The More the Healer Gets Hit the Stronger He Become

13 – Crimson Sparrow

[You are challenging the sixth trial.]

A vast field pierced through with lies. The pleasant breeze brushing against his clothes and the fragrant scent of grass.

“Huh.”

Arriving at the trial location on the 6th floor, Kangwoo involuntarily took a breath.

“Wha, what is this…”

The post-traumatic stress disorder from the second trauma at the top invaded his mind.

“3rd-floor trial location…?”

That’s right. A vast field. This place, with an endless blue horizon, was the background of the trial where giant horned cows appeared on the 3rd floor.

“…Damn.”

A shiver ran down his spine. The events of more than ten days ago felt vivid as if it were yesterday.

This time, what could it be? Through Kangwoo’s alert ears on high alert, the system notification rang out.

[Mission: Capture ten red sparrows.]

[Upon completing the mission, the trial will conclude.]

“Red sparrows?”

Sparrows are sparrows, but red sparrows?

With a question in mind, when he raised his head, small birds were seen fluttering in the sky, without a single cloud.

One, two, three… approximately over fifty birds, easily surpassing the number.

“…Is that it?”

A petite figure that suited the name sparrow, smaller than a fist.

Although the system had mentioned birds, and those birds were the only ones around, Kangwoo couldn’t easily accept that those birds were the red sparrows.

“No, red sparrows?”

Cheep cheep—.

Right on cue, a bird with a cute figure let out a resounding cry.

Kangwoo’s pupils trembled as if an earthquake had occurred.

The name “red sparrow” paled in comparison… The birds freely fluttering in the sky were overwhelmingly yellow.

Not just yellow, but extremely, extremely yellow.

“…Chicks?”

[The trial begins.]

As if saying there’s no room for doubt, the trial began.

And so, 10 minutes… 15 minutes… 30 minutes passed.

Kangwoo realized a new problem.

“…How do I catch them?”

Piiyaaa-.

The chicks named Red Sparrows had incredible stamina.

Even after 30 minutes, those birds fluttering in the sky seemed to have no intention of setting foot on the ground.

“Hey, you birdbrains!!”

In contemplation, Kangwoo provoked the Red Sparrows.

“Hey, you chicks!! Are you monsters? Try attacking or something!!”

So, for 5 minutes… 10 minutes… 20 minutes…

“Heh. Heh. Damn, they don’t even look at me.”

Jumping around like a madman, taunting the sparrows, Kangwoo pulled out water from his backpack and gulped it down.

Until now, he had only dealt with guys running at him with flipped eyes; this was a whole new concept.

A monster that didn’t care even if a person below went crazy.

Kangwoo eyed the Red Sparrows. For him, there was no way to catch them without long-range weapons or skills.

[Capture ten Red Sparrows.]

Thinking about the mission, Kangwoo mumbled quietly.

“I’m not getting stuck here, am I…?”

Unwilling to believe it, but it was a highly plausible question.

***

[Strength 17.4]

Entering the God Tower and awakening, reminiscing about when my strength was at level 6, it was an incredible advancement.

My stats had increased by almost three times.

This tremendous strength, accumulated through suffering with the skill of a divine touch, was a value achievable only around the 10th floor’s mid-point for an average awakener.

“…”

With such immense power, Kang Woo stared blankly at the sky.

He had the power… but couldn’t use it.

*Beeep*.

Why was the sunlight so piercingly bright? After staring at the sky for so long, his eyes were completely blinded.

How long had he been sitting there like a stunned chicken chasing after a dog?

*Thud thud thud*.

Finally, perhaps having depleted all his energy, a red sparrow descended to the ground.

“Thank you. Overwhelming thanks.”

Was his blurry vision due to dry eyes?

Rubbing his eyes once, the single bird that was there multiplied to twenty.

The birds that were fluttering around suddenly began landing one after another on the ground.

“A way. A way!!”

Kang Woo’s movements became awkward.

The distance between him and those chicks was about 15 meters.

If he ran at them, there was a high chance he might just soar into the sky.

“What should I do? What… Ah…!”

Kangwoo’s hands busily rummaged through his backpack.

“It should be here. Definitely here… Ah! Found it!”

In his hand emerged a small pouch, like a mop.

“hehehehe.”

The identity of the pouch was none other than the poison stinger obtained during the second-floor trial from a goblin.

Once he figured out the method, the execution was swift.

Kangwoo, placing the poison stinger in an empty flask, launched one as a demonstration.

Pwoosh!

The poison stinger flew forcefully with a short, strong exhale.

Thunk.

Kangwoo alternated between the empty flask in his hand and the poison stinger, which lay five steps away.

“…”

Giving up was even quicker.

Kangwoo, who nonchalantly tucked the seemingly harmless poison stinger into his backpack, set the backpack and shield aside, holding only the staff as he stood up.

There was no other way. He had to try using his body first.

Kangwoo cautiously approached the red sparrow photosynthesizing leisurely.

Stealthily.

Tweet-yaaah-.

Stealthily.

Tweet? Tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet-!

Quietly.

Beep beep beep. Beep. Beep beep beep. Beep.

Now, the crimson sparrows sleep soundly, even their noses tucked in.

“…?”

Kangwoo, who had lowered his body, straightened up and took a step forward.

Beep-yam beep-yam beep-yam. Beep beep beep.

Even though he must have sensed their presence with his deliberate movements, he didn’t glance their way once.

Step by step, Kangwoo walked boldly, and my character was engraved on his forehead.

Remaining distance: 5 meters. They still paid him no attention.

“What the… you birdbrains!!”

Even though he deemed it a pointless effort, why did it feel like he was the one being ridiculed?

Angry, Kangwoo rushed forward, swinging the staff forcefully.

Swish-!

With an attack power of 17.4, his strike was powerful. Six of them fell and died instantly.

To think he struggled with something so easy!

Just as Kangwoo, now heated up, was about to swing the staff again.

Beep beep beep beep beep-!!

The birds, witnessing the death of their kin, flapped their wings violently.

Simultaneously,

Kangwoo realized why those guys with absurdly yellow feathers were called ‘red’ sparrows.

From the slightly widened, adorable mouth.

Paaah-!

It was because flames, far from being adorable, spewed out.

Under the torrent of flames pouring towards him, Kangwoo was hit directly without a chance to evade.

“aaah-!!”

The 700-point cloth armor lost its defense in front of the power of magic.

The scent of well-cooked meat wafted along with the rising steam, as Kangwoo, looking down following the smoke, frantically rolled on the ground upon confirming his burning clothes in real-time.

“aaah-! No, no, no!! aaah-!!”

From Noble mtl dot com

The act of trying to put out the fire only aggravated the futile wounds, bringing even greater pain.

Screaming, Kangwoo, upon seeing the yellow light filling his vision, became contemplative.

Sssshhh-!!

Angry chicks were starting a second arson.

“Damn it!!”

Desperately getting up, Kangwoo tried to leave the spot but was a step too late.

Paaah-!

In an instant, the sight turned red.

[Strength has increased by 0.1.]

[Strength has increased by 0.1.]

[Strength has increased by 0.1.]

[As the strength…]

He swung the staff as best he could, knowing it was a temporary measure. The crimson sparrows knew it, and so did the system.

“Hu… huuugh…!”

Skin, fully exposed to the scorching flames, melted like candle wax. Not even a scream escaped from the vocal cords, perhaps burned beyond recognition.

Instinct sounded an alarm in the midst of excruciating agony.

He’s dying.

If he allowed that attack one more time, it would truly be the end.

Beeep-!!

Gathered around Kangwoo, the crimson sparrows emitted cries.

A sound akin to the signal before spewing flames.

“Ugh… uuugh…”

Trembling hands, racked with pain, clenched the staff.

Due to the melting skin, the staff kept slipping from his fingertips, yet Kangwoo exerted even more effort.

“uuugh!!”

As the sparrows’ beaks opened wide.

Whooooooosh-!

The staff, swung with all the remaining strength, sliced through the air.

Blaaaze-!

A torrent of scorching flames poured forth, yet the pain was not felt.

[The trial will now conclude.]

“The measurement of contribution for rewards begins.”

By a hair’s breadth, Kang Woo escaped death.

***

“Trial completion reward: 600 points.”

“Monsters defeated: 11 ⨉ 25 points.”

His hazy mind awakened at the sound of the system notification.

Fortunately, the system’s notifications weren’t delivered through the ears.

Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.

If it had been delivered through the ears, he wouldn’t have woken up upon hearing that notification.

“U… Ugh…”

His burnt lips twitched, but he couldn’t produce a sound.

However, luckily, the shop revealed its appearance solely through Kang Woo’s will.

Shwirlak.

The display of items unfolding before his eyes remained blurry.

Even confirming the names of the items was difficult, but there was no problem.

“Intermediate… Healing potion… Immediate… Use…”

“You have purchased an intermediate healing potion.”

“1,000 points have been deducted.”

The system notification was more welcoming than ever.

“The immediate use of the intermediate healing potion begins.”

With the beautiful resonance fading away, Kangwoo finally let go of the grip he had barely held onto.

***

“Cough!”

How long had it been?

Regaining consciousness, Kangwoo was engulfed in emotions.

Just before facing death, struggling, barely purchasing a potion, then losing consciousness. It was an experience he hadn’t encountered since the trial on the first floor.

“Was I arrogant?”

Birds of insignificant size. He had thought they could easily be captured with a few swings from the staff.

He had believed in an abnormally high strength through the deceptive skill of a sacred touch.

He had trusted the vitality belt item he purchased for a whopping 6,600 points before the start of this trial.

But all that resulted in was this.

By a stroke of luck, his desperate struggles on the brink of death barely saved his life.

“…”

There was no room for excuses.

Being so cornered in the trial on the sixth floor was solely his fault.

If only he hadn’t been arrogant.

If only he hadn’t discarded the shield, casually wielding only the staff in battle, not bothering to learn about the enemy, feeling foolishly indignant at being ignored, and recklessly attacking without considering a single reason.

He wouldn’t have been so helplessly taken advantage of.

“… You fool.”

Lying on the cold floor, he indulged in self-reflection for a while.

Gangwoo, who firmly corrected his arrogance, cautiously rose to his feet.

“Ugh.”

[Stamina Belt]

[Wearing increases the healing effects received by the wearer by 8%.]

Thanks to the stamina belt worth its price, the remaining wounds after using the intermediate healing potion were not that significant.

Although the flesh was peeled off and stained red, compared to the horrific sight of the melted bones, this was a mere trifle.

Having completely healed his wounds by using healing twice, Gangwoo felt a sense of emptiness.

“No way…?”

When challenging a trial and when the trial ended.

The items a challenger possessed were transferred together, according to the tower’s rules.

And of course, items not possessed by the challenger were not transferred together.

[Basic Round Shield. Stamina +1]

The shield he had laid on the ground before attacking the red sparrow.

And also, a backpack purchased with great determination in the 2nd safe zone, which not only contained various items but also a 1,000-point intermediate healing potion.

Nowhere to be found in the current safe zone.

“No, no, no, no, no-!”

No trace of them.