ALL NOVEL Chapter 32
Chapter 32 – Miracle of the Outskirts (2)
‘Essence of Monster.’
While I was haphazardly searching for game items online in hopes of finding something to awaken the hidden potential of the residents, I stumbled upon something that made me think, “Could this be it?”
It’s the Essence of Monster, an item that drops with a certain probability from nests created by boss monsters in the game.
Monsters, existing just to enjoy their whims without any defined purpose in this sandbox-style game, are one of the biggest threats to players and serve various objectives for achievement.
The Essence of Monster is pure energy that artificially generates such monsters. The item obtained by defeating the cave goblin shaman that awakened Barun’s shaman trait is also of a similar type.
If I could get my hands on this, could it potentially awaken the latent traits of the residents? I felt it was worth a try, so I logged into the game right away.
‘Going solo against the monster nest is a bit inadequate.’
I decided to bring the residents along because I judged that in my current state, it would be tough to take on the nest alone.
Monsters that appeared in the field might allow for respawns while dying repeatedly, but nests have the ability to regenerate the HP of monsters, making infinite respawns with weak weapons impossible.
Taking on not just the boss monster but all the surrounding mooks would require armor and weapons made from ores that are stronger than iron, but the problem is that even now, with many mines developed, those higher-grade ores haven’t come out easily.
Clearly, adjustments have been made by the Master Program to prevent materials like adamantium or titanium from reaching the residents in large quantities.
After all, the objective is to grow the Guardians and stop the bugs, so I can’t understand why there are such restrictions.
Of course, it’s possible that it wasn’t a deliberate constraint, but rather an unavoidable adjustment.
“—!”
“– —.”
Fortunately, it seemed the residents understood my intention to go fight together. They hurriedly gathered their armor and weapons and quickly rode up to me.
It feels like they are overly cautious of my reactions even though I don’t think I’ve ever scared or threatened them… But then again, when I enlarge my character’s square-shaped face, even I tend to look away in embarrassment, so I can’t blame them too much.
‘Their combat power is sufficient.’
As I took the lead to guide the way, I observed them fighting. This includes not just here but also their struggles against hostile tribes outside.
Although they have traits that don’t relate to combat such as miners or farmers, they are fundamentally capable of fighting. They are strong enough to defeat field monsters, which are weaker than the ones living underground or in special terrains.
“Just to defeat those guys…”
It had been about 20 minutes of real-time. As I ran around without rest, I discovered a target worth pursuing.
At the same time, the grassland-like plains vanished, immediately transforming into a desert with sand blocks scattered everywhere.
I sighed as I gazed at the distant enemies. Desert ratmen, giant bipedal rodent monsters. In reality, these were such pathetic monsters that I hardly paid them any mind in the game.
They don’t drop good items, and with just one high-tier item, mass slaughter is possible. However, right now, the situation was different.
From now on, we would have to wage war against those guys.
‘They got it.’
I aimed the sword in my hand at the enemies and swung it around. Following my lead, the residents picked up their weapons, their expressions stiff, as if they understood what I meant.
‘Of course, there’s no need to risk a cavalry charge.’
Seeing their determined faces, I nodded my character’s head and put the sword back into my inventory.
Then, in front of their bewildered faces, I picked up a considerable amount of stone blocks that I had prepared earlier.
We were going to fight, but the enemies also wield weapons and fought in groups. If any of the residents got hurt or—God forbid—died, that would be a significant loss.
At that moment, the enemies that came into contact with the residents became actual monsters, losing their HP and damage calculations, so I quickly planned to create a safe location for them to fight.
“—?”
Of course, while it seemed like they would charge in right away, they hesitated at my actions. However, as I charged forward with stone blocks, they hurriedly chased after me.
*
“What in the world is going on? What should we do…”
“Be quiet! Just follow my lead!”
Koon suppressed his panicking colleague and took off running. He thought he would charge in right away, but instead, he put away his sword and approached the enemies barehanded.
‘Could it be!’
Koon soon realized his intention. As the enemies recognized them and charged, he repeatedly jumped and began to pound the stone blocks he held into the ground like crazy.
With a series of thuds, the stone blocks quickly formed a small wall. Even as he took damage from arrows shot by the ratmen while having arrows stuck in his body, he continued stacking stone blocks to create a makeshift bunker.
“Shoot your arrows!”
The residents, still bewildered, instinctively grabbed one of their weapons—their bows—and began shooting arrows at the charging enemies from behind the wall.
The shabby weapons in their hands might as well have been equipped with gigantic fangs capable of crushing bones, and the sudden stone wall halted the beasts in their tracks, impaling them right away.
The ratmen also shot arrows in retaliation, but unlike them, the hastily built stone wall blocked most of their arrows aimed at the residents.
‘They can use their abilities like this.’
Among the residents shooting back at the incoming enemies was Morin. A young man from the slums, Morin had been here long enough to have awakened his trait—Transporter.
When he touches small fallen items, they transform into real-world objects, allowing him to literally pick up and move items as items. Plus, he has even mastered the ability to turn them back into game items.
Using stone blocks and wooden blocks to make towers or walls became one of Morin’s main responsibilities.
The problem is that even if he uses his abilities to interact with game items, the physical toll remains the same. Setting up a small stone block drains his stamina as if he had just moved a heavy rock.
That’s why doing it at the extreme speed that Morin was now was impossible. But just showing that it was possible was a huge shock for him.
While it’s a very common tactic in-game against monsters, the idea of being able to freely alter the terrain of his fighting ground is not something that could be easily conceived in reality.
“They’ve all fallen. Charge!”
Soon, the residents took cover behind the safe wall and suppressed all the enemies with arrows. After he broke down the wall surrounding them, they all jumped out together and charged at the empty nest of the enemies to take down the panicked boss.
“That guy is the leader.”
“Get him!”
Well-armed soldiers stormed the nest. Remaining few ratmen, along with the giant ratman who was their leader, had now become desperate creatures fighting for survival rather than programmed monsters.
However, that worked against the ratmen. The roaring giant ratman swung his club at the rushing front liners, and all he achieved was to stagger backward from the damage he took.
Instead, he cried out as arrow after arrow struck him everywhere, the pain being one of the major weaknesses gained for becoming a living creature.
“Pierce him!”
As the frontliners drew the enemy’s attention and absorbed attacks, they took damage. Koon used an item to restore his HP while the others held off the surrounding mooks. Just then, Koon and a few others charged in with spears to cut off the giant ratman’s breath.
“Koon! Step on it and jump!”
Morin placed a stone block right in front of the rushing Koon. He’d picked it up while breaking down the bunker.
Koon, already gaining speed, had no time to contemplate as he jumped with all his strength onto the block taller than his knee, propelling himself forward with all his might.
The spear’s tip was aimed straight at the giant’s weak spot over 2 meters tall.
‘I got him.’
Seeing the spear puncture the neck of the enemy, something he never expected, Koon couldn’t help but grin as he fell to the ground. It was more exhilarating than the pain radiating from his body.
“You okay!?”
“We won! We took them all out.”
Other teammates hurried over to Koon’s side. All enemies had been defeated. Not a single person, including those who suffered serious injuries, had died.
‘Dropped.’
Meanwhile, the one observing through the screen also got what he wanted.
One item dropped from the dead giant ratman. A blue orb the size of a tennis ball.
“What the heck do I do with this?”
“Shouldn’t you pick it up? Give it a try.”
He handed over the Essence of Monster to the residents. They murmured upon seeing the ambiguous item he spat out, but soon Morin stepped up to grasp it in his hand.
“I feel something, but that’s about it?”
Nothing happened. Morin had already awakened his hidden potential.
‘Maybe I should keep it safe.’
However, Morin nodded, tucking it neatly into the bag he had brought along. Satisfied with this, he started to point toward the bomb shelter they had come from.
“I mean we should go back. The sun is setting already, so we should hurry before the monsters come out.”
Koon understood that and quickly mounted his horse. While they had achieved victory against the monsters, they hadn’t plundered any food, weapons, or loot.
However, they were confident they had gained something from this battle. Just knowing that they had successfully carried out their mission as he wished was enough for them.
The more goodwill they showed him, the more he would surely provide them with greater rewards.
‘Having gained something, it’s time to test it out.’
That confidence was not unfounded. He had already shifted his gaze to the home screen, planning the next steps. If successful, a cycle would be completed—artificially awakening and training the potential of the villagers.