Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 152

A sharp sound rang out, and I felt something warm on my back.

I quickly rolled forward once more and checked behind me. Dozens of Dark Assassins were protecting me, engaging the Dungeon Units.

Damn it! I almost got cut in half.

‘Kiaaaa… Kiaaaak!’

‘Kaang… Kaaang!’

“Shit! Corrupted Warrior Clone skill! Clone all the rest!”

A hidden card.

Why bother fighting the Dungeon Units? I can just clone them.

But why are these guys reacting like this as soon as they see the Corrupted Warrior?

Look at them now.

Even though they’re surrounded by dozens of invisible Dark Assassins, their bloodshot eyes are fixed on the Corrupted Warrior chanting spells beside me.

It’s like they’re looking at an irreconcilable enemy.

‘Kiaaaaak! … Kiaaaak!’

‘Kiaaaa… Kiaaaaak!’

The remaining nine Dungeon Units were caught in the Corrupted Warrior’s cloning magic, emitting a red light, and the situation was over.

Ha… Shit!

Let’s get out of here.

A little later.

I summoned a Probe to quickly advance the tech tree and create a Shuttle, then started moving.

Moving through the air reduces the risk of being attacked by ground units, but the main reason is to leave that place as quickly as possible.

Especially the Blink magic used by the Dungeon Unit at the end.

Is that their skill?

Why didn’t they use that skill from the beginning, before they were surrounded… Hmm, that wouldn’t have worked.

Either way, the entire surrounding space was filled with the Bio Units we summoned, leaving no room to step. Using Blink wouldn’t break the encirclement; it would just move them to another spot where they’d be focused-fired by the units.

But why did they suddenly rush at me?

Ah, they definitely cast Blink when I summoned the Corrupted Warrior… Did the Corrupted Warrior have some other attribute?

… I don’t know. Let’s skip this for now.

I managed to get past one danger thanks to ordering the Dark Assassins to protect me all this time.

Until the Dungeon Unit suddenly used Blink to approach me, I was so surprised that I didn’t have time to think… Hmm, why does my head hurt so much?

Still, preparedness is key!

From now on, I need to keep at least ten Dark Assassins around me to protect me… Uh? Uh oh? I’m getting dizzy?

Is it Shuttle sickness?

I was leaning against the Shuttle railing, reviewing the situation from earlier,

“Uh? Hyung-nim [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend]! Is that blood! Are you hurt somewhere? You were fine until… Heok! Hyung-nim! Are you okay? From behind… Hey! Han-deuk! Heal, give him a heal!”

“What? Why? Heok! Hyung-nim! Idea Goddess’s grace, Personal Heal! Personal Heal! Heal!”

Gil-su suddenly made a fuss and started yelling at me, and Han-deuk frantically cast heals.

What are these guys doing all of a sudden? It’s so distracting….

But, why am I so sleepy? Are you guys sleepy too? What’s going on… Ugh.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but I’m a little more awake….

“O, Oppa [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend]! Are you okay? Huh? Really, why, why are you so careless! Do you know how scared I was! What are you even… Hicc… Hicc. Waaaa~.”

“Hyung-nim! Are you okay? Are you conscious?”

“Hyung-nim! Are you dizzy or nauseous anywhere?”

“G, Guild Leader!”

“Guild Leader! Are you awake?”

“M’lord~!”

Ah, ah.

Should I just go back to sleep?

It’s so noisy now?

“How long has it been?”

“About an hour or so.”

“Okay. But how did you get down here?”

“The art team members summoned Wyverns and rode them down.”

I was supported by Gil-su and Han-deuk as I got up and asked about the situation.

Eleven Shuttles floating in the sky.

Probably because the Shuttles stopped when I lost consciousness.

“Okay. Good job. The art team is really doing their part….”

“Oppa!”

“Aish, so noisy! You’re really….”

I was about to scold Ji-hye for yelling next to me, but… I couldn’t.

Especially not to her, who was looking at me with tearful eyes.

“Okay. Thank you for worrying. And I’m okay now. So stop crying!”

“Waaaa~ Oppa!”

Ji-hye burst into tears and ran to hug me.

Yeah, it was like that back then too.

When some bastard ambushed me and a hole was punched through my chest, and I collapsed, coughing up blood, she was the first to hug me like this.

I carefully stroked Ji-hye’s hair as she sobbed in my arms.

A little later.

After moving for about another hour, we settled down in a place with a stream located in a hilly area to rest.

I might be somewhat better thanks to Han-deuk’s healing, but some of the mages are exhausted.

So was the guild member who encountered a humanoid Dungeon Unit for the first time, and another who recklessly poured out their mana without gauging their limits.

What the hell is their Awakened grade, fighting so recklessly!

Have they lost their edge because I’ve been taking care of everything?

I need to give the team leaders a stern talking to.

Crazy bastards!

After setting up tents and tidying up the surroundings, I gathered the members and reviewed the situation from earlier.

Since it was the first battle immediately after entering this place through the Dungeon within a Dungeon entrance, everyone had the same overall understanding of the situation.

However, there were slight differences in opinion regarding the unit matchups that dealt damage to the humanoid Dungeon Units. It was impossible for them or me to accurately grasp the situation.

After discussing various opinions for a while, Choi Eun-ji suddenly opened her mouth as if she had remembered something.

“Ah! Guild Leader! One of our Shuttle team members found this in the situation just now.”

Choi Eun-ji took out a purple stone about half the size of a child’s fist from her inventory and placed it on the table.

“The humanoid Dungeon Unit left this behind as it was destroyed. I checked to see if it was an item, but it’s a bit strange.”

“Huh?”

I looked at the small stone on the table.

Choi Eun-ji took out a purple stone about half the size of a child’s fist from her inventory and placed it on the table.

“The humanoid Dungeon Unit left this behind as it was destroyed. I checked to see if it was an item, but it’s a bit strange.”

“Huh?”

I looked at the small stone on the table.

‘Purified Darkness (Absorbable)

Source: Primordial Dungeon,

Effect: Dark Magic-type stat availability +5.5%’

“Dark Magic-type?”

“What? Darkness? There’s an attribute like that?”

“Besides Fire, Ice, Light, Water, Lightning… Darkness? Darkness, huh….”

“Something feels very unsettling?”

It looks very strange to me too.

Moreover, it’s a new attribute that hasn’t appeared until now.

If there’s Light, there should be Darkness, but it’s an attribute that hasn’t existed in the Awakened world until now.

“It looks a bit strange to me too. I’ll keep it for now.”

“Don’t absorb it. It looks very strange.”

“Yeah. By the way, didn’t you guys get a notification when you entered this Dungeon?”

“Ah! That’s right! Several notifications popped up when we entered, but we couldn’t check them because of the humanoid units… Just a moment. Status window!”

“That’s right! There was a notification! Just a moment for me too! Status window!”

The team leaders next to me recited ‘Status window!’ as if they had just remembered the Dungeon entry notification.

Well, I should check my status on this occasion too.

I need to check the units I consumed because of the battle earlier and see what condition those things I put in my inventory are in.

“Status window!”

[Ding! Checking your status.]

[Art Factor/Abyssal Warrior: Han Ji-won (Lv-110)

Nationality/Affiliation: South Korea/Ji-won Guild, Age: 40, Height/Weight: 182cm/76kg,

Agility: 133, Endurance: 146, Strength: 137, Stamina: 138, Intelligence: 136, Luck: 144, Enchant: 124, Darkness: 0

Inventory: 22/22

(Zulut (Defense+Attack 200%, 406), Dark Assassin (87), Torkan (345), Corrupted Warrior (10), Duran (101), Upgraded Zergling (Attack 100%, 125), Hydra (176), Wyvern (165), Ultra (179), Magic Worm (87), Mineral (5.895kg), Water (2.0L 1,998), Spam Canned (4,997), Cooked Rice (Large Container 9,998), Cabbage Kimchi (519.8kg), Raw Chicken (219), Pork (Pork Belly 59.7kg), Red Pepper Paste (99.2kg), Purification of Flame and Ice (1), Idea’s Treatment (1), Dark Warrior (9), Purified Darkness (1))]

Buildings: 11

(Force, Battery, Gateway, Duranium Core, Gas Mine, Upgrade Core, Land Core, Stargate,

Black Core, Light Core, Land Spore Core),

Crystal: 0/1,100, Personal Held Stats: 110, Summon Target Stats: 16,501 (Probe),

Possessed Artifacts:

Mineral Shard (Absorption): 3,660, Gas Shard (Absorption): 3,660, Idea Pouch (Absorption): 4, Idea Awl (Absorption): 2]

So, the level is 110, since it said it went up by 10… Huh? Ah, Darkness?

A new characteristic called Darkness has been created in the body’s abilities.

If it’s Darkness… Could it be related to that Purified Darkness?

Hmm, I can check that later.

Various groceries and items I received from Tae-seok Hyung [term of endearment for an older brother or male friend], the cloned humanoid unit is… Dark Warrior?

It’s called Dark Warrior.

Dark Warrior and Purified Darkness… They go well together, but there’s a strange sense of incongruity.

Moreover, the notification that rang when entering the Dungeon said that I had confirmed a clue about the Abyss of Darkness, and some kind of master is watching me, and the protection and connection of the Idea Goddess… What was next?

While I was pondering the notification message, the others finished checking their status and let out a long sigh along with exclamations.

“Ha… Amazing.”

“What’s the Primordial Dungeon? Is that why the stat increase went up so much?”

“If we go outside, it feels like our Awakened grade will go up by one level?”

“Me too.”

“Hahaha. At this rate, other Awakeners will desperately try to get in here.”

“Well, that’s true. But on the premise that they can clear it.”

“That’s also true. Hehehe.”

I felt something strange while listening to their chatter.

Why aren’t they talking about the other notifications?

They’re only talking about the Primordial Dungeon and their stat increases, and there’s no mention of the rest.

“What’s the Abyss of Darkness?”

“Pardon?”

“It says you confirmed a clue about the Abyss of Darkness. What is it?”

“… What?”

“… You mean, Hyung-nim, the Abyss of Darkness… You’re saying that kind of content rang as a notification?”

What?

What is this again?

Why is the discrimination starting again!

“… You guys didn’t get that notification?”

“No. Other than entering the Primordial Dungeon and the increase in mana availability, receiving personal stats, and the notification that the Dungeon has been activated….”

“Joong-hwan! What about you?”

“Yes.”

“Psy, you too?”

“That’s right, M’lord. It seems that M’lord received a different notification. A, amazing!”

“…….”

Shit! Why again!

It’s not the mages or warriors, and it’s not even Art Factors like Joong-hwan or Psy, why only me!

Why am I the only one with a different notification!

Last time, when I leveled up to 100, a strange, weird notification rang, and why again this time… Ah! Could it be because the others haven’t reached level 100 yet?

Ah, no.

The notification that rang when I leveled up to 100 last time clearly said that I had passed some minimum standard for the first time… Ah… Ah, shit!

My head is going to break. Damn it….

“… So, you’re saying you confirmed a clue about the Abyss of Darkness, and the master of Darkness is watching you?”

“If it’s the Idea Goddess, are you talking about the Idea Goddess you mentioned last time, Oppa? About the belief of the mages? And that it’s connected to that place?”

“Does the fact that the Dungeon has been activated mean that the humanoid Dungeon Units that fought earlier will appear? Or does it mean the mana activation of this Dungeon?”

You guys!

I asked you!

What am I supposed to do if you ask me back what I asked you!

Well, what kind of conversation would I have with you guys anyway… Tsk.

“The art team comes separately, and the rest are preparing meals.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to check on those guys from earlier and replenish the consumed units. Why?”

“Wouldn’t it be possible for us to go with you too? If mages, healers, or clerics see it, they might see something different?”

“… Okay. Gil-su, have them prepare the food.”

“H, Hyung-nim. Me too….”

“Denied!”

“…….”

I left Gil-su, whose shoulders were slumped, and went outside the tent with the team leaders and art team members.

Seriously, Gil-su, why are you the only warrior?

If you were a mage, cleric, or healer, you could have come with us.

Sorry, Gil-su.

Let’s just hold hands and sleep together later. Hehe.

I came out of the tent and moved to a nearby open space.

Checking the Dark Warriors stored in my inventory could be done in the tent, but to replenish the consumed mechanized and bio units, I needed to level up the tech tree corresponding to each species, which required a large space.

First of all,

“Summon all Dark Warriors!”

[Ting! Summons 9 Dark Warriors.]

Nine humanoid Dungeon Units, the Dark Warriors, appeared with a white light.

Like Sara and Theraphy, they are humanoid units, but with black exteriors and red eyes… Huh? They turned blue?

Well, is it the influence of replication?

That’s fine.

“Can you understand me?”

“…….”

“Go run over there and come back.”

When I gave the order to the Dark Warrior at the front, he… no, she, cough, anyway, Dark Warrior 1 quickly ran over and returned.

So they do hear me….

“Now, if you understand me, nod your heads.”

All nine Dark Warriors nod their heads up and down.

Good. Then….

“First, who is the master of darkness? Nod if they are in this Dungeon.”

…….

“Raise your hand if you know a clue about the Abyss of Darkness.”

…….

“If the purification item of darkness is useful to you, stomp your feet!”

…….

“Is your mature form tower in this Dungeon? If so, chest!”

…….

“Oppa! What are you doing!”

Instead of the Dark Warriors’ actions, Ji-hye shouts loudly.

What do you want me to do?

Head, then hand, hand, then foot, foot, then… Cough. There’s no way to express it!

“Communication isn’t working?”

“Isn’t it just that they only understand what Oppa says?”

“I think that’s probably it. Can’t you give absolute commands to units summoned by Art Factors?”

“Yeah. I think so too. Tsk. I had expectations, but it’s not as good as I thought. If I could give absolute commands to these guys in the Dungeon… Ah, wait a minute.”

Absolute command suddenly reminded me.

This place is a different Dungeon from the existing one.

That thing that didn’t work there… here… maybe….

“Sara!”

…….

“Skill, Sara Matilda!”

…….

“Hey… damn it! Skill! Sara Matilda!”

…….

That’s it.

I’m an idiot for expecting this.

After a while.

I sent the team leaders back to the camp and started producing the consumed units with the art team members.

However, even though there were enough minerals, there was a shortage of gas.

Once the gas fragments absorbed to the maximum are consumed, there is no way to replenish them.

Since there might or might not be a multi or main base, it is currently impossible to produce high-end units.

I was about to order Junghwan to produce Wyverns, Munhee to produce Hydras, and Ssai to produce speed-up Zerglings, but I paused for a moment.

I confirmed that the Hydra’s poison needle attack and the Wyvern’s tail attack were not very effective in the previous battle.

A large number of speed-up Zerglings would be better.

The Zerglings running in the magic fog of the magic earthworm were pretty good.

“Everyone, produce only speed-up Zerglings up to the maximum summoning stats. If upgrades are possible, do that too.”

“… Ah, I see. Understood, Guild Leader.”

“Yes, Guild Leader.”

Junghwan answers first, and Munhee also says she understands.

But this bastard… When I turned around to find him, Ssai was just, without saying anything, continuously producing speed-up Zerglings from the mature form tower as he had been doing.

Does this guy have no suspicion at all? Or does he even think?

You little… When I give an order, think about why, and worry about it… Huh?

Ah! That’s right!

Ssai can only produce speed-up Zerglings! Cough.

After the art team members produced thousands of speed-up Zerglings and stored them in their respective inventories, they left the open space.

I stayed alone, pondered this and that, and summoned the purification item of darkness that I had put in my inventory.

A stone made of an unknown material, purple on the outside and about 3-4cm in size.

If I absorb this, will my dark stats increase?

It feels really uneasy….

But since the word purification is in it… I won’t die, right?

I activated my magic power and carefully brought my hand to the purple stone.

‘Spa… Ah… Ah!’

Why is it so noisy to absorb one item?

Black darkness lingers around for a moment and disappears.

What’s changed?

I 괜히 rotated my shoulders and jumped up and down in place… but, well, that’s it.

How would I know what’s changed unless I check my status? Tsk.

“Damn it… Status window!”

After shouting status window, just in case… That’s it. Um, the dark stat was up to 100.

Dark stat of 100 with one purification item of darkness.

Is this really good? Is it bad?

Normally, each time the level is upgraded, the individual ability holdings would be divided and distributed according to the respective physical characteristics… Um, come to think of it, I haven’t distributed the ability holdings according to level yet.

One purification item of darkness came out after dealing with about 20 humanoid Dungeon Units.

This drop rate doesn’t matter anyway because it’s the first battle, and I don’t know how many of these items will come out in the future….

Okay! All or nothing.

I put all the individual ability holdings according to level up into the dark characteristic.

If you put it all in one place like Ssai, you’ll fall backwards and break your nose… Huh? Is the metaphor wrong?

Anyway, I raised the dark stat to 210 and waited for a while, but as expected, nothing changed.

Moving around and running around like crazy is futile.

Then, finally, to the Art Factor, which can be said to be magic power….

“Summon 1 Probe!”

[Ting! Summons 1 Probe.]

“Create crystal, create gateway, speed-up core, Dracan core creation!”

‘Pa… Chiji… Jik!’

“Create Black Core! Create gateway, create gateway, create gateway….”

‘Pajik. Pachi… Jik!’

“Damn it! I don’t know! Produce Zealot, produce Dracan, produce Lightning Shaman, produce Dark Assassin!”

I have no choice but to produce all the units I can produce by type.

Considering minerals and stats, and having to replenish the units consumed in the first battle, I need to find out how the dark stat is applied!

Zealots and the remaining units appeared next to the gateway with a flash of white light.

At first glance, there is nothing different from the existing ones… Uh… how do I distinguish this?

So… that’s… damn it!

“Summon 1 Zealot, Dracan… pass because there isn’t one! Lightning Shaman… also pass! Summon 1 Dark Assassin!”

The Zealot and Dark Assassin were summoned with the notification.

I put the newly produced units next to each other and slowly, meticulously, and carefully began to examine them… Um, this feels like that find the difference game, it’s a very similar situation? Cough.

I can’t see the answer even after looking at it for a long time.

Is there even a difference?

The exact same replica without an inch of error.

Then does that mean that the dark characteristic has nothing to do with the unit?

Or does it only manifest if there is another special condition?

Anyway, I’ve never seen this uncomfortable and useless Awakener system explain anything kindly. Damn it!

After a while.

I gave up the dark trait test and returned to the camp.

I ran around like crazy in the open space and produced units by type and compared them to the existing units, but there was no difference.

I cleanly gave up and replenished the consumed units by consuming the gas fragments I had absorbed.

The problem is that if the previous battle happens again, I won’t be able to produce high-end units.

I have to destroy at least the multi to absorb the gas fragments… the multi….

Let’s finish it with this today.

My head is full.

The next day.

Fortunately, there were no attacks by humanoid units during the night.

I think it was a good idea to build defensive towers on the outskirts of the camp and have Zealots and thousands of speed-up Zerglings on standby.

Of course, I don’t think that will be a perfect defense, but it will give us time to escape by shuttle.

I felt it in the first battle, but the humanoid units in this Dungeon are cheat characters [overpowered or unfair].

I haven’t seen them swing that long greatsword more than twice with their ignorant defense, so that’s all I need to say.

If you can’t face them head-on, it’s better to hit and run in an outsider format.

The replication magic of the corrupted warrior can only be reused after at least 24 hours, so if a small number of humanoid Dungeon Units attack, I’ll have to move while watching the situation.

Of course, all of this is because of the lack of gas fragments.

If there was enough gas, I could push it with thousands of Ultralisks… or could I?

Anyway, the guide for the Dungeon clear progress plan was set up like that, but will everything in the world go as planned? You never know.

After finishing the meal and cleaning up the surroundings, when the guild members boarded the shuttle, I carefully started moving.

Moving in the air avoids contact with Dungeon Units that cannot fly, and the visibility is quite long, so it is advantageous in terms of scouting.

The problem is that there aren’t many ways to deal with them when they appear.

As I slowly started moving, using the Dungeon’s magic wave pattern analysis item that Ssai had newly created as a compass, the guild members’ tension gradually increased.

Han-deuk and Gil-su, who used to be playful, are also quiet, and Ji-hye’s absurd jokes are no longer heard.

They know it too. The only one who will protect their lives here is themselves.

After moving like a snail tank for half a day, my mind and body began to tire from the tension. My body feels heavy and my head seems to be throbbing.

If a battle with dozens of humanoid Dungeon Units breaks out in this state, enormous damage will occur.

I gave Han-deuk a look, pointing with my chin at the left and right shuttles, telling him to change the atmosphere, and Han-deuk hesitated and started talking to Gil-su.

“Hey. What day is it today?”

“… What are you talking about? Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“Yeah. I’m confused whether to count it as two days after entering the Mudeungsan Dungeon and entering here again, or to count it as the 9th day in total….”

“Think about it the way you want. What’s the point….”

Gil-su hesitated and glanced at me while answering Han-deuk’s question. It seems like Han-deuk gave him a look.

“You have to count it as 9, 9 days. Since we’re counting the time in the Dungeon anyway.”

“T, that’s right? I think so too.”

“…….”

“…….”

What are you guys doing now?

Are you trying to lighten the mood now? Are you kidding me?

You should have just made a corny joke!

You useless things.

“Ssai!”

“Yes, My Lord!”

“How much is left?”

“-2.7 degrees forward. Distance is 286.3km. At the current shuttle speed, it will take at least 11 hours.”

“Yeah. That’s what you’re saying.”

Ssiba!

This tension for more than 11 hours… no. I have to eat and poop in the middle, so I have to maintain it for at least a full day.

I can’t do that.

In this situation, we’ll get tired before we even fight the Dungeon Units.

It’s not my style to worry about things that haven’t happened yet.

Whether I break and die or defeat the Dungeon Units, I’ll think about it after I encounter those guys.

If I keep acting like this, I’ll get nothing done!

“Increase the shuttle speed to the maximum! Everyone, hold on tight to the railing!”

As my shout echoed, the guild members hurriedly sat down on the shuttle floor or grabbed the railing.

I recognized the 11 shuttles and moved forward at maximum speed.

9 days, 18 hours, and 30 minutes after entering the new Mudeungsan Dungeon clear.