captain’s scheme.
Murim’s movements.
The Empire’s intentions.
To read the whole board—
He needed to observe.
And then—
There would be a chance to overturn everything.
A chance to sweep up Bio Rubies and accessories.
“Then where do we go? We can’t stay here.”
Park Yeri pointed at the destroyed interior.
The rooms were completely exposed.
To the crabs, they were prey on display.
“We find somewhere safer.”
“Hmph! Leave that to me. As president of the Vampire Girl Scouts, I’ll guide us to the optimal survival location.”
Scarlett stepped forward confidently.
“Can you at least tell us the destination?”
“Trust me.”
“I do… but still—”
Just say where, you damn vampire.
Before I strip you of that ridiculous title.
“This way!”
Ignoring everything, Scarlett marched forward confidently.