HISSSSS!
Black energy spread from Sang-hyeok’s right hand and covered the <Spirit Vein Ring>.
The dark-red stains spreading across its silver surface began turning black from the edges.
FSSSS.
A moment later, the stains became black smoke and scattered between his fingers.
[Current Contamination: 1%]
[Current Contamination: 0%]
Once every stain disappeared, the <Spirit Vein Ring> returned to a clear blue glow.
Even during that time, the corridor’s mist continued pouring toward Sang-hyeok’s wrist.
However, whenever the mist drawn by the <Spirit Vein Ring> seeped into the ring, the dark-red energy mixed inside touched <Extinction Devouring> and vanished.
Only the pure mana that remained accumulated within the silver ring.
[Mana required for growth accumulates in <Spirit Vein Ring>.]
[Current Growth: 0.02%]
Sang-hyeok’s prediction had been correct.
‘I’ll go all the way to the end like this.’
With his right hand wrapped around his left wrist, Sang-hyeok moved forward.
Ssssss.
Each step drew more dark-red mist toward him.
But the contaminated mana inside it turned into black smoke the moment it touched <Extinction Devouring>.
[Current Contamination: 1%]
[Current Contamination: 0%]
When the contamination returned to zero again, the blue light inside the ring grew a little deeper.
Sang-hyeok increased his pace.
Near the entrance, the mist had only covered his ankles.
The farther he moved into the corridor, however, it rose past his knees and eventually reached his waist.
Murky energy also streamed endlessly from the dark-red stains spreading across the walls and floor.
「You have entered the inner section of the corridor.」
「The concentration of contaminated mana increases.」
WOOOOOM!
The mist ahead surged violently before crashing over Sang-hyeok all at once.
Dark-red light filled his vision in an instant.
[Current Contamination: 3%]
[Current Contamination: 5%]
The contamination rose much faster than at the beginning.
Sang-hyeok did not stop. He gathered more mana into his right hand.
‘<Extinction Devouring>.’
FWOOSH!
The black energy flickering beneath his palm surged fiercely and wrapped around the entire <Spirit Vein Ring>.
The dark-red stains spreading over the silver surface continuously turned into black smoke and scattered away.
[Current Contamination: 3%]
[Current Contamination: 1%]
[Current Contamination: 0%]
Once the contamination dropped back to zero, only the pure mana inside the mist remained in the <Spirit Vein Ring>.
[Current Growth: 2.7%]
The blue light around his wrist deepened.
At the same time, the mana he had just spent strengthening <Extinction Devouring> rapidly returned.
Sang-hyeok examined the black energy gathered around his right hand.
Even though he continued maintaining the Authority, his mana was now decreasing noticeably more slowly.
The <Spirit Vein Ring> was absorbing the corridor’s pure mana and continuously replenishing what he spent.
After confirming even the recovery speed, Sang-hyeok kept the black energy active and moved deeper into the mist.
Ssssss!
Then the mist blocking his path began writhing and taking human form.
Faceless dark-red figures spread their arms and blocked the corridor.
Murky mana flowed from their bodies like fog.
[Corridor Contaminant]
[Lv.6]
The nearest contaminant charged at Sang-hyeok.
Its dark-red arm stretched like a whip toward his face.
Without removing his right hand from his wrist, Sang-hyeok lowered his upper body and slipped beneath the arm.
He pushed into the creature’s guard and drove his left forearm into its chest.
The <Extinction Devouring> wrapped around the <Spirit Vein Ring> touched the contaminant’s body.
HISSSSS!
Starting from the point of contact, its dark-red form crumbled into black smoke.
FSSSS.
The contaminant completely dispersed in an instant.
The pure mana that had remained inside its body was immediately absorbed into the <Spirit Vein Ring>.
[Current Growth: 3.8%]
The other contaminants charged together.
Sang-hyeok instead plunged straight between them.
When dark-red arms flew at him, he twisted his body aside.
When one blocked his path, he shoved it away with his left arm and forced his way through.
Hiss!
FSSSS!
Every contaminant touched by <Extinction Devouring> scattered into black smoke one after another.
All the pure mana remaining inside their bodies accumulated in the <Spirit Vein Ring> as well.
[Current Growth: 12.6%]
The more contaminants he erased, the faster the <Spirit Vein Ring> grew.
The corridor immediately detected the change.
「Corridor contaminants are being rapidly annihilated.」
「Releasing additional contaminated mana.」
RUMBLEEEEE!
The entire corridor shook violently as the final notification appeared.
The dark-red stains clinging to the walls and floor swelled at once and vomited thick mist.
WOOOOOOOOOM!
Dark-red fog poured in from every direction like a raging current.
It wrapped around Sang-hyeok’s ankles, surged past his waist and chest, and rose over his head in an instant.
[Current Contamination: 8%]
[Current Contamination: 14%]
[Current Contamination: 21%]
Within moments, he could no longer see even an inch ahead.
Still, Sang-hyeok did not stop.
He tightened his right hand around his left wrist.
‘I’ll erase all of it.’
VMMMMMM!
The black energy gathered in his right hand surged and wrapped around the entire <Spirit Vein Ring>.
Once again, the dark-red stains covering the silver ring rapidly turned black and dispersed as smoke.
[Current Contamination: 17%]
[Current Contamination: 9%]
[Current Contamination: 3%]
[Current Contamination: 0%]
The moment all contamination disappeared, the pure mana mixed into the fog poured into the ring at once.
FLASH!
Blue light spread from the <Spirit Vein Ring>, brightly illuminating the dense mist.
The road that had vanished behind the fog became visible again.
[Current Growth: 31.4%]
Sang-hyeok immediately ran along the revealed path.
The corridor continued releasing dark-red mist, but every trace of contamination entering the <Spirit Vein Ring> was erased by <Extinction Devouring>.
The pure mana left behind accumulated untouched inside the silver ring.
[Current Growth: 63.2%]
The higher the growth rate climbed, the brighter the blue light around his wrist became.
The <Spirit Vein Ring> also grew stronger at pulling mana toward itself.
Before long, even the mist far down the corridor was being drawn toward Sang-hyeok’s wrist in long streams.
The fog released by the corridor could no longer contaminate the <Spirit Vein Ring>.
Instead, <Extinction Devouring> stripped away only the contamination, accelerating the artifact’s growth.
「Rechecking contamination level of equipped artifact.」
[Current Contamination: 0%]
Even after the number zero appeared, no new notification followed for a while.
Sang-hyeok ignored the system’s silence and kept running.
Not long afterward, he saw a gigantic wall of mist blocking the far end of the corridor.
Beyond the dense fog, the outline of a stone door was barely visible.
[Distance remaining to corridor endpoint: 30m]
The moment Sang-hyeok increased his speed toward the door—
RUMBLEEEEE!
Every strand of dark-red fog flowing from the walls and floor was sucked toward the mist wall in front of the stone door.
The wall swelled in an instant until it filled the entire corridor.
WOOOOOOOOOM!
Then the expanded mass of fog collapsed like a gigantic wave and poured toward Sang-hyeok.
Dark-red mist swallowed him completely, blocking all sight in an instant.
The <Spirit Vein Ring> recklessly pulled in even the mana inside the fog surrounding him.
Too much contamination entered at once for <Extinction Devouring> to erase it at the same pace.
[Current Contamination: 19%]
[Current Contamination: 37%]
[Current Contamination: 58%]
More than half of the silver ring was covered in dark-red stains.
Sang-hyeok covered the spreading stains with his right hand and gripped the <Spirit Vein Ring> even more tightly.
The stone door had vanished behind the dense fog.
But he clearly remembered the direction in which he had last seen it.
Sang-hyeok stepped toward that point.
‘This much won’t stop me.’
He drew up every remaining bit of mana.
‘<Extinction Devouring>.’
FWOOOOOSH!
The black energy covering the <Spirit Vein Ring> surged and wrapped around Sang-hyeok’s entire body.
The fog filling his surroundings rapidly cleared wherever the power of <Extinction Devouring> touched.
New contaminated mana rushing toward him turned into black smoke before it could reach his body.
After stopping the incoming contamination, Sang-hyeok pressed his palm directly against the <Spirit Vein Ring> and concentrated <Extinction Devouring> even further.
The dark-red stains that had already seeped into the silver ring began disappearing at high speed.
[Current Contamination: 41%]
[Current Contamination: 18%]
[Current Contamination: 0%]
When the final stain vanished, the <Spirit Vein Ring> once again released a clear blue light.
Meanwhile, pure mana absorbed from the surrounding fog continued accumulating inside it.
[Current Growth: 91.3%]
As the growth rate jumped, the force with which the <Spirit Vein Ring> pulled in surrounding mana became even stronger.
The remaining fog in the corridor rushed toward Sang-hyeok’s wrist from every direction.
The incoming mist touched the <Extinction Devouring> covering his body first.
Each time, the contaminated mana within it vanished as black smoke, and only pure mana was absorbed into the <Spirit Vein Ring>.
The more fog was drawn in, the clearer Sang-hyeok’s vision became.
At last, a path leading directly to the stone door appeared beyond it.
With his right hand still wrapped around the <Spirit Vein Ring>, Sang-hyeok ran along the open path.
Twenty meters.
Ten meters.
The stone door was already right in front of him.
The moment Sang-hyeok took the final step, even the fog remaining behind him stretched into a long stream and was pulled toward his wrist.
FLASH!
Even the contaminated mana mixed into that final mist touched <Extinction Devouring> and scattered as black smoke.
[Current Contamination: 0%]
[Current Growth: 100%]
The blue light of the <Spirit Vein Ring> deepened another degree.
Sang-hyeok released the ring from his right hand and placed that palm directly on the stone door.
THOOM!
The tightly closed door opened to both sides.
As Sang-hyeok crossed the threshold, new notifications appeared.
「You have reached the end of the corridor.」
「Checking status of equipped artifact.」
[Target Artifact: <Spirit Vein Ring>]
[Current Contamination: 0%]
[Current Growth: 100%]
[Stage 1 growth conditions fulfilled]
Once the values were confirmed, the clear judgment followed.
「All contamination remaining in the artifact has been removed.」
「All pure mana in the corridor has been absorbed.」
「Hidden complete-clear conditions fulfilled.」
「Hidden Trial <Contaminated Spirit Vein Corridor> completely cleared.」
[Clear Evaluation: SSS]
The moment the judgment ended, the <Spirit Vein Ring> around Sang-hyeok’s wrist trembled violently.
「All mana required for growth has been accumulated.」
「<Spirit Vein Ring> grows by one stage.」
[Name: <Spirit Vein Ring> → <Spirit Vein Ring: Sprout>]
[Growth Stage: Stage 0 → Stage 1]
[Surrounding mana absorption increases.]
[Mana recovery speed increases.]
VMMMMMM!
Blue light swirled fiercely around the silver ring.
When the light finally subsided, a single blue pattern had been engraved on its inner surface.
Even the faint mana scattered around him now gathered toward Sang-hyeok’s wrist faster than before.
Only then did Sang-hyeok withdraw the <Extinction Devouring> covering his body.
He had used almost all his mana to erase the corridor’s final fog.
Yet after only a few breaths, the amount he had spent recovered visibly.
The recovery speed was clearly faster than before the growth.
At this rate, even a short pause during battle would restore a considerable amount of mana.
After confirming the recovery speed, an additional reward notification appeared.
「Additional complete-clear reward granted.」
FLASH!
A dark-red crystal appeared above Sang-hyeok’s open right hand.
[Item Information]
[Name] <Contaminated Spirit Vein Crystal>
[Grade] Rare
[Classification] Crafting Material
[Effect]
- A crystal in which contaminated mana has condensed.
Sang-hyeok examined the crystal briefly, then placed it in his inventory.
He had strengthened the <Spirit Vein Ring>’s mana-recovery ability and gained a new research material to bring to Ilseong as well.
「All Hidden Trial settlements complete.」
「Returning to the 5th Floor room of choice.」
FLASH!
Blue light wrapped around Sang-hyeok’s body.
The open stone door and long corridor sank into the light and disappeared from his vision.
***
When the light faded, Sang-hyeok was once again standing before the three doors.
[Trial 1: Defeat]
[Trial 2: Guard]
[Trial 3: Survival]
「Hidden Trial completed.」
「Select a regular 5th Floor trial.」
The Hidden Trial was over, but the 5th Floor itself had not yet been cleared.
The three doors waited exactly as they had before he left.
Sang-hyeok’s gaze stopped on the first.
The <Spirit Vein Ring: Sprout>, now one stage stronger, gave off a clear blue light around his wrist.
He had already confirmed its recovery speed.
Now it was time to find out whether that performance held up in actual combat.
Among the three trials, Defeat would let him test it the fastest.
‘Defeat.’
Sang-hyeok approached the first door and placed his hand on it.
「Trial 1 <Defeat> selected.」
The door opened with his choice, and red light poured out.
FLASH!
The red light covered his vision before rapidly fading.
Sang-hyeok stood at the center of a circular arena paved with black stone.
RUMBLE.
Twelve iron doors lining the tall walls rose at once.
From each doorway walked a soldier wearing silver armor and carrying a large shield.
[Ironclad Guardian]
[Lv.5]
[Trial Objective: Defeat all Ironclad Guardians.]
[Time Limit: 10 minutes]
The twelve Ironclad Guardians formed two rows of six.
When the front row locked their shields together, a silver curtain spread across them, while the rear row thrust long spears through the gaps.
Sang-hyeok looked down at the <Spirit Vein Ring: Sprout> on his wrist.
His mana had been almost empty when the Hidden Trial ended, yet more than half had already returned.
‘Enough.’
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The Ironclad Guardians advanced behind their shield wall.
Sang-hyeok ran directly toward them as black energy rose in his right hand.
When only three steps remained between them, he thrust his palm toward the wall.
‘<Extinction Devouring>.’
HISSSSS!
The instant his palm touched it, a black hole opened at the center of the silver curtain.
Black energy spread left and right along the interlocked shields, sweeping across the entire front row.
FSSSSSS!
Shields and armor turned into black sand at once.
All six Ironclad Guardians in the front row collapsed without even getting a chance to properly swing their weapons.
Spreading <Extinction Devouring> that widely had consumed a large amount of mana.
Immediately, the blue pattern on the <Spirit Vein Ring: Sprout> brightened.
Mana scattered throughout the arena rushed toward his wrist and rapidly replenished what he had lost.
The remaining guardians spread to both sides and thrust their spears at him simultaneously.
Sang-hyeok pivoted on his right foot.
Even through the sudden direction change, his balance did not break.
The <Collapse Walker’s Boots> were doing their job.
He slipped directly between the spearheads.
‘<Extinction Devouring>.’
Sang-hyeok swept his right hand outward.
FLASH!
<Extinction Devouring> spread in a fan shape and swallowed the spears and armor together.
Five Ironclad Guardians turned into black sand and poured onto the floor.
The final guardian discarded its shield and drew a greatsword from its back.
It raised the weapon with both hands and brought it down.
Sang-hyeok stretched his right hand toward the descending blade.
FSSSS!
The greatsword scattered into black sand before it could even touch his hand.
Sang-hyeok stepped into the opening and pressed his palm against the guardian’s chest.
HISSSSS!
Starting from the chest, the final guardian’s body crumbled into black sand.
[Ironclad Guardians defeated: 12/12]
[Time Spent: 01:47]
「5th Floor regular trial completed.」
[Clear Evaluation: SSS]
「Level increased.」
[Lv.5 → Lv.6]
As his level increased, his mana filled to the brim again.
After checking the changes inside his body, Sang-hyeok looked down at the <Spirit Vein Ring: Sprout>.
It had performed exactly as he hoped in its first real battle.
‘I’ll be counting on you from now on.’
Sang-hyeok grinned and lightly tapped the silver ring with a finger.
Vmmm.
The blue pattern on its inside brightened once as if answering him.
As the blue light faded, the overall settlement for the 5th Floor began.
The record from the Hidden Trial he had completed earlier appeared first.
「First complete-clear record of the 5th Floor Hidden Trial confirmed.」
「A new record will be entered into the 5th Floor Hall of Fame.」
[Trial: <Contaminated Spirit Vein Corridor>]
[Classification: Hidden Trial]
[Achieved Record: First Complete Clear]
[Clear Evaluation: SSS]
[Achiever Public Name: Private]
[Affiliated Nation: Republic of Korea]
「Hall of Fame record reward reflected for affiliated nation.」
[Republic of Korea achievement points +500]
This time as well, Sang-hyeok did not reveal his name.
Only his affiliation with the Republic of Korea was clearly engraved in the Hall of Fame.
His gaze lowered to the national achievement reward displayed beneath it.
The Republic of Korea’s estimated deficit points would decrease by the 500 points added this time.
There was still a large deficit left to fill.
Even so, he had taken another step toward his goal of making sure not a single Rift opened in Korea this quarter.
A faint smile appeared on Sang-hyeok’s lips as he looked at the number that had changed.