Arena Chapter 138:

Chapter 138 – After Returning (Part 1)

 

-Name: Kim Hyun-ho

-Class: 40

-Karma: +41,000

-Mission: rest until the next exam

-Time limit: 99 days 23 hours

My mouth dropped wide open .

Is this how you feel when you win the lottery?

First, I suspected something was wrong with my eyes, then I started suspecting that this was a dream, that perhaps I was mistaken .

Only then did I get the surge in my chest!

She must have seen my expression because Marie came close enough for our lips to touch, stared me in the face, and asked .

“Hyun-ho, did you get lots of karma? Hmm?”

“Yes, yes, um give me some room please . ”

“Why?”

“Our lips are about to touch . ”

“Uh huh . ”

Instantly, Marie’s eyes changed to that of a playful kitten . And then she leaned forward and touched her lips to mine .

There wasn’t even time to stop her . Oh man, this mentally ill woman…… if she wasn’t pretty I would’ve punched her .

Then .

“How are your results?”

“Uack!”

I was then frightened as I heard the especially businesslike voice right behind me .

“Why are you so startled?”

Cha Ji-hye expressed her indifference .

“Oh, nothing . I just got a surprising amount of karma is all . ”

I floundered for an explanation .

It almost seemed like Cha Ji-hye had a twinkle in her eyes .

“I am glad . This time too I received good results . ”

“Really?”

“The exam grade, I had less of a role than you did Mr . Kim Hyun-ho so it didn’t meet my expectation . But I eliminated 3 corrupt examinees in exchange . ”

“Three?”

I was surprised .

Honestly, the process I’ve made was abnormal . But Cha Ji-hye, who didn’t have such a monstrous amount of growth, fought against veterans who had been in the Arena for much longer .

Not just fought, but that she killed three of them was impressive .

“I saw a lot of benefit to the synthetic muscle suit . With 20 times the strength and attack power, the opponents weren’t able to properly defend themselves . ”

I see .

The synthetic muscle suits multiplies the power times 20 so for Cha Ji-hye, who attacks with double swords, it offered a lot of benefits .

If the opponent has swirling swords and her power is 20 times what I expect is to be, how would that feel? Everyone would be terrified .

Well, Cha Ji-hye is smart, she wouldn’t have picked a fight she couldn’t win .

“Anyway, shall we choose our karma prizes?”

“Let’s . ”

“Now now, that’s good and all but what do you say about eating first?”

Odin interrupted with a suggestion .

Now that I thought of it, we fought all day and hadn’t eaten yet . All we had was the fish we grilled with Vincent .

I nodded my head and Cha Ji-hye agreed too . We ate our meal together in the cafeteria .

Was it perhaps in celebration of our return from the exams?

The cafeteria was rather generous .

With medium rare steaks, pizzas, spaghetti, enough food to kill you, the tables were stacked with food .

Marie’s eyes lit on fire while her fork and knife started moving at an incredible pace . With a small build but such an appetite, even I was surprised .

Odin looked at Marie like a father would, smiling .

“She looks alright but she worked hard . Day and night she kept an eye out on my surroundings, she couldn’t relax to eat or sleep properly . ”

At that unexpected report, I looked to Marie .

She was like a child – with no patience and throwing tantrums . It was unexpected that she was a killer and hardened fighter .

“It must’ve been hard . ”

“Yep! It was really hard . ”

Marie mumbled like so and clung to me .

I brushed her hair . Marie laughed and as if to ask for more, shoved her head at me .

We were eating when Odin suddenly suggested something to me .

“What do you think of registering for the world rankings?”

“Would there be a point to those rankings? There are many examinees who conceal their true power, and its not that the amount of karma necessarily equals an examinee’s skills either . ”

Odin laughed at my words .

“Of course, amongst examinees, it doesn’t really hold that much meaning . As you say, everyone keeps their skills to themselves . ”

“So is there any meaning of registering in the rankings?”

“There is . ”

Said Odin with confidence .

“The agencies divulge information to each other, the reason for ranking examinees with their total karma is one reason . ”

“What is that?”

“It is to serve as a reference index for the investors in Arena-related business . If you surprise the rankings with your sudden high ranking, it’ll make an impression on the big controlling investors in Arena . ”

“Hm……”

“If you become a big figure, no one can think of you as small fish anymore . ”

At those words, Cha Ji-hye nodded her head and added to it .

“The Korean Arena Research Agency won’t be able to just do whatever to you anymore either . ”

“Really?”

“Of course . The Korean Arena Research Agency is the national agency but in terms of the world Arena business, it’s isn’t considered to be an agency with much power . ”

Well, it’s not a powerful group which is why they work with China .

“That a top talent examinee such as yourself was lost by the Korean Arena Research Agency, it will definitely be a mark against Chief Kim Joon-Tae . The government’s confidence in Chief Kim Joong-Tae will be shaken . ”

And if Chief Kim Joong-tae gets dismissed from his position, then I could make a deal with the new chief and it’ll even be possible to restore Cha Ji-hye’s identity .

“I’ll think about it . I don’t think it’s a bad idea . ”

I’m already well known enough due to my healing ability anyway .

To just come out as a strong player at this point doesn’t sound like a bad idea .

We finished our meal and together with Cha Ji-hye we discussed our karma .

“41,000 karma?”

“Yes . ”

It looked like Cha Ji-hye was surprised at the amount of karma I got this turn .

But then, as if in agreement, she nodded her head .

“Then again, the success of clearing this exam was dependent on your role and in addition to Heising, you eliminated many other corrupt examinees, it is only to be expected . ”

“Yes, I was very lucky . ”

“It is your skill . This past fight, from the beginning to the end, it was all your skills . ”

Ah……

Why does it feel so good to be complimented by this woman .

I scratched my head in embarrassment .

“First, I’m thinking of investing my karma to strengthen my spirit summons . ”

The first thing I thought of was the Divine Protection of Fire .

Through the Divine Protection of the Wind when I synthesized with Sylph, our power grew three-fold .

In the same manner, mastering the Divine Protection of Fire and synthesizing with Kasa, I’m thinking that I’ll get about the same boost in strength .

‘The way I used Sylph to come up with a new shooting plan, could there not be a way to do that with Kasa?’

The method of using Sylph’s power until the bullet hit its target, that’s how I penetrated Heising’s aura protection net .

By using Sylph’s power to exponentially strengthen the power of the bullet .

But Kasa’s power, other than increasing the explosiveness of the gun powder, there wasn’t really any other use for it .

I’ll have to think about this one a bit more .

Anyway, I invested my karma in mastering the Divine Protection of Fire .

“Board summon, show me how much karma it will take to raise Divine Protection of Fire to mastery . ”

Then the explanation appeared on the board .

– Divine Protection of Fire (synthesis skill) to raise to mastery, the karma needed is as follows .

– Divine Protection of Fire (synthesis skill): stir up flames with your body . It is influenced by the user’s concentration and skill level plus the spirit’s skill level .

*Master: 3 hours a day

-To master, uses 5,400 karma .

-Remaining karma: +41,000

The Divine Protection of Fire was like the Divine Protection of the Wind .

With mastery, the cool down disappeared and it was just the three hour limit per day, free to use in that span of time .

“I’ll master it . ”

I said to the board .

-Using 5,400 karma to raise Divine Protection of Fire to mastery .

-Remaining karma: +35,600

Pat!

A light sparkled from the board and seeped into my body .

Good, I’ve mastered the Divine Protection of Fire, now what skill should I raise?

“Show me how many levels I can raise my spirit summons to . ”

-Displaying the instance in using all karma to raise spirit summons (main skill) .

-Spirit summons (main skill): summon a superior spirit and express the power of nature, utilize power of nature yourself and the physical body becomes stronger .

*Spirits available to summon: Sylph, Kasa

*Superior level 8: summon time 17 hours, combine with your spirit and express powers through your own body .

-Spirit summons (main skill) to superior level 8 will use 33,600 karma .

-Remaining karma: +35,600

‘Superior level 8……’

Currently I have spirit summons superior level 1 .

Getting to superior level 8 in one leap, I’m sure the increase in power will be explosive .

But I’ve already mastered the Divine Protection of the Wind and Divine Protection of Fire skills so the spirit summons is already 3 times as powerful .

When I fought with Heising, at least in terms of power, I wasn’t lacking .

If I raised my spirit summons level here and raised my power, rather, I wonder if it would not be more effective to invest in another skill .

For example, in my reflex skill or my dynamic visual acuity .

It won’t take too much karma to synthesize my reflex skill and dynamic visual acuity to mastery since they’re synthesized skills .

I’ll have to check that out .

“Show me the karma needed to master the reflex skill . ”

-Reflex skill (synthesis skill) to master, showing karma needed .

-Reflex skill (synthesis skill): improved ability to maneuver the body .

*Mastery: become a master in all things requiring body movement .

-To raise to mastery will use 8,000 karma .

-Remaining karma: 35,600

Now that I think of it, I’ll look at the dynamic visual acuity skill too .

– Dynamic visual acuity (synthesis skill) to master showing the karma needed .

– Dynamic visual acuity (synthesis skill): able to see a fast moving object .

*Mastery: Precognition . See the flow of a fast moving object ahead of time .

-To master will use 11,600 karma .

-Remaining karma: 35,600

‘Precognition? See ahead?’

So if someone were to attack with their sword, I would be able to anticipate its path?

I asked Cha Ji-hye for her opinion .

“You must master the reflex and dynamic visual acuity skill . ”

“Really?”

“Of course . You can see where your opponent will go and what they are planning on doing . And if you add the reflex skill on top of that, you will become unstoppable in close combat . ”

She continued .

“On top of that, it is my understanding that you also gain the foresight skill . ”

“Yes . ”

Foresight was the synthesis skill I got last time .

It’s a skill from the synthesis of the guider and 357 magnum bullets, and it had the effect of being able to anticipate the enemy’s long distance attack . ”

“If you add them all, wouldn’t you have nothing to fear either from long distance or close combat?”

“…… . You’re right . ”

I decided to master the reflex and eye skill .

-With 8,000 karma, the reflex (synthesis skill) has been raised to mastery .

-With 11,600 karma, the dynamic visual acuity (synthesis skill) has been raised to mastery .

-Remaining karma: +16,000

I mastered the reflex and eye skills . I wanted to test them out immediately .