Pick Me Up Infinite Gacha! - P.M.U Chapter 191: Engraving (1) (Part 2)

She seemed to have relieved some stress. Fighting for a long time inevitably builds up stress. If not relieved in time, it can lead to poor conditions. Each member of Party 1, including myself, had a hobby to relieve stress.

For now.

I took out a leather pouch.

I opened the pouch and poured its contents onto the floor. A black bead rolled out.

It was the advent stone of the Black Dragon Blood. Next to it was a recovery potion prepared for emergencies.

I locked the stable door.

This wasn’t something to show others.

“Coo! Coo coo!”

“Neigh!”

‘Should I just do it tomorrow.’

I shook my head. Time is precious.

To get used to the engraving, I needed to try it as soon as possible.

“…Hah.”

After taking a deep breath, I reached out for the advent stone.

[Starting engraving!]

[Advent stone used – True Black Dragon Blood (A)]

[Target hero – Han (★★★★)]

[Success rate – Unknown]

The inscription window appeared in my view.

[※Warning!]

[Engraving can fail, and a failed hero will fall into a state of corruption. Are you sure you want to proceed with the engraving?]

[Yes / No]

Along with a loud noise, a warning message popped up.

If the engraving fails, your hero is done for.

That’s roughly what it meant.

No matter how skilled a hero was before, if they failed here, it would be over in an instant.

Corrupted heroes almost never return. I had lost many promising candidates to promotion and engraving before.

‘It’s a matter of mental strength.’

Heroes trained through actual combat rarely fall into corruption.

To reach the 100th floor, this level of challenge should be overcome. After taking one last deep breath, I touched the hologram.

[Yes (selected) / No]

Then I placed my left hand on the surface of the advent stone.

[The engraving begins!]

[The process requires some time.]

[Please wait.]

Vuuuuung.

The advent stone began to vibrate.

A cold energy started to flow into my fingertips.

It felt like my veins were freezing.

<Hahaha… You have started.>

A familiar voice echoed in my ear.

A deep, domineering voice.

It belonged to the black dragon I fought yesterday.

Crackle, crackle.

Dark red lightning started to shoot from my left hand.

But there was almost no pain.

…Is there no mute function?

Slowly, I began to feel the sensation in my left arm.

Hot yet cold. A feeling I had never experienced before.

“Just shut up. I’m not interested in your story at all.”

<Hahaha! Treating ancient secrets so lightly! Truly a hero! This performance was worth it.>

He seems to be having strange delusions.

Ignoring his voice, I focused on my arm.

Dark red lightning was burning on my entire left arm.

‘So this is where the engraving is.’

It meant the skill would start from the left arm.

I should keep this in mind.

“Neigh! Neigh!”

“Coo… Coo coo!”

Sensing something, the animals started to cry loudly.

Especially Goo Goo Corn, who flapped its wings and fluttered around me annoyingly.

Crackle. Crackle.

The lightning on my left arm subsided.

I squinted my eyes. A noticeable change occurred.

‘This is…’

Scales began to sprout from my left forearm.

A vivid jet-black sheen. They were the black dragon’s scales.

But the scales soon disappeared, returning to normal skin.

Crackle.

The lightning subsided.

I rotated my left arm.

It moved normally.

The engraving seemed almost complete.

Except for the noisy chatter from one creature, there were no other problems so far.

“What.”

Opportunity?

<Yes. You have passed the test. With you…>

“…?”

Crackle, crackle!

Suddenly, a blinding flash erupted from my left arm.

The flash formed a bolt of lightning that shot into the air, forming the shape of a small dragon.

The dragon roared.

<Hahaha! Consider it an honor to become my vessel!>

[Danger!]

[‘Han (★★★★)’ is beginning to be corrupted!]

The lightning pierced back into my left arm.

But this time, the sensation was different from before.

A searing pain, as if my veins were being torn apart, climbed up my left arm.

<Don’t worry. I’ll use your body well. Despite being a lowly human, your vessel is excellent. Lucky me! Haha!>

“…”

Crackle, crackle!

The lightning that reached my shoulder aimed for my heart.

I quickly took the recovery potion I had opened and reached for the sheath.

“…Somehow.”

<Huh?>

“It is too easy.”

Swoosh.

I drew my sword with my right hand.

It’s merely a substitute for Bifrost, but it isn’t completely without resistance to corruption.

<Wait, what are you…>

Crunch.

There was no hesitation.

I plunged the blade into my shoulder.

My vision momentarily turned red, and my head spun.

But this level of pain…

‘I’ve experienced it more than once.’

I brought my right hand to the lightning hovering around my shoulder.

Blisters formed on my palm, and my skin started to peel, but I forced myself to endure it.

Snap.

The sound of muscle fibers tearing.

Then, the flesh on my shoulder began to peel away.

I gritted my teeth and tore the lightning from my shoulder.

<Don’t resist! I, a great being, will save Townia in your place. All you have to do is hand over your body!>

Crackle, crackle!

I pulled at the lightning.

“Is that so?”

The dragon’s eyes appeared in the lightning.

I looked at my left arm. The torn skin was healing rapidly.

Even after pulling out the lightning, the engraving remained in my body.

“Coo… Coo coo…!”

“Neigh! Neigh!”

The animals were going wild.

I took a breath.

“Ugh!”

I pulled the sword out of my left arm.

Before the blood spurted out, scales formed, blocking the wound.

Gripping the still-burning lightning in my right hand, I stood up.

I stomped on the frenzied pigeon next to me.

Then I grasped the lightning.

“Coo…?!”

<Huh?>

The eyes of the dragon and the pigeon met.

Hyung_Otaku

I'm currently Translating the following novels: Pick Me Up! | A Frontline Soldier Awakened as a Gamer In The War! | The 100th Regression of the Max-Level Player. If you want to support me and read more chapters please subscribe to my Patreon!