“Here I go, Elemental Tempest!”

I shouted out a name that suddenly crossed my mind as I thrust out my spear that was clad with an enormous elemental storm. As always, my naming sense was rather simple.

[Critical Hit!]

“Kuaaaak!”

“Squeak, gwak!”

Immediately after that, I staggered as dizziness swept over me. Too much of my mana had been drained in an instant. I bit down on my cheek to rouse myself, and quickly took out and gulped down a mid-grade mana potion.

As my mana slowly recovered by 1,000 points, I felt the dizziness pass by. Mid-grade mana potions cost 500 gold apiece at the Floor Shop. In other words, they were each worth one million won. Although I would have preferred to save them, now was not the time. The Dark Ratman was still alive and kicking.

I raised my head to see the result of my attack. What I saw shocked me immensely. The originally pristine stone floor had been destroyed, with holes littered everywhere. In addition, the ratmen that had once filled the room were all dead, torn to shreds. Although I had somewhat expected it, it was still a surprising sight to behold.

Then, a notification popped up. It was one I had heard before.

[You have created the skill, ‘Elemental Tempest’! It is a technique that combines elemental power with the ancient spear technique designed to handle many enemies. It possesses a domineering force, obliterating nearby enemies! It uses half of the user’s MP. This skill may only be used by its creator. The skill level is adjusted to lower-rank level 5.]

[You have created a skill! Elemental Tempest is a skill that has never existed elsewhere. Created with the most exquisite combination of mana, spearmanship, and elemental power, this skill will remain a legend for future generations of Elemental Spearman. You obtained 1 skill point as a reward. Current skill points: 4]

“Ha, hahaha.”

I created another skill! An indescribable feeling of satisfaction swept over me.

Furthermore, this was an attack skill.

Shina’s Hornet Pierce was considered an extremely rare skill. Attack skills were as rare as magic, and anyone who had one would use it for the rest of their life. As such, I was surprised I could create a second attack skill after Heroic Strike.

Not to mention, the two skills I made were quite complimentary. One was a single-target attack perfect to use against a boss, and the other was a multi-target attack perfect for fighting mobs. With these two, I would be invinci… no, wait.

I could apply elemental power to Heroic Strike too!

Of course, Heroic Strike was different from Tempest. It was easy to harmonize elementals with Tempest because it used a mana current. However, Heroic Strike was a pure concentration of my energy. If other elementals interfered, it would likely become weaker instead.

However, that did not mean I could not make use of elemental power as I had Spirit Aura. If I infused my spear with Peika, it could be possible. I idly wondered how strong that would be. Luckily, I did not need to imagine its strength.

I could just test it now.

“Gwak gwak! I will fry you along with your wings!”

[You wish!]

When all of its minions died, the Dark Ratman became noticeably anxious. It tried to use Dark Thunder Explosion, but Peika was a lightning elemental. She absorbed the Dark Ratman’s paralyzing electric shock and glowed with an even more dazzling light.

That wasn’t surprising. After all, elementals had a 100 percent resistance against their own elements. In other words, they were completely immune to their own elements. In Peika’s case, it looked like she had an absorption ability as well. Although I had suspected it when I first read the information about her, Peika truly was showing that she wasn’t any ordinary elemental.

“Kahahaha! It’s a festival of lightning!”

[Try it, I dare you!]

As Peika fearlessly taunted the Dark Ratman, I escaped Dark Thunder Explosion’s area of effect. Peika being immune to lightning attacks did not automatically apply to me. Things might be different if Peika developed further and our affinity rose to the extreme, but that was not the case now.

As expected, the Dark Ratman’s black lighting was absorbed by Peika the moment it came out, and she shone with an increasingly dazzling light. When the skill finally ended, the Dark Ratman panted and screamed.

“Gwak gwak! Tough fly!”

[Stop calling me that, you rat!]

“Gwak gwak!”

At this point, the Dark Ratman had been shocked so many times from Peika’s endless lightning attacks that its leather armor was almost burnt off. It had close to no physical resistance at this point. In addition, it had exhausted its mana with Dark Thunder Explosion as well. Basically, it was just a punching bag waiting for the punches.

“Huu. Hap!”

The Dark Ratman was exhausted to the point it could not even shoot out a single bolt of lightning. However, it swung its long claws in the air in an attempt to attack Peika. Meanwhile, I charged toward the Dark Ratman. Although it noticed me approaching before long, I was prepared.

“Peika, stop his movements!”

[Eit!]

At my command, Peika let out a cute shout and raised her hand toward the Dark Ratman. A few bolts of lightning that were dancing around her shot forward toward the Dark Ratman, paralyzing it. I knew she was my elemental, but she really was perfect.

“Now, Spirit Aura!”

At the same time I activated my skill, Peika turned into a small particle of light and got sucked into my spear. I could feel my spear vibrating like it was alive and breathing. Above the spear, white lightning flickered about.

[Tell me in advance before you use it!] she exclaimed.

“Sorry, I was in a hurry!”

At her current level, Peika’s lightning could only paralyze the enemy for a few seconds. I could not afford to waste the precious opportunity she created. Within that short period of time, I tensed my muscles and squeezed out all the strength and mana into one point on my spear. Then, I thrust out.

“Heroic Strike!”

“Gwak gwak! Kak!”

I targeted the left side of its chest where its heart was located. Lightning rippled and white light radiated out as my spear burnt its leather armor to a crisp, broke its muscles and bones, and penetrated its heart.

The Dark Ratman shrieked as it coughed up blood. Before long, its head drooped down. It was dead.

I couldn’t believe it even after I did it myself. No matter how much Peika’s lightning had drained its energy, I had just defeated a Floor Master in a single blow. So this was the power of an Elementalist! This was the power of an Awakened ability user!

Even though it was mine, I was scared that I would become addicted to this power, that I would neglect my martial arts training. I had to remind myself of the basics.

My strength lies in my spearmanship honed through 10 years of hard work. Never forget it. Don’t become drunk on this new power.

Then, as always, I was flooded with notification messages.

[A Grand Achievement! You have defeated the Floor Master, Dark Ratman, alone! Amazing!]

[You have obtained the title, ‘Dark Ratman Slayer.’ All stats permanently have increased by 1. This effect will apply even if the title is not equipped.]

[You have defeated the Dark Ratman alone. You have obtained the special reward, ‘Dark Ratman’s Leather Jacket’.]

[You obtained 5,000 gold.]

[Choose your reward.]

[1. Return Magic Book.]

“Whew.”

Only after I heard the flurry of messages did I relax. Although I felt like collapsing on the floor, I held on and first deactivated Spirit Aura. Peika quickly returned to her usual form and sat down on my head. She pulled on strands of my hair with a bit of force.

She scolded me. [Next time, tell me beforehand! It was scary suddenly being sucked in like that!]

“Yeah, sorry, Peika.”

[Okay! I forgive you!]

Apparently that apology was enough as Peika now gently stroked my hair. Perhaps it was because she was an elemental, but she had an extremely pure personality. I went over the rest of the message log, only half paying attention.

The Dark Ratman Slayer title was something I expected to get. After defeating the third Floor Master alone, all of my stats were now increased by 3. No matter how small it seemed, little increases piled up over time would lead to a significant effect.

The last part of the Dark Ratman set, the leather jacket, had also appeared, which was within my expectations. I had a sneaking suspicion that by equipping the full set I’d end up with the Dark Ratman’s signature skill. If my hunch wasn’t wrong, I would gladly replace the Orc Lord Set, which I spent a long time gathering, with the Dark Ratman’s set. At this moment, however, I was currently wearing the Wraith Queen Set.

I peeled off the Wraith Queen set one by one, leaving only the shirt on. Then, I put on the Dark Ratman equipment, which included: leather pants, leather boots, leather belt, leather gloves, leather jacket, and leather fedora.

Although the Dark Ratman’s set was heavier than the Wraith Queen equipment, it was still lighter than the Orc Lord equipment. I had been worried that the Dark Ratman Set’s defensive stats would pale in comparison to the armor-type Orc Lord Set, but the equipment dropped by the 15th Floor Master was fundamentally different.

When I finished putting on the last equipment part, a fanfare notification rang in my ear.

What was that? I never heard something like it when I got the Wraith Queen’s skill!

The following messages made me freeze in place.

[You have equipped the Dark Ratman Set. Your strength and dexterity has increased by 10. When the Dark Ratman set is equipped, you can use ‘Dark Thunder Explosion’ once per day.]

Everything I saw so far was within my expectations, but it still made me dance in happiness. I could now use that powerful skill! Similar to the Orc Lord’s Warcry and Vengeful Spirit’s Wail, Dark Thunder Explosion also did not require any mana to use. None of the equipment based skills needed it. 

Even though they could only be used once a day, being able to use such powerful skills without mana was a great advantage.

However, what followed that message surprised me immensely.

[You have satisfied the opening condition of ‘Collector’s Pocket Watch’. You have obtained a subclass! Opening condition: learn 5 skills, collect 3 skill equipment, create 1 skill.]

[You have obtained the subclass, ‘Skill Collector’. Your magic and luck has increased by 10 through class advancement bonus.]

[You have obtained the class active skill, ‘Endow Skill’. You can extract skills from equipment and endow the pocket watch with them. The skills will then be usable without having the equipment set equipped. You can endow up to 12 skills and they will be usable once per day. This skill has no level.]

[You have obtained the class passive skill, ‘Spirit of the Collector’. Upon defeating Floor Masters or Event Dungeon bosses, or clearing Event Dungeons, there is an increased chance that items you need will appear on the reward list. The chance increases based on your charm and luck stat. This skill has no level.]

“Ah.”

I had forgotten all about the pocket watch! In fact, I couldn’t even remember when I had gotten it in the first place!