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Chapter 567: Mountain of Swords (6)

– G-Garn, what the hell is going on here? Don’t tell me you’ve made an alliance with that guy?

The three-eyed man looked at Venura with a confused expression.

The dueling house Garn—

its members were known for their ferocity and for never fighting in groups.

They preferred solo duels and were famous for refusing to join forces even with their own clan.

But what was this now?

A man from Garn appearing to cooperate with some thug?

– So the glory of Garn is a thing of the past, then. You’re nothing but a robber now.

At that taunt, Venura, still lying on the ground, turned his head and spoke dryly.

– Alliance? I’m a prisoner.

– What?

– You think you’re any different?

Venura scowled as he snapped back—

and then Whack! Yeongwoo’s elbow smashed into the three-eyed man’s face.

– …Ghk!

“Enough talk—strip first.”

Venura hurried to add,

– Told you, didn’t I? Best take that cloak off while you can.

– You maniacs…

Still unbroken, the three-eyed man’s eyes darted around searching for a chance to counter.

But Yeongwoo was already blocking him.

“I said it before—move again, and I’ll take your money and your limbs.”

– What? You said earlier—

“That was earlier. Now is different.”

While saying so, Yeongwoo was already tearing the cloak off him.

“What the hell is this crazy thing?”

Shrrrk—

At last, the cloak in Yeongwoo’s hands was revealed to be Legendary gear.

「Delusion」 – Legendary Cloak

【Homogenization】

| The cloak’s surface projects the surrounding environment. However, it can be seen through by extremely powerful detection abilities.

“Ooh.”

One line of an interesting effect—

but as they’d just seen, it was incredibly strong.

Practically an invisibility cloak.

‘Can be seen through by very strong detection abilities… ?’

So against someone like the Chairman, it wouldn’t work.

‘Haha. Well, we’ll see about that.’

No sooner had he snatched the cloak than Yeongwoo threw it over himself.

Swish

Immediately, most of his body turned transparent.

– Huh?

– …My word.

Lady Kanaph let out a pure cry of shock, while Venura, seeing further, let out a long sigh.

That lunatic had now acquired a stealth shroud for ambush operations—

how much more harm would he cause the universe?

“This is nuts.”

Looking at his own invisible body, Yeongwoo pulled up the hood.

Swoosh)

“It’s even sized bigger so you can wrap the whole body.”

Indeed, the cloak 「Delusion」 was large enough that pulling the fluttering edges forward covered him entirely.

And even without that, once the hood was up, his back side became completely invisible.

“With this, I won’t get ambushed from behind.”

With entry into the Black Zone approaching, nothing could be more welcome.

He could even hide at the trade spot and strike first.

“Perfect.”

Satisfied, Yeongwoo registered 「Delusion」 in his Armor Catalog—

as his Armor Collection hit 30, a system message flared up.

Ping!

「The Armor Catalog’s third Collection Effect has been unlocked.」

“Oh.”

But the new effect was a bit peculiar.

[Collection Effect : 30]

| 50% of Mental Resistance is also applied to Physical Damage Reduction.

‘What? Mental Resistance?’

Yeongwoo’s current Mental Resistance was 30%.

| Mental Resistance : 30%

He had first gained it through the third effect of the Accessory Catalog.

Meaning this Armor effect was useless without that support.

‘So for now that’s an extra 15% physical reduction.’

And it would increase as his Mental Resistance rose.

‘So the higher you climb, the more important mental resistance becomes, huh?’

Indeed, no one knew how Transcendents fought, and even the Chairman could crush foes with mere presence.

Besides, “Mental Resistance” had never appeared on any ordinary gear.

Despite all his collecting, he’d only ever seen it through Collection effects.

‘Anyway, if I stack mental resistance high enough, I’ll smash those above and below alike.’

Pleased, Yeongwoo picked up his next loot, a bizarre weapon between twin blades and a bow.

Tap.

To his surprise, it was Epic-grade.

「Dual Disruption」 – Epic Bow

【Projectile Speed +15%】

【Weapon Swap】

【Weapon Swap】

| This weapon can switch between a bow and dual blades.

“Hey… even if this is our first meeting, trying to kill me with an Epic weapon is a bit much, isn’t it?”

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Yeongwoo spoke irritably.

The three-eyed man frowned.

– Who the hell are you?

“…Me? Oh, I’m…”

He stopped, staring into those three eyes.

Unlike Alden or Venura, there was no strange light in the pupils.

Even after fighting a planet-class ship owner, his Prestige Level hadn’t risen.

‘What, don’t tell me he’s met another Clan Head before?’

Then this clash must not count as a “duel.”

‘Guess you have to exchange proper blows for it to register. Tough luck, Three-Eyes.’

After piecing it together, Yeongwoo pointed his bastard sword at the man’s forehead.

“Remember my name. I’m Jeong Yeongwoo, Clan Head of Renaissance.”

– Clan Head…? You’re the head?

“……”

He was too used to that reaction to bother responding.

Instead, he turned to Venura.

“You seemed to recognize him. Who is he?”

Venura tested his half-healed leg and answered.

– Kupol.

“…Kupol? Another noble house?”

– Not a house. More like a famous bandit group.

“Oh.”

Bandits, that actually gave them common ground with Renaissance.

“But seriously, how do they make a living with skills like that …?”

When Yeongwoo asked in genuine pity, the three-eyed man snarled.

– If I hadn’t met you two at once …

“This is rich. That guy did nothing but throw himself on the floor.”

Yeongwoo jerked his chin toward Venura.

Then he kicked the bandit’s thigh.

“Get up. You’re my prisoner now.”

– Prisoner…? For what?

“What else? A prisoner I’m taking out of this dungeon.”

– ……?

The logic didn’t follow, and the three-eyed man tilted his head.

Venura, already limping upright, waved a hand.

– Don’t try to understand. Just do what he says if you want to live.

– You’ve no shame saying that.

– Says the one who came to rob and ended up naked.

– You bastard …!

Clearly not of noble blood—and definitely hot-headed.

Even that brief exchange was enough to make him lose his temper and charge.

Tatat!

Of course, Yeongwoo didn’t stop him—he figured he’d see what hidden weapons the guy had.

But—

Kraaaash!

What the enraged man produced was not a new weapon, but his own claws.

Ten fingers extended long, razor-sharp talons.

– Die…!

– Hey! Aren’t you going to stop him!?

As he lunged, Venura, still limping, took a guard stance.

And then,

“Fighting in front of me? Even dying without my permission is illegal!”

In a flash, Yeongwoo lashed out and kicked him hard in the rear.

Thud!

– Khak!

The would-be attacker, just about to slash Venura, slammed head-and-chest first into the ground.

“Guess that bandit really has nothing left worth taking.”

At this point, he’d pretty much looted everything from the dungeon—

except for the mystery bonus reward.

“…Ah!”

Only then did Yeongwoo remember Madam Kanaph and Aratubank, who’d been blown away by the arrow earlier.

“Ma’am? You’re still alive, right?”

Turning toward the direction she’d fallen, he saw her lying still in the distance.

“L-Lady?”

His face went pale.

Bandits and noble brats were fine, they could handle rough treatment.

But Lady Kanaph Izori was a civilian in all but name.

‘Damn it, if she’s dead at the end, that ruins everything.’

Panicked, Yeongwoo sprinted toward where she’d fallen.

“Ma’am! If you’re alive, answer me!”

Not since his Reset had he been this alarmed.

Fwoosh!

Using Lightning Step, he raced over, and thankfully felt a faint life force beneath Aratubank’s body.

“…Ma’am?”

Casting a shadow over the fallen creature, he saw a small, trembling, moist amphibian-like body beneath it.

“…What the hell …”

Just as he reached to lift Aratubank,

Tap!

A small hand shot out and gripped the creature.

– D-Don’t … don’t move it …

“…?”

Her voice trembled terribly.

She’d been crying ever since she crashed down with the shield.

Whether from pain or despair, Yeongwoo couldn’t tell.

“Uh … thanks to you, we caught that three-eyed bastard.”

He said awkwardly, then glanced up at the sky timer.

“We’re almost done here. Departing in ten minutes.”

Leaving Aratubank as is, he turned back toward the two men,

who were, of course, back to brawling.

“Mm. Everything’s going just fine.”

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