《The Saint Who Levels Up Through Necromancy》
Chapter 1: Regression
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 1: Regression
Seoul was aze.
Crimson mes dancing ceaselessly atop the concrete ruins.
Amidst countless corpses, a g bearing a two-headed ck eagle fluttered in the wind.
The symbol of the Romanov n, one of the seven great ns of the world and a magical powerhouse that dominated Eurasia.
"Damn the Romanovs."
Yoojin growled, ring at the fluttering g.
His right arm was gone. Blood gushed like a waterfall from a gaping hole in his abdomen. A fatal wound that would lead to immediate death if he lost consciousness.
Gritting his teeth, he strained to maintain his fading awareness.
"Tsk, tsk. Why bother struggling when you could just lie downfortably?"
An old man perched on the concrete rubble chuckled, looking down at Yoojin.
"Whether it''s futile or not, I won''t know until I try, Dmitri."
"My name is Dmitri Andreyevich Romanov. Show some respect, won''t you?"
"Bullshit. How can anyone remember such a long name?"
"Then call me the Mage King."
The incarnation of Odin, the King of Gods in Asgard.
The head of the Romanov n.
Also, like Yoojin, a Transcendent who has reached the 9th Star Rank.
''The one who turned Seoul into hell.''
Yoojin spat out a mouthful of blood.
"You became the eighth Transcendent, but your wings were clipped before you could even spread them."
"And who was it that broke those wings?"
"Hahaha. What can you do? The seven great ns, including our Romanov n, do not wish for the existing order to crumble. Immortal King."
A title bestowed by the system upon reaching the 9th Star Rank.
Immortal King was Yoojin''s epithet, bestowed upon him by the system.
"At least you call me King."
"Because you deserve it."
A sneer curled Dmitri''s lips.
"Honestly, I''m relieved. If you had received the blessings of a constetion, our n would have suffered great losses."
"You know those lofty beings turned their backs on me, don''t you?"
"Of course I do. You are a Necromancer, one who defies the natural order."
[Necromancer]n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
A ss that raises the dead to serve as their minions.
Yoojin was the first and strongest Necromancer to ever exist.
The only problem was¡
The great beings, whose names were etched upon the stars, did not bestow their blessings upon those who defied the natural order.
"That is the difference between you and this old man."
A golden haze enveloped Dmitri. An aura that manifested when one became the ¡²Incarnation¡³ of a god, drawing upon the full power of their patron deity.
''A fraudulent ability that reduces the destructive power of all magic-based attacks by over 95%.''
Even a dragon''s breath.
Even a Death Knight''s dark aura.
Even curses and dark magic honed to their ultimate levels be ineffective.
He was beingpletely overwhelmed.
Yoojin sighed and straightened his back.
Tap, Tap, Tap...
Blood poured from the gaping hole in his chest like a waterfall. Unless he transformed into a lich, his body was too far gone to avoid death.
"Do you think it''s over now?"
"A Necromancer without minions is nothing more than a sitting duck."
"I''ll show you why I''ve been listening to your nonsense all this time."
[Dark Magic Regeneration]
[Lunar Eclipse Spell]
[Transcendent Skill - Death Field]
The bones scattered across the battlefield rattled.
The lingering resentment of fallen wraiths gathered, forming an ash-gray vortex.
A magic circle was added, amplifying the already intensified power of the shadow dimension...
An immense wave of Yin energy surged, so powerful that even a Hunter who had reached the pinnacle of magic would feel a chill.
"A Transcendent Skill that uses the soul as coteral."
Dmitri felt a shiver down his spine at Yoojin''s final gambit. The sight of the surging ash-gray vortex made it hard to breathe. An unsettling feeling made his hair stand on the back of his neck.
It was a power capable of shaking the very order of the world.
''Aura alone won''t be enough to counter this. I have no choice but to prepare my most powerful magic.''
sh¡ª!
The Eye of Odin.
A symbol of divine power granted to Dmitri when he became an ¡²Incarnation¡³.
The rune inscription that appeared on his retina drew in magic, forcibly elevating it beyond its inherent rank.
¡²Divine Power¡³, a force one step above ¡²Magic¡³, the foundation of the world, and bordering on thews of the universe itself. A power beyond the realm of mortals, granted only to constetions or incarnations, was manifested.
[Absolute Curse]
[9-Layered Rune Combination]
[Transcendent Magic - Crimson Lord]
Multiple rays of light descended from the sky.
Rune characters, drawing pure destructive power from the nine realms ruled by Odin, intertwined and amplified to their maximum potential.
Divine power resonated and surged.
Energy capable of annihting an entire continent was concentrated into a single point.
"Immortal King. I shall obliterate even your soul."
The crimson sh that poured down like a waterfall tore through the ash-gray storm effortlessly.
The power of a constetion, unattainable by mere mortals.
At the moment his forbidden art, fueled by his very life force, was shattered...
He smiled brightly.
"I''ve been waiting for this."
A worn pocket watch in Yoojin''s hand faced the attack head-on.
[Artifact - Kronos'' Pocket Watch activated.]
[Divine power detected.]
The ¡²miracle¡³ Dmitri manifested was sucked into the watch.
Tick¡ª Tock¡ª
The watch''s second hand began to move.
[Divine power exceeding that of an Incarnation detected.]
[Activation conditions for Kronos'' Pocket Watch have been met.]
[The timeline is being rewound.]
"What have you done, Immortal King!"
"Why? Something wrong?"
Kronos'' Pocket Watch.
To activate this artifact, which embodied the power to control time, the user had to reach the 9th Star Rank.
Secondly, it required the power of a constetion.
As someone forsaken by the stars, it was an item Yoojin shouldn''t be able to use, but...
''If I can''t do it with my own power, I can borrow it from someone else.''
Yoojin grinned.
Tick¡ª Tock¡ª
The ticking of the second hand grew faster and faster.
The world''s timeline rewound.
His vision blurred.
"See you again, you damn eagle bastard."
Yoojin gave Dmitri the middle finger as a parting gesture.
£ª £ª £ª
A familiar ceiling.
He blinked several times, but the scene remained the same.
His mind was hazy, as if filled with static. He couldn''t breathe properly, and his vision was unfocused.
"Ugh."
Yoojin shot up in bed as if propelled by a spring.
Thump- Thump- Thump¡ª
His heart pounded at over 180 beats per minute.
His blood rushed, his breathing grew ragged, and his hands and feet trembled.
''Where am I?''
Thest thing he remembered was pushing Kronos'' Pocket Watch into Dmitri''s transcendent magic.
The ticking of the watch filled his ears, and then his vision flickered.
At that moment.
[User: Cheon Yoojin]
[You have been chosen by the system.]
[Please select a suitable ss based on your unique traits and qualities.]
A translucent window appeared before his eyes.
''Indeed. I''ve returned to this day.''
As he stared nkly at the status window floating in the air, memories of the past flooded back.
The day he left the orphanage, found a small apartment, and struggled to survive day by day.
''I saw this message.''
It had been 23 years, but the overwhelming emotions he felt back then remained vivid in Yoojin''s mind.
"Heh."
A chuckle escaped his tightly closed lips.
He had seeded.
A low-probability gamble with everything on the line.
Kronos'' Pocket Watch, an item he hadn''t even considered using because he was far removed from the constetions'' favor, had perfectly fulfilled its role.
''What happened to the watch?''
[Broken Kronos'' Pocket Watch]
Rank: Artifact
Category: Relic
Durability: 1/10
A relic left behind in various dimensions by the ancient constetion who governed time.
Two cannot exist in the same world.
As a consequence of enacting a miracle, time cannot be reversed again at this juncture.
Arge crack etched on the surface. A fissure that wasn''t there before the regression.
''No second chances, huh.''
Yoojin carefully ces the broken watch on the table.
Regression.
The message was clear: the miracle of turning back time to return to the past could not be repeated.
Nevertheless.
Yoojin didn''t throw away Kronos'' Pocket Watch.
''Parents, huh?''
Yoojin had almost no memories from before he was left at the orphanage.
Except for one.
For some reason, the fact that he was holding the artifact [Kronos'' Pocket Watch] was etched in his mind.
''I didn''t realize it was an artifact until muchter.''
It was only after he reached the 9th Star Rank, the realm called transcendence, that he recognized the true value of [Kronos'' Pocket Watch].
Although it became useless after the regression.
He didn''t bother throwing it away.
''Well, I have other uses for it.''
He put the pocket watch in his pocket and grabbed his phone.
? 40 years after the Great Cataclysm. How has the world changed? ?
? Korea''s No. 1 Guild, Arahan, forms an alliance with the Romanov n, one of the world''s seven great ns... ?
? The birth of the first Hunter n on the Korean Penins? ?
40 years since Gates, monsters, and Hunters appeared on Earth.
The world''s flow had been reorganized around Hunters.
The national power of each country was determined by the military strength of Hunter ns and guilds.
And the seven great ns, as they were called, grew into supernatural organizations that wielded absolute power and wealth, surpassing even nations.
''That''s why the Mage King targeted me.''
A 9 Star ranker suddenly appears in Korea, a small country in the Far East?
If Yoojin were to establish a Hunter n, it might emerge as a powerful force threatening the existing order.
''Even though I had no intention of doing that.''
Crack¡ª.
Dmitri, and the Romanov n. I''ll make you regret touching me.
Yoojin suppressed his fury and muttered,
"Status window."
Name - Cheon Yoojin
Gender - Male
Level - 1 (1 Star)
¡ò Stats
* Strength: 7
* Agility: 6
* Health: 7
* Endurance: 5
* Mana: 10
¡ò Traits
Clear Mind [Unique]
Your mind remains unshaken in any situation. Immune to all mental attacks.
? You have not yet chosen a ss.
? There are 3 ss categories you can choose from based on your unique traits.
Martial / Magic / Priest
These three sses are the basic sses avable to Hunters, and they also serve as the basis for ssifyingbat styles.
''I chose the magic category in the past.''
About 10% of Hunters have magic-rted traits.
Priests also have a low percentage, but he didn''t choose it because it didn''t suit his personality.
''There aren''t only basic sses.''
As your rank increases, you can strengthen your ss to specialize in specific skills or equipment.
There are also sses you can change to by meeting certain conditions in specific Gates.
Like Alchemist, Summoner, Martial Artist, or even Necromancer.
''Let''s get a head start.''
There''s no need to go back down a path he already knows.
He already has the knowledge of how to be a Necromancer.
Yoojin recalled the opportunities he''d seized before his regression and prepared to go out.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 2: If There Is No Constellation, Make One (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 2: If There Is No Constetion, Make One (1)
Yongsan Hunter Market.
A newly established trading center specializing in Hunter-rted goods, built on the site of the former electronics market.
"Have you seen the sword that Magus Co. just released?"
"I heard Hansung created a new armor brand."
"Ah, the one processed with the new material from Norie''s Spire..."
Peopleing and going through the Hunter Market.
Most of them were Hunters, those who had been invited by the system and became Awakened.
Yoojin passed through the lobby and headed towards the essories store.
Rings, nes, bracelets, and more.
As he scanned the magically crafted essories, an employee approached him.
"Excuse me, customer. Are you looking for anything in particr?"
"I''d like to see the Ring of Darkness."
The employee let out a short, surprisedugh, "Heh," and then said, "This way, please," leading Yoojin to the back of the store.
In a secluded corner of the shop.
Hidden away from the usual foot traffic, Yoojin found the opportunity he was seeking.
A dark ring with brown stains all over it.
"What''s the price?"
"20 million won, sir."
[KM Bank - 32,590,160]
The support funds he received when he left the orphanage.
And all the money he had saved by working his bones off for three years.
''It''s tight, considering my next schedule.''
Yoojin purchased the Ring of Darkness without hesitation.
[Ring of Darkness]
Rank: Rare
Category: Ring
Durability: 50/50
A ring containing the deep, unknowable darkness of night.
When worn, it afflicts the user with mental curses.
A cursed ring that, instead of strengthening the user, inflicts all sorts of debuffs.
That''s why the employee chuckled when Yoojin mentioned the item''s name.
Considering that typical Rare grade items cost at least hundreds of millions of won, this was practically a steal.
''It''s an item with no use unless you want to screw someone over.''
There were over a hundred Rings of Darkness, not just in the Hunter Market, but all over the world.
Themon effect of the item was to inflict mental curses.
A truckload of Hunters had investigated it, wondering if it held a hidden secret. Some even poured their magical energy into it, believing its true nature would be revealed if the curse was lifted.
''But no one found the answer.''
When the curse was washed away, it simply reverted to an ordinary ring.
It couldn''t be used as a catalyst for dark spells or as a material for crafting items.
A cursed item with no use except to prank someone. That was the widely known purpose of the Ring of Darkness.
''But I''m different.''
Yoojin tightly gripped the ckened ring.
The secret of the Ring of Darkness, which no one in the world had uncovered.
Those who overcame the curses pouring from the ring gained the ability to defy death, in other words, the knowledge and power of necromancy.
''The design of this item is wed.''
To obtain the source of necromancy, one must ovee the curse, not resist it.
The same goes for lifting the curse.
That''s why he was the first among Hunters to obtain the Necromancer ss.
The moment he put the Ring of Darkness on his index finger.
[A dense curse encroaches upon you.]
[Confusion Lv 32]
[Frenzy Lv 25]
[Se....]
[Unique Trait - Clear Mind applied. All mental interference nullified.]
As soon as he put the ring on his finger, several curses attempted to shake Yoojin''s mind.
''This is nothing.''
Complete immunity guaranteed by the system.
No matter how powerful the curses embedded in the Ring of Darkness were, they couldn''t ovee Clear Mind.
Around the time the ring, which had been pouring out curses for a while, calmed down.
[You have passed the Ring of Darkness''s trial. The true power dwelling within the ring awakens.]
The grime that had been caked on it peeled away.
A ray of light gently enveloped the surface of the ring.
"It''s done. It''s done."
Yoojin grinned.
At that moment.
The [Rings of Darkness] that had been scattered in over 100 locations around the world spontaneouslybusted, but...
[The rank of the item increases.]
? Rare -> Epic (Unique)
Compared to the weight of the opportunity Yoojin had just obtained, it was merely a minor inconvenience.
£ª £ª £ª
A dark blue luster enveloped the jet-ck ring.
Otherworldly characters appeared across its surface.
The Ring of Darkness, having regained its true form, scattered a cool light.
[As the Ring of Darkness''s rank has been readjusted, options have been added.]
? Inherent Skill - Library of Knowledge has been generated.
? Inherent Skill - Coffin of the Dead has been generated.
? You can infuse the ring with Spirit Power to convert it into Mana or Dark Mana.
The [Library of Knowledge] skill allowed him to inherit necromancy-rted information from previous users.
[Coffin of the Dead] was magic that stored a corpse, regardless of its size, in the ring''s subspace.
''First, let''s change my ss. I need to do that to use the skills.''
? You have not yet chosen a ss.
? There are 4 ss categories you can choose from based on your unique traits.
Martial / Magic / Necromancer / Priest
With the Ring of Darkness on his finger, he activated his status window, and a new option had appeared.
A ss that could be chosen when holding a specific item.
''I will walk the path of the Necromancer.''
¡ò ss - Necromancer
? A ss that uses corpses or souls as a medium.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
? As a first ss selection bonus, the trait ''Guide of Death'' is added.
? Stat Mana ¡ú Spirit Power.
[Guide of Death]
Reduces Spirit Power consumption by 20% when activating and maintaining summoning-type spells.
"I only got this trait after regressing."
A trait that is only added when you choose a ss for the first time after awakening.
Magic users gain the trait [Mana Emission], which increases the power and range of projectile magic.
''For me, reducing Spirit Power consumption is much better.''
Yoojin only learned about the [Guide of Death] trait when the ''Wailing Dead'' Gate, which appeared 5 yearster, was conquered.
Because if you conquer a gate rted to a certain ss, even without the Ring of Darkness, the path to that ss opens up.
''In my case, I was able to change sses quickly thanks to my unique trait.''
In the past, Yoojin had also coincidentally acquired the Ring of Darkness, unlocked its secrets, and changed to the Necromancer ss.
The only regret was that he had changed to the magic ss and missed out on the [Guide of Death] trait.
''This time, I got the early ss change perk.''
Necromancers are a ss that constantly raises and consumes the dead.
The [Guide of Death] trait greatly increasesbat sustainability by reducing Spirit Power consumption.
Compared to before turning back time, he was already far ahead from the starting point.
''Then, shall I try the ring?''
Yoojin poured his overflowing Spirit Power into the ring.
Click- ck¡ª
The treasure containing the knowledge and source of necromancy began to function in earnest.
[Using the Library of Knowledge.]
[You can ess the knowledge left by the previous masters of death.]
[You can ess one of the following fields: Necromancy / Darkness / Curse / Alchemy / ... Other fields.]
He knew what he needed to obtain.
''I want to ess the knowledge of necromancy.''
[The knowledge of necromancy is engraved into your soul.]
[Your soul rank is low. Some beginner spells will be passed down.]
"Kghhhh!"
Yoojin screamed.
It felt like an iron was pressing down on his head.
The amount of knowledge that surpassed hisprehension overloaded his brain, making it feel like it was about to be fried.
''Damn it. This doesn''t change even after regression.''
The effect of Clear Mind was to grant immunity to mental attacks.
Transferring the ring''s knowledge into his head wasn''t an attack, so it didn''t lessen the pain.
''Damn it. It hurts even more.''
The ability to keep his mind clear had be poison.
How much time had passed as he gritted his teeth and endured the pain?
[Part of the knowledge of necromancy has been transferred.]
[You can acquire the remaining knowledge when your rank increases.]
¡ò Currently unlocked skills: 2
? Raise Undead [E] - Lv 1
? Bone Control [E] - Lv 1
Raise Undead
Category: Magic
Restriction: Necromancer, or possesses the [Necromancy] trait.
Rank: E
Creates undead from corpses whose souls have departed.
The quality of the created undead is determined by the abilities of the base corpse and the user''spetence.
Bone Control
Category: Magic
Restriction: Necromancer, or possesses the [Necromancy] trait.
Rank: E
A spell that imbues bones with mana and allows the user to control them at will.
It was so painful that tears welled up in his eyes. He wished he had just fainted.
''Damn it. To think I''d be doing this again.''
He gritted his teeth at the feeling of his brain wrinkles being ironed out.
Yoojin became the master of death by epting all the knowledge stored in the Ring of Darkness before his regression.
He remembered most of the knowledge.
The problem was that his abilities were based on the [System].
''At my level, I can''t be free from the rules set by the system.''
At least 7 stars.
A level that cannot be reached by simply hunting monsters.
While the system makes Hunters stronger, to go beyond that, one needs enlightenment and the umted karma of the soul.
''Until then, I have to rely on this guy.''
It was a path he had already walked.
Faster.
Stronger.
Although he started muchter than the heads of the seven great ns, he was confident that he could surpass them all.
[The proficiency of those skills is at maximum.]
[Efficiency is adjusted to the maximum.]
¡®Oh ho.¡¯
He received this kind of bonus because he regressed.
When a skill''s proficiency reaches MAX, the power consumption decreases, and the power increases.
That''s not all.
If someone meets the acquisition conditions, the skill can be passed on.
His cheeks twitched at the unexpected benefit.
''I''ve taken the first step, but this isn''t enough.''
Attacks based on mana hardly work on Incarnations.
They are beings that do not suffer significant damage except from divine power.
Didn''t Dmitri also rely on the Incarnation-exclusive skill ¡²Aura¡³ to withstand Yoojin''s attacks on the front lines?
''I need a patron deity.''
By bing a Necromancer, the possibility of receiving support from a typical constetion became zero.
Even when he reached the 9th Star Rank, the pinnacle of Hunters, before his regression, they scoffed at him, saying that defying natural order was ominous.
He couldn''t sell his soul to the evil god constetions belonging to the Tower of Babel either.
''There''s one more way.''
Yoojin put his hand in his pocket.
His heart calmed at the cold metallic touch.
"If there''s no constetion to sponsor me, I''ll make one."
He muttered as he fiddled with [Kronos'' Pocket Watch], the only trace of his unknown parents and the artifact that created miracles.
£ª £ª £ª
Crete Ind.
The birthce of the Minoan civilization and one of Europe''s leading tourist destinations.
''Direct flights are ridiculously expensive anyway.''
After the Great Cataclysm, with contaminated zones appearing all over the world, even the sky wasn''tpletely safe.
To avoid monsters that flew in the air, like wyverns or harpies, one had to either take a long detour or...
Pass through the contaminated zones with a Hunter capable of intercepting flying-type monsters.
The flight Yoojin took was a direct one, so the airfare was four times as expensive.
[KM Bank - 2,590,160]
Just how extreme was this diet?
It was to reduce travel time, but he couldn''t help but feel the sting in his wallet.
''When I get back to Korea, I need to raid a Gate and fill up my wallet first.''
Why did hee to a famous tourist spot, squeezing his tight finances?
Yoojin had a good reason.
"Please take me to Knossos Pce."
He took a taxi and traveled south for about 20 minutes.
He arrived at Knossos Pce, a famous tourist attraction on the ind.
The ce was bustling with people from the entrance.
Yoojin walked nonchntly through the crowd and entered the ruins.
''The Minoans worshipped the Titans.''
Titans.
The Protogenoi, who became the etymology of ''Titan,'' representing giants.
''The old constetions who lost their light after losing the battle against the Olympian gods, led by Zeus.''
Fallen Constetions.
A term referring to constetions that have lost their starlight and fallen from grace in mythology.
Not all of the Titan Protogenoi lost their glory.
Some Titans, like Themis, the goddess of justice, and Helios, the sun god, acknowledged the victory of Olympus and joined their ranks, still active as constetions.
''But the owner of this watch is different.''
Kronos.
The leader who ruled the Titan Protogenoi, a ruthless being who even swallowed his own children to avoid his destined downfall.
In the end, the prophecy came true, and he was a giant who lost everything and fell from grace.
''If it''s the ruins of the Minoan civilization that worshipped the Titan Protogenoi...''
Surely, it would be possible to elicit a response from the old constetion.
The way to receive a revtion from a constetion in a ce other than the Pantheon and the Tower of Babel.
That is...
"To use an artifact as a medium."
Yoojin ced the [Damaged Kronos'' Pocket Watch] on the floor of the ruins and struck it hard.
ng¡ª!!
¡²Which impertinent wretch dares tomit such an insolent act in my presence!!¡³
A thunderous roar resonated from the pocket watch.
See?
This is how they bite.
"Nice to meet you, deposed King of the Titans."
Yoojin smiled brightly.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 3: If There Is No Constellation, Make One (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 3: If There Is No Constetion, Make One (2)
Resonance Ritual.
A hidden phenomenon triggered when one takes an artifact to thend where the corresponding constetion''s origin lies.
''Even if it''s broken, it''s still an artifact.''
The resounding voice flowed out from the pocket watch.
It was a gamble, but it paid off handsomely.
¡²Small human. The pocket watch is my artifact.¡³
"I know. That''s why I summoned you."
¡²You daremit such sacrilege, knowing that?!¡³
"Would I have done it if I didn''t want to talk to you?"
Yoojin knew the ways of constetions well.
Immortal beings who live for eternity, receiving the worship of mortals.
Even a fallen constetion like Kronos was a mass of pride, unwilling to sit at the same table with humans.
"I had to give you a shock like this to make youe out."
¡²What if the artifact had been destroyed?!¡³
"Well, it''s already broken."
¡²...?¡³
A strange light flickered on the pocket watch.
¡²It''s true.¡³
"You, of all beings, should know what it means for the watch to be broken."
¡²Small human. Did you truly turn back time?¡³
"As you can see."
Yoojin shrugged lightly.
"Honestly, I''m grateful to you. If it weren''t for this artifact, I would have died a meaningless death."
The miracle of regression.
Thanks to the providence contained within Kronos'' artifact, Yoojin gained a second chance.
"So I''ll give you a chance too."
¡²A chance?¡³
"Be my patron deity."
¡²Small human. Did you just say that for real?¡³
"I''m always serious."
A moment of silence.
How much time had passed?
With a tremor greater than when he was angry, Kronos burst intoughter.
¡²Khahahaha!!! That''s quite a joke, little human.¡³
"What''s so funny?"
¡²To sponsor one who deviates from the natural order? What could be more amusing than that?¡³
Well, he expected that.
Constetions were all stiff-necked, as if they had a cast on their pride.
Even though Kronos had fallen, he was still a former King of Gods.
He was a constetion on par with Zeus or Odin, so Yoojin had anticipated the rejection.
"Alright."
¡²You give up quite easily.¡³
"I''m quite strong even without a constetion. Can''t you tell by the fact that I activated the watch?"
¡²Indeed. You achieved the 9th Star Rank with the pure strength and wisdom of a mortal, without a patron deity.¡³
"Well, something like that."
Yoojin put the broken pocket watch in his pocket.
¡²Wait. Where do you think you''re going?¡³
"The conversation is over. My offer to be your champion was rejected, so I''m going back."
¡²Small human. Leave my artifact behind.¡³
"Why?"
¡²You need the artifact tomunicate with other humans, don''t you?!¡³
One corner of Yoojin''s lips curled up.
"Do you have something entrusted to me?"
¡²Look here. That watch originally belongs to me!¡³
"Thene and take it yourself. Why should I return it?"
Yoojin turned away from the ruins of Knossos Pce without hesitation.
Brrr¡ª!
The watch trembled even more violently.
¡²Small human. Don''t do this.¡³
"You''re not even my patron deity."
¡²If you take the artifact, the only connection between me and the world, how am I supposed tomunicate with mortals?!¡³
"That''s not my concern."
¡²How truly malicious!¡³
Well then.
Wouldn''t it be a bit awkward for a ruthless father who swallowed his own children to avoid his destined downfall to say such a thing?
''This is the only artifact left in thisnd.''
To blurt out his weakness without even being asked.
This made bargaining much easier.
''If I push him too hard, he might bounce back, so should I offer him a carrot now?''
Yoojin turned around again and looked towards Knossos Pce.
"Don''t you want revenge?"
¡²Are you asking me that?¡³
"Don''t answer a question with a question."
¡²...I am one who has had everything stolen by a usurper. Now, revenge or something like that...¡³
Even if you say that in a trembling voice, it''s not very convincing, is it?
Yoojin provoked Kronos a little more.
"I expected more from the King of Gods, but this is all you''ve got?"
¡²What?!¡³
"I came here believing that you, at the very least, hadn''t let go of your desire for revenge."
The ruthless father who devoured even his own children after hearing the prophecy of the Titans'' downfall.
There was no way that Kronos''s desire to reim what was lost and his thirst for revenge had disappeared from his heart.
¡²Tell me what you want.¡³
"I''ll say it again. If you make me your champion, I will help you get your revenge."
¡²Foolish. Even if I help you, how do you intend to bring down the majesty of Olympus?¡³
You said you weren''t interested in revenge.
How dishonest.
"Because Zeus is among my enemies."
¡²Are you serious?¡³
"Yes."
It was the Romanov n who directly harmed Yoojin.
However.
The Romanov n, based in Russia, was able to project their power to Korea, a country in East Asia, because of the tacit consent of the seven great ns.
''I have to consider all seven great ns as enemies.''
The Karamanlis n, rulers of Eastern Europe and one of the seven great ns.
Many members of the n had constetions belonging to Olympus as their patron deities.
And ''Aden Karamanlis,'' who reigned as the head of the n, was a powerful figure recognized as the Incarnation of Zeus.
"If we bring down the Karamanlis n, the influence of the Olympian constetions on Earth will also decline."
¡²That seems rather insignificant for someone talking about my revenge.¡³
"Suit yourself then."
¡²Hmm. Didn''t youe to me because you can''t achieve your revenge without my help?¡³
"There are plenty of other fallen constetions like you who have lost their light."
Yoojin''s bluff greatly agitated Kronos''s heart, and the watch in his pocket trembled in response to the change in his emotions.
¡²Fine. Let''s assume, as you say, that I be your sponsor.¡³
Assume, he says.
He''s halfway convinced but can''t even speakfortably because of his pride.
Suppressing augh, Yoojin calmly waited for Kronos''s next words.
¡²Originally, bestowing the blessings of a constetion requires a certain degree ofpatibility between your abilities and my nature.¡³
"That''s right."
¡²However, I have no origin or nature rted to defying the natural order. Is it possible for me to offer my sponsorship?¡³
Just as Dmitri learned magic from Odin.
Each constetion sponsors Hunters who align well with their origin or nature.
It''s not possible to simply take someone as a champion just because they are strong.
''That''s why I was rejected.''
Even constetions like Hades or Osiris, who govern death, were notpatible with Yoojin.
That''s why...
"I came to you. The god who governed harvest and time."
The Grim Reaper.
The embodiment of death, cloaked in dark clothes, reaping lives with a long scythe.
A being thates to mind when one thinks of the "God of Death" in Europe.
"The image of the Grim Reaper ultimately stems from harvest."
¡²What does that have to do with me?¡³
"Time and harvest. Weaving these two elements together leads to the concept of defying death."
Whates to everyone equally is time and death.
The domains that Kronos once symbolized.
¡²You''re suggesting I reverse the nature I used to govern.¡³
"I like how quickly you understand."
The realm of defying natural order, governed by no one.
By shing and inverting the two concepts that Kronos ruled, he could regain his lost starlight.
"Isn''t the theory perfect?"
¡²So you came to me with this in mind.¡³
"You don''t have to do it if you don''t want to."
A chance to raise a fallen star back to the heavens appeared before him.
There was no way he would give up.
Even if the domain he governed was the concept of ''defying natural order,'' despised by all constetions.
''This is an offer you can''t refuse, right?''
Yoojin slowly waited for Kronos''s answer, who remained silent.
Around the time the sun, which had been high in the sky, began to set over the horizon...
¡²I will be your patron deity.¡³
Kronos epted Yoojin''s proposal.
£ª £ª £ª
[The Harvester has be your patron deity.]
[The constetion is not registered in the Pantheon. No blessings will be granted.]
Even though Kronos became Yoojin''s patron deity, nothing changed.
The core of a blessing was ¡²divine power¡³.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
There was nothing to gain from Kronos, who had been stripped of all his power, authority, and divine power.
¡²To mention it like that... Isn''t that too cruel?!¡³
"It''s a fact that my constetion is ipetent."
¡²What a shameless fellow.¡³
"Enough. From now on, ept the energy I use."
Yoojin poured his Spirit Power into the [Damaged Kronos'' Pocket Watch].
¡²Oh ho. So this is the concept of the power that defies natural order.¡³
"Don''t just admire it. Do your job."
His total Spirit Power was 10.
Unless he leveled up, with this level of consumption, Yoojin''s Spirit Power would bepletely depleted within a minute.
¡²Don''t rush me. A king must have dignity.¡³
Following Yoojin''s inspiration, Kronos shed ¡²time¡³ and ¡²harvest¡³ while epting the Spirit Power as a new ''rank.''
Rumble¡ª!
A change came from within the fallen constetion.
The concept of reversal, a nature that no one had ever governed, settled upon Kronos.
And the fallen constetion found new light.
[There has been a change in the patron deity''s divine name.]
[The Harvester ¡ú The Heaven-Defying Giant]
[A new star has risen in the Pantheon.]
¡²Khahaha!!! Finally, the long, long night is over, and I have returned!¡³
"You can''t even give a single blessing, yet you boast so much."
Yoojin wasn''t greatly disappointed.
This was all ording to n.
''Even if he returned as a constetion, he doesn''t have a single believer.''
Constetion
Great beings whose existence is recorded among the stars by gaining the worship of people through legendary or mythical feats.
Each constetion governs various attributes ording to their feats.
From nature, like the sun and sea, to physical attributes like strength and agility, or even abstract emotions like love and anger.
''Kronos hasn''t umted a single anecdote rted to the concept of defying natural order.''
No worship from humans.
No karma, myths, or stories rted to that concept.
He barely met the conditions by applying the story of the ''Grim Reaper'' passed down from the Middle Ages.
''I, his only follower, have no choice but to create the karma and legends for him.''
As he regained the level he had before his regression, the karma rted to that concept would quickly be filled.
The stronger Kronos became as a constetion...
The ¡²blessing¡³ bestowed upon Yoojin would also be stronger.
¡²Contractor. Don''t worry too much.¡³
"Why contractor?"
¡²You are my only believer and the mortal who made a contract with me, so isn''t that the right way to address you?¡³
Kronos coughed loudly.
¡²It seems I have a way to help you.¡³
"Can you give me a blessing?"
¡²No. As I just said, you are my only believer. So you can receive a revtion.¡³
A bright light seeped from his pocket.
It wasn''t hard to realize that the source of the bright light was the [Damaged Kronos'' Pocket Watch].
¡²I hereby appoint you as my representative, my Saint.¡³
A Saint, he says?
The moment Kronos''s deration pierced his mind...
An intense surge of power, unlike anything he had felt in his previous life, flowed down from the top of his head.
"Ugh, ugh..."
¡²ept it. It is the essence of the power born from my governance of a new concept.¡³
[Your patron deity appoints you as a Saint.]
[Unique trait - Midnight Sun added.]
[ss changed from Necromancer ¡ú Saint of Midnight Sun.]
Yoojin felt the overflowing power spread throughout his body and lost consciousness.
£ª £ª £ª
When he opened his eyes, countless stars were reflected in his retinas.
¡²The body of a mortal is truly fragile. To think it would struggle to receive even that small amount of power.¡³
"Who told you to do that without warning?"
A Saint?
He knew that term well.
The highest-ranking ss in the Priest category.
For some reason, his foolish and prideful constetion had squeezed out what little power he had to appoint Yoojin as a Priest.
"A Necromancer as a Priest. That makes no sense."
Yoojin gritted his teeth and opened his status window to check what had been added.
¡ò ss - Saint of Midnight Sun
? You are the Saint chosen by the Heaven-Defying Giant. The efficiency of holy spells that borrow the power of the Heaven-Defying Giant is increased by 30%.
? You do not receive ss penalties when using Necromancer ss skills.
¡ò Added Trait
? Midnight Sun
Allows you to reverse Holy Power / Spirit Power ording to your will.
You can learn all equipment and skills of the Priest and Magic categories.
¡ò Skill
? Life Drain
Category: Holy Spell
Steals the target''s life force with holy power imbued with the attribute of death. The stolen life force can be absorbed and used to strengthen the body or umted to heal other targets.
"Huh?"
Midnight Sun.
Even Yoojin, who had stood at the pinnacle of all Hunters in his previous life, had never heard of such a unique trait.
The ability to convert Holy Power and Mana...
Wait a minute.
''This means I can use both Necromancer and Priest skills, right?''
Crazy!
He almost screamed if he hadn''t reflexively covered his mouth with his right hand.
Holy spells that could only be used by possessing Holy Power.
On the other hand, Necromancer spells were based on Spirit Power.
''This is an unbelievable trait.''
When casting holy spells, use Holy Power.
When using Necromancer abilities, use the Midnight Sun ability to convert his stats.
He never expected to receive a unique trait that would allow him to utilize his abilities to their fullest potential.
¡²Do you like it, my representative?¡³
"You didn''t appoint me as a Saint without a n?"
¡²Khahaha! I may have fallen, but I was once the King of Gods!¡³
"I''ll let it slide for now since you gave me something so amazing."
The [Saint of Midnight Sun] ss was the same.
The effect ofpletely nullifying penalties.
Of course, just because there were no penalties didn''t mean it was easy to learn [Necromancer] skills, which were magic-based, as a typical Priest ss...
''But there''s a way for that.''
The corner of his lips kept curling up at the unexpected opportunity.
''Alright. Then let''s check out the holy spells.''
Then, when he read the description of [Life Drain]...
"Is this really a holy spell?"
A holy spell that steals the life force of others. This was practically a curse.
Just looking at the skill description, it reminded him of dark magic like [Vampiric Touch].
The difference was that it could umte life force and use it like healing.
And the fact that it could increase stats.
''I''ll have to use this myself to understand.''
Just obtaining the unique trait Midnight Sun meant starting from a much better position than before his regression.
Yoojin didn''t pay much attention to the unknown holy spell.
''Well, the holy spell is a bonus anyway.''
With the unprecedented trait [Midnight Sun], he became able to handle Priest abilities as well.
However.
His essence was a Necromancer.
''The bonus is nice, but I shouldn''t forget my essence.''
Now that the preparations wereplete...
It was time to get stronger.
Themon way for Hunters to be stronger was to hunt monsters.
''At this time... That ce would be good.''
His next destination was Myeongdong.
The [Ancient Garden], a Gate that held a secret that would be revealed in the distant future.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 4: This is Why Im a Necromancer (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 4: This is Why I''m a Necromancer (1)
¡²What is this temple? Which constetion is it dedicated to, that it is sorge and beautiful!¡³
"Temple my foot. It''s an airport."
Kronos couldn¡¯t stop expressing his amazement as he looked at Incheon International Airport.
The ruins of the Knossos Pce, like other relics of its time, had a splendid structure considering the time period, but it was no match for modern architecture.
This was the plight of the Fallen Star constetion, unable to observe the world after being confined.
It''s only natural for him to be surprised by Incheon Airport.
¡²Oh, to think the world has changed so much. Time truly flies!¡³
"...Can you cut it out?"
Even with Yoojin''s grumbling, Kronos'' admiration didn''t stop until they arrived at the Gate that opened in Myeongdong.
Arge crack located in the middle of Myeongdong.
A dark blue hole shimmered in the middle of the distorted space.
A passage leading to another dimension, a Gate.
[Ancient Garden]
[Type - Fixed Type]
[Entry Condition: 1 Star]
[Gate Area: Medium]
[Mana Density: 52%]
''Just as I remember.''
Yoojin tapped his temple with his finger.
There are two types of Gates.
A fixed type that is permanently maintained, and a flow type that disappears when the boss monster or gate core is removed.
The Ancient Garden is the former.
As the entry restriction is 1 Star, it''s a gate favored by beginner Hunters.
- Looking for 1 melee Hunter.
- Level 13 (1 Star) magic-type looking for a team.
Recruitment advertisements on the Hunter-only application, also known as Hunte.
Around the Gate, Hunters gathered in groups tilted their heads.
They are looking for members for a raid that is being formed on the spot, also known as a pickup group (pug).
''At this time, the secrets of the gate haven''t been revealed yet.''
Before his return, it was a popr ce, to the extent that the top 10 prominent guilds, including the top 3 in Korea, controlled the entry of Hunters.
Seeing the Hunters recruiting team members made it feel real that he had returned to the past.
¡®Heh. It feels so good to have the information of the future in advance.¡¯
"Um... If you''re going alone, would you like to join our team?"
Kang Minho, a man in his mid-20s among the recruiting Hunters, spoke to him.
Yoojin waved his hand dismissively and headed towards the crack.
"Ah, seems like he hasn''t been Awakened for long."
"Oppa, why do you care? He said he''ll handle it himself."
Ignoring the bickering of the team members, he pushed himself through the crack.
With a feeling of weightlessness, the scenery instantly changes.
[You have entered the Ancient Garden.]
Colorful flowers.
A scenery befitting the name of the gate unfolds before Yoojin''s eyes.
''The starting point is the center.''
The Ancient Garden is divided into three sections.
The flower garden in the center, a safe zone and the starting point of the Gate.
The southern forest, where goblins appear.
And finally, the northernke area, where Frogmen appear.
Yoojin looked up at the sky and clicked his tongue.
''It''s a day short of a full moon.''
The hidden opportunity within the Ancient Garden is only avable under a full moon.
''Should I consider myself lucky that the moon will be full tomorrow? My first prey should be a goblin.''
The physical abilities of a level 1 Hunter aren''t much different from an ordinary person.
If he encountered a Frogman near theke, he would end his second life before he could even enjoy his return.
''How long have I been walking?''
Not long after entering the forest, a rustling sound reached his ears.
¡²Try using the Divine Spell I bestowed upon you.¡³
"You mean Life Drain?"
He was curious about the performance and mechanism of the Divine Spell.
Judging from the description alone, he wondered if it was truly a Divine Skill.
''For a typical priest, maybe.''
¡²Olympus¡³
¡²Divine Spells granted upon selection¡³
? Heal - Healing spell
? Bless - Stat increase buff spell
? Holy Barrier - Defense spell
¡²Asgard¡³
¡²Divine Spells granted upon selection¡³
? Heal - Healing spell
? Berserk - Frenzy spell
? Blood Rage - Attack power increase, defense decrease buff
''This is how you receive healing spells and buffs depending on the pantheon you serve.''
But as the Saint of Kronos, the skills Yoojin received seemed far from ordinary.
[Unique Trait - Midnight Sun is activated.]
[Mana ¡ú Divine Power conversion.]
¡°Kiki-kik!¡±
The sound of rustling bushes was the noise of a goblin leaping.
The creature, approaching at close range, bared its teeth and aimed for Yoojin''s thigh.
A rusty dagger in its hand.
It looked like it would give him tetanus just by touching it.
¡°Thanks foring to me first.¡±
It''s a stereotype that the mage ss is weak in closebat.
Yoojin, in particr, often hunted alone, so he was somewhat skilled in closebat.
''Even though I didn''t learn it properly.''
He calmly stared at the goblin rushing towards him.
A goblin''s specs are slightly lower than a human''s.
A beginner might flinch at the monster''s ferocious appearance, but...
''I''ve been through every kind of battle imaginable.''
Swish!
The dagger in the goblin''s hand cut through the air.
A slight twist of his body was enough to dodge it.
The goblin, having swung its sword with all its might, missed its target and stumbled.
Yoojin, bending slightly at the waist, quickly extended his right arm.
"Keck!"
Yoojin grabbed the goblin by the scruff of its neck.
[Life Drain activated.]
A whitish energy enveloped his hand.
"Whoa..."
Yoojin let out a gasp of admiration.
''It feels simr to Spirit Power.''
Although it was a divine spell, it had a wavelength simr to a necromancer''s necromancy.
The whitish energy seeped into the goblin''s body, and green particles were sucked into Yoojin''s body through his hand.
''It''s the goblin''s life force.''
The goblin''s skin shriveled as its life force was drained.
In just a few seconds, its life force was absorbed so rapidly that it becamepletely withered.
The goblin''s life force umted in Yoojin''s dantian.
''I''ll absorb it right away.''
[The goblin''s life force permeates your body.]
[Strength permanently increased by 0.1.]
[Agility permanently increased by 0.1.]
"Crazy."
He gained a total of 0.2 stat points just by absorbing one goblin?
The bonus stats given when leveling up once is 5.
By simple calction, this was equivalent to leveling up once by hunting 25 goblins.
¡²Khahahaha! Contractor, are you pleased?¡³
"Yes, it''s incredible."
¡²Praise my greatness!¡³
He didn''t like Kronos'' arrogant attitude, but he would tolerate it.
Life Drain was a divine spell worth that much.
''Right now, experience acquisition is fast, but it gets harder as the constetion level increases.''
A divine spell that converts a monster''s life force into ability points.
Besides leveling up, there are other ways to strengthen the body.
''The mostmon method is through elixirs.''
Other than that, there are also ways to receive titles by epting blessings or meeting hidden conditions scattered throughout the gate.
The problem is that none of them are easy.
Yoojin gulped.
''Isn''t this a divine spell at the level of a Pope or a Saint?''
A divine spell that breaksmon sense.
He thought he only needed to obtain blessings from the patron constetion.
His lips twitched at the unexpected opportunity.
''I should research the abilities of priests when I get the chance.''
Yoojin stopped his thoughts and looked down at the ground.
The corpse of the goblin, withered from having its life force drained.
Even the goblin''s lifeless body was of use to Yoojin.
[Unique Trait ¨C Midnight Sun activated.]
[Divine Power ¡ú Spirit Power]
''Well then, shall we begin?''
Necromancy, which uses the dead as a medium for sorcery.
The whitish energy blooming from Yoojin''s hand entered the goblin''s open mouth.
''I''ll make you useful enough.''
Spiritual energy flowed down its throat and settled in the heart.
A blue stone was nestled inside.
The Spirit Power seeped into the ''mana stone,'' the main source of ie for Hunters, stimting the still heart.
Thump!
The Spirit Power, mixed with the mana contained in the mana stone, began to course through the goblin''s corpse via its blood vessels.
The bones hardened.
The shriveled skin became as tough as rubber.
The corpse''s skin, stained with Spirit Power, turned pitch ck.
"Answer my call."
[Raise Undead activated.]
The goblin''s head, which had been bent backward, snapped forward with a crack, like a released spring.
Dead eyes.
A blue light flickered within the faded pupils.
"Grrr..."
The goblin''s corpse, now a zombie, let out a rattling sound and staggered to its feet.
[Zombiepletion is very high.]
[All stats increased by 97.2%.]
To draw out power beyond the corpse''s original capabilities, a processing procedure is required.
That''s why the [Library of Knowledge] includes knowledge of alchemy.
Yoojin skipped that and raised the zombie''s stats to nearly double using only Spirit Power.
A corpse processing technique that an ordinary necromancer could only dream of.
''Only 97%? It''s not high considering I even gave up the mana stone.''
He didn''t look satisfied at all.
Yoojin clicked his tongue and brushed back his hair.
Why do Hunters hunt monsters?
Some might say it''s to be stronger, but...
Most would answer like this:
- To make a lot of money.
The reason why being a Hunter is a popr profession despite being high-risk is because of the ie that follows.
The mana stone in a monster''s heart is the main source of ie for Hunters.
He wasn''t satisfied because the stats of the undead he strengthened weren''t high, even though he gave up his ie.
"It even took a whole second to create. In my prime, I could have finished it in 0.1 seconds."
Yoojin shook his head.
There was no end to theparison with himself before his return.
[Zombie]
Race: Undead
Rank: ¡ï
¡ò Stats
Strength: 22 / Agility: 21 / Health: 17 / Endurance: 13 / Magic Power: 8
¡ò Traits
? Undying Existence [C]
¡ò Skills
? Poison [E] / Infection [E]
''This should be enough to hold its own in the [Ancient Garden].''
Yoojin proceeded through the forest with the zombie in front of him.
"Kik!"
A goblin leaped from the bushes.
This time, there were three.
Yoojin, wanting to test the zombie''sbat abilities, folded his arms and gave the attackmand.
"Grrr!"
The zombie, dragging its feet, charged forward. Thanks to the enhanced specs from the Spirit Power processing, it moved faster than the goblins.
Pouncing on the goblin leading the charge, the zombie opened its jaws wide.
Crunch!
With sharp teeth, it bit into the goblin''s neck.
The goblin let out a scream¡ª
"Kirek!"
¡ªiling its arms and trying to push the zombie away.
But it was no match for the zombie, which had been strengthened twofold by Yoojin''s skills.
The other goblins, arriving a stepte, stabbed wildly with their daggers, causing rotten flesh to fall off here and there.
But the zombie, unfazed even when stabbed in vital spots, continued its assault.
While the goblins were distracted by the zombie...
"Am I invisible to you guys?"
Yoojin, who had somehow gotten behind them, grabbed the back of the neck of the goblin clinging to the zombie.
Converting Spirit Power to Divine Power, he unleashed Life Drain. The goblin''s body trembled like an aspen leaf.
"Kekh."
It let out a weak sigh and copsed to the ground.
''It''s also useful for offense.''
Sucking out all of a goblin''s life force in a matter of seconds?
Life Drain''s ability to steal life force was superior to most curses.
It''s a misconception that necromancers are weak in closebat.
Around the time Yoojin had drained one goblin dry like a mummy with Life Drain...n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Kieeek!"
With a final scream, the head of the goblin bitten by the zombie snapped in the opposite direction.
''Can I use Life Drain on something that''s already dead?''
Although Yoojin had already reached the pinnacle of necromancy, this was his first time using a divine spell.
And the constetion he worshipped was far from ordinary.
After his return, he needed to fully grasp his newfound abilities.
[Life Drain activated.]
A green energy, the goblin''s life force, shimmered at the point of contact.
''It works.''
There were dark magic spells that could steal life force, but their targets were limited to ''the living.''
The same went for vampires'' bloodsucking.
However...
Life Drain had a much wider range of permissible targets.
This meant...
''I can increase my hunting speed.''
There was no longer a need to distinguish between life and death when hunting goblins.
"Answer my call."
Two goblins joined the ranks of the undead.
The real hunt was about to begin.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 5: This is Why Im a Necromancer (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 5: This is Why I''m a Necromancer (2)
There is a saying among Necromancers:
- Well begun is half done.
It means that anything is difficult to start, but once you make up your mind, things will go smoothly.
However, for Necromancers, who use corpses as mediums, it means that creating even one undead is that difficult.
To put it another way...
"Answer my call."
[Raise Undead activated.]
[Thepletion rate of 4 zombies is very high.]
[All stats increased by 97.5%.]
[All stats increased by 98.1%.]
The number of zombies steadily increased.
Yoojin ventured deeper into the forest with more confidence.
"Kiki-kik."
Thud! Thud!
Spittle flew from all directions.
It was coated with paralyzing poison, made by mixing goblin venom sacs with weeds.
The zombies marched forward, unfazed even as they were pelted with the rain of spittle from the bushes.
The poison had no effect on the dead.
"Kireuk. Rotten corpses. They won''t go down."
"Kik, paralyzing poison. It''s not working."
The goblins, putting down their blowpipes, chose to charge.
Their speed was much faster than the zombies'', whose movements were hampered by rigor mortis.
Utilizing the agility that came with their small stature, they aimed for vital points like the neck and Achilles tendon.
"Grrr."
On the other hand, the zombies'' actions were simple.
They iled their arms or bit with their teeth.
The reason the zombies were doing so well was thanks to Yoojin''s excellent undead creation skills.
If their stats hadn''t been doubled, they would have been beaten down and copsed by the goblins'' swift attacks.
And then...
"Bone Control!"
A long rod, enveloped in a whitish energy, pierced a goblin''s chest.
The true value of a Necromancer.
The chaotic battlefield was where Yoojin''s power was maximized.
The corpse, flung back several meters, was impaled on a rock. The power contained in Bone Control was not something a mere goblin could withstand.
"Come here."
The bone rod, embedded in the rock, flew back to its caster.
A spear made using bone as a catalyst. Casting and retrieving it consumed mana, but it was better than creating a new one.
¡²As my contractor, I wish you would maintain some dignity in battle.¡³
"I''ve seen a lot of people die trying to find that dignity."
¡²Indeed, a fight is a sh of wills. Your method is quite undignified.¡³
"Get used to it. This is how a Necromancer fights."
A sh of wills?
For a Necromancer, such a battle was a luxury.
They break the enemy''s will to fight, raise their lifeless bodies, and even desecrate the death of the deceased.
"It would be in your best interest to adapt quickly, Constetion."
"Otherwise, you''ll be forced to witness unsightly scenes repeatedly."
[Unique Trait - Midnight Sun activated.]
[Life Drain activated.]
While walking through the forest, he intermittently researched Life Drain and discovered a few of its properties.
''From the moment of death, life force escapes the body.''
It''s like food; the moment you open it, its shelf life rapidly decreases.
Immediately after killing or while there''s still breath left is the opportune time.
If more than a minute has passed since death, the life force remaining in the body drops below 10%.
Furthermore...
Converting life force into stats isn''t limitless.
As he absorbed the life force stolen from the goblins, his stat increases slowed, as if they were developing a resistance.
It seems there''s a limit to how much he could increase his stats with the life force of a single species.
''It''ll be confirmed if I use Life Drain on other monsters.''
The number of zombies increased as the battle dragged on.
On the other hand, the goblin horde was gradually being pushed back.
"Kirreuk..."
"Answer my call."
[The number of controble undead has reached its maximum.]
[20/20]
[To control more undead, you need to increase your realm or acquire necromancy-rted items.]
¡®Tsk.¡¯
He had reached the limit of undead he could control at 1 Star.
''Even without the necromancer penalty, this is a separate issue, huh?''
It''s not a penalty for other sses, but an issue rted to one''s realm.
He experimented with it just in case and this is the result.
¡®Tch.¡¯
Yoojin smacked his lips in regret.
"Kiki-kit. Let''s run away."
"Kikit. We can''t beat those stinking corpses."
The goblins turned their backs and ran in the opposite direction from Yoojin.
"Chase them."
These were zombies with their stats nearly doubled.
Even with their stiff bodies, they moved at a speed simr to the goblins.
And since they were already dead, they wouldn''t get tired, so the oue was obvious.
Just as the zombies were about to catch up to the fleeing goblins...
[Fire Arrow]
A ming arrow, shot from the direction they were escaping, pierced a goblin''s neck.
The goblin copsed with a scream.
"Stop for a moment."
Yoojin ordered the zombies to halt their pursuit and nced beyond the bushes.
"These zombies are my summons. Stop hiding ande out."
"I apologize. I didn''t know they were the prey you were chasing, Hunter-nim..."
Three hunters emerged from the bushes.
It was only a few yearster, in his previous life, that necromancers became known to the public.
It was natural that they didn''t know.
One of the wary hunters suddenly eximed in surprise.
"It''s that person from before?"
¡®Ah.¡¯
It was them.
The hunters who had expressed concern for Yoojin right before he entered the gate.
Two men and one woman.
Yoojin stared at the mixed-gender party and let out a short gasp.
¡²What are you so surprised about?¡³
''They''re called Mirror Hunters. I saw them in my previous life.''
Yoojin''s eyes narrowed.
£ª £ª £ª
Kang Minho and Kang Minyeong.
They were fraternal twins and frence hunters who had gained fame in his previous life.
Hunters who toyed with their targets using uncanny teamwork, as if they were one body.
''Those guys. They''re pretty strong.''
¡²Hmm. To me, they look quite unimpressive.¡³
''That''s because the twins are only at the 1 Star realm.''
This was a gate with an entry requirement of 1 Star.
Even the future Mirror Hunters were just beginners now.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
He had crossed paths with the twins in his previous life, so he knew how formidable they were.
Excluding Dmitri, they were among the top ten strongest people he knew back then.
But...
''There were three of them, not two.''
He had encountered three hunters on the other side.
He had wondered why he didn''t recognize them immediately when he had met them before entering the gate, and it was because there was one more person in the party.
A hunter with a troubled expression stood in the back.
They seemed to be a magic-user... but no matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn''t remember them.
¡²Then, eliminating future enemies early on could be a solution.¡³
''Why would I kill them?''
¡²Don''t you remember what you just said? You clearly said they were troublesome...¡³
''They were hired to assassinate me. It wasn''t that bad of a rtionship.''
All his interactions with the Mirror Hunters were purely professional.
The only problem was that they were in the dramatic roles of the assassination target and the assassins.
He didn''t have any strong personal feelings towards them.
''This actually works out well.''
¡²What do you mean?¡³
''I needed a porter anyway.''
If there was one thing he knew about the Mirror Hunters, it was that they were utterly reliable.
''Wasn''t their reason for bing hunters money?''
They were the perfect candidates to be his partners.
There was an extra person he didn''t recognize, but what did it matter?
At least, judging from their actions in his previous life, he could trust the two of them.
They were hunters who always kept their contracts.
"Hey, you guys. Do a job with me."
"What kind of job are you talking about all of a sudden...?"
"I''ll leave the mana stone collection to you. The ratio is 8 to 2."
Mana stones.
After the Great Cataclysm, they became the core raw material for the magic-powered fourth industrial revolution.
They were found in the hearts of monsters, making them the core source of ie for hunters.
''It''s a difficult task to leave to the zombies.''
Collecting mana stones required a certain level of delicate dexterity.
Cutting open a monster''s chest and extracting the mineral from within.
But it wasn''t cost-effective to personally handle the corpses of every monster he hunted.
If he added dissection to Life Drain, his hunting speed would drastically decrease.
"I''ll take care of all the hunting. You guys just earn the money. Isn''t that a pretty good offer?"
At Yoojin''s words, the team [Little Runts],posed of three 1 Star hunters, couldn''t hide their bewildered expressions.
£ª £ª £ª
The members of the Little Runts team, Kang Minyeong and Lee Seongmin, nced at the zombies with pale faces.
"Oppa, what is that person saying?"
"Kang Seonbae, I''ve never heard of a hunter who uses zombies as familiars."
Lifeless eyes like those of a dead fish.
Drool dripped from their gaping mouths.
Low-ranking undead, zombies.
Facing these monsters, driven only by hostility towards living beings, it felt draining just to stand still.
"Let''s do it."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. It doesn''t seem like he''s lying."
Kang Minho was quick to assess the situation.
If Yoojin had intended to attack the Little Runts team, there would be no need for him to bother with a proposal like this.
''Collecting mana stones is a lot of work. He probably intends to push the tedious task onto us.''
Kang Minho, after observing a few exchanges and the circumstances, read Yoojin''s intentions.
The judgment worthy of someone who wouldter gain fame under the alias [Mirror Hunter].
Although he couldn''t help his trembling heart, Kang Minho, feigningposure, opened his lips.
"That ratio. Is it 8 for us?"
"2."
"Make it 5 to 5. Even if we split it amongst ourselves, it''s 1.7 each."
"7 to 3. If you want more than that, go your own way."
"Alright."
As Kang Minho epted Yoojin''s proposal, Lee Seongmin nced forward.
"Seonbae, are you sure this is okay?"
Aint emerged in a small voice.
Looking at the zombies awkwardly moving their stiff bodies due to rigor mortis, they seemed several times more dangerous than the goblin horde they had just defeated.
"Trust me. If he wanted to attack us, he would have done so already."
Kang Minho calmly replied.
Entering the gate bare-handed without proper equipment¡ªit spoke of absolute confidence in his abilities.
He believed that following Yoojin''s proposal would earn them more money than usual.
30 minutester.
"Is that hunter nning to wipe out the goblins?"
"What do you think? Let''s consider this a big score."
1 hourter.
"Wow, they''re swarming again. I guess the Ancient Garden isn''t that popr after all."
Yoojin smiled brightly as he watched the goblins popping out one after another.
On the other hand, the Little Runts team looked like they had aged 20 years.
"...Heok, heok."
"Just kill me. I want to rest."
Kang Minho shook his head as he looked at his team members.
''I thought he wasn''t an ordinary person.''
An astonishing hunting speed.
Without giving them time to breathe, he ughtered the goblins, and the Little Runts team couldn''t keep up.
"Why don''t we take a little break?"
"There are mana stones scattered here too."
"..."
"Ah, I''m not emphasizing it, just saying that money is lying on the ground."
Yoojin grinned.
To the Little Runts team, that smile was more terrifying than anything else.
"I''m not pressuring you, so take your time, rx."
Even at that moment, the goblin corpses piled up one by one.
£ª £ª £ª
[Life Drain activated.]
Yoojin tossed the withered goblin corpse onto the ground.
"That''s thest one in this area."
Three hours had passed since he started hunting.
In that short time, his stats had risen significantly.
[Strength: 7 ¡ú 13.1]
[Agility: 6 ¡ú 15.3]
[Health: 7 ¡ú 10]
[Endurance: 5 ¡ú 6.5]
[Divine Power (Mana): 10 ¡ú 11.3]
A total of 21.2!
Converted, he had gained stats equivalent to 4 levels through Life Drain.
"Wow."
A cheer escaped his lips.
Even Yoojin, who had umted all sorts of experiences in his past life, couldn''t help but be amazed.
He hadn''t even allocated the bonus stats from leveling up, and he was already this strong.
''I wonder how strong I can be.''
Yoojin''s mind also held the experiences and knowledge of his past life.
The "Death-Defying" constetion, built by exploiting the loophole of self-worship.
The thought of the new divine spells that would be added as he grew stronger made his heart surge with ambition.
Although the efficiency of absorbing the goblins'' life force gradually decreased as he repeatedly drained them...
He wasn''t disappointed.
Wanting more would be greedy.
He continued ughtering goblins and finally reached the edge of the forest.
"Um, Hunter-nim."
"Call me Yoojin."
"If you cross the boundary, you''ll enter the domain of the Goblin Shaman, the boss monster."
"If you want to back out, now''s the time. I''ll pay you for the work you''ve done so far."
He hade this deep into the forest not only to level up but also...
To activate the hidden element in the [Ancient Garden], he needed to obtain the shaman''s blood.
"Really?"
Lee Seongmin replied with a bright expression.
If they turned back now, they would receive a settlement worth tens of millions of won.
The number of goblins they had hunted in the past three hours had already exceeded a hundred, so even if they only took 10%, it would be a huge profit!
The Goblin Shaman was one of the more difficult bosses in 1 Star gates.
It was a profitable deal even if they backed out without taking any risks.
However...
"We''ll follow you."
Kang Minho replied in a clear voice.
''If we follow this person, Yoojin-nim, we can earn a lot more money.''
He was certain of it.
The [Ancient Garden], essible only to 1 Star hunters.
How many hunters of the same rank could wield such overwhelming power?
And how difficult could collecting mana stones be?
''That''s why we must follow him.''
Yoojin, reading his thoughts, smirked and led the zombies forward.
Goblins were gathered in the middle of the za.
Unlike the ones they had encountered so far, these were fully armed, numbering around seventy.
Behind them, a goblin adorned with all kinds of bones sat on a chair. Upon closer inspection, even the ornaments were made of bone.
It held a ck staff, the material of which was indiscernible from afar.
This was the boss monster of the southern region of the [Ancient Garden], the Goblin Shaman.
"Behold. A foolish human has arrived."
"Kikkik. Foolish goblins relying on their numbers."
"What?"
"And what''s with you? Do you have a bone fetish or something? You smell even worse than the zombies."
Yoojin covered his nose with his right hand.
"You, you insolent human!"
"Retarded goblin. You can''t even speak properly, yet you try to fight with your mouth?"
The Goblin Shaman, seemingly at a loss for words, sputtered before abruptly rising from its seat.
"Bring that human before me on his knees."
"Kiki-kit!"
The goblin troops rushed forward, vying with each other.
Those who are bad at arguing are always the first to get angry.
"Chew them up, bones and all."
As Yoojin''smand, the 20 zombies lurched forward to attack.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 6: This is Why Im a Necromancer (3)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 6: This is Why I''m a Necromancer (3)
Crunch!
A zombie bit into a goblin''s flesh.
A goblin warrior, bitten in the thigh, screamed but still managed to swing his sword, severing the zombie''s wrist.
A chaotic battle of blood and flesh.
Yoojin, eyes darting left and right, read the flow of the battlefield.
"Answer my call."
Whenever a zombie was destroyed, he immediately raised a nearby corpse.
The maximum number he could maintain at once was 20.
Despite being outnumbered, he kept the frontline steady by creating new zombies as soon as one fell.
"Kmm Mauso-ra C!"
A stake topped with a skull plunged into the midst of the goblin army.
[The Totem of Valor boosts the goblins'' morale.]
An eerie light emanated from the empty eye sockets.
The goblins'' eyes turned crimson red.
"Behold. Our valiant goblin warri¡ª"
Crack
"Warri-what? What was that?"
"You insolent human who doesn''t know honor!"
The bone projectileunched by Yoojin urately struck the top of the totem, shattering the skull.
The totem was instantly neutralized.
"Yeah, yeah. Sure, sure. You must be so proud to be an honorable goblin."
"Kill that human! No matter the cost!"
The Goblin Shaman''s face was flushed with rage.
¡²I''m worried that his blood pressure might rise and he''ll copse on his own.¡³
''Please take care of your contractor first, Constetion.''
The most important thing to watch out for when fighting the Goblin Shaman was its totems.
They provided various buffs to its escort and inflicted debuffs and hallucinations on intruders.
"You think I''ll give you the chance to set up those totems?"
Crack! Crack!
Every totem the shaman erected was destroyed by the bone projectiles controlled by Yoojin.
While the shaman''s magic was rendered useless, the number of goblins rapidly dwindled.
The Goblin Shaman''s face contorted in fury.
"Kireuk, Kirruk!"
"What? Something not going your way?"
"Avatar of Madness,e forth!"
Whirl¡ª
The staff in the Goblin Shaman''s hand suddenly slipped free and plunged into the ground.
A gloomy magical wave began to spread from the staff.
"Not a chance."
A bone projectile flew through the air. Imbued with the essence of death, it was several times stronger than the original spell.
It had the destructive power to pierce even a house-sized boulder.
Just as the long bone approached¡ª
ng!
¡ªa purple aura erupted, deflecting the projectile.
[Curse of Madness applied.]
[Goblin strength and agility increased by 50%.]
"So that staff is your trump card?"
"My staff isn''t weak enough to be broken by such a pathetic attack."
"I guess so."
"Hmph. This is a bone staff crafted by grinding the souls of goblins. It''s not something a mere human can handle."
The Goblin Shaman said proudly.
"You ground souls into the bone?"
"Indeed. This staff, imbued with hundreds of souls, craves yours."
Kieeee¡ª
A ghostly wail emanated from the bone staff, disrupting the hunters'' minds.
"Are you so scared that you''re speechless?"
"No. I''m just wondering if it''s okay for me to have it this easy."
Yoojin channeled his mana.
Bone Control.
Any bone from a corpse, as long as there was enough mana, could be manipted at will.
''Even if it''s the enemy''s weapon or totem!''
Dropping the bone staff from your hand...
You''ll regret it.
Creak!
The staff, embedded in the ground, soared into the air.
Driving out the shamanic power imbued by the Goblin Shaman with spiritual energy and seizing control...
It was as easy as pie.
[The Curse of Madness loses its focal point.]
[The goblins regain their senses. As an aftereffect, their strength and agility are reduced by 30%.]
"Y-you, human!"
"Thanks to you, things have be easier. Thank you."
The Goblin Shaman''s hidden pattern.
It would have been difficult for an ordinary hunter party or raid to deal with, but...
Not for Yoojin.
"Oh? This isn''t an ordinary bone."
Perhaps due to the souls dwelling within, the response speed and power of [Bone Control] were far superior to ordinary bones.
There was a reason why the shaman had saved it as ast resort.
"In that sense, I''ll return it to you."
Yoojin aimed the end of the bone staff at the Goblin Shaman.
Whoosh!
The staff flew through the air.
The Goblin Shaman hurriedly waved his arms, but the staff, with its uncanny movements, evaded them and pierced his throat.
"Kugh, Kuugh..."
"Seems like it has a grudge against you. Is this what they call poetic justice?"
Heh.
A cruel smile spread across Yoojin''s lips.
The Goblin Shaman, fatally wounded.
The number of goblins, weakened by the aftereffects of the [Curse of Madness], rapidly decreased.
"I-I can''t die like this."
The Goblin Shaman, lying on the ground, iled his limbs.
"Why? Something not going your way?"
Yoojin pulled the staff with Bone Control.
The Goblin Shaman, his throat half pierced, was lifted and flew towards him.
cing his hand on the shaman''s forehead, he activated Life Drain.
"Kuugh..."
The Goblin Shaman groaned for a while before his head slumped down.
[Life Drain activated.]
[0.4 Strength absorbed.]
[0.5 Agility absorbed.]
[1.3 Mana absorbed.]
Crack¡ªThe shaman''s life force, freshly absorbed, transformed his body.
Perhaps because it was a boss monster, it yielded much more life force than ordinary goblins.
''This one gives a lot of mana, doesn''t it?''
This was the moment his assumption was proven¡ªthat the stats increased and the range varied depending on the type of monster.
"Oops."
The medium that contained the most life force was blood.
He had been carelessly using Life Drain and almostpletely drained the Goblin Shaman''s blood.
He made a cut on the shaman''s neck and pressed the PET bottle he had brought before entering the gate against it.
Gurgle. Gurgle.
He managed to collect the remaining blood and breathed a sigh of relief.
¡²So this is what it means to break their will in battle.¡³
''How bted. If you can''t adapt, just close your eyes.''
¡²Don''t underestimate me, Contractor.¡³
Yes, yes.
He was someone who even swallowed his own children to protect his throne, so he had to tolerate this much.
With the Goblin Shaman in, the morale of the remaining goblins plummeted noticeably.
What followed was a one-sided massacre.
Goblin corpsesy scattered throughout the silent vige.
"I''ll leave the finishing touches to you."
"Ah, yes. That''s the deal, after all."
Kang Minho nodded several times with a pale face.
Just from a rough nce, there seemed to be at least a hundred.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
''When will we ever finish collecting all the mana stones?''
Even though money was practically lying on the ground, Kang Minho couldn''t bring himself to smile.
£ª £ª £ª
Thud. Thud.
Yoojin emerged from the gate.
The Little Runts team followed behind with heavy steps.
"What are they carrying?"
"Wait. Are those mana stones?"
"They killed all those monsters and collected the mana stones with just four people?"
"Crazy. How is that possible?"
Eyes were drawn to Yoojin and the Little Runts team.
Shock.
Astonishment.
And admiration.
''To be surprised by this much...''
This was a gaze all too familiar to Yoojin.
"What are you doing? Come on."
"Ah, yes. We''reing."
The Little Runts team, startled by Yoojin''s blunt words, resumed their halted steps.
"But where are we going?"
"Yongsan. It''s the quickest way to dispose of all this."
"To get the best price, it''s better to shop around. If you leave it to us..."
"You want me to trust you guys who I just met today?"
When Kang Minho fell silent, Yoojin gave a shortugh.
"Just kidding. It''s better to save as much time as possible."
He didn''t need to fuss over small amounts of money.
There were plenty of ways to increase the funds he had.
''All I need is a basic level of investment.''
Entering the Yongsan Hunter Market, Yoojin and his party quickly disposed of the items they had obtained from clearing the gate.
- Staff of Resentment (Rare)
- Krachi''s Poison Sword (Magic)
- 1 E-rank mana stone
- 358 F-rank mana stones
"Quite a number of mana stones came out."
"Well, you hunted so ruthlessly... I mean, diligently."
Lee Seongmin and Kang Minyeong, standing behind him,ughed awkwardly.
''My wrists hurt.''
''I thought I was going to die from overwork.''
Who knew it would be harder than fighting monsters?
Yoojin''s hunting speed was incredibly fast, to the point that the Little Runts team, who had been working as hunters in a normal way, could hardly keep up.
"How much do you think we''ll get if we dispose of all this?"
"If you dispose of it all to me, I''ll give you a clean 60 million."
60 million won.
Not a bad ie for the first hunt after awakening.
The money Yoojin had saved up by working his bones off for three years was 30 million won.
He had earned twice that amount in a single day.
It was an amount that made him feel the passage of time, wasn''t it?
''Well, this is nothing.''
He had stood at the top of the world''s hunters as a necromancer.
Considering what he would aplish in the future, this was nothing.
Moreover...
There were also enemies he had to defeat.
"The poison sword is quite a popr weapon, so you can get at least 20 million for it. But..."
The merchant nced at the Staff of Resentment.
The ill-fated weapon used by the Goblin Shaman, the one that had ended its master''s life.
"That staff won''t fetch much."
"Why?"
"You''ll know once you check the options yourself."
Kang Inho had a strange expression on his face.
Yoojin checked the properties of the bone staff.
[Staff of Resentment]
Rank: Rare [R]
Type: Staff
Restriction: Priest
Durability: 67/200
A cursed staff forged from the souls of hundreds of goblins.
While it increases mana, it also eats away at the user''s mind.
* Mana + 30
* Mana Consumption Reduced by 12%
* Low chance of being afflicted with the Curse of Confusion
"The restriction is for the priest ss, but it increases mana. What use is this?"
"If you were to sell it, how much do you think it would go for?"
"It would probably fetch 7 million won."
At the merchant''s words, Kang Minho let out a sigh and a chuckle, seemingly disappointed.
The value of the highest-ranked item from the boss raid wasn''t as high as he had expected.
In fact, the poison sword used by the Goblin Warrior had moremercial value.
"Heh."
Yoojin also smiled.
However, the meaning behind his smile waspletely different.
''This is a good find.''
A strange option that increased mana despite being exclusive to the priest ss.
It wasn''t a big problem for Yoojin.
Spirit Power was also an ability used by magic-type hunters. The mana increase option was directly applied when he converted his abilities using [Midnight Sun].
He instinctively tightened his grip on the staff.
"Are you going to sell this too?"
"Just deduct it from my payment and I''ll take it."
A puzzled look appeared in Kang Minho''s eyes.
"You want to keep the Staff of Resentment?"
"I''d rather use it myself than sell it for 7 million won."
"We wouldn''t have earned anything if it weren''t for you, Hunter-nim, so just exclude it from the calction altogether."
Kang Minho looked at his party members.
"What do you guys think?"
"Whatever Seonbae-nim wants. Since he said he''ll pay for it, I don''t see any reason to refuse."
"All we did today was gather mana stones. Do as you please."
Those guys...
They were quite perceptive, though not as much as Kang Minho.
¡²Is this why you took them in?¡³
''Well, something like that.''
Even though there was someone he didn''t recognize among them... they were worth keeping around.
A blue-chip stock that was guaranteed to multiply in value had walked in on its own two feet.
It would be foolish to miss this opportunity.
Among the hunters he had faced in his past life, they were a formidable force that he remembered well.
Bringing the Mirror Hunters to his side would be a great asset to his future ns.
''No, they''ll be quite helpful even now.''
As assistants andborers.
He needed hunters to support him if he wanted to hunt in gates.
The Little Runts team wasn''t exactly a proper support team, but...
They could be his hands and feet, doing the tedious work... no, they could be the team members he needed.
"You''re called Little Runts, right?"
"Yes, Yoojin-nim."
"If you work with me, your pockets will be quite full."
Out of 53 million won, Yoojin''s share was 37 million.
Even if the remaining 16 million won was divided among the three of them, their daily wage would exceed 5 million.
An incredible ie that the 1 Star hunters of the Little Runts team could only dream of.
''Seonbae, what should we do?''
''Oppa, make the decision. We don''t know.''
At the whispers of the two, Kang Minho sighed.
So dishonest.
No one could deny that an opportunity like this was rare.
"You all feel the same way, right?"
The two remained silent.
But...
As if they had made a promise, the Little Runts team members exchanged nces and then...
"Leave it to us!"
They shouted in unison.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 7: The Ancient Trial Grounds (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 7: The Ancient Trial Grounds (1)
The next day.
Yoojin and the Little Runts team continued hunting in the [Ancient Garden].
"The goblins might have be more violent with the shaman gone."
"Even better."
"Huh?"
"Then they won''t run away even if they see the zombies."
Chasing after goblins was such a hassle.
Kang Minho gave an awkwardugh after hearing Yoojin''s words.
The forest was quiet, as if a storm had swept through it.
He had hunted every goblin he saw, to the point where they werepletely wiped out.
The Little Runts trio were drenched in sweat.
"Huff, huff."
"I''m going to pass out at this rate."
They had to keep up with the tireless zombies.
They had to extract mana stones from the goblin corpses.
In a gate, which was essentially enemy territory, it was important to conserve stamina, but they were exhausted from keeping up with Yoojin''s murderous hunting speed.
"Can you keep going?"
"Yoojin-nim, I think this is our limit."
"It''s a bit troublesome to back out now."
"Our bags are full."
Kang Minho gave a troubled smile.
Their portable bags were filled with mana stones. Even if they hunted more, they wouldn''t be able to carry them.
"Excuses. You guys go back first."
"Are you going to hunt more monsters?"
"These guys are still full of energy. They''ll be fine even if we stay up all night."
Grrr.
The Little Runts team shuddered at the rattling sound.
Kang Minho, managing his expression with effort, handed Yoojin a note.
"This is my number."
"I''m not interested in men''s contact information."
"You have to give us your ount number to receive the payment."
......
Right.
He was such an unnecessarily honest guy.
He had such a good personality that he was worthy of being selected as ve No. 1.
"I''ll contact you as soon as I get out."
"Then we''ll go dispose of these."
Yoojin''s eyes coldly narrowed as he watched the Little Runts team walk away.
¡²You sent them away on purpose.¡³
''Was it that obvious?''
¡²Well, your intentions were quite transparent.¡³
What he had to do now wasn''t something to be shown to others.
The knowledge from his past life.
In other words, he was going to use information about the future that would be revealed yearster.
It wasn''t because of someplicated concept like the butterfly effect.
He simply didn''t want to share this opportunity with anyone else.
This was the reason why he continued to make the Little Runts team work even after defeating the Goblin Shaman, the boss monster of the forest.
''The heart of a Frogman and the blood of the Goblin Shaman.''
Yoojin recalled memories from the past.
A few yearster...
The unpopr gate, [Ancient Garden], gained poprity due to its hidden elements.
By cing catalysts in designated locations, one could move to a secret space called the [Ancient Trial Grounds].
If you passed the trial, you would be engraved with a ''rune'' that granted permanent buffs.
A rare reward, hard to find even after searching through countless gates across the world.
In his past life, hunters known as promising talents flocked to the Ancient Garden.
''Shall we go?''
He moved towards thekeside with the zombies leading the way.
The northern region of the [Ancient Garden].
Around theke, Frogmen, amphibious monsters with blue skin, were stationed.
More precisely, they were lurking beneath theke, waiting for prey.
"Grool."
A zombie, following Yoojin''smand, approached theke.
At that moment...
"Arrgh!"
A bizarre cry, like a bellowing roar, echoed from all directions.
The calmke surface rippled, and several Frogmen leaped out.
Crack!
A trident pierced the zombie''s neck.
"Arrgh!"
"Grool, grooool."
Zombies wouldn''t die unless their heads were destroyed. The zombies Yoojin had meticulously crafted had increased defense, so they didn''t get destroyed in one hit.
Unfazed even with a trident lodged in its neck, the zombie approached the Frogman.
And bit into it.
"Arrgh!"
The Frogman foamed at the mouth. As its first hunt ended in failure, its fellow Frogmen, who had responded earlier, jumped out one after another.
¡®If only I had learned Corpse Explosion, I could have wiped them out in one go.¡¯
Yoojin clicked his tongue and deployed the remaining zombies.
The battle instantly turned into a chaotic melee.
Frogmen, emerging from various spots in theke, destroyed the zombies one by one.
"Arrgh. Smelly things. Weak."
Of course they would think so.
Frogmen had more than three times the physical abilities of goblins.
Even with Yoojin''s skills strengthening the zombies, the difference in specs was insurmountable.
"Did you think I wouldn''t know that?"
The Staff of Resentment soared into the air.
The whitish energy was several times denser than before, vivid as if it were tangible.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
He had further strengthened it by imbuing it with the essence of death.
Whoosh!
The sharp end of the reversed bone staff shot towards the mocking Frogman.
[Oil Shower]
Slippery oil coated its skin.
It was the Frogman''s innate skill that mitigated the power of piercing attacks.
"Arrgh, that won''t work... Gah!"
Just before it reached its chest, the Staff of Resentment slowed slightly but began to rotate rapidly.
The tip of the staff, acting as the axis of rotation, slipped through the Frogman''s oil, tearing its skin apart.
It easily prated the flesh and muscle, reaching the interior.
Straight towards the heart.
''If it''s too damaged, the altar won''t ept it, so I have to be careful.''
Swish!
As the Staff of Resentment was pulled out, the impaled Frogman''s heart was ripped out with it.
Green blood gushed out from the wound like a waterfall.
One Frogmany sprawled on the ground.
[Raise Undead activated.]
The lifeless eyes fluttered.
The Frogman zombie, granted a second life by the essence of death, let out a low groan.
Its body was almost twice asrge as a goblin''s.
Since the original was stronger, its specs also increased significantly.
"Grrrr!"
"Arrgh!"
A trident tried to stop the Frogman zombie, but it lunged forward without caring whether its bones broke or not.
If it were small and weak like a goblin, it might have been different.
But thanks to Yoojin strengthening its bones and flesh with the essence of death, it was difficult to stop the Frogman, now stronger than the original.
"Argh, s-strength..."
The trident wavered. As the Frogman holding the zombie let out a strained groan...
Whoosh!
The bone staff cut through the air once more.
"What? Did you think I was just watching?"
Yoojin''s snickering voice echoed in the Frogmen''s ears.
A second heart was ripped out, and another zombie joined the ranks.
''If it weren''t for the Staff of Resentment, this would have been difficult.''
The Frogman''s innate skill, Oil Shower.
Apart from the drawback of bing vulnerable to fire attacks, it was an incredibly tricky skill.
Not only did it not hinder movement, it actually increased agility.
And it greatly increased resistance to ded weapons like swords and spears.
With an ordinary bone, it would have been difficult to tear through the Frogman''s skin, made slippery by Oil Shower.
He was lucky.
''Even though the Spirit Power consumption is intense, I can endure it.''
Raising the Frogman zombie...
And overloading the staff with the essence of death drained his Spirit Power rapidly.
[Arge amount of Spirit Power has been consumed in a short period.]
[Concentration decreased.]
Ugh.
His vision blurred. His hands and feet trembled from the aftereffects of Spirit Power depletion.
''This much is nothing.''
He could withstand the penalty of overusing Spirit Power.
And...
He had already prepared a way to recover his depleted Spirit Power.
The energy settled in his dantian. He converted the goblin''s life force, umted through Life Drain, into Spirit Power.
"Haa... This is the life."
The more his vision blurred and his stomach churned...
An unknown sense of exhration welled up, calming Yoojin''s mind.
¡²What am I supposed to do if you copse from overexertion?!¡³
''I won''t copse. You worry too much.''
¡²Your life belongs to me, Contractor. Don''t push yourself recklessly.¡³
''Since when did we make such a contract?''
¡²You are the only one who canmunicate with me. It would be troublesome if you died meaninglessly!¡³
¡®Don''t worry. This isn''t even considered overexertion for me.¡¯
"Arrgh!"
"Argh!"
The once tranquilkeside was now filled with the screams of Frogmen, and green blood stained the ground.
[Level up!]
[Current level: 6]
''At this rate, I''ll reach my previous realm in no time.''
To punch that bastard, the Mage King, in the face, he had to be stronger as soon as possible.
He couldn''t ignore the potential threat of the Seven Great ns either.
Yoojin suppressed his boiling emotions and continued hunting.
"Arrgh..."
Thest Frogman near theke copsed with a groan.
The Goblin Zombies vanished.
20 newly created Frogman Zombies, with vacant eyes, stared at Yoojin, awaiting his nextmand.
¡²Are you going to move right away?¡³
''I need to rest a bit. I''m human too.''
Yoojin plopped down on the ground and caught his breath.
His head throbbed. The aftereffects of exceeding his Spirit Power limit by arge margin hit him like a storm.
[Life Drain activated.]
He used Midnight Sun to convert Spirit Power and Divine power.
He extracted life force from the rtively intact Frogman corpses and used it for healing.
''If I umte spare life force, I can also act as a healer.''
Divine power was the exclusive domain of priests.
When he didn''t want to reveal his necromancer abilities, he could use Life Drain to disguise his identity.
Considering only its healing ability, it was far more efficient than basic healing spells.
''I''ve also collected plenty of hearts.''
It was tedious to extract Frogman hearts and create undead during battle.
It was a delicate task that required a wide field of vision and a perfect understanding of the flow of battle.
If it weren''t for Yoojin, it would have been difficult to even attempt.
He got up from his spot only after he had somewhat shaken off the aftereffects of overusing Spirit Power.
''The preparations areplete.''
The constetion''s blessing, which he so desperately wanted but couldn''t obtain in his past life...
This time, it would be different.
Yoojin''s steps were filled with determination.
On the way back to the garden...
Hunters who had entered as a team looked at Yoojin with strange eyes.
"Grrrr."
To be precise, their attention was drawn to the zombies letting out airless groans.
Summoners themselves were rare, which made these zombies and the one controlling them a truly unusual sight.
It was only natural for them to be surprised, as hunters who controlled the undead did not exist in this era.
''I''ll have to endure it even if it''s a bit bothersome.''
Yoojin red back at the pouring gazes.
A diamond in the rough.
A being with power always stands out.
It was the same in his past life.
And in this second life, he would be stronger even faster, making it an unavoidable oue.
The hunters averted their gazes when Yoojin red at them.
''It''s not like it''ll be hidden if I try to hide it.''
¡®Haha.¡¯
A shortugh escaped him.
Leading the zombies, awkwardly moving their stiff bodies, he arrived at the center of the garden.
The gazes gradually dispersed.
Curiosity about a hunter who controlled undead as summons wouldn''t put food on the table, so they left to pursue their original goals.
''It''s about time I get ready.''
Yoojin took out one of the Frogman hearts he had wrapped in a bundle.
He dropped a single drop of the Goblin Shaman''s blood onto the blue flesh that had long since stopped beating.
Thump-thump-thump!
The Frogman''s heart, which had stopped, pulsated and throbbed violently.
¡²What are you nning to do this time?¡³
''An opportunity that will be revealed in the future.''
¡²Indeed. You intend to take advantage of your regression.¡³
''Be quiet, I need to concentrate.''
The shaman''s blood only temporarily revived the heart.
He had to finish the setup within two minutes.
After reviving the remaining hearts with blood, he ced them in the hands of the zombies.
"Don''t drop them, and stand over there."
Yoojin put strength into his voice.
Low-ranking undead, zombies.
Primitive undead with only appetite as their thoughts.
If he loosened his control even for a moment, they would devour the pulsating hearts, driven by their insatiable hunger for life force.
After confirming that nine zombies had reached their designated positions, he dropped a drop of blood onto thest heart.
[You have unlocked the hidden secret of the Ancient Garden.]
[Moving to the Ancient Trial Grounds.]
sh!
An intense sh of light descended upon the center of the garden.
For a brief moment, less than 0.1 seconds, the light shone brightly.
And with a dazzling sh, Yoojin and the zombies vanished from the Ancient Garden.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 8: The Ancient Trial Grounds (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 8: The Ancient Trial Grounds (2)
Whoosh!
Magical mes flickered from the walls, illuminating the interior.
Yoojin''s eyes darted around a few times before settling.
''Just as I heard.''
A curved, crescent-shaped cavity. In the center was a circr magic circle.
''A trial hidden within a specific gate.''
A rare ce, with only a few like it in the entire world.
"Groooan."
The zombies, swept along by the sh of light, had been transported as well.
They looked around, drool dripping from their half-open mouths.
[Wee to the Ancient Trial Grounds ¢ñ.]
[This trial can only be attempted alone.]
[Prove your courage and potential in the Trial Grounds.]
''Summons are treated as part of my abilities, so they aren''t affected by the personnel restriction.''
Heh.
The information he had heard in his past life was urate.
''By the time the secret of this gate was revealed, I had already surpassed 2 Stars.''
He couldn''t describe how disappointed he had been when he heard about the secret hidden within the Ancient Garden.
A gate essible only to 1 Star hunters.
With Yoojin''s skills, he could have obtained the Ancient Garden''s reward, but...
What was the point if he couldn''t even enter?
''There''s also an Ancient Trial Ground in France, but...''
Powerful guilds were already fighting over ownership of that one, and it was in another country, so he hadn''t even dreamed of going there.
For Yoojin, this was his first challenge, both before and after his return.
[After 60 seconds, a Draconian will descend. Survive for the allotted time.]
[Time limit - 10:00]
[If you do not wish to proceed with the challenge, return through the passage at the end of the Ancient Trial Grounds. You will be able to return to your original location.]
Draconian.
A half-human, half-dragon monster with the blood of dragons.
The trial''s objective was a powerful monster ssified as at least 6 Star.
A being capable of freely emitting aura from any part of its body and proficient in magic.
¡²Facing a Draconian? At your level, you won''tst even 10 seconds.¡³
''I heard that even though it''s a dragonkin, its power is adjusted to match the level of a 1 Star gate.''
This was a gate with an entry restriction of 1 Star.
It wouldn''t be bnced if a 6 Star monster suddenly appeared, right?
The Draconian summoned for the trial would have its stats restricted due to the gate''s influence.
''But that doesn''t mean I can underestimate it.''
ording to the information from his past life, the Draconian''sbat power was at the peak of 2 Star.
An overwhelmingly powerful opponent that Yoojin couldn''t handle with his current abilities.
''Well then, shall we begin?''
Rubbing his hands together, he called over a nearby zombie.
"Groooan?"
"Stay still."
He ced his right hand on the zombie''s forehead and observed every nook and cranny of its body with the essence of death.
[Zombie]
Race: Undead
Rank: ¡ï
Enhancement Level: 100%
A zombie that has gained double the strength by reinforcing its bones, muscles, etc., with the essence of death.
''Let''s make use of that enhancement level.''
Yoojin was an expert in the structure of the undead.
By diverting the Spirit Power that permeated the body during strengthening, he could modify even apleted undead.
''First, let''s try diverting the strength.''
He converted the doubled strength stat into poison.
Crackle, Crackle.
The zombie''s body convulsed.
"I told you to stay still. You''re messing with my concentration."
After needlessly scolding the zombie, he also poured the increased agility stat into the poison.
Concave spores bubbled up all over its skin, making the zombie''s appearance even more hideous.
[Poison ¡ú gue Blood]
[Undead modification sessful.]
[The target has transformed into a gue Zombie.]
[When using Raise Undead, targets that meet the conditions will be created as gue Zombies.]
Although its strength and agility stats decreased, it now possessed a stronger poison.
His trump card for defeating the Draconian.
The pocket watch buzzed loudly.
¡²Modifying the dead on the spot?¡³
''Don''t be surprised by every little thing. I was a 9 Star Necromancer, you know.''
The amount of death essence consumed for modification wasn''t much.
However, it required a deep understanding of the structure of the undead...
And to prevent power loss during the modification process, one had to perfectly control the death essence, demanding extreme concentration.
An ordinary necromancer would have taken at least 10 minutes to modify one.
''Extreme? For just modifying a zombie?''
Yoojinpleted this difficult task in 25 seconds.
After modifying one more, he had 10 seconds left.
He positioned the zombie horde at regr intervals, and then light seeped out from the circle at the center of the cavity.
sh!
A bright light surged from the summoning circle, and a 3-meter tall Draconian emerged through the white beam of light.
[The Draconian has descended.]
[Survive for 10 minutes.]
"Kraaaaa!"
The Draconian roared.
£ª £ª £ª
The Ancient Trial Grounds.
A space created by the Dragon Legion at the behest of the Pantheon''s constetions to select outstanding hunters.
Those who presided over the trials were members of the Dragon Legion under themand of the Dragon Lord.
The Dragonian, Zercaden, as soon as he finished his descent, twitched his nose and frowned.
¡ºYou control a foul-smelling race.¡»
The second [Ancient Trial Grounds ¢ñ] to open, following the one in France.
He had faced dozens of hunters so far, but this was the first time he had encountered a sorcerer whomanded the dead.
"I don''t like being called smelly by a race that doesn''t bathe their entire lives."
Yoojin replied with a smirk.
A single line of ridicule escaped his lips, echoing through the cavity.
Was he serious?
Of course.
It was useless trivia he had learned while hunting dragons that appeared in higher-level gates.
See? That Dragonian couldn''t even refute him.
¡ºNot only do you control the dead, but you are also frivolous.¡»
Zercaden gritted his teeth.
Anger welled up inside him.
However, as a dragon who couldn''t lie, he couldn''t respond to Yoojin''s insult.
¡ºYou are the most vulgar one I have ever seen in the Trial Grounds.¡»
The Ancient Trial Grounds ¢ñ connected to the same ce regardless of which gate you entered from.
Zercaden had tested dozens of hunters.
All of them were promising talents from powerful guilds, including the German Ranker, Michael Dryst, and the French prospect, Guiume Schneider.
¡ºI will watch with my own eyes whether you can endure the 10 minutes like they did.¡»
Probably not, though.
Adding thest part under his breath, Zercaden stepped forward.
Thump- Thump¡ª
A heavy sound echoed with each step.
In response, Yoojin positioned the zombies in a U-shape with himself as the axis.
A formation with wings spread out on both sides.
Zercaden narrowed his eyes.
''I will y along with your little trick.''
If he went straight, the zombies lined up on both sides would cling to him.
Walking right into their encirclement.
It was a very transparent tactic, but Zercaden didn''t think of turning back.
No matter how many there were, they were just 1 Star zombies.
A Draconian''s tough scales were harder than well-forged iron armor.
¡ºThe pain will notst long, mortal.¡»
"Yours will be a bit longer, though. My apologies."
¡ºI will watch how long you can keep running your mouth.¡»
As Zercaden entered the middle of the U-shaped zombie formation, a sharp snapping sound echoed, and the zombies rushed at him.
Crack, Crack.
He clenched his fist, muscles bulging as his forearm swelled.
With a powerful swing of his right arm, the upper body of the zombie that was rushing at him exploded.
¡ºJust a mere zombie...?¡»
Strange.
The impact was too light. For shattering a zombie suffering from rigor mortis in a single blow, the shock transmitted to his fist was minimal.
By the time an ominous premonition crossed Zercaden''s mind...
"It''s already toote."
Ssh!
The poisonous liquid contained within the gue Zombie''s body exploded, sttering his forearm, shoulder, and parts of his torso.
Toxic substances from a corpse.
The acidic liquid, created by maximizing what was known as corpse poison, began to melt the Draconian''s tough scales.
[Acid Poison Lv 12]
¡ºHuh.¡»
His right arm trembled intermittently.
''I can''t put any strength into it.''
An attack that wouldn''t have fazed him in his true form.
But now, his physical abilities were weakened to match the level of the [Ancient Trial Grounds] test.
White smoke billowed from the area where the acidic liquid had touched him.
Sizzle.
His scales melted one by one.
"Grrrr!"
¡ºYou''re resorting to petty tricks!¡»
Instead of his right arm, dulled by the corpse poison, he swung his left arm, which he had pulled back, with all his might, crushing the zombie''s body.
With parts of his body paralyzed, his movements becamerger.
Snap!
Yoojin didn''t miss that opening and quickly moved the zombies forward, closing the distance.
¡ºWhat will you do when you''ve used up all your zombies?¡»
"Well, I never said I was going to hold out."
Giving instructions to the zombies, Yoojin kicked off the ground and sprinted with all his might.
¡ºMortal, don''t tell me...¡»
"You''re just realizing it now?"
¡ºYou, you dare entertain the absurd notion of defeating me?!¡»
[Ground m]
Zercaden raised his left foot and mmed it into the ground with all his might.
He released mana at the moment his foot made contact with the ground.
A shockwave spread, shaking the zombies'' bodies.
¡ºI, Zercaden, am not weak enough to be defeated by such lowly zombies.¡»
"Yes, you are."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
Zercaden twisted his body with all his might, trying to shake off the zombies.
Even though the zombies were strengthened twofold, their stats were stillckingpared to the materialized Draconian.
''If I move a little more, I can escape.''
Just as a glimmer of hope appeared in Zercaden''s eyes...
BOOM!
The second gue Zombie Yoojin had prepared exploded at close range.
The poisonous liquid showered Zercaden''s body.
His scales, having lost their original color and turned a murky ck, had softened to the point where they could no longer protect him.
"What? Something not going your way?"
[Bone Control activated.]
A whitish aura enveloped the Staff of Resentment.
Crack!
Yoojin raised the sharp tip of the staff and tore through the softened scales.
''Even weakened by restrictions, to think I''m overwhelming a Dragonian...''
Kronos gasped.
He was once the King of the Titans, reigning supreme.
He could understand how unfair this fight was without Yoojin''s exnation.
The difference in their mana capacity.
The disparity in their physical abilities.
Yoojin wasn''t ahead in any of them.
''It should be difficult to harm a Dragonian''s body with such crude undead.''
Kronos'' warning to Yoojin had been sincere.
Even though he had be a constetion by exploiting a domain that no one governed, he wasn''t officially recognized by the Pantheon.
This meant he didn''t have a designated constetion of his own, making his existence precarious.
If Yoojin were to die here, Chronos wouldn''t simply be a Fallen Star¡ªhe would bepletely erased from existence.
That was why he had just made such a lengthy speech out of worry.
''It was unnecessary.''
Kronos watched the battle with a rxed mind.
"Uwaaaagh!"
Zercaden thrashed about with bloodshot eyes.
Half of his body was paralyzed from repeated exposure to the poison, but...
He exerted superhuman mental strength and aimed for Yoojin, but what came back was the staff, piercing his blind spot.
"Keugh."
As the staff shattered his scales and inflicted additional damage, Zercaden''s stamina rapidly declined.
Confirming that his movements had dulled, Yoojin retrieved the Staff of Resentment.
Without hesitation, he reached out his hand.
[Mana ¡ú Divine Power]
[Life Drain activated.]
The Draconian''s life force was sucked in.
Yoojin intended to plunder everything Zercaden had.
The sensation of his life force being ripped away whole.
"Ku, Kuuuh."
Zercaden''s movements gradually slowed, and finally, his head dropped.
[You have passed the Ancient Trial Grounds ¢ñ.]
[The Rune of Endurance is engraved.]
¡ò Rune of Endurance
Type: Rune
Reduces stiffness and increases concentration even when suffering pain.
* Stiffness effect reduced by 40%
* Mana recover speed increased by 20%
A permanent buff, different from a constetion''s blessing or auxiliary magic.
It was a powerful ability, considered top-tier among runes, as it was effective for both martial and magic-type hunters.
¡²It''s a different mechanism from a blessing.¡³
''It''s a blessing from the system.''
¡²The Pantheon, and the system. Concepts that did not exist when I ruled the world.¡³
Kronos muttered in a puzzled tone.
Instead of responding, Yoojin nced at the fallen Draconian''s corpse.
''The real reward is separate.''
The Dragonian''s corpse.
An irresistible, powerful material that would make any Necromancer''s eyes sparkle with greed.
''A Dragonian corpse with almost no damage...''
Really...
He couldn''t resist.
Yoojin''s eyes gleamed with greed.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 9: You, Become My Alchemic Slave (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 9: You, Be My Alchemic ve (1)
The Draconian''s corpsey sprawled on the ground.
An inconceble glint of greed shimmered in Yoojin''s eyes.
¡²This is the real deal, I see.¡³
Sssst!
Dense spirit power seeped into the corpse, permeating its skeletal structure and key areas like bone density.
Yoojin meticulously examined the fallen Draconian.
''Excellent. It''s even better than I expected.''
A chuckle escaped his lips.
The hardness of the bones, the toughness of the muscles, the mana contained in the blood... not a single w. It was the perfect material for an undead.
¡²Didn''t you say the strength of an undead is determined by its level in life?¡³
''That''s right.''
¡²But this dragonkin had its abilities restricted to match the test. ording to that theory, it won''t be strong even if you turn it into an undead.¡³
''The important thing is the dragon''s essence contained within its body.''
Dragonkin.
A race that upies one of the ''realms'', also known as the world of the gods registered in the Pantheon.
The six dragon legions were a force that even the constetions couldn''t ignore.
This was no half-baked monster created by a Gate.
This Draconian was the real deal, imbued with the essence of a true dragon, having made a formal contract with the Pantheon and undergone the trial with its abilities restricted.
¡²Then what kind of undead can you create with the Draconian''s corpse?¡³
''At most, a Dragon Warrior.''
Dragon Warrior (¦²¦Ð¦Á¦Ñ¦Ó¦Ï?).
An undead warrior wielding a sword and shield, powerful enough to challenge even a Doom Knight.
Not only did it possess the innate magic resistance of a dragon, it could also emit dark energy for several meters and had regenerative abilities.
''But even a Dragon Warrior seems like a bit of a waste.''
The corpse of a dragonkin was a rare find.
It was a race rarely seen even in Gates, so his greed was piqued.
The Draconian''s corpse was imbued with an essence even stronger than Yoojin had anticipated.
Yoojin stroked his chin, his brow furrowed in thought. Suddenly, his eyes widened as a realization struck him.
''I think I''ll try creating an Eldritch Dragon.''
¡²An Eldritch Dragon?¡³
''It''s like a Lich.''
Eldritch Dragon.
A dragon of death that bes undead by binding its life force to a phctery.
It was the equivalent of a Lich for humans.
You might ask, aren''t there already undead created from dragon corpses, like Bone Dragons?
''Even if they''re both undead, they''re different.''
A Bone Dragon could never surpass the original dragonkin.
Itcked the dragon heart, the source of its mana.
And because all the flesh was stripped away during the creation process, its physical abilities were also diminished.
Even after processing the dragon''s corpse with expensive reagents and inscribing all sorts of spells onto its bones, the best it could do was match the physical abilities of the original.
It was a half-baked imitation, incapable of wielding Dragon Tongue, let alone their immense mana.
''It''s just mimicking the original, at best.''
The essence of a dragon.
And the immense power emanating from a dragon heart.
These two things are difficult to revive, even for Yoojin, who has reached the pinnacle of necromancy.
On the other hand, an Eldritch Dragon, a being that bes undead by sealing its own life force, can be far stronger than it was in life.
¡®What if I start with this Draconian''s body and raise it to the level of an Ancient Dragon?¡¯
Wow.
Just the thought of it is incredible.
''It won''t be easy to create, though.''
The reagents alone for crafting an Eldritch Dragon would cost tens of billions.
¡®I need to infuse spirit power into the bones, muscles, and scales, and engrave each individual spell.¡¯
¡²But it''s strange. If it''s simr to a lich, it should have a soul.¡³
''It doesn''t have to be a dragon''s soul.''
Strictly speaking, a Draconian isn''t a perfect ''dragon'', is it?
Half-human, half-dragon.
Since it''s half-human, I just need to infuse it with a soul strong enough to handle the Draconian''s body.
''I have the perfect candidate for that.''
The strongest subordinate Yoojinmanded in his past life.
That soul should bepatible with the Draconian''s corpse.
Yoojin ced his hand on the Draconian''s corpse once again.
"Store."
A whitish stream of energy seeped out from the Ring of Darkness, enveloping the Draconian''s body.
With a sound like rustling silk, it was sucked into the ring.
[Storing the corpse in the Ring of Darkness.]
[Storage limit: 1/1]
Now that he had collected the Draconian''s corpse,
There was no reason to stay in the ancient testing ground any longer.
As he turned to head towards the passage shimmering with white light,
¡²Contractor. Stop for a moment.¡³
''What is it?''
¡²Your exploits have umted as my karma.¡³
The sole follower and Saint of the [Heaven-Defying Giant].
Yoojin''s exploits in defeating powerful enemies were directly reflected, increasing Kronos''s presence.
¡²If my star is officially registered in the Pantheon, I will be able to bestow more divine spells upon you.¡³
Interesting.
Just how useful was Life Drain alone?
If he umted more karma, new divine spells would be added.
Even Yoojin couldn''t easily guess how much his abilities as a priest would develop.
''I''m gaining too much.''
Yoojin''s lips curved into a crescent moon shape.
£ª £ª £ª
As soon as Yoojin exited the Gate, he checked his phone.
[KS Bank - Bnce: 52,741,700]
His ount was overflowing.
It hadn''t been long since he regressed, yet he had received more money than he had saved in the past three years.
''And I spent 2 billion on that ring.''
Yoojin habitually fiddled with the Ring of Darkness.
The Draconian''s corpse stored within the ring. He would need to invest countless reagents to process it into a powerful undead.
Even if I poured all my assets into it, I''d barely meet the minimum requirements for an Eldritch Dragon.
''And I haven''t even factored in the cost of the tools to make the reagents.''
That part didn''t worry him too much.
He already had someone in mind who could provide the alchemy tools.
Resting his chin on his hand, Yoojin recalled memories of his past life.
''Around this time, he should still be in Paju, messing around with his alchemy workshop, right?''
The sun began to set in the west.
He had to reach Paju before nightfall.
No time to rest. Muttering to himself, Yoojin immediately hailed a taxi.
£ª £ª £ª
Paju was ssified as a frontline area even after the Great Cataclysm.
The Kim regime in the North had copsed after failing to respond to the chain of Gate Breaks.
But the monsters that settled in that region frequently crossed the old Demilitarized Zone and headed south.
''And the public safety is terrible.''
Parts of Paju, devastated during the Great Cataclysm, remained unrestored even decadester.
Instead of the original inhabitants, those who dabbled in illegal activities had seeped into the concrete tombs.
As the sun set, western Paju transformed into awless zone.
That was why Yoojin was in such a hurry.
"Young man, are you sure this is the ce?"
The taxi driver, who had been following the navigation, asked while scratching his head.
The only noticeable building was a bus stop that looked ready to copse at any moment.
The rest was a small town with old houses made of te material clustered together.
Jeokseong-myeon, Paju-si.
This countryside town, seemingly untouched by the passage of time, was Yoojin''s destination.
"Yes, thank you."
After paying the fare, he stepped into the quiet rural town.
''This ce is the same whether it''s 10 yearster or now.''
Yoojin had first visited this ce 10 years after his awakening in his past life.
Alchemy was essential for strengthening the undead.
It was possible to process corpses to make them exert power beyond their original state, or to create powerful undead using reagents.
''This is where the best alchemist in our country resides.''
He''s still up-anding, but...
He will be soon.
Since the vige had remained unchanged for decades, finding the workshop wasn''t difficult.
A quiet road stretched behind the bus stop.
After walking for about 10 minutes, he came across a side road, half-abandoned and overgrown with weeds.
''Theck of maintenance is the same as ever.''
With a pleasant sense of deja vu, he was about to push aside the weeds and enter when¡ªn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Kwaaaang!
A deafening roar tore through the air, mercilessly shaking his eardrums.
ck smoke billowed up a momentter, rising into the sky to form a pir.
"It''s a bit much for even this to be the same."
He chuckled.
A sense of deja vu, simr to his past life, brought a smile to his face.
The source of the ck smoke was arge abandoned factory with a te roof, simr to the other buildings in the area.
"Cough! Hack! Cough!"
"Hey there. Are you alright? You''re not hurt, are you?"
"Excuse me. Whoever you are, shouldn''t you be asking that the other way around?"
"Judging by your response, you seem fine."
The man who emerged through the smoke appeared to be in his early thirties.
A small scar under his cheek, a slightly hunched back.
His salt-and-pepper hair was greasy and matted, as if it hadn''t been washed in days.
''I didn''t know he could make such an innocent face.''
Yoojin stifled a chuckle.
The Great Alchemist, Shin Joonseok.
In his past life, he was the most skilled alchemist in Korea.
He was the first in the world to establish the form for [Mass Production of Intermediate Potions], and a skilled individual who developed countless other drugs and magic spells.
''I came to him for advice on strengthening corpses.''
As Yoojin smiled fondly, reminiscing, Shin Joonseok''s eyes narrowed.
"I don''t know why you''vee to mynd, but if you''re going to spout nonsense, get out."
"Ah, I do have some business."
"At the workshop?"
"My name is Cheon Yoojin. I''vee to use your alchemy tools."
Shin Joonseok stared at him, utterly bewildered. It took a moment for Yoojin''s words to sink in.
Then, as if he finally understood Yoojin''s words, his face turned red with anger.
"That''s insane!"
"Ah, I''m not just asking to borrow them."
"I don''t know who you are, but if you''re going to talk nonsense, get out."
Shin Joonseok growled, dropping the honorifics.
Right.
This was the venomous expression that Yoojin remembered the Great Alchemist always wearing.
''This is a bit better.''
Alchemy tools.
From beakers like those seen in middle school science sses, to scales that measured minute weights, and even a furnace that produced magic fire.
Equipment that could be considered the entirety of an alchemist.
It was like asking a necromancer to borrow their corpses.
It was natural for him to be furious.
''I''ve used your tools before, so I know how to handle them.''
In his past life, Yoojin frequently interacted with Korea''s No. 1 alchemist.
To enhance his necromancy, he needed to be proficient in alchemy, and there were few people who could help him.
Therefore¡ª
"Intermediate Healing Potion."
"...What?"
"You''re researching a potion form that allows for mass production."
"How did you..."
Yoojin knew what Shin Joonseok was developing at this time.
He even knew which catalyst wascking in the process.
Because he had heard it all from the man himself.
Yoojin strode into the abandoned factory where the explosion had just urred.
"That''s myb."
"Stay put if you want to see this potionpleted."
In the original timeline, this potion form wouldn''t be perfected for another year.
Yoojin nned to speed things up.
''Even back then, his obsession with tools was remarkable.''
The Witch''s Cauldron.
The Guard Cylinder.
The Darkness Everstone.
And a plethora of other specialized alchemy equipment difficult to obtain in this era.
Equipment that seemed out of ce within this shabby, abandoned factory.
Valuable catalysts and herbs were scattered everywhere.
Yoojin surveyed the factory, his steps halting before a bubbling, reddish liquid.
The Intermediate Healing Potion.
Judging by the rising bubbles, it looked ready to explode at any moment.
''Increase the mana stone concentration by 4% and neutralize it with 5g of Odram''s Grass.''
As Yoojin reached for the Odram''s Grass, Shin Joonseok erupted.
"That''s for stabilizing mana! If you add Odram''s Grass when the potion''s effects aren''t even properly established¡ª!"
"Maintaining a consistent magic level aids in amplification and enhances healing. Are you an alchemist, and you don''t even know that?"
"..."
It was understandable that he wouldn''t know.
This was alchemic knowledge not yet discovered in this era.
''But you''re the one who figures it out.''
Yoojin focused on crafting the potion without a change in his expression.
Swish, swish, swish¡ª
With practiced movements, he processed the leaves.
Without hesitation, he added the crushed mana stone powder to the potion.
Shin Joonseok watched with wide eyes, his gaze darting back and forth.
''Is this actually going to work?''
It was unbelievable.
It was strange enough that this man knew about his research project.
But the way he used the workshop tools and materials as if they were his own was even more suspicious.
Even so...
''Odram''s Grass had that kind of effect?''
The man''s unwavering confidence...
Shin Joonseok had a hunch that there was a ''reason'' behind Yoojin''s actions, so he simply watched in a daze.
How much time passed?
Gurgle¡ª!
The bubbles subsided, and the reddish liquid stabilized.
"Shall we test it?"
Yoojin calmly scratched his forearm with a crafting knife.
"Y-You! The blood!"
"I know. Wounding myself is the best way to see the effects, isn''t it?"
Blood flowed freely, but Yoojin merely furrowed his brow. Without a single groan, he applied the Intermediate Potion to the wound.
A pale white smoke rose.
Fresh flesh bloomed over the gash on his forearm.
Shin Joonseok blinked, his gaze shifting between the potion and Yoojin''s arm, his jaw agape.
"Sess! It''s a sess!!!!"
With bloodshot eyes, he rushed over and grabbed Yoojin''s hand.
His voice was filled with ecstasy.
Now, he was ready to talk.
"Aren''t you curious?"
Shin Joonseok nodded rapidly, the initial displeasure long gone.
To elevate his alchemy, this man would consider any means, any method.
That was the essence of Shin Joonseok, the alchemist.
"Hey, let''s work together."
One corner of Yoojin''s lips curled upwards.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 10: You, Become My Alchemic Slave (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 10: You, Be My Alchemic ve (2)
"What kind of work do you want to do together?"
Shin Joonseok unconsciously spoke formally, a mix of bewilderment, anticipation, and suspicion in his eyes. Hisplex emotions demanded an answer from Yoojin.
If Yoojin hadn''t demonstrated the creation of the Intermediate Healing Potion, this conversation wouldn''t even be happening.
¡²He''s quite wary. A man should have more boldness.¡³
''Considering what he went through, it''s understandable.''
A researcher at Daesung, thergest corporation in Korea.
That was Shin Joonseok''s former upation.
Magic circuit development.
Potion recipe research.
He had produced various results in the fields mentioned above, but...
''He was backstabbed.''
Shin Joonseok''s direct superior had cleverly maneuvered to steal all his work.
By the time he realized it, it was already toote.
He protested, but without proper evidence, his ims were dismissed.
Meanwhile, the superior who stole his research results rapidly climbed the corporatedder, bing an executive.
There was no one left in thepany who would take his side.
Perhaps it was fortunate.
Just as he was losing his will to stay at thepany after learning the truth, he received an invitation from the system and became an Awakened.
¡ª I resign.
Without a moment''s hesitation, he submitted his resignation.
He returned to his hometown, poured all his savings, and even took out loans to establish the workshop before them.
"I have some knowledge of alchemy, but Ick the equipment and skills."
"So you want me to be your hands and feet?"
"That''s right. It can''t be helped if you refuse."
Yoojin reached for thepleted Intermediate Potion, and the red liquid swayed with his gesture. Shin Joonseok''s eyes followed its every movement.
''He won''t be able to resist this.''
He had witnessed the potion functioning perfectly with his own eyes.
He would at least want to know the catalyst and the ratio used toplete the Intermediate Potion.
The effect of Yoojin''s bold performance was clear.
"What do I gain in return?"
"The recipe toplete the potion. I''ll also share other knowledge with you."
"I can''t believe it. Without anypensation..."
"Heh, look at this guy. Trying to get my knowledge for free."
Shin Joonseok''s face reddened at Yoojin''s mockery.
"When did I say I''d give it to you for free?"
"Didn''t you ask me to be your hands and feet?"
"That includes royalties on the items you create using my advice in the future."
Yoojin shook the potion once more.
Shin Joonseok muttered in a subdued voice, seemingly frustrated.
"I could havepleted that with a little more time."
"It can''t be helped if you refuse."
Yoojin showed no signs of regret.
Shin Joonseok''s eyes twitched.
''It''s tempting, isn''t it?''
Having seen thepleted potion with his own eyes, it would be difficult for him to give up.
If he had Shin Joonseok as an em¡ª no, as a partner, not only would it ease his financial burden, but he could also entrust all the tedious alchemy work to him.
"The ratio is 6 to 4. 40% for my involvement in the production."
"That''s a bit much."
"I won''t force you to decide right now."
"Thank you for the time."
"But let me use the workshop. I have things to do."
"That''s not a problem."
"Take your time to think about it. I n to stay here for a few days."
You''ve already taken the bait.
Yoojin smiled gently.
£ª £ª £ª
In the alchemy workshop nestled within the abandoned factory, Yoojin moved around asfortably as if he were in his own home, gathering ingredients and tools one by one.
"Um, excuse me."
"I know how to handle and use these, so don''t worry about it."
"You still have to pay for them."
"..."
¡²Khahaha!¡³
As expected of the future Great Alchemist. He wasn''t an easy pushover.
"Don''t worry. I''ll pay you back within a month."
"And until when do you intend to speak informally?"
"If you''re upset about it, you can drop the formalities too. It''ll be fair then. You were pretty casual when we first met."
Shin Joonseok''s face was a picture of bewilderment, and then he sighed deeply.
"Fine. I''ll be the only one using formal speech."
How boring.
Even while exchanging words, Yoojin''s hands didn''t stop moving. He quickly sorted through the ingredients in the workshop, selecting what he needed.
"Do you have any Dark Blood and Ghoul Bones?"
"Those are catalysts rted to dark magic. There''s no reason for me to handle... those."
"Narrow-mindedness doesn''t help the advancement of alchemy."
"Ah, ugh..."
Shin Joonseok groaned, unable toe up with a rebuttal.
¡°A narrow perspective and closed-mindedness don''t help with alchemy¡±¡ª those were your own words.
Yoojin let out a shortugh as he watched Shin Joonseok battling against his future self.
"Then, I''ll ce an order for those, along with Darkness Orb."
After cing the order, he skillfully ground the Blue Herb, Magic Herb, and Red Mint in a 4:2:1 ratio.
The herbs turned to powder in an instant.
"Melt 5 F-rank mana stones and make it a 42% concentration."
"Are you ordering me around?"
"You don''t have to do it if you don''t want to."
Shin Joonseok rolled up his sleeves as Yoojin muttered¡ª
¡°I don''t know who''s losing out here.¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"What in the world are you doing, barging into someone else''s workshop like this?"
¡°I''m sorry, but you''ll have to suffer a bit.¡±
[Melting] was an alchemy skill that disassembled the form of an object and extracted only its essence.
Perhaps if he had reached 2 Stars and unlocked the knowledge of the Alchemy School with the Ring of Darkness, it would be different. But at this point, Shin Joonseok''s help was essential.
Shin Joonseok grabbed a bundle of mana stones and stood in front of a bathtub.
A 5-meter bathtub.
He filled the alchemy-specific bathtub, which had markings for millimeter measurements, with water and then tossed in all the mana stones.
[Using Melting.]
The hard surface of the mana stones became gooey, and then they dissolved like salt in water.
The liquid emitted a faint light. Shin Joonseok gathered mana in his palm with a serious expression.
"42%, correct?"
With a single attempt, Shin Joonseok perfectly matched the requested ratio.
¡²Despite his timid personality, his skills are impressive!¡³
''He''s going to be the Great Alchemist, after all.''
¡²Indeed. Making use of the regressor''s privileges once again.¡³
The unique wavelength of mana stones and the amount of water.
And the mana loss rate that urred during the melting process.
It was easy to say, but all of this had to be calcted.
Even experienced alchemists found it difficult to get the melting ratio right.
Meanwhile.
Shin Joonseok also observed Yoojin''s hand movements as he ground various leaves in a mortar with a sidelong nce.
''His technique is wless.''
Otherworldly nts found in Gates or Erosion Zones.
If you applied force without care while grinding, the sap contained in the leaves would be exposed to the atmosphere, and the mana of the herbs would be lost.
To prevent the energy from dissipating, you had to imbue the mortar with mana and rotate it at a constant speed, but...
''He seems to be stirring casually, but it''s perfect.''
Shin Joonseok had seen countless magic-based Hunters during his time at the Daesung Groupboratory.
It seemed simple at first nce, but...
Even a tiny error could damage the catalyst and reduce efficiency.
Among the experts at Daesung, how many magic-based Hunters could handle herbs as casually as Yoojin?
''I''d need skill enhancements to be that good.''
Shin Joonseok gulped unconsciously.
"Ah, I''m tired."
Yoojin muttered casually and poured the powdered herbs directly into the melted mana stone solution.
The solution bubbled.
The slightly bluish liquid instantly turned purple.
"Release."
A whitish mist seeped from the Ring of Darkness.
From the deep gray stream, too dense to see through, the draconian''s corpse suddenly emerged.
"Eek!"
"What''s the surprise? It''s just a corpse."
"Isn''t that even more of a problem? What are you doing dumping a human corpse in here!"
"Does this look human to you?"
Shin Joonseok stared at the draconian corpse lying in the bathtub, then let out an "Ah!" of surprise.
"My, how naive."
"Is this how you make all undead?"
"Then I wouldn''t be a necromancer. I only process special corpses."
Yoojin replied lightly and dipped his hand into the solution.
The mana felt abundant, thanks to the recently melted F-rank mana stones.
He slowly released the Death Essence, converted by the Ring of Darkness, into the purple liquid.
Woooong!
Reacting to the Death Essence, the mana gradually intertwined.
"Why are the properties that should be repelling each other..."
Shin Joonseok, who was watching from the side, let out a short groan.
''I need to focus all my attention.''
The Death Essence was the needle.
And the apanying mana was the thread.
To engrave spells onto a dead body without any skill enhancements required a high degree of concentration.
[Enhancement Spell - Low-Rank Bone Reinforcement]
The spells engraved throughout the bones activated, increasing bone density.
[Curse Spell - Intermediate Soul Binding]
A curse that enhanced the synchronization between the soul and the corpse, further increasing the undead''s performance, was engraved into the brain.
In addition, there were spells that rxed the muscles stiffened by rigor mortis and magic circles that increased mana sensitivity.
This was a magical crafting process possible only for Yoojin, who had reached the master level in both necromancy and alchemy.
Drip¡ª Drip¡ª
Drops of sweat formed on his forehead and dripped onto the floor, but he didn''t stop.
A level of concentration that would make him oblivious even if a knife were held to his throat.
Only after all the solution had seeped into the draconian''s body did he let out a short sigh, "Huu¡ª" and copse on the spot.
"A-are you alright?"
"No. I''m so hungry and exhausted I could faint."
"The artistry of weaving mana... It was truly beautiful, beyond words."
The hostility had melted away like snow.
Less than an hour after growling at him, Shin Joonseok had be captivated by Yoojin''s skills and lowered his guard.
"Ah, I''m hungry, I said."
"Please teach me that technique next time."
Shin Joonseok only spoke about what he wanted.
Right.
This was how he always was.
A man obsessed with alchemy. An entric who, even at arge corporation like Daesung, had no interest in anything but research.
"I have a lot to do, so I''ll get right back to work after eating."
"Then let''s prepare dinner quickly."
Shin Joonseok bustled about, preparing food.
£ª £ª £ª
The next day.
"The materials you ordered have arrived."
Shin Joonseok ced the packaged materials down.
"I thought it would take at least three days."
"I have my own connections."
To have connections that could deliver directly to this remote mountain valley...
It seemed like they were established during his time at the corporation.
There was no need to pry further.
"There''s no stock of Darkness Orb, so that will take a bit longer."
"How long?"
"They said it''ll likely take about a week."
"Good. I''ll be staying here for a while anyway, so it doesn''t matter."
"You can prepare the payment, right?"
"Don''t worry."
It was time to start working to earn some money.
Perhaps it would be different once Shin Joonseok started operating the Intermediate Potion production line in earnest,
but until then, he had to be mindful of his finances.
"Are all these materials for making undead as well?"
"No. I''m going to make magic weapons."
Yoojin''s eyes carefully examined the materials.
A satisfied glint flickered in his sharp pupils.
''With this much, I can make some decent weapons.''
He smiled with satisfaction and handed a ck liquid, Dark Blood, to Shin Joonseok.
"What''s this?"
"What are you waiting for? Distill it."
"I''m asking why I have to do that."
"You agreed to be my hands and feet."
"I haven''t decided yet, have I?"
"Suit yourself. Let''s consider our deal null and void then."
"Ah, I''ll do it! I''ll do it!"
Shin Joonseok grumbled as he poured the Dark Blood into the distition apparatus.
Grinding herbs could be managed with manual dexterity, but the distition apparatus was specialized alchemy equipment, requiring Shin Joonseok''s assistance.
''Now, shall I prepare the rest of the process?''
[Ghoul Bone]
Rank: Magic
ssification: Misceneous Goods
Durability: 19/20
A bone imbued with deathly energy. It reacts sensitively to the energy of death.
First, he selected half of the bones with intact durability and infused the remaining bones with an excessive amount of spirit power.
Crack!
The Ghoul Bones, infused with energy beyond their limit, cracked and shattered into hundreds of pieces.
Yoojin gathered the fragments and ced them on top of the selected Ghoul Bones.
''First, the necromancy spells.''
He manipted the spirit power that permeated the bones, carving magic circuits inside.
Compared to strengthening the draconian''s corpse, this was child''s y.
Saaaak!
Ghouls were undead that craved the flesh and blood of the living.
The concept of [Gluttony] resided within their bones.
The intact Ghoul Bones absorbed the shattered white bone fragments, bing more robust andrger in size.
''Even the shape is changing.''
This was beyond reinforcement; it was reconstruction.
The reason for shattering the bones was to intervene in the absorption process and transform them into a suitable form for magic weapons.
[Processed Ghoul Bone]
Rank: Magic
ssification: Misceneous Goods
Durability: 95/100
A deathly energy-imbued bone processed into a magic weapon. Reacts to Death Essence.
The Ghoul Bone had be pointed, taking on a shape close to a stake.
It was still ssified as ''Misceneous Goods'' by the system.
The first stage wasplete, and...
"How about you?"
"It''s done. It separated into Death Essence and Dark Matter."
"Excellent. Then engrave a strengthening enchantment on this."
"You''ve already processed the bone?"
Shin Joonseok''s eyes sparkled as he examined the Ghoul Bone.
"A magic circuit carved with spirit power. Remarkable."
"Use Dark Blood as the medium for the strengthening circuit. The technique is the same."
"Understood."
[Alchemy - Low-Grade Projection]
[Projection Spell - Strengthening Circuit Inscription]
A magic circuit inscribed with Dark Blood.
The Ghoul Bone turned jet ck and emitted a humming vibration.
With the addition of the strengthening circuit, the necromancer-exclusive magic weapon wasplete.
[Cursed Fang]
Rank: Rare
ssification: Magic Weapon
Restriction: Necromancer
Durability: 300/300
A magic weapon made by processing Ghoul Bone with Dark Matter and Death Essence. Specialized for throwing and defense.
*Throwing Lv 23
*Durability Lv 15
"I-I''vepleted a Rare-rank item..."
"Is Rare rank that amazing?"
"This isn''t just anything; it''s a necromancer-exclusive item not even found in Daesung Group''s database!"
Shin Joonseok''s eyes twitched.
He must be curious.
About the Intermediate Potion recipe and the method for crafting necromancer-exclusive items unknown at this point in time.
''If you''re curious, join me.''
Yoojin controlled the Cursed Fang with Bone Control.
The magic weapon floated up.
''The spirit power loss is about 7.2%.''
Excellent for a Rare-rank weapon.
When controlling it remotely, some power loss was inevitable.
He had used the Staff of Resentment offensively in the Ancient Garden, but the power leakage back then was significant.
This demonstrated how close to perfection Yoojin''s process was.
As a test, he shot the Cursed Fang at arge rock outside the workshop.
Kwaaaang!
The rock shattered into several pieces with an explosive sound.
"What did you do?"
"A power test. With this much, it''ll be usable for clearing 1 Star Gates."
"1 Star? You''re... surely not a 1 Star, are you?"
"It hasn''t even been a week since I Awakened. My rank will rise quickly."
Yoojin spoke casually.
Shin Joonseok was dumbfounded.
Based on the power he just disyed, it was at a level capable of subduing not just 1 Star, but even 2 Star Hunters.
He had met countless Hunters while working at Daesung, including some at the ranker level, so he could be sure.
''This man... is a monster.''
Gulp¡ª
Shin Joonseok swallowed hard.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 11: To the Border Region (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 11: To the Border Region (1)
Though he hadpleted the magic weapon, there was still work to be done.
"Adjust the ratio of the Melting solution."
"Are you going to keep pouring it on that corpse?"
"It needs to be aged for another day."
"You seem to be putting a lot of effort into it. It must not be an ordinary creature."
"To use the Magic Melting solution as fuel for activating the spells, it needs to be fully absorbed."
The key to creating an Eldritch Dragon was to capture the dragon''s essence without any loss.
The reason he stored it in the Ring of Darkness as soon as he defeated it was to prevent its power from leaking out.
''With my current abilities, it''s difficult to even construct the spells.''
Originally, to be an Eldritch Dragon, a living dragon would separate its soul from its body and seal its essence within a seal.
The method Yoojin was attempting was an unconventional one: processing the dragon''s essence and body and then having another soul inhabit it.
The sess rate was extremely low, and the infrastructure was very poor.
¡²Can youplete it with the Contractor''s current level?¡³
''So far, it''s going ording to n.''
Thanks to the assistance of the skilled alchemist Shin Joonseok, the Draconian''s corpse was being maintained in optimal condition.
The rest was up to Yoojin, the spellcaster.
After aging it for another day, he ced his hand on the Draconian''s corpse.
He nced at Shin Joonseok, who was restlessly pacing behind him.
"If you''re going to watch, watch quietly. You''re more distracting that way."
"Is that alright?"
"It''s not like it''ll wear out from being seen."
"Aren''t secret techniques supposed to be hidden from others?"
"An alchemist like you couldn''t imitate it anyway."
Only necromancers could handle spirit power.
Even if that weren''t the case,
''I can provide this much service to someone who will soon be my business partner.''
Suppressing a smile, Yoojin observed the Draconian''s corpse.
The bones, muscles, every single cell.
The Magic Melting solution had permeated it, emitting an energy akin to that of a living being.
''The condition is perfect.''
Sssst¡ª!
Energy emanating from the Ring of Darkness tinted Yoojin''s eyes.
Eyes that allowed him to see the world beyond the material realm.
The Spirit Eyes.
The ability of a necromancer to perceive and interfere with the essence of death and souls.
''It''s not a formal skill, but a temporary measure.''
His eyes felt strained.
They stung, and his vision blurred.
It was because he was channeling power his body couldn''t currently handle.
''I can''t use it for long.''
Even if it weren''t for his eyes, even if he exhausted all his meager mana, he could only maintain it for 60 seconds at most.
Yoojin''s gaze focused on the Draconian''s chest.
The still heart.
He used his Spirit Eyes to control the dragon''s essence dwelling within.
[Curse Spell - Soul Gain]
A spell that binds the essence of a soul to a deceased body.
Its original purpose was a curse that allowed a soul to inhabit a specific object or location.
A curse spell carved with the essence of a dragon.
''Even without skills, I can still carve the circuit.''
Having reached the pinnacle of necromancy, he could draw most curse spells with his eyes closed.
The spell waspleted in an instant.
The Magic Melting solution that the Draconian''s corpse had absorbed over the past three days reacted to the spell and began to supply power.
The mana that had permeated the entire body flowed towards the chest, and¡ª
Thump¡ª Thump¡ª
The heart that should have been still started beating again.
"Eek!"
Shin Joonseok shrieked and stumbled backward.
"It''s just an ordinary corpse. Why are you so scared?"
"How can it be a corpse when I can hear its heartbeat?"
"It''s a bit special, that''s all."
A simplified Eldritch Dragon.
Compared to a true immortal dragon, it was less than insignificant, but...
With a powerful soul to control this body, and Yoojin''s necromancy, which had reached the ultimate level, it would be strong enough to deserve the title of immortal dragon.
"Whew, that was incredibly difficult."
Yoojin copsed to the floor, gasping for breath.
Spirit Power depletion and the aftereffects of the Spirit Eyes.
Several blood vessels had burst in his overexerted eyes, causing red blood to trickle down his face.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Well, well.
He didn''t know he could cry tears of blood.
¡²Contractor. Are your eyes alright?¡³
''No. Not at all.''
¡²Judging by the way you''re talking, you seem fine.¡³
''I can at least tell whether I''m alive or dead.''
If he had known it would be like this, should he have absorbed some life force in advance to recover mana with Life Drain?
Regret was alwayste.
As he clicked his tongue at the bted idea, Shin Joonseok handed him a towel.
"Wipe yourself."
"Doesn''t it bother you that blood ising out of someone''s eyes?"
"People don''t die from bleeding a little. I had so much to think about."
Shin Joonseok sat down next to Yoojin.
"I ept the offer you made on the first day."
Now?
While he was shedding tears of blood, he was talking about that?
"I know it might seem sudden, but please understand. Seeing your skills convinced me."
Right.
An entric genius who had no interest in anything but alchemy.
It was just like Shin Joonseok to do that.
Yoojin immediately brought up the ratio issue again.
"Is 6 to 4 alright with you?"
"It''s arge amount, but it''s manageable."
"Oh. You''re generous."
"The owners ofrge corporations used to say, ''Time can be bought with money.''"
Shin Joonseok, holding the Intermediate Potion they hadpleted three days prior, continued in a confident tone.
"If I work with you, I can buy time. Isn''t that worth it?"
"You won''t regret that choice."
Now that he had an em¡ª no, a dedicated alchemist...
All that remained was to find the soul that would serve as the core of the painstakingly created Eldritch Dragon.
¡²That person is not ordinary either.¡³
''He''s entric, but his skills are undeniable.''
¡²I''m not sure who''s calling who entric.¡³
Yoojin ignored Kronos''s grumbling.
As soon as he regained some strength, he picked up his phone.
[Little Runt Kang Minho]
Tu¡ª Tu¡ª
As soon as the ringing tone started, Yoojin spoke without preamble.
"Are you interested in doing another job?"
£ª £ª £ª
Shin Joonseok frowned.
"Who are these people?"
Visitors had arrived at the Paju workshop following Yoojin.
"My friends. They''ll be staying here for a while."
"Hehe. Nice to meet you."
Shin Joonseok looked over the Little Runts team, and then, his face turning bright red, he yelled,
"This is a workshop, not a lodging house!!!"
His voice was so loud that the veins in his neck were visible.
Honestly.
This young man was so easily agitated.
"There are some spare rooms, aren''t there?"
"Well, yes, but..."
"They won''t interfere with your work. They''ll just be sleeping here."
"Then wh- no, why have your... acquaintancese to Paju? Are you going sightseeing in the border region?"
"Oh. Correct. Are all alchemists this perceptive?"
Shin Joonseok let out a deep sigh.
The border region.
It was a term referring to the DMZ, the area that once divided the Korean penins.
"Partner. Do you know how dangerous that ce is?"
"Don''t worry. We won''t do anything dangerous."
"I guess you don''t see how pale your friends'' faces are."
"They''re a bit weak, that''s all."
"Don''t die a tragic death. If you die, I''m taking all the potion profits."
Shin Joonseok retorted gruffly and returned to the workshop.
Honestly, this man couldn''t be straightforward.
"Unpack and then we leave immediately. We''ll be staying for about three days."
"Boss, but why are we going to the border region...?"
"To pay our respects."
"Huh?"
Kang Minho asked reflexively, bewildered.
"You''ll see when we get there."
Yoojin didn''t exin further.
About 5 kilometers north of the workshop, they came across a gate blocking the road.
Barbed wire fences were densely installed on both sides.
To enter the border region, they had to pass through this gate on the road.
"There are a lot of Hunters here too."
"That''s the case everywhere there are monsters."
"Well, that''s true, but..."
"The border region is a ce where peoplee and go. There''s no need to worry too much."
Yoojin chuckled at the tense Little Runts team members and led the way to the gate.
"Are you Hunters?"
"Yes. We''re the Little Runts team, and one..."
"We''re the same team."
Yoojin quickly corrected Kang Minho''s words.
The soldier on guard duty searched for the Little Runts team on his electronic device, then said¡ª
"Confirmed. You have one more person with you?"
"Ah, he''s a Hunter we recently recruited."
The Little Runts team members standing behind Kang Minho smiled awkwardly.
nk¡ª!
The metal gate slid open to both sides, creating a gap wide enough for a vehicle to pass through.
"Good luck."
Yoojin stepped through the gap without hesitation.
Towards the abandonednd that had fallen into the hands of monsters.
Towards the border region.
£ª £ª £ª
Through the overgrown thicket, they slowly made their way along the narrow path carved between otherworldly nts.
The Little Runts team cautiously surveyed their surroundings, their nerves on edge.
"Just think of it as a slightlyrger Gate."
"Even so, I can''t rx."
"The ce I used to work was like this, so I''m even more uneasy."
"I meant be moderately alert, notpletely let your guard down."
Yoojin chuckled, watching Lee Seongmin sigh briefly.
The entry area was rtively safe, as Hunters affiliated with the military and government agents periodically cleared out the monsters.
''It was around here, wasn''t it?''
As Yoojin walked along the path, retracing his memories, he suddenly veered off the trail and stepped into the thicket.
Rustle¡ª Rustle¡ª
Less than a minute after leaving the path, they heard footsteps other than their own.
[Using Bone Control.]
Shhhk!
One of the [Cursed Fangs] strapped to his waist soared into the air, slicing through the undergrowth.
Its speed was several times faster than an ordinary bone.
With the added throwing bonus, it was far more agile.
"Kruk!"
A muscr green monster emerged from the thicket with its distinctive snorting sound.
Kang Minyeong screamed.
"Eek! An orc!"
"A 2 Star monster! This is dangerous!"
"Boss! Even if the three of us attack an orc together, we''d be lucky to get a draw!"
These guys...
Theycked faith.
If they were scared of a mere orc, they wouldn''t have entered the border region in the first ce.
Yoojin scoffed as if amused and manipted the Cursed Fang.
"Kruk, kruk!"
The orc''s arm muscles bulged.
Its biceps, thicker than Kang Minho''s thighs, tensed with a crack.
A monstrous strength capable of splitting a boulder with a single blow.
Without taking its eyes off the rapidly approaching [Cursed Fang], it pulled back the ive in its hand.
"Are you trying to y baseball?"
"Kruk!"
The ive urately aimed at the trajectory of the iing Cursed Fang.
Just as the rusty de was about to strike the ck point of the projectile¡ª
''Not a chance.''
Shhk!
The magic weapon shifted slightly from the ive''s swing path.
Even after beingunched, it was still under the control of Bone Control, so altering its trajectory was not difficult.
It just required a small amount of mana and concentration.
By subtly adjusting its forward direction, he robbed the orc of the chance to react.
Thud!
The Cursed Fang pierced the orc''s flesh, tearing through even its tough muscles.
Green blood dripped onto the ground.
"He inflicted a fatal wound on the orc with a single blow!"
"Amazing!"
Yoojin shook his head.
"I aimed for the heart, but not bad."
The orc had twisted its body at thest moment, narrowly avoiding the attack.
The orc Innate trait [Battle Continuation] activated, allowing it to ignore the pain and stiffness and charge forward.
"Kruk!"
The orc, its fighting spirit ignited, kicked off the ground powerfully and lunged towards Yoojin.
"Boss! I''ll buy some time, please follow up with another attack!"
Kang Minho held his shield close to his shoulder.
He stood in front of Yoojin, his legs firmly nted.
''He was bold even when his achievements were low.''
It couldn''t be a coincidence that he was reminded of Kang Minho from his past life.
Sssst!
Four more Cursed Fangs floated up.
The orc, enduring the pain and charging with all its might, paled.
"What''s wrong? Something not working out for you?"
The green-skinned monster was riddled with ck spikes.
Innate traits only mattered if you were still breathing.
Only the undead could move after taking such overwhelming damage.
Yes.
Undead, beings that defied death.
"Answer my call."
[Using Raise Undead.]
The orc, its body riddled with holes, rose as an undead.
The bleeding stopped quickly.
The wounds remained, but the loss ofbat power wasn''t significant.
[The zombie''spletion level is very high.]
[All stats increased by 100%.]
"Uh, uhh..."
The orc zombie, its head half-twisted backward, staggered closer.
Ah.
He had forgotten to drain its life force with Life Drain.
"Well, there are plenty of orcs."
Yoojin muttered unconsciously, and Kang Minho was startled.
"Boss, didn''t you say we came to pay our respects?"
"Yeah, but the deceased we''re here to honor resides in an orc colony."
"Haha..."
A bewilderedugh escaped Kang Minho''s lips.
Yoojin grinned at him.
"I knew you guys would like it."
It''s good to make a lot of money, right?
Right?
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 12: To the Border Region (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 12: To the Border Region (2)
[Level Up!]
[Current Level: 10]
The orc copsed to the ground.
Its muscles, which had been inted like a balloon, deted.
''As expected, orcs have exceptional life force.''
The amount of life force was several times greater than that of a goblin.
He immediately used the absorbed life force to strengthen his body.
Thanks to hunting non-stop for hours, he had gained a lot of experience.
''The border region has a higher monster spawn rate than Gates.''
How did monsters spawn?
Among the many hypotheses, the most credible one was mana distribution.
"It''ll be evening soon, so we''ll set up camp."
Kang Minho, without being asked, started preparing for camp with his team members.
¡²You''ve got yourself a good subordinate.¡³
''Right?''
Of course.
He was a 100% winning lottery ticket, secured in advance.
It was even better that he was alsopetent at misceneous tasks.
"Boss, may I know how long we''ll be staying here?"
"Not too long. About three days."
"I thought we were going straight to the orc colony."
"If we did that, we''d be easy pickings for them."
At Yoojin''s current level, a direct confrontation with the orc colony was impossible.
He knew the location of the colony.
He needed to periodically hunt the orcs roaming around the colony to deplete their forces before he could face them head-on.
There was another reason, but...
¡²You''re not going to tell me either?¡³
''You''ll see.''
Yoojin swallowed the rest of his words.
The Little Runts team, having finished setting up camp, suddenly started drawing lots.
Curiosity piqued, Yoojin approached them and asked,
"What are you guys doing?"
"We''re deciding on the watch order."
So that''s what they were doing.
Yoojin clicked his tongue as he watched Lee Seongmin dere confidently,
"What''s all the fuss about?"
"I served near the border region, so I know it well. We''ll take care of the watch, so you can rest, Boss."
"No need. I can leave the watch to my minions."
Twenty zombies surrounded the campsite.
Without Yoojin''s permission, they wouldn''t let anyone through.
Kang Minho let out a short sigh.
"There''s nothing left for us to do."
He gave an awkwardugh.
"Don''t worry. You''re doing better than I expected."
"Thank you for your kind words."
Yoojin lightly patted Kang Minho''s shoulder and settled into a camp chair.
''Status window.''
The moment he uttered the word in his mind,
Name: Cheon Yoojin
Gender: Male
Level: 10 (1-Star)
¡ò Stats
* Strength: 7 ¡ú 37.3
* Agility: 6 ¡ú 30.5
* Health: 7 ¡ú 32.4
* Toughness: 5 ¡ú 25.9
* Spirit: 10 ¡ú 70.2
¡ò Traits
? Clear Mind
? Midnight Sun
¡ò Skills
? Bone Control
? Raise Undead
The results of two days of monster hunting were disyed before him.
Huh¡ª
An exmation escaped his lips involuntarily.
''No one would believe this if I said it was only my second day after Awakening.''
The stat points he gained from absorbing life force amounted to a staggering 116.
Considering the level-up bonus was 45, this was more than double, an incredible number.
The only way for ordinary Hunters to increase their stats was by hunting monsters and leveling up.
Even Yoojin in his past life couldn''t strengthen his physical abilities this way.
Heh.
Laughter escaped his lips.
''Aside from not being able to freely allocate the stat increases, it''s great.''
His physical abilities had risen dramatically.
On the other hand, the increase in his Spirit stat was minimal.
Except for the first hunt, where he plundered the life force of the goblin shaman, his Spirit stat had barely increased.
It seemed the increase varied depending on the monster''s life force.
''Since my physical abilities have increased, I need to find ways to utilize them.''
He had learned a few techniques in his past life, but none he could utilize as a primary means ofbat.
He had to use everything at his disposal.
Yoojin''s lips curled into a satisfied smirk.
''Anyway, I barely managed to reach level 10 before nightfall.''
Huu¡ª
He took a deep breath and channeled mana into the Ring of Darkness.
[Using the Library of Knowledge.]
[You can ess the knowledge left by the previous Masters of Death.]
[Currently browsing knowledge in the Necromancy field.]
Reaching level 10 allowed him to imprint more knowledge into his mind.
''Right now, I can only ess the Necromancy School.''
When he reached 2 Stars, he could gain knowledge from other schools as well.
The higher the rank, the more fields he could ess!
[The knowledge of the Necromancy School is being engraved into your soul.]
[Your soul''s rank is low. A portion of the spells will be transferred.]
"Shit..."
He knew this would happen.
Yoojin barely managed to stifle a scream by covering his mouth with both hands.
¡²Indeed. The powerful energy I felt from the ring was for this.¡³
Kronos nodded, seemingly intrigued.
¡®Someone''s dying of pain here.¡¯
Yoojin gritted his teeth and endured the agony.
[A portion of the Necromancy School''s knowledge has been transferred.]
[You can acquire the remaining knowledge when your rank increases.]
¡®Thanks for reminding me, you jerk. I know that already.''
? Bone Armor
ssification: Magic
Rank: C
Forms armor using bones as a medium.
? Flesh Control
ssification: Magic
Rank: C
Controls the flesh attached to a corpse at will.
His head throbbed from the aftereffects of the knowledge transfer, but...
It was worth it.
''As soon as day breaks, I need to strengthen my minions.''
Heh.
A sneer crept across Yoojin''s lips.
£ª £ª £ª
The next day.
The Little Runts team expertly packed up their camping gear.
"You seem to have some camping experience."
"Hahaha. I was recently discharged from the military, so this isn''t difficult."
"Even so, this is impressive."
"Camping is my hobby."
He had learned about Lee Seongmin''s hobby, which he hadn''t been curious about.
No wonder.
His skill in setting up camping equipment was extraordinary.
Thanks to him, he had been able to restfortably.
"We''ll be busier today, so be prepared."
"Yes, Boss!"
The Little Runts team members were full of energy.
With the orc zombies leading the way, they roamed the vicinity of the border region.
Their destination was the ce where the soul of the ''Forgotten Hero'' resided.
They had no time to rest, as they needed to deplete the forces of the orc colony located there and strengthen their minions with the newly acquired spells.
"Kurruk?"
They encountered a group of orcs patrolling in threes and fours.
"Groooaaar."
The orc zombies, their lifeless eyes moving grotesquely, lunged at their former brethren.
The orc warriors weren''t fazed even after smelling the distinctive scent of corpses.
sh¡ª
ive des pierced the arms and bodies of the orc zombies.
"Grrrr."
"Kruk? What''s this? This guy is tough."
The muscles, stiffened by rigor mortis, gripped the ives.
If they couldn''t cut them down in one blow, they would be held back by the zombies.
Some orcs managed to retrieve their ives by applying more force, but...
"Guh, uh... Eat."
The orcs that had pressed too deep were caught by the zombies and met a gruesome end.
The zombies didn''t stop there.
In the initial sh, they used their stiff bodies to restrain the orcs, and some took advantage of the opening to circle around andpletely surround the orc warriors.
Awe flickered in Kang Minho''s eyes.
''Boss is perfectly reading the flow of battle.''
The orc zombies, with their increased muscle mass, were slower than the undead created from goblins.
They were more destructive, but they couldn''t wield weapons, so theirbat power was lower than that of living orcs.
Even with increased production efficiency topensate for their shorings, theirck of mobility couldn''t bepletely ovee.
''To restrain the orcs in the initial engagement and even establish an encirclement...''
The tactics perfectly controlled the battlefield.
Kang Minho repeatedly swallowed his exmations of admiration.
"Kur..."
Yoojin used Life Drain on the orc corpses.
The Little Runts team collected mana stones from the drained corpses.
The process flowed smoothly.
"Boss, we''ve finished the work."
"Good job."
"Shall we move immediately?"
"Ah, I have something to do, so rest for a bit."
Yoojin approached the scattered orc corpses.
The number he could control was 20.
Creating more undead was impossible.
''Then I''ll just have to enhance the abilities of each individual.''
[Using Flesh Control.]
Crackle!
With an eerie sound, five orc corpses twitched violently.
The flesh of the deceased separated from the bones.
Originally, it was an auxiliary spell used to hinder opponents in chaotic battles, but Yoojin used it differently.
''I need bones to use Bone Armor.''
Who had time to separate the bones and flesh of corpses one by one?
With [Flesh Control], he could cleanly debone them in an instant.
The muscles and skin were stripped away, clumping together like slime.
Soon, only bare bones remained of the orc corpses.
''And all this flesh is useful too.''
Yoojin waved his hand, and some of the dark red flesh clump attached itself to a zombie.
The already bulky orc zombie grew about 1.3 timesrger thanks to the added flesh.
[Using Bone Armor.]
White bones clung to the flesh.
''Weaving the bones and the zombie''s body together with the flesh.''
nk! nk!
The attached orc flesh became a magic circuit connecting the zombie and the bones.
It filled the gaps, leaving no weak points.
The white bones synchronized and turned jet ck.
Woooong¡ª!
The spirit power imbued in the Bone Armor reacted to the zombie''s core, causing a chain reaction.
"Groooaaar!!"
The zombie, fully armed with bone armor, let out a monstrous roar.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
[The subject has perfectly fused with the bone armor, giving birth to a new undead: Armored Zombie.]
[Armored Zombie creation has been added as a sub-skill of Raise Undead.]
Blue light flickered in the pupils that had turned from gray.
The flesh was haphazardly attached.
Originally, it was merely stuck on like glue with [Flesh Control], but it resonated with the zombie, amplifying its power.
''Yes. This is how modification should be done.''
Yoojin expressed his satisfaction.
[Armored Zombie]
Race: Undead
Rank: ¡ï¡ï
¡ò Stats
Strength: 127 (+50) / Agility: 85 (-15) / Health: 120 (+35) / Toughness: 132 (+100) / Mana: 50 (+22)
¡ò Traits
? Undying Existence [C+] / Courage [C+]
¡ò Skills
? Raging Charge [D] / Iron Wall [D] / Bash [D]
Stats nearly three times higher than the original orc.
He had increased its size with flesh, and by resonating the mana of the bones and the zombie, he had strengthened its physical abilities and even its intelligence.
It could no longer use its poisonous attacks due to the bone armor covering its entire body, but...
Its overwhelmingly enhanced statspletelypensated for that w.
''So, it takes three orc corpses to upgrade one zombie.''
It involved covering the erged orc corpse entirely with bones.
Since the area to be covered with armor wasrger, it would require more bones as a medium.
The number of zombies Yoojin could control at once was 20.
There were plenty of orcs patrolling around the colony, so...
He could transform all his minions into Armored Zombies within the target timeframe.
"Um, Boss, I have a question."
"What is it?"
"Do you only control zombies?"
"Ah, you''re asking if I don''t create skeletons or anything like that."
Skeletons.
Along with zombies, they were representative monsters of the undead.
"Who''s stronger, a bodybuilder or a skinny person?"
"Of course, the bodybuilder."
"It''s the same. Skeletons are agile and fast, and they have resistance to arrows. But they''re weak."
Mass = Strength.
The addition of manaplicated the equation, but that level of calction wasn''t necessary for low-ranking undead.
Unless he was nning for a long hunt, there was no need to put that much effort into each individual.
"It''s not difficult to create them, but there''s no need."
Creating skeletons was simple.
Just use Raise Undead on the bones after removing all the flesh, as he had done earlier.
The [Raise Undead] spell created zombies or skeletons depending on the state of the corpse, so he could create undead from a fleshless body.
"Then there doesn''t seem to be any advantage to creating skeletons."
"Skeletons are better for long-term maintenance."
"Why is that?"
"The flesh rots, you know. And we haven''t properly preserved it."
"Ah, I see."
Kang Minho nodded in understanding.
Yoojin chuckled and had the Armored Zombies lead the way.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 13: To the Border Region (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 13: To the Border Region (2)
"Groar!"
"Kurruk!"
An orc attempted to engage in a power struggle with an Armored Zombie.
Their fingers intertwined in the air, and soon, with a crack, the orc''s hand twisted at an unnatural angle.
The orc red, its eyes bloodshot, trying to pull its arm back.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
The Armored Zombie didn''t let go; instead, it pulled the orc''s hand further, disrupting its posture.
"Kurruk! Monster, die!"
An orc behind the first one, aiming to rescue itsrade, swung its ive with all its might.
ng!
The de of the iron-forged curved sword dulled, but the bone armor only suffered a minor scratch.
"Not bad."
Yoojin gave his assessment casually.
Kang Minho, positioned behind, was astonished.
"The zombie you strengthened... It could overwhelm even a 2 Star Hunter, couldn''t it?"
"I put a lot of effort into making it. Of course, it has to be at least that strong."
The orc horde, infamous as a race of born warriors, was being toyed with by a single zombie d in bone armor.
"Kurruk!"
One of the orcs struck with all its might.
Unfortunately, it hit the same spot that had been struck by the ive earlier, and the umted damage caused a crack in the bone armor.
"Groaa?"
The price was steep.
The Armored Zombie, startled by the shattering of its armor, turned its head and extended its right hand.
The orc struggled against the monstrous grip, but the Armored Zombie tightened its grasp, and the orc''s head exploded.
¡²How undignified. Just like its master.¡³
''It''s the orc''s fault for provoking me.''
With most of the orc horde defeated, the remaining one turned and fled.
The Little Runts team members were amazed.
"Whoever said orcs don''t run away was lying. That was aplete lie."
"Well, even I would have run away."
"Run away? I would have peed my pants right there."
"Minyeong, I told you to watch yournguage."
"What? Did I say something I shouldn''t have?"
The owner of monstrous strength that didn''t budge against most attacks and could tear off an arm with a single grab...
Facing that was the epitome of unfairness.
"Boss, are you going to let that orc go? The zombie won''t be able to catch it with its mobility."
"Just wait."
[Raging Charge]
The Armored Zombie leaped with all its might.
Closing the distance in an instant, it mmed into the orc like a football yer.
"Gah!"
The orc tumbled with a pained cry. Its back, exposed to the explosive power, caved in, and its chest suffered a blow strong enough to make its bones protrude.
"Groar!"
As the Armored Zombie raised its foot to finish the orc off¡ª
"Stop."
At Yoojin''smand, the zombie immediately withdrew its foot, which was about to crush the orc''s head.
''Its aggression has increased.''
The Armored Zombie, modified with Bone Armor and Flesh Control, had be much more ferocious.
As the infused spirit power increased, so did the undead''s inherent hatred for the living.
¡²If you can''t control it, you might be killed by your own minion.¡³
''Do you think I''ll die because I can''t control my minions?''
Some necromancers, unable to gauge their own capabilities, created high-ranking undead and ended up being killed by them.
That wouldn''t happen to Yoojin, but it never hurt to be careful.
''This is even better.''
Look at the chilling killing intent of the Armored Zombie.
Even the orcs, who lived for battle, ran away after seeing that ferocious creature!
¡²Tsk, tsk. Just don''t die meaninglessly.¡³
Ignoring Kronos''smentation, Yoojin drew upon his spirit power.
[Using Bone Armor.]
By infusing spirit power into the damaged armor of the Armored Zombie, it was restored without a scratch.
"I don''t know who the real monster is."
Kang Minho muttered in awe as he watched the bone armor regenerate.
£ª £ª £ª
On the third day after entering the border region.
"Is everyone ready?"
At Yoojin''s question, all the members of the Little Runts team nodded.
The orc colony.
In terms of Gates, it was a dangerous ce, equivalent to the high end of a 2 Star Gate.
Considering that the northern part of Paju was a border region...
''This is like raiding a 3 Star Gate.''
For two days, he had been going around the colony, reducing the number of orcs.
Applying [Flesh Control] and [Bone Armor], he had created the [Armored Zombie], an undead not recorded in the Library of Knowledge.
As a bonus, he had also leveled up three times in the process.
The downside was that his stats no longer increased even after absorbing the orcs'' life force.
[You have acquired all the biomatter that can be absorbed from this species.]
[Your stats will not increase further.]
''Well, it would be stranger if there were no limits.''
Yoojin wasn''t disappointed.
He had stored the remaining life force obtained during the hunts for healing purposes.
So that he could immediately heal his allies if they were injured.
''That''s the main job of the Priest ss.''
Yoojin gave a wry smile.
Come to think of it, hadn''t it been mentioned that new divine spells had been added?
¡²They can only be bestowed in the Pantheon.¡³
What an ipetent constetion.
Once he was done with his business in the border region, he would have to stop by the Pantheon.
"Take care of yourselves."
"We''re Hunters too. Don''t worry."
Although he had means of healing, he hadn''t used Life Drain for recovery.
He didn''t know if it could heal serious injuries like losing an arm or a leg.
He didn''t want to test it in this situation.
"Advance."
"Graa!"
Twenty Armored Zombies marched forward.
The orc colony was situated by a river.
There were no rocks orrge trees to use as cover, so the approaching Armored Zombies were clearly visible.
"Kurruk! Enemies!"
ng¡ª ng¡ª
A bell rang from a watchtower.
Orcs scattered throughout the colony began to gather near the entrance, armed.
[Using Bone Control.]
A Cursed Fang shot through the air.
It plunged into the neck of the orc ringing the bell, silencing the sound.
"Stop yapping."
Just as Yoojin was about to retrieve the Cursed Fang¡ª
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
Several arrows arced towards them.
"Leave this to us."
[Shield Protection]
[Forced Attack]
[Fire Bolt]
Kang Minho''s shield glowed green.
The arrows that were falling towards them changed direction towards the shield.
Seizing the moment when the arrows clustered together, heunched a fireball.
With a small explosion, half of the arrows burned to ashes in mid-air.
Clink!
A few arrows struck the shield, but¡ª
"It''s fine. I can withstand it."
Kang Minho, his legs firmly nted, blocked all the attacks without giving an inch.
¡²He''s quite useful.¡³
''He''s a 100% winning lottery ticket, I tell you.''
Yoojin simultaneously controlled five Cursed Fangs.
As long as the Little Runts team blocked the stray arrows, he could focus entirely on offense.
There was no need to hold back on using the magic weapons.
Shhhk!
The Cursed Fangs repeatedly sliced through the air, taking down exposed orcs standing on watchtowers and high ground.
Casualties mounted before the orcs in the colony could even fully assemble.
As the number surpassed 20, the orcs'' patience wore thin.
"Kurruk! Charge!"
"Kurruk, intruders! I will kill you!"
The orcs rushed out of the colony, crudely pushing aside the makeshift entrance.
"Go, my minions."
[Raging Charge]
"Groaaar!!"
The 20 Armored Zombies mmed their shoulders into the vanguard of the orcs that had just emerged.
Crack!
A gruesome sound of muscles tearing and bones breaking filled the air.
Some orcs managed to swing their swords in time with the charging Armored Zombies, but¡ª
ng¡ª
Instead, their ives, caught on the bone armor, snapped in half.
The orcs were sent flying like bowling pins struck by a ball.
"Groaaar!!"
The 20 Armored Zombies pressed their advantage, pushing the orcs back to the entrance.
"Kurruk! We must push through!"
"Ku, Kurruk! These foul-smelling monsters are too strong!"
"Kurruk! I''ll create an opening!"
Several orcs, their fighting spirit burning, charged head-on at the Armored Zombies.
Scars began to umte on the sturdy bone armor.
Some orcs'' swords broke from excessive force, but...
They clung to the arms and legs of the Armored Zombies with their bare hands, hindering their movements.
"They really are monsters obsessed with fighting."
Kang Minho muttered, seemingly awed and terrified.
Even the seemingly indestructible bone armor of the Armored Zombies started to show numerous cracks.
The orc chieftain, standing at the rear, shouted with bulging veins in his neck.
"Kurruk! Hold strong, warriors! If you fight just a little longer, we can..."
[Using Bone Armor.]
The cracks in the bone armor were instantly repaired.
Armor restoration was possible even from a distance of over 100 meters.
"Just a little longer? I''m curious what you''ll do next."
"Kurruk, Kurruk!"
"What''s wrong? Not going as nned?"
"Kurruk! You coward! Fight fair and square!"
[Using Flesh Control.]
The flesh of the fallen orcs clung to the one who had spoken of fighting fair and square.
"Kurruk!"
"This is how necromancers fight fair and square."
Thud! Thud!
The orcs clinging to the Armored Zombies were also slowed down by the flesh clinging to them.
The trapped orcs were thrown into confusion.
When nearly half of them had fallen near the entrance of the colony, victims of Yoojin''s maniption¡ª
"Kurruk! We''ll break through the side and make a path!"
The orc chieftain attempted to destroy the colony''s fence.
"Finally thought of that?"
Yoojin grinned.
Yes.
He had anticipated that this was the only way to ovee this obstacle.
''How delightful it is when they move ording to n.''
[Using Bone Control.]
Once again, the Cursed Fangs danced.
The orcs trying to break the fence copsed, bleeding.
"Honestly, sticking their heads out to be killed?"
"Kurruk!!!"
Enraged, the orc chieftain clung to the fence, his bloodshot eyes fixed on it as he swung his axe with all his might.
The fence visibly swayed after only a few strikes.
A Cursed Fang shot towards the orc chieftain.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
His rock-hard flesh was torn.
Green blood flowed, staining the ground, but he didn''t stop.
Finally.
A part of the fence copsed, opening a new path to Yoojin besides the colony entrance.
"...You don''t think that''s all, do you?"
"Kurruk!"
"You could have juste back through the entrance by the river. Why bother breaking the perfectly good fence?"
This was why he disliked orcs.
Yoojin clicked his tongue, and the sight was reflected in the orc chieftain''s eyes.
"Don''t expect any backup from behind. I''ve already taken care of them."
"Kurruk!!!"
Once again, the orc chieftain sumbed to rage.
[Berserk]
His skin turned red due to the excessive blood flow.
His pain-contorted expression became hazy, as if he were intoxicated.
Meanwhile, a killing intent several times stronger than before spread across his eyes, turning both his pupils and the whites of his eyes red.
A skill that numbed pain and reason, leaving only the intent to kill the enemy.
"I''ve been waiting for you to use that."
Immediately after the orc chieftain used Berserk, Yoojin waited for the skill''s effect to momentarily paralyze his body.
"If I pierce his arms and legs, he won''t be able to move, even in a Berserk state."
Seizing the brief opening, five Cursed Fangs, held in reserve, pierced the orc chieftain''s limbs.
Perhaps due to the extra spirit power he had imbued them with, the ck spikes tore through flesh and muscle, embedding themselves deep into the ground, restricting the orc chieftain''s movements.
"Kurrukkkkk!"
"What''s wrong? Not going as nned?"
The orc chieftain thrashed, impaled by the Cursed Fangs.
Even as his wounds widened, and blood flowed like a stream, he red at Yoojin with murderous eyes.
"Don''t feel too wronged; you''re not the only one who''s going to die."
Yoojin took control of the Staff of Resentment with [Bone Control].
There was a saying, "If you don''t have teeth, use your gums."
If even one Cursed Fang was removed, the orc chieftain would break free. He had no choice but to improvise.
''Finish this quickly.''
Mana surged out of him.
Trying to control six mediums at once with Bone Control made his mouth dry.
Since he had released the Staff of Resentment, he couldn''t benefit from its mana assisting effect.
Even if he tried to convert the life force he had stored into mana, he would have to use the [Midnight Sun] trait.
If he did that, he would lose his grip on the orc chieftain.
''Aim for the heart. Pierce it in one blow.''
Shhk!
The Staff of Resentment spun violently as it flew.
The sharpened tip of the staff mercilessly pierced the chieftain''s chest.
[Level Up!]
[Current Level: 19]
The red glow in the chieftain''s eyes vanished.
"Ugh."
His vision blurred from excessive mana consumption.
This was the second time he had experienced this, after the Ancient Garden, but Yoojin didn''t panic. He activated [Midnight Sun] and converted his life force into mana.
[Using Life Drain.]
A peculiar divine spell that healed the target by stealing their life force.
Since it could replenish both life force and mana, it was the perfect healing skill for Yoojin, who was experiencing mana exhaustion.
"Kurk, the chieftain has fallen!"
"Kurruk! This is dangerous!"
The orcs were demoralized by the one-sided battle.
Some of them turned to flee the battlefield, but¡ª
[Using Flesh Control.]
"Where do you think you''re going?"
The flesh of their fallenrades clung to them, hindering their escape.
The colony was quickly turned into a graveyard.
"Kurk..."
As thest orc fell, the Little Runts team immediately set to work.
"Boss, we''ve collected all the mana stones."
"Good job."
He wasn''t just being polite.
Extracting mana stones embedded in monster hearts was quite aborious task.
- Blood Axe (Rare)
- 1 D-rank Mana Stone
- 427 E-rank Mana Stones
"E-rank mana stones are three times more expensive than F-rank ones."
"How much have we earned in three days?"
Despite their exhaustion, the Little Runts team couldn''t close their mouths as they calcted their total earnings.
"This is the real prize."
[Blood Axe]
Rank: Rare [R]
ssification: Axe
Restriction: None
Durability: 666/666
An axe forged with blood. Imbued with mystical power, it greatly amplifies the user''s strength. As the axe absorbs blood, its power increases, and various options are added.
* Strength +35
* Bloodthirst Stack - 0
[Strike 20 Lv]
[Frenzy 5 Lv]
[Bloodthirst 10 Lv]
The orc chieftain''s weapon.
Although conditional, it was a growth-type equipment, making it far more valuable than ordinary Rare-rank items.
¡²A sinister item reeking of blood. Truly distasteful.¡³
''You don''t know anything. This will fetch a high price on the market.''
The Bloodthirst option absorbed blood to replenish the user''s health and life force.
At that level, the effect would be minimal.
However, as the stack increased, the option would also be enhanced, making it effectively a quasi-Unique grade item.
It could be sold for an incredible price.
''This item alone makes raiding the orc colony worthwhile.''
Now that he had confirmed his gains, he channeled spirit power into his eyes, recalling his main purpose foring to the border region.
Spirit Eyes.
His Spirit Eyes, capable of perceiving both material and spiritual wavelengths, swiftly scanned the orc colony.
After a while.
''Found it.''
Yoojin quickened his pace.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 14: The Forgotten Hero
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 14: The Forgotten Hero
Thump¡ª Thump¡ª
Yoojin crossed the deste orc colony.
His steps stopped in front of an old tree with few leaves.
His Spirit Eyes, activated, clearly captured the soul attached to the tree.
''Just as I remembered.''
A whitish mist.
Two ck dots within it stared at Yoojin.
¡ª You''re looking at me as if you can actually see me.
"That''s because I can."
¡ª What?!
It seemed the ghost hadn''t expected a reply.
Startled, it hid behind the old tree.
Yoojin scratched the back of his head.
"It hurts my feelings when you''re so surprised to see me."
"Who''s there, Boss?"
At Kang Minho''s question, Yoojin casually pointed at the tree.
"A ghost."
"...Huh?"
"An earthbound spirit. And one with a considerable grudge."
¡ª Humph! Don''t you dare call me an evil spirit!
The ghost red up, and the leaves on the old tree rustled violently.
"Eek!"
Kang Minho stumbled back.
"Overreacting much, considering you weren''t fazed by seeing living corpses."
"At least those were visible and we could fight them. Earthbound spirits are invisible!"
Indeed, ghost-type monsters were the natural enemies of martial arts Hunters.
Unless they imbued their weapons with mana, they couldn''t inflict proper damage, and ghosts specialized in mental debuffs, making them quite tricky to deal with.
''Well, for me...''
Yoojin,pletely immune to mental interference debuffs, remained calm.
But the Little Runts team, upon hearing about the earthbound spirit, immediately backed away from the old tree.
"Now this feels like a proper memorial."
¡ª Memorial?
"The reason I wiped out the orc colony was to see you."
¡ª What interest could you possibly have in amon earthbound spirit tied to thisnd?
"Martial Artist Park Haneul."
The two ck dots in the whitish mist stopped moving.
Surprise.
And curiosity.
¡ª H-how do you know my name?
"I told you, didn''t I? I came to pay my respects."
The earthbound spirit unable to leave the border region.
Martial Artist Park Haneul nced at Yoojin with surprise.
¡ª Wow. It''s strange hearing my name for the first time since I died.
"The orcs wouldn''t know your name."
¡ª That''s true. I can''t even remember thest time I had a conversation.
"It''s been about 35 years, hasn''t it?"
The ghost was silent for a moment.
¡ª Has it really been that long since I died?
"It''s been about that long since the first monster wave urred in the former North Korean territory."
¡ª Wait, first?!
"Ah, it''s understandable that you wouldn''t know. Two more waves of simr scale came down after that."
¡ª Crazy. It''s the apocalypse. It''s a wonder the country hasn''t copsed.
Perhaps this was how people who spoiled the endings of movies or dramas felt.
It was quite amusing to see Park Haneul so surprised.
"It''s thanks to people like you that it hasn''t copsed."
¡ª Heh heh heh. I know you''re just ttering me, but it feels good.
"I''m not ttering you."
Yoojin recited what he had learned from his social studies textbook.
A massive horde of monsters had crossed over from the former North Korean territory.
If it weren''t for Hunters like Park Haneul, who were filled with a sense of duty, Seoul would have been devastated.
"There''s even a memorial monument. For all those who sacrificed themselves in the first monster wave."
¡ª My sacrifice wasn''t in vain.
A sense of relief was evident in the ghost''s voice.
Had those words brought him salvation?
Despite being an earthbound spirit who couldn''t depart due to his grudge, he even exuded a virtuous aura.
Well, it made sense.
With such a noble soul, he must have tried to save people even at the cost of his own life.
"Not everyone''s name is recorded, but yours is."
¡ª ...What do you mean?
"I''m the only one who remembers your name. Even if you searched the whole world."
Countless Hunters had given their lives in the first monster wave.
Among them, the name Park Haneul wasn''t recorded anywhere on the list of victims.
The soul shimmering by the old tree wavered greatly.
¡ª Exin exactly what you mean.
"Someone deliberately erased your records."
Yoojin paused for a moment.
The whitish mist fluctuated wildly, as if urging him to continue.
"The vice president of the Arhan Guild, Baek Seonghyeon."
Whoosh!
A gust of wind swept through the colony, where there had been no wind before.
Yoojin''s hair fluttered wildly in the strong air current.
Even the Little Runts team, who were keeping their distance, felt a chill.
This wasn''t the kind of spiritual pressure an ordinary vengeful spirit could exude.
"He''s also the one you need to take revenge on."
¡ª I haven''t thought about revenge.
"You don''t be an earthbound spirit for no reason. There''s a reason you have to remain in thisnd."
Yes.
Just like you, Park Haneul.
"He drove Hunters to their deaths with false information."
Park Haneul had been renowned as one of the most skilled individuals in the early days of the Great Cataclysm.
With his unique ability as a [Martial Mage], talented in both martial arts and magic, and his excellentbat senses, he was highly regarded among the early Awakened.
He was someone who might have even joined the Seven Stars if he had lived.
''I heard it from the deceased who perished in the first monster wave.''
There was a hidden story behind how such a powerful figure died in this namelessnd within the border region, leaving no record behind.
¡ª You said all records were erased. How do you know all this?
"While searching for a powerful soul with strong spirit power, I heard a rumor."
It wasn''t a lie.
Well, half of it was true.
In his past life, while searching for a powerful soul to enhance his necromantic abilities, he had heard a rumor about an earthbound spirit dwelling near an orc colony.
That''s where he met the soul before him.
''But I heard the backstory separately from this guy.''
The betrayal of the Arhan Guild.
They had driven Park Haneul into a death trap and then defended against the monster wave from an advantageous position.
If...
If Park Haneul had retreated from that battlefield, Arhan would have suffered great losses, but...
''He wasn''t that kind of person.''
Yoojin, who had taken Park Haneul as his subordinate in his past life, knew his character better than anyone, just as well as Baek Seonghyeon, who had set the trap.
"Join me. I''ll grant you revenge."
¡ª You mean be an undead?
"That''s right."
¡ª Heh. My body rotted away decades ago, bing fertilizer for this tree.
"I''ve prepared a body to hold your soul. There''s no need to worry."
Yoojin smiled softly.
"Will you make a contract with me and be an undead?"
Park Haneul fell silent, seemingly lost in thought.
A momentter.
¡ª If I make a contract with you, will I be able to get revenge?
"Of course."
¡ª I have one condition. You''re free to use me however you like, but...
"I''m sure your condition isn''t about not taking revenge on Baek Seonghyeon."
¡ª I refuse to harm the innocent.
Yoojin chuckled.
He had been presented with the same condition in his past life.
Park Haneul''s unwavering nature brightened Yoojin''s somewhat tainted heart.
"That won''t happen."
Of course.
There were so many viins to kill; where would he find the time to bother with innocent people?
[Earthbound Spirit Park Haneul has be your possession.]
A bond formed through their souls.
An invisible thread connected Yoojin and Park Haneul.
£ª £ª £ª
The contract was made, but...
The real ''work'' began now.
[Releasing the corpse stored in the Ring of Darkness.]
With a heavy thud, the Draconian''s corpse appeared in front of the old tree.
¡ª What''s this?
"Mr. Park Haneul''s new body."
¡ª I thought I was going to be something like a zombie.
"You''re a hero, after all. You deserve better treatment. And that one won''tst long."
Although hidden by the bone armor, the zombie''s body was rotting in real-time.
The spirit power imbued in the body was dying the decay, but...
If left for a week, most of the flesh attached to the body would rot, and itsbat power would plummet.
''In my past life, I had him possess the body of a Skeleton Knight.''
The technique of having a soul possess an undead.
If the soul synchronized well, it could more than double the undead''sbat abilities.
Like the Armored Zombie, it was a unique necromantic technique developed by Yoojin.
Park Haneul had umted karma as a Skeleton Knight, bing a Death Knight through his own power.
With Yoojin''s modifications and the aid of items, he had been promoted to a Doom Knight.
In the end, he had attained ultimate enlightenment and be a Hell Knight, a top-tier undead not even recorded in the Library of Knowledge.
''What if I had given Park Haneul a stronger body?''
A thought he often had in his past life.
Giving Park Haneul''s soul to a Skeleton Knight initially was a big mistake.
Once a deceased''s body and soul were synchronized, it was extremely difficult to separate them again.
The soul that had reached the ultimate level with the body of a nameless Skeleton Knight.
How much stronger would he have be if he had possessed a more powerful corpse?
It was hard to even imagine.
¡²Khahaha! A masterpiece. You refined this corpse with this in mind from the beginning.¡³
That''s right.
From the moment he obtained the Draconian''s corpse, its owner had already been decided.
A soul talented in bothbat and magic.
Wasn''t this the perfect soul to be the core of an Eldritch Dragon?!
"Now, shall we begin?"
Sssst!
A whitish energy enveloped his right hand.
He swiftly pierced various parts of the Draconian''s corpse.
[Reinforcement Spell - Low-Grade Corpse Rigidity activated.]
[Reinforcement Spell - Low-Grade Bone Reinforcement activated.]
[Reinforcement...]
The Melting solution, with the dissolved mana stones, began to react to Yoojin''s power.
Strange symbols appeared all over the scales.
The reinforcement and curse spells inscribed at Shin Joonseok''s alchemy workshop were activated.
Park Haneul watched from a short distance.
Yoojin reached out and snatched a part of the misty spirit.
"This might sting a little."
¡ª Ouch!
What an overreaction.
He channeled a portion of the spirit power extracted from Park Haneul into the Draconian''s corpse.
The energy flowed from the nostrils to the head.
The dragon''s essence, fixed in ce by the spells, reacted to Park Haneul''s spirit power and began to stir like a bear awakened from hibernation.
¡ª What is this? It feels strange.
"Don''t resist and ept my power."
As Yoojin tapped the Draconian''s forehead¡ª
[Curse Spell - Intermediate Soul Binding activated.]
The curse he had inscribed earlier activated, using the mana from the Melting solution as its foundation.
The targets of the curse were Park Haneul''s soul and the Draconian''s corpse.
''Normally, I would use a necromancy spell, but that''s not feasible at my level.''
The only necromancy spell he had was Raise Undead.
And with Raise Undead, all he could do was turn the Draconian corpse into a zombie.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
It wasn''t like he had the ability to turn gold into dung.
Based on his past life''s experience, Yoojin created the undead using an unconventional method.
Park Haneul''s soul was sucked into the Draconian''s nostrils.
Suction!
¡ª Th...is... fee...ls... str...an...ge...
Park Haneul''s thoughts sounded incredibly slow.
[The bound soul (Park Haneul) could not resist the curse spell.]
[The soul is beginning to synchronize with the target of the curse spell.]
[You can increase resistance by providing spirit power.]
''Why would I?''
He had set the stage for this very purpose.
The dragon''s corpse thrashed incessantly.
With Yoojin''s meager mana, he couldn''t assist in the process.
All he could do was hope that the mana stone Melting solution he had soaked the corpse in would do its job.
''Should I pray or something?''
¡²How about praying earnestly to me?¡³
''Would you please be quiet, you ipetent constetion?''
How much time had passed?
The violent tremors of the corpse subsided, and then¡ª
sh!
The closed eyelids lifted, and the blue irises, now residing in the Draconian''s eyes, emitted an eerie light.
¡¾What''s this? I have senses?¡¿
The Draconian corpse.
No.
A surprised voice emerged from the mouth of the corpse, now synchronized with Park Haneul.
To be precise, it was the thought of the deceased, mimicking the voice of the living.
[You have created an undead using a new method not recorded in the Library of Knowledge.]
[Undead Creation - Eldritch Dragon (Iplete)]
[A great achievement that surpasses the user''s rank! This knowledge will be recorded in the Library of Knowledge.]
A great achievement?
''I''ve never heard such praise in my life.''
The Library of Knowledge was an informationwork where the knowledge of countless necromancers was inherited.
Although it didn''t have an ego, it had its own standards for evaluating the level of knowledge.
However, to think it described the Eldritch Dragon Yoojin created as ''great''... It meant that even the necromancers who contributed to the Library of Knowledge hadn''t conceived of this concept.
One thing that bothered him was the ''Iplete'' status.
''It makes sense. I made it with apletely unorthodox method.''
Creating a proper Eldritch Dragon required an immense amount of money.
Each scale had to be individually inscribed with spells.
Expensive alchemic catalysts and ingredients had to be poured in to strengthen the corpse.
And the most crucial part, the fusion of the dragon''s essence and the soul...
Yoojin had barely managed to mimic the concept of an Eldritch Dragon by applying curse spells.
¡¾Iplete, huh.¡¿
"Don''t worry. All it needs is time."
¡¾Heh. Rejoice, for I have been given a quest.¡¿
"A quest?"
¡¾It means I need to learn to properly control this body before it''splete, right?¡¿
What a needlessly positive mindset.
Yoojin chuckled and checked Park Haneul''s stats.
[Eldritch Dragon (Iplete) - Park Haneul]
Race: Undead
Rank: ¡ï¡ï¡ï
¡ò Stats
Strength: 205 / Agility: 143 / Health: 176 / Toughness: 180 / Mana: 221
¡ò Traits
? Martial Mage [Unique] / Eyes of the Martial God [S] / Undying Existence [B] / Transcender of Boundaries [B]
¡ò Skills
? Kenex Combat Arts [A] / Dark Energy [B] / Fighting Technique [C] / Dark Missile [D]
¡ò Special Notes
This undead can grow. As the soul is tempered, the power dwelling within the body will awaken further.
The moment he saw the stats of Park Haneul, reborn as an Eldritch Dragon¡ª
"Holy crap."
His jaw dropped, and an exmation escaped his lips.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 15: A New Undead Is Always Welcome
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 15: A New Undead Is Always Wee
Yoojin''s eyes wavered.
''To think the Martial Mage trait would be inherited...''
In his past life, he hadn''t seen this trait when he had Park Haneul possess the Skeleton Knight.
¡ò Unique Trait
- Martial Mage
Possesses aptitude for both martial arts and magic. Increasing physical stats also increases mana (spirit power), and increasing mana (spirit power) randomly increases one physical stat.
There are no penalties for using or learning both skills simultaneously.
An incredible unique trait.
Even if he searched the entire world, there wouldn''t be many traits this powerful.
''With mana increasing automatically, there''s no need to worry about messing up stat allocation.''
By entering certain Gates, one could change to special sses not offered by the system.
Like Shin Joonseok''s [Alchemist].
The Magic Swordsman, a specialbat ss discovered a few years ago, was one of them.
''It was a position that allowed for simultaneous learning of swordsmanship and magic.''
Initially, Hunters lined up to be Magic Swordsmen, even paying fees to enter Gates.
The problem was that the hype died down in less than half a year.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
- A half-baked ss that''s neither good at closebat nor rangedbat.
- Stat allocation is a nightmare.
- A ss where you''re likely to tear your crotch trying to do two things at once.
Swordsmanship and magic.
Mastering even one of them was difficult.
To fully utilize the abilities of a Magic Swordsman, one needed talent in both physical senses and mana maniption.
Even if one mastered both fields, they had to allocate limited bonus stats, inevitably bing a jack-of-all-trades, master of none.
''But with the Martial Mage trait, things are different.''
Mana increased regardless of which stat was invested in.
This solved the chronic weakness of Magic Swordsmen: theck of stats.
''It would be a meaningless trait for ordinary undead, though.''
Necromancy, the art of raising the dead.
What potential for growth could the deceased have?
Perhaps it would be different for high-ranking undead like liches, Death Knights, or banshees.
But those were all powerful monsters that Yoojin couldn''t even dream of creating at his current level.
''Or so it was.''
The growth option added to the unconventionally created Eldritch Dragon.
Combined with the Martial Mage trait, it would grant an incredible stat bonus.
''I intended for the growth option, but... to think the Martial Mage trait would be inherited as well...''
It meant that the synchronization between Park Haneul and the Draconian corpse was that good.
After all, the Martial Mage trait hadn''t been added when he had him possess the Skeleton Knight in his past life.
''He must have inherited Kenex Combat Arts from the Draconian.''
An A-rank martial arts skill.
Although it wasn''t his own skill, so the proficiency was 0, with his talent, wouldn''t he master it quickly?
¡¾What''s the matter?¡¿
Had he been silent for too long, lost in thought?
Park Haneul urged Yoojin, who was deep in contemtion.
"The results are different from what I expected."
¡¾What? Is there something wrong with me?¡¿
"The Martial Mage trait was inherited by that body. It seems to be a good match."
¡¾Then that''s great!¡¿
"Yeah."
¡¾Whew, I was worried something serious had happened.¡¿
Huu¡ª
The 3-meter-tall dragonkin giant let out a sigh of relief.
He was already dead, his internal organs no longer functioning, yet he was making breathing sounds with his thoughts.
''Does he want to feel alive?''
There were quite a few undead who mimicked their living selves.
This was a side of Park Haneul he hadn''t seen in his past life.
Well, it made sense.
When Park Haneul was inhabiting the body of a Skeleton Knight, it was difficult for him to even properly express his thoughts.
"How''s the body?"
¡¾It''s usable. Though not as good as when I was alive.¡¿
Park Haneul had reached 6 Stars when he was alive.
The difference between ranks was greater than one might think.
1-Star - 5 bonus stats per level.
2-Star - 10 bonus stats per level.
3-Star - 15 bonus stats per level.
... and so on.
The additional stats increased in multiples of 5.
There was a significant difference in stats, and there was one more factor.
''You can only level up by hunting monsters until 3-Stars.''
To reach 4-Stars or higher, one needed to gain enlightenment in their respective field.
Martial artists had to imbue their mana with their will and awaken their aura.
Magic Hunters had to seed in multi-casting.
And Priests?
''That can be solved with money.''
They had to offer tributes that satisfied the constetion they worshipped.
The dirty principle of money being everything.
That was why the Priest ss was called the nobility.
¡²Khahaha! Tributes are always wee, Contractor.¡³
''You''re leeching off of me.''
¡²How dare you mock the King of the Titans!¡³
''I''m just stating facts.''
Kronos was iplete as a constetion.
He had seeded in bing a half-baked constetion by exploiting various loopholes and gaps in the ''domain¡¯, but he was far from being a proper constetion.
When he hit a wall, he had no idea what conditions needed to be met to ovee it.
''Well, there''s no need to worry about that now.''
Compared to his past life, his starting point was already different.
Even without the blessing of regression, Yoojin had reached the pinnacle of Hunters, surpassing even the 7 Stars, the world''s top rankers.
He had already attained enlightenment.
He was confident he could meet any conditions.
"Let''s go, my minion."
¡¾I don''t like being called a minion.¡¿
"Then should I call you by your name?"
¡¾A body that has long since rotted away, leaving not even a single bone. I want to bury that name with the decayed flesh.¡¿
"How fussy."
Yoojin stroked his chin.
Park Haneul had been taciturn in his past life.
Was this a result of meeting him years earlier, or was there another reason?
''Either way, it''s not a bad change.''
It was better for him to express his opinions freely than to be tight-lipped.
¡¾Hmm. It would be nice to have an intimidating name that strikes fear into the hearts of those who hear it. But I can''t think of anything.¡¿
...Well, maybe being a little taciturn wouldn''t be so bad.
Suddenly, a name shed through his mind.
"Fafnir."
¡¾Is that a foreign name? It rolls off the tongue quite nicely!¡¿
"It''s a dragon from Norse mythology."
The evil dragon in by the hero Siegfried.
Fortunately, Park Haneul didn''t seem to know the myth and was pleased with the dragon''s name.
¡¾Good. From now on, call me Fafnir. Heh heh heh!¡¿
Amusement resonated from his thoughts.
What a cheerful undead. It was almost unsettling.
"Ah, I should take this too."
Yoojin approached the orc chieftain, whoy in a gruesome state.
[Storing the corpse in the Ring of Darkness.]
[Storage limit: 1/1]
The space had be avable when he released the Draconian corpse.
The orc chieftain''s body was at the peak of 2 Stars, so if processed, it could be turned into a useful undead.
He didn''t leave the orc corpses from which he had collected mana stones alone either.
[Using Flesh Control.]
The flesh and bones were separated, significantly reducing the weight of the corpses.
"You guys collect the bodies."
¡ª Groar.
The Armored Zombies picked up the orc corpses, now reduced to skeletons.
"Let''s go back."
"Yes, Boss."
¡¾Wait. Isn''t it a bit too bare to be walking around like this?¡¿
At Fafnir''s words, Yoojin tilted his head, his expression showing hisck of understanding.
"What''s bare?"
¡¾This body. I''m naked. Give me something to cover myself.¡¿
"..."
Yoojin stared nkly for a moment, seemingly unfamiliar with this kind of request, then pointed at the tent where the orcs had stayed.
"If it bothers you that much, wrap yourself in that."
Rip¡ª!
The tent was torn apart by Fafnir''s rough hands.
Fafnir wrapped the tattered cloth around his waist.
''Was he always this kind of character?''
Yoojin pressed his temples with both hands.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin and his party entered the border region checkpoint.
"Is that a summon?"
"I''ve never seen a summon like that."
"More importantly, (sniff sniff)¡ª doesn''t something smell strange?"
Hunters lingering near the checkpoint stared at the group with curious eyes.
Some of them even pinched their noses at the smell of rotting corpses.
"This is why you can''t control zombies for long."
Kang Minho, his brows furrowed at the pungent odor that stung his nose, forced a smile.
Standing next to the horde of Armored Zombies, blocking his nose wasn''t enough.
"You''ll have to doundry several times. The smell doesn''te off easily."
"We might have to wash them with Clean magic."
"I don''t know if such services are avable near the workshop."
[Clean] was amon magic spell that cleaned clothes with mana. Naturally, they would need the help of a magic-type Hunter.
"Sigh. We''ll have to look for one."
"Or, since I have to go to Seoul anyway, you guys can rest while I''m gone."
"Really?"
"I''m not a heartless employer. I''ll give you some time off."
¡¾Then, I too...¡¿
"Would you please be quiet, minion?"
¡¾Ahem. I have a splendid name, Fafnir.¡¿
"You''ll get reported if you wander around as an undead."
¡¾Hmm. That would be a bit problematic.¡¿
"If there''s anyone you absolutely need to see, I''ll apany you."
¡¾Heh. I have no acquaintances to greet, and when I swore to cling to this dead body, I buried my past along with it.¡¿
Park Haneul.
No, Fafnir and Yoojin had one thing inmon.
They were both orphans.
Fafnir had lost his parents during the Great Cataclysm, while Yoojin was abandoned as soon as he was born into this world.
''We both have nowhere to belong.''
He had heard the story in his past life.
There was no need to pretend he knew, so Yoojin kept his thoughts to himself.
Yoojin, apanied by the Armored Zombies, went to the alchemy workshop.
"What is that smell?"
Shin Joonseok, who came out grumbling, was startled at the sight of the Armored Zombies.
"Zombies wearing armor!"
¡¾To be surprised by such monsters... Youck courage, my friend.¡¿
Shin Joonseok turned his head at Fafnir''s rebuke.
He stared for a moment, then eximed in a mixture of surprise and admiration.
"Isn''t that the corpse you soaked in the Melting solution?!"
"Yeah, I found a suitable soul for the body in the border region."
"I went through a lot of trouble melting those mana stones. It''s amazing to see itpleted."
Shin Joonseok approached Fafnir with sparkling eyes.
¡¾Who is this pervert?¡¿
"He''s my business partner. Don''t kill him, even if he''s unpleasant."
"Mr. Yoojin, would it be alright if I touch it? This is worth researching..."
¡¾No, I''ve decided. I have to kill him.¡¿
"Dying is one thing, but I''ll give you an arm if you let me study it!"
"Partner, if you die pointlessly, I''ll be at a loss too, so calm down."
Shin Joonseok reluctantly backed down.
"Boss, we''ll go to Seoul to sell the loot."
"Come back within two days."
"Yes, sir."
The Little Runts team dispersed.
Yoojin had the Armored Zombies pile the orc bones in a corner of the warehouse and then withdrew his spirit power.
Thud¡ª!
The Armored Zombies copsed to the ground.
¡¾I can''t help but feel a sense of camaraderie.¡¿
"You don''t have to worry about that since I can''t withdraw spirit power from high-ranking undead like you."
¡¾Really?¡¿
"Try using the spirit power dwelling within your body."
Fafnir observed his inner self with a dubious expression, then spoke after a moment.
¡¾You''re right.¡¿
"I can''t arbitrarily withdraw energy from high-ranking undead that have established a mindscape."
¡¾Then how can you control the undead?¡¿
"Don''t underestimate my control."
Yoojin raised his index finger.
¡¾Huh?¡¿
Fafnir''s leg lifted into the air, then¡ª Crash! ¡ª mmed into the ground.
The impact created a crater in the earth.
"Don''t worry, I can make you work without resorting to threats."
¡¾You haven''t put a leash on me, but I might as well be a ve.¡¿
Leaving Fafnir to grumble, Yoojin examined the orc bones scattered in the yard.
"Partner."
"What is it, oh partner who doesn''t contribute to the advancement of alchemy?"
Shin Joonseok approached obediently despite hisints.
"Disassemble these bones. And bring me 500ml of the distilled Blue Herb."
"I''m not an alchemy ve or a machine. Youe to the workshop and immediately try to exploit and order me around?"
He was indeed a ve.
Unable to bring himself to say those words, Yoojin slowly coaxed Shin Joonseok.
"I''ll show you something amazing."
"Research doesn''t progress just by seeing something amazing."
"Come on, you can do whatever you want with this one."
"...Really?"
"Have I ever gone back on my word?"
"Alright."
Shin Joonseok sighed but followed Yoojin''s instructions, grinding each orc bone into powder.
Yoojin also used [Flesh Control] to separate the flesh and bones of the orc chieftain''s corpse.
"Fafnir, gather the powder and massage the chieftain''s body with it."
¡¾Oh? Are you going to create an undead?¡¿
"The more troops, the better."
[Using Raise Undead.]
[One skeleton has been created with highpletion.]
[All stats increased by 100%.]
At the moment when spirit power was imbued into the skeleton¡ª
This further strengthened the bones, maximizing the skeleton''sbat capabilities.
"But it doesn''t end here."
The property of the Blue Herb was magic stabilization.
He poured the distilled extract onto the piled bone powder, and then¡ª
[Using Bone Armor.]
He made it adhere to the skeleton''s body.
The chieftain''s corpse grew in size as it absorbed the powdered bones.
It stopped growing only after reaching a size simr to Fafnir''s.
[The stabilized energy has influenced the skeleton''s creation.]
[The skeleton''s traits have been converted to defense.]
The orc chieftain''s arms widened abnormally.
It was a strange form, like shields attached to both arms.
[Skeleton Guard]
Race: Undead
Rank: ¡ï¡ï
¡ò Stats
Strength: 275 / Agility: 150 / Health: 291 / Toughness: 332 / Mana: 84
¡ò Traits
? Undying Existence [D+] / Gaze Fixation [E+]
¡ò Skills
? Attack Absorption [D+] / Iron Wall [D]
"I''ll be in your care for a while."
Click¡ª!
A strange sound echoed as the skeleton''s jaws cked together.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 16: To the Pantheon
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 16: To the Pantheon
A skeleton strengthened for defense.
If Fafnir was a sword, this guy was a shield.
''To actively utilize Life Drain, I need a bodyguard.''
He couldn''t extract much life force from the dead.
While using Life Drain on the orcs, he realized there was a limit to how much he could absorb, but boss monsters like the Goblin Shaman had different stat increase values.
''Maybe the bio-information of boss monsters is treated separately.''
It was worth testing.
The problem was that Life Drain had a close-range limitation.
"Protect me well."
¡ª Kerruk!
The skeleton rattled its jawbone.
¡¾It seemsparable to the Armored Zombies. Didn''t you put too much effort into it?¡¿
"In terms ofbat power alone, there''s not much difference."
Yoojin didn''t deny it.
¡¾That sounds like there''s another reason.¡¿
"It''s light because it''s made of bones, and it won''t rot even without special treatment."
Unlike the zombies, which had a limited lifespan.
This was a minion he could keep using as long as he asionally infused it with spirit power.
Even if the bones shattered, they could be easily restored.
As long as it didn''t explode or melt, it was a minion he could use continuously.
¡¾Oh, I see. My master has a n for everything.¡¿
"Master?"
¡¾I can''t keep calling you without a title forever.¡¿
"I think it might hurt your pride."
¡¾At this point, where I haven''t let go of my grudge against Baek Seonghyeon, I have no intention of holding onto pride or anything like that.¡¿
Fafnir''s answer was refreshingly straightforward.
"Partner, I''ll leave this guy with you for now."
"Where are you going?"
"To the Pantheon. They said I shoulde to receive divine spells since I leveled up."
Shin Joonseok blinked repeatedly.
A momentter.
"Y-y-you, you were a Priest?!"
"Yeah, I''m a devout believer."
He was even a Saint, supposedly.
Since Yoojin was the only one who worshipped the [Heaven-Defying Giant], he was confident that he was more devout than any other Priest.
"God damn... This is outrageous! It wouldn''t be surprising if lightning struck from a clear sky!"
There was no need to react so negatively.
Yoojin scratched the back of his head at the intense reaction.
"Fafnir, say something."
¡¾Oh, Lord. I repent for failing to keep your word not to doubt my brethren.¡¿
Damn it.
He gave up on persuading the two (?) and changed the subject.
"Have you registered the patent for the Intermediate Potion?"
"Ah, it''ll be reviewed soon."
"That''s fast."
"The longer I wait, the morepetitors will appear. I hate putting things off."
Yoojin scoffed.
"I''ve got myself a good business partner."
"There''s still the issue of building a mixing machine to start mass production, but that will be resolved soon."
"Just take care of that yourself."
Even in his past life, he wasn''t interested in the Great Alchemist''s business ventures.
He was someone who would do well on his own.
''I''ll only get involved in the alchemy recipes.''
Earn money on your own.
And providebor when I need alchemy.
He had found himself an excellent em¡ª no, business partner.
"However, publicity is a problem. The expo isn''t until next year, so there''s no way to spread the word."
"Well, just in case, give me some potions. I''ll promote them if the opportunity arises."
"Alright."
Shin Joonseok handed him an Intermediate Potion, seemingly without much expectation.
"When will the Darkness Orb arrive?"
"It''s on order, so it should be soon. But will you really pay...?"
"It''ll be done in two days, so just wait a bit."
He had given the Little Runts team a vacation to rest and sort out the loot from the past three days.
Hundreds of D-rank mana stones.
And if he sold the Blood Axe, he would earn at least hundreds of millions of won, exceeding the amount he had borrowed from Shin Joonseok over the past week.
"Please, I''m running out of funds!"
Shin Joonseok pleaded with a desperate, tearful voice.
£ª £ª £ª
On the way to Seoul.
Alone for the first time in days, Yoojin gazed out the taxi window.
The scenery flew by.
As he enjoyed the leisurely ride.
¡¾Are you that happy?¡¿
A wisp of thought brushed past his ears.
Fafnir, stored in the Ring of Darkness.
His thoughts wereced with unconcealed discontent.
¡ª Of course I am. I went camping and suffered all because I told you I was going to pay my respects.
Yoojin also used his magic to respond with his thoughts.
¡¾Humph.¡¿
A brief silence followed.
After a while.
Fafnir, dwelling within the ring, sent another thought.
¡¾How cruel. You won''t even grant me the small favor of showing me the scenery outside?¡¿
"It would be a nuisance to take you in a car with that size."
Fafnir''s Draconian body was as big as the taxi.
Unless they ripped off the roof and forcibly turned it into a convertible, there was no way Fafnir could ride in it.
¡¾We could rent a truck or something!¡¿
"I can''t drive."
¡¾Even a learner''s permit would be fine. I could give you driving lessons.¡¿
"What driving lessons could someone who''s been dead for 35 years give? Do you think trafficws haven''t changed?"
¡¾Ugh.¡¿
Fafnir gritted his teeth in frustration.
Yoojin drove the point home.
"I don''t even have a license. So give it up."
¡¾Please, at least get a license. I have the right to see how the world has changed.¡¿
"Just like that?"
¡¾Fine. I''ll turn a blind eye to one instance of personal justice.¡¿
¡ª To think the vow not to harm innocent people would be so cheap.
¡¾...¡¿
Hey.
Are you crying?
''Heh heh heh. Did I tease him too much?''
Fafnir wasn''t this expressive in his past life.
Perhaps his emotions had dried up after spending a longer time as an earthbound spirit.
As Yoojin conversed with Fafnir residing within the ring, they arrived in Seoul before he knew it.
£ª £ª £ª
The Pantheon, which suddenly appeared after the Great Cataclysm.
There were a total of six locations in Korea alone that served as abodes for the gods, appearing all over the world.
The ce Yoojin visited was the temple located north of the National Assembly Building in Yeouido.
''It certainly has a peculiar appearance.''
Pirs resembling those of the Parthenon, roof tiles that were a mix of Korean and Japanese temple styles.
Pirs stretching high into the sky were reminiscent of the Tower of Babel.
It was a bizarrely designed structure, a mixture of numerous religious and cultural styles.
"Cheap, cheap. Sacred relic that enhances the effects of Aesir divine spells, only 5 million won!"
"Owl sculpture favored by the Olympian God of War, 750,000 won!"
"A saint''s relic..."
The number of stalls resembled a traditional market.
The goods disyed by the merchants caught the eyes of the pilgrims heading to the Pantheon.
Well, they were called pilgrims, but in reality, most of them had secr motives, seeking more divine spells and blessings from the constetions of the Pantheon.
¡²What a worldly ce.¡³
''It''s the constetions who tantly demand offerings from their believers who are worldly.''
¡²I don''t particrly desire anything.¡³
''You were asking for offerings earlier.''
The Priest ss gained power from the society of the gods they worshipped, also known as the [Star Cluster].
Perhaps that was why, unlike other sses, there were ways to be stronger besides leveling up.
Donations and offerings.
This involved offering treasures valued in the society of the gods they served, or items that a particr constetion might favor.
Things like the ''saint''s relic'' mentioned in passing had no use other than their religious significance, but in societies of gods like Nirvana, they were considered extremely valuable.
¡²However, there are no sacred relics exuding divinity here.¡³
''Would they disy valuable items on the street?''
Honestly, these swindlers.
Ignoring the touts moring for his attention, he headed straight for the Pantheon.
£ª £ª £ª
The entrance to the Pantheon, visible only after climbing 108 stairs.
There were no esctors, of course, nor were there any elevators, a necessity in high-rise buildings.
¡²Even after all this time, some things never change.¡³
''It''s meant to teach humility before meeting the great constetions, right?''
¡²That''s quite a biting remark for a Saint.¡³
¡ª This is ridiculous.
Yoojin didn''t have a favorable opinion of the constetions.
''They''re just voyeurs.''
Suppressing the displeasure brewing within him, he moved forward.
At that moment, as if a mute button had been pressed, the outside noise was cut off, and the scenery of Seoul behind him was swallowed by darkness.
A heavy silence filled the abode of the gods.
The numerous constetions carved in relief on the dome-shaped ceiling began to emit light.
[The Wealthy Father expresses disgust.]
[The One who Covers Death is puzzled.]
[The Master of Abyss gazes upon you with displeasure.]
[...]
Negative waves surged towards Yoojin.
A Necromancer.
The constetions rejected him for wielding the power that defied death.
¡²Khahaha! A masterpiece! A true masterpiece!¡³
''I''m not in a good mood, so please be quiet, constetion.''
The stars quickly disappeared.
As soon as they read the spirit power dwelling within Yoojin, the constetions lost interest.
The sky, devoid of all light, was dyed in darkness.
¡²Now it''s my turn.¡³
Kronos ced a dot on the empty sky.
The star began to emit a faint glow.
¡²Constetion - Heaven-Defying Giant has been registered in the Pantheon.¡³
''Is it done?''
¡²This is just the first step.¡³
''You''re still ipetent.''
¡²You''ll regret those words, Contractor.¡³
[Divine Spells - Unholy Blessing, Punishing Spike added.]
¡ò Skill
? Unholy Blessing
ssification: Divine Spell
Strengthens stats with the power of the Yin dimension. Weakens the power of beings with strong life force.
¡ò Skill
? Punishing Spike
ssification: Divine Spell
Each time the designated target is injured, a Punishing stack umtes. Reactivating the spell inflicts damage or increases stats by the amount of umted damage.
Cannot designate multiple targets at once.
Oh¡ª
An exmation escaped his lips unconsciously.
¡²How is it? The new blessing I have bestowed upon you!¡³
''Not bad.''
Unholy Blessing was an extraordinary buff that enhanced thebat abilities of the undead.
Although it wasn''t an instant activation and required certain conditions to be met, Punishing Spike could be used for both offense and defense.
They were unique yet powerful skills.
''I wonder how they''ll be in actualbat.''
Unholy Blessing was a buff-type skillmonly given to the Priest ss.
A divine spell granted when choosing a mythology to serve.
Yoojin had chosen his deity through unconventional means, which was why it was only now being added.
On the other hand, Punishing Spike was a rare skill with dual properties.
The best way to understand it was to use it and get a feel for it.
[The Heaven-Defying Giantcks the dignity of a constetion.]
[To maintain a ce in the Pantheon, you must achieve more and earn the praise of many.]
[Your light is faint, so others cannot worship you. Elevate your status as a constetion.]
''So you''re saying I can''t gain followers because no one knows this constetion exists?''
¡²Thank you for the advice.¡³
''Constetion, you better work harder in the future. That''s the only way to get rid of the ''ipetent''bel.''
¡²Y-you insignificant little human!¡³
Kronos was furious.
Despite his words, the more ways he had to be stronger, the better.
This was an unexpected windfall.
He tried to calm his excitement, but he couldn''t stop his lips from twitching.
£ª £ª £ª
On the way down the stairs.
Strangely, Kronos had suddenly fallen silent after leaving the Pantheon.
He had been chattering non-stop just moments ago.
''Well, he must have a lot on his mind.''
Kronos, who had been registered in the Pantheon as a constetion governing a new domain.
That meant...
He couldn''t go back to the past.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Even if he was lucky enough to dethrone Zeus and be the King of the Gods again, he would exist as the [Heaven-Defying Giant], not the [Harvester].
''It''s not like he didn''t know that.''
He probably needed time to organize hisplicated thoughts.
As Yoojin descended all 108 stairs, leaving the now-quiet Kronos alone.
¡¾Hmm. How strange.¡¿
This time, it was Fafnir who sent a thought.
¡ª What''s strange?
¡¾I''ll tell youter.¡¿
¡ª Even minions need some secrets.
Yoojin didn''t press further.
It wasn''t like Fafnir could harm him.
They had made a contract based on mutual benefit, so he intended to respect that much.
"Oh, look who it is. Cheon Yoojining out of the Pantheon?"
Wait a minute.
A voice filled with both nostalgia and disgust stopped Yoojin in his tracks.
He turned his head to see a man with a freckled face staring at him.
The corners of his lips were slightly raised.
His expression was filled with contempt and malice.
"Who was it again?"
"Wow. It seems you''ve forgotten me after only a short time out of the orphanage."
The man approached with a swagger.
"It''s me, Park Seongwook. You should at least remember your hyung''s name."
An unconceble murderous intent gleamed in his shifty eyes.
Ah.
Now he remembered.
Memories from the distant past shed through Yoojin''s mind like a panorama.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 17: Arhan Guild (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 17: Arhan Guild (1)
"Ah, Mr. Park Seongwook."
"Mr. Park Seongwook? You''re being disrespectful to your senior."
"Be grateful I''m not cursing at you."
A bad connection from their orphanage days.
Park Seongwook was trash who exploited the orphans while avoiding the orphanage director''s eyes.
"Your nose seems to have healed well."
As Yoojin curled his hand into a fist, Park Seongwook unconsciously stepped back.
Back when Park Seongwook had tried toy a hand on a younger child at the orphanage, Yoojin, with a smile on his face, had approached him and crushed his nose with his fist.
Realizing his dyed reaction, Park Seongwook contorted his face and¡ª
"Ha, fuck."
He erupted in anger, his face twisted with a curse.
"You''ve gotten bigger, haven''t you?"
"I''ve grown about 20 centimeters."
"Seeing you going in and out of the Pantheon, I guess you''re also a Hunter now."
"Yeah, it''s been a week since I Awakened."
Park Seongwook tilted his left shoulder slightly, unnaturally emphasizing his chest.
"Do you know what this is?"
"Save your pathetic dance moves for the club."
"This bastard... You dare disrespect the Arhan badge."
The guild that had been frequently mentioned since he took Fafnir as his subordinate suddenly popped up.
What a coincidence.
¡²Is this guy not from a Hunter family?¡³
''There are no Hunter families in Korea. Only guilds.''
To officially dere a Hunter family, three conditions had to be met.
1. Family Secret Mana Training Method
2. Family Guardian Constetion
3. Family Head''s Rank of 7-Stars or Higher
''Arhan probably only meets the third condition.''
The Family Secret Mana Training Method referred to a technique developed through a Hunter''s enlightenment, not something shared through a skill book.
It wasn''t something that could be easily created just because one had a high rank.
Moreover.
¡²Making a contract with a guardian constetion consumes more karma and power than bestowing a blessing on a single Hunter.¡³
It was telling that the easiest condition to meet for establishing a family was reaching the 7 Star rank.
This was the reason why no Hunter families had emerged on the Korean penins for a long time.
Anyway, was this guy really from Arhan?
He hadn''t seen him during the war with Arhan in his past life.
''He must have died quickly after joining Arhan.''
Or he was too insignificant to be remembered by Yoojin.
Either way, what a pathetic life.
"Rookie, who''s this?"
"Ah, Team Leader Jeong. He''s a junior I used to know."
The man called Team Leader Jeong stepped between them and quickly assessed Yoojin.
"It''s a pleasure to meet someone who knows team member Park Seongwook."
He naturally offered his business card.
[Arhan 5th Attack Squad, 7th Team Leader]
[Jeong Jinsu]
Yoojin simply stared nkly and didn''t reach out.
"My arm''s going to fall off at this rate."
"I don''t have a business card to give you. There''s no reason for me to take it."
Hearing Yoojin''s response, Jeong Jinsu gave a friendly smile.
"Young man, keeping my business card might allow you to ask for help when you''re in a difficult situation."
"The 5th Attack Squad is the lowest-quality one. Do you really think you can help me?"
The 5th Attack Squad was where most rookies were ced.
If you were wondering if even the team leaders were rookies, the answer was no.
''Hunters who felt they had reached their limits or were sidelined due to injuries.''
He was Park Seongwook''s team leader, wasn''t he?
He wasn''t sure which category this guy fell into, but Yoojin tantly hit a nerve.
The faces of the team members, including Park Seongwook, turned bright red.
The atmosphere was so tense that it felt like it could explode at any moment.
"Hahaha. This young man has spirit."
Jeong Jinsuughed heartily, calming his team members.
"Since I''m in charge of Arhan''s rookies, what you said isn''t entirely wrong. However, we recruited them because they are all excellent individuals."
"Well, seeing as you took in human trash like Park Seongwook, I can''t agree with the ''excellent'' part."
"You insolent...!"
Park Seongwook was trembling all over, as if he would lunge at Yoojin with the slightest provocation.
"Hmm. Then how about this?"
Jeong Jinsu gave a friendly smile.
"Since you seem to be a Hunter as well, how about a spar with one of our rookies?"
"You want me to fight barehanded against someone who''s clearly a martial artist?"
"Hahaha. Of course, that would be unreasonable. Since you know our rookie, I was just suggesting you show us your skills."
"Well, that''s not bad."
The conversation briefly paused.
Jeong Jinsu asked again with suspicion in his eyes.
"Are you serious?"
"Let''s do it. This spar, or whatever it is."
Yoojin grinned, his gaze fixed on Park Seongwook.
£ª £ª £ª
A three-minute walk from the Pantheon.
The Arhan Guild had purchased an entire building in Yeouido, considered prime real estate in Seoul.
A skyscraper rising high into the sky.
Jeong Jinsu led them to a newly built gym next to the building.
"Here, you canpete to your heart''s content without worrying about others."
"I see."
"If you want, you can use the weapons avable in the guild training ground, so feel free to look around."
He was telling a Priest to look for weapons.
He was spouting nonsense because he thought Yoojin was a novice Hunter.
"I''m a Priest. So, I''ll choose a warrior to fight in my ce."
"Suit yourself. Although it doesn''t seem like you have anyone here who can act as your champion."
"This guy is my champion."
An eerie light emanated from the Ring of Darkness, and a 3-meter-tall giant emerged.
¡¾Is it a fight?¡¿
"Yeah, a bit of a spar."
Fafnir looked at the Arhan symbol in the middle of the gym and clenched his fists tightly.
"Oh, junior. Looks like you got a pretty good unique trait."
Park Seongwook mocked him in an exaggerated tone.
He seemed to mistake Fafnir for a summon or a spirit rted to a unique trait.
¡¾Master, you''re not trying to carry out my revenge already, are you? Why are we here?¡¿
From Fafnir''s perspective, this was enemy territory.
Perhaps that was why he deliberately controlled his thoughts so that only Yoojin could hear them.
"You need to know who your enemies are to get motivated, right?"
¡¾Hmm. If that''s the case...¡¿
"And I''ll take this opportunity to promote the Intermediate Potion."
¡¾It seems that''s your main objective, Master.¡¿
Instead of replying, Yoojin chuckled.
Well, he was grateful if Fafnir thought so.
¡²Do you have another motive?¡³
''The Arhan Guild is connected to Romanov.''
Even if it wasn''t for Fafnir, he was bound to have a hostile rtionship with the Arhan Guild.
He just didn''t expect to encounter them so soon.
This was even better.
He cut off his thoughts and stared intently at Park Seongwook, who was standing across the training ground.
"Heh heh. Cheon Yoojin, looks like you''re nervous now that you''re actually here. Frozen stiff."
Shiny armor.
A ne shimmering with mana.
And several rings on his fingers that enhanced his stats.
¡¾They all seem to be at least Rare grade.¡¿
¡ª Probably.
Roughly estimating, it looked like he was a walking sports car.
¡¾To provide a rookie with such items...¡¿
¡ª It''s the number one guild in Korea.
In his past life, Arhan had established itself as Korea''s first Hunter family, bing a massive force that influenced the political and economdscape.
If they hadn''t shed head-on with Yoojin and been destroyed, they would have maintained their power for a long time.
So, they joined hands with Romanov to be a Hunter family, and that''s why things escted?
¡¾Are you alright? You might have made a formidable enemy in your attempt to avenge me.¡¿
"It would be a problem if I couldn''t handle an opponent like this."
He meant it.
The enemies Yoojin faced in his past life were the seven families that ruled the world.
He was confident that he could surpass the number one guild in Korea within a few years.
¡¾To go so far for me...¡¿
It seemed Fafnir had misunderstood something, but he let it slide.
[Sparring System activated.]
[Calcting the defense and health of both Hunters.]
[A barrier will automatically activate if lives are at risk.]
[3, 2, 1]
[Sparring begins.]
"Cheon Yoojin! I''ll teach you a lesson!!!!"
Park Seongwook immediately charged towards Fafnir.
¡¾How shall I handle this, Master?¡¿
¡ª Don''t finish it in one blow. I need to take some damage to show off the potion''s effects.
¡¾How cruel. Judging by the way you''re talking, he seems like an acquaintance.¡¿
¡ª He''s a bad connection, so don''t hold back.
¡¾Heh heh. It''s been a while since I''ve had a real fight, so let me warm up a bit.¡¿
Fafnir also lightly kicked off the training ground floor and charged forward.
Thump¡ª Thump¡ª
The floor shook with every step he took.
The distance between them closed rapidly.
Park Seongwook''s narrowed eyes urately read Fafnir''s movements.
"He seems to be a close-range power type, but it doesn''t matter if I don''t get hit."
[Kairak Spear Technique]
[Third Stance]
[Reflexive Movement]
Park Seongwook, who had been charging with all his might, abruptly changed direction.
He slid across the floor, slipping past Fafnir''s side, and then¡ª
[Kairak Spear Technique]
[Second Stance]
[Single Point Thrust]
He thrust his spear forward, putting all his weight and strength into the tip.
A more perfect thrust than ever before.
A gleam of exhration shone in Park Seongwook''s eyes.
Oh¡ª
Even Jeong Jinsu, who was watching the spar, let out a short exmation.
''His form is even more refined than it was during training.''
The core of the Kairak Spear Technique was to unleash explosive power in a short burst.
Even to Jeong Jinsu, who had been in charge of rookie training at Arhan for many years, it was a near-perfect strike that captured the essence of the spear technique.
''It would be troublesome if the match ended too quickly.''
Park Seongwook was a promising rookie that Jeong Jinsu had been training recently.
He wasn''t interested in the junior who had appeared out of nowhere, but...
He hoped that Park Seongwook would gain more insights from this spar.
That was the real reason he had brought a Hunter with no background like Yoojin to the training ground.
''It would be nice if he put up some resistance before going down.''
As Jeong Jinsu was thinking that¡ª
¡¾Do you think you can hit me with such a slow attack?¡¿
The blue irises in Fafnir''s diamond-shaped pupils urately followed Park Seongwook''s movements.
Shhk!
The spear tip, aimed at Fafnir''s chest, cut through empty air.
Fafnir slightly twisted his body, and the de grazed his side.
"Huh?"
¡¾What a pathetic disy. A sloppy attack with no thought for whates next.¡¿
Fafnir extended his right arm and grabbed the spear shaft that was hovering near his side.
Park Seongwook, unable to hide his surprise, put strength into his arm, but...
The spear stuck in Fafnir''s side showed no signs of budging.
Instead¡ª
¡¾If this were a real battle, you would already be dead.¡¿
As Fafnir forcefully pulled on the spear shaft, Park Seongwook was dragged along like a fish caught on a hook.
Park Seongwook was full of openings.
Fafnir, who had been about to finish him off with a single blow, suddenly remembered¡ª
''I was told to break a limb, not kill him.''
He adjusted his strength and struck Park Seongwook''s arm.
Crack!
Despite the protection of his armor, Park Seongwook''s left arm, exposed to Fafnir''s monstrous strength, bent in the opposite direction.
"...?!"
Park Seongwook, his eyes bloodshot, stared at his limp left arm.
"You cried so much when I broke your nose. Did bing a member of Arhan give you a newfound sense of patience?"
"You son of a bitch!!"
Park Seongwook immediately tried to lunge at Yoojin, but¡ª
¡¾You''re not getting past me.¡¿
Fafnir, the 3-meter-tall Eldritch Dragon, blocked his path.
Park Seongwook used his footwork again, trying to shake off Fafnir and create a path to Yoojin.
Thump!
Fafnir''s thick leg moved from top to bottom.
His foot mmed into the sparring field, disrupting Park Seongwook''s bnce.
"Ah!"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
A groan escaped Jeong Jinsu''s lips.
At the same time, Park Seongwook, who had been moving low to the ground, lost his footing and copsed due to his own momentum.
¡¾Using the same technique twice makes it predictable.¡¿
Fafnir pointed out Park Seongwook''s mistake in a calm tone, then¡ª
Crack!
"Aaaaagh!!!"
¡¾It seems I need to carve it into your body for you to learn from your mistakes.¡¿
He broke the leg Park Seongwook had used for his footwork.
With one arm and one leg bent at unnatural angles, bones protruding, the sparring field''s barrier, which only activated for ''fatal'' injuries, remained inactive.
It wouldn''t have protected Park Seongwook unless his arm or leg had beenpletely ripped off; a mere fracture wasn''t enough.
"Stop!"
Jeong Jinsu stepped onto the field and waved his hands frantically.
[Sparring terminated.]
The fight ended abruptly.
How boring.
He hadn''t expected Jeong Jinsu to intervene so quickly.
''That guy''s personality training had just begun...''
As Yoojin clicked his tongue in disappointment, Jeong Jinsu hurriedly checked Park Seongwook''s arms and legs.
"Ugh, uhhh..."
"Fortunately, there won''t be anysting effects."
"T-Team Leader..."
"I''ll call a Priest right away, so just wait a bit."
"There''s a Priest right here."
As Yoojin casually raised his hand, anger shed across Jeong Jinsu''s face.
He had tried to boost his rookie''s morale, but it had backfired spectacrly.
But what could he do?
It was Jeong Jinsu himself who had put Yoojin on the stage.
"...You do know that it''s difficult to heal fractures with a 1 Star healing spell, right?"
"That''smon sense."
"Then I''m curious to know how you intend to heal our rookie."
"I have Intermediate Potions."
Intermediate Potions, asionally obtained from Gate monsters.
They were expensive consumables, each costing over 10 million won.
"You''re going to use those precious Intermediate Potions to heal a rookie?"
"I guess you haven''t heard that I recently seeded in mass-producing Intermediate Potions."
Yoojin presented an Intermediate Potion.
Jeong Jinsu''s eyes twitched as he checked the item information.
Pop!
Yoojin uncorked the potion and poured it over Park Seongwook''s arms and legs.
"Hold him still. Otherwise, his bones will set incorrectly."
He had to focus if he didn''t want to see his guild rookie be crippled, right?
[Using Intermediate Potion.]
[Injuries are being healed.]
Crack¡ª Crack¡ª
The broken bones rejoined, and the torn wounds began to close.
Park Seongwook''s expression rxed.
"Rookie junior, where did you say you got that potion?"
An unconceble gleam of desire flickered in Jeong Jinsu''s eyes.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 18: Arhan Guild (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 18: Arhan Guild (2)
Jeong Jinsu''s eyes lit up the moment he saw the effects of the Intermediate Potion.
¡®Heh heh heh. He took the bait.¡¯
With arge guild like Arhan involved, the awareness of Intermediate Potions would rise quickly.
¡¾Was your visit to the Pantheon meant to set up this situation?¡¿
¡ª No way.
Even though Yoojin was a regressor, he couldn''t remember such trivial details.
''If that guy hadn''t picked a fight, I wouldn''t have even remembered it.''
He had thought of a few ways to promote the Intermediate Potion, but thanks to this unexpected encounter, things had be much easier.
But speaking of which,
¡ª Fafnir, haven''t you worked out all your kinks yet?
¡¾Heh. If you''re nning another round, I wee it.¡¿
Now that he had Fafnir''s consent,
"Curious about the source of the soon-to-bemercialized Intermediate Potion?"
"Hahaha. Well, I''d be grateful if you told me."
"I''ll tell you if you spar with me."
Jeong Jinsu''s cheeks twitched.
His pride must have been hurt after being challenged to a fight by a Hunter who had just Awakened.
"Regardless of the oue?"
"It''s an opportunity to learn from Arhan''s Team Leader. Why would I add more conditions?"
Yoojin''s mocking words further provoked Jeong Jinsu.
"Yongwoo, check on the rookie."
"Team Leader, are you really going to spar with a 1 Star Hunter?"
"Themercialized Intermediate Potion. It would be beneficial for Arhan to know its source first."
He spoke as if it were for the public good, but...
Jeong Jinsu, who had taken the bait, didn''t hide the killing intent in his eyes.
¡¾He''s falling for it as if you''ve smeared honey on your tongue.¡¿
¡ª Those inrge guilds have nothing but pride.
Of course.
It wouldn''t be fun if he didn''t take the bait after being so tantly provoked.
Jeong Jinsu took out his personal weapons from a small subspace pocket.
A thin rapier.
And light armor reinforced with monster hide.
¡¾A speed-oriented type, huh?¡¿
¡ª It''ll be dangerous if the attacks umte.
¡¾Hmph. I''ll just ignore the trivial attacks and press forward.¡¿
Fafnir replied confidently.
¡ª Don''t get careless. Your opponent is a veteran who''s been stuck at the peak of 3 Stars for a long time.
From 3 Stars onwards, enlightenment was required to advance to the next rank.
However, that didn''t mean you couldn''t gain experience after reaching the maximum level.
If you gained the same amount of experience required for level 50, you would gain 1/5 of the stats obtainable at that rank.
Jeong Jinsu was a 3 Star.
After reaching the maximum level, if he leveled up, he would receive 1/5 of the 15 bonus stats, meaning 3 extra stat points.
''His stats should be higher than Fafnir''s.''
He didn''t bother warning him.
Fafnir was proud of his strength from when he was alive.
It wouldn''t be bad for him to experience the gap of 25 years through this opportunity.
[Sparring System activated.]
[Calcting the defense and health of both Hunters.]
[A barrier will automatically activate if lives are at risk.]
[3, 2, 1]
[Sparring begins.]
"Are you going to use that summon as your champion again?"
"I have to fulfill my role as a Priest."
"Keep in mind that summons, unlike Hunters, are not protected by the sparring system."
His intentions were clear.
¡ª Did you hear that? Even I''ll have a hard time repairing that body, so don''t get destroyed.
¡¾Heh heh. I''ll try my best.¡¿
Fafnir slightly extended his right arm, gauging the distance to his opponent.
Jeong Jinsu was also measuring the distance.
''How fast was his reaction to the rookie''s thrust earlier?''
His response to attacks was that of a typical in-fighter.
In that case, all he had to do was increase his speed so that Fafnir couldn''t properly utilize his destructive power, which suited hisrge build.
Having made his decision, Jeong Jinsu took a step.
Thump¡ª Thump¡ª
Fafnir''s blue irises slowly moved, following Jeong Jinsu''s movements.
¡¾Oh? He''s different from the rookie.¡¿
Fafnir''s thoughts spread like a voice, no longer limited to Yoojin.
"What was that? Did someone turn on the air conditioning?"
"I wonder. It''s eerie."
The team members watching the spar fidgeted.
The chill of the dead.
Those with weak minds would have been startled upon hearing Fafnir''s thoughts, which sounded almost like a ghostly wail.
"A spirit? No. I can''t even guess what kind of summon it is."
¡¾If you''re curious, you''ll have to find out yourself.¡¿
"I was just about to do that..."
[Zephyr Sword Technique]
[Fifth Form]
[Sharp Attack]
"Here Ie!"
Jeong Jinsu kicked off the ground and swung his sword with lightning speed.
Fafnir reacted almost simultaneously, trying to deflect the approaching de, but¡ª
The tip of Jeong Jinsu''s sword grazed Fafnir''s chest as he retreated.
Sparks!
Fafnir stumbled, fully absorbing the force behind the sword strike.
¡ª You seem to be struggling. Want me to help?
¡¾I haven''t even warmed up yet, so just wait a bit.¡¿
Fafnir exuded confidence.
Yoojin, ready to intervene in the fight at any moment, watched the situation unfold while channeling his spirit power.
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Seventh Stance]
[Ten-Strike Flurry]
The martial arts that Park Haneul, Fafnir''s past self, had mastered unfolded.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Incredible speed and power that made the air tremble.
The body, integrated with the draconian corpse through the curse inscribed beforehand, moved perfectly ording to Fafnir''s will.
Despite that, Fafnir''s movements were somewhat clumsy.
¡¾Hmm. This isn''t right.¡¿
Whoosh¡ª! Whoosh!
His fists repeatedly cut through the air.
The draconian''s physique wasrger than a human''s.
When fully extended, Fafnir''s arms, inhabiting the draconian''s body, weren''t that different in reach from Jeong Jinsu''s sword.
The fundamental reason why his attacks weren''t connecting,
"His strength and reaction speed are fast, but his body is slow."
Jeong Jinsu''s thin sword once again grazed Fafnir''s body.
The draconian''s scales had such excellent defensive capabilities that even Yoojin had to weaken them with gue Zombie before he could create cracks.
However, the Hunter who had reached the peak of 3 Stars broke through the scales with just a few sword strikes without such effort.
Although the damaged area was minimal.
''The problem is that Fafnir is taking effective hits.''
¡²Khahaha! At this rate, he might lose to the little human.¡³
''We''ll see about that.''
Yoojin watched with his arms crossed.
ng! ng!
The sharp sound of metal shing echoed.
The scales inscribed with strengthening circuits shattered one after another, falling to the floor.
A one-sided battle.
They had exchanged blows non-stop for five minutes, but only Fafnir had sustained any damage.
Jeong Jinsu created distance and caught his breath, suppressing his surprise.
''Is this really a summon belonging to a 1 Star Hunter?''
His thrusts had definitelynded.
The heavy impact was proof.
However, despite his relentless attacks, Fafnir''s movements hadn''t slowed down at all.
The characteristic of the undead to keep moving even with damaged limbs.
Unaware of this, Jeong Jinsu simply assumed that Fafnir was tougher than he had thought.
A summon too powerful for a Hunter who had just Awakened.
Despite that¡ª
"What''s the point of a sturdy body if you just stand still?"
¡¾I agree.¡¿
Fafnir''s lips twisted into a smirk.
An expression as vivid as that of the living.
¡¾I''ve finished limating. Now, I''ll go all out.¡¿
¡®Oh?¡¯
Yoojin let out a short exmation.
He understood the meaning behind Fafnir''s words.
''He noticed it quickly.''
The draconian''s body was muchrger and tougher than a human''s.
Powerful arms and legs.
The physique of a typical in-fighter.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
However, the soul inhabiting that body, ''Park Haneul,'' was originally an out-fighter who preferred swift movements.
''Even as a Death Knight, he favored quick attacks.''
Despite the increased synchronization through Soul Binding, Park Haneul''s fighting style didn''t suit the draconian''s body.
''He''ll realize it quickly if he faces an opponent of the right level.''
That was why he had provoked Jeong Jinsu with the promise of the Intermediate Potion supply.
He had thought it would be fast enough if Fafnir grasped it after the spar, but...
''As expected of my best subordinate.''
Yoojin smiled and released the spirit power he had gathered.
£ª £ª £ª
"Unholy Blessing."
A gloomy energy flowed from Yoojin''s hand and permeated Fafnir''s entire body.
The divine spell newly acquired from the Pantheon.
[Unholy Blessing seeps into the Eldritch Dragon.]
[The target possesses energy from the Yin dimension.]
[All stats increased by 20%.]
Oh?
A novice Priest''s buff increased stats by 20%?
''That''s insane.''
The increase was astounding.
Low-level divine spells usually only amplified one or two stats at most.
Although the targets for this buff were limited to undead or those who wielded unholy powers, it wasn''t a restriction for Yoojin, who mainly used undead.
''Now, for the next one...''
He channeled his spirit power again and infused it into Jeong Jinsu.
[Unholy Blessing seeps into the human.]
[The target does not possess mana from the ???.]
[All stats decreased by 10%.]
As Unholy Blessing took effect, Jeong Jinsu''s movements slowed.
¡²How is it? The new power I have bestowed upon you!¡³
''Butt out, ipetent constetion. I''m the one who worked hard to obtain this.''
Don''t try to take credit when all you do is watch.
"Are you really a 1 Star?"
Ignoring Jeong Jinsu''s suspicious gaze, Yoojin activated the next divine spell.
[Using Punishing Spike.]
ck tattoos emerged on Fafnir''s scales.
Patterns resembling thorny vines densely covered his body.
"Go wild."
¡¾Now that''s an order I like.¡¿
Thump! Thump!
The ring shook violently every time Fafnir moved his legs.
Hundreds of kilograms of mass.
The undead, created from the draconian''s corpse, scattered blue irises in all directions.
A dark shadow loomed over Jeong Jinsu.
''A mere stat decrease...''
He had been stuck at 3 Stars for years, conquering countless Gates.
Adapting to dulled senses was an easy task for a veteran like Jeong Jinsu.
[Zephyr Sword Technique]
[Twelfth Form]
[Piercing Attack]
With dazzling footwork, he evaded the enemy''s attacks.
His thin sword, moving like lightning, tore at the scales.
As the damage umted, flesh exposed between the broken scales was ripped apart by the sword''s sharpness.
''It''ll be over soon.''
The moment Jeong Jinsu was certain of victory¡ª
¡¾Indeed. This body''s fighting style is not about keeping distance from the enemy.¡¿
Fafnir charged towards the flurry of sword strikes.
He suffered serious injuries, his flesh tearing and bones exposed, but his movements didn''t slow down.
The body of the undead, with no blood flowing.
Unless their arms or legs were severed, the undead would never stop.
Fafnir''s raised shoulder mmed into Jeong Jinsu''s torso just as he was retracting his sword.
"Gah!"
With a pained cry, Jeong Jinsu was thrown back several meters, losing his bnce and tumbling to the floor.
Although momentary, the impact was enough to take his breath away.
Jeong Jinsu immediately bounced back up and regained hisposure.
''It seems he''s adapted to some extent.''
The corners of Yoojin''s lips curled up.
After that, the nature of the fight changed slightly.
Fafnir relentlessly pressed forward, aiming tond a decisive blow, rather than gauging distance.
On the other hand, Jeong Jinsu moved around the ring, responding passively.
Wounds umted on both sides.
Fafnir, who was moving more aggressively, barely had any scales left intact.
Arge, dark bruise marked Jeong Jinsu''s face.
Although hidden by his armor, his body was also bruised from the umted impacts.
Crash¡ª!
Fafnir''s momentum shifted.
With Yoojin''s buffs, the bnce of the match began to tip in their favor.
''Am I losing?''
mes of fury flickered in Jeong Jinsu''s eyes.
Even though he was stuck at 3 Stars, he had pride in having held his own in the number one guild in Korea for so long.
He would win.
No, he had to win!
''It''s not like I have no chance. My footwork is faster.''
If he could subdue Yoojin, who was exposed and defenseless, he could turn the tide of the spar.
As soon as he made up his mind, Jeong Jinsu changed direction.
He narrowly slipped past Fafnir and dashed towards Yoojin, who was positioned at the rear.
¡¾Oh dear. With my speed...¡¿
Fafnir''s troubled thoughts echoed.
A sinister gleam of joy shone in Jeong Jinsu''s eyes.
''Just as I thought.''
[Releasing Punishing Spike.]
Did you think I wouldn''t anticipate that?
As Yoojin snapped his fingers, the spirit power amplified by the umted damage exploded with ferocious momentum.
A pale shockwave mercilessly struck Jeong Jinsu''s back as he was passing Fafnir.
"Gah!"
With a pained cry, a green light emanated from the ring, protecting Jeong Jinsu''s body.
[You have received damage exceeding the limit.]
[The right side has lost.]
A heavy silence fell over the sparring field.
"What did I just see?"
The frozen time resumed its flow with the bted cries of the Arhan Hunters.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 19: The Path Not Taken (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 19: The Path Not Taken (1)
A middle-aged man with slicked-back hair.
A long scar etched between his eyebrows marked the face of the man who sat behind a namete made of ivory.
[Baek Seonghyeon, Arhan Vice President]
The number one guild in Korea.
Arhan''s second-inmand, and one of the few 7 Star Hunters in Korea, slowly opened his lips.
"Amercialized Intermediate Potion, you say?"
"Y-yes, that''s correct."
Jeong Jinsu, who had been struck by an unexpected attack from Yoojin and had ignominiously rolled around the ring.
After the spar ended, he immediately reported to his superiors as soon as he received Yoojin''s contact information.
And before he could even erase the bruise on his face with a healing spell, he was summoned to the vice president''s office.
"In your opinion, Team Leader Jeong, how effective was it?"
"It healed broken bones instantly, so it''s simr to the potions thate from Gates."
"Indeed. That aligns with the analysis of the recording from the spar."
Baek Seonghyeon indirectly confirmed that he had seen everything that transpired in the sparring field.
Jeong Jinsu lowered his head.
"I-I apologize, Vice Guild Leader."
"For what?"
"For tarnishing Arhan''s honor. I will ept any punishment."
Scoff¡ª
Baek Seonghyeon let out a sneer.
"How does your loss, Team Leader Jeong, tarnish Arhan''s honor?"
"I was defeated in the guild training ground by a 1 Star Hunter with no background..."
"I didn''t realize Arhan''s honor was so fragile that it would be tarnished by the loss of a mere 3 Star Hunter."
Baek Seonghyeon''s icy voice cut Jeong Jinsu off.
Jeong Jinsu trembled, and as if bowing his head wasn''t enough, he fell to his knees.
"Do you understand what you did wrong now?"
"I-I dared to speak carelessly about Arhan''s honor."
"I hope you won''t be so frivolous with your words again."
Baek Seonghyeon waved his hand dismissively.
Jeong Jinsu bowed at a 90-degree angle, then backed out of the office, careful not to turn his back.
Beep¡ª
His secretary rushed into the office as soon as he was summoned.
"Look into the source of the Intermediate Potion."
"Understood."
"And..."
Baek Seonghyeon trailed off.
Tap¡ª Tap¡ª
His right index finger repeatedly tapped the armrest.
The secretary knew this was a habit he had when lost in thought and waited patiently.
''That man... He''s not ordinary.''
Before summoning Jeong Jinsu, he had already reviewed the recording of Yoojin''s fight from the CCTV installed in the training ground.
It wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say that nothing happened in the Arhan Guild without Baek Seonghyeon''s knowledge.
The reason he summoned Jeong Jinsu was topare the CCTV footage with the ount of the person involved.
''Even with a unique trait, is it possible to possess power that transcends one''s rank?''
The faces of rankers from around the world shed through Baek Seonghyeon''s mind.
Arthur, the American Hunter who controlled the phantom beast Phoenix.
Diana Sting, who had a unique trait rted to spirits.
He thought of several other rankers, but...
''There''s no Hunter who can surpass their rank by two levels.''
Fafnir''s power was so extraordinary that it was unprecedented.
Tap¡ª
His index finger stopped tapping the armrest.
''He said he was a Priest. Then could it be a divine beast?''
A subtle smile yed on Baek Seonghyeon''s lips.
The Romanov family, one of the seven great ns with Odin as their guardian constetion, alsomanded Einherjar as summons.
If...
If Yoojin had extraordinary talent as a Priest¡
''He might have received a sacred beast, or even a divine beast with the potential to grow.''
Baek Seonghyeon smiled faintly at the usible hypothesis.
Fafnir''sbat abilities were beyondprehension.
If he had been bestowed a divine beast, or a sacred being like an Einherjar, everything would make sense.
"Investigate that man, Cheon Yoojin."
"Understood."
"Anything, no matter how small. Find out everything, down to the color of his underwear."
"Yes, sir."
"And demote Team Leader Jeong Jinsu and transfer him back to being a team member."
He had to be punished thoroughly for losing to a 1 Star Hunter
and for daring to speak of Arhan''s honor without knowing his ce.
Finally satisfied, Baek Seonghyeon smiled brightly.
£ª £ª £ª
His business at the Arhan Guild was finished.
He had promoted the Intermediate Potion, tested the effects of the new divine spells acquired from the Pantheon, and even had Fafnir''s first realbat experience.
''Wow. This is almost too profitable.''
Mr. Park Seongwook, it was unpleasant working with you, and let''s never meet again.
¡¾I apologize for turning the body you painstakingly crafted for me into a rag.¡¿
"Don''t worry about it. It''s just a bit of wear and tear."
An Eldritch Dragon.
Like a lich, as long as there was enough life force, it could be restored to its original form no matter how badly damaged.
Although he couldn''t utilize that regenerative ability yet because he hadn''t created a Life Force Vessel
''I just need the Darkness Orb I ordered from my partner to arrive.''
Darkness Orbs weren''tmon items, and since ''Warlocks'' were an unpopr ss, they weren''t traded often.
He should be able to get it soon.
"How was your first realbat experience in 35 years?"
¡¾I admit it. I was too arrogant and inexperienced.¡¿
In the early days of the Great Cataclysm, very few Hunters had surpassed the 6 Star barrier.
Only exceptionally skilled 5 Stars, and those who had survived countless battles, could reach that supreme level.
Fafnir, before his death, was a talented Hunter who led the way among countless others.
It wasn''t for nothing that he was mentioned in the same breath as the 7 Stars.
¡¾Master, what''s the highest rank among Hunters in the world right now?¡¿
"9 Stars."
Dmitri, the Mage King of Russia.
Chang Wufei, the Martial King of China.
Currently, only two of the heads of the seven great families had reached the 9th rank.
¡¾A lot has changed while I was clinging to a tree andmenting. How merciless time is.¡¿
Fafnir''s thoughts wereced with self-deprecation.
"If you''re not confident, just say so. I''ll release you anytime."
¡¾Heh. You have a strange sense of humor. Do you think I''ll back down because of this?¡¿
Hearing Yoojin''s provocation, Fafnir replied confidently.
"Good. That''s what I expect from my minion."
Bzzt¡ª!
His phone vibrated. He took it out and saw a message from a familiar number.
[Little Runt Kang Minho]
Boss, we sold all the items from thest hunt.
[Cheon Yoojin]
Good job. Want to grab dinner tonight?
[Little Runt Kang Minho]
Sounds good to me. I''ll send you the money right away.
The money was transferred to his ount within 10 seconds.
Yoojin smiled softly.
"150 million won in three days."
¡¾You''re not adding an extra zero, are you?¡¿
"Why would I do that?"
¡¾If you''re bluffing, I''ll let it slide.¡¿
"Look at this guy. After 35 years of being out of touch, he has no sense of money, does he?"
Items from Gates were all expensive.
Even low-rank magic stones contained mana, so corporations were buying them up.
The Gate intion trend wouldn''t die down for the next five years or so.
¡¾I can''t believe it. Back in my day, Hunters lived with only the pride of risking their lives to protect people!¡¿
"Minion, what ancient times are you talking about?"
¡¾The fleeting nature of time...¡¿
"It''s easy to earn, but just as easy to spend."
Strengthening undead required herbs found only in Gates or the border region.
He would earn a lot of money, but...
To maximize the effects of necromancy, he would have to spend a lot as well.
"Oh, Fafnir, do me a favor."
¡¾You could just give me an order. It''s ominous that you''re asking instead.¡¿
"You have the Eyes of the Martial God, don''t you?"
¡¾Indeed. It''s a trait that allows me to grasp the core of any martial art.¡¿
Unlike the Martial Mage trait, this was Park Haneul''s S-rank trait that had been inherited even in his past life.
It wasn''t bestowed by the system,
but an innate sense that Park Haneul possessed, which was why it was inherited.
"I know your specialty is hand-to-handbat, but if you put your mind to it, couldn''t you quickly learn spear techniques?"
¡¾Master, bare-handedbat suits this body best to maximize its power. I don''t think there''s a need to use a spear.¡¿
"Ah, about that. I want you to learn it and teach me."
Fafnir stared at Yoojin with a dumbfounded expression.
Could the expressions of the dead be so varied?
Or was Fafnir''s thought process so intense that it moved his stiffened muscles?
Upon hearing Yoojin''s request, countless words filled his mind.
With superhuman patience, Fafnir expressed himself with the most polite thought he could muster.
¡¾That''s insane!¡¿
His zing blue irises red at Yoojin.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin''s next destination was the Hunter Market.
The payment for the hunt hade in, and since it wasn''t far from Yeouido, it made sense to stop by.
¡¾So you''re serious.¡¿n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
Fafnir, who had entered the Ring of Darkness, didn''t hide his displeasure.
¡ª I''ve been serious from the start.
¡¾I don''t know how often you''ll be wielding a spear, but...¡¿
¡ª It''s always best to be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Indeed.
Even in his past life, there were several enemies who broke through his undead army and aimed for Yoojin''s life.
He had been through so much that he had developed the skills to easily subdue goblins.
¡¾If you''re going to learn spear techniques, what about stat allocation?¡¿
¡ª My physical abilities areparable to those of martial arts Hunters of the same level.
¡¾You don''t have a unique trait like [Martial Mage].¡¿
¡ª There''s a divine spell called Life Drain.
A peculiar divine spell that enhanced physical abilities by stealing and absorbing the life force of monsters.
Its original purpose was to use the stolen life force for healing, but Yoojin was mainly utilizing its secondary effect of strengthening his body by umting biomatter.
¡¾There''s such a spell among Priest skills?¡¿
¡ª Since my stats are increasing anyway, it would be good to have a way to use them.
¡¾That''s a reasonable point.¡¿
¡ª If it gets to the point where I can''t use it even after learning spear techniques, let me know. Then I''ll stop.
¡¾If you''re saying that, Master, I can''t refuse any further.¡¿
Fafnir was finally convinced.
Although he could give orders as Fafnir''s master, he intended to respect Fafnir''s wishes as much as possible.
''From high-ranking undead onwards,bat power varies depending on the soul''s autonomy.''
Indeed.
Just as people''s efficiency differed depending on their condition, high-ranking undead with distinct egos were also subtly affected.
This was evidenced by the fact that Yoojin''s main undead in his past life all had clear self-awareness.
''I will earn their heartfelt loyalty.''
The undead Yoojin created were basically imprinted with a sense of intimacy or obedience.
This meant that with a little effort, the bond between their souls could be quickly strengthened.
Even if that wasn''t the case, he didn''t want to arbitrarily break the will of a forgotten hero who had risked his life to save others.
''Now that I''ve persuaded him, all I need to do is find that skill book.''
Yoojin headed to the skill book store.
Countless skill books found within Gates were lined up on the bookshelves.
Before purchase, each skill book was locked to prevent unauthorized use, but...
All Hunters could check item information, so there was no problem in confirming the contents of the skill books.
¡¾Master, do you have any spear techniques in mind?¡¿
¡ª Not particrly, but it has to be one without ss restrictions.
asionally, auxiliary magic or lessmon martial arts didn''t have ss restrictions.
Although they were less efficient, there were some surprisingly decent skills among those that could be learned without restrictions.
''Take Light magic, for instance, or Naryutagon, a martial art focused on evasion. Though known for itsical rolling maneuvers, Naryutagon proved incredibly useful for dodging attacks in a pinch.¡¯
Even in his past life, Yoojin had learned it and used it several times in critical situations.
It was quite useful, except for itsck of elegance.
''In this life, I''ll learn a martial art that''s both dignified and powerful.''
As he quickly scanned the skill books for sale in the market, Yoojin''s eyes stopped at a certain point.
"Found it."
A faint joy resonated in his voice.
A semi-transparent item description window appeared before his eyes.
[Verdian Basic Spear Technique]
Rank: Common
ssification: Skill Book
Durability: 1/1
A book that records the basic spear techniques passed down in the Verdian family from another world.
Even a child can learn it if they understand the contents.
''Yes. This is it.''
The item description made it seem like a self-defense technique at best, but...
Yoojin smiled.
¡ª If you perfectly master the Verdian Basic Spear Technique, you can learn Death Spiral, an Epic rank spear technique.
Those were the words of James Rothschild, the Spear Ghost of Ennd.
A hidden element that would be revealed only in the distant future.
''I''ll dly take advantage of this opportunity.''
¡²That bad habit of yours is showing again. What''s so funny?¡³
This was the privilege of a regressor.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 20: The Path Not Taken (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 20: The Path Not Taken (2)
Many private sparring centers are located near the Hunter Market.
They target Hunters who want to test out their newly purchased weapons or the power of their skills.
Yoojin also stopped by a nearby sparring center for a simr purpose.
¡°Here.¡±
He took out Fafnir from the Ring of Darkness and tossed him the [Verdian Basic Spear Technique] manual.
¡¾Aren''t you going to learn it, Master?¡¿
¡°You need to understand the essence of spearmanship to teach me, right?¡±
¡¾Oh,e on. Analyzing the spear technique on the spot and teaching it to you? You overestimate me.¡¿
Well...
Yoojin knew very well how outstanding Fafnir''s intellect was in his past life.
¡®Even when he synchronized with the Skeleton Knight and wielded a sword, he achieved mastery.¡¯
The 9 Star, called the realm of transcendence.
Fafnir was a skilled individual who reached the 9th rank despite using a sword he had never wielded in his lifetime.
If he hadn''t fallen into the trap of the Arahan Guild and died so pointlessly, a Hunter family would have already emerged from his lineage.
¡®I can trust Fafnir''s talent.¡¯
At least...
He would be a far better teacher than Yoojin, who had no connection to martial arts whatsoever.
¡¾To think I''d receive such a request in my afterlife.¡¿
¡°You''re already dead.¡±
¡¾Don''t you know any euphemisms?¡¿
Fafnir grumbled as he carefully read the [Verdian Basic Spear Technique].
Since he wasn''t a Hunter, just reading the contents wouldn''t immediately generate a skill.
Acquiring a skill instantly upon opening a skill book, as long as the conditions were met, was a privilege granted only to Hunters.
Conversely...
If one grasped the essence of a skill book, they could perform the technique without the aid of the Awakening System.
¡®That''s whyrge guilds like Arahan are so popr.¡¯
The [Kairan Spear Technique] that Park Seongwook used wasn''t acquired from a skill book either; he learned it from a specialized instructor belonging to the Arahan Guild.
This meant that skill books weren''t a cure-all.
It was also possible to create skills through enlightenment and repetitive training.
¡®Just like how even with low-level alchemy or necromancy skills, if you inscribe the form, you can still activate it.¡¯
While Fafnir was struggling with the spear technique skill book...
Yoojin wasn''t just idling around either.
¡®I need to recover from the injuries I sustained in the sparring session.¡¯
[Using Life Drain.]
Yoojin extracted the life force of the orcs he had stored in the border region and infused it into Fafnir.
The deeply gouged muscles and flesh regenerated, and scales sprouted, covering the newly healed skin.
A regenerative ability like that of a troll.
¡®A holy spell that heals even the undead.¡¯
Although there was a restriction that the target of the healing had to be in close proximity...
The advantage of being able to restore the undead on the spot during battle was quite significant.
While low-ranking undead like zombies could be used as expendable pawns...
If a carefully crafted undead like Fafnir was damaged in battle, there was no avoiding the immediate loss ofbat power.
Repairing them required a lot of resources, catalysts, and concentration...
And it wasn''t like the enemy would just sit back and watch while he tried to restore a damaged undead, right?
¡®A holy spell useful for necromancers.¡¯
Perhaps it''s because they worship the concept of defying death, but holy spells seem to work well with the undead.
Around the time all the scars engraved on Fafnir''s body were healed...
¡¾Hmm. I think I understand the gist of it.¡¿
"See? You got it quickly, didn''t you?"
¡¾I''ve only grasped the theory. To be familiar with the spear technique, I have no choice but to learn it through my body.¡¿
Yoojin and Fafnir faced each other, each holding a practice spear.
¡¾Learn the skill first.¡¿
"Sounds good."
[Using the Verdian Basic Spear Technique Skill Book.]
[The essence of the skill is engraved in your mind.]
Fwoosh¡ª
The book turned to dust.
The basic postures of the spear technique recorded in the skill book came to mind one by one.
¡®A total of six forms. Just as I heard.¡¯
First Form ¨C Normal Thrust
Second Form ¨C Quick Thrust
Third Form ¨C Rotating Block
Fourth Form ¨C Shaft Strike
Fifth Form ¨C Charge
Sixth Form ¨C Full Power Thrust
Three out of the six were thrusts.
The remaining forms also felt simple in concept.
¡¾You think it''s simple?¡¿
"Yeah, that''s right. It''s good to learn for self-defense."
¡¾If you learn spearmanship superficially, you''ll say that.¡¿
"Has our novice already grasped the hidden secrets within the basic spear technique?"
¡¾No way. I don''t have that kind of talent.¡¿
Fafnir raised his spear and pointed the tip at Yoojin.
¡¾So, let''s have a conversation with our bodies and find out.¡¿
¡®Huh? What?¡¯
Before he could even answer, the practice spear in Fafnir''s hand shed and pierced Yoojin''s abdomen.
£ª £ª £ª
The blunt spear tip drew closer and closer.
His panic was fleeting.
Having experienced countless battles, Yoojin moved the spear in his hand with ease.
''He did adjust his strength, didn''t he?''
The difference in specs between Yoojin and Fafnir was overwhelming. If Fafnir had attacked with full force, Yoojin would have been hit the moment he perceived the spear flying towards him.
But if it was at a speed Yoojin could react to...
''I should be able to deflect it.''
[Verdian Basic Spear Technique]
[Third Form]
[Using Rotating Block.]
Based on the knowledge instilled by the skill book, Yoojin spun the spear shaft.
As it rotated, a threatening whooshing sound echoed.
The spear thrust by Fafnir caught on Yoojin''s rotating spear shaft.
Good!
But the moment he tried to push harder and deflect Fafnir''s attack...
"Ugh."
A groan escaped him from the impact on his wrist. His strength gave out, and the spear shaft he was holding with both hands spun wildly and was flung into the air.
Thud!
Nausea welled up as the blunt tip struck him directly in the chest. He managed to stay on his feet, but he couldn''t help but gag.
"Ugh."
¡¾You''re more of a fool than I thought, Master.¡¿
Fafnir muttered under his breath.
After catching his breath, Yoojin asked about what had just happened.
"I definitely deflected it. What happened?"
¡¾You can''t deflect a thrusting attack by just dispersing the force.¡¿
"It''s not because your strength is greater than mine, is it?"
¡¾Heh heh. You know I thrust it ording to your level, right?¡¿
Tsk.
He wasn''t falling for it.
¡¾Again.¡¿
The moment Yoojin grasped the flung practice spear...
As if waiting for this, Fafnir stepped forward with his right foot.
The spear tip aimed for the same spot.
Yoojin was used to staring at an iing attack without flinching.
''I won''t just take it this time.''
His forearm muscles bulged as he tensed them.
He channeled the life force umted from goblins, orcs, and frogmen, maximizing his enhanced strength.
[Verdian Basic Spear Technique]
[Fourth Form]
[Using Shaft Strike.]
Whack!
It felt good.
He kept his eyes locked onto Fafnir''s thrust, not missing a single movement.
Timing his swing perfectly, he extended his spear shaft and struck, deflecting the attack before it could reach him.
''If I go further, I can stab...''
As he stepped forward, Yoojin''s vision blurred.
Thud!
Huh?
''Why am I lying on the floor?''
He was trying tond a blow on Fafnir, but...
With a dull thud, his vision flipped.
A moment toote, he realized that Fafnir''s spear had struck his back, sending him tumbling to the ground.
"You used the recoil from deflecting my spear to strike my back?"
¡¾Correct.¡¿
"To think you''d use my own strength against me."
¡¾It was good that you deflected my attack before itnded without rotating the shaft.¡¿
As if demonstrating, Fafnir lightly thrust his spear.
The tip wavered in front of Yoojin''s nose.
¡¾Do you feel it?¡¿
"You''re saying I need to judge the position of the deflection carefully?"
¡¾You''re quite perceptive. You understand quickly without needing to be told multiple times.¡¿
Fafnir grinned.
Gritting his teeth, Yoojin raised his spear shaft again.
¡¾Again.¡¿
Oh.
¡®This... feels like I''m screwed.¡¯
Cold sweat drenched Yoojin''s back.
"It wouldn''t be of any use asking you to go easy on me, would it?"
Contrary to his words, Yoojin gripped the spear shaft tightly, as if trying to crush it.
Fafnir observed him with a profound gaze, taking in the sight.
£ª £ª £ª
An hour had passed since they began spear technique training.
"Huff... huff..."
He gasped for air, his lungs burning.
Sweat poured down like rain.
Droplets of Yoojin''s sweat were scattered all over the sparring field.
His hands, gripping the spear, trembled.
His body was reaching its limit from fending off Fafnir''s attacks.
¡²You look pathetic, Contractor.¡³
''Shut up, ipetent constetion.''
It wasn''t as if he was just getting hit.
He had seen countless thrusts.
And he had moved his spear in response.
He failed every time and was countered by Fafnir''s spear, but still...
¡¾But you''re not giving up.¡¿
"Because I''m the one who asked you to teach me."
Yoojin grumbled in a frustrated voice.
Even though Fafnir had adjusted both his speed and strength, Yoojin couldn''t even exchange a proper attack and defense. Instead, he was knocked down countless times or poked by the blunt tip.
Yoojin, who had learned the basics of spearmanship using the Hunter''s privilege, the skill book...
On the other hand, Fafnir had a much higher understanding of the spear technique despite only reading the contents of the skill book.
''I''m the one who received the skill buff. But I couldn''t evennd a single attack properly.''
He had been beaten so much by the practice spear.
His whole body ached. If he didn''t heal himself, he might not be able to get up tomorrow.
¡¾Have you grasped the essence of spearmanship a little?¡¿
"Essence my foot. All I did was move to avoid getting hit."
¡¾Hehehe. The essence of fighting is to get hit less and strike more.¡¿
Fafnir spun his spear shaft.
¡¾In that sense, this spear technique is not bad.¡¿
"Not bad means?"
¡¾It means that the seemingly simple techniques are all fundamentally sound.¡¿
Thrust faster.
Exploit the opponent''s openings. That was Fafnir''s way to win a fight.
In Fafnir''s view, the Verdian Basic Spear Technique was more faithful to the essence ofbat than the techniques of most martial arts Hunters.
''Ah. So that''s how it is.''
Yoojin reflected on his struggles over the past hour, one by one.
The nature of the spear as a weapon.
Utilizing the fact that the tip is where the force concentrates, it focuses power on a single point, or...
It also uses the long shaft to attack a wide area.
The [Verdian Basic Spear Technique] has simple movements, but it epasses all the methods to utilize the advantages of a spear.
''No wonder it was Spear Ghost James'' main technique.''
Yoojin''s real aim was to learn the spear technique that could only be acquired after mastering the [Verdian Basic Spear Technique].
It was to learn the [Verdian Destruction Spear Technique].
He started learning it as a stepping stone, but after hearing Fafnir''s exnation, he realized that even the basic spear technique was decent.
¡¾To think you''d find such a treasure while searching for amon-type skill book. Master, you''re lucky.¡¿
"If getting beaten up is also part of that luck..."
¡¾Unfortunately, I''m not good at exining things with words.¡¿
"That''s really unfortunate."
Yoojin muttered with sincerity.
If...
If getting beaten up by Fafnir had no effect, then he wouldn''t know, but...
He had struggled to deflect the thrusts.
And thanks to his hours of desperate efforts, he quickly grasped the essence of the spear technique.
Ironically...
Fafnir''s teaching method suited Yoojin quite well.
¡¾You''re pretty good with your body, aren''t you? At this rate, you would have achieved great things even if you had be a martial arts Hunter.¡¿
"I used to fight quite often when I was at the orphanage. This is nothing."
¡¾I''m getting motivated to teach you, Master.¡¿
"It''s not because you can legally hit me, is it?"
¡¾I won''t deny it.¡¿
¡®This damn bastard. If he''s a servant, he should act like one and show some respect to his master.¡¯
Yoojin grumbled inwardly as hey down in the ring.
¡¾Tell me anytime if you want to stop.¡¿
"After all this trouble?"
¡¾You have an excellent servant like me, Master.¡¿
He''s really good at praising himself.
Yoojin looked up at the ceiling and replied weakly.
"If I was going to quit so soon, I wouldn''t have started in the first ce."
The Path Not Taken.
Changing his ss to a Priest was a gamble he could take because he trusted the [Ring of Darkness].
Learning martial arts skills was not a n he had made before his return.
However...
''I''ve decided to use everything I can.''
Even if it meant using his own body as the tool, Yoojin had no intention of letting any opportunity for improvement slip away.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
His abilities as a Priest would naturally improve as he raised his soul rank and umted achievements.
And his past life experiences were enough for alchemy and necromancy.
''To properly utilize martial arts abilities, I need more experience.''
His body was bing stronger due to the effects of Life Drain.
It would be a waste to let it go to waste.
If he could gain another means of bing stronger by shedding a little sweat...
What could be more beneficial than that?
¡¾So you have no intention of giving up.¡¿
"Were you testing me?"
¡¾It would be troublesome for us too if you, the customer, suddenly changed your mind.¡¿
Looking at Fafnir, Yoojin let out a chuckle.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 21: Someone Elses Opportunity is Best Taken First (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 21: Someone Else''s Opportunity is Best Taken First (1)
By the time he finished a quick shower in the locker room, the sun had already set.
Kang Minho, who hade out earlier, approached Yoojin as he was leaving the sparring center.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Hyung-nim. Why is your face...?"
Seeing Yoojin''s face covered in bruises and swollen, his lips twisted in a grimace.
Seeing him desperately trying to hold backughter, Yoojin''s brow furrowed.
"Something happened."
"Keup, I understand."
"I''m hungry. Let''s go grab something."
"I''ll buy."
The group entered a nearby restaurant.
After cing a simple order...
While waiting for the food to arrive, Yoojin brought up the main topic.
"Are you aware of any recent issues in the Hunter world?"
"Most of it is just gossip, but Seongmin is obsessed with Hunte, so I hear things here and there."
Hunte.
It was an exclusive site that required Hunter certification to join.
''There''s nothing that special even if you get in.''
Even after going through a ratherplicated authentication process, there was almost no difference from other intemunities.
Any information worth spreading on Hunte would be released on othermunities not long after.
''I need to build an informationwork.''
After acquiring [Kronos'' Pocket Watch], he had memorized the events of the past in his own way.
Opportunities he must seize.
People to bring to his side.
And.
The list of those to kill.
''I''ve memorized the major events, but there might be parts I''ve missed.''
That''s the reason for building an informationwork.
By essing various information, his dormant memories could be stimted.
Nothing to lose.
Since he had called Kang Minho out anyway, Yoojin asked about the rumors circting on Hunte.
- Necrosis in Gangneung.
- The Gate that appeared in Ttangkkeut Vige.
- Serial killings of Hunters.
He listened to the issues circting on Hunte, but there wasn''t much to gain.
Clicking his tongue in disappointment...
"Come to think of it, isn''t there a Gate that opened in Gimje and has been maintained for a long time?"
"What is it?"
"Ah... that Forgotten Temple, Hyung-nim."
Wait a minute.
The Forgotten Temple?
The corners of his mouth curled into a smile. The moment he heard that name, an event from his past life shed through his mind.
''The Forgotten Temple hasn''t been conquered yet, huh?''
Chuckle.
Augh escaped his lips.
¡²Is it another one of those fated opportunities?¡³
''Our constetion seems displeased that I''m having it easy.''
¡²A hero is tempered through trials and tribtions. The path my contractor walks is far too easy.¡³
''I already went through a lot of hardship in my previous life, okay?''
While grumbling towards Kronos, the flow of conversation was interrupted.
¡°Hyung-nim?¡±
"Just lost in thought for a moment. More importantly, I want to hear about the Forgotten Temple."
¡°The Horizon Guild hasn''t been able to conquer it for almost a year, so it seems like a break will happen soon.¡±
¡°So it''s a flow-type, huh.¡±
Fixed-type Gates, like the [Ancient Garden], wouldn''t cause a Gate break as long as the number of monsters was periodically reduced.
On the other hand, with flow-types, even if monsters were hunted, the mana density gradually increased.
If a Gate couldn''t be conquered for a long time, the Gate''s mana would eventually reach 100%, causing a break.
"Yes. I heard the density has entered a dangerous stage."
¡°That guild must have lost some face.¡±
¡°Indeed. I heard Horizon is releasing control of the Gate and allowing general Hunters to participate.¡±
Gate control.
Powerful guilds asionally restricted ess to certain Gates.
Rare monsters.
Byproducts found only within that specific Gate.
There were many other reasons for imposing control, but sometimes they would face bacsh for controlling Gates they couldn''t handle themselves.
¡°Have there been any talks ofrge guilds participating?¡±
¡°There are rumors that the Phoenix and Dawn guilds are showing interest, but¡¡±
Phoenix, the second-ranked guild in Korea.
And Dawn, the third-ranked guild, joining the fray.
''If those two are in, it''s certain.''
There was a rumor Yoojin had heard in his previous life.
An artifact was discovered in a long-unconquered Gate where rookie Hunters from Phoenix and Dawnpeted.
Artifacts referred to weapons and equipment found inside Gates, not objects made by Earth''s craftsmen.
Of course.
Not everything that came out of a Gate was treated as an artifact.
Weapons imbued with powerful magic, spells, or blessings.
The Dragon Scale Armor, the reward for conquering the Forgotten Temple, was also a powerful weapon ssified as an artifact.
''In my past life, the Phoenix guild obtained the Dragon Scale Armor, right?''
A growth-type artifact.
The Blood Axe, which grew stronger by feeding on blood, was only [Rare] rank, but because it was a growing equipment, it could be sold at a high price.
The Dragon Scale Armor was [Epic] rank.
Unlike the Blood Axe, which had growth conditions, the armor grew stronger simply by wearing it, making it an unfairparison.
In his past life, the Dragon Scale Armor was an artifact that symbolized Kim Youngsoo, the master of the Phoenix Guild.
''This life will be different.''
Now that he had learned spear techniques.
It would be perfect to have armor to protect his body, wouldn''t it?
¡°Contact the team members. Tell them to meet tomorrow.¡±
¡°Hyung-nim. Don''t tell me¡¡±
¡°Tell them to prepare for camping likest time.¡±
Conquering the Forgotten Temple.
It wasn''t an easy ce like the [Ancient Garden], where all the strategic points could be targeted within a day.
¡°Camping again.¡±
Kang Minho''s grumbled.
£ª £ª £ª
A massive sculpture of two dragons stood facing each other.
Between the statues symbolizing Byeokgolje, a blue wormhole makes its presence known.
[TL/N: Byeokgolje ¡ª name of an ancient reservoir, one of the oldest andrgest in Korea. And here, the Gate to the Forgotten Temple has opened up between the two dragon statues.]
It was the Gate leading to the [Forgotten Temple].
"Whoa. There are a ton of Hunters here to raid the Gate."
Lee Seongmin''s eyes widened as he looked around.
The field stretched out below the embankment.
In the past, this space was only used for festivals.
But since the Horizon Guild gave up control, countless Hunters had flocked here, setting up tents across the field.
"Hyung-nim. Should we get ready too?"
"We''ll take care of food and lodging inside the Gate. No need to waste energy out here."
Kang Minyeong spoke hesitantly.
"We only packed supplies for five days. Will that be enough?"
"We have to finish within that time."
Yoojin said confidently.
The moment he heard about the [Forgotten Temple] Gate, he remembered the interview the Phoenix Guild had given back then.
Conquering it wouldn''t take that long.
"H-hyung-nim! Look over there!"
"What is it?"
"That''s Jang Miseon, the next Sword Saint of the Phoenix Guild!"
A woman with her long hair tied back.
She was equipped with light armor that didn''t restrict her movement and had a sword at her waist.
With tightly pressed lips and sharp eyes, the keen aura she exuded inadvertently subdued the bustling atmosphere of the open space.
''Right. She was the one who solved the secret of this Gate, wasn''t she?''
Yoojin stroked his chin as he observed Jang Miseon.
Before his return.
She was considered a talent who would surpass Kim Youngsoo, the master of the Phoenix Guild.
Unfortunately, she was caught in an ident during a Gate raid and her career was cut short.
In truth, that ident was a trap set by the Arhans to eliminate apetitor.
''That became the trigger for the guild war between the Arhans and the Phoenix Guild.''
Yoojin remembered the incident in detail because he had worked as a mercenary for the Phoenix Guild.
''I''ll grant Park Haneul''s wish.''
Back then, they weren''t at the level to engage in a full-fledged war with the No. 1 guild in Korea.
Seeing the person he had only heard of in stories in person gave him a renewed perspective.
"This is bad, hyung-nim."
"What is it now? Speak calmly."
"It seems Shin Yoosung from the Dawn Guild is participating in the raid."
Shin Yoosung.
He was the guy who wouldter be one of Korea''s top-ranking Hunters, known as the [Iron Fist].
Just like Jang Miseon.
Promising Hunters who would make a name for themselves in the future were gathered in one ce.
"Hyung-nim. Can we really conquer this?"
"Have faith."
"The way you say that makes you sound a bit like a priest."
"Sarcasm?"
"I guess it showed."
Kang Minhoughed awkwardly.
He was stiff as a board at first, but after a few days, he seemed to have rxed a bit.
Aside from his talent, his boldness and resourcefulness were quite useful.
"Don''t mind the other Hunters and just follow me. I won''t go easy on you even if you get tired."
With a chilling warning, Yoojin headed towards the statue.
"Hyung-nim! Wait for us!"
Triggered by Kang Minho''s high-pitched scream, the Little Runts team also shouldered their backpacks and entered the Gate one after another.
£ª £ª £ª
Whiiiiing¡ª
A dry wind brushed past his cheek.
Brown earth, devoid of any moisture. Aside from a few weeds, the ground felt lifeless.
A massive temple stood before them.
It was arge structure that truly lived up to the name ''Forgotten Temple''.
As he channeled mana into the ring...
¡¾Another fight?¡¿
Fafnir suddenly popped out and shouted in an excited voice.
"W-what is that, hyung-nim?"
"A subordinate."
¡¾It''s a bit rude to pretend you don''t know me, considering we''re somewhat acquainted.¡¿
A question mark appeared above Kang Minho''s head.
"You know him, right? The earthbound spirit we held a memorial service for in the border region."
"Did you turn a soul we held a memorial service for into an undead?"
"I did it with his permission."
"If I die, please don''t turn me into an undead."
"You think I can turn just anyone? You''re too weak; even if I tried, you''d only be a measly zombie."
"That makes me dislike it even more."
Fafnirughed heartily at Kang Minho''s disgust.
The Little Runts team shuddered at the undead''s presence.
"Ahem, before we start the raid in earnest, I''ll give a brief exnation."
Kang Minyeong stepped forward and began her exnation.
[Forgotten Temple]
[Type - Flow Type]
[Entry Requirements: 1 - 2 Stars]
[Mana Density: 93%]
[Gate Area: Large]
"The entry requirement for the Forgotten Temple is up to 2 stars, but the actual difficulty of the raid is said to be 3 stars."
¡¾What''s the reason for that assessment?¡¿
"The structure of the temple changes every day, and the environment is different each time."
Rumble¡ª
As soon as Kang Minyeong finished speaking, a strange rumbling sound emanated from the Forgotten Temple.
The pirs supporting the temple shifted from side to side, causing a tremendous roar to echo everywhere.
Parts of the floor caved in or suddenly rose, and the structure of the Forgotten Temple shook and rearranged itself.
¡¾I see. That must be it.¡¿
The change that urred every day.
This was the reason why the Forgotten Temple had remained unconquered for almost a year.
Every 24 hours, the structure of the temple would change, resetting everything.
The types of monsters in the temple would change, and the internal structure would bepletely altered.
"Damn it. Retreat! If you get caught in the structural transformation, it''s hard to survive."
"Has it been that long already?"
The Hunters who were hunting monsters or exploring the Gate structure hurriedly retreated.
Yoojin also watched the temple''s transformation closely.
''If it''s the same as I remember...''
In his past life, Jang Miseon, the Hunter who conquered the [Forgotten Temple], said this in an interview:
-The structure of the temple changes once a day.
-When you watch the temple change, there are pirs that don''t move.
-The surfaces of the pirs have strange patterns engraved on them, which match the monsters that appear each time the temple''s structure changes.
-When you align the symbols of the monsters with the pir that forms the axis of transformation, it would transport you to the boss room.
''I can''t believe I remember this.''
This gate became a global sensation because of its incrediblyplex mechanics.
The endlessly transforming structure of the temple struck fear into anyone who dared enter.
¡¾Anything else to exin?¡¿
"I was going to mention the dangers, but it¡¯s quicker to see for yourself.¡±
¡¾If you¡¯re inside when the structure shifts, you wouldn¡¯t even have bones left to recover.¡¿
A few minutester.
The Forgotten Temple, havingpleted its reconstruction, was now shrouded in eerie silence, as if the earlier chaos had been a lie.
"Fafnir. I''ll leave the lead to you."
¡¾It¡¯s the duty of a servant to protect their weak master. Don¡¯t worry.¡¿
[Using Unholy Blessing.]
[Using the Punishing Spike.]
He used holy spells effective against the undead on Fafnir.
After significantly boostingbat capabilities, they stepped into the temple.
¡®Let¡¯s see if my memory serves me right.¡¯
Jang Miseon.
Don''t feel too wronged.
You won''t even know you''ve been robbed.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 22: Someone Elses Opportunity is Best Taken First (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 22: Someone Else''s Opportunity is Best Taken First (2)
"Ehehehe!"
A grotesque shriek echoed as soon as they entered the temple.
A half-naked giant with red tattoos and two horns protruding from the top of its head red at Yoojin''s group with murderous eyes.
A Fallen Worshipper, one of the guardians of the Forgotten Temple.
¡¾How can they not be ashamed, dressed like that?¡¿
"You''re not exactly wearing anything either."
¡¾Hmm. Even the dead have the right to be respected, Master.¡¿
Muttering nonsense, Fafnir stepped forward and shed head-on with the Fallen Worshipper.
The monsters grappled, their hands intertwined in a contest of strength.
"Hyung, the Fallen Worshipper has the strength of a high-ranking 2 Star. Shouldn''t we assist...?"
Crack!
Before Kang Minho could finish his sentence...
All five fingers of the Fallen Worshipper were bent in the opposite direction.
"Ugh?"
¡¾How insignificant. That power of yours.¡¿
The worshipper, seemingly bewildered, tried to pull his body back.
As if anticipating this, Fafnir didn''t pull back, instead pushing forward to match the worshipper''s retreat.
With his bnce broken, the Fallen Worshipper fell. Fafnir mounted him in a pounding position and...
Crunch!
He struck down hard with his fist, shattering the worshipper''s skull.
Blood sttered across the floor.
Even without the limp hand, the message [Experience has been gained] confirmed the creature''s death.
"A monster with powerparable to a high-ranking 2 Star martial arts Hunter..."
¡¾Hahaha. It was nothing to me.¡¿
Fafnir imitated a heartyugh with his thoughts.
Unaware that only an eerie aura spread as the energy of the dead dispersed.
"You did something useless."
¡¾Wasn''t that a splendid fight to start the Gate raid?¡¿
"I can''t turn it into an undead because you smashed its head."
The head is where spirit power gathers.
Other body parts can be used as necromancy material even if they are somewhat damaged.
But if the head is shattered, it''s useless.
¡¾Ah.¡¿
"What do you mean ''Ah''?"
¡¾I''ll be careful next time.¡¿
Sigh.
Yoojin clicked his tongue lightly and channeled his spirit power.
[Using Flesh Control.]
Flesh and bones separated.
''I''ll secure the bones in advance.''
A catalyst is needed to create an Armored Zombie.
The Forgotten Temple is a high-difficulty Gate that hasn''t been conquered for a year.
The temple''s structure changing every 24 hours is a problem, but...
The monsters that randomly spawn in the reconstructed temple also drastically increase the raid''s difficulty.
- Fallen Worshippers: Vulnerable to magic attacks but with high physical defense.
- Devil''s Eyes: Weak to physical attacks but attack with instant magic and have high magic resistance.
- Masked Ones: Use all kinds of curses and buff spells through their masks.
''To eliminate variables, I need to prepare in advance.''
¡²Uncharacteristically cautious, aren''t you?¡³
''I''m only a 1 Star, you know. At best, I''m a 2 Star, but the actual difficulty is that of a 3 Star Gate. How can I let my guard down?''
Around the time he finished retrieving the bones he separated with Flesh Control...
"Ehehehe!"
"Eheet!"
Four Fallen Worshippers spotted us and charged with bloodshot eyes.
¡¾Perhaps being too popr is also something to consider.¡¿
"This time, I''ll join in."
[Using Bone Control.]
A Necromancer''s exclusive magic armament.
Five [Cursed Fang] he made at the workshop soared into the air.
He grasped the Staff of Resentment to reduce mana consumption.
He maximized his concentration to amplify the power loaded into Bone Control.
Whoosh!
Spirit Power rotated around a sharp, awl-like axis.
As he swung his hand, the Cursed Fang,unched diagonally, tore through the air.
"Heet!"
The Fallen Worshippers didn''t slow their charge.
The Cursed Fang embedded themselves in their bodies, but only slightly, as if they had struck iron armor.
"That must hurt."
He released the spirit power rotating around the Cursed Fang.
"Eheeheet?"
A foreign energy seeped inside their bodies, restricting the Fallen Worshippers'' movements.
An energy that opposes life force.
Directly pouring spirit power into the body is like injecting poison.
''This amount should be fine for a healthy person.''
Manipting bones to tear through skin consumed a lot of energy.
If it were a normal creature, overflowing with life force, exposure to this level of spirit power wouldn''t be fatal.
At most, they would feel fatigued.
However, it was a different story for the [Fallen Worshippers], who enhanced their physical abilities through corrupted curses but had negative elemental resistance.
The Fallen Worshippers slowed down noticeably.
¡¾Is that the thing you used during sparring?¡¿
"It was a buff. And I didn''t cast Unholy Blessing."
¡¾Regardless, they slowed down because of your trickery.¡¿
A storm of fists.
The Fallen Worshippers floundered, trying to withstand Fafnir''s onught, but...
Thanks to the effect of the holy spell, their destructive power increased by 20%, and one by one, they fell to their knees before his blows.
[Level Up!]
Although ssified as 2 Star like orcs, they were much stronger, so they yielded a lot more experience.
"Oh, I forgot about Life Drain."
¡¾With your skills, Master, they''ll be mush the moment you approach them, so subdue them or suck their life force out after killing them.¡¿
"Thanks for the piercing advice."
¡¾You''re wee. It is my mission to serve you, Master.¡¿
He glossed over the sarcastic remark so smoothly that it couldn''t be pushed any further.
Oh, well.
It takes two to tango.
''I miss the Park Haneul from before the regression, who was always taciturn, just a little bit.''
Even if it''s difficult to approach, there''s a way.
After increasing the number of the dead, he could subdue the Fallen Worshipper and leisurely absorb their life force.
¡²You''ve reached level 20.¡³
''Indeed. I''ll have to go through that ordeal again.''
[The knowledge of Necromancy is engraved in your soul.]
? Dark Wise
Category: Passive
Rank: C
Reduces Spirit Power consumption by 10% when using necromancer-exclusive spells.
? Dark Reign
Category: Passive
Rank: C
Reduces mental strain and spirit power consumption for maintaining undead minions by 20%.
¡²This time, it''s not a spell.¡³
''Stamina management is crucial to conquer the Forgotten Temple.''
Right now, he needed knowledge that would help him in a long fight, rather than explosive power for a short burst.
The knowledge obtainable at the 1 Star level is rudimentary.
Iconic necromancer spells like [Corpse Explosion] can only be inherited after raising his rank.
"Answer my call."
[Using Raise Undead.]
[The Armored Zombie''spletion level is very high.]
[All stats increased by 100%.]
The Fallen Worshipper that had been sneaking around stood up.
Two resurrected Armored Zombies let out rattling coughs.
"Hyung. Aren''t the Fallen Worshippers stronger than orcs? In that case..."
Yoojin shook his head, interrupting Kang Minho.
"Do you know why zombies are low-ranking undead?"
"I don''t."
"Because there''s a limit to how much spirit power a corpse can ept."
Two factors determine thebat power of the undead.
First is the ability of the corpse.
The second factor is the [production] method.
"It would be unfair if I used low-level spells to create undead, and a high-ranking undead emerged, wouldn''t it?"
To fully utilize the power of a strong corpse, several conditions must be met, such as appropriate techniques and immense spirit power.
This means that thebat power of low-ranking undead like zombies has a set maximum.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Then, Hyung, can''t you make any undead other than zombies and skeletons?"
"I think you''ve forgotten, but I''m still a 1-star."
At Yoojin''s rebuke, Kang Minho let out an embarrassedugh.
¡¾Isn''t this body of mine anything but a low-ranking undead?¡¿
"It wasn''t made with skill."
A Draconian corpse obtained through unconventional means.
The future Grand Alchemist provided support.
He engraved it with techniques using all the knowledge from his previous life.
Instead of his own mana, he used a mana stone fusion solution to activate the curse and enhancement techniques.
Finally, Park Haneul''s soul, which had the unique characteristic of a [Martial Artist] in life, had a high synchronization rate with the Draconian corpse, allowing it to move, albeit in an iplete state.
''Even if I exined all this, would he understand?''
Necromancers would be astonished if they saw Fafnir.
A being bordering on miraculous.
Fafnir was something that only Yoojin, who had reached the pinnacle of necromancy, could create.
¡²A monstrous fellow. A Regressor, but aren¡¯t you going overboard?¡³
''I''ll take that as apliment.''
Yoojin retrieved the cursed bones.
"Let''s pick up the pace."
¡¾Huhu. My blood boils.¡¿
Fafnir, talking about dried-up blood, took the lead again.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin and his party went around the entrance of the temple.
The Forgotten Temple, ssified as arge-scale Gate.
The interior of the temple was as vast as dozens of ser fields connected.
There were also many monsters roaming around.
"Ehee!"
¡¾They reallye without rest.¡¿
A Fallen Worshipper clung to Fafnir, wildly swinging its fists.
Crack!
Scratches appeared on the scales.
The shock that couldn''t be deflected seeped into the muscles and bones.
A blow that would cripple any living creature.
¡¾I don''t usually prefer this kind of fighting style, but...¡¿
Fafnir, with his hand clenched, mmed it into the head of the nearby Fallen Worshipper.
Bang!
The half-naked giant copsed with its crown caved in.
Even though a few more Fallen Worshippers were clinging to him, preventing him from using his full strength...
Thanks to the [Punishing Spike] stacks umted through repeated battles, his stats had greatly increased.
¡¾You''ll have to get used to it now.¡¿
Fafnir''s past life.
He mustn''t fight like Park Haneul.
He fully utilized the enlightenment he gained during sparring and charged into the enemy lines as the vanguard.
Silently enduring attacks with his body, he took down the Fallen Worshippers one by one.
"Groaaaaar!"
The Armored Zombies followed with a charge.
Thanks to the bone armor covering their entire bodies and the flesh added to their insides to increase their strength, the Fallen Worshippers, distracted by Fafnir, were flung about.
The number of Armored Zombies quickly swelled to neen.
As the size of the undead army grew, so did the hunting speed.
"Ugh. Here we go again."
"It''s a good thing we bought gathering tools with the settlement money."
The Little Runts team also kept their hands busy without rest.
Mana Stones embedded in the hearts of the monsters.
The bodies of the worshippers were tougher than orcs, so they had to exert more force.
''So it wasn''t just Kang Minho who had the knack for this.''
Rumble!
While they were engrossed in hunting, the ground shook, and threatening sounds emanated from all directions.
Kang Minho shouted urgently¡ª
"The temple will be reconstructed soon. We have to get out!"
Yoojin nodded, his eyes darting from side to side.
Even with the entire temple shaking, pirs that remained motionless came into view one by one.
¡² ? ¡³
A mark that was barely visible even with intense focus.
''If it''s the eye mark... that guy will appear after the reconstruction.''
¡²That guy?¡³
''The eyeball monster. You''ll know when you see it.''
Yoojin and his party retreated from the reconstructing temple.
How much time had passed?
The reconstructed temple greeted the Hunters with apletely different appearance, starting from the entrance passage.
"Wow. It''s an unconquered Gate for a reason."
"Oppa, is it really possible to conquer this?"
Pretending not to hear the twin siblings''ints, he immediately re-entered the temple.
"Kwiririri!"
Devil''s Eye.
About two meters long. A hideous monster with more than half of its bodyprised of eyes, and the rest a bundle of tentacles as thick as ropes.
[PR/N: Nightmares from GOW?! ???]
The moment the monster met Yoojin''s gaze, a crimson light flickered in its huge pupil, the size of a human torso.
The Devil''s Eye opened wide, lifting its eyelids.
A death ray flew in at supersonic speed.
A powerful eyeser with outstanding activation speed and destructive power.
''I already know your characteristics.''
He crossed five Cursed Fang, blocking the direction of its gaze.
The death ray, fired in the nick of time, was blocked by the crossed bones, leaving only ckish ash.
''The mana consumption is intense.''
The enhancement inscription engraved on the Cursed Fang was a favor from Shin Joonseok.
It''s thanks to that that the magic armament maintains its original form even after being hit by the Devil''s Eye''s attack.
However, the driving force that activates the enhancement inscription is the spirit power that controls the magic armament, so it''s not cost-effective.
''It would have been better if I had brought the Skeleton Guard.''
An undead that he had meticulously crafted using the Orc Chieftain''s corpse as a medium.
Since the Ring of Darkness could only hold one corpse, he couldn''t bring it along for the Gate raid.
¡¾Its gaze? Quite a dangerous attack method.¡¿
"Hide me from its sight."
¡¾Stay behind me, Master.¡¿
The red beam fired once again melted some of Fafnir''s scales, but...
Its destructive power and attack range were insufficient to incapacitate the three-meter-tall giant.
Crack!
Because of its structure, which concentrates mana in its abnormallyrge eye, its defense was practically non-existent.
As Fafnir silently endured theser and approached, it quickly copsed.
¡¾Are you not going to make this monster into an undead?¡¿
"What use would it be even if I turned it into a zombie?"
A corpse suitable for creating a Dark Hood, a magic-type undead.
It wasn''t of much use to Yoojin, who could only use [Raise Undead], the basic necromancy spell.
''Just as I remember.''
Yoojin nced at the fallen Devil''s Eye.
The symbol he saw right before the temple''s reconstruction.
That mark was the secret to conquering the Forgotten Temple¡
''I just need to gather the materials.''
Before his return.
He swallowed augh, recalling the Forgotten Temple''s capture method that Jang Miseon had discovered.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 23: Someone Elses Opportunity is Best Taken First (3)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 23: Someone Else''s Opportunity is Best Taken First (3)
"Grrrrrrrrrr!"
A monster wearing a white mask let out a grotesque shriek, simr to the sound of phlegm bubbling.
The Masked One.
A monster that wields all kinds of curses through the mask covering its face, and possesses physical abilitiesparable to a 2 Star Hunter.
Kang Minyeong grimaced.
"I hate exhibitionists, but that mask is just unpleasant."
Fallen Worshippers.
Devil''s Eyes.
And finally, Masked Ones.
These are monsters that are difficult to encounter in ordinary 2 Star Gates.
A sinister light shed over the white mask.
ckish-red spots bloomed on the scales of Fafnir, who was at the forefront, spreading like mold.
"Gririri."
Laughter spilled from within the mask.
The Curse of Decay could only be lifted by cleansing the affected area with a priest''s blessing or holy water.
"Should I give you a blessing?"
¡¾No. I have something I want to experiment with, this is a good opportunity.¡¿
Spirit power concentrated in Fafnir''s hand.
He fixed the form of the energy just before it manifested as an aura, and gently pressed it against the ckish-red spots.
Tsssss!
With a burning sound, the curse''s energy was absorbed into Fafnir¡¯s spirit power.
¡¾Spirit power is also a type of mana, so I thought I could dispel it with a stronger force.¡¿
It was as Fafnir said.
The power to defy death.
In other words, spirit power is ssified as the highest among energies with otherworldly attributes.
It''s strong enough to absorb most curses if the energy is properly applied.
''Did he figure that out instinctively?''
Even Yoojin only learned this advanced information thanks to the [Library of Knowledge].
To grasp it solely through intuition...
Even though it was a soul he had handled as a minion in his previous life, Fafnir''s tremendous talent was something he couldn''t get used to.
It was a good thing he went to pay his respects right after returning.
¡¾I need to get more used to this body.¡¿
"Isn''t it enough already?"
¡¾It''s not easy to concentrate energy other than in my hands. I can''t touch everything every time I get cursed.¡¿
"There''s a suitable opponent, so give it a try. I''ll only intervene if it''s urgent."
The necromancer and his minion conversed casually.
The Masked One, who was some distance away, became enraged.
"Grrrrrr!"
Once again, a curse eroded Fafnir''s flesh.
"Let''s see what happens if..."
He used Unholy Blessing on the area affected by the curse.
As expected of a holy spell, it dispelled the Masked One''s mana.
Crack! Crack!
Clear cracks appeared on the white mask, the medium for the curse.
As the curse was exposed to the holy spell, the bacsh was transmitted directly.
"Alright. It would be troublesome if that broke."
Heunched five Cursed Fangs simultaneously, piercing the Masked One''s neck and heart.
Yoojin removed the white mask from the face of the bowing Masked One.
¡²Do you like that kind of mask? Quite the morbid taste.¡³
''I have a use for it.''
¡²Perhaps that mask is rted to the secret of the Gate...?¡³
''Seems like you''re finally getting a sense of it?''
It''s not just the Masked One''s white mask.
¡² ? ¡¤ ? ¡¤ ? ¡³
Symbols that appear every time the temple is reconstructed.
Each symbol represents the horns of the Fallen Worshipper, the pupil of the Devil''s Eye, and the mask of the Masked One.
''They don''t just tell us about the next monster that appears.''
The marks corresponding to each symbol.
If he gathers enough of the three mentioned earlier, he can move on to the basement of the Forgotten Temple, where the Gate''s core is located.
''I need 49 of each in perfect condition.''
The white mask''s durability drops quickly when using curses or experiencing bacsh like just now.
And it''s difficult to preserve the Devil''s Eye intact while hunting.
Not only that, he has to find 48 pivotal pirs while wandering around a building the size of dozens of ser fieldsbined.
¡²Those are very demanding conditions.¡³
''That''s why it hasn''t been conquered for nearly a year.''
I don''t know how Jang Miseon discovered these conditions.
"Hyung-nim. The Phoenix Guild is hunting nearby."
In the direction Kang Minho pointed, a group with the phoenix mark was hunting Masked Ones in coordination, with a few temple pirs between them.
''Speak of the devil.''
A shing de.
The sword swung by the woman called the next Sword Saint, Jang Miseon, cut the Masked One in two.
From the crown of its head to its groin.
Blood gushed out from the cut, soaking the floor.
¡²Cutting a curse? Is she infusing her strikes with some kind of energy?¡³
''It''s nothing like that.''
It must be an option of the [Wind Sword] item she''s holding.
It''s a weapon that cuts through anything, tangible or intangible, if you ''sh'' with the right timing.
''But if you fail to cut along the grain urately, you''ll be the one cut.''
A genius who would have surpassed the Sword Saint if she hadn''t died falling into Arhan''s trap.
It seems those words weren''t for nothing.
''Jang Miseon is also the pioneer of the Forgotten Temple''s capture method.''
I can''t let my guard down.
"Let''s increase the hunting speed a little more."
¡¾Competition? It''s been a while since my heart burned like this.¡¿
Fafnir, burning withpetitive spirit.
On the other hand, the faces of the Little Runts team members behind him darkened.
As Yoojin, feeling somewhat apprehensive(?), burned with motivation, Jang Miseon, hunting at a distance, also nced at him.
"Are you concerned?"
"That team. Their hunting speed is extraordinary. It''s amazing how they summon undead as familiars."
"They won''t be as good as Hunter Miseon. Don''t be too conscious of them."
A Hunter from the Phoenix Guild, who was on the same team, added nonchntly.
"If they were talented Hunters, wouldn''t they have been scouted by arge guild?"
The Phoenix Hunter chuckled.
Jang Miseon didn''t reply and just stared at Yoojin, who was hunting Masked Ones.
''He''s not an ordinary person.''
Her sharply honed instincts sounded an rm.
A dangerous presence that stimted her senses despite the distance.
Somehow, she had a feeling that she would encounter him not just here, but in other Gates as well.
£ª £ª £ª
Six days had passed since the start of the Forgotten Temple raid.
"This seems worse than the border region."
Kang Minyeong remarked.
"Monsters keep appearing endlessly."
Kang Minho added.
The Little Runts team skillfully gathered mana stones from the monsters in by the undead minions.
"You guys have only seen orcs in the border region."
Scoff
Yoojin let out a cough in disbelief.
These guys...
Aside from Gates where opportunities are hidden, they''ll mainly be hunting in the border region, yet they have such naive thoughts.
He needed to show them just how harsh the border region could be.
¡¾Haahaha! Come at me, you insignificant creatures!¡¿
Fafnir boldly leaped into the midst of the Fallen Worshipper horde.
He was bing increasingly audacious.
A body created based on a draconian corpse.
He was doing this to create an unstoppable situation, iming to be internalizing the enlightenment gained during sparring.
¡²Unlike your contractor, you are truly valiant. You have the qualities of a hero.¡³
''Damn it. I''m the one who has to heal him, you know?''
There was no in-between with him.
Because he didn''t separate the soul and the dragon''s essence with the Life Force Vessel, it would be troublesome if Fafnir received a fatal injury.
"Go help him."
He minimized the damage by deploying additional Armored Zombies.
[Using Life Drain.]
When the number of monsters dwindled, he had the Armored Zombies or Fafnir hold them down and steal their life force.
[Level Up!]
[Current level is 27.]
He also gained an enormous amount of experience.
''This is what they call killing two birds with one stone, right?''
Chuckle
One side of Yoojin''s cheek twitched.
¡²I told you tough with dignity.¡³
''Come on, don''t interfere with how Iugh.''
¡²A Saint chosen by me should have dignity.¡³
¡®Yes, yes. I''ve heard your ipetent words loud and clear.¡¯
After the hunt, he didn''t forget to secretly ce the monsters'' body parts on the pirs with the marks.
Woooong!
A blue light shimmered on the symbol.
''Now the 48th.''
Even though he sped up due to thepetition, it still took quite a while.
Finding the pirs with the marks was a task in itself.
And when he tried to activate the pirs, some didn''t react because of the high damage to the marks.
''It won''t react because of a few broken capiries in the eyeball?''
Even though he used the Cursed Fang to keep the crucial parts intact as best as he could, he sometimes failed to activate the pirs.
It took quite a bit of time, but now that the preparations wereplete...
"You guys go sell the mana stones."
"What about you, Hyung-nim?"
"I need to level up, so I''ll keep hunting."
"Understood."
After sending the Little Runts team outside the Gate under the pretext of disposing of byproducts, he headed towards the center of the temple.
How long had he been walking?
The ground beneath his feet began to shake.
¡¾This ce never stops changing. Let''s get out quickly.¡¿
"I''m not leaving this time."
¡¾Was it your dream to be turned into ground meat?¡¿
"I''ve observed something while raiding this Gate."
Fafnir immediately understood Yoojin''s words.
¡¾Oh? You found the secret of the Forgotten Temple?¡¿
"I have to risk my life to confirm it."
Yoojin revealed the symbols ¡² ? ¡¤ ? ¡¤ ? ¡³.
"We need to find a pir with this shape engraved in the center of the temple."
¡¾Zombies have no intelligence, so only you and I can do the legwork.¡¿
"Run until your feet sweat."
Recalling his memories, Yoojin ran towards a nearby pir.
Bang! Bang!
Suddenly, walls protruded, and the floor caved in, as the temple began its reconstruction, moving erratically.
An Armored Zombie, unable to avoid the copsing floor, was sucked in.
[Armored Zombie has been destroyed.]
¡®I can''t even collect the bones.¡¯
How many minutes had he been running through the reconstructing temple?
¡¾Master, this way.¡¿
Upon discovering the 49th pir supporting the temple''s axis, he held out the marks he had prepared beforehand.
Crackle!
With sparks flying, the horn, eye, and mask were absorbed into the pir.
As thest pir was activated, the ceaseless tremors of the temple subsided.
"Whew. I thought I was going to die."
Rumble!
The floor right in front of the activated pir caved in, revealing a passage leading underground.
Without hesitation, Yoojin headed towards the basement of the Forgotten Temple.
£ª £ª £ª
Thud- Thud¡ª
Yoojin''s footsteps dispelled the silence of the underground passage.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡¾You''re quite calm for someone who''s uncovered the secret of a long-unconquered Gate.¡¿
"I haven''tpletely conquered the Gate yet."
¡¾True. We have no information about the boss monster.¡¿
Fafnir muttered in a low voice.
''Actually, I know what''s going toe out, but...''
He was d he remembered Jang Miseon''s interview in detail.
If he had judged that the Gate was too difficult to conquer with his current abilities, he would have had to recruit more team members.
''There''s no need to share the rewards.''
How long had he been walking?
An iron door, 20 meters high, blocked Yoojin''s path.
¡¾This must be the boss zone.¡¿
"The atmosphere is ominous."
The ce where the core that maintains the ''Forgotten Temple'' Gate is located.
[Masked Beast Death Gardius]
Not the letters of this world, but thenguage of the demon realm was engraved on the iron door.
The moment Yoojin ced his right hand on the iron door...
Creak¡ª
The solid iron door slid open to both sides with a heavy groan.
"Come here."
Through the gap in the opened door...
"Groaaaaaaaaar!!"
The guardian protecting the core of the Forgotten Temple.
The Masked Beast weed the intruder with a roar.
The Masked Beast Death Gardius was like abination of the three monsters that appeared in the Forgotten Temple.
About 5 meters tall.
Three heads attached to its torso were covered with white masks, and one of the heads had arge single eye reminiscent of the Devil''s Eye.
¡²What an undignified-looking monster.¡³
Below its neck was a bundle of dozens of tentacles that resembled hair.
And stic muscles reminiscent of the Fallen Worshipper twitched hideously.
"Stop barking. It''s noisy."
As Yoojin muttered nonchntly, a sinister light flickered in the single-eyed mask.
Crackle!
A purple beam as thick as a log grazed the ground and quickly approached Yoojin.
An eye ray far more powerful than the Devil''s Eye''s death ray.
¡¾You cannot touch Master without my permission.¡¿
Wooong¡ª
A dark air current surged over Fafnir''s outstretched fist and blocked the death ray.
Dark Aura materialized by imbuing spirit power with his will.
Although its first attack was blocked, the Masked Beast didn''t care and moved on to its next action.
Tears of blood flowed from the white masks.
An instant curse that afflicts the target the moment it''s used, leaving no room for evasion.
- Koooo!
- Keeek!
The monsters he had defeated in the Forgotten Temple appeared as illusions, confusing Yoojin''s eyes.
The Masked Beast''s curse wasn''t a simple illusion.
It embodied the unique murderous aura and presence of the monsters, so even though he knew they were illusions, he couldn''t help but flinch.
"You. Food. I eat."
The Masked Beast''s eyes narrowed slightly.
A sneer that exuded confidence in victory.
"Hey, are youughing?"
[Using Unholy Blessing.]
Crack¡ª
A small crack appeared on the Masked Beast''s mask. The bacsh from the curse cast on Yoojin damaged the medium.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 24: Someone Elses Opportunity is Best Taken First (4)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 24: Someone Else''s Opportunity is Best Taken First (4)
As the Unholy Blessing repelled the curse, the impact cracked the mask.
The Masked Beast''s focus wavered, and the purple glow briefly flickered.
"Fafnir, charge straight ahead."
¡¾Are you sure? The Masked Beast might target you, Master.¡¿
"We have these guys."
Reinforced with bone armor, the Armored Zombies could withstand the destructive light to some extent.
Seven had been destroyed while caught in the reconstructing temple.
''If they can just hold out, I can minimize losses.''
The best option was to position them as close to the Masked Beast as possible and react to its movements!
¡¾Master, don''t die meaninglessly.¡¿
"I''ll block the Masked Beast''s curse. You focus on attacking."
¡¾Hahaha. Leave it to me.¡¿
"Ugh. Small prey. Annoying."
The Masked Beast''s eye sockets were once again dyed purple.
Crackle!
The purple light once again surged towards Fafnir with explosive momentum, as if to swallow him whole.
[Dark Aura]
The ck air current wrapped around Fafnir''s legs condensed and was released towards the ground.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
A massive gust of wind created by the Dark Aura ruffled Yoojin''s hair.
Fafnir charged in a straight line at a speed several times greater than usual, quickly closing the distance to the Masked Beast.
"Big prey. Not letting go."
Therge pupil, resembling the Devil''s Eye, followed Fafnir a step behind.
However, the beam didn''t bend as quickly as expected.
Mana released in the direction of its gaze.
Although the magic beam reached its target in an instant, to alter its trajectory, all the mana concentrated in its eyes had to be moved.
Naturally, the speed would inevitably slow down.
¡¾So you anticipated this far.¡¿
Fafnir, charging as Yoojin instructed, threw a punch with an exmation of admiration.
Dark Aura imbued with Fafnir''s will.
Skin tougher than steel was torn, and muscle fibers twisted hundreds of times over were destroyed.
Thud¡ª
The Masked Beast lost its bnce and iled its arms.
Immediately after withdrawing the death ray, its eyes focused on Fafnir.
[Ectosm]
[Contaminated Skin]
Otherworldly mana poisoned Fafnir''s soul.
Blue bubbles bubbled up on the draconian''s skin.
"I knew it would do that."
The moment various curses tried to corrode Fafnir, Yoojin, who had already gathered his divine power, deployed a holy spell.
Divine power and curses were diametrically opposed.
Although the Masked Beast had an overwhelmingly greater amount of mana, [Unholy Blessing] was more effective on Fafnir, who was undead.
The holy spell permeated before the curse could expand its domain.
Once again, with the bacsh of the spell being canceled, a part of the mask covering the beast''s face shattered with a crack!
¡¾A skill befitting my Master.¡¿
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Seventh Stance]
[Ten-Strike Flurry]
The martial arts he disyed during sparring.
Fafnir''s tightly clenched fists struck the Masked Beast''s thigh in rapid session.
Skin tough enough to withstand a steel sword was torn.
Blood droplets sprayed from the ruptured muscles.
Finally, the leg bone, as thick as a tree trunk, snapped with a clear, solid sound.
The bone protruded.
If it were a human, it would have screamed and fainted from such a wound, but...
The Masked Beast converted the pain into rage.
"It hurts! You. Die!"
An arm as thick as the pirs supporting the temple was pulled back and then thrust forward.
¡¾I can clearly see where you''re aiming. Do you think I''ll just take it?¡¿
Fafnir''s stats were beyond 3 Star.
All stats were increased by 20% due to Unholy Blessing.
And since he was already in the middle of hunting, the Punishing Spike had also stacked to its maximum.
Although the Masked Beast was abnormally strong for a 2 Star Gate''s boss monster, Fafnir wouldn''t lose in a head-on confrontation.
¡¾Well, there''s no reason to deliberately avoid what I can see.¡¿
The Masked Beast''s fist cut through the air.
Bubbles rose from the spot where it had just struck, and the torn muscles began to reattach with an acrid smell.
¡¾Its regenerative ability isparable to a troll''s.¡¿
"It''s Chaotic Frenzy, which restores injuries by consuming the target''s life force."
Because it''s a spell that consumes arge amount of life force, it''s prone to side effects like aging.
The wrinkles that appeared on the Masked Beast''s skin were proof of this.
"Nothing is free."
[Using Bone Control.]
The Cursed Fang dug into the healing wound and tore it open.
Stter!
Some of the flesh caught on the sharp edges fell to the floor.
"Small prey. Die!!"
The Masked Beast released all the curse power umted in the white mask at once.
[Curse Technique]
[Wave of Darkness]
Power that umtes each time a curse is used.
It doesn''t inflict physical damage, but it''s a strange wave that pushes away anything, tangible or intangible.
¡¾Ugh. I can''t withstand it.¡¿
Fafnir, who had been trying to resist the Wave of Darkness, was pushed back dozens of meters.
The Masked Beast red at Yoojin and concentrated mana in its eyes.
It was understandable for the Masked Beast to be enraged.
Not only had its curse been neutralized, but its wounds were being further aggravated from a distance.
"Block it!"
"Gaaaah."
An Armored Zombie moved between the Masked Beast and Yoojin, just as a beam fired a moment toote, incinerating the bone armor.
Acrid smoke billowed from the point of impact.
[Using Bone Armor.]
Yoojin reinforced the eroding bone with spirit power.
The Armored Zombie, unable to deflect the energy contained within the death ray, took the full brunt of the attack with its body.
"Groan..."
Despite being reinforced with Bone Armor, it only held out for about four seconds before copsing onto the ground, charred ck.
¡¾Are you looking away from me?¡¿
Fafnir, who had been pushed back by the shock wave, quickly closed in and carved a long gash into the Masked Beast''s side.
"Big prey. Don''t interfere!!"
The Masked Beast let out a furious scream.
£ª £ª £ª
The Masked Beast was no easy opponent.
He left the attacking to Fafnir and focused on neutralizing the beast''s curses, keeping it in check with magic armaments, and defending with Armored Zombies, but...
Crackle!
"Groan..."
Over half of the Armored Zombies were burned.
''If I send the remaining minions to the front lines, I could seize victory quickly, but...''
Yoojin continued the battle cautiously.
The fearsome thing about the Masked Beast was its ability to handle both close-range and long-range attacks.
''Using magic armaments for defense is a temporary measure.''
He could manage to block the Devil''s Eye''s attacks, but the Masked Beast had an extraordinary amount of mana, so the output of its death ray was much stronger.
He had put so much effort into making the Cursed Fang.
He couldn''t carelessly lose his armaments here, so he had to act prudently.
"Small prey. Big prey. Hate both."
The Masked Beast''s appearance had also changed significantly.
The wrinkles on its skin were noticeably increased.
Some of its wounds hadn''t regenerated, and blood dripped down.
The biggest mark on its body was the fracture Fafnir had inflicted first.
Although the wounds had all healed, the broken bone hadn''t regenerated, causing it to limp with each step.
¡¾This will never end like this.¡¿
"Fafnir, how much strength do you have left?"
¡¾Enough to deploy Dark Aura once or twice.¡¿
"Then let''s finish this."
That''s enough.
To end its life.
"Keep the pressure on, and I''ll exploit its weakness."
¡¾I''ll follow your instructions.¡¿
Fafnir closed the distance to the Masked Beast once more.
The moment it swung its arm in a frenzy¡ª
[Releasing Punishing Spike.]
The impact stacks umted through repeated battles were released at once.
It struck the Masked Beast''s healthy leg, greatly shaking its entire body.
Even while losing its bnce, the Masked Beast didn''t lessen the force in its fist.
He could sense its tenacity in that action, but...
¡¾Fighting isn''t just about willpower.¡¿
Fafnir, who hadn''t missed a single movement of the Masked Beast, lowered his waist slightly.
The fist grazed his back.
Although it carried enough force to create a gust of wind, it didn''t reach Fafnir.
¡¾Even a strong attack is useless if it doesn''tnd.¡¿
The Masked Beast had swung its arm almost to the point of falling over.
Its upper body was exposed to Fafnir.
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Fifth Stance]
[Focused Strike]
All energy except the minimum spirit power needed to maintain his body was concentrated.
He materialized it as Dark Aura and struck the exposed upper body of the Masked Beast with all his might.
Crack!
Ribs were broken, and the shock that prated deeper reached its heart.
"Cough."
The Masked Beast copsed with a single shriek.
[Acquired a massive amount of experience points.]
[Level Up!]
[Current level is 29.]
"Wow."
As soon as the Masked Beast fell, his level rose by 2.
The amount of experience it would normally take him a day or two to gain...
Perhaps it was because it was a boss monster exceeding 2 Star.
A smile automatically spread across his face at the unexpectedlyrge increase in experience.
"Not bad for an appetizer."
¡¾What''s the main course?¡¿
"The altar behind it. I think there''s something there."
Yoojin casually mentioned the information he had heard in his previous life.
Deep within the underground chamber, on an altar befitting the name of a temple,y armor with a silvery sheen.
¡¾Oh ho. That looks like some extraordinary armor.¡¿
"Indeed it does."
Yoojin stepped onto the altar and slowly examined the armor.
''It''s a bit different in shape from what I saw back then.''
The artifact worn by the Phoenix Guild Leader.
The appearance of the Dragon God Armor was a full te mail that covered the entire body and had a brilliant golden hue.
On the other hand, the armor on the altar was a breastte that protected the torso.
The size was also much smaller, making him worry whether it would even fit him.
''As expected, artifacts are different.''
Yoojin wasn''t fazed by the different appearance of the Dragon Scale Armor from his memory.
Shape transformation was an option often attached to famous artifacts and masterfully crafted weapons.
[Dragon Scale Armor]
Rank: Transcendent
Category: Armor
Restriction: None
Durability: 5,000/5,000
Powerful armor made from dragon bones. It synchronizes with the user''s mana and can change shape at will.
*Equipment options change depending on the form.
*Growing artifact.
*Capable of self-repair. Durability recovers naturally unlesspletely destroyed.
¡®As expected. It''s just that the appearance is different.¡¯
It was indeed the same artifact that Yoojin remembered.
''A shape transformation option. There will be an abundance of ways to use this.''
The moment he touched the Dragon Scale Armor¡ª
Bzzt¡ª
Yoojin''s mana flowed into the armor through the point of contact.
''Look at this guy.''
Yoojin didn''t stop his mana from leaking out.
The armor gradually turned ck.
"It''s not just mana that you need to absorb."
[Using Midnight Sun.]
[Mana ¡ú Divine Power]
The synchronization process.
How would the Dragon Scale Armor react if he poured divine power into it as well?
White ripples appeared on the surface of the Dragon Scale Armor, which looked as if it were made of solid iron.
When the armor waspletely drenched in darkness¡ª
nk! nk!
The Dragon Scale Armor transformed into chains, spreading out in dozens of strands and wrapping around Yoojin''s torso.
At first nce, it seemed to be hostile towards him, but...
Yoojin, sensing that the mana and divine power permeating the armor weren''t out of control, calmly observed the transformation.
nk! nk!
The Dragon Scale Armor became a top with scale-like ripples engraved on it.
"Look at this. It''s even better than I thought!"
Yoojin grinned.
He hadpletely misunderstood the function of the Dragon Scale Armor.
It was an amplifier that changed ording to the user''s will and increased its output in response to the owner''s mana.
The reason it took the form of casual wear was that Yoojin was wearing casual clothes right before he infused the Dragon Scale Armor with mana.
[Impact Defense Lv 12]
[Magic Resistance Lv 7]
[Agility + 10%]
Poor defensive power befitting its appearance.
Instead, it provided additional bonuses to his movements.
''If I imagine something else...''
nk!
The metallic sound of chains colliding echoed, and the Dragon Scale Armor, which had been as light as casual wear, transformed into heavy armor that covered all exposed areas except his eyes.
[Impact Defense Lv 12 ¡ú 47]
[Magic Resistance Lv 7 ¡ú 35]
[Agility + 10% ¡ú -5%]
''This is simr to the form the Phoenix Guild Leader took.''
Checking the options, he saw that the defense had greatly increased, but there was a penalty to agility.
¡²I thought it was unusual. A transformation option.¡³
''The potential applications are endless.''
¡²The defense seems low for a Transcendent rank, though.¡³
"It''s a growing artifact."
Currently, even if transformed into full te, it was only at the level of a Rare rank armor, but...
Since the artifact grew stronger in proportion to the user''s strength, time would solve that problem.
¡¾Oh ho. It will be even more useful to Master.¡¿
"To me?"
¡¾Spear techniques. I left them alone in actual battles because you weren''t familiar with them, but now that you have this excellent armor, you can use them properly, can''t you?¡¿
He had a knack for saying terrifying things with a smile.
Still¡
"There''s no better experience than actualbat."
Yoojin didn''t deny Fafnir''s words.
Crackle!
A blue crack appeared on the altar.
With the boss monster, which served as the Gate''s core, gone, an exit appeared.
¡¾Let''s go back now.¡¿
"I need to take the boss monster''s corpse."
The moment he shoved the Masked Beast into the Ring of Midnight¡ª
Thud¡ª
The mask that had been covering its face and a book fell to the floor.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 25: Rewards are Always Sweet
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 25: Rewards are Always Sweet
A jet-ck mask, stained with tears of blood.
The conduit of the curse that had covered the Masked Beast''s face.
And a skill book, too.
"I was so preupied with the beast''s enormous size and its dragon scales that I neglected to check the body properly after its death."
''Well, the skill book is one thing, but the mask could also be useful.''
Necromancers have an inseparable rtionship with curses.
Although they share the theme of [Curses] with Warlocks, the mechanism for activating skills differs.
To control souls, one must be proficient in curses.
The soul fusion technique he developed in his previous life was also an application of curses.
''Couldn''t I use it as a talisman?''
The moment Yoojin reached out to the ck mask...
[Shadow Mask]
Rank: Unique
Category: Helmet
Restriction: None
Durability: 215/444
A mask engraved with various curses. By imbuing it with mana, curses can be cast on targets within 100 meters.
When a curse backfires, the mask''s durability is consumed to protect the user.
*Stored Curses - 5/5
- Ectosm
- Contaminated Skin
- Dark Vision
- Chaotic Frenzy
- Dark Wave
The item information appeared before his eyes.
"A mask is an item?"
¡¾Why are you so surprised?¡¿
"Wait a minute."
Yoojin slowly scanned the [Shadow Mask] information.
''Its performance is insane!''
He had simply thought of it as a talismanic mask, but it had the unique effect of activating the curses imbued within it.
In other words...
If he engraved the curse techniques he knew onto the mask, he could activate them through it!
''I don''t need to inherit knowledge in the field of curses immediately when I reach 2 Stars.''
To acquire knowledge in a new field from the Ring of Darkness, his rank needed to increase.
He had reached the 9 Star in his previous life, the realm of the Absolute.
He had sufficient enlightenment, but...
The problem was his level.
''Usually, even when one reaches the limit level, they are held back due to ack of enlightenment...''
Yoojin was the opposite.
His level was more of a problem than his enlightenment.
''With the Shadow Mask as a medium, I don''t need to unlock the curse category right away.''
There were many other fields to acquire from the Library of Knowledge, such as alchemy and golem creation.
The maximum number of curses that could be engraved on the mask was five, but since the existing ones could be reced, it wasn''t a significant restriction except in urgentbat situations.
Swoosh¡ª
Yoojin slowly brought the [Shadow Mask] to his face.
Since it was sized to fit the Masked Beast''s face, he wondered if it was actually a shield, but...
As it got closer to Yoojin, it shrunk to perfectly cover his face.
The unfamiliar feeling, simr to applying a face mask, was only momentary. The mask clung to his face without any difort.
¡¾To wear a mask dripping with tears of blood... You have quite the entric aesthetic sense.¡¿
"I''m using it for its function."
A mask with tears of blood flowing... He hadn''t looked in a mirror, but it probably wasn''t an appealing sight.
[Thrill of the Hunt]
Rank: Rare
Category: Skill Book
Restriction: Possessing [Darkness] or [Curse] attribute.
Durability: 10/10
Designates the target of the curse as prey. Allows tracking up to 10 kilometers. Additionally, the target''s resistance and defense decrease the longer the tracking duration. The effect of the curse disappears when the duration expires.
"Oh?"
It was quite a decent skill book.
A curse specialized for tracking, its mechanism was simr to that of a curse, so those specializing in Dark Magic could also learn it.
The only problem was the scarcity of Hunters specializing in Darkness.
''If it doesn''t sell, I might as well learn it myself.''
Yoojin made sure to keep the skill book as well.
"Let''s go now."
Having obtained everything he could from the Gate, Yoojin stepped through the blue wormhole with renewed vigor.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin returned to Byeokgolje.
The area around the Gate was bustling like a marketce in the middle of a festival.
¡°The Forgotten Temple has been conquered? What do you mean?¡±
¡°How would I know? They¡¯re suddenly saying the boss monster has been defeated.¡±
¡°Did the Phoenix Guild do it?¡±
¡°Considering how quiet they are, I don¡¯t think so.¡±
¡°Or maybe it was Dawn?¡±
The Forgotten Temple, conquered abruptly without any warning.
The Hunters who were hunting monsters inside the Gate hurriedly came out after hearing the rm that it would soon be closing.
Those waiting outside were equally bewildered.
Various spections were exchanged, but there was no clear way to know who had conquered the Gate.
¡¾How disappointing. No one knows that Master was the one who conquered it.¡¿
¡°Should I put up an advertisement or something?¡±
¡¾If you¡¯re my Master, shouldn¡¯t you have some fame?¡¿
¡°That¡¯lle naturally with time.¡±
Yoojin brushed it off.
He wasn¡¯t nning on hiding his power, but there was no need to boast about it openly.
While attracting the attention of others had its benefits, the hassle also increased proportionally.
¡¾But if you don¡¯t want to stand out, why don¡¯t you take off that mask first?¡¿
¡°Ah, I forgot about it because it feels like I¡¯m not wearing anything.¡±
He removed the Shadow Mask and put it in his bag.
With the Dragon Scale Armor draped over his body in the form of casual clothes, no one recognized him.
¡°Hyung-nim!¡±
The Little Runts Team came running from afar.
Kang Minho had an urgent expression on his face, and he spoke with such fervor that his saliva flew.
¡°The Forgotten Temple has been conquered!¡±
¡°I know, so calm down a bit.¡±
¡°Ah, you were inside the Gate too, Hyung-nim. Who in the world could have solved the secret of the Gate and even hunted the boss monster?¡±
¡°I did.¡±
¡°Is that so? As expected of Hyung¡?¡±
Kang Minho¡¯s eyes widened.
The Little Runts Team members had simr expressions.
¡°That¡¯s really amazing!¡±
¡°So noisy. There¡¯s no need to shout.¡±
¡°But still, how can we stay quiet after hearing about such a huge incident?¡±
While lightly calming down the excited Little Runts Team, the issue of distribution came to mind.
¡®Since I can¡¯t sell the Dragon Scale Armor, I¡¯ll have to give them a suitable reward.¡¯
Contracts should always be fair.
He had no intention of paying the full price of the artifact, but if he sent them back empty-handed, the mutual trust would weaken.
¡°I¡¯ll have to add the loot from the boss raid to the payment.¡±
¡°No, that¡¯s not necessary. We didn¡¯t do anything. It would be against our conscience to take a share of that.¡±
Kang Minho didn¡¯t even ask what he had obtained from the boss monster.
¡°I won¡¯t offer twice.¡±
¡°Even if you ask the same question, the answer will be the same.¡±
Yoojin chuckled and turned his back on Byeokgolje.
Meanwhile¡
The Phoenix and Dawn Guild members, who were investigating the Gate, saw the sudden conquest message and held a meeting.
¡°The Forgotten Temple. Did you guys conquer it?¡±
A man in in clothes.
Shin Yoosung, a rising star of the Dawn Guild, raised his voice.
¡°We¡¯d like to know too. Who conquered it?¡±
A woman with long hair.
The next Sword Saint of the Phoenix Guild responded calmly.
The rising stars nurtured by the 2nd and 3rd ranked guilds in the country were shing.
Numerous media outlets¡
Investors¡
And many other people were interested in which guild would seed in conquering the [Forgotten Temple] Gate.
Shin Yoosung openly expressed his suspicion.
"It wasn''t you?"
"If the Phoenix Guild had seeded in the conquest, they would have issued a statement immediately."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
"And you expect me to believe that?"
"Let me ask you this in return. Is Dawn pretending to be clueless after finishing the conquest?"
A gritting sound leaked out from between Shin Yooseung''s teeth.
"Does it make sense that the Gate conquest ended right when things were about to heat up?"
Jang Miseon stared at the man across from her as he fumed.
''It seems he''s not lying.''
The Forgotten Temple was a ce that even therge Horizon Guild couldn''t conquer despite being invested in it for nearly a year.
Even the Phoenix Guild''s promising team, including Jang Miseon, couldn''t avoid struggling.
Apart from the elite members of the two guilds, even attempting to explore the interior of the temple was a life-threatening endeavor.
If it wasn''t Phoenix or Dawn, then who was it?
''Could it be...?''
Suddenly, the silhouette of a man shed through Jang Miseon''s mind.
The man who summoned undead as his familiars.
Could Yoojin have solved the secret of the Gate and even hunted the boss monster?
''No way.''
Jang Miseon shook her head, dismissing the thought that had just surfaced.
The Phoenix Guild had invested a lot in this conquest.
The Gate analysis team, which was only attached to the 1st Squad, had joined, and they had even lent guild-owned equipment to the Hunters participating in the conquest.
They were called a 2 Star team, but...
In terms of actual strength, they were confident that they were a cut above even professional Hunter teams at the very end of the 3 Star level.
The same went for the Dawn Guild members opposite them.
''If it wasn''t us, then who¡?''
The two guilds were left feeling like dogs chasing chickens.
The silence that followed after the storm weighed heavily on the Hunters of both guilds.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin and his party returned to Paju.
"Hyung, the atmosphere at the workshop seems a bit chaotic."
Before Kang Inho could even finish his sentence, a man with unkempt hair came storming out, his expression frantic.
"What in the world have you done?!"
Shin Joonseok, with bloodshot eyes, screamed in a voice that was indistinguishable between a shriek and a roar.
"Did someone from Arhane looking for me?"
"It was you, wasn''t it? I knew it!"
"I was thinking about how to promote things, so I did a bit of marketing."
Shin Joonseok let out a long, deep sigh.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble I''ve had? For days, people have been pestering me non-stop to sell them potions..."
The alchemist, seemingly having pent up a lot of frustration, didn''t stopining for even a moment.
Yoojin nonchntly dismissed hisints.
"Did it help or not?"
"Well, it did help, but still!"
"Results are what matter. It might have been a bit bothersome, but the work got done quickly, didn''t it?"
"Ugh..."
Shin Joonseok couldn''t find anything to retort with and just ground his teeth.
"So, what''s the progress?"
"The patent application for the intermediate potions isplete, and it looks like we''ll be starting mass production soon."
That was faster than expected.
"Oh, and the item you ordered arrived just yesterday."
Darkness Orb.
It was a Dark Magic type equipment that amplified mana.
"Orbs are rare and difficult to obtain. Thank you for your effort."
"It''s fortunate that Warlocks are an unpopr ss."
Shin Joonseok chuckled softly.
Warlocks were a specialized magic-user ss that focused on the Darkness attribute and debuffs.
Their destructive power was inferior to that of pure magic-user Hunters.
And since their debuffs ovepped with those of the Priest ss, they weren''t very popr.
When Yoojin held the Darkness Orb he received from Shin Joonseok against Fafnir''s chest...
¡¾What other shameless act are you trying tomit now?¡¿
Fafnir frowned.
"You say things that could be easily misunderstood."
Grumbling, Yoojin channeled mana into the Ring of Darkness.
Sizzle!
With the ring as a medium, the converted Spirit Power connected Fafnir and the Darkness Orb.
Soul Synchronization.
The most important thing when creating a Lich was connecting the [vessel] and the body.
If the synchronization wasn''t done properly, the soul wouldn''t be able to return to the vessel when the body was destroyed.
¡¾Ugh... This feels strange.¡¿
"Don''t resist."
An off-white energy flowed from the Draconian''s corpse.
The essence of the Dragon race, united with Park Haneul''s soul.
''I''ll guide this into the Darkness Orb.''
The soul moved between the Draconian''s corpse and the ck orb.
After it crossed over a few times, he removed the Darkness Orb from Fafnir''s chest.
[Thepletion level of the Eldritch Dragon has slightly increased.]
[The Iplete Eternal Life skill has been activated.]
The same skill as a Lich.
Now, even if the body was destroyed, as long as the Life Force Vessel was safe, it could be regenerated indefinitely.
¡¾Then why is it called ''Iplete''?¡¿
"Because if the Life Force Vessel is destroyed, you die."
Whoosh!
When Yoojin tossed the Darkness Orb into the air, Fafnir was startled and jumped up, carefully catching it.
"Nice catch."
¡¾What are you doing?!¡¿
"Just making sure you were paying attention to the warning."
He put the Darkness Orb¡ªno, now it was Fafnir''s Life Force Vessel¡ªin his pocket.
He''d have to get a subspace pocket or something soon.
As it was directly connected to Fafnir''s life, he needed to keep it safe.
"Ah, I have a job for you guys too."
Thud!
The Masked Beast''s corpse, which had been stored in the Ring of Darkness, suddenly appeared in the front yard of the workshop.
"Should we extract the mana stones?"
"If possible, preserve the original form."
"I guess you''re going to turn this corpse into an undead as well."
They knew him well.
While the Little Runts Team was working, Yoojin ced his hand on the Masked Beast''s forearm and channeled Spirit Power into it.
A broad skeletal frame.
Bones as strong as an ogre''s.
The perfect material for creating a powerful undead.
¡¾What kind of undead are you nning to make with the Masked Beast?¡¿
"I''m thinking of creating a golem rather than an undead."
¡¾A golem from a corpse? That''s a new one.¡¿
"Well, I''ve never seen a Masked Beast golem before, have you?"
¡¾True enough. But why a golem and not another powerful undead? You have quite the knack for those.¡¿
"Because my skills arecking."
There was a limit to creating undead through unorthodox means.
He was currently unable to create undead beyond Armored Zombies or Skeletons specialized in attack/defense.
''Thanks to the Draconian''s corpse, Fafnir was able to achieve results that surpassed his rank.''
To maximize the characteristics of the Masked Beast''s corpse, he would have to create a Giant Zombie or a Skeleton King, but...
Creating high-ranking undead required him to be at least a 4 Star Necromancer.
''Golems are different.''
He would inherit golem-rted knowledge when he reached 2 Stars.
He could use the Masked Beast''s corpse as a base to create a golem.
¡¾Can you make a golem with just that corpse?¡¿
"I need an alchemist and materials."
He had an excellent alchemist ve right next to him.
The materials needed to create a golem could be obtained with money.
"My business partner, can you get me some Arachne''s thread and a magic engine?"
[TL/N: Story Time kids! In Greek mythology, Arachne was a talented weaver who dared to challenge the goddess Athena to a weaving contest. As punishment for her hubris, Athena transformed Arachne into a spider. So, Spider ¡ú Thread¡ u get it right?! Aight Peace.]
"It''s impossible to get those right away. Arachne''s thread is supplied from beyond the border region, and corporations are fiercelypeting to acquire magic engines."
"What about Ground Zero?"
Ground Zero was awless zone in Paju.
It was a ce where you could get anything as long as you had the money.
"Uh... I don''t think going there is a good idea."
Shin Joonseok clicked his tongue with a disgusted look.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 26: Ground Zero (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 26: Ground Zero (1)
Ground Zero.
Before the Great Cataclysm, it was known as Paju Outlet, but after several monster waves, it became awlessnd.
¡¾This ce hasn''t recovered at all. It''s the same as it was 35 years ago.¡¿
¡°Are you happy to see Ground Zero?¡±
¡¾Certainly not. I don''t have such bad taste.¡¿
Fafnirughed dryly.
Amidst the half-copsed buildings, intense gazes were felt.
If you were underestimated in Ground Zero, you wouldn''t get away with just having your pockets emptied.
¡¾But why have wee here?¡¿
¡°There''s someone I need to see.¡±
¡¾It doesn''t seem to be someone on the legal side.¡¿
¡°You''re not going to tell me that''s also covered by the contract, are you?¡±
¡¾Of course not. I''m not that virtuous.¡¿
¡°I''m going to see the madam of the Milky Way Pub.¡±
[TL/N: Milky Way? Madam?? ??]
[PR/N: ??]
Wearing the Shadow Mask, Yoojin strode into the concrete ruins.
Madam Oh Hyunjeong.
She was someone he had interacted with quite a lot in his past life.
Although her main business was running a cocktail bar, she was like an octopus in the underworld, with her tentacles reaching into various fields such as brokerage, information dealing, and more.
He didn''t know how far she had expanded her business at this point, but she would be doing what Yoojin needed.
''Information. And a ticket to enter the ck market.''
The deeper he went, the more vignt eyes he noticed.
¡¾You might need my power.¡¿
¡°No need. As long as we don''t provoke anyone first, there won''t be a problem.¡±
Unless a fight broke out.
There was no need to show off his strength before anyone bared their fangs.
There was even a saying:
-Don''t boast about your strength in Ground Zero.
Finally¡
A store with the word [Milky Way] on a cheap neon sign appeared before him.
¡¾Master, is this the right ce?¡¿
¡°Yes.¡±
¡¾You have quite a unique taste. To think you''d like a vintage bar.¡¿
The door was torn off by an explosion.
The interior of the building, which was faintly visible, wasn''t in good shape either.
¡°At this point, isn''t it more ''ruined'' than ''vintage''?¡±
¡¾I agree.¡¿
Fafnir immediately agreed with Yoojin.
The bar was so badly damaged that it was difficult to find any furniture intact.
Not only were the objects damaged¡
A table neatly split in half was stained red with the blood of a gangster with a spider mark.
¡²(Cackle). This is going to be troublesome.¡³
[TL/N: Cracking his knuckles.]
''Even if you say that with a smile, it''s not convincing.''
¡²If things always go well, it''s not fun to watch.¡³
''I have no intention of catering to the tastes of an ipetent constetion.''
Yoojin and Fafnir looked around the pub.
¡¾A battle took ce here. It doesn''t seem like it was too long ago.¡¿
"Let''s ask this guy."
Yoojin approached the gangster lying on the floor.
"Hey."
"Ugh, uh..."
"Where''s the owner?"
"M-Madam... my buddies probably already got her... Cough."
"My friend, that''s not what I just asked."
"Crazy bastard. I don''t have any friends like y..."
"We can be friends now."
[Using Contaminated Skin.]
The curse used by the Masked Beast.
It was a Warlock-exclusive skill, but since it was engraved on the Shadow Mask, he could use it as long as he infused it with mana.
Sizzle¡ª
"Aaaaagh!!"
"So, how about it? Don''t you want to be friends with me now?"
Fafnir twitched his lips.
¡¾That''s quite a unique way to make friends.¡¿
"I''m a bit of a social butterfly."
As he infused more mana, the curse expanded its range.
Part of the gangster''s arm rotted away, and he screamed¡ª
"Aaaaagh! I''ll talk! I''ll do it!"
"Good. My friend, would you happen to know when the attack on the Milky Way''s madam took ce?"
"30 minutes ago. They couldn''t have gotten far."
"And you don''t know where they went?"
"The Red Spider''s guys chased after them to catch them. I was here, so I don''t know."
Yoojin clicked his tongue.
''Was this around the time she had a conflict with the Red Spider?''
The woman who was called Moon Shadow in his past life.
Madam Oh Hyunjeong led arge organization that divided Ground Zero.
He didn''t remember exactly how she expanded the [Milky Way Pub], but he heard it was triggered by a single incident.
The war with the Red Spider.
''Hmm. I didn''t expect this to be around that time.''
Yoojin stroked his chin.
¡¾It will be difficult to find any traces after 20 minutes.¡¿
"It''s okay. I have a way."
"Hmph. I don''t know where Madam went. Even if I did, I wouldn''t tell you!"
The gangster raised his voice.
"Don''t worry. I''m not asking you. I''m asking someone else."
As Yoojin raised his hand, Fafnir''s hand rose and then descended.
A crashing sound echoed.
"Thud."
The gangster, struck on the crown of his head, fainted.
"Hey, he''s not dead, is he?"
¡¾I don''t kill recklessly, even if they are evil.¡¿
Fafnir replied with a hesitant look.
¡¾More importantly, how do you n to find this Madam?¡¿
"I told you, I have someone to ask."
¡¾But there''s no one in this pub except the guy we just knocked out.¡¿
"I didn''t say it was a person."
Yoojin removed the Shadow Mask and erased one of the curse techniques.
[The Chaotic Frenzy curse has been removed.]
[Curses stored in the Shadow Mask - 4/5]
It was a curse that maximized regenerative abilities but shortened the user''s lifespan.
Regeneration was meaningless for the undead.
And if he used it on himself, he would age quickly.
''It was a curse to be removed first.''
Sizzle!
He concentrated Spirit Power on his finger, slowly engraving a curse technique onto the Shadow Mask.
[The Soul Chase curse has been registered in the Shadow Mask.]
Soul Chase
Category: Curse
Rank: C
Tracks the traces of a soul that has dwelled in an object. The target''s energy fades as time passes.
"It''s a hassle to engrave every curse I need."
Grumbling, Yoojin put the Shadow Mask back on.
The pub was practically Madam Oh Hyunjeong''s bedroom.
Finding the traces of her soul was...
A piece of cake.
[Using Soul Chase.]
A different color shimmered in his vision, as if he was seeing the world through an infrared camera.
"Let''s go."
¡¾My Master has many fascinating skills.¡¿
Muttering in wonder, Fafnir followed Yoojin out of the building.
£ª £ª £ª
The alleyways of Ground Zero were as intricate as a maze.
It was a slum that had continuously grown, with illegal extensions and expansions, epting new settlers.
Even the residents would have trouble navigating if they stepped into an unfamiliar area.
"Huff... huff..."
A woman was running tirelessly through the narrow path with nondmarks.
Her bobbed hair, which almost reached her nape, fluttered in the wind, swaying up and down.
"Catch her!"
"Don''t lose her!"
The pursuers'' breathing seemed to graze her ears.
Even though her heart pounded as if it would burst, the woman didn''t stop running.
''Why is the Red Spider targeting me?''
Oh Hyunjeong.
On the surface, she was the owner of the pub called [Milky Way], but...
In reality, she was a broker who mediated all sorts of backroom deals.
It had been 10 years since she jumped into Ground Zero.
During that time, she had expanded her business by treading a fine line, but she had never done anything to provoke arge organization like the Red Spider.
''I don''t know why, but if I get caught, it won''t just end there.''
Oh Hyunjeong gritted her teeth.
She couldn''t die meaninglessly in a ce like this.
She had a mountain of things left to do.
''I can''t end it here...''
Beeeeep!
A whistle tore through the darkness.
Men wearing clothes embroidered with red spiders blocked both sides of the alley.
"Huh. To think we''d go through so much trouble for just one person."
The man with an impressive long scar on his arm red at Oh Hyunjeong as he walked towards her.
ng¡ª
A dagger that sprang from his sleevended in Oh Hyunjeong''s hand.
The de was stained dark red.
It was covered in the blood of the Red Spider members she had taken down while being chased.
"I won''t go down easily."
"You''re already out of mana, and you''re still bluffing."
"Whether it''s a bluff or not, why don''t you find out with your own body?"
Oh Hyunjeong held the dagger in a reverse grip.
The Red Spider gang surrounded her, slowly closing the distance.
''Of all times, Uncle Jinyeong had to be away...!''
She hid her fear with a defiant expression, but she couldn''t stop the tip of the dagger from trembling.
Both her stamina and mana were depleted.
Large and small wounds all over her arms, legs, and abdomen were steadily oozing blood.
With the infamous Red Spider of Ground Zero lurking both in front and behind her...
''If only it were nighttime.''
Oh Hyunjeong''s unique trait was deactivated when the sun was high in the sky.
It seemed difficult for her to escape the crisis on her own.
Just then.
"Hey guys, what''s so interesting that you''re all gathered here?"
The unfamiliar voice of a man broke the silence that had settled over the alley.
The eyes of the Red Spider gang and Oh Hyunjeong simultaneously turned to the stranger, Yoojin, who had disrupted the atmosphere.
¡²So you came for this woman.¡³
''Indeed. It seems I would have been in trouble if I had been even a littlete.''
The man with the spider tattoo saw the unexpected intruder and gave a sinister smile.
"Outsider, get lost now. If you don''t want to die."
"How kind of you. Giving me a warning and all."
"This bastard. How dare he mock the Red Spider!"
Despite the sincere threat, Yoojin merely shrugged with a troubled look.
¡¾Hmm. It seems this isn''t a situation that can be resolved through conversation.¡¿
Fafnir followed shortly, stepping into the alley.
"If you''re acting tough just because you have that summon, you¡¯re going to regret it.¡±
"Fafnir, what do you think about that?¡±
¡¾The only ones who¡¯ll regret it will be you, not my master.¡¿
Whoosh!
Fafnir leaped in front of the chattering Red Spider gang.
One of them instinctively tried to throw a punch, but Fafnir was much faster.
His fistnded squarely in the man''s sr plexus.
"Oof!"
The one at the front of the Red Spider gang crumpled to the ground.
The man''s eyes widened in shock.
He finally realized that Fafnir was no ordinary familiar and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Kill him!"
Wielding iron pipes, daggers, and other easily concealed weapons, they charged with crazed looks in their eyes.
"Keep them alive."
¡¾Do you think I''m some kind of pleasure-seeking murderer? I have no such hobbies.¡¿
Even though Ground Zero was awless zone beyond the reach of administrative power, he couldn''t quietly get away with killing dozens of people.
On the other hand, the Red Spider members charged confidently, exuding unrestrained killing intent, as if they were certain they could bury a person or two without consequence.
''This exins why they attacked a pub in broad daylight.''
"Gah!"
"Agh!"
One by one, the Red Spider gang members fell.
Most of them were unawakened, unable to wield mana.
No matter how they swung their des or blunt weapons, they couldn''t even scratch the Dragonian''s body, reinforced with Enhancement Circuits.
asionally, a ''Hunter'' would appear among the thugs, aiming for Fafnir, but...
[Dark Aura]
He endured their attacks by reinforcing his scales with Spirit Power.
¡¾Why? Don''t you want to try poking me some more?¡¿
"Ugh!"
A Hunter strained with a flushed face.
The scales enveloped in Dark Aura remained unscathed.
¡¾How boring.¡¿
Wham!
With a single blow, muscles were crushed, bones were broken, and the Hunter rolled across the floor.
The Red Spider gang was quickly being neutralized.
"Whoever you are, burn to death!"
Whoosh!
The man with the long scar on his arm spread his sped hands.
A torrent of mes erupted from his palm, dyeing the narrow alley orange.
It was an attack with no regard for the safety of his subordinates.
"Ah, so that''s how it was."
Yoojin let out a short exmation as he watched the surging mes.
The woman who would be called Moon Shadow.
In his memory, Oh Hyunjeong had arge burn on her face.
It seemed that...
The culprit who had scarred the future Moon Shadow was a Hunter from the Red Spider.
"It''s dangerous!"
Oh Hyunjeong''s bted warning brushed past Yoojin''s ears.
¡¾Master, I''ll be using some Spirit Power.¡¿
A ck aura enveloped Fafnir''s entire body.
It was the ultimate manifestation of his Dark Aura.
Yoojin, staggering from a sudden dizziness, gritted his teeth.
"You should have warned me beforehand."
Due to the bond of their souls, and because Yoojin hadn''t tightly controlled his mana pathways, Fafnir had drawn some of it and manifested it as Dark Aura.
The zing mes in the alley quickly died down in the face of the Dark Aura.
"How did you... how did you do that to my mes?!"
"Are you feeling a bit better now?"
"Don''t think this is over. We, the Red Spider, will¡ª"
¡¾You talk too much.¡¿
Fafnir''s fist smashed into the man''s face, putting an end to the situation.
"One side is done."
Yoojin looked at the Red Spider gang members on the other side of the alley.
"D-Damn it! At least kidnap the Madam!"
"I''m afraid I can''t allow that, young man."
A voice emerged from behind them. Jeong Jinyeong, the bartender of [Milky Way], lightly chopped the neck of the Red Spider member, subduing him.
"Mister!"
"I apologize for the dy, Miss."
Aha.
Yoojin finally understood how she had ovee the crisis.
Although he tried to hide his power...
He couldn''t conceal the intense power of his soul that shimmered behind him.
''6 Star, huh?''
If an elderly man who looked to be in his 70s had joined the fight, a few dozen Red Spider members wouldn''t have posed much of a threat.
It seemed that in his past life, Oh Hyunjeong''s face was burned because he hadn''t arrived in time.
''That won''t happen now.''
History had changed due to Yoojin''s intervention.
At least, she wouldn''t have to bear the scar that would have haunted her for life.
Silence fell over the alley.
"Miss, who are these people?"
"I don''t know. But they don''t seem to havee with bad intentions."
The Madam smoothed down her windblown hair.
"Thanks to you, I was able to ovee the crisis. Thank you sincerely."
"I just came here for a drink, but I couldn''t find the bartender or the owner, so I followed them."
Yoojin said nonchntly.
The Madam carefully examined Yoojin. Her gaze was aplex mix of curiosity and wariness.
Yoojin approached her.
Both the old man and the Madam seemed tense, so he said¡ª
"Stay still."
[Using Life Drain.]
He drained the life force from the sprawled Red Spider members and infused it into the Madam.
Her wounds quickly closed.
"Ah, are you a Priest?"
"Something like that."
In less than a minute, all her wounds were healed.
Even an hour of ordinary low-level healing spells wouldn''t have achieved this.
As expected of a Saint-exclusive skill, its effects were tremendous.
¡²(Cackle)! As expected of the spell bestowed by me!¡³
''Hey, be quiet. Read the room.''
"This doesn''t seem like a good ce to exchange names."
"Oh, you''re right. Shall we move?"
"A ce where we can have a long talk would be even better."
Yoojin said with a smile.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Chapter 27: Ground Zero (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 27: Ground Zero (2)
The pub was aplete mess.
The Madam cleared the debris scattered on the counter and sat down calmly.
¡°What can I get you?¡±
¡°Milk.¡±
¡°Excuse me?¡±
¡°I don''t want to get drunk. I have some business to take care of.¡±
¡°This is the first time I''ve met someone who cares about that in Ground Zero.¡±
The old man poured milk into a ss.
Ah.
So he was a bodyguard as well as a bartender.
A Hunter estimated to be at the peak of 6 Stars.
He was too high-spec for a pub bartender.
''I didn''t see him in my past life.''
Yoojin was a well-known regr at the Milky Way Pub.
The fact that he didn''t remember the old bartender meant...
''He died before then.''
Considering the Red Spider''s attack and everything else, it was easy to guess that he had been caught up in some incident rted to the Madam''s safety.
Yoojin reached for the milk on the lounge table.
¡°It''s delicious.¡±
¡°We also have cocktails like Kahlua that use milk. We always use fresh milk.¡±
¡°I''d like to try one when the atmosphere isn''t so chaotic like now.¡±
The bartender smiled warmly.
The Madam, holding a cup of coffee, approached Yoojin with a bright smile.
To maintain herposure in this chaotic situation... As expected of the future Moon Shadow.
Yoojin admired her boldness.
¡°Then shall we hear the real reason you came to find me?¡±
¡°I want to get a ticket to the underground auction.¡±
¡°I believe you know that it''s not easy to obtain.¡±
Sip¡ª
The Madam took a sip of her coffee.
¡°...That''s what I would normally say, but it''s nothingpared to the price of my life.¡±
She presented the Milky Way Pub Madam''s business card.
The name was engraved in gold leaf on ck paper, giving it a luxurious feel.
¡°A business card?¡±
¡°Consider it my guarantee.¡±
¡°Isn''t that more valuable than an underground auction ticket?¡±
¡°Oh ho. You won''t be touched anywhere except within the Red Spider''s territory.¡±
The guarantee of the Milky Way Pub Madam.
Within Ground Zero, there would be no better way to guarantee one''s safety.
¡°Even considering the price of your life, this is too much.¡±
¡°It''s only valid once, so use my name where you need it.¡±
Yoojin put the business card in his pocket.
"But what are you looking for at the auction?"
"A magic engine."
"Any specific type?"
"No. As long as the output is over 3 Stars, it doesn''t matter if it''s a golem core or a living armor core."
The Madam slowly scanned her tablet.
"Even if you go to the underground auction, you won''t have much luck."
"So you can check the items there as well?"
"It''s a service. Normally, I can''t disclose the item list to outsiders."
''I heard the ck Market manages the underground auction, but she somehow secured the list.''
Hmm.
Should he be thankful that he didn''t have to waste the ticket?
"Can you let me know if a magic enginees up?"
"As I mentioned earlier, informing you about the items was a service."
Meaning she wouldn''t do it twice.
Even though all sorts of items with unclear origins from all over the country gathered in Ground Zero, he couldn''t find a magic engine.
Hmm...
''Should I get it myself?''
Even if he pressed Shin Joonseok, it wouldn''t be easy to create a magic engine with the desired output.
Capital and time.
Even if he could somehow solve the financial problem, it would take a tremendous amount of time to make one magic engine.
''I''ll have to look for a Gate where I can loot a magic engine.''
He should be satisfied with making a strong first impression on the Madam of the Milky Way Pub.
As he came to this conclusion and was about to get up...
"Are you interested in taking on a request?"
The Madam spoke and gave a faint smile.
£ª £ª £ª
The Milky Way Pub.
At first nce, it looked like an ordinary bar, but its actual business was a fixer office that mediated requests.
''It''s different from a normal detective agency.''
They collected requests from all over the country, beyond Ground Zero.
And the fixers, chosen through the Madam''s discerning eye, resolved those requests.
The prices were exorbitant.
Nevertheless, there was a reason why customers with deep pockets sought out the Milky Way Pub.
The reason it was recognized as one of the three major organizations in thiswless zone, along with the ck Market and the Red Spider.
''My initial n was to get a ticket to the underground auction as a reward for the request...''
Yoojin ran his right hand through his hair.
He hadn''t expected her to make a counter-proposal.
Giving him her business card.
And even asking for a request from someone she had only met once.
Compared to his memories of his past life, this was an exceptional treatment.
''She''s trying to figure out what kind of person I am.''
Yoojin scoffed lightly.
"Can you handle testing me?"
"I have a personality that doesn''t trust others easily. Besides, it''s not a bad offer for you, is it?"
"Well, alright. Let''s hear about the request first."
*Client: Oh Hyunjeong
*Request Type: Gate Conquest
*Difficulty: C
*Reward: MIS - 4 Magic Engine
*Details
Conquest Target - Anthill
Fluid-type Gate.
Gate Rank - 1 ~ 3 stars
Scale - Medium
*Special Note - Managed by the Red Spider as a bloodstone source.
Huh.
Yoojin let out a hollowugh in disbelief.
"You''re asking me to take on a request to retaliate against the Red Spider?"
"That''s right. There''s no one more suitable than you."
"You''re telling me to make an enemy of the force that divides Ground Zero into three?"
"Don''t worry. The Red Spider won''t interfere."
The Madam answered confidently.
The Red Spider''s territory was limited to Ground Zero.
The moment they stepped out of the shadows, they would lose their power like a shadow exposed to sunlight.
''Even so, if I ignore thempletely, I''m bound to get burned.''
Yoojin crossed his arms.
"Coming from the person who was almost roasted alive just now, those words aren''t very convincing."
"You just need to conquer the Gate without leaving any traces."
"You''re saying it so easily, telling me to kill all the Red Spider members inside."
Actually, he had guessed the content of the request from the moment it was proposed.
A cold smile yed on the Madam''s lips.
"Dead men tell no tales."
That wasn''t entirely true.
Yoojin couldmunicate with the dead.
He could even extract information from them or control them, regardless of their will.
''There''s no need to mention that.''
With a wry smile, he swallowed his thoughts.
"The condition is that the Gate closure will be under my name, right?"
Yoojin nodded in understanding and nced back.
"What do you think, Fafnir?"
¡¾Are you asking if it vites the contract?¡¿
"The Red Spider are bad guys, but killing them is different."
Although many were seriously injured in the process of saving the Madam, no one died in the end.
That was because Fafnir had shown mercy during the fierce battle.
¡¾Master, it seems you''ve misunderstood something.¡¿
Crack!
As Fafnir put force on his feet, a part of the floor caved in.
It seemed the impact from the earlier attack had umted, and it couldn''t withstand even a slight exertion of force.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡¾From the moment I took your hand, Master, I knew we were straying from the righteous path. Why ask now?¡¿
"You make me sound like a devil."
¡¾I am your sword. Since when did a weapon have a will of its own and ask whether or not to cut?¡¿
A sword.
It was a deration of his will, setting aside his own judgment and entrusting everything to Yoojin.
¡¾Besides, those guys are viins who deserve to be punished.¡¿
"You say you''ll leave the judgment to me, and then you go on about viins."
Yoojin muttered in disbelief.
"Oh ho. It seems like you''vee to an agreement. Can I expect a positive answer?"
"MIS - 4 magic engine. Don''t forget it."
"Don''t worry. I''ve secured a magic engine from the initial production in the US."
Myth Industry Series - 4.
It meant the fourth magic engine series made by Myth Corporation, the leadingpany in magic engineering.
''The maximum output is 5 Star. It had a mana overload problem, so its value plummeted after a while, right?''
Myth Industry used the disastrous failure of the fourth series as a stepping stone to release an improved version, which became a huge sess.
Even in his past life, MIS-5 was widely used until the world was destroyed.
''I roughly know its structure.''
He knew the cause of the overload in MIS-4 and how to solve it.
But he had no intention of advising Myth Industry.
A retired genius alchemist and a major American corporation.
The scale was too different.
He could keep his business partner on a leash because they were on a simr level.
At this point, if he tried to deal with a powerful corporation in the world''s number one nation, he would surely be exploited.
''Uncontroble power is poison.''
For now, he should focus on getting his hands on the MIS-4.
After organizing his thoughts, Yoojin spoke.
"Add 10kg of Arachne''s thread to the magic engine."
"I''ll throw that in as a service."
"Alright, I''ll do it."
"Oh, judging from the power you showed earlier, you seem to be at the peak of 3 Stars. Have you perhaps broken through the wall?"
It was a Gate that only allowed entry up to 3 Stars.
If Yoojin''s level was higher than that, he wouldn''t be able to enter at all.
"I''m a 1 Star."
"Oh ho. We''re now in a client-fixer rtionship, so please stop joking."
"It''s true."
The Madam blinked.
"Huh?????"
She was startled, with five question marks appearing above her head.
£ª £ª £ª
Twilight cast long shadows over the concrete graveyard.
The sun, which had illuminated every corner of the world, disappeared beyond the horizon.
On a hill not far from Ground Zero...
Yoojin and his party hid among the bushes, watching the faintly glowing Gate.
"That must be it."
A barbed wire fence surrounded the blue wormhole.
Men with spider tattoos on their shoulders, cheeks, or the backs of their hands stood guard.
"They''re all Hunters. Though their skills are pathetic."
Yoojin stroked his chin.
It would be difficult to subdue dozens of people at once.
If even one of them were to escape and contact the Red Spider''s main force in Ground Zero, the conquest would be for naught.
"Don''t worry."
The Madam plunged a dagger into the ground.
Thrum¡ª
With a brief tremor, a blue aura began to spread from the dagger.
[Moon''s Curse]
[Butterfly Dream]
An ability different from magic or divine spells.
It was the power of a curse, ssified as a special job ss.
''This is why the Madam is called Moon Shadow.''
Moon''s Curse.
As the name suggests, Madam Oh Hyunjeong''s curse could only be activated at night.
In exchange for this condition, the power of the curse transcended her rank.
The blue aura quickly enveloped the entire area around the Gate.
[Allmunication and movement-rted skills cannot be used.]
¡²Interfering with thews of nature with something that isn''t even the power of a constetion...¡³
Chronos showed interest.
"You can block magic-based skills, but not radio waves, can you?"
"Don''t worry. Preparations are alreadyplete."
The bartender neatlybed back his white hair.
While the Madam was activating her curse, he had set up a long pole.
"A radio wave jamming device."
"You have a keen eye, customer."
"Well, a little."
All means ofmunicating the Gate''s attack to the outside world were blocked.
"The request is to conquer the Gate, so I''ll open the way for you."
"No. It would be troublesome if even one of them escaped, so we''ll join forces."
[Using Unholy Blessing.]
[Using Punishing Spike.]
He cast the divine spells he had prepared in advance on Fafnir.
¡¾Leave it to me.¡¿
Fafnir dashed to the right.
"Hmm. It wouldn''t be very dignified for me to just stand here and watch."
The bartender now held twin swords of different lengths in his hands.
He was so fast that even Yoojin, who was standing next to him, didn''t see him draw the swords.
The bartender moved to the opposite direction of where Fafnir had run and charged towards the Red Spider group.
"M-Monster!"
"The Milky Way''s bartender has appeared on this side!"
The Red Spider members guarding the Gate were thrown into confusion.
All the personnel guarding the entrance were 1 Star.
Who would have thought that someone would dare to set foot in the territory of the Red Spider, one of the three major forces in Ground Zero?
¡¾In your next life, don''t get involved in evil deeds.¡¿
BOOM!
A tremendous roar erupted, like a grenade exploding.
He had concentrated his power in an instant and struck the Red Spider Hunter''s body.
A body made of flesh and blood couldn''t withstand such immense force.
"It''s not wise to take your eyes off this old man."
sh!
The bartender cut down the Red Spider members without getting a single drop of blood on his clothes.
"Quickly, contact headquarters!"
"There''s radio interference."
"The magic tools aren''t working either!"
"What are we supposed to do..."
The Hunters, who had relied solely on the reputation of the Red Spider, were annihted in an instant without putting up much resistance.
Not a single person guarding the Gate remained.
"It won''t take long."
"Good luck."
Yoojin confidently stepped through the Gate.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 28: Crimson Ambush (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 28: Crimson Ambush (1)
Thick darkness, devoid of even a single speck of light.
¡¾Master, are you alright?¡¿
"This is nothing."
Yoojin looked around the pitch-ck cave without a hint of panic.
A whitish energy shimmered in his vision.
He coated his retinas with Spirit Power, like a thin film, allowing him to see through the darkness.
Thud!
A Skeleton emerged from the Ring of Darkness.
It was the first real battle for the defense-specialized undead created from the Orc chieftain''s corpse.
"Time to earn your keep."
"Gek gekkek."
The Skeleton Guard rattled its jawbone in response.
¡¾I''ll take the vanguard.¡¿
"I''ll be counting on you, Great Warrior."
Thump- Thump¡ª
Fafnir''s footsteps echoed loudly through the cave.
Provoked by the vibrations, a monster appeared from the opposite direction.
[Red Slime]
A body made of crimson slime.
A Slime, a monster with nothing but an appetite to devour and dissolve anything, slid across the floor and slowly approached.
¡¾I''ve never seen that color before.¡¿
"It can even melt steel."
Its danger rating was 3 Stars.
Physical attacks without mana infusion were practically useless against it.
And armor without Enhancement Circuits would melt within seconds of contact.
¡¾So we just have to sit back and watch while facing the enemy?¡¿
"It does have one more weakness."
Yoojin stretched out his index finger, pointing at the Red Slime''s body.
A sphere slightlyrger than a ping-pong ball was buried in the middle of the crimson liquid.
"When it tries to hunt, it spreads out all of its slime."
¡¾So you''re saying we should destroy the core at that moment.¡¿
"The Red Slime only exposes its weakness for 0.1 seconds."
¡¾That''s not a difficult task.¡¿
Without a moment''s hesitation, Fafnir approached the Red Slime.
Spreading¡ª
The moment the hemispherical Red Slime stretched out like an unfolded nket...
¡¾Haaa!¡¿
His outstretched hand plunged into the crimson slime.
Khwaash!
With a sound like a heavy stone dropped into ake, the Red Slime''s body exploded.
Red liquid sttered everywhere.
Parts of the cave melted, and acrid smoke rose with a sizzling sound.
"You sure have a knack for timing."
¡¾I told you, it wouldn''t be difficult.¡¿
Fafnir, who had been sneering, suddenly wavered.
¡¾Slimes don''t leave corpses behind.¡¿
"That''s right."
¡¾Then your necromancy would be useless here.¡¿
"I can''t do much with slime corpses."
If theck of corpses was a problem, he would have raised the guys he killed before entering the Gate as undead.
¡¾Then why did you enter empty-handed?¡¿
"Because I don''t need them."
- Zombie
- gue Zombie
- Skeleton
- Armored Zombie
This was the list of undead Yoojin could create without prior preparation.
Skeletons?
They would melt in a matter of seconds if they dived into the Red Slime.
Zombies wouldst about 10 seconds.
Armored Zombies reinforced with Bone Armor, maybe 30 seconds?
Yoojin chuckled and took off the Shadow Mask.
[The Dark Vision curse has been removed.]
[Curses stored in the Shadow Mask - 4/5]
He erased the already engraved curse.
And with the whitish energy concentrated at his fingertips, he engraved another curse.
[The Dark Calling curse has been registered in the Shadow Mask.]
[19 durability consumed.]
Dark Calling
Category: Curse
Rank: D
Subjugates a soul and imbues it with the power of death. A soul subjected to Dark Calling bes a Specter.
"Come here."
He called out in a powerful voice, and the Slime''s soul flew to Yoojin''s side.
The whitish energy consumed the translucent spirit.
Stained with Spirit Power, it gradually turned ck.
[Specter created.]
- Hee hee hee!
An eerieughter filled with a sinister aura.
The Slime''s soul, captured by Dark Calling, became a Specter.
¡¾But what are you going to use this Specter for?¡¿
"Debuffs and continuous damage."
Didn''t you get nightmares or stiff shoulders when you slept in a ce with a strong flow of negative energy?
Specters were simr.
They possessed living beings and infused them with negative energy.
They could stiffen the body, disrupt senses, or inflict damage with their spiritual power.
¡¾Quite versatile for a mere Specter.¡¿
Yoojin didn''t answer and just grinned, his expression a bit twisted.
As they ventured deeper, three Red Slimes suddenly appeared.
- Hee hee hee!
Without even being instructed, the Specter darted forward and seeped into the red slime.
[Specter possesses Red Slime.]
[Strength, Agility decreased by 2%.]
[Exhaustion Lv. 1 inflicted.]
Fafnir''s jaw dropped.
¡¾That''s... a debuff?¡¿
"More like jack of all trades, master of none."
¡¾What a waste of Spirit Power.¡¿
"The one good thing is that the debuffs stack."
Yoojin could control up to 20 undead.
If he filled those slots with Specters, they might actually be useful.
"Until the number of Specters increases, I''ll need you to work hard."
Bam! Bam!
With each punch, a Red Slime exploded.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Come here."
One by one, the souls of the Red Slimes submitted to Yoojin''s power and transformed into Specters.
[Strength, Agility decreased by 15%.]
[Exhaustion Lv. 8 inflicted.]
[Confusion Lv. 9 inflicted.]
¡¾Now it''s finally bing somewhat useful.¡¿
Fafnir easily hunted the Red Slimes, who were now disoriented and weakened.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin and his party continued deeper into the cave.
There was only one path.
Toplete the Gate conquest, they had to break through the Red Spider group that had preceded them.
¡¾It seems it won''t be easy to just conquer the Gate and leave.¡¿
"Well, I expected that."
After about two hours of walking, a fluorescent-like light shimmered from the other side.
It was light generated by magic.
¡¾A corner in the passage. This is a bit troublesome.¡¿
Fafnir grumbled in a worried tone.
The source of the light was inside the cave, which bent at a right angle.
They didn''t know how many Red Spider members were mining bloodstones there.
Kronos, who had been observing the situation, burst intoughter.
¡²(Cackle)! It seems even my contractor doesn''t know everything about this ce!¡³
''Even if I''ve returned, I don''t know everything.''
Yoojin sent five Specters towards the shimmering light.
The moment the group of whitish spirits turned the corner...
An orange light flickered for a moment.
BOOM! A loud explosion shook the entire cave.
[4 Specters destroyed.]
The spirits vanished simultaneously, exactly 3 seconds after entering the corner.
One survived, but another orange light shed, and it met the same fate as the others.
''The distance is about 100 meters. There are four magic-user Hunters.''
Judging by the firepower of the explosion, they were at the peak of 3 Stars.
Even for Fafnir, a 3 Star transcendent undead, being hit head-on more than three times would be dangerous.
This meant that if the Red Spider''s tank line was strong, they could be defeated before they even got close.
''In that case, I need to create a new variable.''
He had just reached level 30 by ughtering the Red Slimes.
It was time to extract the knowledge he needed in this situation.
[Knowledge of Necromancy is engraved into the user''s soul.]
[Bone Spear spell added.]
Bone Spear
Category: Magic
Rank: D
Envelops bones with Spirit Power and throws them in a straight line.
"Ugh."
Yoojin clutched his head and cursed.
¡¾Are you alright?¡¿
"Besides the damn pain..."
Hoo.
Yoojin took a deep breath and pushed away the pain.
Bone Spear and a group of Specters.
And Fafnir.
It was enough firepower to deal with the Red Spider group.
Yoojin, who had envisioned the battle in his head, smiled with satisfaction.
£ª £ª £ª
Deep within the crimsonir...
The Red Spider group, stationed in front of the boss room, had finished their battle preparations.
"Which bastard dared to intrude?"
Jo Seungchul, the Hunter in charge of bloodstone mining, muttered in a chilling voice.
The Red Spider had deployed 10 people for bloodstone collection.
All of them were 3 Stars, the limit of a typical Hunter''s growth, and...
He himself had received significant investment from the Red Spider, recognized for his powerful unique ability and mana control.
With the synergy of his items, he could even temporarily match the firepower of a 4 Star magic-user Hunter.
"Try contacting them."
"No response."
An hour ago, an anomaly urred.
Regrmunication had been cut off.
''What kind of trouble is this, thanks to some reckless bastard who poked their head into the Red Spider''s territory?''
Bloodstone was a powerful catalyst that amplified mana.
Thanks to the recent discovery of the Alchemist''s job advancement route, the value of bloodstone had skyrocketed.
About 12 million won per 100 grams.
The red stones scattered throughout the [Crimson Lair] were more valuable than gold.
Jo Seungchul''s mood plummeted as a variable arose while they were raking in a hefty side ie.
"Whatever pops out, crush it."
As Jo Seungchul growled like a wild beast, the Red Spider Hunters'' spirits were also heightened.
At that moment...
A Skeleton holding a bone shield entered the Red Spider group''s view.
"Gek gekkek!"
Behind the Skeleton Guard, whitish specters shimmered.
Several Specters spread out, confusing their vision.
"A Skeleton?"
"And Specters too. What are undead doing here?"
The magic-user Hunters didn''t panic and channeled their mana.
Whatever emerged from the cave...
The fact that everyone besides the Red Spider group was an enemy remained unchanged.
[me Beat]
[Fireball x 2]
[Red Bind]
Fragmented mes blocked the Specters'' approach.
Crimson mes wrapped around the Skeleton Guard''s ankles.
And from the front, a ser ball-sized fireball hurtled towards it.
"Nowhere to run, bonehead!"
Jo Seungchul shouted.
[Iron Wall]
[Attack Absorption]
Thud!
The Skeleton nted its shield firmly on the ground and activated its defensive skills.
A green light deflected the trajectory of the fire magic, and it collided head-on with the bone shield. A massive explosion filled the passage with hot wind.
"G-Gek."
The Skeleton Guard withstood the barrage of magic in the narrow passage.
Therge shield was more than halfway melted, and its jawbone was dislocated, perhaps from absorbing some of the explosion''s energy with its body, but it still hadn''t been destroyed.
¡¾Well done, skeletal warrior.¡¿
Arge silhouette suddenly emerged, leaping over the Skeleton Guard.
Fafnir kicked off the ground and quickly closed the distance with the Red Spider group.
"You stinking undead!"
Killing intent flickered in Jo Seungchul''s eyes. He realized the Skeleton with the shield was a decoy.
[Quick Reload]
A unique trait that doubled mana consumption but reduced the dy after casting magic and increased recovering speed.
While the other magic-user Hunters were recovering their mana after the attack...
"Eat this and die!"
He was able to throw a second fireball in just one second.
The zing fireball, amplified by various items, packed the power of a near 4 Star Hunter.
In a confined space like the [Crimson Lair]...
Even a 4 Star Hunter who could use Aura, if they were to be hit by this in an enclosed space where the explosion''s energy had nowhere to escape, they would suffer severe burns.
"That exins why there was so little time difference between the Specters'' deaths."
A human voice echoed from the other side of the cave.
Yoojin, who had been hiding behind the bone shield, moved his lips.
[Using Bone Spear.]
Something wrapped in a whitish aura flew from the other side of the passage and collided head-on with the fireball.
Its speed was several times faster than Bone Control.
Even though Yoojin hadunched it the moment Jo Seungchul released his recovered mana, it flew in and intercepted the fireball at an even faster speed.
BOOM!
The fireball exploded earlier than intended.
As a fire magic spell focused on destructive power, its explosive energy radiated outwards, attempting to engulf even Fafnir, but...
Shing!
Yoojin rotated the Spirit Power he had imbued into the Bone Spear, pushing the explosive energy to the edges.
"Hepletely neutralized the Fireball''s explosive energy?!"
Jo Seungchul was aghast.
If only he knew that Yoojin was a mere 1 Star, what would his reaction be?
Although one of the [Cursed Fang] was destroyed as a price, they had seeded in closing the most crucial ''distance''.
¡¾Excellent, Master.¡¿
Fafnir''s cheek, which should have been stiff with rigor mortis, twitched.
A sneer, just like Yoojin''s, spread across Fafnir''s face.
Sparks of fury flickered in the eyes of the Red Spider gang.
"Do we look like scarecrows to you?"
"Kill him!"
Five Hunters, including the tank, brandished their weapons and blocked Fafnir''s path.
The Red Spider gang was fully equipped with Rare rank gear.
They were fully prepared to defend the Crimson Lair.
It was a Gate that only allowed entry up to 3 Stars.
Most Hunters wouldn''t even be able to reach the magic-user Hunters, let alone break through the defensive line; they would be cut down by the melee Hunters'' des.
[Dark Aura]
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Seventh Stance]
[Ten-Strike Flurry]
Vroom!
Fafnir''s Spirit Power resonated like the roar of a high-powered motorcycle.
It was the realm of imbuing energy with will and giving it form.
His fists, d in a different form of Aura, rained down on the melee Hunters.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The Dark Aura covering his furiously thrown fists broke the Hunters'' weapons and crumpled their steel armor.
"Aura!"
"A 4¡ 4 Star?!"
"What kind of Aura is that, for a non-Death Knight?!"
Two were instantly knocked down.
The remaining three melee Hunters kept their distance, wary of Fafnir.
"Something wrong?"
Yoojin''s mocking voice echoed.
The thought that ''something was wrong'' began to dawn on the Red Spider gang.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 29: Crimson Ambush (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 29: Crimson Ambush (2)
"Damn you!"
Jo Seungchul shouted with rage.
Despite his harsh words, he analyzed the strength of Yoojin''s group based on years of experience.
Fafnir''s power, with Dark Aura imbued in his fists.
Yoojin''s magic skills, which neutralized the Fireballunched with full force by manipting bones.
Two melee Hunters were already down as soon as the engagement began.
And the magic-user Hunters needed time to rearrange their mana before they couldunch their next attack.
''It seems he has a Summoning attribute.''
He hadn''t heard any rumors about a Hunter who could control undead familiars.
However, Jo Seungchul didn''t dismiss the possibility.
There were hundreds of thousands of known Hunter attributes; it wouldn''t be strange if one of them allowed for the control of undead.
''To turn this situation around, I need to take him down.''
He quickly assessed the situation and immediately gave orders.
"Minwoo, hold that undead. The rest of you, get that bastard!"
The Hunter with therge shield charged.
[Enhanced Grip]
He positioned the shield vertically and pressed it against Fafnir''s forearm.
Bound by the viscous green mana, Fafnir swung his arm, but the firmly attached shield swayed and hindered his movement.
¡¾Imend your courage, but this level of restraint...¡¿
[Quick Reload]
[Red Bind]
Jo Seungchul activated his unique trait once again.
A rope made of mes shot out and bound Fafnir.
¡¾...I can''t shake it off.¡¿
Dismay was mixed in Fafnir''s voice.
While one tank held him back, the remaining melee Hunters ran towards Yoojin.
''That''s a good judgment.''
¡²(Cackle) It seems your warrior is struggling.¡³
Yoojin didn''t take his eyes off the approaching melee Hunters.
It would have been nice if things were easy.
The Hunter who appeared to be in charge, Jo Seungchul, had sharper judgment than he expected.
''Well, I anticipated this much.''
[Using Unholy Blessing.]
He quickly switched between Spirit Power and Holy Power using the Midnight Sun attribute.
After buffing himself, he immediately converted the Holy Power back to Spirit Power.
Yoojin unleashed the remaining Specters he had hidden behind him.
- Hee hee hee!
The whitish fog seeped into the melee Hunters charging across the ground.
Their movements dulled under the rapidly stacking debuffs.
ck bone fragments sprang from Yoojin''s waist and soared into the air.
He repeatedly rotated Spirit Power within the [Cursed Fang], maximizing their prating power.
[Using Bone Spear.]
The bone,unched through the air, drew a single line in the space.
The sharp tip of the bone aimed for the Hunter with the sword and shield.
He angled his shield, attempting to deflect the Cursed Tooth.
"Uh, huh?"
Crack!
As soon as it touched the shield, the Spirit Power within the bone rotated, refusing to be deflected, and dragged the Hunter into its trajectory.
The man, who tried to parry it, ended up taking the Bone Spear head-on.
His steel shield, engraved with Enhancement Circuits, crumpled, and he was pushed back several meters from the sheer impact.
Although his shield wasn''t pierced, the Hunter stood frozen, his whole body numb.
"Die, you bastard!"
Yoojin couldn''t stop the Hunter charging from the side from closing in.
At his current 1 Star level, he couldn''t simultaneously control multiple bones like with the lower-level Bone Control spell.
For a Hunter who surpassed the limits of ordinary humans, a distance of 100 meters could be closed in the blink of an eye.
[Using Bone Control.]
The remaining three Cursed Fang, excluding the one he had alreadyunched, sprang up.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The magic weapons shot down diagonally.
"It seems you can only use that attack one at a time."
The melee Hunter''s arm swung wide.
ng! ng! ng!
The Cursed Fang, caught in the trajectory of the heavy mace, were flung into the air.
"Tsk."
Clicking his tongue, Yoojin sent the Skeleton Guard forward.
Although the bone shield was half melted and cracks ran throughout its body, it hadn''t been destroyed yet.
The melee Hunter''s eyes turned cold.
"You half-dead thing. Get lost."
[Smash]
The mace swung down in a straightforward arc.
The Skeleton, its posture fixed with [Iron Wall], raised its remaining shield to block, but...
Crack!
A sharp sound rang out, and its entire body crumbled.
[Skeleton Guard destroyed.]
Ignoring the system message that echoed in his ears, Yoojin immediately drew upon his Spirit Power.
He used Bone Control once again.
This time, instead of the Cursed Fang, he manipted the shattered remains of the defensive Skeleton.
¡²Contractor, isn''t this really dangerous?¡³
''I need to hold out until Fafnir wipes out the magic-user Hunters.''
There was a slight pause before the melee Hunter could recover his mace andunch another attack.
That was enough time.
Thanks to the Hunter destroying the Skeleton, it became easier for Yoojin to carry out his ''n''.
Rattle!
Some of the shattered bones intertwined and stretched out, forming a rod a little under 3 meters long.
Using Bone Control, Yoojin brought the newly created rod into his hand.
"A magic-user trying to mimic closebat?"
The melee Hunter kicked off the ground and leaped.
Yes.
That was the right answer.
Yoojin had memorized the melee Hunter''s movements, learned from being beaten by Fafnir.
[Verdian Basic Spear Technique]
[Fourth Form - Spear Strike]
The bone spear drew arge arc in the air.
Thwack!
A dull thud echoed through the cave.
£ª £ª £ª
The melee Hunter was certain that he could smash Yoojin''s head in with his mace.
''Even if that mage, who neutralized Jo Seungchul''s Fireball, is holding a staff...''
Jo Seungchul, who possessed near 4 Star magic skills thanks to his items, specialized in Fireball, a spell that boasted maximum power in confined spaces like this cave.
''I see through your trick of trying to buy time with a bluff.''
Just as he was about to put strength into his mace-wielding hand, ignoring Yoojin''s obvious counterattack...
Thwack!
A strong rebound force surged through his arm.
"Ugh."
With a short groan, the melee Hunter stumbled back.
The spear strike, imbued with the essence of the Verdian Basic Spear Technique, had struck his arm, draining his strength.
It was fortunate that he hadn''t dropped his mace.
"Damn it."
"What''s wrong? Having a bit of trouble there?"
Yoojin once again used Bone Control, manipting the Cursed Teeth he had just deflected to target the melee Hunter.
"Don''t fuck with me!"
With veins bulging in his neck, the Hunter ignored the Cursed Teeth and charged straight at Yoojin.
Thud! Thud!
The Cursed Teeth, aiming for the gaps in his armor, tore through his flesh and burrowed deep, but...
They couldn''t stop him from abandoning all defense and charging towards Yoojin.
[Smash]
The same attack that had destroyed the Skeleton Guard in one blow.
Although Yoojin had the Verdian Spear Technique, honed by being beaten by Fafnir, it wasn''t enough to withstand the full force of a 3 Star melee Hunter.
"It''s okay. I expected this too."
nk!
[Transforming the Dragon Scale Armor.]
The Dragon Scale Armor, which had taken the form of a shirt, reacted to Yoojin''s thoughts.
In 0.1 seconds, white armor enveloped his entire body.
d in the Dragon Scale Armor, now transformed into a full te, Yoojin once again executed the Fourth Form.
Crack¡ª
The makeshift bone spear broke without much resistance.
Hastily made, itcked the strength to withstand the melee Hunter''s full power.
The mace shattered the bone spear and struck Yoojin''s body head-on.
"Ugh!"
Unable to withstand the heavy impact, he was flung back several meters with a scream.
However...
"Ugh."
The melee Hunter, who hadnded a solid blow on Yoojin, also copsed.
The Specters'' stacked curses and the Cursed Teeth had burrowed into his vital points.
His gamble had failed.
And the price for betting all his chips was harsh.
"(Cough) Damn it. Good thing I learned how to use a spear."
Yoojin muttered nonchntly, even as he coughed.
With Fafnir, his main force, at the forefront, he couldn''t have failed to predict this situation.
The Red Spider gang''s trump card had been neutralized, and they had to pay the price for wasting precious manpower that could have held back Fafnir.
[Dark Aura]
The Aura manifested from Spirit Power mercilessly tore apart the mes that bound his arms.
"Gurk, ugh."
The melee Hunter, who had been holding Fafnir back with his aggro-fixing skill, quickly became a cold corpse.
"Damn it. Those Specters disrupted my spellcasting!"
The Specters Yoojin had initially sent out had disrupted the concentration of the magic-user Hunters who were trying to gather their mana.
They were now a step behind in preparing the magic to intercept Fafnir.
"F-me..."
¡¾I''m getting bored waiting.¡¿
Crack!
One with each blow.
Every time Fafnir threw a punch, a magic-user Hunter''s life was extinguished.
"To think I would be defeated by some nameless nobody...!"
Jo Seungchul, the mining supervisor of the [Crimson Lair], copsed with his eyes wide open, seemingly filled with resentment.
£ª £ª £ª
The cave fell silent.
Huff... huff¡
Only Yoojin''s ragged breathing broke the silence of the battlefield.
¡¾Master, are you alright?¡¿
"I thought I was going to die."
A deep dent marred his chest.
He had copied the style worn by Kim Youngsoo, the Hunter who wielded the Dragon Scale Armor in his past life, but he couldn''t replicate its defensive capabilities yet.
Despite being an Epic grade artifact, it was a growth-type item, and it was far from reaching its full potential.
At its current level, it barely matched the efficiency of a Rare grade armor.
''Look at that dent in my chest, even after transforming it for maximum defense.''
¡¾(Chuckle). Haven''t you heard the saying that it''s better to be alive, even if you''re rolling in a pile of dung?¡¿
"Pain is pain."
He drew on his stored life force to mitigate the impact and stood up.
¡¾In any case, you''ve won.¡¿
"Indeed."
¡¾A 1 Star Hunter single-handedly defeating those at the peak of 3 Stars... anyone who hears that will dismiss it as a bad joke.¡¿
"It''s all thanks to my excellent minions."
Yoojin smiled faintly, his expression a bit twisted.
Most of the Specters were destroyed.
The Skeleton Guard was also destroyed.
And one of the Rare grade magic weapons waspletely broken.
"I used all the cards I could. This is the best possible oue."
¡¾What were you going to do if I had fallen?¡¿
"Run."
¡¾What a loyal Master.¡¿
"You have a Life Force Vessel, so I can revive you anytime."
''I, on the other hand, only have one life.''
Yoojin muttered nonchntly and looked over the corpses of the Red Spider gang.
"Oh, I''ve heard that name before."
¡¾Jo Seungchul?¡¿
"Yeah, he was quite something."
¡¾Saying it with such uncertainty isn''t very convincing.¡¿
Bloodstained Legs.
That was the nickname of Jo Seungchul, one of the executives of the Red Spider.
¡®In my past life, he was a formidable 7 Star Hunter. It seems I''ve ended his career a bit prematurely this time around.¡¯
¡²He had some skill. If he had pushed a little harder, your life would have been in danger, Contractor.¡³
''You seem to really want that to happen.''
¡²(Cackle) Isn''t a close victory more exciting to watch?¡³
The Hunter put up a fight until the very end when the Red Spider was being cleaned up in Ground Zero.
He had just reduced the Madam''s workload a bit.
"Come here."
He was a lower rankpared to the Mirror Hunter, but Jo Seungchul was still a decent minion.
''Even if I can''t make him into a high-ranking undead like a Lich, I should be able to create a decent one if I synchronize his soul.''
It wasn''t difficult to subjugate Jo Seungchul''s soul by branding it with a curse.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
He shouldn''t forget to take his corpse as well.
After collecting the body with the Ring of Darkness, he also picked out the intact items.
¡¾Master, are Rare itemsmon in this era?¡¿
"Is that a joke?"
Yoojin immediately retorted.
Even the [Grudge Staff], an unpopr item, had an estimated value of several million won.
If he collected everything here, it would be worth at least hundreds of millions of won, so what was he talking about?
"Stop talking nonsense and gather the equipment."
He urged Fafnir to collect all the items the Red Spider gang had been wearing.
¡¾Master, what about this item?¡¿
"Why are you rmending melee equipment? Just collect everything."
Most of the magic items were also useless to him, as they focused on amplifying fire magic.
Ah, but there were two he could use right away.
[Wisdom Earrings x2]
Rank: Rare [R]
Category: Earrings
Restriction: None
Durability: 37/50
Earrings that enhance the user''s spirit.
*Mana +8
*Mana Consumption -2%
A simple description and options.
The increase was lower than that of the Grudge Staff, which was of the same rank, but essories generally had lower efficiency than main weapons.
There were no restrictions on wearing them, and the amplification options were neat, so they had good versatility. What wasn''t there to like?
Yoojin didn''t hesitate and put the silver rings on both ears.
"Do they suit me?"
¡¾Now I understand your aesthetic sense, Master.¡¿
"What''s that supposed to mean?"
¡¾Leave the fashion to me from now on. Your sense ispletely off.¡¿
''This guy...''
His backhandedpliments were top-notch.
He missed the taciturn Park Haneul from his past life a little.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 30: Necropolis (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 30: Necropolis (1)
The door leading to the boss room...
In front of it, red-glowing ores were embedded here and there on the walls.
¡²Is this the bloodstone I''ve heard about?¡³
''Yes. It''s quite expensive.''
From the size of watermelon seeds to fingernails...
Bloodstones, which had grown by absorbing the Gate''s mana, caught his eye.
''No wonder the Red Spider keeps a tight grip on this ce.''
Yoojin quickly averted his gaze from the wall.
¡²Aren''t you tempted?¡³
''A long tail will only get you caught.''
¡²Wise words. Small humans often ruin things with excessive greed.¡³
Yoojin chuckled briefly.
''I know how to distinguish between what I can and cannot handle.''
This Gate was more valuable than a gold mine.
The Red Spider wouldn''t have prepared only these measures.
Even with themunication blocked by the formation...
It wouldn''t take long for them to notice the anomaly.
''I need to conquer the Gate and get out before that.''
Yoojin ced his hand on the iron door at the end of the cave.
Screech!
The door slid open with a loud noise.
[Giant Red Slime]
The boss monster of the Crimson Lair was arge slime with three cores in its body.
"Kyuing!"
The boss monster exploded with a strange shriek.
Despite being a boss monster, it couldn''t hold out for long against Fafnir.
Fafnir snorted like a living creature.
¡¾Hmph, how boring.¡¿
"It''s not like the Red Spider couldn''t conquer it."
It was a boss monster deliberately left alone for the sake of mining bloodstones.
It couldn''tst long against Fafnir, who possessed power exceeding 3 Stars and unleashed a fierce onught, squeezing out his remaining Spirit Power.
A small orb and a skill book dropped from the exploded slime''s body.
[Slime Core]
Rank: Rare
Category: Misceneous
Durability: 37/50
The core of a giant slime. It has the effect of concentrating mana.
[Energy Bolt]
Rank: Rare
Category: Skill Book
Restriction: Magic-user ss, 3 Stars, one fire attribute magic proficiency over 80%, one wind attribute magic proficiency over 70%
Durability: 10/10
Condenses energy and fires it in the form of an arrow.
¡²How ironic. You could also use the Slime Core as a golem core.¡³
''It''s output is too low to be used as a core for operating a golem.''
''Don''t worry, it won''t ovep with your position.''
He had just obtained a corpse that could utilize the Slime Core anyway.
The Energy Bolt skill book was an unexpected bonus.
Magic skill books were rare.
He could sell it or give it to Lee Seongmin of the Little Runts Team.
When he finished the conquest and came out, the bright moonlight still greeted him.
"That was faster than I expected."
"Did you have faith that I would seed?"
"I wouldn''t have given you the request if I didn''t think the chances were high."
The owner of the Milky Way Pub had quite a high opinion of him.
"What about the Red Spider?"
"They''ve noticed thatmunication has been cut off. They''ll be moving soon."
¡¾Then shouldn''t we hurry?¡¿
"She''s probably already prepared an escape route."
Yoojin replied calmly.
"You''re no fun to tease."
Oh Hyunjeong grumbled and led the way.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin and his party returned to the pub.
Oh Hyunjeong brought out a machine the size of apact car from the pub''s storage.
MIS-4
The next-generation magic engineering engine created by Myth Corporation.
"Would you like to check if it''s genuine?"
"I doubt you''d y tricks in a ce like this."
"Well, I''ll show you that it works properly."
She connected it to a generator.
When she pressed the operation button, the engine sputtered to life. Gears whirred, pistons pumped, and the whole machine thrummed with power.
A wave of mana pulsed outward, bathing the room in an eerie light.
"That''s a decent output."
"I can''t be held responsible if there are any defectster."
"Isn''t that a bit too unkind?"
"It''s a prototype. You have to take that into ount if any problems ariseter."
Oh.
Was she just perceptive, or did she know something?
The MIS-4 was an iplete engine with a fatal w from its inception.
If he used it as a golem core without any measures, it would break down before long.
''She''s leaving herself an escape route.''
He was hoping to take credit for fixing the engine defectter, but it seemed difficult to find even a single weakness.
"I won''tin even if there''s a problem with the product, so throw in some extra service."
"Delivery, you mean?"
"Yeah, it''s a bit big to carry around."
When he gave her Shin Joonseok''s workshop address, the Madam''s eyes narrowed slightly.
"You''re quite close by?"
"I''ll be mainly active in the border region."
"Then we might not see each other again."
"Why don''t you just go ahead and curse me to die while you''re at it?"
Muttering under his breath, Yoojin nced at Fafnir standing behind him.
Thud¡ª
"What''s this?"
"Items from those Red Spider bastards."
"The Milky Way Pub specializes in mediating requests."
"If I handle it myself, it''ll be the same as announcing who attacked them."
He had to provide some after-service.
Oh Hyunjeong''s smooth brow furrowed slightly.
"We have a deal, so I have to keep it. But I''ll have to charge amission."
"10%."
"Stolen goods start at at least 40%, you know?"
"Hey, hiding my identity from the Red Spider was one of the conditions of the request."
Yoojin didn''t back down a single step.
This was a rare experience for Oh Hyunjeong, being led by someone else''s pace.
"...Fine."
"I''ll write down my ount number as well."
Yoojin''s sly grin as he held the pen was infuriating.
After finishing his business in Ground Zero, the journey back to Shin Joonseok''s workshop was more challenging than expected.
The biggest problem was Fafnir.
The Ring of Darkness could only store one corpse, so if he stored Fafnir, he would have to give up Jo Seungchul''s body.
''That would be a waste.''
Quick Reload was a high-ranking unique trait among magic-user Hunters.
It would be quite useful if he turned him into an undead.
If he raised his rank and used various catalysts, he could create a minion he could use for a long time.
¡¾Why not transport the corpse along with the engine delivery?¡¿
"Our country''s security isn''t thatx."
What if they encountered the police while transporting a corpse?
He loaded Fafnir onto a truck and headed straight for the border region.
"Call me anytime for this kind of work."
The truck driver, who received a hefty payment, beamed with joy.
"My business partner, you managed to return safely."
"Why? Were you hoping I''d lose an arm or something?"
"It''s Ground Zero, you know. I would have believed it even if you said you saw a ghost."
"Ah, I just happen to have a ghost to introduce you to."
- Hee hee hee!
Jo Seungchul, now a Specter, appeared with a ghostly wail.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Oh, shit!!"
"Kekeke. Why are you so surprised?"
"How can I not be surprised? A ghost just popped out!"
One side of Yoojin''s cheek twitched.
''This is a masterpiece. This is truly a masterpiece.''
Even the future great alchemist was afraid of ghosts.
"Regarding the potion approval and mass production..."
"Let''s talkter. I haven''t slept a wink."
In Ground Zero, he had run himself ragged trying to find Oh Hyunjeong after she was attacked.
And he even conquered a 3 Star difficulty Gate alone.
In the process, he fought the Red Spider Hunters.
¡¾Hearing you say you''re tired makes you seem a bit more human.¡¿
"Did you think I was an undead?"
¡¾Not an undead, but maybe you were raised in a crypt.¡¿
''He''s full of it.''
Treating a perfectly healthy person like a corpse was too much.
"My business partner, please rest here."
Guided to the lounge attached to the workshop, Yoojin closed his eyes.
A little whileter...
For the first time since turning back time, Yoojin had a dream.
£ª £ª £ª
Consciousness sinking into the swamp of slumber...
A ray of light pierced the crown of his head, awakening Yoojin''s mind.
''How long has it been since I closed my eyes?''
As he frowned and lifted his eyelids...
"Huh?"
A bewildered voice escaped his parted lips.
Instead of the white ceiling he saw before closing his eyes...
A colossal giant, filling the darkened world, dominated Yoojin''s vision.
¡²Have you arrived, Contractor?¡³
''Kronos?''
¡²Indeed. This is my old body.¡³
''It''s not okay to barge into someone''s dream without warning.''
He should respect people''s privacy.
Kronos burst intoughter at Yoojin''s brief grumbling.
¡²As my rank as a constetion rises, I can open a channel to the mortal I sponsor.¡³
¡²The one who connects to the channel is guided to the constetion''s hall.¡³
¡²Connected to the hall of the constetion ''Heaven-Defying Giant''.¡³
The space resembled the scene he saw in the Pantheon.
The only difference was...
Back then, Yoojin''s ''star'' shone faintly among countless constetions, but now it stood alone, radiating brilliantly.
''So this is what those sponsored by constetions were talking about.''
Hunters with patron constetions often had their souls connected to the constetion''s hall while unconscious.
It was an opportunity gained by getting closer to the constetion.
Hunters summoned to the hall often received more powerful blessings.
Even if there were no tangible rewards, they could gain enlightenment by meeting a powerful spiritual being.
''But you''re not giving me anything?''
¡²Is that all you have to say after seeing my magnificent form?¡³
''Of course a Titan would have arge body.''
¡²I haven''t umted enough history as a constetion to bestow blessings upon you.¡³
Damn it.
Even achievement quests in games tell you what to do.
''Tell me more specifically.''
¡²It would be much better to receive help from that ''system'' thing than for me to exin.¡³
Snap!
Kronos snapped his fingers.
[The constetion Heaven-Defying Giant currently has no sacred relic.]
[A sacred relic is an object that anchors the existence of a constetion and serves as a symbol of faith for its followers.]
[Acquire a sacred relic suitable for the origin of the constetion.]
[There is no temple dedicated to the constetion. Find a suitable site and build a temple.]
[In addition, you can quickly raise your rank by exceeding your limits or achieving unregistered achievements within the system.]
Acquiring a sacred relic.
Building a temple.
And creating new undead.
''The third one will be naturally fulfilled as my rank increases.''
The problem was the sacred relic and the temple.
''It will be difficult to make them right away.''
Yoojin didn''t think too deeply about the sacred relic.
There was another way to increase his influence as a constetion.
''Is there any way to get more divine spells?''
¡²I told you, it was already pushing it to grant you the ones I did before.¡³
How strict.
He was greedy because both Punishing Spike and Unholy Blessing were so powerful.
He smacked his lips in regret but quickly cut off his thoughts.
He had seen everything he needed to see.
As he decided to disconnect from the constetion''s hall, the starlight shining above Yoojin gradually faded.
£ª £ª £ª
Yawn¡ª
Yoojin stretched and turned his head from side to side.
With popping sounds, his stiff body gradually loosened up.
¡¾You must have been quite tired.¡¿
"How long have I been asleep?"
¡¾Half a day.¡¿
"I slept longer than I thought."
Getting out of bed, Yoojin headed to the Little Runts Team''s quarters.
Kang Minho, who had just finished eating, bowed his head.
"Hyung, you''re awake?"
"Where are the others?"
"They''re brushing their teeth, they''ll be here soon."
"Good timing. I have something to discuss with you all."
Yoojin sat down on the makeshift mattressid out in the room.
A little whileter, the Little Runts Team gathered.
''Oppa, what''s with the atmosphere?''
''Why is he acting so serious?''
''I don''t know. He suddenly called us over.''
As the Little Runts Team exchanged uneasy nces...
Yoojin slowly opened his lips.
"What''s your reason for being a Hunter?"
"To make a lot of money."
An honest answer, blurted out without hesitation.
Yoojin chuckled at Kang Minho''s reply.
"That''s a good mindset."
"I thought you''d say it was materialistic."
"I expected some nonsense about justice or wanting to be a hero."
"Come on, would we be following you if that were the case?"
Kang Minho spoke frankly, though he didn''t grasp the intent behind the question.
"I have a proposition."
As Yoojin raised his index finger, the Little Runts Team''s eyes naturally followed it.
"Be my subordinates. Officially."
"Weren''t we already working as your subordinates?"
"Right now, it''s just a temporary contract. And once my rank increases, you won''t be able to keep up, will you?"
The Little Runts Team members were all 1 Star.
If he wanted to, he could surpass their level within half a month.
"So that''s what you mean by official."
"You need to be able to follow in my footsteps."
It meant that they had to be at least not a burden to work alongside Yoojin.
In other words...
They had to be stronger.
"Can we be stronger if we follow you?"
"It will probably be incredibly difficult. You''ll regret it every day and scream in agony."
"So if we endure that, we''ll be able to keep up."
Yoojin smiled.
Understanding the unspoken affirmation in his smile, Kang Minho abruptly stood up.
"I want to follow you, Hyung."
"What about you two?"
The other Little Runts Team members, meeting Yoojin''s gaze, shouted a beatter.
"Y-yes!"
"Please train us until we almost die!"
Although they were half-terrified, they were also burning with the will to follow him.
It felt strange that two future rankers were asking to be his subordinates.
He still wasn''t sure what one of them was capable of, though.
"Then pack your bags. The road ahead will be tough."
"Where are we going?"
"The ce we went to a few days ago."
"The border region..."
"We''ll be staying there for a while, so pack plenty of extra food."
He nned to stay in the border region for at least a month.
Necropolis.
To create his own ''domain'' that would be the core of his necromancy.
¡®If you follow me, you''ll definitely be stronger. But be prepared for the toughest challenges of your life.¡¯
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 31: Necropolis (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 31: Necropolis (2)
Before re-entering the border region, there were things to be done.
"1 kg of ghoul bone, 50 kg of scorching sand, 14 kg of strong moss. And get me a B-rank mana stone."
"I don''t have any spare money because I''m building a potion factory."
"This time, I''ll give you an advance, so rx your eyes a bit."
His bank ount was flush with the proceeds from selling the Red Spider''s equipment.
Hundreds of millions of won disappeared with a few touches.
"Check it out."
"Where the hell did you get this much money?"
"I got a decentmission."
"Don''t tell me..."
Whether Shin Joonseok, who guessed the source of the funds, opened his mouth wide or not, Yoojin waved his hand, blocking the next words.
"The money is clean, don''t worry."
There could be no problem with the money the Milky Way Pub madam gave him.
Shin Joonseok sighed deeply and opened his mouth again.
"But, sir. Ghoul bones aside, what are you going to use scorching sand and strong moss for?"
"It''s no fun if I tell you in advance."
"You''re going to borrow my hands, aren''t you? I have to be prepared."
Tsk.
Yoojin clicked his tongue and opened his mouth.
"Golem."
"You mean a golem that can be maintained at all times with only a mana source, not a summon?"
"Then shall I order that as summon food?"
It has only been a year since the alchemist ss appeared in the world.
Visible results are being produced in fields such as magic circuit inscription, but golems are just now starting to produce prototypes one by one.
"Oh, oh oh oh! Go, go go go go..."
"Don''t get excited before we even start."
"Evenrge corporations are only putting out basic prototypes for golem research!"
Yoojin involuntarily stepped back at Shin Joonseok''s eyes that had gone wide.
A chilling light was felt.
I forgot.
That Shin Joonseok was a madman who reached the pinnacle of alchemy through self-study alone.
Behind that innocent face hides a madness that is not inferior to his brilliant talent.
A fine example of a mad scientist.
"Ah. Let me ask you one more favor."
"Speak."
"Have you learned Reverse Mana Flow?"
"It''s quite a difficult spell. But who am I!"
Shin Joonseok''s nose, which was already high, went up even further.
Ugh.
The urge to press it with his finger suddenly popped up.
"Engrave that on parchment."
"Just like that?"
"Suit yourself."
"I''ll do that much as a service."
[Magic Circuit - Reverse Mana Flow]
An alchemical spell that reverses the flow of mana.
The preparations are sufficient.
"Are you going to the border region now?"
"Just pray that Ie back safely."
"Should I pray to the one you serve?"
¡²Khahaha. This little human knows something!¡³
Stop it.
That constetion is ipetent and doesn''t have the power to answer your prayers.
"Just kidding."
"I''m serious. I''m going to start praying earnestly from today."
Yoojin''s shoulders flinched slightly at the delusion that flickered in Shin Joonseok''s eyes.
£ª £ª £ª
-nk-!
The heavy iron door creaked open.
Yoojin and his party passed through the door and entered the border region for the second time.
"I can''t believe I''m setting foot here twice."
Kang Minho grumbled softly, but the strange sense of anticipation in his eyes somewhat diminished the meaning of his monologue.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
-I will make you strong.
Perhaps it was because Yoojin''s words fromst night were vividly engraved in his mind.
Even though they had entered a ce far more dangerous than the Gate, for some reason, he felt strength in his steps.
Yoojin, who heard his murmur, red.
"If you haveints, go back."
"Oh no. My mouth was just pping on its own. Hyung!"
Kang Minho pped his mouth with his hand, acting obsequiously.
Fafnir, who was looking at him with a pitiful gaze, looked around.
¡¾Master. What is the goal of this trip to the border region?¡¿
"I''m going to create a Necropolis."
¡¾Necro... what?¡¿
"A city of the dead. A territory that bes the epicenter of necromancy."
If a mage or alchemist has a workshop.
Necromancers maximize the efficiency of necromancy by dering their own territory.
Before returning, he had installed necromantic amplification mediators all over the world to maximize his power.
''To create andmand more undead, I need to build a Necropolis.''
The border region is the optimal ce for a necromancer''s territory.
The ce integrated with the Gate has a much higher mana distribution than ordinarynd.
Monsters are constantly regenerating.
It''s a ce full of the scent of death, as they are hunted by Hunters or fight territorial battles amongst themselves.
¡²Wouldn''t it be difficult to defend a ce where many battles take ce?¡³
''That''s right.''
Yoojin stroked his chin.
Unlike the Gate, the grades of monsters that appear in the border region are not fixed.
Even though there are implicit boundaries between monsters, they are not absolute.
In fact, ''One-Eyed'', infamous around Paju, periodically crosses the mountainside, indiscriminately killing any monsters or Hunters that catch his eye.
¡²No matter how strong a monster is, it''s ultimately a creature without reason.¡³
''Want to see what a top-tier variant ogre can do?''
One-Eyed is a variant that is proficient in magic, even though it''s not even a Twin-Headed Ogre.
What if a monster like One-Eyed breaks into the Necropolis?
''It''ll be a relief if we don''t die.''
I wonder if Fafnir couldst even 5 seconds with his full power.
And of coexisting opportunity and danger.
It was truly a tremendous decision for the Little Runts team members to follow Yoojin.
''I''ll raise you all to be useful.''
With Fafnir as an excellent instructor, they will surely be strong.
The twin siblings have already proven their talent.
I''m not sure about Lee Seongmin, but if he doesn''t give up on his own, he''ll be able to improve his skills.
¡¾But where are we going?¡¿
"We''re going to look for a site to build the Necropolis."
¡¾We''ll have to find a ce with mountains behind and water in front.¡¿
"Trying to find a lucky spot, are we?"
Yoojin scoffed and replied in an absurd tone.
¡¾I just picked it up here and there.¡¿
"It''s not exactly mountains behind and water in front, but it''s simr. We''re going to find a ce where water flows."
"Land with flowing water has strong Yin energy."
ces with strong Yin energy are where you see ghosts or get sleep paralysis.
"In the Four Elements theory of alchemy, water governs the realm of souls."
Both in the East and West, water has a close rtionship with souls. So it''s water energy.
¡¾In that case, I should have brought chopsticks.¡¿
"You mean a dowsing rod."
[TL/N: Dowsing Rod ¡ª also called a divining rod, is a tool traditionally used to locate things underground, like water sources, buried metals, or even ley lines. It''s usually a forked stick or two separate rods held in the hands.]
¡¾Hmm. The name is not important!¡¿
¡®Even if you say that while getting angry, it''s not convincing in the slightest.¡¯
Yoojinughed briefly and then raised his spirit power.
Swoosh¡ª!
A whitish energy shimmered on his retina.
¡¾Come to think of it, Master. Did you imbue your eyes with spirit power?¡¿
"It''s a trivial trick."
¡¾A trivial trick? Your modesty is excessive!¡¿
Fafnir eximed in surprise, as if interrogating Yoojin.
"Why are you so excited all of a sudden?"
¡¾Instilling your will into energy and giving it form is the first step to manifesting Aura.¡¿
Yoojin let out a hollowugh.
"It''s just a branch of spirit power application. It''s not something topare with Aura."
¡¾Master, you don''t seem to realize how amazing that act was.¡¿
Fafnir muttered in a low voice, scattering blue sparks in displeasure.
"I need to concentrate, so let''s talkter."
Yoojin once again focused all his senses on applying spirit power.
Connecting the optic nerve and spirit power.
At his current level, it was a makeshift way to achieve ''Spiritual Sight'', something he could barely even glimpse.
If a mistake urs in the process of deploying spirit power, or if his concentration is broken, his eyesight could be permanently damaged.
''I see it.''
Water energy passes beneath the ground.
The souls of those who died in the border region ride that flow and move to lower ground.
The path where water energy flows.
It is the spirit vein.
After concentrating for about a minute, his eyes became dry.
When he withdrew his spirit power, his eyes stung as if he had sprinkled pepper on them.
¡¾Are you alright? Your eyes are bloodshot.¡¿
"I''m alright."
To find the flow of the spirit vein, you need specialized equipment like a dowsing rod.
The real thing with inscribed circuits, not the sticks that are circting in the world, that is.
''If you don''t have teeth, you have to use your gums.''
He calmed the pain in his bloodshot eyes with Life Drain and pointed in the direction the water energy was flowing.
¡¾Huhu. Leave the vanguard to me.¡¿
Fafnir took the lead.
"Hyung-nim. We''ll take the rear..."
"Ah. It''s okay to let him guard."
-Khehehe!
The ghost of Jo Seungchul, which had been hiding in Yoojin''s body, flew around, venting its pent-up resentment.
"Huh, huh."
"You''re not going to peekter, are you?"
The Little Runts team members, though bewildered, followed Yoojin.
-Kihihi! Kihi!
The ghost, revealing its bloodlust even though they hadn''t walked far, spun round and round in the air, drawing arge circle.
¡¾Enemy.¡¿
The bushes rustled, and soon the monster''s appearance was close enough to be seen with the naked eye.
"It''s a Lizardman. Hyung-nim. Weaker than an Orc, but agile and..."
¡¾A weak lizard.¡¿
Thump- Thump¡ª
Before Kang Minho could finish his exnation, Fafnir dashed out, leavingrge footprints on the ground.
"Their scales hold oil, making them resistant to impact attacks!"
Crack!
A heavy impact sound ovepped with Kang Minho''s scream. The Lizardman''s chest, where Fafnir''s fist hadnded, caved in.
Blue blood flowed from between the crushed bones and muscles.
¡¾What did you say?¡¿
"W-well, that impact attacks don''t work well."
¡¾Next time you''re in this situation, consider whether youck strength.¡¿
Bang! Kwabang!
Overwhelming violence swept away the Lizardman group.
[Using Flesh Control.]
[Using Raise Undead.]
The corpses, separated from flesh and bone, were used as materials for Armored Zombies.
Three zombies armed with heavy armor were added.
"Fafnir. I need to follow the flow of the spirit vein, so I''ll leave all the fighting to you."
¡¾Leave it to me.¡¿
A Noll, a humanoid monster with a dog-like upper body.
A Kobold, skillfully handling various tools.
In addition, various monsters appeared one after another, as if they hade to a monster museum.
"It''s different fromst time."
Lee Seongmin, clicking his tongue, extracted a mana stone from the heart of a Kobold that had just copsed.
"Because we''re crossing through the monsters'' territories."
The ce where Park Haneul''s soul resided was the Orc territory, so if you looked around the neighborhood, it was difficult to find anything other than Orcs.
Now they were crossing between the monsters'' territories, following the spirit vein.
"Then isn''t it dangerous?"
"It''s endless if we turn back. It''s better to break through like this."
It was fortunate that it was the entrance to the border region.
If they went deeper, it was a ce where monsters like Trolls and Ogres lurked.
At the party''s level, they would be finished off by the Ogres without even needing Paju''s named monster, One-Eyed, to appear.
-Groooan.
The number of Armored Zombies also increased smoothly, filling up the maximum number of 18 + 2 (Fafnir and 1 ghost) that he could control.
Tsk.
Kronos clicked his tongue.
¡²It''s a hassle to make undead every time.¡³
"That''s the necromancer''s sorrow."
As their forces grew, their movement speed also increased.
"Kuk, how did you know I was hiding?!"
-Kihihihi!
Even if there were monsters in ambush, they were detected thanks to the ghost, which was sensitive to the presence of the living.
Yoojin followed the spirit vein without much difficulty.
"This ce will do."
A small hill overlooking a stream.
The flow of the spirit vein flowing beneath the ground was quite strong.
It was the highest ground in the vicinity, making it a suitable terrain for a Necropolis.
¡¾Will it be alright? It''s quite prominent and stands out.¡¿
"We have to take risks."
¡¾Look. The existing residents don''t wee new neighbors.¡¿
The direction pointed by the sharp ws.
Monsters nearby were approaching Yoojin and his party standing on the hill.
The number seemed to be in the hundreds at a nce.
When Kang Minho gulped and tried to grab his weapon.
"You guys prepare for camp."
"The number of enemies is enormous. Shouldn''t we join the fight?"
"I needed corpses anyway, so this is good."
Yoojin used [Bone Control] to float four magical weapons in the air.
Necromancers excel at endurance. The longer the fight, the stronger they be.
''No matter how many there are, I''m the one who wins.''
Shwaaaak¡ª!
Cursed weapons made from ghoul bones cut through the air and shot towards the enemies.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 32: Necropolis (3)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 32: Necropolis (3)
Monster corpses littered the area around the hill.
All those who had rushed in fearlessly had fallen to the ground, their eyes rolled back.
[Level Up!]
[Current level is 35.]
¡®At this rate, wouldn''t it be possible to ascend to the next rank within a week?¡¯
Staying in the border region had increased the rate at which he gained experience exponentially.
"Let''s pick up the pace."
"Huff, huff. We''re almost done, Hyung-nim."
Once the Little Runts team extracted the mana stones from the fallen monsters'' corpses.
"Good. Put them there."
-Groooan.
The Armored Zombies carried the corpses, now stripped of their mana stones, to the center of the hill.
The blood flowing from the monsters'' remains drenched the hill.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
¡²It doesn''t seem like you''re trying to create new undead. Is this rted to the Necropolis?¡³
''Yes. From now on, I''m going to build a ck Obelisk.''
¡²Isn''t the obelisk a structure that worships Ra, the head of the Ennead n?¡³
"Oh."
Yoojin let out a short exmation.
''That''s right. Originally, it was a symbol of the Ennead gods, led by the sun god Ra.''
Yoojin pointed to the setting sun.
The sun possesses overflowing vitality and also signifies providence.
''I will overturn that concept with the ck Obelisk.''
Reverse the water energy, which has a deep connection with spirit power among the four elements that make up nature, and transmit it outwards.
Spread it like fog to block the sun and amplify the spirit power intertwined with the water energy.
¡²An act of twisting the natural order. Truly like a necromancer.¡³
''I''ll take that as apliment.''
Yoojin lightly brushed off Kronos''s sarcasm.
¡²But reversing such a full force of the sun''s energy doesn''t seem easy?¡³
''Just watch.''
Seeing is better than hearing a hundred times.
Yoojin stopped exining further and slowly began to raise his spirit power.
A realm not permitted at his original level.
However.
It was possible for Yoojin, who had not gained his abilities through system assistance, but had instead internalized the essence of necromancy as true ''power'' through the [Library of Knowledge] and gained enlightenment.
[Using Flesh Control.]
[Using Bone Control.]
First, separate the flesh and bones.
He moved the white bones with Bone Control.
''Form the frame of the structure.''
Large and small bones floated up and began to weave together ording to a predetermined blueprint.
The top of the hill.
A bone tower, about 5 meters tall, was erected at the highest point, which was also the center.
''The skeleton isplete.''
[Using Flesh Control.]
The monster flesh that had been separated came crawling and filled the interior of the tower.
Kang Minyeong retched at the grotesque sight, but managed to endure it.
Well, of course.
If she continued to be with him, she would see many more terrible sights, so it wouldn''t do to be like this already, would it?
"Hmm."
A groan escaped his lips.
Perhaps because he had squeezed his mana to the limit, his body swayed unsteadily.
¡¾Master.¡¿
Fafnir went behind Yoojin and held him so he wouldn''t copse.
"Just hold me for a bit."
[Using Midnight Sun.]
[Mana ¡ú Holy Power conversion.]
He replenished his depleted mana by infusing his body with life force, restoring his consumed energy.
"Hyung-nim. Is there anything we can do to help?"
"Just don''t throw up on the ground."
"..."
As soon as his Holy Power recovered to a certain extent, he immediately deployed Midnight Sun to convert it into mana.
He moved the flesh again.
Squish- Squish¡ª
The flesh, filling the bone tower, was crushed with the sound of tearing flesh.
"Whew."
He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
He couldn''t remember how many times he had almost copsed just from shaping the ck Obelisk.
Constructing a territory was a task that one would dare to attempt only after reaching at least 3 Stars.
Even with future knowledge and experience, he had undertaken a task that would be challenging even two ranks higher, so his head felt like it was about to explode.
¡²It doesn''t seem like there''s much change.¡³
''It has only taken form. The real work hasn''t even begun.''
He ced his right hand on the structure, glistening with a mixture of blood and crushed flesh.
His brow furrowed at the sticky sensation.
''Substance is more important than appearance.''
Ignoring the unpleasant feeling, Yoojin synchronized his senses with the ck Obelisk.
The wriggling lumps of flesh.
Yoojin''s spirit power, flowing through the contact surface, permeated the ck Obelisk and was amplified.
¡¾This is...?¡¿
A ferocious wave of spirit power, strong enough for Fafnir to instinctively assume a fighting stance upon sensing the unusual energy.
''It''s well made.''
Yoojin smiled, satisfied with his undiminished skills.
He confirmed that ''spirit power amplification'', one of the roles of the ck Obelisk, was functioning sessfully.
''I can''t stop here.''
Necropolis.
To function as a necromancer''s territory, the water energy and spirit power drawn from the spirit vein had to densely permeate the surroundings.
Yoojin poured the amplified spirit power into the ground without hesitation.
The spirit power seeping into the ground pierced a small passage connecting the obelisk and the underground, and almost simultaneously engraved a magic circuit.
[Magic Circuit - Reverse Mana Flow]
A marvel that could be demonstrated only because of Yoojin''s control ability,prehension, and extensive knowledge in the field of magic circuits.
If an alchemist like Shin Joonseok were here and witnessed the real-time magic circuit inscription happening underground, he would be astonished.
The moment a straight path to the spirit vein was opened.
''A bite right away.''
The water energy pulsed in response to Yoojin''s spirit power.
The intense spirit power mixed in the water flow thrashed upwards like a fish that had swallowed bait whole.
''Not yet.''
He maximized the power amplified by the ck Obelisk.
He blocked the spirit power trying to surge up from the ground and engraved a circuit into the spirit vein as well.
[Five Elements Formation - Water Energy Heaven Filling]
A formation that interferes with the flow of water, which should originally flow from top to bottom.
Yoojin used the formation to reverse the flow of water energy flowing through the ground, forcing it to flow upwards along with his spirit power.
''Well, it''s unorthodox, but...''
The foundation of formations is the natural order of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements.
Forcibly twisting the flow of water is something a proper formation master would never do.
It was an unconventional technique that only Yoojin, who had dabbled in various fields of knowledge to advance necromancy, could employ.
Zing¡ª!
The magic circuit engraved while creating the passage prevented the leakage of spirit power, guiding it to the ck Obelisk without loss.
"Activate."
When Yoojin activated all the functions of the ck Obelisk, a whitish airflow rose from the tip of the tower.
[ck Obeliskpleted.]
[You have achieved a feat that transcends several ranks. A line is added to the myth of the Heaven-Defying Giant.]
[The structure''spletion is high. Performance increased by 50%.]
Of course.
Who am I?
Yoojin chuckled, having aplished something that even the system was astonished by.
¡¾Such a full force of death... My power is increasing.¡¿
[Inside the ck Obelisk, the vision of living beings is extremely narrowed.]
[Undead stats increased by 30%.]
"But Fafnir, why are you standing sideways?"
¡¾Sideways? Why are you saying that when you''re the one looking crookedly, Master?¡¿
What do you mean?
Yoojin then realized that his neck was bent backwards.
His body had no strength to even lift a finger.
The aftereffects of pushing his concentration to the limit were btedly catching up to his body.
"Wait. I think this is wrong..."
His consciousness fading.
Ah.
Shit.
It was only natural that there would be repercussions from forcibly restoring his mana and applying the technique.
For a moment, he had considered his condition based on his body from before his return.
''Ah. I''m screwed.''
Although the extreme situation of mana going berserk did not ur, a splitting headache pierced the crown of his head.
¡¾Master! Mas...¡¿
Amidst his fading consciousness, Fafnir''s thoughts rang out like thunder.
£ª £ª £ª
An unfamiliar ceiling, no, a tent.
¡²Khahahaha. What a masterpiece. To faint from handling power you couldn''t handle.¡³
''Stop chattering, it''s making my head ring.''
¡²That aside, I must acknowledge your resourcefulness. To twist order.¡³
Kronos knew full well how amazing what Yoojin had done was.
With minimal force, he had twisted the natural order to create an advantageous environment.
Something impossible with the abilities of a mere 1 Star Hunter.
¡²Truly. It seems that reaching 9 Stars without the blessing of a constetion was no bluff.¡³
Kronos swallowed his exmations of admiration several times.
Yoojin emerged from the camp and lightly stretched his body.
"Hyung-nim. Are you alright?"
"I just overdid it a bit."
"But your face is pale. Saying that isn''t very convincing."
Yoojin waved his hand dismissively at Kang Minho''s worried words.
"Um, by the way, Hyung-nim."
"If you have any questions, ask quickly."
"Is this fog going to stay?"
A whitish airflow covered the hill.
The fog emanating from the obelisk severely limited visibility.
"Why? Is it inconvenient?"
"Haha, I can''t say it''s not."
"This is what a necromancer''s territory looks like."
Blocking the light pouring down from the sky.
It amplifies Yin energy and increases the efficiency of necromancy, and it''s also easy to defend by severely limiting the vision of living beings.
"But it wouldn''t do for you guys to be inconvenienced too."
Yoojin lightly pricked Kang Minho''s fingertip with a Bone Weapon.
"Ouch."
"Stop overreacting."
He infused the bead of blood that welled up with spirit power, and it seeped into the fog.
[Registering information of the living being into the ck Obelisk.]
The blood of the rest of the party was also recorded in the ck Obelisk.
"Wow. I can see clearly now."
"I have no idea what kind of magic you used."
"I''d believe it even if Hyung-nim said he made soybean paste with red beans."
The Little Runts team members chattered excitedly.
¡¾Indeed. Only living beings have their vision restricted?¡¿
"It''s a domain of death."
Returning to the ck Obelisk, Yoojin connected his mind to it once again.
[Territory Size - 1]
[Necromancy Amplification Range - 1km]
[Capacity for Undead - 0/100]
[Spiritual Energy Concentration ¨C 3]
[Structure - ck Obelisk]
''Well, as expected.''
The thickness of the spirit vein, or in other words, the output of spirit power, affects the concentration in the air.
The maximum value is 5.
For that much spirit power to flow out, it would have to be a ce where arge-scale war took ce.
''This is just right.''
If the spirit power is too strong, he might be swept away while trying to control it.
Considering that he found this location in less than a day, it was an excellent condition.
[Transferring control of 18 Armored Zombies to the ck Obelisk.]
[Capacity for Undead ¨C 18/100]
Even though the control of the undead was transferred to the tower, the zombies still followed Yoojin''smands.
The owner of the ck Obelisk was Yoojin.
Unless the ownership of the zombies was transferred to another necromancer''s territory, it wouldn''t be a problem.
''Increase the undead army with the obelisk as a base.''
A demonic realm where monsters constantly emerge, sucking up the mana of thend.
It wouldn''t take long to fill the ck Obelisk to its maximum capacity of 100 undead.
¡¾It''s literally Master''s territory.¡¿
"Territory? It''s not enough just to have the ck Obelisk to function properly."
An unholy graveyard.
A necromancy researchb.
A dark origin chamber, and so on.
There was a lot to do to establish a proper Necropolis.
"You''ll be busy too."
¡¾Huhuhu. I''m fine, so feel free to use me as much as you like.¡¿
"Speaking of which, I have a favor to ask."
Yoojin pointed at Kang Minho.
"Train him."
¡¾Like you were, uh, trained, Master?¡¿
"You can push him even harder."
"Um, Hyung-nim. What do you mean?"
"There''s no easy way to get stronger. You have to put in the work. Training and realbat are the only ways."
There was the best instructor who could quickly grasp habits, actions, and skill weaknesses with the Eyes of the Martial God trait.
The border region teeming with monsters!
It was the optimal ce to catch two rabbits: training and realbat experience.
"Hyung-nim. Then can we go now?"
"Oppa, fighting!"
The two were stealthily backing away.
"Where do you think you''re going? You''re going to learn from me."
Yoojin grinned.
Don''t worry.
I''ll let you live.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 33: Training
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 33: Training
¡¾Kang Minho, was it?¡¿
"Yes. I, uh, how should I address you...?"
¡¾Call me Fafnir. No weird titles.¡¿
"Understood."
¡¾What''s your unique trait?¡¿
Kang Minho raised his shield.
Woooong¡ª!
A faint blue light enveloped the shield.
¡¾The ability to strengthen your shield with mana, I see.¡¿
"I''m supposed to hold back enemies, but I end up repelling them and disrupting our formation," Kang Minho said with a wry smile.
¡ò Trait
Movable Fortress [Unique]
Increases defense and impact by imbuing the shield with mana. Affected by Strength stat.
¡¾You fool.¡¿
"Huh?"
¡¾From now on, don''t carry a sword you can barely use. Just hold the shield.¡¿
Fafnir dered firmly.
¡²Khahaha. A masterpiece. Abandon the sword and only carry the shield. Aplete snail, isn''t he?¡³
''That''s the right answer.''
¡²What? A coward who gives up attacking is the answer?¡³
''Kang Minho''s main weapon was his shield.''
[Eyes of the Martial God].
A tremendous trait that grasps the characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses of martial arts with a single nce.
It wasn''t a randomly assigned unique trait.
Fafnir, or rather, Park Haneul in his previous life, had acquired the [Eyes of the Martial God] on his own through tremendous talent and insight.
If he hadn''t been caught up in the schemes of the Arhan Guild and died, a Hunter family would have emerged in Korea.
"How can I defeat enemies with just a shield?"
It was difficult for the person involved to ept that idea immediately.
¡¾Give me that shield.¡¿
Fafnir took the shield Kang Minho was using, moved his arm a few times, and then said¡ª
¡¾Watch closely what I do.¡¿
A dark energy enveloped the shield.
Fafnir infused the shield with mana, then slowly ced the shield against a tree.
Pwoooong¡ª!
The tree shattered with a sound simr to a balloon filled with air bursting, but with a much deeper tone.
¡¾See? It''s easy, right?¡¿
"What did you do?"
¡¾A way to maximize your ability.¡¿
Fafnir pointed at the shield.
¡¾The core of your mana emission ability is not defense. Well, it''s more urate to say that it''s abination of offense and defense.¡¿
"Abination of offense and defense? I don''t quite understand."
¡¾The gist is simple. Strengthen the shield with mana at the moment you exert force.¡¿
Wheek¡ª!
Kang Minho, catching the shield thrown by Fafnir, had a look of doubt in his eyes.
With a conflicted expression, he looked away, then closed his eyes tightly and said,
"I''ll give it a try."
He shouldered the shield on his right arm and stood in front of a nearby tree.
''He wouldn''t be making me do something pointless.''
Kang Minho didn''t fully believe the feat Fafnir had just shown him.
There was a significant difference in specs between that monstrous undead and himself.
Even if they used the same principle for their skills, there was no way the destructive power would be the same.
Nevertheless.
-I will make you stronger.
The belief that Yoojin wouldn''t give him a meaningless order.
Kang Minho took a deep breath.
''Focus.''
As Fafnir instructed, he put strength into his left arm while simultaneously enveloping the shield with mana, and swung it towards the tree.
The moment the iron shield collided with the tree, a tremendous repulsive force pushed back against his arm.
"Hup."
A scream almost escaped his lips, but he held it back and didn''t rx his strength.
An explosion urred with a sh of light.
The tree shattered into dozens of pieces, and Kang Minho, who had caused the impact, was also thrown back several meters by the repulsive force.
¡¾You put in too much mana.¡¿
Fafnir caught Kang Minho as he flew back.
The eyes of the fledgling team watching the situation widened.
"Oh, Oppa. Did you really do that?"
"Sunbae. What was that just now?"
"...It really works."
Kang Minho muttered to himself, not responding to their words.
With a dumbfounded expression, he looked back and forth between the shattered tree and his shield.
¡²But if your subordinate can imitate it, wouldn''t it be unnecessary to have the trait in the first ce?¡³
''You don''t understand. As expected of an ipetent constetion.''
¡²Exin quickly, Contractor.¡³
''What Fafnir showed was just an imitation. Even that requires the power of a 4 Star.''
Imbuing mana with will and giving it form.
It was the first step in emitting Aura, a skill only those who have broken through the wall can demonstrate.
''It means he can exert power that transcends his rank, at least with the shield.''
¡²In the end, wouldn''t it be meaningless once he reaches 4 Star?¡³
''If that were the case, would I have struggled against the twins in my previous life?''
The shield strengthening trait.
It meant that when Kang Minho activated Aura through the shield, its power would also increase.
Also, it was just that hecked proficiency. If Kang Minho had urately timed the exertion of force and the release of mana just now, he would have unleashed a power greater than Fafnir''s.
¡¾Then repeat until you master it.¡¿
"Huh?"
¡¾Do you think the enemy will wait for you to concentrate?¡¿
"They won''t just stand around and watch... right?"
¡¾If you know that, then stop blinking and move!¡¿
Startled by Fafnir''s shout, Kang Minho hurriedly raised his shield.
Somehow, this doesn''t feel like someone else''s problem.
"Then shall we start too?"
"Is it not possible to back out now?"
Yoojin shook his head at Kang Minyeong''s pale words.
"You can enter as you wish, but leaving is a different story."
Don''t worry.
You have potential, so you''ll get the hang of it if you just work hard.
He couldn''t be sure about Lee Seongmin, who wasn''t included in the ''Mirror Hunters'' in his previous life.
''If he doesn''t fall apart, he''ll at least be average.''
I''ll make you useful enough.
£ª £ª £ª
The two of them faced Yoojin, their nervousness evident.
"First, tell me about your trait."
"Y-yes!"
Kang Minyeong shouted.
¡ò Trait
Synchronization [Unique]
Synchronize with a designated object or a party member who has given prior permission.
-It seems like a rather useless unique trait.
''It''s the same as Movable Fortress. It''s powerful if you know how to use it properly.''
Synchronization was a fairlymon unique trait among Hunters.
The typical use was to synchronize with one''s main weapon and imbue it with additional mana to increase its power.
''It was Kang Minyeong who discovered the true use of Synchronization.''
More precisely, it was the future Mirror Hunter.
Yoojin recalled the time he fought for his life against the Mirror Hunters.
"First, learn this."
"Whoa, it''s a skill book."
"It''s Telekinesis, amon skill. I''ll get it all backter, so be grateful."
"Tsk. Spoiled the fun."
Kang Minyeong, who had forgotten her nervousness, pouted and opened the skill book.
Fizzle¡ª
The book turned to dust as she absorbed the essence contained within.
Kang Minyeong blinked a few times, then flicked her hand, and a stone on the ground floated into the air.
"Wow, this has terrible cost-effectiveness."
"What do you expect from amon skill?"
"Still, I thought it would be special since it was a skill book you gave me."
Why does she keep calling me "hyung"?
He felt a sense of incongruity with the title, but he didn''t bother correcting her.
"Synchronize with the crossbow you''re using and try moving it with Telekinesis."
"Okay."
[Synchronization]
[Telekinesis]
Kang Minyeong lifted the synchronized crossbow with her mind.
"Huh? Why is it so easy?"
"The weapon you synchronized with is harmonized with your mental wavelengths, making it much easier to move with Telekinesis."
Yoojin pointed to a tree about 300 meters away.
"Hit that tree with the crossbow."
"...So, you''re saying I should remotely control the crossbow with Telekinesis?"
"You understand well."
"At a distance where it''s difficult to shoot even when holding it directly?"
"You can do it. If you can''t do it once, do it twice."
Kang Minyeong concentrated on controlling the crossbow, following Yoojin''s instructions without much thought.
At some point, the crossbow felt like a part of her body, and her vision widened.
''I think I can do it.''
The effect created by the synergy of [Synchronization] and [Telekinesis].
She pulled the trigger, the taut string was released, and the arrow, propelled by the recoil, flew through the air with force.
Thud!
The arrow urately pierced the tree.
The force contained in the arrowhead was so strong that it didn''t just get stuck, it pierced through and flew out the other side of the tree.
"Th-this is crazy!"
Lee Seongmin, who was watching, burst into cheers.
Kang Minyeong caught her breath.
The mana consumption wasn''t that high, but it was the aftereffect of pushing her concentration to the limit to use [Synchronization] and [Telekinesis] simultaneously.
After a while, Minyeong checked the result and screamed.
¡°Woah!!¡±
"See? I told you it would work."
"Excuse me, hyung. I get that I hit it, but why did the crossbow''s power increase so much?"
"Because your mana was imbued into the arrow."
"But I lifted it with Telekinesis. I didn''t use it directly, so how..."
There weren''t many ranged fighters among martial-type Hunters.
Why didn''t modern weapons like guns work on monsters?
Because they didn''t contain mana.
''Unless you acquire a trait suitable for rangedbat like Kang Minyeong, there''s no reason to use weapons like bows.''
By synchronizing with the crossbow, she could imbue it with mana when firing.
That was how she had utilized her trait so far.
¡²Then what''s the principle behind the crossbow''s power being amplified?¡³
''It amplifies the power using even the mana consumed by Telekinesis.''
Kang Minyeong was the first to discover the secret of the unique trait [Synchronization].
After the synergy effect of Telekinesis and Synchronization was revealed, the price of the skill book increased several times over.
''But only Kang Minyeong utilized that ability to its fullest.''
The Mirror Hunter''s notoriety wasn''t for nothing.
It was possible because of Kang Minyeong''s innate mana control ability.
In her prime before his return, she would synchronize with dozens of weapons and control each one with Telekinesis to pressure her opponent.
So, it had good synergy with Telekinesis.
¡²You know a lot about it.¡³
''That''s because I was the one being pressured.''
Even high-ranking undead like Death Knights couldn''t withstand the countless arrows.
Imagine arrows imbued with Aura raining down like a downpour.
''Heh heh. This is what you call a lottery ticket with a 100% chance of winning.''
Yoojin suppressed theughter that was about to burst out.
Once she became more ustomed to linking [Telekinesis] and [Synchronization], she would probably acquire rted traits.
"Practice until you run out of mana."
"Aren''t you going to watch over me anymore?"
"There''s one more person in the party."
Yoojin''s finger pointed towards Lee Seongmin, who was standing awkwardly.
The Mirror Hunter''s partner, whom he hadn''t seen in his previous life.
He hadn''t achieved much fame, so his abilities probably weren''t that great either.
Without much expectation, he spoke.
"What''s your specialty?"
"Well, it''s a bit embarrassing to say."
"Hey, Movable Fortress and Synchronization aren''t that great of traits either, you know?"
Lee Seongmin flinched at Kang Minyeong''s remark.
After a moment, he spoke with difficulty and exined his trait.
¡ò Trait
Space [Unique]
Creates a space that can only be used by the user. The area of the space varies depending on the Mana stat.
"Space?"
"Yes. I can create it like this."
Lee Seongmin pped his hands, and a dark space appeared in the air.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"I was happy to have space creation, but the storage capacity isn''t much."
"How much can you store?"
"With my mana stat, a little over 1kg."
Lee Seongmin scratched the back of his head, seemingly embarrassed.
¡²Khahaha. A talent fit for a porter!¡³
''No. Not necessarily. It''s a powerful trait if you meet a few conditions.''
The second-inmand of the Romanov n.
Sofia Andreyevna Romanov, like Lee Seongmin, possessed the [Space] trait.
¡²Romanov, you say? Is that one of the Seven Great ns?¡³
''That''s right. My enemy.''
¡²You''re quite lucky. To have a subordinate with such an outstanding ability by chance.¡³
''Please don''t say that with such displeasure.''
But there was one prerequisite to unleashing the power of the [Space] ability.
An enormous amount of money.
''Sofia stored andunched all kinds of holy relics and magic.''
Holy relics with history and rank had the power of tactical weapons just by beingunched.
Theunched artifacts were retrieved with her unique trait.
It was an ability that could wipe out most Hunters just byunching them again.
''She also consumed an enormous amount of elixirs to increase the storage capacity of her subspace.''
In other words.
It was an ability fit for a conglomerate.
¡²Khahaha! I thought it was a series of lucky breaks, but it''s a money-eating hippopotamus!¡³
''Where did you learn that expression?''
He couldn''t raise him like Sofia.
The Romanov n was a powerful force, even in the present era, as one of the Seven Great ns.
Yoojin couldn''t match the financial power of a Great n with his own personal resources.
¡²Then it''s all bark and no bite. Useless without a fortune to back it up.¡³
''Not necessarily. Remember what you said about him being a good porter? That''s where we start.''
¡²I was joking, though.¡³
''I''m serious.''
He wasn''t just going to exploit him.
He had to teach him how to grow as a magic-type Hunter and how to control subspace.
Necromancer was also a sub-ss of magic-type.
Having already reached the pinnacle of necromancy, educating a snot-nosed magic-type Hunter was a piece of cake.
"Then shall we take a look at mana rearrangement first?"
For the two of them, it was enough to teach them how to use their abilities and have them repeat the learning process.
But you''re going to have to suffer a bit.
A cold smile spread across Yoojin''s lips.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 34: Raising the Divine Rank
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 34: Raising the Divine Rank
Two weeks had passed since the construction of the Necropolis.
A domain of death appeared in the border region.
The monsters, who had unwee neighbors, rushed into the fog without hesitation and gave a fierce wee.
[Level Up!]
[Current level is 49.]
His level had risen explosively.
As expected of the border region overflowing with monsters, the amount of experience gained was tremendous.
Thanks to this, he had acquired one more necromancy spell.
? Liquefaction
Category: Magic
Rank: C
Transforms flesh into a sticky substance by imbuing it with spirit power.
A magic that is premised on linking with Flesh Control.
Not very practical in actualbat.
¡²Contractor, it seems you''ve finally lost your mind.¡³
''Why?''
¡²Why acquire a useless spell?¡³
''It''s a prerequisite spell to acquire the next spell.''
Inheriting knowledge from the Ring of Darkness was a kind of skill tree.
Even with necromancy knowledge, there were spells that could be acquired immediately without any specific conditions, and there were also spells that could only be inherited after mastering several other spells.
''I can learn that magic if I raise my divine rank.''n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
A spell that epitomizes the destructive power of necromancy.
Once he acquired that, his monster hunting speed would increase dramatically.
¡²But why are you taking it easy when you can acquire more spells?¡³
''There are no spells worth learning right now.''
Khehehe.
Yoojinughed heartily.
¡¾Give orders instead ofughing if you have the time.¡¿
"Look at how you''re talking to your master."
¡¾Can you say that while looking at the monsters swarming from beyond the fog?¡¿
Fafnir''s reproachful gaze was directed at the monsters invading the Necropolis.
"It''s not even a monster coalition, why are there three races mixed together?"
¡¾Isn''t this the courage to be disliked?¡¿
"I don''t want to be courageous enough to be disliked."
¡¾Well, Master is the type to be disliked anyway.¡¿
That''s a bit harsh.
Yoojin once again missed the taciturn Park Haneul.
"I''ll leave the vanguard to you as usual."
As soon as Yoojin''s order fell, Fafnir''s figure disappeared and reached the monsters charging in.
¡¾Huhuhu. Die, all of you!¡¿
[Kenex Combat Art]
[Seventh Stance]
[Ten-Strike Flurry]
Possessing the strength of a 3 Star.
Fafnir, using the thick fog as a veil, continuously hit and ran against the monsters.
The tireless characteristic of the undead and the demon eyes that pierced through the fog.
Despite the monsters having a numerical advantage, they were unterally hunted down, having lost the initiative.
"Cough! Cough!"
Even though Fafnir''s strength wasparable to a 4 Star, he couldn''t block ten hands with one.
Some monsters ignored the fog and instinctively charged.
They were Irond Boars, ssified as 2 Star.
"Ready?"
"Yes, hyung-nim."
[Movable Fortress]
[Powerful Strike]
Kwaang¡ª!
The Irond Boar that was blindly charging forward was thrown back with a squeal.
Colliding mana and strength at the exact timing.
He had crushed the Irond Boar''s head with destructive power that surpassed the limits of a 1 Star.
Seizing the moment Kang Minho stopped swinging his shield, the Irond Boar spun around, aiming its sharp teeth.
[Synchronization]
[Telekinesis]
[Exploit Weakness]
Thud! The arrow shot towards the top of the Irond Boar''s head pierced the exposed skin in a single blow.
The crossbow was floating 10 meters above the ground.
Hidden in the fog, the crossbow aimed for the monsters'' weak points.
"Not enough firepower."
"Fire Arrow!"
Lee Seongmin''s spellcasting speed was much faster than before.
With a former 9 Star Necromancer tutoring him exclusively, his skills were improving rapidly.
Thanks to Yoojin''s encouragement (?) and effort, he urately hit the Irond Boar that was sprinting.
"Squeal!"
It only scorched the skin as tough as iron.
Compared to the two who would be famous as Mirror Hunters, he was just an ordinary Hunter, unable to ovee the difference in divine rank.
"Sorry. Itcked power."
"No, you did well."
Hitting an Irond Boar moving at high speed was a great achievement in itself.
Yoojin nodded, and one of the Cursed Fang hanging from his waist soared up.
[Using Bone Spear.]
The magic weapon dug into the spot where the Fire Arrow had scorched.
"Squeeeeal!"
The Irond Boar twisted its body, trying to prevent the foreign object from prating, but the already weakened area quickly tore.
"Hyung-nim. The Irond Boars are ignoring me and charging straight ahead."
At Kang Minho''s words, Yoojin snapped his fingers.
"Grooowl, groooowl."
"Groooowl. It is Master''smand."
Skeletons d in dark armor.
Armored Skeletons, created by applying [Bone Armor] and [Bone Control], blocked the advance of the remaining Irond Boars.
[Armored Skeleton]
Race: Undead
Rank: ¡ï¡ï
¡ò Stats
Strength: 101 (+43) / Agility: 114 (+45) / Health: 100 (+31) / Endurance: 83 (+56) / Mana: 40 (+24)
¡ò Traits
? Undying Existence [C+] / Cut Resistance [C+]
¡ò Skills
? Basic Weapon Skills [D] / Dirty Blow [D] / Powerful Strike [D]
More agile than zombies, but lower in strength and endurance.
''It can''t be helped. If you use bones as a medium for transmitting spiritual power, the efficiency is lower than with flesh.''
Armored Skeletons had a different strengthening method than zombies.
Small bones, recing magic circuits, were connected between the armor woven from bones.
The crafting difficulty was several times higher than that of Armored Zombies.
Even Yoojin, with his current skills, had to concentrate for more than 5 minutes to create one.
¡²You''re doing something that''s both inefficient and bothersome.¡³
''Skeletons have good durability.''
Even salted corpses couldn''tpletely prevent decay.
Armored Zombies were more susceptible to decay because the flesh was closely attached to the bones to strengthen the circuits.
On the other hand, Armored Skeletons, with their magic circuits reinforced with bones, were far superior in durability.
Since he had dered a Necropolis, he needed subordinates that could be used for a long time.
¡¾Even though we tried to block them here, quite a few slipped through.¡¿
Fafnir, who had freely roamed through the fog and dealt with the monsters, attacked from behind.
The monster group was dealt with in an instant.
[Level Up!]
[Current level is 50.]
[Breaking through the limit, you advance to a new realm.]
Suddenly, a full power filled him, invigorating his whole body.
Power boiling likeva.
By reaching the maximum level, he had obtained the qualification to move on to the next divine rank, advancing to a realm beyond.
[+20% bonus to all stats.]
[Experience required for level up increased by 4 times.]
His level returned to 1.
It wasn''t a loss since the stats he had invested so far didn''t disappear.
Rather, it was a much greater gain since all his stats received an additional 20% bonus.
The additional bonus increased as the divine rank increased.
''This is why the difference in divine rank is absolute.''
¡²Khahahaha! It doesn''t seem like something the Contractor should say.¡³
''I should be an exception.''
More than 100 subordinates at the 2 Star level.
Fafnir, whose strength rivaled that of a 4 Star monster.
He even had magic weapons made with necromancer-exclusive equipment.
''An ordinary Hunter couldn''t even dream of this.''
¡²Is there no such word as humility in the Contractor''s head?¡³
''I''m just stating facts.''
¡²Huh. It''s trulymentable that you have the skills to match that arrogance.¡³
¡®Come on, stop grumbling, ipetent constetion.¡¯
Yoojin poured spirit power into the Ring of Darkness.
[Using the Library of Knowledge.]
[You can ess the knowledge left by the previous Masters of Death.]
[Darkness / Curse / Alchemy / ... You can ess one of the other fields.]
¡²There are quite a few options. Which one are you going to choose?¡³
''In my previous life, I chose the Curse field.''
Curses were like a minor for necromancers.
Techniques to control spirits by twisting them with various debuffs.
[Union], the undead strengthening technique that Yoojin developed himself, also required knowledge of both necromancy and curses.
¡²Then there''s no need to worry.¡³
''This time it''s different.''
Tap- Tap¡ª
A dark mask covering his face.
He had the [Shadow Mask], a curse medium obtained from the Masked Beast.
An item engraved with up to 5 curses.
He could add the necessary techniques by manipting the circuits whenever needed, so it could be postponed in priority.
¡²Then?¡³
''I will inherit the Alchemy field.''
[Knowledge of the Alchemy field is engraved into the user''s soul.]
[The rank of the soul is low. Part of the spell is inherited.]
''What I need right now is...''
The number of spells that could be inherited at once was two.
Yoojin recalled the alchemy spells he had in mind beforehand.
Golem Creation
Category: Alchemy
Rank: B
Creates a golem. The properties of the golem are affected by the medium, mana core, etc.
Reinforcement Circuit
Category: Alchemy
Rank: D
A technique to strengthen magic circuits.
¡²Why aren''t you screaming like before?¡³
''I''m a 2 Star now. It doesn''t hurt like before.''
¡²That''s a shame. Your struggles were quite amusing.¡³
''Shut up, ipetent constetion.''
Yoojin grumbled and organized the knowledge that had entered his mind.
£ª £ª £ª
The ck Obelisk.
The structure located at the center of the Necropolis absorbed the souls of the monsters that perished within the territory.
ck magic circuits wriggled like blood vessels.
The spirit power, strengthened by absorbing many souls, moved violently.
''At this rate, the territory size will increase to 2 soon.''
Yoojin checked the Necropolis information.
[Territory Size - 1]
[Necromancy Amplification Range - 1km]
[Capacity for Undead - 100/100]
[Spiritual Energy Concentration ¨C 3]
[Structures - ck Obelisk, Unholy Graveyard]
[Unholy Graveyard]
? Rank - 1
? Area - Small
? Durability - 500/500
Prevents the decay of stored corpses and automatically imbues them with spirit power. The longer they are aged, the more suitable they be for undead creation.
? Corpses Stored 10/10
The ck tomb erected at the bottom of the hill.
The first resident was the corpse of Jo Seung-chul, the promising rookie of the Red Spider.
¡²You''re so devoted to him.¡³
''I''ve be a 2 Star, so I should make him an undead soon.''
Magic-type undead like Skeleton Mage or Dark Hood could only be created after reaching 2 Star.
¡²You''re pretending to be weak even though you managed to create a high-ranking undead like an Eldritch Dragon.¡³
''That was an anomaly. It''s not proper necromancy.''
Alchemy, necromancy, and curses.
He was able to create it by mobilizing all the means he could use and with the help of Shin Joonseok, the great alchemist of the future.
The Draconian corpse, which possessed the full power of the dragon race, also yed a part.
Even so.
It was still iplete.
¡²Didn''t you say that he also had quite useful talent?¡³
''He was a 3 Star at the time of his death.''
Even Yoojin couldn''t create an undead by drawing out the future potential of a corpse.
Like Fafnir before his return.
Or rather, like Park Haneul, if it was an upgrade, it might be possible.
"Fafnir, I''ll be going to Paju for a while."
¡¾What? Master, are you telling me to find a house here or something?¡¿
"Good guess. Guard the Necropolis for a bit."
¡¾Huhuhu. Leave it to me.¡¿
Kang Minho nced at Fafnir, who shouted confidently.
"Hyung-nim. Should we stay and guard this ce too?"
"What are your levels?"
"48."
"47."
"45."
The Little Runts team was also leveling up at a rapid pace.
Although it was rtively slowerpared to Yoojin, who received experience points from his subordinate undead, their growth rate was much faster than that of ordinary 1 Star Hunters.
"That''s good. You guys should go somewhere for a while too."
"Is it okay topletely empty the Necropolis?"
"If we can''t protect it, we have to give up."
As long as he had the Life Force Vessel, Fafnir could be revived even if his body was destroyed.
Considering the dangers of the border region, it wouldn''t be strange if the Necropolis was captured while Yoojin and his party were away.
"I won''t revive you as undead even if you die."
"Normally, that''s called desecrating the dead, hyung-nim."
Oh, you''re getting cheeky now, huh?
"You might change your mind when you''re really about to die."
"Somehow, it sounds like you''re saying you''ll kill us yourself, hyung-nim."
Yoojin just chuckled without answering.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 35: Golem Creation (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 35: Golem Creation (1)
Yoojin and his party stood before the gate to the border region.
"Huff... huff..."
"I thought I was going to die for real."
"S-sunbae, are your arms still attached?"
The exhausted Little Runts team members looked at each other with vacant eyes.
Yoojin, standing behind them, grumbled but restored their depleted stamina with holy magic.
"You''re exaggerating. It''s fine as long as everyone''s limbs are intact."
"It was too hard without Fafnir-nim."
Kang Minho listlessly swung his arm.
His shield was dented and deformed beyond recognition.
It looked like it would be better to melt it down in a furnace and make a new one rather than repair it.
Kang Minyeong also strained her voice.
"Hyung, it would have been better if they had helped us."
A group of Armored Skeletons lined up behind Yoojin.
About half of them were carrying severalrge sacks on their shoulders.
Mana Stones and byproducts from the monsters that had flocked to the Necropolis.
The amount of byproducts was enormous, as they had been defeating monsters non-stop for two weeks.
"We can''t just leave money behind, can we?"
"That''s true."
"Hey! Why are you agreeing with him?!"
Half of his subordinates were on standby, managing the byproducts and mana stones.
The remaining 10 Armored Skeletons, the Little Runts team, and Yoojin had to clear the way.
''There was no crisis, but it was a bit tiring.''
As expected of the border region, they encountered monsters even with the slightest movement.
Continuous battles.
It was fortunate that Life Drain also restored health. Otherwise, it would have taken several more days to finish the battles and rest repeatedly.
¡²Khahahaha. It''s truly a sight to behold.¡³
''Do you enjoy seeing others suffer that much?''
¡²Didn''t I tell you? A hero''s epic must have hardships and adversity. You''re having it too easy.¡³
I don''t want to.
I returned to the past, so I should take the easy route. There''s no need to go back or suffer hardship on purpose.
Let''s have afortable life now.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"Pass."
The soldier at the gate was slightly surprised to see the Armored Skeletons but didn''t stop them.
They went straight to Shin Joonseok''s workshop.
"Partner, I''m d you returned safely."
He didn''t even make a fuss about the skeletons anymore.
They say humans are creatures of adaptation.
He was getting used to it pretty quickly.
¡²Shameless. From what I see, it''s not adaptation, but resignation.¡³
''Oh,e on. What is resignation between partners?''
Ignoring Kronos''s jab, Yoojin picked up his phone.
-It''s Madam.
"Hey there, it''s me."
-Oh my, you''re back! I heard you were in the border region. I was starting to think we''d lost you to those monsters.
"Ha, not quite. It''s not as bad out there as everyone thinks, you know."
Ground Zero also faced the border region.
That was also the reason why the government left thewless zone, including the old outlet, alone.
The ouws paid no taxes but blocked the monsters from the border region.
''Should I call it a tacit agreement?''
While Yoojin was recalling his past memories, Madam''s voice came from the receiver.
-It seems like you just came back, what''s the matter?
"I have a favor to ask."
He switched to a video call.
He showed the byproducts and mana stones piled up in front of the workshop.
-Customer, it seems you have some misunderstanding...
"You can do it as a service."
-Handling byproducts is not part of the Milky Way Pub''s business.
"So you''re not going to do it?"
A brief silence.
-I''ll send someone.
"I have one more favor."
-I''ll decide after hearing it.
"Use the proceeds from handling these byproducts to get me mana boosting potions."
-Any type or attribute is fine?
"Yeah."
-Okay. Then I''ll try to find suitable potions.
Click¡ª
¡®How cold. Hanging up immediately after the business talk is over.¡¯
¡²From what I see, you''re the one being harsh.¡³
''How can a constetion understand the human heart and say such a thing?''
¡²Isn''t this a matter beyond mortal and immortal? It''s because of your shamelessness.¡³
I don''t want to hear that from a constetion who devoured his own son to keep his power.
Yoojin snorted and ignored Kronos''s remark.
£ª £ª £ª
Although he had left the handling of the byproducts to Madam, there were still many things to be done.
"Don''t we need to help?"
"No. You three go to Myeongdong."
"Why Myeongdong all of a sudden...?"
"The Gate where we first met. The Ancient Garden has hidden elements."
Yoojin exined the entry requirements for [Ancient Trial Ground I].
¡²Contractor, that''s a different story.¡³
''What''s different?''
¡²You were cackling about monopolizing that opportunity, why are you telling them?¡³
''Back then, they could have be strangers, but after acting together like this, I can trust them.''
The future Mirror Hunters.
Judging from their actions in his previous life, the Kang siblings were trustworthy.
He couldn''t trust Lee Seongmin, who was active as a team member, 100% yet.
But his unique trait was useful, so he intended to nurture him.
¡²What if that little human betrays you?¡³
''After getting a taste of the sweet stuff, do you think he would?''
Direct instructions from a former 9 Star.
Precious lectures that couldn''t be heard anywhere else in the world!
¡²Khahaha. That little human doesn''t know that the Contractor has reached the 9 Star.¡³
''If he has ears to listen, he''ll know how amazing my exnation is.''
The process of rearranging mana.
How to release it.
He had taught them various other things as well.
''I didn''t tell them how to utilize their unique traits, but it will be enough.''
They would be able to tell whether the rope handed to them was made of gold or rotten.
After finishing his exnation, Yoojin looked over the Little Runts team members.
"Any questions?"
"You''re saying the target of the trial is a Draconian, right?"
"Its stats are limited to 2 Star, but it''s still a formidable opponent."
"So we have to face it one-on-one."
"You won''t die even if you fail the trial."
Fortunately, they didn''t have to risk their lives.
It would probably hurt enough to die if they failed, though.
"You can only enter when the full moon is up, so go into the Gate and check it out in advance."
One fortunate thing was that although the entry restriction for the [Ancient Trial Ground] was one person at a time, up to 10 people could take the trial per day.
This meant that if they prepared all the materials, all three of them could enter the Ancient Trial Ground on the same day.
"We''ll be back, hyung-nim."
"See youter, hyung."
"We''ll definitely pass the trial!"
The Little Runts team said goodbye with determined expressions and left for Seoul.
"Wow, it''s quiet now that those guys are gone."
"You don''t like it when it''s crowded, do you, partner?"
"Well, sometimes it gets lonely."
"Don''t say things you don''t mean."
Yoojin chuckled and sat down on a chair.
Shin Joonseok, who was facing him across the long table, opened his mouth quickly as if he had been holding back.
"Mass production of intermediate potions is proceeding without a hitch."
"Any problems with the mass production process?"
"The mixing machine acts up sometimes, but that''s trivial."
"No investment offers from Arhan?"
"They wanted to get involved in the factory equipment and production process, but that''s nonsense. I received investment with the condition of handing over only the first production batch."
Wise indeed.
If he had epted Arhan Guild''s offer in its entirety, the entire factory might have been taken overter.
Perhaps because he had been burned once by arge corporation, he was thorough in this aspect.
¡²If you had foreseen that, why didn''t you give him some advice when he first talked about it?¡³
''Telling someone and experiencing it firsthand are different.''
Shin Joonseok was closer to a coborator than a colleague.
Even in the previous life, he was a figure who gained fame as an alchemist and had numerous apprentices.
He was in a position to make his own judgments, not just follow Yoojin''s instructions.
''There''s a limit to how much I can coach him.''
¡²Are you trying to foster his independence? How amusing.¡³
I don''t see what''s so amusing about it.
Ignoring Kronos''s strange remark, he focused on his conversation with Shin Joonseok again.
"Did you get everything I asked for?"
"Yes. Except for the Arachne''s thread and the magic engine, everything else was easy to find."
"Then we can start working right away."
Before Yoojin could finish his sentence, Shin Joonseok''s nostrils red.
"F-finally!!!"
"You have a lot to do."
"Of course! Whatever it is, just tell me!"
Even though he had gained knowledge in alchemy by bing a 2 Star, it was only a small part.
As with the Eldritch Dragon, attempting to create a golem without Shin Joonseok''s assistance would be impossible.
¡²Didn''t you inherit the Golem Creation spell? Shouldn''t you be able to do it without the little human''s help?¡³
''A golem isn''t something that''spleted just by casting a spell.''
A golem was a creation that epassed all the techniques of alchemy.
It was fundamental to engrave magic circuits one by one. It involved all sorts of elements, such as transmutation, herb mixing, and mana forming.
Even with the same materials, the results varied greatly depending on the alchemist''s skill.
''I''m looking forward to it. A golem created with the future''s great alchemist.''
The two moved to an empty lot near the workshop.
The corpse of the Masked Beast was left abandoned on the spaciousnd.
Although it had been embalmed, it couldn''t bepletely protected from flies, so some parts were rotting.
"Ugh. I''m sorry. I tried to manage it..."
"It''s excellent considering it''s been two weeks."
Yoojin ced his hand on the Masked Beast''s corpse.
Swoosh¡ª!
A whitish energy seeped through the contact point, circting throughout the Masked Beast''s body, which was rotting in ces.
The rotten parts were extracted, and the insects that had settled in the corpse were driven out.
¡²Then isn''t it the same as with the Eldritch Dragon?¡³
''It''s a bit different. I''m not making an undead.''
It was different from when he engraved magic circuits on the Draconian corpse.
He restored the deceased to its purest form and stopped manipting the spirit power.
"Bring the materials."
"Yes."
Shin Joonseok moved the pre-ordered alchemy materials to the empty lot.
"It would be good to set up the cylinders and the witch''s cauldron as well. To reduce movement."
"Understood."
While Shin Joonseok was finishing the alchemy setup, Yoojin examined the quality of the materials one by one.
''As expected of Shin Joonseok. He''s prepared decent materials.''
The state of the catalyst was also a factor that determined the sess or failure of alchemy.
Shin Joonseok had thoroughly selected and managed the materials, ensuring that all elements were in optimal condition.
"Partner, I have a question."
"You''re curious why the golem''s medium is a corpse?"
"Are you reading my mind?"
"No. I just figured you''d ask that question around this point."
A golem was an artificial life form created through alchemy.
The properties of its body varied depending on the ''medium'' it was first made from.
If made of rock, it was a Rock Golem.
If made of iron, it was an Iron Golem.
There were also Giant Golems, which were the culmination of magic engineering.
There were various types of golems that couldn''t be defined as a single entity.
"You were thinking, ''It would be more beneficial to make an undead with such arge corpse, so why make a golem?'' right?"
"Shamefully, that''s correct. I couldn''t understand your thoughts, partner."
"Well, you''re half right. What I''m going to make is something that straddles both undead and golem."
A secret golem passed down to necromancers.
That was what Yoojin was going to create.
"Blood Golem."
"...Blood?"
"Yes. The golem I''m going to make uses blood as its body."
Blood was the currency of life.
That was what necromancers, whose profession defied death, or vampires, who toyed with life itself, said.
"A golem that uses blood, the essence of life, as its body. Aren''t you curious what it will look like?"
¡²Khahahaha. What kind of crazy little human would look forward to that?¡³
I think you''re wrong.
A golem that uses blood itself as a medium.
It was the opposite of the mechanism of ordinary golems.
Engraving magic circuits on a liquid that wouldn''t stay still and tried to flow down?
An alchemist wouldn''t be able to resist.
"I''m incredibly excited!!!!"
The pocket watch shook violently.
Kronos must have been quite offended since he was immediately contradicted as soon as he spoke.
''Ipetent constetion, just watch quietly.''
If you stay still, you won''t make things worse.
Yoojin chuckled inwardly as he rubbed his hands together, then recalled the knowledge he had umted in his previous life and instructed Shin Joonseok on the next step.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 36: Golem Creation (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 36: Golem Creation (2)
Plop¡ª!
Shin Joonseok, holding a scalpel enhanced with the [Sharpness] spell, cut into the Masked Beast''s corpse without hesitation.
The body had been dead for so long that it didn''t even twitch, let alone bleed.
He sprinkled blue powder, made by grinding an F-rank mana stone, into the freshly cut gap and then...
[Magic Circuit Inscription]
He carved circuits into the stiffened muscles and bones.
"The efficiency increases by 12% when inscribing circuits with Arachne''s thread."
"But the durability decreases by 37%."
"Then wouldn''t the magic circuits notst long?"
"That would be the case for ordinary golems, but it''s fine for the one I''m making."
A golem that automatically recovered even its magic circuits once ''memorized.''
That was the advantage of a Blood Golem.
"Connect the circuits only up to 10 centimeters above. If you extend them any longer, there will be a mana shortage."
"Understood."
Magic circuit inscription was the foundation of golem creation. In terms of construction, it was likeying the groundwork.
It was time-consuming andbor-intensive, but that''s how important it was.
¡²You speak as if you''ve personally inscribed magic circuits.¡³
''I don''t have the skill, even if I wanted to.''
¡²If you had the skill, would you really do it?¡³
''I''ll think about it when that situation arises.''
Of course.
Magic circuit inscription was, to put it nicely, groundwork; to put it badly, it was pure manualbor.
It was simplebor, but even then, there was no room for mistakes.
Ugh.
Just watching it made his eyes feel like they were going to pop out.
Yoojin wasn''t just watching idly either.
''Blue Slime''s mucus, Twin-Headed Blood Snake''s venom, and Wolf Turtle''s shell.''
As he pushed the blue mucus into the ck liquid, it bubbled up.
Large bubbles popped, and then smaller bubbles rose one after another.
"Now!"
When he put the Wolf Turtle shell, which had a hardnessparable to iron, into the venom, it lost its original hardness and became soft.
Yoojin stirred the melting shell and venom with an iron rod, mixing them together.
[Blood Poison] [Transformation] [Hardening]
When he stirred lightly with the iron rod, it moved smoothly, but when he gripped it tightly, it hardened.
Good.
So far, so good.
He could perfectly create something like this even without the necromancer ss bonus.
¡²It doesn''t seem that difficult. You could have had the little humans do this.¡³
''The Little Runts can''t do this.''
¡²Isn''t it just putting them in a set order?¡³
''The key to alchemy is timing and ratio. If anyone could be a great alchemist just by watching, everyone would be one.''
The temperature at which the catalyst was heated.
The order and timing whenbining various catalysts.
Alchemy is a field where small differences lead to big results.
¡®Don''t say that anywhere else. You''ll be called ignorant.¡¯
¡²How impudent! How dare you speak to me in such a manner!¡³
¡®Ipetent Constetion-nim. Don''t you dare tell anyone you gave a blessing to someone as outstanding as me.¡¯
Even after mixing all the poison, Yoojin''s hands didn''t stop.
After steeping the Luaim tree branch with liquefying properties, he boils it in the cauldron a second time.
[Liquefaction] [Maintenance] [sticity]
¡®The preparations are almostplete.¡¯
Just in time, Shin Joonseok also finished carving the magic circuit onto the body of the Masked Beast.
"I thought my eyes were going to fall out."
"You''ve worked hard. Your skill in carving the magic circuit without a single error is remarkable."
"Yeah, yeah."
Shin Joonseok replied casually and observed the golem materials Yoojin had prepared.
"To enhance each other''s properties throughbination alone, without any special catalysts. I can''t believe such a mixing ratio exists."
"I''ll tell you the ratioter, for your report. This is more important right now."
"Oh right. But, partner. What do we do now?"
"The golem creation process isrgely divided into three parts."
Recognition.
Combination.
Activation.
"First, we need to make the golem''s magic engine recognize the body."
"Then, isn''t the magic circuit enough?"
Your understanding is quick.
He was already ahead, even though Yoojin had only said a few words.
Close to the correct answer, but Yoojin shook his head.
"That would be the case for an ordinary golem."
The corpse of the Masked Beast serves to fix the ''frame'' of the Blood Golem to bepleted.
A golem that uses blood as its flesh.
Considering its properties alone, it was closer to a summoned creature or spirit that calls upon a part of nature as a medium.
ck!
"Bring it over here."
Two Armored Skeletons slowly entered the clearing, carrying arge engine.
MIS - 4. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
The magic engine received for carrying out Madame''s request.
[Using Flesh Control.]
[Using Bone Control.]
Crackle!
He made arge hole near the Masked Beast''s heart and ced the magic engine.
"I''ll leave the final adjustments to you."
"Yes."
As Shin Joonseok connected the magic circuit to the engine, Yoojin ced his hand on top of it.
[Using Enhanced Circuit Engraving.]
Bzzt!
A Legacy Skill chosen along with Golem Alchemy.
An ordinary magic circuit cannot handle the output of the magic engine.
"Shall we try starting the engine then?"
Thump- Thump- Thump- Thump¡ª!
The golem''s heart began to beat with a heavy sound.
Simultaneously with its activation, MIS - 4 sent the mana it generated straight to the enhanced magic circuit.
The moment the poison and solution permeating the circuit engraved with Arachne''s thread encountered the engine''s mana.
Whoosh!
It went up in mes with acrid smoke.
¡²Khahahaha! You failed spectacrly.¡³
¡®Failed?¡¯
¡²Look. The magic circuit, which is like the golem''s blood vessel, is burning, isn''t it?¡³
¡®From what I see, it''s not.¡¯
Blue mana passing through the crimson mes.
As Arachne''s thread melted, the circuit was engraved deeper into the Masked Beast''s corpse.
The pre-soaked mixtures also naturally fused with the engine''s mana.
"We''ve passed the first stage."
"The next one will be much easier."
Yoojin stretched his stiff neck from side to side.
£ª £ª £ª
Three days passed.
The two men devoted themselves to golem alchemy, resting only minimally.
"Finally, I can see the end in sight."
"Truly. I''ve seen a new horizon of alchemy."
"My method is unorthodox. It''spletely different from the orthodox method."
The alchemical knowledge recorded in the Ring of Darkness is not ordinary.
It''s geared towards increasing the efficiency of necromancy.
While the basic knowledge is simr, as you delve deeper, it contains many elements that twist the concept of alchemy.
"The same goes for golems. You create them properly."
"Isn''t it enough that I''ve learned a lot?"
A strange gleam flickers between his tired eyes.
Even while assisting Yoojin, wasn''t he grinning as if he had been struck by some inspiration?
Seeing him internalize Yoojin''s knowledge in real-time and reinterpret it in his own way gave him goosebumps.
''No wonder he became a great alchemist.''
I don''t know how much more he''ll grow with the knowledge gained from golem creation.
"Only thest process remains."
"Yes. Now we just need to activate it."
Yoojin checked the status of MIS - 4.
A defect unknown in this era.
He limited the output to prevent the ''Integrated Control Unit'' from being damaged by excessive mana flow when the engine is activated.
''Good. There''s no problem with the engine, so let''s start.''
[Using Golem Alchemy.]
As Yoojin tapped MIS - 4, blue mana from the engine circted through every corner of the Masked Beast''s corpse.
Up to this point, the phenomenon was the same as when simply operating the engine.
"It will be a little different now."
Thump- Thump- Thump¡ª!
The magic engine''s output surged, and the Masked Beast''s corpse shook violently.
As if an invisible hand were squeezing the corpse, its arms and legs twisted and spun like a pretzel.
This was caused by the pre-set catalyst, Strong Moss, increasing mana conductivity.
"P-Partner? Is this going well?"
"Yes. No problem."
"If we leave it like this, it seems like it will break down, unable to withstand the engine''s output..."
"Think carefully about the name of the golem I''m making."
Blood Golem.
The Masked Beast''s corpse is a ''frame'' that fixes the golem''s shape, not the main body.
When the twisted arms and legs shrank to less than 1/5 of their original size.
He sprinkled the shrunken body with the final ingredient prepared beforehand, monster blood.
"The blood isn''t falling to the ground!"
"The golem has recognized that blood as a medium for its physicalposition."
It was liquid but also possessed firmness.
The blood, which should have flowed down due to gravity, maintained the shape of the arms and legs thanks to the catalyst Yoojin had infused.
''If I sprinkle the Heat Sand at this timing....''
Yellow sand is sprinkled over the bubbling blood.
The sand solidified the monsters'' blood into a human-like form.
As he continued to pour the crimson liquid over the fixed frame, it was reborn as a giant about 3 meters tall.
[Blood Golem has been created.]
A coboration of necromancy and alchemy.
A golem that can only be controlled by a necromancer was born.
£ª £ª £ª
Shin Joonseok cautiously circled thepleted Blood Golem, his eyes wide with a mix of awe and apprehension.
"Can I touch it?"
"Be my guest."
Yoojin replied with a shrug.
"But don''te crying to me if you get poisoned."
"Yikes!"
Joonseok quickly withdrew his hand.
"Just a heads up."
Yoojin added with a hint of dark humor.
"That''s Twin-Headed Blood Snake venom. You''ll need an antidote within 10 minutes, or you can kiss that hand goodbye."
With a final, cynical smirk, Yoojin turned his attention to the Blood Golem, examining its status.
[Blood Golem]
Race: Golem
Rank: ¡ï¡ï¡ï
¡ò Stats
Strength: 230 / Agility: 180 / Health: 200 / Endurance: 200 / Mana: 150
¡ò Traits
? Artificial Weapon [B] / Blood Flow Conversion [B] / Blood Flow Growth [B] / Blood Poison [B]
¡ò Skills
? Gigantification [B] / Furious Charge [C] / Bowling Bash [C] / Blood Weapon [C]
¡ò Special Notes
The more blood it absorbs, therger it grows. Itsbat power is determined by the quality of the blood that makes up its body.
¡²What a pathetic sight. After three days of toil, aren''t those specs a bit underwhelming?¡³
''Take a closer look at the special notes, you Ipetent Constetion.''
¡²How much stronger can it possibly get just by feeding it some high-quality blood?¡³
''It''ll reach 6 Stars.''
Yoojin asserted confidently.
Thebat capabilities of a golem are heavily influenced by the materials used in its construction. This is particrly true for Blood Golems, whose power varies significantly depending on the type of blood they absorb.
''Right now, I''ve just used whatever blood I could get my hands on from 1 Star monster, but it''ll grow stronger as it fights and absorbs more potent blood.''
¡²You expect this golem to grow like an Eldritch Dragon?¡³
''Not exactly grow but its power can increase significantly, limited only by the engine''s output.''
The MIS-4 engine had a maximum output equivalent to a 6 Star rating. Even with rare metals like mithril, a golem powered by this engine would be capped at 5 Stars. However, the Blood Golem had the potential to surpass that limitation.
''Of course, that''s not going to happen overnight.''
The blood of 1 or 2 Star monsters wouldn''t be nearly enough. To reach 7 Star levelbat power, the Blood Golem would need to absorb a tremendous amount of blood from equally powerful monsters.
''Monster blood isn''t exactly in high demand, so it''ll be tough to acquire.''
¡²Still, wouldn''t obtaining that blood significantly bolster your contractor''s forces?¡³
''Not necessarily. If I go overboard, the Blood Golem might stop obeying mymands.''
As the saying goes, too much of anything is just as bad as too little.
Besides, the golem had a rudimentary sense of self.
"Blood Golem, if you''re awake, respond."
¡¸Yes, Master,¡¹
A grating, metallic voice rasped in reply.
Kronos, overhearing the Blood Golem''s response, rattled his pocket watch in rm.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 37: I am a Saint (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 37: I am a Saint (1)
Arriving at the Pantheon, Yoojin crossed his arms and observed Kronos'' star.
The starlight was subtly stronger than before.
''A constetion that raises its rank through my achievements.''
A decaying fish is still a fish.
Kronos'' decision to not just give blessings, but also appoint him as a saint to gain practical benefits, was the right choice.
Stronger blessings.
And if he obtained divine spells, it would be advantageous for Yoojin.
Kronos could also return as a proper constetion, so it was a win-win situation for both of them.
''I wonder what kind of divine spell I''ll receive this time.''
[Divine Spell - Giant''s Strength has been added.]
¡ò Skillsn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
? Giant''s Strength
Category: Divine Spell
Consumes vitality to greatly increase strength and invigorate the body.
¡²Khahahaha! How is it? The new ability that I have bestowed!¡³
''What a trivial spell.''
¡²What?!¡³
Kronos was enraged.
Yoojin sighed deeply and continued.
''Giant''s Strength? The name of the divine spell itself is too tant.''
Don''t forget.
Even if Kronos became the ruler of the undead domain, his essence is that of a Titan.
A word that has be synonymous with giants.
''You should create skills that are helpful to me. Who told you to self-indulge?''
¡²How impudent. Shouldn''t there be at least one divine spell that symbolizes me!¡³
''This ipetent constetion. Creating something useless.''
Yoojin pressed his temples.
Even if Kronos abandoned all his past glory, his essence wouldn''t disappear.
The Giant of the Age of Gods.
The usurper who castrated Uranus to steal the throne and the great giant who ushered in the Age of Titans.
''That''s probably why Giant''s Strength came out.''
A divine spell created by mixing Kronos'' presence and the domain of ''defying death''.
Since the domains of giants and immortality ovepped.
Even though it''s a buff-type spell, it''s a strange skill that reduces the target''s vitality.
''Asgard Cluster''s Berserk is simr, though.''
Reduces vitality but increases vigor.
Isn''t thatplete doping?
Kronos was discouraged by Yoojin''s intense reaction.
¡²I-Is the spell I bestowed that much of a mess?¡³
''It''s premised on consuming vitality. I can''t even cast it on guys like Fafnir.''
Do the undead even have something like life force?
They are the dead raised by the energy of the dead, spirit power.
He wasn''t sure how much it would increase his strength, but it wasn''t very useful to Yoojin, whose main force was the undead.
Hmm.
Yoojin stroked his chin and nodded.
''It might be unexpectedly useful.''
¡²Are you daring to give me cheap pity?¡³
''Life Drain could offset the penalty.''
A divine spell that steals or instills vitality.
Perhaps if he first replenished vitality with Life Drain and then consecutively used Giant''s Strength, it might be effective.
''Though it''s a bit bothersome.''
Yoojin ran a hand through his hair.
To cast one buff, a healing spell had to precede it.
The conditions for use were quite tricky.
''No, wait. Do I need to limit the target to the undead?''
By bing the [Saint of Midnight Sun], his job ss also changed to a priest.
If he had to work as a priest instead of a necromancer, it might be useful.
Unholy Blessing is based on the mana of the Yin dimension, that is, spirit power, so if used on a Hunter, it acts as a debuff.
¡²Are you being sincere?¡³
''Yes. I''ll take back what I said about it being useless.''
¡²Khahahaha!!! As expected, my insight is correct, isn''t it?¡³
¡®Yes, yes. Of course.¡¯
Giant''s Strength.
Yoojin reflected on his narrowed perspective.
''I should utilize the abilities I gained as a priest.''
This life had far more options than before.
Thanks to his physical abilities enhanced by Life Drain, he learned spear techniques.
And he became able to use divine spells.
''I need to broaden my awareness.''
The more cards in hand, the better.
The Romanov n.
To fight against such a powerful force, one thatpetes for the top spot among the seven great ns that influence the world, he had to use everything he could.
Bzz¡ª!
''Why are you sending a signal?''
¡²It''s not me.¡³
He thought the vibration wasing from his pocket, but the signal wasn''t from his pocket watch, but his cell phone.
The caller was Madam.
Has she already found a decent elixir?
''As expected, her abilities are truly remarkable.''
Like Shin Joonseok, she was apetent partner.
Whether in the shadows or the light, there weren''t many people as skilled in information gathering as her.
"Did you already find it?"
-Hohoho. Getting straight to the point, are we?
"Should I exchange pleasantries then?"
-I''ll have to decline. Imagining you exchanging pleasantries isn''t a very pleasant thought.
¡®What did I ever do?¡®
While Yoojin grumbled inwardly, Madam got to the main point.
-I just received a decent request. The reward is an Inseolsam.
A ginseng resembling a human.
It''s a high-grade elixir that umtes only cold energy among natural energy and ispatible with the power of the Yin dimension.
"If the reward is an Inseolsam, it must not be an ordinary request."
-That''s right. The client is the chairman of Seongcheon Corporation.
Seongcheon Corporation.
Although not arge corporation, it''s a mid-sizedpany with a significant presence in mana stone application and chemistry.
''Domestically, they also stand out in alchemy equipment.''
A request from such apany.
"Let''s hear the details of the request."
-The chairman''s youngest daughter has Muscle Contraction Sclerosis.
Muscle Contraction Sclerosis.
Its official name is ''Muscle Contraction Sclerosis'' and it''s a disease first discovered in China.
When one has this disease, all the moisture in the body is drained, and the muscles be withered and shriveled, leaving the body like a dried-up mummy.
Potions and divine spells can only alleviate the symptoms.
The cause of the disease and its cure are unknown, so it''s even called a curse from God.
"So, I just need to cure it?"
-Hohoho. Do you think you can?
"There''s no harm in trying. So, I''ll give it a shot."
-I brokered this request because you possess healing abilities, and I''m d you''re being positive about it.
The time he healed Madam during the Milky Way Pub raid.
To think she remembered that and even connected him to an elixir request; she doesn''t miss a thing.
After receiving the request schedule from Madam, he ended the call.
¡²Contractor. Do you have a method?¡³
''If I didn''t know a method, I wouldn''t have epted the request.''
The cause of Muscle Contraction Sclerosis would be discovered yearster.
When an ordinary persones into contact with high-density mana, abnormalities ur in their muscles.
The body, unable to adapt to the change, is stimted by the mana in the air and expels moisture.
¡²So, the mana in the air is the cause.¡³
''It''s a disease that emerged after the Great Cataclysm.''
¡²Seeing as you''re so confident, you must know the solution.¡³
''In the future, they created a specialized treatment capsule.''
It artificially creates a mana vacuum state and allows the body to absorb the concentrated essence of a specific elixir.
It was expensive, but it could definitely cure the disease.
¡²But there''s no such capsule in this era, is there?¡³
''I''ll have to imitate it somehow.''
Inseolsam.
¡®It just so happens that I was thinking of raising Fafnir''s level.¡¯
What could be better than an elixir containing Yin energy to increase the mana capacity of the Dragonian''s body?
Yoojin licked his lips.
£ª £ª £ª
A detached house located near Suwon.
"This way, please."
Following the guard''s guidance, they crossed the garden and arrived at the reception room.
Shin Joonseok, standing beside him, was anxiously observing the surroundings.
Madam, the intermediary, smiled pleasantly as if she found it interesting.
"There''s no need to be frightened."
"Yes, yes."
"Since this is fate, shall we exchange business cards?"
Madam extended her right hand, naturally drawing Shin Joonseok''s attention.
"Ah..."
Shin Joonseok''s mouth fell open.
A rare beauty was speaking kindly to him with a smiling face, and he waspletely entranced.
He had been so nervous about meeting the CEO of a mid-sizedpany, and now this.
''Sigh. You useless fellow.''
Yoojin sighed inwardly.
"Uh, uh, uh. What is your rtionship with Mr. Yoojin?"
"We''re business partners. I''ve heard a lot about Alchemist Shin Joonseok."
"About me?"
"Hoho. They said you''re the number one potion developer in Korea and have outstanding talent in alchemy."
"Ha, hahaha. There''s some exaggeration, but it''s true!"
Oh dear.
With his face flushed, he was quite a sight.
If left alone, he seemed ready to spill even his intermediate potion recipes.
Madam winked at Yoojin, who clicked his tongue in disapproval.
"I thought you would just throw the request at me and not show up."
"That wouldn''t be polite to the chairman of Seongcheon Group. I vouch for both of you."
"Do you have some connection with them?"
"A little, yes."
Seongcheon Corporation wasn''t some neighborhood supermarket. They wouldn''t let just anyone into their house, even for their daughter''s treatment.
Although the Arhan Guild had their eyes on Yoojin, the spar he had within the guild a few weeks ago was kept secret from the outside, so this was an exception.
''I didn''t know Madam had a connection with Seongcheon Corporation.''
¡²Is there something even the Regressor doesn''t know?¡³
''Regression isn''t omnipotent. I don''t know everything.''
Like the fact that the Mirror Hunter had an aplice.
¡®Come to think of it, Madam Oh Hyunjeong''s past was notoriously unknown.¡¯
The same went for the old bartender.
A 6 Star Awakened working as a bartender in a pub?
The head of the Red Spider, who divides Ground Zero into three, was also currently a 6 Star.
''I don''t like that she investigated Shin Joonseok, though.''
This was about treating the youngest daughter of the CEO of a mid-sizedpany.
Since Madam had revealed her past connection and taken responsibility for the request, he overlooked the background check.
As he sipped the tea provided in the reception room.
Click¡ª!
A middle-aged man in a suit stepped through the double doors that opened to both sides.
The man was wearing a ck tuxedo.
He wore white gloves with a pentagram on his hands, emitting a strong mana wave.
From the moment the middle-aged man entered the reception room, a sense of pressure weighed down on their shoulders.
''As expected of a 7 Star mage.''
Jin Seonghyun, the current chairman of Seongcheon Corporation, was also one of the few 7 Star magic-type Hunters in Korea.
Yoojin lightly nudged Shin Joonseok''s side.
"Hick."
He deserved praise for not screaming out loud.
"Chairman. Thank you for your valuable time."
Madam, who had endured the 7 Star mage''s energy wave, bowed elegantly.
"I am Cheon Yoojin."
"S-Shin Joonseok."
The middle-aged man, ignoring the two, turned his gaze to Madam.
"It''s been a while."
"Yes. I trust you''ve been well, Chairman?"
"You can call me ''ahjussi'' like you used to."
"Perhaps you could save the personal chatter forter."
"Oh. My apologies."
The man cleared his throat with a short cough.
"My name is Jin Seonghyun."
"Can we take it that you''ve called us here to entrust us with the request?"
"Whether you know it or not, quite a few people have approached me for the purpose of treatment."
Jin Seonghyun''s expression contorted.
It was a disease so little known that it had only recently been named.
Their connection with Seongcheon Corporation.
Or perhaps the reward itself had attracted enough people to fill a truck.
"They were all talk."
The energy wave emanating from Jin Seonghyun intensified.
The treatment for Muscle Contraction Sclerosis, which wouldn''t be known for years toe.
This was the face of a man whose hopes had been dashed countless times.
"I don''t want to see my daughter suffer anymore."
"If the treatment is sessful, that won''t happen."
"You''re confident. Can I trust you and proceed with the treatment?"
"If you have no alternatives, you have to."
Yoojin replied calmly, meeting the Chairman''s intense gaze.
¡®Threatening me won''t change anything, Ahjussi.¡¯
He knew the man was desperate, clinging to any hope of a cure.
Even with Madam''s guarantee, it was a gamble to bring in two rtively unknown individuals for such a critical task.
''He must be grasping at straws.''
Though Jin Seonghyun seemed ready tosh out if they failed, Yoojin remained unfazed. He had no doubts about his ability to cure the man''s daughter.
He possessed knowledge far beyond this era, including aplete understanding of how to treat Muscle Contraction Sclerosis.
Yoojin''s unwavering confidence seemed to finally reach the Chairman.
With a heavy sigh, Jin Seonghyun relinquished his aggressive stance.
"...Please do your best."
He abandoned his stern demeanor and bowed deeply in a show of respect.
"Please lead the way to the patient."
"Follow me."
Yoojin and his party followed Jin Seonghyun deep into the detached house.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 38: I am a Saint (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 38: I am a Saint (2)
"Partner, are you alright?"
"Why wouldn''t I be?"
"You look like you''re about to explode!"
Shin Joonseok was visibly nervous.
He hadn''t even been able to breathe properly during the conversation between the two, his face pale with anxiety.
"The chairman is expressing his anger out of fear of disappointment."
"That''s understandable. After all, every treatment has failed."
"I''m confident in my ability to treat her, so there''s no reason to be afraid."
Shin Joonseok was dumbfounded by Yoojin''s nonchnt attitude.
"Even I''ve rarely seen the chairman enraged. Yet you withstood it."
"Well, the pressure from a 7 Star mage is indeed formidable."
With his 2 Star spirit power, he could barely manage to keep his back straight.
Tsk.
Before his return, he''d faced down beings far more powerful than a mere 7 Star Mage without flinching.
¡²Khahaha! You held your head high against me, so you mustn''t bow to a mere human.¡³
''Hearing you say that makes me want to bow to him just once.''
¡²Tsk, the way you speak for someone who is supposedly my contractor.¡³
¡®Shut up, you Ipetent Constetion.¡¯
"The patient is here."
Jin Seonghyun stood in front of a door adorned with antique decorations.
"May we enter?"
"Of course."
Click¡ª
As soon as the door opened, a dense mana washed over them.
[Recovery]
[Mana Rest]
[Damage Recall]
"You personally installed the magic circles, Chairman?"
"Indeed. To invigorate my daughter."
"I apologize, but please remove all of these magic circles."
"Why?"
"In the short term, your daughter''s condition may seem to improve, but in the long run, it will only worsen the Muscle Contraction Sclerosis."
The official name of Muscle Contraction Sclerosis.
It''s a disease where mana stimtes and contracts the muscles.
Replenishing her vitality with magic and reducing the burden on her body might seem effective in the short term.
''The chairman''s high achievement has be a poison.''
Jin Seonghyun nced at Madam and Yoojin, then with a hesitant look, deactivated all the magic circles installed in the room.
"This is her."
A woman gasping for breath, her body withered.
Perhaps in her early twenties.
Her eyes, visible between her trembling eyelids, flickered with pain and despair.
"D-Dad."
"Seryeong-ah, don''t strain yourself speaking, just wait a little longer."
"Th-These, people."
"They are the ones who will treat you. Hyunjeong personally vouched for them."
At the mention of Madam''s real name, the woman turned her head with difficulty.
"Uh, Un..."
"Stay still. You''ll be alright soon."
As expected, the two were acquainted.
It wasn''t strange, considering they both knew the chairman of Seongcheon Corporation.
''She didn''t call me here just for the reward, did she?''
It seemed he had one more thing to extract from Madam.
"Oh,e to think of it, I haven''t asked an important question."
"Go ahead."
"Healer, I understand that you''re a Hunter, but may I know your job ss?"
Jin Seonghyun assumed Yoojin was either a mage or a priest ss.
He wouldn''t be a martial ss if he came to treat an illness.
"I am a Saint."
Yoojin stated his job casually.
The room instantly fell silent as if a bomb had exploded.
"A Saint?!"
"P-Partner, you''re a Saint?!"
Jin Seonghyun and Shin Joonseok eximed in surprise.
Even Madam, although she didn''t gasp, couldn''t hide her astonishment.
"Which constetion, no... Whose contractor are you?"
"You wouldn''t know him. He''s a rather insignificant constetion."
¡²What! Are you treating me like some backwater goblin?!¡³
He ignored Kronos'' protest.
¡®Well, you are a backwater goblin. From now on, I should call you a backwater goblin instead of an ipetent constetion.''
Yoojin, relishing the thought of Kronos'' reaction, continued.
"I swear by the constetion I serve that I will cure Miss Seryeong."
"Thank you."
Jin Seonghyun, who until just now couldn''t shake off his skeptical expression, tightly grasped Yoojin''s hand.
¡²Then why didn''t you reveal you were a Saint from the beginning? Why did you wait to be asked?¡³
''Announcing myself as a Saint wouldn''t have carried much weight.''
Hunters with the Saint ss were extremely rare.
It went beyond simply giving blessings to being chosen as a contractor.
Many constetions didn''t have Saints because it consumed a tremendous amount of their karma and presence.
"Shall we begin then, partner?"
"Alright."
Shin Joonseok ced four C-rank mana stones at the corners of the room.
[Magic Circuit Engraving]
[Magic Cirction]
[Magic Super Cirction]
[Alchemy - Mana Circuit]
After engraving a magic circuit connecting each mana stone, he activated the alchemic form.
A form that gathers the mana dispersed in the atmosphere.
Originally used to increase the efficiency of alchemy.
This time, however, the purpose was different.
"Partner, you''re going to expel it outside, right?"
"Yeah, install it by the door."
Shin Joonseok ced one more mana stone at the entrance of the room, engraved an additional circuit, and then infused it with mana.
[Magic Inducement]
Whoosh¡ª!
Blue particles surged from the mana stone ced at the doorway.
"Such a high concentration of mana that it''s visible to the naked eye."
"That means the magic circles the chairman engraved have gathered a tremendous amount of mana."
"But why are you releasing mana from the room?"
"I''m going to create a vacuum state with no mana at all."
In his previous life, simply cing the patient in a capsule would maintain a vacuum state.
But since treatment devices haven''t been developed yet, they had to create a suitable environment using alchemy.
It was only possible because he had such a capable partner.
If Yoojin were alone, he wouldn''t have attempted to treat Muscle Contraction Sclerosis.
After 10 minutes, the mana stone lost its light.
"I''ll rece it once."
"We''ll need to do it three times. The mana concentration isn''t decreasing as much as I thought."
The effects of the magic circles cast in the room were too good.
Even though the magic circles were deactivated, the mana that formed their foundation didn''t disappear immediately.
Jin Seonghyun, who had inadvertently hindered the treatment, fidgeted with an anxious expression.
"This should be enough. Work a little harder."
"Understood, partner."
A mana vacuum state.
The fine hairs on their skin stood on end as if they had entered an arid ce.
Staying in such an environment for a long time would cause the mana residing within a Hunter''s body to leak into the atmosphere.
[Using Midnight Sun.]
[Spirit Power ¡ú Holy Power]
Now.
It was time to work as a Saint, not a Necromancer.
The holy power gathered at his fingertips surged intensely.
£ª £ª £ª
The first stage of Muscle Contraction Sclerosis treatment was passed with Shin Joonseok''s cooperation.
''Now I need to replenish the depleted life force.''
All that remained was to infuse special medicine into all the pores of her body while she was in a state devoid of mana.
Even Yoojin, the Regressor, hadn''t memorized the method for creating the cure for Muscle Contraction Sclerosis.
¡²Then how do you intend to treat her?¡³
''If you don''t have teeth, you use your gums.''
Yoojin ced his hand on Jin Seryeong''s forehead.
[Using Giant''s Strength.]
[The spell target''s vitality decreases.]
[Strength increases by 40%.]
A 40% increase. That''s quite a decent number.
It was ironic that the first time he used it was for treating Muscle Contraction Sclerosis.
But healing diseases was a saint''s job.
''This is really hard to get used to.''
While Yoojin was smiling wryly, Jin Seryeong''s body shook violently.
Her already rock-bottom vitality was depleted, and at the same time, her strength increased, causing her to thrash about as if screaming in agony.
"Saint-nim, what''s happening?!"
"Please wait a moment."
Exining everything would take a long time, and if he mentioned that he used a divine spell that decreased vitality, he''d probably be grabbed by the cor.
It was a good thing he revealed he was a Saint.
Otherwise, the chairman might have lost his mind and done something rash.
[Using Life Drain.]
This time, he transferred the life force umted in his dantian to Jin Seryeong''s body.
As her depleted life force was replenished, the woman''s convulsing face rxed.
¡²It''s like giving someone a disease and then giving them the cure.¡³
''This stimtion is necessary to activate her stiffened body.''
It must be agonizing for the patient, but if she wanted to live, she had to endure it.
Yoojin used the two spells alternately.
''I''ve used up all the life force I''ve umted.''
¡²Then you''ll have to give her your life force.¡³
Pop¡ª!*
He put a mid-grade potion made by Shin Joonseok into his mouth and gulped down the contents.
¡²Did you calcte that far ahead?¡³
''Of course.''
He transferred the life force and stamina recovered from the potion as soon as they were replenished.
He used Giant''s Strength to fill the woman''s body with vitality and then deplete it.
Clink¡ª
Empty potion bottles littered the floor one by one.
Yoojin''s eyes became hollow from the aftereffects of extracting so much life force in a short period.
But he didn''t stop and continued to gulp down potions.
How much time had passed?
"Ah, ahhhh."
Jin Seryeong let out a moan instead of a dry scream.
''Now''s the time.''
He used [Giant''s Strength] onest time.
He removed his hand and observed the phenomenon urring within Jin Seryeong''s body.
Her stimted muscles repeatedly contracted and rxed.
The life force he had poured into her permeated her body like a pump, loosening all the stiffened areas.
"Chairman, would you mind using Recovery?"
"Ah, alright."
Magic that restores stamina with natural mana.
Even when it was constantly activated by magic circles, there was no improvement in Jin Seryeong''s condition, but this time was different.
Her face was filled with vitality.
A reddish glow appeared on her pale cheeks.
Her dry lips became moist as if she had applied lip balm.
"D-Dad."
"Seryeong-ah!"
Jin Seonghyun embraced his daughter.
Yoojin slowly backed out of the room.
"Partner, should I leave too?"
"If you want to interrupt their reunion, stay as long as you like."
"No, no, that''s not what I meant."
Shin Joonseok hurriedly exited, and Yoojin immediately closed the door.
£ª £ª £ª
Returning to the reception room, Yoojin and his party...
"Ugh, I''m exhausted."
A long shadow fell beneath Yoojin''s eyes.
He sank into the sofa and massaged his right arm.
''This is the first time I''ve transferred my life force to someone else.''
He had used Life Drain far more often to increase stats than for healing purposes.
His dantian was always full of life force stolen from monsters.
But to treat Muscle Contraction Sclerosis, he had to use up all the umted life force and had to substitute it with his own.
''It is possible.''
Though converting life force into stats or using it for healing was highly effective.
It was a strange divine spell.
Thump- Thump¡ª
Heavy footsteps approached the reception room.
Jin Seonghyun, his eyes red, pushed open the door and sat opposite Yoojin.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Thank you."
"Your daughter endured well. She must be very weak, so please feed her nourishing food."
"If it weren''t for you, Saint-nim, Seryeong would have..."
Jin Seonghyun''s eyes welled up with tears.
"I simply fulfilled the request."
"My wife passed away shortly after giving birth to her. If something had happened to my daughter, I wouldn''t have been able to face my wife."
Jin Seonghyun spoke to Yoojin with respect.
The savior of his daughter''s life.
Perhaps because he hadn''t expected it, the impact on his heart was even greater.
''I''m not used to this.''
Yoojin scratched his cheek.
"The reward. Can I receive it immediately?"
"Of course."
Jin Seonghyun held out a briefcase made of ck leather.
[Inseolsam]
Rank: Unique
Category: Elixir
Restriction: 4 Star or higher
Durability: 10/10
A ginseng that takes the form of a human. Containing extreme Yin energy, if consumed by someone who practices mana cultivation techniques or possesses rted attributes, it can greatly enhance mana and physical abilities.
A ginseng with a faint frost clinging to it.
"It''s real."
"No one would gamble with their daughter''s life."
Jin Seonghyun closed the briefcase and handed it to Yoojin, handle first.
"I have a proposition."
"About the treatment method for Muscle Contraction Sclerosis?"
"Yes."
"I''m aware there are a few patients in Korea. It would be difficult for me to visit each of them personally."
It wasn''t an empty excuse.
He needed Shin Joonseok''s assistance to maintain the mana vacuum state.
And he needed to continuously consume potions to endure until the Muscle Contraction Sclerosis was cured.
High-grade elixirs like Inseolsam weren''tmon either.
''Obtaining what I need in exchange for treatment is also an option, but...''
That would keep him away from the Necropolis for too long.
It would also disrupt Shin Joonseok''s research.
Losing sight of the bigger picture wouldn''t do.
"I understand. It wouldn''t be polite to persuade you further."
"Instead, have Seongcheon create the treatment equipment."
"Would that be alright?"
"Muscle Contraction Sclerosis is a type of mana addiction. The principle is to forcefully stimte the body by excessively infusing it with life force."
Shin Joonseok''s eyes widened.
His gaze questioned why he was revealing such secrets so readily.
"Saint-nim, if weplete the development andmercialization of the treatment equipment, we will give you 10% in royalties."
10% royalties.
Considering production costs and distribution, a significant portion of the profit from the sales of the treatment equipment would go to Yoojin.
"That''s quite a sacrifice for thepany, isn''t it?"
"I''m not so petty that I can''t do that much for my benefactor."
Khehehe.
The Inseolsam was great, but to form a connection with the chairman of a mid-sizedpany...
Yoojin''s mouth widened at the unexpected fortune.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
-----------------
Chapter 39: Strengthening Forces (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 39: Strengthening Forces (1)
"I''ll help you with the byproduct disposal regrly."
Madam spoke as soon as they left the house.
"I saved your acquaintance''s life, and that''s all you''re going to say?"
"The chairman paid the proper reward for the request."
"How cold."
Yoojin didn''t press the matter further.
"You did well too, partner."
"Heh, thanks to you, I had a fascinating experience."
"Is inspiration overflowing?"
"I haven''t even organized the insights I gained during the golem alchemy, and now this. I have so much to do."
Shin Joonseok continued to scribble something in his small notebook.
''What did he write? ¡Good heavens, look at this man. His handwriting is atrocious.¡¯
Yoojin clicked his tongue at the strange talent of creating his own cipher.
He read it patiently and found that Shin Joonseok had formted all sorts of data into equations, such as the rtionship between the mana wave generated during golem alchemy and the reaction of the enhanced circuit.
''Now he''s writing down the mana emission form.''
At this rate, he''d im to have gained inspiration from breathing.
This must be what geniuses are like.
¡²Aren''t you, who achieved the 9th rank despite being a mere human, also included in the category of genius?¡³
''Yeah, I''m pretty great.''
¡²Tsk, tsk. When will you learn humility?¡³
Ignoring Kronos'' rebuke, heid his head back against the seat.
A short rest wouldn''tpletely relieve his fatigue.
"Don''t bother me until we arrive."
Leaving those words behind, he closed his eyes.
£ª £ª £ª
[KM Bank - 1,437,580,110]
1.4 billion won.
This is the amount earned from disposing of byproducts and Mana Stones.
Before returning, it took years to earn 1 billion won.
"Shall we try to get other elixirs?"
"The Inseolsam is enough."
[TL/N: Ginseng from chapter 38]
Yin energy works well with the dead.
If Fafnir consumes it, it will take a long time to fully digest the power of the elixir.
Rather than acquiring elixirs that are of no immediate use, I should invest.
"Partner. Take this."
"One, ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand... How much is this?!"
"I''ll make more for you in the future, so don''t worry about the funds and work hard."
"Thank you! I won''t let you down!"
Shin Joonseok was panting as if he were about to lick Yoojin''s boots.
It seems he has already erased our spectacr first meeting from his mind.
"Alchemist."
"Yes!"
"Can I invest too?"
"No. Who are you trying to covet?"
Yoojin immediately rejected Madam''s investment proposal.
"Hoho, I wasn''t talking to you. I''ll hear the answer from the new alchemist."
"I''m his partner."
Madam. She has a terrific nose for money, Yoojin thought.
Attracting investment is good, but when the pie gets bigger, you have to share it. And sharing with Madam? Not a good idea.
He''d rather not get involved with someone who likely has a few schemes brewing.
"I''ll consider it!"
"Ah."
Yoojin pressed his temples.
When he returned to the Paju workshop, the Little Runts team was waiting for him.
"Hyung-nim. You''re back."
"Have you all passed the ancient trials?"
"Yes!"
¡®Oh?¡¯
A look of surprise shed across Yoojin''s eyes.
"You all managed to endure it."
"We just did as you told us!"
At Lee Seongmin''s answer, Yoojin stroked his chin.
¡®I knew those two would pass, but I didn''t expect him to withstand the Draconian.¡¯
He had shown Kang Minho and Kang Minyeong how to properly utilize their unique traits.
At the same level, it was difficult to find an opponent for them, except for Hunters who received blessings from constetions.
But Lee Seongmin isn''t at that level, is he?
"How did you pass?"
"I used my spatial ability, just like you told me, hyung."
"Space?"
"I put in as many shields as I could."
A crack appeared in front of Lee Seongmin. Inside the subspace created by his unique trait [Space], a gray object came into view.
"You opened the space right before the Draconian''s attacknded?"
"Yep! That''s right!"
While learning magic applications from Yoojin, his subspace storage capacity had increased several times over. 50kg.
After hearing about the test, Lee Seongmin bought as many magic-grade shields as were allowed and stored them in his subspace.
¡®*I didn''t tell him to do that¡*¡¯
This kid¡
Not bad, huh?
It''ll be quite rewarding raising him alongside the Mirror Hunter siblings.
Shin Joonseok nced between the waiting Little Runts team and Yoojin.
"Are you going back to the Border Region?"
"Yeah."
"Then¡"
"We need to take the Blood Golem too."
"No!!!!"
Shin Joonseok screamed as if the world was ending and copsed on the floor in despair.
"Ahjussi, are you alright?"
Kang Minyeong looked at him with pity, but Yoojin just waved his hand dismissively.
"He''s just being dramatic."
"My research! New inspiration is flowing like crazy!!!"
"You said you had a lot to process. Do that first."
The intermediate potion mass production factory.
The alchemy used in the process of transmuting the golem.
He had said there was a mountain of things to analyze, and now he''sining?
Leaving the whining Shin Joonseok behind, the group entered the Border Region once again.
[Limit level reached.]
After several days of forced marches, it was a secondary gain that all members of the Little Runts team had reached 2 Stars.
£ª £ª £ª
¡¾You''re toote!¡¿
A furious roar fell upon them as soon as they reached the Necropolis. The blue mes residing in Fafnir''s empty sockets flickered violently.
"Late? What are you talking about?"
¡¾You didn''t say it would take this long!¡¿
"I never promised to be here within a few days."
¡¾Such a heartless master. To abandon me alone in thiswlessnd filled with monsters!¡¿
¡®Coming from a former 6 Star awakened, that doesn''t sound very convincing.¡®
Yoojin sighed briefly.
"Here. Take this."
¡¾A gift won''t appease me.¡¿
"It''s Inseolsam."
Fafnir''s massive body suddenly froze. As if time had stopped, even the flickering blue mes became motionless.
¡¾I-I- Inseolsam?!!!¡¿
"It''ll work well with you."
¡¾How did you obtain such a precious thing, Master?!¡¿
"I helped someone out."
¡¾I can''t believe it. That Master acted as a healer.¡¿
"If you don''t want it, fine."
Yoojin slowly pulled the bag back, teasing Fafnir. But something was strange. It was slow enough for Fafnir to react, but he didn''t move an inch.
"Don''t you need the elixir?"
¡¾Hmm. About that, Master. Actually, I don''t think I need the elixir.¡¿
Fafnir''s thoughts calmed.
Yoojin remained silent, waiting for his next words.
¡¾Even after Master and your group left, there were quite a few monsters aiming for the Necropolis.¡¿
"That''s to be expected. This is the Border Region."
¡¾But, you see, I identally touched a monster''s mana stone with my mouth.¡¿n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
Fafnir''s thoughts wavered.
"Was it really an ident?"
¡¾To be honest, I don''t know why, but suddenly it smelled delicious.¡¿
"It smelled¡ from the mana stone?"
¡¾So I ate it. The moment I put it in my mouth, it melted and went into my stomach.¡¿
¡®An undead that consumes mana stones?¡¯
Even Yoojin, who had reached the pinnacle of necromancy, had never heard of such a thing.
"That''s not the end of it, is it?"
¡¾My total mana increased.¡¿
Yoojin let out a hollowugh.
¡®To think it would be that easy¡¡¯
Eldritch Dragon.
A growth-type undead created by using the corpse of a Draconian as a foundation.
It was called iplete because it was created through irregrities and loopholes, and even Yoojin, in his past life, hadn''t been able to create one, so hecked information.
¡®I thought it was strange that it didn''t surpass its limits even after experiencing various battles¡¡¯
Should he have approached it more simply? Yoojin ran a hand through his hair and chuckled.
Lack of mana.
He hadn''t expected that filling the empty Dragon Heart would be the condition for growth.
"Then the Inseolsam would be of great help."
¡¾For now, mana stones are enough.¡¿
"Why?"
¡¾At the current level, I don''t think I can absorb all the mana contained in the elixir.¡¿
That''s a valid point.
It''s a shame he couldn''t use it right away, but he was satisfied with having made a connection with Seongcheon Enterprise.
"Anyway, I''m d we found the answer."
¡¾Will it be alright?¡¿
"What?"
¡¾If I eat mana stones, Master''s ie will decrease.¡¿
Ah. So that''s why Fafnir was beating around the bush about the mana stones. There was another reason.
"Money is ultimately a means to an end."
¡¾A means to an end?¡¿
"One of the ways to be stronger."
They say money buys time, right? If you have a lot of money, you can quickly get what you want. But what''s truly necessary can''t be obtained with money alone.
"For my shining future, there are many enemies I have to face."
Even in Korea alone, there''s the Arhan Guild. And the Romanov family, who were Yoojin''s nemesis in his past life.
The entire Seven Great ns who stood by and watched are also implicit enemies.
"How much can you earn by selling some mana stones? It''s far more important for you to be stronger."
¡¾M-Master!¡¿
The touched Fafnir rushed towards Yoojin.
¡¾Thank you for understanding! Master!¡¿
"Hey, hey! If you put that much strength into it, my organs will get crushed!"
¡¾I swear! I will fight for Master until my bones turn to dust!¡¿
"Ugh."
With a scream, Yoojin lowered his head. Only then did Fafnir realize he had used excessive force.
As he gently loosened his grip, Yoojin took a deep breath, supplying oxygen to his brain.
¡®*Wow. I almost died twice.*¡¯
¡²Khahahaha! What a masterpiece. To almost die from being crushed by your own subordinate!¡³
Kronosughed heartily. This time, even Yoojin couldn''t find anything to retort with.
"Oh, right. Is Jo Seungchul doing well?"
¡¾You mean the noisy wraith? He''s over there.¡¿
Fafnir pointed to the end of the spire.
A whitish soul was circling the pointed tower tirelessly. It was Jo Seungchul, who had be a wraith.
"Come here."
-Kihihihit!
The wraith flew to Yoojin''s side.
¡²But why are you keeping that ghoul? It doesn''t seem to be of much help.¡³
¡®*Oh, I know a certain ghoul who''s not much help either.*¡¯
¡²Are you trying to insult me?!¡³
¡®I didn''t say "constetion," did I? You must think that way normally.¡¯
Kronos fell silent. It was sufficient payback for his boisterousughter earlier.
Taking the wraith, Yoojin moved to the Profane Cemetery. He ordered the Armored Skeleton to dig up Jo Seungchul''s corpse.
¡®*Now that I''ve reached 2 Stars, I need to learn a new spell.*¡¯
Separate from alchemy, he could also engrave additional knowledge from already existing fields into his mind.
Raise Dead.
Category: Magic
Rank: D
Creates a magic-type undead from a soulless corpse.
The quality of the created undead is determined by the abilities of the base corpse and the user''spetence.
It was a spell that differed from Raise Undead by two letters. However, the result was quite different.
After stripping all the flesh from the corpse with [Flesh Control], Yoojin concentrated his spirit power in his hand.
"Answer my call."
He shouted powerfully and released the spirit power condensed in his hand.
It infused into Jo Seungchul''s skeletal remains, which then abruptly stood up with a rattling sound.
[Raise Dead used.]
[Skeleton Mage creation sessful.]
[Completion rate is very high. All stats increased by 110%.]
"As expected, the burial had an effect."
The Profane Cemetery. It was a structure that infused the corpses buried in thisnd with spirit power, making them suitable for revival as undead.
The first one he buried after building the cemetery was Jo Seungchul.
Perhaps thanks to that, the enhancement level, which hadn''t exceeded 100% since his return, had increased by another 10%.
"Even with the enhancement, it''s only 2 Star level."
The specs were significantly lower than the Armored series. Even though it specialized in magic attacks, it was hard to consider it on the same level as other 2 Star undead.
¡²For all that fuss, it''s a rather unimpressive result.¡³
¡®*We haven''t even started yet.*¡¯
¡²You mean there''s more to show?¡³
¡®Of course.¡¯
¡²You''re confident. Then don''t disappoint me.¡³
Yoojin snatched the restlessly circling wraith.
-Kihihihit?
"Stay still."
He suppressed Jo Seungchul''s wraith with the spirit power surrounding his hand.
Holding it firmly in ce, he shoved it into the Skeleton Mage''s skull.
¡®It''s about synchronizing the two.¡¯
The original owner of this body was the wraith, Jo Seungchul. Although low-ranking undead didn''t have souls... What would happen if he forcibly bound the soul and synchronized it?
This knowledge wasn''t even recorded in the Ring of Darkness.
¡®I call it Unification.¡¯
Yoojin''s spirit power fixed Jo Seungchul''s soul and the corpse''s wavelengths. The whitish energy seeped into the skull, and then...
[The corpse and soul of the deceased have been unified.]
[New spell - ''Unification'' added.]
[Skeleton Mage (Jo Seungchul) created.]
-Ggehl!! Chaos, destruction, deathi¡ª!!
Azure mes flickered violently in the empty eye sockets.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 40: Strengthening Forces (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 40: Strengthening Forces (2)
-Gurgl. Chaos, destruction, ruin¡
Thwack!
The skeletal head, stripped of all flesh, was struck and forcefully lowered.
¡°What the hell are you babbling about?¡±
-Gurgl. I¡ revived. Thank you, Master. Therefore, enemy, destroy.
Jo Seungchul''s jawbone rattled as he conveyed his thoughts.
The skeletal mage, devoid of any flesh, had no vocal cords.
¡®He''s probably doing that out of habit from his previous life.¡¯
¡²This newly created undead is rather crude.¡³
¡®He''s a low-grade undead. What were you expecting?¡¯
¡²I was hoping for at least a Fafnir-level creature.¡³
¡®Don''t get your hopes up.¡¯
After chiding Kronos, Yoojin opened his status window.
[Skeleton Mage (Jo Seungchul)]
Race: Undead
Rank: ¡ï¡ï
¡ò Stats
Strength: 74 / Agility: 87 / Health: 40 / Endurance: 45 / Mana: 601 (+150)
¡ò Traits
? Quick Reload [Unique] / Undying Existence [C+] / [C+]
¡ò Skills
? Fireball [C] / Red Bind [D+] / me Beat [D] / Fire Arrow [E]
Extremely unbnced stats focused on mana.
¡²Isn''t this typical for mages?¡³
¡®Not necessarily.¡¯
Typical magic-wielding Hunters invest some stat points in agility or health for reaction speed and equipment purposes.
In battles between high-ranking individuals, a 0.01-second difference in decision-making can determine victory.
Including the additional stats from the assimtion, his mana reaches 751.
Slightly higher than a magic-wielding Hunter at the peak of 2 Stars.
¡®It''s been crafted exactly as intended.¡¯
¡²You intended this?¡³
¡®I reinforced the skull while reducing its overall durability. That''s why the mana is so high.¡¯
As long as the head remains intact, a skeleton can be restored.
It''s not like a lich with spare lives, but as long as it''s notpletely destroyed, it can be used repeatedly.
¡²Khahaha! How truly wicked. To make him suffer even after death.¡³
¡®It should be an honor to serve me.¡¯
¡²I wonder if this little human thinks the same.¡³
¡®Whatever.¡¯
He''s just a low-grade undead anyway.
Even with the synchronization of soul and body, expressions like that have limitations.
Unless I continuously modify him¡
Fafnir, no, to be precise, Park Haneul from the previous regression also started as a Skeleton Knight and was upgraded to a Doom Knight thanks to continuous modifications whenever there was a chance.
¡®Who knows if this guy will reach lich status if he survives?¡¯
¡²But wasn''t this little human a 3 Star?¡³
¡®Skeleton Mages are originally 2 Stars. It''s the fate of low-grade undead.¡¯
If I polish his bones and equip him, he''ll get stronger.
Still, both the materials and Yoojin''s current level are insufficient to bring out his full potential.
¡®He needs to be at least 3 Stars for me to modify him.¡¯
¡²Work harder to elevate my prestige.¡³
¡®Yes, yes.¡¯
With the Blood Golem and Skeleton Mage added to his forces, and having found a way to enhance Fafnir''s abilities¡
¡®It''s time to expand Necropolis.¡¯
Yoojin''s gaze shifted down towards the river.
£ª £ª £ª
The group gathered in front of the ck spire.
¡°From now on, we''re heading south.¡±
¡°Hyungnim, does that mean we''re going back to the Gate?¡±
Yoojin shook his head and unfolded a map depicting the vicinity of Paju.
¡°When did you get this¡?¡±
¡°It''s a map from before the Cataclysm. You can find it with a simple inte search.¡±
Necropolis was located in the north of Paju.
Following the water flow south would lead them to the Imjin River.
And further southwest from there¡
¡°Hyung, isn''t that Ground Zero?¡±
¡°That''s right.¡±
¡°But that area is awless zone.¡±
Yoojin chuckled at Kang Minyeong, who seemed to shrink back.
¡°You were fine wandering around the border area, and now you''re scared?¡±
¡°People are scarier than monsters.¡±
¡°It''ll be fine as long as we don''t cross the line. In fact, we can even escape there if we''re in danger.¡±
Yoojin reassured Kang Minyeong.
¡²You''re good at saying things you don''t mean.¡³
¡®Is it that obvious?¡¯
¡²I know you''re not the type to consider awless zone as an escape route.¡³
Kronos, who had been listening silently, suddenly emphasized his thoughts.
¡²What is your true objective, Contractor?¡³
¡®You see, in my past life, I traveled alone.¡¯
A one-man army.
The Immortal King.
The Necromancer.
These were the titles that referred to Yoojin, who had reached the pinnacle of necromancy.
¡®But two hands are better than one.¡¯
The Romanov n had many formidable foes besides Dmitri.
Five 8 Star Hunters alone.
And countless others below 7 Star.
¡®This time, I n to build a force.¡¯
In his past life, the territory of Necropolis was only the size of a single city.
Although one couldn''t say a city was small¡
It was a scale that made it difficult to establish a proper force.
¡®And while I''m at it, I should turn that insignificant countryside spirit into a proper constetion.¡¯
¡²Do you intend to establish a cult that worships me?¡³
¡®I told you I''d use everything I can.¡¯
¡²Khahaha! That''s right. You did say that in my pce.¡³
Grit¡ª
Thinking of Dmitri''s punchable face made Yoojin grind his teeth.
¡°Hyungnim?¡±
¡°Ah, I was just lost in thought.¡±
He marked their route with a red pen and stood up.
¡°Minho, how much food do we have left?¡±
¡°Includingbat rations, two weeks, Hyungnim.¡±
¡°That''s cutting it close.¡±
The eyes of the Little Runts team shook.
¡®Two weeks is cutting it close?¡¯
¡®Please tell me the return trip is included in that!¡¯
¡®I''ll have to pitch the tent properly this time.¡¯
Their thoughts intertwined as the decision was made to head south towards the border area.
£ª £ª £ª
Before leaving the Necropolis.
Yoojin raised the corpses that Fafnir had gathered as undead.
[The number of controble undead has reached its maximum.]
[40/40]
[Armored Skeleton - 20]
[Armored Zombie - 13]
[Skeleton Mage - 5]
[Skeleton Mage (Jo Seungchul)]
[Fafnir]
¡°Armored Zombies are better for short-term operations.¡±
There were only a few suitable corpses for Skeleton Mages, so he couldn''t make many.
Compared to Jo Seungchul, who hadpleted the assimtion, they were about two-thirds as strong.
¡²That assimtion isn''t as great as I thought it would be.¡³
¡®You don''t know what you''re talking about. You''ll see when you see it in person.¡¯
¡²Hmm. Let''s wait and see.¡³
Fafnir, who was leading the way, smirked as he looked at Kang Min-ho, who was standing next to him.
¡¾Do you have a sense of timing?¡¿
¡°Thanks to you, I was able to endure the ancient trial grounds.¡±
¡¾Good. I look forward to working with you.¡¿
The group descended from the hill and slowly headed south along the foothills.
The range of the ck spire was 1 kilometer.
While going down the foggy river.
¡¾Master. There is a troll ahead.¡¿
¡°Can''t we go around it?¡±
¡¾No. It must have smelled us.¡¿
¡°Unless we go back the way we came, we won''t be able to shake it off.¡±
Kang Minyeong''s face turned pale.
¡°Oppa. Trolls are monsters thate out of 4 Star gates, aren''t they?¡±
¡°They''re annoying opponents because of their regenerative abilities.¡±
It wasn''t something a Hunter who had just reached 2 Stars should say, but since it was Yoojin who said it, no one in the group felt any sense of incongruity.
¡¾It''s been wandering around the Necropolistely anyway.¡¿
¡°Did it smell the corpses?¡±
¡¾It''s highly likely that there are more trolls nearby.¡¿
¡°How many did you see?¡±
¡¾Four.¡¿
Four trolls.
Yoojin stroked his chin and Fafnir asked back.
¡¾What should we do?¡¿
¡°Break through.¡±
If they were going to turn back because of a mere four trolls, they wouldn''t have set out in the first ce.
The moment the group emerged from the gray mist, the troll''s head, which had been staying near the river, snapped back.
¡°Kroooo! Food!¡±
The monster, towering over them, stomped its feet with a thunderous boom, sending pebbles scattering in all directions.
"That looks like it would hurt if it hit us."
"It''d be like standing in front of a 4-ton truck."
"...I''ll take that as advice not to face it head-on."
What a kid.
So honest.
¡¾Huhuhu. Is it my turn to step up?!¡¿
"No. I''ll set the stage for your grand entrance next time."
As Yoojin beckoned with his finger, a ck sphere emerged above the still Blood Golem''s eye.
"This is your debut. Show me what you''ve got."
¡¸Obeying yourmand.¡¹
The Blood Golem, two heads shorter than the troll, charged forward.
The moment the two monsters collided.
Fwoom¡ª!
"Uh, Hyung-nim. The summon''s arm flew off."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"It''s not a summon, it''s a Golem."
The Golem''s arm shattered into pieces from a single blow.
It reeled greatly but managed to stay on its feet.
"Kroo! Smelly monster. Break!"
The excited troll swung its arm again, trying to knock the Blood Golem over. Just then¡ª
The shattered right arm reattached itself as if reversing time, grabbing the monster''s arm.
¡¸Damage. Minor. Combat sustainable.¡¹
"Kroo?"
The troll felt a flicker of doubt but didn''t dwell on it.
It didn''t have the intelligence for such contemtion.
"Kroo! Tear again."
Fwoom¡ª! Fwofwofwoom!
The Blood Golem''s arms dissolved into a spray of blood and scattered, but they regenerated within seconds.
The magic circuit was engraved based on the corpse of a Masked Beast.
The mana surging from the engine solidified its control over the imprinted blood, allowing the destroyed arms to quickly reform.
¡¾However, that approach won''t secure victory.¡¿
"Just watch."
The troll possessed strength that ranked high among 4 Star monsters.
There was no way a low-ranking 3 Star could withstand a head-on sh of strength.
The moment the troll ripped off the Blood Golem''s right arm again.
[Blood Flow Conversion]
[Blood Weapon - de Mode]
Swish!
The Blood Golem''s left arm swirled, transforming below the elbow into a sharp de.
While the scattering blood droplets obscured the troll''s vision.
¡¸Commencing attack.¡¹
With a monotone voice, the crimson de shed through the troll''s abdomen.
Chaak¡ª!
"Kroo?"
¡¸Damage minimal. Continuing attack.¡¹
[Blood Weapon - Lance Mode]
The reconstructed right arm transformed into a sharpnce.
It plunged into the freshly opened wound and thrashed about violently.
"Kroo, get out!"
The troll iled its arms, pushing the Blood Golem away.
Surprised, but that was all.
This kind of wound would heal in 5 seconds with the troll''s unique regenerative abilities.
The Golem''s strength was insufficient to inflict a fatal blow.
"Kroo?"
Or so it should have been.
The gaping wound wasn''t closing; instead, blood gushed out relentlessly.
[Blood Poison]
The Blood Golem''s poison hindered regeneration.
The troll''s greatest strength was rendered useless.
¡¾Master. It seems the Blood Golem has grown a bitrger?¡¿
"Oh. Your eyes are sharp as always."
The Golem grew in size by absorbing blood.
It had absorbed the troll''s blood while inflicting wounds and thrusting the needle.
¡¾Recovery blocked and blood absorption. It''s the troll''s natural enemy.¡¿
"It would have been a tough fight against an ordinary 4 Star."
The matchup was favorable.
There was a reason why he deployed the 3 Star Blood Golem alone.
The Blood Golem grewrger as the battle continued.
Meanwhile, the troll''s eyes grew darker.
"Kroooo!"
The troll, enduring the pain, grabbed the Golem''s sharpened arm, but...
[Hardening]
The blood hardened upon impact, maintaining the de''s form and stabbing deep.
"Kroo..."
Having lost too much blood, the troll finally fell to one knee.
Seizing the advantage, the Blood Golem transformed both arms into des and swiftly beheaded the kneeling troll.
[The Blood Golem has absorbed enough blood.]
[Rank adjusted from 3 Star ¡ú 4 Star.]
[User''s ss is not Alchemist. EXP gain reduced by 60%.]
Tsk.
¡®Everything''s good except for the EXP loss.¡¯
This was the reason Yoojin didn''t focus on Golems in his previous life.
They weren''t affected by the undead limit, but they were a loss in terms of production cost, time, and EXP acquisition.
"Kroooo! He''s been defeated."
"Kroo. We will eat."
"Kruk. Kill. Eat."
Three more trolls emerged from the bushes.
It seemed they were drawn by the noise from the previous fight.
"There were more nearby."
¡¾See? I wasn''t mistaken.¡¿
¡®It''s fortunate they didn''t enter the Necropolis. It would have been difficult for Fafnir to handle them alone. At best, he could drive them away by making full use of the thick fog.¡¯
Yoojin looked at the Little Runts Team.
"Can one of you three hunt with me?"
"One troll..."
"Just hold it back. I''ll fill in the missing firepower."
Hold back a troll with three 2 Star Hunters?
It was an absurd order, but the Little Runts Team felt an inexplicable surge of ambition.
¡®Hyung-nim believes in us.¡¯
¡®A troll. It''s scary, but he must have entrusted it to us because there''s a chance of winning.¡¯
¡®I''ll pull my weight!¡¯
Yoojin chuckled at the Little Runts Team''spetitive spirit.
"Let the troll hunt begin."
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 41: Strengthening Forces (3)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 41: Strengthening Forces (3)
"Fafnir."
¡¾I''ll take the one in the middle.¡¿
"Then you take the left."
¡¸Command confirmed.¡¹
[Unholy Blessing activated.]
[Punishing Spike activated.]
[Giant''s Strength activated.]
Divine spells imbued Fafnir with power.
The inanimate Blood Golem, not being a living target, couldn''t be buffed.
''It works on undead but not on golems, huh?''
Even that was a luxury he didn''t have in his past life.
¡®I should be grateful.¡¯
¡²You are allowed to praise me.¡³
''Don''t spout nonsense when I''m busy, you ipetent constetion.''
I pushed Kronos''s thoughts away and observed the battlefield.
Fafnir was fine with the buffs.
The Blood Golem also had the upper hand in terms of elemental advantage, and it had already proven itsbat prowess in the previous fight.
All that remained was to restrain the other one.
"Can you handle it? I won''t deploy the rest of the undead."
The troll''s hide was so thick that it was difficult tond an effective blow.
And unlike the Blood Golem, its regeneration couldn''t be blocked, so it would recover quickly.
"Leave it to me."
[Moveable Fortress]
[Force Strike]
A blue sh enveloped the shield, then struck the empty air.
A technique that unifies the direction of mana and physical force, releasing it explosively.
Kang Minho, realizing he shouldn''t sh head-on, unleashed his mana explosively just before the troll''s arm reached him.
"Groo?"
The troll, just about to extend its arm, lost its bnce due to the sudden burst of force in the air.
[Synchronization]
[Telekinesis]
Swoosh!
The arrow flew with a sharp sound, cutting through the wind.
As the staggering troll raised its hand to protect its head...
The trajectory of the arrow, initially shot in a straight line, twisted.
It passed between the troll''s fingers and pierced its left eye, which it hadn''t been able to protect in time.
"Groooo!!!"
A scream of pain echoed loudly across the riverside.
"Hehe. It''s not just the crossbow that I can synchronize with."
Synchronization was also applied to the arrow loaded in the crossbow.
Not missing even the slightest movement, he altered the arrow''s trajectory just before impact.
Although the force behind the arrow wasn''t enough topletely prate...
"Groo! Grooo!"
The troll was greatly shocked.
Bang! Bang!
Enraged by the burning pain in its eye, the troll swung its left arm wildly.
Pebbles scattered across the riverbank.
[Space]
A shield, emerging from a jet-ck subspace, protected the party.
A seamless series of actions unfolded.
If their skill coordination had faltered even for a moment, it would have resulted in significant damage.
''He''s doing well against the troll without even flinching.''
At this rate, it''s hard to be satisfied with just stalling for time.
The valiant efforts of the Little Runts team ignited my excitement.
"Jo Seungchul. Your turn."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
- (Gurggle) Destroy! Destroy! Destroy!
Jo Seungchul, the skeleton mage, raised his bony arms and chattered his jaw.
Mana was manipted.
In front of his withered bony hand, the rearranged fire attribute mana condensed into a spherical shape.
"Th-that''s a Fireball, isn''t it?!!"
"Indeed."
"But Skeleton Mages are only 2 Star! How can it use a spell beyond its rank?!"
Yoojin smiled with satisfaction at Lee Seongmin''s astonished reaction.
This was possible due to the Unification, which allowed Jo Seungchul to inherit some of the magic he learned in his lifetime.
Compared to ordinary Skeleton Mages, his firepower was far superior.
In magic, a single rank difference was an absolute gap.
[Fireball]
A scorching heat wave swept through the air.
The troll, at the epicenter of the explosion, was charred ck.
"Did we get it?"
"It won''t die from just that."
Among 3 Star spells, Fireball was considered top-tier in terms of destructive power.
However, it didn''t have the firepower to incinerate the troll in a single blow.
If it hadn''t been injured in the eye, it would have ignored the explosion and charged.
[Quick Reload]
[Fireball]
That''s why he had two prepared.
Jo Seungchul''s unique trait: Although it consumed a lot of mana, he could use destructive magic consecutively.
''Now do you understand how amazing Unification is?''
¡²Hmm. I acknowledge it.¡³
Boooom!
The troll faltered from the sessive explosions.
Kang Minyeong''s crossbow, floating in mid-air, didn''t miss the small opening and fired a second shot.
The target of the second arrow was the remaining eye.
With its body dulled by consecutive Fireballs, the troll couldn''t react to the sniper shot.
"Sister, you''re ruthless."
"Even though she''s my sister, that''s a bit..."
Her ruthlessness was such that even her teammates looked away.
Having lost both of its eyes, the troll copsed and thrashed around with a roar.
"Good. You targeted its weakness even though I didn''t tell you."
"Did you hear that? Oppa praised me!"
Leaving aside the triumphant Kang Minyeong, he gave instructions to the rest of the undead.
The scary thing about trolls was their breakthrough power.
Since most wounds regenerated quickly, they sometimes charged while taking damage, but that possibility was now gone.
How could a blind troll target the party?
"Focus all your firepower."
[Icicle Arrow]
[Lightning Bolt]
[Acid Bomb]
...
The Skeleton Mages in the rear simultaneously fired their magic.
The troll''s hide, already reddened from being hit by two Fireballs, was now repeatedly torn and healed by the barrage of magic, but its regeneration gradually slowed.
''Still not enough.''
In terms of regeneration alone, it surpassed even a 5 Star monster like an Ogre.
Although they seeded in incapacitating it, the firepower of the Little Runts team and the Skeleton Mages wasn''t enough.
"Fafnir."
Fafnir, who was confronting one of the trolls at the forefront, swiftly turned around, channeled dark mana into his feet, and leaped a great distance.
Crack!
His fist, enveloped in dark mana, plunged into the crown of the crouching troll.
Whitish brain matter and flesh fragments sttered everywhere.
"Groooo!!! Brother!!"
¡¾This makes us look like viins.¡¿
"Isn''t a Necromancer''s warrior viinous enough?"
¡¾Damn it. I should have just stayed as an earthbound spirit.¡¿
The two remaining trolls btedly recognized Yoojin as a threat.
They recklessly charged forward to break through, but...
¡¸Target. You shall not pass.¡¹
¡¾I am your opponent, ugly troll.¡¿
The Blood Golem, having absorbed the troll''s blood and ascended to 4 Star, stood in their way.
Although its physical abilities were at the 3 Star level, it couldn''t surpass Fafnir, who possessed buffs and superior martial prowess.
"Grooo..."
The troll''s mournful cry echoed across the riverbank.
£ª £ª £ª
[Level Up!]
[Current level is 4.]
Defeating a powerful enemy two ranks above him,bined with the experience points earned in the border region, his level increased rapidly.
''At this rate, I''ll reach 3 Star soon.''
In his previous life, it took him 4 years to reach that rank.
This time, experience points were soaring like a car speeding down an open highway.
"Collecting mana stones from trolls is no easy task."
Kang Minho was sweating profusely.
"Bro, I can''t do it."
"Sorry. I''m no help either."
Even if you crushed their heads, their regenerative ability didn''t disappear immediately.
The troll''s hide was already tough, and even if you managed to cut it, it would regenerate quickly.
"It can''t be helped. Fafnir."
¡¾Don''t expect delicacy from me.¡¿
Rip!
Fafnir tore apart the troll''s chest with his rough hands.
From within, he pulled out the mana stone integrated with the stopping heart and offered it to Yoojin.
"Why are you giving it to me?"
¡¾It''s a B-rank mana stone. Isn''t it expensive?¡¿
"I told you to consume all the mana stones from now on."
The Little Runts team had also agreed to this.
- If it weren''t for you, bro, this would be money we couldn''t even touch.
He had prepared many words to persuade them, but they readily epted after he said just one sentence, which made him smile awkwardly.
Fafnir looked at the party and sighed briefly.
¡¾Then I won''t hold back.¡¿
Crunch¡ª
[Eldritch Dragon (Fafnir) absorbs mana.]
[Mana umtes in the Dragon Heart. Total mana and physical abilities increase.]
Whoa.
Damn, I''m speechless.
''Is he going to get an upset stomach from this?''
¡²(Chuckle) Did you eat something bad?¡³
''He''s eating too much raw food.''
Why was Life Drain such a fraudulent spell?
Because it generally provided ''stats'' that were nearly impossible to increase other than through potions.
It was the same with Fafnir consuming mana stones.
¡²Strange. It seems the same as a Hunter absorbing experience points.¡³
''He''s undead.''
You know how rare growing undead are.
Even high-ranking undead like Death Knights and Liches had difficulty breaking their mold and advancing to a higher rank.
Even Park Haneul in his past life had to strengthen himself by recing his bones one by one.
''Not only is his growth method easy, but the potential is also high.''
An undead created based on the corpse of a Draconian.
Since the ultimate goal of a Draconian was to be a Dragon, Fafnir would also be able to reach true dragonhood by consuming mana stones.
''Wow. This is sweet. So sweet.''
¡²Tsk tsk. You don''t even heed my words of wisdom.¡³
''Ah, I don''t want to struggle.''
I shouldn''t listen to that ipetent constetion.
Does it think reaching 9 Star as a Necromancer is easy?
Yoojin thought.
Unlike other sses, there''s not much information avable.
And Hunters with backing openly antagonized Necromancers.
''I''ve already struggled enough.''
Spear techniques and divine powers as a priest were exceptions.
These were skills he had no connection with in his previous life, so he intended to learn them even if it meant struggling.
However...
He''d seize every advantage he could get.
"Consume all the rest as well."
¡¾That will cause significant blood loss. Are you sure?¡¿
"Troll blood is valuable, but... I wonder if there''s anything left."
The blood of two trolls was absorbed by the Blood Golem.
The one that suffered the group beating had already spilled most of its blood on the riverbank.
He just had to worry about the remaining one.
"Ah,e to think of it, I should use Life Drain."
The tattered ones were already beyond saving, so he approached the troll that Fafnir had finished offst and absorbed its life force.
[The troll''s life force permeates your body.]
[Strength permanently increases by 1.5.]
[Health permanently increases by 2.1.]
[Endurance permanently increases by 1.8.]
Gulp.
¡¾Then I''ll take the rest.¡¿
Fafnir consumed all the remaining trolls'' mana stones.
The moment he swallowed the fourth mana stone, an intense surge of energy erupted.
[The mana contained within the heart of the Eldritch Dragon (Fafnir) has reached its limit.]
[The Dragon Heart grows to the next stage.]
Grooo¡ª!
Spirit Power surged over Fafnir''s shoulders.
The same phenomenon as Park Haneul''s materialization of mana in his previous life, the manifestation of Aura, appeared throughout Fafnir''s body.
¡¾Now it''s properly manifesting.¡¿
The [Dark Aura] trait passed down from his pre-death experience.
However...
Fafnir''s energy, having ascended to 4 Star, became much clearer and even exuded a sense of intimidation.
"Since there''s no need to rest, let''s depart."
"Brother, are you not going to make those corpses into undead?"
"Trolls are 4 Star. I can''t draw out the corpses'' abilities with just Raise Undead."
With low-level necromancy, he could only create Zombies or Skeletons.
To utilize the abilities ofrge monsters, he needed higher-level necromancy and various preparations.
If he turned these guys into undead?
At best, they would reach around 3 Star, but they would be slow andck regenerative abilities.
Essentially, it was a waste of troll corpses.
Kang Minho clicked his tongue after hearing the exnation.
"What a waste."
"Isn''t that what ¡®I¡¯ should be saying?"
"I thought troll corpses would make powerful assets."
"I''m not nning on leaving them behind."
Yoojin had already given orders to the undead through the ck spire acting as a ry.
- Take the troll corpses and bury them in the Unholy Cemetery.
The spire''s main function was as a necromancy amplifier.
He could remotely issue simplemands.
"We can leave the rest to the undead stationed in the territory."
"I see. As expected of you, brother."
"ttery won''t get you anywhere, you know?"
The party''s strength had been further enhanced.
They could now easily repel monsters up to 4 Star.
And they had grown enough to escape safely if they encountered a 5 Star monster.
¡²I do hope a monster over 6 Star appears and gives my contractor a trial.¡³
''If I die, will you really be a ipetent constetion?''
¡²Ahem, I was just joking.¡³
''In this area, we only need to watch out for One-Eyed.''
The rank of One-Eyed, the mutant Ogre reigning as a tyrant in the Paju area, was 7 Star.
As long as they were careful of that monster, their lives wouldn''t be in danger.
¡²I pray that the creature called One-Eyed will ignore you.¡³
''You''re not thinking the opposite, are you?''
Kronos remained silent.
Yoojin gave a wry smile and began heading south along the riverbank.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 42: The First Step of Expansion (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 42: The First Step of Expansion (1)
[You havepleted the ck Spire.]
[The degree ofpletion is high. Performance increases by 50%.]
¡°Finally, the fifth one.¡±
A ck spire, soaring as if to pierce the sky.
Yoojin couldn''t hide his pride.
¡°Brother. Is this really thest one?¡±
¡°Have you ever seen me make empty promises?¡±
¡°Well, no.¡±
¡°Pack your things. We''ll be heading back soon.¡±
After sending Kang Minho away, Yoojin ced his palm on the fabric structure.
[Establishing awork with nearby installed Spires.]
[Network number - 5]
[Reduces mana consumption of Necromancers registered in the territory by 30%.]
[Number of summonable undead increased by 30%.]
[Undead abilities increased by 30%.]
[Communication magic jamming is applied within the fog.]
The more ck Spires are linked together, the more buffs are given to Necromancers and the undead.
¡®Right now, it''s just about summoning restrictions and increasingbat power.¡¯
If the number of ck Spires increases further, the corpses within the territory will automatically be revived as undead.
And the spirits of the deceased will flock to the area, further strengthening the deathly energy.
It even gives debuffs to the living.
The expression "City of the Dead (Necropolis)" was a perfect fit.
¡²Then why not increase the number of those ominous towers?¡³
¡®Would I even be able to protect them?¡¯
He scoffed at the idea¡ª
¡®Give up one or two ck Spires? Are you serious?¡¯
As much as awork provides many benefits, the risks also increase.
If a linked Spire is destroyed, the remaining structures cease to function.
It takes time to recover from the shock.
¡®With five, it would be about 2 hours.¡¯
¡²That''s not very long, considering you called it a risk.¡³
¡®The more the number of links increases, the longer the downtime bes.¡¯
The more Spires included in thework, the longer the downtime.
If ten are connected, it''s 10 hours.
If you connect up to the maximum number of 20 in thework, they be useless for three whole days.
High risk, high return.
Considering the dangers of the border region, connecting 5 to thework already is quite a gamble.
¡®The Romanov family also neutralized the ck Spires first.¡¯
In his past life, Yoojin turned his domain into a Necropolis.
The location was not suitable for defense, being wide open and bordering the Yesung River.
Magic hunters secretly traveled up the river and poured powerful magic into one tower, neutralizing it.
All the buff effects that had been cast across the territory were nullified.
¡²Khahaha. How foolish. If it''s such an important structure, you should defend it thoroughly.¡³
"How do you stop someone who even uses Divine Relics?"
Gambanteinn.
A powerful staff specialized in magic nullification, a Divine Relic of Odin.
"Though what they used were replicas."
Even if they were imitations, they were still artifacts imbued with the concept of Odin''s Divine Relic.
Using Gambanteinn, they neutralized all sorts of anti-intrusion spells that had been installed throughout the Necropolis.
That''s why he was pushed back from Gaesung to Seoul.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
It was the reason why Seoul became the backdrop for the final battle in his previous life.
¡²So you''re saying there''s still a risk?¡³
"I won''t fall for the same trick twice."
Yoojin clenched his fist.
"Let''s head back if you''re all ready."
The faces of the Little Runts team lit up.
"We''re finally returning!"
"Sob sob. I can finally eat home-cooked meals again."
"Goodbye, homelessness."
Everyone''s faces were blooming, truly blooming.
¡¾Master. Then I will guard the new territories.¡¿
"No. You''reing too."
¡¾Is it alright to leave the Necropolis empty?¡¿
"Well, if it gets plundered, it gets plundered."
There''s thework connection penalty, but he hasn''t invested much, and it can be restored quickly if he sets his mind to it.
"I''ve already cleared out the nearby monster viges, so what could happen?"
¡¾That sounds a bit too optimistic.¡¿
"It''s okay if one or two get destroyed."
That much is within his expectations.
If a monstrous being with overwhelming specs like One-Eyed appears, he''ll have to give it up. What else can he do?
Even if Fafnir protects it, what can''t be defended can''t be defended.
"It''ll be fine unless it''s a variable of that level."
¡¾Understood.¡¿
Fafnir nodded.
£ª £ª £ª
Kang Minyeong hummed a tune.
"Oppa, it''s nice that we have less baggage this time."
"I didn''t ask you to carry it, so why are you saying that?"
"The undeadined they couldn''t fight because of the luggage, so I had a hard time!"
"You gained experience, so it was good, wasn''t it?"
"You need to learn some sensitivity, oppa."
Blegh¡ª
Seeing Kang Minyeong sticking her tongue out at him, Yoojin suddenly felt a renewed sense of emotion.
''She was expressionless when I saw her before.''
The target of a request and its executor.
They weren''t exactly in a position to smile at each other.
It was strange to see someone he had killed with his own hands smiling yfully.
''The future is changing.''
Kang Minyeong''s casual attitude made the change hit home.
Although it''s not drastic enough to have a major impact on the world yet.
Yoojin''s actions are steadily changing the future of destruction.
¡²Do not be arrogant. The adversaries the Contractor must fight are not just insignificant humans.¡³
''I know. The Seven Great ns, and the constetions behind them.''
To secure afortable future, he needs to gain power equal to or greater than the Seven Great ns.
Otherwise...
This world will not leave him alone.
''Change is just beginning.''
Recalling the scene of Seoul he saw just before his return, he spoke to the Little Runts team.
"You''ve worked hard, so take two weeks off."
"Really?!"
"Are you hoping I''ll change my mind?"
The twins red at Lee Seongmin.
"Hyung, then we''ll gather at the Paju workshop in two weeks."
"No take-backs, okay?"
Yoojin smiled and waved his hand.
"If you stand there nkly, my joke might turn into reality."
"H-Hyung! See youter!"
Turning their backs in case he tried to stop them, the three quickly moved away.
Ah, well.
It''s a bit lonely, though.
¡¾Huhu. I am here with Master, am I not?¡¿
"Thank you for being here, at least."
¡¾You''re not being honest. You can thank me more.¡¿
¡®Yes, yes. I''m so grateful I could cry.¡¯
Around the time the Little Runts teampletely disappeared from sight.
¡¾Now, it''s time to talk.¡¿
"About what?"
¡¾What Master will do after sending the Little Runts team away.¡¿
¡®He noticed, huh?¡¯
Yoojin scratched his head.
"Spider hunting."
£ª £ª £ª
Bzzt- Bzzzt¡ª
A building with the words [Milky Way] written in cheap neon signs flickered repeatedly.
This was the ce in Ground Zero where all the requests came and went.
"They put the door back on."
Creak¡ª
A noise that grated on the eardrums.
He opened the door and entered. Unlikest time, a neatly organized store came into view.
Soft jazz music yed in the background.
Over it, all sorts of people were spitting out their own stories.
¡¾It''s a cacophony.¡¿
"That''s the charm of our establishment."
The answer came from the inside of the bar.
Madam approached Yoojin with an alluring smile.
"We see each other often. I might start to get attached to you at this rate."
"Do you really feel that way, Madam?"
"Hoho, I''m human too, you know."
Madamughed, covering her mouth.
She spouts such words with eyes as cold as midwinter.
Yoojin didn''t reply and sat down in front of the bartender.
"We meet again, sir."
"I''ll have the same asst time, please."
"Haha. Please give me a chance to show off my skills next time."
The old man ced a ss of milk on the table with a warm smile.
Madam let out a short sigh at the sight.
"You have no sense of style."
"I don''t know much about the taste of alcohol."
"The Milky Way Pub is a bar, you know. That''s a problem."
"I especially don''t drink when I''m talking business."
At Yoojin''s casual remark, the corners of Madam''s eyes rose slightly.
"That''s a bit interesting."
"How do you know what I''m going to talk about?"
"Well, you always bring up interesting topics."
She wants him to bring it up first.
¡®Fine.¡¯
He doesn''t like to beat around the bush anyway.
"Are you getting along well with the Red Spider?"
"It''s impossible to have a healthy friendship with them. You know that."
"I think they''re lurking around the Milky Way Pub a lot."
"Well, it''s a vtile situation."
As soon as the words "Red Spider" came out, Madam didn''t try to change the subject and answered honestly.
"It seems like things didn''t go as smoothly as you thought."
"Did you know? Spiders have eight legs."
"You''re saying it''s no use cutting off just one?"
"There''s a limit to the number we can mobilize on our side."
Madam''s position is that of a mediator.
She has a lot of connections, but most of them are with people who are only interested in money.
Topletely eradicate the Red Spider, they would have to wage an all-out war, and they couldn''t fill those numbers with mercenaries.
"If we go for localized battles, we''ll be at a disadvantage."
"But the Red Spider won''t attack head-on."
"That''s thanks to you, Yoojin."
The early capture of the Crimson Lair, the source of bloodstones.
With the disappearance of the mineral worth more than gold at the same weight, the Red Spider suffered a major financial blow.
It wasn''t enough to shake the entire organization, but they were desperately trying to secure blocked funds.
"I''ll help you."
"Are you serious?"
"I''m not free enough toe all the way here to joke around."
Madam blinked her eyes in surprise at Yoojin''s words.
"It will be different from the Crimson Lair incident."
"I know. I heard the Red Spider boss is a 6 Star martial arts hunter."
Yoojin nced at the bartender.
Right now, he was an old man making cocktails, but his true identity was a hunter who had reached the very end of 6 Star.
The Red Spider attacked Madam because they were aiming for the old man''s absence.
"That guy won''t be able to move recklessly either."
"I told you, the Red Spider has eight legs."
"Wouldn''t it be much easier if we cut off half of them?"
Whew¡ª
Madam let out a sigh.
''This man. I can''t tell where his limits are.''
As a 1 Star hunter, he ughtered all the 3 Star hunters stationed at the Crimson Lair.
And he even performed miracles as a ''Saint,'' of which there are only a few in the whole world.
''He''ll cut off half of the spider''s legs...''
Yoojin wasn''t the type toe all the way to Ground Zero to lie.
If so...
Now it was time to strategize ording to the request he had dered.
"Can I request a spider hunt?"
"The reward?"
"You must have already thought of something. Please tell me."
"The spider''s vacancy."
A different choice than in his past life.
He would grow his power more aggressively and expand his influence within the Korean Penins.
Ground Zero was the starting point.
"I can''t give you a definite answer. Ground Zero maintains a bnce between three organizations."
Red Spider / ck Market / Milky Way Pub
There wererge and small organizations, but Ground Zero was maintained because these three groups had a tight grip on the flow.
"But one side will take my side, right?"
"Of course."
Deal.
Yoojin smiled faintly.
"Don''t you usually get called sly?"
"That''s rude."
"Anyone would think so if they saw that smile."
''First Kronos, and now Madam. Why does everyone have something to say about my smile?''
His cheek muscles twitching at their perceived insults.
"What''s the mood like among the hunters in Gaesung these days?"
"Those guys are the same as always."
"That''s good."
The Gaesung human hunters.
A group of hunters who settled in Gaesung after the copse of North Korea.
The members called themselves the "5th Revolutionary Corps," but outsiders often used the derogatory term "human hunters."
"Spread a rumor that the human hunters are targeting the Red Spider."
"Are you thinking of luring them towards the border area?"
"That''s right. Find a suitable way."
"There''s a farm managed by the Red Spider in the border area."
"We can target the area around there."
"You haven''t actually... recruited the human hunters, have you?"
Instead of answering, Yoojin took a sip of milk.
The true purpose of heading south while building several ck Spires.
And...
It was also the reason why he gave the Little Runts team a vacation.
¡¾Was that your goal from the beginning, Master?¡¿
Only Fafnir, who knew the whole story, swallowed a groan and muttered with a sinking thought.
"It''s too big a task for a 1 Star hunter to handle."
"I recently became a 2 Star."
"There''s not much difference between the two, but since you say so, there shouldn''t be a problem."
*Client: Oh Hyunjeong
*Request Type: Red Spider Hunt
*Difficulty: A
*Reward: Support Cheon Yoojin during the Ground Zero power redistribution
*Details
Reduce the Red Spider''s forces by at least 1/3.
"Will this be enough?"
"I like it."
"The reward for fulfilling the contract is only valid for the living."
Yoojin chuckled at Madam''s pointed reply.
"Don''t worry. I''lle to collect it myself, on two feet."
Yoojin finished his milk and stood up.
"Oh, and send me the information on the Red Spider executives to my phone."
"The entire list?"
"Up to 5 Star hunters."
Yoojin''s figure gradually receded.
Madam, staring nkly at his retreating form, rose from her seat.
"Old man. Get ready."
"Will it be alright?"
"He''s the one who wants to do it. And... somehow, I think he''ll pull it off."
A man who can''t be judged solely by his rank.
Madam Oh Hyunjeong turned around as if to shake off her thoughts.
''Things are going to get busier.''
The rumor Yoojin requested.
To get the Red Spider moving, she also had to use all her skills.
''I''ll trust you.''
If...
If the request unfolds as he intends, Madam was thinking of giving Yoojin even more.
[TL/N: ??]
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 43: The First Step of Expansion (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 43: The First Step of Expansion (2)
A concrete graveyard.
As dusk fell, casting a more eerie pall over the ruins, a few buildings still retained their original shape.
A 20-story hotel.
Before the Great Cataclysm, it was famous as a 3 Star hotel, but now it was better known as the Red Spider''s hideout.
Lights strung all over the exterior walls scattered dazzling light.
And beneath them, people with spider tattoos were having a wild party.
"Enjoy! Whether we die today or tomorrow!"
"Ehehehe!"
Chaos brewed from a mixture of alcohol, drugs, and the simple beat of machine sounds.
A half-naked man, looking down at the scene from the lounge, pursed his lips.
"Tch. Those simple-minded bastards."
Scars were engraved on his exposed back.
Their shape resembled the eight legs of a spider.
The scars that gave birth to the organization name [Red Spider].
Kim Jaewoo, the boss of the faction that divided Ground Zero into three, red fiercely.
"Boss. We have 10 days'' worth of food left."
"It¡¯s Chairman."
"Ah, yes. Chairman."
"Hyungtae, we''re not gangsters. How long are you going to keep calling me ''Boss''?"
nk, nk¡ª!
The lounge windows rattled violently as if caught in a strong wind.
The killing intent of a 6 Star hunter.
The bald man shuddered at the ferocious aura mixed with mana.
"S-sorry. Chairman."
"We need to boost the morale of our guys. They''ve been a bit gloomytely, haven''t they?"
Kim Jaewoo iled his arms exaggeratedly.
They had nned an attack after noticing the absence of Old Man Jeong from the Milky Way Pub, but...
Instead of grabbing Madam Oh Hyunjeong by the neck, they ended up losing a source of ie.
"Hah. That damn bitch."
The Red Spider was arge organization with hundreds of members.
They weren''t weak enough to copse just because one [Crimson Lair] disappeared.
The problem was that they failed to take over the Milky Way Pub, and with a major funding route cut off, the Red Spider''s prestige was also damaged.
"Who are the stiff-necked bastards these days?"
"The military guys and the Blue Shirts are gathering people."
"Take care of them by tomorrow."
With the attack on the Milky Way Pub ending in failure, the number of those who doubted the Red Spider''s dominance increased.
This was the reason why they opened their coffers despite losing one of their main funding routes.
Their finances would be tighter, but they needed to show off in order to maintain the organization.
"Did you say 10 days?"
"Yes."
"I have an appointment with Chairman Im. Prepare some men."
"Are we getting support from the Nine Dragons Hall?"
"We''re screwed because we couldn''t take over the Milky Way."
The Nine Dragons Hall was arge criminal organization based in Hong Kong.
Recently, they had been in contact with the Red Spider to form an East Asian criminalwork using the West Sea as a bridgehead.
"The Nine Dragons Hall is too big of an organization, Chairman."
"I know, damn it! Do you think I like joining hands with them so readily?"
It was a nice way to put it, a business proposal.
But it was practically like bing a subordinate organization of the Nine Dragons Hall.
For a deal to be equal, both sides needed to have simr power.
Originally, he had nned to drag out the negotiations or even break them off.
"If only that idiot, Jo Seungchul, had guarded the gate properly."
Kim Jaewoo''s eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
With the [Crimson Lair] shut down earlier than expected, a huge hole had been blown in their finances.
They needed urgent funds to maintain the organization.
And there weren''t many ces that would invest in an organization from Ground Zero.
In his previous life, the Red Spider had rejected the Nine Dragons Hall''s proposal, but Yoojin''s intervention had changed the future.
Creak¡ªn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Boss! Something terrible has hap¡ª"
"It''s Chairman! You son of a bitch!!"
The hunter, hit by the ss cup thrown by Kim Jaewoo, choked and screamed as he copsed to the floor.
Blood flowed from his torn forehead.
He was a 4 Star martial arts hunter, but he couldn''t withstand Kim Jaewoo''s strength.
"S-sorry. Chairman!"
"Forget it. Just tell me what you came for."
"There are reports of unrest in Gaesung."
"The human hunters?"
The Gaesung human hunters.
Their official name was the "5th Revolutionary Corps," but no one called them that.
An organization that used monsters they raised as their fighting force.
Although they had few members, the number andbat power of the monsters they controlled were significant, making them a force to be reckoned with.
"What are those Gaesung bastards up to now!"
"They''re reportedlying down to the border area."
"Those useless bastards."
"If they''re human hunters, won''t they feed us to their monsters?"
Even the Red Spider was terrified of the human hunters.
They would throw those who weren''t part of the "5th Revolutionary Corps" to their monsters as food or force them intobor.
Kim Jaewoo had once thought of joining hands with the human hunters, but...
"How much did we lose back then?"
"25 men, Chairman."
As soon as they sat down at the negotiation table, the human hunters attacked the Red Spider with their monsters.
Both sides suffered heavy losses, and they realized that the human hunters were impossible to negotiate with.
Things had been quiet since that major sh, but...
"Did they hear the rumors too?"
Kim Jaewoo mmed his fist on the desk.
Crack¡ª
The desk caved in, imprinted with his fist mark.
''What terrifying strength. To destroy a steel desk with a single blow...''
Gulp¡ª
The subordinate whose forehead had just been smashed looked at Kim Jaewoo cautiously.
"You''re not lying, are you?"
"No, sir. The source is reliable."
"And you don''t know what the human hunters are after?"
"I''m not sure, but they''re said to be heading towards the ck Herb farm."
Kim Jaewoo shut his mouth tightly.
Rage filled him to the brim.
He felt the urge to smash everything in sight, but he managed to restrain himself.
"Triple the security."
"Then we''ll have no choice but to reduce the number of people watching Madam."
"Do you even think? If we lose the ck Herb here, we won''t be able to maintain the organization!"
Wham¡ª
Another ss cup flew through the air, and the subordinate''s head snapped back.
"Hyungtae."
"Yes, Chairman."
"I''ll have to take care of those military bastards myself."
"Then..."
"I''ll leave the farm to you, so handle it well."
The Red Spider''s second-inmand.
Choi Hyungtae shuddered briefly under the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.
£ª £ª £ª
While the Red Spider was being lured by Madame''s false information and mobilizing hunters, Yoojin returned to the border region.
"Fortunately, it''s not far."
¡¾You mean the farm managed by the Red Spider?¡¿
"Yeah. It''s only 2 kilometers from the obelisk."
Considering the range of the spreading fog, it was a little less than 1 kilometer away.
The location of thest ck obelisk he erected was exquisite.
¡¾The fog will slightly touch the road to the farm.¡¿
"Perfect for hunting the Red Spider."
¡¾Can I ask you something?¡¿
"Anything."
¡¾About the farm. Is it really necessary to build it in the dangerous border region?¡¿
"Depending on the breed, yes."
Yoojin chuckled.
"Have you ever heard of ck Herb, Hero?"
¡¾No.¡¿
"It''s a nt that only grows innd with high-density mana."
Just as wild ginseng only grows innd with abnormally strong energy, ck Herb is also a rare nt that can only be cultivated innd that meets specific conditions.
"If you mix it with some medicinal herbs, you can make a cocktail called ck Moon."
¡¾All that trouble just to make a cocktail?¡¿
"Of course not."
ck Moon is a powerful drug that allows the user to dream the illusions they imagine.
A drug that makes images in one''s imagination feel real.
"It''s addictive, but it doesn''t have major side effects, so it''s called a dream drug."
¡¾Huh. To use the word ''dream'' so cheaply.¡¿
"Don''t be so harsh. Even high-ranking hunters use it asionally for meditation."
Building one''s own mental image.
It''s something that hunters who dream of a higher realm must do.
Martial arts practitioners project their mental image onto the external world.
Mages use the rules they''ve engraved in their minds to toy with thews of the world and distort them to their will.
"Either way, you have to build a mental image to look beyond 7 stars."
¡¾You speak as if you''ve reached that level.¡¿
"I''ve picked up a lot of things."
¡¾Well, you''re not wrong. I was also in the middle of building my mental image through actual battles.¡¿
Yoojin gave a wry smile at the unspoken words.
"Anyway, the point is that it''s damn expensive."
¡¾No wonder the Red Spider is rushing in head over heels.¡¿
"We should get ready to wee our guests."
Phew¡ª
With a sigh, Yoojin looked back on the achievements of the past two weeks.
''Level 23.''
While following the flow of the spirit vein, he encountered monsters.
He even had to fight to obtain the flesh and bones, the materials for the ck obelisk.
After erecting the structure, he repelled those who came to wee their new neighbor.
It was only natural for his level to rise significantly.
¡²But your level has risen quite a bit, why haven''t you inherited any new spells?¡³
Kronos, who had been listening silently, asked.
''I told you before, didn''t I? I''m deliberately leaving one or two.''
¡²Is this an act of leisure?¡³
''I''m doing this because I don''t know what kind of situation I''ll face. Don''t talk about leisure.''
The knowledge contained in the Ring of Darkness is vast, but due to system constraints, there are intervals at which he can inherit it.
Two per 10 levels.
He deliberately doesn''t inherit some spells so he can immediately acquire the necessary spells in a crisis.
¡²You haven''t done that until now, have you?¡³
''I didn''t have any magic to use.''
As a necromancer, he needs to learn the essential spells to level up.
''This time, I''ll use...''
Bone Spike
Category: Necromancy
Rank: D
Creates upward-thrusting thorns using bone as a medium. Requires a bone at least 5 cm in size.
¡²An attack spell that requires a medium? It seems worse than Bone Spear.¡³
''Yeah. Aside from its faster activation speed and the ability to exploit openings, it''s not better than Bone Spear.''
Bone Spear also has superior destructive power.
There''s a reason why I learned this impractical spell.
It''s a prerequisite for the next spell I''ll acquire.
Corpse Explosion
Category: Necromancy
Rank: C
Infuses a corpse with spirit power and detonates it. Bones and flesh scatter, inflicting damage to the surroundings.
''Finally, I inherit this spell.''
The pinnacle of necromancer attack magic.
[TL/N: Huh?? That¡¯s it?? Damn¡]
Among spells ranked 3 stars or lower, it has the highest destructive power, and its spirit power consumption is not high considering its power.
It even has the advantage of being instantly activated as long as there''s a corpse.
¡²Isn''t this an act of mocking the dead?¡³
''I think it''s already wrong from the point of raising them without their permission.''
¡²The requirement of needing a corpse seems restrictive.¡³
''Well. You''ll see.''
Ghost Eye
Category: Necromancy
Rank: E
Shares vision with an undead under the user''s control.
The third spell is a vision-sharing spell.
When used on a ghost, it can provide an advantage in information gathering.
''The remaining one is from alchemy.''
Ignition Circuit
Category: Alchemy
Rank: E
Engraves a magic circuit that reacts only to a specific wavelength.
''With this, the preliminary preparations areplete.''
Before fully preparing for battle, Yoojin activated his status window to check himself.
Name - Cheon Yoojin
Gender - Male
Level - 23 (2 Stars)
¡ò Stats
* Strength: 107.5
* Agility: 100.1
* Health: 85.2
* Toughness: 79.4
* Spirit Power: 493.5
¡ò Traits
Clear Mind [Unique] / Midnight Sun [Unique] / Guide of Death [Unique]
¡ò Skills
Corpse Explosion [C] / Golem Creation [C] / Bone Spear [D] / Bone Spike [D] / Bone Armor [E] / Flesh Control [E] / Liquefaction [E] / Raise Undead [E] / Raise Dead [E] / Reinforcement Circuit [E] / Verdian Basic Spear Technique [E]
¡ò Inscription
Inscription of Endurance
''These are quite the specs for someone who hasn''t even been awakened for two months.''
His physical abilities were those of a low 2 Star martial artist.
His spirit power level was also top-notch among magic-type Hunters of the same rank.
''If I add up all the increased stats, it would be equivalent to a 3 Star.''
All thanks to Life Drain, which allowed him to exploit the vitality of monsters.
The number of spells he learned was steadily increasing as well.
''This is doable.''
The Red Spider?
If they fought within Necropolis, he was confident he could handle even a hundred of them.
Even if Kim Jaewoo, a 6 Star martial arts Hunter, came personally, protecting himself wouldn''t be a problem.
-Kihihihit!
A ghost in the distance let out a shrill cry.
He immediately used [Ghost Eye].
Sharing vision with the ghost, he could faintly see Hunters walking between the bushes.
"Hey... ...field..."
"Hu... ...man...hunter..."
Judging from the shape of their mouths, they seemed to be saying "human hunter."
He immediately deactivated the vision sharing.
"The first guests have arrived."
¡¾We should give them a grand wee.¡¿
Indeed.
He should make their wee so memorable that none of them would even think of going back.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 44: Spider Hunt (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 44: Spider Hunt (1)
A group with spider tattoos on their foreheads, corbones, or shoulders.
The Red Spider Hunters headed north along a trail through the bushes.
"Every time Ie to the border region, it''s a damn pain."
"Hey, be grateful. If you stray from the path, it''ll be even worse."
It was a path frequented by search party soldiers before the Great Cataclysm.
After the entire demilitarized zone fell into the hands of monsters, the Red Spider made good use of it.
"Damn it. Why are those human huntersing down here?"
"To catch soft humans like you and throw them to the monsters as food."
"This bastard. You wanna fight me?"
The Hunters growled at each other.
The senior Hunter walking ahead spat.
"Don''t waste your energy."
The senior Hunter was at the peak of 3 Star rank.
A professional who had hunted monsters for over 10 years.
Hecked the enlightenment and talent to break through the 4 Star wall, but...
He had umted considerable stats andbat experience, making him strong enough to take on the two growling Hunters simultaneously.
"Ah, I''m not fighting."
"Who said anything about wasting energy?"
The two Hunters lowered their voices at the senior''s re.
"There''s fog ahead."
"Was there fog around here before?"
"The river isn''t far, so it''s not unusual."
Shing¡ª!
The senior Hunter leading the way drew his sword.
"From now on, no idle chatter. If anyone talks, I''ll sew their mouths shut, so you can look forward to it."
The senior Hunter who issued the warning took the vanguard position.
The remaining Hunters formed a line in pairs and advanced towards the ck Herb farm.
''This is the first time I''ve seen fog here. Ominous.''
The senior Hunter had been in and out of the ck Herb farm many times.
This area wasn''t very dangerous, as monsters were periodically cleared out.
However...
For those entric human hunters, changing the surrounding weather was no difficult task.
''This sucks. To be mobilized for a search mission like this.''
The failed raid on the Milky Way pub and the closure of Red Disguise.
On top of that, the news of the human hunters'' southward advance.
The atmosphere within the organization was boiling like a volcano about to erupt at the slightest touch.
''Well, the Spider won''t fall apart, though.''
The senior Hunter wasn''t pessimistic about the current situation.
The Spider has eight legs.
One or two legs may have been cut off in the past, but the organization as a whole had never copsed.
Despite various incidents during its 20-year reign over Ground Zero...
The Red Spider was the one that survived to the end.
''All I need is the money.''
The senior Hunter shook off his distracting thoughts and recalled Choi Hyungtae''s instructions once again.
If a human hunter appears, either fire a signal re or hunt them down in turn.
''The reward is quite substantial. If possible, I''d like to kill him myself.''
As the senior Hunter was licking his lips in anticipation...
A dark shadow began to flicker beyond the thick fog.
"Suchan. Check it out."
[Eagle Eye]
The Hunter positioned at the rear opened his eyes wide.
A unique trait that negated vision-obstructing effects and allowed him to see through things even hundreds of meters away.
"A Draconian?!"
"Look carefully. Why would a Draconian be in the border region?"
"I-It could be a human hunter."
"Idiot! If those entrics had tamed a Draconian, they would have descended upon Ground Zero long ago!"
At the senior Hunter''s rebuke, the Hunter with the [Eagle Eye] opened his eyes wide again and let out a sigh.
"It''s an undead. Its eyes are burning blue."
"Is that all?"
"A blob-like monster. And a human."
"Hiya. We''re in luck."
The higher the rank of a human hunter, the greater the number of monsters they tamed.
But only two?
"Time to collect our bonus."
A murderous glint flickered in the eyes of the Red Spider Hunters.
Although they were all 3 Star Hunters, their level of armament and skill utilization was high enough to hunt even 4 Star monsters with ease.
They were even skilled enough to escape if a 5 Star monster appeared.
''How strong could a nameless undead be?''
Undead monsters didn''t appear in Gaesung and Paju.
Therefore...
The undead that the human hunter was bringing along must be a naturally urring undead, at most a 3 Star level.
"Suchan. You signal."
The shadow beyond the gradually thickening fog.
The Hunter who urately grasped the intruder''s location with [Eagle Eye] swiftly lowered his hand.
[Lightning Shock]
[Ice Javelin]
Widely spread lightning bolts swept across the ground, rushing towards the intruders.
A spear sharply honed with cold air pierced the body of the undead resembling a Draconian.
"Did we get them?"
One Hunter muttered, and the answer came from the opposite side.
¡¾What the...? They aimed right at us.¡¿
"It''s the Eagle Eye trait."
¡¾Tsk. We walked stealthily to surprise them.¡¿
"Even if the fog is thick, it''s not enough to hide your size."
The group revealed themselves from beyond the whitish air current.
Yoojin and Fafnir exchanged conversation in voices as rxed as if they were out for a stroll.
£ª £ª £ª
Thud¡ª Thud¡ª
With one or two gestures, the ice spear shattered and fell.
The lightning, spread wide, lost its power and scattered without even piercing the scales.
¡¾I was already feeling weak, and now they''re giving me acupuncture and stimtion.¡¿
"Should I give you a massage too?"
¡¾Huhuhu. I wouldn''t even feel it with your Master''s grip strength.¡¿
The master and the undead exchanged banter.
They didn''t even seem to care about the Red Spider Hunters.
"These sons of bitches."
The senior Hunter''s face flushed red.
Anger surged within him at the fact that Yoojin was looking down on them.
"Fafnir. I think he''s angry because of you."
¡¾Hmm. Then I should make him unable to get any angrier.¡¿
"Let me help you out a bit."
Yoojin chuckled and used divine spells.
[Using the Giant''s Strength.]
[Using the Punishing Spike.]
[Using Unholy Blessing.]
Fafnir''s eyes burned with a fierce intensity, strengthened by the triple buff.
¡¾Master. Can I try this one alone?¡¿
"As you wish."
¡¾I''ll show you my grown strength.¡¿
Fafnir bent his knees.
He leaned forward slightly, focusing dark aura on his feet, and then...
Thud¡ª!
Just as he had crushed the troll''s head by the river, he released power beneath his feet and leaped.
"Th-the enemy is flying!"
"I can see that without using my eyes."
With a speed like a ray of light.
A distance that would take an adult about 20 seconds to run at full speed was closed in less than a second.
While the Red Spider Hunters were surprised by Fafnir''s explosive charge...
[Unique Trait - Sensory Zone]
Only the senior Hunter reacted.
He stepped forward, blocking the path of the dark shadow''s charge.
''Surprise attacks don''t work within my Sensory Zone.''
[Full Counter]
[Nariman Sword Drawing Technique]
[Magus'' Hwandoo - Built-in Skill: Power Weapon]
Abination of the sword-drawing technique with the skill that inevitably repels any perceived attack.
Sparks shed from the Hwandoo drawn from its scabbard, and a blue sh flickered for an instant.
A blow that maximized the performance of two skills and an item.
''This technique has even withstood the aura of a 4 Star.''
It was a decisive blow, crafted by the senior Hunter who, unable to break through the 4 Star wall, had meticulously calcted the synergy between his abilities and items.
The human hunter''s undead was indeed faster than expected, but that was all.
''I''ll cut him down in one stroke and kill the human hunter as well.''
The giant, shrouded in darkness, shed with a streak of lightning.
Crack¡ª
"Huh?"
With a sensation as if his body was floating, the senior Hunter''s vision flipped upside down.
A momentter...
He saw his broken sword and Fafnir, unscathed, and realized that the shadow of death had fallen upon him.
This isn''t right.
¡¾That attack just now. If you had channeled your mana just 0.1 seconds faster, it would have been twice as strong.¡¿
¡®That undead¡ What is he babbling about?¡¯
The senior Hunter, suspended in mid-air, tried to retort...
But from his vocal cords, shattered upon impact, only the sound of escaping air echoed futilely.
"Sh, Shit...!"
"Get him!"
Witnessing the senior Hunter''s death, the remaining Hunters unleashed their hidden techniques without reservation.
Lightning bolts at maximum output.
A full swing that could split a boulder the size of a house.
A fatal blow that pierced through defenses.
¡¾Somehow, they''re worse than the first guy.¡¿
[Dark Aura]
A ck aura enveloped his entire body.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Infusing each scale with Dark Aura, he effortlessly withstood the Red Spider Hunters'' attacks without even lifting a finger.
¡¾Now it''s my turn.¡¿
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Seventh Stance]
[Ten-Strike Flurry]
Afterimages lingered in the air with each punch he threw.
"Ugh!"
"Gah..."
The Red Spider Hunters couldn''t properly counter even a single blow from Fafnir.
It was aplete and utter domination!
¡²It seems they are weaker than the small humans we faced during the gate raid.¡³
''Weak? They are?''
Yoojin shook his head.
The senior Hunter''s strike, which Fafnir had blocked, was more threatening than Jo Seungchul''s fire magic.
''He must have been a 3 Star for over 10 years.''
The other Hunters were no less formidable than those guarding Red Disguise.
Just a month ago, they would have been opponents he''d need to exert all his strength against.
¡²But to think he''s dominating them so effortlessly...¡³
''He''s gotten that much stronger.''
¡²He fights as easily as a giant crushing a small human''s hand.¡³
After making the analogy...
Yoojin inwardly agreed with Kronos'' words.
''His use of Dark Aura has changed as well.''
He increased his output by emitting Dark Aura from his entire body.
Although it would consume much more mana...
The destructive power of his charge increased ordingly.
''He''s developing a method suitable for a Draconian''s body.''
Apletely different fighting style from Park Haneul, who had reached the [Hell Knight] rank in his previous life.
He wasn''t just adapting to the Draconian body, but was also awakening to a method of using Dark Aura that suited his physique.
It seemed like just yesterday he was being beaten up in the Arhan Guild.
As expected of a genius, he''s different.
"Da-Damn it!"
The Hunter who had used [Eagle Eye] pulled out an emergencymunication scroll from his pocket.
Tearing¡ª
"You''re all screwed. Now that the signal''s been sent, they''ll alle..."
"Why? What''s not working?"
The magic scroll burned up along with ck mes.
Within Necropolis''s sphere of influence,munication magic was jammed.
If it had been a walkie-talkie using radio waves, it would have worked without any problems.
"Ha. Life."
Crack¡ª
Fafnir snapped the neck of the Hunter who had given up even resisting.
"Any survivors?"
¡¾He was thest one.¡¿
"Your skills have improved since you reached 4 Star."
¡¾Now the Dark Aura moves as I want it to. It was a bit difficult when I was 3 Star.¡¿
"That''s probably because you were forcing yourself to use power that didn''t match your level."
¡¾Huhu. I look forward to the day I reach my original level.¡¿
Fafnir, who had achieved astonishing growth in just one month.
He didn''t just rise in rank, but maximized the power of his new body.
In his previous life, he had reached the Hell Knight rank.
With a Draconian body as his foundation, how strong could he be?
''I''m looking forward to it.''
Yoojin licked his lips.
£ª £ª £ª
For several days, Yoojin and hispanions roamed the vicinity of the ck Herb farm.
They weren''t the only team moving along the trail.
¡¾How many was that?¡¿
"Seven."
¡¾They''re all so weak; it''s no fun fighting them.¡¿
Fafnir, having just finished a battle, threw a jab at the air as if in regret.
If the Hunters sprawled out in front of him heard that, they would cry tears of blood.
''Though, being dead, they can''t hear it anymore.''
Even 4 Star Hunters were no match for Fafnir.
An Eldritch Dragon crafted from the corpse of a Draconian.
He was called a 4 Star, but...
He was a monster with near 5 Star specs, and his soul had surpassed the 6 Star wall before death. How could anyone defeat him?
-Kihihihit!
A wailing ghost.
There was another group of Red Spider Hunters nearby.
"Did they deliberately keep their distance?"
¡¾Looks like they were nning a pincer attack.¡¿
"Though I doubt they expected us to finish things this quickly."
¡¾Should we eliminate the remaining Hunters as well?¡¿
"Let''s retreat for today."
Fafnir''s eyes, or rather the blue mes that reced their function, flickered greatly.
¡¾I can go on all day.¡¿
"Be patient. There are still many more to fight."
¡¾Last time, we retreated even though we had strength to spare. Is there a reason?¡¿
"We''re leaving traces."
Fafnir''s footprints.
And seeing the traces of battle, anyone would quickly realize it wasn''t the work of "humans."
"We need to let them think it was the work of human hunters."
¡¾Hmm. And then?¡¿
"They must have expended a considerable amount of their forces. Now they''ll be thinking of an all-out war."
¡¾I heard the Red Spider''s boss is a 6 Star.¡¿
"He won''t be able toe out."
Yoojin was certain.
Elder Jeong''s rank was the same as the boss, Kim Jaewoo: 6 Star.
[TL/N: The old man from the pub.]
If he left his position, there would be no one to stop Madame''s actions.
¡¾Things don''t always go as nned, do they?¡¿
"It''s fine if hees. It''ll make it easier for Madame to move."
Even if Kim Jaewoo came personally, Yoojin was confident he could escape.
Though he might have to give up a ck obelisk or so.
No matter which option the Red Spider chose, it wouldn''t be a loss for Yoojin.
¡¾You''re luring them out.¡¿
"They have no choice but to take the bait."
Yoojin used Raise Undead to raise the corpses of the Hunters.
The purpose of the Gaesung human hunters was human flesh.
To imitate them, he had to dispose of the bodies as well.
"Now, let''s go back. We have things to prepare."
A few minutester.
The Red Spider Hunters discovered the traces of battle etched on the ground and retreated in terror.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 45: Spider Hunt (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 45: Spider Hunt (2)
-43 missing.
Choi Hyungtae, the organization''s second-inmand, red with his eyes wide open.
"These goddamn idiots! What the hell were they doing to get themselves all killed?!"
Gaeseong - Paju area bordering the DMZ. This area, once a demilitarized zone, is now a dense forest,rgely untouched by humans, without even proper roads.
It''s difficult to deploy arge number of people here. As such, the advantages of the human hunters were diminished in this border region.
"They''re just a bunch of idiots who rely on their numbers! Is it that hard to fire a signal re when they spot someone?"
If multiple human hunters were moving, there would definitely be some signs. So far, no such signs had been found.
Only a small number of human hunters were roaming near the ck Herb farm.
Each group had been given signal res andmunication scrolls to use if they encountered any human hunters, but...
"How the hell did every single one of them fail to use those and end up dead?!"
Choi Hyungtae spat out curses like a machine gun.
Even though the Red Spider organization had hundreds of members, not all of them were Hunters.
Hunters made up only half.
And 43 of them were taken out?
''If the boss finds out, I''m dead.''
Thest time they shed with a group of human hunters, they had a little over 20 casualties. And that wasn''t even while guarding the ck Herb farm.
They were simply trying to find traces of human hunters, and they suffered nearly twice the casualties.
''I can still fix this.''
The Red Spider boss was busy crushing the organizations that rebelled in Ground Zero and was unaware of the current situation.
Therefore, he had to catch the human hunters and recover the losses before things got worse.
"So, what were their tracks like?"
"It wasn''t ''them'', hyungnim."
The Hunter who investigated the traces of the battle continued, his gaze lowered.
"It seems to be one person."
"Huh. You''re telling me seven search parties were taken out by just one person without even firing a single signal re?"
It was unbelievable, but he had to ept it.
After all, 43 people had already gone missing in the border region.
"Damn it. ''Missing'' is just a nice way of putting it."
Choi Hyungtae gritted his teeth.
The Hunters disappeared without a trace.
Judging by the footprints leading into the fog, they were likely subdued, dragged away, and then thrown to the monsters.
"Call everyone, except those the boss took."
"Yes?"
Thwack!
"Just do as you''re told! Who said you could ask questions?!"
"So-sorry, hyungnim!"
"Grab your gear, we''re going to hunt down that human hunter bastard."
There was only one human hunter roaming near the ck Herb farm.
That guy somehow managed to disable the scrolls and pick off the Red Spider search parties one by one. They had been caught off guard, assuming that the human hunters wouldn''t move in small numbers.
"If we spread out and surround him, that bastard won''t be able to escape."
The damage was done.
To avoid getting scolded by Kim Jaewoo, he had to show some results.
Otherwise, Choi Hyungtae might be the one who dies at the hands of the enraged boss.
"Hyu-hyungnim. What if he runs away?"
"Use your head, you idiot! Just keep a reasonable distance and lure him in!"
"Got it."
"Honestly, you ipetent fools. You can''t do anything without me."
Choi Hyungtae grumbled as he gathered his equipment.
£ª £ª £ª
"Huu. Now I can finally get some rest."
Yoojin sat down on a prominent rock.
He hadn''t had a proper rest in days, and his eyes were sore as if they were about to pop out.
¡²Are you taking credit for simply giving orders?¡³
''Physicalbor isn''t the only kind of work, you know.''
He had been gathering information through the specters he scattered near the farm and hunting down Red Spider Hunters.
¡²Wasn''t it your warrior who defeated those small humans?¡³
''Positioning is crucial to blockingmunication, you see.''
There wasn''t just one path to the ck Herb farm. Communication scrolls and signal res couldn''t be blocked unless they were within the fog, so the location of the battle was also important.
''And what about the monsters? Do they just sit still?''
Don''t forget.
This was the border region, the monsters'' territory.
He had created Armored Skeletons to guard the ck spire, but...
If Yoojin didn''tmand them, they would charge blindly and suffer casualties, so he couldn''t just stand by and watch.
¡²For someone who said they were busy, you seemed quite preupied with doodling on the ground.¡³
''That''s how it looks to a petty constetion. It''s all part of the job.''
¡²You''ve driven out all the tattooed little humans, is there anything more to do?¡³
''It''s not over yet.''
He had to rest as much as possible while he could.
Thanks to Life Drain, his stamina was always at its maximum, but...
It didn''t make his mental fatigue disappear.
''I need to raise my rank quickly.''
Even though Yoojin was a Transcendent who had achieved the 9th rank, he didn''t have the same mental strength as he did back then.
Mental Image Manifestation.
The higher the rank, the stronger a Hunter''s mental power bes, to the point where they can impose their mental image onto the world.
The ''sensation'' from that time was still alive, but...
The mental image he had built up before his return wasn''t there anymore.
While he was dozing off on the rock...
-Kihihihit!
The specter''s cry awakened his slumbering mind.
Just as he was about to use [Ghost Eye]...
[The specter has been destroyed.]
"Oh?"
Their reaction was quick.
Until now, the Hunters approaching the farm hadn''t noticed the specters right away.
Unless they were emitting killing intent, it wasn''t easy to detect spirits.
"They have good instincts."
¡¾They''re tireless, these Red Spider bastards.¡¿
"This time seems a bit different."
[Using Ghost Eye.]
[Sharing vision with the subordinate specter.]
Yoojin had a total of 10 specters under hismand.
He had even turned 10 Armored Skeletons back into dirt to create them.
''Gathering information is the first step to winning a battle.''
Specters could only inflict minor debuffs; they had zero directbat power.
However...
Unless they revealed their killing intent first, they were difficult to detect, making them the perfect minions for a wide view of the battlefield.
¡¾How many have gathered?¡¿
"Hold on, let me count."
¡¾Huh. Are you saying there are so many that you need to count them?¡¿
"That''s right. And they''re scattered all over."
The scale of the enemy force seen through the specter''s vision was considerable.
At first nce, it seemed like there were only five or six Hunters exposed, but...
Simr-sized groups of Hunters were approaching through the fog, spaced about 100 meters apart.
If he hadn''t been switching between multiple specters to share their vision, he wouldn''t have been able to grasp the overall scale.
"They''ve finally taken the bait."
¡¾Ooh. So, does that mean Kim Jaewoo hase as well?¡¿
"I don''t think so."
He had already confirmed the appearance of Kim Jaewoo, the boss of the Red Spider.
A 6 Star martial arts Hunter was a formidable opponent even for Yoojin.
He had been prepared to abandon the ck spire and retreat if necessary, but fortunately, Kim Jaewoo wasn''t among the group.
¡¾That''s a shame. I was curious how strong a 6 Star Hunter of this era is.¡¿
"You''d be lucky tost even a minute."
¡¾Tsk.¡¿
Perhaps because he had broken through the 6 Star wall in his lifetime, Fafnir was burning with an odd sense ofpetitiveness.
"Instead, the second-inmand, Choi Hyungtae, hase."
¡¾He was a 5 Star, wasn''t he?¡¿
"Besides him, there''s also a magic-type executive."
Two 5 Stars.
It was a tough matchup at his current level, but if he yed his cards right, he could manage.
¡¾Don''t you need to go out and greet them?¡¿
"They''ve gathered in such numbers. They''re here for a decisive battle."
43 people.
He had significantly reduced the Red Spider''s fighting power.
The dead Hunters were at least 3 Star.
Among them were even those who had surpassed the 4 Star wall.
Considering the dangers of the border region, it was a natural selection.
"Even if they couldn''t mobilize all their forces because of Madam, they must have brought most of their avable personnel."
Even though there was no way for them to know the situation inside Ground Zero after entering the border region...
Yoojin read Choi Hyungtae''s mind like the back of his hand.
Now that the guests had arrived...
''Hey, you petty constetion.''
¡²How arrogant. Why are you calling me?¡³
''About the doodles. I''m going to tell you why I made them.''
Yoojin used [Ghost Eye] and touched the ground.
''Around there... this circuit.''
Crackle¡ª!
Sparks flew from the point of contact, and a faint electrical current ran across the ground.
¡²Such weak magic. Is this supposed to tickle me?¡³
''My vision. You''re sharing it, right?''
¡²Indeed.¡³
''Just watch.''
The spark that had run for hundreds of meters reached the vicinity of the Hunter group that had entered the fog, and...
"Huh? What was that sh just now...?"
[Using Corpse Explosion.]
BOOOOM!!!
The corpse buried in the ground exploded beneath the feet of the Hunter group.
Bones and flesh erupted through the mound of dirt.
Each piece of flesh imbued with mana was as dangerous as a sharp weapon.
The Hunter standing at the epicenter of the explosion died instantly.
The rest were also injured, some severely.
"Sh-shit!"
"What the hell? Why is the ground exploding?!"
Yoojin, sharing vision with the specter, clicked his tongue.
''I should have ignited it a little sooner.''
¡²Contractor.¡³
''What? I''m busy, so get to the point.''
¡²What in the world have you done? You couldn''t have caused such an explosion with the amount of mana you used just now!¡³
''It''s Corpse Explosion.''
While hunting the Red Spider Hunters, Yoojin had also been burying the corpses in the ground.
He imbued them with mana so that he could activate Corpse Explosion at any time.
¡²There should be a range limit to the spell... Ah!¡³
''So even a ipetent constetion finally gets it?''
¡²I see. It was an ignition circuit. You engraved it on the ground beforehand and used it as an activation trigger.¡³
''You have to see it to understand.''
Ignition circuits were difficult to detect and were only triggered by specific mana wavelengths.
He connected the corpses buried throughout the Necropolis to the ignition circuit.
He hadid the lines all the way to the rock where he was sitting.
¡¾An explosion?¡¿
"Ah, you can''t see it."
¡¾It must be rted to what you were working on.¡¿
See?
Fafnir figured it out with just a few words, even without seeing it directly.
¡²You impudent thing! After all I''ve given you, you dare insult me like that!¡³
''Ah, that''s why I said you should stay quiet if you don''t know.''
Yoojin chided Kronos while asionally triggering the ignition circuit.
BOOOOM¡ª! Bang¡ª!
The sound of explosions echoed periodically.
The stench of rotting corpses mixed with the smell of burning flesh, enveloping the forest.
''If I had opened the poison field, I could have created a synergy effect.''
The feeling of regret was fleeting.
There was no point in dwelling on what he didn''t have right now.
Well, at this rate, he would soon be able to inherit knowledge from a new field anyway.
''I''ve finished off about two-thirds of them.''
The number of those who died instantly or were about to die.
If you added those who couldn''t fight anymore because their arms or legs were blown off, you could say they were annihted.
In a normal fight, that is.
"Fafnir."
¡¾I''m ready.¡¿
The two people who remained unharmed even by the explosions at close range.
To truly im victory, he needed to defeat the 5 Star Hunters, the executives of the Red Spider.
"This time, your opponent is a Hunter at the peak of 5 Star rank. Don''t underestimate them."
¡¾Huhu. Alright.¡¿
Even though Fafnir possessed 5 Star level specs that Yoojin had given him, objectively speaking, the difference in their power was so great that a fight shouldn''t even be possible.
"Take this."
nk!
¡¾Isn''t that your armor, Master? Why are you giving it to me?¡¿
"It''s better for someone who suits it more to use it."
Dragon Scale Armor.
It was an Epic grade artifact obtained from the long-unconquered Gate, [Forgotten Temple].
''I was able to cover for my unsuitability for closebat thanks to the Dragon Scale Armor.''
Since then, there had been no need to wield a spear on the front lines, but he had always worn it in case of an emergency.
¡¾Considering unforeseen circumstances, wouldn''t it be better for Master to wear it?¡¿
"If you die, I''m finished too."
Choi Hyungtae was a martial arts Hunter at the peak of 5 Star rank.
If he were to attack with all his might, Yoojin would be helpless.
Even if he tried to run away now, how could he possibly escape a martial artist?
"Even if you can''t win, you need to at least hold him back."
The greatest force Yoojin could utilize.
The greater Fafnir''sbat power, the higher the chances of victory.
ck!
[Eldritch Dragon (Fafnir) has equipped an armament with a Dragon Tribe wavelength.]
[Additionaltent abilities of the Dragon Tribe are awakened. All stats increase by 20%.]
"...Huh?"
¡¾Power overflows!¡¿
Wait a minute.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Did the Dragon Scale Armor have this kind of function?
"Damn."
¡¾What''s wrong, Master?¡¿
"If I had known this, I would have given it to you sooner."
Thanks to the Draconian''s potential and the [Martial Artist] trait, Fafnir had stats higher than his Transcendence Level.
And now an additional 20% to all stats?
They might actually have a chance.
"Take care of Choi Hyungtae. I''ll handle the rest of the Hunters."
¡¾Alright, let''s do this.¡¿
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 46: Spider Hunt (3)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 46: Spider Hunt (3)
¡°You son of a bitch! Come out here this instant!!!¡±
A booming voice shook the forest.
Sweat-drenched and with disheveled hair, a fierce glint shone in his eyes.
With each step Choi Hyungtae took, his footprints dug deep into the ground.
BOOM¡ª!
His resentful shout was met with an explosion.
The burst remains of a corpse, detonating right in front of him, engulfed Choi Hyungtae¡¯s entire body.
[Iron Body]
Blood, flesh, and bone collided with him, yet they failed to leave even a scratch on Choi Hyungtae¡¯s body.
His physique had reached the pinnacle of 5 Star.
Even though the corpse explosion was powerful magic, the difference in their ¡°Star¡± ranking was too vast for it to inflict any real damage.
¡°Damn it!¡±
A dark expression filled Choi Hyungtae¡¯s face.
While he was fine after being directly hit by the corpse explosion, his subordinates were not.
¡°B, Boss! Save m¡ Keok.¡±
¡°Krrrkk.¡±
The fog was turning crimson.
Blood droplets that had sttered onto the trees fell¡ªdrip¡ªdrip¡ªto the ground.
None of the hunters Choi Hyungtae had led were unscathed.
Five were dead.
Three were critically injured.
¡°Gah, a healing spell, please.¡±
¡°The cleric¡¯s dead. Use this.¡±
He threw a potion to a hunter who was clutching his spilling intestines.
The hunter, barely managing to catch the potion, fumbled to open it with trembling hands.
More of the contents spilled onto the ground than reached his wound.
¡®I have no idea how many are dead.¡¯
The corpse explosions had been simultaneous.
Those below the 3 Star were either instantly killed or suffered injuries that rendered them incapable of fighting.
Even the 4 Star hunters were not safe.
The fog obscured his vision, making it impossible to know the exact number of casualties.
¡°Kuaaaak!¡±
¡°Hk, hweeehk.¡±
Cries of pain echoed from all directions.
It was clear that the Red Spider hunters were on the verge of annihtion, unable to even put up a proper fight.
Choi Hyungtae¡¯s lips trembled.
¡°Ha. This is a real mess.¡±
This was beyond the point of recovery.
If Kim Jaewoo were to learn the full extent of this disaster, he might kill him as an example.
The only option left was to run.
Choi Hyungtae took a deep breath.
¡°Even if I run, I¡¯m going to see the face of the bastard who screwed me over.¡±
He had learned one thing from the earlier explosions.
Magic circuits wereid across the ground.
He didn''t know what kind of circuits they were, but they were being controlled from a distance to cause the explosions.
He¡¯d figured out the opponent''s trick, but only after suffering critical damage.
¡°Even so, I know where you are!¡±
The direction the magic circuits were pointing.
At their end was that damned human hunter.
By now, it wasn¡¯t even important if the guy really was part of Gaesung¡¯s gang.
He had to tear the instigator of this mess to pieces to vent his anger and then leave Ground Zero.
[Lightning Speed]
Choi Hyungtae kicked off the ground with all his might, pursuing the magic circuits.
¡°I¡¯ll tear off your arms and legs you fuck.¡±
¡¾That would be difficult. He¡¯s my master.¡¿
A jet-ck shadow suddenly appeared.
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Chapter 1]
[Falling Leaf Strike]
As a hand de enveloped in dark aura descended diagonally, Choi Hyungtae couldn''t ignore its force and blocked it with his aura-covered forearm.
Dark energy and blue light shed violently.
¡°Hwaaaap!¡±
As Choi Hyungtae tightened his grip on his forearm, Fafnir, instead of resisting, yielded to the flow and stepped back slightly.
¡®My arm feels numb.¡¯
The look of rage that had distorted his eyes returned to normal.
Choi Hyungtae''s skin, which hadn''t received a single scratch from the corpse explosions, now bore a red line the length of his wrist on his forearm after exchanging blows with Fafnir.
¡°So, it was you who messed up my men. Undead.¡±
¡¾Well, mostly, right?¡¿
¡°A naturally urring undead couldn''t be this strong. Who are you?¡±
¡¾I am Cheon Yoojin¡¯s great warrior. Fafnir.¡¿
Cheon Yoojin?
It was a name he¡¯d never heard before.
¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re going to die anyway.¡±
¡¾I never said I was going to let you leave.¡¿
¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll kill you twice first, and then send your so-called master to join you!¡±
Puh-ung¡ª!
Choi Hyungtae and Fafnir''s hands locked in the air.
£ª £ª £ª
¡°Has it begun?¡±
Yoojin rose from his seat.
¡²Are you not going to use any more of those detonation circuits?¡³
¡®I''ve used them as much as I needed to.¡¯
Approximately 70% of the buried corpses.
The rest were unusable because the Red Spider survivors had dug further inward.
¡²You havebored in vain.¡³
¡®You don¡¯t understand. 70% is a huge hit rate.¡¯
He had predicted that the Red Spider hunters would advance in a dispersed formation rather than a concentrated one.
He had infused the corpses with spirit energy and buried them extensively.
Not only that, even though he shared vision with the wraiths, he couldn¡¯t just detonate the corpses as soon as the detonation circuit was activated. He had to somewhat predict the enemy¡¯s path.
A thoroughly calcted n.
If it were an ordinary necromancer, not Yoojin, they wouldn''t have been able to use even 50% of the buried corpses.
¡®Well, I doubt anyone but me would prepare something like this.¡¯
¡²To have prepared all of this in advance.¡³
¡®To win a battle, you have to read the enemy''s moves.¡¯
His sessful regression was also thanks to winning a fierce battle of wits.
He had created a situation where Dimitri was forced to use his full power to meet the activation conditions of the [Kronos¡¯s Pocket Watch].n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
¡®How should I deal with the remaining 5 Star?¡¯
¡²He remains unscathed even after enduring your vaunted corpse explosion spell, does he not?¡³
¡®Inflicting visible wounds isn''t the only way to deal damage.¡¯
He was observing a Red Spider executive with [Ghost Eye].
The executive, with his entire body covered in a red robe, was walking while leaning on a staff.
¡®Simply draining his mana is enough.¡¯
A blue barrier enveloped the executive¡¯s entire body.
Just before detonating a nearby corpse, he sensed the detonation circuit¡¯s reaction and deployed defensive magic.
It would have been better if he hadn¡¯t been able to react to the corpse explosion.
But Yoojin didn''t rely on luck to determine the course of the battle.
¡®I¡¯ll show you how a necromancer fights.¡¯
¡²You seem quite confident. Facing an enemy whose ¡°Star¡± rank is three levels higher than yours.¡³
Why a necromancer is a terrifying existence on the battlefield.
The Red Spider executive would learn it firsthand.
Too bad he won''t have a chance to use that learned knowledge.
¡°Send out the soldiers.¡±
tter¡ªtter¡ª
The harsh sound of colliding bones began to echo from all around the fog.
¡®How long can they hold out in a war of attrition?¡¯
Kheuheuheu.
Yoojin smirked.
£ª £ª £ª
A woman with disheveled hair red around, her eyes wide.
¡°Hey. Is everyone dead?¡±
Only groans and moans responded.
A long sigh escaped the woman¡¯s lips.
¡°Damn it. I wouldn¡¯t havee if I wasn¡¯t in debt.¡±
Lee Seungyeon.
The only woman among the Red Spider executives, and a magic-type hunter who had reached the peak of the 5 Star.
[Mana Barrier]
A defensive magic that releases the user''s mana in its raw form.
It consumes more than five times the mana of a defensive magic of the same ¡°Star¡± rank, [Magic Shield], but it¡¯s the perfect spell for dire situations.
¡®I almost died a meaningless death in a strangend.¡¯
The faint mana wave that spread when the detonation circuits were triggered.
As soon as Lee Seungyeon, a highly skilled mage, sensed the ominous sign, she immediately used a readily avable defensive magic.
¡®And then the explosions happened.¡¯
Lee Seungyeon, having protected herself with the defensive magic, was not harmed in the slightest.
However.
The hunters who were moving with her were heavily injured and removed from the fighting force.
Despite being a magic-type hunter, she was forced to take the front lines.
¡®It''s impossible to find the others now.¡¯
The thick fog.
It drastically reduced visibility and even had amunication jamming effect.
The hunters had been divided into several groups with appropriate spacing, but the continuous explosions had broken their formation.
¡®What do I do now?¡¯
She didn''t want to move forward without any front-line fighters.
She also had no desire to gather the subordinates scattered throughout the fog.
Just as she was anxiously biting her nails¡
-Keugel. Keugel-keugel.
Skeletons armed with jet-ck armor appeared before Lee Seungyeon, parting the fog.
¡°Ha. I''ve been underestimated.¡±
Lee Seungyeon''s brows furrowed.
The person who had been biting her nails just a moment ago was nowhere to be seen.
Her disheveled hair swayed from the mana waves that were rearranging themselves.
¡°me Wave.¡±
With a single swing of her staff, a wave of fire surged forth and engulfed the armored skeletons.
¡°I don''t know who you are, but did you think I was a pushover? Huh?!¡±
Lee Seungyeon was also a hunter who had toughened up inwless zones.
She was simply acting hysterically due to excessive stress and the chaotic situation; herbat abilities were by no means low.
She had experienced countless real battles.
And she was a skilled fighter who overwhelmed magic-type hunters of the same ¡°Star¡± rank.
[Fire Whip]
¡°Kyaahaha! Die! Just die!¡±
Her weakness was her fragile mentality and strong emotional swings, but she possessed abilities befitting a Red Spider executive.
[Fire Wall]
[Wind Bomb]
A wall of fire erupted in front of the woman.
As she detonated highlypressed wind directly in front of it, the mes scattered in all directions.
-Keugel!
-Kuh, Keugel.
Fire is the natural enemy of undead.
Dozens of armored skeletons swarmed her, but they couldn¡¯t even graze her.
Whirr-whirr-whirr¡ª!
The widely spread fire magic spread to the undergrowth.
The damp fog prevented the fire from spreading easily, but the smoke rising from various ces created further confusion.
It even obscured the vision of Lee Seungyeon, who had started the fire.
And so.
¡°Answer my call.¡±
She didn''t notice Yoojin''s presence, who had approached nearby.
[Using Raise Undead.]
[Created gue Zombies.]
The battlefield was littered with corpses.
The bodies of the Red Spider hunters who had fallen victim to the corpse explosions.
Even the corpses of the monsters that had gathered during the expansion of the Necropolis.
Only some of the corpses buried in the ground had been infused with spirit energy and used as detonators for the explosions.
¡°Is it the ground again this time?¡±
Lee Seungyeon¡¯s eyes zed.
As she moved her lips, radiance once again leaked from her lenses.
¡°Fireball.¡±
The moment the scorching fireball touched the gue zombies.
Kwaaang¡ª!
With the explosion, the poison umted in the gue zombies'' bodies sprayed in all directions.
¡°Ouch!¡±
Lee Seungyeon, who had just cast the spell, was exposed to the poison without even having time to deploy a defensive magic.
It was just a few drops that made contact.
It wouldn''t have been a problem if the point of contact wasn''t her face.
Chiiik¡ª
¡°Ack! Aaaack!¡±
Her cheek, melting from the poison, sagged downwards.
In her haste, Lee Seungyeon touched the area where the poison had sshed with her bare hand, and even her fingers were corroded.
[Mana Barrier]
¡°Po, potion. Potion!¡±
She hastily erected a barrier and applied an expensive, high-grade potion.
But because it wasn''t a normal wound, the areas that had melted from contact with the poison remained as they were, settling like wrinkles.
[Using Raise Undead.]
Once again, gue zombies rose from the ground.
¡°I, I won¡¯t let you get away with this!!!!¡±
[Wind sh]
This time, she chose the wind attribute, which was inferior in terms of bothpatibility and destructive power.
She cut down the gue zombies before they could get close, preventing the poison from sshing.
¡²She¡¯s responding immediately. This won¡¯t be an easy fight.¡³
¡®It¡¯s obvious you¡¯reughing, you know?¡¯
¡²Kuhahahat. Adversity is the foundation for your growth.¡³
¡®It¡¯s all ording to n.¡¯
¡²What?¡³
¡®I told you from the start. I¡¯d show you the way a necromancer fights.¡¯
It was fortunate that Lee Seungyeon was the one who came from the Red Spider executives.
He wouldn''t have had a way to deal with a martial artist opponent.
But against magicalbat, Yoojin had limitless options.
¡²You say that even as your minions fall powerlessly without even getting close?¡³
¡®Even if the undead are destroyed, I can just raise them again.¡¯
Why is a necromancer called the ruler of the battlefield?
Because the corpses generated in battle = power.
¡®Whether I use corpse explosions or raise them as the undead.¡¯
With a medium, the consumption of mana (spirit energy) is generally lower than that of ordinary magic-type hunters.
When he was a novice, he struggled to find corpses during hunts.
But once a stage is set for him to demonstrate his true abilities, a necromancer is stronger than any other ss.
¡°Eeee, eughhh!!¡±
Look at her mindlessly spamming magic, having lost herposure.
Even a 5 Star hunter doesn¡¯t have infinite mana.
¡®She deployed the highly taxing Mana Barrier twice already.¡¯
Fire magic, which is effective against undead, is practically sealed due to the gue zombies.
Unless she could defeat Yoojin, who was hidden among the thick ck smoke, she would have to continuously face the endlessly rising undead.
¡²Your spirit energy can¡¯t be infinite either. Do you have a countermeasure?¡³
¡®I¡¯ve prepared everything.¡¯
[Using Life Drain.]
He had confirmed during the Seongcheon Company request that the absorbed life force could be converted into mana (holy power).
¡®Mana recovery items are quite expensive, you know. I have to use these kinds of tricks.¡¯
Yoojin, who could replenish spirit energy with potions.
On the other hand, Lee Seungyeon had no way to recover her depleted mana.
¡®Now then. How long can youst?¡¯
Yoojin, who was hidden from Lee Seungyeon¡¯s sight, grinned.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 47: Spider Hunt (4)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 47: Spider Hunt (4)
Blue aura and a murderous gaze meet in the void.
Choi Hyungtae touched his forearm as he thought.
¡®Our raw strength was about even.¡¯
He had forced his way through during the sh, but he knew that if Fafnir had resisted, he wouldn¡¯t have been pushed back so easily.
Choi Hyungtae had an advantage in other areas besides raw strength.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡®Aura output.¡¯
Dark energy, in terms of pure destructive power, was a step behind aura.
[TL/N: Changed (Dark Aura ¡ú Dark Energy)]
This was due to the characteristics of mana and spirit power.
While it caused a debuff that drained the target''s stamina,
Aura, which was pure mana infused with willpower, was advantageous in a sh of strength.
¡¾Hmm.¡¿
Fafnir was thinking the same thing as Choi Hyungtae.
If they shed with equal force, he would be at a disadvantage.
Fafnir¡¯s level was even one stage lower than his opponent¡¯s.
¡¾I can¡¯t win against this opponent with skill alone.¡¿
Thanks to his experiences in life, he could draw out power beyond his level.
But if he fought Choi Hyungtae, who was at the very peak of the 5 Star, head-on, the result was obvious.
¡¾I¡¯ll have to actively use my long reach.¡¿
A giant of 3 meters.
Fafnir, inhabiting a draconian corpse, had much longer arms than a human.
If he held a weapon like a sword or spear, the advantage of his long reach wouldn''t have been as noticeable.
But because Choi Hyungtae was also a martial artist specializing in hand-to-handbat, Fafnir had the advantage.
¡®Then, let¡¯s begin.¡¯
¡¾Shall we make a move?¡¿
The probing battlested only 2 seconds.
The exnation was long, but only a fleeting moment passed before the two closed the distance.
[Kenex Combat Style]
[Chapter 4]
[Straight Punch]
A direct attack using his superior arm length.
His tightly clenched fist fell towards Choi Hyungtae''s head.
¡°Normally, you¡¯d either retreat or counter, but¡¡±
A chilling smile formed on Choi Hyungtae''s lips.
The moment he extended his fist, he was certain.
Even if their strength was simr, his speed was superior.
He narrowed the distance by extending his right foot forward.
[Heavy Fist]
He quickly unleashed his fist, imbued with power enhanced by mana.
¡¾You think you cannd a preemptive strike from a dyed attack?¡¿
Meaning that despite attackingter, he would hit first.
He had urately targeted the weakness of the draconian corpse, which had low agility.
While surprised by Choi Hyungtae''s attack, he withdrew the straight punch and used his left arm to defend his chest.
¡¾Kuk.¡¿
He had defended without fully drawing out his dark energy, causing a crack in his forearm.
While groaning, Fafnir advanced his left foot.
While retracting his right arm, he aimed for Choi Hyungtae¡¯s back.
[Iron Body]
An aura defense technique that perfectly blocked the corpse explosions.
Fafnir also deployed dark energy at his fingertips. It pierced through the blue aura, but due to high energy consumption, it only managed to leave scratches on his armor.
¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡±
Choi Hyungtae had him within arm¡¯s reach.
There was barely any space to extend his hands, but Choi Hyungtae didn¡¯t try to force his way out.
He skillfully converted the aura he had been focusing on defense into his hands.
[Vulcan Punch]
Mechanically moving both arms, he punched Fafnir¡¯s chest.
Tukwak¡ª! Tukwak¡ª!
¡°I won¡¯t give you any distance.¡±
If his attack range was insufficient, he simply stuck close.
It was a distance where he couldn''t properly exert his strength, but hepensated for theck of destructive power with aura.
He threw over 10 punches in 1 second and then pushed Fafnir with his shoulder, creating distance once again.
¡°With this much, he should be¡ª?¡±
¡¾Those are fierce fists. You even know how to use my attacks against me.¡¿
Parts of Fafnir¡¯s torso were caved in, but the blue aura flickering around his eyes became even clearer.
¡°That armor. It¡¯s not ordinary.¡±
¡¾It¡¯s armor bestowed by my master. It¡¯s too good for me.¡¿
When Choi Hyungtaeunched his barrage, Fafnir deployed dark energy, and the Dragonscale Armor moved ording to Fafnir''s will.
It concentrated defense on the areas he was striking.
By maximizing damage absorption, it reduced the strain on Fafnir.
Hudok, hudodok¡ª
Parts of the armor, shattered by the impact, fell away.
It was an epic-grade artifact, but because it was a growth-type item, its actual performance was slightly below unique-grade.
Even so.
Thanks to Fafnir¡¯s will and the added dark energy, it endured the close-range aura strikes without its durability reaching rock bottom.
¡°You¡¯re tough, aren¡¯t you?¡±
¡¾This body is quite sturdy.¡¿
¡°I¡¯m notplimenting you, you bastard!¡±
¡¾Hmm? If a physical body is strong, one can enjoy battle for longer, can¡¯t one?¡¿
The hunter and undead shed again.
Close-quartersbat ensued without pause.
Choi Hyungtae¡¯s aura, piercing through the Dragonscale Armor¡¯s weakening defense, even crushed some of the scales.
¡°You can¡¯t move anymore, right?¡±
¡¾No. I¡¯m perfectly fine.¡¿
¡°If you were human, you¡¯d be dead already.¡±
¡¾I¡¯m undead. Since I¡¯m already dead and revived, I should have at least one advantage.¡¿
Fafnir was now in tatters.
On the other hand, Choi Hyungtae suffered no damage except for some scratches on his armor.
He was clearly the one pushing the offensive.
Why was he acting so rxed?
¡®I¡¯ll crush that head of his.¡¯
Themon weakness of undead was the head.
Even this bizarre undead resembling a draconian wouldn¡¯t be exempt from that rule.
Feeling an inexplicable sense of impatience, Choi Hyungtae leaped forward and threw a straight punch.
¡¾I know this feeling.¡¿
At that moment.
Heprecisely read Choi Hyungtae''s movements.
Hoo-woong¡ª
His first missed attack.
It was only a difference of an inch, but the blue energy surrounding his fist grazed Fafnir''s abdomen.
¡°Lucky you. You dodged well for such a slow body.¡±
¡¾Do you really think it was luck?¡¿
¡°Undead. Can you still say that after looking at your own body?¡±
Choi Hyungtae let out a snicker.
The match was already decided.
Coincidentally, they were both martial artists who used their fists.
He hadn¡¯t given Fafnir any room to utilize his advantages and had been relentlessly attacking.
He had unterally struck him to the point of almost knocking him down.
¡¾Then why don¡¯t you see if it really was luck?¡¿
¡°I was going to do that anyway.¡±
Choi Hyungtae¡¯s eyes gleamed fiercely as he slowly approached.
He had already grasped their distance.
Although Fafnir had the right of first attack due to his long arms, even reacting after seeing it wouldn¡¯t be toote.
However.
Even after he moved into striking distance, Fafnir didn¡¯t make a preemptive attack.
¡®Is he nning to receive my attack?¡¯
What a fool.
If he maximized his aura output, Fafnir¡¯s dark energy would be no match.
Didn¡¯t he know who would have the advantage in a head-on sh?
¡°Just return to being a corpse.¡±
[Lightning Speed]
[Elemental Fist]
[Aura Release]
Concentrating aura on his feet, he lunged forward in an instant.
Imbuing earth elemental power to strengthen his sturdiness.
He put his fully manifested aura into his fist and forcefully unleashed it.
¡¾I told you I had a grasp of it, didn''t I?¡¿
Fafnir¡¯s figure slipped backward.
It was so fast that even if he reacted the moment he saw the attack, he absolutely wouldn¡¯t have been able to dodge it.
Choi Hyungtae¡¯s strike, delivered with conviction.
Hoo-woong¡ª!
Once again, his fist tore through empty air.
Choi Hyungtae also staggered greatly due to the force he had put into the attack.
¡°H-how!¡±
¡¾I have rather good eyes.¡¿
Fafnir casually touched the blue aura with his fingers.
[Eye of the Martial God]
A unique trait that allowed him to quickly learn any martial art and even read the movements of others.
Choi Hyungtae¡¯s fighting style was as an infighter, the same direction Fafnir was aiming for.
¡¾Your style. There¡¯s a lot to learn.¡¿
As they say, practical experience is the best teacher.
Even while being beaten, Fafnir observed Choi Hyungtae¡¯s muscles and movements.
¡¾Thanks to you, I¡¯ve learned an efficient way to engage in closebat.¡¿
¡°You read my movements?!¡±
¡¾If you doubt it, why don¡¯t you see for yourself?¡¿
Fafnir beckoned with his hand.
¡¾Come on.¡¿
£ª £ª £ª
Waves of blue aura and dark energy shed repeatedly.
Choi Hyungtae¡¯s pupils trembled more intensely than when the Red Spider hunters were massacred.
¡®This doesn¡¯t make sense?¡¯
The tactic of striking preemptively after a feigned retreat
He had used his superior speed to bait enemy attacks, then close in and inflict damage.
The opponent¡¯s martial prowess was around early to mid 5 Star.
Their raw power was nearly equal, but Choi Hyungtae was superior in all other stats.
¡®But why are my actions being read!!¡¯
Even when attacking with superior speed.
Fafnir''s counterattacks awaited him at the end.
As if he were possessed by a ghost.
¡¾Hehehe. This fight. It¡¯s quite enjoyable. There¡¯s a lot to learn.¡¿
Fafnir poured out his thought with a chuckle.
His past self.
In other words, back when he was Park Haneul, he used an outfighting style, maintaining distance and forcing the opponent to take damage.
¡¾I first recognized my mistake at the Arhan Guild.¡¿
During a duel with a quicksword user.
He hadn''t considered the advantages of his physical body and acted ording to his past memories, resulting in his entire body beingcerated.
After that, he realized that an infighting style suited his new body.
¡¾I was in the midst of developing my ownbat style, but¡¡¿
He encountered Choi Hyungtae, a perfect teaching tool.
A hunter who had reached the peak of the 5 Star.
By (good?) fortune, he was a martial arts expert specializing in the infighting style that Fafnir was pursuing.
He possessed outstanding skills, enough to remain the number two of the Red Spider.
¡¾Thanks to him, I was able to make up for my shorings.¡¿
The essentials of infighting that Choi Hyungtae had built upon countless experiences.
Applying what he read with the Eye of the Martial God in actualbat proved highly effective.
¡¾It will take time topletely make it my own. But wouldn''t this much be enough for now?¡¿
The bnce of the battle had returned to equilibrium.
Scars began to appear one by one on Choi Hyungtae''s body, whose every action was being read.
The cumtive damage was still greater for Fafnir.
But Choi Hyungtae, having lost the initiative, was deeply shaken psychologically.
¡°Shit! This doesn''t make any sense!!!¡±
He reads my movements after being hit a few times?
And incorporates it into his own style?
How could a half-dead corpse do something like that!
¡°Shut that shit!¡±
Driven by instinctive fear, Choi Hyungtae screamed/roared, simultaneously stomping hard.
[Aura Burst]
The aura erupting from his footprint covered a radius of several meters.
Sensing the strong mana wave, Fafnir retreated instead of moving deeper in.
It only resulted in some broken scales.
A brief lull.
¡¾Hmm. It¡¯s not easy.¡¿
Fafnir murmured quietly.
Even if he had learned Choi Hyungtae¡¯sbat style with the Eye of the Martial God,
The difference in their base stats remained.
Had he not received [Punishing Spike] and [Unholy Blessing], he would have been easily pushed back.
¡¾If I hadn¡¯t been wearing the Dragonscale Armor, I wouldn¡¯t havested until now.¡¿
All stats increased by 20%.
Moreover, as the umted impact increased, the buff effect of the [Punishing Spike] also increased, giving him extra stamina.
¡¾In any case, my goal is to keep him contained.¡¿
He was Yoojin''s sword.
Having received orders, he simply had to carry them out.
Grrtt¡ª
Meanwhile, Choi Hyungtae gritted his teeth and calmed his agitated mind.
¡®Damn it. I¡¯ve been held up for too long.¡¯
Having inflicted enormous losses on the Red Spider, he needed to escape Ground Zero.
He had intended to avenge them by taking down the instigator of this incident.
But he had been caught by Fafnir.
¡®If I hold back any further, it will be dangerous.¡¯
He could either give up on revenge.
Or exert all his strength and defeat Fafnir.
¡®Give up aftering this far?¡¯
Choi Hyungtae fully unleashed the rage that seemed to burn within him.
[¡®Guardian of Jaturi¡¯s¡¯ blessing - Avenger (Lv1)]
Drip¡ª drip¡ª
Streams of blood that poured from his eyes scattered across his body, drawing strange patterns.
¡²Guardian of Jaturi¡³
It was a ludicrous constetion name, but its owner was Vidar, known as the god of vengeance.
Driven by his surging rage, a blessing was activated that increased his strength and agility and even made him forget pain.
¡¾Hmm. This might be difficult.¡¿
Fafnir muttered with a troubled tone.
He had gained the upper hand in the psychological battle, but he was barely holding on.
Now he had to face an enemy who had gone berserk and be even stronger thanks to the constetion''s blessing.
¡°Kuaaaaaah!!!!!¡±
A tearing cry, as if wringing out his lungs.
The moment he used Vidar''s blessing, Choi Hyungtae, consumed by vengeance, let out a fierce roar and kicked off the ground.
¡¾Fast¡¡¿
Kwaang¡ª!
Fafnir, sent flying over ten meters, braced his feet.
The order was to restrain Choi Hyungtae.
He couldn''t fall yet.
He managed to hold his ground, carving a long furrow in the ground, but he was still pushed back several meters.
¡°Kua! Kuaaa!¡±
Choi Hyungtae closed the distance in an instant.
Saliva dripped from his wide-open mouth, and his reddened pupils were unfocused.
His appearance was half-detached from the human realm, intoxicated by the power granted by the constetion.
¡¾Even the Eye of the Martial God can¡¯t see this.¡¿
He had exhausted all of his remaining mana to withstand the previous attack.
His legs were dangling, making it hard even to stand.
¡¾I did my best, but I don''t know if my master will be satisfied.¡¿
¡°You did well. You held on better than expected.¡±
A familiar voice answered Fafnir¡¯s mutter.
At the same time.
[Using Unholy Blessing.]
[Using Ectosm.]
[Using Contaminated Skin.]
[¡¡.]
Bubbles rose on his skin.
As heteromorphic divine power permeated him, it weakened Vidar¡¯s blessing.
Divine spells and curses.
Ipatible powers harmonized, reducing Choi Hyungtae¡¯s stats.
Ttaak¡ª!
[Punishing Spike is released.]
The Punishing Spike stacks, filled to the limit, erupted with violent force.
Choi Hyungtae was sent tumbling across the floor from the massive impact.
¡°Kuh, kuaaaa.¡±
A high-pitched scream erupted from his mouth, which had seemed to have forgotten fear.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 48: Spider Hunt (5)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 48: Spider Hunt (5)
While Fafnir held Choi Hyungtae, Yoojin steadily chipped away at Lee Seungyeon''s mana, a potion clutched between his teeth.
"Damn it!"
A sharp cry pierced through the acrid smoke. Leaning heavily on her staff, Lee Seungyeon recovered her mana.
-Groan.
-Groan.
Corpses surrounded them. The gue zombies, with their nk white eyes, relentlessly advanced.
[Wind de]
sh!
The denselypressed des of wind tore through the undead.
Aside from a few stray bloodstains from the fiery explosion, Lee Seungyeon remained untouched.
"Gasp... pant..."
She breathed raggedly. Although she hadn''t suffered any direct hits, Yoojin was steadily pushing her to the brink.
''How is this possible?! He''s either summoning these unheard-of undead or creating them himself.''
Human Hunters continuously sending monsters? The smoke and fog had severely limited visibility, but she wasn''t foolish enough to miss that.
Corpses were hidden throughout the undergrowth, including the bodies of Red Spider Hunters.
''The one that tried to ram me earlier... it died in the explosion.''
Lee Seungyeon was certain that the unknown enemy lurking in the fog was a necromancer. She recalled reading about simr phenomena in old magic books. The problem was, she''d realized it far toote.
''If I had known, I would have used my magic more carefully!''
She had deployed the inefficient Mana Barrier twice.
In the initial engagement, she had unleashed excessive firepower to quickly subdue what she thought was a Human Hunter.
And that wasn''t all. Since the gue zombies appeared, she''d been forced to rely on wind magic.
''He prepared those exploding zombies on purpose!''
Lee Seungyeon bit back a scream. Most wind magic specialized in single-target attacks. She couldn''t waste it on wiping out groups of 1 Star zombies.
''Damn it. My remaining mana...''
Even a 5 Star Mage didn''t have an unlimited supply of mana.
Every time she recovered her mana, it drained both her mental strength and mana. She was so exhausted that if she didn''t lean on her staff, her legs would give out.
The moment she stumbled, her strength failing her.
[Corpse Explosion activated.]
The infernal roar echoed in her ears. Lee Seungyeon immediately deployed a defensive spell, blocking the scattering flesh and bone.
''Something''s different.''
Her senses were sharply honed. In this extreme situation, her heightened concentration allowed her to discern the difference from the previous explosions.
''The mana wave right before the explosion... it''s gone.''
This wasn''t a remote detonation like the others.
The pinnacle of a 5 Star Hunter.
Having survived countless near-death experiences, Lee Seungyeon realized her opponent was close.
"I know you''re there, you piece of shit! Come out now!"
Her shout echoed emptily. There was no answer.
"You don''t want toe out, huh. You coward."
Thwack!
Lee Seungyeon mmed her staff on the ground and muttered under her breath.
A sudden gust of wind whipped her robe. The movement of a vast amount of mana was affecting the very air around her.
A magic circle formed above the crystal on her staff.
"Keep hiding. I''ll st you to oblivion."
Approaching gue zombies reached for her, but were blocked by a translucent barrier.
A temporary magical defense deployed when usingrge-scale magic. Part of the mana she was gathering protected her.
The fierce wind ceased.
Lee Seungyeon finally uttered the incantation.
"Explosion!"
[TL/N: Megumin ahh spell]
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The explosion erupted simultaneously with the incantation, momentarily deafening her. A crimson radiance erupted from her, engulfing a 50-meter radius.
Bushes and trees instantly turned to ash as they were consumed by the powerful explosive energy. The corpses buried in the ground, the weapons and bodies of the Red Spider Hunters... all vanished without a trace.
"Ugh."
Lee Seungyeon copsed with a gasp.
Explosion was her trump card, held back until the very end.
Among 5 Star offensive magic, it was one of the top five most destructive fire spells. A massive crater, as if a meteorite had struck, formed in the ground.
''How much I went through to obtain this spell...''
Even Kim Jaewoo, the boss of the Red Spiders, didn''t know about her trump card.
She had spared no expense, investing all the money she had earned at Ground Zero. The magic book had been purchased through secret channels.
''All that trouble was worth it.''
The powerful mana wave even pushed back the fog.
The acrid smoke that had stung her eyes, the stubborn weeds underfoot, even the lingering frustration that had clung to her¡ªall were consumed in the blinding explosion, leaving nothing but a scorched emptiness.
"That''s so satisfying!"
"Indeed. You blew them away spectacrly."
¡°...!¡±
A voice came from behind her.
Lee Seungyeon''s expression hardened at the unfamiliar man''s tone.
She turned her head with difficulty, and her eyes fell on a person shielded by a monster made of blood.
"You, you!"
"Thank you for moving as expected."
ck mask, weeping tears of blood. Yoojin, his face hidden by the [Shadow Mask], chuckled.
"I was running low on corpses. I took a gamble, and it looks like I caught a big fish."
"H-how did you know about Explosion...?"
"Madam told me."
"That damn bitch! How did she find out about something I hid so well?!"
"There are no secrets in this world."
It would be unwise to underestimate Madam''s informationwork.
She was in direct opposition to the Red Spiders, so she had thoroughly investigated their executives.
"I knew you''d use that spell if I got close."
A 5 Star Hunter, the only Red Spider executive whose strength he couldn''t fully gauge. From the moment he confirmed Lee Seungyeon with Ghost Eye, he was confident of victory.
"Well, if it wasn''t for this guy, I might have been toast."
Yoojin smiled contentedly at the Blood Golem.
The range of Explosion widened with mana consumption. He had lured Lee Seungyeon into using her trump card and kept his distance, but just in case, he had transformed the Blood Golem.
"You had more mana than I thought. Even with him protecting me, it was quite hot."
"D-don''te near me!"
"Don''t worry. I''ll put both your body and soul to good use."
[TL/N: ??]
"If youe closer, I''ll kill you!"
"You''repletely out of mana now."
Besides, there were plenty of ways to kill without getting close.
[Bone Spear activated.]
The magic armament ''Cursed Fang'' pierced Lee Seungyeon''s neck and heart.
"Keugh, ack..."
"It won''t hurt much."
Muttering "Probably," Yoojin approached the fallen body.
''Did you see that?''
¡²So this is how a necromancer fights.¡³
''What are your impressions?''
¡²Ruthlessness that uses any means necessary. Cruelty that breaks the enemy''s spirit. And cunning that anticipates every variable and turns the situation to its advantage.¡³
''That''s praise, right?''
¡²Khahahaha! You have impressed me, so consider it praise. ept it gratefully.¡³
Kronosughed heartily. It was better than when he was lecturing him about bing a hero, but Yoojin still didn''t understand why he wasughing.
''Whatever, let''s just do what we need to do.''
He subdued her soul with [Dark Calling] and stored her empty shell of a body in the Ring of Darkness.
¡²Isn''t this woman better than that little human made of bones?¡³
''It''s not the right time to turn her into an undead.''
The corpse of a 5 Star Hunter. He was already looking forward to how he could use it.
''It''s a good thing I finished this before it got toote.''
¡²Didn''t you say a long battle would be advantageous for you?¡³
''I''m fine, but the other side is the problem.''
Having secured what he needed, Yoojin diligently moved in the direction where he sensed Fafnir''s spirit.
£ª £ª £ª
A dark wave of energy erupted from Fafnir, unleashing dozens of times the holy power he had used during their training, flinging Choi Hyungtae backwards.
¡¾Master!¡¿
"You''ve arrived at the perfect time."
Yoojin ced his hand on Fafnir''s tattered back.
[Life Drain activated.]
Like rewinding time, Fafnir''s body was restored to its original state. Kronos''s holy magic was incredibly effective, even on the undead.
¡¾Have you taken care of the others?¡¿
"Probably. One or two might have survived, but not enough to worry about."
The Red Spiders had already suffered devastating losses. Some of the 4 Star Hunters had escaped with minor injuries.
But none had the courage to push through the blinding fog and confront the source of their destruction.
"When did Choi Hyungtae use his Blessing?"
¡¾Just now.¡¿
"He''s lucky. If he had used it from the start, all my ns would have been for nothing."
¡¾Is it that difficult to withstand?¡¿
"Yes. Even with your abilities, you could havested maybe a minute."
¡¾Tsk. That''s a harsh assessment.¡¿
"It''s not just about his holy power, his equipment is also superior."
¡¾Yet, despite saying that, Master, you defeated an enemy three stars higher than you.¡¿
Yoojin chuckled and continued.
"Vidar''s Blessing increases strength and agility by 200%. It also increases physical and magical resistance."
¡¾Those are terrifying numbers. Then why didn''t he use it?¡¿
"As you can see, he''s practically lost his mind."
Choi Hyungtae, who had been flung back nearly a hundred meters, stood up unsteadily. His eyes were still unfocused. He hadn''t forgotten that he was in the middle of a fight with Fafnir, as he started walking straight in that direction.
¡¾You said I couldn''tst even a minute against him at full power?¡¿
"That''s right."
¡¾Instead ofing here, you should have run away then.¡¿
"We can win if we work together."
Fafnir''s eyes gleamed. The pocket watch in Yoojin''s pocket trembled, and Kronos expressed his displeasure.
¡²He''s quite confident. Wasn''t it you who said there was no chance of winning against a martial arts type?¡³
''With Vidar''s Blessing in y, even impossible odds be possible.''
¡²Because of the Blessing?¡³
''Vidar is a popr constetion, both now and in the future.''
A constetion under the Asgard Cluster. Known for hispassionate nature, the conditions for a ''Rear Support'' contract with him were not demanding, and his buff-type Blessings were highly effective, making him a favorite among martial arts Hunters.
¡²And how does that rte to victory?¡³
''Poprity is synonymous with being well-known.''
The advantages of Vidar''s Blessing... and its weaknesses, too.
[Using Unholy Blessing.]
A gray aura poured over Choi Hyungtae''s head.
¡²Contractor, what are you doing?¡³
''I''m applying a debuff.''
¡²Effects of spells with the same nature do not stack.¡³
Kronos'' words were valid.
For example, [Unholy Blessing] increases all stats by 20%, and [Giant''s Strength] increases strength by 70%.
When the ''strength'' stat oveps in buffs, the effect of [Unholy Blessing] is halved, limited to strength, because the basis of the divine spells is the same.
¡²Wouldn''t the same apply to debuff effects?¡³
''Well, under normal circumstances.''
A powerful buff that increases strength, agility, physical defense, and even magical resistance.
It''s only weakness was the power of ''another god,'' that is, holy power.
¡²Kuh, Kuah?¡³
Choi Hyungtae''s movements, enveloped in the gray aura, became sluggish.
Kronos'' holy power was eroding Vidar''s Blessing.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
Yoojin weakened the power of the Blessing by shing the holy power itself rather than the debuff effect.
"What''s wrong? Are you staggering?"
"Kuah."
"You''re still a long way from regaining your senses."
He continuously cast [Unholy Blessing] on Choi Hyungtae.
Every time he used a divine spell, his movements became noticeably slower.
[Unholy Blessing interferes with the ¡®Guardian of Jaturi¡¯s¡¯ blessing - Avenger (Lv1).]
[Unholy Blessing...]
[...]
The moment he cast the 10th divine spell, the red glow vanished from Choi Hyung-tae''s eyes.
"Uuugh."
Choi Hyungtae, letting out a weak groan, copsed to the ground and writhed.
¡²Why is the little human wriggling like a worm?¡³
''A minor penalty of Vidar''s Blessing.''
When [Avenger] is deactivated, tremendous muscle pain sets in, making it impossible to move for 1 minute.
The bacsh from boosting strength and agility by 200%.
''Considering the effect, it''s minor. As long as you''re not in the middle of a battlefield.''
He must have been quite anxious about being held back by Fafnir.
1 minute.
No, even 10 seconds earlier, he might have been able to defeat the battered Fafnir.
''He''s lucky.''
¡²Khahaha! Have you finally learned some humility?¡³
"What humility?"
¡²You haven''t mastered luck yet. Haven''t you acknowledged that not everything can be solved with your own strength?¡³
''There''s no fight without variables.''
Yoojin dismissed it curtly and stood in front of Choi Hyungtae.
"Don''t worry. You won''t be the only one suffering like this."
"..."
"The morerades, the better, right?"
"...?"
"Ah. I have a knack for handling corpses as subordinates."
Your colleague noticed.
At Yoojin''sst words, Choi Hyungtae''s eyes widened in shock.
"Fafnir."
I will send you off without pain.
His tightly clenched fist plunged vertically, and Choi Hyungtae''s body convulsed violently once before ceasing all movement.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 49: The Victors Right
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 49: The Victor''s Right
The battlefield, swallowed by the thick fog, was utterly devastated.
The ground was riddled with craters.
Some of the trees were still burning.
Fragments of monsters, undead, and what were once humans were scattered everywhere.
"It''s a shame. There''s less to salvage than I thought."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡¾Master, aren''t you being a bit too heartless?¡¿
"They were the ones who bared their fangs at me. They should be prepared to die."
How many times had he used Corpse Explosion remotely?
The bodies of the Red Spider Hunters, caught in the explosions and turned to mush, couldn''t even be resurrected as undead.
Most of the rtively intact ones had been turned into gue zombies.
"Well, I''ll be satisfied with two 5 Star corpses."
Their souls could be collected as wraiths and even merged.
It was just that at his current level, he couldn''t learn spells that could draw out the full potential of a 5 Star.
''I''ll have to keep them for now until I reach 3 Star soon.''
He had built the Unholy Graveyard in anticipation of this kind of situation.
Originally, it was a structure with low priority, but it was worth building it in advance.
"Still, there are quite a few items that are intact."
¡¾It seems like it will take quite a while to collect them one by one.¡¿
"I can just increase the number of hands."
[Using Raise Undead.]
Although few in number, there were corpses scattered around that he could raise.
Yoojin used the hastily made zombies to gather the items from the Red Spider Hunters.
- Unique rank: 2
- Rare rank: 32
- Magic rank: 17
¡¾Huh. There are more rares than magics.¡¿
"It''s no wonder, considering how much money they raked in from their red camouge."
¡¾It makes me feel the passage of time.¡¿
In the early days of the Cataclysm, they had no choice but to take and use the items that monsters used.
It was muchter that item-specializedpanies like Magus and Graybase wereunched.
"It hasn''t even been that many years since magic engineering research began in earnest."
¡¾In any case, it''s a wee change that we can easily obtain good items these days.¡¿
"It''s still expensive though, so I can''t say it''s easy."
¡¾In my time, even rare items cost at least a billion won.¡¿
Yes, yes.
That''s how it was back then.
"I''ve collected a lot, but there''s nothing useful."
Most of the items that had miraculously survived the explosions were weapons.
Why weren''t there many intact pieces of armor, which should have been more durable?
"They must have been shattered protecting their owners."
¡¾I see. That''s a reasonable answer.¡¿
"Fafnir, are there any weapons you like?"
¡¾Isn''t this body the ultimate weapon? Why do you ask?¡¿
"I''m going to sell it if it''s useless."
¡¾You can arm other undead with it besides me.¡¿
At Fafnir''s remark, Yoojin shrugged.
"It''s like casting pearls before swine."
Even if he gave a Rare weapon to an Armored Skeleton, it wouldn''t be able to handle it properly.
To properly utilize the power of a Rare rank weapon, it needed to be at least an intermediate-level undead.
"It''s important to help you grow, too."
¡¾Is a Rare item rted to me?¡¿
"I need to buy mana stones for you to consume."
It wasn''t necessary to feed Fafnir only mana stones obtained through hunting to grow his heart.
Unless it was an essential item, catalyst, or corpse, it was better to invest in Fafnir.
¡¾Ah, I didn''t think of that.¡¿
"Sigh."
Yoojin sighed.
What was he going to do with this mana stone-eating hippopotamus?
Most of the Rare rank items weren''t suitable for Yoojin, but there were some usable items among them.
[Mana Ring]
Rank: Rare
Category: Ring
Durability: 30/30
A ring that replenishes the wearer''s mana.
* Mana + 15
* Total Mana + 5%
Two rings.
He didn''t have to worry about the additional mana option as it would automatically be converted to spirit power.
Simr options to the Mana Earrings he had obtained before.
''The stats are low, but it''s not bad since it increases the total mana.''
Necromancer-exclusive magic was cost-effective, but it still consumed a lot of mana in consecutive battles.
Before his return, when his holy power was low, he had struggled with managing his spirit power.
''This kind of equipment is always beneficial.''
He had Life Drain, but he also had to consider situations where he used up all his potions.
The moment he wore the simple-looking earrings on both ears, his mind felt clearer.
This was a phenomenon caused by the increase in spirit power.
Heh heh.
These were useful.
¡¾Why did you leave out the staff?¡¿
"Ah, this is for Jo Seungchul."
[GB (Graybase) - R5 Type]
Rank: Rare
Category: Staff
Durability: 51/70
This is the fifth staff in Graybase''s R series.
It increases mana concentration rate and the power of projectiles.
* Mana + 50
* Rearrangement speed reduced by 15%.
* Increases the power of projection-type magic by 15%.
A product of Graybase, the master of magic weapons.
Although it''s what they call a mass-produced equipment, its stability is excellent, making it a desired item for any magic-user Hunter.
"Now, shall we see the highlight?"
The greatest reward from the spider hunt.
It was time to check the performance of the Unique items.
[Zelkova Staff Imbued with Lightning]
Rank: Unique
Category: Staff
Durability: 87/150
A staff made from a tree that was struck by lightning, giving its exterior and interior different colors. A magic amplification catalyst can be inserted into the socket to increase the destructive power of the desired attribute.
* Mana + 150
* Rearrangement speed reduced by 30%.
* Increases fire magic power by 74%.
* Socket - [1/1]
me Orb equipped
The first Unique item was Lee Seungyeon''s staff.
Its specs were iparable to the Rare rank GB - R5 Type.
"Reduced recovery speed and increased mana. I like it."
¡¾Isn''t fire magic amplification unnecessary?¡¿
"I can change the socket."
Socket options were a unique feature that only appeared in some equipment.
A gem containing only a specific attribute.
For example, if something like the me Orb attached to the staff was inserted into the equipment, an additional option would be attached.
"But for this staff, the socket option is practically the main feature."
Its purpose was to maximize the power of the catalystbined with the staff.
Perhaps the person who made this staff intended to change the socket to respond to various situations?
¡¾So you''re saying that Master needs a catalyst to properly use that staff?¡¿
"Uh, that''s right."
¡¾Then for now, it''s all bark and no bite.¡¿
"You always have to put it that way."
Yoojin couldn''t find anything to say to Fafnir''s blunt truth.
"Stop talking nonsense and look at this."
[Ogre Gauntlets Soaked in Blood]
Rank: Unique
Category: Gloves
Durability: 500/500
Made with leather tanned in ogre blood. It is stic and instills courage in the user.
* Strength + 100
* Agility + 100
[Unarmed Combat Lv 65]
[Strike Lv 48]
Like the Blood Axe obtained from the Orc chieftain...
A lot of blood-rted items were appearing.
¡¾It''s the equipment Choi Hyungtae used.¡¿
"You recognize it right away."
¡¾How could I not recognize the gauntlets that tempered my body?¡¿
Fafnir grumbled.
"Here, you use this."
¡¾You''re a good joker. As if it would even fit my hands.¡¿
"It''s stic. It''ll probably fit well."
The moment Fafnir, with a dubious glint in his eyes, put his finger into the gauntlet...
¡¾Oh ho.¡¿
The gauntlet stretched without resistance to fit the size of his hand.
¡¾Did you know this would happen, Master?¡¿
"If it has a description about being stic or adjusting to the user, then yes."
The victor takes everything.
The loser is robbed of even their life and the peace of the afterlife.
This was the fight of a necromancer.
¡¾What will you do with the farm?¡¿
"For now, I''ll leave it alone."
¡¾Wouldn''t it be better to burn it down to deal a blow to the Red Spiders?¡¿
"Why would I burn down something that makes money?"
At Yoojin''s rebuke, Fafnir looked displeased.
¡¾I thought that would be the most effective way to strike at the Red Spiders.¡¿
"I doubt they''ll have the time to worry about that."
He had cut off half their legs as requested.
He wasn''t sure if he had precisely removed four, but they must have suffered damage equivalent to that.
Would they be able to manage a farm located within the territory of monsters after suffering such tremendous losses?
¡¾Hmm. Still, drugs...¡¿
"I told you it''s also used for meditation. There are also elixirs that utilize its properties."
¡¾Huh. Did you anticipate even that?¡¿
"It was a matter of course."
ck Herb would be a key ingredient in the elixir [Heavenly Elixir], which would be developed several yearster.
He would have to subtly leak this knowledge to the great alchemists of the future, timing it appropriately.
"It would be interesting to let Madam know about the situation with the farm."
Yoojin chuckled.
£ª £ª £ª
The three organizations that held sway over Ground Zero¡ª
Eumsa.
Milky Way Pub.
Red Spiders.
The bnce maintained for nearly a decade crumbled in a mere month.
- The closure of the bloodstone supply, their main source of ie.
- The annihtion in the border region, where half of their Hunter forces were wiped out.
While the Red Spiders'' authority was being questioned due to these consecutive incidents, Madam, who had been waiting for an opportunity, immediately drew her de.
[Lunar Sorcery]
[Phantom Night Demonic Mirror]
A dark stain spread across the night sky, enveloping the Red Spiders'' headquarters.
This was Madam Oh Hyunjeong''s unique trait, Lunar Sorcery.
"Now, kill each other."
The Red Spider members gathered around the building suddenly turned on each other.
"You son of a bitch! When did you side with Madam?!"
"Bullshit, that''s you!"
Crack¡ªThud¡ªBang!
They swung their weapons at each other.
"This is Madam''s power."
"They say she''s unmatched at night..."
Gulp¡ª
The Hunters hired by Madam gulped.
* Red Spider Extermination
* Client: Milky Way Pub Madam
* Request Type: Assassination
* Difficulty: B
* Special Notes:
A separate Hunter will be assigned to handle Red Spider boss Kim Jaewoo.
Half a day after the Red Spider Hunters were annihted in the border region, Madam hired ouws from Ground Zero who had dealings with the Milky Way Pub and Hunters who frequented the border region.
200 Hunters gathered in a few hours.
This demonstrated her ability to mobilize forces.
"We weren''t needed, were we?"
"Well, it''s a profit if we get paid without working."
The mercenaries rejoiced.
The Red Spider members were in disarray due to Madam''s sorcery.
What could be more enjoyable than earning money without lifting a finger?
However...
"Are you alright, Miss?"
"Hmm, I don''t have a good feeling about this."
Madam twirled her hair as she answered Old Man Jeon''s question.
"There are a lot of ordinary people."
"80% are non-Awakened. The level of Hunters isn''t high either."
Although Lunar Sorcery was powerful, it didn''t have the power to transcend holy power levels.
Essentially, mental strength increased with higher holy power.
Those below Madam''s 4 Star level would find it difficult to resist the sorcery, but even those of the same level wouldn''t instantly lose their minds.
"They''ve withdrawn the Red Spiders'' main force."
"They''re giving up faster than I thought."
"Excuse me? Do you mean..."
"Kim Jaewoo has decided to abandon the Red Spiders."
"We''ve been outmaneuvered."
Madam muttered under her breath.
Old Man Jeon tilted his head, seemingly unable toprehend.
"I can''t believe it. How could that greedy man make such a choice?"
"It''s probably thanks to Mr. Yoojin carrying out the request so diligently."
"Was the damage he witnessed in the border region that significant?"
"Two of the executives died, and countless Hunters were killed."
Madam saw through Kim Jaewoo''s true nature.
He acted boldly as the boss of the Red Spiders, but he was actually a coward who prioritized his own safety above all else.
He had gathered the elite members of the organization and fled before she could make her move.
"His judgment itself was correct. If he had stayed, he would have been reduced to picking up scraps."
Old Man Jeon and Kim Jaewoo had the same holy power level.
However, considering their proficiency, mana control, and other factors, Old Man Jeon had a higher chance of winning.
"I even recruited people to take care of the executives."
Madam murmured with a hint of regret.
"Then we should chase after him."
"No. He would have escaped to the West Sea by now."
"The West Sea... Ah!"
A sigh escaped Old Man Jeon''s lips.
He btedly remembered that the Red Spiders had made contact with the Nine Dragons'' Hall.
"Did Kim Jaewoo anticipate this situation?"
"Ho ho. He was just lucky."
The Nine Dragons'' Hall aimed to establish a criminalwork epassing East Asia.
If the Red Spiders copsed, Kim Jaewoo would lose his value.
That''s why he must have taken only the elite Hunters and escaped from Ground Zero.
"What a cunning man."
"And sly, too."
"Miss, it would be best to eliminate any future trouble."
"That''s impossible. We need to eradicate the remaining Red Spider members first."
It was a shame that Kim Jaewoo had escaped, but since he had joined the Nine Dragons'' Hall, it was difficult to pursue him.
Instead, it would be better topletely remove the Red Spiders and eliminate any ce for him to return to, thus preventing future trouble.
"Understood."
Madam nonchntly watched the Red Spider members copsing in pools of blood.
This victory was possible thanks to Yoojin.
''I hope you can handle the void left by the Spiders.''
Madam smiled as she recalled the reward Yoojin had requested for themission.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 50: Negotiations (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 50: Negotiations (1)
Ssh¡ªSsh¡ª
A fishing boat, the kindmonly called a "Tongtongbae," rocked with every wave. A man aboard gazed eastward.
Thend stretched across the horizon, shimmering in his vision.
"Damn it."
Kim Jaewoo, the former boss of the Red Spiders, muttered under his breath.
Rage boiled within him. If he followed his instincts, he would smash the boat to pieces.
At the peak of 6 Star, if he wanted to, he could pulverize the Tongtongbae with a single kick and return tond.
However...
''Madam¡ that damn bitch!''
There was no ce left for him in Ground Zero.
"Boss, is it okay to run away... I mean, retreat like this?"
One of the two remaining executives emerged from below deck.
"Do you want to stay there and die?"
"N-no, sir."
"Choi Hyungtae, that bastard, and 150 dead Hunters! One hundred and fifty, not fifteen!"
Half of their Hunter force had been annihted in the border region.
By the time the few survivors had informed him, Madam had already made her move.
"The rumors about the Human Hunter must havee from Madam, too."
"Could it really have been the Trait group?"
"It doesn''t matter now. The problem is that we were yed by that bitch."
The Red Spiders were able to control Ground Zero because of their overwhelming numbers. Even if Madam had the funds, there was a limit to the number of mercenaries she could mobilize at once.
But that advantage had vanished due to Choi Hyungtae''s blunder.
"If we had stubbornly tried to defend our territory, it would have been a dog''s death."
Even escaping Ground Zero didn''t offer muchfort.
The Red Spider executives were all criminals. They had swaggered like kings in thewless zone because they couldn''t step into the legitimate world.
"Boss, but if we go down to Busan..."
"Hey, do you think Madam would just let us slip away?"
Madam''s influence in the underworld was even greater than that of the Red Spiders. Kim Jaewoo''s influence was limited to Ground Zero and its vicinity, but she had a much widerwork.
"Busan? We''ll be lucky if we don''t get stabbed before we even leave Gyeonggi Province."
"So going to China was the best choice."
"You exin it to the others. I''m too tired to talk anymore."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Yes, sir."
The executive retreated back into the boat.
Kim Jaewoo watched him with a look of disdain.
''That idiot, calling himself an executive.''
Kim Jaewoo wasn''t happy about leaving Ground Zero either.
Giving up everything and crossing over to China?
If there had been any other way to survive, he wouldn''t have joined hands with the Nine Dragons'' Hall.
''Now I have no choice but to be their subordinate.''
His position was different from when he was the leader of the Red Spiders.
When the Red Spiders were powerful, they were at least nominally partners. But now, having fled to China in debt, he would have to submit to the Nine Dragons'' Hall.
Were there other options?
The Nine Dragons'' Hall wasn''t a pushover organization that would simply watch the remnants of the Red Spiders scatter.
''What''s done is done. All I can do is n for the future.''
He would even lick their shoes if necessary.
If he proved his loyalty and worth to the Nine Dragons'' Hall, an opportunity would eventually arise.
A day to plunge the knife of revenge into Madam.
''If they want to build a criminalwork, they''ll have to reach out to Korea eventually.''
When that time came, he would return to Ground Zero as the vanguard of the Nine Dragons'' Hall.
Kim Jaewoo vowed revenge, gazing endlessly eastward until thend disappeared beyond the horizon, unaware that a necromancer had been behind the downfall of the Red Spiders.
£ª £ª £ª
The seemingly endless night came to an end.
As the sun rose above the horizon, the carnage of the previous night was revealed.
Dark red stains sttered across the ground.
All of it was blood spilled from the bodies of the Red Spider members.
"Congrattions, Madam."
A man in a suit offered a faint smile.
"I didn''t expect to see you this early, Mr. Ji."
"Please call me Mr. ck. This is a professional rtionship, isn''t it?"
"I''ll try, Mr. Ji."
The man''s lips twitched slightly.
Though it was the name given to him by his parents, he didn''t particrly like his real name.
Since bing the leader of ck Market, he preferred to use the alias Mr. ck.
Very few people knew his true identity.
"What brings such a busy man to me so early in the morning?"
"I need to make a good impression, now that you''ve swallowed the Red Spiders'' territory."
"Ho ho. I wonder if you truly intend to make a good impression."
A cold air flowed between them.
Even the lingering heat of the battlefield couldn''t reach Madam and the man.
"What does ck Market want?"
"The bnce of power must be maintained."
The man went straight to the point.
"And if I intend to take over the businesses the Red Spiders were running?"
"ck Market will step in."
"Ho ho. It would be unwise to touch someone else''s rice bowl."
"Wouldn''t it be a bit too big for your small mouth, Madam?"
"We''ll see about that."
The bnce in Ground Zero had crumbled.
The Red Spiders controlled various profitable businesses besides the bloodstones and the ck Herb farm.
Smuggling people from North Korea.
Managing illegal Gates.
Even smuggling goods to former North Korea and China.
The two businesses Yoojin had targeted were their biggest source of funds, but the remaining ones couldn''t be ignored.
Taking over even one of these businesses would be enough to livefortably in Ground Zero.
"Please tell me what you want."
"Me?"
"I know you have no intention of taking the Red Spiders'' interests, Madam."
"Then will ck Market take them?"
"Depending on the situation, yes... but haven''t I told you our intentions?"
Ground Zero was a gathering ce for all sorts of criminals and people with shady pasts.
If one faction grew toorge, it would be difficult to restrain them.
It was a chaotic abyss entangled with all kinds of illegal interests.
After Madam, ck Market, and the Red Spiders established their power in their respective fields, a semnce of order had emerged in Ground Zero.
"Ho ho. I feel the same way."
"Does that mean..."
"If there''s someone to manage the Red Spiders'' territory, Mr. ck would be satisfied, wouldn''t you?"
Madam smiled slyly.
The man, deducing the whole situation from that single sentence, almost blurted out the thought that had just struck him.
''Did she have a coborator?''
The war of nerves between the Red Spiders and Madam.
Mr. ck judged that the situation wouldn''t escte to the point where one sidepletely copses.
The bartender at the Milky Way Pub was a 6 Star Hunter, just like Kim Jaewoo.
Madam was also a shrewd businesswoman, so even if the Red Spider pressured her, she wouldn''t suffer significant damage.
Conversely, if Madam wanted to fight the Red Spider head-on, she would have to hire mercenaries, but even gathering enough people would be difficult.
¡®Huh. I''ve been had.¡¯
Mr. ck gave a wry smile.
He had schemed, worried about the growing influence of one organization in Ground Zero.
The Red Spider''s swift copse was the oue he least desired.
¡®The problem was showing my cards too early.¡¯
Madam''s attitude had a clear meaning.
There was a coborator who yed a decisive role in bringing down the Red Spider.
And she was handing over various interests that the Red Spider had controlled.
¡°Is it the Legion?¡±
¡°Ho ho. Kim Jaewoo eradicated an organization called the Legion two days ago.¡±
¡°Then, the Ghosts? Or¡¡±
¡°If you''re so curious, why don''t the three of you have a drink together and talk?¡±
Madam turned her head away, indicating she wouldn''t say more.
¡®Huh. I''ve really messed up.¡¯
Information imbnce.
There was a hidden truth behind the incident that even he, a schemer, hadn''t grasped.
A coborator who could inflict severe damage on the Red Spider and force even Madam to share her profits.
¡®Could it be someone outside Ground Zero?¡¯
Limited information.
In this critical situation of dividing the Red Spider''s assets, theck of data felt like a choking sensation.
He finally raised the white g.
¡°Alright. I''d like to meet as soon as possible.¡±
¡°Today at noon. Come to the Milky Way Pub.¡±
A subtle smile spread across Madam''s face as she turned away.
£ª £ª £ª
The Milky Way Pub, located on the outskirts of Ground Zero.
Even when the sun was high in the sky, the usually bustling establishment was quiet today.
¡¾It looks like they''re not open for business right now.¡¿
¡°Of course they are. The sign''s lit up, isn''t it?¡±
¡¾I can barely see it because of the sunlight. Maybe they forgot to turn it offst night?¡¿
Creak¡ª
A giant of a man opened the door and entered.
Following behind him, Yoojin headed straight for the lounge.
¡°You are open, right?¡±
¡°Madam is waiting for you.¡±
Old Man Jeon pointed towards the inner part of the pub.
A private room essible only to VIP members.
Yoojin nodded and ced his hand on the tightly shut iron door.
¡¾I don''t think you can open it with your strength alone.¡¿
¡°You idiot. This isn''t a door you open with strength.¡±
Rumble¡ª!
The iron door slid back with a heavy sound.
¡¾What the...? Did you eat some miracle elixir or something while I wasn''t looking?¡¿
¡°Don''t be ridiculous.¡±
He was still keeping the Inseolsam he''d received from Seongcheon Corporation, unable to consume it yet.
There was no need to give it to Fafnir anymore.
While it would be right for Yoojin to take it¡
¡®If I eat that now, my heart will freeze and I''ll die.¡¯
It was the ultimate elixir for those who wielded otherworldly magic power, like Necromancers.
It was the same for Yoojin, but he wasn''t ready to fully ept that power.
¡®At least 4 Star. And I need to improve my physical abilities before I can even try.¡¯
Fortunately, thanks to the effects of Life Drain, his physical abilities were growing stronger day by day.
The day woulde soon when he could consume the Inseolsam.
Stopping his thoughts, Yoojin stopped Fafnir, who was following behind him.
¡°Fafnir, wait outside.¡±
¡¾Hmm. If that''s an order, I have to follow it.¡¿
If he took his subordinate into the private room, who knows what kind of insults Madam would hurl at him.
ncing at Fafnir standing in front of the iron door, he went inside.
¡®Quadruple? No, a quintuple barrier.¡¯
Soundproofing, anti-eavesdropping, anti-irvoyance, magic resistance, and shock absorption.
The private room within the pub was filled with magic circles installed to protect the secrets of its guests.
¡°You''ve arrived.¡±
¡°I came as you asked. Who is that?¡±
The man in the suit stood up and immediately offered a business card.
¡°If it''s ck Market, you must be from the underground auction house.¡±
¡°You''re well-informed. It seems you''re familiar with Ground Zero.¡±
¡°Enough with the probing. Mr. ck.¡±
Wow. To meet that gentleman here.
The owner of ck Market, Mr. ck.
He looked much younger than Yoojin remembered, so he didn''t recognize him right away. But after observing his tone of voice and demeanor, Yoojin soon recalled him.
When Yoojin nced at Madam with a questioning look, she didn''t avoid his gaze and winked.
¡®She''s as ambitious as ever.¡¯
The share of the Red Spider he had demanded as a reward for the request.
One of the three organizations that controlled the flow of Ground Zero had copsed.
And with the leaders of the remaining two groups gathered in one ce, the stage was perfectly set.
¡®Madam said she would support me, but this is more than enough.¡¯
Yoojin knew the man in front of him well.
He was someone he had interacted with frequently during his previous life, when he was building Necropolis.
The location of Necropolis was Gaesung.
Because it was close to Ground Zero, he knew a fair bit about the man.
¡°No need to beat around the bush. You know what I want.¡±
¡°You''re talking about the Red Spider''s territory and shares.¡±
¡°I''m not saying I''ll take it all. I''ll just take the ck Herb farm and the North Korean business.¡±
At Yoojin''s shameless words, the man let out a heartyugh.
¡°Haha. You''re an interesting one.¡±
¡°This is the first time I''ve realized I have a talent for making peopleugh.¡±
¡°Would you mind telling me why our ck Market should support you?¡±
¡°I took care of 150 Hunters, including Choi Hyungtae.¡±
The man didn''t bat an eye.
He had investigated the situation after being persuaded by Madam, so he had anticipated this to some extent.
¡°Are you demanding a share for bringing down the Red Spider?¡±
¡°You understand well.¡±
¡°That''s something you can demand from Madam. But it has nothing to do with ck Market.¡±
The man''s eyes quickly scanned Yoojin''s entire body.
¡®The Hunter who wiped out half of the Red Spider. It''s safe to assume he''s a 6 Star.¡¯
A nameless powerhouse who suddenly appeared.
He was a suitable person to fill the void left by the Red Spider''s copse.
However, he couldn''t just hand over the Red Spider''s shares to someone whose origins were unknown.
¡®I''ll grant some of his demands to keep him tied to Ground Zero.¡¯
Just as he finished his calctions and was suppressing a smile¡
¡°I''ll eradicate the Human Hunters and open the path to Gaesung for you.¡±
¡°What?¡±
¡°Wouldn''t this be a decent deal for you too?¡±
At Yoojin''s nonchnt tone, the man''s eyebrows twitched subtly.
[Trantor - Hestia
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Chapter 51: Negotiations (2)
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Chapter 51: Negotiations (2)
Mr. ck, erasing the flicker of surprise from his eyes, smiled serenely.
"I''d like to say it''s interesting."
"Doesn''t seem to be to your liking?"
"The person assisting Madame is..."
"It¡¯s Cheon Yoojin. I don''t have a business card, so call me by my name."
At Yoojin''s curt reply, Mr. ck smiled even more deeply and changed the subject.
"Mr. Yoojin. Do you know how much manpower is needed to manage the interests held by the Red Spider?"
"Farm management, 20 people. For the North Korean business, about five guides should do."
"You''ll also need people to distribute ck Herb."
"So?"
"I wonder if you''ll be able to manage both the farm and the North Korean business, Mr. Yoojin."
Mr. ck spoke inly, stating the obvious.
Yoojin, with his arms crossed, snorted.
"You seem to have a lot to say."
He wore an indifferent expression.
This attitude, not caring even in front of the representative of the ck Market... it was the rxed air of a powerful person, something Mr. ck had encountered only a few times in his life.
''This man is the real deal.''
There''s a limit to feigningposure. Unless you''re gifted with the talent to hide your emotions like Madame, or have undergone intense training...
Mr. ck instinctively knew that Yoojin''s demeanor wasn''t a bluff.
This was the man who had ughtered two Red Spider executives and over a hundred Hunters.
Even so... Mr. ck remained unfazed.
"The ck Market will help you establish a foothold in Ground Zero."
"And in return, you want something?"
"Entrust us with the distribution rights of ck Herb, and we''ll take care of any troublesome matters for you."
ck Herb, the main ingredient of the drug cocktail ''ck Moon''. The price per gram was lower than Bloodstone, but with a stable supply, the farm held greater long-term value. There was a reason why the second-inmand of the Red Spider had personally stepped forward.
"As you know, it''s a drug. It won''t be easy to find demand."
"There''s also the option of asking Madame to introduce you to some people."
"If you want to do it yourself, I won''t stop you."
Mr. ck replied as if he had no regrets.
"I haven''t heard your answer yet."
"Pardon?"
"The trade routes to North Korea, including Gaeseong."
Mr. ck spoke casually.
"I told you I wasn''t particrly interested in Gaeseong..."
"Suit yourself. I''ll have to leave the trade routes north of the Korean Penins to the ck Market then."
Yoojin cut him off mid-sentence and rose from his seat.
"Leaving already?"
"The negotiations have fallen through. I need to find a new business partner."
"Oh ho. I did my best."
"Consider the reward received."
Yoojin, without a shred of lingering attachment, was about to leave the private room.
Thud¡ª Thud¡ª
Slow footsteps echoed in the private room.
For the first time, Mr. ck''s eyes, which had shown no emotion until now, twitched.
Yoojin''s hand tightly gripped the doorknob.
"Could you wait a moment?"
Mr. ck''s voice was calm. However...
He couldn''t control the slight trembling of his fingertips.
Scoff¡ª
Madame nced at his trembling fingertips and smiled briefly.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin turned around.
Their eyes met.
"You said you weren''t interested. Change your mind?"
"Hahaha. It feels like a shame to see you leave already, after meeting like this. It''s like we have a connection now."
"I have nothing more to say."
"Please, stay and let''s talk a bit more."
Mr. ck gestured towards the empty seat.
Yoojin stared at him for a moment, then slowly walked back.
''I was wondering how long you''d hold out.''
The owner of the ck Market, Mr. ck, was a man Yoojin had dealings with even before his regression.
He had built a Necropolis in Gaeseong, not far from Ground Zero, so it would be strange not to know him.
''The ck Market wants the routes north of the Korean Penins.''
After the Great Cataclysm, the sea was no longer humanity''s domain.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Gates had opened in the ocean as well.
Closing those Gates in the deep sea was near impossible.
And with the Break, many parts of the ocean had turned into Erosion Zones.
''It wasn''t a ce for humans to live anymore. The problem was the monsters.''
Monsters emerging from the Erosion Zones.
Marine monsters that hade out of the Gates showed hostility every time a ship passed by.
Sea routes weren''tpletely closed, but avoiding the eroded areas required more time and fuel.
And with the need for guards to prepare for monster attacks, the cost of overseas trade had skyrocketed.
''I learned that the Korean Penins, especially with itsnd routes blocked, suffered even more damage.''
35 years had passed since the Great Cataclysm, and things were quite stable now.
But there were still frequent attempts to restore the routes north of the border, beyond the Demilitarized Zone.
''Mr. ck had proposed that deal to me as well.''
When Yoojin turned the Gaeseong area into a domain of death, this man was the first toe with a bag full of bribes.
Not interested in the North, he says?
Yeah, right.
¡²Cowardly!¡³
''Why? What''s not working?''
¡²To cunningly grasp your opponent''s weakness beforehand and exploit it!¡³
''That''s called being wise.''
Utilizing knowledge of the future was a regressor''s privilege.
Ah.
This is so sweet, so sweet.
"The ck Market isprised of ck market traders from China."
"I know."
"And yet you''re saying you''ll hand over the northern routes to the ck Market?"
"Where''d the uninterested guy go?"
Yoojin scratched his ear with his pinky.
"Stop begging with that phony patriotism and say what you want to say."
"I need assurance that you can really drive out the Human Hunters."
"Not drive them out, eliminate them."
"Either way is fine. What matters is whether you can do it or not."
"It''ll take some time, but it''ll be possible within two years at thetest."
The Human Hunters'' forces surpassed those of the Red Spider.
They controlled a vast area that stretched from western Gaeseong to Yeonangun County and Haeju City.
They dominated or bred monsters and used them as soldiers, giving them greaterbat power in the border regions.
If, as Yoojin said, he could drive out the Human Hunters...
''Not only the northern routes, but also themercial rights to the coastal areas of Gyeonggi Province could be mine.''
Damn it.
Mr. ck cursed inwardly.
''What basis does he have to mention the northern routes?''
Yoojin''s proposal was a mix of carrot and stick.
Even within the ck Market, no one knew that Mr. ck wanted the northern routes.
Did he somehow read his mind?
Suppressing the unease spreading in his heart, Mr. ck asked¡ª
"Mr. Yoojin. What will you do if you fail to drive them out within two years?"
"Do I have to exin with my own mouth that investmentse with risks?"
"So you''re saying it''s my choice whether to believe you or not."
"Be grateful I gave you a choice."
After a moment of silence, Mr. ck spoke.
"On the condition that we are guaranteed passage near Gaeseong, the ck Market will support you, Mr. Yoojin."
The three major forces that held sway in Ground Zero.
Following the Milky Way Pub, even the ck Market had sided with Yoojin.
£ª £ª £ª
Mr. ck left the private room with a dazed expression.
As soon as the iron door closed, Madame burst intoughter.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, I saw something quite rare."
"What''s there to thank me for?"
"It''s the first time I''ve seen the head of the ck Market so flustered."
"You''ll see it often."
Yoojin replied nonchntly and stood up.
Since Mr. ck had offered to take care of the troublesome matters, it was time to solidify the Necropolis'' control over the farm and the surrounding border areas.
''It''s busy working alone.''
Once he reached 3 stars, he could acquire a more powerful undead creation skill.
Even if it wasn''t a Fafnir, creating an undead with an ego would make managing the Necropolis easier.
"Wait a moment."
"Regarding the remaining members of the Red Spider..."
"Not that."
Madame''s finger pointed at Yoojin.
"Me?"
"The Arhan Guild is interested in you."
The Arhan Guild.
The number one Hunter corporation in Korea, and the nemesis of Fafnir.
In his past life, they had achieved the establishment of a Hunter family, which was his goal.
They were the group that had joined hands with the Romanovs, one of the seven great families, and given them a justification to intervene in Korea.
"Seongcheon Corporation asked me to pass it along."
"The Arhan Guild wouldn''t have moved carelessly. They managed to find out that information, huh?"
"The chairman is always keeping an eye on your movements."
"You''re really sugarcoating the fact that Seongcheon Corporation handed over my information."
Madame just smiled without answering.
Yoojin stroked his chin.
"Does the chairman of Seongcheon Corporation know about this?"
"Considering the gravity of the situation, I haven''t told him separately."
"I guess no one knows except the ck Market."
"I didn''t know how the negotiations would turn out. I''m still keeping it under control."
"Then keep it under control a little longer."
The corners of Yoojin''s mouth twitched.
¡²You''re making that undignified smile again.¡³
''Quiet, you ipetent constetion.''
¡²What kind of insidious n are you thinking of this time?¡³
''I''ll use everything I can.''
The reason Arhan was interested in him was obvious.
Defeating the new recruit instructor in a spar.
And the connection to the mass-produced intermediate potions.
"Are you waiting for Arhan to approach you?"
"They''ll bite soon enough."
"Oh ho. Then let''s put in more effort."
"Informing Seongcheon is fine, but get my permission for major issues."
"I''ll ask you once before selling to others."
"Oh, how touching."
Yoojin grinned and left the private room.
£ª £ª £ª
Tap¡ª Tap¡ª
The man tapped his finger on the armrest. It was a habit Baek Seonghyeon, the vice president of the Arhan Guild, often disyed when lost in thought.
One name lingered on his lips.
"Cheon Yoojin, Cheon Yoojin."
A promising Hunter who, despite being only a 1 Star, had defeated Jeong Jinsu, the instructor in charge of new recruits.
Moreover, this Hunter seemed to be connected to a manufacturer capable of mass-producing intermediate potions.
As soon as Baek Seonghyeon received the report on the spar, he ordered a background check on Yoojin.
"Has it been a little over a month since I gave the order?"
"Yes, Vice President."
"The gathered information is quite impressive."
"I understand why you''re paying attention to him, Vice President."
He formed a 1 Star party and frequented the border area. He provided the key ingredient for mass production of intermediate potions to an alchemist. And recently, he even treated the youngest daughter of the Seongcheon Corporation''s chairman, who was suffering from Muscle Contraction Sclerosis.
"Heh. Should I believe this or not?"
"We cross-checked, but it was all true..."
"I''m not doubting it. I asked you to investigate because this guy is extraordinary."
Baek Seonghyeon nced at the tablet containing the information.
"Are you sure he doesn''t belong to any organization?"
"Yes. There''s a Hunter team he worked with in the border area, but they also don''t belong to any guild."
"The ''Little Runts'' team."
"Just in case, I''ve also prepared their information."
"They turned out to be worthless bugs."
His voice was tinged with coldness.
Hunters like the Little Runts team were asmon as pebbles on the road. His interesty solely in Hunters with high potential.
"What''s the status of recruiting the new alchemist?"
"He won''t ept any offers other than handing over the initially produced intermediate potions."
"So he didn''t change his mind even for 30 billion won."
Baek Seonghyeon''s face turned cold.
He wasn''t even asking for the potion recipe. It was an amount offered with the intention of investing in Shin Joonseok''s alchemy workshop.
To think that even an investment offer would be rejected.
"He has quite the spirit, Alchemist Shin Joonseok."
"I''ll submit another proposal."
"No need. It wouldn''t do for Arhan to lower its head twice."
The secretary grasped the true meaning behind his words.
"I''ll apply pressure during the potion distribution process."
"It would be better if defects were found. We''re short on verification cases."
If they couldn''t have it, they would destroy it.
The second-inmand of Arhan had always adhered to that principle.
"When the new alchemist needs Arhan,fort him warmly."
"Understood."
"By the way, have youe up with a n to recruit Hunter Cheon Yoojin?"
"Yes. ording to the report submitted by the recruitment department, this method is the most effective."
After listening to the secretary''s exnation, Baek Seonghyeon let out a shortugh.
"Wow. Even bugs have their uses. It wasn''t for nothing that I had them investigated."
"Thank you, Vice President."
"Then proceed."
At Baek Seonghyeon''s dismissal, the secretary retreated with a relieved expression.
"I''m looking forward to it. How much it will benefit the guild to recruit such a brilliant talent."
The photo remaining on the tablet screen, showing Yoojin with one corner of his lips slightly raised, was reflected in Baek Seonghyeon''s eyes.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 52: Arhan Bestows Opportunities Free of Charge (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 52: Arhan Bestows Opportunities Free of Charge (1)
After the threatening¡ªno, the ¡°negotiation¡± with Mr. ck, Yoojin returned to the Paju workshop.
"Hyung! You''re back."
"You''re all here early? Why not rest some more?"
Yoojin replied with a slightly perplexed expression.
There was still time left before the two weeks he had designated as their vacation period. He had pushed them quite hard while expanding the Necropolis territory, so he had generously given them time to rest...
"It''ll be troublesome if you copse from exhaustion."
"Nah, we practiced together while you were gone, Bro."
Kang Minyeong, with her index and middle fingers extended straight, smiled brightly, as if boasting.
"You''re not trying to piss me off, are you? What do you mean?"
"We became 2 Stars! Both of us!"
"Did you enter a Gate already?"
Yoojin stifled augh.
The Little Runts team members were all in theirte 40s in terms of level. As they were nearing the end of their current rank, the amount of experience required was also high.
''They must have hunted monsters relentlessly to reach the limit level.''
It wouldn''t have been possible with monsters of the same rank.
They must have entered a Gate like the [Forgotten Temple], which had an entry requirement of 1 Star, but where higher-ranked monsters appeared.
"It''ll be tough following me around, but you guys went and exhausted yourselves beforehand."
"Thanks to your guidance, Hyung, we learned how to be stronger. How could we just rest?"
Lee Seongmin eximed excitedly.
My ears are going to explode.
Yoojin thought.
"Speak a little softer."
"Ah, sorry."
Despite his grumbling, his gaze towards the three of them softened.
Grasping opportunities was also an ability.
Even if he didn''t know about the two who wouldter gain fame as the ''Mirror Hunters''...
The fact that even Lee Seongmin was striving to be stronger pleased Yoojin.
''It''s rewarding to raise all three of them.''
Even if he couldn''t store all sorts of artifacts and sacred relics like Sophia...
He was satisfied that the owner of the [Space] characteristic, with its limitless applications, was full of motivation.
¡²The beginning of heroes has always been like this. Truly a sight to behold.¡³
''Then bestow a blessing or something.''
¡²I am an iplete constetion. It is burdensome enough to watch over you.¡³
''If you can''t even do that...''
Our ipetent constetion really demands a lot.
Emphasizing hardship and adversity at every moment.
Even indulging in ssic heroic narratives.
''You lost to your son because you cling to old tastes.''
¡²Im... Impudent!¡³
''If you don''t like it, take back your blessing.''
¡²Just you wait. Once I gain my second Apostle, I will reim all the power from you!!¡³
''When will the second believer appear?''
For the ¡²Heaven-Defying Giant¡³ to have another believer besides Yoojin, he needed to umte enough achievements to be a full-fledged constetion.
Well...
Unless Yoojin reached 9 Stars again, it probably wouldn''t happen anytime soon.
"Hyung, there''s one more thing."
"There''s still more to surprise me?"
"Arhan Guild requested our team''s assistance in raiding a Gate!"
Oh.
That is surprising, in a different way.
A cold smile appeared on Yoojin''s lips.
"H-Hyung?"
"Tell me. What exactly was their offer?"
"Well... Arhan said they have three long-unconquered Gates that were handed over to them by the government."
"They want you to assist them in raiding one of the three?"
"It is surprising that Arhan, the number one guild in Korea, is asking us for help, right?"
Don''t answer a question with another question, kid.
At Yoojin''s cold reaction, all three of them became tense and cautiously observed his expression.
"Did you... ept?"
"No. We were waiting to ask for your opinion, Hyung."
"You''re the team leader. Why are you asking me?"
"Didn''t you include yourself as a member because we were going in and out of the border area? Of course, we have to ask for your opinion."
Oh.
This kid... he''s got loyalty, after all.
"If that''s what you want, Hyung, we''ll refuse."
"Why refuse?"
"Because you seem displeased."
"It''s fine. It''s helpful if they make the first move."
Noticing the nuance in Yoojin''s words, Kang Minho let out a short sigh.
"They were nning to recruit you from the beginning."
"Ah, is that so?"
"No wonder... I thought it was strange."
The two muttered in a tone mixed with admiration and a sigh.
The Little Runts team had zero recognition.
There was no reason for Arhan, the number one guild in the country, to approach them first.
Kang Minho gave a wry smile.
"I guess we got a little cocky thanks to your teachings, Hyung."
"All three of you have earned the right to be. Don''t be discouraged."
Yoojin spoke with sincerity.
You guys...
You are among the few Hunters who pushed the strongest Necromancer to the brink of death.
Enough to leave a strong impression on the Immortal King, one of the few individuals in the world who achieved the 9th rank.
''My neck feels cold.''
Yoojin unconsciously rubbed his nape, recalling his memories from before his regression.
The owners of such talent were right in front of him.
Go ahead and be proud.
¡²Khahaha. To think my Contractor would say such a thing.¡³
''Did you think I''d only nag you all the time?''
¡²Hmm. I thought your veins flowed with lubricating oil instead of blood. To think I misjudged you.¡³
Pushing the ipetent constetion''s nonsense aside, Yoojin patted Kang Minho''s shoulder.
"Anyway, tell me the details of their offer."
"Yes, Hyung."
Arhan Guild''s proposal was to enter a Gate on the verge of a Break with the Little Runts team.
They had to choose a Gate that was eithermissioned by the government or abandoned by the guild that previously upied it.
Suwon - Twisted Pit
[Type - Fixed Type]
[Entry Condition: 1 - 2 Stars]
[Gate Area: Medium]
[Entry Limit: 20 people]
[Mana Density: 84%]
Chungju - Iron Tomb
[Type - Fixed (Closed) Type]
[Entry Condition: 1 - 2 Stars]
[Gate Area: Small]
[Entry Limit: 12 people]
[Mana Density: 91%]
Chuncheon - Toy Factory
[Type - Fixed Type]
[Entry Condition: 1 - 2 Stars]
[Gate Area: Small]
[Entry Limit: 8 people]
[Mana Density: 87%]
Ooh.
Yoojin''s eyes curved upwards, forming a crescent shape.
¡²You see something useful, don''t you?¡³
''You can tell just by looking at me now, huh?''
¡²Wouldn''t it be obvious just by looking at your expression, Contractor?¡³
''Those Arhan guys... They''ve got all the good stuff.''
The ''Toy Factory'' that opened in the western part of Chuncheon was the Gate where the artifact [Paracelsus'' Magic Cylinder], which increased alchemy efficiency, was found.
And from the ''Twisted Pit'' located in Suwon, one could obtain the Unique ranked tool, [Infinite Pouch].
¡²You remember all that?¡³
''Because those were the days when I was starving. I envied the people who obtained those opportunities.''
He had chosen the path of a magic-type Hunter, but those were the days when he barely made enough to eat.
Perhaps that was the reason why Kronos'' pocket watch had brought Yoojin back to this point in time.
Yoojin pondered vaguely.
''But the problem is the second Gate.''
Iron Tomb.
The name of the Gate where arge-scale Break urred, triggering the deaths of thousands.
¡²So, the small humans who originally attempted to raid the Gate failed?¡³
''Yeah. Though I didn''t know it was Arhan.''
A Closed type, where once you enter, you can''te out until you destroy the Gate''s core.
The Gate''s internal structure, the rewards...
It was an unknown space with no data.
''One thing''s for sure.''
¡²It''s more dangerous than the other options.¡³
''There will be plenty of crisis situations that you like, oh Constetion.''
¡²Hmph. You wouldn''t jump into uncertainty, so you''ll choose one of the remaining two.¡³
''Not really.''
Maybe it''s because you''re a ipetent constetion, but you have no sense.
Yoojin organized his thoughts and spoke to Kang Minho.
"Tell Arhan we''ll do all three."
"All of them?"
"It''s not impossible, is it?"
"Then I''ll try to set a schedule."
As Kang Minho fiddled with his phone, Kronos sent a thought, seemingly surprised.
¡²Are you risking danger to save those small humans?¡³
''Well, it''s killing two birds with one stone.''
¡²I see you in a new light. To think such heroic qualitiesy dormant within you.¡³
Uh...
That''s not really it, though.
It seemed Kronos had misunderstood, but Yoojin didn''t bother correcting him.
''If it''s the Iron Tomb, I can get that.''
The material needed for creating enhanced undead.
It seemed like he would reach 3 Stars soon, so there was no harm in securing it in advance.
¡®Arhan Guild, thank you very much for putting what I need right into my hands.¡¯
Khehehe.
¡²You''reughing like that again. Tsk tsk.¡³
Kronos clicked his tongue at Yoojin''s vulgarughter, which showed no signs of changing.
£ª £ª £ª
The Namhan River flowed through Chungju City.
The parking lot of the Natural Ecology Experience Center, located in the northern part of the river, was filled with people wearing Arhan badges.
"There are so many people."
"They''re all from Arhan."
"As expected of the number one guild in Korea, Hyung."
The Little Runts team members'' eyes widened.
¡¾How shy. All show and no substance.¡¿
"Shh. There are a lot of eyes."
¡¾Damn it.¡¿
Instead of spreading more thoughts, Fafnir scattered blue sparks in all directions.
"It''s not wrong, though."
The maximum number of Hunters that could be deployed into the [Iron Tomb] was ten.
Four of them were the Little Runts team, so Arhan could deploy at most six Hunters.
"A dedicated healing team is one thing, but an armed trailer?"
¡¾Trailer?¡¿
"A vehicle that lends out guild-owned equipment. They only bring that out for groups of 30 or more."
It would be nice if it ended there.
Craftsmen who repaired damaged equipment on the spot.
Buff specialists waiting outside the Gate.
These were all people who weren''t necessary for this Gate raid.
"Re-supply is impossible in this situation. They''re just going toe in, eat, and leave."
¡¾Why is Arhan Guild throwing money into the air like this?¡¿
"To show off."
Look at the Little Runts team members with their mouths agape.
They''re doing this because it''s effective.
The will to obtain what they want, no matter the cost.
This time, that target was Yoojin.
¡¾This is ridiculous.¡¿
As Fafnir choked back a groan, one of the Hunters from Arhan Guild walked towards them.
"Nice to meet you. You''re Hunter Cheon Yoojin, right?"
"Yeah."
"I''m Song Myeongseok, and I''ll be joining you in the Iron Tomb raid."
Despite Yoojin''s casual speech in their first meeting, which was meant to provoke him, the man greeted him without a wrinkle in his brow.
Ah.
¡®You''re in charge of the raid?¡¯
A bad feeling swept over Yoojin.
£ª £ª £ª
"The Arhan Guild''s Supernova! Hunter Song Myeongseok?!"
A shrill voice rang out from behind.
Song Myeongseok smiled faintly at Kang Minyeong''s reaction.
As Yoojin frowned, the entire Little Runts team rushed over.
"To think I''d meet the owner of the Sacrum characteristic in person. It''s an honor."
"C-Could I get your autograph? I''ll treasure it as a family heirloom!"
Their eyes were practically glowing.
¡®That guy... he doesn''t seem the least bit embarrassed by that cringeworthy title, Supernova.¡¯
Yoojin stepped back slightly and whispered to Kang Minho.
"Is he famous?"
"Hyung... You''re serious... huh?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Kang Minho shook his head.
Considering he was the same guy who didn''t recognize Jang Miseon, a rising star from the Phoenix Guild and holder of the title "Next Sword Saint," it wasn''t that strange that he didn''t know Song Myeongseok.
"You know, the ''Martial King'' of China, Chang Wufei?"
"Why are you bringing up the leader of the Cheonmu n?"
"I heard Hunter Song Myeongseok has the same unique characteristic as the Martial King."
Chang Wufei.
The founder of the Cheonmu n, one of the seven great families located in China.
He was the second person after Dmitry to achieve the 9th rank, rising to the ranks of the strongest in the world.
"On top of that, he''s broken all the Hunter records and he''s handsome, so he even has a fan club."
A fan club too?
Ugh.
This is aplete mess.
Despite the Little Runts team''s overzealous behavior, Song Myeongseok maintained his smile and even gave them his autograph.
"Thank you for recognizing me. I''ll have to buy you all a meal sometime."
"We won''t forget what you just said."
"Oh right, we were in the middle of introductions. Hunter Cheon Yoojin."
Song Myeongseok approached Yoojin once again and held out his hand.
"I look forward to working with you on the Iron Tomb raid."
"Well, I''ll try my best not to be a burden."
Yoojin replied curtly and looked away from Song Myeongseok''s hand.
"My arm is going to fall off."
"It''s okay if one of them falls off."
"Huh?"
"I''m kidding. I look forward to working with you."
As soon as their hands sped, Yoojin quickly withdrew his and turned away.
He could feel the gaze on his back.
He probably wanted to draw his sword and stab him. It was only natural, since Yoojin had deliberately provoked him.
Yoojin chuckled inwardly.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 53: Arhan Bestows Opportunities Free of Charge (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 53: Arhan Bestows Opportunities Free of Charge (2)
¡²Do you know that small human?¡³
''I know him well.''
¡²Judging by your attitude, it seems you have a connection from before your regression.¡³
''A bad one.''
A sneer formed on Yoojin''s lips.
What a small world.
He never imagined he would meet one of the Nine Dragons of the Kowloon Guild here, in the future.
¡²The Kowloon Guild, you said it was a criminal organization in the neighboring country, didn''t you?¡³
''Yeah, that''s right.''
¡²But this small human belongs to a respectable guild.¡³
''I don''t know about that.''
It was a matter of the distant future when Song Myeongseok would be infamous as one of the heads of the Kowloon Guild.
Even a regressor doesn''t have everything memorized.
He only remembered people like the Mirror Hunters or Mr. ck in detail because he had been directly involved with them.
¡²Regressor, strive harder to recall your knowledge of the future.¡³
''What I don''t know, I don''t know.''
¡²For the one who possesses my artifact to be socking...¡³
''A while ago, you were fussing about not wanting me to have it easy and telling me to struggle.''
Still, he was curious.
One of the Nine Heads of the Kowloon Guild, encountered in an unexpected ce.
What were the chances of a Hunter from Arhan transferring to the Kowloon Guild?
There must have been many stories that were hard to fathom right now.
¡²Corruption, is it? How interesting.¡³
''You''re not going to start with that hero talk again, are you?''
¡²A being who embraces a noble cause, only to fall into despair and turn to evil. Isn''t it tragic!¡³
''That bastard has never embraced anything noble.''
A natural-born son of a bitch.
He didn''t know that Song Myeongseok had been with Arhan before joining the Kowloon Guild.
But he knew that the smile was 100% fake, without a single gram of sincerity.
''Do you know how ruthless you have to be to be one of the leaders of thergest criminalwork in East Asia?''
Human trafficking was a given.
He was a guy who had participated in, or directlymitted, countless crimes that were disgusting to even recall.
How much would a Korean Hunter have to do to reach a high position in the Kowloon Guild?
¡²I-Is that so?!¡³
''There are beings among the gods who are different on the inside and outside, too.''
¡²Did you see that shameless fellow? To deceive me with that kind face!¡³
This wasn''t a case of being deceived, it was a case of being a fool.
A strange situation where there was no scammer, only a victim.
Yoojin chuckled.
''By the way, Arhan has brought out a pretty strong card.''
Before his regression, Song Myeongseok had reached 8 Stars.
He was a skilled individual, called the strongest Dragon among the Nine Heads.
Even now, Arhan is promoting him with media hype, calling him a Supernova, right?
¡²To think they would push someone like that into a dangerous ce. How bold.¡³
''They''re using a surefire card, both as a show of force to me and to achieve their goal.''
The [Iron Tomb], which remained unconquered before his regression.
In other words, it meant that the Hunters Arhan had deployed had also died.
''If Song Myeongseok had entered, wouldn''t it have been a different story, regardless of him being one of the Nine Heads?''
¡²A small human who wasn''t originally part of the raid has interfered... The future has changed.¡³
''The only variable I can consider is myself.''
A promising Hunter that Arhan deployed to recruit him.
There was no other reason for Song Myeongseok to participate in the Gate raid.
''The future is starting to change.''
The Red Spider, who in the original history would have been annihted as an organization a few yearster, was now nning for the future.
And he even encountered Song Myeongseok, whom he remembered as one of the Nine Heads of the Kowloon Guild, within Arhan.
¡²Khahaha. Causality is being distorted.¡³
''Causality?''
¡²It is inevitable that causality will change as the Contractor turns back time.¡³
For anything to happen, there must be a cause.
Even constetions, who had their names engraved above the stars¡ were not free from causality.
¡²Kronos'' Pocket Watch¡³
A miracle that distorts that absolute proposition.
From the moment Yoojin activated Kronos'' artifact, the distortion of causality...
''Is that important?''
Yoojin replied curtly.
¡²Oh ho. The knowledge in your head may turn into scraps of paper.¡³
''Some things change, but others remain the same.''
He returned to change the future.
If he was worried about causality being distorted, he wouldn''t have regressed in the first ce.
''It''s rather good.''
¡²You''re quite optimistic. Are you alright with the future you knew changing?¡³
''I met a bad seed early on.''
If he got rid of Song Myeongseok beforehand, it would be like cutting off one of the Nine Heads of the Kowloon Guild.
He was destined to sh with Arhan continuously.
Since things had turned out this way, he hoped an opportunity would arise to cut off his lifeline before he transferred to the Kowloon Guild.
¡²Huh. The Contractor is truly a strong being.¡³
Kronos was genuinely impressed.
An unwavering mental strength that showed not a single crack.
The intense pulsation of power felt through his soul.
A mere mortal who, without the help of constetions, had reached the 9th rank, a Transcendent.
Yoojin''s strong will stimted Kronos'' soul.
''Did you eat something wrong?''
Yoojin, unaware of Kronos'' feelings, retorted bluntly and returned to the Little Runts team.
£ª £ª £ª
Before entering the Gate, the Arhan Guild conducted a brief briefing for Yoojin and his party.
"The Iron Tomb is a Gate with no prior information."
Song Myeongseok, the leader of Arhan''s attack team, said affably.
Kang Minyeong raised her hand and immediately asked¡ª
"That''s because it''s a Closed type, right?"
"That''s correct. You have a vast knowledge of Gates."
"Hehe. I studied a bit."
"Didn''t Senior Kang fail ''Dual Pistols''st semester...? Mmmph."
How carefree.
As Yoojin chuckled at the sight, Song Myeongseok''s eyes twitched.
See?
He''s a guy with nine snakes hidden in his belly.
"Even though it''s called a briefing, it''s just sharing our organization, so please listenfortably."
"Hunter Song Myeongseok, no, Team Leader. I have a question."
"Go ahead. Hunter Kang Minho, right?"
"Ha, haha. It''s an honor that you remember me."
Kang Minhoughed awkwardly and continued.
"Once we enter the Iron Tomb, do we have to follow yourmand, Team Leader?"
"I''ll leave that to your own judgment."
At first nce, it seemed like generous treatment.
In reality, it was intended to make them realize the difference in strength between the two groups.
Yoojin snorted at the obvious intention and raised his hand.
"How will the loot be distributed?"
"Each team takes what they hunt."
"Is the distribution method the same for the other Gates?"
"That''s right. In any case, I wish you all the best in your endeavors."
¡®Distribution based on contribution, huh? That''s music to my ears.¡¯
Yoojin smiled.
£ª £ª £ª
A crack formed 30 centimeters above the ground. A faint blue light shone from between the split space.
[Iron Tomb]
A Closed-type Gate that had devoured five Hunter raid teams already.
The two teams, maintaining a slight distance, checked their conditions onest time before entering.
"Team Leader, are you alright?"
"Ah, I''m fine."
Song Myeongseok replied to his team member''s question as if it were nothing.
However...
''Hey, the Team Leader is pissed.''
''Sigh, it''s going to be a mess once we enter the Gate.''
''Cheon Yoojin, was it? That clueless bastard is going to make us suffer too.''
The Arhan raid team Hunters shuddered despite his words.
Having worked with Team Leader Song Myeongseok a few times, they knew the true nature hidden behind his friendly smile.
Creak¡ª
The sound of friction emanated from his hand gripping the sword hilt.
''Let''s see how long you can keep up that act, you arrogant punk.''
The Arhan raid team Hunters'' predictions were not wrong.
Song Myeongseok suppressed the rage boiling deep within him.
Seeing Yoojin''s consistently rxed attitude made him want to draw his sword right there and then.
''If it weren''t for the Vice President''s orders, I would have cut off his mouth already.''
Right before the Gate raid, Song Myeongseok was summoned to the Vice President''s office and given an order:
- Show Hunter Cheon Yoojin the power of Arhan.
Show his power to a mere 1 Star Hunter?
It wasn''t difficult to grasp the meaning behind Baek Seonghyeon''s words.
''He called me in just to entice a rookie?''
Anger welled up inside him.
The Supernova of Arhan.
He believed that he was the only one who would lead this guild, no, the Korean Hunter world.
But to think that Arhan was making such an effort to recruit an unknown Hunter... he couldn''t help but be angry.
[Unique Trait - Heavenly Bone]
An ability that maximizes the power of martial arts-rted skills and additionally increases physical abilities when leveling up or consuming elixirs.
''I am the chosen one.''
The same unique trait as Martial King Chang Wufei.
Even Arhan was merely a stepping stone for Song Myeongseok to climb higher.
''Vice President. And you rookie. I''ll show you how great a Hunter I am.''
With a glint of malice in his eyes, Song Myeongseok stepped into the crack.
A blue radiance enveloped his entire body.
The surrounding scenery instantly transformed into a mountain of scrap metal.
nk¡ª
A piece of iron that had been lying on the ground floated into the air.
It nged together with other pieces, taking a human-like form and disying hostility.
[Living Armor]
The Arhan raid team and the Little Runts team, who had entered the Gate right behind Song Myeongseok, witnessed the scene.
''This is the perfect opportunity to show my skills.''
Watch carefully.
The skills of the one called Arhan''s Supernova!
Shing¡ª
The sword drawn from its sheath drew an arc in the air.
In less than 0.1 seconds...
The Living Armor, which had just taken form, was cut into countless pieces by the sword strikes.
"Amazing."
"As expected of the Team Leader."
The Arhan raid team Hunters were in awe.
The speed, destructive power, and uracy were unbelievable for a 2 Star Hunter.
Song Myeongseok''s eyes turned to Yoojin.
"It''s nothing special."
"Indeed."
"An ordinary Hunter might find it troublesome, but it''s not a problem for me."
"That''s not what I''m talking about."
nk¡ª
An ear splitting metallic sound.
As soon as Yoojin finished speaking, the Living Armor regenerated, its eyes shing as it lunged at Song Myeongseok.
"Regeneration ability?"
"Living Armor keeps reviving unless you destroy its core."
Though it might not be urate to use the word "reviving" for an inanimate object.
As Yoojin chuckled, Song Myeongseok swung his sword once again.
"How''s this?"
"How''s what? Did you hear my words with your ears or your ass?"
Song Myeongseok turned around with a sense of foreboding.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
The Living Armor, shattered twice already.
The monster, which should have returned to its original form of scrap metal...
- Kee, ee, ee.
It rose once again, mimicking the sound of a living creature by rubbing its metallic parts together.
"Where is this core you speak of?!"
"I don''t know. The location of the core is different for each individual."
"Thank you for the kind advice."
Meaning that unless hepletely disintegrated this pile of scrap metal, he wouldn''t be able to extract the core.
Song Myeongseok''s arms tensed as he spat out the sarcastic remark.
''There''s a reason why every raid team that entered the Iron Tomb was annihted.''
The absurdly high regenerative ability of the monsters.
To raid the Living Armor, a lightning-type mage was essential.
''Even so, I can do it.''
If he couldn''t kill it with ten strikes?
Then he would swing a hundred times.
The owner of the Heavenly Bone.
Even though he couldn''t handle aura, his pure physical strength wasparable to a low-level 4 Star martial artist.
"I''ll..."
¡¾Wow, what an interesting monster.¡¿
A thought that resonated directly in his mind, not his ears.
Right before Song Myeongseok swung his sword, a being had entered his range without him even noticing.
A three-meter giant.
It was Fafnir.
¡¾So that''s where the core is?¡¿
A hand the size of a cauldron lid dug into the Living Armor''s armpit.
As a few pieces of scrap metal were torn off, the Living Armor trembled and copsed with a tter.
Song Myeongseok''s eyes twitched.
"H-How did you do that?"
¡¾There''s a ce where mana is concentrated. You can see it if you focus.¡¿
"That''s not what I''m asking. How did you do it?"
¡¾If you''re a Hunter, you should be able to enhance your senses.¡¿
Fafnir''s answer felt vague.
Enhance his senses?
To locate the magic core?
''He''s acting all high and mighty after finding it with some special skill!''
Song Myeongseok tried his best to hold back the curses caught in his throat.
¡¾It''s so easy. And you can''t even do that.¡¿
Yoojin''s warrior nonchntly carved a long scar on Song Myeongseok''s pride.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 54: Arhan Bestows Opportunities Free of Charge (3)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 54: Arhan Bestows Opportunities Free of Charge (3)
Finding the Steel Specter''s core with the S-rank trait [Eyes of the Martial God] wasn''t difficult at all.
Crash¡ª
The Steel Specters that swarmed in droves crumbled with just a few gestures.
¡¾Eh. I was looking forward to it, but this is boring.¡¿
Fafnir''s grumbling pierced the minds of the Arhan raid team.
Song Myeongseok''s expression was distorted with anger.
It was the first time since obtaining the Heavenly Bone trait that he had been humiliated to his face.
''Damn it!!''
His hand on the sword hilt trembled.
A subtle tremor.
It was masked by the sound of the copsing Steel Specters, but Yoojin didn''t miss it.
''Khehehe. He must be pissed.''
¡²But Contractor, isn''t this unfair?¡³
''What nonsense are you spouting now?''
¡²That small human''s achievement is only 2 Stars at best. On the other hand, your warrior is at the beginning of 4 Stars.¡³n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
''It''s not like we agreed to a fair fight.''
He''s a ipetent constetion, alright.
They had stepped into a game set up by Arhan, so why was he looking for fairness?
Now then...
Let''s make him a little more miserable.
"Minyeong, use Synchronization on Fafnir."
[Synchronization]
An ability to share senses with a designated target.
Kang Minyeong gasped.
"Oppa, I can feel it."
"It''s a bit weird to speak without context."
"Ah, sorry."
Kang Minyeong smiled sheepishly and controlled her crossbow with telekinesis.
"Is it okay to increase the number of synchronized targets?"
"I practiced, and I can withstand up to three now."
Whoosh¡ª
The moment she pulled the trigger, the taut string propelled the arrow with force.
The sharp tip pierced through the scrap metal and struck the core.
"Yay! Oppa, I did it!"
The Arhan raid team was aghast.
"Did you see that? She took down what even the Team Leader couldn''t..."
"Is that even possible with a single blow?"
"Lower your voice, the Team Leader will hear you."
Song Myeongseok, seemingly unable to maintain hisposure any longer, had a look of pure fury on his face.
Yes.
It''s good to express yourself honestly, isn''t it?
Yoojin smirked and gave his next order.
"Minho, spread your energy widely across the shield."
"Like this?"
"Imagine crushing the Steel Specter''s entire body."
[Mobile Fortress]
[Force Strike]
Kang Minho pressed the inside of his shield against his shoulder and shed with the two forces.
The shockwave generated from the epicenter violently shook the Steel Specter''s insides.
"Kee, ee, ee."
The Steel Specter copsed.
Smoke seeped from its entire body, and then the metal pieces that formed it scattered across the ground.
"Hyung! I did it too!"
"Manage your stamina and mana. Don''t get so worked up."
The piles of scrap metal were all Steel Specters.
To be precise, they were iplete beings formed from the lingering attachments of extinguished souls dwelling within the metal.
However, they were still formidable opponents, as they fully utilized the Steel Specter''s core traits, [Super Regeneration] and [Magic Core].
"What should I do, Bro?"
"Go get some popcorn. We have nothing to do."
"Yes..."
Where did this fire-attribute main attacker think he was going?
Maybe if he were a lightning-type, it would be different.
But he wasn''t a good match against an opponent that stored its core within a hard lump of metal.
His [Space] ability was useless too.
¡²But you''re also just sitting back and doing nothing.¡³
''Fafnir is working hard, isn''t he?''
Yoojin joked.
He couldn''t use Corpse Explosion, nor could he create undead.
Bone Spear?
He needed to know where the core was to pierce it.
''There''s no need to waste energy doing useless things.''
¡²Tsk tsk. How can you be socking in spirit when you''re my Contractor?¡³
''I''m being realistic.''
And besides...
It''s not like he waspletely idle.
[Using Giant''s Strength.]
[Using Punishing Spike.]
[Using Unholy Blessing.]
Punishing Spike was applied to everyone.
Giant''s Strength, which consumed vitality, was cast on his teammates.
And Unholy Blessing, which acted as a buff for the undead, was used on Fafnir.
"My strength...!"
"Tell me if you lose too much health. I''ll replenish it."
The penalty for the immense increase in strength was health consumption.
But with Life Drain, he could cover it as much as he needed.
[Using Bone Control.]
Yoojin took out the bone he had prepared beforehand and stretched it out.
Since it had beenpressed outside, its durability didn''t decrease significantly even when extended over two meters.
''It''s not like I can just y around.''
A Steel Specter rose from beneath his feet.
Yoojin, incorporating the essence of Verdian spear techniques, deflected the clinging pieces of metal. Even if he couldn''t destroy them, his skill bought him time.
Fafnir stabbed the core of a Steel Specter that was in the middle of assembling.
¡¾You''re pretty good.¡¿
"I''ve been practicing steadily."
Except for Lee Seongmin, who was sitting back, Yoojin and his party were doing well.
"What trick did they use?"
"There''s no way they can see the core''s location."
On the other hand, the Arhan raid team was struggling against the constantly regenerating Steel Specters.
Three martial artists.
Two mages.
One priest.
It was a well-bnced team, but it was difficult for them to exert their full strength in this chaotic battlefield.
"H-Help me!"
The priest Hunter''s scream.
He didn''t have the physical ability or the skills to fend off the Steel Specters like Yoojin.
Enemies spawned without regard for front or back lines.
As an unwanted melee ensued, he backpedaled with a flustered look.
The mage Hunters were in a simr situation.
[Ice Bolt]
[Wind Cutter]
They focused on keeping the Steel Specters in check with simple magic spells, but without knowing the location of the core, they only wasted their mana.
"We''re struggling here too!"
"Just run away or hold on for a bit!"
The martial artist Hunters gritted their teeth and drove back the Steel Specters.
They had no way to locate the core like Fafnir.
Nor could they imitate Kang Minho''s method of inflicting uniform damage to the entire body of the Steel Specter.
All they could do was endure against the constantly regenerating Steel Specters.
Only Song Myeongseok was putting up a good fight.
"RAAAAAAGH!!!"
[Light Splitting Sword (·Ö¹â„¦)]
[Dual des]
The two swords in his hands created countless trails of light in the air.
The more he pushed himself...
The closer he got to his limit...
The Heavenly Bone drew out the potential of his inherent physical abilities.
''To think I would suffer such humiliation!''
Consumed by rage, Song Myeongseok swung his swords, oblivious to the pain of his muscles tearing.
The Steel Specter was cut into dozens of pieces.
It tried to regenerate immediately, but the core was destroyed by the ensuing flurry of sword strikes.
''I''ll kill you, I''ll kill you!''
A sight befitting the title of Arhan''s Supernova.
Moreover...
Thanks to his senses heightened to the extreme, he began to faintly sense the flow of mana within the Steel Specter''s shell.
''This... feeling?''
The superhuman who would achieve the eighth rank in the future.
Fueled by anger, he began to unlock that potential.
The moment he felt the exhration, the sense that he would enter a new realm if he swung his sword a little more...
¡¾What? You''re still fighting?¡¿
Crackle¡ª
Fafnir tore the Steel Specter apart, bringing an end to Song Myeongseok''s frenzied sword dance.
The sword, swung unconsciously, was caught in arge hand and couldn''t advance.
The enlightenment that had flickered in Song Myeongseok''s mind vanished without a trace.
"Ah."
¡¾No need to thank me. I have to help the weak.¡¿
"You... &*%#$@!!!"
A torrent of expletives.
For the first time in front of Yoojin and his party, Song Myeongseok''s true feelings surfaced.
¡¾Why are you cursing even after I helped you?¡¿
Seeing Fafnir''s bewildered expression, Yoojin chuckled.
£ª £ª £ª
The Steel Specters kept appearing endlessly. After destroying what seemed like hundreds of them, they finally stopped.
"Huff... huff..."
"Ugh... retch..."
The Arhan raid team was at their limit, gasping for breath and vomiting undigested food.
Song Myeongseok was no exception.
The momentary enlightenment had vanished.
And now that the battle was over, the price of his excessive exertion was taking its toll.
"Gah... ugh... gah..."
"The future of Arhan, huh? I''ve seen your skills."
One corner of Yoojin''s lips curled upwards, forming a grotesque arc.
"It was so pathetic, it made me want to die."
"Y-You bastard..."
"Catch your breath. You might choke to death if you don''t."
Killing Song Myeongseok here would be easy.
With a flick of his finger, his magic armament could move and pierce the heart or throat of the helpless man.
¡²But why don''t you do it?¡³
''There''s still a lot to squeeze out of Arhan Guild.''
The joint raid on the remaining two Gates.
If the Arhan Guild Hunters were wiped out, he might lose the [Toy Factory] and the [Twisted Pit].
''Even if it''s not that, there will be plenty of opportunities.''
Would they stay still after their show of force proved futile?
The moment Arhan Guild decided they couldn''t recruit Yoojin, they would try to ruin him by any means necessary.
''The Vice President is quite good at that sort of thing.''
¡²The one who lured your warrior into a trap?¡³
''Their next ace has been humiliated, so they''ll react in some way.''
Khehehe.
No matter what tricks Arhan Guild tried to pull, they were all within Yoojin''s grasp.
For information from the shadows, he had the expert, Madame.
And he had established a connection with Seongcheon Corporation to keep an eye on the outside world.
''No matter what method they use, it will ultimately benefit me.''
I should write them a thank you note.
Yoojin organized his thoughts and then had his party withdraw from the hill of scrap metal.
"You guys get out of here too if you don''t want to die."
"Gasp... gasp... Don''t... order me around..."
"If the Gate raid was already over, wouldn''t the exit have appeared?"
Song Myeongseok''s eyes twitched.
Rumble¡ª
As soon as he finished speaking, the ground shook.
The Arhan raid team Hunters desperately moved their exhausted bodies.
When all six of them had descended...
The shaking pieces of iron gathered together, transforming into a six-meter tall giant.
[Scrap Metal Specter]
Blue sparks flickered amidst the scrap metal.
The culprit that had devastated the northern part of Chungju City before his regression had appeared.
''The ability to manipte metal and increase its forces.''
Reinforcing bars supporting buildings.
Vehicles.
And anything else containing metal, abundant in a modern city.
Right now, it was just a 2 Star Gate Boss.
But right after the Break, the Scrap Metal Specter had absorbed the rebar from nearby structures, gaining power beyond its rank and causing significant damage.
"Cough... hack..."
"Stop making those pathetic noises and rest quietly."
After giving Song Myeongseok a warning, Yoojin faced the Scrap Metal Specter.
A monsterrge enough to close a 10-meter gap in an instant.
¡²If everything has gone ording to your expectations so far, you must have already thought about how this will unfold, right?¡³
''Of course.''
It wasn''t the first time he had used his knowledge of the future to his advantage.
A red sphere emerged from his pocket.
He tossed the oval-shaped object, like an egg, into the air. The blood,pressed to its limit, spread in all directions.
[Using Golem Creation.]
The application of creation wasn''t limited to just making golems.
It could also distort thews of physics to store a golem or return it to its original form.
¡¸Please give me yourmand.¡¹
"Grow a bit bigger. And take down that pile of scrap metal."
¡¸Order confirmed.¡¹
[Blood Flow Conversion]
The bloodposing the golem''s body spread wider, increasing the Blood Golem''s height to 5.5 meters.
¡¾Ooh. Does it get stronger when it gets bigger?¡¿
"It''s like a balloon muscle, forcibly increasing its output."
It was only suitable for drawing attention, like now.
Its strength and durability were lower than before it erged its body.
¡¾In other words, it''s for show.¡¿
"There''s a need for that, you know."
Yoojin nced at the Arhan raid team, who had just finished evacuating.
Their eyes were wide open.
They couldn''t take their eyes off the excessively erged Blood Golem.
"They''re friends I''ll be working with for a while. I need to make a good impression."
¡¾I think they''ve received a memorable impression, in one way or another.¡¿
"Right?"
Even though the Scrap Metal Specter possessed abilities beyondmon sense for a 2 Star Boss monster...
The Blood Golem had been upgraded to the level of a low-level 4 Star by absorbing the troll''s blood.
Even with the penalty from excessively erging its body...
"It''s enough."
Thump- Thump¡ª
The metal giant and the blood-red monster began their sh of strength.
Smoke billowed.
Since the bloodposing the Blood Golem was mixed with toxins, it gradually chipped away at the Scrap Metal Specter''s iron body.
Unless it had no openings for the blood to seep into...
The Scrap Metal Specter, which was no better than a rag, struggled to shake off the golem''s grip.
¡¾Should I help?¡¿
"No, the Blood Golem is enough."
Bang! Bang!
The two monsters, the size of two-story buildings, engaged in a primal brawl.
An hourter, the Blood Golem trampled the fallen Scrap Metal Specter and beat its chest in victory.
"What a pushover."
The copsed Scrap Metal Specter didn''t drop a single mana stone.
All that remained was a grotesque pile of scrap metal.
[Scrap Metal Imbued with Lingering Attachment]
Rank: Magic
Category: Misceneous
Imbued with the resentment and lingering attachment of perished souls.
*Weight - 23.5t
"After all that trouble... this is the reward?!"
Song Myeongseok raged, and Yoojin''s head tilted from side to side.
"Distribution of loot is based on contribution. Remember?"
"This scrap metal... I wouldn''t take it even if you gave it to me. You can have it all."
"It''s 23 tons. You have to help me move it."
Yoojin drove the wedge in further.
Song Myeongseok''s eyes were filled with humiliation.
¡²Khahahaha! You''re really provoking that small human.¡³
''I''m doing this because I really need it.''
¡²What?¡³
''There''s so much you can do with metal imbued with resentment.''
A material more precious than gold to a Necromancer.
How useful this metal was...
This foolish guy in front of him would never know.
''He has no idea how hard it was to get tons of scrap metal imbued with lingering attachment in my past life.''
A mountain of metal piled up high.
How much could he strengthen his undead army with this?!
The reward of the [Iron Tomb] was greater than two Unique rank artifactsbined.
Yoojin clenched his fists, feeling his blood boil with excitement.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 55: Rising to Prominence
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 55: Rising to Prominence
Even after conquering the Iron Tomb, the coboration between the two teams with differing goals continued.
[Paracelsus'' Magic Cylinder]
Rank: Unique
Category: Alchemy Tool
Durability: 50/50
A cylinder created by the legendary alchemist Paracelsus topress mana to its limits.
¡ò Mana Compression Rate - 523%
After defeating the boss monster in the Gate that opened in Chuncheon, they acquired this alchemy equipment.
[Infinite Pouch]
Rank: Unique
Category: Misceneous
Durability: 100/100
A pouch inscribed with subspace magic. It can store up to 1,000kg.
¡ò Capacity: 0/1,000kg
As a reward for conquering the [Twisted Pit], they obtained a subspace pouch with a capacity of 1 ton.
And what happened to the Arhan raid team Hunters?
"..."
"..."
The condition of taking loot based on contribution remained in effect for the remaining two Gates as well.
Yoojin unleashed the necromancy he couldn''t use in the [Iron Tomb] without holding back.
He created an undead army on the spot, robbing Arhan of any chance to participate.
¡¾Hehe. This is so satisfying.¡¿
Fafnirughed in satisfaction, seeing the dumbfounded Arhan raid team Hunters.
"It''s not enough to be satisfied with this."
¡¾Is that so?¡¿
"The real revenge hasn''t even begun."
He had seeded in provoking the Vice President who orchestrated this whole thing, but...
From the perspective of thergest guild in Korea, this was just a minor incident.
"Their pride must be hurt. They''ll retaliate in some way."
¡¾Is that also within your calctions, Master?¡¿
"That''s right. As I weaken their forces and grow stronger through this, the day wille when I can stab a knife into Arhan''s heart."
Yoojin spoke resolutely.
He had already done this before his regression.
He was bing stronger much faster this time, so there was no reason why he couldn''t do it again.
¡¾I''m indebted to you, Master.¡¿
"If you''re going to talk about debt, just focus on eating mana stones."
Yoojin retorted bluntly.
"I''ve learned a lot."
After closing thest Gate, Song Myeongseok returned to using honorifics.
"I''m d you learned something."
"Next time, I''ll show you what I can do."
"If you have the skills to do so."
Of course.
He wasn''t sure when they would meet again, but until then, Song Myeongseok could sharpen his teeth.
''The stronger he is, the more useful he''ll be when I turn him into an undead.''
Even Jo Seungchul, a 7 Star Hunter in the original timeline, was now just a Skeleton Mage.
If he strengthened the bones and changed the materialsposing the body, he might be able to achieveparable abilities.
But still...
''If possible, I want to avoid the hassle.''
Modifying existing undead was such a chore.
He had to fit in the reinforcing materials without disrupting the bnce between the assimted corpse and soul.
And he had to consider the wavelengths and synergy of the items and materials.
''So get stronger. Quickly.''
A glint of desire flickered in Yoojin''s eyes.
Song Myeongseok met his gaze and involuntarily stepped back.
"Ah, don''t forget to send the scrap metal."
"Should we deliver it all to the Paju workshop?"
"23.5 tons. If even a little bit of the weight is off, I''ll hold Arhan ountable."
"That useless... Anyway, that won''t happen."
Those Arhan guys...
It seemed they had investigated the [Scrap Metal Imbued with Lingering Attachment] while raiding the remaining two Gates.
¡²This is troublesome. Now those small humans know your aim.¡³
''Do you really think so?''
¡²Wouldn''t there be alchemists in an organization like Arhan?¡³
''That''s right. They''re probably more skilled than Shin Joonseok, too.''
Shin Joonseok had awakened about two years ago.
Even as the future Grand Alchemist, at this point in time, he was just a craftsman with good dexterity and intuition.
This meant there were many alchemists who were more skilled in terms of skill proficiency and mana application.
¡²If they find out how to use the scrap metal, they might not hand it over so easily.¡³
''Even if the alchemists of Arhan died and came back to life, they wouldn''t know.''
Let them investigate and analyze all they want.
They might get chills, but they wouldn''t figure out how to use it.
The [Scrap Metal Imbued with Lingering Attachment] was a metal more attuned to necromancy than alchemy.
''It can be used to strengthen bones or create undead like the Steel Specter.''
Its uses were truly endless.
It wasn''tmon for inanimate objects like iron to be imbued with resentment, so it was a mineral that even Yoojin had struggled to obtain.
''20 tons is enough for me to use for several years.''
He was really lucky.
If Arhan Guild had taken the entire [Iron Tomb], he wouldn''t have even had this opportunity.
This scrap metal would greatly aid in strengthening his forces in the long run.
"Hyung, you really did it."
"Are you guys alright?"
"We''re a bit tired, but we''re not seriously injured."
"Not that. You''ve made an enemy of Arhan."
At Yoojin''s question, Lee Seongmin''s eyes widened, and he cried out¡ª
"Why did it turn out like this?!"
"Arhan was the one who proposed the joint raid, but in the end, they got screwed."
"You didn''t know that, junior?"
The twins patted Lee Seongmin''s shoulder.
As expected, those two had already figured it out.
They seemed clueless at first, but they were quite perceptive.
The future Mirror Hunters were indeed different.
"It''s alright. If we hadn''t met you, Hyung, we wouldn''t have had this opportunity."
"I learned a lot thanks to you too, Oppa. We really got them good when Hunter Song Myeongseok was flustered!"
Kang Minyeong, with an ecstatic expression, seemed unable to forget the thrill of that moment.
Reading Fafnir''s senses through Synchronization.
And coolly taking down the Steel Specter with a single arrow.
The two of them were already addicted to the taste of growing stronger.
"Let''s postpone the distribution of profits from this raid."
The owner of Paracelsus'' Magic Cylinder was already decided.
However, since it was an artifact obtained while working with the Little Runts team, he had to pay them a fair price.
Even Yoojin found that level of expenditure burdensome.
His main source of ie, mana stones, now had to be fed to Fafnir.
"Understood, Hyung."
"And Seongmin, you take the Infinite Pouch."
"Who? Me?"
"Observing the pouch''s magic will increase your understanding of your unique ability."
"Th-thank you!"
Lee Seongmin''s eyes welled up with tears.
There''s no need to cry like that.
"I thought I was no longer needed because of the artifact!"
"...You could barely carry a few kilograms to begin with. If I was only going to use you as a pack mule, I wouldn''t have brought you along."
"I will continue to devote my loyalty!"
Alright.
Work your bones off from now on.
You guys have a lot to do.
¡²Tsk tsk, it seems like selling their souls to an Evil God constetion would be better.¡³
Kronos clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
£ª £ª £ª
Crack¡ª
The armrest shattered into pieces.
Baek Seonghyeon nced at the remains of the chair, now reduced to hundreds of fragments, a moment toote.
"I''ve lost myposure and gotten excited, which is unlike me."
Perhaps he saw himself reflected in the pulverized armrest.
The secretary, who had just finished his report, turned pale.
"What did Hunter Song Myeongseok say?"
"He said... if only there had been prior information, the result wouldn''t have been like this..."
"How pathetic."
Baek Seonghyeon cut off the secretary''s words and habitually reached for the armrest, only to click his tongue in frustration at finding empty space.
''I expected the two of them to sh, but I didn''t expect a one-sided defeat.''
He had long since seen through Song Myeongseok''s ambition.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Song Myeongseok might have thought he was hiding it well, but it was difficult to escape Baek Seonghyeon''s eyes.
Summoning him to the Vice President''s office and instructing him to recruit Yoojin was also part of the n.
''Why did it turn out like this?''
Song Myeongseok''s defeat was an unexpected variable.
Not only was his unique trait, Heavenly Bone, remarkable, but hisbat senses and ability to handle mana were on par with Guild Leader Lee Shinwoo.
Song Myeongseok was skilled enough topete equally with a 4 Star martial arts Hunter, provided they didn''t use aura.
And yet...
He was utterly defeated.
"This is quite troublesome."
The secretary''s eyes darted from side to side at Baek Seonghyeon''s murmur.
"Ah, I wasn''t talking to you."
"My apologies."
"I have some things to think about, so you may leave."
Creak¡ª
Left alone in the Vice President''s office, Baek Seonghyeon calcted in his head.
''The chances have decreased because of this incident, but it''s be clearer.''
A talent who even defeated Song Myeongseok.
Yoojin had to be brought into Arhan''s fold.
If they failed to recruit him...
''We have no choice but to eliminate him before Phoenix or Dawn makes a move.''
A chilling murderous intent flickered in Baek Seonghyeon''s eyes.
£ª £ª £ª
After settling the distribution of loot from the Gate raid, Yoojin and his party returned to the Paju workshop.
"Oppa, are we in the right ce?"
At Kang Minyeong''s question, Yoojin shrugged.
"There are so many people."
"Maybe the alchemist moved his workshop?"
Shin Joonseok''s workshop was usually deserted, but today was different.
Dozens of people were camped out in front of the fence.
"Master Alchemist Shin! We''re from Osung Corporation!"
"Here''s an investment proposal from Jeil Corporation..."
"This time..."
Dressed in suits as if they had coordinated a dress code, they raised their voices.
It was a good thing Shin Joonseok''s workshop was a bit out of town.
Otherwise, they would have receivedints from the residents.
"Maybe we should have worn suits too."
"Should we prepare them now?"
"I''m kidding, so please bear with me."
Yoojin waved his hand dismissively and pushed past the crowd gathered in front of the workshop.
"Let''s go in."
"Hey, who are you to just barge in?"
Despite the light shove, the people were pushed back easily.
Thanks to his strength stat, which wasparable to a martial arts Hunter of the same rank, it was easy to get through.
Though he did get some curses thrown his way in the process.
"Wait, are you by any chance Hunter Cheon Yoojin?!"
"It''s Hunter Cheon Yoojin!"
"Didn''t he do a joint raid with Arhan?"
"I heard he overwhelmed Song Myeongseok."
Murmurs arose.
The representatives from various corporations and guilds recognized Yoojin.
He had consecutively closed three long-unconquered Gates.
Even though Arhan had restricted information, they couldn''tpletely prevent rumors from spreading.
"Yes, yes, I''m Cheon Yoojin."
As Yoojin casually replied and moved forward, the Little Runts team hurriedly followed behind.
"Excuse us, we''re with him."
"Oh, I participated in that raid too! I''m Kang Minyeong!"
"Senior, I''m embarrassed."
After a smallmotion, the group safely entered the workshop.
Shin Joonseok, trying to figure out the bustling situation outside, made eye contact with Yoojin, who had just entered the fence.
"My business partner!"
"Wow, you''ve be popr while I haven''t seen you."
"It''s all thanks to you, Yoojin... but that''s not important right now!"
"There are so many people who want to invest. That''s good, isn''t it?"
Yoojin said nonchntly.
"Didn''t I tell you I rejected Arhan''s investment offer too?"
"Ah, did you?"
"You''re acting like it''s none of your business!"
Shin Joonseok spat out a curse and took his frustration out on the ground.
He was as grumpy as ever, both in the past and present.
¡²Isn''t this incident a result of your mistake?¡³
''Why are you suddenly bringing up mistakes?''
¡²Didn''t you give that small human''s information to Arhan while promoting the intermediate potion?¡³
''Shut up, I don''t know anything about that.''
Shoo, shoo.
Go away.
Pushing Kronos'' thoughts aside, Yoojin patted Shin Joonseok''s shoulder.
"But isn''t the potion supply issue mostly settled?"
"I''m only handing over the initial production to Arhan."
"Ah, you''re talking about the next production."
"And the investment."
"Cheer up. Your skills have been recognized."
"My skills? It''s all thanks to what you taught me, partner."
Self-doubt clouded Shin Joonseok''s face.
Yoojin choked back a groan at the sight, something he hadn''t seen before his regression.
''Is it because I told him the potion ratio?''
He had shared a bit of his future knowledge to find a useful em¡ª no, a business partner.
He hadn''t expected this kind of side effect.
¡²See? The repercussions of twisting causality are starting to show one by one.¡³
Oh, you''re enjoying this, aren''t you?
''If you spout any more nonsense about hardship or trials, I''ll leave your pocket watch behind.''
¡²Is there something wrong with my statement? It''s time to admit it.¡³
''Watch closely and see how I resolve this.''
Yoojin beckoned Lee Seongmin, who was standing behind him.
"The Infinite Pouch?"
"Yeah, take out what we got from the Toy Factory."
A red hydraulic cylinder.
As he subtly presented it to Shin Joonseok, the alchemist''s cloudy eyes regained their focus.
"P-Partner, what is this?"
"There was this legendary alchemist named Paracelsus. This is something he used."
"How could I not know that name! But why are you giving me this precious item...?"
"Because you''re the most skilled alchemist around me."
Shin Joonseok''s face brightened at Yoojin''s praise.
"Partner!"
"Research that and let me know the results and how to use it."
"Of course! I''ll figure out everything from the operating principles of this cylinder to the construction magic and report back to you!"
See?
He cheered up quickly after just a few words, didn''t he?
¡²That small human is so fickle.¡³
''Where did the constetion who was just talking about causality go?''
The pocket watch in his pocket vibrated and then remained silent for a long time.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 56: Company
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 56: Company
Shin Joonseok, clutching [Paracelsus'' Magic Cylinder], rubbed his cheek against its smooth surface.
"Hyung, is that thing okay?"
"There are many entrics among geniuses."
"Ah, that''s why you''re also..."
"What did you say?"n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Just talking to myself. Don''t mind me, hyung."
Suddenly, Kang Minyeong whistled.
How nonchnt.
¡²To think that the inflection point caused by the distortion of causality would be so easily resolved.¡³
''Stop using such grandiose words. It makes you look weak.''
¡²Contractor! Are you mocking me!?¡³
''If I attach meaning to every single thing, I won''t be able to do anything, right?''
Shin Joonseok''s essence is a man obsessed with alchemy.
Even if he''s influenced by Yoojin''s words or the situation...
His fundamental nature doesn''t change.
''I need to see the core.''
Shin Joonseok, who had been rubbing his cheek against the cylinder for a while, finally regained his senses.
"Where did you get this?"
"Found it on the street."
"Don''t joke around."
"I got it by raiding a Gate with a guy named Song Myeongseok."
Shin Joonseok nodded at the familiar name, then let out an "Ah!" of realization.
"He''s the Arhan''s Supernova!"
"Didn''t I tell you? Arhan Guild proposed a joint raid to these guys."
"It''s surprising that the number one guild in Korea gave up the spoils of war."
"Give up? They earned it ording to their contribution."
Shin Joonseok looked back and forth between [Paracelsus'' Magic Cylinder] and Yoojin, then...
"Shit!!!!"
"Why are you cursing in front of my face?"
"He''s the Arhan''s Supernova! There are other things you could be saying calmly."
"You have a bunch of people bringing you bags of money."
"Is that the same as this?"
"You rejected the 30 billion won offered by Arhan."
The Little Runts team, who had been listening to their bickering, gasped.
"3-30 billion won!?"
"H-Hyung. No, I''ll call you... Master!"
"Even a security guard position is fine! Please let me join you!"
Look at them, they''re practically drooling.
"He rejected it, so why are you clinging to him?"
"Ah, is that so?"
"Why didn''t you say that earlier, mister? Please pretend you didn''t hear anything."
The speed of their attitude change is as fast as light.
Especially when he heard the word "mister," his Adam''s apple bobbed violently as if he was about to cry.
Shin Joonseok''s expression wasical, unable to cry orugh.
"If you research that tool, you''ll be able to learn the secrets of otherworldly alchemy."
"Since there''s nothing wrong with what my partner said, I believe it."
Of course.
Don''t worry, there''s no way I''ll be wrong.
Originally, he was the one who discovered the secrets hidden in [Paracelsus'' Magic Cylinder].
"Have you eaten?"
"I''ll eatter. The automatic mixer in the workshop is acting up."
"You''re going to starve again."
"Again? Have you ever seen me skip meals?"
Yes.
Before the regression, I saw it all the time.
Yoojin pressed Shin Joonseok, recalling old memories.
"Then did you eat dinner yesterday?"
"Ah, that..."
"You didn''t eat three days ago either."
"Did you install CCTV in my workshop or something?"
He could see it clearly even without installing it.
He didn''t need to see it, Shin Joonseok''s lifestyle pattern was like a VOD in his head, so he just said what came to mind.
"It''s apany dinner. We have things to discuss."
"Eating is just a bothersome act of recharging the body with energy..."
Smack¡ª!
Shin Joonseok, greatly staggered by Yoojin''s smash, red.
"Stopining and bring a chair."
"Alright."
Clicking his tongue, Yoojin watched Shin Joonseok enter the workshop, his displeasure still evident.
£ª £ª £ª
The group gathered in the yard in front of the workshop.
Usually, it was a ce full of unknown weeds because it wasn''t managed.
¡¾That''s really too much. Doesn''t the homeowner manage it?¡¿
-Gegel, gegegel.
Jo Seungchul burned the weeds with fire magic, and the sparks, smoke, and ashes from the burning were pushed away by Fafnir.
"Lee Seongmin, take out backpack number 5 from the infinite pocket."
"Isn''t that for using in the border area?"
"I bought it forpany dinners."
"Got it!"
He put the refrigerated beef on the table and rolled up his sleeves.
¡¾Aren''t you going to grill it right away?¡¿
"I should show off my skills after a long time."
He put the beef chuck on a cutting board, sliced it into bite-sized pieces, ced it on a pan, and using the mes of a makeshift stove made from a drum, stirred a few times to cook it evenly.
"Cube steak needs sauce."
A special sauce made by simmering red wine, oyster sauce, minced garlic, and other ingredients.
The heat rising from the drum was tremendous, but Yoojin cooked both the sauce and the meat to perfection without a single mistake.
A skill that cannot be imitated just by knowing the recipe.
"Are you a culinary major?"
"Major? I''m a high school graduate."
"Even the camping club kids can''t do it like this!"
Lee Seongmin shouted excitedly.
The key to cooking is controlling the fire.
If you light a fire in a drum, you can''t control the temperature like a gas range or induction.
All you can trust is your senses and timing.
Having been camping often, he could tell that Yoojin''s skills were extraordinary.
"Don''t be surprised by this. We haven''t even started properly yet."
Yoojinughed confidently.
''The day woulde when I would share my only hobby.''
¡²Hahahaha. What an unsuitable hobby. Not very heroic.¡³
''Even a hero can''t live on an empty stomach, can they?''
Before the regression, he didn''t have much interaction with others.
Due to the nature of being a necromancer, he often entered the gates alone, and even after establishing Necropolis, he often saw the dead, but not many people stayed for a long time.
''There were those who sought my teachings, but it wasn''t a ce to stay for long.''
I''d either have to buy food from the suspicious guys passing through Gaeseong, or go all the way to Ground Zero to eat, which is a bit of a hassle.
''At first, it was just to fill my stomach, but as I did it, it became fun.''
¡²Turns out, you¡¯re not half bad at this cooking thing.¡³
''And the ipetent constetion has a knack for talking nonsense.''
Sizzle¡ª
Skirt steak.
In addition, he made various other dishes using meat and served them to the group one after another.
"Delicious!"
"Hyung, I think I''m falling for you."
"...Energy replenishment might not be so bad either."
"If there''s a chance, please teach me how to cook."
A shower ofpliments.
The corners of Yoojin''s mouth twitched slightly.
"Fafnir, you want to eat too, don''t you?"
¡¾If your intention is to insult the dead, then you have seeded.¡¿
Fafnir turned his head away.
Even though he is an undead that embodies the dignity and nature of a Draconian to the fullest, he can''t regain the sense of taste.
Well, there''s a way.
"Kang Minyeong, synchronize with Fafnir."
"Yes."
A unique characteristic that connects their senses.
It can be used on both inanimate objects and living beings.
And the user, Kang Minyeong, can synchronize senses as much as she needs.
During the [Iron Tomb] raid, they shared Fafnir''s ''eyes''.
¡¾Even if you do that... Ah!?¡¿
"Wow, it works."
Munch munch¡ª
The exploding meat juices.
The rich scent of meat filling his mouth made the blue me burn even more fiercely.
¡¾It''s a taste I''ve forgotten for so long.¡¿
"I can''t let you chew it yourself, so enjoy it vicariously."
¡¾What an undeserved reward, Master.¡¿
"Don''t thank me. Talk to Kang Minyeong."
Fafnir went in front of Kang Minyeong and bent his waist at a 90-degree angle.
¡¾I will never forget this grace.¡¿
"I just did what my brother told me to do. Don''t worry about it."
In the previous life, they were enemies who fought to the death.
It was Yoojin''s warrior, Fafnir, who took the Mirror Hunter''s life.
Although their rtionship haspletely changed with the regression...
''It''s not bad, is it?''
Yoojin recalled his past life and smiled.
£ª £ª £ª
By the time they finished eating, the sun had set.
"Hyung-nim, why didn''t you cook in the border area?"
"Monsters don''t wait for me to finish cooking."
"Well, the border area is dangerous."
A space where gates and reality are mixed, half transformed into another world.
Monsters spawn from time to time, and variants that transcend their rank appear frequently.
His senses have been dulled due to crossing the line of death many times, but it''s a dangerous area that most hunters avoid.
"But isn''t it rtively safe inside the Necropolis territory?"
"Ah, that''s a bit of a hassle."
Kang Minho looked dumbfounded.
Think about it.
If you do a hobby too much, it bes work.
"Thank you for the meal, partner."
"Are you satisfied?"
"It was better than the Daesung Group cafeteria."
"I''ll take that as apliment."
A review that surpasses the cafeteria of thergestpany in Korea.
Yoojin smiled brightly.
"Hyung, that kind of refreshing atmosphere doesn''t suit you."
Kang Minyeong was disgusted, but who cares?
Ahem.
He coughed briefly and looked around at the group sitting at the table.
"Now that we''ve all filled our bellies pleasantly, let''s get down to business."
Everyone focused on Yoojin''s words.
Although they hadn''t known him for long, this was the first time he had set the mood like this.
''What in the world is he going to say?''
''Mmm, the steak was delicious.''
''Has my partner secured a new alchemy idea?''
''Ugh. I have to restock the items after he''s done talking.''
As their thoughts were diverging in different directions, Yoojin''s low voice brought the four people''s consciousness together.
"We''re going to create apany."
"Apany?"
"Literally, yes. But what I have in mind is a bit broader."
Company.
A concept that started trending in the American hunter industry, where hunter-rted businesses gather under the umbre of a pany."
In Korea, it''s simr to a group of affiliates or subsidiaries of apany.
"So, my workshop will be under yourpany?"
"Strictly speaking, yes, but I''ll give the founding members of thepany fancy titles."
"Kuk, Kkuk. This is very interesting."
Shin Joonseok clutched his stomach andughed, a strange sound escaping his lips.
¡²Hahaha. That little human is sneering.¡³
''He''s intrigued.''
¡²What?¡³
''How could a ipetent constetion know the human heart?''
Geniuses are all a little bit crazy.
This guy quit a major corporation, took on debt to focus on research, and even built his own private workshop.
''He''s happy, thinking that if he gets closer to me, he''ll be able to get more alchemy knowledge.''
¡²That little human. I thought he was normal, but he''s more of a madman than I thought.¡³
''He must have done the calctions in his head.''
A hunter who overwhelmingly defeated Song Myeongseok, the Arhan''s Supernova.
His potential for growth is overflowing.
He must have calcted that bing a family under the same roof of a [Company] would benefit him in some way.
He was a chief researcher at Daesung, after all.
"For the record, I''m going to establish a family based on necromancy."
Necropolis, established in the border area.
And the recent acquisition of a part of Red Spider''s business.
"Hyung-nim, you were nning this from the beginning."
"Red Spider is an underworld organization. It was dangerous."
"Please ask for our opinion next time."
Oh dear.
Kang Minho''s neck is all red, he seems quite angry.
He put the Little Runts team aside out of consideration, but it seems they didn''t like it.
¡²Hahahaha. What a beautiful camaraderie. Isn''t this also a hero''s journey?¡³
''I was wondering when that hero nonsense woulde up.''
Don''t pop up and distract me when I''m talking about something important.
"I guess I''ll be the alchemy workshop."
"You just have to keep doing what you''ve been doing, partner."
"But are those guys included in thepany too?"
When Yoojin nodded, Shin Joonseok''s eyes changed.
The sharp look he had when he first came to the workshop.
He coldly judged the value of the Little Runts team with his sunken eyes.
"I understand your intentions, partner, but I''d like you to separate public and private matters."
He concluded that they didn''t fit into the [Company] that Yoojin was going to establish.
Words that hurt their pride.
Instead of getting angry, the Little Runts team remained silent.
''We''re grateful that you''re giving us a chance, but it''s too much for us.''
''Wouldn''t it be best for us to stay by hyung''s side?''
''We shouldn''t be too greedy.''
After hearing that Shin Joonseok had rejected a 30 billion won investment, and now with the [Company] talk, they couldn''t readily agree.
If they''re not careful, they might end up holding Yoojin back.
"Don''t worry. I vouch for these guys."
"Are you saying they can fulfill their roles as members of thepany?"
"They''re as talented as you, so don''t worry."
He''s serious.
The twin siblings'' future selves, the ''Mirror Hunters'', grow into one of the few 8 Star hunters even decadester.
And what about Lee Seongmin''s ability?
If he knows how to use it properly, its applications are endless.
"H-Hyung-nim!"
"I pledge my loyalty from now on!"
"I-I''ll call you Master, hyung!"
Don''t be moved by such trivial things.
As the Little Runts team looked at Yoojin with sparkling eyes, Shin Joonseok also let out a short sigh.
"If that''s what you''ve decided, partner, there must be a reason."
"Even if it''s apany, we''re not nning on doing anything right away anyway."
The reason he talked about the [Company] with Shin Joonseok and the Little Runts team was for the future.
The big picture that Yoojin had in mind.
The [Company] was the starting point.
"But shouldn''t it have a name?"
"I''ve already thought of one."
"Oh, as expected of our hyung. Tell us quickly."
Eyes shining with anticipation.
Yoojin recited the name of the [Company] he had thought of beforehand.
"ck Company."
Wheeeeeng¡ª
A cold wind swept through the group.
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Chapter 57: Phoenix Guild
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Chapter 57: Phoenix Guild
¡°No, hyung. That¡ isn''t there anything else?¡±
¡°What! Why!¡±
Yoojin shouted.
¡°Hyungnim, I hate to say this, but just looking at the name, it sounds like a ckpany.¡±
¡°Well, yeah, that''s literally what the word means!¡±
I used my skills to feed you all a hearty meal, and this is the thanks I get! You ungrateful bunch!
Yoojin thought.
Yoojin, who had been silent for a moment, slowly opened his lips.
¡°Really? Nothing else?¡±
¡°¡°No!¡±¡±
You guys¡ Did you all gang up on me while eating?
Seeing the group in unison gave him a headache.
¡®What''s wrong with ck!¡¯
Yoojin, resting his chin on his hand, fell into deep thought with a serious expression.
This was bad. He didn''t even think of any other names.
¡°How about Noir?¡±
¡°Sounds like we should be carrying guns.¡±
¡°More than that, hyung, that''s French for ck.¡±
¡°I didn''t know our partner had a hobby of ying with colors.¡±
Damn it. To think they''d immediately recognize that it means ck in French.
¡°Don''t just criticize, give me some ideas.¡±
¡°There are four of us with different surnames, how about Sasung (Four Surnames)?¡±
¡°Aren''t you going to ept other peopleter?¡±
¡°How about Yeonmaeng (Alliance)?¡±
¡°Rejected. Sounds like a newspaper name.¡±
After that, several other ideas came up, but none of them convinced even Yoojin, let alone the whole group.
¡°Any more ideas? Then let''s go with the original n.¡±
Ha¡
Shin Joonseok sighed, and the Kang siblings shook their heads.
¡°It''s definitely a ckpany.¡±
¡°You used to have some humanity, hyung. Your naming sense is terrible.¡±
[ck Company]
In the end, thepany was formed with the name that everyone hated.
£ª £ª £ª
The next day.
Yoojin, who hade out of the workshop to rest, nced outside at the murmuring sound.
"It''s a real crowd."
"Those people have no sense of day or night. It must be tiring to be sopetent."
Usually, people don''t say that kind of thing about themselves.
As if he didn''t see Yoojin''s puzzled look, Shin Joonseok made an annoyed expression.
"You''re not thinking about investment, are you?"
"I received some from my partner, so I''m fine."
"It wouldn''t be bad to make the factory bigger."
"I know my limits. If I get too greedy, I''ll copse."
Oh.
What?
Mr. Shin Joonseok, are you this self-aware?
When Yoojin met him before his return, he was the epitome of narcissism, but at this point, he was still within the normal range.
"What''s with that look?"
"No, don''t worry about it."
Ignoring Shin Joonseok''s suspicious gaze, he spoke again.
"Did you hand over the initial production of potions to Arhan?"
"Yes, 101 in total."
"That''s less than I thought."
"The initial goal was 200, but it didn''t go as well as I thought."
Even with automated production,plete automation was impossible.
Machines can only rece humans in simple tasks such as heating mana stone molten solution to a set temperature or setting up materials.
"You know, partner, alchemy is a bit of a sensitive field."
Alchemy is a field where the results vary depending on minute temperature differences, the amount of ingredients, or even the order or timing of input.
In the end, the final adjustment is up to Shin Joonseok.
This is why the production volume cannot be increased significantly even in an automated factory.
It''s actually a big deal that he even achieved half of the initial production goal.
"That''s true."
"Anyway, we have to do the second production, but with the situation outside like that, it''s troublesome."
"We can''t keep those guys outside forever."
"Are you saying I should ept investment proposals?"
"No, I''m saying you should at least choose where to send the second production of potions."
The story of Shin Joonseok rejecting the 30 billion won investment offer has spread to both guilds and corporations.
Many of the people raising their voices outside want the second production of potions more than an investment offer.
"Because Arhan has been diligently promoting the effects of the mass-produced intermediate potions."
"To bother people for that reason..."
"It would be even better if you happen to ept an investment offer."
It''s a win-win situation either way, so there''s no reason not to raise your voice.
If we choose an organization to handle the second production volume, many of them will leave.
"Do you have any ce in mind?"
"Not really. How about either Phoenix or Dawn?"
"Not Arhan, then?"
"Why would I do something that benefits them after I killed their rising star?"
The reason I involved Arhan in promoting the mass-produced intermediate potions was that there weren''t many options avable at the time.
Shin Joonseok at this point in time is an unknown alchemist.
It would have taken quite a long time to prove the effectiveness of mass-produced intermediate potions.
The reason he involved Arhan was to save ''time''.
"I don''t need it anymore."
"You were nning this from the beginning."
"Keuh-huh. That''s how business rtionships are."
The two headed towards the fence.
"Master Alchemist Shin!"
"Hunter Cheon Yoojin is there too!"
Murmurs arose.
"You''ve be quite popr too, partner."
"It''s tiring to bepetent."
When Yoojin returned the words he had uttered earlier, Shin Joonseok''s face flushed red.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Wow. How did you know? Is it because you''re the alchemist who seeded in mass-producing intermediate potions?"
"Forget it. I''ll stop talking."
While Yoojin was chuckling, a woman saw him and was startled.
"You. Perhaps the Forgotten Temple?"
Yoojin''s head snapped up at the familiar voice.
Long, neatly tied hair and clear skin.
The moment he met eyes with the woman with a sword at her waist.
Yoojin let out a short groan, "Hmm."
''Jang Miseon?''
A Hunter called the next Sword Saint, and the hope of Phoenix.
In his previous life, she was also the one who conquered the [Forgotten Temple].
''Thanks to her, I''m putting the Dragon Scale Armor to good use.''
If he hadn''t remembered the contents of Jang Miseon''s interview, he wouldn''t have been able to solve the secret of the [Forgotten Temple].
It was all thanks to the Dragon Scale Armor that he was able to ovee theck of power in the [Crimson Lair] raid and spider hunting.
¡²Khahahaha. You are the original owner of the opportunity she snatched away.¡³
''She didn''t use the Dragon Scale Armor anyway.''
Armor that freely transforms ording to the user''s will.
To maximize its power, it had to take the form of heavy armor, which didn''t suit Jang Miseon, who focused on speed.
In the end, the owner of the Dragon Scale Armor became Kim Youngsoo, the master of the Phoenix Guild.
''It suits Fafnir better anyway.''
Whatever.
It wasn''t stealing someone else''s opportunity, but giving it to someone who needed it more.
¡²How shameless.¡³
''If you''re unhappy, why don''t you send her back too?''
You''re a noisy little backcountry ghost.
He had encountered an unexpected person, but that made it all the more certain.
"Is the Phoenix representative there?"
"I am."
The man next to Jang Miseon raised his right arm.
He seemed quite tense and stiff.
A sneer appeared on Shin Joonseok''s lips.
"Even when I was at Daesung, the people from Arhan and Phoenix held their heads high."
"The name value of the group you belong to is your weight."
"That''s why it''s even more amazing."
Even when he was working as a senior researcher at Daesung Group, he didn''t receive this kind of treatment.
It seemed like just yesterday when his colleagues tried to stop him from resigning after his results were stolen.
''It''s all thanks to Yoojin-nim.''
Shin Joonseok hid his inner thoughts and let the Phoenix members who raised their hands inside.
£ª £ª £ª
The two members of Phoenix were led to a reception room set up in one corner of the workshop.
Since it was a remodeled abandoned factory, it was only called a reception room in name, and it looked like it would copse if the wind blew.
"The workshop is in this state. But please make yourselvesfortable."
"Thank you for weing us."
The Phoenix salesperson bowed his head so deeply that it looked like he was going to bury it in the ground.
The rumor that Arhan had obtained the [Mass-produced Intermediate Potion] had already spread throughout the industry.
It was a great achievement just to have a one-on-one meeting with the person at the center of the topic.
"But who is the person apanying you?"
"It''s Hunter Jang Miseon."
"I didn''t expect to see the next Sword Saint at the workshop. It''s an honor."
Shin Joonseok didn''t exactly wee her with open arms.
Apart from her reputation as the next Sword Saint, she was not rted to the potion trade.
Sensing the thorns in his words, Jang Miseon smiled bashfully.
"I''m sorry for being rude. But I had a reason toe to this workshop."
"Could you tell me what that reason is?"
"I once had a spar with Song Myeongseok and lost."
Ah...
A sigh escaped Shin Joonseok''s lips.
"And I heard that Hunter Cheon Yoojin is also at the Paju workshop..."
The three people''s eyes turned to one person as if they had promised to do so.
Snort.
Yoojin snorted nonchntly.
"Um, so, Hunter Cheon Yoojin."
"If you''re asking if we''ve met before, then yes."
"Right? The Forgotten Temple!"
"It was more like we brushed past each other, but you remember well."
"I got the feeling right then! I thought you weren''t an ordinary person. Really, wow. To think of it as a coincidence..."
Wait a minute.
Is this person usually this talkative?
Their only connection was that their eyes met during a Gate raid.
Even before his return, when Yoojin was actively working, she was already deceased, so they had no point of contact.
Is that why?
''She''s a bit too chatty.''
¡²Khahahaha! To be flustered. That''s not like you.¡³
''I didn''t know she was this kind of character.''
If he left her alone, she would go beyond the second and third verse and even reach the fourth.
Ahem, he coughed briefly, and Jang Miseon, who had been chattering non-stop, opened her eyes wide.
"What''s the reason you wanted to see me?"
"I wanted to see the Hunter who defeated Song Myeongseok."
"Then your goal has been achieved."
"Now that I''m here, I have one more reason."
A question mark appeared above Yoojin''s head.
"That, the one who defeated Song Myeongseok was the summoned creature you used at the Forgotten Temple, right?"
"You remember that well."
"It''s our first time meeting, no, it''s our second time meeting, but I''d like to ask you for a spar."
"Do I have any obligation to listen to you?"
Yoojin leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
"Partner. They came all the way from Phoenix, so there''s no need to be so negative."
"No. It''s a personal request to see Hunter Cheon Yoojin. Not from the Phoenix Guild."
Jang Miseon drew a clear line.
It meant that even if he didn''t ept this request, the Phoenix Guild wouldn''t retaliate.
Ooh.
Yoojin slightly straightened his back, which had been half-lying down.
''She may be a bit talkative, but she seems to have a good heart.''
He didn''t know much about Jang Miseon.
- A talent who was recognized as the next Sword Saint.
- The Hunter who solved the secret of the unconquered Gate, the Forgotten Temple.
Those were the only two anecdotes that came to mind.
Before she could blossom with her brilliant talent, she fell into a trap set by the Arhan Guild and became a soul lost forever.
''She must have quite a bit of talent.''
Even when he deliberately provoked her by sitting crookedly or crossing his arms, she just smiled brightly.
She didn''t even use the authority of her guild and drew a line.
¡²Such a small human, yet possessing the qualities of a hero!¡³
''Don''t judge her just because you''ve seen her once.''
If he left her alone, she would even stamp her seal on a request to be a guarantor.
The world of mortals is too harsh a ce for a backcountry ghost to survive.
¡²Are you trying to insult me!¡³
''She''s naive, that''s true.''
¡²I''m not speaking without any basis.¡³
Is that so?
Well, let''s hear why a backcountry ghost made such a judgment.
¡²For that little human to deceive you, there must be a corresponding benefit, wouldn''t you agree?¡³
''Hmm. That makes sense.''
¡²She drew a line with the potion contract, so ept it as a pure intention.¡³
''...I can''t be so at ease, but since it''s the constetion''s words, I''ll try.''
Kronos'' words were the truth.
Unlike the times when he always sang praises of heroes and spouted sophistry, he nodded his head unconsciously.
"Yoojin-nim?"
"I''m sorry. I was just thinking for a moment."
Right.
There''s no need to push her away just because there''s no information.
It would be better to ask for what he can get in this situation.
''It''s not toote to deal with her after observing what kind of person she is.''
Just as he put Song Myeongseok on the kill list but didn''t immediately go to kill him.
It wouldn''t be bad to take some time to observe the variables he didn''t see before his return.
"What do I gain if I spar with you?"
"I''ll give you the Heartstone I have."
"He-Heartstone!!!"
Shin Joonseok, who had been listening quietly, screamed.N?v(el)B\\jnn
A catalyst with an energy amplification effect, simr to the bloodstone mined from the [Crimson Lair].
Bloodstone was more expensive than gold by the same weight, but...
Heartstone was a powerful catalyst with an amplification effect several times that of bloodstone.
"I don''t need that."
"Pa, Partner!!!"
I even got you the [Paracelsus'' Magic Cylinder].
Heartstone is a powerful catalyst, but there''s no use for it right now.
"Does that mean you''re okay with something of simr value?"
"You''re quick-witted."
"I''ll give you anything I can get my hands on within my ability."
The answer came out without a second of hesitation.
You.
I kind of like you.
Yoojin finally smiled with satisfaction.
[Trantor - Hestia
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Chapter 58: Burned Out
[Trantor - Hestia]
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Chapter 58: Burned Out
¡¾A spar?¡¿
"Yeah. The next Sword Saint wants to witness the skills that defeated Song Myeongseok."
It wasn''t that the two of them had fought each other.
But it wasn''t wrong to say that Fafnir had made the greatest contribution to thwarting the attack led by Song Myeongseok.
"Please call me by my name, not my title."
"I don''t want to. It feels too friendly."
If they were close or on terms where they could speak informally, in other words, if they became enemies, then he wouldfortably call her by her name.
Yoojin didn''t ssify the woman in front of him as either.
''It''ll be decided one way or another soon.''
Or...
She might die before they even have a chance to interact, just like in the original history.
"Will you do it?"
¡¾There''s a condition.¡¿
"No way. I''m the one who''s supposed to be getting the reward."
¡¾Don''t worry. The one who will ept that condition is Master.¡¿
What?
A question mark appeared above Yoojin''s head.
¡¾Master should spar with Hunter Jang Miseon first.¡¿
"Whoa, what''s with the sudden joke?"
Fafnir stood silently.
Yoojin''s bewildered expression was reflected in the calmly burning blue mes.
"Are you... serious?"
¡¾You''ve been neglecting your spear trainingtely.¡¿
"I''ve been swinging it around when I have time."
¡¾My philosophy is consistent. Once you''ve learned the form, you need to experience actualbat to improve.¡¿
"I''ve been busy. And if I had tried to use a spear in that situation, I wouldn''t have even been able to pick up my bones."
Yoojin strongly objected.
The Hunters who flocked to the border area during the spider hunt were at least 3 Star.
Since he had even given Fafnir the Dragon Scale Armor, closebat would have been a sure defeat.
¡¾When will the enemy ever consider Master''s circumstances? Don''t ever say you learned from me if you''re going to be like that.¡¿
Fafnir didn''t back down.
Wow.
He''s serious. This guy.
¡²Khahahahahaha!!!!¡³
Don''tugh, backcountry ghost.
He was the one who asked Fafnir to teach him spear techniques.
Did Fafnir feel responsible for the fact that Yoojin''s skills weren''t improving quickly?
"Ugh. Fine."
"Is that how it''s going to be?"
"Please be gentle. You''re not going to go all out on a weak priest, are you?"
"I haven''t learned how to control my strength in a spar."
Shing¡ª
Jang Miseon held the Unique ranked weapon, [Wind Sword].
It was the weapon he had briefly seen during the Forgotten Temple raid.
"That''s a real sword."
"Yes. I don''t carry wooden swords around."
"You''re going to swing that without even a protective shield for sparring?"
¡¾Don''t worry. I''ll stop it if it gets dangerous.¡¿
Damn it.
That''s aforting thought.
"Great warrior. Let''s talkter."
¡¾We can do it now.¡¿
"I''ll do itter."
An unnned spar.
Yoojin grumbled as he walked to the empty lot where they had had the dinner party.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin and Jang Miseon stood at opposite ends of the empty lot.
The distance between them was about 50 meters.
If they ran with all their might, they could close that distance in less than 3 seconds.
''I didn''t expect to warm up here.''
An unexpected spar.
It wasn''t a bad situation.
As Fafnir said, it would be a good experience to fight against an opponent who didn''t need him to hold back.
''During the Crimson Lair, I was too busy defending against attacks.''
Because there was such a huge difference in level between him and the Red Spider Hunter, he could only barely deflect one attack.
That was a big achievement in itself, but...
In any case, this was the first time he was fighting a Hunter of the same rank.
"You''re not nning on going easy, are you?"
"Once I hold a sword, it''s my creed to do my best in every moment."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
She''s tough.
Even though she lost to Song Myeong-seok, it was clear that she possessedparable talent.
In the Forgotten Temple, she used the [Wind Sword] to cut curses.
It was proof that she could urately read the flow of mana.
"Fafnir. Let''s start by casting some divine spells."
¡¾Do you think the opponent will just stand there and watch while you cast buffs in the middle of battle?¡¿
"A priest fighting a martial arts Hunter should get that much of an advantage."
¡¾Hmm. That makes sense. Go ahead.¡¿
He''s acting like a real master now.
He had to do what he had to do to survive. He didn''t voice his thoughts because he was the one in need.
[Using Unholy Blessing.]
[Using Giant''s Strength.]
[Using Punishing Spike.]
As divine power permeated him, power surged through his entire body.
At the same time, his breathing gradually became rough.
''So this is what stamina consumption feels like.''
It wasn''t bad.
No.
Rather, the surging courage gave him the confidence that he could do anything.
[Using Midnight Sun.]
[Divine Power ¡ú Spirit Power]
"I''m ready."
The moment he uttered those words.
Fafnir swiftly lowered the hand he had raised.
¡¾Begin.¡¿
As soon as his right hand came down, Jang Miseon kicked off the ground and raised her Wind Sword horizontally.
It wasmon knowledge that the Priest ss was vulnerable to close-range attacks.
Unless they were a special ss like [Pdin] or [Crusader].
[Using Bone Spear.]
Crack¡ª!
As soon as the projectile rushing towards her came into view, Jang Miseon instinctively swung her sword.
Her wrist ached.
Because the speed of the projectile was quite fast, she could only tell what had flown at her after deflecting it.
"A bone?"
She blocked it well.
Priests had few destructive spells like mages.
This was especially true at lower ranks.
The reason Jang Miseon immediately rushed in was because she knew Yoojin was a Priest.
He had tried to use that psychology to his advantage, but she had beautifully deflected it.
¡¾Master, that''s magic!¡¿
"I didn''t say I would only use a spear in the spar."
And...
It''s not over yet.
[Using Bone Control.]
While Jang Miseon''s steps were halted as she deflected the [Cursed Fang] he had initially thrown, he manipted the remaining three, lifting them into the air.
''Maintain distance so they aren''t swept away by a single sword strike.''
The Wind Sword was an artifact that could even cut mana if swung with precise timing.
The spirit power imbued in his magical weapons was no exception.
''I''ve already grasped the speed of her sword swings.''
Cursed Fang flew at him from all directions.
Even though their power and speed were significantly lower than Bone Spear, it wasn''t something he could withstand with his bare body.
[Shooting Star Sword]
[Starlight Curtain]
Fwooosh¡ª!
A powerful wind strong enough to ruffle Yoojin''s hair from dozens of meters away.
The curtain of wind, imbued with mana and scattering a faint light, pushed away the Cursed Fang.
"Shooting Star Sword? That technique needs someone who can handle Aura to reach its full potential."
¡¾She''s using the Wind Sword to manipte the flow of air to create an effect simr to Aura.¡¿
Damn.
To think she would use the Wind Sword''s ability to interfere with energy in that way.
Naturally,pared to a sword technique that used Aura, its power wasn''t even a tenth.
The problem was that even that insufficient power was enough to push away the Cursed Fang.
[Shooting Star Sword]
[Comet Rush]
A chill ran down his spine.
A movement several times faster than her initial charge.
A sword thrust at his heart with a speed that was difficult for even Yoojin''s agility to react to.
Therefore.
[Verdian Basic Spear Technique]
[Fourth Form - Spear Strike]
It wasn''t that he saw it with his eyes and reacted consciously.
His body moved in response to Jang Miseon''s sharp thrust thanks to the ''sense'' he had gained from countless battles he had experienced before reaching the 9th rank in his previous life.
ng¡ª!
The bone spear in Yoojin''s hand drew a long trajectory, deflecting the oing Wind Sword.
A loud ng rang out as bone and metal shed.
He couldn''tpletely counter the thrust of the [Shooting Star Sword], which contained the principle of ascension.
Yoojin, who had urately deflected it, staggered instead.
''How?''
Jang Miseon''s eyes were filled with surprise.
However, her movements didn''t be dull.
Rather, she subtly shifted the trajectory of her thrust, which was shaking from the impact with the spear, to conserve her strength.
Instead of aiming for the chest as she initially intended, she thrust towards the abdomen.
''Whoa. How did she do that?''
Yoojin was surprised for two reasons.
First, the spear technique he had always used consciously flowed out as naturally as water.
Second, even though he had struck the de with the shaft of his spear, the tip of the sword didn''t waver much.
[Transforming the Dragon Scale Armor.]
[Form - Heavy Armor]
[Impact Resistance Lv 45]
[Piercing Resistance Lv 37]
[Agility -5%]
This time, it wasn''t an unconscious action.
A tingling pain shot up from his hand gripping the spear shaft.
Thanks to that, he was able to perceive the direction of the sword strike.
He changed the Dragon Scale Armor into its most defensive form.
Thud¡ª!
With a cough, Yoojin was thrown back several meters.
Before his airborne body could crash onto the ground...
He barely managed to put strength into his legs andnd, avoiding a tumble.
¡¾Ooh.¡¿
Don''t make admiring noises.
His wrists and ankles were tingling.
The area of his abdomen where the tip of the sword had struck wasn''t wounded thanks to the Dragon Scale Armor, but he hadn''t been able to absorb all the force, resulting in a shock to his internal organs.
Blood dripped from his hand that had been gripping the spear shaft.
''Is the difference really that big?''
Yoojin''s strength was equivalent to a low-level 2 Star martial arts Hunter.
With the triple buff, it wasparable to the peak of a 2 Star.
Even if he didn''t know what kind of unique traits Jang Miseon had, the difference in their stats shouldn''t be overwhelminglyrge.
''Ascending Swordsmanship. And the difference in how we use our strength.''
Even with the same amount of strength, the result would differ depending on how it was applied.
It was what Fafnir always said.
Fighting against Jang Miseon, who was of the same rank, made him realize the truth of those words.
"Oh. Are you really a Priest?"
Jang Miseon eximed in admiration.
When she received Yoojin''s spear strike, she also felt considerable power.
His spear-wielding posture was terrible, but...
The power contained within it was far too strong for a Priest.
Tap, tap.
"She''s not giving me any time to rest."
Yoojin clicked his tongue but still moved his spirit power.
From the moment he was pushed back by the sword strike...
The Cursed Fang were once again under his control.
nk!
The magical weapons closed in right behind the charging Jang Miseon.
In sync with them, Yoojin also charged forward.
''There''s no chance of winning if I just dodge.''
A necromancer''s main strength was corpses.
Whether it was creating undead or using spirit power to detonate corpses, they overwhelmed their enemies.
Right now, there was nothing.
He hadn''t learned any poison-type spells, and there was no time to use the curse engraved on the [Shadow Mask].
''Even if I did, she would cut it down.''
The skill with which she cut down the curse of the Masked Man with the Wind Sword.
Unless he used a catalyst like a ghoul''s fingernail to amplify his power...
He couldn''t harm Jang Miseon with a low-level curse.
''This is the best I can do.''
[Verdian Basic Spear Technique]
[Fifth Form]
[Charge]
He channeled all the strength in his body into the tip of his spear and charged forward swiftly.
It was a spear technique he hadn''t used when sparring with Fafnir.
He couldn''t choose to advance in a situation where he was being unterally beaten.
''It''s the same now, though.''
The same rank?
No.
The difference in their stats might not be huge, but...
He couldn''t withstand Jang Miseon, who skillfully wielded Ascending Swordsmanship, for more than a few exchanges.
''Attack together with the Cursed Fang.''
ng! nk! nk!
[Shooting Star Sword]
[Meteor Shower]
A barrage of sword strikes.
After deflecting all the [Cursed Fang] that wereunched from various directions, the de pointed straight ahead.
The tremendous rebound force felt like it would break his wrist.
''It''s not working even though I put all my strength into it?''
The pain was enough to bring tears to his eyes.
Even so...
He continuously moved his spirit power for the next move.
[Using Bone Spear.]
Heunched the [Cursed Fang] that had bounced back near him once more, and then...
[Using Midnight Sun.]
[Spirit Power ¡ú Divine Power]
[Using Life Drain.]
He used the vitality he had umted in advance to recover his aching wrist and stamina.
''It feels different.''
Before his return, he rarely had to fight by moving his own body.
He had roughly learned physical techniques because he had experienced all sorts of battles onnd, sea, and air.
Why would a necromancer be at the front lines?
Therefore...
Fighting while simultaneously using spear techniques and necromancy stimted Yoojin with a sensation he had never felt before.
''Should I try some more?''
His skin tingled.
He felt like a new inspiration woulde to him if he sparred a little longer.
Crack¡ª!
"Whew. You''re quite something, you."
Immediately after using Meteor Shower and deflecting the Bone Spear that followed, Jang Miseon breathed heavily.
"Are you really a Priest? How are you so good at fighting?"
"You''re pretending to be weak without even revealing all your cards."
"That applies to Hunter Yoojin as well."
That''s not true.
What could she expect from a necromancer without any corpses?
ng! nk! nk! nk!
Yoojin attacked from multiple angles, simultaneously utilizing [Bone Control], [Bone Spear], and [Verdian Basic Spear Technique].
Jang Miseon deflected all the time-dyed and simultaneous attacks with a single sword.
ng¡ª!
When it had been 5 minutes since the two began exchanging blows...
The bone spear in Yoojin''s hand was flung into the air, spinning before plunging into the ground.
The de was pointed at his neck.
"That was a good spar."
"I learned a lot thanks to you."
It was the moment when the victor and the loser were decided, but...
There wasn''t a shadow of negativity on either of their faces.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 59: A New Realm
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 59: A New Realm
"Wow. I can see stars even though it''s daytime."
Jang Miseon, lying on the ground, muttered deliriously.
10 seconds.
That''s how long it took for her to copse after crossing swords with Fafnir.
¡¾Your thoughts can''t keep up with your reflexes.¡¿
"Ah. Is that so?"
¡¾During the spar with Master, you recognized the attack after reacting to it.¡¿
"That''s right. It felt like it was flying at me so fast that my body moved before I could even think."
¡¾Don''t just swing instinctively, control it with your will.¡¿
"Ah..."
Jang Miseon let out an exmation as if she had realized something from Fafnir''s advice.
It''s a wonder she''s not angry at being lectured.
''I was surprised by her reaction speed, but Fafnir saw something different.''
The Eyes of a Martial God.
An S-rank ability that analyzes and reads any martial art, phenomenon, or even mana level.
Fafnir had analyzed Jang Miseon''s problem just from a nce.
"Hunter Cheon Yoojin. What rank is that familiar of yours?"
"4 Star."
"Wow. You must be loved by your constetion."
It was widely known in the industry that Yoojin was a Priest.
Although no one knew which constetion he served, it was an established fact that he had received Fafnir as a familiar.
¡²Khahahaha. To think that they recognize my benevolence. Truly a fine little human.¡³
''What does a ipetent constetion know?''
¡²If you desire more from me, achieve feats worthy of it.¡³
''Is that something I can do just because you tell me to?''
A constetion and a human bound together by fate.
The more Yoojin, the sole believer and Saint of the ¡²Heaven-Defying Giant¡³, umted achievements and feats...
The more Kronos, who appointed him as a Saint, regained his strength.
¡²Wouldn''t it be beneficial for my contractor if I regained my former glory as soon as possible?¡³
Originally, he was the King of the Titans.
After being dethroned by Zeus, he became a fallen constetion and resided in the world of appearances, but...
If he umted achievements as a constetion, regaining his former power wasn''t just a dream.
''Well, that''s true.''
¡²So, quickly...¡³
''Feats aren''t something you can umte in a short period of time.''
He had said it before.
The higher the level one reached, the more one needed to establish their own inner image.
The way to form an inner image differed depending on the ss, but...
One thing inmon was that the difficulty of forming an inner image depended on how strong one''s soul was and how many achievements one had umted.
''I need to be at least 7 Star to even talk about forming an inner image.''
This meant that for now, it was difficult for Kronos to fully exert his power as a constetion.
So, stop nagging and spit out some useful divine spells.
''I have a lot to worry about, so stop grumbling.''
Right now, there was something more important than divine spells in front of him.
The sensation he felt during the spar just now.
''It wasn''t a conscious reaction.''
The moment Jang Miseon elerated her charge and closed the distance in an instant...
Just by seeing her silhouette and thinking it was dangerous, his body reacted before he could even confirm the direction of the sword with his eyes.
¡¾Do you get the feeling?¡¿
"A little bit. I don''t really understand what happened."
¡¾What I have to say to Master is the opposite.¡¿
Fafnir pointed at Jang Miseon, who was lying on the ground.
¡¾Don''t think too much and leave it to your instincts.¡¿
"Instincts, huh."
¡¾Master always observes and judges the situation calmly. That makes your body slow.¡¿
"Even martial artists don''t just charge forward like wild boars."
¡¾That''s a little different.¡¿
"It doesn''t really click with me."
Fafnir chuckled softly.
¡¾Don''t worry. I''ll make sure you understand what it means to move instinctively.¡¿
"That makes me a bit uneasy, Fafnir-nim."
¡¾Hey, the one lying down.¡¿
"Yes, familiar-nim."
¡¾If you spar with my Master, I''ll spar with you as much as you want.¡¿
Excuse me.
I''m your Master, why are you deciding things on your own?
¡¾If you''re unhappy, find an undead to spar with instead of me.¡¿
Damn it.
Yoojin tried hard to suppress the curse caught in his throat.
£ª £ª £ª
Huff, huff.
Drenched in sweat, Yoojin let out rough breaths.
"This... damn..."
"Cough. You''re not cursing at me, are you?"
"Huuuh. I''m cursing at that damn... familiar."
The sun had disappeared beyond the horizon.
He had been sparring since morning, resting only minimally.
¡¾You''ve both be somewhat usable.¡¿
"Shit."
¡¾I''ll take that as apliment.¡¿
Ugh.
If it wasn''t for what he was going to get from Jang Miseon, he wouldn''t have gone through this trouble.
¡²Khahahaha! It''s a sight to behold.¡³
''Go away. I''m tired.''
¡²I''m serious. How beautiful it is to see my contractor sweating and learning something.¡³
''Has a ipetent constetion ever trained while sweating?''
¡²Khaha. A humorous joke. Why would I, who was destined for kingship from birth, engage in such a vulgar act?¡³
Damn it.
You were born a god, is that it?
¡²Yes. Was it worth sweating for?¡³
''...I did improve a bit.''
There were gains.
He had a slight sense of what Fafnir meant by ''instinctive'' movement.
Rather than controlling everything, it was about going with the flow.
¡²Going with the flow?¡³
''It''s the opposite of magic.''
Necromancy was also a type of magic.
It controlled spirit power, a branch of mana and the power of the Yin dimension.
It distorted the rules and principles of this world to control the dead.
¡²Oh. Since the method of using mana is different, the way to form an inner image is also different.¡³
''That''s right. You''re surprisingly quick-witted for a ipetent constetion.''
¡²In my younger days, I sat and observed all of creation. This is nothing.¡³
''Yes, ipetent constetion-nim.''
The magic system excluded the unconscious.
On the other hand, the martial arts system had to achieve integration of the unconscious and conscious.
Reconciling the two was like drawing a triangle with the right hand and a square with the left hand simultaneously.
¡²If you attempt it haphazardly, even your strengths might fade.¡³
''Still, isn''t it worth trying?''
¡²Do you have a reason for your confidence?¡³
''Because someone who has already done it is right in front of me.''
Yoojin''s gaze turned to Fafnir.
Starting as a Skeleton Knight and rising to a Death Knight.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
He didn''t stop there, and in his pursuit of the ultimate in martial arts, he surpassed even the Doom Knight and reached 9 Stars.
¡²Didn''t my contractor''s great warrior have the Martial Artist trait?¡³
''If I could be 9 Star just with a trait, then what am I?''
Clear Mind?
Although it was a decent trait, it wasn''t S-rank ording to the Hunter Association standards.
The same went for the Kang siblings, the Mirror Hunters who made their names as mercenaries.
''Although unique traits are a measure of talent, they''re not absolute.''
He didn''t need to be a master of martial arts like Fafnir.
Being able to protect himself was enough.
¡¾Do you remember when you concentrated spirit power in your eyes?¡¿
"You mean at the border region?"
He was talking about when he used spirit vision as a shortcut to find the spirit vein.
¡¾Imbuing mana with your will is the first step to Aura.¡¿
"You said it back then. It''s just a simple trick."
¡¾Huh-huh. Is that really so?¡¿
Fafnir extended a hand to Yoojin, who was lying on the ground.
"Ugh... I''m exhausted..."
¡¾Now''s the perfect time. Your senses are sharpened.¡¿
What is he trying to make me do?
Grumbling inwardly, Yoojin took Fafnir''s hand and stood up.
¡¾Try drawing up spirit power like before.¡¿
"Into my eyes?"
¡¾No. Into the spear you''re holding.¡¿
Without much thought, Yoojin channeled spirit power into the bone spear as instructed.
A whitish energy flickered around the spear shaft.
"See? Nothing happened."
At that moment.
An overwhelming killing intent surged from Fafnir.
A fist the size of a cauldron filled Yoojin''s vision.
[Verdian Basic Spear Technique]
[Sixth Form]
[Full Power Thrust]
He couldn''t even utter a protest.
The murderous intent was so intense that every hair on his body stood on end.
The enormous fist loomed before his eyes.
His senses, heightened from the spar with Jang Miseon, instinctively moved his body.
Woooong¡ª!
Yoojin''s mind reacted to the killing intent.
The spirit power he had imbued into the spear shaft with his will.
And the Verdian Basic Spear Technique, executed instinctively.
The moment his mind, spirit power, and body became one, the spirit power dwelling in the spear turned jet ck.
"Aura?!"
Jang Miseon screamed.
Yoojin btedly looked at the dark energy coiling around the spear shaft.
"This is..."
¡¾Proof that the flow of mana, will, and body have be one.¡¿
"Aura, no. Is it Dark Aura?"
¡¾Huhuhu. To be precise, it''s just an imitation.¡¿
Fafnir''s words were urate.
Even if Yoojin, who hadn''t reached 4 Stars, achieved the unity of mind, spirit power, and body, he couldn''t generate proper Dark Aura.
It was less than a third of the original''s power.
"Wait. This consumes a tremendous amount of spirit power."
Yoojin was startled.
In the blink of an eye, nearly half of his spirit power had been consumed.
The price of peeking into a realm not meant for him.
¡¾But you get the feeling, right?¡¿
"Thanks a damn lot."
He cursed, but the corners of his mouth twitched.
Oh my god.
Dark Aura.
''I wouldn''t be able to do it again if you asked me to, but this is still something.''
Just seeing the possibility was enough.
As Yoojin withdrew the spirit power from the bone spear...
"Partner. Is the spar over now?"
An annoyingly high-pitched voice echoed in his ears.
"That sounds like you want us to do more."
"That''s not what I meant. You don''t think I''d enjoy seeing you rolling on the ground, do you?"
Hey, alchemist.
Saying that while covering your mouth with your hand isn''t convincing, you know?
"If you''re not interested in other people''s suffering, why did youe?"
"Arhan Guild delivered a pile of scrap metal."
The delivery was faster than expected.
They must have held some grudge because of the raid, but they were surprisingly efficient in this regard.
"Give me a low-grade potion if you have one."
"It won''t be effective for bruises or the shock absorbed by your bones."
"I''ll use it for something else."
Yoojin got up with difficulty and snatched the potion.
His arms and legs ached, and a stinging sensation lingered in his abdomen.
If he left it like this, he would surely suffer.
Gulp!
He swallowed the low-grade potion, and condensed life force flowed into his body.
Yoojin ced his hand on his chest and concentrated his divine power.
[Using Life Drain.]
He snatched the energy of recovery that had just entered his stomach and umted it in his dantian.
It was something he had done repeatedly when creating the ck spire.
Saaaak¡ª!
He transformed the umted life force back into healing power and infused it throughout his body.
"Ah, no way. I drank a low-grade potion, but why are the bruises disappearing?"
"I told you there was a way."
Breathing became much easier.
Yoojin, on a roll, used Life Drain on Jang Miseon, who was sprawled on the ground.
"What you just used. Was that a low-grade healing spell?"
"Probably."
"It seems more effective than the healing the support team from the guild uses."
Thud¡ª!
Jang Miseon kicked off the ground, got up, and swung her arms around.
Even though Fafnir had pounded her like minced meat, she felt almost no pain.
"Would you like to go on a Gate raid with me sometime?"
"No time. Go on."
"We have to spar."
"No time to y. Work just came in."
The [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] sent by Arhan Guild.
It was nothing but useless scrap metal to cksmiths and alchemists, but...
''To me, it''s as precious as bloodstone.''
Keuh-huh.
Yoojin grinned and looked at Shin Joonseok.
"Wh-What is it? That''s ominous."
"Let''s do some work."
"What are you trying to make me do now?"
"You must be curious about how I''m going to use the scrap metal Arhan delivered."
Shin Joonseok''s pupils wavered from side to side.
"If you don''t want to, don''t do it."
"That''s not what I mean... but still..."
"I''m going."
Without a moment''s hesitation, he started walking, and Shin Joonseok hurriedly followed.
¡¾They''re gone.¡¿
"They are."
¡¾What are you going to do now?¡¿
"If you don''t mind, would you spar with me one more time?"
¡¾Well, Master didn''t tell me not to.¡¿
Fafnirughed cheerfully.
£ª £ª £ª
A mountain of scrap metal was piled up on one side of the workshop.
It was the spoils of war from the Gate raid, transported by Arhan Guild.
"With 20 tons, we''ll have enough for a few years."
"Besides emitting a faint chill, I didn''t find anything special about it."
"I guess you had time to analyze it before calling me?"
Ahem.
Yoojin chuckled at Shin Joonseok, who was feigning a cough, and then picked up a piece of scrap metal.
"Have you ever heard of Ghost Iron?"
"It''s a mineral needed for making ego artifacts."
"These scraps here are the stage before that."
Ghost Iron.
As the name suggests, it was iron infused with ghosts.
A mineral that had be home to spirits.
It was characterized by its ability to easily link with other infused spirits.
"Isn''t Ghost Iron incredibly expensive?"
"I told you, it''s the stage before Ghost Iron."
It was merely imbued with the resentment emanating from spirits.
The [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] wasn''t yet a vessel capable of holding spirits.
"It might be different if it was aged further."
"Why don''t you do it now?"
"No way. That''s only possible on a battlefield where at least a thousand people have died."
Ghost Iron was only found in historical sites or Gates where fierce battles had taken ce in the past.
How difficult would it be to artificially create those conditions?
"That''s incredibly, incredibly inefficient. Let''s just say it''s impossible."
"That''s a shame."
"Making money with potions is enough."
"I''m telling you this because I need more to research."
"You can''t use this scrap metal for alchemy, so don''t bother."
Shin Joonseok looked at the [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] with longing eyes.
Even you, during your time as a Grand Alchemist, researched it and gave up.
It would only be a loss if he got greedy.
''He''s not the type to listen even if I try to stop him.''
Yoojin smirked and grasped a piece of scrap metal in his hand.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 60: Undead Modification Surgery
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 60: Undead Modification Surgery
Metal imbued with the obsession of evil spirits, making it highlypatible with the undead.
In other words...
"It''s perfect for modification surgery."
"Surgery?"
"It''s a term that epasses both modification and strengthening."
He infused spirit power into the [Ring of Darkness], and the Skeleton Mage, who had been in a separate space, popped out.
- Heh heh heh. Master. Greetings.
"Greetings to you too."
Jo Seungchul.
In his previous life, he was a powerful mage who had reached the 7 Star realm.
Now, he was a 2 Star Skeleton Mage, his jawbone rattling.
¡²What use do you have for that weakling?¡³
''Since we''ve achieved unity, I need to modify him.''
Jo Seungchul was a variant who, thanks to the fusion of his soul and his living body, had learned 3 Star magic.
He possessed firepower several times greater than an ordinary Skeleton Mage, but...
His weakness was hisck of stamina due to high mana consumption.
''He''ll be a bit more useful now.''
Therge amount of [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] obtained from the Gate raid...
It acted as a kind of mana path, smoothing the flow of spirit power.
Depending on how it was processed, it could also provide strengthening and support.
"Alchemist, what''s the maximum temperature of the Witch''s Cauldron?"
"It can reach 500 degrees."
"3 liters of mana stone molten solution. Adjust the concentration to 27% and boil it with this for 30 minutes."
"You''ll pay for the materials, right?"
"Why are you so suspicious?"
I even paid back all the money I owed you.
You''re making me feel hurt.
"I''m only saying this because you''re forcing me."
"If you don''t want to, don''t do it."
"Ugh, fine. I''ll do it."
Shin Joonseok, taking the [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession], grumbled as he went into the workshop.
Then shall we start the work here as well?
"Come here."
- Heh heh.
Yoojin''s hand slowly traced over Jo Seungchul''s bones.
From head to toe.
He touched him meticulously with slow movements, asionally tapping with his fingers.
¡²Contractor, your tastes are quite peculiar.¡³
''I''m concentrating, so would you please stop talking nonsense?''
¡²Do you have a bone fetish or something? Your touch is too lingering.¡³
''I''m checking the flow of spirit power.''
Tsk tsk.
This is why ipetent constetions are useless.
Their thoughts are impure.
¡²How dare you! A mere human dares to insult me!¡³
''If you''re unhappy, then send down divine punishment or something.''
¡²Y-you!!!¡³
Ignoring the indignant Kronos, he kneaded Jo Seungchul''s entire body.
''With this much, it''s a waste to modify him into a Dark Hood. He could be a Dark Minion.''
Perhaps it was because he possessed the talent of a 7 Star in his previous life.
The flow of spirit power was quite smooth.
Even though he had lost all of his original magic pathways when he became a Skeleton Mage...
When he channeled spirit power, the speed at which it circted throughout his body was quite fast.
"It''s done."
The scrap metal, boiled together with the mana stone molten solution, was ready.
Shin Joonseok tilted his head in confusion.
"There''s no difference in appearance or properties."
"You''ll see. And lend me your gloves."
Alchemy gloves with high heat resistance.
Yoojin picked up the [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] that had been boiled with the mana stone molten solution and slowly pulled it apart.
Riiip¡ª
"H-He tore the metal apart with his bare hands!"
"It bes malleable when boiled with the mana stone molten solution."
"But it was hard when I brought it!"
"You have to apply force gently."
The harder the force applied, the harder it became, but if you pushed or pulled slowly, it was easy to change its shape.
It was a simr principle to mixing starch powder with water.
He took a handful of scrap metal and kneaded it with his hands, shaping it to resemble a bone.
"Seungchul, remove your third rib."
- Heh heh.
Snap.
The Skeleton Mage removed his rib without hesitation.
Yoojin fitted the piece of [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] he had just kneaded into the empty space.
Sssst¡ª
Just as he had interfered with the modification values of a zombie in the past to transform its body structure and turn it into a gue Zombie...
This time, he used spirit power to attach the [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] to Jo Seungchul''s bones.
[A foreign substance has been mixed into the body structure of Skeleton Mage (Jo Seungchul).]
Combining with a substance that wasn''t part of an undead''sposition.
It was like white blood cells resisting when germs entered the body.
''Don''t reject it, ept it.''
Yoojin matched the wavelength of his spirit power to Jo Seungchul''s soul dwelling in the skeleton.
The energy that flowed through his palm passed through the scrap metal and circted through the Skeleton Mage''s entire body, that is, his bones.
[Spirit power conductivity increases.]
The [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession], having undergone assimtion, was no longer recognized as a foreign substance embedded in the Skeleton Mage''s body.
[Strength increases by 5.]
[Mana increases by 21.]
- Heh heh heh heh!
Jo Seungchul''s jawbone rattled loudly.
"Why is he doing that?"
"His stats increased because I imnted the Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession."
"Just from changing one bone...?"
"Do you know how much effort I put into giving him a new rib?"
Spirit power control that a 2 Star wouldn''t even be able to imitate.
It was an undead modification surgery that only Yoojin, who had reached the pinnacle of necromancy, could perform.
''There are six ces in total that need to be reced.''
It would take about an hour for the mana of the molten solution in the metal to disappear.
He had to finish within that time.
Yoojin removed the bones he had checked beforehand one by one and reced them with the Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession.
£ª £ª £ª
"Whew, it''s been a while, so I''m a bit rusty."
Yoojin muttered, catching his breath.
47 minutes.
That''s how long it took to rece the bones of the Skeleton Mage (Jo Seungchul).
''It can''t be helped since my senses aren''t what they used to be.''
At 9 Stars, he could read everything as if it were within reach just by spreading his spirit power.
Not to mention the precision of his spirit power control.
He modified Jo Seungchul while recalling his senses from that time as much as possible, but it was far from his prime.
"Partner. About the way you moved your mana just now..."
"Was it a bit clumsy?"
"...Huh?"
Why are you answering a question with another question?
Despite Yoojin''s sharp re, Shin Joonseok persisted.
"You forcibly linked them by matching the wavelengths with mana."
"This scrap metal has a good wavelength match with the undead."
"If you can rece body parts just because the wavelengths match, can you transfuse blood without checking blood types?"
Shin Joonseok''s eyes widened.
Yoojin unconsciously took a step back at the madman''s gaze.
"Teach me how to do that."
"Hmm. It''s not something I can exin in words."
"Just do it. Exin it verbally or demonstrate it after you''re done."
This guy. He''s gone crazy again.
Whenever it might be rted to alchemy, he loses his mind.
''Come to think of it, it''s not entirely unrted.''
A technique not recorded even in the knowledge of past necromancers.
It was something he developed after being inspired while digging into alchemy to strengthen the undead.
He was also the one who named it ''surgery.''
"Alright. I''ll teach youter."
"I''ll be looking forward to it."
He wasn''t sure if strengthening surgery could be applied to alchemy, but...
He had no choice but to do it since he wanted it so badly.
"So, is the work done?"
"Phase one is."
If he ended the surgery here, it would only result in an amazing Skeleton Mage A.
To bring out Jo Seungchul''s talent from his previous life, he had to break the mold of a low-grade undead and lead him to a higher level.
''To strengthen him, I need to learn higher-level spells like Dead Rise.''
But how many times had he used unconventional methods since his return?
He had even created an Eldritch Dragon, a powerful undead that a 1 Star wouldn''t even dream of.
Even the system had epted Yoojin''s feat as a miracle, despite its iplete state.
Jo Seungchul''s strengthening surgery was much easier than Fafnir''s.
''To increase the sess rate of the surgery to 100%...''
Yoojin turned his head.
"Is there anything else you want me to do?"
"Engrave a Convergence Circuit on the area where you reced the bone with scrap metal."
"You sure know how to give difficult tasks."
Convergence Circuits artificially gathered mana.
Among modern alchemists, only a handful could perfectly engrave a circuit in a single attempt.
Shin Joonseok was one of those few alchemists.
"But if you engrave six circuits, it might cause mana reflux."
"That''s what I''m aiming for."
An instruction that made no sense.
Instead of asking again, Shin Joonseok engraved Convergence Circuits on the scrap metal that reced the bones as instructed.
''It''s not like this guy is doing this for the first time.''
He had been doing whatever he pleased since they first met.
He barged into the workshop and figured out the potion manufacturing ratio, didn''t he?
He even recited recipes unknown to this era and casually threw out brilliant ideas.
''Let''s observe what happens.''
Shin Joonseok, reminding himself that he would believe anything Yoojin said, even if it was nonsense, finished his work.
"Shall we begin then?"
When he circted the spirit power he had infused into Jo Seungchul''s bones, the Convergence Circuits emitted a blue light.
Bzzt¡ª
The purpose of engraving the Convergence Circuits was to concentrate and supply mana, like the core of a golem.
The Skeleton Mage (Jo Seungchul)''s body had insufficient output, yet it was equipped with six cores.
The spirit power that had circted without problems when the Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession was inserted in ce of the bones...
After the six Convergence Circuits were engraved, it lost its way and moved about erratically.
-He, heh heh heh.
"It doesn''t even hurt. Just bear with it a little."
If he were alive, he would have felt the pain of blood flowing backward and muscles being torn apart.
But Jo Seungchul was an undead.
He wasn''t a high-ranking undead like Fafnir who had regained some of his senses; he was just a Skeleton Mage.
Pain?
How could he know that?
''Just because he achieved unity doesn''t mean his senses have returned.''
The skeleton trembled like an aspen leaf.
Yoojin, unfazed, poured his spirit power into him as much as possible.
Thump!
When he ran out of spirit power, he drank a potion and converted it with Life Drain.
He was doing the same thing he did during the spar.
The moment the spirit power permeating Jo Seungchul''s bones reached its limit...
[The six cores have absorbed enough spirit power.]
[The Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession strengthens the bones of Skeleton Mage (Jo Seungchul).]
The bones turned jet ck.
Blue mes surged from the empty sockets.
The spirit power that had been wandering through the bones, unable to find its way, permeated every joint.
His entire body turned jet ck.
Even after permeating the bones, the remaining energy was released into the surroundings, materializing into a ck robe that draped over his body.
[Skeleton Mage (Jo Seungchul) has surpassed his limits.]
[He is promoted to Dark Minion.]
p¡ª
The ck robe fluttered in the wind.
And the fierce mes burning within his eyes caught their attention.
£ª £ª £ª
"H-How did this happen?"
"It was a sess."
"So, what exactly was a sess?"
His face was a mixture of surprise, shock, and joy.
It was fascinating to see so many different emotions on one person''s face.
"The undead enhancement procedure."
"Ha. Seriously, where do you keep getting this unheard-of knowledge, partner?"
"I had a lucky break."
It wasn''t a lie.
If he hadn''t unlocked the secrets of the [Ring of Darkness], he wouldn''t have reached the pinnacle of necromancy.
"Seungchul, can you hear me?"
¡¾Yes, Master.¡¿
The thought was conveyed clearly.
It waspletely different from the Skeleton Mage who used to rattle his jawbone loudly.
"Do you remember the moment you died?"
¡¾Yes, I do.¡¿n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"You''ll probably resent me."
¡¾You brought me back to life when I was already dead. It''s meaningless now.¡¿
The spirit power flowing through his bones originally came from Yoojin.
As Seungchul gained self-consciousness after bing a Dark Minion, Yoojin gainedplete control over him.
[Dark Minion (Jo Seungchul)]
Race: Undead
Rank: ¡ï¡ï¡ï
¡ò Stats
Strength: 74 / Agility: 180 / Health: 40 / Endurance: 45 / Mana: 1500 (+150)
¡ò Traits
? Quick Reload [Unique] / Immortal Being [B] / Mana Cirction [B] / Cold Calction [C+] / Undead Commander [C]
¡ò Skills
? Fireball [C] / Red Bind [D+] / me Beat [D] / Fire Arrow [E]
¡²Hmm. He''s grown and developed some new traits I haven''t seen before.¡³
''You were angry a while ago, but now you''re silent.''
¡²I am magnanimous. I will forgive my contractor''s slip of the tongue with a generous heart.¡³
''Aren''t you curious about the undead transformed by the procedure?''
¡²Ahem, ahem.¡³
I was just testing the waters, but was it true?
Yoojin''s eyes turned cold.
¡²To be honest, I don''t know how strong that unholy being has be.¡³
''That''s why you''re a ipetent constetion.''
¡²What?¡³
''Listen carefully. The most important thing among the newly added traits is...''
Yoojin¡¯s lips moved.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 61: Aftermath (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 61: Aftermath (1)
¡®Do you see an Undead Commander trait?¡¯
¡²Indeed I do.¡³
¡®It¡¯s an Undead Soldier Command trait.¡¯
Currently, Yoojin could control 40 bodies.
Without the help of items, the number doubled each time his Saint rank increased.
Even if his dominion overflowed, he couldn''t exceed the number limited by the system.
It was impossible unless he stepped beyond the 7 Star realm.
¡®With a C-rank Undead Commander, you canmand up to 50.¡¯
¡²That ck creature is morepetent than you, then.¡³
¡®A Dark Minion is a mid-level undead. Of course, it should be stronger than me now.¡¯
Tsk tsk.
What would a ipetent constetion know?
[Mana Cirction] was also an excellent trait.
- Rearrangement speed reduced by 25%.
- Magic manifestation power increased by 25%.
The saying "simple is best" suited this trait.
It didn''t grant any special abilities, but it greatly enhanced magical abilities.
¡®It¡¯s a trait that ordinary Dark Minions don''t have.¡¯
Jo Seungchul''stent ability, in a united state, reacted to the [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession].
It awakened a talent worthy of reaching 7 Stars.
¡®I''ll raise you steadily and promote you to a Lich.¡¯
He would use him until the transnted iron wore out and disappeared.
Wouldn''t it be much more glorious to be a servant of the Immortal King than a leader of the Red Spider?
¡²A life of suffering even after being robbed of life. How truly dreadful.¡³
¡®This is what it means to have a Necromancer as an enemy.¡¯
Death was not an escape.
Even a lifeless body.
Even a soul that has left the body.
Mortgaged to a Necromancer, one must work until their already dead body crumbles.
¡®Excuse me, Great Constetion.¡¯
¡²Khahahaha! Are you finally feeling like respecting me?¡³
¡®I achieved another feat. I was wondering if you had anything to give me.¡¯
Kronos was silent for a moment.
¡²Hmm. I acknowledge your efforts, but this feat is not enough. Strive a little harder.¡³
¡®Ugh. The level of a ipetent constetion.¡¯
¡²You immediately reveal your true colors. You insolent being!¡³
¡®You''ve only been taking my achievements. I get nothing in return. Ipetent constetion.¡¯
¡²Didn''t I tell you to strive harder! I will soon bestow a new power upon you, so wait!¡³
The pocket watch shook violently.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
The ipetent constetion''s reaction was more intense than usual today.
¡®Did I tease him too much about being ipetent? I should tone it down from now on.¡¯
The reason Yoojin returned the starlight to Kronos was to gain the constetion''s blessing.
Although he hadn''t yet received the blessing, his initial goal.
He had changed his ss to [Saint of the Midnight Sun],bining the advantages of Necromancer and Priest sses.
He also obtained a powerful holy spell that didn''t match his Saint rank.
¡®I''ve already gained a lot, but the more options, the better.¡¯
You said you wanted to regain your lost constetion status?
Let''s both work hard.
The stronger your only believer bes, the higher the chance of you restoring your former authority.
£ª £ª £ª
The next morning.
ng! Chaeng!
The sound of metal shing in the clearing woke Yoojin from his sleep.
"Haaam. Who''s making all that noise so early in the morning?"
He had been beaten to an inch of his life by the next Sword Saint and even underwent undead modification surgery.
Both his mind and body were exhausted, and he just wanted to sleep deeply.
''Which one of them is it?''
Grumbling, Yoojin stepped outside, his eyes widening.
"Aaah!!"
With a short scream, Kang Minho tumbled across the ground.
As Fafnir was about to withdraw his outstretched fist, Jang Miseon appeared behind him.
"Haaap!"
A vertical wind de descended.
Simultaneously, three arrows were shot from various angles.
Abination of [Telekinesis] and [Assimtion].
It was Kang Minyeong''s handiwork.
¡¾Wow. Even though we haven''t sparred much, we work quite well together.¡¿
Fafnir muttered nonchntly and stomped his foot hard.
Kooong¡ª-!
The ground shook, disrupting the bnce of those standing.
"I''m not weak enough to fall from something like this."
¡¾It''s enough to break your concentration.¡¿
Shwaek¡ª-!
The arrowheads that were approaching moment by moment suddenly lost their direction and faltered.
Controlling the arrows with [Synchronization] and [Telekinesis].
Kang Minyeong, who was trying to keep Fafnir in check, lost her concentration due to the aftereffects of the tremor.
"To think he would target you."
The three-personbination crumbled.
It was dangerous to target Fafnir alone, but now that she had approached him, evasion was impossible.
Jang Miseon strengthened her wind de without hesitation.
¡¾Good judgment.¡¿
Fafnir grinned and struck out.
Chaaeng¡ª!
A sharp sound rang out once more, and Jang Miseon, unable to absorb the shock, was thrown back several meters.
[Space]
[Shock Absorption Cushion]
A green cushion from a rift created in the air caught Jang Miseon.
¡¾They''ve prepared everything.¡¿
"We can''t face him head-on. That''s why I prepared this."
The ability to store objects, magic, phenomena, etc., in a separate space.
Lee Seongmin, instead of summoning a shield-like object as before, focused on supporting hispanions.
"What are you doing?"
¡¾The early bird catches the worm. It''s training time.¡¿
"No. I mean, why are you fighting?"
¡¾Because those friends wanted to.¡¿
Yoojin unconsciously looked at Kang Minho.
"Ha, haha. Well, you see, hyung-nim."
"Don''t you need to exin?"
"After seeing your spar yesterday, and Fafnir-nim, we couldn''t just sit still."
They had sought out Fafnir first thing in the morning and requested training.
Jang Miseon, hearing this, joined in, resulting in a 4-on-1 mock battle.
"Do you think four people can stand a chance against Fafnir, who''s a 4 Star?"
"That''s why we set the condition that he couldn''t use aura and we would win if wended even a single blow."
"You failed."
"Ha, hahaha. That''s what happened."
They were quite diligent.
It was expected from the Little Runts team, but it was surprising that Jang Miseon joined them.
"Hunter Yoojin, yourpanions are quite skilled."
"Well, I trained them."
"If there''s another opportunity next time, would you like to work with the Phoenix guild?"
"The Arhan guys made the same offer."
"Their motives were impure. That wouldn''t be the case with us."
The Phoenix guild had a decent rtionship with him even before his return.
Thanks to having Arhan as amon enemy, they had maintained a certain level of exchange.
''It''s just that the guild leader has clear limitations.''
Kim Youngsoo, the master of the Phoenix guild and the original owner of the Dragon Scale Armor in the previous timeline.
He was established as Arhan''s rival but ultimately couldn''t ovee the 8 Star wall.
Jang Miseon, who was called the next Sword Saint and gathered much anticipation, died a futile death.
Although the Phoenix guild and Yoojin joined hands to bring down the Arhan guild.
In the end, it was the Dawn guild, to which Shin Yoosung belonged, that took the top spot in Korea.
''It wouldn''t be bad to establish a connection.''
Even though the Dawn guild was better than Arhan, they still underestimated Yoojin.
What was the point of being the No. 1 guild in Korea?
As long as Yoojin existed, they had to give up the position of the strongest hunter to him.
''They were quite wary of me, weren''t they?''
Come to think of it, he hadn''t paid much attention to the situation of the domestic guilds since his return.
He was building Necropolis.
And establishing his own forces in Ground Zero.
But now that he thought about it, there was no need to just sit back and watch the trends of domestic hunters.
''Even if Arhan is driven out, someone will take their ce.''
Just as Yoojin had snatched a few businesses as spoils of war from hunting the Red Spider.
He had to consider the aftermath of Arhan''s downfall.
''She''s telling me something important.''
Thanks to the next Sword Saint''s visit, he had gained a lot.
Yoojin organized his thoughts and held out his hand.
"I''ll think about it."
"I look forward to working with you if we have the chance to meet again."
The two shook hands.
£ª £ª £ª
"Don''t overwork yourself to death while I''m gone."
"Wouldn''t you be in more danger than me, partner?"
The next destination was Ground Zero.
He had heard stories during thepany establishment briefing, but the notoriety of thewless zone was not easily forgotten.
"If I die, tell them thepany thing never happened."
"But I have so much to learn from you, partner!"
"Then pray."
"You didn''t say anythingst time when I asked you to tell me about the constetion you serve."
Ah.
¡®It''s a bit embarrassing because my constetion is someone I can''t show off anywhere.¡¯
¡²How impudent.¡³
''Are you finally feeling better now?''
¡²I am magnanimous. No matter how much you insult me, it doesn''t bother me.¡³
¡®Ah. Is that so?¡¯
Barely oveing the dangerous temptation, Yoojin left the Paju workshop and headed to Ground Zero.
"Hyung-nim. Rumors are just rumors after all."
"Right? This is a ce where people live too. It''s a bit exaggerated."
"Hmm. I think it''s less exaggerated and more like it doesn''t capture the reality properly."
ck smoke was visible from afar.
Sporadic battles were taking ce throughout Ground Zero, awless zone located in the concrete ruins.
Yoojin couldn''t refute Kang Minho''s point any further.
"Yeah. Why has it be such a mess?"
"Isn''t it always like this?"
"¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤Let''s find out what''s going on."
The group entered the concrete ruins.
Wary eyes poured from all over the ruins.
¡¾The atmosphere is a bit different?¡¿
"They''re not scared of you, are they?"
¡¾Have they ever seen such a wonderful undead? No way.¡¿
Fafnir, who seemed quite ustomed to his draconian form, struck a yful pose.
"Word of the spider hunt must have gotten around."
¡¾Ah. I see.¡¿
The mysterious powerhouse who annihted half of the Red Spider''s main force.
Rumors about Yoojin and Fafnir had spread throughout Ground Zero thanks to the Milky Way Pub and the ck market.
¡¾You did something that doesn''t suit your personality, Master.¡¿
"If I want to take over the Spider''s territory, I have to spread the word."
The rights guaranteed by the Milky Way Pub and the ck market included spreading rumors.
There was nothing more effective than disying power in awless zone.
Those watching the group from among the ruins also seemed more fearful than hostile.
"Madam. I''m here."
"You have a lot ofpany today?"
This time, it was a mysterious woman in a ck dress.
Madam greeted Yoojin and his party with a mysterious smile.
"Wow¡¡."
"Oh¡¡"
The two men looked dazed.
Kang Minyeong grabbed both of their ears tightly with her hands.
"Ouch! Ouch!"
"That''s a very good thing you''re doing. Huh?"
"I''m sorry! I''m sorry!"
They were proving their idiocy from the first meeting.
As Yoojin shook his head from side to side, Madam chuckled softly.
"You''re the Little Runts team, right? I''ve heard of your reputation."
"Really?"
"You''re the rookie hunters who gave Arhan''s supernova a taste of defeat."
"Ugh."
They didn''t learn their lesson during the Arhan incident, they still have a long way to go.
If left alone, they would go on and on.
Yoojin didn''t wait any longer and brought up the main topic.
"So, tell me what''s going on here. Why is everyone causing trouble?"
"Well, with the Red Spider gone, everyone''s vying for control. It''s chaos."
"I thought the Milky Way Pub and the ck market were supposed to maintain order."
"They are, but it''s not easy. The people here only respect power."
Madam let out a sarcasticugh as if she was fed up.
"I see things didn''t go as smoothly as you thought."
"The Red Spider made things quiteplicated."
"They wouldn''t have had the time to make any moves."
"Originally, the n was to hand over the businesses, except for the ones Yoojin-nim took, appropriately..."
Around the time Yoojin went on the spider hunt.
Kim Jaewoo, the boss of the Red Spider, made an example of and annihted the legions and ghosts that had recently been provoking his jurisdiction.
"The problem is that with the defeat of the Red Spider, a power vacuum has emerged."
"Are all sorts of riffraff coveting the Spider''s business?"
"Thanks to that, the ck market seems to be struggling quite a bit."
Yoojin stroked his chin.
''It''s not as bad a situation as I thought.''
¡²Didn''t you entrust those small humans with mediation, anticipating this situation?¡³
''That''s right. But the situation has changed.''
Therger organizations had already been swept away by the Red Spider.
The remaining organizations or groups were just a bunch of riffraff.
Although another organization would eventually emerge to fill the power vacuum in thewless zone over time.
At this point in time, there was no force to rece the Red Spider.
''This chaos... it''s the perfect opportunity to solidify my control over Ground Zero.''
¡²You''re using your brain cleverly.¡³
''I''ll take that as apliment.''
Bang¡ª!
The door of the Milky Way Pub was torn off with an explosion.
"Madam! Forget about that nobody! Recognize us, the Scorpions¡ª"
As the man with the scorpion tattoo dered proudly, Fafnir reacted to the killing intent and threw a punch.
Pow¡ª!
The head lost its ce and evaporated.
¡¾Should I kill him, Master?¡¿
"Don''t ask after you''ve already done it."
Yoojin shook his head.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 62: Aftermath (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 62: Aftermath (2)
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Your intel is a bit shit, isn''t it? Some of your guys don''t even know who we are."
Madam smirked at the arrogant interruption.
"Why would I waste my time on insignificant nobodies like you?"
"That''s true, I guess."
The skills of the bartender, Old Man Jeon, were well known within Ground Zero.
She wouldn''t have been able to run the Milky Way Pub if she didn''t have any foundation.
Didn''t the Red Spider also target Madam when Old Man Jeon was away?
"Y-you son of a..."
"Fafnir."
¡¾You are beings not even worth asking for your value.¡¿
Thump.
One person with each punch.
Those who had destroyed the pub door couldn''t even put up a proper resistance and surrendered their lives to Fafnir.
Some dodged the punches.
Some swung the weapons in their hands.
But when Fafnir struck, they fell as if they were offering their heads themselves, as if they were being sucked into his punches.
"Ugh, ugh."
"What did I just see?"
"S-Sunbaenim, are you alright?"
The sight of human lives being extinguished.
It was too much of a shock for the Little Runts team.
But on the other hand, they were also amazed by Fafnir''s martial prowess, which they couldn''tprehend even with their own eyes.
Awe.
The three of them couldn''t take their eyes off, experiencing this emotion for the first time in their lives.
"Gah..."
After defeating thest intruder, Fafnir shook the blood off his fist.
"Why did you have to crush all their heads?"
¡¾Hmm?¡¿
"I can''t use necromancy now."
¡¾I thought they would surrender after seeing the overwhelming difference in skill.¡¿
"You didn''t even give them time for that."
Yoojin grumbled and nced back.
"I said it wasn''t as bad as the rumors. But you showed them something even worse."
"...No. We''re hunters too."
"D-Dying is something we''ve always thought about."
They could say such things with trembling voices.
''The two of them are understandable, but Lee Seongmin is quite tough too.''
Murder happening right before their eyes.
Regardless of what had happened, it was natural for their hearts to be shaken.
He wasn''t too worried about the future Mirror Hunter, as she had a strong heart.
But what was Lee Seongmin thinking?
''I''ll give you credit for not turning away right now.''
Humans unconsciously avert their eyes when they see something frightening or repulsive.
The way they were oveing that instinct and facing the scene head-on.
Their willpower was strong enough.
"Building a force in Ground Zero means..."
"That''s right. This is what it means."
Yoojin didn''t deny it.
From the moment he decided to bring the three into thepany, he couldn''t avoid this kind of situation.
Although it was sooner than expected.
¡²Every hero, regardless of East or West, experiences frustration while agonizing over moral concepts.¡³
''Hey, ipetent constetion. Read the room.''
I wouldn''t say anything about him thinking positively about the Little Runts team.
But he doesn''t know when to step in.
"Still, we will join you."
"Hyung gave us an undeserved opportunity."
"I want to work at thepany."
Even though they said that, their hearts must be greatly shaken.
Yoojin didn''t bother pointing it out.
There was no need to insult them when they had resolved to stay by his side.
"Company?"
"Ah. I''ll tell you about thatter."
"It sounds interesting. Please tell me about it."
That Madam.
She didn''t miss the information the Little Runts team had leaked and immediately mentioned it.
''Good. I was nning to bring her in anyway.''
Madam, who had a firm grasp on the underworld''s information.
She was someone absolutely necessary for Yoojin''s future ns.
He was going to wait for the right timing to talk, but he was grateful that she took the bait herself.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"The names, contact information, and locations of the gangs that need to be dealt with."
"I sent them to Yoojin-nim''s phone."
"It won''t take that long. Tell the ck market too."
"Ho ho. I look forward to seeing Mr. ck''s expression."
Madam covered her mouth andughed.
"Please take care of these guys."
"Hyung-nim. We also..."
"This is not for minors. It''s a bit too much."
There were quite a few red dots on the phone.
Stepping outside through the torn-off door, the sun high in the sky caught his eye.
"I''m going to be a bit busy today."
¡¾It''s been a while since I''ve stretched my body.¡¿
They would have to move diligently to finish before sunset.
The closest ce was a four-story building about 500 meters away from the Milky Way Pub.
Yoojin held up his phone in front of it.
£ª £ª £ª
Madam had given him seven phone numbers in total.
He pressed the first number.
Ring¡ª Ring¡ª
The call connected after two rings.
"Park Youngil of the Viper gang, right?"
¡ª...This is a voice I haven''t heard before.
"I heard you''re interested in the Red Spider''s territory."
¡ªWho is this?
"The new owner of the Spider''s territory."
¡ªOh my. Who is this? I''m so surprised you called first.
A sarcastic voice.
Yoojin silently waited for the next words.
¡ªDid you think I''d say that? Huh?
"Are you saying you don''t trust the guarantee of the Milky Way Pub and the ck market?"
¡ªDo you think I wouldn''t know you''re trying to use some guy who''s not even from Ground Zero to take over our businesses?!
"Ah. I guess you could think that."
¡ªYou killed half of the Red Spider''s executives? If you''re that skilled, try taking our heads too.
"Do the guys there agree with you?"
¡ªWow. Look at your confidence.
¡ªDo it if you can, you crazy bastard!
...
Several voices mixed with curses were caught in the receiver.
The building was getting noisy.
It seemed he wouldn''t be making a wasted trip.
"You won''t regret this?"
¡ªBullshit. If I was going to regret it, I wouldn''t have started this. You idiot. Don''t try to act tough!
There was no need to listen further.
He had confirmed over the phone that the guy was here.
Since everyone''s opinions were unified, it was only polite to respect that, right?
As he entered themercial building, a half-naked man blocked his way.
"What brings you... Cheon Yoojin?"
"It seems the ck market did a good job spreading my face around."
"Hyung-nim!"
The moment the man turned around to shout¡ª
A hand as big as a shield roughly grabbed his head.
"Ugh! Ugh!"
¡¾You don''t have the skills to back up your bark.¡¿
Thud¡ª!
The man''s head was crushed without resistance.
Although the skull was the strongest bone in the body, it couldn''t withstand Fafnir''s grip strength.
Blood flowed out from between his fingers.
The eyes of the gang members near the building widened.
"You! What the hell!"
"Cheon Yoojin?"
"Quick, call Hyung-nim!"
Gang members came running.
The man at the front swung a bat.
He could feel the wave of mana; it seemed to be made in some unknown workshop.
Fafnir reached out his hand.
The bat was caught in his grip without resistance.
Crack¡ª
While the man was flustered and trying to put more strength into it, Fafnir''s extended hand-de pierced his chest.
"Answer my call."
[Using Raise Undead.]
[Creating gue Zombie.]
The man''s body twitched.
"S-Sangchul hyung!"
"He''s still alive!"
Fafnir threw the man, no, the zombie, caught in his hand towards the group.
The moment the gang members caught the corpse flying in a long arc¡ª
Boom¡ª!
The rotting poison sttered everywhere.
"Kyaaak!!"
"Cough! Cough!"
The men covered in the gue zombie''s bodily fluids screamed in various ways.
"Shut up. You''re noisy."
The Cursed Fang pierced the men''s throats.
Silence swallowed the entrance of the building.
"Are the rest all upstairs?"
¡¾I hear them grabbing tools. It''s quite noisy.¡¿
"Can you handle it alone?"
¡¾That''s a silly question. Just give me some holy spells.¡¿
Holy power imbued Fafnir.
With the triple buff and the Dragon Scale Armor, he became strong enough to even face a hunter at the peak of 5 Star rank.
There weren''t many strong individuals in Ground Zero who couldpete with Fafnir after receiving all the buffs.
¡¾Take your time.¡¿
Noise echoed from the second floor.
Bang¡ª Aargh¡ª Cough¡ª Ugh¡ª
The ensemble of human instruments subsided.
Soon, the same noises erupted from the third floor, then quickly diminished.
It wouldn''t take even a minute to clear them all out.
Yoojin arrived at the top floor without even paying attention.
A tightly closed iron door greeted him.
"Trying to hide now are you?"
Where did all the bravado they showed on the phone go?
Defensive magic,yered four times, centered around the iron door, preventing any intruders from entering.
He couldn''t just twiddle his thumbs until Fafnir finished clearing the third floor.
[Retrieving the corpse stored in the Ring of Darkness.]
A corpse wrapped in a ck robe.
Jo Seungchul, now promoted to a Dark Minion, rattled his bones.
"Destroy that door. No need to control your firepower."
¡¾As youmand, Master.¡¿
[Fireball]
A zing sphere of fire collided with the iron door, and a deafening explosion erupted.
A wide-range spell that devastated a radius of 3 meters.
It had enough power to blow a hole through part of the structure, but the interior hit by the fireball was surprisingly intact.
This was because the defensive magic had absorbed most of the impact.
¡¾Insolent fools.¡¿
[Quick Reload]
[Fireball]
Another fireball wasunched in less than a second.
Jo Seungchul''s unique ability manifested, allowing him to cast it at a speed close to chantless.
Kaboom¡ª Bang!
The consecutive explosions scattered the magical wavelengths of the barrier.
When the third fireball exploded, the defensive magic surrounding the iron door shattered, and the suppressed explosive energy shook the entire building.
The iron door was blown away by the aftershock of the explosion.
"Y-You crazy bastard! You''re shooting fireballs inside the building?!"
"You''re fine thanks to your well-ced barrier."
It was fine as long as it didn''t copse.
Wasn''t it?
Through the torn-off iron door, a man with a distorted expression came into view.
"Nice to meet you, Viper gang leader Park Youngil."
"C-Cheon Yoojin."
"We have a lot to talk about, don''t we?"
"J-Just take the territory, alright?! Please, let''s just end this here!"
Yoojin shook his head.
"There''s no need to do that."
Rumble¡ª!
A dark figure emerged, breaking through the floor.
A corpse scattering blue sparks. Fafnir''s hands moved.
The upper bodies of the gang members nearby exploded.
"Since we''ve already started, we have to see it through to the end. Don''t you think?"
Park Youngil''s eyes twitched.
"If the other gangs find out you''re doing this, do you think they''ll stay still?"
"Yeah. What are they going to do if they don''t?"
"If they all join forces, even with the power that defeated the Red Spider..."
"You guys were such good friends that you bowed down to the Spider?"
Yoojin chuckled.
"Don''t worry. I''ll send all those friends to you."
"You crazy bastard!"
A gray aura enveloped Park Youngil''s arms.
He strengthened his defense with his unique trait [Body Hardening] and then d himself in aura.
A 4 Star hunter.
In the outside world, this was an expert capable of leading a mid-sized guild, now exerting all his strength.
[Bowling Bash]
A powerful skill that continuously releases force to break through the opponent''s defenses.
He had recently acquired it, so almost no one knew about it.
Park Youngil''s hidden trump card!
Thump¡ª Thud thud thud¡ª!
Fafnir caught the fist with one hand and gave a brief assessment.
¡¾There''s too much unnecessary movement in your aura maniption.¡¿
"W-What?!"
¡¾Even if you divide the power of 10, the total remains the same.¡¿
The intention was to assimte aura into the mechanism of Bowling Bash and umte the impact.
The moment Fafnir caught his fist, he countered Park Youngil¡¯s aura with a surge of his own dark aura. He effortlessly neutralized the attack, his power exceeding Park Youngil''s by far.
There was no need to use a greater amount.
Half of the power Park Youngil poured out was enough to offset the attack.
"Don''t lie!"
¡¾Suit yourself if you don''t want to believe it.¡¿
Fafnir pulled his other hand back.
It was obvious what that action meant.
"If you spare me, I''ll help you unify Ground Zero..."
"Yeah. You will help."
By dying.
With that body of yours.
Fwump¡ª!
The Viper gang boss''s head was bent backward.
"Hyung-nim!!"
"You bastard!!"
The gang members hurled curses and words filled with anger, but they couldn''t take action.
"Such wonderful camaraderie."
¡¾The way I see it, they''re just scared for their own lives.¡¿
"Oh,e on. Surely not."
Yoojin gave a thumbs up and then abruptly thrust it down.
"Send those guys to their Hyung-nim too. So he won''t be lonely."
¡¾Understood.¡¿
Blue sparks swept across the floor.
A few minutester, the Viper gang members, resurrected as undead, emerged from the building''s entrance.
¡¾How many are left?¡¿
"Six ces."
¡¾I hope there''s someone strong enough to make me nervous, likest time.¡¿
That afternoon.
Around the time the sun began to set¡ª
All the organizations aiming for the Red Spider''s businesses were taken care of.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 63: Not an Incompetent Constellation Today
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 63: Not an Ipetent Constetion Today
"You really wiped out all the gangs in a single day."
The bases of the seven gangs were devastated.
A procession of the dead walked over the ruins.
There were few in Ground Zero who didn''t know about the massacre Yoojin hadmitted.
Yoojin clicked his tongue at Madam''s surprised reaction.
"It would be troublesome if they ran away."
There was nothing good about leaving behind future trouble.
He already felt uneasy about Kim Jaewoo, the boss of the Red Spider, escaping to China.
Since he had decided to use his power, he had to make sure there was no room for gossip.
"The ck market has offered to manage the Red Spider''s businesses for you."
"Those guys, for free?"
"They failed to keep their promise from thest meeting. They called it a service."
The Three Gangs of Ground Zero.
The Milky Way Pub and the ck market had acknowledged Yoojin''s position after he defeated the Red Spider, promising to preserve his territory within Ground Zero.
"I knew there were many moths drawn to the me, but they don''t seem to value their own lives."
"Is that something someone who profits from those moths should say?"
"Ho ho. That''s true."
"So, what can Madam do for me?"
Madam pondered for a moment.
She subtly crossed her legs and put on an alluring expression.
"Can I answer youter?"
"That won''t work on me."
"You''re no fun, you know."
"Well, consider it a debt owed. I don''t need anything right now."
He had a chance to squeeze out of Jang Miseon an item worth the Heartstone.
Considering Madam''s capabilities and connections, it was far more beneficial to bind her with debt than to demand immediatepensation.
"Will you manage the ck Herb and North Korean routes yourself?"
"Yeah. Just send me workers."
"The ie from the remaining businesses, after deductingbor costs, will be about... 2 billion won."
Gasp¡ª
Kang Minho, who was sitting at a table behind them, let out a gasp.
"That''s less than I expected."
"You blew up the bloodstone supply, and the real valuable stuff is separate."
Madam was indirectly referring to the ck Herb farm.
2 billion won was arge sum for an individual, but it was a pittance for the Red Spider, which had hundreds of members.
That''s why they brought half of the hunters in the gang when the ck Herb farm was in danger.
''For the time being, no one will be greedy for the businesses.''
Even better.
He had seen a lot of blood, but he had even acquired the businesses he had given up on for fear of getting sick if he ate them all.
Since the people dispatched from the ck market were managing them, all he had to do was pay their wages regrly.
He had also shown off his power by destroying the seven gangs, so there would be no problems for a while.
"In Ground Zero, they estimate Yoojin-nim''s level to be 6 Star."
"That''s quite an overestimation. I''m honored."
"This is about the man who was only 1 Star when he attacked the Crimson Lair."
"Just keep that between us, Madam."
He hadn''t even considered the possibility of Madam selling information.
After saving her from the Red Spider''s attack¡ª
And even conquering the Crimson Lair, they were in the same boat.
With the Red Spider gone¡ª
She was in a position where she had colluded with the ck market to promote Yoojin as the recement for the Spider.
''It''s clear which side would lose more.''
Madam sensed Yoojin''s thoughts and turned her head away with a huff.
"Is that all our rtionship means to you?"
"It''s an excellent business rtionship."
"You''re so straightforward. And cold."
Stop pretending to be disappointed.
Despite your words, there''s no warmth in her eyes.
In any case, she was someone he couldn''t let his guard down around.
"Let me know anytime a singrity urs."
"I hope there won''t be a need to summon Yoojin-nim."
Leaving Madam''s feigned anxiety behind, he moved to the table where the Little Runts team was sitting.
The three of them had dark circles under their eyes.
"Are you alright?"
"Uh, hmm. Yes."
"There''s no need to force yourselves. You can''t suppress your emotions just by trying to."
"...You''re amazing, Hyung-nim. You''re strong both physically and mentally."
Kang Minho muttered with a darkened expression.
The annihtion of seven gangs.
It wasn''t hard to guess how many people had died in the process.
Being a hunter was a profession close to death.
They had to risk their lives every moment,
And sometimes they had to take the lives of others to survive.
"It''s not that I didn''t know that, but seeing it firsthand shakes me."
"You''re not weak. You have to ept it honestly to move on."
Yoojin answered sincerely.
The rest of the group, sitting around the table, also let out a deep sigh.
''Well, it''s understandable for Korean hunters.''
The world had undergone a transformation with the Cataclysm.
Korea had managed to enter a period of stability without its social system copsing.
But even North Korea, right across the border, had copsed.
And many countries, including China and India, were overrun by warlords, with vast areas beyond the reach of government administration.
''In ces that were originally war zones, it''smonce for hunters to kill more people than monsters.''
Think about it to your heart''s content.
And then ovee it.
In Yoojin''s view, the Little Runts team could handle it.
¡²Khahahaha! Adversity, worry, and growth are all part of the process of bing a hero.¡³
''Have you finally found your voice, ipetent constetion?''
¡²This is troubling. I granted you the honor of an audience, and yet this is how you behave?¡³
Kronos responded calmly, unlike his usual frantic self.
Something was up.
''Constetion, have you umted any achievements while I haven''t seen you?''
¡²Thanks to the massacre my contractor carried out, my prestige has also grown stronger.¡³
''Isn''t it a bit much to gain achievements for killing a lot of people?''
¡²They say if you kill 100 people, you''re a murderer, but if you kill 10,000, you''re a hero.¡³
Where did he even pick up that expression?
Yoojin let out a deep sigh.
''Stop with the nonsense and let''s get to the point.''
¡²Find my constetion in the Pantheon. Then, I will open a new path for you.¡³
''You''re quite confident?''
¡²It will be an ability you desperately need.¡³
Oh?
Yoojin''s eyebrows twitched at Kronos'' bold im.
What kind of amazing holy spell had he created to be so confident?
''I''ll look forward to it, ipetent constetion.''
¡²Khaha! When you go to the Pantheon, you will regret your disloyalty to me.¡³
Kronos'' heartyughter echoed through Yoojin''s mind.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin returned to Seoul after finishing his business in Ground Zero.
He gave the Little Chicks team a few more days off.
¡²That''s not like you, Contractor.¡³
''And what exactly is "like me"?''
¡²Exploiting those small humans without mercy.¡³
''A strong iron isn''t forged just by hammering it relentlessly.''
Yoojin chuckled and slowly climbed the mountain of stairs in front of him.
108 stairs.
The first time he visited after his return, he struggled to climb them, gasping for breath.
''Now it''s not even tiring.''
It was thanks to the stats he raised with Life Drain.
The physical abilities of a 2 Star martial arts hunter were superior to those of a professional athlete.
He climbed the 108 stairs with light steps, as if taking a stroll.
The moment he stepped his right foot between the pirs, his surroundings turned ck, isting him from the outside.
''Still the same.''
A wave of malice washed over him.
Countless constetions engraved on the dome expressed hostility towards Yoojin.
It wasn''t like those high and mighty beings were doing this for the first time.
However¡
Unlike before, not all constetions ignored or looked at Yoojin with contempt.
[The Observer of Wisdom observes you with curiosity.]
[The Harbinger of Doom takes notice of you.]
...
''Odin?''
Observer of Wisdom.
It was the constetion name of Odin, the guardian deity of the Romanov family and the Divine King-ss constetion who bestowed his blessing upon Dmitri.
¡²Harbinger of Doom¡³ must be Surtr.
''Have they sensed Kronos'' presence?''
Odin was a wizard known to have grasped all the wisdom and principles of the universe.
Surtr was one of the few remaining constetions of the giant race.
Even if their interests were different, both had reasons to watch Kronos.
¡²Khahahaha! Behold. There are those who recognize my greatness.¡³
''Zeus would be very happy if your identity is revealed.''
¡²Ahem. Be quiet.¡³
A half-baked constetion with such little achievement that even his presence was faint.
If the Divine King of the Olympus Cluster found out, it wouldn''t be difficult to eliminate Kronos.
The light of the constetions gradually faded.
Odin and Surtr, who had shown interest, and a few other constetions soon left.
¡²It''s quiet now.¡³
''Indeed.''
¡²I, too, will one day stand shoulder to shoulder with them again.¡³
''You should.''
¡²Why aren''t you insulting my ambition?¡³
''I benefit when you be stronger.''
So work harder.
Kronos burst intoughter at Yoojin''s blunt thoughts.
¡²Khahahaha! Truly worthy of being my contractor.¡³
''Enough. Give me what you were talking about earlier.''
¡²Don''t be surprised.¡³
[Holy Spell - Memento, Unholy Shock Shield added.]
¡ò Skills
? Memento
Category: Holy Spell
Rank: D
Reads the memories of objects. An object once targeted can be reused after 30 days.
? Unholy Shock Shield
Category: Holy Spell
Rank: C
Reflects a portion of the impact from melee attacks back to the attacker and blocks ranged attacks. Impact umted while using the shield is applied to the impact stack of the Punishing Spike.
Not bad?
''Unholy Shock Shield. Perfect forbos.''
A defensive holy spell that reflects damage from melee attacks.
And blocks the impact of ranged attacks.
It also synergizes with the buff [Punishing Spike], which increases in effectiveness as impact umtes.
There weren''t many defensive spells in necromancy, so it was an even better skill.
¡®Damn, Kronos. He actually gave me something useful.¡¯
¡²It''s too early to be surprised.¡³
''Is there something more?''
¡²Khahahaha. I put my heart and soul into the former, but you don''t seem to recognize its value yet.¡³
Memento.
It meant "memory" in Latin.
As the name suggested, it was a psychometry-type holy spell that read the memories of objects.
''It''s useful, but I don''t think it''s something to boast about.''
¡²Remember, I was originally the constetion who governed the concepts of time and harvest.¡³
''It was me who told you to flip that concept and govern the power of defying fate.''
That was also the reason why Kronos could govern the realm of defying death.
What was the reason for emphasizing that now?
''...I don''t know.''
¡²Khahahaha. Didn''t you turn back time?¡³
''Yeah. I did.''
¡²Even the events that will happen in the future are a past you have already experienced.¡³
Bzzzt¡ª!
The pocket watch in his pocket vibrated.
¡²My artifact. Didn''t you say you''ve had it since you were young?¡³
''It was left to me by parents I don''t even know.''
¡²An object that existed on the same timeline as the contractor. It means that both memories of the future and the past remain.¡³
No way.
Yoojin held the pocket watch that continued to vibrate in his hand.
[Broken Kronos'' Pocket Watch]
Rank: Divine Relic
Category: Artifact
Durability: 1/10
An artifact left in various dimensions by the ancient constetion who governed time.
It remembers events that urred at a simr point in time from the records of a timeline that has already passed.
''Remembers... events?''
¡²I told you before. Even a Regressor cannot remember everything.¡³
It was when he epted the Arhan Guild''s proposal and entered the gate together.
Song Myeongseok, one of the nine heads of the Nine Dragons'' Hall.
Yoojin didn''t know that he was once called Arhan''s supernova.
¡²If the pocket watch has always been with the contractor, it can read the events centered around you.¡³
''That means...''
¡²Memories of the time period that oveps with before the regression.¡³
''You''re saying I can use the pocket watch to find the opportunities I missed?''
¡²That is correct.¡³
Wow.
Yoojin was speechless.
He just blinked his eyes several times while standing there.
"This is totally awesome."
The emotions surging within him were far more intense and overwhelming, but¡ª
Unable to find a suitable expression, he spoke concisely.
¡²Behold! My magnificent power!!!¡³
''I can''t help but acknowledge this one. Great King of the Titans.''
Yoojin readily acknowledged Kronos'' achievement.
To think he created a holy spell that could search for opportunities from the time period before the regression, linked with the pocket watch as the axis!
The constetion who ruled time.
It was an idea and an ability that only Kronos could have.
''With this spell and the pocket watch, I can seize even the opportunities I don''t know about.''
When preparing for the regression, he had organized the opportunities he needed to take.
Even so, Yoojin didn''t remember everything, and some information wasn''t publicly avable or had simply slipped his mind.
However¡n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
What if he used [Memento]?
''I can obtain information about all the opportunities I might miss.''
His heart raced.
It was no different from taking a test with the answer sheet next to him.
[Memento] itself was useful, but with Kronos'' touch on the divine relic, it had transformed into a cheat-like ability close to divine power.
¡²Why don''t you try using it?¡³
''Alright. Let''s do it as amemoration.''
[Using Memento.]
[Target - Kronos'' Broken Pocket Watch]
Tick-tock¡ª
The stopped minute and second hands started to move.
It was a simr situation to when he absorbed the divine power released by Dmitri and turned back time.
A scene shed through Yoojin''s mind.
"Huh?"
Wait a minute.
This ce... isn''t that...?
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 64: The Assault on Yeonpyeong Island (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 64: The Assault on Yeonpyeong Ind (1)
The memory read from the [Broken Kronos'' Pocket Watch].
The first scene Memento showed was an ind.
And that had be the domain of monsters due to erosion.
Among them, figures wearing tattered hoods began to disembark from a cargo ship.
''The Individuality Monster Hunters.''
A group thatmanded and controlled monsters, treating humans like livestock.
The monster hunters walked towards the center of the ind, heading for the ruins of a copsed cathedral.
They stood before an altar made of rough stones.
- ept the offerings we bring and share your great power.
One man shouted, and the others followed suit.
Countless corpses were ced on the altar.
Blood flowed from the bodies of what appeared to be over a hundred humans, seeping into the altar.
Whoosh¡ª!
A green energy surged from the center of the altar.
The power of the constetion, called [Aura], spread out and soon enveloped the entire altar.
[2027/12/5]
[You have read the memories of Yeonpyeong Ind.]
Thud¡ª
His vision returned to normal.
It was still dark because he was inside the Pantheon, but Yoojin blinked several times, lost in the lingering aftertaste.
¡²Contractor. Tell me your impressions.¡³
''I won''t call you an ipetent constetion anymore.''
¡²Khahahahahaha! That''s a satisfactory answer!¡³
Kronosughed heartily.
He seemed even more pleased than when he regained his starlight.
''You must have really hated that.''
Heh, maybe I should''ve yed hard to get for a bit longer.
Seeing Kronos'' intense reaction, he felt like he had found another thing to tease him about.
''Come to think of it, didn''t you say you needed a temple?''
¡²Oh? You remembered.¡³
''I am a Saint, after all.''
¡²Khaha! If there is a temple to offer praise and tribute to me, my starlight will be even stronger.¡³
''That''s good.''
Yoojin smiled.
He had to go build a temple dedicated to his ipetent¡ªno, his constetion.
¡²Your intentions are noble, but you cannot build a temple just anywhere.¡³
''Does your Lordship also have preferences for geomancy?''
¡²First, it is important whether or not it is a sacred ground where you can receive the constetion''s energy.¡³
''What''s next?''
¡²You must consider my origin, nature, and the domain I govern.¡³
The scene shown by [Memento] was a month in the future and a reality that had not yet happened.
''I''ve found a ce for your Lordship to settle down, so trust me.''
Yoojin chuckled and left the Pantheon.
£ª £ª £ª
Returning to Ground Zero, Yoojin headed towards the center of the ruins.
Rtively intact buildings.
More precisely, buildings constructed after Ground Zero was established stood tall.
They were buildings erected after the ck market settled in.
"It''s nice to see you again, Yoojin-nim."
"You look well, Mr. ck."
"Haha. Thanks to you, I have a lot of work to do. I''ve been working overtime."
Mr. ck gave a pointed reply to Yoojin''s joke.
"You take the credit when your subordinates do the work."
"I''m the one who chose those friends. I have that right."
"Are you iming rights from me?"
Yoojin leaned back in his chair and sat down leisurely.
"That''s not what I meant."
To hold a grudge just because he countered a singlepliment about looking well.
If it weren''t for his blunder after the meeting, he wouldn''t have yielded any further, Mr. ck thought with a bitter taste in his mouth.
"You must be busy. What brings you here?"
"You know what I said at the meeting. I''m about to get started."
"That statement sounds like you''re going to attack the monster hunters."
"I''m not picking a fight already. I''m just going to test the waters."
Yoojin pointed to the map on the table.
Where his finger was pointing.
"Yeonpyeong Ind? It seems you''ve already heard the rumors."
Rumors?
Yoojin didn''t know anything about that.
"The monster hunters are interested in it, right?"
"That''s right. We''ve been having trouble with Yeonpyeong Ind."
It seemed he hit the mark by throwing it out there while recalling the events before the regression he saw with Memento.
"What are the monster hunters'' movements like?"
"It seems it''s not easy for them since they have to cross the sea."
The main force of the Kaesong monster hunters were ogres and trolls.
They were bulky monsters, so transporting them on a small boat was impossible.
A single ogre alone weighed several tons.
They needed at least a cargo ship for stable transportation, but the monster hunters didn''t have the resources yet.
"Not yet, huh?"
"There''s also the possibility of them contacting the Nine Dragons'' Hall."
"Those guys are useless anyway."
"You don''t have to worry too much. It''s just a possibility."
No.
My friend.
''It''s not a possibility, it''s real.''
In the future he saw with [Memento] and [Kronos'' Broken Pocket Watch], a cargo ship was clearly docked there.
If he dyed, the monster hunters would take action in earnest.
He had to get his hands on Yeonpyeong Ind before that.
"I need a boat to get to Yeonpyeong Ind."
"We have a speedboat used for smuggling."
"Give it to me now."
"Understood."
Mr. ck lent him the boat withoutint.
A sleek speedboat.
Not long after leaving the lower Imjin River, they entered the sea and headed west, cutting through the waves.
"That ind you see over there is Yeonpyeong Ind."
One of the five West Sea inds.
Before the Cataclysm, it was a strategic point defending the West Sea from the former North Korea.
The ind was quiterge, capable of amodating about 2,000 residents and a military unit of 2,000-3,000 soldiers.
It bordered Hwanghae Province to the north, making it a geographically strategic ind.
"That''s all in the past. After the Cataclysm, it became an ind of monsters."
The captain steering the speedboat grumbled.
"How many monsters are there?"
"There are swarms of them on the coast, so I can''t even guess."
Considering the area, there were at least a thousand units.
Even if it didn''t exceed 10,000, it was still a significant number.
"Get closer."
"Understood."
Ssh¡ª!
The speedboat cut through the waves and approached the southern part of the ind.
"ck, ck."
"ck. Food."
Reptilian monsters swarmed the coastline.
Their yellow pupils, slit amidst green scales, scattered an ominous light.
2.5 meters tall.
The monsters, prowling bare-bodied without weapons or armor, red at Yoojin.
"Are those Reriks?"
"Uh, uh."
"Don''t be scared."
"Those monsters also have ranged attacks."
As soon as the captain finished speaking, the bellies of the Reriks with darker scales swelled up.
[Fire Breath]
Fireballs flew in, tracing parabs in the air.
Dozens of ranged attacks poured down on the speedboat.
"There are always those guys who foreshadow."
Tsk tsk.
¡¾Daring to breathe fire when you''re not even a Dragon.¡¿
"Well, they''re not that strong."
The power of the mes was at the level of 2 Star Mage.
It was at a level that could be shot down in mid-air with [Bone Control].
Although the durability of his magic armaments would be greatly reduced.
"Their uracy isn''t high either."
¡¾Indeed. If they fall like this, at most three will hit the speedboat.¡¿
Long range, but terrible uracy.
Even now, there were 50 fireballs flying in, but only three would hit.
The two were talking leisurely.
The captain got angry.N?v(el)B\\jnn
"Fireballs are falling right now, and all you''re doing is talking!"
"Don''t worry."
He had learned a holy spell suitable for this situation.
Holy power gathered in his fingertips.
[Using Unholy Shock Shield.]
An angr barrier in the shape of multiple hexagonsyered on top of each other.
Although based on holy power, it had a gray hue that felt ominous.
''The defense range is 3 meters. It blocks one side instead of being spherical.''
Yoojin cast [Unholy Shock Shield] consecutively.
He created three more shields above his head, covering the speedboat.
''The casting speed depends on agility, so reaction speed. And there''s no burden even when using multiple shields.''
Up to this point, it was quite useful.
Defensive holy spells were difficult to maintain multiple instances of, or the number that could be deployed simultaneously was limited.
The drawback was that the defense range was biased towards one side, not multi-directional?
''I can cover that with quantity.''
Not only was the cost-effectiveness of the holy spell excellent, but Yoojin also had a way to replenish his holy power.
The drawbacks mentioned earlier weren''t a big problem.
''All that''s left is to check the most important thing, the defensive power.''
With his arms crossed, he watched the fireballs fall in a curve.
Crimson mes collided with the barrier.
The color faded slightly, but it didn''t break with one hit.
Bang¡ª Bang¡ª!
The fireballs that fell afterward relentlessly pounded the [Unholy Shock Shield] that had just been hit.
Even with the continuous attacks, the color only faded.
The holy spell bestowed by Kronos perfectly blocked the three fireballs.
"Our constetion gave me something useful."
¡²Khahahaha! Are you finally realizing my greatness?!¡³
Ignoring Kronos'' boisterousughter, he looked at the battlefield.
Although their first attack had failed, the Reriks swelled their bellies without a hint of panic.
"Captain. Bring the boat closer."
"Is that alright?"
"You just saw it. There''s no problem."
"Understood."
The captain gulped and steered the speedboat closer to the shore.
It was about 70 meters to thending point.
The Reriks once again spat out fireballs.
¡¾This time, the uracy will be about 22%.¡¿
"How kind of you."
Yoojin muttered sarcastically as he meticulously deployed his [Unholy Shock Shield].
If the speedboat sinks, we''re in trouble too, you know?
Getting wet is not an option.
Boom¡ª Boom Boom¡ª
The defensive barrier fixed in mid-air blocked the barrage of fireballs.
The speedboat closed the distance unimpeded.
"It''s your time to shine."
¡¾Leave it to me, Master.¡¿
The staff in Jo Seungchul''s hand.
A fireball materialized from [GB(Greybase) - R5] and flew in a straight line.
A deafening explosion.
Several Reriks clustered on the coast were caught in the st and burned ck.
¡¾Oh. Not bad, Skeleton.¡¿
¡¾I have a name, Jo Seungchul.¡¿
Grumbling, Jo Seungchul used [Quick Reload] andunched a second and third attack.
Yoojin, whose stats were limited due to his iplete ascension, still managed to empower Jo Seungchul''s fireballs to the level of a 4 Star Mage.
''It''s thanks to his high stats and mana cirction.''
With Quick Reload adding arrangement speed and destructive power, his firepower alone wasparable to a 4 Star Hunter capable of [Multi-Casting].
Kaboom¡ª! Kaaa-boom¡ª!
Jo Seungchul, who had been pouring out fireballs without a moment''s pause, lowered his arm.
¡¾Master. I have exhausted all my mana.¡¿
¡¾What? Is that all?¡¿
¡¾Using Quick Reload increases mana consumption.¡¿
¡¾Eh. Master, you''re useless.¡¿
What?
He did his job well enough.
Over 30 Reriks were killed by direct hits.
If you add the number of injured, they inflicted a tremendous amount of damage in a short period.
And besides¡ª
"Now there''s plenty of corpses for a necromancer."
[Using Corpse Explosion.]
Kukuakukuakua!
Explosions erupted here and there along the coast.
Bone fragments and flesh sttered everywhere.
Over 100 were caught in the explosions and fell.
"Now, if you''ll just let us off."
"Y-Yes, sir."
The pale-faced captain docked the speedboat at the pier.
Yoojin and his minions set foot on the southern part of Yeonpyeong Ind.
The Reriks that had not been swept away by the corpse explosions red at them and charged.
¡¾Master, how about a victory buff?¡¿
"Hold on."
Yoojin skillfully used Punishing Spike and Unholy Blessing.
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Seventh Stance]
[Ten-Strike Flurry]
Fafnir, empowered by the buffs and the additional stat boost from the Dragon Scale Armor, pushed the Reriks back.
"Holy shit. What did I just see?"
The speedboat captain muttered, trembling.
Reriks are notoriously difficult monsters to deal with, even among 3 Star monsters.
Hunters who underestimated them for being unarmed all met with disaster.
''Their tough scales are hard to pierce even with spears and swords, and they''re agile too.''
Their light bodies make them quick.
The sharpness of their ws surpasses that of most swords.
Some individuals can evenunch long-range attacks, making them adaptable monsters in any situation.
''The reason Yeonpyeong Ind was abandoned was because of the Reriks.''
The hunter who easily ughtered those infamous monsters.
It was no rumor that he had annihted half of the Red Spider''s main force.
"Captain."
"Yes, sir!"
"Just leave thebat rations and go. I''ll see you in five days."
"Yes, sir!"
The thoroughly disciplined captain moved the food stored on the boat and hurriedly left Yeonpyeong Ind.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 65: The Assault on Yeonpyeong Island (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 65: The Assault on Yeonpyeong Ind (2)
Crack¡ª
The neck of the Rerik caught in Fafnir''s hand was snapped in the opposite direction.
¡¾This area is all cleared up.¡¿
"Don''t let your guard down. The second wave will be here soon."
¡¾Persistent, aren''t they?¡¿
"Their territory has been invaded. They''d be fools to just take it lying down."
Yoojin infused his eyes with spirit power.
''I won''t be shedding any tears of blood this time.''
He traced the flow of the spiritual veins and selected a suitable site near the coast.
The spirit power concentration was only 1.
Well, he had to be satisfied with meeting the minimum requirements for construction.
Yoojin immediately began construction of the ck Spire.
The materials needed for the structure were scattered all over the coast.
Heid the foundation of the Necropolis without difficulty.
"Ugh. I feel like I''m going to pass out."
¡¾Aren''t you going to get addicted to those potions?¡¿
"Damn it. I need to increase the amount of spirit power quickly."
No.
Actually, it was a bit difficult.
Even with the bonus stats and Life Drain steadily increasing his spirit power, the ck Spire''s construction consumed so much that he had to drink potions like water.
Next time, he''d have to ask Shin Joonseok to add some strawberry vor or something.
¡¾Can he even do that?¡¿
"My business partner will figure out a way."
¡¾That''s not the same as being able to do it.¡¿
"Giving him the idea is enough."
He uttered words that would make countless engineers in this world shed tears of blood, then took a breath.
A whitish smoke slowly spread from the tip of the spire.
It was a fog that boosted the stats of the undead.
Conversely, it imposed a debuff on the living, limiting their visibility.
¡¾Are you ready to greet the enemy?¡¿
"Ready? This is just the beginning."
Easy for him to say.
He turned all the remaining corpses from the ck Spire''s construction into Armored Zombies.
¡¾You can''t fight the Reriks with those corpses.¡¿
"I know. 2 Star Armored Zombies are only good for holding the line."
The Armored Zombies had a lower ascension level than the Reriks.
They could win against monsters like Fafnir or enemies with higher ascension levels.
But even if they were painstakingly created, expecting that kind of performance from low-level undead was just wishful thinking.
¡¾Why not make more corpses like Jo Seungchul?¡¿
"I think you''re forgetting. I''m also a 2 Star."
He had used the [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] for an unconventional procedure.
Thanks to awakening Jo Seungchul''stent potential after their union, he was able to strengthen him into an intermediate undead.
Attempting the same with a Rerik corpse was impossible.
¡¾So even the Master has things he can''t do.¡¿
"I''m not omnipotent. I''m always aware of my limits."
Yoojin always assessed himself objectively.
Even if it seemed like he was walking a tightrope in every situation after his return.
He only took action after coldly assessing the possibilities.
Bzzt¡ª
The linked ck Spire sent a signal.
"Get ready. We have visitors."
¡¾How many are there?¡¿
"About 300."
¡¾Since they''re the Necropolis'' first customers, I''ll go greet them first.¡¿
"Go easy on them."
Winning the fight wasn''t the problem.
The key was to repel the Reriks while protecting the [ck Spire].
Fafnir would be the vanguard, exhausting their forces.
The basic strategy was to defend against the tattered Reriks with Armored Zombies and Blood Golems.
¡¾Haha. Don''t worry, I won''t overdo it.¡¿
Fafnir charged fearlessly into the fog.
A momentter.
A red glow began to spread through the whitish smoke.
£ª £ª £ª
At the beacon mound located in the center of Yeonpyeong Ind, reptilian monsters twice the size of ordinary Reriks were gathered.
"Intruders have entered the ind."
"How long has it been? For humans to set foot in our territory?"
"Ten days."
"What? It hasn''t been that long."
"Murian''s memory is always like that."
"Kararararak!"
The five Rerik brothers.
They weren''t actually "brothers," but a term referring to the variants born among the Reriks generated over 20 years.
"We sent 300 for reconnaissance."
"That many? What if the human who came in after so long dies right away?"
"There''s no way they''re that weak. Let''s wait a bit, and when more ships arrive, we''ll kill them."
The five Rerik brothers exchanged meaningful nces.
Yeonpyeong Ind was a space separated from the continent.
To escape the ind, one had to fly in the sky or have the means to cross the sea.
The intelligent monsters found this situation extremely frustrating.
"More blood! ughter!"
"We can''t be satisfied here. Kararak!"
The five Rerik brothers were 5 Star.
A high rank rarely seen from a 3 Star Gate.
A limited space, an ind.
The Gate that turned Yeonpyeong into an erosion zone had been generating monsters for over 20 years.
With nothing left to eat, the Reriks maintained their poption through cannibalism.
Five variants were born in the process.
Like the One-Eyed in the Bordend, they possessed strength and abilities that transcended their species.
It was only natural for them to turn their attention to the continent.
"We won''t make the same mistake."
"If we rashly kill all the humans, we''ll have no way to leave."
"Karak, we know."
This wasn''t the first time humans from the continent had coveted Yeonpyeong Ind.
Amsang.
Nine Dragons'' Hall.
Red Spider.
And even the 5th Revolutionary Corps (Human Hunters).
"To eat more humans, we have to go outside."
"Alright. We''ll endure."
The five Rerik brothers ughtered all the humans whonded on the ind and chewed their bones clean.
A delicacy they had never tasted before.
However, the number of humans visiting the ind dwindled.
The five brothers realized that to enjoy more of this delicacy, they had to cross the sea to thend beyond.
"We''ll wait until a big ship arrives."
The most powerful of the five brothers, Baltak, smacked his lips and warned the others.
£ª £ª £ª
[Level Up!]
Fafnir grinned confidently and tossed a Rerik corpse onto the ground.
¡¾Heh heh heh. They were nothing special.¡¿
"Exactly 300."
¡¾Was your intuition really that urate, Master?¡¿
"No, not really," Yoojin said, stroking his chin.
¡¾What''s on your mind?¡¿
"I thought it would be ''around'' 300. But for there to be no error at all...doesn''t that seem artificial?"
Monsters act on instinct.
They are half-formed creatures born from the Gate, their will stripped away, driven only by hatred for humans and a hunger to consume.
¡¾Now that you mention it, that is strange. For exactly 300 toe at once...it''s as if someone gave them orders...!¡¿
"You''re just noticing now?"
¡¾Did they already use their Individual Traits?¡¿
"No. If they had, there would have been shipsing and going from the pier."
Yoojin had nced at the southern pier beforending, but there was no trace of humans.
It wasn''t time yet, ording to the date he saw in Memento.
''Even so, I can''t let my guard down.''
It would be a month before the Human Hunters received the ''blessing'' of the constetion from the altar.
The fact that they had built an altar meant they had either subdued or driven out the Reriks on Yeonpyeong Ind.
''They''ll be here within a week at the earliest, two weeks at thetest.''
He needed to secure Yeonpyeong Ind and prepare for the Human Hunters before they gained a foothold.
In a head-on battle, Yoojin would surely lose.
The best course of action was to fortify the ind and prevent the Human Hunters fromnding.
''In this case, the only assumption I can make is...variants.''
Based on the countless experiences he had umted before his return, he was able to approach the truth through reasoning alone.
He couldn''t know the exact number of Rerik variants, which was five.
But it seemed certain that there was a monster with ''intelligence'' behind the recent attack.
"I need to change the n."
¡¾Master, what are you going to do?¡¿
"Since they''re trying to test the waters, we need to be proactive."
He would use Fafnir as the attacker.
Yoojin and Jo Seungchul would defend the ck Spire and expand the Necropolis'' territory.
¡¾The original n was to defend the Necropolis and wear down the monsters'' forces.¡¿
"That''s right."
¡¾Wouldn''t it be dangerous for you if I leave the territory?¡¿
"Don''t worry. I have a n."
Armored Zombies were no match for the Reriks.
Not in numbers.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Not in quality.
They were at a disadvantage in every way, but such situations were when a Necromancer truly shined.
''I have four skill slots avable to learn new spells.''
His level had risen to 37 during the spider hunt.
He had raided the Arhan Attack Team and the Gate, and thanks to the experience gained from the battles on Yeonpyeong Ind, he had just broken through level 40.
A spell suitable for the current situation would be...
[Acquired Bone Wall.]
[Acquired Reinforcement Circuit.]
"Gah, Gahhhh."
It still hurts like hell.
Instead of lessening the pain, his Unique Trait [Clear Mind] made him feel it even more vividly.
He shook off a teardrop that had welled up in his eye and checked the spells.
[Bone Wall]
Category: Magic
Rank: C
Creates a solid wall byyering bones reinforced with spirit power.
Effects vary depending on the form of construction.
[Reinforcement Circuit]
Category: Alchemy
Rank: E
A spell that inscribes the Reinforcement Circuit, the foundation of alchemy.
Good.
The descriptions were exactly as Yoojin remembered them.
''With the new holy spells added, I can defend myself indefinitely.''
Yoojin separated the bones and flesh of the teal-colored corpses and used [Raise Dead].
The teal-colored, or rather, now skeletal Reriks were revived as Skeleton Mages.
The ones that breathed fire also had an aptitude for ''magic,'' so they could be made into magic-type undead.
"You take control of these guys."
¡¾Thank you, Master.¡¿
He handed all 50 Skeleton Mages over to Jo Seungchul and created 40 more Armored Zombies.
In the process, he used up all his spirit power.
He had been so close to exhaustion that he couldn''t even count how many potions he had taken.
"Ughhhh."
He needed to be a 4 Star quickly and eat the Inseolsam.
Life Drain could be a substitute, but it was only a stopgap.
If he kept doing this, there would be something wrong with his body.
''Because I''m building up a tolerance to potions, too.''
He shouldn''t be converting potions into life force, and then into mana, unless it was an emergency.
But considering the future scenes he had seen with [Memento], he had no choice but to push himself.
He renewed his resolve and wiped the potion from his mouth with his sleeve.
¡¾Are you alright?¡¿
"No. But I have to do this."
¡¾Next time, I''ll bring you some fresh ones.¡¿
"Ah, right. I need to absorb their stats too, so please."
He hadn''t been able to drain the Reriks'' life force in the midst of the fighting.
"The visible corpses have been exploded or turned into undead. I need to snatch up any remaining life force and convert it into stats."
¡¾Should we start searching the coast then?¡¿
"No. Head to the center of the ind."
¡¾But you said there might be variants there.¡¿
"Exactly. That''s why we need to check the ces where variants are likely to be."
The variant Reriks, the ones with intelligence, were most likely in the center of the ind.
That''s where the Rerik horde hade from when he''d first built the ck Spire.
"The one giving the orders will be in that direction too."
¡¾Heh heh. Master, your insight is incredible. To have figured that out in such a short time.¡¿
"Just don''t die. I can''t conquer this ind without you."
Even with Fafnir''s [Life Force Vessel], if he waspletely destroyed, regeneration would take a considerable amount of time.
The life force required for resurrection was also immense.
¡¾If I have the chance, I''ll capture that variant for you.¡¿
"Yeah, if you can manage it."
Yoojin chuckled.
About 30 minutes after Fafnir left the Necropolis, the ck Spire sounded another rm.
''This time it''s the coast. About 300 more.''
Khehehe.
Just as he''d expected.
He had deliberately sent Fafnir out as a vanguard to see how the Reriks would react, and they hadn''t missed the opportunity to attack.
"I don''t know if it''ll be the same withrger numbers, but..."
Seeing that they had sent a simr number as the first attack, he was certain that there were variant Reriks mixed in.
''They must be trying to figure out my strength and how I''ll respond.''
Even after creating the Armored Zombies and Skeleton Mages, he still had over 100 corpses left.
It was toote to set up remote explosions like he had during the spider hunt.
Well, even with just corpses, there was always a way.
He would show them why a Necromancer was called a one-man army.
"Move their corpses here."
Yoojin lined up the Rerik corpses in the direction of the enemy''s advance.
"Kararararak!"
"Karak!"
The Rerik horde approached the ck Spire, tearing through the gray mist.
With their reptilian heat-sensing and tactile senses, the fog didn''t slow their advance much, even though it disrupted their vision.
[Using Bone Wall.]
Kwa-du-du-deuk!
Bones erupted from the Rerik corpses, absorbing spirit power and growing dozens of timesrger.
The sharp, thorn-like bones intertwined and piled up, transforming into a four-meter-high wall.
If he had time, he would increase its durability with Reinforcement Circuit, but...
''Right now, I''m going to test something else.''
[Using Midnight Sun.]
[Spirit Power ¡ú Holy Power]
[Using Unholy Shock Shield.]
The holy shield was superimposed onto the Bone Wall.
The Skeleton Mages fired magic from behind the bone wall.
[Ice Arrow]
[Wind sh]
...
There were gaps here and there in the bone barricade.
The wall was taller than the Skeleton Mages, so these were holes intentionally created for magic attacks.
"Karak, break the wall."
Enraged by the one-sided attack, the Reriks charged towards the Bone Wall.
Their ws were as sharp as well-honed swords.
They would easily tear through mere bones and shatter the corpses behind the wall.
A Rerik roared and swung its arm.
Kwa-jik!
The moment its ws touched the Bone Wall...
With a sh from the [Unholy Shock Shield], spike-shaped bones sprang out from the Bone Wall.
Pwack!
The Rerik''s forearm was pierced, the spirit power of the Bone Wallbining with the reflected damage of the Unholy Shock Shield.
"Kararararak?!"
The Rerik stumbled back, blood dripping from its arm.
"Definitely effective."
Just as he''d calcted.
Yoojin cackled as he watched.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 66: 3 Stars
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 66: 3 Stars
The [Unholy Shock Shield] has two characteristics:
Melee attack ¨C Reflect
Ranged attack ¨C Complete defense
He already tested theplete defense ability during thending.
¡®The main point is how much it reflects when hit with a melee attack.¡¯
The effect was outstanding.
After integrating the Bone Wall with the Unholy Shock Shield and inducing Reriks'' attack...
The defensive power strengthened by the territory and the synergy effectbined, and the reflected shock broke their arms.
¡°Kyaaarrgh!¡±
¡°Aaargh!¡±
Screams erupted from all directions.
The Reriks, who had rushed in with such momentum, faltered in confusion.
¡®The Bone Wall also has two forms.¡¯
Defensive and reflective.
The one he deployed this time is reflective; when an impact is applied, the bones protrude, returning the damage to the opponent.
However, it has the disadvantage of consuming the Bone Wall''s durability.
¡®Adding the Unholy Shock Shield maximizes the advantages of the reflective type.¡¯
Using the Bone Wall alone wouldn''t have generated enough power to pierce their arms.
Simrly, if he had only used the Unholy Shock Shield alone, it would have only returned a small amount of damage.
¡®The synergy effect is better than I calcted.¡¯
He didn''t need the Fafnir.
¡¾Die, you bastards.¡¿
[Fireball]
[Quick Reload]
[Fireball]
¡¡.
The Skeleton Mages'' magic attacks were projected relentlessly, using the Bone Wall as a shield.
In particr, Jo Seungchul, after recovering all the mana he had consumed during thending, once again poured out tremendous firepower.
Crack¡ª!
¡°Break through one side.¡±
The Reriks didn''t just stand still and take the attacks.
The Bone Wall densely surrounded the ck spire.
As wide as the defense range was, there were bound to be shallow areas in the Skeleton Mage''s barrage.
The Reriks capable of ranged attacks retreated to the rear of the group.
[Fire Breath]
They spewed fireballs like they did during thending.
Low uracy only matters when the target is small or far away.
There was no way they could miss the towering Bone Wall from less than 40 meters away.
[Unholy Shock Shield is destroyed.]
[Unholy Shock Shield¡¡.]
The barrier, hit by dozens of fireballs, vanished.
The Bone Wall couldn''t hold out much longer and copsed on one side.
¡°Kraack! Charge!¡±
Reriks swarmed towards the copsed section.
A giant of red slime blocked the gap in the fallen wall.
¡°You. Shall not. Pass.¡±
Transforming both arms into des, it swung left and right, cutting down the Reriks.
Swish¡ª
The Reriks had a 3rd-grade Sacred Rank.
Although a step below the Troll absorbed earlier, it was the rare blood of a lower dragonkin, further enhancing the Blood Golem''s abilities.
¡°What¡¯s wrong? Something¡¯s not working out?¡±
[Using Corpse Explosion.]
The power surpassed the Skeleton Mages'' magic!
Explosions erupted throughout the battlefield, and the Reriks'' arms, legs, and blood droplets scattered through the air.
The Reriks who had retreated to the rear made a hole in the other wall, but...
-Groan.
-Groan.
They didn''t have the strength to break through the Armored Zombies that had filled the copsed area.
Perhaps in a chaotic battle they might have, but the Rerikscked the power to push through the Armored Zombies dedicated to defense in a confined space.
The synergy of [Bone Wall] and [Unholy Shock Shield].
The resilience of the Armored Zombies and Blood Golem mobilized for defense.
All the elements interlocked like gears,pletely neutralizing the Reriks'' offensive.
[Using Bone Control.]
[Using Life Drain.]
The situation was rxed enough to impale an exhausted Rerik with a magic-infused weapon, bring it inside, and drain its life force.
300 Reriks fell in the fog without inflicting any significant damage.
£ª £ª £ª
The defensive battle around the ck spire continued intermittently.
About a day had passed.
The number of Reriks who died in the fog reached a staggering four thousand.
"A war of attrition against a Necromancer."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Yoojin muttered in a dry tone, shoving food into his mouth.
The pungent scent of death stung his nose.
The acrid smell of smoke and blood threatened to numb his senses.
But he paid it no mind, scraping up everyst grain of rice from hisbat rations.
¡¾I''d say you have an unnecessarily strong stomach.¡¿
Fafnir remarked in a bewildered tone, observing Yoojin''s nonchnt demeanor.
¡®Don''t worry, Great Warrior. Before my return, I''d seen far worse. If I''d been concerned about my stomach or hygiene, I would''ve died long ago, let alone reach the 9th Rank.¡¯
¡²You seem to be struggling quite a bit despite receiving the divine spell I bestowed upon you.¡³
Yoojin shrugged at Kronos''s taunt.
''This strategy has quite a few variables.''
¡²Khahaha! It''s the first time I''ve heard you make excuses. How intriguing.¡³
''...There are at least three variant Reriks. And they''re monsters presumed to be 5 Star.
¡²You haven''t seen them yourself, have you? Do you have any basis for that assertion?¡³
''The number ofmands given to the Reriks.''
Fafnir, who had been sent to the center of the ind, couldn''t advance further due to the Reriks'' offensive and returned to the ck spire.
''They blocked the front and back, giving him a hard time.''
Reriks aren''t intelligent enough to form a siege.
This means there are at least two variants giving orders.
Considering the group that came via the coast, he concluded there are at least three.
¡²Even so, there''s no guarantee the variants are 5 Star, is there?¡³
''One should always consider the worst-case scenario when making assumptions.''
The more thorough the preparation, the better.
If it''s a Rerik capable of judgment, there''s a high probability it''s at the peak of 4 Star, or has reached 5 Star.
¡²Khahahaha! It''s a far more unfavorable situation than the spider hunt.¡³
''That''s right. At least then we were on the defensive.''
Yoojin didn''t deny it.
The number of hunters mobilized during the spider hunt was around 100.
The two executives were 5 Star.
''There are at least thousands of Reriks on Yeonpyeong Ind. And at least three monsters presumed to be 5 Star.''
¡²If you can turn this situation around, it would truly be a feat worthy of a hero.¡³
''What do you desire, Constetion?''
¡²Isn''t it obvious what I desire?¡³
Kronos dered.
¡²For my contractor to ovee this trial.¡³
''I thought so.''
Yoojin gave a shortugh.
But you know what?
They''re mistaken about one thing.
They''re not the only ones who excel at attrition warfare.
[Current level is 49.]
It seemed like they kept throwing bait to gauge his strength.
Thanks to that, he¡¯s only one step away from his target limit level.
"Fafnir, go clear the coast one more time."
¡¾Aren''t you overworking me?¡¿
"I''ll be level 50 soon."
¡¾I have no choice. It is the role of a servant to serve hiscking master.¡¿
How much time had passed since Fafnir was sent out?
[Level up!]
[Current level is 50.]
[You have surpassed the limit and reached a new realm.]
[All stats are increased by +20%.]
[Experience required for level up is quadrupled.]
Wooong¡ª!
His level had risen by one step with the system''s assistance.
Yoojin smiled faintly at the power that filled him.
¡²Now you can unlock the knowledge of a new school.¡³
''Well, yeah.''
If he unlocked the poison field, he could link it with the necromancy side by adding poison to corpse explosions or giving poison to undead minions.
The darkness field would allow mid- to long-range attacks for a Necromancer who would otherwise be twiddling his thumbs without a medium (bones or corpses).
Curses would allow him to inflict all sorts of debuffs or control souls at will.
''The stat increase is good, but the higher the level, the wider the range of responses.''
Yoojin was once a hunter who reached the pinnacle of Necromancy.
Step by step.
The higher the level, the more limitless the power he could wield.
''However, there''s something else that''s important right now.''
¡²Oh? That sounds like you have a separate n to ovee this crisis.¡³
''The fact that my level has risen to 3 Star is the key.''
Swoosh¡ª!
A dark aura emanated from Jo Seungchul''s body.
The blue me in his empty pupils deepened.
[The power of Dark Minion (Jo Seungchul) is fully unleashed due to your level up.]
[3 Star ¡ú 4 Star]
[Mana increases by 800.]
[Trait - Multi-casting is added]
[Multi-casting]
Rank: B
An ability granted to those who have ovee the 3 Star wall and reached a higher level.
Allows simultaneous rearrangement of mana depending on the user''s processing speed.
¡¾My power has increased, Master.¡¿
"Alright. Work even harder."
¡¾I will serve Master with all my loyalty.¡¿
See?
As soon as Yoojin reached 3 Star, Jo Seungchul''s rank increased by one level!
¡²But, is it really necessary to exclude other fields?¡³
''There''s a limit to the number of spells I can learn. Right now, I need to focus.''
Poison, curse, and darkness fields are good, but¡
Ultimately, the main skills of a Necromancer are necromancy spells that use corpses as a medium.
Skill slots that had been left empty for the moment he reached 3 Star.
He had used two to protect the ck spire, but the number increased again as the level was reset, so he could learn a total of four spells.
''I''ve already decided what to learn.''
[Learns Dead Rise.]
[Learns Analysis.]
[Learns Unholy Command.]
?Dead Rise
Category: Magic
Rank: C
Creates undead from corpses whose souls have departed.
The quality of the created undead depends on the ability of the base corpse and the user''spetence.
?Analysis
Category: Alchemy
Rank: E
Analyzes the designated target.
?Unholy Command
Category: Necromancy Magic
Rank: C
Consumes Spirit Power to increase the stats of undead minions under the user''s control by 10%, and when they inflict damage, a portion of Spirit Power returns to the user.
Unholy Command''s area of effect is 100 meters centered on the user.
"Done."
Kronos expressed doubt at Yoojin''s confident appearance.
¡²Will this be enough?¡³
''Of course. It''s a shame I''m short on materials, but it''s manageable.''
¡²Spells rted to necromancy are fine, but why did you learn alchemy?¡³
''You''ll see.''
Yoojin shouted towards the Rerik''s corpse.
"Answer my call."
[Uses Dead Rise.]
The fallen Rerik''s corpse sprang to its feet and let out a ghastly scream.
Thest cry of the deceased.
The lightless pupils fell to the ground with a thud.
And in the empty sockets, a blue me began to flicker.
[Returnee created.]
[High degree ofpletion.]
[All stats increased by 71.4%.]
Low-grade undead Returnee.
Although it''s a low-grade like Skeletons or Zombies, itsbat power is vastly different.
''Even if they''re both low-grade, a Returnee is inherently 3 Star.''
It''s only advantage is its sturdy body, but even Armored Zombies & Skeletons are no match for a Returnee in a one-on-one fight.
¡²If the variant Rerik''s level is 5 Star, wouldn''t that be farcking?¡³
''It''s not over yet.''
Yoojin approached the corpse lying next to the Revenant.
Mana shimmered in his eyes.
Analysis, the basic skill of alchemy.
[Analyzing the designated material.]
[The material is presumed to be the scales of a lower dragon. Identifying mana pattern.]
[Structure perfectly analyzed.]
He read the grain of the mana with Analysis and peeled off the scales with [Flesh Control] without damaging them.
The Rerik''s scales covered the Returnee''s body.
Yoojin engraved a reinforcement circuit into the densely packed scales.
''It''s fortunate that the monster that upied Yeonpyeong Ind is a Rerik.''
Once again, using [Flesh Control], he separated the tendons one by one from the corpse that had been turned into mush.
Thanks to the help of [Analysis], he was able to perform detailed work remotely.
He snatched the tendons protruding from the flesh, engraved [Reinforcement Circuit] on them, and shoved them all over the Returnee''s body.
"Open your eyes once more."
Swoosh¡ª!
The moment he infused Spirit Power into the Returnee.
The tendons imnted throughout its body and the reinforcement circuits engraved on the scales reacted.
The Spirit Power swelled as it rotated and rotated.
-Grooooar!!!
[The subject has perfectly fused with the byproducts of a lower dragon and has been reborn as a new undead, a Revenant.]
[Revenant creation has been added as a sub-skill of Dead Rise.]
[Revenant]
Race: Undead
Rank: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï
¡ò Stats
Strength: 570 (+200) / Agility: 398 (+150) / Health: 519 (+180) / Toughness: 534 (+180) / Mana: 304 (+110)
¡ò Traits
? Immortal Being [C+] / Regeneration [C+] / Immature Guardian (C+)
¡ò Skills
? Curse Breath [B] / Dark Fighting Aura [B] / Charge [D]
An undead that means "one who has returned from death."
To borate, it has a simr meaning to "Returnee," but the difference inbat power between the two is enormous.
¡²Dark Fighting Aura?!¡³
''It''s a 4 Star. That much is basic.''
¡²How can a mere deceased exhibit such power?!¡³
''That''s why it has the Immature trait.''
A trait that Jo Seungchul doesn''t have.
It''s an unnecessary trait that reduces the power when manifesting Aura (Dark Fighting Aura).
A penalty for being an existence that crossed the wall through an unorthodox method.
''The mental power consumption is also high to control it.''
Although the number that can be controlled doubled when he became a 3 Star.
The Revenant is a powerful being that crossed the wall and a deceased that hates even the living, that is, its master Yoojin, so it consumes 10 control slots.
''It''s a penalty that will disappear when I be a 4 Star, but it can''t be helped.''
To deal with the variant Reriks of Yeonpyeong Ind, he needed one strong one rather than several weaklings.
The number of undead Yoojin can control is 80.
¡²Excluding your two servants, you can control 78 more, so up to 7.¡³
''Did you forget that Jo Seungchul also hasmand authority?''
Jo Seungchul, who can control 50.
If a Revenant is ced under hismand, it would be all he could do to suppress it from bing hostile to Yoojin, let alonemand it.
''There are many living besides me.''
Is there a need to control the Revenant?
If you just let go of the mad dog''s leash, it will rampage on its own.
¡²Truly remarkable. It''s knowledge not even found in the Ring of Darkness, how could youe up with such an idea?¡³
''Do you think I reached the 9th Rank for nothing?''
Yoojin chuckled and boasted.
Now.
I''ve warmed up my body enough.
And I''ve expanded my forces.
Let''s go for the win before the Hunters arrive.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 67
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 67: Who is the Ind''s ruler now?
The five Rerik brothers, who had been leisurely waiting for reinforcements, applied moderate pressure on Yoojin.
¡°Just watch out for that ck-cloaked guy.¡±
¡°If we keep sending Reriks, he¡¯ll reach his limit eventually.¡±
"Karak, we''ll attack when the ship arrives."
They were gleefully anticipating the arrival of the next ship when...
Yoojin, who had been maintaining a defensive position around the ck spire within the fog, suddenly emerged.
His destination: the center of the ind, where the Rerik brothers resided.
"Karak, has the guy lost his mind?¡±
"Kararak. Youngest. Go and find out. If necessary, chase him away yourself."
"Understood."
A mutated Rerik strode southward.
A short whileter...
Ssh¡ª Ssh¡ª
The sound of wet footsteps reached the Rerik brothers.
"Karak. You chased the human away quite quickly¡ª"
"Yeah, I came back a bit early, didn''t I?"
Thud.
The severed head of the youngest Rerik rolled across the floor, pale and bloodless.
Blood sttered everywhere, dripping from torn muscles, as if ripped off by sheer brute force.
¡°Five mutated ones, huh? Or is it four now? That''s a lot."
¡°Kararararak! You killed our brother!¡±
¡°Brotherly love? From creatures born as half-baked rejects from the Gate?¡±
"Youuuuu!!!"
Two of the remaining four Reriks roared with fury and leaped forward.
¡°See? Provocation works.¡±
¡¾Master. Even so, isn''t it a bit much to desecrate the dead?¡¿
¡°Calling them ¡®the dead¡¯ is too generous for monsters.¡±
Yoojin replied nonchntly.
¡²I agree with the warrior''s statement.¡³
''Why are you getting involved, constetion? I thought you liked my heroic actions?''
¡²There is no need to stoop to unnecessary insult.¡³
''I have my reasons.''
Yoojin nced at Fafnir.
¡¾I''ll proceed as originally nned.¡¿
¡°If anything unexpected happens, I¡¯ll adjust. Just go wild without worry.¡±
¡¾As you wish.¡¿
Fafnir advanced, gesturing to the Blood Golem standing behind him.
¡°You too, go.¡±
¡¸Carrying out the order.¡¹
Thump¡ª Thump¡ª
The Blood Golem, now bulkier and heavier, stomped forward.
Strengthened by absorbing Relic blood, it had reached the brink of 4 Star.
Its size, which had grown to about 5 meters, was no less imposing than the mutated Rerik.
Woooong¡ªn/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
A blue energy flickered around the ws of the two Rerik brothers.
It was Aura, the power of will granted only to those who have transcended their limits.
"Karararak! Die!"
The mutated Reriks were confident of victory.
Even though the distance had closed considerably, there was no sign of Aura being emitted from Fafnir or the Blood Golem.
Even 5 Star Rerik needed a high level of concentration to deploy Aura.
They were certain that Fafnir and the Blood Golem had no way to counter it.
[Using Unholy Shock Shield.]
A gray barrier was generated just before the collision.
Although they could have held back, the mutated Rerik did not stop.
¡®It''s energy isn''t strong either. I''ll tear it apart!''
The blue energy intensified.
If a defensive spell was used, they just had to break through with even greater force!
CRAAAAAASH!¡ª
"Karak?!"
... or so the mutated Rerik thought, before it¡¯s eyes widened in bewilderment.
Mana rebound.
The Aura condensed on its ws wavered violently.
"The aura!"
"Why? What''s wrong?"
Yoojin smirked.
Aura is a power granted to those who transcend their limits, but the materialized mana wavelengths aren''t uniform.
It''s a power that reflects the user''s fighting style, personality, and various other factors.
Naturally.
The proficiency and destructive power of aura vary widely depending on one''s strong will and mana control.
''Would these 3 Star monsters ever have had a reason to unleash their aura at full power?''
He had ripped off the mutated Rerik''s head and thrown it to them for a reason.
To make them unleash their aura at maximum output?
These monsters likely wouldn''t understand the profundity of aura, simply wielding it with all their might.
''If I use the Unholy Shock Shield to counter their aura, they won''t be able to respond properly.''
¡²Did you n this far ahead?¡³
''I told you, I have my reasons.''
The more they amplify their aura...
...the harder it will be for them to control the backflow of mana caused by the [Unholy Shock Shield].
The mutated Rerik stumbled backward.
The blue aura flickering around their ws trembled, and drops of blood dripped from the tips, proving his point.
''You''ve bestowed upon me an incredible divine spell.''
¡²K, Khahahaha! Praise me more.¡³
Despite his boisterous cries, Kronos couldn''t shake off his astonishment.
The divine spell he had meticulously crafted was [Memento].
He had gradually modified the pocket watch with the intention of using it alongside the spell.
''But to think he''d utilize a spell I made as a bonus so effectively.''
The way this small human didn''t waste a single skill...
Kronos desperately suppressed his shocked thoughts, trying not to reveal them to Yoojin.
¡¾Moving on to stage two.¡¿
Thud!
Fafnir dashed past the mutated Rerik, who were faltering as they tried to stabilize their mana, and charged towards the two behind them.
"Karak. Are you targeting us?"
"Ridiculous. Just because we''re in the back doesn''t mean we''re weak in closebat!"
[Earth Break]
[Shockwave]
The ground split left and right, creating a wide fissure.
A shockwave, using the air as a medium, attempted to restrict Fafnir''s movements and push him into the fissure.
¡¾Your coordination isn''t bad.¡¿
A ck aura enveloped his arms.
Fafnir neutralized the shockwave with his dark fighting spirit and advanced, crushing the rocks protruding from the fissure.
¡¾But that''s about it. Not that great.¡¿
Closing the distance, Fafnir''s hands moved with dazzling speed.
His body, reinforced with triple buffs and dragon scales.
The mutated Reriks, whose physical abilities were on par with a 5 Star Hunter butckedbat experience, frantically iled their arms.
"Karak, you guys attack him too!"
"This guy is a summon. It''s over if we just kill the human."
Both were 5 Star monsters.
They were more ustomed to magic than aura, but their physical abilities weren''t far behind.
They judged that if they held Fafnir back...
...they could seize victory by attacking Yoojin.
-Groooan.
-Grooooar.
...That is, until they saw the Revenants, d in Rerik scales, charging towards them.
£ª £ª £ª
Before their transformation, the Revenants were ''Returnee'', a type of undead specialized in tanking.
Returnee are undead optimized for maintaining the front line by holding back enemies with their tough bodies and strength, despite their speed being considered slow for a 3 Star.
As they were upgraded based on those undead, their resilience was truly remarkable.
[Dark Fighting Spirit]
[Due to the penalty of an Inexperienced Guardian, the power of Dark Fighting Spirit is reduced by 30%]
"Karararak, is that aura?"
"It''s Dark Fighting Spirit. The manifestation method is the same, so you can call it aura."
"Kararak. It''s weaker than my aura. Something like this...?"
He knew the Revenant''s Dark Fighting Spirit output was low.
He had predicted the mutated Rerik to be 5 Star.
Wouldn''t he have considered that while hunting them down?
-Grooooar.
-Grooo. A living being.
Revenants emerged from behind the bushes in a line.
A total of 12 Revenants grappled with the mutated Rerik, who were trying to control their rebounded mana.
"Kararak!!"
"They say you can''t stop ten hands with one."
The Blood Golem used [Blood Flow Conversion] to transform its arms into a-like structure.
It entangled the mutated Rerik.
Even with a 30% reduction in output, the attacks of the Revenants, d in aura (Dark Fighting Spirit), gradually inflicted damage.
"Karararak!"
With a furious roar, the mutated Rerik unleashed their aura to its maximum.
[Using Unholy Shock Shield.]
Crack¡ª
"Karak!"
"This is why monsters are hopeless. They have no learning ability."
The mutated Reriks unleashing their aura at full power?
Even better.
He deployed the Unholy Shock Shield at the perfect moment, turning the enemy''s power against them.
If his opponent had been a Hunter skilled in aura maniption...
Or a monster with extensivebat experience, things would have been different.
''Like One-Eyed from the Border Region.''
That guy was a true monster.
A mutated who had survived the Monster Wave and now reigned as the king of the Border Region.
The mutated Rerik were pathetic inparison.
''Fafnir... just needs a little help.''
He didn''t lose the initiative even while facing two magic-specialized mutated Rerik.
A different scene from when he struggled against the spider.
Even though his opponents were two 5 Stars, theycked thebat experience of Choi Hyungtae, the Red Spider executive.
He rearranged his mana while avoiding direct confrontation as much as possible.
With their high physical abilities, all they did was evade, so the flow of the fight shifted to Fafnir''s onught.
''This is the moment!''
[Releasing Punishing Spike.]
Bang¡ª!
A shockwave erupted from Fafnir, violently shaking the mutated Reriks.
The buff effect increased in proportion to the impact umted during the battle.
And releasing that energy temporarily generated a shockwave: [Punishing Spike].
[Multi-casting]
[Fireball x 2]
[Quick Reload]
[Fireball x 2]
.......
Jo Seungchul, in sync with Yoojin''s signal, hurled fireballs at the mutated Rerik who had lost their footing.
Despite the difference in rank, the amplified magic melted their scales.
"Kark!"
¡¾Now they''re showing an opening.¡¿
[Kenex Combat Arts]
[Fourth Stance]
[Thrusting Fist]
Dark Fighting Spirit surged and spiraled around Fafnir''s forearm, shattering the melted scales.
With brutal force, he tore through the exposed muscle and flesh, finally reaching the mutated Rerik''s heart and bursting it with a sickening bang.
[Acquired a massive amount of experience points.]
[Level up!]
[Current level is 2.]
As expected of a mutated, it gave a tremendous amount of experience points.
"Brother!"
"Don''t worry. You''ll follow soon."
"Damn it! Human!"
Whoosh¡ª
Fafnir didn''t miss the opportunity presented by their cursing and attacked even more fiercely.
"Say something! Please!"
¡¾If you had time to chatter like that, Master would have already killed 53 more Reriks.¡¿
¡®Look at him provoking.¡¯
Before the regression, Park Haneul was taciturn and boring.
Fafnir''s provocation skills were so superb that it made Yoojin wonder if they were the same person.
¡²Don''t you know where the starting point of change lies?¡³
''Is it because I made the contract earlier?''
¡²Khahahaha. What a wonderful wrong answer. Very creative indeed.¡³
''¡¡.''
Something...
...felt very strange.
Pushing Kronos''ughter aside, Yoojin focused on the battle.
His role in this fight was support.
There were no corpses to explode.
And with his Bone Control alone, he couldn''t inflict a single wound on a 5 Star monster.
Maybe with a Bone Spear infused with Spirit Power...
''But it''s better to faithfully fulfill my role as a priest.''
Divine spells that were clearly distinct from those of other constetions.
Yoojin took full advantage of their unique characteristics, showcasing a level of performance that surpassed priests of the same rank.
"I-I''m being... overwhelmed by mere undead...?"
The mutated Rerik, buried under a swarm of Revenants, copsed.
Not long after, the remaining two followed their brethren.
¡¾I didn''t expect to achieve such an overwhelming victory against four 5 Stars.¡¿
Fafnir muttered with a bewildered expression.
Yoojin chuckled.
"Idiot. I told you I don''t fight battles I can''t win."
¡¾It''s strange for Master, who just became a 3 Star, to even gauge the odds of winning.¡¿
Of course.
The number of hellscapes he had gone through to reach the 9th rank were countless.
A mutated who had haphazardly awakened to intellect...
...was no match for him.
¡¾Huh. If there had been a Hunter like Master in the past, Korea would be even more stable now.¡¿
Fafnir even mentioned the past, which he rarely brought up.
It was proof of how shocked he was by the previous battle.
To be this surprised...
There were many more surprising things toe, so it would be good for him to take some calming pills.
Vrrrrrrr¡ª!
The pocket watch swayed from side to side.
Kronos shouted in a hurried tone.
¡²Where is the opportunity that Memento revealed?¡³
''Beneath the cathedral.''
¡²Khahahaha. Perhaps... no, I was just worried that you might miss my arrangements, so I asked.¡³
For the King of the Titans, he was quite timid.
Yoojinughed briefly and then stared at the mutated Rerik with their heads buried in the ground.
Although he coveted the object hidden beneath the cathedral...
For a Necromancer, wasn''t the corpse of a powerful being the real treasure?
"Lesser Drakes have many uses."
Slurp¡ª
Yoojin licked his lips.
¡¾Master. There''s something I''d like to ask.¡¿
"Go ahead."
¡¾Well...¡¿
When Fafnir hesitated, Yoojin shouted.
"Why do you stop mid-sentence, it doesn''t suit you?"
¡¾Those corpses... can you give them to me?¡¿
Blink¡ª Blink¡ª
For the first time in a while, Yoojin was speechless, his eyes blinking in surprise.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 68
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 68: Temple of the Heaven''s Defiance
¡°Why the mutated Rerik¡¯s corpse?¡±
¡¾Hmm. How should I describe this sensation?¡¿
Fafnir¡¯s blue mane flickered back and forth, reflecting hisplex thoughts.
¡¾Yes. To define it, it''s hunger.¡¿
¡°There''s no Minyeong here to empathize with you.¡±
¡¾It''s not the sense of tasting vor. It''s a fundamental hunger, a starvation. An instinctive craving to fill what''s missing.¡¿
¡®Oh my. Since when did Fafnir be someone, no, a deceased who spouts such elegant expressions?¡¯
Yoojin stroked his chin.
¡°Interesting.¡±
An Eldritch Dragon, a top-tier undead, feels the hunger that zombies or skeletons feel.
If there was a reaction never seen before, the answer was simple.
¡°It must be trying to fill something that''scking.¡±
¡¾Something Ick?¡¿
¡°Reriks are lower dragonkin.¡±
Even if they are half-baked creatures created by the Gate, the essence of dragonkin is imbued within their bodies.
The mutated Rerik possesses an even stronger essence.
¡°The appetite you feel is probably an instinct to fill the iplete parts of you as an Eldritch Dragon.¡±
¡¾I didn''t feel much when I saw the other Reriks.¡¿
¡°Their essence is too weak to be of any help.¡±
The reason the mutated Rerik awakened power beyond that of a Saint was because of the reaction of the dragonkin essence.
¡°It''s just a hypothesis, though.¡±
¡¾Hmm. So, you''re giving me this corpse, right?¡¿
¡°Try eating one first.¡±
¡¾Stingy as ever.¡¿
Fafnir grumbled briefly and opened his mouth wide.
Crack¡ªCrack¡ª
The chilling sounds of bones breaking and muscles tearing.
The five-meter-long giant disappeared into Fafnir¡¯s mouth as if being sucked into a vacuum cleaner.
[Eldritch Dragon (Fafnir) absorbs dragonkin essence.]
[Eldritch Dragon''spleteness increases.]
[Absorbed dragon essence ¨C 6.7%]
[All stats increase by 12.5%.]
Fafnir¡¯s body convulsed.
The absorbed dragon essence expanded his bones, and his flesh grew to match the erged skeleton.
¡®I wonder if the term ¡°growth¡± is appropriate for someone already dead. But nothing elsees to mind.¡¯
He thought as he watched Fafnir''s entire body convulsing incessantly.
¡°Eat the rest as well.¡±
¡¾Is it really okay? You said they would be a strong force if made into undead.¡¿
¡°It''s far more beneficial for you to be stronger.¡±
¡¾Master¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤!¡¿
Fafnir strode towards Yoojin and tightly grasped his hand.
¡¾Thank you. I will never forget this grace!¡¿
¡°Ah, ow, ow, ow!¡±
¡¾My apologies. I used too much strength.¡¿
¡°I think my bone¡¯s broken.¡±
His wrist dangled limply.
Yoojin let out a short sigh and used Life Drain.
[6.7% ¡ú 9.3 ¡ú 10.9 ¡ú 12.1 ¡ú 12.5]
The more mutated Reriks he consumed, the less dragon essence was absorbed.
It probably meant he needed to hunt stronger ones to perfect his Eldritch Dragon.
As the dragon essence increased, the stat bonus also rose to 45%.
And one trait added after consuming the fifth mutated pleased Yoojin even more.
[Trait ¨C Immortal Commander added.]
The same trait that Jo Seungchul acquired.
Although the number he couldmand was limited for now.
If Fafnir umted more dragon essence, the number of undead under hismand would also increase.
¡®I''ve gained something far more valuable than the corpses of lower-ranking dragonkin.¡¯
Originally, the n was to bury the mutated Reriks'' corpses in the Unholy Graveyard.
To create a mid-rank undead like a Dragner, Yoojin''s level also needed to be at least 4 Star.
¡®Not only has my power increased, but the number of troops I canmand has also risen.¡¯
Compared to five Dragners he couldn''t even use immediately, this was a much greater gain.
¡²Contractor. Now let us go and seize the opportunity.¡³
With Kronos urging him, Yoojin stopped thinking and turned his head.
The scene from the past, or rather the future, he saw through [Memento].
A crumbling cathedral stood before his eyes.
¡®Let''s get to the main event.¡¯
Yoojin slowly walked towards the cathedral.
£ª £ª £ª
The cathedral located at the heart of the ind.
Calling it a cathedral was generous; besides a barely recognizable statue of the Virgin Mary, worn down by time, there was no trace of a chapel to be found.
¡®It was around here, wasn''t it?¡¯
After recalling the scene from [Memento], he ordered the Revenant to dig into the ground.
Thud¡ª Thud¡ª
The Revenant scooped up the soil with hands cloaked in dark aura, its force rivaling an excavator.
When it had dug down about five meters.
¡°Hmm.¡±
A groan instinctively escaped him, sensing an unusual energy emanating from the pit.
Yoojin descended into the deep hole without hesitation.
¡²The opportunity that Memento showed¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤¡¤.¡³
¡®Yes. It was referring to this stone.¡¯
A fist-sized gray mineral caught on the Revenant''s fingertip.
Yoojin carefully grasped the stone.
[Fragment of the Void]
Rank: Epic
ssification: Catalyst
Durability: 56/100
A fragment of the Void thatplements order and symmetry.
It amplifies powers or emotions of a negative nature.
A rank higher than Unique.
Even as a raw mineral before processing, it being Epic rank meant that if used in artifact crafting, it could potentially yield a Transcendent grade result.
Transcendent was the same rank as the Dragon Scale Armor and the Ring of Darkness!
¡®Well, it''s just a possibility.¡¯
Yoojin smirked.
Even without considering the realm of possibilities, the Fragment of the Void had many uses.
A mineralparable to a Transcendent grade artifact for a Necromancer.
"When ites to negative energy, one might think of dark magic, the power wielded by demonkin and dark mages."
But spirit power, or in other words, mana from the yin dimension, also possessed negative properties.
¡²Khahahaha! Behold! This is my power!¡³
¡®I am eternally grateful.¡¯
¡²But while I understand that this ominous stone is the opportunity, how can it be used?¡³
¡®To use it properly, you need at least a 7 Star alchemist and a Master craftsman.¡¯
At this point in time, Master-level craftsmen were few and far between, even if you searched the entire world.
And there were no alchemists who had surpassed the 7 Star wall.
¡²What?! It''s a truly useless treasure then!¡³n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡®There is a way to use it in a simplified form.¡¯
[Oak Staff Imbued with Lightning].
An artifact obtained after defeating the Red Spider executive, Lee Seongyeon.
¡®The core option is that its properties change depending on the catalyst inserted into the staff.¡¯
One of the few means to draw out the power of a catalyst without processing it.
Come to think of it, he also said those words, "a truly useless treasure," while looking at the staff equipped with the ¡®me Orb,¡¯ didn''t he?
After removing the me Orb attached to the end of the staff, he inserted the Fragment of the Void into the empty socket.
[Equipping new catalyst.]
[Existing options will be removed, and new options will be added ording to the catalyst ¡®Fragment of the Void¡¯.]
[Oak Staff Imbued with Lightning]
Rank: Unique ¡ú Epic
ssification: Staff
Durability: 87/150
A staff made from a tree that was struck by lightning, giving it a different color inside and out. By inserting a magic amplification catalyst into the socket, you can increase the destructive power of your desired attribute.
*Mana (Spirit Energy) + 150 ¡ú 450 increase
*Rearrangement speed 30% ¡ú 45% decrease
*me magic power increased by 74%.
*Number of undead controlled increased by 100%
*Spirit Power consumed for undead maintenance reduced by 50%
*Socket - [1/1]
Fragment of the Void equipped
The spirit power increase was tripled.
And the rearrangement speed was reduced by a further 15%.
¡²The basic options themselves are quite different.¡³
¡®The me Orb is a Unique grade catalyst. It''s natural since its quality is lower than the Fragment of the Void.¡¯
The important thing was the undead-rted abilities added in ce of the deleted me magic-rted options.
Number controlled doubled.
Spirit Power consumption halved.
¡®Even though the number of controble undead has increased, there are no penalties at all.¡¯
Truly exceptional options.
At this rate, the day when he could recreate the undead army from his days as a one-man army wouldn''t be far off.
¡®I never thought I''d feel grateful to the Red Spider.¡¯
Thanks to the [Oak Staff Imbued with Lightning], he was able to utilize the Fragment of the Void without processing it.
Since the staff''s original rank was [Unique], the drawback was that it couldn''t bring out 100% of the catalyst''s power.
But it was much better than not being able to use it at all.
¡®When a craftsman capable of processing the Fragment of the Void appears, I can remove it then.¡¯
The durability might decrease a bit, but it was more advantageous to use the gem in some way rather than leaving it idle.
With a satisfied expression, Yoojin tightly gripped the staff.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin emerged from the pit.
The eerie site of the cathedral came into view.
¡²Have you perhaps missed something?¡³
¡®No. The Fragment of the Void is all that Memento showed me.¡¯
¡²But you seem to be observing your surroundings quite carefully.¡³
¡®I told you, I''d build you a temple.¡¯
Yoojin scanned the cathedral with spirit power infused in his eyes.
In the past, it was a ce where the ind''s inhabitants offered prayers.
It was also a ce of conflict where South and North Korea frequently shed.
The sacred energy, the grudges umted from the war, and the wishes of the residents all intertwined, making it a suitable location for a temple, a ¡²sacred ground¡³.
¡²Indeed. When I focus, I can sense the abundant spiritual energy.¡³
¡®This should suffice.¡¯
¡²It does. But, were you aware that this ind was suitable for constructing a temple?¡³
¡®Thanks to the vision Memento showed me.¡¯
The Manhunters received the blessing of the Evil God constetion at the site of the ruined cathedral.
The Fragment of the Void buried in the cathedral and the unique characteristic of the sacred ground.
It was a miracle that could only ur with both of these elements fulfilled.
¡®Do you think it''s easy to receive the blessing of the Evil God constetion in a ce that''s not the Babel Tower?¡¯
Thanks to the future sight shown by [Memento], Yoojin was certain that the crumbling cathedral site was a sacred ground.
An ind untouched by human presence.
The perfect condition for building a temple for Kronos.
¡²There''s a discrepancy, my sole believer.¡³
¡®What are you dissatisfied with now?¡¯
¡²The more people visit the temple, the stronger my presence will be.¡³
¡®Then Zeus will quickly discover your identity.¡¯
¡²Ah¡¡¡³
Kronos suppressed a groan.
He was always so greedy. If you''re consumed by greed for immediate rewards, you''re bound to miss out on something bigger.
¡²That doesn''t seem like something the Contractor should be saying.¡³
¡®I''m greedy because I''m confident I can take it all.¡¯
Pushing aside Kronos''s thoughts, he called out to the Revenants.
¡°Copse all the pirs. And bring me thatrge stone over there.¡±
Thud¡ª Thud¡ª
Half-copsed and weathered by the passage of time, the building disappeared from history.
After the Cataclysm, it became known that the gods, only passed down through oral tradition and literature, existed as starlight.
Since then, it became taboo to damage any building that enshrined a constetion, in any form.
¡®Because the constetions themselves would inflict punishment.¡¯
The case of the Yeonpyeong ind cathedral was an exception.
After the Gate Break, the residents who frequented the cathedral either left the ind or died.
Therefore, it was no longer a ce where a constetion could reside.
¡®Your Lordship, I don''t know much about architecture, so I''ll build it in a simplified form, okay?¡¯
¡²Does the form matter? In the end, it''s the heart that counts.¡³
What a surprise.
Wasn''t the God-King if Titans fond of pomp and circumstance?
He needed to finish building the temple before Kronos changed his mind.
Yoojin meticulously cleaned the broad rock.
An altar for Kronos.
It was the central structure of the temple.
¡¾Master, what are you doing?¡¿
¡°I''m building a temple tomemorate the constetion I serve.¡±
¡¾The one called the Heaven-Defying Titan, right?¡¿
¡°That''s right. He''s a pretty frugal guy. He''ll understand even with just this much.¡±
As he praised Kronos while conversing with Fafnir, boisterousughter filled his mind.
¡²Khahahahahaha!!!¡³
Perfect, he''s falling for it.
¡¾Still, it''s too empty for a temple.¡¿
¡°I don''t know much about architecture. I was able to build the Necropolis thanks to the ring.¡±
¡¾Master. In that case, can I show off my skills?¡¿
¡°Go ahead.¡±
As soon as Yoojin gave his permission, Fafnir used the nearby trees to erect pirs on the site of the old cathedral.
Walls were built using the debris from the destroyed building.
It wasn''t exactly a temple, but it barely managed to take the form of a ''building.''
¡°It hasn''t even been an hour. How did you do it?¡±
¡¾Before my awakening, I did a lot of volunteer work. It''s the knack I picked up then.¡¿
Fafnir said proudly.
A modest altar,pleted in a simplified manner.
Standing before it, Yoojin knelt on one knee and offered up his holy power.
¡°Oh, Heaven-Defying Titan. I dedicate this ce to you. Though it may becking, please ept it graciously.¡±
Fwhooooosh¡ª!
A whitish energy surged from the center of the sacred ground.
The ruler of the domain that defies death, the holy power of the ¡²Heaven-Defying Titan¡³ began to envelop the humble structure.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
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Chapter 69
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 69: The Best Assistant
[You have built a temple dedicated to the constetion ''Heaven-Defying Giant''.]
[The first altar dedicated to this constetion has beenpleted. The constetion''s rank increases.]
[You are the Saint of the ''Heaven-Defying Giant''. For achieving this great feat, you are granted the Mark of Faith.]
¡ò Mark of Faith
Category: Mark
A mark granted to a priest recognized for their faith by a constetion.
* Increases Divine Power by 10%.
* Amplifies Divine Spell effects by 30%.
"Whoa."
"So this is another way to get a Mark."
Unlike blessings, which can only be received from a patron constetion, Marks are abilities bestowed by the system.
"Just like the one I received in the Ancient Trial Grounds."
That mission where he had to survive against a Draconian for a set amount of time.
He endured for 10 minutes and received the [Mark of Endurance].
But getting an additional Mark here wasn''t part of his n.
"Though, it''s not every day you directly support a constetion and build a temple for them."
Even when he was achieving all sorts of feats and bizarre aplishments as a Necromancer, Marks were rare.
The system''s criteria for granting Marks is incredibly strict.
Why else wouldrge guilds monopolize ces like the [Ancient Trial Grounds]?
"Because it''s a guaranteed way to obtain Marks."
Even Yoojin, a Regressor, knows next to nothing about the conditions for obtaining Marks.
Even after reaching the 9th Rank and receiving the title of ''Immortal King'', he only had five Marks in total.
And yet, he obtained a precious Mark just by building a single, humble, almost shabby building that barely qualifies as a temple.
"It''s a priest-specific option, but still, it''s something."
The spells bestowed by Kronos are far more powerful than any priest-type Hunter of the same rank could dream of.
[Giant''s Strength], a D-rank buff that amplifies strength by 70%.
[Punishing Spike], which increases in efficiency as it umtes impacts and can be released to damage enemies.
[Unholy Shock Shield] even blocks aura-infused attacks once and reflects the damage back.
"Though they are a bit quirky."
Like having a health consumption penalty, being useless unless damage is umted, or only defending from one direction.
They have great effects, but eaches with a drawback.
"Well, if used in the right ce, penalties are nothing."
The effectiveness of a tool depends entirely on who wields it.
Having reached the Transcendent level in his past life, he was confident he could maximize their advantages.
"Considering what''s toe, I need to collect priest-rted Marks as well."
The Romanov n.
The Mage King.
And the remaining seven great ns who agreed to oust him.
Necromancer abilities alone won''t be enough.
To face "King"-ranked Hunters who utilize [Divine Power], the inherent power of constetions, by maximizing their blessings...
"I need to enhance my abilities as a Saint as well."
Yoojin''s eyes turned cold.
¡²It seems the contractor is not satisfied either.¡³
¡®With what?¡¯
¡²Are you ring like that because you feel bad about offering this shabby ce to me?¡³
¡®Let''s just say that.¡¯
¡²Khahahaha! I don''t mind. What matters is a sincere heart, not mere formality!¡³
This guy''s ying a one-man band.
Yoojin didn''t bother to correct Kronos''s misunderstanding.
¡²Today is truly a momentous day. I feel like dering it a holiday.¡³
¡®By the way, our constetion-nim.¡¯
¡²Speak.¡³
¡®Now that your presence has grown stronger, can''t you bestow some kind of blessing on me?¡¯
Kronos, who had beenughing heartily just a moment ago, suddenly cut off his thoughts.
Oh dear.
It''s not happening, is it?
¡®I shouldn''t have gotten my hopes up.¡¯
¡²Wa-wait just a little longer. You just need to achieve a few more feats.¡³
¡®I get betrayed because I have expectations in the first ce. It''s my fault.¡¯
¡²Ahem! Don''t you know that I do not make false promises!¡³
Our constetion-nim. You need to work harder and bestow blessings and such.
Dmitry has already taken Zeus as his guardian deity, established a family, and is showering the talents under hismand with the blessings of the Olympus Cluster.
If you don''t step up your game, things will get difficult on this side too.
Keuheuheu.
Yoojinughed quietly.
£ª £ª £ª
Even after finishing the temple''s construction, there was still a mountain of work to do.
"Karararack!"
¡¾Die. The great master hasmanded it.¡¿
Kwaang¡ª!
The interior of Yeonpyeong Ind was still teeming with monsters.
The number of Reriks scattered throughout the ind was greater than those ughtered afternding.
¡¾I thought it was all over.¡¿
"Cleaning up is always harder."
After shooting a re at the grumbling Fafnir, he looked down at the Rerik''s corpse.
"Answer my call."
This time, he used [Flesh Control] to separate the flesh and bones before using the spell.
[Creating a Skeleton Warrior.]
[The degree ofpletion is very high.]
[All stats increase by 100%.]
[Skeleton Warrior]
Race: Undead
Rank: ¡ï¡ï¡ï
¡òStats
Strength: 217 / Agility: 241 / Health: 160 / Toughness: 154 / Mana: 85
¡òTraits
?Undead [C+]
¡òSkills
?eleration [C] / Power sh [D+] / Ambush [D+]
¡²Strange. It''s clearly the same 3 Star, but its specs are lower than a Liturner''s.¡³
¡®The two undead have different purposes.¡¯
The Liturner, with its high toughness, is responsible for tanking at the front.
The Skeleton Warrior is a melee damage dealer that utilizes its unique agility to overwhelm enemies.
¡®Even if their uses are different, honestly, the Liturner is more useful.¡¯
¡²The contractor wouldn''t take actions that weaken his power without thinking.¡³
¡®Right. You''re starting to get it now?¡¯
The Liturner shares the same weakness as zombies.
If not embalmed, the rotten flesh, skin, and muscles will rot.
It''s not suitable for long-term maintenance.
¡®Another weakness is its slow speed.¡¯
For the Rerik subjugation, the Skeleton Warrior was much better than the slow-footed Liturner.
Corpses to turn into undead were scattered everywhere.
A littleck ofbat ability isn''t a big deal.
¡²Why not make more Revenants instead?¡³
¡®Those guys are difficult to control.¡¯
Against high-ranking enemies like the variant Rerik, numbers don''t mean much.
It would take hundreds of swings from the Skeleton Warriors'' bone swords to even scratch their tough scales.
And there''s no way those guys would just stand there and take it.
Creating Revenants wasn''t a choice, it was a necessity.
¡®These guys are better at cleaning up the remnants.¡¯
The battle raged for three days and nights without rest.
The Reriks that had settled on Yeonpyeong Ind suffered devastating losses.
¡°Alright. Let''s stop here.¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn
Fafnir, as if puzzled, shook his blue mes back and forth.
¡¾There are still Reriks remaining?¡¿
¡°This is an erosion zone. They''ll regenerate over time.¡±
Like the border region, the ind is integrated with the Gate.
The Gate, fused with thend, will suck up enough mana and spit out Reriks again.
Complete extermination is impossible.
¡¾Indeed. When we stayed in the border region, monsters periodically sprang up from the ground.¡¿
Fafnir nodded, recalling the time he was left alone to guard the Necropolis.
¡°It would be dangerous if there were people left. But here, there are only the dead.¡±
¡¾We just need to periodically clear out the Reriks.¡¿
¡°It''s a hassle, but it can''t be helped. Yeonpyeong Ind is strategically important, so we have to protect it.¡±
Since he had retrieved the fragment of the Void buried beneath the cathedral, the Manhunters wouldn''t receive blessings even if they upied the ind.
The sacred ground and the fragment of the Void.
The connection with the evil god''s constetion was a ¡®miracle¡¯ made possible because both conditions were met.
¡®Still, I don''t want to hand it over.¡¯
The Manhunters'' main force is monsters.
Unless they tame sea monsters, they can''t project their power onto Yeonpyeong Ind.
He couldn''t just hand over a stronghold that would y a major role in the fight for dominance of the West Sea, could he?
¡°Fafnir.¡±
¡¾Is this servant still the most trusted by Master?¡¿
¡°¡¡Uh. That''s true, but. How did you know what I was going to say?¡±
¡¾You''re going to ask me to defend Yeonpyeong Ind, aren''t you?¡¿
You''re quick-witted.
Jo Seungchul moved his jawbone up and down vigorously.
¡¾Master. Grant me that glory.¡¿
¡°Why are you acting like this?¡±
If the living Jo Seungchul saw this, he would cry tears of blood.
No. Since his soul is also here, it is him.
¡°Fafnir is the strongest of my minions, so it''s right for him to stay here.¡±
¡¾Huhuhu. Look. You who are only bones. This is the bond between Master and me.¡¿
¡¾Kugh, how frustrating.¡¿
The blue mes of the two undead red fiercely.
Fafnir.
Park Haneul in his past life was taciturn and truly reliable, why are you like this?
¡¾Are you leaving right away?¡¿
¡°I''ll expand the Necropolis a bit first.¡±
There are three spirit veins flowing underground on the ind.
The spiritual energy concentration is 1, so it''s difficult to build a ck spire, but it''s something that needs to be done.
¡°I''m going to cover the ind with the Necropolis'' fog.¡±
¡¾Then we''ll quickly notice anyone trying tond on Yeonpyeong Ind.¡¿
¡°It will also make defense much easier.¡±
The Necropolis'' fog limits the vision of the living.
It even adds buffs to the undead, so it maximizes the home ground advantage.
¡®It would be even better if I could build a Tower of the Dead or a Soul Tower.¡¯
Structures dedicated to the defense of the Necropolis.
They intercept enemies using the bones/souls of the dead as projectiles.
They also had a long range, so if he just built them, the Manhunters wouldn''t even be able to set foot on the ind.
¡®But I have no materials. And the Necropolis level is low, so it can''t be helped.¡¯
He smacked his lips in regret.
What was the use of thinking about what he couldn''t make now?
He had to believe that there wouldn''t be any major problems, since the minion he trusted the most would be protecting the ind.
¡¾Master. I have one request.¡¿
¡°There are no more variant Reriks?¡±
¡¾That''s not it. I was wondering if you could teach me necromancy.¡¿
Necromancy?
Yoojin''s eyes widened at the unexpected request.
¡°It''s not impossible. But why are you interested in necromancy?¡±
¡¾The variant Reriks added an undeadmand trait, didn''t they?¡¿
"So you''re saying you''re going to make them yourself andmand them?"
¡¾Since I have to stay on Yeonpyeong Ind alone, I think I''ll have plenty of time to practice necromancy.¡¿
Teach Fafnir necromancy?
Hmm¡ª
Yoojin let out a groan.
¡®Why didn''t I think of that good idea before?¡¯
Among Fafnir''s traits is [Martial Mage].
A fraudulent unique trait that shares both martial and magic talents, where mana increases equally no matter what stats are invested in.
¡®Come to think of it, he has always handled dark magic well since bing a Death Knight.¡¯
The reason he decided to create an Eldritch Dragon when he acquired the Dragonian''s corpse was also in consideration of Fafnir''s talent.
Then there''s no reason why he can''t learn necromancy.
¡®I had someone, no, a minion who could work overtime for me?!¡¯
Oh my gosh.
How could I be so stupid!
No.
Even though Fafnir is talented, it''s unknown whether it will apply to necromancy.
¡°Then let''s do a test.¡±
¡¾Test?¡¿
¡°I''ll teach you Raise Undead, the basics of necromancy.¡±
¡¾You''re going to see if I have the potential by looking at how fast I learn the spell?¡¿
He nodded his head in affirmation to Fafnir''s words.
There are two ways to teach a skill.
The first is to give the opponent a [Secret Manual] that organizes insights.
The second way is to directly exin and teach a skill with 100% proficiency.
¡®The conditions are met, so shall we start right away?¡¯
Necromancy rted skills have 100% proficiency as soon as they are inherited.
This is because his experience from his return is reflected.
He had a lot of experience teaching alchemy and necromancy, so it was easy to teach Fafnir.
¡°First, I''ll tell you about the activation principle of Raise Undead.¡±
¡¾I will listen carefully.¡¿
Fafnir focused.
Yoojin easily exined the characteristics of the Raise Undead spell and the spiritual power rearrangement method.
After hearing all the exnations, Fafnir nodded vigorously.
¡¾Indeed. So it works like this.¡¿
Woo-woo-woong¡ª!
He immediately pulled up his spiritual power in his hand and rearranged it.
Wait a minute.
¡°If you twist the spiritual power there...¡±
The spiritual power that got tangled in the rearrangement process was forcibly unraveled.
Fafnir, who took the shock caused by the runaway magic spell, shook his finger.
¡¾It doesn''t hurt that much.¡¿
"Hey."
It surprised him.
Curse words itched at the base of his throat, but he held them back.
If he were an ordinary magic-based Hunter, he would have suffered a great internal injury from the bacsh of the spell.
¡°You endured it because I made your body strong.¡±
¡¾Watch carefully. This time it will work.¡¿
Fafnir rearranged his spiritual power while shouting confidently.
Oh dear.
If it worked just by listening to the exnation and doing it right away, anyone could be a necromancer...
¡¾Answer my call.¡¿
The Rerik''s corpse twitched.
A momentter, a zombie rose up, drooling.
¡°It worked.¡±
Yoojin muttered in a bewildered tone.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 70: A New Stage
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 70: A New Stage
The bones that were gradually rising with a rattling sound poured back down to the floor with a thud.
The skill activation was sessful, but this phenomenon urred due to ack of understanding.
¡¾Great Master. Please teach me once again!¡¿
Jo Seungchul rattled his jawbone noisily.
¡°No. Not now.¡±
¡¾Master!!!¡¿
¡°Next time. I don''t have time now.¡±
He had taught Jo Seungchul [Raise Undead] since he had already taught Fafnir, but well... Fafnir seems better.
He was also a Hunter with the talent to reach 7 stars in his previous life.
His understanding of mana and sense of operation were decent, but when he was next to Fafnir, he seemed to pale inparison.
¡¾Look. You foolish skeleton.¡¿
¡¾This body was made by the great Master! Do not insult it.¡¿
While Jo Seungchul struggled with Raise Undead, Raise Undead was officially added to Fafnir''s [Skills].
The mana operation mechanism.
And he understood all the key points in raising a corpse.
¡®To think hisprehension would be better than a born mage.¡¯
Even before his return, Yoojin had taught necromancy to several necromancers and undead mages.
5 years from now.
After the [Wailing of the Dead] Gate in Colorado, USA, was conquered, necromancers were also able to change their profession.
And after building the Necropolis in his individuality, several necromancers sought his teachings.
¡®Even Jo Seungchul is in the top 1%, but this guy is just...¡¯
Right.
It''s not that Jo Seungchul iscking, but that Fafnir is too outstanding.
¡°Practice more while I''m gone.¡±
¡¾I will try to raise my proficiency to 30.¡¿
¡°I like your enthusiasm.¡±
Necromancy talentparable to Yoojin''s.
If you add the Draconian body and dark magic, how strong will he be?
His lips twitched as he tried to imagine the synergy.
£ª £ª £ª
Leaving Fafnir on Yeonpyeong Ind, Yoojin returned to Ground Zero.
"Good work."
"The captain who sailed the ship worked harder. It was nothing much."
"When do you think we''ll start the main attack on Yeonpyeong Ind?"
Yoojin''s eyes widened at Mr. ck''s question.
"Attack?"
"Didn''t you go this time as an advance party? Tell us what you need, and we at the ck Market will actively support you."
If the Manhunters upy Yeonpyeong Ind first, the smuggling trade in the waters near Paju will also suffer greatly.
Those guys who think of people as livestock.
To enter Ground Zero by ship, you have to pass through the waters near Yeonpyeong Ind, making shes with the Manhunters inevitable.
''If I had left it alone, the ck Market would have suffered some damage.''
In the illusion that Memento showed him, the Manhunters had upied the ind.
A change from the history of his previous life.
In this case, it seems he has turned things in a direction that benefits him.
The ck Market of Ground Zero is quite a useful custo¡ª no, business partner.
"Prepare 50 C-grade mana stones."
"I''ll prepare them."
Each one costs about 100 million won, so he asked for a total of 5 billion won, and they readily agreed.
This shows how much importance the organization, Mr. ck, or rather the ck Market, ces on capturing Yeonpyeong Ind.
"When can you give them to me?"
"It will take you three days to reorganize for the ind attack, right? I''ll have them ready within that time."
"You can take your time."
"Shouldn''t we move before the Manhunters do?"
"The attack is already over."
For a moment, Mr. ck gaped at him with a nk expression.
"Excuse me?"
"I cleaned up all the Reriks and took measures to prevent the Manhunters froming."
"Ah. So, how did you...?"
"Trade secret."
Yoojin put his index finger to his lips and shushed.
"You can use the waters near Yeonpyeong Ind as you please. I can''t stop the pirates roaming around there, though."
Mr. ck chuckled at Yoojin''s nonchnt demeanor.
"Hahaha. You''re a hard man to read."
"C-grade mana stones. Don''t forget."
"Of course we''ll give them to you, since we promised to support you. But can we use the port of Yeonpyeong Ind?"
"Not right now. I''ll lend it to youter."
The Necropolis he had built on the ind didn''t have any proper functions as a territory.
It wasn''t ready to receive guests at all.
It''s supposed to be a Necromancer''s territory, so he couldn''t just reveal its bare face.
"Then I''ll ask youter."
"I''ll let you know when the timees."
When the Necropolis officially opens, I''ll give you a spot.
Yoojin added.
It would be good to prepare a hefty rental fee.
After informing Mr. ck of the results and receiving(?) the mana stones as a gift, he went over to the Milky Way Pub.
"Where did the newbies go?"
"They left for the border region not long after you went to take care of your business."
"I told them to get some rest."
Last time, he gave them a two-week vacation, and they went on a Gate raid.
These guys.
Should he confiscate their vacation next time?
"Hohoho. It seems you don''t know those friends well yet."
"What do you mean?"
"Anyone would tremble with fear when they see someone die for the first time. I did too."
"That''s why I gave them time to calm their minds."
"The way people do that is different. If they keep it in their hearts while resting, it could fester."
Yoojin immediately agreed with Madam''s point.
"If you sit still, things you want to forgete to mind."
"The Little Runts will be the same. I think they were rather stimted by seeing the fight at the pub."
"Stimted?"
"They must have thought they shouldn''t be a burden to you. You know, that kind of determination."
Hmm.
He needed to hear directly from the Little Runts what they were thinking.
Since he had business in the border region anyway, he might as well go over there.
"Is there anything special going on between the three major guilds?"
"I see you''re interested in that too."
"A little."
"There''s been a report of a double Gate being generated in Daegu recently."
"A phenomenon where two Gates ovep?"
"You know about it. Hunters with 2-3 stars can enter, but the actual difficulty will be much higher."
Hmm.
A double Gate?
He pondered while stroking his chin, but he couldn''t immediately recall it since it was something from decades ago.
''It won''t help to use Memento on the clock.''
The divine spell itself has no cooldown, but the problem was that it could only be used once a month on one object.
He had already used [Kronos'' Broken Pocket Watch] to look into the hidden opportunity on Yeonpyeong Ind.
He had to see for himself what was happening in the double Gate, or what rewards were hidden within.
''So even Memento has this kind of blind spot.''
He wasn''t too disappointed.
Thanks to that, he had acquired a fragment of the Void.
No ordinary reward couldpare to the catalyst he found on Yeonpyeong Ind.
"Did the Arhan Guild decide to take on the double Gate?"
"That''s only half correct."
"Since it''s a double structure, I guess they''re entering jointly with either Dawn or Phoenix."
"No fun. How did you deduce that with just those few words?"
"You gave me all the information."
"Even though I gave you hints, I didn''t think you''d get it right away."
A double Gate, and a joint raid by two guilds.
The top of his head tingled.
It was definitely a story he had heard before.
"Ah!"
"What''s wrong?"
"Just thinking about something else for a moment."
Ignoring Madam''s suspicious gaze, Yoojin recalled the thought that had juste to mind.
''The ce where Jang Miseon died.''
A promising member of the Phoenix Guild who was called the next Sword Saint and famous for being an impregnable fortress, she had raided the [Forgotten Temple].
Arhan, wary of the Phoenix Guild rising to the top spot in Korea, set a trap and eventually killed Jang Miseon.
''I felt a sense of deja vu as soon as I heard about the double Gate.''
Huh.
A wry smile spread across his lips.
He knew that she had died after being caught in a conspiracy, but...
He couldn''t specifically recall what kind of ''trap'' Arhan had set.
If he knew even roughly, he would at least warn them.
¡²Contractor, what will you do?¡³
''It''s a chance to deal a blow to the Arhan Guild and gain favor with Phoenix.''
¡²Intervening in this situation will further distort causality.¡³
''That''s true.''
¡²Can you bear the weight?¡³
''Whether it''s the butterfly effect or distorted causality, if I was worried about those things, I wouldn''t have even tried to return.''
The future will change in any direction.
No.
He would make it that way with his own power.
Did he not know how the distorted causality could cause repercussions?
''That''s what I want.''
The more the future changes, the more useless the information and opportunities Yoojin knows will be.
But that doesn''t mean he can stop moving forward.
¡²Khahahaha! Very good.¡³
''What''s with the sudden praise?''
¡²A heart that advances without a hint of fear into the darkness where not an inch ahead can be seen. Truly the epitome of a hero!¡³
¡®That darn heroic bad.¡¯
After a chuckle, he picked up his phone.
He ended up using the contact information he had received like this.
Beep¡ª Beep¡ª Beep¡ª
-Huh? Yoojin-nim!
¡°Hearing your voice, it seems you''re doing well.¡±
-Doing well? I''m so busy preparing for the raid...
"Double Gate?"
-Hehehe. It''s an honor that you know, Yoojin-nim. What I learned from Master helped a lot.
¡°Master?¡±
-Master Fafnir.
When did you two even be master and disciple?
¡°Are there no people in Phoenix?¡±
-Oh dear. There''s no one who pinpoints my shorings like Master.
¡°You''re saying things that would upset your Guild Master.¡±
-It''s okay, I got permission from the Guild Master to learn from Master.
Phoenix Guild Master Kim Youngsoo.
He wasn''t bad, considering he built one of the three major guilds in Korea.
His personality was decent too.
-Did you call because of the reward?
¡°Simr. It doesn''t have to be mary.¡±
-Of course. I''ll help you with anything I can.
¡°This raid. Can you include our team?¡±
Think carefully, Jang Miseon.
The only way for you to survive is to take the hand I''m offering now.
If there are no variables, you will definitely die in the Gate.
¡²Taking a loss? That''s not like you.¡³
¡®If she dies, how can I get the Heartstone or anything?¡¯
¡²Revive her with your specialty, necromancy, and make a im.¡³
¡®Constetion-nim, your jokes have gotten better.¡¯
Even Yoojin didn''t remember in which Gate she died.
If he hadn''t heard the words double Gate and Arhan, he wouldn''t have even thought about it.
-No problem. Let''s do that.
Jang Miseon readily agreed, making his nervousness seem ridiculous.
¡°Aren''t you epting too easily?¡±
-The master entrusted me with forming the Gate raid team this time.
¡°Then tell me the date and ce.¡±
-Oh, tell me about a different reward for the spar. This is too light.
Click¡ª
¡®Hey. What''s with her?¡¯
It was good that he had a chance to help the Phoenix Guild and deal a blow to Arhan, but why did he feel so perplexed?
£ª £ª £ª
The double Gate raid was in five days.
He had to meet with the Phoenix Guild briefly, so he needed to join them four days prior.
''No time to rest.''
Yoojin grumbled and headed to the border region.
He moved north along the shortcut that the Red Spider had used.
"Kekekek. Human!"
¡¾You insolent thing. I will educate you on behalf of the great Master.¡¿
Kwaaaang¡ª!
Jo Seungchul burned the monsters to bone fragments with his maximum firepower.
"You idiot. You have to leave some bones so I can make them into undead."
¡¾I apologize. I was so focused on correcting the monster''s behavior that I went overboard!¡¿N?v(el)B\\jnn
"Sigh. Let''s do it in moderation. Moderation."
¡¾I will keep that in mind, great Master!!¡¿
He''s using up mana inefficiently every time he fights.
He''d have to have Jo Seungchul trained by Fafnir when he had time.
It was good that his ego became clearer after bing a Dark Minion, but for some reason, he seemed to have lost a few screws.
"Answer my call."
[Using Raise Undead.]
[Creating Armored Zombie.]
The monsters around here were at best 1 Star to 2 Star.
Their abilities in life were insufficient to create undead like Liturners or Skeleton Warriors.
''Well, it''s fine since Armored Zombies are enough.''
The road to the ck herb farm was rtively safe thanks to the Red Spider periodically clearing out the monsters.
Yoojin had also hunted monsters to secure corpses in preparation for the spider hunt.
Thanks to that, no dangerous situations arose.
How long had he been walking?
Swoosh¡ª
Eerie fog.
The smoke produced by the ck spire came into view.
"Ah? Brother!! We''re here!!"
A clear voice pierced his ears.
Looking towards where the voice emerged from the fog, he saw the three people resting.
"Yourplexions are better than I expected?"
With an offer to head to a new stage, not a predetermined future¡ª
Yoojin reunited with the Little Runts.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 71: Knowing its a trap means its no longer a trap. (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 71: Knowing it''s a trap means it''s no longer a trap. (1)
"Hyung-nim."
"Let''s eat first. I''m hungry."
He''d been moving non-stop to check on the Little Runts team.
Even though Yoojin''s physical abilities wereparable to hunters of the same rank, using that power was highly taxing.
Growl¡ª
Just then, a loud sound came from Lee Seongmin''s stomach.
"Ha, haha. I''m sorry."
"You guys are hungry too, right? Perfect."
Blood sttered on their swords, shields, and armor.
Their faces were also filthy.
The Little Runts team had been hunting monsters in and out of the fog for several days since parting with Yoojin at Ground Zero.
Yoojin looked at them with pity, then took out items he had stored in his subspace pocket and made a simple meal.
"The sweet and sour pork is incredibly crispy."
"The starch concentration and oil temperature are key."
"Hyung. The sauce is amazingly delicious too."
"That''s store-bought."
"..."
Ingredients like flour and starch were in the same condition as when he''d put them in.
Even with the Necropolis fog, they probably didn''t have the mind to cook in and where monsters regenerated.
After a cup of instant coffee for dessert, everyone smiled contentedly.
"We were treated like royalty thanks to you, Hyung-nim."
"Always loyal, loyal."
"Sunbae. That''s what I should be saying."
A luxury they rarely enjoyed in thend of monsters.
Being full and warm was the best after all.
After confirming the Little Runts team''s faces had rxed, he immediately got to the point.
"You guys have been doing some pretty intense thinking."
At Yoojin''s words, the expressions of the group, who had been basking in happiness, instantly stiffened.
"I''m not criticizing you. I''m just impressed."
"We felt we werecking if we were to work for Hyung-nim''s partner."
Kang Minho bit his lip.
"It''s okay. I''m not telling you tomit murder."
There would inevitably be situations where they would have to get their hands dirty with someone''s blood someday.
However, there was no need for them to carry that burden from the start.
"Your resolve and actions alone are enough."
"Hyung¡!"
"Hyung-nim!"
The three''s eyes shone brightly.
Ugh.
It was a bit burdensome.
"Let''s stop with the cheesy talk. Talking so seriously is giving me goosebumps."
Ahem¡ª
Yoojin cleared his throat, changing the atmosphere, and continued.
"We have a job to do, so pack your things."
"What kind of job?"
"Phoenix and Arhan are doing a joint dungeon raid."
The group wore nk expressions.
"Are we joining Phoenix''s side?"
"That''s right."
"Hyung. Doesn''t that mean we''repletely making enemies with Arhan?"
"You can already consider us in a confrontational rtionship."
Arhan was obsessively fixated on the title of being the number one domestic guild, to the point of madness.
Burying Park Haneul in the border region.
Trapping Jang Miseon before the regression.
It was all for Arhan Guild to eliminate any variables that could cause them to lose their number one spot.
''The representative and co-leader are very cunning people.''
He especially had to be careful of Vice President Baek Seonghyeon.
He was the one who trapped Park Haneul.
It was hard to find any of Arhan''s schemes that the co-leader wasn''t involved in.
"It''s not like we didn''t know we were enemies."
"Let''s just do it. Whatever."
The Little Runts team finished packing and moved out.
He extracted the corpse of Choi Hyungtae, a Red Spider executive aged in an unhallowed grave, and turned him into a Returnee.
''Here he is.''
After locating Choi Hyungtae among the wraiths circling the belfry, he immediately merged him with the deceased''s body.
"So, how much stronger does an undead be when you infuse it with a soul?"
"Lower and mid-grade ones can exhibit their living strength if the synchronization is right."
"Huh. Isn''t itmon knowledge that even undead of the same rank are slightly weaker inbat than hunters or monsters?"
Kang Minho was right.
It was absurd for a wraith, who had deviated from the natural order, to exert as much power as they had in life.N?v(el)B\\jnn
Only high-ranked undead like liches and death knights wielded power greater than they had in life.
Lower-ranked undead like skeletons and zombies had significantly weakerbat power than their original bodies.
"I''m not going to all this trouble for nothing."
"You''re amazing, Hyung-nim."
When creating wraiths, Yoojin amplified the corpse''s power with spiritual energy, making them capable of exerting twice their original strength.
An immortal army where the penalties of being a wraith were offset by modification, leaving only the advantages!
"Even if the three of you attacked together, you probably couldn''t defeat this one."
Choi Hyungtae, revived as a Returnee.
Due to the crafting buff and the effects of the merging, he possessed statsparable to Fafnir, who had recently inhabited the Draconian corpse.
Near 4 Star level.
Although he couldn''t wield dark aura, his specs were enough to withstand three 3 Star hunters simultaneously.
"Wow. Saying he''s worse than a walking corpse is a bit much."
As Kang Minyeong¡¯s fighting spirit ignited, and the Returnee (Choi Hyungtae) reacted to it, emitting killing intent.
"Ugh. Sorry. My bad."
Having heard Yoojin say that even the three of them wouldn''t stand a chance, and seeing Choi Hyungtae raise his half-decayed jaw, he immediately backed down.
''Tch. It would be perfect if I could perform the procedure.''
To modify him into a mid-grade undead, simply having bones or flesh like the Armored series wasn''t enough.
The Revenant was only craftable due to the special nature of the lower dragonkin corpse.
Like Jo Seungchul, whom he¡¯d recently upgraded, he needed a special catalyst like the [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] to perform the procedure.
''Next time, I''ll have to ask Shin Joonseok toe on a business trip.''
He also turned Lee Seungyeon into a skeleton mage.
Afterpleting the merging process, he gave instructions to the two undead.
"You two will guard the Necropolis from here."
-Yes. We. Obey.
The miserable end of those who made a necromancer their enemy.
Being used as ves even after their gruesome deaths was the only choice given to the two.
''As long as One-Eye doesn''te, the defense should hold.''
Even if Fafnir was destroyed, he could be revived thanks to the Life Force Vessel, but if these two were destroyed, it was the end.
Although restoration would be possible if he recovered even their bone fragments.
It would be impossible if One-Eye attacked.
''Even so, I can''t abandon the Necropolis now.''
There was a possibility of losing the two undead, but he had to take the risk now.
To truly grow his power, he had no choice but to take risks.
¡²Kuhahaha. Even a contractor who knows the future seems to have no answer to the monsters'' antics.¡³
Kronos''s gleefulughter echoed in Yoojin''s mind for no reason.
£ª £ª £ª
After finishing his business in the border region, he returned to Seoul.
The Little Runts team had sold off all the byproducts and mana stones they¡¯d acquired from hunting over the past few days at the Yongsan Hunter Market.
Yoojin also purchased a few catalysts needed for the undead procedure.
"There''s nothing worthwhile."
"There''s no ce like the Hunter Market in the country."
Everything fell short of Yoojin¡¯s standards, which were based on the future.
After a bit of minor maintenance, the group headed to the Phoenix Guild headquarters.
"You must be the Little Runts team? I''ll guide you."
Men and women in dark suits greeted the group as they entered the headquarters building.
"The Little Runts team?"
"That''s the team that crushed Song Myeongseok."
"Arhan''s rising star?!"
"The hunter industry has been in an uproar because of that team."
"Especially the summon of their priest-type hunter is said to be incredibly strong."
The gazes of the Phoenix Guild hunters passing by focused on the group.
Surprise.
Jealousy.
Envy.
A torrent of mixed positive and negative emotions seemed to engulf the group.
¡²These little humans are truly full of emotion.¡³
''I''m used to it. These gazes.''
Yoojin stood calmly, looking around with a detached gaze.
As his gaze reached them, the hunters avoided his eyes, pretending not to have seen him.
When you aim for the top, you face such gazes as easily as breathing.
¡²A bold mindset. It¡¯s fortunate that he at least possesses this aspect of a hero.¡³
What would you do if I wasn''t like a hero?
He almost retorted but held back.
¡²The little humans the contractor has taken in are just as bold.¡³
¡®Hmm. They''re not being bold, they just don''t have time to care.¡¯
Yoojin frowned.
"I didn''t expect to be greeted by the Phoenix Guild."
"Wow! This is amazing!"
"I''ll never forget today!"
Like country mice seeing Seoul for the first time, the Little Runts team members were busy staring at the guild facilities with sparkling eyes.
''Why is the embarrassment my responsibility?''
Haa¡ª
He let out a sigh.
The group was guided to the guild''s senior executive conference room.
"Please tell us if you need anything. We will be waiting outside."
The guides waited by the door.
Only those permitted are allowed inside.
Without hesitation, he pushed the door open, and a familiar woman sitting in the conference room waved her arm broadly.
"Over here!"
The future of the Phoenix Guild.
The next Sword Saint.
Along with several other titles, the hunter Jang Miseon greeted the group with a bright face.
The Little Runts team bowed with awkward expressions.
On the other hand, Yoojin sat down in the opposite seat with a sullen face.
"They''re giving us quite the grand wee."
"It''s the Guild Master''s wish. He wants to recruit the four of you into Phoenix."
"This raid¡ He¡¯s not going to demand something outrageous as a condition for participating, is he?"
"Oh, no. If that were the case, we wouldn''t have epted the request in the first ce."
Jang Miseon waved her hand dismissively.
"But, has Master Fafnir note?"
"Are you serious?"
"He''s the only one who has given me such great enlightenment."
Yoojin frowned.
"The Phoenix Guild instructors would be disappointed to hear that."
"What can I do? We don''t have a star instructor like Master in our guild."
"The pride of being the second-ranked guild in the country will weep."
"Hmph. It''s cooler to admit what isn''t true."
Perhaps it was fortunate that the Phoenix Guild Master, Kim Youngsoo, was arrivingte.
Even if he was known to be a good-natured person, he wouldn''t likely stay silent if he heard such words to his face.
"He''s busy for the time being, so he can''te."
"Yoojin-nim. Then, what about the gate raid?"
"The Little Runts team and you. The five of us will do it."
It was true that Fafnir was Yoojin''s greatest asset.
With various buffs and the Dragonscale Armor, he wasparable to the peak of 5 Star rank.
With the cheat-like traits of [God of War''s Eyes] and [Martial Warrior],bined with Fafnir''s own skills, he possessedbat powerparable to a 6 Star.
''Even without Fafnir, we can manage the raid.''
Jo Seungcheol, a near 5 Star magic-type undead.
Even with some screws loose, he wielded divine spells with power surpassing his rank.
And finally, Yoojin''s main force, necromancy.
He had more than enough power.
"This gate raid¡ Was it perhaps proposed by Phoenix?"
"The opposite. Arhan suggested it."
"You lost to Song Myeongseok, though."
"Didn''t you know? I had a rematch three days ago and won."
Jang Miseon made a V sign with her right hand with a "Tada-".
''So that''s why the double dungeon appeared.''
¡²It sounds as if Arhan created a variable.¡³
''Yes. To be precise, it should be said to be the work of the Romanov family.''
The Mage King, Dimitri.
An absolute being who could twist the world''s rules, providence, and even its foundations with only his will.
The patron god Odin imparted numerous pieces of knowledge and arcane arts to Dimitri.
''One of them is a method to artificially merge two gates.''
One thing became certain.
The Arhan Guild had allied with the Romanov family even in this timeline.
''ording to the original history, Jang Miseon surpassing Song Myeongseok was supposed to have happened muchter.''
Even so.
There existed a ''history'' where Jang Miseon died in the double dungeon.
If the same situation urred despite the difference in timing¡
Wouldn''t it naturally lead to the conclusion that someone was controlling the variables?
As he was organizing his thoughts¡ª
Creak¡ª
A middle-aged man with a sturdy build, slightly under 170cm tall, entered through the opened door.
"Thank you for epting the invitation."
"G-Guild Master of Phoenix! It''s an honor to meet you!"
As if by appointment, the three stood up from their seats and bowed.
On the other hand, Yoojin only gave a moderate bow.
"You don''t have to be so formal. If you''re Miseon''s friend, you''re like my nephews."
"Friends¡?"
"What''s wrong? We agreed to be friends while sparring."
Jang Miseon loudly interjected, covering up his trailing words, due to Kang Minho''s awkward expression.
Ah.
Are we participating in the raid because we''re introduced as¡ friends?
''¡Kim Youngsoo. He actually epted such a ridiculous excuse.''
Even before his regression, when they had joined forces to bring down the Arhan Guild, he knew that Kim Youngsoo was a decent person.
Even so.
He actually epted Jang Miseon''s insistence that they were friends and included them in the gate raid team.
''He wouldn''t have done it without some calction.''
The news of the Little Runts team defeating Song Myeongseok had already spread throughout the hunter industry.
Including them in the raid was probably a kind of insurance for him.
"Hahaha! Please help Miseon well. For tomorrow''s raid, it''s more important to return safely than to win, so don''t overdo it!"
It was hard to believe such a powerful voice came from such a small frame.
¡He wasn''t just good-natured; he might just be a fool.
Yoojin pressed his temples with his fingers.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 72: Knowing its a trap means its no longer a trap (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 72: Knowing it''s a trap means it''s no longer a trap (2)
The day of the raid.
The Phoenix Guild sent a van for the group.
"Get in."
Jang Miseon opened the car door.
The Little Runts team members excitedly boarded the van one by one.
"Aren''t vans only for celebrities?"
"Look here, Oppa. They even have cocktails prepared!"
"You shouldn''t drink alcohol before something important."
Yoojin sighed briefly and muttered.
"Those are non-alcoholic."
"There''s nothing Hyung-nim doesn''t know."
"I''d rather not have known about the situation just now."
Next time, he''d have to tell the Phoenix Guild to take care of things appropriately.
Did the embarrassment always have to be his responsibility?
Jang Miseon, who was sitting in the front, chuckled.
"Don''t we have any information about the gate at all?"
"The advance team has collected some rough information."
Jang Miseon quickly shared the briefing information she had prepared.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Daegu - Starving Cave & Old Mansion
[Type: Fixed Type]
[Entry Requirement: 2-3 Star]
[Gate Area: Small]
[Entry Limit: 10 people]
"The monsters that appear are werewolves and vampires."
"Those sworn enemies are working together well."
"The gate has two cores. When you enter, the path splits into two, and they''re said to be at the end of each passage."
"Are there any other unique features?"
"There are many variants, and the boss monsters have to be attacked simultaneously."
Yoojin stroked his chin.
"The fact that they figured that out means the advance team seeded in attacking the bosses?"
"Arhan called us because they were struggling. It''s highly likely."
Jang Miseon brushed off Yoojin''s point.
Indeed.
So this is how they set things up.
''If I excluded the Romanov family, I wouldn''t have even known it was a trap.''
-Double Dungeon.
-Hunting two bosses at the right timing.
To satisfy these two conditions, the raid team also had to split their forces.
Since only 10 people could enter.
It was a perfect excuse to ask for cooperation from the Phoenix Guild, saying that Arhan''s elite hunters alone were not enough.
"Werewolves and vampires. Aren''t they both powerful races?"
"Proper ones are called vampires and lycanthropes. Those are sub-species."
"Ugh. It''s not like jingoism, saying Korean names are weak and English names are strong."
[TL/N: Jingoism ¡ª Extreme patriotism, often expressed through aggressive foreign policy.]
Kang Minyeong clicked her tongue.
Tell the gate, which preferred squiggly letters, to do something about it.
"Well, we have enough information, so let''s do our best! Fighting!"
Following Jang Miseon''s lead, the Little Runts team also shouted¡ª
"Fighting!"
The van had already reached near Myeongdeok Station, the center of Daegu.
"We''re almost at our destination. Please prepare."
There were many high schools and cram schools near the station, so it was usually a busy area with arge floating poption.
But because a variant double dungeon had appeared, it was deserted.
"There aren''t any cars."
"Ah. They say the roads are closed with the city''s cooperation."
The empty roads were swarming with people dispatched for the gate raid, including medical staff and weapons inspection teams.
"Haha. We meet again."
"Indeed. Arhan''s rising star."
"Song Myeongseok."
"Of course, I know your name."
Song Myeongseok retorted sharply at the mocking tone.
Yoojin chuckled and brushed it off.
"You look a lot gloomier than thest time I saw you?"
"Thanks to you."
"I heard you learned a good lesson from the next Sword Saint."
"..."
Song Myeongseok kept his mouth firmly shut.
A sinister light flickered across his sunken eyes.
He was openly disying his killing intent now.
"Isn''t that summon with you?"
"Fafnir has some business and couldn''te."
"That''s a shame. He was a great help during the joint raid. What a pity."
If he pities it twice more, he might as wellmit murder.
Now that they couldn''t back out of the raid due to the Phoenix Guild''s reputation, he didn''t even bother to hide his true feelings.
"Even without him, closing a gate is nothing."
"Hahaha. Seeing your confidence makes me feel very reassured."
"You should also do your best."
After leaving those meaningful words, Yoojin turned away.
Song Myeongseok''s gaze remained fixed on his exposed back for a long time.
"Arhan Guild, preparations for entry areplete."
The Arhan Guild raid team lined up in front of the blue rift.
They were all acquaintances of Yoojin.
"Weren''t you all 2 Stars?"
"We''ve all risen to 3 Stars. Don''t worry, we won''t be a hindrance."
Song Myeongseok stared intently at Yoojin''s group.
"That''s good. I''m also a 3 Star."
"How in such a short time¡?"
Wasn''t that a cheap shot for a psychological warfare tactic?
As Yoojin snorted, unexpected reactions poured out.
"You''ve already reached 3 Star?"
"Hyung. We''ve been working our butts off, but we can''t keep up with that speed."
"This isn''t fair. You left us behind and went alone."
What were those expressions like they''d been betrayed?
The three looked at Yoojin''s back with resentful eyes.
"Hahaha. That''s fortunate."
"Rising Star. Since I''m also a 3 Star, I won''t be a hindrance."
When Jang Miseon added, Song Myeongseok''s expression twisted visibly.
¡²Knowing it''s a trap, was there a need to provoke him that much?¡³
''That''s why I''m poking him even more.''
¡²Hoho. I''m curious about the contractor''s intentions. Tell Jim your thoughts.¡³
''If he gets emotional, even a small opening might appear.''
¡²Kuhahahat. You are manipting the emotions of that little human.¡³
Uh.
¡®I didn''t exactly calcte it that thoroughly. It''s just not in my nature to stay still when someone''s trying to get under my skin.¡¯
"Arhan will enter first."
Thud¡ª Thud¡ª
Led by Song Myeongseok, the five Arhan attackers entered the gate.
"Let''s go too."
Jang Miseon said cheerfully and took the lead.
Yoojin''s group followed.
The moment both guild attack teams entered the double dungeon.
Fzzzzzzzzzzzt¡ª!!!
Sparks erupted from the gate, scattering in all directions and damaging the asphalt road and buildings.
"D-Dodge!"
"It was fine just a moment ago."
"What on earth is going on?!"
The gate, which was wrapped in lightning, was dyed red as if blood had been sttered on it.
A red gate.
A color that signifies a closed type.
"A-A second mutation¡¡."
A listless voice flowed from the mouth of a Phoenix Guild representative.
Following the double dungeon, an unforeseen mutation urred in session.
There was only one way for the two guild attack teams to return to reality.
To destroy the gate cores simultaneously and seed in the raid.
"Contact the Guild Master! Quickly!"
The two guild representatives became frantic.
However.
Unlike the Phoenix Guild members who were filled with urgency, a significant number of the Arhan Guild members calmly nced at the gate without showing any signs of panic.
£ª £ª £ª
A massive cave.
The height from floor to ceiling was about 50 meters.
The width looked to be over 100 meters.
"It feels more like an underground dungeon than a cave."
Yoojin looked around and offered his leisurelymentary.
"It''s different from the briefing. There''s only one path¡¡."
"There''s a mansion inside the cave."
"You''re right. I wonder where the Arhan attack team disappeared to."
Jang Miseon replied with a worried tone, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
Her eyes were constantly moving, searching for the Arhan attack team that had entered first.
"Don''t waste your energy. You won''t find them."
"It''s strange. The gate has mutated, and the Arhan attack team has vanished."
"If that was the intention, then it''s not strange at all."
At Yoojin''s nonchnt words, the Little Runts team gasped loudly.
"H-Hyung. Are we perhaps caught in a trap¡¡?"
"Use either informal or formal speech, pick one."
"No, no. Why are you so calm, Hyung?"
"Hyung-nim is right. If panicking would solve anything, this wouldn''t have happened."
Kang Minho calmed his panicking twin brother.
Since there was no concrete evidence to say they already knew it was a trap, he made a suitable excuse.
"Song Myeongseok''s attitude was strange before we came in here."
"Rising Star-nim, or should I say, that ba¡ª?"
Kang Minyeong had even gotten his autograph. Yet, as soon as he became a suspect in setting a trap, she immediately abandoned her fan loyalty.
"Yoojin-nim. Isn''t that a bit of a stretch? There''s no evidence."
"Jang Miseon-ssi. How likely do you think it is for a dual gate to mutate again and turn into a closed type?"
"Not very likely. Still, it''s just a hunch."
"I''m not saying you have to believe me. But it''s better than getting backstabbed because you were careless."
He didn''t think Jang Miseon would believe him right away.
As long as she didn''t let her guard down around the Arhan Guild, especially Song Myeongseok, it was enough.
Preemptively warning them would lessen the shock if something did happen.
''They said getting shot with a weak gun hurts less.''
¡²Are you referring to those primitive weapons that cannot channel mana?¡³
''How can you call such scientific weapons primitive?''
While he was bickering with Kronos, an ominous red fog enveloped the mansion.
Monsters burst out through the crimson smoke.
"Krrrrr. Kaaaw!"
"Give us fresh blood."
Werewolves, moving quickly on all fours, rapidly closed the distance.
Vampires, with paleplexions, hovered about 5 meters in the air, targeting the group.
"We''re in a difficult situation, right?"
"Probably."
"Hmm. Please takemand, Yoojin-nim."
"Are you sure?"
"He''s Master''s master. And since there are four members of the Little Runts team, that would be appropriate."
"Alright. I''ll make sure we get out of here alive."
The number of monsters was 40.
Well, well.
Rather than going all out from the start, they were trying to test the waters?
''I should save the Blood Golem and Jo Seungchul forter.''
He had shown the Blood Golem in front of the Arhan attack team during the [Iron Tomb] raid.
However, Yoojin decided not to reveal his full power.
Having absorbed the relics'' blood, he had be significantly stronger.
There was no need to reveal all his cards in such an obvious probing attack.
"Let''s start with buffs."
He raised the [Oak Staff Imbued with Lightning] high and switched his stats to Daybreak.
He consecutively deployed divine spells.
[Using Giant''s Strength.]
[Using Punishing Spike.]
"Are you really a 3 Star? How is your spellcasting speed so fast?"
"Can''t you tell by the fact that we entered the gate without any problems?"
Yoojin lightly retorted.
A probing attack, huh?
Even better.
This was his first time coordinating with Jang Miseon.
He had been unterally beaten up, no, sparred with her countless times, but fighting as a team was different.
If the enemies hade at them with full force, they wouldn''t have had this leeway.
"Jang Miseon and Kang Minho will be the vanguard, the other two the rearguard."
"Yes, sir!"
"Vanguard, advance 10 steps. Rearguard, restrain the vampires. Just prevent them from approaching."
The two moved forward.
Kang Minyeong used [Synchronization] and [Telekinesis] to lift three crossbows.
Lee Seongmin also rearranged his mana.
"Kaaaw! Kaaaw!"
"Kang Minho, advance 5 steps and then use Moveable Fortress. After 1 second, Jang Miseon, charge in with Comet Dash."
Commands were issued in second-by-second increments.
Kang Minho walked as instructed and then focused his mana on his shield.
[eleration]
[Wild Run]
The speed of the werewolves charging straight at them more than doubled.
In the blink of an eye, they lunged at Kang Minho.
[Moveable Fortress]
[Forceful Strike]
An attack that perfectly synchronized the release of mana and strength.
Blue shes erupted from the wide shield, engulfing the werewolves.
"Kekekegek!"
The six werewolves that had charged at the front tumbled across the floor.
It wasn''t significant damage.
If they were enemies of the same star rank, the impact would have been enough to break an arm or a leg.
However, the werewolves were 3 Stars.
One star rank higher than Kang Minho.
[Shooting Star Sword]
[Comet Dash]
sh¡ª
A sword wrapped in a whirlwind left a long trail in the air.
Red lines appeared on the necks of the werewolves who had been knocked down by the shockwave.
Puaaaak¡ª!
Their heads were severed, spraying blood.
"Krrr! Kaaaw!"
The werewolves that followed also elerated.
Just as they bared their sharp teeth towards Jang Miseon, who was left defenseless after swinging her sword,
[Using Unholy Shock Shield.]
A gray barrier blocked the path of a werewolf with its jaws wide open.
Before it could pull back, the werewolf mped its jaws on the barrier with all its might¡ª
Kwazik¡ª!
The barrier shuddered¡ª
Partially reflecting the force of the bite back at the creature.
The werewolves staggered back from the shock that rattled their jaws.
"Human. You''re quite something."
"I wonder what that blood tastes like?"
The vampires, who had been passively responding to the rearguard''s restraint, began to move seriously.
Their flighting speed was increasing.
The vanguard, whose feet were tied down by the werewolves, couldn''t stop the vampires.
"Lee Seongmin, deploy shields. Kang Minyeong, use Synchronization and Telekinesis."
"Yes!"
[Space - Release]
Thump¡ª Thump¡ª Thump¡ª
Several silver-coated shields fell to the ground.
Kang Minyeong used telekinesis to manipte the shields she had just summoned andyered them.
[Using Bone Spear.]
Spiritual power wrapped around cursed fangs.
The magic spear, enhanced by the Fragment of Void, pierced through one of the vampires.
"Keok, keo-eok!"
"Huh? It''s faltering."
The vampire was also a 3 Star monster.
Yoojin''s mana (divine power) stat was much higher than that of an average magic/divine-type hunter.
Not only that.
The magic was further enhanced by the [Oak Staff Imbued with Lightning].
Since he even used an excellent medium called [Cursed Fangs], he could kill a nameless vampire with a single blow.
"Kaaak! Kill!"
"I''ll suck all of your blood!"
What greeted the enraged vampires were the shields controlled by [Synchronization] and [Telekinesis].
Yoojin matched the timing and even deployed [Unholy Shock Shield].
Bang¡ª Puff-puff-bang¡ª
The vampires were repelled by the shields, which weren''t even held by a tank but merely supported by telekinesis.
Swish¡ª!
The cursed fangs cut off their breaths one by one.
The werewolves, too, were unable to advance further, hindered by the efforts of the two at the vanguard, Yoojin''s orders, and the timely deployed spells.
''This person. Why is he so good atmanding?!''
Jang Miseon was internally astonished.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!
Chapter 73: Knowing its a trap means its no longer a trap (3)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 73: Knowing it''s a trap means it''s no longer a trap (3)
The first battle ended in andslide victory.
They had ughtered 40 monsters without a single casualty among their party.
Despite their lower rankspared to Yoojin and Jang Miseon, they capitalized on their individual specialties and maintained control throughout the fight.
"Werewolves are certainly strong."
"My attacks barely even fazed them."
"It''s alright for you, senior, since you have silver arrows. But not for me."
The three reviewed their recent fight.
Jang Miseon watched them with a dazed expression before turning to Yoojin.
"Those orders you gave earlier... what were they?"
"What do you mean? I was just instructing you on how to fight efficiently."
"Yoojin-nim''s leadership wasn''t just promising, it was superior to even the veterans in the Phoenix''s first unit."
"I do have a decent sense ofparison."
There are a few key qualities that are important for a Necromancer.
Yoojin considered the ''eye'' for battle to be the most crucial.
The undead''s judgment was inferior to when they were alive.
Unless they were undead strengthened by [Unification] or high-ranking undead...
Lower or mid-ranking undead were prone to making foolish mistakes if not properlymanded.
''Commanding a mere five people is child''s y.''
In his past life, he hadmanded an army of ten thousand alone, without even a single adjutant.
This experience gave him invaluable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of individuals and how to best utilize them within a group.
He had already grasped the unique characteristics of each member of his current team.
Furthermore, the intense battle at the Paju Workshop, while a difficult experience, allowed him to observe Jang Miseon in action, giving him a good understanding of herbat abilities and skills.
''Factoring in the stat increase from reaching 3 Stars, this should be a piece of cake.''
A double dungeon?
A trapid with the help of the Romanov n?
The Arhan attack squad?
''This force is more than enough to break through.''
A smile spread across Yoojin''s face as he finished his calctions.N?v(el)B\\jnn
"So, what do you think? Can you trust me?"
"I trusted you from the beginning, that''s why I entrusted you withmand. Now I''m certain."
"Let''s go without dy."
"Um, hyung-nim. Are we just going to leave the corpses behind?"
"You don''t reveal your hand right away."
The Arhan attack squad was unaware of Yoojin''s true specialty.
This was because most of them had been dealt with by Fafnir during the attack on the three gates.
Only Jang Miseon, unaware of the reason, had a question mark floating above her head.
£ª £ª £ª
A Stately Mansion
Song Myeongseok looked down from the rooftop of the three-story building.
"They''re certainly struggling, aren''t they?"
He saw Yoojin and his party below, having just finished their battle.
Although the crimson fog obstructed his vision, it had no effect on Song Myeongseok.
In his right hand, he held a spiral-shaped red crystal.
The Gate Core, which had been fused with the boss monster, was clutched in his grasp.
"Send in 40 more werewolves and 30 vampires."
"Yes, My Lord."
"Grrrr."
A monster a head taller than an ordinary werewolf.
The man with sharp fangs standing next to him acknowledged Song Myeongseok''s order.
The boss monsters of the double dungeon.
The [Mad Werewolf] and the [Starving Vampire].
"The Co-leader is truly remarkable. To have prepared even this..."
A control device created by linking the cores of the two gates.
It was equipped with various functions, such as giving instructions to the boss monsters and altering the structure of the gate.
As soon as Song Myeongseok entered the double dungeon, he changed its structure to a serial configuration.
He gathered the monsters that had been split into two paths and had them confront Yoojin''s group.
"Team Leader, are you sure this is alright?"
"Then are you suggesting we let them go?"
The team member who had asked the question turned pale at Song Myeongseok''s cold retort.
His right hand constantly fiddled with the red crystal.
Overwhelmed by the feeling that he might die if he gave the wrong answer, the team member could only stammer, unable to utter another word.
"We have all taken the oath of silence."
An oath not to divulge anything that happened within the gate.
A contract made in the presence of a mage from the Romanov n, renowned as a magic family.
The ability to manipte a gate at will.
It was certain to cause tremendous repercussions if it became public knowledge.
Furthermore, the ''ident'' that was about to unfold within must not be revealed to the outside world.
"Those people haven''t taken the oath, have they?"
"That''s correct."
"Wouldn''t it be problematic if this secret got out?"
Song Myeongseok conveniently omitted the fact that the double dungeon itself was a trap.
Nevertheless...
The team member couldn''t bring himself to point that out.
"Um, Team Leader Song Myeongseok, but is it necessary to send the monsters in separate waves?"
"There''s no need to rush the hunt."
There was no space behind the gate entrance.
Even with the numerical advantage gained by controlling the monsters, it was difficult to take advantage of it in a confined space.
"If we ce the golem we saw earlier at the front, it would be quite troublesome."
Song Myeongseok was not blinded by rage.
To bury the two people who had fueled his inferiorityplex, he had to give it his all.
There was a reason for sending the monsters in separate waves.
"To investigate the mutated gate, we have to move slowly."
"Ah, so you''re trying to wear down their stamina..."
"It''s a relief that you understand, even now. There''s no need for me to say it twice."
The gate regenerated monsters at regr intervals.
Even if they were deployed sequentially to deplete the monsters, reinforcements would soon arrive.
On the other hand, Yoojin''s party had limited strength.
"As they repeatedly engage in battles, their stamina and mana will dwindle."
"We can attack when they''re exhausted."
Song Myeongseok''s judgment was rational.
The information from the preceding attack team had be useless.
In this situation, it was clear they would follow the standard strategy for attacking the gate.
Enveloping the mansion in crimson fog also served to restrict Yoojin''s group from making any bold moves.
"They won''t be able to recklessly charge in since they can''t see what''s inside."
A murderous glint flickered in Song Myeongseok''s eyes.
The Arhan attackers cautiously observed his expression and remained silent.
Fear gnawed at their hearts, worried that they might be dog food like Yoojin''s group if they inadvertently provoked him.
''Jang Miseon, and Cheon Yoojin. I will make your deaths especially agonizing.''
Squeeze¡ª
He clenched the red crystal in his hand with all his might.
£ª £ª £ª
[Verdian Basic Spear Technique]
[Sixth Stance]
[Full Power Thrust.]
A single ray of light cut through the air.
The bone spear plunged into the werewolf''s gaping maw, tearing through its soft flesh and scrambling its brain.
"Kugh, grrr."
The werewolf, its head pierced, twitched a few times before copsing.
"Damn, this thing is heavy."
Yoojin grumbled as he retrieved his bone spear.
Just as one hand can''t block ten, their two vanguards couldn''t mark all the werewolves rushing at them.
That''s when Yoojin stepped in.
[Using Bone Wall.]
[Using Unholy Shock Shield.]
He used the catalysts he had carefully collected to block the werewolves'' path.
And those that broke through the bone wall were warmly greeted with the [Verdian Basic Spear Technique].
His stats, boosted by Life Drain, wereparable to a martial arts Hunter.
The [Unholy Blessing], which acted as a debuff on living beings, didn''t harm him, so he had tripled his buffs.
As long as they didn''t swarm him, there was no danger.
"Yoojin-nim, what exactly is your ss?"
"You know I''m a Priest, why are you asking?"
"What kind of Priest uses bones and spears so well, and evenmands so effectively?"
Jang Miseon grumbled with a pout.
"Hyung-nim, that''s the seventh one already."
"They''re not giving us any breathing room."
Yoojin replied calmly and used [Life Drain] on the corpses of the werewolf and vampire.
Although the efficiency of extracting life force from the dead was lower, thanks to the five consecutive attacks, there were plenty of corpses, and he absorbed enough life force.
[You can no longer increase your stats with the life force of this species.]
[Stats Acquired]
[Strength: 25.5]
[Agility: 16.6]
[Stamina: 22.3]
[Toughness: 27.9]
[Spirit: 42.1]
A total of 134.4.
Since the level-up bonus increased to 20 upon reaching 3 Stars, he gained the equivalent of 6 levels worth of stats just from absorbing life force.
''The stronger the monster, the more stats it provides.''
One of the reasons Hunters were crazy about elixirs was that they could increase their stats outside of leveling up.
Life Drain was a skill that allowed him to continuously raise his stats without elixirs.
Come to think of it, it truly was an exceptional divine spell.
Even after raising all his stats, the absorbed life force was put to good use.
"Whew, thanks to you, I feel energized."
Kang Minho said with a relieved expression.
Life Drain was a divine spell that could convert umted life force into any stat, such as stamina, health recovery, or mana.
He used the life force drawn from the corpses to relieve the fatigue from the battle.
"I can''t do anything about mental fatigue. Manage your condition well."
"Yes, sir."
Yoojin meticulously managed the physical and mental condition of his team.
The most crucial aspect of a war of attrition is maintaining focus.
On the battlefield, a single small mistake can lead to fatal consequences.
He didn''t have to worry about the undead losing their concentration, but he had to constantly be mindful of the humans.
''This should be enough tost until weplete the attack.''
The gate was small-scale.
The number of monsters inside was limited.
Even though they were being produced within the gate, they weren''t regenerating by the hundreds at a time.
''Their forces are also finite.''
Once the number of monsters fell below a certain threshold, they would be forced into a full-frontal assault.
Yoojin waited for that moment, steadily taking down the monsters one by one.
"They should be tired by now. Why do they seem so fine?"
"Cheon Yoojin, is he really a Priest? His spear skills are like a martial artist''s."
"What about the rest of the team? I thought we only had to be wary of that summon, Fafnir, but they''re fighting much better than thest attack."
"Team Leader, there are only about 100 monsters left."
Song Myeongseok frowned.
Despite relentlessly sending monsters at Yoojin''s group without any respite, he only felt their teamwork improving with each battle.
They showed no signs of fatigue despite the continuous fighting.
"What should we do?"
At his team member''s question, Song Myeongseok impulsively ced his hand on the hilt of his sword.
An urge to vent his boiling frustration in some way.
Song Myeongseok gritted his teeth to calm his anger.
"In any case, they must have consumed a considerable amount of stamina and mana. Let''s confront them head-on."
"Wouldn''t it be better to defend using the mansion as our stronghold?"
"Are you suggesting that we, bearing the name of Arhan, hide like cowards?"
His team member shut his mouth at the sharp voice.
''You''re the one who sent the monsters in waves, why are you taking it out on me!''
He was unfairly venting his anger on someone who had nothing to do with it.
Just as he was about to retort in frustration, he saw the hand resting on the sword hilt and mped his mouth shut.
"Everyone, get ready."
The Arhan attack team reluctantly checked their equipment at the chilling order.
Although he sensed their displeasure, Song Myeongseok pretended not to notice and fiddled with the red crystal.
"Gather the remaining monsters."
51 vampires.
53 werewolves.
Two boss monsters.
And five members of the Arhan attack team.
Song Myeongseok, having rallied all his remaining forces, stepped forward confidently.
Creak¡ª
The tightly shut doors of the mansion swung open.
The crimson fog that had been obscuring their vision dispersed.
A horde of monsters poured out through the wide-open doors.
Jang Miseon let out a short sigh as she saw the Arhan attack team mixed in with the monsters.
"What you said earlier... I didn''t want to believe it, but it was true."
"It was a matter of probability."
Song Myeongseok, overhearing their conversation, let out a heartyugh.
"Hahaha. Did you suspect?"
"That Arhan was behind this, yes. I just didn''t know how."
"You have good instincts, Hunter Cheon Yoojin."
"Asking where Fafnir was... it was too obvious."
Heh heh.
Yoojin gave a sly grin.
Really, even if he wanted to pretend he didn''t know... they were practically broadcasting their suspicious intentions. How could he ignore it?
"If you knew, you should have retreated then. It''s foolish to walk right into a trap."
"Knowing it''s a trap means it''s no longer a trap."
"Do you think you can handle 100 monsters, two bosses, and us with just five people?"
An overwhelming difference in numbers.
Although the scale had been reduced by sending monsters in sequentially...
The disparity in strength was still evident.
"...That''s what you think."
Yoojin chuckled and raised his [Oak Staff Imbued with Lightning] high.
Ssst¡ª
An immense amount of spirit power converged on the Fragment of the Void.
"Answer my call."
A gloomy light erupted from the gray ore, sweeping across the battlefield.
-Groooan!
Agonized groans, as if the air was being squeezed from their lungs, erupted from all directions.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 74: Knowing its a trap means its no longer a trap (4)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 74: Knowing it''s a trap means it''s no longer a trap (4)
[Using Dead Rise.]
[87 Revenants created.]
[Using Raise Dead.]
[72 Skeleton Mages created.]
[Highpletion rate. Stats increased by 53%.]
Ugh¡ª
The excessive expenditure of spirit power made his vision blur.
He couldn''t even stand without leaning on his staff.
''Is my remaining spirit power less than 5%?''
It''s not much different from the calcted consumption.
He immediately used [Midnight Sun].
He replenished his near-depleted holy power (spirit power) with the umted life force and then converted his stats again using Midnight Sun.
-Gurglgle.
-Grooooar!!!
The corpses of the werewolves were resurrected as Revenants.
The vampires with magical abilities were revived as Skeleton Mages.
"U-Undead?!!"
"Team Leader, the enemy numbers have exceeded 100!"
The faces of the Arhan attack team darkened abruptly.
By modern standards, Necromancer was a ss with an unknown advancement route.
Although he had summoned undead at Ground Zero, it remainedrgely unknown thanks to Madam''s control over the rumors.
Even the Phoenix and Arhan guilds had assumed Fafnir was a summon.
''It''s not over yet, you bastards.''
[Golem Creation - Using Summon Blood Golem.]
[Retrieving the corpse stored in the Coffin of the Dead.]
A 5-meter giant with blood as its flesh.
And an undead, cloaked in dark spirit power like a robe, revealed itself.
¡¾Glory to the Great Master!¡¿
¡¸Awaiting orders.¡¹
Seeing the Blood Golem and Jo Seungchul, Jang Miseon let out a groan.
''Just how many abilities does this person have?''
A golem made using blood as a medium...
She instinctively felt a sense of crisis from the intense mana waves emanating from the MIS-4 engine.
Jo Seungchul felt the same.
Seeing the robe made of materialized spirit power, an ominous feeling washed over him, and he unconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword.
"Team Leader, we''re surrounded."
"W-What should we do?"
"Damn it! Don''t just ask me, use your brains, you sons of bitches!"
Song Myeongseok''s face was contorted in rage.
Instead of his usual polite and kind demeanor, the true face hidden beneath his mask wasid bare.
"Sorry, hyung. I''ll throw away his autograph as soon as I get out of here."
"They''re an eyesore, burn them."
"Got it."
Gnash¡ª
Song Myeongseok gritted his teeth again and stepped forward.
"Do you think you''ve already won?"
"Give up on the condescending act, it doesn''t suit you."
"You should be grateful that someone like me is even bothering to speak to you."
"Wow, I should consider this an honor for my family."
Shing¡ª
The sword drawn from its scabbard scattered a bluish light.
"I will kill you with my own hands."
"You''ve been nning that since you created this double dungeon, no need to tire your mouth by repeating it."
Yoojin beckoned with his finger.
"Stop with the trash talk ande at me, Arhan''s Supernova."
"Graaaaaaaah!!!"
Song Myeongseok, his eyes wide open, broke away from the group and charged forward, with the Arhan attack team hastily following behind.
Their formation crumbled.
"I''ll leave Arhan to you. Just hold on a little, and I''ll join you soon."
"I''ll take care of Mr. Supernova."
"The rest of us will grab onto their ankles and hold them back."
The Little Runts team looked ready to fight with everything they had.
Don''t worry.
This isn''t a fight to the death, and they were more than capable of hindering them.
"Minions, crush the enemies!"
-Groan.
-Gurglgle. Die.
As soon as Yoojin gave the order, the undead army charged towards the monsters.
"Woof! Woof!"
"You starving wretches. Get lost, you filthy creatures."
The werewolves and vampires shed, and the curtain rose on the main battle.
£ª £ª £ª
-Grooooan.
A Revenant, created from the corpse of a werewolf, bites into one of its former kind.
Blood stters in the air.
But the bitten monster doesn''t just stand there and take it.
sh¡ª
With ws as sharp as honed des, it tears into the undead''s body.
Undead and monster grapple with each other, each squeezing out every ounce of strength until one of them dies.
[Dark Missile]
[Poison Arrow]
...
The Skeleton Mages keep the monster horde in check with ranged attacks.
The vampires, having taken to the air, draw their own blood to form a defensive barrier.
"Kihaha! You can''t kill me with such petty tricks."
A vampire moves swiftly.
Narrowly dodging the iing projectiles, it targets the Skeleton Mages at the rear of the formation.
[Fireball]
Kaboom!
A tremendous explosion that echoed through the area.
A fireball erupts from the staff acquired during the spider hunt, a GB (Graybase) - R5 type, obliterating the vampire in a single blow.
¡¾It is the will of the Great Master. You cannot escape.¡¿
Jo Seungchul''s jaw twitches.
His mana stat wasparable to a Hunter at the peak of 4 Stars.
With the addition of the [Mana Cirction] trait and decent item performance, he had enough power to annihte a vampire with a single shot.
Crack¡ª Thud!
The two forces collide head-on.
They be entangled in a chaotic melee where it''s difficult to distinguish friend from foe.
Crunch¡ª
A werewolf bites into a Revenant''s neck and rips its head clean off.
Although the undead had the advantage in numbers, the monsters were individually stronger.
''There are too many to individually enhance each corpse.''
That was the reason why thepletion level of the undead was lower than usual.
However...
Yoojin didn''t mind.
"Answer my call."
A werewolf''s neck snaps under the relentless grip of the Revenants.
A vampire copses after being hit by consecutive magic attacks.
And...
Even the corpses of the monsters that Song Myeongseok had deployed in waves to wear down his party...
There were plenty of mediums scattered around to revive as undead.N?v(el)B\\jnn
''I''ll show you what happens when you engage in a war of attrition with a Necromancer.''
Even the boss monsters of the double dungeon were struggling.
¡¸You shall not pass.¡¹
The Blood Golem remained unshaken even against thebined assault of the near 4 Star monsters.
By absorbing Rerik''s blood, it had been strengthened to the peak of 4 Stars, or even close to 5 Stars.
"Wryyyyy!!!"
"Grrr!"
Song Myeongseok, who should have beenmanding the two boss monsters, had charged into the enemy lines, blinded by rage.
He was now stuck facing the Blood Golem, engaged in a grueling battle.
''The monsters should be about done now.''
Yoojin''s gaze shifted to a spot nearby.
ng! ng!
Three swords sh in mid-air.
The future Sword Saint and Arhan''s Supernova were locked in a fierce duel.
The Little Runts team, despite theirck of fame, were proving themselves against the top prospects of Korea''s No. 1 guild.
Yoojin observed the battle intently.
£ª £ª £ª
"Get out of the way if you don''t want to die!"
"I''ll die either way, so there''s no need to listen to you."
"I''ll say it again. If you want to die peacefully..."
"Oh,e on. Are you just going to fight with your mouth like Yoojin-nim said?"
Whoosh!
A swirling gust of wind.
Jang Miseon, using her Wind Sword ability, manipted the airflow and sent it hurtling towards Song Myeongseok.
Each strand of wind carried magical power.
Though notparable to Aura, it wasn''t something one could withstand with their bare body.
Song Myeongseok, deflecting the gust with his twin swords, growled.
"You bitch! Why are you getting in my way?!"
"You... aren''t you being too shameless?"
Jang Miseon retorted in a sharp voice, disbelief evident in her tone, as she unleashed her Shooting Star Sword.
"You set all this up with the intention of killing me. What are youining about?"
"How could mediocre people like you or them possibly understand the mind of a genius like me?"
"Spare me the nonsense. A genius would understand."
While the two geniuses exchanged blows in a stalemate, neither yielding an inch...
The Little Runts team used every ounce of their abilities to hold back the Arhan attack team.
Boom!
A shockwave erupted as Kang Minho used [Moveable Fortress] and [Forceful Strike] simultaneously.
Although it didn''t inflict significant damage on the four members of the Arhan attack team, it was enough to disrupt their formation.
"How long do you think you can hold out against us!"
[Rapid Assault]
A powerful charge skill that propelled the user''s body forward like an arrow.
Although some of the impact was absorbed by the body due to the recoil, it was a useful skill due to its speed and ability to nullify tanking skills.
A martial arts Hunter closed the distance in an instant, leaving only an afterimage, and dashed past Kang Minho towards the inner part of the formation.
"You''re all going to di¡ª"
[Space - Release]
[Magic Scroll: Dig]
Another application of the subspace trait, taught by Yoojin, unfolded.
A magic scroll, primed for activation, was stored in subspace and released when needed.
The scroll, havingpleted its rearrangement process, activated immediately.
The ground caved in without any magical prelude.
The Hunter, who had charged in with Rapid Assault, lost his footing and tumbled 5 meters down.
[Synchronization]
[Telekinesis]
The triggers of the three floating crossbows were pulled simultaneously.
The arrows, plunging vertically downwards, pierced the gaps in the Hunter''s armor.
One arrow bounced off the struggling Hunter''s armor.
Thud¡ª
But the remaining two found their marks, embedding themselves in his Achilles tendon and armpit.
The martial arts Hunter copsed with a scream.
Although he avoided fatal injuries due to the stat bonuses from the difference in rank, the injury to his Achilles tendon robbed him of the strength to jump back up.
"Mr. Song!"
"You bastards! You cowards!"
The Arhan attack team trembled with rage.
Kang Minyeong scoffed.
"It''s okay for 3 Star Hunters like you to attack a 2 Star, though?"
"Sunbae, those kinds of people are always the biggest hypocrites."
"What can you do? If youck skills, you have to at least be good with words."
The Little Runts team, unknowingly, had started to sound like Yoojin in the midst of battle.
Although not to the extent of Song Myeongseok, they were still considered promising talents who would lead the future of the guild and had received various forms of support.
"I''m going to kill you all!"
"I won''t forgive you!"
The Arhan attack team, abandoning their trained positions and sumbing to their rage, charged recklessly.
ng! Tang!
The three of them used the skills they had learned from Yoojin and Fafnir.
One mistake, and it would be over.
Even though the Arhan attack team had lost theirposure, their specs were still far superior.
''I have to get the timing of the magic release exactly right. The slightest deviation will be the end.''
''I need to keep them in check from multiple angles to create an opening for oppa to unleash his shockwave.''
''If it gets tough, I need to pull out the scrolls immediately.''
The few days they spent in the border region.
The time they challenged Fafnir at the Paju Workshop.
And every moment they had followed Yoojin''s instructions since entering the double dungeon.
The umted experiences had pushed the Little Runts team''s potential to its limits.
They maximized their individual abilities, responding wlessly without a single mistake.
They had sessfully tied down the Arhan attack team.
"D-Damn it! How can we be losing to 2 Star Hunters?!"
"Your defensive spells are too slow! How are we supposed to prepare magic in this situation?!"
"This is happening because you''re not holding them back properly!"
On the other hand, the Arhan attack team''s teamwork was falling apart as the fight dragged on.
Their frustration grew, and they started raising their voices at each other.
At that moment.
"You held on well."
A few corpses, pierced by cursed fangs, were thrown among the Arhan attack team.
[Using Corpse Explosion.]
KABOOM!!
Bones, blood, and flesh, infused with spirit energy to the limit, engulfed three members of the Arhan attack team.
They didn''t even have time to scream.
Their preemptively cast defensive spells were torn apart like paper.
Even the rare-grade items provided by the Arhan guild were useless against the explosion.
"Thanks to you, hyung-nim, we survived."
"Wow, that was really tough."
"We were out of scrolls, so we couldn''t have held on any longer."
Relieved, the three copsed onto the ground.
A fight that transcended the gap of a single rank.
Despite being outnumbered four to three, the Little Runts team had performed beyond expectations.
"Damn it!!"
Song Myeongseok cursed.
The tide of the battle hadpletely turned.
While he was held back by Jang Miseon, the number of monsters had significantly dwindled.
And the Arhan attack team was unable to continue fighting after being caught in the explosion.
''Am I going to die?''
He couldn''t ept it.
Was he supposed to ept that his fate was to perish here, so pointlessly?!
Song Myeongseok unleashed a furious flurry of blows with his twin swords, putting all his might into the attack.
As Jang Miseon took a step back from the fierce assault...
"Ha, hahaha. It''s simple. I just have to clear the gate!"
He pulled out the red crystal from his pocket andughed loudly.
The Gate Core extracted from the boss monsters.
As long as he applied force to it with his right hand...
The power maintaining the double gate would disappear, and the exit would appear.
''I can survive!''
As long as he escaped from here, there would surely be another chance.
Song Myeongseok tried to exert force on the crystal, repeating those thoughts to himself.
[Using Ectosm.]
[Spirit Power disrupts the target''s senses.]
"What''s wrong? Isn''t he staggering?"
His stomach churned, and the sounds reaching his ears echoed strangely.
Song Myeongseok, realizing btedly that he had be the target of a curse, activated his armor''s option.
Hepletely dispelled the curse afflicting his body, but...
sh¡ª
Jang Miseon seized the momentary opening created by Yoojin and lunged forward, severing Song Myeongseok''s right arm with her Shooting Star Sword.
"Huh?"
Song Myeongseok stared nkly at his right arm lying on the ground.
The sharp pain from his severed arm.
The Gate Core rolling on the ground.
¡°HAHAHHA¡ª¡±
None of it felt real, and he burst intoughter.
"It was disgusting working with you, let''s never meet again."
[Using Bone Spear.]
A cursed fang pierced the neck of the stunned Song Myeongseok.
Arhan''s Supernova copsed to the ground without uttering a singlest word.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 75
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 75: A Tiger Leaves Its Skin Behind in Death, but Humans...(1)
A mutated gate appeared in Daegu.
It was an exceptionally rare phenomenon where two gates formed at nearly identical coordinates merged into one.
The news of this so-called ¡°Double Dungeon¡± being cleared spread rapidly through the media.
[Shocking! The Rise and Fall of Arhan¡¯s Prodigy]
[Who Are the Little Runts Team That Cleared the Gate?]
[The Next Sword Saint Confesses: ¡®I Was Ipetent.¡¯]
[Who Is Cheon Yoojin, the Key yer of the Raid?]**
¡°So, that prodigy¡ªwhat was his name again? Song Myeongseok, right?¡±
¡°Wow, I even bought that hunter''s photo book.¡±
¡°Wasn''t he said to share the same unique trait as Wu Wang from China?¡±
¡°There was a lot of talk about his family producing another powerhouse, even in our country.¡±
¡°Well, that all turned out to be hype, huh?¡±
The news of the Arhan raid team¡¯s annihtion sent shockwaves not only through the huntermunity but also among the general public.
This marked the death of the second hunter to possess the rare Heavenly Bone trait, following the legendary Chinese hunter, Wu Wang Chang Wufei.
In an era where the strength of hunters equated to national power, this was a devastating blow.
¡°But what¡¯s this ¡®Little Runts¡¯ team? What do they even do?¡±
¡°Arhan Guild once co-requested them to jointly close a gate.¡±
¡°I heard the Next Sword Saint even admitted they were stronger than her.¡±
¡°Jang Miseon? Isn¡¯t she the hunter who recently defeated Song Myeongseok in a duel?¡±
¡°Wow, why were hunters like these unknown until now?¡±
The tragedy surrounding the Double Dungeon raid was quickly overshadowed by another shocking revtion: the meteoric rise of the Little Runts Team.
Neither affiliated with any guild nor previously prominent, the sudden emergence of this team left many people in astonishment.
¡°Where on earth did hunters like thesee from?¡±
¡°Whenever a promising rookie shows up, the big guilds usually snatch them up right away.¡±
¡°Do you think Phoenix Guild will scout them?¡±
¡°No way. With Song Myeongseok dead, Arhan might throw money at them instead.¡±
¡°Wasn¡¯t the prodigy¡¯s estimated value 50 billion won?¡±
¡°They cleared a gate that even killed the prodigy, so their worth must be even higher!¡±
¡°Insane.¡±
This unexpected incident catapulted the rookie hunter team into the spotlight.
Even guilds from the prestigious "Big Three" such as Dawn Guild were rumored to be initiating contact with the Little Runts Team.
The news spread that other top-tier guilds in South Korea were frantically securing funds to recruit these promising new talents.
¡°At the very least, we must bring Cheon Yoojin into Mir Guild.¡±
¡°It¡¯s as if he defeated Song Myeongseok himself. We have to act before Arhan does.¡±
¡°If we can secure Cheon Yoojin, our guild might stand a chance to enter the Big Three in just a few years.¡±
Therge guilds had a hunch about the truth behind Arhan¡¯s coboration with the Little Runts Team.
What had truly urred during the dungeon raid was known only to the hunters who had participated. However, some clues inevitably surfaced during the processing of byproducts.
The Double Dungeon incident solidified the guild executives¡¯ spections into certainties.
¡°Track down the Little Runts Team¡¯s location.¡±
¡°Look into their families and acquaintances, too!¡±
¡°We must make contact with them before any other guild does!¡±
The hunter industry was abuzz with the emergence of a hot newmodity.
The incredible feats of the Little Runts Team had not only stirred up the domestic media but also lit a fire under South Korea¡¯s major guilds.
£ª £ª £ª
¡°...And that¡¯s how wepleted the raid.¡±
Jang Miseon reported the events that transpired during the Double Dungeon raid.
¡°Hmm.¡±
Kim Youngsoo sipped his coffee, letting out a vague hum, as if pondering something.
¡°Ugh, that¡¯s hot.¡±
¡°With your elemental resistance, you¡¯reining about hot coffee?¡±
¡°I have to suppress it to properly appreciate the vor.¡±
He spoke nonsense while casually savoring his coffee before continuing.
¡°You said the gate¡¯s structure changed from a forked path?¡±
¡°It was different from the preliminary investigation.¡±
¡°So the Arhan raid team, which entered first, was ambushed. They fought valiantly to hold their ground until the second team was in position but were ultimately wiped out?¡±
In the process, the entire Arhan raid team perished.
Notably, Song Myeongseok was torn apart by werewolves, leaving not even his body recoverable, ording to Jang Miseon¡¯s report.
The remaining corpses and Song Myeongseok¡¯s equipment were salvaged and returned to the Arhan Guild.
¡°As a result, we¡¯ve officially incurred a debt to Arhan.¡±
¡°Officially?¡±
¡°Unofficially, things are different, aren¡¯t they?¡±
Kim Youngsoo erased the faint smile from his face and spoke in a somber tone.
¡°Let¡¯s keep the public story at that.¡±
¡°Did I give it away?¡±
¡°You always blink your left eye when you lie.¡±
¡°Haha, I need to work on that.¡±
As Jang Miseonughed awkwardly, Kim Youngsoo sighed heavily.
The idea that Arhan¡¯s hunters had sacrificed their lives to protect the second team?
Even without pointing out Miseon¡¯s habit, it was an unbelievable story.
¡°The Double Dungeon itself was a trap.¡±
Jang Miseon recounted every detail of what urred during the raid.
The structural changes in the gate.
The Arhan Guild, which had dominated the monsters, turned on their allies.
And finally, the critical role yed by Cheon Yoojin.
¡°So the initial raid report was fabricated to cover up that person¡¯s contributions?¡±
¡°Well, without Cheon Yoojin, we would¡¯ve all died there.¡±
Officially, Yoojin¡¯s position was that of a Priest.
The story of how he healed the youngest daughter of Seongcheon Corporation was already well-known among major guilds.
The achievements of his summoned creature, Fafnir, had also started circting as rumors.
Hadn¡¯t Jang Miseon herself sought out Paju¡¯s workshop after hearing those stories?
¡°Howpletely wrong that information turned out to be.¡±
Kim Youngsoo closed his mouth, suppressing a groan.
A Priest whomands the dead? Was he truly a Priest?
It seemed more likely he was a Necromancer, a magical profession often mentioned in texts unearthed within gates.
¡°Miseon, if what you¡¯re saying is true, the hunter industry isboring under a massive misconception.¡±
¡°What misconception?¡±
¡°Arhan has been investigating him for two months already.¡±
If the Double Dungeon in Daegu had been Arhan¡¯s trap, then when Phoenix Guild recruited Yoojin and his team, Arhan would have prepared their forces based on prior intelligence.
¡°If they fully understood Yoojin¡¯s abilities, they¡¯d have nned ordingly, right?¡±
¡°Of course.¡±
¡°Wow, amazing. To think they deliberately deceived Arhan like that.¡±
Yoojin had carefully concealed his Necromancer abilities during public activities.
Only shortly after his regression, while clearing the Ancient Garden and Forgotten Temple, had he openly used undead.
Afterward, he showcased his skills only in border zones or Ground Zero, away from public scrutiny.
Although Kim Youngsoo didn¡¯t know the specifics of past events, he was sure of one thing.
¡°Cheon Yoojin might have anticipated this exact scenario.¡±
Gulp¡ª
Jang Miseon swallowed hard.
¡°He¡¯s terrifying.¡±
"It''s just a hunch, but still." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡°With this incident, the Arhan Guild and Yoojin are probably beyond reconciliation. Should I try to recruit him?¡±
¡°He¡¯s a vessel too vast for any guild to contain. It¡¯s better not to interfere.¡±
¡°Wow¡ªthis must be the famous intuition of our guild master that I¡¯ve only heard about in rumors, right?¡±
¡°And what kind of rumors are those?¡±
Kim Youngsoo grumbled briefly but didn¡¯t entirely deny it, nodding in agreement.
¡°The Phoenix¡¯s Insight.¡±
This phrase was widely known in the huntermunity.
The Phoenix Guild¡¯s rise to be one of the top three guilds in Korea was credited to Kim Youngsoo¡¯s keen judgment.
He had a talent for scouting exceptional hunters, providing them with the right resources, and supporting their training without hesitation.
Although smaller in sizepared to Arhan or Dawn Guild, Phoenix¡¯s ability to recognize and nurture talent ensured that their actualbat strength was never inferior.
¡°They also call you Midas¡¯ Touch. Should I start calling you that?¡±
[TL/N: Midas Touch ¡ª The ability to make money out of anything one undertakes.]
¡°Say that again and you¡¯ll regret it.¡±
¡°Pfft.¡±
Jang Miseon pouted, her lips pushed out in mock protest.
Kim Youngsoo chuckled at the sight of the promising young hunter in his guild, someone almost like a niece to him.
¡°Miseon, I have a favor to ask.¡±
¡°Let me hear it first, and I¡¯ll decide whether to help.¡±
¡°Can you find opportunities to connect with Hunter Cheon Yoojin?¡±
¡°I thought you said recruiting him to the guild would be impossible.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not asking you to bring him to Phoenix. I¡¯m asking you to befriend him.¡±
A puzzled look appeared on Jang Miseon¡¯s face.
¡°Isn¡¯t that basically the same thing?¡±
¡°Just because someone isn¡¯t under my banner doesn¡¯t mean they have to be an enemy.¡±
A hunter of the same caliber as Song Myeongseok¡ªor perhaps even greater.
Not only did Yoojin possess remarkable talent, but he also had the wisdom to strategically conceal his strength and the audacity to reveal it when the time was right.
If he couldn¡¯t be brought in as an ally, building a cooperative rtionship based on mutual interests would still be a valuable oue.
¡°Hm. Even so, cing Yoojin on the same level as our Phoenix Guild Master feels a little... off.¡±
¡°It¡¯s about seeing the potential and investing early.¡±
If there were apany guaranteed to bring massive returns, wouldn¡¯t you invest every penny you had into its stock?
¡°This is the perfect low point to invest in.¡±
If he couldn¡¯t be imed, maintaining an amicable rtionship would be the next best option.
Feeling a curious sense of excitement over the emergence of this new prodigy, Kim Youngsoo smiled warmly.
£ª £ª £ª
Afterpleting the raid, Yoojin''s party returned to the Paju workshop.
¡°Partner! This is an alchemy workshop, not a hangout spot!¡±
¡°Come on, you¡¯re a director at ck Company. Don¡¯t be so stiff.¡±
¡°Ugh, for the love of¡ªthis isn¡¯t something you should be saying!¡±
Shin Joonseok pointed furiously outside.
Beyond the fence, crowds of people were packed together, swarming the entrance.
The sheer number of visitors easily outmatched those who hade for the mid-grade potion investment¡ªtwo, no, three times over.
¡°Is the Little Runts Team here?¡±
¡°Hunter Cheon Yoojin! You yed a major role in the recent dungeon raid!¡±
¡°This is YNN! Could we get ament, please?¡±
¡°We¡¯re from the Mir Guil¡ª¡±
¡°I¡¯m Kang Minho, ss of ¡¯40 from Korea University! I¡¯m here on behalf of my senior, Kim from ss of ¡¯38¡ª¡±
The scene outside was more chaotic than even the busiest traditional market.
Yoojin chuckled.
¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s lively and kind of nice?¡±
¡°Too much of this ¡®nice¡¯ and someone¡¯s going to end up murdered. Don¡¯t try to stop me.¡±
¡°Fine. I promise I won¡¯t stop you.¡±
Yoojin¡¯s sharp tongue never lost a step, and Joonseok red his nostrils in frustration, fuming.
Minho, standing behind, hesitated before cautiously speaking up.
¡°Uh, hyung. Wouldn¡¯t us staying here bother the alchemist?¡±
Though he spoke carefully, Yoojin¡¯s response came immediately.
¡°Then should we move to Necropolis or Ground Zero?¡±
The answer made Minho freeze.
His wavering eyes betrayed his hesitation.
He was mustering the courage to speak again when¡ª
¡°Ahhh¡ªow!¡±
¡°Hyung, we like it here!¡±
Kang Minyeong pinched her twin brother, silencing his nonsense before it could escte.
¡°Oh, partner.¡±
¡°What now, Mr. ¡®I love this lively atmosphere¡¯?¡±
¡°That Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession¡ªremember the ratio we usedst time?¡±
¡°Who do you think you¡¯re talking to? Of course, I remember.¡±
¡°Set up 10 kilograms of it. I¡¯ve got a use for it.¡±
¡°And what do I get in return?¡±
Ah, it seems he¡¯s gotten cheekier since Ist saw him.
Perfect timing. I¡¯d been considering teaching him a new form of alchemy anyway.
¡°How¡¯s the research on the Blood Goleming along?¡±
¡°I¡¯ve got a general grasp of the mechanics.¡±
¡°Good. That¡¯s enough.¡±
¡°Wait, does that mean¡ª?¡±
¡°Once this business is over, I¡¯ll teach you the golem crafting skill.¡±
The irritation that had clouded Joonseok¡¯s face vanished in an instant.
Like a child receiving a Christmas present, he lit up with pure joy.
It was a bit odd to see such a happy expression on a bearded man¡¯s face, though.
¡°Just wait a moment! I¡¯ll be back in no time!¡±
Joonseok practically floated as he walked back into the workshop, his steps unusually light.
¡®Guess I¡¯d better get started on my end of things.¡¯
¡²Hoho. So, you¡¯re finally nning to bring back that little human?¡³
¡®Hmm, there¡¯s no better ce than the Paju workshop to avoid prying eyes.¡¯
Yoojin muttered, surveying the surroundings.
Once certain no one was around, Yoojin retrieved a corpse stored within the Ring of Darkness.
This was the body of Song Myeongseok, officially reported to have been torn apart by monsters.
In reality, his body was almost intact, with only a single conspicuous wound: a gaping hole in his neck.
¡®A corpse with the potential of an 8 Star. How could I pass this up?¡¯
¡²What a shame. I thought he had the qualities of a hero.¡³
¡®You need to work on your judgment.¡¯
Yoojin quipped, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
The process began.
First, Yoojin stripped away the muscles, flesh, and skin from the corpse using Flesh Control.
Then, he used [Dead Rise], channeling his energy to reanimate the skeleton as a Skeleton Warrior.
To take things further, Yoojin infused the Skeleton Warrior with the soul of a specter he had previously subjugated in the gate.
Zzzt¡ª!
The merging of the soul with its former body triggered violent resistance, forcing Yoojin¡¯s power to recoil.
The opposition was far stronger than anything he had experienced when merging souls with the red spider members.
This was because Song Myeongseok¡¯s soul carried a significantly more powerful resonance than the two individuals Yoojin had revived earlier.
¡®Resist all you want.¡¯
The specter created by [Dark Calling] was already bound to Yoojin.
He exerted additional spirit power to crush Song Myeongseok¡¯s struggling soul.
- Aaaaargh!!!
A tortured scream echoed as the resistance weakened.
Soon, the merging process stabilized.
[The Skeleton Warrior and the soul have be one.]
[The Skeleton Warrior has regained awareness of his former name: Song Myeongseok.]
- Geh-gel?
The newly created Skeleton Warrior, formed from Song Myeongseok¡¯s body, began to move.
Its physical capabilities were slightly inferior to the perfected forms Yoojin had created in Necropolis.
¡²So, this one is weaker than that little human you revived earlier. Even you make mistakes, it seems.¡³
¡®I don¡¯t make mistakes.¡¯
Yoojin retorted confidently.
When he revived Choi Hyungtae, thetter had been a 5 Star at the time of his death.
Naturally, Song Myeongseok¡¯s current specs werecking byparison.
If Yoojin had chosen to elevate him to a mid-tier undead, Myeongseok would have surpassed Hyungtae in strength.
¡®What matters is engraving the potential for future growth into this body.¡¯
Yoojin mused, his eyes glinting.
One particr trait caught Yoojin¡¯s attention.
[Heavenly Bone]
This was a uniquely exceptional characteristic¡ªone recognized by the association as a top-tier innate trait.
If not for the merging process, this ability would have been lost entirely.
"Preparationplete!"
Shin Joonseok reappeared at the perfect moment, ensuring the flow of Yoojin¡¯s work remained uninterrupted.
Looking at the skeletal remains of Song Myeongseok, Yoojin¡¯s gaze turned predatory.
¡®The talent you were so proud of¡ªI¡¯ll make sure it doesn¡¯t go to waste.¡¯
He muttered, scanning the body with greedy eyes.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 76: A Tiger Leaves Its Skin Behind in Death, but Humans...(2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 76: A Tiger Leaves Its Skin Behind in Death, but Humans...(2)
¡°Are we recing bones again this time?¡±
¡°We''ll be doing that, and there¡¯s something else I¡¯ll use it for too.¡±
The first step of the procedure was the same as when Jo Seungchul was transformed into a Dark Minion.
A few of his bones were reced with pieces of [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession].
As Shin Joonseok engraved magic circuits onto the steel, he let out a low hum.
¡°Is this the right direction? It¡¯s different fromst time.¡±
¡°You remember.¡±
¡°Oddly enough, I remember everything you make me do.¡±
¡°You¡¯re going to steal all my expertise at this rate.¡±
¡°Is that okay?¡±
Yoojin chuckled at Shin Joonseok¡¯s joke and replied, his lips parting once more.
¡°We¡¯re synchronizing the flow of spirit power with the outside.¡±
¡°By ¡®outside,¡¯ you mean¡? Oh!¡±
Smart.
A mind so keen that exining one thing lets them grasp ten more.
Combine that with their overflowing passion for learning, and it¡¯s a pleasure to teach this alchemy¡ no, this partner.
¡°Outside?¡±
¡°You¡¯re not trying to hold onto thin air, are you?¡±
The youngest team members tilted their heads in confusion, unable to follow.
They¡¯ll understand once they see it.
After finishing the engraving of the magic concentration circuits, Shin Joonseok ced two cheap iron swords and a piece of armor¡ªpurchased from the Hunter Market¡ªin front of him.
¡°Can you replicate these?¡±
¡°That much is a piece of cake.¡±
[Alchemical Form]
[Analyze]
Yoojin used the basic alchemy skill he had also learned.
He analyzed the form and structure of the two swords and the armor using magic.
[Alchemical Form]
[Metal Maniption ¨C Form Transformation]
Shin Joonseok then infused mana into the [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession], making it malleable.
Recalling the structures of the weapons and armor vividly in his mind, he shaped the material into identical forms.
This technique, which allows maniption of metal based on the user''s mental image, is highlyplex. Still, he managed to replicate the swords and armor wlessly without a single deviation.
"Replicating items like this is truly a unique and fascinating experience."
¡°Impressive. The craftsmanship is so perfect I¡¯d question if it¡¯s really your first try.¡±
Yoojin grasped one of the replicated swords, letting out an exmation of admiration.
¡°What? You can copy items now?¡±
¡°I should¡¯ve trained to be an alchemist instead.¡±
As Kang Minyeong and Lee Seongmin muttered enviously, Shin Joonseok gave them a disdainful nce.
¡°You do realize, though, these weapons are practically useless in actualbat, right?¡±
Even if you understand and replicate the structure using magic, it doesn¡¯t mean the copies will perform the same.
For starters, the materials themselves are different.
The processes of tempering or casting, typically involved in refining iron, had been skipped entirely.
Moreover, essential procedures for Hunter weapons, such as embedding magic circuits, had not been carried out.
¡°If you swing it around carelessly, it¡¯ll snap in half instantly.¡±
¡°Nothinges easy, does it?¡±
¡°Hyung, don¡¯t act like that thought never crossed your mind.¡±
¡°Hmm, I fail to see your point.¡±
¡°Sunbae-nim, you¡¯re not nning to bow out of this alone, are you?¡±
Kang Minho found himself pulled down to their level by the two others.
Yoojin chuckled softly, then proceeded to equip Song Myeongseok with the replicated swords and armor that Shin Joonseok had created.
[Alchemical Form]
[Enhancement Circuit Activation]
The armor and swords forged from [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] were connected to the reced bones through circuits.
Upon engraving the enhancement circuit, Yoojin immediately infused spirit power into it.
Swishhhhh!
With a surge like a tidal wave, spirit power began circting throughout Song Myeongseok¡¯s bones, using the magic convergence array as its central node.
The reaction mirrored what had urred when Jo Seungchul was promoted to a Dark Minion.
¡®It can¡¯t end here.¡¯
Yoojin adjusted the direction of the spirit power slightly upward.
The enhancement circuits connected to the shoulder armor naturally guided the energy.
The flow continued to circte through the armor crafted from [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession], moving from one shoulder to the other, and then back into the bones.
The dual swords in his hands followed the same process.
The spirit power recognized the swords and armor as extensions of Song Myeongseok¡¯s body.
¡²So that¡¯s why you didn¡¯t just use pre-made equipment¡ªthis was the purpose.¡³
¡®If I¡¯m not going to arm him with unique-grade artifacts, this is the next best option.¡¯
[Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] is particrlypatible with undead.
The key to the procedure was ensuring that Song Myeongseok¡¯s soul perceived the metal-crafted weapons and armor as part of his own body.
Once that step wasplete...
ng¡ªng!
The shoulder armor, connected by the enhancement circuit, began reshaping itself to fit Song Myeongseok¡¯s physique.
The swords he was holding¡ªmore urately, the metallic fragments shaped like swords¡ªpartially merged with his hands, transforming into gauntlets akin to those of a knight.
Whoooosh!
A zing blue ghostly me erupted where his eyes should have been.
[Skeleton Warrior (Song Myeongseok) has exceeded his limits.]
[He has been promoted to Skeleton Knight.]
This marked his evolution from a low-tier undead into a mid-tier undead with self-awareness.
¡°Do you recognize me?¡± n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
[Cheon Yoojin.]
¡°Yes, it¡¯s good to see you, Supernova of Arhan.¡±
[Yes, my lord.]
His response was slightly dyed.
Unlike Jo Seungchul, who had been undead for a while, Song Myeongseok retained some resentment towards Yoojin, having been resurrected so soon after his death.
¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve got plenty of time for you to adjust.¡±
Yoojin wasn¡¯t concerned about lingering grudges from when Song Myeongseok was alive.
The bond connecting their souls overrode such emotions.
No matter how strong his will or fury, it was no match for Yoojin, who had reached the pinnacle of 9 Stars.
[Kraaaaaah!]
The Skeleton Knight (Song Myeongseok) let out a piercing scream, vivid enough to resemble a living human¡¯s cry of anguish.
Instead of handling the physical bones, Yoojin directly stimted the tether of their connected souls.
¡°What¡¯s wrong? Feeling unsteady, are you?¡±
[Hrrrk, hrrrhhh.]
¡®Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not going to erase your sense of self or anything like that.¡®
What good would it do to strip the free will of someone with the talents of an 8 Star?
He¡¯d just end up as another generic Skeleton Knight.
¡°However, we should establish a proper chain ofmand.¡±
Yoojin smirked, curling one side of his lips into a sinister grin.
£ª £ª £ª
¡¾I pledge my loyalty.¡¿
A solemn vow, resonating deep within the soul.
Though there had been minor disagreements, Song Myeongseok quickly relented and set aside his stubbornness.
He knelt on one knee, holding the de with its edge pointed toward himself¡ªa ssic gesture of fealty one might associate with a knight¡¯s oath.
It was a dignified sight.
¡°Very well. I ept.¡±
Yoojin replied, though his response was far from formal, bordering on flippant.
¡²Contractor, what will you do if he changes his mindter?¡³
¡®That vow is etched into his soul. Having already submitted, it won¡¯t be easy for him to go back on it.¡¯
Yoojin¡¯s dominion over the undead was absolute.
As long as he remained conscious and his control remained intact, Song Myeongseok would be incapable of breaking the oath he had just sworn.
[Skeleton Knight (Song Myeongseok)]
- Race: Undead
- Rank: ¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï
¡ò Stats
Strength: 651 / Agility: 560 (-100) / Stamina: 473 (+200) / Endurance: 444 (+250) / Spirit Power: 375 (+100)
¡ò Traits
? Heavenly Bone [Unique] / Dual Wielding Virtuoso [A] / Transcender of Boundaries [B] / Undying Entity [C+] / Commander of the Undead [C+] / Weapon Master [C+]
¡ò Skills
? Lightning Step [A] / Spectral de [A] / Dual des [B] / Dark Aura Maniption [B]
A dazzling array of traits and skills.
Heavenly Bone was famous in its own right, but having an A-rank trait like Dual Wielding Virtuoso was unexpected.
¡²Dual Wielding Virtuoso?¡³
¡®It¡¯s a trait that allows the left and right hands to act independently, enablingpletely different techniques to be executed simultaneously.¡¯
With Dual Wielding Virtuoso paired with Weapon Master, it made sense for Song Myeongseok to specialize in dual swords.
His skills were equally extraordinary.
Both Spectral de and Lightning Step were techniques that had earned him infamy before Yoojin¡¯s regression.
It was clear he hadn¡¯t obtained them on his own¡ªthey were undoubtedly investments from Arhan.
¡®The low proficiency is likely because both skills depend on aura maniption for their true potential.¡¯
Even Dual des alone was an incredibly potent skill.
The brilliance of his abilities stood in stark contrast to Yoojin¡¯s current team.
¡®My kids are scraping by with D or E-rank skills at best.¡¯
Arhan had spared no expense on this promising recruit, only for him to die prematurely.
Looking at the skill setup, it was easy to imagine how devastated Arhan must have been by Song Myeongseok¡¯s death.
¡²They must view you, the contractor, as their mortal enemy.¡³
¡®They brought it on themselves.¡¯
Yoojin thought, remaining unbothered.
While his shes with Arhan were happening much sooner than they had in his previous timeline, he had gained far more in return.
He had eliminated a future executive of the Nine Dragons Hall.
And he had revived the corpse into a loyal subordinate.
If the enhancements continued as nned, Song Myeongseok could potentially surpass a Doom Knight and be a Hell Knight, much like Park Haneul (the previous Fafnir) had in the prior timeline.
¡®They really are the gift that keeps on giving.¡¯
With so much gained, Yoojin resolved to repay the favor¡ªby granting them a swift and merciful death when the time came.
Buzzzzzz¡ª Buzzzzzzz¡ª
[Iing Call ¨C Chairman of Seongcheon Corporation]
Chairman Jin Seonghyun
About a month ago, Chairman Jin Seonghyun, a businessman, approached Yoojin with a request to save his daughter, who was suffering from Muscle Contraction Sclerosis.
Following the treatment, he showed consistent goodwill towards Yoojiin, even providing information about how the Arhan Guild had begun observing him closely.
¡°Cheon Yoojin speaking.¡±
- Ah, Mr. Priest! First, congrattions on conquering the double dungeon. I hope you didn¡¯t get hurt?
¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine. Thank you for your concern.¡±
- Haha, I¡¯d love to meet in person and hear your tales of valor, but¡ I must speak to you urgently.
¡°It¡¯s rted to the Arhan Guild, isn¡¯t it?¡±
- You¡¯ve already guessed? They¡¯re attempting to approach your teammates¡¯ rtives.
Tsk.
¡®How predictable. Their methods never change.¡¯
Before regression, Yoojin endured countless experiences with this exact tactic from the Arhan Guild.
If someone resisted joining their guild, they¡¯d start targeting the person¡¯s family and associates, throwing money around to apply indirect pressure.
This strategy was effective enough to bring hunters unwillingly to the negotiation table.
¡°That¡¯s manageable for now. Let me know when they escte to the next phase.¡±
- The next phase?
¡°When the Nachal Guild gets involved.¡±
- You know about them as well?
¡°I have a knack for picking up stray bits of knowledge.¡±
The Nachal Guild.
Although it¡¯s called a ¡°guild,¡± it¡¯s infamous in South Korea as a criminal organization.
Based in Busan, they¡¯re a ruthless group that will do anything for profit.
¡®In truth, the Nachal Guild is a pet project nurtured by Arhan¡¯s vice chairman.¡¯
In this era, very few people know of the connection between Arhan and Nachal. Even Chairman Jin only confirmed this ssified information through a discreet informant.
- I see. That individual does hold you in high regard, so it makes sense that you¡¯d know.
Yoojin didn¡¯t bother to correct Chairman Jin¡¯s misunderstanding.
There was no reason to exin that the source of his knowledge was his future self.
¡°When that timees, please notify me.¡±
- It¡¯s a privilege to assist you, Mr. Priest. I feel honored.
¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll count on you.¡±
Click.
¡²Aren¡¯t you worried that the families of those small humans might be harmed?¡³
¡®There¡¯s no immediate danger.¡¯
As long as the Nachal Guild remains uninvolved, the situation won¡¯t escte to life-threatening levels.
Though their rtives might suffer emotional distress from being pressured or bribed by Arhan, it¡¯s not a matter of life and death.
¡®I was already nning to pay them a visit, so this works out.¡¯
In this life as well, his rtionship with the Arhan Guild had be irreparable.
They must think the difference in power is insurmountable.
But¡
There¡¯s no need to confront someone head-on when you¡¯re in a different weight ss.
¡®I¡¯ll chip away at them, step by step.¡¯
Armed with knowledge and power from the future, they won¡¯t even realize who¡¯s slowly dismantling them.
Yoojin chuckled.
£ª £ª £ª
With a deafening sound¡ª!
A whirlwind of mana tore through the room, shattering the ss windows into fragments.
An overwhelming bloodlust permeated the manifested mana.
Caught in the storm of blue currents, chairs, desks, and everything else were ripped apart.
Crack¡ª
Even the namete that read [Arhan Guild Vice President ¨C Baek Seonghyeon] was splintered into dozens of pieces.
The man who had unleashed the storm stood amidst the chaos, his eyes cold and devoid of emotion.
¡®Cheon Yoojin. That man ruined everything.¡¯
The double dungeon project built with the power of the Romanov n was wless in design.
No anomalies were expected.
Although Jang Miseon had recently surpassed Song Myeongseok in sparring, their abilities were nearly indistinguishable.
With the monsters from the double dungeon joining the fray, the oue should have been inevitable.
¡®The guild invested so much into Song Myeongseok.¡¯
The A-rank skills Spectral de and Lightning Step were provided to him.
All the investments made in his potential had crumbled like a house of cards.
The official report?
Baek Seonghyeon dismissed the neatly fabricated report as nothing more than empty lies.
¡®Ridiculous. Since when has Song Myeongseok ever been a paragon of righteousness?¡¯
Song Myeongseok¡¯s image was partly his creation but also a product of the guild''s PR efforts.
The ambition lurking behind his ever-smiling eyes had been evident to Baek Seonghyeon for a long time.
¡®Now that things havee to this, I¡¯ll need to target those around him. And if that doesn¡¯t work, move on to the next step.¡¯
Cheon Yoojin was more than a super rookie¡ªhe had even surpassed Song Myeongseok.
If someone with the makings of a Martial King continued to grow, he would be a grave threat to Arhan Guild¡¯s future.
Knock. Knock. Knock¡ª
¡°Vice President. A representative from the Romanov n is here to see you.¡±
¡°Let them in.¡±
The secretary opened the door but gasped, quickly covering her mouth.
The state of the room was appalling.
Everything¡ªthe chairs, desks, nts, even the PC¡ªhad been swept away by the blue currents and reduced to debris.
A middle-aged man with blond hair, blue eyes, and fair skin marked by a crow tattoo walked in, wearing a faint smile.
¡°You seem to be quite upset.¡±
¡°My self-discipline iscking. I apologize for this unsightly disy.¡±
¡°Think nothing of it. Venting emotions is part of the journey toward higher nes, isn¡¯t it?¡±
The Romanov n¡¯s envoy¡ªthe one responsible for creating the double dungeon in Daegu at Arhan Guild¡¯s request¡ªsnapped his fingers.
[Wind Curtain]
A 3 Star spell designed to block projectiles using a barrier of wind.
The envoy cast it with a mere snap, bypassing any incantations or mana rearrangement.
Baek Seonghyeon nced at the wind barrier now encasing the room and suppressed a groan.
¡®This isn¡¯t just simple chantless magic.¡¯
The spell¡¯s structure had been manipted to enclose the room, preventing sound from escaping.
¡®The Romanov n, descendants of the Mage King Dmitri, truly operate on a different level.¡¯
Baek couldn¡¯t help but shudder at the boundless power they wielded.
¡°I¡¯ve blocked the sound from leaving this space.¡±
¡°Thank you.¡±
¡°So, does this mean you failed to retrieve the key from the double dungeon?¡±
¡°The Phoenix destroyed it.¡±
¡°What a shame.¡±
The envoy let out a sigh.
The red crystal core extracted from the double dungeon was a treasure even the Romanov n held in high regard¡ªsomething that should have been secured at all costs.
¡°I understand.¡±
¡°Are you leaving immediately?¡±
¡°Yes. I need to report this matter to the head.¡±
Baek Seonghyeon¡¯s brow twitched.
The Arhan Guild had been discreetly fostering ties with the Romanov n.
The destruction of the red crystal would undoubtedly tarnish the guild¡¯s reputation in future dealings with them.
¡°I wish you peace until we meet again.¡±
The envoy spun on his heel and left without hesitation.
Even so, Baek Seonghyeon couldn¡¯t stop him.
There was no way to rece the destroyed red crystal.
¡®Cheon Yoojin¡!!¡¯
In the end, Baek Seonghyeon had no choice but to simmer in his frustration, repeating the name of the man who had caused all this turmoil.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 77
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 77: Sacred Relic
¡°Haaap!¡±
Kang Minho braced his shield against his shoulder, putting all his strength into it.
A shockwave erupted with a blue sh, pressing against Song Myeongseok''s entire body.
¡¾Slow.¡¿
A sword made from Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession.
It was merely shaped like a sword, but in his hand, it exuded the chilling aura of a masterfully crafted de.
[Spectral Sword]
[Fifth Form ¨C Bloodlight Sword]
Even without channeling yin energy, the aura was sharp enough to prickle the skin.
Song Myeongseok, resurrected as a Skeleton Knight, sliced through the center of the shockwave, dividing its force.
He advanced through the gap created.
¡°Who said I''d just stand still?!¡±
An arrow plummeted towards the crown of his head.
With [Synchronization] and [Telekinesis], the strings of the crossbows floating in the air were drawn simultaneously.
They fired at angles impossible for normal archers, aiming to restrict Song Myeongseok''s movements.
¡¾This is why they are mediocre. What do they hope to achieve with such trivial attacks?¡¿
ng¡ª!
Song Myeongseok effortlessly deflected all three arrows with a single strike, speaking in an annoyed tone.
Kang Minyeong let out a chuckle.
¡°Thanks for caring about the trivial stuff.¡±
[Space ¨C Liberation]
[ze x 3]
The moment the blue aura followed the trajectory of the arrows, a series of mes erupted from the subspace created at close range.
¡°Eat this!¡±
A 2 Star fire spell.
Lee Seongmin had purchased this new spell from the Hunter Market and stored it in subspace beforehand, releasing it the moment Song Myeongseok revealed an opening.
An attack that risked getting close to designating the release location.
¡¾That''s why I said it. The thoughts of the mediocre are predictable.¡¿
[Dual Guard]
[Spectral Sword ¨C Fourth Form Emerald Sword]
[Dual de]
His left hand moved with the speed of light.
Without even needing to look down, he cut down the mes rushing towards his side.
Even though he didn''t imbue the sword with yin energy.
He cut down the magic with minimal movement, reading the intricacies and power contained in the sword strike, as well as the flow of the mes.
Thud¡ª!
As Song Myeongseok closed the distance by kicking off the ground, Kang Minho once again raised his shield, trying to keep it close to his shoulder.
A mocking smile flickered in Song Myeongseok''s blue aura.
¡¾You''re slow.¡¿
The de dug in just before Kang Minho could put his strength into it.
Without much resistance, it pushed the shield down and then, with more force, drove the sword up to his throat.
It was the moment that separated victor from vanquished.
¡¾I''ve seen your level. I understand now.¡¿
¡°....¡±
¡¾It''s so pathetic, it makes me want to die.¡¿
Despite submitting to Yoojin, Song Myeongseok''s arrogant nature remained unchanged.
Rather, being revived as an undead had allowed him to cast off the mask he had worn and reveal his true nature without reservation.
But hey.
Didn''t Fafnir say that "it''s so pathetic, it makes me want to die" first?
¡°How much of your power did you use?¡±
¡¾40%, Master.¡¿
¡°Bullshit. You didn''t use just 40%.¡±
¡¾H-How did you know?!¡¿
¡°Do I look that gullible to you?¡±
At Yoojin''s grumbling, the blue aura flickered from side to side like a swaying wind.
¡¾That''s not true, Master!¡¿
¡°Can I really trust what you just said?¡±
¡¾My apologies, I seem to have miscalcted. I used 60% of my power.¡¿
¡°A 4 Star like you, using more than half your power against three 2 Stars, and then acting all high and mighty?¡±
¡¾....¡¿
¡°Use only 30% in the next spar.¡±
¡¾If I do that, I might have to taste the bitter cup of defeat!¡¿
¡°Oh. If you don''t like it, you can be disciplined.¡±
He positioned his thumb and middle finger together, putting strength into his fingers as if to snap them.
¡¾I havemitted a grave sin!¡¿
Spreading his thoughts with a sense of urgency, he knelt on one knee.
A gesture of submission typical of Skeleton Knights.
¡°But why do you talk like that?¡±
¡¾It seems to be the influence of the martial arts dramas I enjoyed in my childhood.¡¿
¡°An unconscious habit, huh?¡±
He used honorifics so well when he was alive, I never knew there would be such a gap after death.
This is the true Song Myeongseok... though he seems to have a bit of a chuunibyou vibe.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
''As long as he''s capable, that''s all that matters.''
Yoojin thought positively.
¡°Keep it at 30%. If you use more than 30% like you did just now, I won''t let you off easy.¡±
¡¾I''ll keep that in mind.¡¿
While Song Myeongseok and the Little Runts team were sparring,
Yoojin reached into his pocket.
He felt a small crystal.
Holding the spiraling red crystal, he let out a short sigh with a troubled expression.
¡²Isn''t that the core of the Double Dungeon?¡³
¡®To be precise, it''s a catalyst containing the extracted Gate core.¡¯
¡²I thought it was destroyed, yet you managed to escape the Gate with it intact.¡³
¡®I couldn''t destroy something this precious.¡¯
¡²Come to think of it, I feel something familiar from the crystal.¡³
¡®That''s because it''s made with divine power.¡¯
At Yoojin''s nonchnt reply, Kronos was startled.
¡²Did you just say divine power?¡³
¡®Yeah. I used rune letters to bind divine power and create this.¡¯
The constetion who first established the concept of magic.
If you look closely inside the red crystal, you can see Odin''s runes.
The ability to steal the core of a Gate and even control monsters.
A power closer to a miracle than magic.
¡®The Romanov n called this a Keystone.¡¯
¡²Keystone?¡³
¡®I heard they named it that because it means "extracting the foundation of the Gate".¡¯
¡²It makes sense in its own way, as it has the function of extracting the core and gaining control of the Gate.¡³
¡®Well, the origin of the name doesn''t matter to me.¡¯
Yoojin frowned.
Just thinking about the Romanov n made his anger surge.
¡²Then what are you contemting?¡³
¡®Where can I use the Keystone to make a name for myself?¡¯
¡²If you don''t have any particr ns, how about giving it to me?¡³
¡®What would you use it for?¡¯
¡²Now that my dwelling has been built, all that remains is to create a symbol.¡³
The symbol of a constetion.
Kronos was referring to the creation of a sacred relic.
Yoojin blinked.
¡®But it''s a different system from yours.¡¯
¡²Hahahaha. Do you take me for a fool? I have a n.¡³
If he''s this confident, there must be a reason.
Still dubious, Yoojin reluctantly nodded.
¡®What do I need to do?¡¯
¡²Let''s see. Considering the domain I preside over, it would be good to use bones as the main material.¡³
¡®How about this?¡¯
The first rare item he obtained after returning.
When he took out the Staff of Resentment, Kronosughed heartily.
¡²This staff possesses remarkable power, particrly the potent essence residing within it.¡³
An energy permeated the Keystone and the Staff of Resentment.
It was a wave simr to the ¡²Aura¡³ that had surrounded Dmitri''s entire body.
¡®What''s the next step?¡¯
¡²Try to imagine a form befitting a divine name.¡³
¡®An image that suits the Heaven-Defying Giant.¡¯
Wait a minute.
For someone who''s supposedly making a sacred relic, you haven''t even thought about its appearance?
¡®It has to suit your taste. What''s the point of me worrying about it?¡¯
¡²Hahahaha. Nothinges to mind for me either.¡³
¡®Don''t say it so proudly. Worry about it with me.¡¯
¡²I''ve set the table; it''s the contractor''s job to eat.¡³
¡®That''s just shifting responsibility!¡¯
Pressing his temples with his right hand, he thought about the task Kronos had given him.
The timing was unexpected, but that was all.
Creating a sacred relic was a tremendous opportunity in itself.
¡®Building a temple and crafting a sacred relic. Kronos said thatpleting these two would establish him as a full-fledged constetion.¡¯
If that happened, receiving the constetion''s blessing would also be just around the corner.
The power he had longed for since his previous life.
It was a fang that could reach the Seven Great ns, including the Romanovs, and he could obtain the final piece he had been missing.
¡®And I can''t ignore the power of the sacred relic itself.¡¯
He didn''t expect it to cause miracles like Kronos''s pocket watch.
The strength of a sacred relic was rted to the constetion''s achievements.
Although it was ranked higher than [Unique] in the ssification table, not all sacred relics were as powerful as transcendent or unique artifacts.
It would be the same even if he created Kronos''s sacred relic this time.
¡®Now, the problem is the form of the sacred relic.¡¯
Back to the main issue.
A symbol that represents the Heaven-Defying Giant.
At the same time, a practical artifact that would be helpful to him.
Something that satisfies both conditions...
¡²Remember, it must be a symbol that satisfies both my nature and the domain I govern.¡³
¡®Just do it roughly. How long are you going to worry about this?¡¯
¡²Contractor! What are you thinking?!¡³
¡®Just assist me. I don''t intend to waste time.¡¯
An idea shed through his mind.
In his right hand, he held the Keystone.
In his left hand, he held the [Staff of Resentment].
Just as the horrified Kronos tried to stop Yoojin''s audacious actions, he swiftly envisioned the form of the sacred relic and forcefully shed the two objects together.
£ª £ª £ª
The Staff of Resentment collided with the Keystone.
Although a loud crash should have erupted, there was no sound, only a rippling sensation.
The red crystal sank into the bone staff without resistance.
[The material is transforming into the form envisioned by the user.]
The skull attached to the end of the Staff of Resentment became malleable, stretching out.
The elongated bone curved into an arc, forming a sharp de.
The Keystone took its ce where the skull had been.
[The Heaven-Defying Giant is interfering with the Keystone.]
[The divine power dwelling within the Keystone is rted to the giant''s bloodline. The Heaven-Defying Giant can also interfere with the divine power.]
¡®Ah, Odin was also a descendant of giants, wasn''t he?¡¯
A constetion who was a descendant of the primordial giant Ymir, yet massacred the previous giants and founded Asgard.
Did he utilize the concept of giants flowing in his blood?
Kronos was the king of the Titans, who became synonymous with "giants" today.
Even if his magical talent was inferior to Odin''s, he surpassed him in terms of their giant origins.
¡®No wonder he was so confident about the Keystone.¡¯
¡²Hahahahaha! Now you finally realize my greatness... No, wait, what exactly did you create?¡³
¡®When you think of death, it''s gotta be a scythe, right?¡¯
Whates to mind when you think of the typical grim reaper image in the West?
A ck robe and a skull.
And a scythe.
¡®A tool for harvesting wheat or barley. Therefore, it signifies reaping human lives as well.¡¯
The domain Kronos governs is defying death.
It goes against the natural order, but at the same time, it''s ater concept formed from the umted wishes and grudges of those who are dying, yearning to "live."
Then.
While defying death, it should also be seen as two sides of the same coin, inseparable from death.
¡®This is the enlightenment I gained when I reached 9 Stars.¡¯
Necromancers did not create the power to defy death.
They merely advocated a systematic way to handle the power of souls, the spirit power, that already existed in the world.
¡²So you''re going to use the symbol thates to mind when you think of death as my sacred relic?¡³
¡®How is it? Isn''t it impressive?¡¯
¡²Hahahahaha! Magnificent! Truly, you possess insight worthy of being my contractor!!¡³
Kronos burst intoughter.
Seeming pleased with Yoojin''s solution, heughed for a long while.
¡²But you know what?¡³
¡®Just give me the topic, and I''ll decide whether I know or not.¡¯
¡²Originally, I had one more sacred relic.¡³
A scythe made of adamantium. Scyte.
Kronos had reaped countless lives with that scythe, and on the other hand, he also helped mortals with their harvests.
¡²It''s no match for Scyte, but it suits my origins, so isn''t it quite splendid?¡³
¡®I''m d you''re satisfied. Let''s see how well it''s made by checking its performance.¡¯
Yoojin held the bone scythe in his hand and checked its stats.
[Scythe of the Reaper ¨C ¡ö¡ö¡ö]
Rank: Sacred Relic
ssification: Weapon
Durability: 444/444
This is the sacred relic of the constetion Heaven-Defying Giant.
It was created based on the divine power of another constetion, and it is in an iplete state due to ack of umted achievements or legends.
The power of the sacred relic will beplete when it is given its true name.
*Undeadmand ability + 30%. This effect is applied just by possessing the sacred relic.
*Ability tomand undead + 20%. This effect is applied just by possessing the sacred relic.
*Effect and duration of divine spells bestowed by ¡²Heaven-Defying Giant¡³ increased by 20%.
¡°Insane.¡±
A word of high praise slipped from his lips.
A permanent buff that applies even without directly holding and using the sacred relic?!
Even if its specs were lower than the staff with the Fragment of the Void, it wasn''t a big problem.
¡®How much better will it be when the sacred relic exhibits its true performance?¡¯
Khehehe.
Yoojinughed out loud.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 78: To Busan
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 78: To Busan
"A sacred relic with a proper framework at an earlier time than expected. As expected of the Arhan Guild. When ites to giving, they don''t hold back and give it all, do they?"
''This CEO... I don''t know if there''s any profit left with this kind of business.''
Burp¡ª
"Thanks to you, I ate well."
¡²Contractor. What are your next ns?¡³
''There''s no immediate opportunity to seize, and I was thinking of gathering forces at Ground Zero...''
¡²You were thinking?¡³
''Now that our forces have been strengthened, wouldn''t it be okay to expand our radius of action?''
The original n was to take a breather.
The situation where the territory has expanded too much in a short period.
Because of that, it was difficult to move more boldly due to the decrease in power, such as putting Fafnir on defense.
''Ground Zero, the border area, and even Yeonpyeong Ind.''
The n to eat only a part of the Red Spider''s business failed due to the riot of small-scale organizations.
With the help of the shadow broker and Madame, I ate most of the spider''s territory.
The border area is rtively less important, but it must be maintained as a buffer zone to block the remnants of the former North Korean military that exist in addition to the Awakened.
If a variable like One-Eyed appears, I''ll have to give it up without regret.
''The most important ce at the moment is Yeonpyeong Ind.''
A strategic point that controls the flow of the Gyeonggi coast.
If it goes ording to the history before the regression, wouldn''t it be long before the human hunters seed in crossing the sea and take over Yeonpyeong Ind?
Although the owner of the ind has changed due to Yoojin''s intervention, there''s no way those guys will give up their greed with that level of variability.
''If I take Fafnir out, the defense of Yeonpyeong Ind won''t hold.''
There are many reasons to protect Yeonpyeong Ind besides its geographical advantage.
There is a temple dedicated to Kronos.
Thanks to the relics that appear frequently, it is a supply source that periodically supplies rare by-products such as the scales and tendons of Lesser Drakes.
The reason for deploying Fafnir to Yeonpyeong Ind despite the power consumption.
''But what a surprise this is?''
I gained so much from the double dungeon strategy.
The quality and scale of the undead army have all increased due to the sacred relics.
¡¾There''s no way I''d lose to mere mortals...!¡¿
Although he''s not reliable when he speaks, one powerful force named Song Myeongseok has been added.
He''s two steps below Fafnir wearing dragon scale armor.
If he wasn''t wearing it, would he be about one step below?
If all the buffs are applied, he has the power of the beginning of 5 stars, so he can handle most opponents sufficiently.
¡²Isn''t the skeleton named Jo Seungchul also the same 4 Star?¡³
''The unique characteristics and skill sets are different.''
Jo Seungchul had 4 Star stats, butcked the spells to utilize those stats.
The maximum firepower is the 3 Star spell Fireball.
He needs to learn 4 Star spells to be able to exert firepower befitting his rank.
''Martial artists are less restricted by rank when learning skills.''
"Even Song Myeongseok, who was a 3 Star in his lifetime, learned the A-rank skill ''Spectral Sword,'' didn''t he?"
His mana control was poor, and his physical abilities werecking, so he couldn''t utilize it in actualbat.
Comparing the Spectral Sword and the rank of magic, it had to be at least 6 Star.
¡²To bring out its power, you need to acquire various spells.¡³
''The important thing is money.''
The minimum unit for a 4 Star magic skill book is 1 billion won.
Why is it so expensive when there aren''t many hunters who have crossed the wall?
It''s because supply is less than demand.
''Martial arts hunters can make up for it by infusing mana even if they don''t have high-level skills.''
On the other hand, the special advantage of the magic system is [Multi-Computation].
If you can deploy two or more spells at the same time, it is advantageous for creating variables.
Unlike martial arts, it was difficult to expect a dramatic increase in firepower just by crossing the wall.
¡²The addition of that skeleton means that the vacancy of the warrior has been filled.¡³
''That''s right. So now, it''s okay to proceed with one more task.''
¡²Has an opportunity that needs to be preemptede to mind?¡³
''It''s not an opportunity, but I''m going to save someone.''
¡²Hahahaha. It doesn''t suit you. The contractor saving someone.¡³
¡®Excuse me.¡¯
Who was the one who saved Jang Miseon, who was standing in front of the grave, wondering whether to go in or not?
The person Yoojin was trying to meet was in a simr situation.
¡²Oh. If left to the original flow, it means that fate is to struggle in the swamp of misfortune.¡³
''You''ll get a sense of it when you hear that guy''s nickname.''
¡²Nickname?¡³
''Executioner.''
This title was theplete opposite ofbels like ''Sword Saint'' or ''Arhan''s Supernova''.
Yoojin took out his cell phone.
"Madame. Can you find someone for me?"
£ª £ª £ª
He didn''t waste any time while waiting for the results of the request.
"Are you getting a feel for it?"
"I think I''m getting there, but I''ll try a little more."
Shin Joonseok is struggling with a cheap magic engine.
It''s an item procured for the transfer of the [Golem Alchemy] skill.
If it were possible to acquire it immediately just by tearing apart a Blood Golem, schrs all over the world wouldn''t be sweating trying to create golems.
Shin Joonseok is an exceptional genius.
Although Yoojin, who will teach him the alchemy skill, is also by his side, he needs to perfectly understand the structure of the golem to acquire [Golem Alchemy].
''It will take a few more days...''
sh!
A bright light gushed out from the cheap magic engine.
The rock, which was set up in advance, shakes, wraps around the magic engine, and arms and legs are attached.
A rock doll that walks on two legs like a human.
A blue light leaked from the rock in the head area.
¡¸Comm... and.¡¹
"I-I seeded!!!"
Ah. Tsk.
¡®Damn it. This isn''t right. How...? Even I, who inherited the knowledge of past necromancers through the Ring of Darkness, took ten days to create a functioning golem!''
¡ªHe thought.
¡®Is this what it''s like to have a truly talented disciple? First Fafnir, and now this... It''s almost infuriating.¡¯
He turned his head away, a mix of pride and annoyance churning within him.
Feeling a bit spiteful, he turned his head, pretending not to hear.
¡®The growth of a business partner is a pleasant thing, but sometimes I wish they would act withinmon sense.¡¯
¡²Haven''t you considered that those who see you feel the same way?¡³
¡®As a regressor, I''ve had unique advantages, so it''s not surprising.¡¯
¡²Hahahaha. A small human who has reached the 9th rank pretending to be humble. Just do what you normally do.¡³
''Oh, don''t talk so easily about the results of someone else''s hard work.''
Although he snapped at Kronos, Yoojin also had an outstanding talent in necromancy, to the point where he couldn''t find an opponent.
With the Ring of Darkness, he even obtained the knowledge of previous necromancers, so it was truly like adding wings to a tiger.
Excluding the heads of the Seven Great ns, only Yoojin has reached the realm of transcendence.
Buzz¡ª
He nced at the vibrating cell phone and answered it.
"Hello?"
-I found him. Mr. Im Jaebaek.
"That was fast. I only gave you his name and approximate age."
-Hoho. The name you gave me is notmon. I identified him quickly.
???
*Im Jaebaek
*Age: 35 years old
*upation: Hunter (Undergoing penalbor)
*Residential Area: Busan
*Family: Father / Mother / Younger brother
???
Detailed personal information was recorded.
His resident registration number was basic, and all sorts of information were listed, such as assets held and recent whereabouts.
Yoojin¡¯s eyes scanned down the document, then abruptly stopped.
A sharp glint appeared in them as he focused on a particr line.
"He''s undergoing penalbor in Busan?"
-Yes. It''s an organization called the Seagull Group that focuses on smuggling in the Korea Strait.
"I guess they got something on him."
-It''s because of his younger brother''s debt. I couldn''t figure out the details.
¡®This is definitely him. I heard that he did illegal things because of his younger brother.¡¯
One problem is that his current location was far from Yoojin''s base.
"Can you arrange for one of the debtors to be ''acquired'' by the Seagull Group?"
Madame paused, a hint of amusement in her voice.
-My, that''s a rather... specific request. If you''re looking to discreetly dispose of someone, wouldn''t it be more efficient to contact Mr. ck? He specializes in that sort of thing.
She''s quick-witted.
At the sound of Yoojin clicking his tongue, Madameughed¡ª
-Hoho. I''ll make a spot for you. Just give me one day.
"Thank you."
-You''re wee. Old man Jeong said he''ll treat you to a cocktail instead of milk next time, so please stop by.
Madame sized Yoojin up for a moment, then simply epted his request without prying further.
YoojinI liked the way she handles things cleanly.
''It''ll take a few days. One day to disguise myself as a debtor and go over to the Seagull Group. It will take two to three days to grasp the situation and figure out Im Jaebaek''s range of activities. It''s a schedule that takes at least 4 days, even with minimal calctions.¡¯
Yoojin called the Little Runts team members who were in training and Shin Joonseok and told them that he would be away for about a week.
"Our team will move to the border area."
"Will it be alright?"
"It''s quite safe to hunt in the fog. If it gets urgent, we can lure them towards the undead."
Kang Minho said nonchntly with a carefreeugh.
¡®These guys. When I first saw them in the Ancient Garden, they were frozen by the appearance of the zombies. It hasn''t even been 3 months, and they''re saying they''ll use the undead as a shield. Are they mentally strong or have they be dull? Considering the formidable reputation of the Mirror Hunter before the regression, it must be the former.¡¯
Yoojin''s gaze turned to the side.
"You go with them."
"Partner, where are you talking about?"
"Why are you pretending you don''t know after just hearing it?"
"Why would a researcher go to such a dangerous ce!"n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
"Hunting monsters is perfect for leveling up."
sses like cksmiths and alchemists gain experience points ording to their research or crafting achievements.
That''s why their rank goes up even if they don''t enter the gate.
Instead, the problem is that it''s difficult to learnbat-rted skills, and even if they learn them, they don''t reach their full potential.
"They say you should seek out hardship when you''re young."
"Seeking out hardship is not my style. And don''t say such things when you''re younger than me."
"Hmm. I thought it would be a good opportunity to test the golem alchemy, but it''s a shame. You guys go on your own."
Yoojin finished his words in a disinterested manner.
Thest words he threw stimted Shin Joonseok''s ears.
"Come to think of it, there was the golem."
"No. Pretend you didn''t hear. Although there''s no better teaching material than actualbat, with your ability, you''ll be able to improve the golem''s performance sufficiently."
"The border area. I''ll go with you."
"No. I''m really okay. Why are you doing this?"
The two of them are arguing.
The Little Runts team standing next to them shook their heads from side to side.
"That mister is so pitiful."
Kang Minyeong''sment echoed emptily in the air.
£ª £ª £ª
The cries of seagulls irritated his ears.
The salty smell tickled his nose.
Although he couldn''t see anything because of the blindfold, it was easy to tell that his current location was near the sea.
"Come out."
Thud¡ª
A rough hand grabbed his right arm.
Judging from the strength transmitted to his forearm, it was about the level of a 2 Star martial arts hunter.
Although he could resist if he wanted to, Yoojin didn''t bother struggling and came out.
p¡ª
The cloth covering his eyes was abruptly pulled off.
The blue sea and the sky, seagulls soaring through them, and finally, a small fishing boat approaching from afar came into view.
''Is it a problem if things are handled too perfectly?''
Madame had disguised Yoojin as a debtor in just one day, as promised.
She used the ID of a missing person.
Not only the photo, but also any other details that could be a hindrance were all matched to Yoojin.
''And then she handed me over to the Seagull Group.''
She said she got help from the shadow broker to sell the debtor.
When she told Mr. ck, he said he would be happy to help Yoojin and acted proactively.
He even had a suspicion that the point where the guy felt joy might be somewhere else.
¡²Hahahaha! How does it feel to drink a bitter cup?¡³
''Damn it. I didn''t have this kind of experience even before the regression.''
It''s calledbor at best.
This is practically a modern-day revival of the ve trade.
They covered his eyes with a blindfold all the way down to Busan.
They checked everything, even his underwear, for suspicious items.
One fortunate thing is that they couldn''t take away the Ring of Darkness, which was in a bound state?
''Should I be grateful that they didn''t cut off my finger?''
Yoojin held back a sigh.
It''s the easiest way to infiltrate the Seagull Group, even if it''s troublesome.
There were five debtors mobilized forbor.
If he gets on that fishing boat, he should be able to go to the ce where the future ''Executioner'' is doing penalbor.
¡²Will it be alright?¡³
''I''ve endured it this far. What''s not going to be alright?''
¡²That''s not it. I''m talking about the small human called the Executioner.¡³
''What about him?''
¡²I doubt you can control him as you please, even if you do him a favor, if he was called by such a sinister name.¡³
''You''ll change your mind if you know the origin of the nickname.''
Yoojin slowly told the story he had heard before the regression.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 79: Executioner Im Jaebaek (1)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 79: Executioner Im Jaebaek (1)
The story of how Im Jaebaek came to be called the Executioner.
''It''s a nickname that stuck because he beheaded viins by any means necessary.''
¡²Was he a person overflowing with a sense of justice?¡³
''No. Because of revenge.''
It''s a verymon story.
The older brother who volunteered for penalbor to save his younger brother who had been scammed.
He suffered for several years, but what he got back was a lifeless corpse.
''I heard that he meticulously prepared and took revenge for his younger brother.''
¡²He managed to get his revenge even after being exploited for a long time.¡³
''He had talent and perseverance.''
Im Jaebaek, who constantly honed his de of revenge even during penalbor.
After confirming his younger brother''s death, he waited a few more years for a more certain revenge and killed all the members of the organization.
Even after that, the mes of anger burning in Im Jaebaek''s heart did not go out.
''He only sought out and killed criminals as a means of resolving his grudge.''
¡²It''s an excessive way to resolve resentment and anguish towards criminals, but this is also a great hero.¡³
''I''m starting to get confused about the standard of what a hero is.''
Tsk tsk.
¡®How can one fathom the mind of a noble constetion?¡¯
Yoojin clicked his tongue.
"You seem to be doing well, debtor. You even have the leisure to y with your tongue."
A swaggering bald man.
He was the Seagull Group member who had roughly pulled Yoojin''s arm from the car.
¡®Yes. I''ll remember your face in particr.¡¯
Putt-Putt-Putt¡ª
A small boat approached¡ª
A man in a suit, out of ce in the atmosphere, came out of the boat anchored at the coast.
"Let''s see. Hannom, Doosik, Seoksam, Neoguri, Ojingeo. Are you all here?"
"It''s been a while since we sent people, and you''re asking for five more!"
"Oh, Jiwon hyung. Please understand our situation."
"Damn it. Do you know how hard it is to find martial artists, not just any debtors?"
"We''re paying you that much. Please bear with it."
"Keep these guys alive as much as possible. We need toy low for a while."
The two men whispered at a distance where the debtors couldn''t hear.
The man in the suit nodded as if he understood and approached the debtors.
"Those who havee to find new hope. Wee."
"Hope? What nonsense is this after kidnapping us for not paying our debts!"
When one of the debtors raised his voice, the man''s brow furrowed.
"Hey, you! Shut your mouth when I''m talking."
Whack¡ª
The debtor''s face turned sharply.
Unable to even perceive the moment the 2 Star martial artist attacked, he copsed after being hit by the man''s fist.
The blood flowing from his busted lips and nose stained the sand red.
"So shut up and listen. Debtors don''t have the right to speak."
The voice of the man in the suit made the frozen atmosphere even colder.
"You son of a bitch!"
"Are you going to attack me? That''s even better. I can just kill you all."
"Aren''t you afraid of the Hunter Association?"
Hunter-rted crimes were treated as special crimes regardless of the severity of the crime.
Abilities that surpass ordinary people.
And skills.
If a martial artist is even a 2 Star, they can easily kill an ordinary person.
In the case of magic, there are no traces left except for mana wavelengths, so it''s much easier to disguise it as an ident.
"Listen up, you idiots. Do you know where this is and that high-ranking people wille here?"
"E-Even so, there will be mana wavelengths!"
"You''re all from the bottom anyway. The world won''t know if one of you dies here. Should I kill one of you to prove it?"
When the man in the suitughed frivolously, the faces of the four people, excluding Yoojin, turned pale.
The divine power he disyed when he knocked down one of the debtors.
Even if the four of them rushed him, it was clear that they would die a dog''s death, let alone win.
''At that speed, he must be a 4 Star. It seems like he''s been hitting the wall for a long time.''
¡²He has crossed the wall by one step.¡³
''He''ll probably know how to unfold Aura. He must be quite high-ranking among those Seagull Group guys.''
There aren''t many organizations like the Red Spider with four 5 Star executives.
A 4 Star is a strong person treated as a mid-level yer in any group.
Yoojin leisurely observed the man in the suit. His tone and behavior.
''An appropriate show of force. This isn''t his first or second time.''
¡²He''s excellent at utilizing fear. Just like the contractor.¡³
''I''m offended that you''reparing me to a low-quality guy like him.''
¡²Hahahaha. Alright, alright.¡³
Unlike the other four, Yoojin''s expression remained unchanged.
The man in the suit, seemingly pleased with his reaction, came closer and patted him on the shoulder.
"Well, well, look at you. You''ve got spirit, I''ll give you that. Since you''ve already fallen to the bottom, you can just diligently pay it off and leave. Don''t you agree?"
"The bottom, huh."
"Let''s see. Your name is... Mr. Park Gitae, right? Oh my! You pulled 1 billion won?"
Park Gitae was the name of the man Madame had given him for disguise.
It doesn''t really faze him to hear the amount he didn''t actually borrow.
The man in the suit, mistaking Yoojin''s stoicism for shock,ughed heartily.
"You''ll have to roll around here for three years. Don''t worry. Just work hard for that period, and it''ll all be resolved."
"30 million won a month. That''s generous."
"Right? I''m happy to meet a debtor who understands."
The man in the suit pped his hands.
After confirming that the debtors'' eyes were focused on him, he dered,
"Wow, I''m feeling good. I''ll reduce it by one year for Mr. Park Gitae."
He shouted as if he had done a great favor.
The debtors'' eyes widened at the man in the suit''s bombshell announcement.
The man who had been punched and copsed was no exception.
"M-Me too, reduce mine!"
"How can you be so unfair and only give it to him?"
"Ah, I love this proactive attitude. Then I''ll reduce everyone''sbor period by 1/3."
The debtors cheered.
Yoojin took a step back and chuckled.
''Kronos, do you know why that man is reducing thebor period as if he''s doing a favor?''
¡²He seems to have a merciful nature, unlike his appearance.¡³
''It means he''s not going to let them go alive.''
What''s the point of reducing it by 1/3 or 1 year?
It''s useless if they die beforepleting theirbor period.
The reason why that sly-looking guy is boldly shortening the period is because he''s certain that the debtors will die within that time.
Even though he didn''t hear the conversation the two men had at a distance, Yoojin grasped the whole situation just from the circumstances and a few words exchanged, without even going to the site.
''It''s not smuggling. Is it a Gate?''
All he knows is that Im Jaebaek has been suffering from forcedbor for years.
He doesn''t know exactly which organization he was mobilized for or what kind of work he was forced to do.
¡²Try to recall more memories.¡³
''It''s no use. He''s someone I didn''t have much connection with.''
¡²There are a lot of uncertain factors. Will it be alright?¡³
''Mr. Im Jaebaek would have been a 2 Star around this time. But if he survived, I should be able to as well.''
There are three inheritable skills.
He didn''t intentionally choose a new field either.
He has a hand that can create variables in any situation.
''If it really doesn''t work out, I''ll return alive even if I''m alone.''
¡²You are my only believer. It would be troublesome if you die meaninglessly, so always be careful.¡³
''Stop talking about heroes. Then.''
¡²Ahem. Originally, constetions expect the appearance of heroes.¡³
Ignoring Kronos''s nonsense, he boarded the fishing boat.
£ª £ª £ª
Putt-Putt-Putt-Putt¡ª
The fishing boat cut through the sea, heading east.
How long had they been traveling?
A strange smell mixed with the salty air.
"Ugh, what''s that smell?"
"Smells like something rotten."
"Do we have to clean up waste or something?"
The debtors grumbled and covered their noses with their hands.
Yoojin nced outside the deck.
Something ck was swirling in the currents beneath the blue sea, swaying back and forth.
People in diving suits were repeatedly ascending and descending.
''Are they making them collect Strong Algae?''
¡²You mean that seaweed?¡³
''That''s right. Our constetion''s getting sharper.''
¡²Hahahaha. I am always watching over you, Contractor. I can easily grasp this much.¡³
Strong Algae is a seaweed that only asionally appears in underwater-type Gates.
It was also a necessary ingredient for making Blood Golems, so it wasn''t unfamiliar to Yoojin.
''I didn''t know there was an eroded zone like this in the East Sea.''
They said smuggling was the Seagull Group''s main source of ie.
He had thought it was strange that they kept moving east.
"How is it? The debtors'' new workce."
The small fishing boat stopped at an ind floating in the middle of the sea.
Crudely built temporary buildings.
Rusty containers ced instead of lodgings added to the dreariness.
"Why is there an ind in the East Sea?"
"It''s a ce that emerged with the erosion activity. It''s small, but it''s possible to take care of food and lodging."
Terrain mutated by the Gate''s erosion.
A small ind emerged.
And in the sea, Strong Algae, necessary for alchemy and leather equipment production, was growing.
Even if it wasn''t as good as [Crimson Lair], one of the Red Spider''s main sources of ie, it was enough to feed the Seagull Group.
"What''s with that corpse?"
"It''s nothing special. Monsters sometimes appear because it''s an eroded zone."
Well, that''s debatable.
To say it''s nothing special, the number of monsters rotting on the coast is quiterge, and they''re too big.
Yoojin''s eyes couldn''t leave the corpse of the monster fish with its bones exposed.
''It''s a 4 Star monster, a Bloodfin Salmon.''
¡²Oh ho. Only the small human who spoke so eloquently would be able to handle that fish.¡³
''It would be difficult in the sea.''
¡²Even though they have the same rank?¡³
Even though Hunters have gained power beyond humans, the foundation of living beings hasn''t changed.
In other words, it means it''s difficult to demonstrate their full abilities in the ocean.
''A fish and a human who live onnd shouldn''t be the same.''
The man in the suit guided the debtors to a container.
Ding¡ª Ding¡ª
A bell rang, and those who had been collecting Strong Algae from the sea returned to the ind one by one.
Diving suits with mana stones attached.
They are items that block the poison emitted by Strong Algae and assist with underwater activities.
"My lovely debtors, new colleagues have arrived."
"Is it Jiwon again?"
"That''s right. Now we can meet the quota."
"Stop bragging about bringing in small fry and guarantee our safety."
"Supervisor Im, it hurts my feelings when you say that when I''m taking care of you."
Bang¡ª!
An explosive sound erupted as the man in the suit threw a punch.
It stopped right in front of the man called Supervisor Im''s nose, but he didn''t even blink.
"Kill me if you''re going to kill me."
"Ha, that would be a bit difficult. Thanks to Supervisor Im, the debtors'' working hours and efficiency have increased."
"Damn, it looks like everyone''s going to die because of the Bloodfin Salmon!"
"So, I''m asking you to take good care of the neers."
Supervisor Im growled like a wounded beast.
The man in the suit nonchntly brushed off his anger and gestured to the debtors, including Yoojin.
"Supervisor Im will teach the debtors the value ofbor."
"If he''s a supervisor, is he involved with the Seagull Group like you?"
"Haha, what an interesting joke. Supervisor Im is in a bit of debt, just like the debtors."
Supervisor Im''s brow twitched.
The tendons on his exposed forearms bulged prominently.
Yoojin slowly approached the man and muttered softly¡ª
"Are you Mr. Im Jaebaek?"
Supervisor Im''s shoulders trembled slightly at his words.
The answer was as good as heard.
¡°Alright then. There''s no need to stay any longer in this stench-filled ce.¡±
The man in the suit flinched at Yoojin''s remark, then approached him with a murderous aura.
"Mr. Park Gitae, what''s your rtionship with Supervisor Im...?"
ng¡ª!
A sharp metallic sound rang out.
The Skeleton Knight, summoned abruptly, swung its de towards the man in the suit.
Despite the sudden attack, the man didn''t panic, crossing his arms in an X to minimize the impact of the sword strike...
[Dark Fighting Aura]
[Spectral Sword]N?v(el)B\\jnn
[Fifth Form ¨C Bloodlight Sword]
The Skeleton Knight''s twin swords scattered crimson light.
The originally ck Dark Fighting Aura was emitted as red due to the influence of the sword technique.
Kwaang¡ª!
Unable to fully deflect the immense power imbued in the swords, the man in the suit was thrown back dozens of meters.
Supervisor Im''s eyes trembled.
He parted his lips several times before finally managing to speak with effort¡ª
"Who are you?"
"You can call me Cheon Yoojin."
Yoojin replied.
¡®It''s a pleasure to meet you, future Executioner. There''s a lot to say, but since this is our first meeting in this life, let''s start with introductions.¡¯
Yoojin wore a rxed expression, incongruous with the atmosphere.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 80: Executioner Im Jaebaek (2)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 80: Executioner Im Jaebaek (2)
Countless emotions flickered across Im Jaebaek''s eyes.
Perplexity.
Doubt.
Hope.
A storm of emotions that couldn''t be defined in a single word, even contradictory ones, raged within him.
He barely managed topose himself, closing off his heart before finally speaking¡ª
"You wouldn''t havee all the way to this remote ce just to say hello."
"That''s true. This isn''t a ce for a long conversation. Shall we move?"
"I don''t know who you are or why you''re here, but it''s impossible."
Im Jaebaek let out a sigh.
His finger pointed towards the sea.
The surging waves approached the shore, crashing and scattering with a roar and spray.
"This ind itself is a prison. There''s no way to escape."
"Because of the Bloodfin Salmon?"
Yoojin dropped the honorifics despite having just introduced himself.
Im Jaebaek, not feeling the need to point it out, continued without minding.
"You know well. To avoid the Bloodfin Salmon''s attacks, you need a smell they hate."
"Onions."
"... How did you know that? It''s something I barely figured out after two years of hardship."
"I happen to know a lot about weird stuff."
Bloodfin Salmon are fish from the world known as the Demon Realm, sometimes also called the Dark Realm.
They have a belligerent nature.
In the water, just two or three of them are enough to hunt even 5 Star level monsters, boasting excellentbat power.
''But even those guys are afraid of something.''
Their natural enemy, the Wraith Bear.
Bloodfin Salmon periodically return from the sea to their home rivers, where they are attacked by Wraith Bears.
You could call it a fear learned at the species level.
But why bring up their natural enemy while talking about onions?
''The Wraith Bear''s scent is simr to onions.''
There''s hardly any information about the Demon Realm that has been revealed at this point, but how does an organization like the Seagull Group know that?
Yoojin had an idea.
Behind the Seagull Group are the Rakshasa Guild.
And the Arhan Guild lurking in the shadows.
Eeeeeng¡ª!
A siren red throughout the ind.
In broad daylight, the man in the suit was fighting the undead in an open area.
It would be stranger not to notice.
Im Jaebaek spoke urgently.
"Where are the onions you brought?"
"I don''t have any."
He didn''t even know the destination was an eroded zone.
"Even if I knew we were going to the Bloodfin Salmon''s territory, do you think the Seagull Group would have just let me bring onions?"
He hadn''t been able to bring a single item except for the [Ring of Darkness], so how could he bring onions?
"You... Did you start this without any countermeasures?"
"I said I didn''t have onions. I have countermeasures."
"That''s... Argh!"
Im Jaebaek was speechless at Yoojin''s shamelessness.
He let out a pointless shout and took a deep breath to calm his boiling anger.
"Let''s hear your n to get off this ind."
"Well, seeing is believing. It''ll be faster to show you directly."
Yoojin stroked the Ring of Darkness.
A small ind that has risen due to the erosion phenomenon.
Fighting in the middle of the sea is a huge variable, but it''s solvable.
[Using the Library of Knowledge.]
[You can browse the knowledge left by the previous Masters of Death.]
[Darkness / Curse / Poison /.... You can browse one of the other fields.]
A new field of knowledge that he had left untouched for a long time even after reaching 3 Stars.
Yoojin chose the [Darkness] field without hesitation.
[Knowledge of the necromancy field is engraved in the user''s soul.]
The pain was unrecognizably reduced.
He had to be at least a 3 Star to be able to withstand receiving the spells contained in the [Library of Knowledge].
If the pain was as severe as before and the mental exhaustion was significant, he wouldn''t even have thought of inheriting it in an urgent situation.
''The higher the rank, the wider the choices.''
Khehehe.
Yoojin chose two spells from the [Darkness] field that were necessary in this situation.
?Dark Blood
Category: Dark Magic
Rank: D
Restriction: 2 Star or higher, [Dark Mage] ss, or [Darkness] trait holder.
Corrupts blood with dark mana.
?Dark Spear
Category: Dark Magic
Rank: C
Restriction: 3 Star or higher, [Dark Mage] ss, or [Darkness] trait holder.
Fires a spear condensed with dark mana.
[The inherited spells do not match the user''s ss or traits.]
[Spirit power consumption increases by 100% when used.]
[Skill power decreases by 30% when used.]
The penalties were the same as with alchemy.
The darkness field is the domain of Dark Mages or sses that handle [Dark Mana].
The reason necromancers can handle that power is that the source of their spirit power is the mana of the yin dimension.
As for alchemy, it''s something he can use thanks to the ring''s effect.
He has to ept this much penalty.
¡²You''re saving one inheritance slot until the end.¡³
''I always have to have a trump card.''
¡²But didn''t the contractor learn Bone Spear as a ranged attack method?¡³n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
''Bone Spear can''t be used without bones.''
He was ying the role of a debtor, a role he never imagined, and had to take off all his equipment.
There are Bloodfin Salmon bones scattered all over the ind, but those catalysts already have a designated purpose.
"Answer my call."
Spirit power seeped into the decaying body of the Bloodfin Salmon.
A momentter, it thrashed violently like a live fish.
It looked as if it would jump into the sea at any moment.
"Wait a minute."
Yoojin approached the revived Bloodfin Salmon.
£ª £ª £ª
On the coast, a man and an undead were shing.
Kim Jongwook, the hunter in charge of Strong Algae supply, calmed his trembling arm.
''Even though it''s different from mine, it''s definitely Aura.''
Dark Fighting Aura based on spirit power.
After exchanging a few blows, he got the feeling that this was no easy opponent.
Kim Jongwook pretended to be rxed and stepped back, distancing himself from Song Myeongseok.
"Skeleton, where did you suddenly pop out from?"
¡¾You are not qualified to hear that, mortal.¡¿
"How dare a half-dead undead be so impudent."
¡¾I will watch to see if you can still talk after you die.¡¿
"How about this? The experience of dying twice!"
[Aura]
[Gatling Attack]
A clear blue light emanated from both hands, wrists, and even elbows.
Kim Jongwook retreated, releasing the Aura he had secretly gathered to its maximum.
¡¾Not bad for a mortal''s technique!¡¿
[Dark Fighting Aura]
[Spectral Sword]
[Fourth Form - Emerald sh]
ng-ng-ng-ng¡ª
Mana imbued with will shed.
Dozens of attacks and defenses were exchanged within a second, aiming for each other.
Crack¡ª Crack¡ª
The blue energy that couldn''t be neutralized umted one after another as blunt impacts on Song Myeongseok''s body.
The armor made from [Scrap Metal Filled with Obsession] was dented.
His joints creaked.
Song Myeongseok, who had awakened Dark Fighting Aura after being promoted to Skeleton Knight.
On the other hand, Kim Jongwook was a veteran who had reached 4 Stars and had been handling Aura for several years.
¡¾Good! Very good!¡¿
The blue energy became even stronger.
As soon as he was revived, Song Myeongseok had adapted to his new body by fighting the Little Runts team with his abilities restricted.
And...
''His Aura is getting sharper?!''
While shing Aura with Kim Jongwook, a 4 Star hunter, he was gradually getting used to Dark Fighting Aura.
The power of the Heavenly Bone characteristic, which the Arhan Guild had put so much effort into, even procuring an S-rank skill book!
This was the moment when Song Myeongseok''s outstanding talent shone.
sh¡ª
A drop of blood formed on the back of his hand. Aceration was engraved on the spot where he had just blocked the de.
''If this continues, I will lose.''
Kim Jongwook''s eyes nced behind him.
He wasn''t willing to die here.
Pride or whatever, it only mattered if he was alive.
''I''ve already sent the signal, so once the ship arrives, the rest of them...''
Near the Strong Algaebor camp, a medium-sized ship armed with magic cannons was anchored and waiting.
A ship that manages the Seagull Group''s core businesses, such as smuggling, Strong Algae sales, andbor camp management.
The ind was also small, so there was nowhere to run if they fired.
¡¾You can''t focus even with me in front of you?¡¿
An unpleasant feeling of intent.
Kim Jongwook''s back went cold at Song Myeongseok''s intensified killing intent.
[Spectral Sword]
[Fifth Form - Bloodlight Sword]
"Do you think the same attack will work on me?"
¡¾I never said that.¡¿
[Dual Tiger Gauntlets]
[Dual des]
[Spectral Sword]
[Fifth Form - Bloodlight Sword]
Crimson energy surged simultaneously from both sides.
Kim Jongwook''s jaw dropped at the Dark Fighting Aura gushing from the two swords.
''Dual wielding also has its main weapon!''
Even Kim Jongwook, who had spent a long time at 4 Stars, needed concentration to release Aura with full power in both hands.
The reason he retreated earlier was to buy time to increase his Aura output.
However¡ª
Despite being ''boosted'' to a high level thanks to Yoojin, Song Myeongseok quickly grasped how to control Dark Fighting Aura.
His ability to control Dark Fighting Aura surpassed a hunter''smon sense.
''If it''s the same power as before, I have no choice but to sacrifice one arm.''
His judgment was swift.
To block both attacks, Kim Jongwook''s total amount of Aura was insufficient.
If he had time to breathe, it would be a different story, but hecked the strength to counter the attacks that were already rushing in.
Kim Jongwook concentrated mana in his right arm.
''If I block the attack and then get past that half-dead guy and head for the sea...!''
Slice¡ª
Huh?
The sound of something being severed.
The mana that he had poured into his arm to the maximum wouldn''t go below his elbow, as if it had lost its way.
Kim Jongwook btedly realized the reality.
''It wasn''t blocked, it was cut off?''
The power of the Dark Fighting Aura was iparably stronger than during their first sh.
Just as words of resentment were about to pour out of Kim Jongwook''s mouth in frustration¡ª
¡¾I don''t like the way you speak.¡¿
The sword imbued with Dark Fighting Aura grazed his neck, and he copsed on the ground, unable to utter another word.
£ª £ª £ª
The Seagull Group members remaining on the ind were swiftly subdued.
Except for Kim Jongwook, who had surpassed the wall, they were at a simr level to the debtors undergoing forcedbor.
Although they were armed, unlike the debtors.
"You bastards! You were stingy with the food, weren''t you?"
"You guys try wearing the diving suits! You need to know how hard it is!"
They were outnumbered andcked the will to fight.
While the debtors were taking control of the ind, the Seagull Group ship, alerted by the siren, raised its anchor and approached the ind.
"Shall we kill a few as an example?"
"Hey, can''t you see that Jongwook''s head has been cut off? Kill them all."
Among the crew on board, no one was stronger than Kim Jongwook.
Wearing diving suits, they could still secure some mobility, though less than onnd.
Eliminating them all before the debtors approached.
That was the only option left for the Seagull Group members.
"Fo...?"
Thud¡ª!
The hull lurched violently.
Some of the crew members standing on the deck were caught off guard by the unexpected impact and fell into the sea.
"What''s going on?"
"B-Bloodfin Salmon!"
"Nonsense! We released the onions. How could they approach?!"
"See for yourself!"
The captain, disbelieving the pale-faced crew member''s words, came out onto the deck.
His eyes trembled.
"H-Holy shit. What the hell is that?"
Marine monsters surrounded the ship.
They resembled the inhabitants of the eroded zone, the Bloodfin Salmon, but there were differences upon closer inspection.
Their entrails spilled out from their bellies.
Despite showing signs of decay throughout their bodies, they swam nonchntly in the sea.
Another peculiarity was that they were d in bones as if wearing armor.
"They''re the Bloodfin Salmon that were scattered on the ind."
"The dead ones came back to life?"
"There''s no other exnation! They''ve returned as vengeful spirits!!"
"Ghosts! We''re all doomed!!"
Ovee with fear, the crew member unconsciously hit the mark.
While Song Myeongseok was fighting Kim Jongwook, Yoojin had revived the corpses of the Bloodfin Salmon scattered across the ind.
¡²Are you trying to subdue the ship with those minions?¡³
''Revenants aren¡¯t enough.''
The ship''s firepower and the defensive magic circles installed throughout the hull.
If they were prepared for the Bloodfin Salmon''s attacks, he couldn''t sink it with the power of the Revenant alone.
[Using Flesh Control.]
[Using Bone Control.]
He dismantled the severely damaged corpses without hesitation.
16 bodies remained.
It was enough.
He repaired the Revenant''s bodies with the flesh and blood of the Bloodfin Salmon extracted using Flesh Control.
And he armed them with bones like knights in heavy armor.
[Using Dark Blood.]
[Contaminating the target''s blood with dark mana.]
Blood that was already dried or rotten.
However¡ª
Yoojin imbued the trace amounts of blood remaining in the Bloodfin Salmon corpses with dark mana and engraved a strengthening circuit.
''If I link dark mana and spirit power...!''
[The corpse that became the Revenant''s host is reacting to the dark mana.]
[Partially drawing on the power of the being that was the origin of this individual.]
[Revenant ¡ú Evolving into Scara.]
Bloodfin Salmon are inhabitants of the Demon Realm.
The dark mana awakened the potential dormant within their bodies.
To be precise, it was drawing on the concept of ''Bakunawa'', a powerful magical beast and distant ancestor of the Bloodfin Salmon.
[TL/N: Bakunawa ¡ª A creature from Filipino mythology. It''s a gigantic sea serpent said to cause eclipses by swallowing the moon.]
By absorbing the bones and flesh of their already dead brethren, they partially recreated the glory contained in their ancestors'' blood.
They were reborn as undead that surpassed their original rank.
¡²Indeed. You had something up your sleeve.¡³
''I learned Dark Spear just in case, but it seems I won''t need to use it.''
A 4 Star marine undead monster.
Scara, unlike the Revenant, cannot handle Dark Fighting Aura.
Theyck the intelligence and the capacity for it.
Instead¡ª
-Kaaaaoooo!!!!
Having their origins awakened by Dark Blood, they possessed powerparable to an ogre in the sea.
Tremendous monstrous strength erupted from their 10-meter bodies!
Kwaang¡ª!
The ship lurched violently every time the Scara rammed it.
The crew members manning the magic cannons fled into the ship''s interior, trembling with fear.
"You idiots! If we don''t fire, we''re dead!!"
"They won''t die even if we shoot!"
"The cannons that turn even Bloodfin Salmon into mush aren''t working?"
"Then try it yourself!"
The ship was armed assuming the onions would be neutralized.
But they were no match for the Scara.
A momentter.
Gush-Gush-Gush¡ª
Seawater poured through the widening gaps.
Parts of the hull, crumpled by the strong impacts, were torn like paper.
The trump card prepared by the Seagull Group sank into the depths of the sea.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 81: Executioner Im Jaebaek (3)
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 81: Executioner Im Jaebaek (3)
-Kaaaaaw!
-Kaw!
A school of Skr swam through the ocean.
[Changed Scara ¡ú Skr]
Their numbers, which had numbered only 16 when they destroyed the Seagull Group''s ship, had now swelled to a force of 79.
"Excuse me, sir."
"Speak."
"I''m grateful for the rescue, but aren''t we staying on this ind a bit too long?"
Im Jaebaek, though hesitant, managed to voice his concerns.
When they sank the armed vessel, he thought they would immediately escape this cursed ind.
However...
Yoojin was leisurely hunting Bloodfin Salmon.
[Life Drain activated.]
He strengthened his abilities with the stolen life force.
[Dead Rise activated.]
[Flesh Control activated.]
[Bone Armor activated.]
[Dark Blood activated.]
And from the corpses of the Bloodfin Salmon, he crafted Skr.
Having been stranded on the ind for almost half a day, Im Jaebaek and the other debtors were understandably parched.
"Don''t worry. They won''t be able toe here."
Yoojin said calmly.
The area surrounding the ind was entirely an Erosion Zone, in other words, the domain of the Bloodfin Salmon.
Guarding a ship while hunting underwater monsters?
One would need to be at least a high-ranking Awakened to even attempt such a feat, and the Seagull Group didn''t have a single hunter who surpassed 5 Stars.
"Even if their boss came personally, it wouldn''t be possible."
"They must know that too. If there are onions present, the Bloodfin Salmon¡ª"
"It''d be even better if they came. We have the advantage in a naval battle."
-Kaaaaaw!
One of the Skr responded to Yoojin''s words.
''Speaking of which, this is quite fortunate. To think I''d discover an Erosion Zone teeming with Bloodfin Salmon.''
¡²Is there a particr reason?¡³
''Revenants or Skr, such as these undead, require specific conditions for their creation.''
There aren''t many undead, like Armored Zombies & Skeletons, that can be strengthened simply with a corpse.
This is because the method to awaken the inherent power differs depending on the rank of the undead and the corpse that serves as its base.
Bloodfin Salmon were, so to speak, cost-effective materials for modification, with undemanding enhancement conditions and outstanding results.
''If I deploy these guys around Yeonpyeong Ind, even the human hunters won''t be able to approach.''
¡²Hmm. So you crafted the maximum number of undead with that in mind.¡³
''If I had brought the sacred relic, I could have made more.''
Tsk¡ª
The powerful moss growing around the ind.
Although it''s not as profitable as bloodstones, it''s a by-product with considerable mary value.
¡®Right now, I was able to enter easily by pretending to be a debtor. But it won''t be so easy when Ie back again. It can''t be helped. 79 is more than enough.''
Marine monsters have an extremely low appearance rate.
¡®I should consider myself lucky to have encountered monsters like Bloodfin Salmon that don''t have demanding modification conditions.¡¯
Satisfied with the unexpected harvest, Yoojin rose from his spot.
"Tell them to get ready to return."
"Okay."
"Oh, by the way, does anyone know how to steer a ship?"
At the casually thrown question, Im Jaebaek''s eyes widened in surprise, and he ran towards the debtors.
Hmm.
¡®Never mind a ship, I don''t even know how to drive a car. They''ll figure it out.¡¯
£ª £ª £ª
Three fishing boats headed west.
The debtors, standing on the decks, looked ahead with uneasy expressions.
-Kaaaaaw!
A Skr with a rope tied around its neck.
The monstrous creature that had shattered the Seagull Group''s ship was now pulling the fishing boats.
"Can we really trust these monsters?"
"What if he decides to toss us overboard as a snack?"
"What else can we do? We have no other choice."
All the crew members who knew how to operate the fishing boats had died in the battle.
No one among those who had been docked at the ind could steer the ships.
-May I have a word with you?
Im Jaebaek had requested that the Skr pull the boats.
Yoojin, who had thought of the same method, smiled faintly and adopted the suggestion.
After harnessing the Skr, they began their voyage tond.
Im Jaebaek passed by the murmuring debtors.
He approached Yoojin, who was enjoying the sea view from the bow (front) of the small fishing boat.
"I was in a state of panic earlier. I will definitely repay your kindness for saving me."
"Don''t forget that feeling."
Yoojin gave a short chuckle at Im Jaebaek''s expression of gratitude.
"But the story you wanted to share with me..."
"You''re impatient. Let''s talk slowly in a quiet ce."
"I''m sorry to say this, but I think I''ll have to leave as soon as we reachnd."
"Is it because of your brother?"
Suspicion flickered in Im Jaebaek''s eyes.
It was the same when they firstnded on the ind.
He was aware that Yoojin''s objective was him.
Nevertheless...
Knowing about his brother''s situation tightened the tension that had slightly loosened, making Im Jaebaek wary again.
¡²Contractor. Your earlier remark seems careless.¡³
''Trying to speak indirectly would be endless.''
Yoojin knew about the executioner who had gained notoriety before his return.
He hadn''t seen him directly, but the hunter was so infamous that he had heard about him even though he didn''t want to.
Based on that information, he hade to find the Seagull Group''sbor camp.
''I can''t exin all of this to him.''
¡²Even so, how do you intend to recruit someone so wary?¡³
''True sincerity always gets through.''
¡²Hahaha. That''s an uncharacteristic statement from you.¡³
Yoojin pushed aside Kronos''s thoughts.
"I''m not going to exin how I found out about your problem and your brother''s situation."
"...."
"But I can solve it."
No answer came.
Sharp eyes, filled with suspicion, stared directly at Yoojin.
"You''ll find out when we return tond."
"...Let''s continue this conversation elsewhere."
The Skr group, instead of heading towards the harbor where they had picked up the debtors, moved a little further north.
"We came from that way. Why are we passing it?"
"If you want to fight the Seagull Group, I''ll let you off."
"Ah, uh..."
The debtor, flinching at Yoojin''s threat, shut his mouth.
Tsk¡ª
¡®No brains at all. It would be one thing if it were just the Seagull Group, but the Nachal Guild is also highly likely to get involved.''
He didn''t have the [Oak Staff Imbued with Lightning] or any other sacred relics in this situation.
Excluding Song Myeongseok, all of his undead minions were Skr, who could only operate underwater.
The number he couldmand without the aid of the two artifacts was a mere 80.
¡²Couldn''t you just cancel the summoning when fighting onnd?¡³
''A corpse that has been turned into an undead cannot be resurrected.''
How hard had it been to obtain these Skr?
The marine undead would be the core of Yeonpyeong Ind''s defense.
In the future he had read with [Memento], hadn''t the human hunters eventuallynded on Yeonpyeong Ind and subdued the Relics?
He had left it to Fafnir, so it might be fine for the time being, but...
Additional measures were necessary at this point.
''I must not lose a single one.''
Even if other undead were destroyed, he could just create them again.
However, unless hepletely drove out the Seagull Group and the Nachal Guild, obtaining more Bloodfin Salmon corpses would be impossible for the time being.
Hmm.
¡®Should I ask the ck Market to find me some marine monster corpses?¡¯
Even before returning, Yoojin often requested the necessary corpses from them.
A sh with the human hunters was inevitable.
It would be good to start preparing now.
While gazing at the sea and organizing his future ns in his head...
"A-A harbor!"
"We''re finally saved!!"
"Liberated from those bastards!!!"
The cheers of the debtors, who had spotted the harbor shimmering beyond the horizon, echoed in his ears.
£ª £ª £ª
Yoojin docked the boat on a shore teeming with tripods.
He couldn''t enter the harbor with the Skr still tethered to the boats.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om
"Thank you. Thank you very much."
"We won''t forget this kindness!"
The debtors scattered.
They had nothing inmon other than being captured by the Seagull Group and forced intobor.
It would be better for them to act individually rather than in a group.
"Shall we go then?"
Without waiting for a reply, Yoojin strode forward.
Im Jaebaek followed with a dubious expression.
They borrowed a phone from a vige near the coast and immediately contacted Madam.
-Debtor-nim. Was the matter resolved smoothly?
"Don''t say that when I reek of the sea."
-Hoho. It was quite an interesting request for me.
"How many people would sell themselves to a debt collector?"
Yoojin gave a self-deprecatingugh and asked her to send the vehicle, clothes, and other items he had prepared in advance.
-It will arrive within an hour.
"I didn''t even tell you where I am."
-Hoho. You know location tracking is basic, right?
She had personnel on standby near Busan, waiting for Yoojin''s contact.
She was a person with impable preparedness.
"What about the separate request?"
-That has been taken care of as well.
"Good."
-When will you be arriving? I''ll make preparations.
"I''ll head up right away."
Yoojin hung up the phone and nced back.
"Did youe to the ind on purpose?"
"Yes. To recruit you to ourpany."
"Company?"
"ck Company. I''m nning a coalition of various businesses."
It was the draft of the business alliance he had discussed with the Little Runts team and Shin Joonseok.
After listening to Yoojin''s exnation, Im Jaebaek responded in a dumbfounded, deted voice.
"You had me in mind as a member of that business?"
"That''s right. Thanks to you, I had to go through some trouble."
"I''m not that valuable."
"It''s not up to you to judge your value, Im Jaebaek-ssi."
The ominous nickname, "The Executioner."
Having reached the 7 Star level, he possessed useful qualities as a Hunter.
Moreover...
There was one more reason why Yoojin had his eye on Im Jaebaek.
"I know you founded Fruitful Ventures. That takes a sharp mind, wouldn''t you say?"
"...Didn''t expect you to know about that."
"I have a knack for spotting talent. It''s one of my strengths."
"That''s all in the past."
The story of a promising young entrepreneur being backstabbed by his co-founder.
Well, it was amon story, if anything.
"I need your skills. We can negotiate thepensation."
"I''m sorry, but I have things to do."
"Are you refusing without even hearing what kind of work it is?"
"I will repay the favor of helping me escape the ind. But... not right now."
Im Jaebaek bowed his head and tried to turn away.
"How do you n to leave this vige?"
"I''ll carpool or run on foot."
"You don''t even know where this vige is."
His belongings had been confiscated when he entered the ind.
Im Jaebaek didn''t even have a cell phone, a necessity for modern people.
"Mypanions will be here in an hour. I''ll drop you off in Busan."
"...I''m indebted to you again."
Unable to find any more excuses to refuse, Im Jaebaek gave in.
Yoojin chuckled and sat down on a nearby rock.
An hourter.
A military Humvee drove into the vige along a small road between the rice paddies.
"She provided a sturdy one."
He could sense the mana waves emanating from the Humvee.
The vehicle''s durability was already tremendous, but the exterior had been further reinforced with magic.
A simple fireball would barely scratch it.
The mercenary who got out of the car immediately approached Yoojin and bowed his head.
"Yoojin-nim. I''vee to pick you up."
"Didn''t a gueste with you?"
"Yes."
"Tell him I''d like to see him for a moment. There''s someone I want to introduce him to."
Clunk¡ª
The back door opened.
The moment a man who appeared to be in his mid-20s got out of the car...
"Brother?"
"Jae... Jaeyoung?"
Im Jaebaek''s hardened face, which had been filled with vignce, crumbled.
£ª £ª £ª
After being backstabbed by his supposed friend and co-founder, Im Jaebaek''s life spiraled downwards.
He tried to start new businesses, but they all failed.
He was barely scraping by, paying off the interest on his debts when he awakened as a Hunter.
''Now I can finally repay everything.''
However...
-Oh dear, you''ve spent quite a bit of money on your businesses, haven''t you? We''ll hold onto your brother for a while, so you''ll have to work for us.
The Seagull Group kidnapped his brother, using his debt as leverage.
They threatened to keep his brother unless he agreed to four years of forcedbor, a threat he was forced to ept.
Even though he spent half his time collecting potent moss, his spirit remained unbroken.
''I''ll survive this, somehow. I''ll escape and save my brother.''
He couldn''t trust the Seagull Group''s words.
To begin with, surviving for four years in that ce, constantly threatened by Bloodfin Salmon attacks, seemed impossible.
After long observation, Im Jaebaek figured out why the Seagull Group remained safe from the monsters.
''When they let their guard down, I''ll escape.''
But what was this?
-You can call me Cheon Yoojin.
One of the newly arrived debtors summoned a monster, easily defeating a 4 Star Hunter.
He raised the dead and sank the Seagull Group''s prized armed vessel.
Even escaping the ind, which he had only dreamed of...
''He''s done so much for me, but I can''t blindly trust him.''
Being betrayed by someone close to him once was enough.
Moreover...
This mysterious man who had saved him knew his name and even his circumstances.
He was grateful, but he couldn''t help but be wary.
Once distrust takes root in the heart, it''s not easily shaken off.
''For now, I need to focus on saving my brother!''
The Seagull Group must be in disarray now.
This was his best chance to rescue his brother!
He was waiting for the vehicle with that single thought in mind when...
"What are you doing here?"
The moment he saw his only remaining family, Im Jaeyoung, emerge from the Humvee, the wariness in his heart crumbled.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 82: The Road Home
[Trantor - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 82: The Road Home
The two brothers reunited in an unexpected ce.
Im Jaebaek stood frozen, his mouth agape.
"Those people rescued me."
"I was merely following Yoojin-nim''s instructions."
The mercenary replied curtly to Im Jaeyoung''s introduction.
Before embarking on his debtor charade, Yoojin had given Madam one more request.
''That brother of his. ce a request to have him rescued within a week.''
''To extract him without conflict, we''ll need at least a 5 Star Hunter skilled in stealth.''
''The cost?''
''At least 40 billion won.''
''That''s assuming there''s a Hunter avable to take on the request immediately.''
Madam added.
''A major incident will ur at the Seagull Group soon.''
''Hoho. You speak of such terrifying things so casually.''
''In that case, would you be able to find a Hunter to take the request right away?''
''If we lower the requirement to 4 Star... I can personally make an offer to a friend of mine.''
''The price?''
''I''ll set it at around 15 billion won.''
''I''m touched.''
Madam''s selection was impable.
Infiltrating the Seagull Group and assassinating someone wouldn''t be difficult.
However, rescuing someone being held captive?
The target was a civilian with no abilities, which increased the difficulty of the request several times over.
''Finding someone capable of handling this for 15 billion won...''
Truly...
Her business acumen was remarkable.
He was curious about the mercenary''s identity, but it wouldn''t be polite to ask here.
"Excuse me, benefactor."
"Call me Yoojin. It''s embarrassing."
"Is your offer that I''m needed still valid?"
Im Jaebaek wore an unprecedentedly serious expression.
"Without even knowing what it''s about?"
"Regardless, Yoojin-nim must have needed me to go to such lengths."
"That''s right. I need your abilities."
"I don''t know what you see in me, but... I''ll work under you, Yoojin-nim."
Im Jaeyoung was startled and grabbed his brother''s arm.
"H-Hyung, what''s going on?"
"This gentleman here saved us."
As Im Jaebaek exined the past events to his brother...
Kronos, who had been silent, subtly sent a thought.
¡²Huh. I can''t fathom why he''s acting like this.¡³
''I told you. I have my ways.''
¡²While it''s true that you''ve shown him kindness, aren''t there still many questionable aspects?¡³
Kronos, unlike his usual self, made sharp remarks.
Even if Im Jaebaek was skilled, at this point, he was at best a young entrepreneur who had found sess in his local area.
He had only appeared in a couple of local newspaper articles.
¡²Under normal circumstances, even if you needed this small human, you wouldn''t go so far as to shackle yourself.¡³
''That''s true. I did go overboard.''
¡²This small human must also be fully aware of that.¡³
''He''s a quick-witted person, so he''ll take that into ount.''
¡²Is there a possibility that he might harbor other intentions?¡³
Yoojin slowly shook his head.
''One thing''s for sure, Im Jaebaek is a man who clearly distinguishes between favors and grudges.''
The Executioner, Im Jaebaek, had a clear standard:
- Favors and grudges must be repaid.
From the perspective of Korean society, he was a criminal who abused vignte justice instead of seeking legal punishment.
Even so...
There were quite a few people who secretly supported Im Jaebaek because he had a firm set of principles.
''Now that his brother is alive, he won''t go around killing criminals like before.''
Even so...
A person''s nature wouldn''t change.
The fact that Yoojin had invested so much to save Im Jaebaek, even risking his own life, wouldn''t change.
Why had he made such an investment?
That was no longer important.
¡²Is this the judgment of a Regressor who hase from the future?¡³
''It is.''
¡²Inferring the process by looking at the result is admirable, but that judgment won''t always be right.¡³
''I''m aware of that.''
¡²Remember that the future you experienced is not always the correct answer.¡³
Instead of scoffing, Yoojin replied with a serious nod.
The great constetion who once ruled time.
Few beings understood the concept of ''time'' as deeply as Kronos.
Even if he usually ignored the ridiculous heroic chants, he should heed sincere advice like this.
''A constetion''s intuition is more intuitive than any objective indicator or data.''
It hadn''t even been half a year since his return, and the future had already significantly deviated from his memories.
Jang Miseon, who should have died in the Arhan Guild''s trap with no body recovered, was alive.
Song Myeongseok, who was supposed to be one of the Nine Heads of the Kowloon Guild, was resurrected as an undead and became Yoojin''s (?) loyal subordinate.
''I can''t even begin to imagine the extent of the repercussions from this alone.''
Not only had the direct confrontation between Arhan and the Phoenix been brought forward...
But it had also backfired, causing Vice President Baek Seonghyeon to view Yoojin with wariness.
However, he didn''t regret it.
They were enemies he would have to fight eventually. As Yoojin rapidly grew stronger, it didn''t matter if the time to bring down Arhan was moved up.
''There will be more changes.''
From now on, relying solely on knowledge from the future could lead to mistakes.
Yoojin didn''t take Kronos'' warning lightly.
£ª £ª £ª
"Take the two of them to the Milky Way Pub."
"What about the client?"
"Something came up, so I''ll be going separately."
"Changing the request midway incurs an additional fee."
The mercenary''s words were rigid.
If he was Madam''s acquaintance and disliked changes to requests...
''It must be him.''
Yoojin easily guessed the identity of the hooded mercenary.
Indeed.
He had already established a connection with Madam around this time.
"I''ll add 10%. Is that alright?"
Unconceble doubt flickered in the mercenary''s eyes.
He must be curious.
One less person meant less work, yet instead of arguing that point, Yoojin was readily offering an almost forced additional fee withoutint.
¡²It seems this small human is quite promising.¡³
''It seems you''ve also caught on, my lord.''
Kim Seongyu.
Madam''s hitman who actively utilized his stealth-type innate ability.
Before the regression, he was a 5 Star.
¡²He doesn''t seem that impressive. Compared to those you''ve recruited or raised as undead so far, that is.¡³
''He died early in the all-out war between the Milky Way Pub and the Red Spider.''
¡²But how can you judge a small human''s potential?¡³
''I heard he injured the 7 Star Red Spider boss.''
The seventh rank was the second major wall.
The moment a martial artist surpassed that wall, they could unleash the powerful supernatural ability [Aura de], capable of imposing their will on the world.
They could also spread their mana outwards, allowing them to perceive things more clearly than with their five senses.
''Ambushing a 7 Star expert is nearly impossible.''
The fact that he aplished such a difficult feat was proof enough of this taciturn mercenary''s potential.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om
¡²Then do you intend to recruit this small human as well?¡³
''That guy is devoted to Madam. Unlike Im Jaebaek, I don''t know how to approach him.''
Simply instilling a positive impression would be enough.
As long as he could pay, he could ask Madam to utilize him as much as he wanted.
There was no need to keep him by his side.
"I''ll see youter."
"We''ll discuss business at the top in a few days. Thepensation won''t be bad."
The Humvee left the vige, kicking up a fierce cloud of dust.
Yoojin watched the Humvee depart, then boarded the fishing boat docked at the coast.
"Let''s go."
-Kaaaaaw!!
The Skr weren''t very intelligent.
Despite being reborn as 4 Star, or mid-level undead, through [Modification], their fish-like origins limited them to following simplemands.
Traveling from the East Sea to the South Sea, then the West Sea, and finally to Yeonpyeong Ind was absolutely impossible.
''It''s a good thing I stocked up on food.''
With his weapons and the subspace pocket he borrowed from Lee Seongmin, he should be able to handle any variables that arose during the voyage.
Yoojin optimistically took in the endless horizon.
£ª £ª £ª
''...There was a time when I thought that way too.''
Yoojin sat down on the deck, his face pale.
Sailing along the South Sea to Gyeonggi Province wasn''t as smooth as he had anticipated.
The first challenge was the distance.
He had thought that once he was at sea, there would be no turning back, but...
"Holy shit! What are these waves?!"
Ssh! Ssh!
Even a short distance from the coast, the waves made every bit of progress a struggle.
This was his first experience with sailing, both in his past and present life.
Naturally...
Sailing wasn''t as simple as just setting a direction and moving forward.
Even with the Skr''s strength cleaving through the waves...
The tied-together fishing boats were repeatedly tossed about by the currents.
Crash!
Once, the boatpletely capsized, sending him diving into the sea.
It was only thanks to his physical abilities, on par with a 3 Star martial artist Hunter, that he survived.
Hiss.
Just thinking about the capsizing made him taste salt.
''Ugh. I''m never sailing again.''
¡²Hahahaha. It was an amusing voyage that served as a wake-up call for your arrogance.¡³
''I''m so d you find it amusing.''
He should just drink seawater and die so the constetion would stop his nonsense.
Fortunately, he had stored all his spare food in the subspace, so he was safe even when the boat capsized.
Truly...
It was a good thing he had obtained the subspace pocket early thanks to the Arhan Guild.
''Thank you, Arhan Guild!''
As he smiled, thinking of the Arhan Guild that always provided him with opportunities...
ck smoke appeared in his vision.
¡²Isn''t that your territory?¡³
''It seems so.''
ck smoke rising above the whitish fog.
It was from the Yeonpyeong Ind coast.
''Have the Gaesung human hunters made their move?''
Yoojin''s eyes, scanning the surroundings, locked onto something.
A cargo ship near the ind.
The deck, which should have been loaded with containers, was swarming with monsters.
''A cargo ship that size wouldn''t be able to dock at Yeonpyeong Ind.''
Even if they had secured a docking point in advance,nding would be difficult.
The human hunters didn''t try to force the cargo ship closer.
Instead...
Ssh¡ª! Ssh¡ª!
"Crazy."
Tall monsters like Ogres and Trolls recklessly jumped into the sea, creating sshes.
Although the West Sea was shallower than other seas, it was still the final destination of countless rivers.
Even forrge monsters, it was deep enough that they couldn''t touch the bottom.
"Krrrroooo!"
"Gurk, guurk."
Even therge monsters like Ogres and Trolls couldn''t adapt to the sea''s depth, iling their arms and legs.
"Don''t be afraid and move!"
The human hunters urged the monsters on.
Some cracked whips from the deck, inciting the monsters'' rage.
The monsters, though struggling, advanced towards Yeonpyeong Ind.
Only about a third of those who jumped from the deck managed to reach the shore.
¡¾To think that exhausted monsters are my opponents. How dull!¡¿
Fafnir charged with a roar.
The Revenants followed, and the Skeleton Mages lined up, wary of the distant cargo ship.
''Good judgment.''
The Skeleton Mages were only 2 Star.
Low-ranking magic wouldn''t inflict significant damage onrge monsters.
Recklessly projecting firepower would only waste mana.
It was wiser to station them along the coastline to prevent the cargo ship from approaching.
¡²Reckless. To waste your forces so needlessly.¡³
''No. It''s just as effective for them.''
¡²Only 30% of them reach the shore. And even those are exhausted.¡³
''They can just capture more monsters near Gaesung.''
Monsters overflowed in the border areas.
Gate Cores that had fully assimted with thend absorbed mana from the atmosphere and the earth''s veins.
They spewed out monsters at regr intervals, so different species of monsters fought amongst themselves, regting their numbers and solving the food problem.
''They''re preserving their main force and throwing in freshly captured monsters to wear down our strength.''
Tsk¡ª
Yoojin clicked his tongue.
They must have used the same tactic to capture Yeonpyeong Ind before the regression.
He wondered how they had managed to acquire a cargo ship capable of transporting monsters.
¡²Hahaha. A dead end. How do you intend to ovee this predicament?¡³
''It seems you''ve misunderstood.''
Yoojin chuckled at Kronos''s words.
''It''s those guys who are cornered.''
-Kaaaaaw!!
The distant ancestors of the Bloodfin Salmon.
He had 79 Skr, undead crafted by awakening the origins of the magical beast Bakunawa.
If it came to a naval battle, it would be difficult to lose even if he wanted to.
"Go, my minions."
-Kaaaaaw!!!
The Skr, who had been suppressing their ferocious nature throughout the voyage, ignoring any creatures they encountered...
As soon as Yoojin gave the order, they charged towards the cargo ship with a fierce roar.
[Trantor - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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