I Raided the Demon’s Treasury

Chapter 72

Debris from the ceiling collapses in all directions.

From the cliff above, it had just looked like a grand spectacle, but once inside, the threat of the falling debris was overwhelming.

Forget about the boss monster. A moment of carelessness could result in being buried under the debris I had created myself.

So, I immediately activated the Power of Greed.

After all, there was no limit to how much I could use, and it was best to use it preemptively.

– Opened the Treasury of Greed.

[ Merman’s Fin ]

– A half-human, half-fish creature with a human upper body and a fish’s tail. A male monster with a grotesque appearance, protecting the mermaid as a formidable warrior.

Crunch!

Crack!

Between my fingers, the skin tore and a transparent membrane formed.

At the edge of my wrists, fins resembling those of a shark sprouted, shimmering blue, perfectly complementing the sea.

With both the Mermaid’s Gills and the Merman’s Fin applied, my body transformed into the shape of a merman.

‘To think I would end up using the mermaid’s materials this way.’

Mermaids were not just simple monsters.

By the time I started climbing the tower, they were known to be an extinct species.

The reason for their extinction was due to these materials.

As one climbed the tower, there were floors entirely made up of ocean regions.

By appropriately processing the mermaid materials, one could move and breathe freely in water, just like I do now.

Because of this, countless mermaids lost their lives, and as a result, equipment made from mermaid materials in the tower held a value greater than gold.

And now, instead of crafting equipment, I had absorbed the power itself from these materials.

‘Well then, let’s go.’

Swoosh!

While the fins grew, I gracefully evaded the falling debris from the ceiling and swam toward an opening.

I, too, had tackled the oceanic floors of the tower before, so I was confident in my swimming abilities, but in the end, I was still just human.

However, the Power of Greed allowed me to effortlessly surpass human limitations. My movements were faster and smoother than the monsters fleeing from the debris.

It was as if I were moving like a feather.

I let the swirling currents created by the debris guide my body, dodging the wreckage while advancing forward simultaneously.

In the meantime, no monster noticed my presence.

– Through internal energy, the ‘Kilkergas’ Stealth Technique,’ is enhanced.

Hiding among the debris, I meticulously aimed for the monsters’ blind spots.

Originally, the Kilkergas’ Stealth Technique wasn’t intended for use underwater, making its application in this scenario impossible.

However, not only had I mastered the technique, but I had also reached a level where I could adapt and apply it innovatively.

Adding the merman’s fins to the mix enabled such efficient utilization.

“Ker-rerk—”

As I neared the bottom of the breading grounds, large monsters guarding the entrance came into view.

Each one bore signs of damage—missing a claw or having several scales completely peeled off—evidence of their struggle against the falling debris.

‘What weapons do I have left…’

I quickly took stock of the weapons at my disposal.

Twin axes obtained by defeating the Ogre Leader ‘Krak Katlak,’ or the halberd obtained by taking down the lord of Golden Castle, ‘Gold Garden.’

In addition, three out of the five weapons Se-woon usually used — including his dagger with the boar’s molar and three weapons stolen from the castle lord — had been broken.

The Power of Greed.

To wield its immense power effectively, high-quality weapons were necessary.

Even then, the limits of the power that could be unleashed with C-rank weapons were evident.

Consequently, the useful weapons I had left were…

‘About three.’

Two weapons stolen from the castle lord, and one seized from ‘Charles McGregor,’ a foe from before his regression.

That was all I had left.

I chose the weapon most suitable for the current situation.

[ Obsidian Spear ]

Type: Spear

Rank: C

Description: A spear fitted with a sharp obsidian blade. The shaft is made from high-quality wood, providing excellent flexibility.

Abilities:

1. Obsidian Blade – Increases cutting efficiency by 50%.

2. Flexible Shaft – Reduces received impact during attack and defense by 20%.

3. Black Glass – Increases attack power by 30% but reduces durability by 50%. (Not repairable)

In underwater combat, thrusting with a spear was more advantageous than swinging a sword or blunt weapon due to water resistance.

Especially the abilities of the Obsidian Spear. Despite being sharp, the obsidian blade came with the inherent weakness of low durability, paired with highly offensive capabilities.

Because of its low durability, it seemed as though it would shatter the moment it struck a tough shell or rock.

But, on the other hand…”

‘As long as I’m careful with that, I can pierce through almost anything.’

Most of the monsters here were already injured from the battle or the falling debris.

Even if they weren’t, hardly any of them wore proper armor.

By just being cautious of their carapaces and scales, I could unleash significant power.

Swish!

Kicking off the falling debris, I rocketed forward through the water.

It was as if a torpedo had been launched.

“Kwaak!”

One monster, busy fending off the debris, noticed me, but it was already too late.

Thud!

I darted into the gap between the fallen carapace of a lobster-like monster.

A brutal sound of tearing filled the air, and I emerged from the other side, led by the gleaming obsidian blade.

Instant kill.

In less than a second, the monster, which had prided itself on its hard carapace and sharp claws, lay dead.

“Hiss!”

Realizing their comrade’s death, the monsters lunged at me one after another.

But unlike me, who smoothly evaded the debris, they had to defend the entrance as well as attack me.

With such restrictions, I moved as swiftly as a fish in water.

Thud!

Rip!

I plunged into a sea serpent’s mouth, ravaged its insides, and burst out through its tail.

Dodging the giant squid’s tentacles, I speared it through the head.

As I repeated the attacks, they became more skilled, and I started to use rotational force to dance through the large monsters.

‘It’s a bit of a pity I can’t use electric magic.’

Thinking that electric magic is almighty underwater is a grave misconception.

While seawater does conduct electricity well, using electric magic in water doesn’t target just the enemy; the current would disperse in all directions.

Unless it’s a significant level of high voltage, the current disperses too much to deal significant damage to the enemy.

Moreover, if I make even a slight mistake in control, the current could backfire on me, the caster.

Water magic, efficient underwater, wasn’t a better option either, as the enemy monsters had high resistance to water properties.

Thus, I found myself wielding a spear and engaging in physical combat.

However.

Thud.

– According to the mysteries of the Black Tower, the power of ‘Lightning Wave.’ is enhanced.

Crackle!

“Rumble—”

This too was a matter of how it’s used.

Wide-range attacks were difficult, but injecting a spear into an enemy and sending a current through it was well within my capabilities.

For aquatic monsters with low resistance to electricity, such an attack yielded surprisingly excellent results.

Consequently, with the continuous absorption of energy through the Power of Gluttony, I finally achieved another one of my goals.

– Through the ‘Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique’ you have accumulated one cycle of internal energy.

– Even without using martial arts, this internal energy circulates through the meridians, enhancing your fundamental physical abilities.

– The efficiency of all martial arts you use will increase in proportion to the amount of internal energy accumulated.

– According to the mysteries of the Paragon Mental Cultivation Technique, the power of martial arts techniques is further enhanced

– Earned a remarkable achievement.

– Earned 10,000 points as a reward.

– You have made history in the tower.

– You have accomplished an achievement of unbelievable magnitude.

– Earned an additional 100,000 points as a reward.

Finally, I had succeeded in accumulating a single cycle of internal energy.

The essence of martial arts truly begins with the accumulation of this single cycle.

Up until now, the martial arts I had been using could be considered only half-complete.

Having created a third mana circle, I had wondered if reaching a cycle of internal energy before entering the tower might be possible.

Finally, that goal was truly achieved.

– The Constellation, ‘Fifth Day,’ smiles gently and congratulates you on your achievement.

The Constellation, Fifth Day—Freya’s blessing flashed through my mind.

He wondered why Freya was showing interest in him, especially since he had already made a contract with Riel Refrain during the tutorial, but as it wasn’t troubling, he brushed the message off lightly.

‘Shall I enter now?’

After the fight, all the large monsters guarding the entrance had been defeated.

Entering the doorway revealed a massive cavern.

It didn’t seem naturally made—more likely, it had been hollowed out by the monsters.

It was dark for the lack of light, but that didn’t worry me. Thanks to the ‘Eyes of the Night Owl,’ the faint light within the cave provided me with visibility.

‘It seems there are no more monsters.’

Depending on the dungeon’s structure, there are usually strong monsters surrounding the boss.

The monsters at the entrance were formidable, but not to the extent I had anticipated.

As I advanced, suddenly…

‘There’s light.’

From deep inside the cave, a green light emerged.

Realizing the boss monster was near, I readied myself for battle.

Once all the ceiling debris had fallen, the monsters might notice and come inside. I needed to use another powerful weapon to quickly deal with the boss monster, even if it meant losing another treasure.

As I came out of the cave, what lay before my eyes was…

“…So this is what they meant by a breading ground.”

-The Constellation, ‘Hungry Prince,’ cheers loudly, declaring that with this amount, he could eat fresh roe soup until he’s sick of it.

Hundreds, thousands of eggs.

Each one varied in size and shape, yet they all emitted a greenish glow.

It was as if they were covered in luminescent material.

Thanks to this, the cavern shone brightly despite no sunlight penetrating.

‘So, all the monsters from the fifth tutorial were born here?’

But how could that be? Different sizes, different types of monsters, all born in this place.

If so, was someone laying and managing these eggs?

I didn’t have to ponder long; I got my answer after a few steps.

Thump! Thump!

In the center of the cavern, encased in a transparent membrane, was a being nesting the hundreds of eggs.

The membrane contracted rhythmically like a heartbeat, supplying energy to the connected eggs.

From inside it came a voice.

“Are you… human?”

A mature yet eerie female voice called out.