《How to Raise Your Skeletons》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1: My Life is Doomed ¡°The goblins are advancing!¡± ¡°What are you all doing? Stop them immediately! Tanks to the front! Maintain formation!¡± ¡°Y-Yes, party leader! Understood!¡± ¡°Hey! Not there! Do you want to die to me before you be monster chow?¡± ¡°N-No! I¡¯m sorry!¡± Rough shouts and monstrous roars echoed in my ears. In front, hunters in shabby outfits were fumbling around. A typical sight in a shabby dungeon with low-level hunters. ¡°Haah,¡± a faint sigh escaped my lips as I watched them. This is so boring, I¡¯m going insane with boredom, I repeated to myself several times. What on earth was I doing here? ¡°Excuse me, Mr. Necromancer?¡± someone called out to me. ¡°Ah, yes?¡± Turning my head, I saw the party leader, who had been shouting orders since earlier. ¡°We need you to lend us some of your power, as agreed. Could you do that?¡± ¡°Of course. That¡¯s what I was hired for as a mercenary.¡± It wasn¡¯t difficult. To those fumbling rookies up front, this dungeon might be terrifying. But this was just an E-rank dungeon at best. To the ever-so-amazing necromancer, the so-called noble of nobles, these goblins were nothing more than fireflies before a full moon or a flock of sheep before a lion. Though I can¡¯t exactly im to be a true necromancer¡­ But that¡¯s a story for another time. I raised the staff I had been fiddling with. I gotta work for the money I¡¯ve been paid. A sharp sensation apanied by the draining of my energy followed. [Skill: ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton¡¯ (E-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ summoned.] [Skill: ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton¡¯ (E-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ summoned.] [Skill: ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton¡¯ (E-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ summoned.] ¡ªCreak, tter! Horrible joint noises echoed as the ck mist lifted, and three fearsome skeletons wielding weapons appeared in the dungeon. Both the charging goblins and the trembling hunters froze at the sight. Then their eyes widened in astonishment. ¡°Oh, oh?!¡± ¡°Wow, a necromancer!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the highly esteemed power of necromancy, which is considered one of the greatest authorities nowadays? Once awakened, it¡¯s a given they¡¯ll be a ranker, and top guilds will line up like ants to recruit them!¡± ¡°Wow, no wonder the party leader was soposed¡­ There was a reason for it. When did you recruit such a valuable member?¡± The hunters, tense just moments ago, now cheered excitedly. This is the prestige that the unique authority of a ¡®necromancer¡¯ holds. It¡¯s a profession akin to being born with a silver spoon in one¡¯s mouth, allowing one to live elegantly in this wretched era. Among 7.9 billion people, it was a rare profession with fewer than 1,000 such individuals. However, I shook my head, I¡¯m just a malformed necromancer. ¡°Grrr, krrrr!¡± In front of me, ten green-skinned monsters flinched. Their primary weapon was a dagger. Their small stature was reminiscent of dwarves. Alright, let¡¯s deal with them first. ¡°Kill them, my lovely skeletons.¡± ¡ªtter! At my simplemand, the three robust skeletons charged forward. They were undead. Being unkible, they had no fear of death. Hence, they swung their weapons without hesitation as they ran. [Green Goblin defeated.] [Green Goblin defeated.] [Green Goblin defeated.] ¡­ ¡ªsh! sh! The goblins were quickly ughtered by the merciless skeletons. ¡ªSt! Red blood and green skin formed a grim tableau on the ground. ¡°Wow, I¡¯m jealous,¡± the hunters marveled. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the basic skeleton summoning skill, the foundation of necromancy? But why does he only summon skeletons?¡± ¡°Well, why do you think? An E-rank dungeon is something he can handle with just skeletons.¡± ¡°I guess so, right? Wow¡­ But seriously, I¡¯m so envious¡­ So envious I could die. He can just summon undead, and they handle all the fighting for him.¡± By the way, the reason for their envy is simple. Unique authorities are not determined by effort but by innate luck. About ten years ago, every human received a unique authority upon turning twenty and bing an adult. The content of these authorities is random. Some received authorities rted to cksmithing or tailoring. Others received auxiliary authorities like exploration, healing, or buffing. Additionally, some received authorities so worthless they were pitiful. What was the worst authority I had ever seen? Shit Eater, was it? It was an authority that seemed to grow stronger the more dung you ate. Just thinking about it gave me the chills, so I¡¯ll leave it at that. Anyway. Since one¡¯s authority is determined by luck, it¡¯s natural to feel a sense of rtive deprivation. I don¡¯t know who the goddamn entity responsible for this is, however¡­ Thanks to that transcendent being, humanity survived the invasion of monstrous creatures and continued to survive. Or maybe those monsters were just more ythings to the transcendent being. ¡°Krrr!¡± Eventually, the ten goblins were reduced to mere piles of flesh. ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°That¡¯s freaking amazing¡­ They took care of it in under two minutes.¡± ¡°Man, if only I had a long-range authority like a mage or summoner, I wouldn¡¯t be suffering through this hell.¡± ¡°Right? Do they even know what it¡¯s like to face monsters up close, to feel their breath right on you?¡± I let out a bitter chuckle. Don¡¯t be too envious. To them, it might sound like I have it easy. But if they knew my circumstances, they¡¯d look at me with pity. Why do I say that? Status window. ¡ªWhoosh! As I mentally called out for the status window, a holographic disy appeared before me, visible only to my eyes, showing my personal information. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Alias: X] [Energy: 70/100] [Unique authority: Cursed Necromancer] [Rank: E] [Effect] ¨C You possess the profession of a necromancer, capable of handling dead souls. You can use fearsome spirits and toxic substances to subdue opponents. However, you are cursed. ¨C You can only summon skeletons. [Skills] ¨C Summon Ordinary Skeleton (E-rank) What the actual fudge. No matter how many times I looked, it was infuriating. A necromancer, by definition, should be able to summon reliable creatures like liches, Duhans, death knights, and the like. However¡­ ¨C You can only summon skeletons. The only thing I could summon was skeletons. In an E-rank dungeon, they might be powerful. But beyond that, they wouldn¡¯t even be treated as dog bones scattered on the ground in a D-rank dungeon or higher. ¡°¡­¡± In some ways, my life was worse than these rookies¡¯ in front of me. They at least had growth potential. Three years had passed since I received my authority, yet I hadn¡¯t managed to get past E-rank dungeons. My peers, who received their authority around the same time as me, were advancing to D-rank and C-rank dungeons. ¡°¡­¡± So to summarize this shitty situation in one phrase? It seems like my life is doomed. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Team Leader, I¡¯ve finished today¡¯s work. I¡¯ll be heading home now.¡± I said my farewell to Kim Junseo, the leader of the dungeon request team in our small mercenary guild, and stepped outside. ¡ªWhoosh! A cold breeze brushed against my face. ¡°Haah¡­¡± A sigh escaped my lips, bitter like cigarette smoke. After deducting fees and taxes, the pay for today¡¯s work will be deposited at the end of the month. With my limited authority, the only jobs I can take are E-rank dungeon requests. I need to eat and survive, after all. ¡°Damn you¡­ world.¡± The more I thought about it, the harder it hit me. What had I done wrong to deserve this curse from that transcendent being? ¡°Buddha, Jesus, God¡­ Or whoever you are, unknown deity. If you would give me power, why couldn¡¯t it be so useless that I wouldn¡¯t even have any expectations? What even is this?¡± Damn you for giving me false hope like this. ¡°If I could work in production, I wouldn¡¯t evenin.¡± Special authorities rted to everyday life are better than mediocrebat authorities. At least those can help support hunters and earn some money. By the way, today¡¯s earnings from the dungeon, after deductions, were a mere 40,000 won*. *Around $30 USD Despite this, I couldn¡¯t give up being a hunter. Because this is the only thing I want to do. A hunter¡ªthose who prove their strength within a dungeon. No matter how tough it got or how much reality hit me, I didn¡¯t want to give up this job. After all, you only live once, and you should live doing what you love! ¡°Here¡¯s some good news today!¡± ¡°What news is it?¡± ¡°Dark Lord, who sessfully cleared the Lunar Riftst time, has be a ranker in just three years! This makes him the 37th official ranker in Korea, second only to the United States worldwide. Amazing, right?¡± As I walked home, the billboard on a building disyed a hunter-rted channel. ¡°Wow, a ranker. Those are the hunters ranked within the top 1,000 in the world, right? The ones automatically updated monthly.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. Dark Lord ranked 950th this month. But! This achievement for Dark Lord holds a different meaning.¡± ¡°Oh, and what would that be?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the only hunter to be a ranker in just three years! Excluding the first-generation hunters, of course!¡± ¡°Wow! The shortest time taken to be a ranker?¡± ¡°Yes, it shows how incredible an authority necromancy really is!¡± ¡°Wow! I can¡¯t express how fortunate it is for our country to have a necromancer!¡± Yes. That right there. That¡¯s what amplifies my frustration and makes reality hit harder. Dark Lord. He¡¯s a necromancer, just like me! Moreover, we received our authorities on the same day! And one of us is already a ranker. The other is still hard-stuck at E-rank. He already has a cool alias, ¡®Dark Lord.¡¯ Meanwhile, my status window only shows my name, Joo Donghoon. Just because I¡¯m cursed. Someone might ask, What do you know? Don¡¯t speak ill without knowing how much effort that hunter, Dark Lord, put in. Instead ofining, find something constructive to do. That¡¯s a good point. To be honest, my heart is filled with envy and jealousy. It¡¯s resentment toward the transcendentj being who added an element of ¡®luck¡¯ to authorities. But that doesn¡¯t mean I never put in any effort. On the contrary, I can proudly say I¡¯m working harder than anyone else. To be a ¡®ranker.¡¯ If people knew what I was doing to achieve that, they¡¯d be shocked. ¡°¡­¡± I left the noisy billboard behind and moved toward the deserted forest path at the top of a shantytown. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Energy: 100/100] ¡°Alright.¡± The energy I used during the day had already been fully restored. Now¡­ It¡¯s time to show what efforts I¡¯ve been making and what I¡¯ve achieved so far. Chapter 2 Chapter 2: I Try My Best, Yet Look What Life Throws at Me Rankers¡ªthe aspiration and idol of all hunters and those who have seized all the world¡¯s honor, wealth, and power. The way to be one is very simple. You must have your name engraved on the ¡°World Ranking Board,¡± an enigmatic giant board that appeared in the eastern United States about ten years ago. Exactly 1,000 hunters can be listed on it in a ranked order. Some might wonder, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit strange? I can ept that being listed on the board makes you a ranker. But who decides who gets listed?¡± ¡°Right, there is no clear criteria for bing a ranker.¡± ¡°True¡­ It¡¯s quite vague. After all, skill can vary greatly depending on one¡¯s condition on any given day, and some hunters have authorities rted to support or daily life.¡± These were the questions that many had when the board first appeared. But their concerns were unfounded because the system that determines the rankings wasn¡¯t ¡°human.¡± [The rankings have been updated.] [Please refer to the World Ranking Board.] At the beginning of each month, a status message appeared to all hunters worldwide, announcing the update. Just that alone settled all disputes. No ¡°human¡± could possibly do something like that. ¡°Okay, if the system determines the rankings automatically, that¡¯s fair.¡± ¡°Yeah, as long as it¡¯s not a human, there won¡¯t be any corruption, right?¡± Humanity epted and understood the ¡°ranker¡± system without much resistance. After all, they had already deeply epted the concept of the ¡°hunter¡± system. ¡ªStep, step. I continued walking along the trail. After some time, I found a vast, empty open space. ¡°Time to get started.¡± This wasn¡¯t a space created by someone else but a space created naturally, mixed with my sweat and tears. Whenever I finished work, I naturally headed here. ¡ªCrack, crack. As soon as I arrived, I began stretching, rotating my neck. At the same time, I opened the skill window with one eye. [Skill: Summon Ordinary Skeleton] [Rank: E] [Effect 1: Consumes 10 energy to summon a low-grade skeleton. A maximum of 10 can be summoned.] [Effect 2: You can name each skeleton.] ¡°¡­¡± The familiar content greeted my eyes. Content that always induced frustration and raised my blood pressure every time I saw it. I sighed. Of course, it wasn¡¯t like this when I first got the skill. I can name the skeletons. Perhaps this skill has a feature I¡¯ve never heard of before. Maybe it¡¯s a particr authority that¡¯s different from others? It was a thought anyone could have had. Typically, a necromancer¡¯s undead are disposable. The summoned creature disappears after one use, never appearing again in subsequent summons. But I was different. Every time, I consumed energy to summon them. [Skill: ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton¡¯ (E-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ summoned.] [Skill: ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton¡¯ (E-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ summoned.] [Skill: ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton¡¯ (E-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ summoned.] ¡ªCreak, tter! With numbers attached to their names like ¡°Bonehead,¡± these familiar skeletons appeared. They weren¡¯t disposable skeletons but always the same ones. ¡°Good to see you again, all of you. Warm up and make sure to take care of your delicate joints.¡± Of course, it wasn¡¯t difficult to distinguish them, even without names, because their weapons differed. ¡°Number 1 has the big sword.¡± ¡ªng! It struck at a scarecrow set up in the corner. ¡°Number 2 has the long spear.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! Bonehead 2 also dashed toward the scarecrow on the opposite side as if not to be outdone. ¡°Number 3 has the bow.¡± ¡ªTang! Thest one drew its bowstring aiming at the target attached to a tree. Yes. This was the effort I put into bing a ranker: training. For three years, I had been tirelessly drilling these skeletons alone. Based on the assumption that the memory and skills of the summoned skeletons were preserved, I trained them in hopes of enhancing my authority. At first, there were some results. The skeletons that struggled to take down a single E-rank goblin could now easily handle three independently. However. An E-rank is an E-rank. That¡¯s all there was to it. No matter how intense the training got or how much time passed, there was a limit to their growth. I even tried getting private tutors. When I hired a C-rank hunter for expensive money, I experienced firsthand the fervor of a parent obsessed with education. Moreover, the more tragic thing was¡­ I gave up on the rest, from Bonehead 4 to Bonehead 10. Unlike Boneheads 1 to 3, the others didn¡¯t even have weapons. I tried various experiments, thinking they might be barehanded fighters or support types. ¡ªCreak? Watching them move like glitchy robots made me feel suffocated, like I would die from a fever. I tried giving them hundreds of different weapons, teaching them the martial arts I had learned, and even reading books or ying videos for them. I even took them as porters in high-ranking dungeons as shock treatment. ¡°¡­¡± But as expected, there was no response. I just wasted my precious energy. One year passed, two years, and now this was the third year. They were still just ordinary E-rank skeletons. I sighed. As a human, I couldn¡¯t help but feel exhausted. Am I really going to live this kind of life forever? ¡°Such a wretched life I live.¡± But there was no other way. Someone once said that living with an unattainable dream is better than living without a dream at all. My dream is clear¡ªto be a ranker. So, I just keep moving forward steadily. As I continued training, I felt something stirring in the dark forest. ¡ªRustle! ¡°Hm?¡± I frowned. Even though this was an unowned hill behind the vige, this was my sacred ce that no one had set foot in for the past three years. Instinctively, I became wary. ¡°Grrrr! Squeal!¡± What was that? My eyes widened. What was that sound like a pig being ughtered? One thing was sure¡ªit wasn¡¯t human. So, at best, it could be a wild boar, and at worst¡­ A monster? ¡ªCreak, tter! Boneheads 1, 2, and 3 seemed to read my mind and instinctively stopped their training. They moved closer to me, ready for battle. ¡°GRRROWR!¡± With a foul roar from up close, a monster appeared. With green skin,rge fangs, and bulging muscles, it was¡­ ¡°An orc?¡± A rather tricky monster registered as D-rank. ¡°What the¡ªwhy is an orc here?¡± I took a step back in shock. A D-rank orc might be small fry to a ranker. But to me, it was nothing but sheer terror because my avable forces were just three E-rank skeletons. Moreover, the look in its blood-red eyes clearly conveyed one thing¡ªits desire to devour. It drooled, seeming to be very hungry. [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ (E-rank) is suppressed by the presence of a stronger entity. All stats reduced by 20%!] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ (E-rank) is suppressed by the presence of a stronger entity. All stats reduced by 20%!] [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ (E-rank) is suppressed by the presence of a stronger entity. All stats reduced by 20%!] ¡°Oh, you damned creatures!¡± To make matters worse, despite three years of training, my beloved boneheads were immediately intimidated. ¡°It¡¯s like the heavens are pushing me to die.¡± The fact that an orc appeared here meant a Dungeon Break had urred. Dungeon Breaks aren¡¯t rare phenomena. But what are the odds of one urring in this deserted ce when I was alone? Hmm, maybe about the odds of getting struck by lightning while walking. ¡°Haah.¡± A deep sigh escaped my lips. How painful would it be to be crushed by those orc teeth? Will it start with my upper body or my lower body? Or will it just finish me off before eating me? ¡°Ugh.¡± Of course, I didn¡¯t intend to go down without a fight. Because I don¡¯t want to die. ¡°Huff. Hruff!¡± The orc, cautiously watching me, started charging while swinging its axe. ¡°Block it!¡± I immediatelymanded the skeletons to form a barrier. Despite being intimidated, the fearless boneheads moved without hesitation. ¡ªng! Bonehead 1, or ¡®Boney 1¡¯ for short, swung its sword to block the axe. Boney 2, with a spear, quickly joined to support Boney 1. However¡­ ¡°ROOOAAAR!¡± As the orc¡¯s powerful muscles flexed, the skeletons¡¯ bodies were quickly shattered. ¡ªCrunch! Crack! My mind went nk at the sight. [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ has been unsummoned.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ has been unsummoned.] ¡°Damned creatures!¡± The only silver lining was that Boney 3, an archer, fought from a distance. ¡ªTwang! The skeleton¡¯s bowstring snapped as it shot an arrow. Yes, Boney 3! You¡¯re my only hope. Please stay strong! Even though my life may be cursed, I still want to live. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Energy: 70/100] I checked my energy while retreating. My remaining energy was at 70, meaning I could still summon seven more skeletons. [Skill: ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton¡¯ (E-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ summoned.] [Skill: ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton¡¯ (E-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ summoned.] ¡°You guys are the tanks!¡± I quickly retreated and summoned the melee attackers again. In a life-or-death situation, I excluded summoning the useless Boneheads 4-10. ¡°Charge! Hold it off!¡± ¡ªCreak! Boney 1 and Boney 2 nodded and charged again. The strength of skeletonsy in their ability to be endlessly revived as long as I had enough energy. Right. I¡¯m sorry for being a lousy master, but please buy me some time. ¡°Roarrrr!¡± Angry at interrupting its meal, the orc roared loudly enough to shake the entire forest. It ruthlessly swung its axe at the two persistent skeletons. ¡ªTing! Ting! Boney 3¡¯s arrows bounced off the orc¡¯s tough skin. The hits weren¡¯t without impact, but they only seemed to enrage it more. Damn it all. My head felt like it was on fire. I was retreating but couldn¡¯t get too far from the skeletons as the orc¡¯s target was my soft flesh and sweet blood. I couldn¡¯t escape it with human speed if it decided to ignore everything else and focus solely on me. [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ has been unsummoned.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ has been unsummoned.] ¡°Damn it!¡± There wasn¡¯t much I could do but run with all my might and resummon the skeletons when they were unsummoned. The attacks weren¡¯t working against the D-rank orc because it was ranked high within the D-rank, but now wasn¡¯t the time for such thoughts. I fought desperately to stay alive like a frantic bug. After a few minutes¡­ [Energy depleted.] [Tip: Want to recover energy? Try resting.] ¡°Rest, my ass!¡± I was out of energy. I looked up at the sky and cursed at it. I¡¯ve been trying hard to survive, but why has this happened to me? Chapter 3 Chapter 3: Fate Just Doesn¡¯t Give Up on You ¡°¡­Ugh.¡± I had no more strength in my body. It felt like I¡¯d just had an intense sweating session in a sauna, my body growingnguid. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Energy: 0/100] This is what happens when your energy hits zero. But while my body was limp, my mind was boiling like a kettle. ¡°No way¡­¡± The desire to live, the instinct to survive, was bubbling within me. Even though part of me felt I had done enough, there was still a sting of regret in my heart. I hadn¡¯t suffered for three years just to die a meaningless death. I hadn¡¯t wanted to live such a wretched life. But the reality was a shit pit. Now, all that was left were three skeletons swaying like flickering embers in the wind. Bing a ranker, my ass. It seems I was destined to be orc food. My strength was failing. I felt both unjustly treated and frustrated. Was I just a chicken dreaming of flying high one day? Was my dream too grand for my own good? Was it such a great crime for a chicken to aspire to be like a menacing bird of prey soaring through the sky? ¡°Roar!¡± The orc let out a foulugh and a victorious roar as if sensing my psychological resignation. [Check the condition achievement message!] ¡°Huh?¡± I frowned. The message had been there for a while, but I¡¯d been too enraged to pay it any attention. ¡°¡­?¡± But then I snapped back to reality because this message was different¡ªit waspletely golden. I quickly clicked it. [Hidden condition achieved!] [This is the hidden condition for ¡®Unique Authority: Cursed Necromancer¡¯!] [Condition: The 10,000 Uses Rule!] ¨C To upgrade your unique authority, significant effort is required! ¨C Use the skill ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton¡¯ (E-rank) 10,000 times! ¡°Wha¡­?¡± My eyes widened. A dumbfounded sound escaped my mouth. Golden dust sparkled around the message. ¡ªCreak, tter? Even the skeletons facing off against the orc stood in a daze. The 10,000 Uses Rule? It was a condition I had never heard of. But then again if I had known, the ¡°hidden¡±bel would be meaningless. So does that mean¡­ I¡¯ve used my skill 10,000 times? It makes sense, considering I¡¯ve been doing this for about three years and about ten times daily. It was at that moment¡­ [Congrattions!] [Your rank has upgraded to D-rank!] Oh heavens, gods. D-rank¡­? Three years with no response, and now? Well, betterte than never, I suppose. Thanks. [A reward for the rank change has arrived!] Yeah, hurry! Give me something good! I urged the unknown entity inwardly. ¡°Huff!¡± The orc started moving again, so I had to hurry. [Energy restored!] [Energy: 100/100] ¡°Yes!¡± I shouted involuntarily. For me, energy was like extra lives. ¡ªng! ng! The orc¡¯s axe shed a few times with Boney 1¡¯s greatsword. But the sound was different from before. Instead of a brittle snap, there was a mighty ng. ¡°Ooh.¡± The skeletons¡¯ strength had changed! [Skill: ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton¡¯ (E-rank) has been upgraded!] [Skill: ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank) acquired!] In line with the message: [Skill: Summon Awakened Skeleton] [Rank: D] [Effect 1: Consumes 10 energy to summon a mid-grade skeleton. A maximum of 10 can be summoned.] [Effect 2: You can name each skeleton.] The change was simple: my ¡°low-grade¡± skeletons had evolved into ¡°mid-grade¡± ones. And one more thing. [New primary weapons have been assigned to skeletons!] [Assigned skeletons: ¡®Bonehead 4¡¯, ¡®Bonehead 5¡¯] [These skeletons will now respond to yourmand!] ¡°Huh¡­?¡± I was dumbfounded. I reread the message several times and over. Assigned primary weapons? Does that mean¡­? Memories of past hardships shed before my eyes. Had I been trying to train unawakened skeletons all this time? Had their abilities just been sealed? Those bastards should have told me sooner! I turned my attention back in front of me. ¡°Hruff! Huff!¡± The seemingly infuriated orc was growling with rage. It seemed furious about the skeletons¡¯ sudden power increase. ¡ªng! Thud! The orc struggled to fend off Boney 1¡¯s greatsword, Boney 2¡¯s spear, and Boney 3¡¯s arrows. That¡¯s right. Now those are my skeletons. They might have been weaklings at E-rank. But now that they¡¯d grown to D-rank, they could handle another D-rank monster. I had trained them with utmost dedication and sincerity. If the orc wasn¡¯t ranked on the higher end of D-rank, it would have been sliced in half by Boney 1¡¯s greatsword by now. I nodded and immediately used my energy. A hunter¡¯s duty is to test new skills as soon as they¡¯re acquired. [Skill: ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ summoned.] [Skill: ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ summoned.] With a surge of ck energy from the ground. ¡ªRumble¡­ Two skeletons emerged¡ªBoney 4 and Boney 5. ¡°Wow.¡± I looked at them in awe. Gone were the days of weaponless, nkly staring skeletons. Boney 4 held a massive shield as big as itself. Boney 5 held a staff, looking like a mage. A tank and a mage? Wow, now I could form a proper party with these skeletons. ¡ªCreak! Boney 4 stepped forward, raising its shield and crouching slightly . Then it charged at the orc. ¡°Huff?¡± The orc, in the middle of the fight, retreated in confusion. As if offended at Boney 4 for using a puny shield, the orc swung its axe fiercely. ¡ªThud! But the axe bounced off effortlessly. And behind the orc¡­ [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fireball¡¯ (Lv.1).] ¡ªWhoosh! A fireball conjured by Boney 5 fell upon the orc. ¡ªSnuffle! Snort! The orc screamed in agony as its skin was seared. ¡ªThud! Thud! Boney 2¡¯s spear pierced the orc¡¯s throat. It was an astonishingly fearsomebo attack. ¡°Wow.¡± I had done nothing. I just watched. [Strong Orc defeated.] ¡°¡­¡± My heart pounded. I felt relief at surviving a near-death situation and excitement for my new abilities. I thought¡­ I thought my life was doomed. But it seems fate doesn¡¯t just give up on you. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * I can¡¯t believe it. I tried calming myself with deep breaths, but it was useless. I was human after all. Just a few minutes ago, I thought I was on my way to the afterlife. It still didn¡¯t feel real that I was breathing. Besides. How could I be calm when the fruits of three years of effort had just been realized? I returned to my tiny basement room, finishing my training early, and stared at my status window the entire day. ¡°Hehehe.¡± A smile crept onto my lips. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Alias: X] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Authority: Cursed Necromancer] [Rank: D] [Effect] ¨C You possess the profession of a necromancer, capable of handling dead souls. You can use fearsome spirits and toxic substances to subdue opponents. However, you are cursed. ¨C You can only summon skeletons. [Skills] ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank) Nice. I clenched my fist. I had thought my life was going downhill, but now hope had returned. I had misunderstood this beautiful world, cursing it as a failure. Yes, efforts should be rewarded, no doubt about it. ¡°¡­¡± Of course, it was still a long way to reach the ranker level, where A and S-ranks dominated. A thorny path stretched before me. Who knew what antics I would have to pull to reach C-rank next? But I was happy. I had thought it was an unattainable dream. I must return to the basics. Anyway, the path I designed wasn¡¯t wrong. Only endless effort and training made one strong. That¡¯s all there was to it. And the skeletons. Honestly, I was surprised. The power of the mid-grade skeletons, now at D-rank, was beyond imagination. They were different from the undead I had studied and organized. Ordinarily, skeletons were just skeletons. I had never heard of powerful skeletons. There was no concept of ¡°mid-grade¡± skeletons. Not to mention that my skeletons could grow. Furthermore, there¡¯s one that uses magic. Unbelievable. When ites to magic-using undead, only the highest-ranking lich among the A-ranks could do that. ¡°¡­¡± For a moment, I imagined the image of Boney 5, spamming top-tier spells like Blink, Hellfire, and Blizzard Storm. And Boney 1 and Boney 2, who would be Sword Master and Spear Master. Then Boney 3 and Boney 4 would be Bow Master and Defense Master, respectively? I chuckled as I heated a cup of ramen. ¡ªSlurp! Despite eating it all year long, it tasted especially good after surviving a life-threatening situation. Anyway. There hadn¡¯t been much change in my life yet. Even tomorrow, I still had to go to the mercenary guild and earn money. I had to make a living, and I had to keep training. I hope the other five skeletons awaken soon too. This might be a premature hope. But if I keep training the first five, I believe the rest will gradually awaken, too. ¡ªPlop! Iy down on my bed after finishing my meal. I might stay up all night staring at the status window, but¡­ I had to sleep. It was a good night, in any case. * * * The next day. There was a bustling atmosphere at the Problem Solver, the mercenary guild I was affiliated to. Usually, it was a ce for E-rank and D-rank mercenaries, with a few flies buzzing around. But today, I saw some upper-tier mercenaries whose faces I had only heard about. What¡¯s going on? As I set my bag on the table, the team leader, Kim Joonseo, approached. We¡¯d known each other for so long that we were more like brothers. ¡°Hey, Donghoon! You¡¯re here! Take a look at this. This is huge!¡± ¡°Something huge?¡± ¡°Yeah, you know the Parang Guild? The one established by Giparang?¡± ¡°Yes, I know it.¡± Who wouldn¡¯t? Giparang, the ¡°Fine Bow.¡± Of the 37 rankers within Korea, including the recent addition of Dark Lord, Giparang was one of them. Giparang once shot an arrow that identally destroyed the top of a mountain. Parang was a prestigious guild that he founded. ¡°Parang hasmissioned our mercenary group. They¡¯re exploring a newly opened dungeon and need porters. The pay is ten times the usual rate!¡± ¡°¡­Ten times?¡± Typical of arge guild, they were big spenders. Ah, so that¡¯s why even the upper-tier mercenaries were here. For now, I was intrigued because a low-rank hunter rarely got a chance to enter a high-rank dungeon. ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re even epting E-ranks. Are you in? Honestly, today¡¯s requests are all trash otherwise.¡± When he said trash, he meant there were no other significant requests. I smacked my lips. Maybe because of yesterday, I couldn¡¯t just blindly ept. I learned how precious life is. After a moment of contemtion, I nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s see what kind of dungeon it is first.¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4: Sometimes Gambling Is Necessary As expected from the prestigious Parang Guild, the scale of the dungeon wasrger than expected. ¡°Look here.¡± Kim Junseo chattered as he spread out the documents he had brought. ¡°This is a newly discovered dungeon near Paju, and it¡¯s quite tough. Five teams have already failed to clear it.¡± ¡°Huh, five teams already?¡± I clicked my tongue. Failing to clear a dungeon means either all of the members died or they are still wandering inside. In other words, the difficulty is rtively high. ¡°Yes, its rank is undetermined.¡± ¡°Well, makes sense.¡± It was inevitable since no one had returned alive from it. ¡°But don¡¯t worry too much. The teams that went in before were all amateurs. Now, we¡¯re going with the famous Parang, right? Furthermore, you¡¯re just a porter, so you don¡¯t have to fight. Just work appropriately and pocket the reward, got it?¡± Kim Junseo, the team leader, waved a piece of paper in front of me. It was a participation contract provided by the Parang Guild. ¡°Hmm.¡± I closed my eyes and drummed my fingers. I was conflicted. I hadn¡¯t even thoroughly tested the abilities of the new D-rank skeletons yet. Was there a need to take risks? The tenfold reward was likely danger-pay for the dungeon yet to be ranked. Also, my mental fatigue was at its peak after encountering the orc yesterday. But. The offer was still very tempting. Firstly, such opportunities rarelye. Secondly, high-difficulty dungeon experiences bring tremendous growth for a hunter. That Dark Lord fellow did the same, I recall. That guy who received authority the same time as me had also rushed through dungeons early on. ¡°How did I upgrade my rank so quickly?¡± ¡°Why even ask? Obviously, I went to dungeons.¡± ¡°Ordinary dungeons won¡¯t do. You must aim for dungeons above your level.¡± ¡°Remember? My early nickname was Dungeon Maniac.¡± ¡°Who will take you in? You must put in the footwork. Do I have to tell you everything?¡± ¡°Anyway, remember. High-difficulty dungeons are dangerous but full of opportunities and rewards.¡± That was from an interview with Dark Lord. After it was aired, he got some k for saying that as a necromancer, which was considered overpowered already. Still, his words should be heeded as someone who became a ranker in the shortest amount of time. No matter how cocky he was, a ranker was a ranker. ¡°Hey, Donghoon. What are you thinking so long? This is a jackpot, I tell you,¡± Kim Junseo grinned and urged me. He seemed really excited because once I signed the contract, the reward would increase tenfold and so would his performance. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s said that excessive greed brings disaster¡­¡± I trailed off, and the team leader patted my shoulder and raised his eyebrows. ¡°Wow, take a look at this guy. I thought you were an ambitiousd, but it turns out you¡¯re a coward.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Team leader, isn¡¯t this about your ambition?¡± ¡°Oh,e on! Don¡¯t be so cold. I thought your dream was to be a ranker. Do you know any rankers who avoided dungeons? Even as a porter, dungeons are where you grow.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± The word ¡°ranker¡± snapped me out of my thoughts. My eyes trembled as if struck by an earthquake. He was right. Even on the brink of death in the fight against the orc, I had dreamed of being a ranker. I wanted to be stronger. What am I hesitating for? How could I be a ranker if I was afraid of going to dungeons? Anyone wouldugh at me if they knew what I was thinking. Alright, let¡¯s do it. Let¡¯s go for it. Sometimes, gambling is necessary in life. I impulsively grabbed the pen Kim Junseo held out. ¡°When do we leave?¡± ¡°Ah, a clean and fiery decision. I almost misunderstood you.¡± ¡°Quick, before I change my mind.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. It¡¯s a week from now, in front of Paju Station. The details and necessary items are all in these documents.¡± I sighed. ¡°A week, huh¡­¡± It was a bit tight, but better than nothing. Luckily, I had some time to prepare. I smiled at Kim Junseo. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take a week off. Is that okay?¡± Although I was a frencer, Kim Junseo didn¡¯t usually like one-sided leave requests. But this time, even he made this an exception. ¡°Of course. Thanks, buddy. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal soon.¡± ¡°Team leader, I¡¯m feeling a bit disappointed.¡± ¡°Huh, why so suddenly?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to treat me to dinner twice.¡± ¡°R-Really? Haha, okay. Of course, I will!¡± The team leaderughed heartily. Alright, I saved on dinner expenses. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Major Guild Parang Sends Their Reserve Team to Try Newly Opened Paju Dungeon! D-6 Days!¡± ¡°Paju Citizens Relieved?¡± ¡°Giparang the Fine Bow: ¡®It Should Be Enough with our Reserve Team! No Need to Worry.¡¯¡± ¡°Dungeon Exploration Minister: ¡®A Moment of Silence and Praying for the Safe Return of the Lost Explorers.¡¯¡± ¡°Whew.¡± There wasn¡¯t much time left. Even if I was just participating as a porter, basic preparations were required. Back at the training ground, I set up my camping gear. I nned to spend all my remaining time here for intense training. But first, I needed to assess the power of my skeletons. ¡ªWhoosh! I swung the cheap staff I had bought from a local hunter shop. [Skill: ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ summoned.] [Skill: ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ summoned.] ¡­ [Skill: ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank) activated.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ summoned.] ¡ªRattle! Using 50 energy, I summoned five skeletons from Boney 1 to Boney 5. ¡ªCreak, ck! They naturally moved into formation as I envisioned in my mind. Boney 1, Boney 2, and Boney 3 looked especially distinct. Though their rank was D, their overwhelming aura surpassed their level. This was the result of training. In the past, I didn¡¯t know. But now, I knew well. The skeletons bore the fruits of theirbor, which became more evident through their upgrades. They evolved continuously. Even these bone creatures had energy, skills, andbat senses. I wanted to make them even more potent. ¡°Alright, Bones 1 through 3, move!¡± ¡ªCreak! At mymand, they moved seamlessly. They trained against scarecrows, as usual. The only difference this time was¡­ ¡ªWhoosh! sh! A wooden scarecrow, tightly bound, was sliced cleanly by Boney 1¡¯s greatsword. ¡ªWhoosh! Thud, thud, thud! It was the same with Boney 2¡¯s case. Its designated target scarecrow was punctured like a sponge. Holy cow. They had be at least ten times stronger than before. It¡¯s not just their strength. Their speed was incredible. For a brief moment, it was hard to follow with my eyes. Ah, my heart was moved by the sight. I couldn¡¯t believe these were those pathetic skeletons from just days ago. But it¡¯s too early to be moved. ¡ªWhoosh! An arrow from Boney 3 pierced through wood, piercing again and again. A mere bone arrow had prated three massive tree trunks. ¡°Wow,¡± I eximed, my mouth open. Honestly, its impact was simr to that of a bullet. ¡°This is D-rank? It could easily overpower a C-rank¡­¡± I recalled the battle from yesterday. Thebined efforts of the skeletons had quickly eliminated the high-level D-rank orc. This was the moment I realized they had indeed be stronger. However. With strength came concerns. First, training equipment. It was now challenging to use wooden scarecrows. What improvement would wooden targets provide when my skeletons were at the level where they sliced through wood like tofu? This meant that I¡¯d have to spend more money on training equipment from now on. The second concern¡­ It was the fact that the D-rank and C-rank were much more challenging than I imagined, to the point that it wasn¡¯t possible to confront them with an average human body. Some would ask why that would be a problem. Skeletons wouldn¡¯t have an issue. I¡¯d be the one to have issues with this problem. What If a powerful enemy targeted me instead of the skeletons? If they pierced my heart or decapitated me? No matter how strong my summons were, it would be over, The End! ¡ªCreak! While I was deep in thought¡­ ¡ªClick, click! Boney 5 approached, clicking its teeth together. ¡°Hm? What¡¯s up?¡± ¡ªClick, click! Then it raised its staff and pointed it at me. ¡°Wh-What¡¯s this all of a sudden?¡± [¡®Bonehead 5¡ä used the skill ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv.1).] A soft energy enveloped my body. I felt the air tighten around me. How did it do that? Could it have read my mind? ¡ªck, ck! It clicked its teeth as if affirming my thoughts. ¡°Huh.¡± This was an even more remarkable achievement than the skeletons¡¯ increased strength. Initially, they only followed my orders, but now they expressed their intentions. And what¡¯s Air Shield? I didn¡¯t know Boney 5 had a skill other than just fireball. I wondered if there was a way to see the list of skills that it had. That would be great. ¡ªClick, click! Thud! Then Boney 4 also dropped its heavy shield and looked at me. ¡°¡­What is it this time?¡± ¡ªClick, click! It pointed to the tattered scarecrow. Which meant¡­ ¡°Are you saying you¡¯ll rece the scarecrow?¡± ¡ªClick, click! It nodded affirmatively. Boney 1, 2, and 3 also approached with glowing eyes. ¡°Alright, good. Try whatever you want.¡± Honestly, I was pleased. With Boney 4 and 5, my worries disappeared instantly. I could save money by using Boney 4 as the training dummy instead of buying new equipment, which would also serve as training for it. Boney 5 could continue practicing by protecting my life. ¡ªng! Boney 1¡¯s greatsword struck Boney 4¡¯s shield but bounced off. Though, Boney 4 also seemed to feel the impact and took a step back. ¡ªWhoosh! Above them, Boney 3¡¯s arrows rained down. ¡ªThud, thud, thud! Even the bone arrows that pierced wood couldn¡¯t prate Bonehead 4¡¯s shield. ¡°Pretty sturdy, huh?¡± Next, Boney 2¡¯s spear technique. ¡°Boney 2, attack me this time,¡± I instructed it. I also had to test Boney 5¡¯s D-rank ¡®Air Shield¡¯ for safety. Though it was a bit scary to test it on my body, it had to be done eventually to try higher-level dungeons. ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate. Strike with all your might.¡± Boney 2 hesitated in a cute manner but quickly thrust the spear at mymand. ¡ªThump! Thud! With a dull sound, my body was flung back. I sat down from the sharp pain digging into my ribs. But it wasn¡¯t bad. It was an impact I could endure. This level of sturdiness should be able to block most D-rank attacks. ¡ªClick, ck! Boney 2 seemed concerned and tilted its head. How cute. ¡°I¡¯m fine, continue.¡± I couldn¡¯t be satisfied with just one try. Attacks from enemies coulde anytime, anywhere. I also needed to develop my defensive senses andbat instincts. The sweat and blood I shed now could save my life in critical moments. After about an hour had passed, [Bonehead 1¡¯s strength has increased by 1!] [Bonehead 2¡¯s strength has increased by 1!] [Bonehead 3¡¯s strength has increased by 1!] [Bonehead 4¡¯s constitution has increased by 1!] [Bonehead 5¡¯s magic power has increased by 1!] ¡°Huh?¡± [Ta-da!] [Congrattions!] [The first growth since awakening has unlocked the status window feature!] [Tip: If you want to check the skeleton¡¯s status, look at the summoned skeleton and say ¡®Status window.¡¯] ¡°What is this?¡± A new message popped up, something I had never seen before. Chapter 5 Chapter 5: Opportunities Are Meant to Be Seized Status window? It seems like a feature used to show the status of the skeletons, just like my own. Better try it to understand better. I immediately looked at Boney 1 and said, ¡°Status window.¡± [Name: Bonehead 1] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Swordsman] [Rank: D] [Strength: 23] [Dexterity: 19] [Constitution: 20] [Magic Power: 10] [Technique: 21] [Skills] ¨C Low-Level sh (Lv.2) ¡°Wow.¡± A sound of admiration escaped my lips. Honestly, I was deeply moved. It was my first time seeing the skeleton¡¯s information after three years. The skeleton¡¯s status was almost like looking at a hunter¡¯s stats. It had energy, rank, and a unique ability. The only difference from a hunter was that it had stats like ¡®Strength,¡¯ ¡®Dexterity,¡¯ and ¡®Constitution.¡¯ Additionally, it had a ¡®ss,¡¯ and the skills had levels. I opened and examined the status windows of the other four skeletons sequentially. [Name: Bonehead 2] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Spearman] [Rank: D] [Strength: 22] [Dexterity: 20] [Constitution: 19] [Magic Power: 11] [Technique: 20] [Skills] ¨C Low-Level Thrust (Lv.2) [Name: Bonehead 3] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Archer] [Rank: D] [Strength: 17] [Dexterity: 23] [Constitution: 17] [Magic Power: 10] [Technique: 24] [Skills] ¨C Low-Level Rapid Fire (Lv.2) ¨C Secure Visibility (Lv.2) [Name: Bonehead 4] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Shieldman] [Rank: D] [Strength: 10] [Dexterity: 10] [Constitution: 11] [Magic Power: 10] [Technique: 10] [Skills] ¨C Low-Level Block (Lv.1) ¨C Low-Level Taunt (Lv.1) [Name: Bonehead 5] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Mage] [Rank: D] [Strength: 10] [Dexterity: 10] [Constitution: 10] [Magic Power: 11] [Technique: 10] [Skills] ¨C Fireball (Lv.1) ¨C Air Shield (Lv.1) ¡°Wow¡­¡± Boney 1 to 3 seemed to have higher stats from previous training, while Boney 4 and 5, having recently acquired their weapons, only had their basic stats. So it wasn¡¯t a waste of three years. The results of my efforts were now visible before my eyes. To someone who felt trapped in darkness, this was enough to be deeply moving. Now I just need to train themprehensively, right? My heart pounded. Like other necromancers, the dream of forming my own small army was growing closer to reality. I was a step closer to achieving the desire to continuously strengthen them, surpassing A-rank and S-rank. ¡°Alright, you guys.¡± ¡ªCreak? Resting for a moment, the skeletons turned their heads toward me. Their open jawbones looked particrly charming today. ¡°Let me ask you a favor,¡± I grinned with a shameless expression, ¡°since you were summoned as my skeletons.¡± Six days left until the dungeon. ¡°Be the strongest skeletons in the world for me, will ya?¡± ¡ªClick, ck! They cked their teeth cutely. That must be a sign of agreement, right? And at the same time, the training began in earnest. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * Time flew by. During my time off work, I extensively tested the skeletons¡¯ new skills. As my energy depleted each time, theirs fluctuated between 0 and 10. I also didn¡¯t neglect my physical training with running, push-ups, pull-ups, and more. Nothing is better for mental fortification than exercise. Then, on the morning of the seventh day, I headed to Paju Station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line, as guided by Team Leader Kim Junseo. I had packed my backpack with a sleeping bag and ample emergency food. My role here is a porter. There¡¯s no profession as suited for a necromancer as being a porter. Despite the training, having five skeletons capable of heavy lifting is quite beneficial. ¡°Over here! All participating mercenaries, pleasee this way and follow instructions!¡± ¡°Yes, please wait in front of the dungeon! We will enter together shortly!¡± Upon arrival, guild members from Parang controlled the hunters, and dozens of mercenaries were already waiting. Paju Station and the dungeon were quite close. About 200* meters ahead, a dark aura emanated, and there was a hole in its midst. It was the typical appearance of a naturally formed dungeon. * ¡Ö 218 yards ¡°Haah, I¡¯m nervous¡­¡± ¡°It seems like a high-difficulty dungeon.¡± Mercenaries with dark expressions whispered amongst themselves. ¡°Right, the darker the area around the hole, the higher the difficulty orplexity of the dungeon.¡± ¡°But hey, it¡¯s Parang we¡¯re going with. What could possibly go wrong?¡± ¡°Hah, whatever happens. I just want to finish quickly and enjoy hot soup and soju¡­¡± ¡°Sounds great!¡± Everyone was thinking alike. Most mercenaries shared the same sentiment as Kim Junseo: they felt safe because they were with a major guild. But I thought differently. Safe, my ass. The world is full of dungeons and countless missing hunters. Countless sacrifices and deathsy beneath the morous spotlight of ¡°rankers.¡± Such undiscovered dungeons could be especially dangerous, even for major guilds. Someone might ask me, ¡®Then why go in?¡¯ Because I didn¡¯te here to y it safe; I came to bet my life on this journey and to seize any opportunities that might arise. Though I would be a porter, my mindset was fundamentally different from other mercenaries. ¡°¡­¡± Clutching my staff in silence, I waited for a long time. A faint breath brushed my ear. ¡°Excuse me, you there, holding the staff?¡± I flinched. My body trembled. Goosebumps rose all over my body. I felt no presence from the direction of the voice. Moreover¡­ ¡°¡­?¡± Not only was there no presence but there was also no figure. Only a young-sounding woman¡¯s voice, cold and sharp, echoed. ¡°Hm, interesting. Judging from the energy, you must be at least a D-rank. No, higher, but you have an E-rank badge. And you¡¯re a porter? Who are you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± I nced at the white E-rank badge hanging from my waist. I had awakened to D-rank but hadn¡¯t updated it, so officially, I was still E-rank. But more importantly¡­ ¡°¡­Who are you?¡± I asked, tense. Instinctively, I knew the opponent was at least an A-rank or higher individual. In this changed world, the hunters to be most cautious of were those who could perfectly conceal their presence, like this one. If someone like that harbored malice andmitted murder silently, modern technology would never be able to track them down. So I tried to be as polite as possible. But for some reason, the voice grew even colder. ¡°Well, didn¡¯t I ask a question first? What could possibly be your ulterior motive, applying as a porter with Parang while hiding your skills?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± She seemed to have a huge misunderstanding. I had only awakened my power by chance a week ago. Since then, I¡¯ve been busy training. And besides. How could she even detect such fine details? As expected from someone affiliated with a major guild, I guess? Quite frankly, I really couldn¡¯t understand. This treatment felt unfair. Parang was abundant with A-rank hunters already, so what difference would a D-rank or E-rank make? As I made a troubled expression, the chilling voice spoke again. ¡°Hm? You seem suspicious. Are you a spy trained to act?¡± ¡°Wha¡­?¡± A spy? ¡°Did you underestimate Parang¡¯s intelligencework? Did you think we wouldn¡¯t know you were a spy sent by a rival guild?¡± ¡ªSsssh! The voice¡¯s owner appeared with a slight breeze. Her appearance was simple. She wore practical leather clothes forbat, a light assassin¡¯s dagger, and neatly tied ck hair. But beyond all that¡­ Are you kidding me? I was shocked inwardly because I saw what was tied to her waist. It shone so brightly it was blinding. A golden badge! The dream of all hunters, only granted to S-rank and above. Which means¡­ I finally realized who the voice belonged to. Gi Soyul, the Dark Empress¡ªone of the 37 rankers in South Korea. The only sister of Kiparang, the Blue Guild master. Moreover, with her unique assassination ability, she was someone you should never make an enemy of. ¡ªTremble, tremble. My body shook uncontrobly. Not just because I was scared but because I was talking to the ranker I had always dreamed of meeting! ¡°Um, ranker. I think there¡¯s been a misunderstanding¡­¡± I quickly responded. No matter how much I admired a ranker, I had to correct the facts. Seeing the nearby mercenaries tilt their heads in confusion, I realized her voice and presence were only audible to me. But it didn¡¯t matter as this concerned my precious safety. ¡°I am not a spy from a rival guild. I¡¯m only D-rank¡­ For Parang to consider a rival guild, it would have to be a major guild. So why would they use someone like me?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Gi Soyul chuckled all of a sudden. Then she said, ¡°I was just teasing you, but your reaction is interesting.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± What is this? I didn¡¯t understand at all. Why would someone of her stature y such a prank on a nobody like me? Or did she do a background check? Training skeletons in a vacant lot overnight could have caught a ranker¡¯s attention. My heart raced wildly. Regardless of the circumstances, a ranker¡¯s interest was a heaven-sent opportunity. There was no time to feel offended about the prank. My passion for rankers was that sincere. Moreover, look at that smile. There was not a hint of malice, only curiosity. ¡°My apologies if I was rude.¡± She bowed her head politely. ¡°I got a bit nosy. You looked quite intriguing.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°An E-rank badge with the energy of at least five high D-rank beings. That¡¯s enough to make me curious.¡± ¡ªScritch, scritch. She scratched her cheek with her finger before she said, ¡°It¡¯s a bit suspicious, don¡¯t you think? Though not enough for Parang to be concerned.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± I had nothing to say. She had a point. Maybe I should have updated my badge despite being busy. No, more importantly¡­ Did she gauge my power just from sensing my aura? A chill ran down my spine. The gap between me and a ranker felt insurmountable, almost awe-inspiring. Noticing my feelings, Gi Soyul chuckled. ¡°My brother asked me to help squad 2 with reconnaissance. So I was looking for a porter, and you seemed suspicious. And interesting.¡± ¡°Reconnaissance¡­?¡± I asked, dumbfounded. A reconnaissance unit prepares the area before the main force enters. As expected of the Parang Guild. I wondered why only their reserve team was sent to a dangerous dungeon. Turns out they sent a ranker too. It made so much more sense now. ¡°What do you think?¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s gaze met mine directly. Her intense aura felt like it could make me lose my mind. ¡°For potential spy management, would you like to join the recon unit? It might be dangerous. But you seem the most capable among the porters. And you don¡¯t look like you¡¯d run away in fear.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± ¡°Of course. I have an eye for people. And I promise to double your pay.¡± Whoa, what? A dungeon expedition with a ranker? And double the pay? Ten times doubled would be twenty! There was zero reason to refuse this opportunity. Actually, for me right now, I¡¯d join the recon unit even without pay. I quickly nodded before she could change her mind. It seems an opportunity came faster than I expected. Chapter 6 Chapter 6: The Unranked Dungeon Dungeon ranks. The quantified subjective difficulty determined by humanity since the system didn¡¯t define the difficulty of dungeons. A famous ranker once said in the media, ¡°You want to know the rank of a dungeon beforehand? Unfortunately, there¡¯s no such way. The only way is to go in and check the difficulty yourself.¡± The system was quirky. It was kind in some aspects. Yet in other ways, it was incredibly unfriendly. It would be convenient if it just told you the rank before entering. ¡°One hint I can give is to check the brightness of the color surrounding the dungeon. The lower the brightness, the higher the chance it is a high-difficulty dungeon.¡± However, this was not guaranteed. The difficulty was subjective to begin with. Many evaluated it as inadequate, relying on probability and statistics. Thus, the World Hunter Association had to establish a standard. The standard was simple. ¡°If more than five hunters of a certain rank cannot clear the dungeon, its rank is adjusted upward!¡± For example, if more than five A-rank hunters participated but failed to clear it, the dungeon was considered an S-rank. This was a rather brute-force standard, but hunters were quite satisfied. Dungeon idents significantly decreasedpared to when there was no standard. Still, this method inevitably required sacrifices. ¡°What about dungeons where people go in, but no onees out?¡± ¡°Indeed. In the end, we can only specte until someone goes in and checks.¡± ¡°Then, who will go in?¡± ¡°Some teams aiming for a jackpot do enter.¡± ¡°Hm, well¡­ It¡¯s their freedom, but shouldn¡¯t a higher-level guild check it? Some people are scared.¡± In short, due to these issues, we call such dungeons ¡°unranked dungeons,¡± which is also the type of dungeon I¡¯m about to enter. Ultimately, major guilds agreed to participate and verify if such dungeons were not cleared within a specific time frame. While it might seem obligatory as it¡¯s designated by the association, it¡¯s not really done out of a sense of Noblesse Oblige. High-difficulty dungeons promise high rewards. This leads to fierce biddingpetitions. However. Even major guilds must manage safety, as sending their reserve teams recklessly could lead to massive losses in power. Therefore, they send a ¡®reconnaissance unit¡¯ before the primary exploration. Thanks to that, I could sniff out the dungeon far earlier than other mercenaries. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * Is it a cave? [Entering the dungeon.] With a chilly sensation, the surroundings changed. The field type was a cave. ¡ªDrip, drip! Water dripped from the ceiling here and there. Fortunately, the luminescent pearls embedded sporadically in the walls made visibility easy. ¡°Oh, luminescent pearls? They would sell for a good price if we took them.¡± ¡°Be careful. Don¡¯t you know hunters who recklessly touched things in dungeons and ended up dead?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying.¡± Unlike my tense state, Gi Soyul and her members chatted casually while stretching. There were four members in total, excluding me. Apart from S-rank Gi Soyul, they all wore purple A-rank badges. ¡°¡­¡± I gulped. The people joking andughing next to me were anything but ordinary. These were top hunters you¡¯d rarely see even on television, hunters with aliases. ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t be too rxed. Stay alert,¡± Gi Soyul, the Dark Empress, said. ¡°Swift Sword, Little Fire, you two will circle this ce with me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± As expected of her reputation as a ranker, the A-rank hunters, who looked friendly with each other, bowed politely. ¡°And Kang Sunwook, the Guide?¡± ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Find the exit. Cover for the porter as well.¡± ¡°As expected, I knew it.¡± The middle-aged hunter, Kang Sunwook, nced at me and nodded. ¡°Are you confident?¡± I asked. ¡°If I weren¡¯t, my alias wouldn¡¯t exist.¡± Unlike the others, he had an alias called ¡°the Guide¡±, which was somewhat unique. The name was given by the system because he was excellent at finding paths in dungeons. He was a perfect fit for the recon unit. ¡°Then let¡¯s get moving.¡± Gi Soyul turned and ran off without saying anything more to me. Oh, did I tell her? With no name or alias, I was only referred to by the word ¡°porter.¡± Even if I had the rare, unique ability of ¡°necromancer¡± and three years of experience dominating E-rank dungeons like a king, I was just a rookie to them. That was my current position. ¡°Hey, porter. Nervous?¡± Kang Sunwook asked with a smile. He seemed to be an extrovert since he told me to speakfortably when we first met. I called him hyung, and he seemed like a big brother. ¡°Well¡­ I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then stay nervous.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± I tilted my head. ¡°For the record, this dungeon has many suspicious aspects. The ranker Dark Empress didn¡¯t tell us to stay alert for nothing.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± Come to think of it¡­ Gi Soyul¡¯s expression did seem somewhat urgent. Even if this dungeon was unranked, it was one that only a few amateur teams failed to clear. Why would a world top 1,000 ranker seem so rushed? ¡°This dungeon is excessively quiet. The structure is simple, and there are likely no monsters. In such a narrow cave, you¡¯d expect some vibration or resonance if living creatures were here. This means there could be unique, hidden mechanisms.¡± ¡°Wow, you can tell all that before scouting?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve been in dungeons for years.¡± He chuckled. ¡°Follow me. Let¡¯s find the exit first, as instructed.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± I followed him. Our direction was opposite of where Gi Soyul had gone. Cold sweat trickled down my back and palms, but I didn¡¯t hesitate. Being with an expert gave me a reassuring feeling. But that feeling didn¡¯tst long. ¡°Man, this is unsettling.¡± ¡°Hmm, strange¡­ No traps, no clues¡­ This is quite a bizarre dungeon.¡± ¡°Hey, porter. Do you feel heavy, or is it just me?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The further we walked, the stranger Kang Sunwook¡¯s expression became. The air grew thicker, weightier; as he said, my body felt heavier. A sticky and dense sensation dragged my body downward. A chill ran down my spine. ¡°This feels creepy. Are we sure about continuing this way?¡± ¡°Not sure. This feeling is new to me. I didn¡¯t feel like this even when facing a ranker.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°It feels like there¡¯s some unbelievable presence in here. Damn, you said you¡¯re a necromancer, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Summon something for now. I¡¯ll help as much as possible, but you should be ready to protect yourself.¡± ¡°¡­¡± His words were terrifying. But I had to follow the expert¡¯s advice. [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ summoned.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ summoned.] [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ summoned.] [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ summoned.] [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ summoned.] ¡ªCreak, creak! Using 50 energy, I summoned all avable skeletons. I then positioned the shield-bearing Boney 4 in front. I ced the archer Boney 3 and mage Boney 5 on the nks. And I put Boney 1 and Boney 2 in the rear. Damn, did I name them too casually? I didn¡¯t know they would grow this much when I first got the unique authority and named them. I didn¡¯t expect to use those names until now. ¡°Oh, skeletons? Got any better ones?¡± ¡°No, just these¡­¡± I grumbled at his question, my pride taking a stab. But I couldn¡¯t¡­ ¡°Ugh?¡± ¡­Because an unpleasant aura engulfed the space. The pressure was immense, making it hard to breathe. It felt like being in a sauna for over 10 minutes; my insides began to heat up. ¡°G-Guide hyung?¡± ¡°Damn it! Keep walking! There¡¯s an open area ahead!¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ What¡¯s different if we reach the open area?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! But I feel several presences there! If someone¡¯s there, it means it¡¯s habitable, right?¡± ¡°Presences?¡± ¡°Who knows! It could be the previous teams. Or monsters. Just move!¡± Damn it, I don¡¯t know anymore. I couldn¡¯t even open my mouth, couldn¡¯t open my eyes. My eardrums felt clogged, my knees buckled under the pressure. Boney 5 used its skill at that moment. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv.1).] [¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv.1) is shattered.] ¡°Gah?¡± Blood spurted from my mouth. Unbelievable. The pressure was enough to shatter a skill the moment it was cast! I instinctively yelled, ¡°Damn it, Boney 1!¡± I needed the help of the skeletons to get out of this passage. It was my only option now. Besides, Kang Sunwook was already far ahead of me. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Is this for real? A newly appeared dungeon in Paju turned out to be a super high-difficulty dungeon that made even a ranker tense. After being given a half-assed unique authority, there seemed to be another reason the holy transcendent disliked me. Damn it. I want to live. Rankers were whatever. First, I needed to survive to achieve anything! As I muttered frantically to myself¡­ ¡°Huff!¡± The suffocating pressure disappeared like it never existed. I finally reached the open area Kang Sunwook mentioned. [You have reached the stage ¡®An Elderly Man with White Hair Filled with Deep Resentment.¡¯] What the hell? ¡®An elderly man with white hair filled with deep resentment?¡¯ What is this now? * * * The open area was about three times the width of the previous passage. The floor had some sort of pattern drawn on it, and a pitch-ck artificial ¡®door¡¯ was embedded in the center of the left wall. And then a message popped up. ¡ªRing! [Stage: An Elderly Man with White Hair Filled with Deep Resentment] [His resentment is so deep that icy frost forms in his hair.] [Enter the room and defeat the old man.] ¡°Huh?¡± I could tell instinctively that the old, white-haired man inside that artificial ¡®door¡¯ was the boss of this dungeon. The pressure I felt came from that ¡®door¡¯. The closer we got to this open area, the stronger the pressure was. But the fact that we can breathe in this open area must mean¡­? I looked down at the pattern on the floor. Hmm, could this be some sort of magic circle blocking the aura? No, more importantly¡­ ¡°P-People!¡± ¡°Finally, hunters have arrived! A-Are you the reinforcement team?¡± About ten men and women were gathered in the open area. Judging by the colors of their badges at their waists, most were C-rank (green) or D-rank (yellow) hunters. They looked at me and Kang Sunwook and cried out. ¡°A purple badge! An A-rank hunter!¡± ¡°And skeletons? A necromancer! It¡¯s a rescue team! Please save us and get us out of here,¡± they sobbed. ¡°But first, give us some food¡­ or water. We¡¯re so thirsty.¡± Different ages and genders, but they all had one thing inmon. They were all extremely emaciated. It made sense since there was no food or water in this area. It made sense for them to have such appearances if they had been trapped here for a long time without an exit. ¡°Phew, let¡¯s distribute emergency food first.¡± Kang Sunwook looked at me. ¡°¡­¡± I was slightly upset at seeing him run away alone to save himself. But I had to understand. He warned me beforehand, and that¡¯s how dungeons work. I nodded and handed out some chocte bars and water bottles to them. As a porter hired by a major guild, I had emergency supplies for potential survivors. ¡°W-Water!¡± ¡°Food!¡± They rushed me like zombies in an apocalypse, devouring the food ravenously. ¡°¡­¡± My chest felt tight. Could this be my future if things went wrong? ¡°Everyone, please eat slowly.¡± Middle-aged Kang Sunwook stroked his beard and stepped forward. After a while of watching them finish their meal, he spoke slowly. ¡°Could you exin what happened here?¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7: This is Seriously Hopeless. ¡°I¡¯ll speak on behalf of my team.¡± A man stepped forward toward Kang Sunwook. ¡ªTap! He touched the blue badge hanging on his waist. ¡°As you can see, I¡¯m a B-rank hunter. Among the survivors here, I¡¯m of the highest rank.¡± At his words, the crowd fell silent. Kang Sunwook and I, along with the survivors, naturally focused on him. He let out a sigh of breath and began to speak. ¡°This ce¡­ is hell. I¡¯ve been a hunter for some time but never encountered such a strange dungeon.¡± ¡°A strange dungeon?¡± ¡°Yes, look. There¡¯s no exit.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s true.¡± Kang Sunwook, the Guide, nodded in agreement. It was indeed bizarre, even from an expert¡¯s perspective. ¡°From the starting point, no matter which direction you go, you end up in front of this ¡®door.''¡± Kang Sunwook furrowed his brow, but the man continued without concern. ¡°Then, we were tightly bound by this aura, unable to leave. The food and water we brought are long gone. Ultimately, all we can do here¡­ is to challenge what¡¯s beyond that ¡®door.''¡± Faced with starvation, the survivors chose to risk their lives on the challenge. The survivors, looking grim, began to chime in. ¡°He¡¯s right. We were really hungry. We wanted to live. If there were bats around, we would have eaten them raw.¡± Starvation. ¡°To survive, we all had to go through that ¡®door.¡¯¡± Survival instinct. ¡°But¡­ the clear condition is insane. How can anyone defeat that thing?¡± ¡°Exactly. ¡®An elderly man with white hair, filled with deep resentment,¡¯ was it¡­? That guy is insane. It¡¯s impossible to beat him. Whether you¡¯re D-rank, C-rank, or even B-rank, we were like infants before that old man.¡± Despair. ¡°Ah, thank you foring.¡± ¡°A-rank hunter, thank you. You can get us out of this hell, right?¡± And a faint glimmer of hope. Desperation was engraved in the lifeless eyes of the survivors. We seemed to have arrived when they¡¯d nearly given up on themselves due to their harsh and grueling experience. ¡°¡­¡± I felt a bitter taste in my mouth. Is this the true face of dungeons, hidden behind the mor of ¡®rankers¡¯? But. One question arose. ¡°Excuse me, but¡­¡± I asked immediately. ¡°If the old man, no, the boss, was so strong, how are you all still alive?¡± It was strange. What kind of dungeon boss would spare the challengers? They said they entered the door, so did the boss kindly throw them back out? ¡°Good question.¡± The B-rank hunter smiled slightly and nodded. ¡°I understand. That was my first question when I arrived as ater.¡± He exined, ¡°Surprisingly, the old man doesn¡¯t kill people. He simply epts challengers. And he conducts a sort of test.¡± ¡°A test?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact details. He just subdued us painfully, agonizingly, and then clicked his tongue, saying ¡®this one¡¯s not fit,¡¯ and threw us back out.¡± The man grimaced, his body trembling. Hmm, I guess just imagining it must be agonizing. So, he doesn¡¯t kill? ¡°¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t fully understand the B-rank man¡¯s exnation. What kind of dungeon is this? ¡°It¡¯s strange, right? Think about it. An old man is still a person. This is the first time a dungeon boss has been human since the world changed.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not like a dwarf or an elf, but definitely a human, right?¡± ¡°Yes, absolutely. Though he seemed a bit senile.¡± ¡°¡­¡± An actual human as a boss? Is that even possible? Kang Sunwook and I looked at the man in silence. I closed my eyes. Whatever it is¡­ In the end, we¡¯re trapped here like them. We must open that ¡®door¡¯ andplete the mission to find an exit. I don¡¯t trust Kang Sunwook for this. As his alias suggests, he¡¯s a hunter specialized in guiding. Seeing him struggle against the pressure from the door, clearing this dungeon seemed unlikely. So, what should I do? As my brow furrowed deeply in contemtion, ¡°Mr. Kang?¡± There was no need to ponder any longer. In the distance, I sensed the presence of ranker Gi Soyul. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Hmm¡­ Alright.¡± After hearing a brief exnation from Kang Sunwook, Gi Soyul simply nodded. ¡°We should go in right away. Judging by the aura, these survivors aren¡¯t doppelgangers or traps. The system also indicated a mission. It does bother me that the aura is intense, but we can¡¯t sit around, can we?¡± Thinking too long wouldn¡¯t yield answers. In that case, let¡¯s face it head-on. That was her thinking. And then¡­ ¡°Wow!¡± ¡°We¡¯re saved! Three A-ranks and one S-rank!¡± ¡°An S-rank. Is this a dream?¡± ¡°Oh my god, I¡¯m so moved. Is it really the Parang Guild? From now on, I¡¯ll bow toward the Parang Guild headquarters every morning. Don¡¯t stop me.¡± The survivors cheered at her confident words. The atmosphere waspletely different from when they saw Kang Sunwook and me. Well, it makes sense. How can an A-rank outshine an S-rank? Especially someone ranked within the top 1,000. I, too, felt a slight thrill at her presence. ¡°Porters and survivors, stay here. We¡¯ll take care of this.¡± Her words were reassuring. Regardless of sess or failure, her spirit wasmendable. Assuming the man¡¯s story was true, it didn¡¯t matter even if they failed. The boss didn¡¯t kill people. Given time, the Parang Guild¡¯s first team and numerous elite rescuers would undoubtedlye. She is the only sister of the renowned archer Giparang. And Giparang wouldn¡¯t ignore his sister¡¯s disappearance. ¡°Then, let¡¯s go. Everyone, prepare yourselves.¡± Gi Soyul tied her hair back. She prepared her dagger and strapped shurikens to her waist. The other A-rank hunters also stretched with determined expressions. ¡°The old man tests us, right? Let¡¯s pass that test.¡± ¡°Just hearing about it sounds tough. I wonder what kind of reward awaits.¡± They confidently opened the door and entered. But soon after¡­ ¡°Aaaargh!¡± ¡°It hurts! Damn, it hurts!¡± Bruised all over, A-rank hunters came flying out. ¡°¡­?¡± ¡ªBang! Even the ranker Gi Soyul was flung against the cave wall with blood all over her. And the previously ominous ¡®door¡¯ shut quietly, as if it had always been that way. What the¡­? I gaped. Rankers were the idols of all hunters and my ultimate goal! Yet, such a ranker was incapacitated in less than 10 minutes¡­ Contrary to their earlier confidence, they looked utterly defeated. The hopeful survivors watched in despair. ¡°¡­Not fit, me? That¡¯s ridiculous,¡± Gi Soyul muttered with a frustrated expression. Then she looked at me. ¡°Mr. Porter.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Hand me an advanced-level potion from your bag. I¡¯m going in again.¡± What is this woman saying? After getting beaten up, does she still want to go again? ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes, the survivors were right. The old man didn¡¯t kill me. He just subdued me painfully.¡± ¡°Then¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m determined now. He¡¯ll see if I¡¯m truly fit or not.¡± Fit? Does the old man look for worthy talents? It¡¯s a term usually used when a master seeks a disciple. If so¡­ The old man¡¯s ¡®resentment.¡¯ Could it be from not finding suitable talents? ¡°Anyway, give me the potion.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ Be careful.¡± I handed her the potion. And thus began her extraordinary challenge. An endless challenge. * * * Time passed. ¡°Huff, huff!¡± As expected of a ranker. Gi Soyul¡¯s tenacity was impressive. The other A-rank hunters shook their heads and gave up. ¡°Wow, this is infuriating.¡± But she pushed on, even as her clothes were torn to rags. ¡°Just what is his problem? What more does he want from me?¡± ¡°That cheeky old man. I thought he only mastered swordsmanship, but he¡¯s good with a spear, too. Fine, let¡¯s see who wins.¡± Days passed, and her challenge continued without pause. ¡°Aaaah!¡± ¡°That old man! What is his deal? He can use magic, too! How can anyone clear this?¡± Despite being abat ranker, she was helpless. ¡°¡­¡± I shook my head. I take it back for saying it didn¡¯t matter if she failed or not. This was a severe problem. Even if Giparang came to rescue her, the problem ensued. I¡¯d never seen him, but the gap between her and the old man seemed huge. I had a feeling that even five rankers might not defeat the old man. So was this dungeon SS-rank? ¡°Alright. I admit it.¡± She nodded. ¡°The old man is strong. Very strong. But as long as I¡¯m alive, I¡¯ll keep challenging him.¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s eyes still burned with determination. ¡°Wow¡­¡± I was genuinely impressed. Is this the mindset of a ranker? Is this the dedication needed to be in the world¡¯s top 1,000? I was honestly envious. This was an endless training opportunity without the fear of death. Is this the fortune in dungeons Dark Lord spoke of? But as more time passed, problems began to surface. ¡°Does time flow differently in this dungeon? The rescue team isn¡¯ting.¡± ¡°Mr. Kang, emergency food is running low. We¡¯re consuming them sparingly, but it¡¯s not enough.¡± ¡°It feels like it¡¯s been over two weeks.¡± ¡°I¡¯m exhausted. It¡¯s so suffocating.¡± Unable to clear the dungeon, the survivors started to struggle. ¡°We¡¯re all doomed. We were destined to die here.¡± One low-ranked hunter even lost his mind and cried. Moreover¡­ I¡¯m frustrated, too. Even as a porter, I came here for growth. I trained the skeletons sporadically. I started to think that it might¡¯ve been better to explore other dungeons during the time I wasted here. And honestly, I was also scared. What if we were trapped in here for even longer without any food or rescue? ¡°That can¡¯t happen.¡± I clenched my fists then approached the resting Gi Soyul. Come to think of it, all the hunters here had gone through the ¡®door¡¯ and came back. Except me. It was too unfair for me not to try. Opportunities should be equal. It wasn¡¯t fair for her to monopolize the chance because she¡¯s a ranker, especially after all this time without clearing it. And, though unlikely¡­ What if I¡¯m the talent the old man seeks? ¡°¡­?¡± Gi Soyul looked puzzled as I approached as if to ask what business a porter would have with her. She clearly looked exhausted. I bit my lip and said, ¡°Ms. Soyul.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Porter?¡± ¡°I think I should try going in.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± A strange silence fell over the open area at my deration. Chapter 8 Chapter 8: Master of All Techniques (1) Soon, the people around began murmuring. ¡°Huh? Did I hear that right? A porter wants to enter a dungeon where even a ranker failed?¡± ¡°Judging by his training, he seems to be a necromancer. Hmm¡­ But still, it¡¯s not going to work. Unless he¡¯s Dark Lord or something.¡± ¡°Right. Isn¡¯t he just a novice necromancer who can only summon skeletons?¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯d better stay put and not cause any trouble. No matter how frustrated you are.¡± ¡°Yeah, the old man boss hurts, you know.¡± Some shook their heads in disbelief. Others tried to dissuade me gently. With the atmosphere already dampened by Gi Soyul¡¯s repeated failures, they were likely worried I¡¯d cause unnecessary discord. ¡°Hey.¡± At that moment, one of Parang¡¯s A-rank hunters stepped forward. It was Shin Sunghoon, known by the alias ¡°Swift de.¡± ¡°You should act like a porter and just carry the baggage. Know your ce.¡± He spoke roughly. I understood. It was a frustrating situation, and now a rookie porter was stepping up, which must have been annoying. Well¡­ Under normal circumstances, I might have lost my nerve. Especially considering his fierce aura was far more intimidating than the orc I¡¯d faced. ¡°¡­¡± In fact, I felt suffocated. So this must be what murderous intent feels like, the feeling that my head could be dropped to the floor at any moment by his sword. But my gaze remained firm. I didn¡¯t back down. Why? Because they failed every time. They kept challenging the boss despite failing. They had plenty of chances. So isn¡¯t it fair for me to have a go? ¡°Oh, look at this one. Not blinking an eye, huh? It seems the Dark Empress¡¯s courtesy makes you think you¡¯re someone special¡­¡± Swift de murmured quietly as he approached. His hand was already on the hilt of his sword at his waist. A momentter¡­ ¡°Stop it.¡± A firm voice broke the tense silence in the cave. Everyone turned their heads. The voice belonged to Parang¡¯s second-inmand, the Dark Empress. With an inscrutable expression, she stared directly at me. ¡°Why? Is it because you don¡¯t trust me?¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s voice was even, devoid of highs and lows. Was she exhausted? Or was it because her pride was hurt? ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± A brief silence followed my answer. After the evesting suffocating moment, her lips slowly parted. ¡°ording to the original contract, you are a porter. You can¡¯t give opinions on dungeon exploration.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°Then may I ask why you want to challenge?¡± She tilted her head slightly as she asked. ¡°They said the old man is looking for someone ¡®fit,¡¯¡± I replied. ¡°And?¡± ¡°I thought the old man¡¯s ¡®resentment¡¯ might be about finding a worthy disciple. And a worthy disciple means potential. It doesn¡¯t necessarily mean current skill.¡± ¡°Oh, so you want to make the old man your master rather than defeat him?¡± ¡°That might be the hidden clear condition.¡± A hidden piece. asionally, dungeons had alternative ways to clear them. And in such cases, the rewards were usually greater. ¡°A hidden piece, you say¡­¡± Gi Soyul pondered, touching her chin. ¡°That¡¯s all good. But how do you n on bing his disciple? Are you saying you have more potential than me?¡± Gi Soyul frowned slightly. Swift de also red fiercely. Hmm, the atmosphere seems to keep getting tense. I quickly waved my hand. ¡°No, that¡¯s unlikely¡­¡± ¡°I see you didn¡¯tpletely deny it.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Damn. I might get shed to death before I even get to challenge him. I hurriedly came up with another excuse. ¡°It¡¯s not that. I mean, the pain¡­ Yes, the pain! Everyone else has experienced it. I¡¯m the only one who hasn¡¯t. I feel out of ce. And aren¡¯t you resting right now anyway?¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Gi Soyul let out a smallugh. She looked like she had expected this. ¡°Right, that look. Now you¡¯re showing your true colors.¡± True colors? Look? What does she mean? ¡°I told you you were suspicious from the start. When I was waiting outside the dungeon, I saw you had the eyes of a wolf on the prowl, not those of a porter.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re after the dungeon¡¯s rewards, aren¡¯t you? Worried you might miss out on some fortuitous encounter during the clear?¡± My god. This woman. She should be a fortune teller, not a ranker. How can she read people so quickly? Or did I make it too obvious? Anyway. My motives were exposed. It was pretty rude for a porter who was promised 20 times the pay, also aiming for the dungeon¡¯s rewards. But¡­ ¡°Go ahead. Try it,¡± she said nonchntly, as if she was bored. ¡°There¡¯s no solution anyway. I wanted a break anyway, like you said. Besides, I¡¯m not one to talk since I failed.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. But you get one chance. Emergency food is running out, and the rescue team isn¡¯ting. We need to clear this as soon as possible.¡± Hmm, I suddenly feel a bit pressured. But the oue wasn¡¯t bad. If I seed, it¡¯s a jackpot. Even if I fail, it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯d be embarrassed, but so what? A young man¡¯s mishap would be forgotten soon enough, especially since this was a dungeon that not even a ranker could clear. ¡°Understood. Thank you.¡± I bowed my head politely. I knew how big a gamble it was to pass on a chance to clear a high-difficulty dungeon because they could miss out on great rewards. However, they probably let me try because they were 100% sure I would fail. For now, I should consider it a debt owed to her. Step by step, I walked carefully to the door. [You can challenge the stage by opening the door.] [Do you want to open the door?] ¡ªGulp. I swallowed and took a deep breath. It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay. No one has died, right? At worst, it¡¯ll just hurt. I repeated this to myself over and over. Then¡­ ¡ªClunk! I boldly opened the door. * * * [Stage: An Elderly Man with White Hair Filled with Deep Resentment] [His resentment is so deep that icy frost forms in his hair.] [Defeat the old man.] ¡ªsh! As soon as I entered, a light enveloped me. As time passed, it gradually faded. ¡ªRumble! Soon, an overwhelming pressure bore down on me, changing the entire cave¡¯s scenery. The weight crushing my body made my lungs wheeze. I saw something before me, but opening my eyes was a struggle. What kind of being can emit such a presence? ¡°What is this? First, a shabby girl keepsing, now an even more pitiful fellow?¡± Amidst the terrible air, the old man¡¯s voice sounded clear. Ah, that must be him. The one who toyed with rankers, the ¡®Elderly Man with White Hair Filled with Deep Resentment.¡¯ He was a formidable boss, but his power exceeded my expectations. Such an overwhelmingbat strength! I instinctively understood that the old man could end my life with a mere flick of his finger. I swallowed hard. ¡°Tsk, another one not worth looking at. I¡¯ll just toss you out quickly.¡± ¡ªsh! Just as the old man¡¯s piercing gaze focused on me¡­ [You are facing the memory of a ¡®cursed¡¯ soul!] [Hidden condition achieved!] [This is the hidden condition for ¡®Unique Authority: Cursed Necromancer¡¯!] Huh? I widened my eyes at the familiar golden message. It was the same as when the ¡®The 10,000 Uses Rule¡¯ was unlocked. [Condition: Encounter the memory of a cursed soul!] ¨C A necromancer ultimatelymands the dead. ¨C Encounter a cursed soul with strong determination. ¡®Cursed¡¯ Necromancer. ¡®Cursed¡¯ soul. Could these two curses be from the same caster? Anyway. So the system was telling me that the old man was a dead soul and he was cursed, so encountering him unlocked my hidden condition. [Congrattions!] [A hidden skill has been unlocked!] [You have acquired the skill ¡®Memory Recreation¡¯ (S-rank)!] Oh my god! My widened eyes opened even wider. In my vision, only one thing stood out. S-rank. What is an S-rank skill, one might ask. It was a rare skill that could only be obtained through repeated fortuitous encounters. Is this for real? I was overwhelmed by the unexpected fortune. Then another message popped up. [You are using the skill ¡®Memory Recreation¡¯ (S-rank).] Using the skill? Ah,e to think of it. The old man who said he¡¯d toss me out wasn¡¯t moving like time had frozen. I frowned at the strange sense of unease. [Recreating the memory of the cursed soul ¡®Master of All Techniques¡¯.] [You will be transported shortly.] ¡®Master of All Techniques,¡¯ who is that? Is the ¡®Elderly Man with White Hair Filled with Deep Resentment¡¯ the ¡®Master of All Techniques¡¯? And what is memory recreation? How does it work? As I pondered the message¡­ ¡ªsh! An intensely bright light engulfed my entire body. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡ªWhoosh! I opened my eyes. Thendscape before me was a snowy mountain covered in white. There stood an elderly, white-haired man. He sighed. ¡°How can there be no suitable candidate? Tsk. But it¡¯s too wasteful to leave it behind.¡± The old man sighed deeply, looking very regretful. Hmm? I frowned. Or rather, I intended to frown because I was conscious but had no form. Is this what it feels like to be a ghost? It felt like I was dreaming, observing the situation from a third-person perspective. ¡°Life is fleeting. I¡¯ve worked hard to reach this state, and now I¡¯m told to discard it.¡± The old man¡¯s breath formed a visible cloud. I instinctively understood his emotions. First of all. The old man¡¯s home wasn¡¯t on Earth. It was a new world I didn¡¯t know. Another world¡­? That¡¯s right. The old man was a transcendent being from another world. A transcendent from a ce teeming with orcs and various other monsters. A real other world existed? It was shocking. But now that I thought about it, what wouldn¡¯t exist in a world full of dungeons and monsters? ¡°¡­It was such a long time.¡± As the old man spoke, memories flooded into my mind. ¡°Hehe, it was quite an interesting life.¡± In a world where only the strong survived, the old man studied countless martial arts and professions¡ªswordsman, spearman, assassin, archer, mage, buffer, healer, etc. ¡°Once you master the flow of ki, all techniques be one.¡± The old man, who transcended everything, lived for a long time. He seemed to have transcended death itself. He was called the sword master, martial god, grand mage, great sage¡­ His titles varied over eras. Yet even the old man could not resist the passage of time. He continued to age. Even his proud mastery of ¡®ki¡¯ couldn¡¯t halt his aging. It was a struggle. ¡°Drinking water feels like swallowing poison, and the once light air now crushes me as if to kill. It¡¯s painful, excruciating. And I¡¯m thirsty. But I can¡¯t die like this. I can¡¯t die with this resentment.¡± The old man had an attachment to the collection of techniques he had researched for centuries. He wanted to pass down the essence of his martial arts. Losing them felt as terrifying as losing himself. However, no one could absorb those incredible techniques so quickly. ¡°How can there be no one with enough talent? I don¡¯t want to spread it around to many people. I want to find one exceptional individual and teach them.¡± The old man traveled across the empire. He searched even the remote viges of border kingdoms. But no one met his expectations. ¡°Oh, such ament! The idea of a single sessor was nothing more than my meaningless greed!¡± In the end, the old man found no sessor. No one could match the talents of the extraordinary genius of the old man. ¡°Oh, please.¡± The old man instinctively realized that his time was running out. He struggled to breathe. His skin began to melt. His mouth and tongue dried up, and parched. ¡°I can¡¯t go like this.¡± A drop of moisture gathered in his dry eyes¡ªtears he hadn¡¯t shed even when his parents died or when his chest was pierced. ¡ªDrip! The snow on the mountain soaked it up. The forced halting of aging through his ki quickly reversed. His skin wrinkled, and his bones grew thin. ¡°I¡¯d sell my soul¡­ just to leave behind myplete self.¡± Frost formed in his hair and icicles in his beard. His life ended. The old man¡¯s ¡®resentment¡¯ was as cold as frost. [The skill ¡®Memory Recreation¡¯ (S-rank), has ended.] Chapter 9 Chapter 9: Master of All Techniques (2) As I suspected, the old man harbored a deep ¡®resentment¡¯ to teach someone. He had a desire. In truth, it wasn¡¯t that there were no suitable candidates. ording to his memories, many talented individuals existed even in the mysterious other world. If he had gathered them and split the teachings, he could have passed on his knowledge to future generations. But the old man had a desire. A singr legacy. He wanted one person to inherit his vast abilities and knowledge. [The skill ¡®Memory Recreation¡¯ (S-rank), has ended.] ¡ªsh! The peculiar d¨¦j¨¤ vu vanished. The scenery changed again. [The ¡®Master of All Techniques¡¯ is staring at you.] ¡°Hah!¡± I felt a suffocating gaze. It wasn¡¯t just a saying; the pressure was so intense that I could barely breathe. But. I smiled. I felt like a perverted psycho for smiling in this situation, but I couldn¡¯t help it. Because I see hope now. The old man¡¯s initial words when he saw me were dismissive. He said I was worse than Gi Soyul and wasn¡¯t worth his time. He wanted to throw me out quickly. However. That old soul was now clearly staring at me. He hadn¡¯t violently subdued me and tossed me out like he did with other hunters and Gi Soyul. That alone gave me hope. Soon, the old, white-haired man¡¯s mouth opened. ¡°You.¡± I felt an overwhelming presence. Was this the immense power of someone who stood at the pinnacle of a world? ¡°Did you peer into my soul? Interesting fellow.¡± [The ¡®Master of All Techniques¡¯ is curious about you.] ¡°Yes, I did¡­! Hah!¡± I immediately replied. It was hard to open my mouth, but I tried to speak as loudly as possible. Gi Soyul had given one single chance. In other words, this was a one-life challenge. If this old man is indeed looking for a disciple¡­! If I can inherit his vast power and knowledge¡­! It must be me. I can¡¯t let anyone else take it. If I missed this chance, I would regret it forever. I instinctively knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If I could have this old man who even toyed with rankers as my master, it would be the greatest fortune! ¡°However.¡± The old man¡¯s voice, the ¡®Master of All Techniques,¡¯ was somewhat cold. He stared at me for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°Other than being somewhat interesting, you have nothing. You¡¯re worthless. Youck everything to contain my knowledge.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± The old man¡¯s aura grew even stronger. My whole body trembled as if I were being electrocuted. This can¡¯t be. I can¡¯t let it end like this. I have to persuade this old man somehow. Even if my whole body melts from enduring it. ¡°No, Elder!¡± I opened my eyes wide and stared directly at the old man. ¡°If you continue like this, you¡¯ll never find a disciple! You¡¯ll remain a ghost forever, unable to resolve your resentment! People will remember you as a stubborn ghost filled with obstinacy and bullheadedness!¡± ¡°What?¡± The old man¡¯s aura became fierce at my provocation. ¡°You insolent brat. I¡¯ve spared ants like you with my boundless generosity. Do I need to break one of your legs for you toe to your senses?¡± ¡°Wait! Please listen! You¡¯ve mastered all techniques. The people of this world struggle to master even one in their lifetime!¡± ¡°Hmph, impossible. The world is vast, and time is long. Surely, there will be another genius like me.¡± The old man¡¯s self-praise momentarily stunned me. But I had gained time. The old man was clearly having a conversation with me. That alone was a significant achievement. ¡°Look at the woman who came in earlier. Can you believe she is one of the strongest in this world?¡± ¡°What?!¡± For the first time, the old man¡¯s face twisted. His face showed genuine shock. It seemed he was truly surprised by my im that Gi Soyul was one of the strongest in this world. This is¡­ a bit demoralizing. Considering that a ranker like Gi Soyul was my ultimate goal, the old man¡¯s reaction stung. Anyway. It seemed I had caught his attention. Now, to reel him in. From the perspective of an old man searching for a worthy candidate, it would be hard to ept that someone he rejected was one of the strongest in this world. After all, his world had many who surpassed her. ¡°Impossible! How can she be one of the strongest with such skill level? What kind of messed-up world is this?¡± The old man eximed, shocked. ¡°You! You¡¯re not trying to trick me, are you?¡± ¡°Look into my eyes! Do these look like the eyes of a dishonest person? You were known as a sage for centuries. Surely you can tell if I¡¯m lying!¡± I spoke with conviction, leveraging the information I gained from ¡®Memory Recreation.¡¯ I believed a ranker was akin to a world¡¯s strongest, so I had confidence in my words. ¡°Hmm.¡± The old man furrowed his brow. He must have realized I was telling the truth. Even in his spectral form, the old man¡¯s wisdom was intact. ¡°You¡­ truly mean it. Even if she¡¯s not the absolute strongest, she¡¯s a highly regarded warrior. How could such a skill be considered one of the best? What a cruel fate. The disciple I longed for so long, will I not find them?¡± The old man clicked his tongue. The fierce light in his eyes dimmed, reced by futility and emptiness. Consequently, the oppressive pressure slightly lifted. ¡°Hmph? Huff, hah¡­!¡± I finally caught my breath. I breathed heavily in the small gap. And then¡­ I instinctively knew it was my chance. ¡°Fuu¡­! Elder!¡± I shouted with all my might. ¡°If no one meets your standards, how about using me?¡± ¡°Using you?¡± ¡°Yes! Pass your abilities to me!¡± ¡°Ha, to you?¡± The old man snorted. ¡°Do you expect me to take you as my disciple? I thought of you as insolent, but now you have also proved to be shameless. I¡¯d rather teach garbage than teach you.¡± His blunt words stabbed my heart, but I didn¡¯t stop persuading him. ¡°Listen! I¡¯m not asking you to teach me directly!¡± ¡°¡­Then?¡± ¡°I have a unique ability.¡± I quickly checked my status window. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Energy: 100/100] Okay. No abnormalities. I clenched my fists tightly. [Skill: ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton (D-rank) activated.] That¡¯s right. My proposal to the old man didn¡¯t involve me but my children¡ªmy skeletons. [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ summoned.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ summoned.] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ summoned.] ¡­ [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 10¡¯ summoned.] From Bonehead 1 to Bonehead 10. This time, I used all my energy to summon ten skeletons, my maximum. This was a gamble. ¡°Elder, surely you can see their potential?¡± ¡°¡­¡± I gambled on the hope that the old man could recognize the limitless potential of my growing skeletons. The skeletons had indeed grown from E-rank to D-rank. If so, they could reach C-rank, B-rank, and perhaps even S-rank or beyond. The method might be unknown now, but that alone should make their ¡®potential¡¯ evident. ¡°From Bonehead 1 to Bonehead 10, these ten have unique abilities. It¡¯ll be easier for you to teach them. Do you want a single sessor? Don¡¯t worry. Even if all these grow, I¡¯ll be the only one to inherit it all!¡± It could be nonsense. But this was my only answer. They were all I had, my ¡®unique authority.¡¯ They were essentially me. It¡¯s a risk worth taking. The old man had to choose. Would he live in regret forever? Or would he take the second-best option? ¡°What do you think? These undead grow. They don¡¯t feel pain, so they¡¯ll be more enduring than anyone and more challenging than anyone because they¡¯re fearless, making them the best students. They¡¯ll take your advice and teachings without hesitation.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The old, white-haired man remained silent. He stared at the skeletons with a nk expression, lost in thought. ¡°¡­¡± So I stayed silent, too. I instinctively knew that saying more wouldn¡¯t change his decision. The old man moved based solely on his judgment. I quietly waited for his choice. ¡°Oho.¡± Finally, a smile tugged at the old man¡¯s lips. ¡°How amusing¡­ The sessor I sought wasn¡¯t human but undead.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± He stepped forward slowly and gently touched the skeletons with a calm gaze. ¡°Their potential is truly immense. They must have been exceptional warriors in life. I¡¯ve always wanted such disciples. Why only now¡­ tsk.¡± His reaction was awe-inspiring. Was this how it felt to win the lottery? It turns out my skeletons¡¯ potential was impressive enough for the old man to praise them. ¡°Teaching more than one is a bit tricky, but¡­ fine. I suppose I mustpromise.¡± The fierce pressure had vanished. Now, I could see the surroundings. That¡¯s right. This ce was the snowy mountain where the old man¡¯s life had ended. [You have fulfilled the hidden condition.] The ce was soaked with his resentment and also the ce where he would release that resentment. [This is the hidden condition for ¡®Stage: An Elderly Man with White Hair Filled with Deep Resentment¡¯!] The old man¡¯s gaze returned to me. He seemed very pleased. ¡ªGulp. As I swallowed, he spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll trust your words. I¡¯ll trust the determination in your eyes. So promise me. No matter what trialse, you¡¯ll inherit all I possess. You¡¯ll leave a mark of ¡®me¡¯ somewhere in this world.¡± [Condition: His recognition] ¨C To be recognized by the transcendent of another world, ¡®Master of All Techniques,¡¯ you must reach a certain level. ¨C Convince him. I felt the desperation in his tone. How badly must he have wanted it for his resentment to linger even after death? ¡°I won¡¯t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I¡¯ll inherit it no matter what,¡± I replied sincerely. ¡°Good.¡± The old man responded cheerfully. [Congrattions!] [You have cleared the ¡®Stage: An Elderly Man with White Hair Filled with Deep Resentment¡¯!] Ah¡­ I was overwhelmed. Is this real? Did I clear this dungeon that even a ranker couldn¡¯t? Did I clear it on my first try? Truly? ¡ªThud! As the tension released, my legs gave out. [Receiving clear rewards!] Honestly, this was the day I would gain the greatest fortune of my life. [You have exhausted all your energy!] [Your body has reached its limit!] ¡°¡­¡± And soon, I lost consciousness. Chapter 10 Chapter 10: Master of All Techniques (3) ¡°Hmm?¡± When I opened my eyes, the ring fluorescent lights hurt my vision. The smell of disinfectant tickled my nose¡­ A hospital? Ah, right. I had cleared the dungeon, hadn¡¯t I? The old man eventually epted my proposal. The message of the ¡®stage clear¡¯ clearly confirmed it. After that, I must have lost consciousness. ¡°¡­¡± As I frowned and tried to adjust to the bright world¡­ ¡°Hm?¡± I felt a piercing gaze from my surroundings. When I forced my eyes open, a youngdy in a formal suit with her arms crossed was looking down at me. ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± she said bluntly. ¡°Who¡­ are you? Huh?¡± I tilted my head and asked. Then I opened my eyes wide in surprise. It was a face I remembered. The golden badge on her waist was an indication that she was¡­ Gi Soyul? Wow. I was impressed. She had apletely different vibe from thest time in battle gear. She had a formidable warrior look back then, but now she seemed like a cold, professional career woman. ¡°Since you¡¯re awake, let¡¯s introduce ourselves again. I¡¯m Gi Soyul, the vice guild master of the Parang Guild, also known as ¡®Dark Empress,¡¯¡± Gi Soyul spoke calmly. I nodded. ¡°I see. But¡­¡± Why was she here? I quickly scanned our surroundings. There were only the two of us in the hospital room. What was this? Could it be that she was here to kill me because I stole her opportunity? It wasn¡¯t impossible. She was the queen of assassins. Even if she took my head here, she could do it without leaving any evidence. ¡°Honestly, I was surprised. The boss was truly unclearable. I couldn¡¯t have imagined Mr. Porter clearing that dungeon, not even in one go.¡± Despite my fears, her demeanor remained polite. But I didn¡¯t lower my guard. You never know; she might be a psycho who kills with a smile while being polite. ¡°¡­Why are you looking at me with those eyes?¡± Gi Soyul frowned as she sensed my wary gaze. Afraid of offending her, I quickly shook my head. ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ I¡¯m curious why the vice guild master of a major guild came to see me on her own.¡± ¡°Of course, because I¡¯m curious too.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°How did you clear that absurd dungeon? And if you did, what reward did you get? Did you be the old man¡¯s disciple? And so on.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± I pondered after hearing her questions. Her questions were valid. After all, the dungeon ownership was hers, and I was given a single chance. From her perspective, it was like some random guy came and stole her opportunity! A more violent ranker might have already killed me. The fact that she wasn¡¯t angry showed how magnanimous she was. Also. The world is harsh. It¡¯s harsh to the extreme. If it bes known that a rookie like me gained an incredible opportunity, I could be a target. Whether it could be a crazy person out of jealousy or an underground group trying to cut down a budding talent, I must always be cautious. ¡°Hm, porter? What are you thinking so deeply about?¡± ¡°Oh, Dark Empress, before I answer. Could I know how the news articles about this dungeon exploration were written?¡± She looked at me with an unexpected expression. ¡°I think I understand what you¡¯re worried about. You don¡¯t have to worry too much. We have reported that the Parang Guild¡¯s advance team sessfully cleared the dungeon. We also got confidentiality agreements from all the survivors.¡± ¡°What?¡± Does that mean the public doesn¡¯t know that I was the one who cleared the dungeon? Ah, I was genuinely moved by the considerate action. I bowed my head respectfully. ¡°Thank you for your consideration, Dark Empress.¡± ¡°You¡¯re more mature than you look, Mr. Porter. Most hunters are dying to show off their achievements to the world.¡± ¡°Safetyes first. Safety first, safety second.¡± ¡°No need to thank me. This is also a matter of pride for the Parang Guild.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± I blinked as she chuckled. ¡°Would anyone believe that a porter, an E-rank mercenary, was the MVP when there was a ranker?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± The point was simple. We¡¯re embarrassed, so we¡¯re keeping it quiet. But understand, you might get killed if you show off about it. Anyway, I was grateful. However. There was something to consider. Because I was given a chance once, do I have an obligation to tell her everything about my capabilities? The reason she¡¯s being generous and rxed is because she¡¯s strong. But I¡¯m weak. I don¡¯t have the luxury to expose my full strength to anyone. ¡°But, Dark Empress.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Porter?¡± ¡°How long have I been unconscious?¡± ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s been three days since you came out of the dungeon, so three days.¡± Damn, I¡¯ve been out for a while. I looked at her with a troubled expression. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m still not sure what¡¯s what, and I haven¡¯t even figured out the rewards yet¡­ I might need some time to give you a proper answer.¡± I was being truthful when I said this. Our conversation had started the moment I woke up. ¡°Hmm¡­ I see.¡± Gi Soyul narrowed her eyes. She suspected I was dodging the question, but she seemed to understand. ¡°Give me a little time to organize my thoughts, and I¡¯ll let you know.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me running away. What kind of hunter in this world could ever escape the eyes of the Dark Empress?¡± ¡°Alright. If you¡¯d cooperate, I¡¯d appreciate it. I¡¯lle back once you¡¯ve sorted things out.¡± Gi Soyul coolly acknowledged and left the room. Her overwhelming presence disappeared. ¡°Phew.¡± I felt a bit relieved. Damn, life has been quite spectacrtely. Suddenly encountering an orc, awakening after three years, meeting a ranker. And a strange dungeon on top of that. If I made one wrong choice here, I coulde in conflict with Parang. Or, conversely, I could have a good rtionship with them. Thinking that, I turned over in bed. [Check your clear rewards!] Oh, right. I hadn¡¯t yet opened the message because I passed out. Now was the time to check it. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * [Receiving rewards!] [Congrattions!] [Permanent increase of energy by 20.] [You have acquired the skill ¡®Teaching of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank)!] ¡°Wow!¡± I couldn¡¯t help but shout. Goosebumps rose all over my body. A permanent increase in energy was an incredible reward. And another S-rank skill. It¡¯s hard to obtain even one S-rank skill in one¡¯s lifetime. And I had already gotten two in a short time. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Alias: X] [Energy: 120/120] [Unique authority: Cursed Necromancer] [Rank: D] [Effect] ¨C You possess the profession of a necromancer, capable of handling dead souls. You can use fearsome spirits and toxic substances to subdue opponents. However, you are cursed. ¨C You can only summon skeletons. [Skills] ¨C Summon Awakened Skeleton (D-rank) ¨C Memory Recreation (S-rank) ¨C Teaching of All Techniques (S-rank) This is crazy. Now I understood why veterans were so obsessed with dungeons. My status window had filled up significantly. I felt my chest swell with pride. ¡®First, let¡¯s check Memory Recreation.¡¯ [Skill: Memory Recreation] [Rank: S] [Effect 1: Consume 50 energy to read the memory of the dead.] Just what could this possibly be? It seemed underwhelming. Yet it was rated S-rank. It was a hidden skill only found by encountering a ¡®cursed¡¯ soul. I was curious but could not know now, so I moved on to the next one. If I can use it to clear dungeons, it¡¯ll be fine. This dungeon was cleared thanks to seeing the old man¡¯s memories. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll find another use for it someday. Next, Teaching of All Techniques. I calmed my excited heart and checked the next skill. [Skill: Teaching of All Techniques] [Rank: S] [Effect 1: Consume 20 energy to summon the ¡®Master of All Techniques,¡¯ the one who had dominated the other world, for 60 minutes.] [Effect 2: The summoned ¡®Master of All Techniques¡¯ cannot exert physical force in this world. He can only pass on his knowledge for a limited time.] [Effect 3: The cooldown for this skill is 24 hours.] [Effect 4: Only the skill user can perceive the ¡®Master of All Techniques.¡¯] ¡ªGulp. I swallowed hard. A transcendent who dominated another world¡­ My heart swelled with awe. Finally, my skeletons had a top-tier instructor, even more potent than any rankers. ¡°Damn it, this isn¡¯t the time to be lying around.¡± I swiftly pulled out the intravenous drip. This wasn¡¯t the time to be receiving fluids. I was about to go crazy if I didn¡¯t check it out as soon as possible. ¡ªSwoosh, swoosh. I hastily put on the clothes hanging beside the bed and stepped out. ¡°Uh, Patient Joo Donghoon?¡± a flustered nurse called out, but I was in a hurry. ¡°Kyaa! No, you need to rest for now¡­¡± ¡°Sorry. I have urgent matters. Charge the hospital bill to my name.¡± My heart was pounding. ¡°Their potential is truly immense. They must have been exceptional warriors during life. I¡¯ve always wanted such disciples. Why only now¡­ tsk.¡± The old man¡¯s voice still echoed vividly in my ears. Is this how parents feel when their children are praised? I couldn¡¯t wait to get them trained. * * * [Using skill ¡®Teaching of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank).] [Consuming 20 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Master of All Techniques.¡¯] When I reached the usual vacant lot, I used the skill. ¡ªThud! ¡°Ouch!¡± A tremendous pain struck my forehead. It hurt so much tears welled up, and I saw stars in the sky. When I regained my senses, the old man was ring at me. ¡°You insolent brat! You promised to inherit everything from me, and you¡¯ve just been cking off? Do you think you can keep up with me with that attitude?¡± ¡°No, wait, elder¡­ I summoned you right after waking up¡­¡± It felt unfair. No, wait. The old man isn¡¯t supposed to be able to exert physical force in this world. ¡°Still a novice, you are. Your expression is very readable. Tsk tsk. Since we¡¯re connected mentally, of course I can inflict pain upon you.¡± The old man shook his head in disapproval. He seemed to have a very tiresome, old-fashioned style¡­ ¡°Anyway, since you¡¯ve summoned me, let¡¯s start right away. There¡¯s no time.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± I nodded, answering promptly to his urging. ¡°Do I summon the skeletons as promised?¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Today, we decide what to learn first. I¡¯ve assessed the talents of those ten, but the problem is you.¡± ¡°¡­Me? What do you mean?¡± I opened my eyes wide. The ten he meant must mean the abilities of my skeletons. Could he have assessed the talents of those who hadn¡¯t awakened yet? And more importantly. Why am I the problem? Does he intend to teach me too? The old man said bluntly, ¡°Do you know why it¡¯s called the Teaching of All Techniques?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I earned this title by mastering countless talents. Do you think I¡¯d be satisfied with teaching only ten techniques?¡± He grinned wickedly. I suddenly felt uneasy. A cold, unsettling feeling. ¡°So just teach the skeletons.¡± ¡°No, their talents are focused in one direction. Teaching them other skills would be pointless.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°Why ask? Of course, you¡¯ll learn them.¡± ¡°Huh? But you said my talent was trash¡­¡± ¡°Quiet. Since you promised, you¡¯ll inherit all of my techniques. If it doesn¡¯t work, I¡¯ll make it work. Turning trash into a near-genius can also be considered a technique. Fortunately, I can still inflict pain on you.¡± What the hell is happening all of a sudden? Chapter 11 Chapter 11: The Great Technique of the Celestial Artisan A technique refers to the skills or methods required to perform something. But I couldn¡¯t understand it at all. No matter how proficient the old man was in countless techniques, how could he turn an ordinary person like me into a genius? ¡°Hehehe, this might be for the best. I created this technique but never got to use it.¡± The old man smirked as he inspected my body. ¡°Blocked ki streams can be cleared with my ki. Hmm¡­ the bones are weak. Tsk, it¡¯ll take about 300 days of massage to improve. However, it will be quite painful. But it seemed like he had some tenacityst time. Will he manage¡­?¡± ¡°Excuse me¡­?¡± I was bbergasted. It was my body, yet the old man was gleefully making his calctions. It felt like being in a stic surgery consultation, with the doctor shaking his head and drawing lines all over my face. Moreover, the bigger problem was¡­ Did he say painful? In a world where necromancers were revered for avoiding pain, why suddenly this suffering out of the blue? ¡°Elder? I don¡¯t think I¡¯m mentally prepared for this yet.¡± ¡°Quiet, you brat! Do you know how many people in my world wanted this great technique? It¡¯s called the Great Technique of the Celestial Artisan. It¡¯s a technique I painstakingly created in myter years.¡± Celestial whatever. I didn¡¯t care much about that. ¡°Huh?¡± But now that I thought about it, I had a question. Why didn¡¯t he use such a technique sooner if he had such a technique? It was a method that could turn trash into a genius! ¡°Tsk tsk, I can see your thoughts clearly. Foolish boy, this technique requires my life force to perform. What would be the point of changing my disciple¡¯s potential and enhancing their talent if it meant my whole body would melt away at that moment?¡± ¡°Aha.¡± Made sense. There was no point in increasing his disciple¡¯s abilities if he died and couldn¡¯t pass on his techniques. ¡°What about now?¡± ¡°Well, now that I¡¯m already a spirit, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°¡­Wow, that¡¯s a very convenient way of thinking.¡± I sighed. ¡°Then let me ask another question. Remember those people who challenged you before me?¡± ¡°Ah, you mean that fierce girl and a few other pitiful people who came before her?¡± ¡°Yes, we call them hunters in our world. Couldn¡¯t you use the technique on them? You were already a ghost back then.¡± ¡°You impudent brat.¡± ¡ªThud! ¡°Ouch!¡± Another forehead flick made tears well up in my eyes. ¡°Why did you hit me?¡± ¡°Calling a spirit a ghost. You have no respect for the dead.¡± ¡°Damn.¡± Then what should I call a dead person¡¯s spirit, huh? As I grumbled, the old man shook his head. ¡°Besides, you really are a blockhead who can¡¯t understand even when it¡¯s been exined.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I just say this technique turns trash into genius? It¡¯s pointless unless you¡¯re utter garbage. Only apletely ruined waste can benefit from it.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± I was dumbfounded. This damned geezer, I mean, this elder, was openly insulting me to my face. ¡°I couldn¡¯t use the technique on them. Their bodies were already ruined by other energies.¡± The old man¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°In contrast, you have a clean body. A weak body, yes, but clean. Even though you can summon the dead, it hasn¡¯t altered your body.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Moreover, this is merely the second-best option. An inherently born genius is always better than a made one. I wanted to find a decent talent instead of you. But I was swayed by your words, so now you must take responsibility for it.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± I nodded, mouth agape. His words were a bit harsh, but they were good in essence. For someone like me who wants to be a ranker, it was a chance to be stronger. If I could get stronger along with my skeletons¡­ It¡¯d be killing two birds with one stone! I decided not to think too much about it. There¡¯s a famous quote from a global figure skating celebrity: ¡°Don¡¯t think. Just do it.¡± Just like how I persisted in training for three years, I just needed to keep going. ¡°So, are you ready?¡± The old man¡¯s figure approached me. ¡°If I follow your instructions, will I really be strong?¡± At my question, the old man grinned. ¡°Of course, you¡¯ll be stronger than you can even imagine.¡± * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡ªCrack! Snap! Pop! ¡°Aaaargh!¡± My screams echoed through the vacant lot. Damn it, I underestimated it. I should¡¯ve known it would be painful. ¡°Come now, little one. Why are you whining already? We haven¡¯t even started yet.¡± ¡°Argh, it hurts. It hurts! Ah, I¡¯m drooling.¡± The old man¡¯s massage was pure torture. He pounded at a speed that I could barely see and jabbed my entire body. There was no way to avoid it, even if I wanted to. The massage wasn¡¯t just gentle taps but heavy blows. ¡°Ugh.¡± The violence that shook my entire body forced my eyes wide open. ¡ªGrind. At the same time, I clenched my teeth hard. I will endure this. I must endure this. To be a ranker, I must withstand this. Of course, the thought that this is just the beginning is quite chilling. If today¡¯s pain can make my future self shine brightly, then it might be worth it. The old man smirked as I focused my determination. ¡°As expected, you¡¯re a tough one. Good.¡± The beating continued. Each explosive punch made my heart race and my blood boil. The pain was at a level I never even wanted to imagine. And after about 30 minutes passed¡­ [You have acquired the skill ¡®Pain Resistance¡¯ (C-rank).] [This skill has the potential for further growth.] ¡°The great technique ends here. You¡¯ve endured well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I copsed to the ground immediately. Tears streamed down my face, snot and saliva dripping out. It hurt. It hurt too much. ¡°Even though you¡¯re trash, you have some talent in this aspect. With the desire to be stronger and the mental strength and perseverance to endure, there may still be some hope.¡± The old man rambled on, but I couldn¡¯t respond. Whatever it was, I just wanted to lie down and rest. I wanted to sleep. ¡°Come now, you. There are still 30 minutes left. What are you doing? Get up. Do you think you¡¯re the only one receiving my teachings? The dead are waiting, too.¡± ¡°Ahhh?¡± The training session was one hour in total. The old man¡¯s time wasn¡¯t up yet. * * * The old man was also passionate about teaching the skeletons. ¡°The foundation of all professions is physical strength. These skeletons can seem to build physical strength even without muscles. So let¡¯s start with proper posture. This is the horse-riding stance I frequently used during my lifetime. Human muscles are concentrated in the lower body. To build a tall tower, the base must be solid.¡± His training seemed like an art form in itself. The only unfortunate thing was¡­ ¡°Ugh.¡± I was also participating in that physical training. It was basic physical training with five skeletons. With my aching body, it was unbearable. ¡°Huff, huff¡­!¡± Damn, it¡¯s hard. Too hard. I nced to the side. ¡ªCreak! From Boney 1 to Boney 5, their expressions were serene. They were wlessly executing the old man¡¯s demands without any errors! How can youpare them to me? They were D-rank monsters. Moreover, they had a long history of training before this. With a stern expression, the old man approached me as if he sensed my frustration. ¡°As I said, you have no talent. If there¡¯s one thing you possess, it¡¯s your tenacity.¡± His reprimand reinforced my weakened spirit. ¡°Moreover, you are the master. Even if they are dead, the master should not be weaker than their summoned beings.¡± ¡°Huff, huff¡­ Yes, that¡¯s why I¡¯m enduring, elder.¡± ¡°You need to strengthen your vessel. The dead know the dead the best. Your vessel is too weak to control all of them.¡± He was referring to Boney 6 to 10. Boney 4 and Boney 5 had awakened when I advanced from E-rank to D-rank. The rest would likely unlock as I grew stronger. ¡°Ugh.¡± The lower body training continued. Whenever I copsed, the old man¡¯s nagging was inescapable. There was no rest, not even for a second, as he pushed me relentlessly. This is torture. Torture, I say! My muscles were already torn and couldn¡¯t recover, so what was the point of this training? When I copsed for about the tenth time¡­ ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s wrap it up for today.¡± ¡°Huff, huff! Really?¡± Finally, the hellish time ended. ¡°Yes. You. Continue this physical training every morning. Don¡¯t even think of summoning me otherwise,¡± the old man nonchntly said. [The duration of the skill ¡®Teachings of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank) has ended.] [¡®Master of All Techniques¡¯ has been unsummoned.] [The skill can be used again in 24 hours.] And then he disappeared like smoke. ¡°¡­Huff, huff.¡± Iy sprawled on the ground. Sweat was pouring out, and I didn¡¯t have the strength to get up. ¡ªClick! ck! Five skeletons watched me with sympathy. Yeah, I¡¯m sorry. You guys are also going through a tough time. ¡°Boney 1,¡± I called out to my eldest summon. ¡ªCreak? It tilted its head in question. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t get home by myself. Can you carry me?¡± People would definitely look at us strangely, but I had no choice. I didn¡¯t have the energy to get home. And sleeping on the ground wasn¡¯t an option. Recovery is as important as training. I needed to eat well and sleepfortably. I unsummoned all skeletons except Boney 1 and headed home. ¡ªThud! As soon as Iy on the mattress, I checked my phone. [ount Bnce Inquiry] [ount Holder: Joo Donghoon] [Hunter Preferred ount (E-rank)] [Deposit: 3,600,000 KRW* (Problem Solver)] * ¡Ö $2,770 USD. ¡°Oh.¡± Indeed, Parang kept their promise. The usual porter fee of 200,000 was multiplied by 20, totaling 4,000,000. The mercenary guild Problem Solver took a 10% fee and sent me the rest. Being a frencer with a business license, I had to pay a 3.3% taxter. But it was surprising. Since I snatched the fortuitous opportunity, they could¡¯ve withheld the payment, and I wouldn¡¯t haveined. Anyway, this is good. I had enough money to pay rent and buy food. But this raised another question. Should I continue working with the mercenary guild? There was a physical limit. The old man¡¯s training was so intense that it was hard to handle other schedules. I still need to make more money. But quitting wasn¡¯t an option as I had little savings. The best way would be to get sponsorship from a major or promising guild. But with D-rank skills, that was impossible. Moreover, sponsorship came with restrictions. I might have to go on unwanted expeditions or stay close to an entric superior. Yeah, I guess I have to continue working as a mercenary. After all, the old man¡¯s training was just an hour a day. People can¡¯t train every hour of the day, so it was better to work too. And who knew if another fortuitous opportunity mighte like thest time? After rewarding my stomach with a hamburger instead of the usual instant noodle, I copsed. The next day at dawn, I went to work afterpleting the old man¡¯s training. ¡°Hey, Donghoon! You¡¯re finally here? Come here quickly!¡± the dungeon request team leader, Kim Junseo, greeted me warmly. Standing next to him were five hunters. ¡°Do you recognize them? They¡¯re one of the teams from thest dungeon¡¯s survivors.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Their faces did look familiar. They were indeed some of the survivors from thest dungeon. But why were they here? Chapter 12 Chapter 12: Better a Weed than a Flower ¡°Haha! Mr. Necromancer, how have you been?¡± ¡°Huh, what¡¯s this? You seem to have changed a bit, and it hasn¡¯t even been that long.¡± ¡°Yeah, you look more muscr and even better looking? You look sharp.¡± A group of five survivors, consisting of D and C-rank hunters, greeted me warmly. Although I didn¡¯t know their names or much about them, hunters sometimes expressed sudden friendliness like this. Perhaps it¡¯s because we shared a life-and-death situation together. By the way¡­ Did they just say ¡®better looking¡¯? I shrugged my shoulders and nced at my body. Indeed, I had bulked up. I had gained muscle and lost fat. My shoulders were broader, almost as if my skeletal structure had changed. It was clearly the effect of the great technique the old man performed yesterday. Is this really the result of just a 30-minute massage? I was impressed, yet I understood. In fact, it was like undergoing major surgery through punches to reconstruct my bones and muscles without anesthesia. Thinking about having to go through that again already made me shiver. Anyway. Why were they here? They must have seen me go into the boss room alone, so they knew I was the one who cleared it. Gi Soyul had mentioned that all matters rted to the dungeon were to be kept confidential. It¡¯s not good if this gets out. As the saying goes, don¡¯t make a mountain out of a molehill. As I mentioned before, I had no desire to make a name for myself until I was truly strong. I wanted to train quietly like a hidden dragon, preparing to soar. It wouldn¡¯t be toote to reveal myself to the world once I had built the strength to protect myself. It¡¯s why I hadn¡¯t even gone for a reevaluation of my rank. So I asked, ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°Ahem, was my greeting toote?¡± One of the five stepped forward¡ªa man with a fierce look and a C-rank green badge. ¡°Nice to meet you; let me formally introduce myself. I¡¯m Kang Jaeho, a C-rank hunter. Your actions and attitude back then left an impression on me. Since we made it out alive, I marked you down as someone to team up with.¡± ¡°¡­I see. Hello.¡± I shook the hand he extended. There was no reason to refuse someone greeting me first. ¡°As you already know, I¡¯m just an E-rank necromancer mercenary. My name is Joo Donghoon.¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯re definitely not an ordinary mercenary.¡± Kang Jaeho gave a wry smile. ¡°Back then, you showed immense courage. Well, I can¡¯t go into details here.¡± He nced at the team leader, Kim Junseo. It was probably because of the confidentiality agreement. ¡°To get to the point, there¡¯s another dungeon.¡± ¡°A dungeon?¡± ¡°Yes, a known C-rank type, and we want to hire you. I heard you¡¯re struggling financially and would ept any job¡­ Is that right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªZzzt. I shot a re at Kim Junseo. He had sweet-talked them by selling me out to secure the job. Even as I red, he just grinned and backed off. Haah, that guy. Though he was my senior, I sometimes wanted to smack him. ¡°Well, it¡¯s true I need money.¡± I had to admit it. Even though I got paid for myst job, medical bills, living expenses, rent, insurance¡­ Money runs out quickly. ¡°As expected, right?¡± Kang Jaeho smiled contentedly. ¡°This dungeon, it¡¯s a tricky type for a C-rank.¡± Dungeon types with assigned ranks are generally standardized. By looking at the field background or mobs, you can roughly gauge the mission¡¯s difficulty, making it easier for subsequent parties to participate. ¡°Still, it¡¯s worth a try. With some luck, the rewards will be pretty good. Recently, I think some party got an elixir.¡± ¡°Elixir, you say?¡± My eyes widened. An elixir is a rare reward from dungeons, regardless of rank. It¡¯s a high-level potion known to cure any curse or illness! ¡°Yes, that elixir. It¡¯s in high demand among high-rankers and wealthy individuals, making it perfect for making a hefty sum.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± I stroked my chin, and Kang Jaeho continued. ¡°What do you think? Not bad, right? This time, you wouldn¡¯t be a porter but a member.¡± ¡°What about the payment?¡± ¡°Ha ha, what do you mean by payment? You¡¯re not a porter. Of course, it¡¯d be fair share of the profit.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I quickly did the math. If an elixir were actually to drop, its average price would be about 50 million won. Divided among six people, roughly 8.33 million won each.* * ¡Ö $38,500 and $6,400 USD respectively It¡¯s definitely a good deal. Mainly because I¡¯m an E-rank hunter. Not just any E-rank hunter, but an E-rank hunter who wants to keep a low profile. And E-rank hunter pay is fixed. It¡¯s a harsh world trying to make big money while hiding one¡¯s identity. ¡°It¡¯s tempting, but¡­¡± I understood why they approached me like this. At least five C-rank hunters are needed to clear a C-rank dungeon safely. But among their five members, there are also D-ranks. Specifically, two C-ranks and three D-ranks. They were a somewhat unreliable squad. They¡¯d need to find three more C-ranks or a B-rank to y it safe. But splitting the share would be less profitable. So they¡¯d instead take me, who cleared a dungeon that even a ranker struggled with, at a cheaper cost. And because I still seemed naive. But. It could be dangerous. And they probably knew that as well. But they are a daring enough team to enter an unranked dungeon. They¡¯re taking their own risks for the exploration. And when ites to risky exploration¡­ you can¡¯t leave me out of it. To be a ranker, I needed to endure countless challenges. I never intended to grow up like a flower in a greenhouse. A weed that bloomed robustly amid harsh winds and storms seemed much cooler. ¡°So.¡± Kang Jaeho watched my face closely. ¡°Will you join us? The choice is yours.¡± Hm. With all that, was there anything to hesitate about? ¡°Sure. I was getting tired of being a porter anyway.¡± I epted the offer with no hesitation. Besides, I was curious to see the power of my evolved skeletons in action. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * The dungeon exploration was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. After getting the promised meal from Kim Junseo, I returned to the clearing. [Using skill ¡®Teaching of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank).] [Consuming 20 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Master of All Techniques.¡¯] ¡°Has it already been a day?¡± The old man appeared like a ghost. ¡°Yes, elder. Ipleted the tasks you gave me. But¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± I told the old man about what happened today. That I might be joining a new dungeon expedition. And that I might miss a few days of training while exploring. I had to make sure he knew it wasn¡¯t because I was scared of the ¡°massage.¡± ¡°A dungeon? I see, simr to the space I used to exist in.¡± ¡°Yes. For some reason, the hunters here grow stronger through those dungeons.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± The old man snorted at my answer. ¡°Laughable. A novice who hasn¡¯t even mastered the basics is already running around. Trying to run before you can walk?¡± ¡°Please understand, elder. I need to earn a living, too.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not bad.¡± The old man scratched his cheek with a bony finger. ¡°I prefer practical experience over studying at a desk anyway.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°However.¡± The old man¡¯s expression became stern. ¡°I won¡¯t tolerate skipping training.¡± ¡°Eek.¡± ¡°Are you trying to ck off? I know you can summon me inside the dungeon!¡± ¡°W-Well, yes?¡± It¡¯s a skill, after all. ¡°And it¡¯s only an hour. No matter how urgent, it doesn¡¯t make sense not to spare that time! Summon me no matter what happens. If you disobey, I¡¯ll makest time¡¯s massage feel like a light patpared to what I¡¯ll do then. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Eek?¡± ¡ªHic. His stern warning made me hup involuntarily. I couldn¡¯t even imagine the agony if it was ten times more painful thanst time. Not summoning him wasn¡¯t an option either. I couldn¡¯t give up on this hard-earned opportunity just because it was painful. ¡°Alright, there¡¯s no time; let¡¯s start the massage.¡± ¡°Huh? Already?¡± ¡°What do you mean already? Have you forgotten we only have 60 minutes?!¡± ¡ªThud! The old man¡¯s beating, under the guise of a massage, began without preparation. ¡ªBang, bang! The world started shaking as if bombs were exploding inside me. ¡°Aaaargh!¡± It hurt, as expected. It felt like throwing my body at a speeding train repeatedly, like being pummeled by Mike Tyson wearing iron gauntlets. Oh? But¡­ oneforting fact was that it was more bearable thanst time. Ah! I remembered a skill. [Skill: Pain Resistance] [Rank: C] [Effect 1: Resist pain.] [Effect 2: The more pain, the more numb your senses be.] It was the new skill I got for freest time. It¡¯s actually amazing. The skill ¡®Teaching of All Techniques¡¯ had spawned another skill. It was like a gooseying golden eggs. People usually need extraordinary luck to get a single skill. But I just produced a skill. And it wasn¡¯t just any skill. [This skill has the potential for further growth.] It had ample room for improvement. ¡°Oh? Now you¡¯re enduring it.¡± After what felt like an eternity, the old man wiped his hands, looking satisfied. The moment the torment ended, I genuinely felt relieved. ¡°Urgh! All thanks to you, elder,¡± I huffed, breathing heavily through the pain. ¡°Impressive. From tomorrow, we can increase the intensity.¡± ¡°What? Did I hear that wrong?¡± I sweated at his reply, but¡­ Anyway. Next was physical training time. At the old man¡¯s signal, I summoned my adorable skeletons. ¡ªCreak! They stretched naturally as if they knew it was time. But why do these skeletons, who don¡¯t have muscles, stretch? Was it a memory from their living days? ¡°Alright, everyone, take the horse stance as we didst time,¡± the old man ordered. ¡°But from now on, I¡¯ll teach a technique to one skeleton each day. Who wants to go first?¡± ¡°A technique?¡± Ah, the proper tutoring begins. Surely, even if the old man was a transcendent being, he couldn¡¯t teach all sses simultaneously. He¡¯d have to teach them one by one. Not bad. Let¡¯s learn slowly. ¡°So, who wants to go first? The one with the sword?¡± He pointed at Boney 1. The rest were taking the stance the old man had taught. ¡°Yes.¡± I nodded immediately. Of course, the first would be my eldest summon, Boney 1. ¡°They¡¯re a swordsman with only the ability to sh.¡± ¡°No problem. We¡¯ll build from here. Go ahead, show me a sh.¡± ¡ªCreak? Boney 1 seemed cautious, but I smiled. [Name: Bonehead 1] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Swordsman] [Rank: D] [Strength: 23] [Dexterity: 19] [Constitution: 20] [Magic Power: 10] [Technique: 21] [Skills] ¨C Low-level sh (Lv.2) ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Boney 1. He¡¯s here to make you a great bone warrior.¡± The serious training for Boney 1 had begun. Chapter 13 Chapter 13: What Is a sh? ¡°Did you say your name was Joo Donghoon, hm?¡± the old man asked me while training Boney 1. ¡°Yes, elder.¡± ¡°So, Donghoon, what do you think swordsmanship is?¡± It was a random question. It felt strange to someone like me who had never held a sword. But since he asked, I had to answer. ¡°Hmm, since it¡¯s swordsmanship, doesn¡¯t it mean a technique with the sword?¡± ¡°Such a simple thought, just like you.¡± The old man nodded as if he expected that answer. However, his expression was not one of disappointment. Instead, he seemed pleased. ¡°You¡¯re correct. There¡¯s no need toplicate it. Swordsmanship is the handling of a sword, nothing more, nothing less.¡± The old man¡¯s teaching was directed at me, not Boney 1. I realized he intended to release his ¡®resentment¡¯ through mepletely. He nned to teach the techniques meant for the skeletons to me as well. In this way, he aimed to pass on his ¡®All Techniques¡¯ entirely. I should have known from the strange technique he used to change my skeletal structure. ¡°Now, pick up that wooden sword over there.¡± I picked up a piece of wood lying on the ground. ¡°Grip it.¡± ¡°Grip it¡­ in what way?¡± ¡°As I said, don¡¯t overthink it. Hold it in the way you feel mostfortable.¡± A bit confused, I held it as he instructed. ¡°Are you holding it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Good, now swing it with all your might.¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡ªWhoosh! Whoosh! I swung the sword several times into the air¡ªthe pure, untrained swings of aplete novice. ¡°Yes! Well done.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± I tilted my head. Was this old man joking? Was this supposed to be well done? Am I not understanding because I¡¯m not a genius? Even to my eyes, no, to anyone in the world, it looked like a sloppy ¡®sh.¡¯ Is this guy really a top-tier instructor? The old man spoke again as a sliver of doubt crept into my deep-seated belief. ¡°Look at how you grip the sword with your right hand. How does it look? Your thumb stands firm, and the other four fingers grip tightly, don¡¯t they? And look at the direction you swung. Once from the direction of 2 o¡¯clock to the 8 o¡¯clock position. Then again from the 10 o¡¯clock to the 4 o¡¯clock position.¡± The old man described my posture. ¡°I didn¡¯t teach you anything. You swung the way you thought was most cool andfortable for a ¡®sh.¡¯ Your perception of ¡®sh¡¯ is based on everything you¡¯ve experienced throughout your life.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Do you not understand what this means?¡± ¡°¡­I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°You put your ¡®life¡¯ into that swing.¡± Huh? It sounded like nonsense. Nonsense, yet somewhat profound. Damn, am I losing my mind? As I stood there with my mouth open, the old man continued. ¡°Now, let me ask. If that ¡®sh¡¯ you just performed had power and speed, would it be effective?¡± Hm? I don¡¯t know. Wouldn¡¯t the traditional ¡®sh¡¯ performed by an expert be stronger than my swing? Like a kendo practitioner or a samurai. Hm. Honestly, I don¡¯t know. ¡°Tsk, tsk, you¡¯re making that foolish look again. Any ¡®sh¡¯ bes powerful with strength and speed. Whether a tiger swipes its paw one way or another, the rabbit¡¯s innards will burst just the same. Do I need to exin such a simple concept?¡± ¡°Aha?¡± I seemed to understand the old man¡¯s teaching. First, I need to create my own ¡®sh.¡¯ That ¡®sh¡¯ would take into consideration my life, physique, and so on. Then I¡¯d practice it repeatedly to add strength and speed. Eventually, I would develop a stronger ¡®sh.¡¯ ¡°Now you seem to understand a bit.¡± ¡°A little.¡± ¡°So, now. What would happen if that ¡®sh¡¯ is repeated millions of times and reaches the extreme?¡± This time, the old man picked up an iron sword. It wasn¡¯t a type of sword found in this world. It was an intangible sword created from the old man¡¯s imagination. ¡°Watch. This is the swordsmanship you and that skeleton shall learn.¡± The old man held the sword with a simple, in grip. But my mind didn¡¯t see it as so simple. I gasped. An overwhelming pressure. It felt like a mountain was crushing my entire body. ¡°There¡¯s no need to understand all techniquesplexly. When pursued to the extreme, any path reaches the same destination.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If I had studied every technique like the schrs, would I have mastered all the techniques? Hmph, nonsense!¡± ¡ªWhoosh! The old man¡¯s hand shed. It was an incredibly swift de. I couldn¡¯t even see it correctly. There was an insurmountable gap between the old man and me. All I could perceive was that the old man had ¡®shed¡¯ something. ¡°Desk discussions are unnecessary! Strengthen your swing, your ¡®sh¡¯! Continually improve it! Eventually, everyone will use your ¡®sh¡¯ as the standard!¡± My heart pounded. I clenched my fists. Sweat formed on my palms, and my legs tingled. Create my own ¡®sh,¡¯ he said¡ªa ¡®sh¡¯ so strong it could be the standard for everyone. Just thinking about it made my chest pound with excitement! ¡°Now, swing.¡± Boney 1 and I instinctively gripped our swords. ¡ªWhoosh! Whoosh! The actual training began. ¡°Keep swinging. Find the form that allows you to move morefortably and quickly.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± I swung with all my might. Without a fixed form, it feltfortable. Even if the posture was awkward, no one could criticize it if my swing became thew and the truth! ¡ªRing! [You have acquired the skill ¡®Rend¡¯ (C-rank).] [This skill has the potential for further growth.] ¡°¡­Huff, huff.¡± Time passed, and my entire body was drenched in sweat. The 30 minutes felt less than a minute, such was my immersion. And unlike usual, I didn¡¯t feel tired. Instead, I felt refreshed. ¡ªRing! [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ is being adjusted.] [The skill level of ¡®Low-level sh¡¯ (Lv.2) has increased by 2.] [Bonehead 1¡¯s strength has increased by 1!] [Bonehead 1¡¯s technique has increased by 3!] The same went for Boney 1. Stats usually rarely increased, but this time, they exploded. ¡ªck, ck! It ttered its teeth, seeming satisfied. I felt a bit bad, though. Boney 1 didn¡¯t do that when I taught it. ¡°That¡¯s it for today. Review thoroughly. With your persistence, I believe you shall improve quickly.¡± ¡°Thank you, elder!¡± I bowed respectfully. I was grateful for acquiring another skill. Indeed, meeting the old man was a fortuitous encounter. A fortuitous encounter among fortuitous encounters. A fortune itself. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * At the headquarters of the Parang Guild, the Dark Empress Gi Soyul visited her only sibling for the first time in a while. ¡°Brother.¡± He was a figure respected by all Korean hunters, a global VIP, and giant who single-handedly established a major guild. Currently ranked 58th in the world, his name was Giparang, the Fine Bow. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? This is just about the first time you havee to see me.¡± Giparang looked at Gi Soyul curiously. Although she was a vice guildmaster, she had never involved herself in the guild¡¯s internal affairs. She was with the guild only to make the name Parang more prestigious as a ranker and a blood rtive. ¡°Well, actually, I¡¯ve been worried about something recently.¡± ¡°You?¡± Giparang¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. His sister had never shown interest in anything other than training. ¡°Could a hunter around D-rank suddenly exhibit strength beyond that of a ranker?¡± ¡°Hmm. That¡¯s a rather odd question, no?¡± ¡°Hurry and answer.¡± ¡°Well, usually, even with getting a fortuitous opportunity or earning a skill, it takes time to make it one¡¯s own¡­ I¡¯d say it¡¯d be very unlikely. If such a case existed, the only exnation would be that they had been hiding their ability.¡± ¡°He definitely wasn¡¯t hiding it.¡± ¡°Really? I believe you since even rankers can¡¯t hide their abilities from your eyes.¡± Her assassination skill, ¡®Search¡¯ (S-rank), urately assessed the target¡¯s level. Giparang shook his head. ¡°So it doesn¡¯t make sense. Why, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Gi Soyul had yet to report the dungeon incident to Giparang out of pride. Or rather, she had reported it but hid the exact details. How was this possible? It was because there were over a dozen unranked dungeons that Parang was involved in every week. Most of them were assessed or cleared by the reconnaissance party, so the guild master couldn¡¯t keep track of everything. Moreover, he only paid attention to failures or discoveries of A-rank or higher dungeons. ¡°Hmm, never mind. So it¡¯s impossible?¡± ¡°At least that¡¯s whatmon sense tells me. But I¡¯m sure you already know this. Common sense can always be broken.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± It had only been ten years since the world turned upside down. Just ten years ago, the existence of ¡®hunters¡¯ themselves was beyondmon sense. The old man. Gi Soyul ground her teeth secretly. He was the first to make her feel powerless. She had lost to other rankers before, but the feeling of powerlessness she had experienced was unprecedented. And yet, how could a mere porter¡­ From his first impression, she had been curious. He was a man with eyes more like a snake¡¯s than a wolf¡¯s¡ªa fierce gaze. It reminded her of herself five years ago at 20 years old. So she became interested. Though it may have been rude, she yed a bit of a prank for the first time in her life. But that was it. From her ranker¡¯s perspective, he was just another hunter among many. And yet, he surprised me. He confidently demanded entry into the dungeon that she continuously failed to clear. While all the survivors were trembling with fear, he was calm, like a beast eyeing its prey. She thought he would fail. She thought it would be a waste of time. She gave him a chance only because she liked his spirit. But he actually cleared it? She was too curious. Curious to the point of losing sleep. He¡¯s definitely an interesting person. If she had been interested in the guild¡¯s internal affairs, she would have immediately recruited him. If he gained strength and fortuitous opportunities with that much ferocity as a necromancer, he could grow into a ranker like Dark Lord in a short time. He promised to tell me once he sorted things out. Surely, there had to be something. She wanted to press him immediately but decided to give him time. Because she had promised. ¡°Hmm? My sister. You¡¯re being quite suspicious. You had a serious face earlier, and now you¡¯re smiling?¡± ¡°Oh, huh?¡± ¡°Why? What is it? You never cared about anything but wielding your dagger before, no?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Gi Soyul frowned at her brother¡¯s teasing and quickly left the guildmaster¡¯s office. Chapter 14 Chapter 14: Hunter X Hunter ¡°Hey, Mr. Necro! Over here, over here!¡± The day after Boney 1¡¯s intense training, I met up with Kang Jaeho and his party at the ce where we had promised to meet. ¡°You showed up as promised. I sent the dungeon details via text. I¡¯m sure you checked them on the way, correct?¡± ¡°Yes, of course.¡± The details were simple. It was a new dungeon that the association rated C-rank about a week ago. The main mission was to eliminate monsters and defeat the boss. The field type was desert. ¡°As you mentioned, I¡¯ve thered on sunscreen and packed emergency ice water.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Kang Jaeho nodded. Beside him were a total of seven people. Seven? Weren¡¯t there supposed to be five? Noticing my puzzled expression, Kang Jaeho exined, ¡°You¡¯re now an official exploration member. These five are the original team, and we hired two F-rank porters. Oh, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ve already paid them, so you won¡¯t be charged separately.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. Thank you.¡± Of course, what¡¯s the main purpose of entering a dungeon? To make money. Inside dungeons were pure magic stones and sometimes high-rank ores like night pearls or mithril, so porters were essential. While the main ie was the dungeon rewards, the materials gathered by the porters were a secondary reward. ¡°¡­¡± I nced at the two porters. They looked like young adults, a boy and a girl who had just reached adulthood, resembling siblings since they looked alike. I gave them a slight nod in greeting. Having been a porter just a few days ago, I felt a sense of camaraderie. ¡°Okay, if the introductions are over, let¡¯s head in! Haha, I¡¯m already itching for a fight.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m curious to see what our new member, Mr. Necro, can do.¡± As the huntersughed and rxed, there was a click. Kang Jaeho loaded his revolver and said sharply, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ve reported to the association, so let¡¯s go. Donghoon, you and the porters follow closely.¡± They seemed rxed rather than tense. Indeed, they live up to their reputation as daring hunters. I found it a bit strange. Even if I were with them, C-rank dungeons would be a life-threatening challenge for them. Where did they get such confidence? Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. The reason I¡¯m joining this C-rank dungeon isn¡¯t because they¡¯re safe. It¡¯s because I believe in my skeletons and myself. It¡¯s not just blind confidence. My skeletons took down an upper D-rank Orc in no time. Moreover, with advice from a transcendent old man, there was no reason for me not to be able to clear a C-rank dungeon. I gripped my staff. [Using skill ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank).] ¡ªCreak! Creak! First, Boney 1 with a sword and Boney 2 with a spear appeared at our nks. [Using skill ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank).] Boney 3 with a bow and Boney 5 with a staff appeared at the rear. And finally¡­ [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ summoned.] ¡ªThud! Boney 4 appeared in the front, holding a massive shield on the ground. I smiled with satisfaction at the sturdy formation of my skeletons. ¡°Ooooh.¡± ¡°Mr. Necro! They seem stronger thanst time.¡± ¡°Yeah, they look the same, but they feel different. The skeletons¡¯ eyes have be sharper.¡± Receivingpliments from the hunters made me feel even better. I shrugged my shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s head in.¡± * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * [Entering the dungeon.] ¡ªFwoosh! As soon as we entered, a scorching heat enveloped my body. [You are exposed to a harsh environment.] [All of your stats have decreased by 10%!] Hmm. The sunlight was so intense it was hard to keep my eyes open. The desert sand was dry and cracked. The withered trees scattered around were leaning over, about to copse. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s hotter than I expected.¡± ¡°We have to endure it. Think of it as enjoying a sauna.¡± ¡°That¡¯s easier said than done. Is that even possible?¡± The hunters grumbled as they rolled up their sleeves. The two F-rank porters were already struggling, their mouths shut tight. Is it that hard? I tilted my head. It was hot, but it was bearable. This was child¡¯s y, especiallypared to the hellish massage I received from the old man. Maybe it¡¯s my pain resistance skill? ¡ªCreak! My dry and devoid-of-moisture skeletons were also strong against the heat. ¡°Everyone, gather ¡¯round,¡± Kang Jaeho sharply called the members together, showing no change in expression despite the heat. As expected, he was a veteran who knew how to act in a dungeon. ¡°Focus. The types of monsters here are scorpions and snakes.¡± ¡°S-Snakes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act scared. We already went over this, remember?¡± ¡°Hehe.¡± Ignoring the joking members, Kang Jaeho continued his exnation. The gist of it was theyout of the dungeon terrain and the location of the final boss room. ¡°C-rank desert dungeons are all simr. We push through the monsters and move to the boss room. Then we open the door and take down the boss. That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the boss type?¡± ¡°It¡¯s always random. We¡¯ll see when we get there.¡± Hearing the hunters¡¯ conversation, the two porters swallowed dry gulps nervously. Seeing this, Kang Jaeho smiled gently. ¡°You just need to follow us closely. Pick up what you¡¯re told and pass what you¡¯re told. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± The porters answered with discipline. Thus, we began moving. The path was straightforward. Assuming we spawned on the west side, we had to move east toward where the sun was zing. ording to Kang Jaeho, the monsters would get stronger the further we went. ¡°Kieek! Kyak!¡± As we moved, desert scorpions and snakes appeared one by one. They were all strong enough to be rated C-rank monsters. ¡°They finally showed up.¡± ¡°Everyone, get ready!¡± ¡ªClick! ck! The hunters each prepared their weapons. Should I try fighting with them? I started to control my skeletons. I didn¡¯t know why Kang Jaeho was so nice to me, but he had given me the autonomy to act on my own. ¡°Kyeegh!¡± Three scorpions charged in my direction. They seemed as strong as the orc I had faced in the training grounds from their ferocity. In the past, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to do anything, but¡­ ¡°Boney 5!¡± I shouted confidently. Compared to the old man¡¯s fierce presence, this was nothing. ¡ªVwoom! At mymand, Boney 5 swung its staff and chanted a spell. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv.1).] First, I had to secure my safety. And next¡­ ¡°Boney 4, draw their aggro.¡± [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ used the skill ¡®Low-level Taunt¡¯ (Lv.1).] ¡ªBoom! Boney 4 mmed its shield into the ground with such force that it shook. Dust rose into the air. ¡°Kieek! Kieeek!¡± [Desert Scorpion is focused on Bonehead 4!] [Desert Scorpion is focused on Bonehead 4!] [Desert Scorpion is focused on Bonehead 4!] Initially their aggression was aimed everywhere, and now the scorpions focused solely on Boney 4. Good. I felt relieved. The fact that even a level 1 skill worked well against them meant that my skeletons were strong. ¡ªWhoosh! Boney 1 dashed forward and swung its sword. It used the ¡®sh¡¯ it learned from the old man. ¡ªCrack! But the scorpion¡¯s tough hide didn¡¯t yield to the de. ¡°Kieeek!¡± Judging by their screams, they were in pain. ¡°Keep striking!¡± ¡ªCreak! Boney 2 and Boney 3 also moved. Boney 2 thrust its spear into the gaps in one scorpion¡¯s hide. ¡ªThwip! Thwip! Thwip! Boney 3 alternated shooting arrows at each scorpion. ¡°Kieeek! Kieeek!¡± Yet despite the attacks, the seemingly mesmerized scorpions only pounded on Boney 4¡¯s shield. The skeletons moved without hesitation. Repeated thrusts from Boney 2 widened the gaps in the scorpion¡¯s hide. ¡ªWhoosh! Boney 1 swung its greatsword at those gaps. ¡ªsh! With a brutal sh, the scorpion¡¯s leg was severed. Dark red blood sttered. [Desert Scorpion has been defeated.] That was surprisingly easy. The rest were the same. Boney 1¡¯s sword shed through the air, severing scorpion parts, and Boney 3¡¯s arrows found their marks in the open wounds. They¡¯re weak, not like C-ranks at all. Were they misssified? Or had I gotten stronger? Of course, desert scorpions are among the lower tier of C-rank. Their individual strengths were about D-rank, but they were ssified as C-rank because they swarmed. ¡°Wow, Mr. Necro, you already took down three?¡± ¡°He must¡¯ve really gained some great opportunity.¡± I nced over. Kang Jaeho¡¯s group had also finished their scorpions and cleaned the blood off their weapons. I was surprised at howposed they were. Were they always this skilled? Then again, there was no way to gauge their strength in the old man¡¯s dungeon. In that dungeon, both they and I were weak survivors. Anyway. One member kept mentioning ¡®opportunity.¡¯ It was bugging me. They said my appearance had changed despite little time passing; I looked more muscr and better looking, and they were eager to test my abilities. Their sudden friendliness, too. They¡¯re being too nice to me. Looking at them now, their skills seemed good enough that they didn¡¯t need me. If Kang Jaeho truly wanted me on the team, he should have tested our synergy and not given me autonomy. Am I being paranoid? Basically, I had a gut feeling of something being off without concrete proof. Who knew? What if they approached me intending to take advantage of my opportunity? And what if they were far more skilled than the rank indicated by their nametes? Let¡¯s think for a second. Why did they choose me among so many other hunters? Me, who was publicly known as an E-rank. Wait a minute. I frowned because it felt like the puzzle pieces wereing together. They knew that I obtained the reward from the high-difficulty dungeon. However, because of the confidentiality agreement with Parang, they couldn¡¯t speak or ask freely about it. No matter their skill, they wouldn¡¯t want to break their promise with ranker Gi Soyul. If so. There was only one way to satisfy their desires while adhering to all the previous restrictions. Dungeon exploration was a space without surveince cameras and where no evidence remained. Dungeon idents happened more frequently than traffic idents. I¡¯d better be cautious. It¡¯s still just a suspicion. Someone once said, ¡°The only thing scarier than dungeon monsters are people.¡± It¡¯s a truth you learn as a hunter. We moved forward, dealing with monsters, for about two hours. Finally, the boss room came into view. An enormous door stood in the middle of the desert nked by altars with various inscriptions. ¡ªRing! [Stage: Ancient Desert Scorpion King] [To break the seal of the Ancient Desert Scorpion King, a sacrifice is needed.] [ce a sacrifice on the two magic circles.] [The sacrifices must be living F-rank hunters or higher.] ¡°Sacrifice F-ranks¡­¡± I muttered under my breath. Information I hadn¡¯t heard from them. And it must be a living being¡­ I instinctively looked back. I saw the wide-eyed, shocked faces of the porter siblings reading the message. At the same time¡­ ¡°Hmm, a sacrifice. A tough boss type.¡± ¡°Yeah, why this one? Tsk.¡± The huntersughed, not showing any pity. This was the cause of my unease. Damn these guys. I clicked my tongue. That¡¯s right. They weren¡¯t monster-hunting hunters but hunter-hunting hunters. ____ Chapter 15 Chapter 15: Sue me ¡°¡­¡± In the silence, Kang Jaeho smirked as he rummaged through his pocket then lit a cigarette. The glowing tip of the cigarette seemed ominous in the middle of the desert. ¡°Uh, excuse me¡­¡± One of the porters, the older brother of the two siblings, stepped forward. He pushed his sister behind him, trembling as he cautiously asked, ¡°Party Leader Kang?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°What¡­ What does this boss type mean?¡± [To break the seal of the Ancient Desert Scorpion King, a sacrifice is needed.] [ce a sacrifice on the two magic circles.] [The sacrifices must be living F-rank hunters or higher.] The new stage information was disyed for all party members. Kang Jaeho chuckled. ¡°What do you mean? Can¡¯t you see?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°It means we need a sacrifice. Two living F-rank or higher hunters. Don¡¯t you get it?¡± ¡°I get that, but¡­.¡± ¡°Oh, you understand? Then get on with it. What are you waiting for? Climb up.¡± Kang Jaeho pointed to the altar. ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± The male porter was flustered, but Kang Jaeho only seemed to enjoy the situation more. ¡°Ha, clueless kid, huh?¡± ¡°Seriously, no sense at all.¡± The other hunters chuckled along. The porter shouted, ¡°A-Are you all insane?¡± ¡°Insane? Hmm¡­ sure, if it makes it easier for you to understand, think of it that way.¡± ¡°Wh-Why are you doing this?¡± The sister stepped forward. ¡°Did you n this from the start?¡± ¡°Oh,e on, what can I say?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you find it strange? Getting paid more than usual? Why do you think we brought you scrubs here? High payes with a high price. Didn¡¯t you know?¡± Kang Jaeho revealed his true nature, causing the porters to grit their teeth. I was also taken aback. The fact that they¡¯re acting like this in front of me¡­ There¡¯s only one exnation. They¡¯re confident they can overpower me. I couldn¡¯t stand by any longer and stepped forward. ¡°Hmm? You don¡¯t need to get involved. We only n to use them as sacrifices.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I silently red at Kang Jaeho. Those who treat others¡¯ lives like insects are called ¡®viins.¡¯ And I have no intention ofpromising with viins to achieve my goals. ¡°Well, well. Are you a hopeless romantic? Or a Confucian schr?¡± ¡°Shut up. What¡¯s your real goal?¡± I asked. ¡°Goal? What goal?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about why you came to the mercenary guild to bring me here.¡± ¡°Ha, you¡¯re notpletely clueless, huh?¡± ¡°Say it.¡± Kang Jaeho¡¯s expression hardened. For some reason, my aura felt different to him. Not remarkably stronger, but there was a chilling sensation. ¡°I see. So clearing that dungeon wasn¡¯t just luck.¡± Kang Jaeho¡¯s mouth twisted. ¡°That¡¯s right. You must¡¯ve guessed. We¡¯re curious about the ¡®opportunity¡¯ you got. I don¡¯t know how you managed to deal with that ranker woman, but that¡¯s why we had to go through the trouble of bringing you here.¡± He pulled out his sword, and the other hunters gripped their weapons, moving into a formation. ¡°But know this. We have no intention of opposing you.¡± ¡°Opposing me?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why we showed this to you.¡± Kang Jaeho nced at the trembling porters. ¡°We showed you what type of people we are, and we want to see if you were willing to join us. Of course, if you want to join, you must share some of your reward. Our team is fair when ites to distribution.¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± To summarize their words: we¡¯re viins, want to join us? If you want to join, hand over your rewards. Yeah, screw you. ¡ªWhoosh! Whoosh! Arrows were shot from Boney 3 at terrifying speed. The surprised hunters quickly raised their arms. ¡ªTing! Kang Jaeho deflected the arrows swiftly. ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s your answer? You¡¯ll regret this.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t team up with a bunch of animals.¡± My gaze was resolute. By my standards, they weren¡¯t human. They were monsters in human form. And monsters are meant to be hunted. Even if I lost, I couldn¡¯t back down here. The ranker I aspired to be wasn¡¯t an ¡®evil¡¯ ranker. And more importantly¡­ Compared to facing the old man, this was nothing. I actually felt like I had a chance. ¡°¡­¡± I made my decision and charged forward with my skeletons. ¡°You think you¡¯ve be stronger just because you gained some chance? You were just a porter a few days ago!¡± Realizing the negotiation had failed, Kang Jaeho cursed. But I didn¡¯t respond. Their shouts were nothing more than cries from monsters to me. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv.1).] After using an essential defense skill, I charged with all my might. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Huff, huff!¡± My gaze was fixed solely on Kang Jaeho. My breathing was rough. All my skeletons, except for Boney 1, were engaged in fiercebat with the other hunters while Boney 1 and Kang Jaeho faced off, reading each other¡¯s moves. He¡¯s stronger than I thought. He was a C-rank hunter, but his strength was close to B-rank, far stronger than the scorpions we had faced. But. That was rather for the better. Just a few days ago, I was struggling against a D-rank orc. Now, I had grown enough to face a top C-rank hunter. ¡°Kekeke.¡± Sensing my confidence, Kang Jaehoughed. ¡°You think you can win just because you¡¯re handling me? That¡¯s a big mistake.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Do you know why we fearlessly wander into unknown-rank dungeons?¡± I frowned. His gaze was fixed somewhere as if waiting for someone. A sense of uneasiness made me hesitate. Killing intent? I quickly stepped back, feeling a sharp sensation as if my throat were about to be cut. Simultaneously, I shouted, ¡°Boney 1!¡± ¡ªng! Boney 1 deflected a dagger that flew out of the darkness. It was terrifying. If I had been a moment toote, the dagger would¡¯ve pierced my throat. ¡°Guh¡­¡± The deflection recoil was so strong that even I, the summoner, felt the impact. What was that? My heart chilled. There was no sign, and the movement was very swift¡ªclearly a high-rank hunter. ¡°Kekeke.¡± Seeing my flustered state, Kang Jaehoughed and said, ¡°Because we have someone covering our back for us. We¡¯re known as the Shadow Lurkers.¡± ¡°Shadow Lurkers?!¡± I shouted involuntarily. Even as an E-rank mercenary, I had heard that name countless times. A notorious criminal group hidden in the underworld, they were a headache for the association and overworld guilds. ¡°Kekeke. That¡¯s right, you poor soul. The hunter you¡¯re facing is an A-rank assassin from the Shadow Lurkers.¡± ¡°A-rank¡­¡± It was a despairing revtion. I was barely handling a C-rank hunter, but now I was fighting against an A-rank, not even a B-rank. The gap between those two ranks was immense, leaving no room for luck to prevail. ¡ªRustle. A figure wearing a hood emerged from the shadows. ¡°So, this is the one who cleared the dungeon that Gi Soyul couldn¡¯t,¡± he muttered in a low voice. Kang Jaeho bowed respectfully. ¡°Yes, brother.¡± The overwhelming presence of this hunter momentarily halted the fierce battle. Behind me, the porters stood in despair. Behind the newly arrived assassin, the hunters wore rxed expressions. ¡°Haah.¡± I sighed deeply. Honestly, there was no way out. It was a dead-end situation. The porters clung to my clothes from behind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We feel like we¡¯re causing you unnecessary trouble.¡± ¡°Thank you. Even though¡­ it seems like this is the end¡­ we¡¯re still grateful. Thank you.¡± The young siblings sobbed. What did they do wrong? They were innocent. Why should they be sacrificed just because they were weak? I felt something boiling inside me. My emotions red up. I don¡¯t want to give them up. I wanted to save them. So I thought, the only thing I could rely on now was¡­ The old man. I nodded. There was no other option. A being powerful enough to call an A-rank assassin ¡®nothing.¡¯ The skill is back from cooldown just in time. [Using skill ¡®Teaching of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank).] [Consuming 20 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Master of All Techniques.¡¯] I summoned my master. * * * ¡°Hmm.¡± The old man, hands sped behind his back, sighed heavily. Then he shook his head. ¡°Tsk, tsk. I should¡¯ve known when you said you would wander around while being unprepared.¡± His form was transparent, and his voice echoed only in my head. The hunters couldn¡¯t see or hear anything. Elder, the situation is urgent. Please give me advice! I pleaded inwardly, and the old man scoffed. ¡°Advice? Hmph. You¡¯re no match for those guys yet. Tsk, tsk. How pitiful that you, who im to be my disciple, can¡¯t even handle such weaklings.¡± Stopmenting! If I die, you won¡¯t be able to fulfill your goal! ¡°So who told you to get into this mess? The one who should be aggrieved is me! Even if I¡¯ve mastered all techniques, I can¡¯t make the impossible happen!¡± Oh, for god¡¯s sake! Damn it. I furrowed my brow. At this rate, this was just a waste of my energy. ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± The situation worsened. The assassin¡¯s killing intent grew stronger. ¡°This is our first meeting, so I¡¯ll ask nicely. What did you gain from that opportunity?¡± he asked. ¡°¡­¡± The assassin asked about my opportunity. My eyes gleamed. Given that they brought me here for a clear purpose, they wouldn¡¯t kill me so quickly. In other words, we could negotiate. ¡°Oh, so there¡¯s that method, I see now.¡± The old man agreed as well. ¡°Yes, if you face the assassin alone, there¡¯s a chance. I can¡¯t guarantee a 100% sess rate, but at least you can fight him with the determination to take him with you. Good, try it. If you seed, I¡¯ll help.¡± The determination to take him with me. That meant an all-out effort to kill the opponent, even at the cost of one¡¯s life. It was thest resort when fighting against someone stronger than oneself. I red at the assassin and said, ¡°¡­Do you want to know about my opportunity?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He nodded. ¡°You received a reward from a dungeon that even Gi Soyul couldn¡¯t clear, so of course I¡¯m curious.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll tell you. I should, of course. You¡¯re an A-rank hunter, after all.¡± ¡°A wise choice. You¡¯re more sensible than I thought.¡± The satisfied assassin nodded as he withdrew his killing intent. ¡°But,¡± I said, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you until I fight those backstabbers.¡± ¡°What?¡± The assassin frowned again. ¡°Until then, I can¡¯t speak out of frustration and resentment. Sue me.¡± ____ Chapter 16 Chapter 16: Chickened Out You want to hear about my opportunity? Then wait until I finish dealing with them! If not, sue me! My bold deration left the air thick with silence. Kang Jaeho and his men scoffed while the A-rank assassin stared at me coldly. ¡°Wh-What are you nning to do?¡± The porter siblings clung to my clothes, their faces filled with anxiety. I smiled gently and nodded, fixing my gaze on the assassin. ¡°Please understand. I have a sort of mental illness. No matter how dangerous the situation, I can¡¯t stand my pride getting hurt. I must deal with those backstabbers myself.¡± ¡°Perhaps,¡± the assassin spoke, his face still stern. ¡°You¡¯re not plotting something, are you?¡± ¡°Oh,e on.¡± I waved my hand dismissively. His icy stare pierced through me, but I tried to appear confident. ¡°After all, we¡¯re in a dungeon. I have no way to escape from you.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Absolutely. Even if I still had a clever trick, could I deceive an A-rank hunter¡¯s eyes and senses?¡± ¡°You have a point.¡± The assassin nodded, closing his eyes to weigh his options. He¡¯s almost convinced. They were from a vicious criminal group, and criminals had no camaraderie. They would stab theirrades in the back without hesitation if it benefited them. If I insisted I wouldn¡¯t reveal the ¡®opportunity¡¯ and that I would rather die, would he protect his underlings or would he grant my request instead? ¡°To be quite frank with you,¡± I spoke again, reinforcing my stance, ¡°I know I¡¯m in a dire situation. I mean, the Shadow Lurkers are right in front of me. Who would think they could survive?¡± The assassin needed to see me as someone with nothing to lose. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But even if I die, I won¡¯t let those bastards have the satisfaction. Approaching me with kind faces only to stab me in the back¡­ If you can¡¯t ept this, just kill me. Or should I end my own life?¡± ¡°¡­Hold up.¡± I ced Boney 1¡¯s sword against my throat, making the assassin¡¯s expression turn desperate. His rxed attitude when throwing a dagger at me was gone. ¡°Brother? Are you seriously considering falling for such an obvious bluff?¡± Kang Jaeho was flustered. ¡°Sheesh, quite a bold move to use the opponent¡¯s greed against them. This is the strategy of the weak, I see. Haha, I¡¯ve learned something new.¡± The old man watched with amusement. ¡°Brother?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± The assassin¡¯s cold voice made Kang Jaeho¡¯s eyes widen. Ignoring his subordinate, the assassin turned to me. ¡°And what if they beat you?¡± The meaning of this question was straightforward: I would be given a chance to fight. But what if I lost? ¡°Then I willply.¡± ¡°Comply?¡± ¡°Yes. Regardless of the oue, I will reveal the ¡®opportunity¡¯ I obtained in that dungeon and how it can benefit you. I will tell you everything.¡± ¡°Hmm, fine.¡± The assassin nodded, tapping his wristwatch. ¡°I¡¯ll give you exactly 30 minutes. But if you try anything foolish and get caught¡­ you will live in agony forever, unable to die. I have the means to ensure that.¡± ¡°Of course, thank you.¡± I bowed deeply. ¡ªSwoosh! The assassin sheathed his dagger and stepped back, an act of epting my proposal. ¡°You¡­¡± Kang Jaeho¡¯s face twisted with anger. ¡°Do you think you can beat me?¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± I grinned, reorganizing my skeletons. ¡°We won¡¯t know until we try.¡± ¡ªClick-ck! nk! Armed and ready skeletons ttered their bones, signaling their readiness. The old man also nodded. ¡°Good. Now that the stage is set, I will intervene as promised. Now, let¡¯s rece today¡¯s training with real-time practical guidance. So, what should you do now to face that waiting assassin?¡± I need to conserve my strength. ¡°Correct. Use minimal effort for maximum effect. Let me teach you a strategy to use your opponent¡¯s strength against them.¡± Thank you, elder. With the old man¡¯s advice, I was confident I could handle Kang Jaeho and his men. ¡°Take them down.¡± Imanded my skeletons as I enjoyed the baffled expression on their faces. With that, the battle began. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * Hmm¡­ In the desert dungeon, a hooded man stood with his arms crossed. He was Ko Jaeyoung, an A-rank assassin from the Shadow Lurkers. Impressive movements. Ko Jaeyoung closely observed the necromancer¡¯s control over his skeletons. He¡¯s definitely not a novice. And it wasn¡¯t just the control; the way the skeletons moved was remarkable. Each skeleton seemed firm yet fluid, using the opponent¡¯s strength against them. Even though they were mere skeletons. Ko Jaeyoung was certain. Kang Jaeho was right. He did obtain a fortuitous opportunity. The exact nature of the opportunity was unknown; it could be an item, a skill book, or a newly awakened unique ability. But. Kang Jaeho had told him that the dungeon¡¯s reward was the teachings of a mysterious old man who had overpowered Gi Soyul. What a shock it was. Gi Soyul was a legendary figure and a role model among hunters, especially those with assassination abilities. At first, he didn¡¯t believe the existence of a dungeon boss toying with Gi Soyul. Not to mention that the boss was looking for a disciple. But seeing the ¡®confidential agreement¡¯ from the Parang Guild made him confident. The usually indifferent Gi Soyul wouldn¡¯t go out of her way to keep the survivors quiet in order to protect someone¡¯s secret. It may be true. He felt hope¡ªa hope to achieve his long-held dream. If I can kill her with my own hands¡­! Ko Jaeyoung shivered with excitement. His ultimate goal was to assassinate Gi Soyul, the queen of assassination, and im the title of Dark Emperor. And now, the opportunity was here. He had to take the reward from this necromancer by any means necessary. Even if it meant sacrificing his subordinate Kang Jaeho. But so what? ¡ªBoom! Crash! ¡°Damn you, insect!¡± ¡°Shit! The skeletons are weird! They¡¯re deflecting all my attacks!¡± ¡°Leader! We¡¯re getting overrun here! Help!¡± The tide of battle turned quickly. While Kang Jaeho and his men gasped for breath, the necromancer controlling the skeletons seemed rxed. Oh? So he really would win, huh? Despite his subordinate struggling, Ko Jaeyoung remained still. He wasn¡¯t worried. No matter how skilled the necromancer was, he was still a mouse before a cat in front of an A-rank hunter. He better keep his promise. Ko Jaeyoung watched with a chilling expression. Hm? He raised an eyebrow. He sensed the presence of another ally at the dungeon¡¯s entrance. Another A-rank hunter from the Shadow Lurkers who had been keeping watch outside. Why did he enter? His eyes twitched slightly. * * * ¡°Ugh!¡± The weary Kang Jaeho hastily raised his sword. To finish him off, Boney 1 swung its sword forcefully. ¡ªsh! The air was split, and with a ng, Kang Jaeho¡¯s sword broke under the pressure. ¡°Damn it!¡± As he cursed and tried to flee, Boney 1 kicked him with all his might. ¡°Argh!¡± He tumbled, covered in sand. Kang Jaeho wasn¡¯t the only one who was neutralized. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fireball¡¯ (Lv.1).] ¡ªWhoosh! ¡°B-Block it!¡± ¡°Ah! It¡¯s hot!¡± ¡°No fair! Since when can skeletons use magic?¡± [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ used the skill ¡®Rapid Fire¡¯ (Lv.2).] ¡°More arrows iing!¡± ¡°Deflect them! Shield!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t just block! Counterattack! Skeletons don¡¯t have much defense, so¡­!¡± [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ used the skill ¡®Low-Level Guard¡¯ (Lv.1).] ¡°Dammit!¡± The skeletons subdued the hunters one by one. Their bodies were covered in wounds, and their movements showed clear signs of fatigue. ¡°Haha, excellent,¡± the old manughed. ¡°They¡¯re too weak for realbat experience, but it¡¯s a good start.¡± I¡¯ll get realbat experience with that assassin. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. You¡¯ll have to put everything on the line to face him.¡± I already did, elder. As I conversed with the old man, I slowly approached Kang Jaeho. ¡°N-No. Don¡¯te closer! Spare me!¡± Seeing him back away, I found his appearance amusing. He was a ssic bully, strong against the weak but weak against the strong. How he treated the porters was utterly different from his current demeanor. Now that the fight is over¡­ It was time to finish this. ¡ªShing! On my signal, Boney 1 raised its sword high. The sun over the desert reflected off the de like a sh. If you intend to take someone¡¯s life, you should be prepared to lose your own. Just as I was about to bring down the sword with determination¡­ ¡°Hm?¡± I sensed a chilling presence as someone with a massive aura approached rapidly. ¡°Haah, you fool.¡± The old man beside me sighed. What is it? ¡°What is it, you ask? Another one like that assassin just joined the fray.¡± ¡®¡­?!¡¯ ¡°Now I don¡¯t know what will happen. Ugh! You¡¯re good at everything else but alwayscking in preparation.¡± ¡°Ah¡­.¡± I was shocked. Everything was going ording to n. Why was this happening now? Even if I don¡¯t want to admit it. I had to admit my mistake. What confidence did I have toe to this dungeon alone? I should have been more cautious, more suspicious. I was still a ¡®weakling.¡¯ ¡°Hahaha! Hahaha!¡± Realizing my situation, Kang Jaehoughed maniacally. ¡°If you thought we came with only one senior from the Shadow Lurkers, you¡¯re sorely mistaken. Haha, serves you right!¡± With his mockingughter ringing in my ears.. ¡ªSwoosh! Another A-rank hunter emerged from the shadows. The spider symbol on his hood confirmed he was from the Shadow Lurkers. ¡°¡­?¡± But his expression was strange. He wasn¡¯t confident; he seemed anxious. ¡°Hey, we need to run! Gi Soyul is here!¡± he shouted to hisrade. ¡°¡­?¡± Gi Soyul? The ranker, Gi Soyul, in this dungeon? I blinked, confused. The assassin also looked puzzled. The new A-rank hunter beat his chest in frustration. ¡°Don¡¯t think, just move! If we get caught, we¡¯re dead!¡± ¡°¡­No matter how strong she is.¡± ¡°Shut up! You know what rankers are like! They¡¯re monsters among the S-ranks! How can we fight against such a monster?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true¡­ Alright. What about them?¡± The assassin gestured to Kang Jaeho and his men. The A-rank hunter looked at him as if he was crazy. ¡°Since when did we care about those scrubs?¡± ¡°B-Brother?¡± Kang Jaeho, who had beenughing, was now panicking. But reality was harsh. ¡ªSwoosh! The Shadow Lurkers disappeared like shadows, leaving Kang Jaeho and his team behind. ¡°¡­¡± The once noisy area fell silent. Only Kang Jaeho, the porters, his team, and I remained on the boss stage. ¡°¡­What¡¯s going on?¡± I exhaled deeply, feeling incredulous. At the same time, I realized¡­ This is the power of a ranker? Two incredibly strong hunters fled at the mere mention of Gi Soyul. She was genuinely formidable. ¡°God damn it!¡± Kang Jaeho¡¯s voice was filled with despair. Having been defeated by me and now facing the arrival of Gi Soyul, his situation was dire. But regardless of that. Step by step, I approached him. Gi Soyul was another matter. Kang Jaeho was mine to deal with. ¡°We still have unfinished business, don¡¯t we?¡± My reckoning was not yet over. * * * Meanwhile, at the entrance of the C-rank dungeon, a woman stood with her chin in her hand, contemting. Hm. Am I overreacting? A golden badge hanging from her waist, she was the ranker, Gi Soyul. ¡°Following him this far¡­ feels like I¡¯m stalking him.¡± Her curiosity about Joo Donghoon had kept her up all night, leading her to track him to this dungeon with the Parang Guild¡¯s informationwork. She had spent about 10 minutes at the dungeon entrance, deciding whether to go in. In the end, she concluded¡­ ¡°This isn¡¯t right.¡± He had said it would be hard to answer immediately. Given enough time, he promised to exin once he sorted things out. Showing up at the dungeon felt improper, like viting his trust. Besides, didn¡¯t it look like she was too interested in him? It¡¯s better to wait until he¡¯s out. After a brief hesitation, Gi Soyul finally turned away. ____ Chapter 17 Chapter 17: Give Back What You Get ¡°¡­¡± Kang Jaeho stared nkly ahead, disbelief etched across his face. The mighty Shadow Lurkers, the two ¡°brothers¡± he relied on, had fled at the mere mention of Gi Soyul¡¯s name. ¡°Ugh.¡± His abdomen ached, and his skin swelled with bruises. The spot where that damned skeleton, Boney 1, had kicked him felt fractured. ¡°Fuck.¡± Spitting out blood and profanities, Kang Jaeho reflected on how it had all gone wrong. Just where? It was supposed to be a foolproof n. Despite clearing a bizarre dungeon, Joo Donghoon was merely an E-rank mercenary. He was facing a team with two A-ranks and five hunters of D-rank and above. And yet¡­ This is impossible. Joo Donghoon alone overwhelmed them. That¡¯s right. Frankly, it was then that things had started going wrong. ¡°Ha.¡± Laughter bubbled up, and Kang Jaeho had to admit that his judgment had been wed. He underestimated Joo Donghoon and overestimated the criminal organization, the Shadow Lurkers. The most humiliating part was that Gi Soyul hadn¡¯t even appeared; it had been over five minutes since the brothers fled. I¡¯ve been yed. He admitted his mistakes and inadequacies, assessing the situation with cold rity. As long as he was alive, the fight wasn¡¯t over. If I keep fighting him head-on, I¡¯ll lose. Joo Donghoon was strong, absorbing the mysterious ¡°opportunity¡± faster than expected. But he has a naive sense of justice. Kang Jaeho noticed how Joo Donghoon reacted to the F-rank porters, stepping forward silently when they were threatened. He possessed a pure heart yet to be tainted by this rotten society. His eyes gleamed with a sudden thought. ¡°Why are you standing around? Move! Send those damned skeletons back to their graves!¡± ¡°B-But! The skeletons are too strong!¡± someone protested, and Kang Jaeho¡¯s disbelief turned into fury. ¡°Shut up! Would you rather die standing there? Move if you want to live! Or I¡¯ll kill you myself!¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir!¡± ¡°We have no choice! Keep fighting!¡± Despite the overwhelming odds, the hunters resumed their attack, driven by fear of death. And I¡¯ll use this chaos¡­ Kang Jaeho smirked. He saw the porter siblings standing awkwardly. To take them hostage. They would make excellent hostages. It was the only way a cornered terrorist could hope to escape. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Good effort.¡± I controlled the skeletons, keeping an eye on the fight. ¡ªSwish! Swish! Swish! Kang Jaeho¡¯s teamunched desperate, murderous strikes against my five skeletons. They fought with everything they had, driven by the instinct to survive. ¡°¡­¡± It was a grim sight. Why were humans so eager to tear each other apart? The emergence of ¡°hunters¡± had stripped humanity down to its primal core, revealing the true horrors of our time. It was heartbreaking. It seemed so peaceful just ten years ago¡­ Or was it? Maybe the world was always rotten? When I think about it, some people traded in human lives even then¡­ Anyway. I called out to Boney 1. ¡ªCreak! It nodded in response. Honestly, I had already been watching Kang Jaeho¡¯s movements, aware of his intentions. How unfortunate. Did he think taking hostages would work against my army? ¡°Finish him.¡± Boney 1 moved swiftly, blocking Kang Jaeho¡¯s escape route. ¡ªWhoosh! It swung its sword mercilessly. ¡°Urgh?¡± Kang Jaeho raised his arm reflexively, an unconscious defense. ¡ªThwack! His arm was severed, blood gushing onto the sand. ¡°Aaaargh!¡± he screamed, writhing in pain. I watched him, expressionless. Sympathy? There was none. He had tried to kill me and deserved the consequences. If I had been weaker or failed to awaken or meet the old man, would they have spared me? No way they would. This was self-defense, pure and simple. To be a ranker in this brutal world, I needed to harden my resolve. The rest are the same. I signaled the skeletons. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fireball¡¯ (Lv.1).] ¡ªWhoosh! Boney 5 summoned another fireball. I still had enough energy. ¡°D-Dodge!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let it hit you! Get as far away as possible!¡± ¡°Wh-What about the leader?¡± ¡°Who the hell cares? Every man for himself!¡± The hunters tried to distance themselves, desperation evident in their actions. Goodness¡­ Seeing seasoned hunters being overwhelmed by my skeletons filled me with a strange sense of aplishment. I had grown much stronger in a short time. ¡°Time to wrap this up.¡± The other skeletons attacked. Boney 2 thrust its spear, Boney 3 fired arrows, and Boney 4 used its shield as a battering ram. ¡°Aaagh!¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± The hunters, who had each spread out, couldn¡¯t withstand the concentrated attacks from my skeletons. Boney 2¡¯s spear was fierce, and Boney 3¡¯s bow was precise. ¡°It hurts! It hurts, damn it!¡± ¡°Damn it!¡± Critically damaged, the hunters copsed while clutching their wounds. The battle ended. ¡ªSwish! Boney 1 drew its sword, advancing toward the hunters, who trembled in fear. ¡°D-Don¡¯te any closer!¡± ¡°Please! We were wrong! It was all Kang Jaeho¡¯s idea!¡± ¡°H-Hey. Give it a thought for a second! We¡¯re fellow dungeon survivors, aren¡¯t we?¡± Their pleas fell on deaf ears. If they were good people, they wouldn¡¯t have joined the Shadow Lurkers in the first ce. ¡ªWhoosh! Boney 1 swung its sword without hesitation. ¡ªsh! Thud! With their heads severed, the hunters instantly fell to the ground dead. ¡°Haah! Huff¡­?¡± The remaining hunters, bleeding, tried to retreat, but Boney 1 showed no mercy. ¡ªStab! ¡°Ugh!¡± The sword pierced one hunter¡¯s chest, skewering his heart. He shivered, feeling the cold steel, his face contorted in agony. ¡°Ahh¡­ Ugh¡­¡± With a quick pull, Boney 1 ended his suffering. ¡°Two left,¡± I muttered as I approached Kang Jaeho. Out of five, three were dead, so only two remained. ¡°You son of a bitch!¡± His one remaining arm holding a sword, Kang Jaeho stood up defiantly. ¡°You think I¡¯ll just lie down and take it?¡± He charged toward the porters, but¡­ ¡ªsh! Boney 1¡¯s sword swept through his legs, severing them. ¡°Aaaagh!¡± After losing both legs in addition to his arm, Kang Jaeho lost his bnce and tumbled to the ground. He writhed in agony, his limbs trembling. Tears were already streaming down his face. ¡°You son of a bitch. Why! Why did you have to appear before me?!¡± Step by step, I walked over to him. ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯re the one who appeared before me.¡± ¡°Guh!¡± He could only groan, unable to respond. He had no words to counter me since he was the one who showed his ill intentions first. ¡°You scum! Just kill me already!¡± ¡°Kill you?¡± I shook my head. ¡°Sorry, but you won¡¯t die so easily.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You have to pay for your actions before you go.¡± Dragging him by his remaining arm, I pulled him toward the altar. ¡°You¡­ You bastard!¡± His eyes widened in realization of my intention. [To break the seal of the Ancient Desert Scorpion King, a sacrifice is needed.] [ce a sacrifice on the two magic circles.] [The sacrifices must be living F-rank hunters or higher.] That¡¯s right. I intended to use him as a sacrifice, just as they had nned for the porters. ¡°Haha, you understand the concept of poetic justice. Seems like you don¡¯t need any moral lessons.¡± The old man chuckled, clearly pleased with my decision. I gotta do what I gotta do, elder. ¡°Indeed, well done!¡± After receiving his praise, I continued dragging Kang Jaeho. ¡°Just kill me! End it now!¡± ¡°Shut up. No one benefits from that.¡± ¡ªThud! cing him on the altar, the engravings lit up. ¡ªSniffle, sob¡­ Boney 1 ced the other hunter on the second altar. [The sacrifices have been ced.] [Checking conditions.] My mind was heavy. Normally, I¡¯d have avoided a dungeon requiring such sacrifices. The idea of gaining rewards at the cost of lives was unappealing. But¡­ To be a ranker, my principles and standards must be clear. Give back what you get. Repay kindness with kindness, and avenge wrongs with vengeance. If someone sought my life, I would take theirs. It might be difficult, but it¡¯s a burden that must be endured to be a ranker. [Conditions met.] [The ancient seal is being lifted!] ¡ªsh! Bright pirs of light shot up from the altars, erasing the sacrifices. ¡°Goodbye. May you live a better life if there¡¯s a next one.¡± This was the final fate of the criminals who demanded others¡¯ lives. I wiped their blood from my hands. By the way¡­ A question lingered. Why hadn¡¯t Gi Soyul arrived? The Shadow Lurkers had fled, fearing her arrival. I owed her another debt. Without her, I¡¯d have faced two A-ranks, and I might have been the one on the altar. ¡°Haah.¡± My mind was cluttered. I had promised to exin the opportunity I got but hadn¡¯t decided how. And the escaped Shadow Lurkers were a looming threat. I needed protection but disliked the idea of belonging to a guild. Having powerplicates things. Stretching my stiff neck, I pondered. ¡ªRumble! The ground shook. ¡°Kyaa!¡± ¡°Mr. Necromancer, look!¡± The porter siblings pointed, mouths agape. At the same time, a message appeared. ¡ªRing! [Stage: Ancient Scorpion King] [The Ancient Scorpion King has been unsealed.] [Its rage, suppressed for ages, erupts to the heavens.] [Eliminate the target.] ¡°Oh, right¡­ That thing.¡± Leave the thinking toter. I had to deal with the boss before anything else. Chapter 18 Chapter 18: Ancient Desert Scorpion King ¡°Phew,¡± I exhaled deeply. It was a C-rank dungeon boss, and the name alone was daunting. The king of scorpions in the ancient desert? Not a lieutenant, duke, or general but king? ¡°¡­¡± Once upon a time, I wouldn¡¯t have even dreamed of facing such an opponent. I used to struggle against high D-rank orcs. But now¡­ I felt confident enough to take it on. I had easily taken down C-rank scorpions. ording to the World Hunter Association: [If five or more hunters of a given rank can¡¯t clear it, the rank will be adjusted upward!] If five C-rank hunters can clear it, I should be able to as well. Although they were C to D ranks, I had already proven myself with a fight against five hunters. [The Ancient Desert Scorpion King has appeared!] [The ¡°Awakened Skeletons¡± (D-rank) are suppressed by the presence of a higher power. All stats are reduced by 20%!] ¡°Wow.¡± I shivered as the ominous aura from behind the door made my heart pound. ¡°This is nerve-wracking¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Necromancer¡­ Will it be okay?¡± The younger sister of the porter siblings asked nervously. ¡°I don¡¯t know. But one thing¡¯s for sure: this is better than facing those guys from the Shadow Lurkers,¡± I chuckled and answered. ¡°Y-Yes, that seems right.¡± After all, no matter how powerful this Scorpion King was, it couldn¡¯t be stronger than an A-rank hunter. ¡°Phew, huff.¡± I took deep breaths to calm my nerves and checked my energy. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Energy: 50/120] Summoning the old man took 20 energy. Summoning the skeletons took 50 energy. I still had enough for five more summons. But. It was unfortunate that the skeletons weren¡¯t in top condition. And I was also extremely fatigued from the previous battles. But I had the old man¡¯s guidance, which was always reassuring. ¡°Hoho, my disciple. Surely you don¡¯t need my help to handle such a lowly creature?¡± ¡­Pardon? I was taken aback. ¡°Indeed, if you can¡¯t handle something like that, it¡¯s better for you to just die.¡± Wait, hold on. ¡°Hold on for what? I¡¯ll be off now. Don¡¯t forget to summon me tomorrow.¡± What? Elder? Hey! [The duration of the skill, ¡®Teachings of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank) has ended.] [¡®Master of All Techniques¡¯ has been unsummoned.] [The skill can be used again in 24 hours.] Oh no. The time limit was up already? Damn it, that useless old man, I grumbled inwardly. ¡ªSigh. In that case, this might get tough. ¡ªGulp. I swallowed nervously. This was the time to focus on the immediate situation. I peered into the open door. ¡°Screeeech!¡± In the distance, I saw a massive scorpion roughly the size of a five-ton truck. Therge yellow-brown pincers at the front were as big as a grown man¡¯s body and looked menacing. The stinger at its rear also seemed incredibly dangerous. The legs attached to its curved body were hideous. ¡°Damn, you want me to take that down?¡± ¡ªRumble! The scorpion burrowed into the desert sand. What? An underground attack? ¡°Boney 5!¡± I instinctively called out. ¡ªCreak! [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv.1).] First, I had Boney 5 put up a shield in an emergency. I saw that Boney 5 only had 20 energy left. ¡°Everyone else, spread out and take positions!¡± ¡ªCreak, creak! They moved as they had trained. Boney 4, the most reliable, went to the front and nted its shield. It looked as if it was saying, ¡°Come at me if you dare!¡± However¡­ ¡°What the¡­?¡± My eyes widened. ¡ªCrash! The Scorpion King burst from the ground, ignoring Boney 4 and attacking Boney 3. ¡ªClick-ck? Startled, Boney 3 stopped drawing its bow and quickly retreated. Huh, it has intelligence, too? This monster was different from anything I had fought before. Thebat style was one thing, but it was also fast. It¡¯s toorge and tough. ¡ªSwoosh! The creature spun its body, threatening Boney 3, then lunged at Boney 2. ¡°Boney 4!¡± [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ used the skill ¡®Low-Level Taunt¡¯ (Lv.1).] I used the taunt skill. ¡°Kreaaah?¡± The Scorpion King turned its attention to Boney 4. Oh. So it works even on a boss-level monster? ¡ªRumble! This time, it charged head-on instead of burrowing. [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ used the skill ¡®Low-Level Block¡¯ (Lv.1).] As expected, Boney 4 fearlessly stood its ground. No matter how tough I was, I wouldn¡¯t dare to block such a charge. ¡ªBoom! The explosion was as loud as a grenade going off. The ground shook, and sand flew up. ¡°Ugh!¡± My stomach churned a bit, but it was bearable. When the dust cleared¡­ ¡°Oh, you blocked it?¡± I eximed. It was an incredible sight. Boney 4¡¯s shield had indeed blocked the scorpion¡¯s pincers. There were a few cracks, and it had been pushed back about ten steps, but it held. ¡°Everyone, attack!¡± I gave the order for a full assault. ¡ªWhoosh! Boney 5 used the remaining energy tounch a fireball. ¡ªWhoosh, whoosh! Bang! Boney 1 to 3 charged in with their skills. In response, the blood vessels in my eyes bulged from the strain. As if their heads were on fire, they frantically beat the creature. Weak points? Vital spots? I didn¡¯t care about any of that. I justmanded them to put all their strength into every blow. They pummeled its entire body. This went on for ten seconds. ¡°Kreeeah!¡± With a deafening roar, the scorpion spun around¡ªa ssh attack that targeted everything around it. ¡°Damn.¡± ¡ªBang-bang-bang! All the melee units were knocked back except for Boney 4 with its shield. ¡ªCreak! Boney 1 and Boney 2, forced to retreat, ttered in frustration. But it¡¯s working. I smirked. The creature¡¯s body was oozing green liquid. It was blood, undoubtedly. These Awakened Skeletons are something else. As they were the highest of the D-rank, the fact that our attacks worked was promising. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s okay to die! Keep attacking!¡± ¡ªCreak! Boney 1 and Boney 2 nodded vigorously. As long as the attacksnded, it didn¡¯t matter if they fell. Because¡­ [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Energy: 50/120] I still had some energy left. As long as I had energy, my skeletons were practically invincible. This demonstrated why necromancers were considered overpowered. ¡ªCrack, snap! [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ has been unsummoned.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ has been unsummoned.] Even if the melee units ran out of health¡­ [Using skill ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank).] [Consuming 10 energy.] [¡®Bonehead 1¡ä summoned.] [Using skill ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank).] [Consuming 10 energy.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡ä summoned.] I could simply summon them again. ¡°Kreeah?¡± Fighting fiercely, the Scorpion King looked at the skeletons with disbelief. Its bewilderment was palpable. I get how you feel. But what can I say? Sorry, but the winner of this fight will be me. I kept ordering them to charge. Boney 1 and Boney 2 were each summoned twice. And finally¡­ ¡ªCrack! Boney 1¡¯s greatsword broke the scorpion¡¯s neck. ¡°Phew,¡± I sighed in relief. Honestly, it was a close call. I only had 10 energy left. If the creature had held out a bit longer, I might have been the one to die. ¡ªRing! [The ¡®Ancient Desert Scorpion King¡¯ has been defeated.] The sound indicating the end of the dungeon echoed. Simultaneously¡­ [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ is being adjusted.] [All stats have increased by 1!] [The skill level of ¡®Low-Level sh¡¯ (Lv.4) has increased by 2.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ is being adjusted.] [All stats have increased by 1!] [The skill level of ¡®Low-Level Stab¡¯ (Lv.2) has increased by 2.] [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ is being adjusted.] [All stats have increased by 1!] [The skill level of ¡®Low-Level Rapid Fire¡¯ (Lv.2) has increased by 2.] [The skill level of ¡®Secure Vision¡¯ (Lv.2) has increased by 2.] [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ is being adjusted.] [All stats have increased by 2!] [The skill level of ¡®Low-Level Block¡¯ (Lv.1) has increased by 3.] [The skill level of ¡®Low-Level Taunt¡¯ (Lv.1) has increased by 3.] [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ is being adjusted.] [All stats have increased by 2!] [The skill level of ¡®Fireball¡¯ (Lv.1) has increased by 3.] [The skill level of ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv.1) has increased by 3.] ¡°Unbelievable.¡± I gaped. The growth from defeating a C-rank boss monster was on a whole different levelpared to training. This was the first time I saw all stats increase. The skill levels shot up impressively. It was indeed an explosive growth! Forget training, I should just keep clearing dungeons. The satisfaction made my fatigue vanish instantly. I blinked and stared at the skill levels. For your information, skill levels max out at 10. ording to the veteran hunters, when a skill maxes out, it ranks up to a higher-level skill. Not too far from it now. The ¡°low-level¡± tags on the skills would be gone soon. The rewards didn¡¯t stop there. [You have discovered the Ancient Desert Scorpion King¡¯s Venom nd (C-rank).] [Would you like to acquire it?] ¡°Ooh, loot?¡± Of course I would acquire it! I nodded, and a white light shed. A ck orb appeared in my right hand. [Item: Ancient Desert Scorpion King¡¯s Venom nd] [Rank: C] [Type: Material] [Description: The essence of venom hidden in the tail of the Ancient Desert Scorpion King. Contains about 20 types of deadly toxins.] [Effect 1: Can be used as crafting material.] [Effect 2: Can be used as skill material.] ¡°What, is it just a material item?¡± A bit disappointing that it wasn¡¯t an elixir but still good because a C-rank material item would be in demand. Yup. There are so many hunters out there. I¡¯m sure someone will buy it. D-rank materials are standard, but C-rank materials fetch a high price. A sort of danger pay. I was grinning as I collected the item when Boney 3¡¯s eyes lit up as it approached. ¡ªCreak. Its greedy gaze was fixed on my pocket. ¡°Wh-What is it?¡± [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ reacts to the ¡®Ancient Desert Scorpion King¡¯s Venom nd¡¯.] ¡°Eh?¡± [You have fulfilled the hidden condition.] [Condition: Create a poison arrow!] ¨C To acquire the new skill ¡®Poison Arrow¡¯ (Lv.1), a type of encounter is needed! ¨C Obtain a D-rank or higher ¡®Poison Attribute Skill Material¡¯! ¡°What?¡± This was unexpected. I did not know skills could be unlocked this way. Wow. No wonder Dark Lord kept going on about dungeons. Killing one boss granted all this. [Would you like to learn the skill ¡®Poison Arrow¡¯ (Lv.1)?] ¡°Okay.¡± I nodded. This was better. I could sell the material for money, but as someone aiming to be a ranker, enhancing my skeletons was the top priority. [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ is being adjusted.] [You have acquired the skill ¡®Poison Arrow¡¯ (Lv.1).] Glorious. It was a truly satisfying moment. [Congrattions!] [You have cleared the stage: ¡®Ancient Desert Scorpion King¡¯!] [Receiving clear rewards!] ¡ªSwish! At that moment, my vision blurred. Clearing the dungeon meant I was being transported back to the entrance. ¡°W-We¡¯re alive!¡± ¡°We really survived. Thank you, Mr. Necromancer¡­ I will never forget this grace,¡± they sniffed. The porter siblings were in tears. Having faced death, they were overwhelmed with relief. I smiled warmly. ¡°Think of it as a valuable experience. From now on, don¡¯t follow anyone just because they offer big money.¡± Since they were young, I was sure they¡¯d grow from this. I quickly sent the porters away because¡­ [Receiving clear rewards!] I had to check this out too. Boss loot and clear rewards were separate. [Congrattions!] [You have acquired the item ¡®Trace of the Ancient Desert¡¯ (B-rank).] ¡ªSwish! Like the venom nd, a new item appeared in my right hand. But. The shape of the item was unusual. ¡°What is this.¡­?¡± I tilted my head in question. ¡°A key?¡± A key-shaped item? As an E-rank mercenary, I¡¯d never seen anything like this. Chapter 19 Chapter 19: The Strongest Bodyguard Ever [Item: Trace of the Ancient Desert] [Rank: B] [Type: Medium] [Description: A key to uncover the secrets of a hidden relic.] [Effect 1: Can unlock the dungeon ¡®Ancient Desert.¡¯] [Effect 2: Bound to the hunter ¡®Joo Donghoon.¡¯] ¡°Um?¡± I pursed my lips, repeatedly reading the item description. Four keywords stood out: medium, key, ancient desert, and bound. Judging from the context, I wondered¡­ Is this some sort of linked dungeon¡­? To be honest, I didn¡¯t fully understand. Such things weren¡¯t typically covered in the media. Guilds, sensitive to information, wouldn¡¯t release anything that hinted at a ¡®hidden¡¯ element to the public. Sigh. This is why being alone is tough. I have to figure out all this information by myself. I wish someone could teach me about these things. I needed a mentor, preferably a ranker who had already navigated these processes. ¡°Hm?¡± At that moment, it was as if the heavens had responded to my burning desire, for someone appeared before me. ¡ªSwoosh! Her hair fluttered in the wind, carrying a sweet peony scent and a familiar aura of death. ¡°Shadow Empress?¡± My eyes widened. Why was Gi Soyul here? Goodness, I thought the Shadow Lurkers were hallucinating, but she dide? ¡°Ahem, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Our eyes met, and I shivered. Ah, she truly is different. The more you know, the more you see. Although I had be slightly stronger, she seemed even more colossal than before. She was a ranker who could take on dozens of A-rank hunters without breaking a sweat. ¡°You said to give you a little time to gather your thoughts. I figured you must have sorted things out by now since you¡¯ve been going to dungeons. Besides, if I didn¡¯te, I thought you¡¯d probably never seek me out.¡± ¡°Uh, right.¡± I awkwardly nodded as herment struck a nerve. What should I do? In truth, I hadn¡¯t decided yet. Should I be honest or lie a little? And if I lied, how much should I hide? Or not¡­ Suddenly, a thought shed through my mind. Do I even need to lie? Gi Soyul was among the top 1,000 hunters in the world¡ªa ranker. She could crush me with a single finger whether I had gotten an ¡®opportunity¡¯ or not. And if she catches me lying? I shuddered. She was the Shadow Empress, the queen of assassins. I could be kidnapped and tortured all night or have my throat slit in my sleep. ¡°¡­¡± Besides, just look at her expression. That expressionless face was incredibly intimidating! ¡°Hmm? Why do you keep looking at me like that? You did the same thingst time.¡± Gi Soyul frowned. ¡°Huh? H-How am I looking at you?¡± I stammered, sweating. ¡°You look like you have some impure intentions. Whatever you¡¯re thinking¡­ you¡¯d better make a wise decision,¡± she answered immediately. Her response was practically a veiled threat, causing me to flinch. Gi Soyul sighed lightly before continuing, ¡°There¡¯s a saying that life is a journey that begins and ends with rtionships. The quality of your life will depend on the kind of rtionships you build.¡± She meant that while she respected me now, I needed to make the right choice. Depending on my answer, my life could improve positively¡ªor negatively. ¡°I haven¡¯t known you long, but I don¡¯t recall you being stupid. Am I right?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°To put it simply, I hope you make a wise choice.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, she was a ranker. She delivered such a threat so elegantly. ¡ªGulp. I swallowed hard and made up my mind. I should just be honest. It¡¯ll be more advantageous. In the current hunter world, I was at the bottom of the food chain, a newbie¡ªsomeone with no clue, as fragile as a chick. If I had a chance to form a connection with a ranker¡­ I must seize it. Instinctively, I knew Gi Soyul was tenacious and persistent. If she ran into a problem, she would solve it no matter what. If there was a chance to be stronger, she would cling to it persistently. If she knew about the Master of All Techniques by my side, she would want to maintain a rtionship with me. ¡°Okay, Shadow Empress.¡± Nodding, I said, ¡°You want to know how I cleared that dungeon and what the reward was, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a wise choice. I¡¯m d you understand.¡± She looked pleased. I shrugged. ¡°But.¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a condition.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Her smile faded slightly, but I wasn¡¯t intimidated. I realized I had no reason to be afraid. Until I revealed information about my ¡®opportunity,¡¯ she wouldn¡¯t kill me. ¡°First, I need you to protect me until I grow stronger.¡± ¡°Protect you? Do you owe someone a debt or something?¡± ¡°No, I just have some bullies after me.¡± The A-rank members of the Shadow Lurkers had escaped. As criminals, they wouldn¡¯t easily give up on me. Gi Soyul remained silent for a moment. ¡°¡­What¡¯s next? You said ¡®first,¡¯ so there must be more.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t promise anything until I hear it all. I don¡¯t like breaking promises.¡± I nodded slightly, appreciating her integrity. I could sense her resolute spirit of keeping her promise, which I liked. She seemed trustworthy. ¡°I¡¯m a rookie. So please teach me what I don¡¯t know, within reason. Such as about this.¡± I waved the golden key, ¡®Trace of the Ancient Desert,¡¯ which I acquired a moment ago. Her eyes widened for the first time, clearly shaken. ¡°Is that¡­ a medium?¡± ¡°Oh, you know what this is?¡± I got a bit excited. If a ranker was this surprised, this must be something big. ¡°Did you get that from this dungeon?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± Gi Soyul looked pensive, stroking her chin, then said, ¡°You¡¯re incredibly lucky.¡± ¡°Lucky?¡± ¡°Yes, the chances of finding a medium in a regr dungeon are almost zero. There are less than 100 known in the world. Plus it¡¯s bound, so you can¡¯t trade it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± So what exactly is this thing? ¡°Mediums are also a kind of fortuitous opportunity. As you delve into them, linked quests appear,¡± she exined, muttering ¡°Unbelievable¡± under her breath. ¡°And those linked quests increase in rank, eventually reaching S-rank and above. Every medium I know of has done that.¡± ¡°¡­S-rank?¡± ¡°Rankers, including myself, are desperately searching for these items.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± I was in awe. I figured the reward for clearing the dungeon was underwhelming, considering it required sacrifices. But it turned out the reward was worth it. Seeing my reaction, Gi Soyul nodded. ¡°Alright, I ept your conditions. But I have one too.¡± A condition¡­ ¡°What is it?¡± Instinctively, I hid the key in my pocket. After hearing how rare it was, I felt protective of it even though it was bound to me. Gi Soyul said while watching me, ¡°¡­Let me monitor your training.¡± Her voice was clear as if she knew something. ¡°Monitor?¡± ¡°Why not? To protect you, I need to be around you anyway.¡± ¡°Hmm, I suppose.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been observing your energy since you cleared that old man¡¯s dungeon. You¡¯ve been exponentially growing stronger. Even today. I¡¯m most curious about how you¡¯re achieving this rapid growth.¡± Her gaze showed a mix of yearning and obsession. Was it her interest in the ¡°old man¡± who had defeated her so thoroughly? Or were all rankers like this? ¡°In return, as I mentioned before, I can introduce you to many valuable connections. Ones that can directly change your life.¡± Connections. That earlierment now made sense. Connections with rankers seemed very tempting. ¡°¡­¡± After a moment of contemtion, I said, ¡°For a rookie like me to make a connection with a ranker over a single opportunity¡­ I¡¯m honored.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s a deal?¡± ¡°Yes, deal.¡± That day, I gained the strongest bodyguard ever. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * Night had fallen. ¡ªBeep, beep, beep! I punched in the code to unlock my door. My dim, cramped basement room came into view. Feeling oddly cautious, I entered. After all, I had an unfamiliar guest¡ªone who didn¡¯t fit in this dingy ce. ¡°¡­Have you been living in a ce like this?¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s voice echoed beside me. I swallowed nervously. The atmosphere felt awkward. ¡°It¡¯s pretty shabby, right? I told you there was no need to follow me here¡­¡± ¡°No, I have to. A promise is a promise.¡± ¡°Ah, right¡­¡± She scanned my room with her cold eyes. The scattered ramen packages and messy bedding made me feel ashamed. Ugh, I should have cleaned up. Wait, no! Who asked her toe here? I have the right to use my room as I please. Just as I vigorously nodded to myself¡­ ¡°Hmm, there are no surveince devices or skills activated here. And no hunters above D-rank around the building. You¡¯re safe for now.¡± ¡°¡­You were checking all that?¡± ¡°Of course. What else?¡± ¡°Nothing else. You¡¯re as incredible as ever¡± p, p! I apuded inwardly. Truly fitting for the strongest bodyguard. ¡°No need to praise me. I¡¯ve confirmed your residence. I¡¯ll be staying on the rooftop for the time being. So let me know when you¡¯re going training tomorrow.¡± I exined everything about the opportunity to her, from the elder¡¯s existence to my training regime. Her interest was so piqued that she had no intention of leaving my side. She wanted to observe my training closely. But wait. ¡°Hold on. The rooftop? You¡¯ll stay there?¡± ¡°Yes, guarding an area the size of this building is nothing for me.¡± ¡°Well, you are a ranker, but¡­¡± Seriously, why is she so strict? That means she¡¯ll be camping out on the rooftop to protect me. ¡°That makes me ufortable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m okay with it, so it¡¯s fine. Good night.¡± ¡ªSwoosh! She disappeared in an instant. Ugh, my head throbbed. For a ranker to go this far¡­ It¡¯s too burdensome. Won¡¯t her brother, Giparang, kill me if he finds out? ¡ªSigh. Then again, who cares? I didn¡¯t ask her to camp out. What matters is that my uncertain safety is now almost perfectly secured. Shadow Lurkers¡­ I had no intention of leaving them alone. Give back what you get. My standard doesn¡¯t depend on my opponent¡¯s strength. Once my skeletons are strong enough to challenge rankers¡­ They¡¯re all dead. The day my skeletons could rival rankers would be the official day the Shadow Lurkers disbanded. The vow coiled like a serpent deep in my heart. Chapter 20 Chapter 20: I Keep Getting Stronger ¡°Your body is now starting to take shape.¡± About a week had passed since Gi Soyul joined us. The old man was pounding my body again today. ¡°This means we need to increase the intensity¡­ I reckon you must understand that.¡± ¡°Gah! Argh!¡± ¡°Endure it. A true disciple of mine should be able to have their flesh cut and bones scraped without anesthesia and remainposed. Why are you socking in patience!¡± Assault. ¡°W-Wait, this is just violence!¡± And what did he just say? No anesthesia while cutting flesh and scraping bones? Does he think I¡¯m Guan Yu* or something? *Chinese general who served under Liu Bei, was worshipped as a god of war. ¡°You little¡­¡± The old man¡¯s mouth twitched. ¡°You dare to call my painstakingly crafted ¡®Great Technique of the Celestial Artisan¡¯ mere ¡®violence¡¯? Such insolence is truly disheartening. I suggest you be prepared for this.¡± ¡°Wh-What? Wait a moment, elder!¡± ¡°Silence.¡± ¡ªBam! Bam! Bam! The old man¡¯s fists burned with fury. It felt like a volcano was erupting inside my body. My head was spinning, and my whole body felt like it was falling into an abyss. ¡°Aaaah!¡± It felt like my entire body was melting. For 30 minutes, I endured a beating disguised as a massage. [Skill, ¡®Pain Resistance¡¯ (C-rank) has been upgraded.] [You have acquired the skill ¡®Pain Resistance¡¯ (B-rank)!] [This skill has the potential for further growth.] ¡°¡­¡± I was beyond caring. Even though I had advanced a rank, I was too in pain and exhausted to feel any joy. With tears in my eyes, Iy on the ground, staring nkly at the sky. ¡ªSwoosh. Gi Soyul¡¯s face appeared above me, casting a shadow. ¡°¡­What are you looking at?¡± I grumbled. She eximed, ¡°I can¡¯t get used to it, no matter how many times I see it. You¡¯ve been undergoing this kind of training every day since then¡­ No wonder you¡¯re growing so fast.¡± ¡°Ugh, I don¡¯t even have the strength to answer.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep watch. Stay strong.¡± I had exined everything to her: the old man¡¯s techniques and his dream of having a disciple. Gi Soyul epted it surprisingly smoothly. Trust and belief are built through honest words and actions. Since I had never lied to her, she believed in me as well. It was fortunate the old man understood. The Master of All Techniques didn¡¯t mind. Gi Soyul couldn¡¯t see him anyway, and he thought no one could replicate his teaching methods just by watching. Even if she learned his techniques, the old man seemed uninterested. He hadpletely let go of his desire for a singr legacy. For an old man who had longed for a disciple, it was likely a blessing that anyone could inherit all his skills. A grudge as cold as frost¡­ can sometimes transform into a hope as hot as a furnace. That¡¯s why he could be generous. He even looked forward to it. An extraordinary being with a unique ability, me, was a chance to pass on his techniques, which he couldn¡¯t achieve in the other world. The absolute master with white hair faintly smiled at the emotion he felt for the first time. ¡°Get up already, can¡¯t you? We still have 30 minutes left!¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­ How dare I lie down at my level right now? I¡¯ll get up right away.¡± I mustered my remaining strength and stood up. Whose turn was it today? I¡¯d gone through Boney 1 to Boney 5 and trained Boney 2 yesterday. So today it was Boney 3¡¯s turn. ¡ªCreak! Boney 3 stepped forward with eager eyes. The skeletons were growing stronger every day. Their stats had increased significantly, and their skill levels were also rising. Most of their skills had reached level 8. The problem is¡­ As the skeletons grew stronger, I had to learn as well. Status window. I summoned the status window in my mind. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Alias: X] [Energy: 50/120] [Unique authority: Cursed Necromancer] [Rank: D] [Effect] ¨C You possess the profession of a necromancer, capable of handling dead souls. You can use fearsome spirits and toxic substances to subdue opponents. However, you are cursed. ¨C You can only summon skeletons. [Skills] ¨C Summon Awakened Skeleton (D-rank) ¨C Memory Recreation (S-rank) ¨C Teaching of All Techniques (S-rank) ¨C Pain Resistance (B-rank) ¨C Rend (C-rank) ¨C Pierce (C-rank) ¨C Shoot (C-rank) ¨C Defend (C-rank) That¡¯s quite a lot. The old man¡¯s teachings had given me four extra skills¡ªRend, Pierce, Shoot, and Defend. These were my techniques based on the skills of Boney 1 through Boney 4. But I still can¡¯t learn Boney 5¡¯s skills. Boney 5 is a mage. To learn its skills, I needed to utilize ¡®ki¡¯ rather than just physical strength. ¡°Climb up here and sit cross-legged, young one.¡± The old man took out a staff from thin air and drew something on the ground. It was a string of characters that couldn¡¯t be found on Earth. Between them, a mysterious light flowed like water. ording to the old man, it was a technique to gather the ki in nature and make it easily perceivable. ¡°Just sit here, right?¡± ¡°Recite the form of the ¡®Great Blue Heart Technique¡¯ I taught youst time.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t recite it mindlessly. Focus. Feel how the formless energy moves.¡± ¡°Yes, elder.¡± I closed my eyes. The old man said that ki is the foundation of all physical power. He told me that if I can control ki, I can create any existing skill. This was the first step toward mastering all techniques. Watching me, the old man said, ¡°Don¡¯t think it¡¯s meaningless. This is the most crucial step. If you can¡¯t feel ki while I train those skeletons¡­¡± What if I can¡¯t? The old man¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Then there¡¯s no choice. I¡¯ll judge you as talentless and intensify the training.¡± Eek. He was essentially saying that if I couldn¡¯t keep up, he¡¯d beat me harder. Indeed, a violent old man¡¯s words. But what choice did I have? I had to do as I was told. I had noints. I¡¯ve been doing well so far. And I was definitely getting stronger. In fact¡­ I want to get even stronger. My motivation had grown even stronger. Seeing myself getting stronger with each passing moment was fun. ¡°Haha, good expression.¡± Satisfied, the old man turned away. Today was Boney 3¡¯s training time for ¡®Low-Level Rapid Fire¡¯ (Lv.8). There were about 25 minutes left. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Hmm.¡± Watching Joo Donghoon¡¯s strange training, Gi Soyul sighed. He really has be that bizarre old man¡¯s disciple! Honestly, she was doubtful at first. A skill where an elder materializes to teach for an hour each day? It was unheard of. But now she had no choice but to believe it because she could feel his energy improving each passing moment. Besides, she had eyes and ears. She couldn¡¯t dismiss his daily screams and struggles as mere acting. The process of his body twisting and bones restructuring due to an invisible force¡­ It¡¯s gruesome. Gi Soyul shook her head. Even someone like her, who would do anything to get stronger, found it distasteful. Ordinary people would have given up long ago. But the man¡¯s determination was remarkable. The resolve she read in his eyes when they first met was unyielding. I have to acknowledge it. An opportunity is not just an opportunity for everyone. It bes a true opportunity only when you have the ability and mental strength to ept it. Gi Soyul, as a ranker, knew this better than anyone. Thus, she acknowledged Joo Donghoon. I need to observe him more closely. Gi Soyul decided to stay by Joo Donghoon¡¯s side. Beyond their promise, it was an instinctive judgment. Watching over him, she felt she could break through her limits. Deep in her heart, she still remembered the image of an absolute being¡ªa master who remained unshaken despite her numerous challenges. It was an elder with the strength of a mountain and the depth of the ocean. His techniques were outstanding. Whether wielding a sword or a bow, he was stronger than any ranker she had ever met. Even in assassination techniques¡­ As the so-called queen of assassins, she had beenpletely outmatched by his assassination skills. I¡¯m jealous. To be honest, she envied Joo Donghoon. She knew how hard it was to find a good teacher. No matter how capable, smart, or rich you might be, you needed a good teacher to grow properly. After hundreds of days of training and thousands of days in dungeons, you eventually hit a ¡®limit¡¯ on your own. Just like she did. That¡¯s why she looked forward to seeing how much Joo Donghoon would grow under the elder¡¯s teachings. She wanted to watch him closely to see how high he would climb in the continuously changing ranker system. * * * In a luxurious mansion¡­ A figure emerged from the shadows. It was Ko Jaeyoung, an A-rank assassin of the Shadow Lurkers. ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªGulp. Even as an A-rank, he swallowed nervously. Because before him stood Nick Jakan, the owner of the Shadow Lurkers¡ªranked 92nd in the world, also known as the ¡°Hellhound.¡± ¡°So you need support because of Gi Soyul?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir.¡± Having failed his mission, Ko Jaeyoung had already reported everything about Joo Donghoon in detail. He had attempted to approach him several times, but Gi Soyul¡¯s vignce was too tight. ¡°Hmm, the Parang Guild is not a pleasant opponent for us.¡± Jakan rubbed his chin in thought. The Parang Guild had two rankers. Giparang, ranked 58th in the world, and a renowned archer. Gi Soyul, ranked 380th in the world, and the queen of assassins. ¡°Gi Soyul I can handle, but Giparang is tricky even for me. Besides, the Shadow Lurkers have many enemies. It¡¯s disadvantageous if things get noisy.¡± At Jakan¡¯s words, Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s gaze wavered. ¡°I apologize. I should have dealt with it before Gi Soyul intervened.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jakan tapped his thigh with his fingers, a habit he had when his mind was troubled. ¡°¡­Is it really an opportunity that could destroy even rankers?¡± ¡°Yes. Seeing as that difficult woman, Gi Soyul, is taking interest, it¡¯s certain.¡± ¡°True.¡± Gi Soyul was a well-known hardliner among rankers. She never bowed to anyone and was highly obsessed with dungeons. ¡°I must admit, it¡¯s tempting.¡± ¡ªSnap! Jakan snapped his fingers. ¡ªSwoosh! An assassin appeared beside him¡ªJakan¡¯s secretary. ¡°Did you call for me?¡± ¡°How is the Shadow Lurkers¡¯ schedule?¡± ¡°We are fully booked for the next month.¡± ¡°A month, huh?¡± Jakan turned back to Ko Jaeyoung. ¡°Joo Donghoon, was it? What was his rank again?¡± ¡°He is ranked E.¡± ¡°He still has a long way to go.¡± No matter how great an opportunity was, it took time to grow. An F-rank could never be an S-rank overnight, even with the help of an opportunity. Jakan made a decision and nodded. ¡°Fine. Clear my schedule after a month from now. I¡¯ll go see him for myself.¡± With only Gi Soyul protecting him, Jakan judged it would be worth a try. Chapter 21 Chapter 21: The Ancient Desert (1) My life had a repetitive routine. I took an hour-long special lecture by the old man daily and asionally did some light tasks for the mercenary guild Problem Solver. The rest of the time, I reviewed what I had learned. I didn¡¯t take a single day off. Laziness was a luxury for someone like me, who had shown consistency for three years and was just starting to be strong. ¡°Donghoon?¡± Gi Soyul approached me as I was doing strength exercises in the clearing. ¡°Huff, huff¡­ Yes. What is it?¡± ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± She had a look that said, ¡°Obviously I called you because I have something to say.¡± ¡°Something to tell me?¡± ¡°Yes. Remember I promised to protect you from any ambush until you grew stronger?¡± ¡°¡­Right. Though I never thought you¡¯d be watching over me 24/7.¡± At my words, Gi Soyul tilted her head. ¡°Hmm? That¡¯s a strange thing to say. How can I protect you if I¡¯m not watching you all the time?¡± Oh? That made sense too. I scratched my head. ¡°But you¡¯re a ranker, right? You have dungeons to clear and guild matters to attend to.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s why I¡¯m telling you this.¡± Gi Soyul nodded affirmatively. ¡°I¡¯ve been watching over you for about two weeks now. Even though I¡¯ve been neglecting my guild activities, there are still things I need to do.¡± Indeed, a person like Gi Soyul couldn¡¯t be by my side all the time. I was aware of that. She had her own life too. ¡°You must be busy too. I understand.¡± ¡°So I have a proposal.¡± ¡°A proposal?¡± ¡°Yes, I need about six hours to handle my piled-up tasks¡­ So I won¡¯t be able to be by your side during that time¡­ You have two options.¡± As expected of Gi Soyul, very impressive. A ranker could easily break a promise with a low-rank hunter like me. But she didn¡¯t break her promise; she found a solution. Just as I hadn¡¯t lied to her, she was also keeping my trust in response. ¡°What are they?¡± ¡°First, you follow me around for those six hours.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Not a bad option. The safest ce for me right now was by her side. Training was something I did all the time anyway. Honestly, I could use a break. ¡°And the second?¡± ¡°You use the thing while I¡¯m away.¡± ¡°The thing?¡± What was she talking about? Seeing my puzzled look, Gi Soyul chuckled. ¡°The key. The medium you obtained back then.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Right, I had forgotten about that. The B-rank key, Trace of the Ancient Desert, which I obtained as a dungeon reward. [Item: Trace of the Ancient Desert] [Rank: B] [Type: Medium] [Description: A key to uncover the secrets of a hidden medium.] [Effect 1: Can unlock the dungeon ¡®Ancient Desert.¡¯] [Effect 2: Bound to the hunter ¡®Joo Donghoon.¡¯] ¡°Mediums are bound items, meaning it¡¯s a solo dungeon. It might be safer to be inside the dungeon than being next to me since it¡¯ll be a ce where even rankers can¡¯t interfere.¡± True. Assuming a ranker stronger than Gi Soyul appears, it might be safer to be inside the dungeon. The problem was that my skeletons were still D-rank. ¡°Hm, but it¡¯s a B-rank dungeon¡­ Isn¡¯t it more dangerous inside?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Gi Soyul disagreed. ¡°You tend not to realize how much you¡¯ve progressed. It could be a good opportunity to check. From what I can see, you should be able to clear it.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± Her words left me dumbfounded. What? Did I just get praised by a ranker? Did she just acknowledge my progress? This is a refreshing feeling. It was an emotion I was feeling for the first time. No one had acknowledged me as an E-rank mercenary. I did have low self-esteem. I admitted it. As a malformed necromancer, I was petty, envying my peer who had be Dark Lord. ¡°¡­¡± I felt something warm rise in my chest. It was like a bit ofpensation for all the pain and effort I had gone through. Being recognized felt good. But. Gi Soyul was not just anyone; she was a ranker¡ªsomeone who had elevated her position to a professional level through countless experiences and efforts. A person at the pinnacle of monster hunting and dungeon exploration. Great. I clenched my fist tightly. I wanted to fully savor this moment. Another thought crossed my mind. If just one person like Gi Soyul acknowledging me feels this good¡­ How would it feel to stand at the same rank as her? Even better, what if all other 999 rankers acknowledged me? Ahhh. A thrill ran deep through my heart. I knew it was an impossible dream in reality. But still, I wanted to dream it. I wanted to live with that dream as my goal. ¡°That¡¯s indeed a good idea.¡± My motivation was burning. In fact, I had wanted to go to a dungeon for a while. But participating in a dungeon now would likely expose me to the association or the media, so I chose not to. Until I became truly strong, revealing myself would only make me a target for evildoers. Someone like me would especially be fresh prey for the notorious terrorist group, Shadow Lurkers! In this wild ce, I needed only one thing. A dungeon just for me. Gi Soyul nodded. ¡°Even if you¡¯re worried about the difficulty, you¡¯re capable enough to escape if it gets dangerous.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± I nodded. Unless it was a special case like the ¡®unranked dungeon¡¯st time, you could generally enter and exit dungeons freely. ¡°I¡¯ll go with the second option.¡± ¡°I knew you would. Are you going right away?¡± ¡°Well, what¡¯s there to hesitate about? I finished my morning training anyway.¡± Enough time had passed and my energy from training had fully recovered. ¡°Then infuse your energy into the key to activate it. The dungeon will appear.¡± Gi Soyul smiled as if she found my determined expression endearing. ¡ªWoooong! As I activated the key, a message popped up. [Would you like to activate the ¡®Trace of the Ancient Desert¡¯?] [You can open the dungeon ¡®Ancient Desert.¡¯] [Warning!] [This is a solo dungeon.] Meeting Gi Soyul¡¯s eyes, she nodded. It was a sign wishing me good luck to return safely. Alright, let¡¯s do this. I stared at the glowing, golden key¡ªanother ¡®opportunity¡¯ that all rankers were desperately searching for. If only I could be stronger through this. No backing out. ¡ªsh! A dazzling light filled my vision. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * [Entering a special dungeon.] ¡°Hmm?¡± When I opened my eyes again, I was in the middle of a desert, simr yet slightly different from the previous dungeon. A pyramid? A massive stone structure shaped like a square pyramid filled my sight. [You have entered the ¡®Ancient Desert.¡¯] [You have discovered the ¡®Pyramid.¡¯] My heart started to beat faster at these messages. I wondered how strong the monsters and traps inside ancient pyramid ruins would be. What kind of reward awaits me? I felt both nervous and excited. No need to be intimidated by a B-rank dungeon. Since ranker Gi Soyul saw potential in me, I should trust her judgment. ¡ªWhoosh! First, I swung my staff to summon the skeletons from Boney 1 to Boney 5, sharpened through rigorous training. [Using skill ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank).] No need to rush. I just need to carefully clear the dungeon slowly, very slowly. I started to walk across the sandy desert, heading toward the front entrance of the pyramid. Logically thinking, the inside of the pyramid would be the dungeon. ¡°Maintain your formation.¡± ¡ªCreak! At mymand, the skeletons nodded simultaneously. As D-ranks, we were weak in this B-rank dungeon. So we must fight like the weak. To clear the dungeon safely, we needed to fight as efficiently as possible with our formation. Rushing in blindly out of overconfidence would only waste my precious energy. As we approached the entrance, the massive stone door opened automatically. It was then¡­ ¡ªRing! [Discovering the connection between the dungeon and Hunter Joo Donghoon¡¯s profession.] Huh? I paused for a moment. A sense of unease washed over me. [Warning!] [The dungeon is transforming.] [You cannot exit the dungeon.] ¡°Wait, what?¡± I realized something was wrong, but it was toote. ¡ªWhoosh! A huge wind pulled me forcefully into the pyramid. I was sucked in without a chance to react. And behind me¡­ ¡ªCreeeaak¡­ Thud! All I could hear was the sound of the door closing. * * * The inside of the pyramid was pitch ck. With no light, I couldn¡¯t see anything. ¡°What is this?¡± I muttered. I had entered with such confidence, just to be stuck in a situation like this. A chill ran down my spine, and I felt a constant sense of unease. But I couldn¡¯t just stand still. This was a dungeon, a ce where survival depended on adapting to unexpected situations. ¡°Boney 3.¡± ¡ªClick, ck! Hearing the sound of teeth cking, I knew the skeletons had been sucked in with me. ¡°Check the surroundings.¡± ¡ªClick, ck! I heard a sound of affirmation. [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ used the skill ¡®Secure Vision¡¯ (Lv.6).] ¡ªTwang! Twang! Twang! Twang! Boney 3 shot four arrows into the air. The glowing arrows exploded in all directions. Two arrows shot continuously forward and backward. The other two arrows bounced around, confirming the distance above and below. I see. This is a long corridor. I closed my eyes. At the same time, I shared the sight Boney 3 provided through my senses. A few seconds passed. What? I shuddered. It was startling. Is this right? Ahead of me arge, open space was visible. Unlike the dark corridor, it was a spacious area with lights. That was fine. But this¡­ It was unbelievable. The open space was filled with countless skeleton soldiers. Not just a few, and not even dozens. About a hundred¡­? [You have discovered the stage: ¡®Resentment of the Sun Spear.¡¯] Damn it. ¡ªRing! [Stage: Resentment of the Sun Spear] [Deep within the pyramid lies the warrior and absolute ruler of the ancient desert empire, the ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] [Break through the obstacles and reach the ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] Sun Spear? What is this now? I furrowed my brows in confusion. ¡ªsh! The torches in the corridor lit up. At the same time¡­ [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [A hundred D-rank ancient skeleton spearmen are approaching!] What? A hundred D-ranks? I only had five. This was a hopeless situation. Chapter 22 Chapter 22: The Ancient Desert (2) In a desert where rain falls, a child standing nkly looked pitiful. It was hideous. Its eyes were wounded as if they had been gouged, and its whole body was covered in scars. With ck wings attached to its back, the child¡¯s appearance was befitting the title of ¡®monster.¡¯ ¡°Grrrr.¡± A growling sound came from its throat. It was holding something with both hands¡ªa long, hard object. It had sharp metal at the end. The child instinctively knew the beings in front of it were afraid of this object. They called it a spear. ¡°You hideous monster! Get lost!¡± ¡°Lowly, dirty creature!¡± ¡°How dare a half-human, half-beast think it can fit in with us? Just die already!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The child remained silent. It only felt the people shouting in front of it. It couldn¡¯t see. From the moment it opened its eyes to the world, it had forcibly lost its sight. It had had to give its eyes to the people who rejected it. ¡°¡­¡± The child could not see the world. But it thought it might be better. Because it didn¡¯t have to look at those noisy people. Because it didn¡¯t have to face the malice directed at it. ¡ªShaaa! The torrential rain evaporated as soon as it poured. ¡ªWhoosh! At the same time, the child thrust the spear out. The people who had been shouting before it could no longer speak. ¡ªStab! Because the metal pierced their hearts in an instant. Its movements were clean and precise. In moments, its actions tore into dozens of bodies. ¡ªDrip, drip, drip! Blood gushed out, and bodies were shed. The pouring rain washed them all away cleanly. The noisy space fell into silence. The quiet was good. ¡°¡­¡± The child thought, What am I? What kind of being am I? Am I really the ¡®monster¡¯ they say I am? Am I a being that cannot be loved? Tears welled up in the child¡¯s eyes. The tears evaporated as soon as they fell. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Damn,¡± I cursed at the hopeless situation. But I couldn¡¯t just stand there nkly. I had to make a quick decision. ¡ªRumble! The ground shook, and the walls trembled. The sight of a hundred skeletons charging at me was nothing short of terrifying. [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [A hundred D-rank ancient skeleton spearmen are approaching!] ¡°First off, Boney 4! Move forward!¡± ¡ªCreak! Thud! In a hurry, I sent the shieldman to the front. Fortunately, there were no enemies behind us, only before us. I have to hold the line as best as I can. The terrain was decent. If it had been an open field, we would have been surrounded in an instant, but this was a narrow corridor. The enemy¡¯s entry path was fixed, and we could deal with just a few at a time. ¡°Get ready, everyone.¡± I controlled them. I positioned Boney 1 and Boney 2 next to Boney 4. Boney 3 and Bone y5 were ced at the rear. No need to rush. I have to take them out one by one. Was it because the dungeon transformed into one rted to my profession? Originally, skeletons would be E-rank or F-rank at best, but these were all D-rank, meaning they might be special skeletons simr to mine. Of course, that¡¯s just a possibility. I firmly believed that my skeletons were aces and that these were just monsters. It was a baseless confidence. I don¡¯t think all D-ranks are the same. My skeletons were special ones trained by the Master of All Techniques. Furthermore, the other ones all wielded spears, but my skeletons formed a ¡®team¡¯ with their respective weapons, bnced in attack and defense. ¡ªRumble! The tremors grew closer. Come at me. I swallowed. ¡ªRumble! The enemy skeletons began to flood the corridor. The ones that entered first thrust their spears at Boney 4¡¯s shield. Boney 1 and Boney 2, nking Boney 4, shed and stabbed at their neck joints. The skulls of the fallen skeletons rolled on the floor. [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ used the skill ¡®Low-Level Taunt¡¯ (Lv.6).] Thanks to Boney 4¡¯s taunt, Boney 1 and Boney 2 hadn¡¯t taken direct hits yet. However. I couldn¡¯t let my guard down. Boney 4¡¯s durability had its limits and the pressure from the gathering enemies was growing stronger. ¡°Fall back slowly!¡± ¡ªThunk! Bang! Crash! Boney 4 grabbed the shaking shield and slowly retreated. [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ consumed 10 energy.] [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ consumed 10 energy.] The more intense the impact, the faster Boney 4¡¯s energy depleted. Boney 1 and Boney 2 shed with the enemies¡¯ weapons as well. ¡ªSwish! Swish! Boney 3 busily fired arrows from the rear. ¡°Take them down one by one! Destroy one before moving to the next!¡± I shouted. The concept was to focus fire. Simply put, gang up on them. In a narrow space, taking them down one by one in a 5:1 fight would allow us to defeat more with less energy. ¡ªCreak! ¡°Hm?¡± A spear flew at me through the gap in Boney 4¡¯s shield. I would have been surprised in the past, but now¡­ I can dodge it. I tilted my head and body slightly, dodging the spear. ¡ªSwish! Thud! It hit the ground behind me with a loud whoosh. ¡ªCreak? The skeleton that lost its weapon tried to retreat. ¡°Tsk, you think there¡¯s room to escape?¡± As expected of an undead, itcked intelligence. ¡ªCrush! As if avenging the attack on me, Boney 1¡¯s greatsword crushed the skeleton¡¯s skull. ¡°Well done, Boney 1!¡± ¡ªClick, ck! Was it my imagination that Boney 1 seemed to smile at mypliment? Boney 5¡¯s eyes shone as if not wanting to lose. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fireball¡¯ (Lv.8).] ¡ªWhoosh! Boom! After two weeks of training, Boney 5¡¯s fireball had reached a high level. Being the only ssh damage magic we had, it was especially effective in situations like this. The tightly packed skeletons were smashed by the powerful fireball. Bones piled up into a mountain. Of course, more new skeletons kept pouring in over the pile. ¡ªCrunch! Crack! The chaotic battle dragged on. We blocked their attacks. Then we shed, stabbed, and smashed them. I also wielded the weapons I took from them. Using the skills taught by the old man, I found they were indeed effective. But not as strong as I thought. But there were just too many of them. My skeletons¡¯ durability was gradually decreasing. [Bonehead 4¡¯s energy has reached 0.] [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯has been unsummoned.] The most reliable tank was unsummoned. But¡­ [Using skill, ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank).] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ summoned.] I summoned Boney 4 again. I need to focus my energy on Boney 4. I had 60 energy left. As long as I could keep summoning the tank back, this fight was winnable. As their numbers decreased, my burden of using energy would lessen. ¡°Keeping, you bastards!¡± I swung the spear with all my might, constantly using my muscles. When the bone spear broke, I picked up another. I used the skill taught by the old man, ¡®Pierce¡¯ (C-rank). Grabbing the spear with both hands, I pushed with all my strength in my unique way, in my unique stance. My whole body trembled. The veins in my wrists and ankles swelled and the muscles in my thighs and calves screamed. As time passed, my strength waned. But I gritted my teeth and pushed harder. ¡°Just die already!¡± My heart pounded like crazy with every move. Come to think of it, had I ever fought so fiercely before? Honestly, this was fun. I might seem like a madman, but it was enjoyable. This was a moment where I could lose my life, but even in this hopeless situation, I felt alive. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ sleeping in the ¡®Pyramid¡¯ has awakened.] [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ is watching you.] ¡°What now?¡± I paused. The Sun Spear. The being I had to face in this stage. The warrior and absolute ruler of the ancient desert empire. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ sneers at you.] [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ asks if you think you can face it with such skills.] ¡°What are you saying?¡± Mocking me after sending just a few D-rank skeletons? Sun Spear or whatever. I¡¯ll show you what I¡¯m made of. ¡ªClench! I gripped the spear tighter. I didn¡¯t know who the Sun Spear was, but I had cleared tougher dungeons. I was the one who persuaded the Master of All Techniques, an absolute being even the rankers couldn¡¯t defeat! ¡°Boney 4, we will advance with no more retreats,¡± I spoke with determined eyes. ¡ªCreak? Boney 4 tilted its head as if wondering why the sudden change. ¡°The Sun Spear up ahead is taunting me.¡± The goal of this dungeon was to meet it anyway. Not knowing what monsters awaited, I couldn¡¯t keep retreating. I didn¡¯t have infinite energy. ¡°Whatever is ahead, we have to face it now.¡± I abandoned caution and took a bold step forward. Like when I obtained the Master of All Techniques, sometimes, you have to charge without looking back. I advanced with determination. * * * The battlested longer than expected. And it was even more grueling. It was then when I had almost taken down a hundred skeleton spearmen¡­ [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [A hundred D-rank ancient skeleton spearmen are approaching!] Another hundred came charging. ¡°You sons of bitches.¡± I was right after all. This dungeon had a trick to spawn infinite skeletons until I reached the destination. The problem was¡­ ¡°When will the Sun Spear show up?¡± ¡ªWhoosh! I swung my spear. ¡ªSwish! Crush! Boney 1 and Boney 2 smashed the skulls of the iing skeletons. I was already breathing heavily, muscles fatigued. And still, about forty skeletons remained. I only had 20 energy left. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ looks at you with unexpected eyes.] [It thinks you¡¯ve held out well.] [But it still thinks your skills are trash.] Damn you for calling me trash again. It was a word I was sick of hearing from the Master of All Techniques. Well, I had nothing to say since it wasn¡¯t wrong. Compared to my future goals, I was indeed ¡®trash¡¯ now. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ says it¡¯s almost over.] [It tells you to hang in there a little longer.] Almost over? I looked around but only found a long corridor. The only difference was it was getting wider, which made it even more disadvantageous for me. The skeletons started to surround us from the nks. I checked the state of my skeletons, Boney 1 to Boney 5. None were intact. Their energy was almost depleted, and they seemed on the verge of breaking. I can summon two more. The fight was endless. I needed to end this quickly. ¡°Boney 4.¡± ¡ªCreak? ¡°Give me the shield.¡± I took the shield from it. It was a bit heavy but manageable as I had trained with it. ¡°Next, Boney 5.¡± ¡ªCreak! Boney 5, parrying an enemy spear with its staff, looked at me. ¡°From now on, we¡¯re breaking through. Replenish the air shield whenever it breaks. And the rest¡­¡± I lowered my stance with the shield in front. ¡°Cover my rear at all costs.¡± The skeletons formed a defensive line with their backs to me. This was a life-risking dash toward the Sun Spear¡¯sir. Whether I would reach the destination first or fall before that, it was time to roll the dice. Chapter 23 Chapter 23: The Ancient Desert (3) I kicked off the ground. ¡°Hyaah!¡± With a shout, I ran with all my might. The skeletons also started moving with me. Don¡¯t think of it as a crisis. I steeled myself. The corridor was widening, and the skeletons surrounded me from all sides. This also meant the wall I had to break through had be thinner. ¡°We¡¯re running out of energy! We have to keep fighting to hold them off! If your left arm is broken, use your right arm!¡± I checked my surroundings as I ran. Beside me, Boney 4 was blocking spears with his arms, having lost his shield. ¡°Yes, like that! Hang in there, everyone!¡± I moved beside him, swinging my shield to the side to push with it. A skeleton lost its bnce and fell backward from the weight of my bash. ¡ªCrush! I brought the edge of the shield down on its head. ¡°Phew.¡± I had just taken down a D-rank monster with my own hands, but there was no time to savor the feeling. The attacks from the skeletons continued relentlessly. I can¡¯t just run. I have to deal with them as I go. I wasn¡¯t a giant who had maxed out my strength stats, so I couldn¡¯t bulldoze through them. At the very least, I had to clear the ones blocking my path. I hope it shows up soon. [Break through the obstacles and reach the ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] The goal of this dungeon wasn¡¯t to kill skeletons. It was simply to reach the entity known as the ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯ ¡ªTap, tap, tap! I brushed past the approaching skeletons. Using the techniques I learned from my Master, I subtly evaded them like a rugby yer on the field, running toward a touchdown. ¡°Boney 5!¡± ¡ªng! ¡°Replenish the shield quickly before it breaks!¡± The air shield absorbed all the attacksing from behind. As expected, a level 8 Air Shield was tougher and more resilient than the previous one. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ says it¡¯s cowardly.] [It ims that a true warrior doesn¡¯t evade battles.] Shut up. That¡¯s your standard. In our world, survival is strength. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ is disappointed.] [It says those who avoid the trials have no right to challenge itself.] I ignored it. Only four to five skeletons were left in front of me. Once I got past them, I could run through the open space. I hope you understand. Knowing the enemy is important, but knowing myself is more important. And I knew I couldn¡¯t survive those skeletons with my remaining energy. No matter how reckless and daring I was, I didn¡¯t want to fight a losing battle. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ says humans are indeed despicable creatures.] ¡ªSwoosh. Finally, I passed the remaining skeletons. ¡°Huff, huff.¡± Sweat dripped down my forehead. I wiped it off with my sleeve, but more sweat soon reced it. ¡°When will ite out?¡± My mouth tasted bitter, but I didn¡¯t stop running. I felt drained, but my muscles held up. My previous stamina training seemed to pay off. ¡°Huff, huff!¡± I wanted to summon the old man for advice, but it was impossible. Not just because Icked energy, but because the cooldown hadn¡¯t passed yet. ¡ªRumble! Behind me were the skeletons I had passed chasing me fiercely. ¡°Damn it.¡± I was reaching my limit. ¡ªClunk! I threw away my shield. I also tossed aside the bag of supplies I brought just in case. If I fought now, I would die. I had to reduce my weight and focus solely on running. [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ used the skill Low-Level Block (Lv.8).] Boom! After picking up the shield I discarded, Boney 4 turned around. He stopped fleeing and seemed to be buying me time. Thanks, buddy. The awakened skeletons were amazing. They clearly understood their master¡¯s intentions and acted ordingly, even without orders. [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ has been unsummoned.] ¡ªThud. Boney4 didn¡¯tst long. Its bones scattered in all directions. Gritting my teeth, I ran forward with all my might. I had to make the most of the time he bought me. I had been running for about a minute. ¡°Huh?¡± Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. I felt like something was wrong. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ says lowly humans must be punished.] ¡°¡­!¡± My eyes widened. Ahead of me in the corridor, there were piles of bones stacked like a mountain. Those bones¡­ I had seen them before. It was a familiar sight. ¡°Huff, huff.¡± I stopped running. My hands hung limply at my sides as if I had lost all strength. I took deep breaths. No fucking wonder they¡¯re familiar. These were the remains of the skeletons I had fought when I was first sucked into the pyramid a few hours ago. ¡°¡­¡± Come to think of it, the widening corridor had narrowed again. This meant that the ce I had been running to in desperation wasn¡¯t the Sun Spear¡¯sir but the same ce. I had been running around in circles. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ sneers at you.] [It says foolish humans never fail to disappoint.] ¡°¡­¡± I felt hollow. This ce was inside a pyramid. If I had run in a straight line, I should have reached an angr turning point. So it was in a circr structure? Whether I went forward or backward, I would end up in the same ce. ¡ªGrit. I bit my lip in frustration. I tasted blood on my tongue. ¡ªRumble¡­ Skeletons were closing in from behind. What should I do? Should I fight again? Or should I give up? ¡ªCreak. Boney 1 seemed to have a problem with his leg joints and was limping. Boney 2¡¯s spear was battered. Boney 3 and Boney 5 were almost in a state of disrepair. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Energy: 20/120] I had only 20 energy left. In contrast, about 30 skeletons were left. ¡°There¡¯s no choice. We¡¯ll have to hold out as long as we can. Everyone,e up!¡± I had no strength left to run. But I didn¡¯t want to give up. What would Gi Soyul do in this situation? She would¡¯ve kept fighting even in this situation, even if it meant losing her life. That¡¯s the mentality of a ¡®ranker.¡¯ I must hold onto hope. You never know. Maybe the hundred skeletons recently summoned were thest wave! ¡°Follow me!¡± I climbed the pile of bones. ¡ªCreak! Creak! Dozens of skeletons swarmed toward me. ¡ªSlice! sh! Boney 1 swung his sword a few times. The skulls of the skeletons were separated cleanly, rolling onto the floor. ¡ªWhoosh! Whoosh! Boney 3 retreated while providing cover. ¡°Boney 5! Use all your energy to cast Fireball!¡± I climbed the bones, gripping and pulling myself up, using all my strength. ¡°Huff, huff!¡± Reaching the top, I picked up a discarded bone spear. I secured the high ground. I nned to press down on the approaching skeletons from above. ¡°Die!¡± I hurled the spear with all my might. I didn¡¯t mind losing it since there were plenty of bone spears around. ¡°Die!¡± I drove another bone spear into the skull of a climbing skeleton. Blood oozed from my strained muscles. I must have cut myself on the bones while climbing. [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ has been unsummoned.] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ has been unsummoned.] Finally, the two who had been fighting hard perished. ¡°Haah.¡± With the remaining 20 energy, I resummoned the strongest warrior, Boney 1, and the tank, Boney 4. [Using skill ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank).] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 1¡ä summoned.] [Using skill ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank).] [10 energy consumed.] [¡®Bonehead 4¡ä summoned.] ¡°This is it.¡± I poured in all my remaining energy. [You have consumed all of your energy.] [Tip: Want to replenish your energy? Try resting.] ¡°Screw you.¡± I raised my head. A bitterugh escaped me. This situation felt the same as when I faced the orc back then. Desperately trying to survive like a struggling bug. Actually, no. It was different. Back then, I didn¡¯t choose that situation. This one was a path I had chosen. This was a matter of mindset. To be stronger, I weed more trials. The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said ¡°What doesn¡¯t kill me makes me stronger.¡± Get a grip, Joo Donghoon. ¡ªp! I pped my cheek hard. My faint consciousness became clear. There is no dungeon I cannot clear. Even in the old man¡¯s stage that was difficult for rankers, there was a solution. I thought. I kept thinking. [Break through the obstacles and reach the ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] The quest wanted me to meet the Sun Spear. But the Sun Spear insisted I follow proper procedures to reach it. It felt like I was constantly being teased. So what are those procedures? Even if I ran around the dungeon, it kept circling back. Where could I meet him¡­? ¡°Huh?¡± It was then that something caught my eye. Above the wide open space, attached to the broad ceiling, was a sinister mass. ¡°What is that?¡± It squirmed as if it were watching me. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ asks if you¡¯ve finally noticed.] [It says foolish humans can¡¯t help it.] ¡°Oh?¡± I grinned. I couldn¡¯t help it because it felt like finding an oasis in the vast desert. ¡°So that¡¯s where you were hiding?¡± The trick in the dungeon was simple¡ªoverly simple but hard to miss once noticed. The Sun Spear¡¯sir was in the ceiling from the start. The ceiling of the entrance, to be precise. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ nods.] As if making eye contact with me, the message from the entity called the Sun Spear appeared. ¡ªCrush! Crunch! I watched the skeletons struggling below and muttered. ¡°Boney 4.¡± The one among my minions who lifted the heaviest shield. ¡°Stop fighting and grab me.¡± ¡ªCreak? ¡°Throw me up there as hard as you can. As fast as possible.¡± There were remaining skeletons, but it didn¡¯t matter. The condition to clear this stage was to meet the entity. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ says toe if you dare.] [It says it will turn the despicable human who challenges it into ashes.] ¡°Sure.¡± I fixed my gaze on the mass. I didn¡¯t know why it had such hostility toward humans, but if that¡¯s the dungeon¡¯s quest¡­ ¡°Here Ie.¡± In the middle of a pyramid, on a small hill of bone remnants, I wasunched like an arrow. ¡ªWhoosh! The fierce wind hit my face. As the distance between the mass and me rapidly closed¡­ [Congrattions!] [You have reached the ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] [The Ancient Skeleton Spearmen (D-rank) will disappear.] The bones below dissolved like a mirage. ¡ªFinally. As an indescribable feeling of aplishment washed over me, messages popped up before my eyes. [Warning!] [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ has been summoned!] The ck mass scattered widely, its form like a crashed hologram. The scattered parts converged into one ce. [Using skill ¡®Memory Recreation¡¯ (S-rank).] [Recreating the memory of the cursed soul the ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] [You will be transported shortly.] With a blinding sh, my vision turned white. Chapter 24 Chapter 24: The Ancient Desert (4) A storm blew across a certain desert. The monster¡­ no, the being that had been rejected as a human finally realized what to do¡ªto survive, to avoid suffering. ¡ªWhoosh! It swung its spear endlessly. It stabbed into the noisy mouths and tore out their insolent tongues. Blood sttered, organs spilled out. The more violence it unleashed, the less noise there was; the more ughter itmitted, the quieter it became. Ah. The child felt satisfied. It realized its judgment was correct. If it killed all the humans in the desert, the negative malice directed at it would disappear. You were the ones who started it. You were the ones who rejected me, so don¡¯t me me for being rough. ¡ªp! The ck wings on its back twitched excitedly. The child became increasingly intoxicated by the ughter. As it hunted humans, itsbat skills also naturally improved. From the vige to the city, from the city to the kingdom, from the kingdom to the empire. The more it expanded its hunting range, the more graceful and sharp the spear¡¯s movements. A mystical aura began to form around the spear, and the humans called it ¡®Spear Ki.¡¯ The aura ingrained in a weapon contained something that was deeply wished for. The child imbued the de with the sight it saw at birth¡ªthe sun shining brightly in the sky on the day it lost its sight. A spear that absorbed the sun! The sun-imbued spear bestowed punishment upon humanity. It burned, pierced, and impaled them. It¡¯s trulyughable. The childughed. Why? Because the more it killed, the less resentment and malice it faced from them. It defiedmon sense. Humans, strange as they were, lost their negative emotions the more they were tormented. They turned to admiration and reverence. They turned to fear and awe as if begging to be tormented more. Foolish creatures. More people followed the ferocious child. Some even worshiped it, killing their kind. ¡°¡­¡± Sun Spear¡ªit was the title given to the child at some point. ¡°Lord Sun Spear!¡± ¡°The great hero and warrior born of the Desert Empire! We shall follow you!¡± ¡°Lead us, save us, oh merciful one!¡± The child epted these humans. To lead them? To save them? Absolutely not! The child knew well that human nature was cruel; they couldn¡¯t be saved without violence. To revive the ecosystem of the desert, they needed¡­ Death. The child ruled the Desert Empire to exterminate all humans. If all humans died, there would be no more victims like itself. No one would be denied life from birth. Raise your spears! The followers of the Sun Spear raised their weapons. Their eyes shone with the madness of the cursed heretics. From now on, kill each other! ughter your kin mercilessly! Burn everything down like the scorching sun! The child had truly be the monster humans had called it. [The skill ¡®Memory Recreation¡¯ (S-rank) has ended.] * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡ªsh! In the strange and dark space, the triangr area resembling the top of a pyramid, a being stared at me. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ gazes at you.] Or rather, it couldn¡¯t stare since its eyes were hideously hollow. That¡¯s the Sun Spear¡­ I shuddered as the presence emanating from its ck wings suffocated me. Is this really a B-rank? Though I had never experienced a B-rank dungeon before, I could tell this was too much. The activation of the Memory Recreation skill and the intense pressure brought me an old memory. It¡¯s almost like the case of the Master of All Techniques. Its mouth opened. ¡°Filthy and heinous human.¡± It exuded a severe murderous intent. Its primal malice and resentment toward humans pierced my heart coldly. ¡°Did youe to deny me as well?¡± ¡ªWhoosh! The ¡°spear¡± in its hand gleamed. It felt like being swallowed by the scorching sun. ¡°¡­!¡± The overwhelming attack made me instinctively shut my eyes, unable to even dare defend against it. Hm? However, even after a while, I felt nothing. I opened my eyes slightly. Did it miss? The spear that was thrown at me had gone off to the left as if I had dodged the attack instinctively. While my mind was filled with confusion, I heard a familiar voice. ¡°Tsk, tsk. Can¡¯t you get your act together?¡± ¡°Elder?¡± Surprisingly, behind me stood the Master of All Techniques. In that brief moment, he had grabbed my sleeve and pulled me away from the attack. ¡°How?¡± I was bewildered. I had no more energy left, which meant I had no means to summon either the skeletons or the old man. ¡°¡­You dare evade my attack?¡± The Sun Spear¡¯s voice was filled with anger. ¡°A mere human thinks it can withstand my spear technique that ruled the Desert Empire for hundreds of years?¡± Once again, the sun gleamed. But. [¡®Master of All Techniques¡¯ used the skill ¡®Absolute Shield¡¯ (Lv. Max).] ¡ªVwoom! The gentle aura surrounding him met the Sun Spear¡¯s weapon. ¡ªBoom! The tremendous physical force threw me against the wall, followed by pain that surged through my back and ribs. ¡°Ugh!¡± Thanks to the old man¡¯s skill, I survived. Otherwise, I would have died instantly. ¡°Tsk, tsk. Foolish one.¡± ¡°Elder?¡± ¡°You¡¯re my disciple, yet it seems you can¡¯t tell the difference between illusion and reality.¡± ¡°Illusion and¡­ reality¡­¡± I frowned. I looked down at my body. It was transparent like a hologram¡ªa ghostly figure like the old man. This indicated only one thing. ¡°This isn¡¯t real.¡± ¡°Exactly, boy. This is inside your mind. That child named the Sun Spear invaded you while you were unconscious.¡± The old man had mentioned before that he and I were connected mentally, so inflicting pain was no problem. That¡¯s why he could appear without any energy consumed. ¡°Tsk. Looks like you finally got a grasp.¡± The old manughed, then looked at the Sun Spear. ¡°That thing.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You are no match for it yet.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I knew since I had read its memories¡ªa monster that massacred tens of thousands, no, hundreds of thousands of humans. I understood how strong it was and the ¡°resentment¡± it held. But that was all. I didn¡¯t feel sympathy. From a human perspective, it was just a monster, nothing more, nothing less. ¡°So I need you to step back for a bit this time.¡± ¡ªSwoong! The old man drew his weapon with an immense fighting spirit emanating from him. ¡°A monster that once ruled a world. Oh, how interesting, very interesting.¡± The old man had never shown such an expression. He looked highly intrigued. ¡°Once again, choosing you as my disciple was the right choice.¡± As the absolute ruler of his other world, he was curious about the absolute ruler of another world. ¡°¡­Will you be okay?¡± I asked hesitantly. Because the energy emanating from that monster was also formidable. The old man grinned at my question. ¡°Will I be okay? Well, it certainly possesses a formidable spear technique. Stronger than mine by several times.¡± I gasped, ¡°It¡¯s that strong?¡± ¡°You fool. What do you take the power of All Techniques as? I¡¯m just talking inparison with strictly spear techniques. Overall, it is far beneath me.¡± The old man¡¯s spear technique was just one of the ten thousand techniques he had mastered. When all those techniques werebined and amplified to synergize, true mastery of All Techniques would be achieved. ¡°Hahaha, this is exciting any way you look at it. To find such entertainment after death! How could I miss this opportunity!¡± The old man¡¯s fighting spirit shed with the Sun Spear. ¡°Formidable. Are you a human who has transcended your limits?¡± Even the furious Sun Spear seemed to sense the threat as it was wary of the old man. Good gracious. I swallowed a gulp. I didn¡¯t know why it hade to this, but maybe I could resolve this situation without lifting a finger. [¡®Master of All Techniques¡¯ is gazing at the ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ is gazing at the ¡®Master of All Techniques.¡¯] A tense standoff began between two absolute beings. ¡ªRumble. The space started to tremble. Sand trickled from the ceiling, and stones on the floor floated into the air. All I could do was cheer him on. I hope the elder wins! I moved to the corner, protected by the old man¡¯s shield. * * * ¡ªCrash! Crash! Crash! The air tore apart, and the space copsed. The pyramid could not withstand the collision of two absolutes. ¡°Can a mere human even dare to understand my resentment?¡± ¡°I have no interest in your past! I only long for a worthy opponent.¡± The two shed over a few hundred times within seconds. The sound of their collisions deafened my ears. The fierce fight continued. One absolute being sought recognition for its resentment while the other absolute being sought only the thrill of battle. ¡°Raaaargh!¡± the monster howled. ¡°I only wanted to live! To see the world! To behold the scorching sun, the warm sand, and the lush greenery in my sight!¡± It deflected the old man¡¯s attacks with the light emanating from its spear. ¡°But you humans brutally took away my rights. You gouged out my eyes without reason!¡± The voice¡¯s owner, the Sun Spear, cried out desperately. The child¡¯s fierce murderous intent made my skin tingle. ¡°So I ughtered the humans of the desert! I conquered the world with my spear-wielding followers!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So you must know the pain I endured! I cannot be the only one to suffer!¡± The old man grimaced and took a step back. ¡°Such deep resentment,¡± he muttered. ¡°I must admit, my resentment pales inparison,¡± he said, but the tide of the battle was already tilting in his favor. Even I, a novicepared to them, could sense it. The Sun Spear seemed precarious. ¡°However, that is all. If resentment alone could determine the oue of the battle, the most wronged would be the strongest.¡± The old man now held a bow. ¡ªCreak¡­ He only performed the action of pulling the bowstring, yet hundreds of magic arrows formed around him. Despite the awe-inspiring skill, the Sun Spear¡¯s momentum didn¡¯t wane. Had it not been satisfied, even after killing so many humans? It lifted its spear and charged. ¡°¡­¡± I watched their battle in silence. But a part of my chest felt stuffy as if I was missing something. This dungeon¡¯s difficulty is B-rank. I hadn¡¯t experienced a B-rank dungeon, but it wasn¡¯t supposed to be this hard. Was it because it transformed? My mind spun. Come to think of it¡­ When I entered the dungeon, this message appeared. [Discovering the connection between the dungeon and Hunter Joo Donghoon¡¯s profession.] A stage rted to my profession. What could it be? What was pressing down on my chest? After pondering for several minutes, something shed in my mind. ¡°Ah?¡± Undead, spear, skeleton, and something rted to me. ¡°No way, could it be?¡± My heart raced. Now that I thought about it, the Sun Spear fighting the old man looked very simr to someone I had seen for more than three years. ¡°No way, that¡­¡± Ovepping their shapes, it was indeed¡­ the same. ¡°Boney 2¡­?¡± A message appeared before my eyes as if responding to my question. ¡ªRing! [Stage: Resentment of the Sun Spear] [Difficulty: Immeasurable] [The Sun Spear¡¯s resentment toward humans.] [Subdue the Sun Spear to achieve the true awakening of ¡®Boney 2.¡¯] Immeasurable! With an insane difficulty, it was a stage solely for achieving ¡®Boney 2¡¯s¡¯ true awakening. Ah. My whole body shivered in enlightenment. At the same time, I clearly understood what I had to do. ¡°Elder.¡± I took a step toward the realm of the two absolutes. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The old man frowned. ¡°Stop. It¡¯s dangerous if you interfere. As I said, you are no match for that thing yet.¡± ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°Remember you said this is my mind.¡± ¡°¡­Indeed, I did.¡± Now that I¡¯d given it more thought, it didn¡¯t make sense. This was my profession¡¯s quest. How could it require the old man¡¯s help to clear it? ¡°Look at that child.¡± I pointed at the Sun Spear with ck eagle wings and hollow ck eyes. Unlike when it was a child, it was now in a grown adult body¡ªa form chilling enough to make anyone shiver. But. Knowing it was Boney 2¡¯s previous life, I felt sympathy. If it was just a monster, I wouldn¡¯t feel anything. I wonder if that¡¯s because it¡¯s my baby? I couldn¡¯t fathom how much it suffered, and how much agony it had to endure. I began to understand the pain it felt. ¡°It was just going through a tough time. It wanted to let go of its resentment.¡± ¡°So what will you do?¡± ¡°This is my mind, so I will bear it. Until its resentment exhausts. Until it copses from its exhaustion.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The old man, about to stop me, hesitated. ¡°It is my summon. My child. If I can¡¯t bear its resentment. How could I even hope to control it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. This was my stage from the very beginning.¡± Step by step, I walked forward. Only then did the Sun Spear¡¯s gaze turn to me. [The ¡®Sun Spear¡¯ is watching you.] ¡°¡­!¡± Its immense murderous intent and pressure weighed down on me. Yet I walked silently toward Boney 2. ____ Chapter 25 Chapter 25: The Ancient Desert (5) In a vige located in a desert, a child holding a spear walked on the sand. The weather was quite chilly. The sun had set, and the temperature had dropped rapidly. ¡ªWhoosh! Amidst the howling wind, humans trembled in fear. ¡°¡­¡± The child walking with heavy steps suddenly stopped, because it sensed someone¡¯s presence. ¡°M-Mom?¡± It was a young human girl. The girl stared at the child with a frightened expression. You should be. Over 80% of the people here had been cut down by the child¡¯s spear. ¡°Mom, Mom!¡± In the face of fear, the girl could do nothing but call for her guardian. The child felt bitter. It remembered its own experience when humans forcibly gouged out its eyes. And the name it kept calling out was¡­ Mom. ¡ªSwing! The child quietly raised its spear. The de was smeared with crimson red blood. She sobbed, ¡°Mom, Mom!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The child hesitated at the girl¡¯s cries. Usually, it would have immediately beheaded her, pierced her heart, and buried her in the sand. But now, it was hesitating. ¡°¡­¡± It was a dilemma. Who was its true ¡®enemy¡¯? Was it the adult humans who had some level of understanding? Or was it the entire human race, including young girls like her? Was it right to inflict the same wounds on others to heal its wounds? The young Sun Spear pondered. ¡°My child!¡± In the meantime, a woman, presumably the mother, ran up and embraced the girl. It was a scene the child had desperately wished for when it was born. ¡°¡­¡± In the end, the child turned away. Humans were toys that it could kill whenever. It didn¡¯t want to deepen its wounds by killing this mother and daughter. That¡¯s right. Forgiving someone was also the victim¡¯s right, it thought. The child nodded and walked away. But then¡­ ¡ªStab! It felt a cold sensation in its back¡ªa sharp, painful sting that set its nerves on edge. ¡°¡­?¡± It could feel who had drawn a knife against it. ¡°D-Die, you monster!¡± It was the girl it had shown mercy to. ¡°Just die! Disappear! You demon! You beast!¡± The human it had tried to spare had chosen this action. Ah. Humans truly were irredeemable animals. The Sun Spear was sad. So it screamed in sorrow. A storm of blood swept across the desert. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * I walked toward the Sun Spear without my old staff or the skeletons that always protected me. ¡°¡­¡± All I had was my transparent body. Step by step, I finally arrived at the point where the Sun Spear¡¯s energy and the old man¡¯s energy intertwined. Normally, I would have been torn apart. No, I wouldn¡¯t have even gotten close to this point. The only reason I could withstand this pressure was because I recognized that all of this was an illusion within my mind. ¡°Tsk, you strange fellow,¡± the old man grumbled as he stepped back. ¡°Well, you were peculiar from the first time we met. That¡¯s why I liked you.¡± Beyond our master-disciple rtionship, he respected my intention as a person. I was grateful for that fact. It also made me feel secure. Thank you, elder, I paid my respects inwardly. Even though he always grumbled and I sometimes thought he was a senile old man, I knew all his actions were for my benefit. Whatever his goal may be, it would only be natural to be grateful for this. ¡°Filthy human! Treacherous and vile human!¡± And now¡­ ¡°How dare you! A mere human! You think you can understand me?¡± The Sun Spear¡¯s resentment and obsession were directed entirely at me. ¡°Don¡¯t make meugh! I loathe humans! I curse humans! Do you know what I realized after studying them and observing their ways for hundreds of years?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Humans are unnecessary in this world! They are worse than garbage! Worse than germs!¡± Its cries were desperate, its voice tearing through, echoing around. And simultaneously, strikes from the Sun Spear split my body in two. The spear pierced my heart and shattered my bones. It tore through my muscles and gouged out my eyes. ¡°Guh, ugh.¡± My insides churned, and I bled profusely. Red liquid poured from every hole in my body. [The skill ¡®Pain Resistance¡¯ (B-rank) is in effect.] Argh, it hurt. The pain was excruciating. If the old man hadn¡¯t trained my resistance, I would have already lost consciousness. But I¡¯m fine. I certainly felt the pain. But I still existed. I wasn¡¯t dead yet since this was a world of my imagination¡ªan illusion, not reality. My body, split and torn, reformed. Here, I was like an undead. ¡°Alright.¡± I opened my eyes wide. At the same time, I faced the furious Sun Spear. ¡°Go ahead.¡± I grabbed a spear. ¡ªWhoosh! Because this ce was imaginary, a splendid spear appeared in the air and dropped into my hand. ¡°Pour out all your resentment at me.¡± Honestly, some might call it whining. Others might say it was sophistry. They could argue that the Sun Spear hurt others just as much and that it used excessive violence for the harm it suffered. But I didn¡¯t mock it. I tried to fully understand. I had seen everything as I had felt it through the skill. ¡°My resentment?¡± the Sun Spear sneered. Its weapon was filled with murderous intent¡ªthe very one that had pierced thousands of people. ¡°You say you¡¯ll take on my resentment? Ridiculous. It¡¯s impossible even if you fully understand me. How dare someone who hasn¡¯t even tasted the bitterness of my misery say such a thing? What arrogant talk!¡± The spear flew at me once again. No, it wasn¡¯t just the spear; it was emotion¡ªthe feelings of a child threatened with life and death. The fear of losing sight. The fear of losing its parents. The fear of being left alone in the world rushed through my heart. It wasn¡¯t physical pain, but mental agony. ¡°There was no one in this world on my side because I was a half-human, half-beast. Who would like a hybrid monster like me?!¡± The Sun Spear¡¯s weapon wept sorrowfully. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have been born. From the moment I was born, people pointed knives at me. They tried to take my eyes, my hands, my feet. Can you even fathom such horrible pain?¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± I nodded, taking its attacks. ¡°It must have been tough.¡± ¡°Hmph, yes. Some people pitied me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But in the end, they were all the same. They feared me. They stabbed me in the back. Until my emotions gradually died off, humans were ¡®lies¡¯ and ¡®betrayal¡¯ itself.¡± ¡°Right.¡± I just listened to it. I just wanted to. From it, I could see a crying child screaming for someone to understand its pain. ¡°I wasn¡¯t the only one! Thousands, tens of thousands suffered like me!¡± ¡°There must have been many half-human, half-beasts like you.¡± ¡°Yes, humans ughtered many races for their safety or prosperity. There was no responsibility nor respect in the process.¡± The emotional spear it sent was sharp. It kept piercing my body, causing me pain. ¡°Humans resented me. They feared me for tearing them apart. They said that halfbreeds should have been killed from birth. Ha, isn¡¯t it funny? They didn¡¯t realize they had created the monster they feared.¡± However, I could endure because I had already felt its emotions through Memory Recreation. The old man stood with his hands behind his back, watching me. ¡ªStab! Stab! Boney 2, no, the Sun Spear tirelessly attacked me, pouring out its emotions. ¡­Is this the process of venting its resentment? I could clearly feel its power weakening with each attack, its emotions softening. After an hour had passed, its attacks noticeably slowed down. And finally, I saw a slight opening. ¡°Sun Spear,¡± I called to it, ¡°until when do you n on being sad? How long do you n on suffering?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Fate is like two sides of a coin. If there¡¯s pain, there¡¯s also happiness on the other side, don¡¯t you think?¡± My words of advice made it open its eyes wide. It seemed surprised by my sudden counterattack. ¡°Think about it. If you stay mired in pain, who¡¯s really taking the loss? Is it the dead humans who tormented you? Or is it you?¡± ¡ªWhoosh! I thrust my spear as I spoke. It was the C-rank Pierce skill I learned from the old man. I imbued it with my emotions. ¡°Haha,¡± The old man eximed at the sight, hands behind his back. ¡°This boy. I thought he was a durd, but he¡¯s something. Already reaching the level of imbuing emotions into his thrust!¡± The old man fully stepped back, watching the situation with interest. ¡ªWhoosh! I kept swinging my spear. ¡°Let¡¯s be honest. I¡¯m sure you already know the reason for your suffering.¡± I knew its heart better than anyone because I had seen it directly through my skill. It loves humans as much as it hates them. Honestly, if it had no feelings for humans, there would be no reason for it to suffer and be upset. It could just see them as targets to kill, not expecting anything from them. Yet, it never did such a thing. It wanted to try and feel the warmth of a human embrace. It longed to witness the scene of peersughing and chatting. It wanted to experience a mother¡¯s love risking her life to protect her child. It had human blood flowing within it. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± ¡ªng! The Sun Spear deflected my thrust. ¡°Try to define me as you please!¡± The force was so immense that I regained my stance only after being pushed back several steps. ¡°Huff!¡± I exhaled sharply with pain. ¡°You said you know why I¡¯m suffering? Fine. I admit it.¡± The light was blinding. ¡°But it¡¯s already over! I was abandoned, and my emotions have withered. They festered for hundreds of years and became permanent scars. What do you think you can change now?¡± The sunlight imbued in the spear was scorching hot. ¡°Does apologizing for murder heal the victims¡¯ families? Does apologizing for violence erase the pain? Nonsense! The past can¡¯t be undone! Spilled water can¡¯t be gathered back up!¡± It pushed me back forcefully, but I didn¡¯t retreat. Backing down here meant losing. I had to persuade it. I had to heal it. And from experience, speaking strongly was more effective for someone like this. ¡°You¡¯re right, the past can¡¯t be undone,¡± I admitted calmly. ¡°I¡¯m not asking for forgiveness. I¡¯m telling you to be reborn. For your own good.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± The Sun Spear frowned. ¡°You are a dead soul.¡± My spear¡¯s movements became fluid. ¡°Your life ended there. You already killed all the humans in your world. There¡¯s no one left to be angry at. How long will you remain a loser when you have no one to vent to? Isn¡¯t it time to live a new life? Time is a precious resource. Don¡¯t you feel sorry for yourself?¡± ¡°¡­My life has already ended?¡± Its pupils dted. It seemed to just now realize it was dead. It looked shocked. ¡°Yes,e to think of it¡­ This is a pyramid¡ªthe tomb where I buried myself after ughtering all the humans.¡± It was the ce where it buried its intense resentment, unable to let go of its hatred even in death. I nodded. ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve been suffering even after death. Those who tormented you are gone. You killed them all.¡± ¡°¡­¡± It was silent for a long time. The battle had subsided, and I waited patiently. And finally, it spoke. Its murmur was much softer than before. ¡°¡­To live a new life, you said?¡± ____ Chapter 26 Chapter 26: The Ancient Desert (6) ¡°Yes.¡± I looked at the child in front of me, who was in deep conflict. ¡°It¡¯s not about right or wrong. I¡¯m not saying that the humans who ruined your past life were right, nor that you, who ughtered countless humans, were right.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The child growled softly. It flinched resentfully like a red disinfectant was poured into an open wound. It must be angry. It could not understand, for a lump of anger and resentment was still in its heart, yet it was all in the past¡ªit was all already history gone by. ¡°No, I can¡¯t do that.¡± The child shook its head roughly. ¡°I can¡¯t shake off those terrible memories. That¡¯s the life I lived. Are you telling me to deny myself now? Even if I forget and brush it off as you say, do you think that would lead to true happiness?¡± To a child who has lived cursing humans for centuries, my words must have felt like denying its existence. Its lips were tightly closed. It was the stubbornness and determination of someone who had lived with a single goal for a long time. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you to deny yourself.¡± I approached the child. It raised its spear warily, but I didn¡¯t stop walking. ¡°I¡¯m telling you to enjoy the things you wanted to do, the things you couldn¡¯t do.¡± ¡°The things I wanted to do?¡± ¡°Yes, what you wanted to do.¡± Before it realized it, I was within its attack range. The tip of its spear was pointed at me, but I gently reached out and pushed it aside. It moved without resistance. ¡°Though only for a moment, I could clearly feel your past. I could feel what hurt you, what emotions you felt, and what you wanted.¡± It was the effect of the skill ¡®Memory Recreation¡¯ (S-Rank). ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And in those memories, you wanted to see the world.¡± ¡°The world¡­?¡± The child flinched. Its hollow, dark eyes wavered. ¡°You were curious. You were curious about the soft sand under your feet and the camels roaming the desert. But all you remember is the sun, and you don¡¯t even know what you look like.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± For the first time, the child acknowledged what I said. ¡°I was curious about the world. Regardless of the good and evil of all humans, that fact can¡¯t be denied.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough, you say?¡± The child frowned. It seemed to think I was ying with words. ¡ªStep. Before I knew it, I was right in front of it. ¡°To be honest, I can¡¯t fully empathize with your pain. I felt it for a brief moment, but that¡¯s it. Because your situation is different from mine.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So I don¡¯t want to hastilyfort your emotions. I shouldn¡¯t do that either. I just¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± A strange silence flowed. I swallowed and continued. ¡°I¡¯m just saying, can¡¯t you be honest with your desires? No matter what resentment you have toward humans, whatever bitterness remains, just think about the fact that you can go see the world.¡± The child¡¯s shoulders trembled. Its emotions seemed to be swirling and mixing. It must have been curious, and it must have wanted to see. Finally, the child asked, ¡°Are you saying that you can show me the world?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± My lips curled into a smile. Skeletons were the lowest of the undead. No matter if they were beheaded or their eyes were gouged out, they appeared asplete skeletons. Come to think of it, skeletons don¡¯t have eyes, do they? They didn¡¯t have eyes, but they could see. That much was for sure because I could feel it as a necromancer. Anyway. ¡ªSwoosh! I reached out into the air. As I was inside my own imagination, a splendid staff appeared in my hand. Now, let¡¯s make the offer. ¡°I am a necromancer. Although cursed, I am a mage who can wield death.¡± ¡ªThud! I struck the staff into the ground. ¡°The world I live in ispletely different from the one you lived in, but if you want to see such a world¡­¡± I extended my left hand. ¡ªFlinch. The child¡¯s body trembled. ¡°Take my hand and serve under me.¡± [Stage: Resentment of the Sun Spear] [Difficulty: Immeasurable] [The Sun Spear¡¯s resentment toward humans .] [Subdue the Sun Spear to achieve the true awakening of ¡®Bonehead 2.¡¯] I suggested that the child surrender by requesting one of its desires, sight, as a condition. [The Sun Spear is in pondering.] [The Sun Spear is contemting.] ¡°¡­¡± The silence was long. Still, I waited patiently. After some time had passed¡­ ¡°You.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Are you different from other humans?¡± The child gripped the spear tightly again. ¡°I am the absolute ruler of the ancient desert empire. The half-human, half-beast hybrid unrivaled in the world. I am the spear that embraced the lofty sun.¡± ¡ªVwoom! Its spear was filled with immense energy. ¡°I do not serve just anyone. Especially if that person is human.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Are you qualified to be my master?¡± the wounded child asked. ¡ªRing! [Hidden Quest Activated!] [This is the hidden condition for the stage: ¡®Resentment of the Sun Spear¡¯!] [The Sun Spear¡¯s resentment toward humans has somewhat subsided.] [However the Sun Spear has a question.] [It is curious about the Hunter ¡®Joo Donghoon.¡¯] [Prove that you are its true master.] [Upon proof, ¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ will inherit the Sun Spear¡¯s memories and will.] Oh. Is this a transformation of the quest? The wording had changed. Initially, the quest was to achieve Bonehead 2¡¯s true awakening, but now it stated that Boney 2 would inherit the Sun Spear¡¯s memories as they were. It might have seemed simr, but just looking at the hidden quest status, it was clear thetter was much more attractive. I guess it can¡¯t be helped. I smiled. ¡ªSwoosh! At the same time, I created a ¡®spear¡¯ with my right hand. ¡ªSwish! I discarded the staff. ¡°¡®Qualified,¡¯ huh.¡± The thought of Boney 2 bing the Sun Spear and calling me master¡­ ¡ªThump. My heart pounded. ¡°How should I prove it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± the child answered. ¡°Take my attacks. Endure the true power of the sun, not just a remnant of resentment. Can you do that?¡± The child raised its spear. ¡°Come at me anytime,¡± I replied. And the world shed white. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡ªVwoom! Under the scorching sunlight, the warm rays pierced my entire body like spears. So this is the true power of the sun. It was far stronger than the attacks from the child consumed by resentment, to the extent that the old man watching from behind clicked his tongue. ¡°Oh, disciple. Are you okay?¡± Do I look okay? It feels like I¡¯m going to die from the pain. ¡°That¡¯s natural. That child has be much stronger than before. Hmm¡­ Perhaps I could have killed it easily during my prime.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This old man¡­ I¡¯m in immense pain right now, and he¡¯s chosen now of all times to start boasting about himself. Not only did he say he could kill it but that he could achieve such a feat with the greatest of ease. ¡°Shush, you. I¡¯mplimenting them. I usually say I¡¯ll subdue, not kill. So for an opponent I¡¯d find hard to subdue¡­ Well, that¡¯s the current state of that child.¡± Yeah, I¡¯m sure it is. Sorry to say, but I didn¡¯t have the time to agree with the old man¡¯s words. Every ray of sunlight from the spear was a critical hit. [¡®Sun Spear¡¯ used the skill ¡®Sr Strike¡¯ (Lv. Max).] [¡®Sun Spear¡¯ used the skill ¡®Raging Desert¡¯ (Lv. Max).] [¡®Sun Spear¡¯ used the skill ¡®Soulre¡¯ (Lv. Max).] ¡­ I groaned in pain from the continuous attacks from the skills with splendid names I had never seen before. I gritted my teeth. But the child didn¡¯t stop attacking. ¡°My disciple, there¡¯s no need to counterattack. Well, I guess there¡¯s no need to worry since you can¡¯t do that anyway.¡± Are you adding fuel to the fire right now? I asked sharply, and the old manughed. ¡°I¡¯m just telling you to endure. You¡¯re practically invincible here anyway, no?¡± But it hurts like hell. ¡°Come now. You¡¯ve been enduring my secret technique, the ¡®Great Technique of the Celestial Artisan.¡¯ I¡¯m sure you can endure it!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn it. It hurt like hell, but he kept saying those things, which made me burn even more inside. I felt like I was burning both inside and out. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know it too,¡± the old man continued. ¡°That child is not testing your skills. It¡¯s testing your will.¡± My will¡­ ¡°Yes, your tenacity and your character. Usually, the more tenacious one is, the more upright they are. If you want to control it, you must endure this much.¡± The child didn¡¯t serve just anyone, it only served special individuals. There is the old saying, ¡°Look before you leap.¡± Especially since humans had hurt it many times, it wanted to judge me. It wanted confirmation. Honestly¡­ This meant something special. Since it didn¡¯t serve just anyone, that suggested it would staunchly pledge its loyalty. ¡°Fine.¡± What does it matter? Let it all out. I¡¯ll endure it to the end. It was painful enough to die, but I was willing to face even death to be a ranker. And the Sun Spear¡­ Was a huge stepping stone to bing a ranker. ¡°If there¡¯s anything you need to judge me, do it all you want.¡± The child continued its barrage of attacks with the spear. The spear that swallowed the sun was now the spear that emitted the sun. [Skill ¡®Pain Resistance¡¯ (B-rank) has been upgraded.] [You have acquired the skill ¡®Pain Resistance¡¯ (A-rank)!] [This skill has the potential for further growth.] Ah¡­ My profession was going to change to a masochist at this rate. The terrible pain gradually decreased. It became bearable to the extent that it was now even eptable. ¡°Haha, good,¡± the elder muttered. ¡°As expected of my disciple. You are the best in the world when ites to enduring.¡± All thanks to you, elder. I could finally gather enoughposure to walk forward while taking the child¡¯s attacks. I approached the child while receiving its dazzling spear strikes. I walked up and calmly looked at it. ¡°¡­You,¡± the Sun Spear muttered as if surprised. ¡°You are indeed different.¡± The child¡¯s momentum waned. Along with the momentum, it let go of its umted resentment. Come to think of it, there was nothing wrong with that. It was already all over. Its life had already be a thing of the past. It didn¡¯t want to suffer anymore. ¡°I¡­ want to be reborn.¡± It wanted to leave behind its previous life and live a life serving someone loyally. To live under a steadfast necromancer, seeing the world with its own eyes. ¡ªThud! The child knelt. ¡ªDrip! At the same time, tears fell. Tears it had never shed since bing the ruler of the ancient desert empire. The child washed away its resentment with these tears. And then¡­ ¡°My lord.¡± It called out to the ¡®human¡¯ it had decided to serve. ¡°I acknowledge you as my lord.¡± [Congrattions!] [You have fulfilled the hidden condition.] [You have cleared the stage: ¡®Ancient Desert Scorpion King¡¯!] [Receiving clear rewards!] At that moment, I gained an absolute being from another world as my subordinate. ____ Chapter 27 Chapter 27: With a Beating Heart Meanwhile, in the heart of Seoul, a luxurious building hosted avish banquet on its top floor. The event was extraordinarily fancy, with sophisticated marble interiors, red carpets, and glittering golden decorations. The grandeur of the ce wasn¡¯t limited to the setting alone. The attendees were equally impressive,prising heirs of Korea¡¯s top ten conglomerates and young rankers. Gi Soyul let out a deep sigh in one corner of this grandeur. Boring. She had attended the event at her older brother Giparang¡¯s request, but she was never one for parties. It¡¯s even more tedious than before. She could at least tolerate it in the past, believing merely conversing with rankers could help improve her skills. But now, it felt futile. Honestly, it felt childish. Because none of the rankers enjoying themselves here could defeat the ¡®old man¡¯ she had faced. She was sure of it. Compared to that old man, everyone here was a mere infant. She sighed internally, I hoped to finish quickly and leave. She felt restless. She wanted to meet Joo Donghoon quickly and watch him train. And during his intense training, she wanted to steal the old man¡¯s teachings. Realistically, it was the most helpful way. But she couldn¡¯t skip this banquet. She was hanging around in the guild doing nothing, so she had to at least show her face at such events. Networking was essential for arge guild like Parang to operate smoothly without conflicts. Of course, she had no intention of actively engaging. Just showing her face was enough. Because my brother does the realworking. Honestly, she thought that even showing up was a significantpromise and favor from her. ¡°¡­Remember that ranker we befriended in America? He¡¯s been dying to see you again, Ms. Soyul. Ahaha. By the way, are you listening to me?¡± ¡°Yes, I am.¡± A yawn escaped her lips as the man beside her, Shin Jongoh, a C-rank hunter, was prattling on. That didn¡¯t mean he could be ignored. He was the grandson of the chairman of the Ohseong Group, one of the top ten conglomerates in Korea. No matter how powerful rankers were, money held significant sway in a capitalist society. With countless rankers moved by money, it was an unavoidable reality. ¡°So how about it? Shall I arrange a meeting? Haha, I have some rare, limited-edition whiskey¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± She was briefly tempted to use her powers to assassinate this annoying lot, but she merely nodded absentmindedly, asionally ncing at the wall clock. And finally¡­ [07:00 PM] At exactly seven o¡¯clock, she sprang to her feet. ¡°Ms. Soyul?¡± Shin Jongoh¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. In response to his call, she replied curtly, ¡°That¡¯s it for me today. I have another appointment.¡± Six hours had passed. It was time to return to Joo Donghoon. She had already informed her brother and received his permission. ¡°W-Wait, already? The party is just getting started¡­¡± ¡°Thank you for today.¡± She gave a brief nod and left the hall without hesitation. ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªGrit. Shin Jongoh watched her leave, grinding his teeth. Arrogant bitch. You act like this just because you¡¯re a ranker¡­? He clenched his fists, hands trembling with anger. How did ite to this? They hadn¡¯t always been like this. ¡°¡­¡± He recalled his first meeting with her about a year ago. Her serene beauty captivated him at this very same banquet, and he decided to make her his woman. Others called her cold and distant, but she seemed like pure ice, beautiful and untouchable to him. And their societal positions weren¡¯t bad either. He was an heir to a conglomerate, and she was a ranker. They seemed like a well-matched pair. That was until just a month ago¡­ But one day, she changedpletely. She used to at least respond politely, but now she seemed lost in her thoughts. Why had she changed so much? Is the recent rumor about her true? There were whispers that she was constantly by someone¡¯s side, following him around. Did she have a hidden boyfriend? I should check it out. Shin Jongoh¡¯s eyes turned cold. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Huff, huff.¡± The scenery shifted to the familiar open space. ¡ªThunk! I dropped the staff I was holding and copsed on the ground. ¡°Whew, I really thought I was going to die.¡± Every bone in my body ached. I felt so worn out that if I closed my eyes, I¡¯d instantly fall into a deep sleep. I was both physically and mentally exhausted. ¡°The sun hasn¡¯t set yet.¡± Lying on my back, I looked up. The evening sky was tinged with shades of yellow and orange. Gi Soyul said she¡¯d be gone for about six hours¡­ She wasn¡¯t around, so it hadn¡¯t been six hours yet. It felt like I¡¯d been up for two days straight. Since it¡¯s evening, she¡¯ll be back soon. A brief rest was fine. I didn¡¯t expect the Shadow Lurkers to show up at this exact moment. ¡°Phew.¡± I stared nkly at the sky. Status windows filled my view. They were the dungeon rewards, waiting to be checked. Let¡¯s check them slowly. First, I checked the stat increases. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ is being adjusted.] [Bonehead 5¡¯s technique has increased by 2!] [Bonehead 5¡¯s strength has increased by 1!] [The skill level of ¡®Fireball¡¯ (Lv.8) has increased by 1.] [The skill level of ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv.8) has increased by 1.] [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ is being adjusted.] [Bonehead 4¡¯s strength has increased by 2!] [Bonehead 4¡¯s dexterity has increased by 1!] [Bonehead 4¡¯s constitution has increased by 1!] [The skill level of ¡®Low-Level Block¡¯ (Lv.8) has increased by 1.] [The skill level of ¡®Low-Level Taunt¡¯ (Lv.6) has increased by 2.] ¡­ ¡­ ¡­ The status adjustment messages for all the skeletons filled the screen, making it hard to read. Their stats increased evenly, and their skill levels are around 8-9 now. I summarized quickly and moved on because more exciting rewards awaited. Especially Boney 2. Boney 2 had be special, unlike the other skeletons. [Hidden quest cleared!] [The tyrant of the ancient desert kingdom, the ¡®Sun Spear,¡¯ has acknowledged you as its true master!] [The Sun Spear¡¯s memories and will have been transferred to ¡®Bonehead 2.¡¯] [The name of ¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ has changed to ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] [All stats increased by 10.] ¡°You are now Sun Spear.¡± [Name: Sun Spear] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Spearman] [Rank: D] [Strength: 35] [Dexterity: 35] [Constitution: 32] [Magic Power: 26] [Technique: 33] [Skills] ¨C Low-Level Stab (Lv.9) ¨C Sr Strike (Lv.1) ¨C Raging Desert (Lv.1) ¨C Soulre (Lv.1) Wow. I was amazed. Three new skills had been added. These were the attacks used on me in my mental world. The attack with blinding light and sessive attacks must be this one. Sr Strike! The sandstorm-like field-wide attack must¡¯ve been¡­ Raging Desert! And the temporary boost in movement and attack speed should be¡­ Soulre! It was sure that all three were incredible skills. I was confident because I had faced them during the trial. ¡°By the way.¡± Was it still appropriate to call it Boney 2? I didn¡¯t know names would change upon awakening¡­ Boney 2, huh¡­ I had given it a random name but had grown attached to it. So I felt a bit sad. The name, Sun Spear, seemed less intimate. And calling it Boney 2 felt weird when its status window showed ¡°Sun Spear.¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± I pondered briefly. Yes, only briefly. Because I¡¯ve never spent much time naming things. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s call you Sunny instead of Sun Spear.¡± From now on, you¡¯re Sunny. This name felt more intimate. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Alias: X] [Energy: 0/120] I couldn¡¯t check now due tock of energy, but I believed Sunny would perform incredibly, given that it had inherited the Sun Spear¡¯s memories. ¡°Next.¡± The rewards weren¡¯t over yet. [You have cleared the stage with an ¡®immeasurable¡¯ rating.] [You have achieved a remarkable feat.] Next was the achievement reward. Honestly, I didn¡¯t know there was an achievement system until now. Considering it wasn¡¯t known to the public, it seemed like something only a few rankers knew about. [Receiving rewards!] [Congrattions!] [You have acquired the item ¡®Golden Random Box¡¯ (S-rank).] ¡°A random box?¡± My eyes widened. Not only that a random box was an unfamiliar item, but¡­ Is it S-rank? An S-rank item had appeared. These rare items had meager drop rates, making it difficult to acquire even for rankers. ¡°This is insane.¡± Regardless of its functionality, its rank alone made it incredibly valuable. It was of celestial worth. ¡°Ahhh¡­¡± I was overwhelmed with emotion. I had barely scraped by for three years as a mercenary E-rank hunter. I had never acquired a decent item. I used to drool over C-rank items in shops or auctions just a few days ago. ¡°Yet I just got an S-rank item.¡± Tears welled up. [Item: Golden Random Box] [Rank: S] [Type: Box] [Description: Contains a precious treasure.] [Effect 1: Obtain an S-rank item upon opening.] ¡ªThump, thump, thump. My heart raced. I could confidently say my heart hadn¡¯t raced this much even when receiving Sunny¡¯s spear attacks. Should I open it now? My hands trembled. I considered myself fortunate that Gi Soyul wasn¡¯t around. It wasn¡¯t that I didn¡¯t trust her, but¡­ when it came to an S-rank item, I would agree with her decision to assassinate me. Frankly, such an item could spark guild-level conflicts. ¡ªTunk! When I tapped the floating box, a message appeared. [Do you want to open the ¡®Golden Random Box¡¯ (S-rank)?] ¡°¡­O-Open,¡± I murmured with a trembling voice. I prayed to the heavens. Please. Please, give me something valuable. Or something useful to me. Honestly, I¡¯m okay with anything. Selling it would be great, but using it for myself would also be great. If I sold it, I¡¯d no longer need to worry about money. And if I used it, I¡¯d have a usable item until I became a ranker. ¡ªVwoom! The box¡¯s wrappings started automatically unfolding as golden light seeped through the cracks. ¡ªThump! Thump! Thump! [Opening the ¡®Golden Random Box¡¯ (S-rank)!] [Wishing you luck!] Finally, the box was fully opened, and golden light shot into the sky. ____ Chapter 28 Chapter 28: Reward Time ¡ªVwoom! As the light faded, a resplendent staff floated before me. [Congrattions!] [You have acquired an S-rank item!] A staff¡­? My heart raced. Honestly, I didn¡¯t really have a primary weapon. Initially, necromancers used staffs as their primary weapons. However, after the old man taught me ¡®All Techniques,¡¯ I could use various weapons such as swords, spears, bows, shields, and staffs because I had to master them all. I feel like a jack-of-all-trades. Indeed, ¡®All Techniques¡¯ essentially meant being a jack-of-all-trades. And at the pinnacle stood the old man. Anyway. Since it was a staff, there was a high chance I could use it as necromancers typically did. Well, not bad. It was better than selling it. An S-rank weapon could change a hunter¡¯s life, and getting an S-rank weapon that suited you was as tricky as catching a falling star. I reached out and grabbed the staff, and the information appeared. [Item: Staff of the Fire Dragon] [Rank: S] [Type: Staff] [Description: A magical staff imbued with the power of the legendary Red Dragon.] [Effect 1: Increases energy by 100.] [Effect 2: Reduces skill cooldowns by 20%.] [Effect 3: Increases fire-attribute skill power by 100%.] ¡°Oh.¡± I quickly read the description. Its effects were simple, but the content was anything but. First off, my energy increased by 100. A regr hunter¡¯s base energy was around 100, so my energy was now doubled. Energy was a hunter¡¯s lifeline. The more, the better. But more than that. Its third effect caught my eye the most. This is totally for mages. Specifically, fire attribute mages. A 100% increase in fire-attribute skill power meant the caster¡¯s firepower doubled. It might seem unimpressive for an S-rank item. But I didn¡¯t think so. At one nce, I could tell this item became more broken the stronger its user became. For example, using a low-level Fireball would result in two Fireballs. But what if it was a skill used by a ranker, such as Hellfire or Meteor Strike? That¡¯d be insane. Such overpowered skills usually had long cooldowns. Some could be used once a day, others once a week. This effect practically allows the caster to use such skills one more time with zero energy. Fire-attribute rankers would die to get their hands on this. It¡¯s pretty good. Though it¡¯s not an effect I can use directly, it would fetch a high price if sold. But how much should I sell it for? I took out my smartphone and opened the Hunter Board app. It was thergest huntermunity in the country, providing real-time information. [Wee to the ¡®Hunter Board.¡¯] [¡®E-rank Mercenary epting Requests¡¯ (Lv.8) logged in.] I hummed and quickly wrote a post on the ¡®Free Board¡¯ where most users gathered. ¨C I got an S-rank staff and need an appraisal. ¨C Energy +100, skill cooldown -20%, and fire skill enhancement +100%. Despite the brief description, manymented. > Yeah, right. > Lol, looks unimpressive. Try a more convincing bait. > Look at his ID. E-rank mercenary? How could an E-rank mercenary get an S-rank item? > True. It¡¯s the same old bait. > Ignore the troll. ¡°These bastards.¡± But it was understandable because I wouldn¡¯t have believed it either. I had to re-upload. ¡°Show item info,¡± I shouted as I touched the staff. [Visualizing information for ¡®Staff of the Fire Dragon¡¯ (S-rank).] [Item: Staff of the Fire Dragon] [Rank: S] [Type: Staff] [Description: A magical staff imbued with the power of the legendary Red Dragon.] [Effect 1: Increases energy by 100.] [Effect 2: Reduces skill cooldowns by 20%.] [Effect 3: Increases fire attribute skill power by 100%.] The information visible only to me before now floated in the air. This was an effect of the system, which allowed you to make an item¡¯s information visible by saying ¡°Show item info¡± out loud. ¨C Reuploading with video proof. ¨C Here¡¯s the item info. ¨C I filmed it to avoid doubts about editing. I re-uploaded it with a video this time. A few minutester, the board was on fire. > Seriously? > Whoa, it was legit? > This looks friggin¡¯ real. Unless someone¡¯s a top-notch video editor, it¡¯s the real thing. > Hello, I¡¯m a CG expert. There is no way current tech can edit this precisely. It¡¯s real. > Wow, S-rank in real life. > But what¡¯s with the unimpressive stats? > Do you even know how to evaluate items? This is a jackpot. The small post quickly became a hot topic and reached the top posts. And it wasn¡¯t just the board buzzing; the journalists hunting for hunter-rted scoops couldn¡¯t miss this. [A mysterious S-rank item makes an appearance on the Hunter Board!] [S-rank ¡®Staff of the Fire Dragon¡¯ appears! Will fire-attribute rankers gather for this?] [A-rank hunter Lee Sohye the Flickering me from the Parang Guild evaluates: ¡°An attractive weapon for fire attribute hunters.¡±] [The poster¡¯s info is still hidden.] ¡°Uh, what?¡± This isn¡¯t good. I was too short-sighted. I underestimated the response as I didn¡¯t expect it to blow up this much. Fortunately, the Hunter Board, which was run by a private corporation, didn¡¯t disclose member information. The board¡¯s trust in security had attracted many hunters. The board handled info-sensitive rankers and S-rank hunters while also respecting low-rank hunters¡¯ data. However. [You have a new message.] [You have a new message.] [You have a new message.] ¡­ ¡ªDing! Ding! Ding! My phone kept ringing with message notifications since I couldn¡¯t hide my ID information. I quickly deleted the post before things escted. Figuring out the price for this item wasn¡¯t the important thing anymore. I wasn¡¯t ready to draw mass attention yet. Wait. Not only that, but I also realized I didn¡¯t need to sell it. Boney 5 was a mage with the Fireball skill, so I considered giving it the item because the staff¡¯s third effect would be wasted if I used it. But first. I wondered if skeletons could equip items because I¡¯d never tried before. Barely scraping by, I couldn¡¯t even afford good gear for myself, let alone my skeletons. ¡°¡­¡± [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Energy: 10/120] My energy had recharged to 10. Let¡¯s check it out. [Using skill ¡®Summon Awakened Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank).] [Consuming 10 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Bonehead 5.¡¯] I summoned Boney 5 with the remaining energy. ¡ªCreak! It appeared, wielding a bone staff. ¡°Boney 5.¡± ¡ªCreak? It tilted its head. I handed over the gleaming S-rank staff. ¡ªCreak! And it took it eagerly. [¡®Boneyhead 5¡¯ equipped ¡®Staff of the Fire Dragon.¡¯] ¡°Wow, it works?¡± I was stunned. This was huge. Necromancers¡¯ undead servants typically couldn¡¯t equip items. With an already broken ss, allowing this would be overpowered. Imagine an undead army equipped with S-rank items. ¡°Wow¡­¡± I was amazed. Wait, then I¡¯d need more than ten items for my undead. ¡°No, not just ten.¡± With essories, clothes, and weapons, there were so many ways to get stronger. ¡°¡­¡± And now, I was in conflict. Should I sell my first S-rank item or give it to Boney 5? Honestly, this was the most challenging decision for me to make. Boney 5 ttered its teeth, hugging the staff. Was it refusing to let go? ¡°No, that thing¡¯s very expensive. Give it back.¡± I reached out, but it dodged my hand. ¡°Hey!¡± ¡ªCreak. It drooped, looking pitiful, like it would whine if it had a mouth. ¡°Haah,¡± I exhaled softly. ¡°Yeah, at least you can use it.¡± Though I was living on a tight budget, it wasn¡¯t that urgent. I could now handle D-rank or C-rank dungeons without much trouble. I could definitely cover my living expenses. ¡°Fine, you can keep it.¡± ¡ªck, ck, ck! It ttered its teeth rapidly. I felt extorted, but it was the right choice. If Boney 5 grew stronger or underwent a true awakening like Sunny¡­ I might have to search for S-rank items in that case. [You have a new message.] [You have a new message.] ¡­ Like those people who were still messaging me. Alright, enough of this. I turned my attention back to the remaining rewards. The staff was from the achievement reward. This should be the dungeon clear reward. ¡ªRing! [Receiving rewards!] [Congrattions!] [You have acquired the item ¡®Roots of Racial Conflict¡¯ (A-rank).] [This item has a connection to your profession.] ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Job-rted? I grabbed the roots floating in the air. [Item: Roots of Racial Conflict] [Rank: A] [Type: Medium] [Description: Roots that can uncover the secrets of hidden ruins.] [Effect 1: Can unlock the dungeon ¡®Forest and Stone.¡¯] [Effect 2: Bound to the hunter ¡®Joo Donghoon.¡¯] [Effect 3: This item can only be activated for hunters C-rank and above.] ¡°Huh.¡± Another medium item. I recalled Gi Soyul¡¯s words. ¡°Mediums are also a kind of fortuitous opportunity. As you delve into them, linked quests appear. And those linked quests increase in rank, eventually reaching S-rank and above. Every medium I know has done that.¡± This was probably another profession quest, like ¡®Trace of Ancient Desert.¡¯ Honestly speaking, I felt instinctively that this would involve another one of my skeletons. What if all ten of my skeletons were absolute beings of their worlds? That¡¯d be overpowered. But why? It would be a good thing, but it was also a burden. Why was this mysterious system favoring me? ¡°¡­¡± Pondering briefly, I shook my head. There was no reason to overthink this. If an unknown transcendent wanted to help me get stronger for whatever reason, and if that reason might be to use me¡­ Then I¡¯ll use them too. My goal was to be a ranker. I didn¡¯t know if I¡¯de up with more goals afterward, but that was all I was aiming for now. Until then, whatever it took, I¡¯d follow along. ¡°That¡¯s thest reward.¡± I dismissed the status messages that filled my entire vision. I had cleared a dungeon and used up all my energy. Time to rest. Just in time, I sensed Gi Soyul approaching from afar. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll start training again. I¡¯ll work hard and do my best to grow stronger. ____ Chapter 29 Chapter 29: Shadow Lurkers (1) Skeletons, also known as boneheads, are undead creatures with nothing left but their bones. Hence, they had no eyes for vision, no cochleas for hearing, and no vocal cords to make sounds. ¡°My lord¡­¡± Yet Boney 2, no, Sunny spoke. ¡°M-My lord¡­!¡± Sunny wore an expression of deep emotion. Incredible. It was the first time I had seen a skeleton capable of showing expression. ¡°I can truly see¡­ I can see!¡± Moreover, it could see. Well, it makes sense. By that logic, a bone creature without nerves and muscles shouldn¡¯t be able to walk and fight. In truth, this damn ¡®hunter¡¯ profession in itself was a fantasy that made no sense. ¡°Hm.¡± I watched Sunny looking around in amazement with a satisfied expression. A child who lost their sight at birth was abandoned by humanity and erased an entire world of humans as a result. ¡°Do you like it?¡± I asked. ¡°Yes¡­ I love it. It¡¯s wonderful. Ah, so this is what soil looks like. And the weeds growing between the stones look like this¡­¡± Sunny brushed the ground with trembling hands, slowly caressing the soil, enjoying the sensation. In a way, it was a noble scene. I wonder what that feels like. One thing is sure: I couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine the emotions involved. Anyway. My summoned creature¡¯s ability to speak was a huge advantage. This meant that we couldmunicate more urately in future battles. ¡°This is amazing,¡± Gi Soyul also remarked, watching from the side. ¡°A talking skeleton¡­ If other necromancers saw this, they¡¯d be astounded.¡± ¡°Did you just say skeleton?¡± I gave her a serious look. ¡°Pardon?¡± Gi Soyul tilted her head. ¡°Please call it Sunny. They¡¯re my precious baby.¡± ¡°Oh, I see¡­¡± She looked at me as if I were a strange person, but she seemed to respect it nheless. She nodded without saying much. However, my feelings were genuine. I considered these creatures not as mere expendables but as family. Over thest three years, I¡¯ve grown very attached to them. ¡°By the way, Empress.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay for you to stay here?¡± Honestly, I was surprised. She returned after exactly six hours and resumed her bodyguard duties. Although it was my request, it would be a lie to say it wasn¡¯t burdensome. At the time, I thought the Shadow Lurkers would cause trouble immediately. Perhaps because they feared Gi Soyul, there was no trace of them. She says she¡¯s here to watch my training, but¡­ It didn¡¯t particrly seem to be of use to her. It is said that all skills converge at their absolute peak. Gi Soyul closely watched the movements of the skeletons in every training session. She seemed to be trying to feel out the old man¡¯s essence from within them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Gi Soyul shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll leave when the timees.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s a bit sad.¡± Seeing how I was saying such things to a ranker, I must have befortable with her. ¡°Hmm, I thought the condition you put out was to protect you until you improved enough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Now that I thought about it, I didn¡¯t specify the exact level of growth. ¡°For your information, it¡¯s until A-rank.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Once you reach A-rank, you should be able to protect yourself. It should also be easy to join any major guild. At your current growth rate, it won¡¯t take long.¡± ¡°Really?¡± That couldn¡¯t be. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Alias: X] [Unique Authority: Cursed Necromancer] [Rank: D] I was still D-rank and didn¡¯t even have an alias. What made her im that I could reach A-rank soon? ¡°Honestly, I still can¡¯t believe it. When I first met you as a porter, they were five D-rank skele¡­¡± Gi Soyul quickly corrected her words, almost saying ¡®skeletons.¡¯ ¡°I mean, just looking at Sunny, it¡¯s nearly B-rank. And you, too, seem to be improving every day.¡± ¡°I see.¡± I admit it. My progress has been rtively rapid. But there¡¯s something she doesn¡¯t know about. ¡°Sunny.¡± The fact that this creature, the Sun Spear, once ruled a world as an absolute entity¡ªthe unrivaled top predator of the ancient desert empire. When it regains its true power, she¡¯ll be shocked. ¡°Sunny?¡± ¡°Yes, my lord. Did you call?¡± Sunny, who was mindlessly touching the soil, stood up. Then it knelt before me with a determined expression. ¡°You have given me a new life. I will repay you with my utmost loyalty.¡± ¡°Alright. By the way.¡± I smiled at his sincere words. ¡°You don¡¯t need separate training guidance, do you?¡± [Name: Sun Spear] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Spearman] [Rank: D] [Strength: 35] [Dexterity: 35] [Constitution: 32] [Magic Power: 26] [Technique: 33] [Skills] ¨C Low-Level Stab (Lv.9) ¨C Sr Strike (Lv.1) ¨C Raging Desert (Lv.1) ¨C Soulre (Lv.1) Its rank was still D. The true awakening was just the soul of Sunny superimposed on the skeleton¡¯s body. It didn¡¯t seem to signify a rank increase. In other words, more training was needed to upgrade its rank. ¡°That¡¯s right, my lord. I can hone my spear skills by myself.¡± Of course. Even the old man recognized its spear skills. ¡°Although it¡¯s still an unadapted, frail body, I will soon regain my original strength to aid you.¡± ¡°Alright then, you can train by yourself.¡± ¡°I shall obey yourmand.¡± It went to a corner and started swinging its bone spear. We had already finished training with the old man in the morning. By the way, when will my rank increase? I knew there was undoubtedly a way to upgrade from D-rank to C-rank. How could I be so sure, one might ask? Because the root tells me. It was mentioned in the third effect of the medium I obtained, ¡®Root of Racial Conflict.¡¯ [Effect 3: This item can only be activated for hunters C-rank and above.] It said to achieve a C-rank ande back. A medium was a bound item that allowed you toplete S-rank quests. The fact that a bound item had such a condition proved that my limit didn¡¯t end at D-rank. Alright, my next goal is C-rank. Motivation burned in my chest. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡ªCreak! After finishing light training, I returned home. The room was reasonably tidy because I had let Gi Soyul stay since yesterday. No matter how shameless I might be, I didn¡¯t want to leave my bodyguard, who protected me under the guise of a ¡®promise,¡¯ sleeping outside on the rooftop. Ah, the spirit of Korean hospitality. But just in case she misunderstood, I set up a curtain to create a boundary. ¡°See this? I¡¯ll never cross this line, so don¡¯t worry.¡± At first, Gi Soyul insisted it wasn¡¯t necessary and refused, but she had no choice but toe inside when I firmly insisted. ¡°Like yesterday, you can put your sleeping bag there.¡± I pointed to the narrow space opposite my mattress, where the desk was. Of course, the only mattress was mine as I couldn¡¯tpromise on afortable sleep. ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t have.¡± Gi Soyul sighed lightly, looking at me as if I was strange. ¡°What do you mean by that? We have to establish things clearly.¡± Sorry, but I was still a weakling in this hunter society. If her brother, Giparang, found out that I mistreated her during her time working as my bodyguard, I could be buried alive before I could even be a ranker in this world. And I¡¯m not talking metaphorically here, but quite literally buried alive. ¡°No, I mean this curtain.¡± Gi Soyul pointed to the curtain that separated us two. ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°If I wanted, I could take your head in an instant without such a thing in between us. It¡¯s pointless.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± What the hell¡¯s wrong with this woman? How did her mind process toe up with that conclusion? It¡¯s like she¡¯s always thinking about how to kill someone. Actually, she probably is; she¡¯s an assassin, after all. ¡°Here, have some cup noodles. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯ll suit your taste, but¡­¡± I handed her a cup of cheap noodles with hot water. She silently epted it. About two minutester¡­ ¡ªBang! Bang! Bang! ¡°E-Excuse me!¡± Someone knocked on the door urgently with a loud voice. It was a young woman¡¯s voice. But I had no clue who it might be. I had no one who would visit. I instinctively turned to look at Gi Soyul¡¯s face. ¡°¡­¡± She shook her head, which meant she didn¡¯t know either. Judging by herck of reaction, it didn¡¯t seem to be the Shadow Lurkers. If it were a high-rank hunter, she would have sensed it already. ¡°Haah.¡± The noodles were going to get soggy. I sighed and opened the door. ¡ªThunk! ¡°Who are you?¡± A mysterious young woman stood there¡ªa youthful face in a school uniform, she looked like a student. Is she a resident? I¡¯d never seen her before. Oh, before that. I quickly looked back. Gi Soyul was a ranker¡ªa figure receiving immense public interest due to her remarkable beauty, making her more famous than celebrities. Damn, if anyone finds out she¡¯s with me, it¡¯ll be a disaster. If rumors spread, it¡¯d be terrible. [Breaking news! Dark Empress Gi Soyul was caught in a scandal! Spending a night with a man?] [Global attention is paid to Gi Soyul¡¯s dating rumors! Who is the man?] If such articles appeared¡­ Yikes. Even imagining it gave me chills. Gi Soyul would kill me before Giparang did. ¡°¡­¡± Fortunately, Gi Soyul had already vanished. To disappear instantly in this tiny studio, she was indeed the queen of assassins. ¡°Oh, please excuse me! Are you Joo Donghoon?¡± ¡°Huh? Do you know me?¡± I asked, confused. How did she know me? ¡°So you are, right? Please, something terrible has happened!¡± ¡°Something terrible?¡± ¡°Please save my brother. Please,¡± she sobbed. The frantic schoolgirl burst into tears as if they were exploding out from holding them in until now. ¡°¡­?¡± I stepped back slightly. Gi Soyul, hiding her presence, gave me a faint sense of murderous intent. She seemed to have a severe misunderstanding. What did this woman think of me? ¡°Save your brother?¡± I calmed the crying schoolgirl. ¡°Kid. First, exin the situation so I can understand. How can I save your brother if I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She finally collected herself and handed me a note. She sniffled, ¡°This was left at home.¡± ¡°What is this?¡± I took it and examined it closely. ¡°This is¡­?¡± My eyes widened looking at a familiar face. The photo showed Kim Junseo, the team leader of the mercenary guild Problem Solver tied up and bleeding. On it, there was scrawled writing. [Sup?] [Do you want to save your older brother Kim Junseo?] [Then send Joo Donghoon to Seonyudo on the Han River by 8 PM tonight.] [If you report to the association, your brother will die.] [If another hunter besides Joo Donghoones, your brother will die.] [Joo Donghoon¡¯s address: ¡ö¡ö¡ö District, ¡ö¡ö¡ö Dong, 421.] ¡°¡­¡± These bastards. I instinctively knew it was the Shadow Lurkers. They had started making moves in earnest. Chapter 30 Chapter 30: Shadow Lurkers (2) ¡°I didn¡¯t expect them to be so tant.¡± ¡ªSssht! At that moment, Gi Soyul appeared out of thin air. Kim Junseo¡¯s sister, Kim Hyerin, gasped and opened her eyes wide with shock. It was an understandable reaction since the previously cramped room with only two people suddenly had another person. ¡°Wh-Who are you?¡± She was briefly flustered, and then her eyes widened further. ¡°D-Dark Empress! Gi Soyul?¡± She recognized Gi Soyul immediately. ¡°Is this for real? How is the Dark Empress here?¡± ¡°Are you alright with this?¡± I sighed inwardly as I asked. I meant to ask her if it was okay for a famous person to show up in such a shabby ce. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter when someone¡¯s been kidnapped.¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s eyes had already turned cold. ¡°It¡¯s exactly what the Shadow Lurkers would do. Since I¡¯m sticking around you, they¡¯ve resorted to such low-grade kidnapping.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± I nodded. The Shadow Lurkers¡¯s intentions were obvious. Even though they had business with me, they couldn¡¯t approach me because I was within Gi Soyul¡¯s territory, so they resorted to something like this. ¡°And besides.¡± She took out her smartphone to show me something. ¡°A text message I just received.¡± [Giparang: Sis.] [Giparang: Our reserve team was attacked in the dungeon.] [Giparang: Judging by the disgusting dog smell, it¡¯s Hellhound. Just when I was about to get off work.] [Giparang: I¡¯ll try to handle it as much as possible, so don¡¯t worry.] [Giparang: Just letting you know. If you have time, it¡¯d be a great help.] The message was from the renowned archer, Giparang. The Hellhound referred to in the message was ranked 92nd, Nick Jakan¡ªa ranker known to be the master of the Shadow Lurkers. ¡°It¡¯s perfectly timed. It seems like the Shadow Lurkers are targeting Parang as well.¡± ¡°¡­Yikes.¡± Surprisingly, they¡¯d go after the prestigious Parang guild just because of me. Is this the power of the old man? It was a moment to reflect on the value of the opportunity I had gained. ¡°¡­¡± Silence fell over the room. The tension was palpable. Kim Hyerin seemed paralyzed with fear at the thought that those who kidnapped her brother were more prominent figures than she expected, and Gi Soyul was biting her lip, looking furious. She must be worried. No matter how detached she was from the guild, she couldn¡¯t deny being part of the Parang lineage. Moreover, her brother, Giparang, was her kin. It was only natural that she¡¯d be concerned. And yet¡­ I looked at her tightly closed lips. She chose to stay here. Because she promised to protect me. She wasn¡¯t someone who took her words lightly. ¡°I guess there¡¯s no choice.¡± I spoke up first. ¡°Dark Empress, you should go to Parang.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Gi Soyul flinched. Judging by her expression, I guessed correctly. However¡­ ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± As expected, she refused firmly. Her expression was resolute. ¡°My brother is ranked 58th. He¡¯s not weak enough to be taken down by something like the Shadow Lurkers. Not to mention, there are Parang members with him. You, on the other hand, are alone. If I leave, who knows what might happen to you.¡± ¡°Well, I agree with you on that.¡± I looked at Kim Hyerin. Her eyes were trembling with anxiety. ¡°First, we need to save the kidnapped person. They¡¯re asking for me alone.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trap.¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s 100% a trap.¡± But sometimes, you must act even when you know it¡¯s a trap. With Gi Soyul protecting me, I¡¯d be rtively safe. But that could be the critical factor to the Shadow Lurkers defeating Parang. Parang¡¯s true strength is said toe out when Giparang and Gi Soyul join forces. Hellhound is already heading toward Giparang. So it wasn¡¯t the worst-case scenario. Honestly, I wasn¡¯t afraid. This seemed manageablepared to enduring the old man and the Sun Spear¡¯s trials. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean it would be easy. It¡¯s just how I feel. ¡°Fuu,¡± I took a deep breath. ¡°I remember something you once told me.¡± I turned to her and looked into her eyes. ¡°What was it?¡± ¡°Life is a journey that starts and ends with connections.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Kim Junseo, the team leader, is someone connected to me. And such a person is in trouble because of me. I can¡¯t just sit back and watch.¡± ¡°Is it out of a sense of justice? Or a sense of duty?¡± ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to be a cowardly hunter.¡± My dream is to be a ranker, one who could be an idol to all hunters. Would such a ranker retreat in the face of danger, run away out of fear, or avoid confrontation? Not a chance. ¡°I want to give back as much as I receive.¡± That was my simple principle and I didn¡¯t want to break it. The Shadow Lurkers attacked me, so I must be the one to retaliate. ¡°¡­I see.¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s expression was subtle. She seemed to be in an internal conflict, her lips twitching as if unsure of what to say. ¡°Alright.¡± Eventually she nodded slowly. Her eyes were determined as if she had made a decision. ¡°I¡¯ll quickly handle things at Parang and thene back to join you.¡± ¡°Good choice.¡± ¡°But,¡± she added, ¡°I told you I would introduce you to many connections before.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°That might happen sooner than expected.¡± ¡ªSssht. With those words, Gi Soyul vanished like smoke. What did she mean by that? Her words puzzled me, but there was no time to ponder. ¡°Hyerin, was it?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°The ce I need to go is Seonyudo, right?¡± ¡°Y-Yes! By 8 PM! There¡¯s not much time left! It will take at least 30 minutes to get there from here.¡± Let¡¯s get moving. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Finally, the time hase.¡± At Seonyudo, a recycling ecological park floating in the middle of the Han River, an assassin named Ko Jaeyoung sat cross-legged on a bench with a sinister smile. ¡°Mmph! Mmmp!¡± In front of him, the dungeon request team leader of Problem Solver, Kim Junseo, was tied up and trembling. ¡°I¡¯ve waited a whole month for this.¡± Until the master of the Shadow Lurkers, Jakan gave his permission. Ko Jaeyoung regretted his past actions. ¡°Joo Donghoon, was it?¡± His past was a disgrace, where he showed unnecessary mercy and let his prey escape. ¡°Lucky bastard. This time, I¡¯ll catch you for sure.¡± This time was different. The preparations were meticulous. Not only had Jakan himself taken action but the Shadow Lurkers also hired high-ranking hunters. Even Gi Soyul wouldn¡¯t stand with him with two rankers attacking Parang. Additionally, three A-rank hunters and ten B-rank hunters were stationed here at Seonyudo. Also, to prevent escape, hunters specialized in tracking were ced within a ten kilometer radius of Joo Donghoon¡¯s home. ¡°¡­¡± Ko Jaeyoung looked at his wristwatch with a chilling expression. [07:55 PM] ¡°It¡¯s almost time.¡± ording to the tracking hunter¡¯s report, Joo Donghoon was going to Seonyudo. They would soon meet. ¡°Everyone, get ready.¡± Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s voice over the radio was unusually eerie. * * * ¡°Hm.¡± I clicked my tongue. I had left Kim Hyerin at the association building and was now standing in front of the Seonyudo bridge. I had used up all my remaining energy to summon five skeletons. ¡ªCreak! Creak! As if understanding their master¡¯s intentions, the skeletons prepared their weapons with determined expressions. I wanted to call the elder, too. But the cooldown still had a long way to go. And I had no energy left. ¡°Sunny,¡± I called. Until now, Boney 1 had been the leader, but now Sunny was the leader. The reason was simple: it was stronger and more articte. ¡°My lord, did you call?¡± ¡°Yeah, can you sense the guys stationed around here?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Sunny swung his bone spear. Even in the night, it seemed to sh like the sun. ¡°How are they?¡± ¡°They are weak. If I had my original strength, I could handle them in less than a single breath.¡± ¡°Come on.¡± I shrugged. ¡°That was then. I¡¯m asking about now.¡± ¡°Now¡­ it might be a bit challenging, but if youmand it, I will handle them.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I was surprised to hear that. iming that those guys were so weak that Sunny could ovee such an overwhelming power difference, even though Sunny was still technically D-rank. Anyway. It was time to face them. ¡°Mmph! Mmmmp!¡± In the distance, I could hear the struggling voice of Kim Junseo. I sighed internally, he¡¯s always been a handful. ¡ªStep, step. I walked toward the group without hesitation. It felt reckless, but there was no other choice. Any dy could endanger Kim Junseo¡¯s life. And I had an idea. ¡°You¡¯vee?¡± The man wearing a bandana, Ko Jaeyoung, smiled as he saw me as if he knew I¡¯de. Did I look like someone burning with a sense of justice? ¡°Hey, hey! You actually came? You¡¯ve got guts, kid.¡± ¡°So this is the guy Master Jakan mentioned?¡± ¡°Judging from the skeletons, he must be a low-level necromancer.¡± ¡°But he got such an attractive opportunity that Master Jakan would personally attack Parang?¡± The A-rank hunters, who seemed to be his colleagues, alsomented. Indeed. They were still far beyond my ability. I felt like I was suffocating. Ko Jaeyoung, who had been watching, spoke up. ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m sure you know why I called you here, correct?¡± ¡°Not really. It was just written on the note that you¡¯d spare that man if I came.¡± I pretended to be innocent. ¡°Hmph, are you pretending not to know?¡± Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s smile deepened. A ferocious aura emanated from his hidden dagger. ¡°You¡¯re starting to make me feel bad.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Have you forgotten? We made a deal. You said you¡¯d tell me what your opportunity was if I let you fight those guys who attacked you. Have you changed your mind because you¡¯re relying on Gi Soyul?¡± He pressed his dagger against Kim Junseo¡¯s throat. ¡°Mmph! Mmmmph!¡± It sounded like, ¡°J-Joo Donghoon! Save me!¡± ¡°Alright, let me make a counter-proposal.¡± ¡ªDrip! Blood trickled from Kim Junseo¡¯s throat. ¡°Tell me exactly what your opportunity was and hand it over. Otherwise, this guy dies,¡± he threatened politely. At the same time, numerous hunters surrounded me. Some drew their weapons directly in front of me. Others disyed their intent to snipe from a distance. I sighed internally, This is nerve-wracking. All I had were five D-rank skeletons. But what can I say? My opportunity wasn¡¯t something I could give away. ¡°Alright.¡± First, let¡¯s get out of this situation. I nodded and with a hard gulp. Chapter 31 Chapter 31: Shadow Lurkers (3) ¡°I will tell you everything.¡± As I spoke resolutely, Ko Jaeyoung momentarily lowered the dagger from Kim Junseo¡¯s neck. Then he licked the blood off of it, a grotesque sight right out of a Japanese manga. ¡°Hehe, if you want to save your life, you better.¡± Wow, was this guy always like this? He seemed stuck in a middle school mentality, but I had to y along with him for now. No matter how much I had improved recently, I could not defeat three A-rank and ten B-rank hunters alone. ¡°Of course. Any one of the hunters here could easily kill someone like me. I¡¯m just grateful for the chance to stay alive.¡± ¡°Hmph, you¡¯ve always been good with words.¡± Ko Jaeyoung snorted but didn¡¯t seem displeased. I continued, ¡°The opportunity I earned is simple.¡± ¡°Alright, speak.¡± ¡°I have a master.¡± ¡°A master? Are you talking about the old man that Kang Jaeho mentioned? The one that even Gi Soyul had trouble with?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± I nodded. ¡°To be precise, he¡¯s an old man strong enough to utterly destroy the Dark Empress no matter how many times she challenges him.¡± ¡°Huh. I knew, but hearing it again is still surprising. Such a person really exists.¡± Ko Jaeyoungmented. As an assassin himself, he couldn¡¯t believe that someone like Gi Soyul, who was on a higher level than himself, was defeated so easily. The nearby Shadow Lurkers were also murmuring. ¡°A master who can overwhelm someone ranked 380th? That¡¯s certainly a significant opportunity.¡± ¡°Indeed. If what he says is true.¡± ¡°Of course, Jakan wouldn¡¯t move without reason.¡± ¡°But where is this master? Is he only visible to that guy? Then he¡¯s useless to us.¡± Someone expressed doubt, as expected. ¡°Ah, about that. The master is a spirit, so you can¡¯t see him now, but I can make him visible through a special method. Not only that, but I can also share him with all of you.¡± I licked my lips and spoke. Here¡¯s the recipe for a good lie. You mix 10% lies with 90% truth. Most people get hooked on the 90% truth and miss the 10% lie. Just like now. ¡°Is that really true?¡± ¡°You can show your master to us too? And he¡¯d teach us?¡± As the hunters murmured, I smiled. ¡°Of course. That¡¯s why the Dark Empress has stayed by my side.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I knew that woman had a scheme going on.¡± ¡°Is that why she was sticking to this rookie as if he had a treasure chest?¡± ¡°Was she getting this training all by herself?¡± Some were still skeptical, while others nodded in understanding. ¡°However, the training process is quite harsh and painful. Our master is a bit entric and uses a Spartan method. Honestly, I don¡¯t think you could endure it.¡± I shivered. It wasn¡¯t acting; it was real. My muscles were still sore from the morning massage. ¡°So,¡± Ko Jaeyoung said, ¡°can you pass it on to me right now?¡± And in his eyes, I saw greed. It can¡¯t be helped. Since that¡¯s what I was aiming for. This guy had been obsessed with my ¡®opportunity¡¯ from the beginning. He wanted to learn and obtain it. But now, he had to be cautious. Because Jakan, the leader of the Shadow Lurkers, had directly intervened! The priority for the spoils would go to Jakan, his superior! Therefore¡­ I lied about being able to pass my opportunity to everyone. So he wouldn¡¯t have to go to Jakan first; he could covet it himself without sharing. But why lie like this? one might ask. ¡°Of course. I can pass it on right now. But the preparation takes about 30 minutes.¡± So I could buy time. In fact, the situation was like this. After Gi Soyul left¡­ ¡ªBzzz! Several messages arrived with a vibration from my phone. [Gi Soyul: Donghoon.] [Gi Soyul: Don¡¯t try to fight alone recklessly.] [Gi Soyul: Remember the connections I mentioned before? It feels a bit early, but if it¡¯s at my request, they¡¯ll definitelye.] [Gi Soyul: Just hold out for 30 minutes. No more, no less.] So I was buying time, waiting for Gi Soyul¡¯s connections. Even if they don¡¯te, it¡¯s fine. It was my choice toe here. Even if I lost, I wouldn¡¯t run away. And I even have Sunny by my side. They said they would do their best to handle them if Imanded. Though my subordinate, they were once an absolute being who ughtered every human in the world. They wouldn¡¯t be an easy opponent for them. ¡°Then shall we start with you?¡± The ball was now in y¡ªthe ball of greed, whether true or false, one couldn¡¯t know. To catch it or not is your choice. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * Time passed. ¡°Hmm.¡± Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s facial muscles twitched. He¡¯s been mumbling something, but something feels off. The guy who had promised to pass on his opportunity had been chanting for over 30 minutes. He¡¯d asked for more time because it wasn¡¯t going well, but something felt off. The other hunters also seemed bored, frowning. Come to think of it, this is exactly how it wentst time. Though the situation was different, the structure was the same. He cleverly bought time, and Gi Soyul showed up, so he had to run. There was no guarantee that wouldn¡¯t happen again. And his rxed expression, too. Joo Donghoon was certainly not an ordinary person. How could a mere E-rank hunter not be intimidated by a group of high-ranking hunters? He must have something up his sleeve. Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s face twisted as he thought. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Joo Donghoon, who was chanting, looked up as if annoyed. His behavior was quite insolent. ¡°How long does it take? My patience has limits.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but please wait a bit longer. If you keep interrupting, I might lose focus. Then we¡¯ll have to start over.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Or could it be¡­¡± he added, ¡°that you¡¯re scared? If so, you can back out.¡± A vein bulged on Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s forehead. Is this kid out of his mind? He seemed to know the value of his ¡®opportunity,¡¯ so he was acting like this. So then there was no other option. Ko Jaeyoung skillfully twirled the dagger in his hand, returning it to Kim Junseo¡¯s throat. ¡°Mmph! Mmmph!¡± ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± As expected, he reacted. ¡°You said 30 minutes. You broke your promise first, so I¡¯ll take this guy¡¯s life,¡± Ko Jaeyoung replied in a cold voice. At the same time, he looked at the surrounding hunters, asking if they agreed with his actions. ¡°Kehaha, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Yeah, as long as that guy is alive, it¡¯s fine, right?¡± ¡°I agree. Kill him. We¡¯ve been too nice, very unlike ourselves.¡± The Shadow Lurkers agreed with sinister smiles. ¡°Haah, I hope you don¡¯t resent me for this.¡± Ko Jaeyoung tightened his grip. ¡°You brought this on yourself.¡± And just as he was about to slit Kim Junseo¡¯s throat, an enormous pain suddenly shot through his hand. What? Where did thate from? Grabbing his throbbing hand, he stepped back. ¡ªsh! A long spear was flying right toward his face. Huh? What is this quick and precise attack? Though the power was weak, the speed and uracy were so deadly that any mistake could lead to serious injury. ¡°¡­¡± Ultimately, Ko Jaeyoung gritted his teeth and let go of Kim Junseo. And what had attacked him was a skeleton holding a weak-looking bone spear. Ko Jaeyoung couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. ¡°A mere skeleton made that attack?¡± Its spear technique was amazing. It was like the manifestation of the Spear King, Ranked 10th from China. The aura of the skeleton was formidable. ¡°Ha.¡± Joo Donghoon¡¯s previously rxed expression changed. ¡°I thought I could buy more time, but it¡¯s a pity.¡± His voice was different as if he were apletely different person. Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s rage surged to his head as he realized he had been deceived. ¡°You damned bastard! You¡¯re overstepping your bounds!¡± Ko Jaeyoung spat out. ¡°You dare to mock me? Did you think you could ovee this situation with just a single intriguing skeleton?¡± It was absurd. Though momentarily surprised, that was all. He was A-rank. No matter how well a four year old boxed, they couldn¡¯t fight a twenty year old. There was a fundamental difference in power between the skeleton and him. ¡°Kill the hostage and capture that bastard! Make him pay for deceiving us!¡± he shouted to the hunters. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± ¡°No, he said to capture him!¡± The hunters rushed at Joo Donghoon. They unleashed their skills at the five skeletons with precision, forming a formation. Each attack would be a B-rank or higher attack. ¡°¡­¡± However, while watching the attacks, Joo Donghoon¡¯s eyes were cold and frosty. ¡°Sunny.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡°It will be a tough fight, but I¡¯m leaving this to you.¡± Sunny¡¯s spear danced brilliantly. Sunlight shed across the dark night sky. [Using skill: Sr Strike] A hot wind swirled around. Sunny¡¯s attack momentarily took the hunters aback. What is this? An eerie technique. I need to avoid it for now. One by one, feeling a sense of dread, they stepped back. They all retreated with selfish andcent thoughts. This was happening due to a mere E-rank hunter¡¯s skill. It wasughable how all the higher-ranked hunters retreated. Exasperated, Ko Jaeyoung yelled in frustration, ¡°You fools! It¡¯s just a shy technique. What are you doing?¡± Even though Shadow Lurkers was a criminal group, they were very selfish. Watching the pathetic hunters, Ko Jaeyoung finally decided to act himself. I¡¯ll take care of him. ¡ªSwish! He stealthily hid within the shadows. An assassin¡¯s stats are even more effective in the dark night. I am an assassin destined to be a ranker. He had sworn to discover why Gi Soyul was attached to that man. ¡ªVwoom! Ko Jaeyoung erased his murderous intent from the dagger. The essence of assassination is to kill the opponent without them knowing why they died. First, I¡¯ll take the neck of that skeleton holding the spear. Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s dagger gracefully approached the back of Sunny¡¯s neck. ¡ªRumble! Suddenly, the ground shook. No, it felt like the ind itself was trembling. ¡°Huh?¡± Feeling a chill up his spine, Ko Jaeyoung instinctively halted his attack. He held his breath and simultaneously lowered his stance. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Wh-What is this?¡± ¡°What kind of energy is this¡­?¡± The other hunters who were about to attack Joo Donghoon also felt this enormous force¡ªan unknown energy dominated the space. Everyone¡¯s gaze naturally turned to where the energy was emanating from. ¡°.¡­¡± And there stood a man with rippling upper body muscles. Seeing him suddenly appear, it seemed as if he had fallen from the sky like a meteor. ¡°Ah, am I toote?¡± The man spoke in a very rxed tone. Cold sweat dripped down Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s forehead. It was inevitable because no one in the world didn¡¯t know that man¡¯s name. ¡°Why is Jang Daewoong here¡­¡± Jang Daewoong the Berserker¡ªranked 20th in the world. This was the appearance of the world¡¯s most famous madman. Chapter 32 Chapter 32: A Small Gift In South Korea, a world-renowned hunter powerhouse, there are a total of 37 rankers, and 20 of them are in Seoul. And among those 20 hunters in Seoul, if we pick the rtively young rankers, we get: Rank 20 ¨C Jang Daewoong, the Berserker. Rank 58 ¨C Giparang, the Fine Bow. Rank 380 ¨C Gi Soyul, the Dark Empress. Rank 510 ¨C Lee Sunah, the ck Sword. Rank 830 ¨C Yoo Sangdon, the White Swine. These are the ones who stand out. These young individuals in their twenties are the rising stars who would lead South Korea as a hunter powerhouse in the future. Inte enthusiasts call them the five stars shining in the sky of Seoul and refer to them as the ¡°Five Stars of Seoul.¡± * * * ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªGulp. I swallowed my saliva. Jang Daewoong¡­ As someone who dreams of bing a ranker, how could I not know him? I stared nkly at the monster that had fallen from the sky. He was ranked 20th globally, 2nd in South Korea, and the eldest of the Five Stars of Seoul. He was the man who was known to crush an entire mountain with a single punch. I never expected the acquaintance Gi Soyul mentioned to be such a big shot. I was inwardly impressed. Well, Gi Soyul was a big shot, too, wasn¡¯t she? [08:31:01 PM] ¡°Just one minutete, but luckily not toote.¡± The corner of Jang Daewoong¡¯s mouth raised slightly. ¡°Except for the men here, are all of you Firedog¡¯sckeys? Ah, by the way, Firedog is my nickname for Hellhound. Gahaha.¡± He clenched his fist and stood up,ughing heartily. But no oneughed along with him. ¡°Haah¡­¡± ¡°Oh, uh¡­¡± All the hunters of the Shadow Lurkers were sweating and looking around nervously. Some tried to sneak away, but they couldn¡¯t. Everyone in this ce was overwhelmed by the Berserker¡¯s immense power. Even though it was just one person¡¯s appearance, it was like a giant Siberian tiger appearing before dozens of sheep. The presence of the Berserker was making everyone¡¯s hearts tremble. ¡°B-Berserker, sir.¡± At that moment, assassin Ko Jaeyoung cautiously stepped forward. ¡°Did you call for me?¡± Jang Daewoong stared at Ko Jaeyoung. ¡°Y-Yes, I did. Excuse me, but may I ask what brings you here?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not excused.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± Jang Daewoong¡¯s aura grew stronger. Just his gazepletely crushed Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s spirit. Even so, Ko Jaeyoung didn¡¯t give up. Or more precisely, he couldn¡¯t give up because that would mean his inevitable death. ¡°Th-This is a private matter involving us Shadow Lurkers, Parang, and that man over there, Joo Donghoon¡­ N-Not that I¡¯m trying to offend you, sir, but wouldn¡¯t it be better not to make an enemy of the Shadow Lurkers?¡± ¡°Hmm, interesting words.¡± Jang Daewoong smirked. ¡°So, you im that I shouldn¡¯t make an enemy of the Shadow Lurkers?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ko Jaeyoung flinched, looking troubled. ¡°Hahaha, that¡¯s beyond my imagination! Unfortunately, I thought the opposite: that the Shadow Lurkers should do everything to avoid making an enemy of me. It seems like we had a misunderstanding!¡± Jang Daewoong burst intoughter. Damn it. Ko Jaeyoung gritted his teeth. The Berserker wasn¡¯t wrong. The leader of the Shadow Lurkers, Hellhound, was ranked 92nd, while the man in front of him was ranked 20th. There was an unimaginable gap in their skill levels. Making an enemy would be a 100% loss for the Shadow Lurkers. ¡°Buddy, first off, there¡¯s a huge error in your words. The moment Firedog attacked Giparang without fear, this ceased to be a private matter.¡± ¡°N-No way. Did you make an alliance with Parang?¡± Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s eyes widened. Oh? I was also surprised because the Five Stars of Seoul was just an unofficial name enthusiasts gave. There had never been any indication that they were close. ¡°And second. I very much dislike Firedog and especially the Shadow Lurkers. I actually hate them. Hahaha,¡± Jang Daewoong continued speaking. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re like mosquitoes living off the blood of the weak¡ªthe scourge of society. Not manly at all.¡± Jang Daewoong clenched his fist tightly and raised it. ¡ªWhoosh! Whoosh! An immense amount of energy began to gather around his fist. ¡°And third. Do you really think I¡¯m the only one who came here?¡± A meaningful question from Jang Daewoong. As if to answer that question, another person fell from the sky¡ªa woman with ck hair and a long rapier. ¡°Wow, as expected of the Berserker, such amazing speed! I ran here as fast as possible, but I¡¯m just now arriving!¡± It was Lee Sunah the ck Sword, ranked 510th in the world, arriving with a bright smile on her face. And soon after, another figure descended. ¡ªThud! The heavy sound shook the world. ¡°Hey guys, I ran over here as soon as I got the call. I¡¯m sure the Gi siblings are more than enough to deal with Hellhound. And I¡¯m curious about the person Soyul wanted to introduce. For her to introduce someone first? That¡¯s truly unprecedented, isn¡¯t it?¡± Even Yoo Sangdon, a fat man with the alias of the White Swine and ranked 830th in the world ranking, arrived. Wow. I was amazed. Three of the Five Stars of Seoul had gathered at once at a single call from Gi Soyul. Each one could be considered an unbnced national power. And they¡¯re all household names¡­ They were people you would typically only see in the media. Rankers were the pride of South Korea and were respected by all hunters worldwide. Such people were moving vividly right before my eyes. It was only then that I realized what Gi Soyul had meant. ¡°I can introduce you to many valuable connections. Ones that can directly change your life.¡± Those connections were evidently the people right in front of me. ¡°Hahaha, it¡¯s been a while, everyone!¡± ¡ªFwoom! The energy gathering around the Berserker¡¯s fist continued to amplify. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, so we should catch up. But before that, we should clear out the insects in front of us. Won¡¯t they feel left out otherwise? Haha.¡± ¡°As expected, Berserker! So straightforward!¡± ¡°Hey, hey! Jang Daewoong! You¡¯re not nning to handle it all alone, are you? Leave some for me.¡± The rankers leisurely conversed with each other. ¡°¡­¡± I envied them, watching them talk so casually about the entirety of the Shadow Lurkers. It meant that they were so strong the guild wasn¡¯t even on their radar. ¡°D-Damn it!¡± Ko Jaeyoung shouted in frustration. With three rankers appearing, they had only one option left: struggle. ¡°Everyone, give it your all! There¡¯s ten of us! Focus your attacks on just one of them!¡± Just like Jang Daewoong said, they had no choice but to struggle like insects. However¡­ ¡°Y-You¡¯re telling me to fight?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do it!¡± ¡°This wasn¡¯t part of the n!¡± From a criminal organization whose only goal was individual gain, to expect proper coordination was difficult. The hunters started scattering like frightened rats. ¡°¡­¡± This was aplete reversal of the situation. I watched the scene bitterly and approached Kim Junseo, the guy who¡¯d been causing troubletely. As I untied his bindings, I watched the rankers fight. Or should I call it a massacre? * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡ªScreech! The ground split, forming a crater from the Berserker¡¯s punch. ¡ªFwoom! The ripping strike flew through the air, hitting the backs of the fleeing hunters. ¡ªCrush! It was truly a blow of annihtion. The hunters who took the hit were torn apart, leaving no bodies behind. The only thing left was the red blood staining the chaotic ground. Wh-What the¡­ Ko Jaeyoung trembled. They all vanished just from one punch? This was the power of rank 20th in the world. He was terrified, like prey caught in a trap; his entire body froze. In his eyes, Lee Sunah swinging her ck Sword and Jang Daewoong constantlyughing while smashing his opponents looked like ferocious grim reapers. Damn it. Where did it all go wrong? Was it the great desire to covet Gi Soyul¡¯s position? One thing was certain: these rankers dealt with the ones trying to flee first. The chance of survival was 99% death. But for the 1%, Ko Jaeyoung gave up escaping and thought quickly. I have to avoid them first. He hid in a nearby shadow. There¡¯s a saying that even if you¡¯re in a tiger¡¯s den, you can survive by keeping your calm. In the shadow, Ko Jaeyoung quickly used one of his skills. [Using skill ¡®Corpse Creation¡¯ (B-rank).] It was his survival technique, corpse camouge. A corpse identical to Ko Jaeyoung appeared in front of him. It was a fresh corpse that looked like it had just died. Hehe. Even a ranker wouldn¡¯t see through this trick¡­ It was then that Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡ªPoke, poke. Someone was poking his back with the end of a stick. ¡°Human.¡± Surprisingly, the one poking him was a skeleton¡ªJoo Donghoon¡¯s so-called ¡°Sunny.¡± ¡°What are you doing hiding there?¡± Amazingly, the skeleton spoke. ¡°H-How did you find me?¡± Ko Jaeyoung was flustered. ¡°Do you think such a trick would work on me, who has lived without eyes for an entire lifetime?¡± Tricks were meaningless to the Sun Spear as the concept of vision was just an amusing novelty. ¡ªsh! Sunny¡¯s spear glowed. The shining light instantly eradicated the shadow Ko Jaeyoung was hiding in. Naturally, it drew the attention of the rankers nearby. ¡°F-Fuck!¡± Ko Jaeyoung cursed and gathered his energy. It hade to this: do or die. He thought he should at least take Joo Donghoon with him, even if he died. ¡°Die!¡± ¡ªThunk! Just as he was about to step forward and thrust his dagger into Joo Donghoon¡¯s throat¡­ ¡ªThud! ¡°Ugh, argh!¡± Something struck his chest, making it impossible to move forward. Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s gaze slowly dropped down. There, he saw a bone spear savagely embedded in his chest. ¡ªGush! Blood gushed from his mouth. ¡°Howughable, human. Did you really think you could pass me and reach my lord?¡± ¡°Urgh¡­ Guh!¡± ¡°You exude the same filthy feeling as the humans from my world.¡± The Sun Spear slowly turned his embedded spear, as if knowing exactly how to maximize a human¡¯s pain. ¡°I-I was killed by a mere skeleton¡­?¡± Coughing blood, Ko Jaeyoung shook his head. He couldn¡¯t believe that his life while aspiring to be a ranker would end so miserably. The cold skull face approached Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s. ¡°Seeing your eyes, I can tell exactly what you¡¯re thinking.¡± Sun Spear¡¯s voice was chilling. ¡°Do you think your life is over?¡± ¡°Urgh, urgh. Ugh!¡± Ko Jaeyoung lowered his head, clenching his jaw shut. There was no more anger or any emotion left on his face¡ªonly resignation. The pain kept growing, making him want to give up on life. ¡°I thought so too. But there¡¯s definitely an afterlife. I¡¯m the proof of that. Look at me. The dead me is now living in reality.¡± ¡°Ugh, what?¡± There¡¯s an afterlife? Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s eyes shook. ¡°You¡¯ll pay for your sins even after death.¡± ¡°W-Wait¡­ Please spare me. I¡¯ll atone for my sins while I¡¯m alive! While I¡¯m alive! Please!¡± Ko Jaeyoung desperately begged for his life. ¡ªGush! However, the Sun Spear mercilessly pulled out his weapon. ¡ªSwoosh! It gracefully spun its spear and instantly pierced Ko Jaeyoung¡¯s neck. His trembling body soon went limp. ¡°¡­¡± This was the final moment of the criminal who had used any means to achieve his goals. In Seonyudo, all the hunters from the Shadow Lurkers perished without leaving a corpse. ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªStep, step. I looked down bitterly at the dead Ko Jaeyoung. In fact, I had given the order for everything Sunny had done and said. ¡°Farewell. Don¡¯t feel too wronged; you¡¯re just getting back what you gave.¡± Making him tremble with fear before meeting his end, that was the small gift I had prepared for him. A small giftpared to the deeds he had done. Chapter 33 Chapter 33: The Five Stars of Seoul In the meantime¡­ ¡°Gehehe.¡± The leader of the Shadow Lurkers, Nick Jakan,ughed in a low tone. ¡°As expected of the Fine Bow. It¡¯s not easy.¡± Dozens of blue balls of hellfire were swirling around him. Each one had incredible firepower, equivalent to his S-rank skill. ¡°So you have also reached the level of a monster.¡± Not all rankers were the same. If all those within the top 1,000 were called rankers, those within the top 100 weremonly referred to as ¡®monsters¡¯ instead of ¡®humans.¡¯ They were individuals who were akin to natural disasters. ¡°¡­¡± The Fine Bow, Giparang, silently stared at Nick Jakan. As he pulled the bowstring, his expression did not significantly change. Then Giparang¡¯s lips parted. ¡°Hellhound.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Did you think you could challenge Parang just by bringing along the Diamond?¡± The Diamond, Favreau¡ªa ranker from Canada and an S-rank mercenary ranked 301st in the world. ¡°Pfft, you¡¯re right. What an idiot. I called him in because he¡¯s a tank ranked 301st, but he can¡¯t even handle the Dark Empress. Tsk.¡± Jakan nced to the side with an annoyed expression. ¡ªSwish! Swish! There, the speedy Gi Soyul and the sturdy Favreau were fighting at a speed invisible to the normal eye. Gi Soyul¡¯s current ranking was 380th. Despite her lower ranking, she showed no signs of being overwhelmed. Jakan turned his gaze back to Giparang. ¡°Heh. But, Fine Bow.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You know only one side of things. Do you really think my goal is Parang¡¯s downfall? Why would a group like ours, working in the underworld, try to bring down those working in the overworld?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see any need to answer that question.¡± ¡ªTiiing! The bowstring was drawn back in the Fine Bow¡¯s hand. It was the skill ¡®Arrow of Instant Death.¡¯ Once shot, it never missed. And when it hit, it was said to always kill, hence the name. Damn. Jakan¡¯s face contorted. It was a skill with an incredibly grandiose name, but he had to admit it. Even when he tried his best to dodge and put up a fire barrier to block it, the arrow ultimately found its way and embedded itself into his calf. ¡ªThunk! He couldn¡¯t even track it with his eyes. There was no time to calcte any countermeasures. ¡°Guhhh, indeed¡­ it¡¯s an amazing skill.¡± If his ranking were slightly lower, he would have died instantly as the skill¡¯s name suggested. His calf was numb, but it was bearable. After all, that skill consumed an enormous amount of energy. ¡°Let me show you why they call me the Hellhound.¡± ¡ªVwooom! A stream of fire shot from his hand. ¡ªWhoosh! It surged forward like a flying dragon of fire. ¡°¡­¡± The Fine Bow¡¯s brows furrowed as he leaped into the air. ¡ªTing! Ting! Tiiing! He fired three arrows in rapid session, but they were all swallowed by the mouth of the iing fire dragon. ¡ªWhoosh! Ranked 92nd, the Hellhound. He, too, was a hunter worthy of being called a monster. They dodged, engaged, and showed off their skills. ¡ªKaboom! The two monsters shed with full force in a certain dungeon in Seoul. If this were on Earth, a city would have copsed from the intense disy of skills. After a few minutes had passed, Giparang¡¯s expression changed as he evaded Jakan¡¯s skills. ¡°¡­¡± He sensed something unusual. This is not like him at all. Hellhound, the criminal called ¡®Firedog¡¯ by Berserker, never engaged directly. His meticulous and cunning nature allowed him, a single ranker, to run the underground organization known as the Shadow Lurkers for so long. ¡°Hehe. That was fun, Fine Bow.¡± ¡°Are you trying to escape?¡± ¡°You¡¯re quick-witted as always. Farewell. Thanks to you holding out for 30 minutes, my goal seems to have been achieved.¡± ¡°Your goal?¡± Giparang made a peculiar expression. That guy. He seemed to be misunderstanding something. He had no idea that the rankers sent by Gi Soyul had gone to Seonyudo. ¡ªWhoosh! Fire streams zed around them and a crimson portal appeared behind Jakan. He was preparing to use his escape skill, Teleportation. ¡°Hnng.¡± Giparang let out a deep groan. He wanted to capture Jakan. But he would have to leave the fire streams unchecked to do so, which would put his only sister, Gi Soyul, in harm¡¯s way. The fire streams were a lethal area-of-effect skill. He must have calcted even this. From the direction in which Jakan was disappearing, his confident voice echoed with a reverberatingugh, ¡°Gahaha, remember to stretch well to avoid a stiff neckter. Oh, and you can have that stupid Diamond guy as a gift. Cook him or boil him as you like!¡± ¡°¡­¡± You¡¯re the stupid one. Giparang sighed softly. He could already picture Jakan clutching his head and copsing in frustrationter. With his friend, the Berserker, on the case, the chance of Jakan achieving his goal was almost zero. ¡ªSwoosh. Giparang drew his bow again. It was time to finish this. ¡ªSwirl! A gust of wind howled around the bow. ¡°¡­¡± Noticing that Hellhound had escaped, Gi Soyul quickly retreated. ¡°Eh?¡± ¡ªThwunk! Giparang¡¯s arrow pierced his head cleanly. ¡°¡­Gah!¡± Favreau, who was screaming, couldn¡¯t even finish his cry and fell backward. Already weakened by Gi Soyul, he couldn¡¯t withstand Giparang¡¯s attack, which resulted in the futile end of the 301st-ranked individual. ¡°Phew.¡± Giparang exhaled the breath he had been holding. Next to him, Gi Soyul appeared. ¡°Brother.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Yes, no issues. Just a bit stiff from all the movement.¡± ¡°Hmm, why is Hellhound going to such lengths?¡± Giparang couldn¡¯t understand Hellhound nor his sister. Especially my sister. Gi Soyul usually had no interest in anything other than hunting. Buttely, rumors had reached his ears about her always sticking around a man named Joo Donghoon or something. He figured this incident was also because of that man. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much.¡± ¡°We were attacked because of that man, and you dismiss it as nothing?¡± Giparang frowned. ¡°It wasn¡¯t because of him. To be more precise, it was because of me.¡± ¡°Then why¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll exinter.¡± Giparang stared at Gi Soyul. She had a look of certainty. It had been a while since he had seen his sister with such conviction. So he just smiled. Whatever it was, it would be better to see his sister lively rather than expressionless. ¡°Alright, well. I trust you¡¯ll handle it well.¡± * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡ªRing! [The ranking has been updated.] [Refer to the World Ranking Board.] ¡°Oh?¡± Jang Daewoong¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°One of the rankers must have¡­¡± ¡°Looks like someone has died!¡± Lee Sunah, the ck Sword, also reacted to the new message. ¡°Huh, seeing as I moved up to 829th, it seems someone ranked higher than me died. Who could it be?¡± ¡ªMunch, munch. Having finished with the situation, Yoo Sangdo the White Swine pulled a hamburger from his bag and chewed. ¡°Wow! Mr. Swine? It¡¯s amazing to see you eat right after a battle!¡± ¡°Shut up. You don¡¯t understand this pain. I can only recover my depleted energy by eating.¡± His skill ¡®Gluttony¡¯ was an overpowered passive skill that made Yoo Sangdon a ranker. The more he ate, the more his energy was replenished. ¡°Wow! Eating is painful! Anyway, I, too, have moved up to 509th! What about you, Berserker?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m still at 20, same as before, hahaha.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I watched their conversation in a daze. It seemed that the World Ranking Board had been updated. But I couldn¡¯t see anything from my point of view. All hunters could see the status message announcing the update at the beginning of each month. However, it seemed that only rankers had the privilege of seeing the changes that urred when a ranker died. I instinctively pulled out my smartphone, curious about what was happening. [Breaking news! Ranker system updated!] [Who died? ording to the World Association, the current 301st-ranked individual is suspected to have died!] [301st-ranked, from Canada, the Diamond is currently unresponsive! The World Association has begun an investigation¡­] [Breaking news! A new ranker appears on the board! From Uzbekistan, Abdziz the Tyrant! Find out more about this new addition to the top 1,000!] As expected, news articles were pouring out incredibly fast, fitting for the current era of information. ¡°¡­¡± And next to me, I saw Kim Junseo, still with his mouth agape, unable to grasp the situation. Well, it¡¯s understandable. Suddenly waking up to find himself kidnapped by the global crime organization Shadow Lurkers and then being rescued by the rankers known as the Five Stars of Seoul. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this¡­¡± ¡°Hey, are you okay?¡± ¡°What am I even seeing? What is this even all about?¡± ¡°That¡­ I¡¯m confused too. Just take a rest for now.¡± I patted Kim Junseo. He hadn¡¯t done anything wrong in this kidnapping. If anything, it was because he knew me. He got entangled in an unfortunate incident because of me. I felt sorry. But now was not the time to have a conversation with him. ¡°Gahaha, are you the one called Joo Donghoon? You look pretty weak.¡± ¡°Hey, Berserker! I told you many times that hunters are about potential. You may be a crazy monster now, but someday I might catch up to you!¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s very unrealistic, White Swine.¡± All the rankers¡¯ eyes were focused on me. The already perished Shadow Lurkers were of no concern to them. ¡°Hm! But still!¡± ¡ªShing! Lee Sunah wiped the blood off her rapier and sheathed it. ¡°For as much as the Dark Empress wanted to introduce him, there must be something special!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! I agree with the ck Sword. From what I saw earlier, he uses a unique skeleton.¡± Yoo Sangdon looked interested. ¡°Necromancer is already a special unique authority, and it seems he has something more than that! No wonder the Dark Empress has taken an interest in him!¡± Lee Sunah¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°¡­¡± I flinched as I watched them. Honestly, I was tense as the people I idolized talked to me in droves and with great interest. ¡°Fuu,¡± I exhaled shortly. I couldn¡¯t afford to be scared. I needed to be flexible andposed in situations like this. This is the opportunity Gi Soyul created for me. There¡¯s a saying, ¡°Birds of a feather flock together.¡± Just sticking to their sides like a leech would bring me closer to bing a ranker. Moreover, even with thebined strength of these three, they were nothingpared to the real forms of the old man or the Sun Spear. Surprisingly, this fact calmed my nerves. ¡°Hmm.¡± First, Lee Sunah took a step forward. ¡°Joo Donghoon, was it? Nice to meet you! I¡¯m Lee Sunah, a friend of the Dark Empress and leader of the ck Sword Squad!¡± The ck Sword Squad¡¯s name was widely known. It was one of the elite assault squads of the Cult of the Heavenly Demon, considered one of the strongest guilds in the world. For reference, the Cult of the Heavenly Demon was a guild led by Ha Sera, who was ranked 3rd in the world and 1st in South Korea. Interestingly, your alias would change to one in the wuxia style when you joined that guild. ¡°Hey, ck Sword. Don¡¯t butt in now with your ck-hearted nature, as your name suggests. A true name should have the word ¡®white¡¯ like mine. I¡¯m Yoo Sangdon, also known as the White Swine.¡± The White Swine. Even though his ranking was in the 800s, no ranker underestimated him as he was the vice president of the Global Hunter Merchant Confederation, also known as ¡®GHMC.¡¯ His start-uppany ¡®White Swine¡¯ was one of the toppanies in the domestic hunter item business. He was one of the richest men to be in the top 1,000. ¡°Oh, really? We¡¯re making fun of each other for our aliases now? Funnying from you, with literally the word ¡®pig¡¯ in your alias! And a greedy one at that! Oink, oink!¡± Lee Sunah retorted to Yoo Sangdon¡¯s provocation. ¡°What? Greedy? Hah, do you even know how clean and unselfish pigs are?¡± ¡°And yet your skill is called Gluttony? Oh, sure, I understand now!¡± ¡°What the hell is wrong with you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The two rankers were chattering non-stop. Isn¡¯t it said that the closer people are, the more they bicker? Just seeing how nonchntly Berserker was watching, it was clear this was their usual behavior. And then, the ¡®real one¡¯ stepped forward. Ranked 20th in the world, he had no match in the country except for Ha Sera, the Heavenly Demon. ¡°Hahaha, leave those fools aside. How about a handshake?¡± He extended his hand. Chapter 34 Chapter 34: Life is About Plunging Forward at the Right Time ¡°Ah¡­¡± I grasped Jang Daewoong¡¯s hand almost by ident. ¡°Gahaha, you seem shy. So, which gen of hunter are you?¡± Which gen? Ah, he must have meant the generation when I became a hunter. I became a hunter three years ago, so I¡¯m from Gen 9. ¡°Gen 9.¡± When I answered, Jang Daewoong¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Oh, Gen 9? So you awakened not long ago?¡± Heughed heartily while looking at me, then spoke again. ¡°Haha. To think you were in the same gen as Kim Hyukseon the Dark Lord¡­ Is this a coincidence? Oh,e to think of it, your abilities are quite simr, huh.¡± ¡°Yes, well¡­ That¡¯s true. But I can only summon skeletons for now.¡± ¡°Hahaha. That¡¯s not the important thing! That skeleton managed to take down an A-rank hunter.¡± Surprisingly, Jang Daewoong¡¯s tone feltfortable and approachable. It felt like we got along well. Or it was more urate to say that Jang Daewoong didn¡¯t give off a sense of dominance. Rankers usually tended to be arrogant or felt superior due to their authority in society. ¡°If you¡¯re strong, that¡¯s all that matters. Hahaha. Just like me. Now, I¡¯m curious. What would happen if you made me a skeleton?¡± This man, or rather this muscle-bound guy, was pure-hearted. He seemed to approach me as a fellow human being, regardless of my rank. ¡°Well if that happened, you would lose your muscles. Would that be okay?¡± He gasped. ¡°No way! That can¡¯t happen! Don¡¯t even joke about such things!¡± Jang Daewoong shrank back and stroked his bulging biceps with his palm. His exaggerated reaction was like that of a neighborly older brother. To think a ranker could be so friendly. Ah. This was when I realized that rankers were humans too. Honestly, I had only seen them as idols. I thought their faces would glow with a golden light¡­ Especially¡­ In Jang Daewoong¡¯s case, his demeanor starkly contrasted with the force he disyed during battle earlier. ¡°Mr. Berserker,¡± I suddenly called out to him. There was something I needed to do. Today, I owed these rankers my life. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Sorry for thete introduction. Thank you very much for saving me.¡± I bowed my head respectfully at a 90-degree angle. ¡°Hahaha, why thank me for defeating some bad guys!¡± ¡°It would have been very difficult if it weren¡¯t for you and the other rankers.¡± Difficult? I probably would have died if it weren¡¯t for these people. ¡°Haha, really? It¡¯s refreshing to see someone in this day and age who still knows how to express gratitude. You¡¯re a polite friend. I like you.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°So, if you¡¯re from Gen 9, you¡¯re 23 years old now?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± It¡¯s simple to determine a hunter¡¯s age by their generation. The world has been this way for exactly 12 years, and unique authorities awakened at the age of 20. So Gen 1 must be 32 years old or older, and Gen 12 must be exactly 20 years old. No hunters were exempt from this. But there was no need toplicate things. I got my unique authority three years ago, so I¡¯m 23 years old. ¡°Haha, then I must be older than you. Just call me brother.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± Big Brother Daewoong? Is he telling me to call him that right now? Why is this person approaching me so abruptly? Honestly, it feels overwhelming. ¡°Alright then, let me ask you straightforwardly.¡± ¡°Yes? What is it¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been curious for a while. Haha.¡± Jang Daewoong rubbed his palms together. Even this simple action made his biceps and triceps flex disturbingly. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about Gi Soyul. Why is she so obsessed with you? What¡¯s the secret?¡± ¡°Oh! I¡¯m curious about that, too.¡± Suddenly, Lee Sunah, who had been chatting on the side, showed interest. ¡°Right. Actually, the reason we gathered here is because of that.¡± Even the White Swine approached, seeming interested. Before I knew it, the three of them were all staring at me. ¡°Ah¡­¡± It was awkward. It felt like it happened all so abruptly. Well, it¡¯s only natural for them to be curious. No matter how much I had grown recently, I was just another small fry to them. Kim Junseo¡­ I looked around. Kim Junseo, being quick-witted, seemed to have already gone home. ¡°Haha. You don¡¯t have to say anything if you¡¯re ufortable with it,¡± Jang Daewoongughed and nodded. ¡°Because it seems the protagonist who gathered us is finally here.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± The protagonist? I tilted my head. ¡ªSwoosh! And without a sound, a figure appeared. ¡°Talking about me behind my back, how rude.¡± It was the Dark Empress Gi Soyul, ranked 379th in the world. ¡°Haha, rude? We were just waiting for you.¡± ¡°Oh, Dark Empress! You¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Hey, Gi Soyul. That¡¯s a bit harsh. I even left my meal untouched for your call!¡± Yoo Sangdon grumbled. ¡°Don¡¯t you know what it means for me to leave my food? You should be grateful.¡± ¡°How touching,¡± Gi Soyul chuckled. Then she looked at me. ¡°Donghoon.¡± ¡°Yes? Yes.¡± I blinked. ¡°I told you before. I¡¯d introduce you to connections that could change your life.¡± Her gray eyes fixed on me. The rankers also nodded at me. ¡°Hahaha, is it the Dark Empress¡¯s turn now?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s always the turn of whoever speaks first.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind! I didn¡¯t have anyone for this year anyway!¡± I didn¡¯t understand what they were saying. I instinctively gulped. I could feel that something in this meeting would truly change my life. ¡°However,¡± Gi Soyul continued, ¡°as you know, Donghoon, there¡¯s no such thing as free information.¡± ¡°Free, you say¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. To be honest, I want to help you, Donghoon.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± She wants to help me? Why? ¡°It reminds me of my past¡ªyour desire to be stronger and the will to be a ranker. It all feels like I¡¯m looking at my old self, even the look in your eyes from the first day.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Such an abrupt confession. But let¡¯s hear more. ¡°Back then, I received someone¡¯s help. That¡¯s how I became a ranker.¡± Gi Soyul leaned lightly against a streemp as she spoke. The other rankers quietly stepped back, remaining silent, which was considerate and allowed me to focus on her words. ¡°It¡¯s not just me. All the rankers gathered here received help from someone.¡± ¡°So there was a special reason why you guys became rankers at a young age?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°You catch on quickly. Yes, that¡¯s right. Realistically speaking, it¡¯s nigh impossible for people like us in our twenties to be rankers, given the countless hunters who have been active over the past twelve years.¡± ¡°Wait.¡± It was then that Yoo Sangdon raised his hand. ¡°That¡¯s enough. We haven¡¯t received his confirmation yet, but you¡¯ve already given away too much information. That wasn¡¯t the n.¡± ¡°Alright. I admit it, White Swine.¡± Gi Soyul nodded. Then she looked at me again. ¡°Berserker, ck Sword, White Swine, and Fine Bow, my older brother. Can I exin your uniqueness to these five people?¡± My uniqueness? ¡°Are you talking about sharing my fortuitous opportunity?¡± ¡°Yes, exactly.¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s point was simple: you reveal everything to us, and then we reveal how we became rankers at an early age. Actually, no. Gi Soyul would probably put it differently. She wanted to help me, but to do that, I needed to reveal my information so she could convince the others. Hmm. It was a bit concerning. I had just experienced how special my ¡®fortuitous opportunity¡¯ was. Just because of that information, an entire organization attacked another organization. However. These people seemed different. First, Gi Soyul trusted them. Especially people like Berserker and Fine Bow were monsters who wouldn¡¯t need to covet my ¡®fortuitous opportunity.¡¯ Besides, my opportunity is practically nothing. From their perspective, there was nothing to earn from it. Even if they knew, they couldn¡¯t take it from me, and the old man was a special mentor only for me. And what about endangering my life because I tell them about it? In fact, if they had wanted to, I would already be facing the King of the Underworld in the afterlife. ¡°¡­¡± In the end, I made up my mind. The consideration was brief, and the answer was clear. ¡°Why would I hide my information? Of course I¡¯ll tell you.¡± The answer was ¡®yes.¡¯ After all, life is about plunging forward at the right time. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Hahaha, a master who could beat up Gi Soyul? I¡¯d like to face him once too!¡± ¡°That¡¯s certainly surprising. I can see why the Dark Empress was interested.¡± After hearing the exnation from Gi Soyul, Berserker and the ck Sword nodded. ¡°Ahem, that¡¯s the end of the exnation. Now, can we share the information with Donghoon?¡± Gi Soyul asked after clearing her throat. However¡­ ¡°No, wait.¡± Yoo Sangdon did not nod. His face was filled with shock. ¡°Hey, c¡¯mon now! Do you think this is something to take so lightly?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, White Swine?¡± Gi Soyul asked calmly. ¡°Like, it¡¯s incredible! An old man who could easily destroy rankers? And moreover, a new world? And that Sun Spear fellow? He¡¯s also an absolute ruler of another world! Isn¡¯t this an overpowered ability?¡± White Swine said while looking at Berserker, seeking agreement in his eyes. ¡°Listen. If he fully awakenster, he could summon ten monsters that could destroy rankers! That¡¯s not just a monster; that¡¯d be a cmity!¡± ¡°It means he¡¯ll be incredibly strong. Haha. Truly an amazing friend.¡± Berserkerughed, and the White Swine pounded his chest in frustration. ¡°No, think about it. Berserker! This is beyond what we can handle.¡± ¡°Gahaha, when you be strong, promise to fight me once, brother! Don¡¯t ignore me then, alright?¡± ¡°Oh, you madman.¡± White Swine looked at Berserker, exasperated, then turned to the ck Sword. ¡°Hey, ck Sword! Aren¡¯t you surprised to hear that there are new worlds other than Earth? This is breaking news!¡± ¡°Well, I always found this world to be mysterious.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Dungeons, status windows, and monsters! Sometimes, I think I¡¯m dreaming a dream that never ends!¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I mean¡­¡± ¡°White Swine,¡± Gi Soyul interjected. ¡°The information we¡¯re about to reveal is just as astonishing as Donghoon¡¯s fortuitous opportunity.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡± ¡°There are still many secrets in this world yet to be uncovered. Have you forgotten why the five of us gathered?¡± ¡°Hm¡­¡± White Swine trailed off. Then he shut his mouth tightly, indicating he wouldn¡¯t interfere further. ¡°Donghoon.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Finally, it was time to hear the exnation. I straightened my posture and focused my gaze. I was nervous to hear the secrets that these five rankers had been hiding, and my heart was pounding. ¡°Did you know there¡¯s a ranker who creates rankers?¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± What was she talking about? A ranker who creates rankers? ¡°Are you aware of the youngest ranker who recently made headlines?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± The youngest ranker? Of course I knew. He was the one I envied when I lived my life as an E-rank mercenary before I got my fortuitous opportunity. Ranked 949th in the world, Dark Lord. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Kim Hyukseon the Dark Lord. He was the one we chose about half a year ago, rmended by Berserker.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± What now? So Dark Lord became a ranker because of them? My heart raced even faster, and my head felt a bit dizzy with excitement. Although my body was calm, I was extremely excited inside. ¡°The information I¡¯m about to reveal is about the ¡®Dungeon Maker.¡¯¡± Dungeon Maker? I widened my eyes and focused intently. Chapter 35 Chapter 35: Dungeon Maker Which country is the world¡¯s strongest hunter nation? Ask a hundred people, and they¡¯ll all answer the same. ¡°The undisputed United States!¡± ¡°Yes, America is unquestionably number one.¡± It was the country with the most rankers and a nation that poured immense resources into its hunting industry. America¡¯s budget for the hunter industry ounted for about 30% of the world¡¯s total budget. And who would be the most difficult and mysterious hunter among these American rankers? It all boiled down to one name. Ranked 5th in the world, Delh the Dungeon Maker. ¡°The Dungeon Maker?¡± ¡°What¡¯s that? Does she make dungeons or something? That¡¯s an unusual alias.¡± Her ability was simple. As her alias suggested, she created dungeons. However, in application, this ability was anything but simple. It was, in fact, limitless. ¡°Did you hear that Delh has released a dungeon artifact?!¡± ¡°Dungeon artifact? What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an essory containing a dungeon, allowing you to decorate it.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you tell how incredible that is? You get your own emergency shelter, home, and pocket dimension! Its utility is limitless!¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s true. So how much does it cost?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°I heard she wouldn¡¯t sell it for 100 billion won*. It¡¯s said to consume an enormous amount of mental strength to create. Rumor says she only gives them as gifts to people she acknowledges.¡± * ¡Ö $77 million USD ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing. Well, makes sense¡­ A hunter like Delh wouldn¡¯t be motivated by money.¡± Delh was a top-tier ranker and one of the single-digit world rankers. She was known to be extremely wealthy. ¡°So wouldn¡¯t robbers constantly be after her?¡± ¡°Yeah, getting just one artifact could change your life.¡± Naturally, many hunters targeted her. Not just regr hunters but rankers as well. However, she was ranked 5th in the world for a reason. Delh was elusive. Even when she appeared on asion, it was only a mirage. The ce she resided was rumored to be an S-rank dungeon, indicating its danger. Moreover, her official record was 0 battles, 0 wins, 0 losses. Delh was not someone anyone could fight even if they wanted to. ¡°¡­¡± Her skills, aliases, and abilities¡ªthey all seemed like a mirage. No one knew what she was doing or what she looked like. She had never appeared in the media, and only rumors surrounded her. Thus, she had another alias, the Mirage. Such was the Dungeon Maker. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°This is¡­¡± Gi Soyul, who had been exining diligently, briefly cleared her throat, ¡°ahem, what the general public knows about the Dungeon Maker.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard about her.¡± Of course, I knew about her. She was listed as 5th on the World Ranking Board and frequently appeared on TV, even now. ¡°But what I¡¯m about to tell you is known only to rankers.¡± Gi Soyul crossed her arms and touched her neck with her right hand. ¡°In fact, the Dungeon Maker opens a trial dungeon every six months.¡± ¡°A trial dungeon?¡± ¡°Yes, no one knows why she creates such dungeons or why she opens them in secret. The most usible guess is that her power grows by having many people participate. But that¡¯s not certain either.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± I gulped. My brain buzzed with the new information. ¡°So what kind of dungeon is this trial dungeon?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know the contents of the dungeons. They¡¯re said to change every time. The only sure thing is that if you pass all the trials in that dungeon, you can secure a spot within the triple-digit rankings at least.¡± Ah, I see. So that was why they called her the ranker who created rankers. But whether you became a ranker because you passed the trial was uncertain. Perhaps you could only pass the trial if you had the skills to be a ranker. It was like the question of the chicken and the egg¡ªwhich came first? ¡°Three years ago, the five of us, now called the Five Stars of Seoul, passed the trial and entered the ranks in the triple-digits. Of course over time, our rankings have risen.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± That was still amazing, wasn¡¯t it? Berserker was now ranked 20th, and Fine Bow was now ranked 58th. I could only wonder what they had done to achieve that, to rise in the rankings so much in just three years. But judging by my own recent growth rate, it wasn¡¯t impossible if one encountered a fortuitous opportunity. ¡°Anyway, there are two conditions for participating in the trial dungeon. First, you must be at least an A-rank hunter.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± But I was still D-rank¡­ I didn¡¯t even know how to reach C-rank, let alone A-rank. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. The trial dungeon opens every six months. You can participate when you¡¯re ready. I believe you¡¯ll achieve that soon.¡± ¡°Do you really think so?¡± ¡°Yes, I do. And the second condition is to bring rmendation letters from five rankers.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°It seems Delh only wants to ept verified participants. The rmendation letters arrive as notes via system messages which are only visible to us who have entered the rankings.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± I was impressed. Did that mean Delh was somehow connected to the system? Or¡­ It could have just been a skill. For example, [Send a note to those listed on the World Ranking Board.] Anyway¡­ Five rmendations from rankers, huh? Was that even possible? Rankers were harder to sight than celebrities. It seems I couldn¡¯t even be a ranker without these connections. What a dirty world! Gi Soyul chuckled when she saw me muttering to myself. ¡°The notees with a warning. If you disclose this information publicly, your right to make rmendations will be revoked and you won¡¯t be able to participate in any of the Dungeon Maker¡¯s future content. However, there¡¯s an exception when rmending candidates. That¡¯s why you¡¯ll face a penalty if you disclose this information.¡± As she finished speaking¡­ ¡ªRing! [You have learned information about the Dungeon Maker.] [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [If you disclose this information to non-rankers, you cannot participate in any of the Dungeon Maker¡¯s content in the future!] [The only exception is when rmending a candidate.] [If the rmendation candidate discloses the information, the penalty will be imposed on the rmender!] [Tip: Say ¡®Register rmendation¡¯ to set a rmendation candidate.] ¡°My god.¡± Now I finally understood why White Swine was sensitive about revealing this information. ¡°It¡¯s amazing, isn¡¯t it? Delh¡¯s identity is such a mystery. By the way, Donghoon, I¡¯ve already registered you as a candidate.¡± ¡°It seems she can control the status windows. At this point, is she not a god or the force behind this world?¡± ¡°No one knows,¡± Gi Soyul said bluntly. ¡°But considering no one has disclosed this information yet¡­¡± ¡°It means no ranker wants to go against Delh.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± It was refreshing to hear such an idea. If Delh truly was a hunter, it¡¯d be incredible. She¡¯d be the hunter who rose to the top with the unique authority to create dungeons¡ªmoreover, a strategist who could firmly get a grasp on every ranker. By the way. I suddenly realized that the Dark Lord also became a ranker through the trial dungeon. He kept yapping about dungeons¡­ Did he mean the trial dungeon? Well, that wasn¡¯t important. What was important was that the possibility of realizing my dream had increased significantly. ¡°So¡­ that¡¯s why the five of you gathered. The trial dungeon is what you wanted to introduce to me.¡± ¡°Gahaha.¡± Jang Daewoong, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. We formed a group to be able to rmend someone without trouble. That¡¯s us in essence, the Five Stars of Seoul.¡± His broad shoulders on disy somehow looked impressive. ¡°So.¡± He stared at me intently. ¡°This is the most important part.¡± ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°Do you have the confidence to receive our rmendation?¡± I understood the gist of his question. He was asking if I could be an A-rank hunter, the previously stated condition. ¡°¡­When is the next trial dungeon?¡± ¡°The next one? Hmm, it¡¯s exactly five months from now.¡± ¡°Five months, huh¡­¡± It felt terribly short. It took me three years to go from E-rank to D-rank. ¡°Haha, that¡¯s not the important part. We can always reserve you a spot as long as you have the determination. We¡¯ve been rmending one person every six months, and you¡¯re the first to be personally rmended by Gi Soyul.¡± ¡°I see.¡± I turned to look at her. She subtly avoided my gaze. Why did she do that? Anyway¡­ Five months seemed doable. Jang Daewoong said I could take eleven months, but I didn¡¯t like that idea. I have to aim high. Because things were different now than they were before. I had a great teacher, and I possessed a medium. My growth over the past three years paled inparison to my growth over the past month. Moreover, there was nothing to hesitate about. Instead of me having to beg for this opportunity, they were offering it to me on a silver tter. ¡°Fine.¡± I nodded confidently. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it. What kind of fool would refuse an opportunity given by five rankers?¡± ¡°Kahaha, that¡¯s my little bro. Bold and straightforward.¡± Jang Daewoongughed heartily. ¡°But don¡¯t take it too lightly. We¡¯ve rmended five people so far, but only Kim Hyukseon has managed to pass. That¡¯s not all. Less than 50 rankers have emerged from the trial dungeons. Many who failed have be disabled or just disappeared.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Why mention such scary facts now? Of course¡­ I never thought bing a ranker would be easy. ¡°I¡¯ll be prepared.¡± I clenched my fist, and White Swine walked over to me. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°By the way, I¡¯ll collect my fee once you be a ranker. Transactions must be fair.¡± As expected from a ¡®merchant,¡¯ he was saying that this was an investment for the future. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll even repay this debt with interest.¡± I gave back as much as I received. That¡¯s my principle. Especially Gi Soyul. I looked at her, still leaning against the streemp. I didn¡¯t know why she was helping me so much, but I owed my biggest debt to her. * * * ¡°¡­¡± After themotion ended, I stared nkly at the ceiling after returning to my room. ¡°¡­¡± I still couldn¡¯t believe it. A trial dungeon¡ªcontent created by Delh, known as the Mirage. I even scoured the Hunter Board just in case, but there was no rted information. I¡¯ll have to move quickly from now on. I fiddled with the medium I had taken out of my pocket. [Item: Roots of Racial Conflict] [Rank: A] [Type: Medium] [Description: Roots that can uncover the secrets of hidden ruins.] [Effect 1: Can unlock the dungeon ¡®Forest and Stone.¡¯] [Effect 2: Bound to the hunter ¡®Joo Donghoon.¡¯] [Effect 3: This item can only be activated for hunters C-rank and above.] Forest and Stone, huh? I instinctively knew that this was the dungeon I needed to clear to grow further. To do that, I needed to raise my rank to C-rank first. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Alias: X] [Energy: 120/120] [Unique Authority: Cursed Necromancer] [Rank: D] Compared to the hunters I met today, my status was pitiful, with a low rank and no alias. C-rank, huh? When I didn¡¯t know how to do something, I could only do one thing: put in effort. Starting tomorrow, I¡¯d divide my time into three parts. Wake up early at dawn to train with the old man and then practice on repeat into the morning. After that, I¡¯d be off to a dungeon since I could handle dungeons alone now. Let¡¯s not miss this opportunity. The fortuitous opportunities I¡¯ve had so far, including today¡¯s meeting with the Five Stars of Seoul, have been priceless experiences. I¡¯m looking forward to my future. I was excited to see what my journey would be like. In the darkness, I closed my eyes and firmly resolved myself. Chapter 36 Chapter 36: C-Rank Hunter It had been a week. During that time, I worked diligently. ¡°Huff, huff.¡± This open clearing now felt more familiar than home. I wiped the sweat running down my forehead. My whole body ached from the old man¡¯s great technique. Thanks to that, any umted excess inside my body hadpletely evaporated. Haah, when would this darn technique end? I immediately sat down and crossed my legs. The Great Blue Heart Technique¡ªI tried to sense ki in the stance the old man had taught me. [Bonehead 1¡¯s strength has increased by 1!] [Bonehead 5¡¯s magic power has increased by 1!] ¡°¡­¡± Even when I quietly trained alone, the skeletons¡¯ abilities kept rising. This was because they trained voluntarily, following the old man¡¯s instructions. I¡¯ve never even heard of undead doing self-directed learning¡­ Every necromancer in the world would be shocked and envious if they knew. [Sun Spear¡¯s strength has increased by 1!] [Sun Spear¡¯s dexterity has increased by 1!] In particr, Sunny¡¯s training ability was outstanding. ¡ªsh! sh! Every time their spear swung and emitted light, holes of a certain size appeared in the scattered leaves. Even without the old man giving a specific training curriculum, it seemed like it recalled past memories on its own and engaged in training. [Name: Sun Spear] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Spearman] [Rank: D] [Strength: 38] [Dexterity: 38] [Constitution: 36] [Magic Power: 30] [Technique: 38] [Skills] ¨C Intermediate Thrust (Lv.3) ¨C Sr Strike (Lv.2) ¨C Raging Desert (Lv.2) ¨C Soulre (Lv.2) ¡°Nice.¡± The skill levels had increased significantly. ¡®Low-Level Thrust¡¯ had reached MAX level and was upgraded to ¡®Intermediate Thrust.¡¯ Boney 1 and the others were the same. [Name: Bonehead 1] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Swordsman] [Rank: D] [Strength: 30] [Dexterity: 27] [Constitution: 28] [Magic Power: 20] [Technique: 30] [Skills] ¨C Intermediate sh (Lv.3) First off, Boney 1 simply focused on ¡®Intermediate sh.¡¯ [Name: Bonehead 3] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Archer] [Rank: D] [Strength: 27] [Dexterity: 30] [Constitution: 25] [Magic Power: 20] [Technique: 30] [Skills] ¨C Intermediate Rapid Fire (Lv.3) ¨C Secure Vision (Lv.9) ¨C Poison Arrow (Lv.9) Next was Boney 3. It had maxed out ¡®Secure Vision¡¯ and ¡®Poison Arrow¡¯ and upgraded ¡®Low-Level Rapid Fire¡¯ to ¡®Intermediate Rapid Fire.¡¯ [Name: Bonehead 4] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Shieldsman] [Rank: D] [Strength: 24] [Dexterity: 21] [Constitution: 24] [Magic Power: 23] [Technique: 20] [Skills] ¨C Intermediate Block (Lv.3) ¨C Intermediate Taunt (Lv.3) Boney 4 had ¡®Intermediate Block¡¯ and ¡®Intermediate Taunt.¡¯ [Name: Bonehead 5] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Awakened Skeleton] [ss: Mage] [Rank: D] [Strength: 22] [Dexterity: 20] [Constitution: 20] [Magic Power: 28] [Technique: 22] [Skills] ¨C Fireball (Lv. MAX) ¨C Fire Field (Lv.2) ¨C Air Shield (Lv. MAX) ¨C Haste (Lv.2) Lastly, Boney 5. Its skills were unique. When it mastered a skill, it seemed to develop a derivative skill. After mastering ¡®Fireball,¡¯ it acquired ¡®Fire Field.¡¯ After mastering ¡®Air Shield,¡¯ it got ¡®Haste.¡¯ I wondered if it would eventually be a true mage with hundreds of skills if it kept acquiring them. But that was just a guess. ¡°Still, I¡¯m d it learned fire magic.¡± Boney 5 was currently using the S-rank item ¡®Staff of the Fire Dragon.¡¯ This item doubled the firepower of fire-attribute skills. The fact that it had learned Fire Field was quite satisfying. I sighed. Now, it was my turn. I closed my eyes and focused. In the world of nothingness, where nothing was visible, I tried to grasp an intangible energy. C-rank¡­ The journey to upgrade one rank. Honestly, I didn¡¯t know what conditions needed to be met. Did I have to keep getting beaten by the old man? Or did I have to grasp the rhythm of the ¡®Great Blue Heart Technique¡¯ I was doing now? Or did I have to visit dungeons and gain another ¡®fortuitous opportunity¡¯? But. I wasn¡¯t frustrated, even if I didn¡¯t know. What was certain was that I was getting stronger even at this moment. Let¡¯s not think ofplicated things; I should just do as instructed. I slowly erased my thoughts¡ªthe forms the old man taught, the surrounding scenery, the distractions. I erased all of them from my mind to enter a state free from all thoughts and emotions. ¡ªFuu, thump-thump. Fuu, thump-thump! In my ears, I only heard my breathing and my heartbeat. No, now I couldn¡¯t even perceive that. How much time had passed? Minutes? Or even hours? ¡ªSwoosh! Hmm? My consciousness awakened. I didn¡¯t open my eyes but felt a strange sensation¡ªnot the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch, but a new sense. It was soft and warm, yet rough and cool at the same time. This feels nice. I glided through the tranquil waters without a ripple, as if swimming in a calmke. I wandered slowly within it, touching, feeling, and even tasting it. I felt like a child ying with its toys, immersed in pure enjoyment. [Congrattions!] [You have sensed the essence of all things, ¡®ki.¡¯] [You have acquired the skill ¡®Great Blue Heart Technique¡¯ (S-rank).] What? I was startled, as if cold water had been poured on my head. Sensing ki? An S-rank skill? Right, I was in the middle of training for the Great Blue Heart Technique. Did that mean I had finally sensed the ¡®ki¡¯ the old man talked about? My whole body shivered. For the first time, I was discovering the essence that formed the All Techniques. So this is ki¡­ I examined my body. I felt something flowing smoothly inside me. It felt mysterious. ¡®Ki¡¯ clearly constituted the whole world. I slowly expanded my senses. Sunny¡¯s aura and Boney 5¡¯s fireball were all made of ki. Even Gi Soyul, analyzing Sunny¡¯s movement from afar, the sunlight, the moist earth, and the lush foliage, were all made of ki. ¡°I¡¯m not telling you to just memorize it without thinking. You have to concentrate and feel how the intangible energy moves. ¡°Ki is the foundation of all physical power, no, of the whole world. If you can handle ki, you can construct all existing skills.¡± I only vaguely understood this concept, but now I finally physically understood the meaning of what the old man said. Of course, handling it and simply sensing it were different matters. ¡ªRing! A voice rang in my head at that moment. [Hidden condition achieved!] I gasped. I stood up involuntarily and opened my eyes. ¡°F-Finally?¡± Because I knew exactly what this meant. The awakening. When I encountered the strong orc in this open clearing and when I awakened from E-rank to D-rank, such a message had definitely appeared. [Condition: Essence of All Things] ¨C Enormous effort is required to raise the rank of the unique authority! ¨C Ki is the essence of all things and the foundation of all life energy. ¨C The closer you get to the essence, the clearer your existence will be. ¨C Sense the ki! ¡°Huh.¡± I was overwhelmed with emotion. The awakening condition was to sense ki! Of course, it could have been something else. I might have achieved one of many conditions. What¡¯s important is that¡­ The system judged that sensing ki itself was an achievement worthy of adjusting my ability. [Congrattions!] [Your rank has been upgraded to C-rank!] ¡°Ah¡­¡± I trembled all over. I¡¯ve worked so hard to grow and be stronger. The result of training day and night has finallye to me. [A reward for the rank change has arrived!] [Your energy has increased!] [Energy: 120/120] ¡°Good, good.¡± If I level up, I should receive a reward. I waited for the reward to slowly appear. [Skill: Summon Awakened Skeleton (D-rank) has been upgraded!] [Skill: Summon Bnced Skeleton (C-rank) acquired!] ¡°Yes!¡± As expected, the rank of my unique authority¡¯s trademark skill, summoning, was adjusted. [Skill: Summon Bnced Skeleton] [Rank: C] [Effect 1: Consumes 10 energy to summon an advanced skeleton. A maximum of 10 can be summoned.] [Effect 2: You can name each skeleton.] The skill¡¯s prefix changed from ¡®Awakened¡¯ to ¡®Bnced.¡¯ The ¡®mid-level¡¯ skeletons changed to ¡®advanced¡¯ skeletons. And one more. [New primary weapons for the skeletons have been adjusted!] [Assigned skeletons: ¡®Bonehead 6¡¯] [These skeletons will now respond to yourmand!] ¡°Wow.¡± Finally, the slot for Boney 6 has been unlocked. ¡°You¡¯ve grown another level.¡± Gi Soyul approached, noticing the change in my aura. ¡°You also gained more energy.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s impressive! How did you know that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s thanks to my skill, Search. I can urately determine the level of the assassination target.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± I flinched. Did that mean I was her ¡®assassination target¡¯ now? ¡°It¡¯s just for convenience.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± ¡°By the way, I¡¯m curious to know what your next summon will look like. So far, it¡¯s been a swordsman, spearman, bowman, shieldsman, and mage, right?¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s eyes sparkled. As someone who always monitored and checked my training and skeletons, she seemed curious about the primary weapon of my next skeleton. ¡°Personally, I hope the main weapon is a dagger or throwing stars.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be nice to have at least one assassin in your party?¡± An assassin, huh? It seemed she had ulterior motives, as expected. ¡ªWhoosh! I swung my staff. I was curious too, so I wanted to check it quickly. [Using skill ¡®Summon Bnced Skeleton¡¯ (C-rank).] [Consuming 10 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Bonehead 6.¡¯] A skeleton formed frlm the ck energy that surged from the ground. Unlike other skeletons, Boney 6 was a bit shorter. And the weapon it held was¡­ ¡°A hammer?¡± ¡°Tsk, it¡¯s a hammer¡­ I wonder if it¡¯s some kind of pdin?¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s face was filled with disappointment. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± I disyed its status window. [Name: Bonehead 6] [Energy: 100/100] [Unique Ability: Bnced Skeleton] [ss: cksmith] [Rank: C] [Strength: 30] [Dexterity: 27] [Constitution: 28] [Magic Power: 20] [Technique: 30] [Skills] ¨C Intermediate Smelting (Lv.1) ¨C Intermediate Weaving (Lv.1) ¨C Intermediate Item Crafting (Lv.1) ¨C Intermediate Alchemy (Lv.1) ¡°What is this¡­?¡± My jaw dropped. cksmith¡­ A smith? Moreover, being short, it seemed that it was a dwarf. Unbelievable. It was a production-worker skeleton. ____ Chapter 37 Chapter 37: For Boney 6 The new skeleton¡¯s ss was cksmith, which possessed various crafting skills such as smithing, weaving, and alchemy. ¡°¡­¡± I, who had never held a hammer in my life, could not possibly know anything about this. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m not well-versed in production jobs either¡­¡± Neither was Gi Soyul. There was no way she¡¯d know anything about cksmithing. She¡¯s someone known as the empress of assassination, having spent her life cutting down people and monsters. So there was only one way to solve this problem. [Using skill ¡®Teaching of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank).] [Consuming 20 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Master of All Techniques.¡¯] As soon as the next morning came, I immediately summoned the old man. ¡°Oh, look at you.¡± ¡°Yes, elder.¡± ¡°You seem to have grown.¡± The old man instantly noticed that I had reached C-rank. ¡°Haha, have you grasped the basics of the Great Blue Heart Technique?¡± ¡°Yes, I have.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s a bit slower than I expected. But it¡¯s not bad since it looks like you¡¯ve broken the seal of another undead. And its name is Boney 6?¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± He even knew about Boney 6¡¯s seal being broken. ¡°So, elder.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Do you know anything about cksmiths?¡± I asked with shining eyes. ¡°cksmiths¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. You are the Master of All Techniques. Crafting is also a skill, so I figure you must have mastered that too, right?¡± I nodded as I spoke. I was convinced that if anyone could guide Boney 6, it would be the Master of All Techniques. I was excited. If Boney 6 bes a master cksmithter, he could pump out S-rank items like a factory, right? As I feltst time, the value of S-rank items was sky-high. So if I raised Boney 6 well, I¡¯d never have to worry about money again. I could also easily equip the other skeletons and myself with top-notch gear. ¡°Huh? Why are you asking me about cksmithing? Don¡¯t tell me the new undead is a cksmith?¡± ¡°Haha, yes, that¡¯s right. Would you like to see it?¡± [Using skill ¡®Summon Bnced Skeleton¡¯ (C-rank).] [Consuming 10 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Bonehead 6.¡¯] I presented the old man Boney 6 holding a hammer. However, the old man¡¯s expression seemed displeased. ¡°Tsk, tsk, you fool.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± I had a bad feeling. Somehow, I felt like he was about to crush my hopes and dreams. ¡°Listen well. My techniques were created solely to defeat people. Sure, cksmithing could be considered a technique, but do I seem like the type to lock myself in a room to craft things?¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± No way. ¡°Think for a moment, will you? I was an unrivaled absolute being back in my world. Why would I waste my time making weapons when I could just take the best ones? Asking me about a lowly skill like cksmithing is an insult and a disgrace!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk. You look like you still don¡¯t understand. It¡¯s because you haven¡¯t changed your mindset. Do you know what the losers always love saying after their loss?¡± ¡°¡­What is it?¡± ¡°They me their equipment. They me their gear. A true master should be unbeatable even with a mere stick. And look at you already ming your equipment!¡± ¡°I neverined about my equipment¡­ I was just asking if you knew anything about cksmithing¡­¡± I was at a loss for words. What was I expecting from the old man? Moreover¡­ He told me to just take the best-made one. It felt like there was a huge wall between the world the old man grew up in and the one I grew up in, with different standards of duty and morality to uphold as a person. ¡°But didn¡¯t you say before that you¡¯d teach all of my kids?¡± The old man once said he¡¯d teach me everything. ¡°I earned this title by mastering countless talents. Do you think I¡¯d be satisfied with teaching only ten techniques?¡± He definitely mentioned ten skills back then. That meant he¡¯d teach Boney 6 too¡­ ¡°Tsk, tsk, you fool. When did I say I¡¯d teach cksmithing? Since it¡¯s holding a hammer, I could teach it hammer techniques if you¡¯d like.¡± ¡°¡­Hammer techniques? No thanks.¡± No way. I already had fivebat units and an unexpected stroke of luck brought me a production-type skeleton. I dreamt of equipping everyone in my party with full S-rank items. So I couldn¡¯t just give up now. ¡°Are you dismissing my hammer techniques? Smashing your enemies with a gigantic hammer has a different appeal than using swords or spears¡­¡± ¡°No thanks! I said no!¡± ¡°You brat! Have you lost your mind?¡± The old man¡¯s eyes widened in anger, but I wanted to say my piece. ¡°The techniques I¡¯m learning will not just be ten thousand techniques but All Techniques. Didn¡¯t you say that if any technique reaches its peak, it eventually connects to one?¡± ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m the founder of All Techniques, so it¡¯s my call.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand. How can you divide techniques into hierarchicalyers? No technique deserves to be looked down upon.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not dividing them into a hierarchy. I¡¯m simply telling you to get stronger first. Do you have time to hammer at the anvil with your meager strength? Use that time to practice your swordsmanship. Tsk.¡± ¡°My concept of All Techniques is different from yours. I want to include cksmithing in mine.¡± ¡°Hah, what an ungrateful¡­ What kind of stubbornness is that?¡± The old man looked dumbfounded, but my eyes were filled with determination. Boney 6 is a cksmith. This child was born to be a cksmith, so I wanted to raise it as one. I didn¡¯t want to turn it into a crude hammer-wielder. This is the mindset of a summoner. My skeletons are like my children, and a parent would want to send their children down the path they desire! I turned my back. ¡°Hey, you! Where are you going? Wait!¡± I smirked. If neither Gi Soyul nor the old man could help, then I¡¯d simply find another way. There¡¯s only one ce that¡¯s a haven for production workers in this country. The Gotomall. The name refers to the underground shopping mall at the Gangnam Express Bus Terminal. It mostly used to sell fashionable clothes. But now it was a ce where all production workers¡¯ and hunter item-rted businesses flourished. ¡°You brat!¡± the old man called urgently from behind. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Even if you¡¯re leaving, you must receive the Grand Technique of the Celestial Artisan first!¡± ¡°¡­¡± It¡¯s true that I needed to receive it, but I wasn¡¯t in the mood today. I had just risen to C-rank yesterday, and I was more curious about Boney 6¡¯s abilities than myself. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ll skip today and get double tomorrow.¡± ¡°What? You runt!¡± ¡°See you tomorrow, elder. Please understand.¡± ¡°You wretched¡­!¡± I hurriedly unsummoned the old man, who was muttering angrily. It was a small revenge against the old man who condescended that the ¡®cksmith,¡¯ Boney 6¡¯s ss, was lowly. In the underground Gotomall, you could find everything, from various dungeon items to items produced by hunters. It was a ce where many hunters came and went. And since it was lined with all sorts of mysterious items, it was also crowded with regr tourists. ¡°My, my. I never thought I¡¯de here again.¡± The day I received the unique authority ¡®Cursed Necromancer,¡¯ I bought a cheap staff here. [Item: Worn-Out Summoner¡¯s Staff] [Rank: E] [Type: Staff] [Description: A staff imbued with mysterious magical energy. It¡¯s worn from age.] [Effect 1: Reduces skill cooldown by 2%.] [Effect 2: Increases the power of summoning-rted skills by 3%.] ¡°¡­¡± This was the staff I was still using well. I¡¯d wanted to increase the power of my skeletons even by a little, so I spent a whopping 500,000 won* to buy it. * ¡Ö $385 USD But I should rece it soon. Honestly, nothing caught my eye. Maybe it was because I¡¯d gotten used to the Staff of the Fire Dragon that Boney 5 wielded, so my standards had risen. ¡°Haah,¡± I exhaled and looked around. The sound of hammering metal and the cheerful rustle of weaving fabric filled my ears. This ce is still crowded with people. I clicked my tongue at the endless stream of hunters and tourists. Gi Soyul, who followed me here, had hidden herself nearby. She said she was morefortable and used to hiding since she was a famous figure. First¡­ I picked one of the nearby forges. Judging by its worn-out sign, it was an old forge that seemed to handle only really cheap equipment. But I don¡¯t have money anyway¡­ Besides, there was another reason I¡¯d chosen this ce. [Smith¡¯s Forge] [Beginner cksmiths wee!] [Cheap rentals for furnaces, anvils, artificial wells, etc.!] [Build your proficiency to your heart¡¯s content! Many rooms avable!] The phrase ¡°Beginner cksmiths wee¡± caught my eye. Even though Boney 6 is already intermediate. I thought it would be best to start with the basics since Boney 6 had no teacher. I also chose this area because there were no hunters around, partially because it was such an old forge. ¡°Hello,¡± I gave my greetings and entered, and a man in his early 50s stood up. ¡°Wee. You here for somethin¡¯?¡± ¡°No, I saw the ad out front.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re a cksmith? A beginner, so F-rank? Or E-rank?¡± ¡°E-rank.¡± I jingled the white namete hanging from my waist. I need to renew it soon. The renewal period regted by the association was half a year. If you rose in rank and concealed it for more than half a year, you¡¯d be deemed a ¡°fraudulent registrant¡± and would face all sorts of disadvantages. However, I still had about four to five months left, so I was fine. ¡°I see! So you¡¯re here to rent a room?¡± ¡°Yes, can I take a look?¡± Actually, I had roughly grasped the production work information through the Hunter Board on the way. It was somewhat simr to a game. Smelting, weaving, and alchemy were skills, so proficiency would increase, and levels would rise naturally. The item-crafting skill is the highlight of a cksmith. A cksmith could create an item using the blueprints obtained from basic skills and the materials from dungeons. ¡°Feel free to look around. If you like what you see, you can rent a room.¡± The rooms were simple¡ªan empty space with only the necessary items installed. It was like a factory for building one¡¯s proficiency level. ¡°Hmm, how much does it cost?¡± He put up two fingers up. ¡°Two¡­? Surely not two hundred won?¡± ¡°Haha, you¡¯re quite the joker. Of course, it¡¯s two million won.* And there¡¯s no daily rental.¡± * ¡Ö $1,540 USD ¡°¡­¡± Now I understood why there were no customers. It was more expensive than I thought. Even though I had recently explored a C-rank dungeon, I didn¡¯t have much money saved up. [ount Bnce Inquiry] [ount Holder: Joo Donghoon] [Hunter Preferred ount (E-rank)] [Deposit: 8,600,000 KRW] About 8.6 million won*? So I had to spend about 25% of my entire fortune. * ¡Ö $6,615 USD ¡°If you don¡¯t want it, don¡¯t take it. I guarantee you won¡¯t find a cheaper ce than here. Do you know how much it costs to install a makeshift anvil or furnace? Plus, we have a loom and a makeshift alchemy stand.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± I was conflicted. I wasn¡¯t usually a sucker, but this guy wasn¡¯t wrong. Most production workers were managed and supported at a guild level, so they didn¡¯t need toe to ces like this. And if there¡¯s no demand, the supply gradually disappears. Other rental facilities probably went out of business, leaving this ce as the only one barely hanging on. ¡°Okay, fine.¡± I nodded. It was an investment for my child. If Boney 6 grows properly, he¡¯ll repay me many times over. ¡°I¡¯ll rent for a month!¡± I cheerfully handed over my card. Chapter 38 Chapter 38: For Boney 6, No, For Myself [¡ïBEST¡ï] [Username: White Swine] [Upvote: 2,750,000] [Title: Production Skill Tier List!] > ¡®Sup? Nice to meet you. I¡¯m a hunter whomands numerous production hunters like cksmiths, jewelers, tailors, and so on. > Production hunters, listen up. I see people arguing about who has top-tier or 2nd-tier skills on the forums. So let me clear this up for you, so y¡¯all can shut up. > First off, there are countless production skills. cksmithing, jewelry crafting, tailoring, item crafting, mining, metallurgy, cooking, smelting, woodworking, potion brewing, tanning, leather crafting, weaving, enchanting, mechanical engineering, herb gathering, blueprint designing, alchemy, etc. > Yikes, it¡¯s exhausting just to list them all, huh? You can look up what each skill does on your own time. > The important thing here is that all skills have their own value. > The goal of the production ss is to create something, right? And of course you want to make the best items possible, right? > To do that, you need all the skills listed above. Nothing is unimportant. The higher the performance of an item, the more diverse and rare materials you need. Therefore, all those skills listed above are at least 2nd-tier by default. > Since they¡¯re all 2nd-tier, there¡¯s no need to argue. Arguing about your skills is like asking, ¡°Who is stronger, the navy or the air force?¡± Their purpose may be different, but the fact that we need both does not change. > But actually, there are 1st-tier skills among those. Just two. > Why, you may ask? Because you can perform other skills just by learning these two skills. > The 1st-tier skills I¡¯m talking about are ¡®Item Crafting¡¯ and ¡®Alchemy.¡¯ > Item Crafting consolidates skills like cksmithing, jewelry crafting, tailoring, and potion brewing. > Alchemy isn¡¯t just about making gold; it¡¯s aboutbining leftover materials to extract other materials. Therefore, Alchemy makes obtaining high-value metals, ores, blueprints, jewels, herbs, and so on easier. > So if any of you kids turning 20 have either of those skills, you should jump for joy. > In conclusion. Item Crafting and Alchemy are 1st-tier. The rest are 2nd-tier. > If you disagree, your argument is valid. If you¡¯re still upset,e find me at White Swine. > Cheers. ¡°Hmm.¡± Inside the rented room, I summoned Boney 6. ¡ªCreak? The short skeleton tilted its head, holding a tiny, cute bone hammer. I sent it to the makeshift magic furnace. ¡ªSizzle! The fuel boiled and burned red-hot, fascinating to watch. [Skill: Intermediate Smelting] [Level: 1] [Description: Extracts metal from ores.] [Effect 1: Can smelt iron ore.] [Effect 2: Can smelt copper ore.] [Effect 3: Can smelt silver ore.] ¡°Hm.¡± First, I went out to buy some piles of iron ore nearby. ¡°Alright, give it a try.¡± Of course, I had no idea how to smelt. But Boney 6 was a cksmith, so it would know, right? Just like Boney 1 could naturally swing a sword. ¡ªCreak! It nodded and carried the iron ore piles to the furnace, slowly pouring them in. [Using skill ¡®Intermediate Smelting¡¯ (Lv.1).] [Crafted 1 ¡®Iron Ingot.¡¯] [Crafted 1 ¡®Iron Ingot.¡¯] [Crafted ¡®Waste Pile.¡¯] [Proficiency increased by 1.] [Tip: When proficiency exceeds a certain value, the level increases.] ¡°Woah.¡± Iron ingots piled up at the base of the furnace as time passed. These were the basic materials needed to craft items. [Skill: Intermediate Weaving] [Level: 1] [Description: Spins thread and weaves cloth.] [Effect 1: Spins ¡®Intermediate Thread.¡¯] [Effect 2: Weaves ¡®Intermediate Cloth.¡¯] The weaving skill was simr by buying materials like spider silk, cocoons, wool, goat hair, and x and spinning them on the loom. [Using skill ¡®Intermediate Weaving.¡¯] [Spun ¡®Intermediate Thread.¡¯] [Spun ¡®Intermediate Thread.¡¯] [Crafted ¡®Waste Pile.¡¯] [Proficiency increased by 1.] Various colors of threads bloomed splendidly. ¡°Wow.¡± I was impressed. In short, Smelting and Weaving were skills to extract materials. And it was as simple as a game with no need to overthink it. I just had to put it in and presto! It was made. ¡°Boney 6.¡± ¡ªCreak? It looked at me after setting the loom. ¡°Shall we try alchemy now?¡± I made up my mind to use all the skills it had today. The alchemy stand wasn¡¯t in the rented room. There was only one public stand in the farthest back room of the shop. It makes sense since alchemy is a rare skill. The shop owner didn¡¯t seem to stock many. ¡ªClomp, clomp. Moving to the room with Boney 6, I saw a man in a hood. He was smoking heavily, focused on something. He seemed to be a customer using the shop. Though I have Boney 6, so. I decided not to mind it. I was an umon necromancer, but that person also must possess an umon alchemist profession. I stood there, observing what the man was doing. After about 30 seconds, he reacted. ¡°Are you a beginner?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°The alchemy stand can be shared, but you were just standing there.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± I nodded, a sign of affirmation. ¡°If you¡¯re a beginner, I can show you. Come over here.¡± The man was kind. As if recalling his early days, he offered his help. It¡¯s fortunate for me. I looked at him with shining eyes and expressed my gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Hmm, being here means you must have the Alchemy skill. But what¡¯s with that skeleton? Are you a necromancer?¡± ¡°Ah, actually. I don¡¯t have Alchemy, but this guy does.¡± ¡°¡­What? Really?¡± The alchemist licked his lips. ¡°Life sure brings strange experiences. I never thought I¡¯d see a skeleton that can use Alchemy.¡± ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s fascinating to me too.¡± ¡°¡­Well, do you have any junk items?¡± ¡°Junk items?¡± I checked my portable bag. I had collected a few things while exploring C-rank dungeons recently. ¡ªRustle¡­ I shook the bag, and about two dozen junk items fell out. They were ¡®itemized¡¯ materials like poison nds, tail hairs, and bone fragments. ¡°Oh?¡± Watching the scene, the alchemist¡¯s pupils dted. ¡°These are all useful materials above C-rank. They must have been difficult to get.¡± ¡°I just got lucky.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The alchemist nced down to check the white namete at my waist. It seemed like he was gauging my skills. White meant E-rank, so he¡¯d likely think I was a wealthy hunter. ¡°¡­Well, alchemy is actually quite simple. Just put ¡®waste piles¡¯ or material-type ¡®junk items¡¯ into the stand and use the skill.¡± ¡°It really does sound simple.¡± I followed the man¡¯s instructions and had Boney 6 pour all the junk items in. And then I waited. [Using skill ¡®Intermediate Weaving.¡¯] ¡ªThump! Thump! Thump! [What item will be created?] With various effects, messages popped up. Wow, this felt like a lottery. After some time, messages appeared one after another. ¡ªRing! [You obtained ¡®Mandrake.¡¯] [You obtained the blueprint for ¡®Sturdy Steel Sword.¡¯] [You obtained ¡®Silver Ingot.¡¯] [You obtained ¡®Intermediate Cloth.¡¯] [You obtained ¡®Intermediate Thread.¡¯] [You obtained ¡®Lowest-Level Sapphire.¡¯] [Proficiency increased by 2.] ¡ªRustle! Items poured out from under the stand. This¡­ It felt familiar. You know the feeling? Like when you were a kid ying with a gacha machine by putting in a few coins. This is a fun skill. Just as thebat skills of swinging swords and fighting monsters were enjoyable, these production-type skills also had their own charm. After praising Boney 6 internally, I was about to gather the items when it happened. ¡°Huh?¡± The alchemist watching us had wide eyes. ¡°What is this? You used Alchemy but got blueprints, herbs, and even jewels?¡± ¡°¡­What¡¯s the matter?¡± I tilted my head. Isn¡¯t that what Alchemy does? [Skill: Intermediate Alchemy] [Level: 1] [Description: Synthesizes materials to create new random materials.] [Effect 1: Can obtain basic materials.] [Effect 2: Can obtain intermediate materials.] That¡¯s what the skill description says. ¡°No way. Mandrakes or sapphires onlye from intermediate and above.¡± ¡°Is that surprising?¡± The alchemist looked astonished. Why? What was the problem? ¡°Wait, are you an intermediate alchemist? How can an E-rank do that? Is this a trick? Are you a magician or something?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a magician. Hm, is an intermediate alchemist rare?¡± ¡°¡­Okay, this is nuts. I need to take a puff. Judging from what you¡¯re saying, you¡¯re clearly a beginner.¡± The alchemist sighed heavily and exhaled smoke. Then he continued, ¡°Fuu. Of course, they¡¯re rare. Do you know how hard it is to raise the proficiency of Basic Alchemy? It takes thousands, millions of materials to reach Intermediate Alchemy.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± I was shocked to hear that. What? But Boney 6 started as an intermediate alchemist. ¡°On your own, raising the skill level to intermediate is almost impossible. You¡¯d need some guild-level support.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s crazy to see a beginner with Intermediate Alchemy. Even in White Swine, there are only about five intermediate alchemists¡­ This is unbelievable.¡± ¡°Then what about advanced alchemists?¡± ¡°There aren¡¯t any yet in this world. Even though it¡¯s been over ten years.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Now I understood why production professions were underrated despite being fun and why they couldn¡¯t be as famous asbat jobs. Because this skill can¡¯t be developed at an individual level. The difficulty was immense. It would take tens and hundreds of millions of won. My bank bnce was less than ten million won. Hm. However, it was strange. After hearing this, I should have felt despair. But why do I want to raise Boney 6 more? Instead, I felt it was the right choice because it was better to raise a rare profession than something that just anyone could raise. I just need to work hard. ¡®Hard work¡¯ was my biggest weapon. Besides, I didn¡¯t have to do it myself as I could just summon Boney 6 and have it work. In the meantime, I just needed to keep bringing materials from dungeons without needing to stand in front of a hot furnace myself. Alright. I felt passionate. It might cost a lot of money, but I didn¡¯t care. This guy was practically stock that would surely rise exponentially in the future, so it was worth the investment. ¡°Thanks for the advice. Here, take this.¡± I handed him the mandrake as a token of appreciation. ¡°What? No, you shouldn¡¯t have! This is a valuable intermediate herb.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll be seeing each other often. I¡¯d appreciate the asional advice.¡± I smiled brightly. Then I looked at my lovely Boney 6. Boney 6, I¡¯ll keep gathering materials so you can grow without trouble. So in return, you have to make great items for me, alright? Gehehe. I chuckled sinisterly to myself. Chapter 39 Chapter 39: Creating a Crisis Time flowed like a running river. The training was repetitive and I went to dungeons periodically. [You have acquired the item ¡®Green Lizard Tail¡¯ (C-rank).] [You have acquired the item ¡®Deviant Wolf Fang¡¯ (D-rank).] [You have acquired the item ¡®Deviant Wolf w¡¯ (D-rank).] [You have acquired the item ¡®Cursed Quiver¡¯ (D-rank).] ¡­ All the misceneous materials obtained in the dungeon went into the alchemy stand. I stored materials for future item crafting, including iron ingots, silver ingots, threads, cloth, and leather. Then I used them to increase Boney 6¡¯s proficiency. It was killing two birds with one stone. Let¡¯s take it slow. The old man had sulked for a while, but after I received two consecutive massages from him, he was miraculously appeased. ¡°You.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, elder?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted. How many times have I told you that immersion is the most important thing in any training?¡± The old man was indeed a transcendent being, one who even mastered mind-reading. ¡ªWhoosh! I swung my sword. It was time to build up proficiency for my sh skill again today. Raising a skill¡¯s rank wasn¡¯t an easy task. [Rend (C-rank)] My level of shing was still very low. ¡°Huff, huff!¡± While sweating and swinging my arm like crazy¡­ ¡°Disciple,¡± the old man stopped me. ¡°Huff, what is it now? I was just getting into it.¡± ¡°There are only five minutes left. So let me ask you something.¡± The old man furrowed his eyebrows. Judging by his expression, he had something to say. ¡ªng! I also set down the bone sword I¡¯d borrowed from Boney 1 on the ground. I had plenty of time to train, but conversations with the old man, whom I could only summon for an hour a day, were more precious to me. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m listening, elder.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to say this for a while. That woman back there, the one who challenged me.¡± ¡°Are you talking about Ms. Soyul?¡± ¡°Yes, how long do you n on keeping her by your side?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The old man continued calmly, ¡°You need to be stronger. You might think you¡¯ve gotten strong, but you haven¡¯t even reached the lowest caliber of All Techniques. Yet you have a strong presence protecting you that doesn¡¯t match your level.¡± ¡°Are you saying I need more crises?¡± A weed grown in harsh conditions is tougher than a flower in a greenhouse. I wondered if that was what he wanted to convey. However. ¡°Hmm. Not only did Ms. Soyul make a promise to me, but she¡¯s also staying of her own will¡­¡± To be precise, it¡¯s because of you, elder. But I held back that thought. ¡ªSwoosh! I sensed Gi Soyul¡¯s presence nearby. She must have been concerned when her name came up, but she wouldn¡¯t have heard the old man¡¯s voice anyway. ¡°You have to send her away somehow. I assume you won¡¯t be easily defeated as someone who has taken the resentment of both me and the Sun Spear.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true¡­¡± Indeed, it was. I didn¡¯t even care about the ones targeting metely. I had enough on my mind with my training and Boney 6¡¯s proficiency. ¡°There¡¯s a saying, ¡®A pointed needle will always be recognized.¡¯ No matter how much you crouch in fear, the world will notice you and be envious. Will you always hide behind someone¡¯s back then?¡± I opened my mouth. ¡°Elder, do you¡­ want me to reveal myself to the world?¡± I was currently hiding my rank. Not only that, I wasn¡¯t involved in any activities, only focusing on training and continuously clearing dungeons. In dungeons especially, I moved as discreetly as possible not to reveal myself to the world. But the old man didn¡¯t seem to like that. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s exactly right. You will have something to protect once you reveal yourself to the world. Then you won¡¯t say nonsense about learning some puny techniques like cksmithing.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Could it be that this old man was still upset about that? If that was the case, then that just made him petty. ¡°But it¡¯s fine,¡± he said. ¡°What is?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also learned a lot from that.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying that out of nowhere.¡± I tilted my head in question. ¡°In fact, I overlooked that the world I lived in and your world are fundamentally different.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If I knew that this world allowed an item to be created in an instant with a single skill, I wouldn¡¯t have stopped you back then.¡± Ah, right. I showed the old man Boney 6¡¯s smelting and alchemy process. I still remember his astonished expression. ¡°This world is more mysterious and harsher than the one I lived in.¡± ¡°Why?¡± At my question, the old man stroked his chin. ¡°Both Sun Spear and I were absolute beings in our worlds. We had no rivals, and no entity interfered in our world.¡± ¡°But this world¡­¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s a ce intertwined with countless other worlds. Moreover, it¡¯s a world where a transcendent being intervenes in the name of ¡®skills.¡¯¡± A transcendent¡ªthe old man called the system by that name. He¡¯s right. We didn¡¯t know the existence of that transcendent being like how ants in ab wouldn¡¯t know the existence of scientists. We could only specte that it was a being from another dimension or a ¡®deity.¡¯ From the old man¡¯s perspective, it must have been ridiculous to see hunters who didn¡¯t even know ki using the essence of enlightenment, which took decades to achieve, with a single ¡®skill.¡¯ ¡°Therefore, you must be stronger than me. You must be even greater. To prove that my All Techniques is the strongest, you must exist not only above my world but above all worlds.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± I nodded because I understood why the old man said that. He¡¯s anxious. I don¡¯t know why the old man was so obsessed with strength. There might have been some reason, or it might have been his infinite pride in his All Techniques. But one thing is certain. The old man¡¯s intentions aligned with mine. Additionally, the old man was much more experienced and stronger than me. That alone made him worth following. ¡°Alright.¡± The decision was quick. The old man wanted only one thing: to be free from Gi Soyul¡¯s protection. ¡°However.¡± ¡°However?¡± The old man turned his head. ¡°Remember the medium dungeon I mentioned back then?¡± ¡°You mean the Roots of Racial Conflict or something?¡± ¡°Yes, elder.¡± [Item: Roots of Racial Conflict] [Rank: A] [Type: Medium] [Description: Roots that can uncover secrets of hidden ruins.] [Effect 1: Can unlock the dungeon ¡®Forest and Stone.¡¯] [Effect 2: Bound to the hunter ¡®Joo Donghoon.¡¯] [Effect 3: This item can only be activated for hunters C-rank and above.] It was an A-rank medium, but now that I was a C-rank hunter, I could challenge it. ¡°I¡¯ll challenge it right away. If it seems like there¡¯s no crisis, I¡¯ll just have to create one. The difficulty seems quite tough, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± The previous dungeon was B-rank, yet it had the Sun Spear in it, which presented me with an ¡®Immeasurable¡¯ difficulty. Honestly, I was nervous just thinking about how difficult this dungeon would be and how much it would help me grow. ¡°Haha, you little one. Now you¡¯re finally understanding.¡± The old man nodded in satisfaction. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you to say that. With pleasure, you may leave.¡± Gi Soyul epted it surprisingly easily. ¡°Hellhound is a despicable yet cowardly ranker.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Therefore he is cautious. As long as the Five Stars of Seoul stand firm, he will never appear before you.¡± In reality, without the threat of Hellhound appearing before me, Gi Soyul¡¯s protection was somewhat excessive. ¡°Thank you for protecting me until now.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me. I¡¯ve gained just as much from it. It was a promise too.¡± ¡°Still, gratitude is gratitude.¡± I bowed my head sincerely. Even though we¡¯d grown closertely, the fact that she was a ranker hadn¡¯t changed. And it was difficult to acquire a ranker¡¯s protection even with billions of money. ¡°However,¡± Gi Soyul spoke. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Allow me to observe your training whenever I want.¡± ¡°Huh? You can already observe anytime you want, can¡¯t you?¡± She was a ranker. With my current ability, she could observe me without me noticing. ¡°Watching in secret isn¡¯t a polite thing to do.¡± But of course, the Gi Soyul beside me was very strict with herself. Well, I nodded. ¡°Yes, please let me know whenever youe by. I don¡¯t mind since you¡¯ve been watching up until now anyway.¡± ¡°And one more thing.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°In case of any crisis, you must seek help from Parang.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying this out of concern, but sometimes you are recklessly impulsive.¡± ¡°¡­I can be a bit reckless sometimes.¡± I scratched the back of my head. There had indeed been many moments that things would have turned dangerous without Gi Soyul, such as the incidents that happened in dungeons and at Seonyudo. ¡°Remember. Your fortuitous opportunity isn¡¯t just your own. My share must definitely be included.¡± ¡°¡­Alright. I got it.¡± Having allies was a great advantage, especially a trustworthy ally. For her too. If I died, she¡¯d lose the clue to break her growth wall, so I was sure she really meant it when she said that. ¡°Be careful then.¡± With those words, her figure disappeared like melting snow. It was a mysterious skill, no matter how many times I had seen it. ¡°Hmm.¡± After she disappeared, I took a short break. Then I took out the roots from my pocket. ¡°The instructions say to nt this in the ground, right?¡± The Roots of Racial Conflict. When I nted the medium in the clearing with my energy, the space started to shake and a tree started to grow rapidly. ¡ªRumble! The roots were anchored to the ground and the trunk grew to form a door. [Would you like to activate the ¡®Roots of Racial Conflict¡¯?] [You can unlock the dungeon ¡®Forest and Stone.] [Warning!] [This is a solo dungeon.] ¡ªThump, thump. My heart raced at the thought of what trials awaited beyond that door. No one could say for sure, and no one could provide any advice. It felt like peering into the abyss. A regr hunter would be very afraid, however¡­ I never back down. Hesitation led to shrinking. There was only one answer, anyway. It was better to dive in without hesitation and face it. Whatever trialse, I¡¯ll endure and be stronger. ¡ªsh! A blinding light filled my vision. * * * ¡°Hm.¡± Inside a luxurious building office, a man in a ck suit sat, resting his chin on his hand. [Director Shin Jongoh] The man¡¯s name was Shin Jongoh. He was a C-rank hunter and the grandson of the chairman of the Ohsung Group, one of the top 10 corporations in South Korea. He was gnashing his teeth upon hearing that his favorite ranker, Gi Soyul, was interested in someone. ¡°Did you investigate that guy, Joo Donghoon?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Opposite him, a woman who looked like a secretary adjusted her sses. ¡°There were some difficulties due to the Dark Empress¡¯s interference, but¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Gi Soyul can¡¯t harm me.¡± No matter how powerful Parang was, the Ohsung Group was also a big whale. They wouldn¡¯t start a war to harm each other because their risk of loss was too high. The secretary cleared her throat. ¡°Hmm, the investigation revealed that his daily routine was simple.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes, he went back and forth between a clearing at the back of a mountain and the underground shopping mall, Gotomall, every day. But during other times, the Dark Empress¡¯s surveince intensified¡­¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Shin Jongoh raised his eyebrows. ¡°Gotomall? Did he get his hands on some fortune or something?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. He goes to a workshop called the Smith¡¯s Forge, where beginner production workers rent expensive equipment.¡± ¡°Production, you say¡­¡± Shin Jongoh frowned. What could it be? Does he possess some sort of special production ss? Could it be that was why Gi Soyul was so interested in him? ¡°Haah,¡± he let out a short sigh. In any case, he felt relieved. No matter his unique ability, Shin Jongoh was still a C-rank hunter. Even if they fought, he wouldn¡¯t lose to a production worker. His wariness eased slightly. But at the same time, anger welled up. Does this mean I lost to a mere production worker? ¡ªClench! Shin Jongoh clenched his fist. Hehe, it¡¯s time to teach him a lesson. A sinister smile spread across his lips. Chapter 40 Chapter 40: Forest and Stone (1) A dungeon¡¯s background usually matches its name. The dungeon where I encountered Sun Spear was called the ¡°Ancient Desert.¡± True to its name, it was set in a sweltering desert. And this time¡­ The dungeon I¡¯m in now is called ¡°Forest and Stone.¡± As the name suggests, the environment is straightforward. ¡°It¡¯s a forest with rocks. Just as it says.¡± I looked around. To the left was a dense forest so thick that even the midday sun couldn¡¯t prate it. And to the right¡­ A vast, rocky area spread out. The sound of strong gusts could be heard, making it appear refreshing on sight. Beyond the horizon were rugged stone mountains where no nts seemed to grow for some reason. ¡°Everyone¡­¡± Once inside a dungeon, securing our safety was the top priority. I nodded and opened my mouth. ¡°Come forth and stand in formation!¡± With a rustle, the skeletons from Boney 1 to Boney 6 emerged from the ground at mymand. Among these six subordinates, the one in charge was none other than the Sun Spear. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°By the way, why did you summon Boney 6?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Boney 6 was a production-type skeleton, so there was no need for it to be in the dungeon. However¡­ ¡°Look at that rocky area.¡± I confidently pointed toward the rocky terrain. ¡°¡­?¡± Sunny tilted its head in question. ¡°Take a good look. Doesn¡¯t it look like a mineral zone?¡± ¡°¡­Hm, does it?¡± ¡°Production workers always wonder what materials will be waiting, and it brings athem joy when they see such magnificent scenery.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I¡¯ve developed this habit while exploring C-rank dungeonstely. Boney 6, true to its cksmith profession, has a keen sense for minerals. Though it doesn¡¯t have a mining skill. If I kept it nearby, it would create a bone pickaxe and dig around randomly. Anyway, the advantage of my skeletons is their ability to grow. Just as the Master of All Techniques created skills through teachings, Boney 6 might obtain the mining skill if it kept mining recklessly. That¡¯s what I thought. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were a production worker, my lord.¡± ¡°Boney 6 is the production worker.¡± ¡°¡­Aren¡¯t you favoring Boney 6 too muchtely?¡± I looked at Sunny as if surprised. ¡°Wait, are you jealous right now?¡± Lately, I¡¯d been exploring dungeons alone. Having frequent conversations with Sunny as apanion, we seem to have grown closer than before, seeing how it feltfortable saying such things to me now. ¡°Not at all, my lord.¡± ¡°Sure you are.¡± I smiled. No matter what Sunny¡¯s past was, its favorability with me was important. They say bonding with a summoned creature, especially one that can grow, further enhances its potential. ¡°Then I¡¯ll proceed with patrolling and reconnaissance,¡± Sunny swung its spear and murmured heavily. Sunny was so reliable. When I was busy, itmanded the skeletons for me. It also personally handled basic chores like this. ¡ªCreak! They each took their positions. [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ used the skill ¡®Secure Vision¡¯ (Lv.9).] Boney 3¡¯s skill conveyed the surrounding scenery to me through sensations. ¡°Hmm.¡± I closed my eyes and felt it fully. This ce had a dense forest and a barren rocky area. Apart from that, there was nothing else in the dungeon. I couldn¡¯t figure out where this was or what stages might exist; it was overwhelming. ¡°My lord, it¡¯s a very wide area just from what I can sense. It might not be as vast as the desertnds I controlled, but it seems nearlyparable.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think we have to choose between the two?¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± I didn¡¯t open my closed eyes. ¡ªVwoom! I tried to find something through the arrows in the air that Boney 3 shot. In any dungeon, there were always clues to solve it. ¡°Hmm?¡± Then I felt an unusual sensation from a very distant ce, at the boundary between the forest and the rocks. Is this ki? It was clearly a wave of intense ki. I could only perceive the ki¡¯s movement because I had learned the Great Blue Heart Technique. ¡°Alright,¡± I muttered. Sunny seemed to have read my thoughts and stepped back with a nod. ¡°I¡¯ve set my heading. We¡¯ll be moving that way. But no need to hurry, take it slow.¡± ¡°As youmand, my lord.¡± We moved slowly, carefully preparing for any traps there might be. Extreme caution was necessary since this was my first attempt at an A-rank dungeon. ¡°It¡¯s just as my lord said. I can sense living creatures there.¡± Fortunately, nothing happened until we reached our destination. However, the sight of the destination wasn¡¯t entirely reassuring. ¡°What are those?¡± Foggy breath came out of my mouth. ¡°Long ears and short stature¡­?¡± I¡¯d never read fantasy novels, but I¡¯d seen them in movies a few times. Actually, there wasn¡¯t even any need to go that far. They were drawn in the monster encyclopedia for hunters. ¡°Are those elves and dwarves?¡± Forest and stone and the roots of racial conflict. The identity of the races had now been revealed. ¡°Damn those elves! Kill them! Crush them with hammers!¡± ¡°Warriors of the solid ground! Do not retreat!¡± ¡°Arrows? Magic? They don¡¯t even tickle me!¡± The dwarves roared. ¡°Hmph, howughable.¡± ¡°Do you think puny creatures like yourselves could ever face the scouts of the rugged forest?¡± ¡°You greedy metal-craving creatures! How dare youe here coveting the beauty of nature?!¡± The elves hanging from trees fired back arrows. It was a small-scale skirmish of about a dozen on each side. They were expressing their sincere emotions, shedding blood. In other words, they were shing fiercely. ¡°¡­Indeed, they are unfamiliar races.¡± Sunny clicked its jaw in fascination. Hiding its presence nearby, it observed the scene and said, ¡°Thanks to my lord, I could witness such a precious sight with my own eyes. But it doesn¡¯t seem like we need to worry.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°They are weaker than I expected. We can easily subdue both sides with my lord¡¯s current forces.¡± I furrowed my brow. ¡°Weaker than expected, you say¡­¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Sunny stroked its chin. ¡°I understand your concern. By the standards of this world, this is an A-rank dungeon. Do you believe there might be additional traps?¡± ¡°¡­¡± No, that wasn¡¯t the problem. Clearly, the dungeon¡¯s size was vast. No fool would judge the entire dungeon¡¯s difficulty by seeing only a part of it. However. ¡ªRing! [Stage: Race Selection] [¡®Forest Elves¡¯ and ¡®Rock Dwarves¡¯] [Forest Elves are a noble race with long, pointed ears like leaves. As fae of the forest, they excel in archery and spirit magic.] [Rock Dwarves are short but very strong and sturdy. As fae of the stony mountains, they are interested in metals and possess great craftsmanship.] [You have discovered the bloody battle of the two races.] [Assist one of the races to resolve the conflict.] ¡°¡­¡± Seeing the message before my eyes, I had to ponder. Choose between the two? Choosing is important, especially in a dungeon where every choice is a gamble with your life on the line. ¡°Hmm, Sun Spear.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡°Which of the two races do you prefer?¡± ¡°¡­A profound question.¡± Huh? It¡¯s not that deep at all. ¡°Geographically, both are good. My body, which lived in the hot desert, considers both the forest and the rocky area paradise. The abundant trees, cool wind, and damp ground are precious things not seen in the desert.¡± ¡°And next?¡± ¡°Those with the power of the forest move very nimbly. Moreover, they use ranged attacks as their main weapon, just like Boney 3¡­ Huh?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Sunny looked up in surprise. Its gaze was now fixed on Boney 3. ¡ªCreak? Boney 3 tilted its head in response. ¡°Wait¡­¡± I frowned too. Originally, skeletons didn¡¯t have ears or noses. Since ears are cartge, they usually dpose quickly. However. Boney 3¡¯s ears clearly had bones. They weren¡¯t conspicuouslyrge, just about the length of a thumb. ¡°My lord, by any chance¡­¡± ¡°¡­Huh, could Boney 3 be an elf?¡± The medium dungeon showed the past lives of my skeletons, just like Boney 2¡¯s past in the Ancient Desert was the Sun Spear. ¡°Come to think of it, using a bow is just like an elf.¡± Now that I thought about it, its body shape was also slender. It was different from the other skeletons in several ways. ¡°My lord, Boney 6 too¡­¡± ¡°Yes. We already knew that Boney 6 was originally a dwarf.¡± In fact, even though I¡¯d asked Sunny, my choice was already leaning toward the rocky area. With their short stature and hammers, they were clearly Boney 6¡¯s race. However. That story would change if Boney 3 were an elf. Both Boney 3 and Boney 6 were my children. Choosing between the two was a painful problem. ¡ªCrash! Boom! The two races continued to fight. If I didn¡¯t choose quickly, the stage would pass. I wondered if I could choose both at that moment. [Assist one of the two races to resolve the conflict.] [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [If you fail to decide in time, a penalty will be imposed.] [Penalty = Death.] ¡°What the f¡­¡± I was just curious about what would happen if I didn¡¯t choose, then the message kindly informed me that I¡¯d die. Dammit. I got anxious. I had to choose something. If I chose the elves, Boney 3 would grow. Living with and training with the elves would allow Boney 3 tremendous growth speed. On the other hand, what would happen if I chose the dwarves? Okay, wow. I couldn¡¯t help but be excited. What if they were all natural cksmiths? That would be invaluable. It was hard to gain such proficiency, even with billions of money in reality. Here, there might be a chance to umte it for free. ¡°¡­¡± The number of elves and dwarves was slowly decreasing. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Ahh!¡± Casualties urred during the sh between the two races. I could see the hatred and conflict in their eyes. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve decided.¡± I nodded. I loved Boney 3, and I loved Boney 6. But money¡­ Between the two I loved, what swayed me more was ¡®money.¡¯ And cksmithing brought money. For now, Sunny is enough forbat. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! I swung my staff. ¡ªck! Then the skeletons glowed and raised their weapons. They released their suppressed energy. ¡°I will choose the rocky side.¡± [You have chosen the ¡®Rock Dwarves.¡¯] [Favorability has changed.] [Rock Tribe: 70] [Forest Tribe: 30] [Help the ¡®Rock Dwarves¡¯ drive out the ¡®Forest Elves¡¯!] A system message popped up as I spoke. Favorability? It was a concept I was seeing for the first time. ¡°What? Who are they?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± There was no time to worry about that now. Both races recognized me as I appeared. ¡°Haah, my lord.¡± Sun Spear sighed lightly beside me. ¡°My lord, you really favor Boney 6, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t that¡­ Let¡¯s just say the youngest is always the cutest. Chapter 41 Chapter 41: Forest and Stone (2) Choosing the Rock Dwarves had a clear and immediate effect. ¡°Oho! Rocks! The God of Stone has blessed us with his grace!¡± one of the dwarves shouted, his eyes wide with fervor. The stout dwarves acted like I had always been on their side from the start. ¡°Gahahaha! Look at this, you vile elves! Even the heavens are on our side!¡± ¡°¡­Damn it!¡± One of the elves clicked his tongue and drew his bow, aiming at me. ¡ªTing! He fired an arrow. ¡°Hmph!¡± I quickly raised my staff and deflected the arrow to the side. The arrow skidded past me and embedded itself in the ground. Boney 5¡¯s Air Shield protected my body, but my physical training made me more than capable of handling such attacks. I could easily fend off a low-level elf¡¯s attack. ¡°Whew, so they attack immediately, huh? It¡¯s nice that the line has been drawn quickly.¡± Perhaps due to the favorability, the dwarves were friendly to me while the elves were hostile. This made things easier since there was no need toe up withplex reasons to fight. ¡°Sunny.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡°Take care of them. Don¡¯t kill them, just drive them away.¡± Even though I chose to side with the dwarves, I had to be cautious. [Assist one of the races to resolve the conflict.] The objective of this stage was ultimately to resolve the conflict. Killing them recklessly might create new conflicts instead of solving the existing ones. ¡°I shall do as youmand.¡± Sunny understood my thoughts perfectly. It began to drive the elves away while subtly controlling the other skeletons. ¡ªWhoosh! sh! Sunny swung its spear vigorously. ¡ªCrack! Thud! Each swing split massive trees in half, caving the ground in. ¡°How is that even¡­?¡± ¡°Th-They¡¯re strong!¡± The sr force radiating from the spear was enough to intimidate the elves. ¡°Could he be from a neutral race?¡± ¡°Seems like it! It¡¯s a type of species we¡¯ve never seen before! And they stink of the dead¡­! Could it be that the dwarves have dabbled in dark magic?¡± ¡°Retreat for now and report to the higher-ups!¡± ¡ªSwoosh! The elves began to disappear one by one. If I wanted, I could have killed them all. ¡°Nicely done, Sunny.¡± But I chose not to. As I leisurely watched the retreating elves, the dwarf who had shouted earlier approached and gave me a slight bow. ¡°Whoever you are, thank you for your help. I am Dagnar, a warrior of the Rock Tribe. I will never forget this favor and make sure to repay you.¡± Behind Dagnar, the surviving dwarves began to appear one by one. I smiled and nodded in response. ¡°It was nothing.¡± ¡°Haha, nothing? Choosing sides between two of the races in this world is no small feat and could even be very dangerous.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± I tilted my head in confusion. This dwarf spoke as if he knew I had chosen their side. More importantly¡­ ¡°Are there other races living here as well?¡± ¡°Huh? Why do you sound like you don¡¯t know anything? It¡¯s as if you fell from the sky.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yeah. I guess you could say I did fall from the sky. As I blinked, Dagnar let out a soft sigh. ¡°Haah. It looks like you¡¯ve been holed up in some remote ce for a long time.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ Many races live within this forest and rocky terrain. There are strange ones like you among them.¡± ¡°I see.¡± No wonder they didn¡¯t find my presence strange despite never having seen me before. I also now understood why the elves earlier said something about a ¡°neutral race.¡± ¡°But none of these many races ever side with the Forest or Rock Tribes. Even when they see our battles, they don¡¯t interfere.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°The races that did interfere¡­ Not a single one survived. They all went extinct.¡± ¡°¡­¡± By extinction, he meant theplete destruction of a race. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m grateful to you. You risked your life to choose the Rock Tribe. You believed in us.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Well, I was just following the quest. The penalty for not choosing was death, after all. ¡°Haha, by the way, who are you? I haven¡¯t even asked the name of my benefactor.¡± Dagnar extended his rough hand. ¡°Uh, I¡¯m Joo Donghoon.¡± I lowered my staff and shook his hand. ¡°Joo Donghoon, huh? That¡¯s a good name.¡± ¡°I think Dagnar is a cool name, too.¡± ¡°Gahaha, is that so? Well then, Joo Donghoon. As you¡¯re our benefactor, I¡¯d like to invite you to our tribe¡¯s city. Would that be alright?¡± ¡°Your city?¡± ¡°Yes, the city of rock, Titan. It¡¯s known as the city of minerals and stones.¡± Minerals! And stones? Wow, that¡¯s something a production worker could never pass up on! There was no need to hesitate. Act first and think about the consequencester! ¡°Sounds good to me.¡± I nodded enthusiastically with a grin. The city was hidden within the rocky terrain. This ce, carved like a basin into the center of a massive rocky mountain, was called Titan, also known as the Holy Land of the Dwarves. ¡°Ooh,¡± I marveled as I looked around. Like something out of a movie, the rockyndscape was a feast for the eyes. ¡°M-My lord, this is a breathtaking sight.¡± If I was this impressed, I could only imagine how Sunny must feel now that he was finally seeing the world. ¡°Look at them! A foreign race!¡± ¡°They smell of rock?¡± ¡°Did they really choose to side with our tribe?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been about ten years since another race has chosen our tribe!¡± I felt a tingling sensation all over my body since a lot of dwarves were murmuring and staring at me. ¡°Haha, please understand. It¡¯s been a long time since we¡¯ve had visitors from outside.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± I looked at the dwarves again. Their eyes were clearly filled with goodwill. ¡°How do they know that I chose to side with the dwarves?¡± ¡°Haha, they just said that you smell of rock.¡± ¡°They can tell by smell?¡± ¡°Of course! Why do you keep askingmon sense things? If you smell of rock, you¡¯re a benefactor of our tribe!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Seriously, what kind of logic is that? Judging everything by smell. Well, I guess I can understand. This was apletely different world, so I shouldn¡¯t have tried to understand it using the logic I knew. I looked around again. Frankly, what I was most curious about wasn¡¯t the dwarves. Minerals, cksmiths! When you think of dwarves, you think of cksmiths, right? That was why I chose the dwarves over the elves in the first ce. ¡°There! What¡¯s that ce?¡± Soon, I pointed excitedly to what looked like a mine. ¡°Haha, there? That ce is almost abandoned now, but would you like to take a look?¡± ¡°Abandoned?¡± ¡°Phew, just follow me.¡± Dagnar kindly guided me to the mine. Judging by his expression, he had a lot to exin. After a long walk, Dagnar let out a deep sigh. ¡°Haah, yes, it¡¯s¡­ such a shame.¡± I immediately understood the reason for his sigh. The mine looked majestic from afar, but it was nothing but ruins on the inside. Broken cartsy scattered everywhere with pickaxes rusting and lying around. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°To be frank, it¡¯s been quite a long time since we dwarves made any weapons¡­¡± I felt my heart sink. No way. That was impossible. Dwarves not making weapons? [Rock Dwarves are short but very strong and sturdy. As fae of the stony mountains, they are interested in metals and possess great craftsmanship.] Even the description said so! This is a scam! A total scam, I say! ¡°Is that really true?¡± ¡°Haha, why would I joke with my benefactor? That¡¯s why it¡¯s so sad. The true talent of the dwarves is in making weapons, buttely, we¡¯ve only been training. Tsk.¡± ¡°Why! Why aren¡¯t you making any?¡± ¡°Huh. You¡­ sound like a dwarf.¡± Oh, I got emotional without realizing it. But who wouldn¡¯t? ¡°It¡¯s because of the Chief.¡± ¡°The Chief?¡± ¡°Yes, the Chief of the Dwarf Council and the great warrior of the rock, Vulcanus, dered that we must wield weapons, not tools, to win the war against the elves!¡± ¡°Weapons, not tools¡­¡± He meant not to use hammers as tools but as weapons. Hearing this reminded me of someone. That old geezer. The one who told Boney 6 to learn hammer techniques instead of cksmithing. ¡°But that¡¯s a little strange, isn¡¯t it? Better weapons would make you stronger in battle. Why give up cksmithing¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Lately, we¡¯ve realized that we were wrong. Weapons were indeed a major part of our power.¡± ¡°¡­Then you guys can at least start now.¡± ¡°It¡¯s already toote.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°To be precise, it¡¯s been forgotten. It¡¯s been a hundred years since the Chief¡¯s order.¡± ¡°What?¡± Wait a minute. A hundred years? ¡°Skills are meant to be passed down and preserved, whether orally or through records, but we¡¯ve lost too many in battle over the years. Renowned craftsmen and cksmiths all lost their lives over time.¡± ¡°All the cksmiths are dead?¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote to regret now. It¡¯s impossible even if we try to restore things by looking at old records. Skills are best learned through experience. Not to mention that the Chief¡¯s not helping at all.¡± ¡°What did he do?¡± ¡°He said not to rely on weapons and focus on improving our battle skills instead!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Of course, the Chief is a dwarf worthy of respect. He made the greatest contributions in the war and is the strongest among us. But sometimes his hatred for the elves clouds his judgment. In fact, the real fear of war is losing our precious culture¡­¡± Ah. I frowned because it was heartbreaking. That was why leadership was so important. One person¡¯s decision could lead an entire race down the path of decline. ¡°Hm.¡± It was disappointing. It would¡¯ve been great if Boney 6 could learn cksmithing skills from another world. ¡°By any chance¡­¡± My eyes suddenly caught sight of the dwarf¡¯s hammer. It looked like an ordinary hammer, worn out from years of use, worn down from the flow of time. ¡°Can I take a look at your weapon?¡± ¡°This thing? Weapons are precious, but I see no reason to refuse since it¡¯s my benefactor asking.¡± Dagnar handed me the hammer. I took it and checked its information. [Item: Worn-Out Dwarven Iron Hammer] [Rank: D] [Type: Hammer] [Description: A sturdy hammer. It has worn out over the years.] [Effect 1: Increases strength by 5.] ¡°Hmm.¡± I was at a loss for words. Even if they weren¡¯t cksmiths, dwarves should still be dwarves. How could they carry such a weapon? It was a moment of despair that banished all my hopes and dreams. ¡°It¡¯s very worn out, isn¡¯t it? But it¡¯s still a precious tool that has saved my life.¡± ¡°¡­Thank you for showing it to me.¡± ¡°Haha, you look very downcast.¡± Yes. Indeed, I was downcast. After all, that natural mine over there and all those minerals piled up were going to waste¡­ Waste? Wait a minute. That¡¯s not right. Suddenly, my mind cleared. Why am I feeling down? Shouldn¡¯t I be happy instead? My eyes widened, and I looked at Dagnar. ¡°Come to think of it, there¡¯s a lot of minerals here, right?¡± ¡°Of course, the minerals here are abundant. It¡¯s called the city of minerals because minerals are produced naturally. But since we haven¡¯t mined it for a hundred years, it must be incredibly abundant.¡± ¡°Oh, so¡­ you¡¯re not using them at all?¡± My greed started to build. If what Dagnar said was true, considering the value of the minerals here, it was clearly worth many billions on Earth. Furthermore, there seemed to be rare ores that didn¡¯t even exist on Earth. What would happen if I could refine and monopolize all of that? My body tingled with excitement. Goosebumps rose, and sweat formed on my palms. ¡°Haha, that¡¯s right. The dwarves are no longer interested in this ce. Whoever takes it will actually be doing us a favor by preventing it from going to waste.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Wait, this might actually be worth trying! Chapter 42 Chapter 42: Forest and Stone (3) I swallowed hard and swung my staff. ¡ªThud, thud, thud! [Using skill ¡®Summon Bnced Skeleton¡¯ (C-rank).] [Consuming 10 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Bonehead 6.¡¯] Boney 6 made his entrance! ¡°Hm?¡± Dagnar hesitated at my sudden action. It was understandable since I had acted in the middle of our conversation. I smiled brightly. ¡°Mr. Dagnar?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? And why did you summon that suddenly?¡± ¡°You mentioned before that dwarves never forget a favor and always repay it.¡± ¡°Ahem, I sure did! Dwarves never utter empty words. We stake our lives on them, swearing by the name of Demir the Great.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± But wait, who¡¯s this Demir the Great? Isn¡¯t the chief supposed to be Vulcanus? ¡°Haha, your face is honest.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°You look like you¡¯re curious about Demir.¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± What is this, are you a mind reader? It seems like I¡¯m surrounded by people who can read my mind, just like that old man. ¡°Demir is a legendary figure among dwarves. He¡¯s the father of all cksmiths, the hero of the Rock Tribe, and our spiritual leader.¡± ¡°¡­¡± When he mentioned Demir, I thought I saw Boney 6 flinch slightly¡­ Was it just my imagination? If it wasn¡¯t, that would be incredible. To think that the name itself could cause such a reaction even after death¡­ ¡°All of our dwarven cksmithing skillse from him. Well, anyway¡­¡± Dagnar stroked his long, braided beard. ¡°Why are you bringing up favors all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± I smacked my lips. ¡°About that pile of minerals over there.¡± I gazed at them with greedy eyes. ¡°Can I use them?¡± ¡°You mean those?¡± Dagnar¡¯s expression seemed to suggest that he couldn¡¯t understand why. ¡°Well, like I said before, it¡¯s fine, but¡­ what are you going to do with them? I should warn you that if you can¡¯t extract metal from those piles, they¡¯re pretty much useless.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware of that.¡± I grinned and motioned for Boney 6 to move forward. Seeming quite excited about the piles of minerals, it started to explore the area. Then it instinctively found a small, makeshift furnace nearby. ¡°How do you operate this?¡± ¡°¡­You just need to light a hot fire underneath¡­ But don¡¯t tell me you n to smelt those minerals yourself?¡± Dagnar looked at me in disbelief. It was only natural for him to react this way, given that I¡ªa non-dwarf¡ªwas iming to use their lost technology. ¡°Let me show you rather than exin.¡± [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fireball¡¯ (Lv. Max).] ¡ªFwoosh! I used Boney 5 to light the furnace. Simultaneously, Boney 6 began to move like a natural. ¡ªCreak! It grabbed the nearby pile of iron ore and began pouring it into the furnace. [Using skill ¡®Intermediate Smelting¡¯ (Lv.1).] [Crafted 1 ¡®Iron Ingot.¡¯] [Crafted 1 ¡®Iron Ingot.¡¯] [Crafted ¡®Waste Pile.¡¯] [Proficiency increased by 1.] Slowly but surely, iron ingots began to pile up. ¡°Wh-What in the world?¡± Dagnar was astonished. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense at all! Normally, smelting requires a highlyplex process! But it seems like all you need to do is pour it in, and oute perfectly formed ingots!¡± ¡°Well, you could call it a technique unique to my race.¡± It was hard to exin skills to him, so I had to pass it off as a special technique. ¡°Unbelievable!¡± Dagnar stared at me with wide eyes, unable to close his mouth. ¡°Could it be that you are a hero blessed by the God of Stone to save us in these troubled times?¡± Then his eyes began to sparkle. ¡°Say, could you¡­?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Can you forge things too?¡± ¡°Forge? Let¡¯s see.¡± I rummaged through my belongings. I was looking through the blueprints I had obtained through alchemy. Blueprints were rare, so I kept every single one I could get. Hmm. Since dwarves mainly used hammers¡­ This one! [Item: Sturdy Steel Hammer] [Rank: C] [Type: Blueprint] [Description: A blueprint for crafting a ¡®Sturdy Steel Hammer.¡¯] [Effect 1: Allows the crafting of ¡®Sturdy Steel Hammer.¡¯] [Effect 2: Requires 10 iron ingots and 2 wooden pieces.] The required materials were simple, and it seemed much better than the hammer Dagnar was currently using. ¡°Boney 6.¡± ¡ªCreak? I handed the blueprint and iron ingots to Boney 6. The wooden pieces could be obtained by dismantling some pickaxes from the mine. With a nod, Boney 6 took his bone hammer and moved toward the nearby anvil. ¡°Dagnar.¡± ¡°Uh, yes?¡± Looking at the short, stout man who couldn¡¯t keep his mouth closed the whole time, I gave him a gentle smile. ¡°Just wait a moment for me. I¡¯ll make you a hammer much better than the one you¡¯re using now.¡± ¡°Y-You can really make it? Truly?¡± And so the crafting process began in earnest. [Using skill ¡®Intermediate Item Crafting¡¯ (Lv1).] [Using Blueprint: ¡®Sturdy Steel Hammer.¡¯] ¡ªBang! Bang! Boney 6 began hammering away at the iron ingots. [Completion rate: 30%] Thepletion rate steadily increased. [Completion rate: 50%] The hammer began to take shape. [Completion rate: 99%] After about an hour, a fine-looking hammer was born. [Completion rate: 100%] [Acquired ¡®Sturdy Steel Hammer¡¯ (C-rank).] [Proficiency increased by 1.] Crafting items is a bit tougher. Unlike smelting or weaving where the items were produced instantly, item crafting required considerably more time. Not only does it require a lot of money but also time¡­ Now I understood why high-ranking production-ss hunters were so rare and valuable. ¡°Y-You actually made it. And in such a short time too! It felt like I was¡­ watching the god of cksmithing himself at work!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that impressive. I¡¯m still a novice.¡± It was true. This was my first time crafting an item. ¡°May I take a look?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± I handed thepleted hammer to Dagnar. [Item: Sturdy Steel Hammer] [Rank: C] [Type: Hammer] [Description: A sturdy hammer made of steelpressed by immense strength. Crafted by ¡®Bonehead 6.¡¯] [Effect 1: Increases strength by 10.] [Effect 2: 0.1% chance to destroy weapons below C-rank.] ¡°Oh, this is impressive!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that impressive at all.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s still far from our old dwarven craftsmanship. But¡­!¡± Dagnar slowly nodded. ¡°If you can make weapons of this quality in such a short time, it could give us an edge in the war against the elves.¡± ¡°Are the dwarves¡¯ weapons really that outdated?¡± I found it strange. An item of this level would sell for a decent price on Earth, but it wasn¡¯t exactly rare. ¡°Hm.¡± After a moment of hesitation, Dagnar nodded. ¡°Yes, most dwarven weapons are of simr quality to mine¡­ It¡¯s the bitter truth. So I have a request.¡± Hopeful anticipation flickered in Dagnar¡¯s eyes. ¡°May I ask you for a favor? I know it might seem shameless, but we¡¯re in a desperate situation.¡± ¡°Please go ahead, I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve forgotten the art of cksmithing for over a hundred years. On top of that, the Chief¡¯s stubbornness has forced us to focus solely on physical training. In such a situation, would it be possible for you to craft weapons for us?¡± ¡°¡­!¡± I cheered internally. This was an opportunity¡ªa golden opportunity. I could legally and continuously build my skill proficiency using someone else¡¯s materials! However, I shouldn¡¯t agree too quickly. Even if this was an opportunity for me, it could be a matter of desperation for the dwarves. So I had every right to make more demands. Moreover, ording to the system, I was currently their benefactor. ¡°I could do that.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°But whoever wants a weapon must bring their own materials to me.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re asking us to mine? That¡¯s only fair! Is that all?¡± ¡°Well¡­ A small fee would be appreciated, too.¡± ¡°A fee?¡± That¡¯s how the world works. Sometimes, charging for your services makes others value them more. ¡°Yes, well¡­ Like blueprints, blueprints, or perhaps blueprints.¡± ¡°Blueprints?¡± ¡°Yes, the ones you mentioned trying to restore.¡± I hadn¡¯t forgotten what Dagnar said earlier. ¡°It¡¯s toote to regret now. It¡¯s impossible even if we try to restore things by looking at old records. Skills are best learned through experience.¡± Their old records¡ªthat¡¯s what I was after. I had a gut feeling that every dwarf had at least one blueprint hidden in their house. ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯ll have to discuss it with the others first.¡± * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * After Dagnar returned to the vige, the dwarves began to gather one by one. ¡°Benefactor of the tribe! Can you really make weapons for us?¡± ¡°My hammer is all worn out! Can you repair it? Or better yet, make me a new one?¡± ¡°Me too! Make one for me!¡± At first, there weren¡¯t that many. You could call them the early birds. Most approached cautiously, not fully convinced. I looked at them and smiled. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take orders on a firste, first-served basis. And please bring freshly mined materials from inside, not the ones lying around here.¡± The minerals here weremunal property, so I was only asking for the effort required to mine them as the price. Think of it as a time-saving fee. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll do anything if you¡¯ll make us weapons.¡± ¡°I heard from Dagnar that you¡¯ve got some skills.¡± ¡°I need to see it with my own eyes! How can a non-dwarf master our smithing techniques?¡± ¡°Me too! I won¡¯t believe it until I see it!¡± I had a good feeling about this. The fact that they were this interested was already a good sign. In the future, they would all be valuable customers. ¡ªng! ng! Boney 6 continued hammering away. Time passed, and sturdy steel hammers began piling up. ¡°Oh, wow! So it¡¯s true!¡± ¡°I never thought I¡¯d see cksmithing again in my lifetime!¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m so moved! Why are tears suddenly flowing from my eyes¡­?¡± After fulfilling their mining quota, the dwarves took their new hammers and left. Word continued to spread. All I had to do was smelt, craft items, and train with my skeletons. ¡°¡­My disciple, you really know how to work the system,¡± the old man eximed, impressed after realizing the situation. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were so passionate about cksmithing.¡± ¡°Oh,e on, elder. Don¡¯t say that. I¡¯m just as passionate about All Techniques, too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scolding you. I¡¯m sincerely impressed. I didn¡¯t expect you to use this world to build your proficiency like this. Impressive, for a hard-head.¡± ¡°¡­That doesn¡¯t sound like apliment.¡± I didn¡¯t neglect my training with the old man either. I made sure to summon him for lessons for an hour each day. As much as Boney 6 was important to me, so was learning All Techniques from the old man. And after about a week¡­ [Proficiency increased by 1.] [The skill level of ¡®Intermediate Smelting¡¯ (Lv.1) has increased by 1.] [The skill level of ¡®Intermediate Item Crafting¡¯ (Lv.1) has increased by 1.] Finally, the two skills that stubbornly refused to level up had reached Level 2. Moreover¡­ ¡°Hey, could you take a look at this blueprint?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an heirloom that¡¯s been passed down in our family¡­ Can you make this weapon, too?¡± One by one, more dwarves began bringing blueprints. Finally! I cheered inwardly. Chapter 43 Chapter 43: Forest and Stone (4) Up until now, the highest rank blueprint I had encountered was C-rank. I had gifted the sturdy steel hammer to the dwarves. Even so, it seemed a bit much for Boney 6, a level 2 intermediate cksmith, to handle. ¡°Here! Take this! It¡¯s a replica, so don¡¯t feel too pressured!¡± ¡°Take this one too! It¡¯s been sitting at home collecting dust anyway!¡± But today¡­ It seemed like I was about to receive a flood of blueprints. And they were all at least B-rank or higher. My goodness¡­ The variety of blueprints was astonishing. They included mysterious tools, weapons, and even elven bows. How much would these be worth if I sold them? Of course, I wasn¡¯t naive enough to sell such rare blueprints¡ªthe basis of my precious resources. Not to mention that no one could even put a price on these blueprints. ¡°Hold on, please. Hand them over one at a time. I¡¯ll check each one carefully.¡± I hurriedly gathered the blueprints. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to create something great from each one. Ah, you can leave them here. Thank you!¡± It felt like I was gathering golden nuggets from a goose thatid golden eggs. The dwarves were simple and straightforward. All I did was make one weapon, and they handed over these valuable blueprints as if they were nothing. And after some time had passed¡­ ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Tonir?¡± ¡°Tonir?¡± A few dwarves started whispering as they looked behind me. ¡°What¡¯s Tonir doing here?¡± ¡°Wow, is Tonir bringing a blueprint too?¡± I also turned my gaze. What¡¯s going on? Who¡¯s Tonir? ¡°Tonires from a prestigious cksmithing family! In the past, every elite warrior in the world used weapons made by the Tonir family!¡± ¡°Yeah, the Tonir family¡¯s weapons are legendary. Even after all these years, they still shine.¡± ¡°And if we can craft something from one of their blueprints?¡± ¡°We might just be able to wipe those damned elves off the face of the earth!¡± The dwarves began to murmur with hope in their eyes. That little dwarf¡¯s family must be quite famous. ¡°Hey, you,¡± Tonir said as he approached me. He extended a blueprint to me. Even though it was just a piece of paper, it seemed to shine more brightly than any other blueprint the dwarves had brought. ¡°Do you have the skill to create this?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªGulp! I swallowed hard as I took the blueprint. [Item: Titan¡¯s Thunder Hammer] [Rank: A] [Type: Blueprint] [Description: A blueprint for crafting ¡®Titan¡¯s Thunder Hammer.¡¯] [Effect 1: Allows the crafting of ¡®Titan¡¯s Thunder Hammer.¡¯] [Effect 2: Requires 100 iron ingots, 20 silver ingots, 2 mithril ingots, and 30 wooden pieces.] [Effect 3: Possesses excellent performance due to theplex crafting process.] ¡­What in the world? I was stunned to find an A-rank blueprint. Its value on Earth was unimaginable because it meant the mass production of expensive A-rank items. But S-rank is out of the question. S-rank weapons were unique, so I had never even heard of a blueprint for one. Wait, but it requires quite a lot of materials¡­ I couldn¡¯t take the stated requirements to be the end of it. I also had to consider the wasted materials during the numerous failures I¡¯d go through in the crafting process. And¡­ mithril ingots? With Boney 6¡¯s current smelting skills, extracting mithril ingots was out of the question. Not to mention that I wasn¡¯t even sure if Boney 6¡¯s ¡®Intermediate Item Crafting¡¯ (Lv.2) could create this A-rank weapon. ¡ªCreak! Boney 6 approached me, holding his hammer. His eyes gleamed with the desire to craft. [Inspecting blueprint ¡®Titan¡¯s Thunder Hammer.¡¯] [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [This blueprint is more difficult than the current skill level.] [There is a high chance of failure.] ¡°Ah¡­¡± I stared nkly at the message. Was an A-rank blueprint still too much for me? ¡ªck! ck! ck! But Boney 6 vigorously shook its head. It raised its hammer confidently as if to say it could do it. ¡°You want to try making it?¡± ¡ªNod, nod. It agreed with confidence. Well. A high chance of failure meant there was still a chance of sess, right? And if we seeded, Boney 6¡¯s skill proficiency would probably skyrocket. ¡°Now, the problem is the mithril¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± Tonir, who had been watching me ponder, stepped forward. ¡°Our family has some extra mithril. We¡¯ll provide as much as you need if you¡¯re willing to take on the challenge.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯re that desperate for this weapon.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Okay, well then. With all the materials provided, there seemed nothing for me to lose in giving it a try. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it,¡± I agreed without hesitation. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Haha, I hear you¡¯re taking on the challenge of crafting the Thunder Hammer?¡± ¡°Give it your best.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the Rock Tribe¡¯sst hope.¡± The news of my challenge spread throughout Titan. The dwarves stoppeding for the time being and kept their distance, cheering me on. They watched me with hopeful eyes. ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªng! ng! Boney 6 hammered away with all his might. [Completion rate: 30%] ¡ªng! ng! [Completion rate: 35%] [Crafting failed.] [Materials used have been destroyed.] ¡°Darn.¡± The crafting process wasn¡¯t easy, as expected. Even Boney 6, who had initially been confident, seemed slightly confused, tilting its head. It seemed that its body wasn¡¯t keeping up with what it intended to do. Even so, Boney 6 persevered. Crafting a high-level weapon required immense time and effort. Even a slight hesitation in hammering resulted in losing everything we had worked on¡­ [A crack has formed.] [Crafting failed.] [Materials used have been destroyed.] ¡°Boney 6.¡± I stayed by Boney 6¡¯s side. I didn¡¯t leave everything to them; I tried to endure it together with them. ¡°Don¡¯t give up. I¡¯ve learned in my life that if you keep trying, nothing is impossible.¡± That¡¯s right. Had we ever truly put effort into cksmithing? Not really, since it didn¡¯t take much effort to just use a skill and instantly produce something. It was time to build up real skill proficiency, not just a systematic number. Repeating a process hundreds and thousands of times until it became second nature was how one truly mastered a craft. Maybe that¡¯s what Boney 6 needed to do. ¡ªng! ng! The sound of metal echoed through the mine. I sat down next to him, crossing my legs. Using the Great Blue Heart Technique, I focused my mind, controlled my energy, and fell into deep thought. ¡ªng! ng! Boney 6¡¯s hammering gradually slowed along with my heartbeat. It was an act of synchronizing with me, an act ofmunion. How should I strike, from what direction, and with how much power? How can I strike to maintain bnce and deliver consistent blows? Boney 6¡¯s thoughts flowed into my mind. At that moment, I felt the pride of a cksmith radiating from Boney 6. ¡ªng! ng! ng! Suddenly, its hammering became more fluid. Thunder, huh¡­ The designer wanted to imbue this weapon with the speed of a thunderbolt. He wanted to instill fear in the enemy through the roar of thunder. Lightning was a symbol of fear. The bolt of light that descended from the sky struck unpredictably with incredible speed and intensity. ¡ªng! ng! The image I had in mind began manifesting in Boney 6¡¯s hammering. The energy of the Great Blue Heart Technique began to pulse like thunder. ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°What in the world?!¡± ¡°H-Hey! Would y¡¯all look at that? Lightning is flowing through the hammer!¡± The dwarves, who had kept their distance, began to murmur. They were shocked by a sight they had never seen before. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that this phenomenon would ur when our ancestors worked on their hammering, too!¡± ¡°Right! When a smith imbues their work with their spirit, this happens!¡± ¡°Spirit?¡± ¡°Yes, spirit! We called a cksmith who could do this a meister!¡± The dwarves gathered around, watching Boney 6¡¯s hammering with admiration. This was the lost legacy of the Rock Tribe. Their faces were filled with emotion as they watched. ¡°¡­¡± I, too, trembled slightly. Boney 6¡­ What are you? What on earth could you be¡­ that you could pour such ¡®spirit¡¯ into your work with just an Intermediate Item Crafting skill? And this wasn¡¯t even your original will¡ªit was just the lingering traces of a soul in a dead body. [Completion rate: 2%] ¡ªng! ng! I sighed inwardly as I watched the scene. The hammering now was much more intense and exhausting than before, yet thepletion rate barely increased. I could only wonder what kind of incredible weapon this would be. ¡ªng! ng! An hour passed, then two hours, and finally, a whole day. [Completion rate: 21%] ¡°¡­¡± After 24 hours, thepletion rate had only reached 21%. But there was one constion: the failure messages had stopped appearing. ¡ªng! ng! Boney 6 didn¡¯t stop hammering. I kept controlling my energy through the Great Blue Heart Technique. Instinctively, I had called for the old man, but when he saw me focusing, he nodded and disappeared. ¡ªng! ng! By now, the entire city of Titan was buzzing with rumors. ¡°That¡¯s a true cksmith¡­¡± ¡°He¡¯s the real deal!¡± ¡°I can feel the passion of a meister stabbing deep into my heart!¡± I entered a state of total immersion. I couldn¡¯t even hear the dwarves¡¯ admiration anymore. Eventually, I realized that cksmithing was also connected to ki. As Boney 6 hammered like a storm, I imbued it with my energy. This made his hammering even more graceful. It was like watching a dance. Indeed, the Art of All Techniques was never wrong. But unlike the old man, my art seemed to have the spirit of a true cksmith within it. * * * ¡°Hmm.¡± A ghostly figure watched over Joo Donghoon¡¯s back with a pleased expression. It was an old man with a face full of wrinkles, wearing white robes. The otherworldly absolute being, the Master of All Techniques, thought to himself: This is turning out well. As he watches that hammering, he¡¯s getting closer to mastering ki. His mastery of the Great Blue Heart Technique has already reached a high level. He was pleased. At first, he didn¡¯t like that Joo Donghoon was interested in such trivialities, but not anymore. Hmph, it seems I have underestimated the Grand Technique of the Celestial Artisan. He had created the technique himself but never had the chance to use it. It was a secret method that could turn a simpleton into a heaven-sent genius! It truly was an impressive technique. Joo Donghoon was undoubtedly learning cksmithing for the first time in his life, with no master to guide him. To observe actions, gain insight, and develop them into one¡¯s own craft¡ªto create one¡¯s own techniques¡ªthis was the path of a true genius! ¡ªng! ng! Indeed, Boney 6 was the one who was hammering. Even the dwarves were cheering for Boney 6 as they watched. However. The old man knew that the hammering was not being done by Boney 6 alone. Joo Donghoon¡¯s imagery was being added to Boney 6¡¯s precise hammering. As the hammer began to take shape, it emanated a power reminiscent of the old man¡¯s own weapon. Impressive, you tenacious brat. Yes. This time, he was genuinely impressed. Even though Joo Donghoon was always a bit slippery, he had to acknowledge this moment. And¡­ Finally, you are worthy of calling yourself my disciple. The old man decided to postpone their training. At this moment, Joo Donghoon didn¡¯t need someone to force knowledge upon him. What he needed was to gain knowledge on his own. ¡°¡­¡± The old man, who had been watching his disciple with satisfaction, quietly vanished after an hour, feeling a sense of pride for the first time. ____ Chapter 44 Chapter 44: The First Weapon Imbued with Spirit ¡°Huff, huff.¡± My breathing was ragged. Even though I had persevered through numerous strange events, at this moment, I just wanted to put everything down and rest. I wanted to copse. [Completion Rate 100%] My whole body trembled; every muscle ached and throbbed. How long had I been hammering, feeling ki with Boney 6? Even by rough estimation, it must have been over seven days. ¡°They didn¡¯t even sleep¡­!¡± ¡°To think one could hammer away for a whole week without sleeping¡­¡± The surrounding dwarves stared at me with wide eyes, their expressions mixed with disbelief and admiration. ¡°We have to give credit where it¡¯s due! Yes, this is what the spirit of a cksmith looks like!¡± ¡°No matter howmon it was in the days of our ancestors¡­ This is incredible passion, nheless.¡± They were eximing in awe, looking at me as if I were some kind of mythical creature. ¡ªThud! Boney 6 finallyid down its hammer. It was as if all the energy had been drained from it, and it slumped against the wall in exhaustion. ¡°You did well, my friend.¡± Even my voice trembled. It couldn¡¯t be helped. After all, the ¡®creation¡¯ we had poured our heart and spirit into for the past week shone brightly before me. This is¡­ Titan¡¯s Thunder Hammer. I gently grasped its handle. As I did, a message appeared in front of me. [Congrattions!] [The weapon you created has been imbued with ¡®spirit.¡¯] [The weapon¡¯s rank has been upgraded!] [You have acquired ¡®Titan¡¯s Thunder Hammer¡¯ (S-rank).] ¡°¡­?¡± What? Did I read that wrong? I stood there, frozen, with my hand on the hammer. I rubbed my eyes with my other hand. S-rank? I checked again. It was the same. The weapon I had crafted using an A-rank blueprint was undeniably S-rank. [Item: Special Titan¡¯s Thunder Hammer] [Rank: S] [Type: Hammer] [Description: A hammer forged with steel and mithril, infused with the power of thunder. Though crafted with lesser caliber, it radiates a brilliance imbued with pure passion.] [Effect 1: Strength +50.] [Effect 2: Attack speed +200%.] [Effect 3: Damage against the Elven race increased by 100%.] [Effect 4: Usable only by the Dwarven race.] [Effect 5: Emits a thunderous sound upon impact.] ¡°Ahh¡­!¡± I couldn¡¯t close my gaping mouth. First of all, the item¡¯s performance was insane. It was almost on par with the Staff of the Fire Dragon that Boney 5 wielded! The restriction that only dwarves could use the item felt a bit limiting, but it didn¡¯t matter since I intended to give it to a dwarf anyway. Did I just really¡­ create something like this with my own hands? A surge of something deep inside me washed away the exhaustion that had built up in my body. [¡®Boney 6¡¯ is being adjusted.] [Proficiency increased by 5.] [Proficiency increased by 4.] [The skill level of ¡®Intermediate Item Crafting¡¯ (Lv.2) has increased by 1.] [Proficiency increased by 11.] ¡­ [Proficiency increased by 8.] [The skill level of ¡®Intermediate Item Crafting¡¯ (Lv.3) has increased by 1.] [Proficiency increased by 7.] [All stats increased by 2.] The rewards for crafting this one weapon were incredible. The ¡®Intermediate Item Crafting¡¯ skill had gone up to level 4, and other stats had also grown. ¡°¡­¡± This was a considerable achievement. It wasn¡¯t just about leveling up. Boney 6 created an S-rank item with just an intermediate skill. So what would happen if its proficiency continued to rise? What if the skill level increased and reached advanced and beyond? God forbid if it maxed out its skill level. ¡°¡­¡± I became speechless. There was a real chance of creating items even superior to S-rank, perhaps even SS-rank or higher, something that hadn¡¯t appeared in the ten-year history of this world. I probably wouldn¡¯t be able to recreate this if I tried again right now. That was the nature of immersion. It wasn¡¯t something you could consciously decide to enter; it just happened naturally when you were in the zone. There could be no greed or distractions¡ªonly pure, unadulterated focus on the ¡®spirit¡¯ of the work. I poured my everything into this work in the past week. Still. I resolved to participate in the crafting process from now on, because I had to at least try. ¡°¡­Hey.¡± Tonir approached and grabbed my hand. ¡°I cannot express my gratitude enough. I never thought I¡¯d see my family¡¯s heirloom hammer brought back to life in my lifetime. A strong dwarf will wield this Thunder Hammer that you¡¯ve created. It will roar like thunder on the battlefield, making its presence known. And every time it does, we¡¯ll think of you. You truly are¡­ the savior of our tribe.¡± [The Rock Tribe feels deep gratitude toward you.] [Favorability level has changed.] [Rock Tribe: 75] [Forest Tribe: 25] Hm. The favorability level had changed again. The Rock Tribe¡¯s favorability had increased by 5, while the elves¡¯ had decreased by 5. Why was the favorability of the elves, of all people, dropping? Wait, this must mean¡­ I had a bad feeling. It seemed that some kind of bncing mechanism was affecting the favorability levels of the two tribes. It was highly likely that the sum couldn¡¯t exceed 100. That meant it was impossible to max out the favorability of both tribes. Ugh. This was problematic. The final quest of this dungeon was to resolve the conflict between the two tribes. To do that, it made sense that I would need to raise the favorability levels of both tribes simultaneously. It¡¯s about time to make a move. As much as I enjoyed being a craftsman, I couldn¡¯t stay here forever. This ce was inside a dungeon¡ªI had to clear it and leave. As my excitement began to settle down, I heard someone¡¯s voice. ¡°There¡¯s an order to assemble! An order to assemble has been issued!¡± A new dwarf, who hade up from the vige, called out, ¡°The chief, Vulcanus, has issued an order to assemble the representatives of each vige, along with you and Dagnar!¡± The dwarf pointed at me. ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes, you! The deadline is by midday tomorrow! At Titan¡¯s central council hall!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The chief, Vulcanus, wanted to see me. I could sense that I was finally getting to the heart of the matter. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll be there.¡± I nodded slowly. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°You.¡± Dagnar blinked in shock beside me. ¡°Do you know how incredible it is to be summoned by the chief?¡± Heunched into an exnation about the assembly order, speaking passionately. ¡°No matter your race, I thought you¡¯d know about this. If you don¡¯t know, you should! You need to understand who the chief is and what it means for him to summon you!¡± ¡°Yes, yes. So you¡¯re saying the chief is incredibly powerful and doesn¡¯t issue orders to assemble lightly, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s more than that! It¡¯s been a whopping 50 years! 50 years! He hasn¡¯t even shown himself in those years! That means he¡¯s paying special attention to you!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, it was impressive. Of course, it was impressive in a bad way. The head of a tribe never showing his face despite being at war with another race for centuries. What kind of messed-up tribe was this? Perhaps because my expression showed my concern, Dagnar sighed heavily. ¡°I can see what you¡¯re thinking.¡± ¡°Honestly, yeah. If Chief Vulcanus is that strong, why doesn¡¯t he join the fight and end the war?¡± ¡°He can¡¯t.¡± Dagnar shook his head. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s because of an agreement with the high elf queen.¡± ¡°What?¡± What kind of nonsense was this? I couldn¡¯t understand why he¡¯d form an agreement with their enemy, the elves. ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?¡± ¡°Haah. What do you think war is about?¡± ¡°War? It¡¯s just a fight. A life-or-death struggle.¡± ¡°Exactly. And in that fight, you¡¯re trying to gain something. But if Vulcanus and the high elf queen were to join the fight¡­ neither side would gain anything.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Their mere participation would lead to the extinction of not just the two tribes but possibly all the races in the world. The world itself might copse. That¡¯s how powerful they are.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Vulcanus alone could defeat every elf and dwarfbined, and the high elf queen is no different.¡± ¡°¡­Yikes.¡± ¡°So they agreed not to use their power.¡± This world was even more unbnced than I had thought. Then again, Earth wasn¡¯t much different. The situation was simr to the Cold War, where the U.S. and the Soviet Union had agreed not to use nuclear weapons despite being at odds. Chief Vulcanus was like the nuclear bomb of the Rock Tribe. In that case¡­ He was practically an absolute being in this world. Images of the old man and the Sun Spear suddenly ovepped in my mind. I wondered who would win if they were to fight. There¡¯s only one way to find out. The solution to this question was quite simple. I just had to summon the old man when I met the chief. * * * The central council hall in Titan was incredibly grand. Just by looking at the architecture, it was clear how advanced the ancestors of the dwarves were. ¡°My, I never thought I¡¯d set foot in this ce. It¡¯s all thanks to you.¡± Dagnar seemed more excited than usual. ¡°No one below the rank of a vige councilman can evene here. Life sure is full of surprises.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was chattering beside me, but I couldn¡¯t focus. Rather, to be precise, my whole body was tense. This is insane. The dwarves I had met in the vige were nothingpared to this. One by one, the council members gathered, and even at a nce, I could tell they were all above the power of a ranker. My recent improvements in the Great Blue Heart Technique allowed me to feel their strength even more vividly. Their strength is no joke¡­ Yet the dwarves said that they couldn¡¯t stand up to the chief even with all their strengthbined. I was bing more and more curious about Vulcanus. ¡°Hey, is something wrong?¡± Dagnar tilted his head, looking concerned. ¡°You look awfully pale.¡± ¡°Oh, no, you needn¡¯t worry. Do we just follow them inside?¡± ¡°Yes. But don¡¯t assume I know more than you. As I said, this is my first time here too.¡± Oh, right. I shook off my thoughts and moved forward. At the same time, I summoned the old man. [Using skill ¡®Teaching of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank).] [Consuming 20 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Master of All Techniques.¡¯] ¡°Hm, brat. Have you finally finished hammering?¡± Elder. ¡°Hm?¡± Suddenly, the Master of All Techniques furrowed his brow. What¡¯s wrong? I asked him internally. ¡°Where is this ce?¡± They say it¡¯s where the most influential figure in this world resides. He summoned me. ¡°Disciple.¡± Yes, elder? ¡°Be careful.¡± Huh? I was shocked. The old man was always arrogant and full of himself. He believed he was the strongest, and even when he met the Sun Spear, his confidence didn¡¯t waver. He even imed he would win without a doubt. But now¡­ He was telling me to be careful. ¡°I sense an overwhelmingly powerful energy here. Hmm, with this much aura, I reckon he could rival me at my prime¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± Could Vulcanus really be that powerful? Given his strength and preference for training over cksmithing, he couldn¡¯t be Boney 6 in its previous life. In any case. There was no need for me to worry because my favorability level with the Rock Tribe was high enough. [Rock Tribe: 75] And the dwarves were a race that valued gratitude. They wouldn¡¯t harm someone who had helped them. Step by step, I walked toward the grand door. After what felt like an eternity, a massive hall appeared before me. ¡ªThud! A low, wide table filled the center of the room. This was the sacred council hall of the Rock Tribe, where only dwarves with a certain level of achievement could enter. The most sacred of sacred ces¡ªit was the Rock Tribe¡¯s upper council chamber. Chapter 45 Chapter 45: The Order of Expulsion Let me tell you a story about a particr being: Chief Vulcanus. For over five centuries, he¡¯d been reigning as the supreme leader of the Rock Tribe, the dwarves. Since the death of the most excellent cksmith, Demir the Great, Vulcanus had never once relinquished his position as chief. ¡°Of course, he¡¯s the strongest, after all.¡± ¡°Indeed, the strongest must lead the council in times of war.¡± ¡°Hail the great Vulcanus!¡± ¡°Without Vulcanus, our tribe would have been wiped out long ago!¡± The war consumed the dwarves¡¯ master craftsmanship. As the Rock Tribe bled and the elves¡¯ arrows tore into their flesh, they craved strength. And at the pinnacle of that strength stood Vulcanus. ¡°Rock Tribe, no longer shall we forge weapons!¡± This was the speech he gave shortly after bing chief. ¡°Cast aside your tools and take up arms! Why are you hammering away at anvils? If you have nothing else to hammer, capture an elf and pound them instead! If you must forge a weapon, use the bones of elves!¡± Originally, elves and dwarves lived alongside each other like siblings, coexisting in a symbiotic rtionship. Elvescked metalcrafts. All they could do was weave nts and wood; they could not handle metals like iron. Therefore, they needed weapons forged by dwarves to enhance theirbat prowess. ¡°Don¡¯t you find it unjust? Why should we be ves to the elves? What¡¯s the point of forging weapons if they just get taken away from us? What¡¯s important is power! The ability to defend yourself! Without that, you have no right to dream or sing of hope!¡± In truth, there was a reason they had once worked together. A dragon ruled the forest and rocky terrain¡ªthe giant, magic dragon Drughan. It was a creature so fearsome that it made all races tremble in fear. To counter that monstrous dragon, the two races had united their forces. Elves provided military strength while the Dwarves forged their weapons. Together, they created a formidable synergy. ¡°We already killed the dragon. Demir and Eldrin¡¯s coboration buried it deep in the abyss!¡± The legendary cksmith Demir the Great and the legendary high elf Eldrin the Moonlight. Until 500 years ago, these two were the absolute figures representing the Forest and Rock Tribes. They had united the power of their tribes, buried the dragon, and perished in the process. ¡°But now, what are we making weapons for? Look at those treacherous elves. They are a race of traitors that stabbed us in the back with the bows we forged for them! As soon as ourmon enemy disappeared, they turned their swords on us!¡± Vulcanus¡¯s orders were simple: exterminate the elves! Only then were any forging activities to take ce! It was amand that some could not understand. ¡°Why aren¡¯t we ying to our strengths?¡± ¡°Right! The elves primarily use bows, so we just need to stop making those, right?¡± ¡°Yeah, if we stop making bows, we don¡¯t have to worry about them being taken!¡± Some dwarves had reasonable doubts. However, Vulcanus was extremely stubborn. ¡°Silence. Do you know how short-handed we are at the battlefront? And what about the cksmiths taken as prisoners? Can you guarantee you wouldn¡¯t forge weapons if your family¡¯s lives were on the line?¡± Though his reasoning was somewhat weak, his will remained unyielding. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. If you don¡¯t want to follow my orders, challenge me to a battle. If you win, I¡¯ll step down as chief!¡± He was a true tyrant. Thus, for 500 years, Vulcanus¡¯s dictatorship persisted. And now, in this upper council chamber, the dictator himself descended. Step by step, the heavy footsteps of the short but mighty figure resonated with an overwhelming force. It was simr to the feeling I had when I first encountered the old man¡ªthe very presence of this being felt suffocating. ¡°Salutations to the chief.¡± ¡°Salutations to the chief.¡± All the dwarves seated at the table stood and paid their respects. Dagnar and I hesitated for a moment but then also stood. ¡°Hmm.¡± The old man watching beside me clicked his tongue. ¡°Truly, the world is vast and interesting. If I had been able to wander other worlds in my lifetime, it would have been quite enjoyable.¡± He smacked his lips as if he wanted to take on the challenge. Of course, the living and the dead could never directly face each other. ¡°You must be¡­¡± The chief, Vulcanus, turned his gaze toward me at that moment. His burly muscles rippled. ¡°Are you the suspicious outsider who recently gifted weapons to our tribe?¡± Suspicious? That word rubbed me the wrong way, but it wasn¡¯t incorrect. ¡°Yes, that is correct.¡± I nodded. But something felt off. Vulcanus was smiling, but his eyes were not. His gaze was filled with apparent hostility. But why? My favorability with the dwarves was at 75. I had given them aid, not harm. ¡°And tell me, did you obtain permission to use our mine?¡± Vulcanus asked in a cold voice. ¡°¡­¡± The council chamber fell into silence, and the atmosphere became suffocating, as if we were deep underwater. Even Dagnar, who had been looking at the chief with admiration, was now frozen stiff. ¡°Um.¡± I tilted my head in question. Whether or not the chief was strong, I needed rification why he was acting this way. ¡°Excuse me, but may I ask you something?¡± ¡°You may ask.¡± ¡°Have I done something wrong to harm the Rock Tribe?¡± ¡°Of course you have,¡± Vulcanus answered immediately. ¡°Closing the mine so that no weapons could be forged has been my policy for 500 years.¡± Ah, so that was it? The thing that Dagnar couldn¡¯t understand and the culmination of 500 years of stubbornness. Vulcanus was displeased simply because I had started forging weapons. ¡°Your reckless actions are upsetting this policy, so how could I not summon you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It took 400 years of effort. Only a century ago did we finally erase cksmithing from our history, and now you are reigniting the dwarves¡¯ creative desires. I am outraged.¡± ¡°¡­¡± While his words were absurd, he wasn¡¯t wrong. I was merely a guest in this ce; the actual owner was Vulcanus. From his perspective, I was a troublemaker disrupting his established peace. ¡°I apologize.¡± I bowed my head. No matter the situation, the point of this quest was to resolve the conflict between the two tribes. I couldn¡¯t afford to create more conflict before resolving the existing one. ¡°I meant no harm. I only sought to make use of resources that were going to waste, and I only crafted weapons because the dwarves requested them. If I had known the full details, I would not have done so.¡± Of course, beyond everything else, the being before me was far too powerful. The truth was that the word of the strong was thew. ¡°Haha,¡± the old man chuckled softly beside me. ¡°My disciple, I thought you were reckless, but it seems you know when to bow your head to someone.¡± It¡¯s not bowing down; it¡¯s avoiding conflict. It¡¯s not fear that makes you avoid filth, after all. ¡°That¡¯s true. But that¡¯s quite the scary filth if you ask me.¡± That¡¯s true. ¡°But what will you do? That guy seems dead set on punishing you.¡± The old man shook his head as he continued. ¡°Be careful. Unlike the encounter with Sun Spear, we¡¯re not in your mental space. This is the real world, which means you could die here. And if you die, the Art of All Techniques will end with you. Do you understand?¡± It was disheartening that he seemed more concerned about his techniques than my well-being. That won¡¯t happen. ¡°Why not?¡± Look at their eyes. I gazed at the other participants in the meeting. Although they were tight-lipped, I could clearly sense their emotions. ¡°Hmph, they¡¯re dissatisfied.¡± Yes, exactly. It was evident just by looking at their eyes. The council members and all the Rock Tribe members like Dagnar were not pleased with Vulcanus¡¯s dictatorship. They were only enduring it because of his overwhelming strength. No matter how much of a tyrant Vulcanus is, he can¡¯t kill me recklessly. There¡¯s no need to light the fire next to a powder keg. Even the most powerful dictators always live in fear of rebellion. Vulcanus was strong. Not just strong¡ªhe was so strong that even if all the dwarves and elves united, they wouldn¡¯t be able to defeat him. That meant he could wipe out every dwarf right now if he wanted to. But the reason he wouldn¡¯t was clear. Because they are of the same race. No matter how strong he was, if he exterminated all those who opposed him, there would be no one left to rule over. Besides, it was stated that the dwarves were a race that valued gratitude. Vulcanus might have seen me as a threat, but the other dwarves did not. For Vulcanus, there was no need toplicate things further. ¡°Hm.¡± Vulcanus stared at me. ¡°Sorry to say this, but it seems you cannot be a benefactor of our tribe. As much as I¡¯d like to tear you to pieces right now, I will let it slide since you meant no harm. However.¡± He was obstinate. He didn¡¯t bother consulting the opinions of the other council members. ¡°Leave the city of Titan immediately.¡± It was a clear order of expulsion. That was why Vulcanus had summoned me. It was then that Dagnar spoke up. ¡°Th-This is ridiculous! Joo Donghoon is clearly a benefactor of us, the dwarves! It¡¯s not that we even broke the chief¡¯s orders; this foreigner kindly forged our weapons! And now you¡¯re throwing him out?¡± ¡°Ridiculous, you say?¡± Vulcanus¡¯ gaze shifted. Dagnar gulped audibly. A tremendous pressure began to bear down on him. ¡°Do you find meughable because I spoke politely and with respect?¡± ¡°Guh!¡± ¡°If you find this ridiculous, the solution is simple.¡± ¡ªBang! Vulcanus mmed his hand down on the table with great force. It was his signature move whenever he made a decision. ¡°You can leave with him.¡± Yikes. Just like that, Dagnar was expelled as well. Under the night sky, Dagnar and I trudged along the border between the rocknds and the forested region, now exiled with no particr destination. ¡°Seriously, what a ridiculous chief, that fellow. The great Vulcanus, my foot. What good is brute strength alone? No wonder he couldn¡¯t end this war yet! Tsk.¡± ¡°It is quite absurd.¡± To be denied by one¡¯s kind just for speaking up. I might have been an outsider, but Dagnar had been a loyal tribe member. I felt bad for him. And honestly¡­ I was disappointed, too. The quest was one thing, but¡­ I couldn¡¯t help but think about all the resources left in the mine that I wouldn¡¯t get to use. I needed to level up Boney 6¡¯s skills by building more proficiency. ¡°By the way,¡± I interrupted Dagnar¡¯s grumbling. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What do we do now? Do we have anywhere to go?¡± This world was divided into two main regions: the elven and dwarven territories. It seemed like there were other ces where different races lived, but¡­ ¡°How should I know? Except for when I was fighting, I never left the Rock region,¡± Dagnar replied. ¡°¡­I see.¡± ¡°Hah, damn that chief. Let¡¯s see how far he gets with stubbornne¡ª¡± His endless cursing against the chief was about to start again when I raised my hand. ¡°Wait.¡± I sensed a confident presence with my senses. There¡¯s a being¡ªof at least considerable skill. The direction was from the forest. If elves appeared, it could be dangerous since my favorability level with them was only 25. ¡°Damn it, prepare for battle!¡± I quickly summoned my skeletons. Chapter 46 Chapter 46: After Forging At the sign of a presence emerging from the forest, Dagnar spoke hastily. ¡°Damn it, it¡¯s an elf! Oh no, we¡¯re done for! An elf appearing in the border area? That means they must be in a group, for sure!¡± He was panicking. I sighed. ¡°Stop talking and get ready! There¡¯s only one opponent.¡± I had already confirmed it through Boney 3¡¯s Secure Vision. Apart from the two of us, only one other lifeform was nearby. ¡°Is that true?¡± Dagnar¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right! Come to think of it¡­ You! Didn¡¯t you single-handedly take care of a whole group of elvesst time? We¡¯re saved! We¡¯re saved!¡± ¡°Please quiet down.¡± My lips twitched. If it were an ordinary opponent, I would have been more rxed, but¡­ ¡°My lord, this one is no ordinary foe.¡± The fact that even Sunny was on edge meant that I couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. Besides¡­ The old man wasn¡¯t here this time, and I felt uneasy without him around. ¡ªRustle! Just then, the sound of leaves crunching signaled someone¡¯s approach. ¡°Sunny!¡± ¡°Yes, my lord!¡± [¡®Sun Spear¡¯ used the skill ¡®Sr Strike¡¯ (Lv.4).] ¡ªsh! Sunny swiftly thrust his spear forward. Lightning-like shes crackled as they struck. Regardless of the opponent, it was advantageous to strike first and suppress them if possible. If it was a misunderstanding, we could clear that up afterward. But it was me who misunderstood. I made the foolish assumption that we could suppress the opponent. ¡ªBam! A powerful force knocked Sunny back. ¡°Hmph!¡± Sunny grunted as it staggered back. It seemed startled by their unexpected strength. ¡°Hnng¡­¡± I groaned. At the same time, I positioned Boney 4 at the front and brought Boney 1 and Boney 3 into the battle. The fight had already begun. It didn¡¯t matter how intense the opponent was; we had to do something. Just then, the opponent raised a hand. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± I finally got a proper look at them. Long flowing hair, blue eyes, skin pale as snow, and elongated ears typical of elves. ¡°Please cease your attack. I didn¡¯te to fight.¡± What was this? An elf speaking to me? ¡°I have been waiting here for you for a while.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± I was taken aback. Who was this elf? And how did they know who I was? ¡°You are an outsider who does not belong to this world. We are already aware of your existence. Your presence has disrupted the bnce between the two tribes.¡± The elf¡¯s gaze was both mysterious and intense. It was as if I was looking at Chief Vulcanus again, which sent shivers down my spine. ¡°You gave gifts to the dwarves, but they betrayed you in return. Will you stand by and do nothing after being treated in such a way?¡± ¡°¡­¡± So basically the elf was saying I should join the elves¡¯ side now because the dwarves had turned their backs on me. ¡°Th-This is a vile trick! You¡¯re not falling for that elf¡¯s words, are you?¡± Dagnar shouted. The elf¡¯s gaze shifted to him. ¡°A foolish notion. My philosophy is to ally with even a dragon if it means keeping my enemy in check.¡± The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Simply put, the elf said that I should use them instead since I¡¯d been betrayed. ¡°Just listen to those words! How wicked must a race be to speak of allying with the evil dragon from 500 years ago? Don¡¯t be fooled!¡± ¡°My name is Seraphine. I do not need to deceive you for any gain.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Seraphine? Who was that? One thing was sure¡ªthe moonlight shining behind her made her look quite radiant. I looked to my side because the boisterous dwarf had suddenly fallen silent. ¡°Mr. Dagnar?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Even as I called out to him, Dagnar remained tight-lipped. He was standingpletely still as if frozen in ce. His facial muscles were rigid, and his legs were trembling. ¡°Mr. Dagnar, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°S-Seraphine¡­?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± His eyes trembled. ¡°We¡¯re done for. It¡¯s over. Everything is over. My life, your life. Ahh, damn it all. I¡¯ll curse the Chief even in death¡­¡± ¡°Why? What do you mean? Who is Seraphine?¡± I asked, and Dagnar swallowed hard. Seraphine also remained silent, staring at me with her blue eyes, simply waiting. Finally, Dagnar¡¯s lips fell apart to speak. ¡°Seraphine is¡­ the name of the elven queen, the high elf queen.¡± ¡°What?¡± Did he just say¡­ the high elf queen? I felt a headacheing on. So he was saying that the elf woman standing before me was someone on par with Chief Vulcanus. And I had recklessly attacked her first. Oh, my head¡­ My head throbbed as I let out a deep sigh. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * After a moment, I looked at Seraphine and said, ¡°So¡­ you can¡¯t intervene directly in this war because of your agreement with the Chief, right?¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± ¡°And you want me to create weapons for the elves like I did for the dwarves? If I don¡¯t, you¡¯ll kill me?¡± ¡°Well, I never said I¡¯d kill you¡­¡± She nodded slightly as she spoke. Although she hadn¡¯t said it directly, the implication was clear. ¡°You are an outsider to this world. Contacting you falls within the realm of indirect involvement.¡± ¡°Yikes, that¡¯s frightening.¡± I took a deep breath. Honestly, I was more relieved than anything. Having been expelled by the Chief, I had no idea what to do next. But now, the head of the elves was extending a hand to me. The elves¡¯ favorability level is at 25. However, Seraphine¡¯s gaze held no emotion. So it seemed that absolute beings like the chief and the high elf queen were unaffected by the favorability system. This is an opportunity. An opportunity to regain the elves¡¯ favor. ¡°Alright. I understand. But first, I need to assess what I can do.¡± Honestly, I was curious too. The elves must have some crafting facilities as well. I was excited to see how much Boney 6¡¯s skill level would increase. ¡°¡­Shall we go, then?¡± At Seraphine¡¯s suggestion, I nodded. As for Dagnar¡­ I looked over at him, realizing I didn¡¯t need to worry. No matter how much he hated the elves, he wouldn¡¯t throw his life away for nothing. And who knew? This dwarf could be the key to resolving the conflict between the two races. You never knew how things might turn out. * * * The area Seraphine led us to was a secluded vige. ¡°¡­Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°They smell like the Rock Tribe.¡± ¡°How foul. There¡¯s a dwarf, too?¡± The elves eyed us warily as they were busy with nonbat tasks like fetching water and tending nts. But because of Seraphine¡¯s presence, none of them dared to confront us. ¡°Where are we?¡± I asked Seraphine. The ce was surrounded by dense trees filled with sheep, goats, spiders, and silkworms. Wait, could it be¡­? Sheep, goats, spiders, and silkworms had one thing inmon. Weaving? They were all used to produce thread, the primary material for weaving. ¡°Our Forest Tribe, unlike the Rock Tribe, cannot work with metals. However, we can spin thread and weave cloth. We can make garments out of them.¡± Seraphine looked at me. ¡°Outsider of this world. You have a talent for creation. I saw it from afar through magic, but witnessing you forge the Thunder Hammer moved me, regardless of race.¡± ¡°R-Really¡­?¡± She had been watching me? ¡°Here, take this.¡± Seraphine handed me something. This is¡­ It was a blueprint. It felt simr to the one Tonir had given me before. [Item: Elesis¡¯s Cloak] [Rank: A] [Type: Blueprint] [Description: A blueprint for crafting the ¡®Elesis¡¯s Cloak.¡¯] [Effect 1: Allows the crafting of the ¡®Elesis¡¯s Cloak.¡¯] [Effect 2: Requires 50 intermediate thread, 100 intermediate cloth, 2 advanced thread, and 2 advanced cloth.] [Effect 3: Possesses excellent performance due to theplex crafting process.] ¡°Please, restore the bnce that you disrupted.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Oh, wow. Was this for real? After smithing, I now got a chance to level up my weaving skills. And she gave me another A-rank blueprint. I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t thrilled. But I was also uneasy about how the dungeon was ying out in my favor like this, not to mention that this ce was a medium dungeon of high difficulty rating. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do my best.¡± But for now, I had no other choice. Seraphine was one of the absolute beings in this world. Even if Gi Soyul came to help, she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. Seraphine seemed satisfied with my response, nodding before disappearing. Only then did Dagnar, who had been holding his breath and keeping quiet, finally speak. ¡°Phew, I have no idea what¡¯s going on anymore. I never thought I¡¯d find myself in the heart of Forest Tribe territory, helping elves. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going through the high elf queen or the Chief¡¯s mind.¡± He was right. I also had no idea where this quest was heading. ¡°So¡­ are you really going to make the cloak for them, as the Queen asked?¡± ¡°Won¡¯t we have to, to stay alive?¡± That¡¯s what I said, but my real goal was to resolve the conflict between the two races. To do that, I needed to restore the bnce I had disrupted. ¡°I can¡¯t do it, nope! No matter how much I dislike the Chief, I can¡¯t betray my tribe! Even if you¡¯re my benefactor, this doesn¡¯t feel right!¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He should have said that in front of Seraphine. I began to organize my belongings. It seemed that dwarves were more stubborn than elves. But I couldn¡¯t let Dagnar, who had defended me, feel disappointed. ¡°It¡¯s not betraying the Rock Tribe.¡± Technically, the chief betrayed me first, but¡­ ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°To defeat your enemy, you must understand them more thoroughly.¡± ¡°So?¡± ¡°Think of it as reconnaissance. Isn¡¯t this a huge sess, in a way? We¡¯ve infiltrated the enemy camp without any risk!¡± ¡°That¡¯s just sophistry.¡± Dagnar frowned. ¡°You¡¯re not spying on them. You¡¯re helping the enemy. Your crafting skills are on par with those of our ancestors. The clothing you make will protect the elves and withstand the dwarves¡¯ hammers.¡± ¡°No, no.¡± I shook my head. I emphasized again that my ultimate goal in this ce was to resolve their conflict, not just to level up Boney 6¡¯s skill level. And to resolve that conflict, I need to understand its root cause. And the best way to understand the cause was to look into the history of both races. Of course, I needed an objective and urate history based on facts, not just one-sided stories. ¡°Dagnar, do you know where the dragon was buried 500 years ago?¡± ¡°The dragon?¡± Dagnar tilted his head. After a moment of thought, his eyes widened. ¡°Y-You¡­ You¡¯re not serious?!¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Ah, I knew it! You¡¯ve got this all figured out! How could I have doubted you, even for a second? I¡¯m truly sorry!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right! The ce we dwarves have been most curious about! The dragon¡¯s seal is in the Forest territory! We can investigate it while you¡¯re working on what Seraphine requested!¡± Huh, was that the case? ¡°In that ce¡­ lies the relic of our ancestor, Dmir the Great. Finding it is our destiny and the reason for this war! You¡¯re a genius! I never doubted you for a second!¡± ¡­Seriously? I felt like I just stumbled upon this whole thing by chance, but I¡¯ll just roll with it. Chapter 47 Chapter 47: Remnants of the Giant Magic Dragon (1) The next day¡­ Serious training began in earnest, simr to what I underwent in the dwarf vige. My daily routine remained unchanged: training with the skeletons under the old man¡¯s guidance, massages, practicing the Great Blue Heart Technique and honing various skills. It was about eight hours of training per cycle. The elven vigers paid little attention to my strange activities. However¡­ ¡°Here¡¯s the wool we gathered as you requested.¡± ¡°This is a bundle of silkworms. You can use that device to spin the thread.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll just stack them here.¡± ¡°But please, don¡¯t misunderstand¡­ We¡¯re only doing this because the Queen ordered it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s not because we like you or anything!¡± They simply piled up materials before the makeshift machinery for weaving and item crafting. Watching them, I couldn¡¯t help but notice¡­ They¡¯re so innocent. If the dwarves were passionate and fiery, the elves were like a nk canvas, pure and untainted. While Dagnar resented the Chief¡¯s decisions, the elves seemed to follow the Queen¡¯s orders without question, their hearts full of reverence and loyalty. Even their titles reflected this difference. The ¡®Chief¡¯ and the ¡®Queen.¡¯ ¡®Chief¡¯ suggested a federation where representatives from regions or viges gathered to exercise voting rights, while ¡®Queen¡¯ implied a monarchy with ruling and subordinate sses. In any case, it benefited me that all the elves faithfully obeyed Seraphine¡¯smands since I didn¡¯t have to worry about earning their favor while getting things done. ¡°Please stack them here, thank you.¡± I smiled warmly as I received the materials. ¡°No need to spin or weave anything yourself. It¡¯s more effective if I do it.¡± After all, I needed to increase Boney 6¡¯s weaving proficiency. Even now, Boney 6 was hard at work spinning thread and weaving fabric. It had already reached level 2, working tirelessly day and night. [Using skill ¡®Intermediate Weaving¡¯ (Lv.2).] [Spun 1 ¡®Intermediate Thread¡¯.] [Spun 1 ¡®Intermediate Thread¡¯.] [Crafted ¡®Waste Pile¡¯.] [Proficiency increased by 1.] ¡°When did you¡­?¡± Dagnar watched in amazement beside me. ¡°How did you learn to use those devices so quickly?¡± ¡°Hm, well, it¡¯s a secret technique unique to my people¡­¡± As I mentioned, I don¡¯t need to know how to use the machines. Boney 6 just needed to be near them to activate the skill. ¡°C-Come to think of it! You also smelt metal without going through theplicated processesst time, right? It¡¯s so strange¡­ Could you be a deity of some kind?¡± ¡°A deity? Does such a thing exist?¡± ¡°No, probably not. It was just an exaggeration.¡± How silly. ¡ªWhoosh! I swung my sword. Today was the day to practice the first skill I learned from the old man, Rend. I sliced through the air, following the now-familiar flow of my unique form. ¡°By the way, how¡¯s the investigation going?¡± To investigate the location of the dragon¡¯s seal¡ªthat was Dagnar¡¯s task. He needed to pinpoint our current location and predict the seal¡¯s direction. There was no need to worry about arousing suspicion. He was just exploring the hignds of the vige, and if questioned, he could simply say he was there to gather goat wool. ¡°Oh, right! I should head out again soon. I scouted the east yesterday, so I¡¯ll check the south today.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so? Good luck.¡± ¡°Heh, luck has nothing to do with it! Thanks to you, I have the opportunity to fulfill the ancient duty passed down by our ancestors! I must give it my all!¡± I admired his enthusiasm. Dagnar would find the relics of his ancestors, and I would gain the key to the quest. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± * * * ¡°Hey! Huff, huff!¡± Dagnar returned in less than three hours. ¡°You¡¯re back already? It¡¯s still noon.¡± I wiped the light sweat from my brow. I had been the one training, yet Dagnar looked more exhausted than I did. ¡°This is huge¡­! Huge, I tell you¡­! Come with me!¡± Dagnar quietly whispered as he got closer, excitement clear in his eyes. ¡°Huge?¡± ¡°It was closer than I thought! No, it wasn¡¯t just close¡­¡± ¡°Really? Then¡­?¡± I put down the sword I had been swinging. ¡°It¡¯s right here. Here!¡± ¡°Here?¡± ¡°This very spot we¡¯re standing on is the dragon¡¯s seal described in the ancient texts! The triangle formed by the blue valleys, where the rings of the stump point in one direction!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Good gracious! A ce where the heroes¡¯ relics are buried just left like this! How could the elves neglect their duty to honor their ancestors?¡± What? This was the ce? A chill ran down my spine. ¡ªRing! [Stage: Remnants of the Giant Magic Dragon] [Difficulty: Immeasurable] [You have discovered the ruins containing the hidden history of the two races.] [This may be the key to resolving the conflict.] [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [Be careful.] [Within lies traces of a sinister dragon, the Giant Magic Dragon, Drughan the Mind Controller.] A moment of silence passed. ¡°Holy¡­¡± I muttered without thinking. I tried to stay calm, but my heart pounded relentlessly. Just when I thought it would be easy¡­ Of course, it¡¯s an immeasurable-level difficulty, just like when I met the Sun Spear. A level of difficulty so insane that no ranker had ever mentioned it. ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°Phew, yes, I¡¯m fine.¡± My head throbbed. Honestly, I wasn¡¯t fine at all, but there was no point in telling Dagnar since it wouldn¡¯t help. ¡°For now.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s wait until tomorrow.¡± Right now, I needed the old man more than Dagnar. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * The next day¡­ ¡°Hnnn,¡± the old man made a low groan. ¡°The Giant Magic Dragon, huh¡­ Quite a grand name. Are you nning to go right away?¡± ¡°I should, don¡¯t you think? I can¡¯t stay stuck in this dungeon forever.¡± ¡°As expected of my disciple, your courage ismendable.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tease me. I¡¯m nervous.¡± The old man smiled. ¡°It¡¯s genuine admiration. This ce is more dangerous than you realize.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Remember that chief we saw?¡± ¡°Vulcanus?¡± ¡°Yes, him. I¡¯d say he¡¯s almost as strong as my prime just from seeing him. So imagine how terrifying the Giant Magic Dragon would have been.¡± ¡°¡­¡± As strong as the old man in his prime? I couldn¡¯t even fathom that. Rankers were the strongest in our world, but the old man could toy with them with just the power in his little finger. ¡°Disciple.¡± ¡°Yes, elder.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. From my observation, this ¡®system¡¯ fellow doesn¡¯t create situations with no way out.¡± ¡°Honestly, my concern is about another thing.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡± ¡°I find the existence of the high elf queen very contrived.¡± There was something off¡ªa sense of unease. ¡°Are you talking about the leader of the forest race who brought you here?¡± ¡°Yes, she was right there the day I was expelled by the chief and naturally guided me this way.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And since then, she hasn¡¯t made anyments or objections. Almost as if she wanted me to find this ce.¡± ¡°Hmm, you think she was leading you to the ruins.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± It was suspicious. It wasn¡¯t confirmed, but I had a strong feeling. Why did she allow Dagnar, a member of a different race, into the forest? And even now¡­ Seraphine hadn¡¯t appeared. She might have been watching me from a distance, just like when she observed me crafting the hammer. It felt unsettling and suspicious. ¡°Disciple.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. It¡¯s not a question you can get an answer to anyway.¡± ¡°Should I just go in without a second thought?¡± ¡°Yes, and if you¡¯re suspicious of that elven leader, test her.¡± ¡°Test her?¡± ¡°Yes, make a big show of it before you enter.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± I immediately understood what the old man was suggesting. The quest had appeared, so there was only one answer: I had to go into the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s ruins. So he wanted me to make a loud entrance and see how Seraphine reacted. ¡°Wait, but what if Seraphine had no such intentions? Wouldn¡¯t I just be causing unnecessary trouble? If a being of the high elf queen¡¯s level interfered, the quest could be upended entirely.¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk. I doubt it.¡± The old man clicked his tongue, smiling confidently. ¡°ording to you, that elven leader is on par with the chief, right? So she wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s probably even listening to you right now. Since eavesdropping on you would be easier than eating rice cakes in my prime.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I nodded silently. Hearing that made me reluctant to say anything more. In fact, what I was saying right now was already plenty noisy. It meant she was okay with me heading to the ruins since she still hadn¡¯t appeared. I made my decision. ¡°Mr. Dagnar.¡± ¡°Y-Yes?¡± Listening quietly beside me, the dwarf¡¯s eyes widened. He was used to my frequent soliloquies by now and just thought of me as a mysterious being. ¡°So where are this dragon¡¯s ruins? Let¡¯s head there now.¡± ¡°A-Are you serious? I thought we were going to sneak in at night! What if we get caught?¡± ¡°No, we¡¯re going now.¡± It was better to face the music head-on. Immeasurable difficulty? ¡ªThump, thump. My heart pounded faster. I felt fear, excitement, and a sense of awakening something dormant within me. Behind me, the old man chuckled contentedly. ¡°You truly are a warrior. It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re a genius or an ordinary person. You¡¯re someone who knows how to fight against the world. Heh, and that¡¯s why you¡¯re my disciple.¡± And so, I walked toward the hignds that Dagnar was guiding me to. ¡°Looks like it¡¯s that hole up there.¡± The old man stood by my side. ¡°This trial will likely be another fortuitous opportunity for you. However, I¡¯m not worried since it seems that the heavens favor you.¡± I saw a dark and gloomy hole about five meters wide, with a decaying staircase leading down. That was the entrance to the ruins. ¡°What are you waiting for? If you¡¯ve made your decision, go ahead, my disciple.¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± I took a step forward. * * * In the sky above the forest, an elf with pure white skin quietly looked down. It was the high elf queen Seraphine¡ªthe Queen of the Forest tribe and the revered leader of all the elves for 500 years. Below her, she saw Joo Donghoon and Dagnar moving diligently. ¡°Foreign being¡­ you¡¯re finally¡­ taking action.¡± Her facial muscles trembled. Her expression was unreadable. But one thing was for sure. There was no sign of displeasure. ¡°¡­¡± After watching them silently for a long time, her figure gradually faded away like a mirage. Chapter 48 Chapter 48: Remnants of the Giant Magic Dragon (2) ¡ªStep, step. I descended the stairs slowly. The old man had been unsummoned, and the six skeletons surrounded me in formation. [You have entered the ¡®Seal of the Magic Dragon.¡¯] [Be cautious.] [The remnants of the evil dragon have spawned terrifying monsters.] The Seal of the Magic Dragon resembled any other dungeon¡ªperhaps even too friendly for a dungeon. There were stairs and luminescent pearls attached to the walls. Considering this was where the dragon had been sealed, there should have been signs of a fierce battle, yet there were none. Perhaps the marks had been erased over time, or maybe¡­ The elves could have cleaned it up. Whatever the case, it didn¡¯t matter. I kept things simple. This was a dungeon, so monsters would appear. If I moved forward, a solution might present itself. The problem is¡­ I nced behind me. ¡°Huff, puff, huff. Breathe, Dagnar, breathe! Don¡¯t be so tense.¡± Dagnar was nervously clutching his chest, trying to steady his breathing. ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯m on a glorious quest to find the relics of my ancestors. I mustn¡¯t be nervous! Get a hold of yourself! Huff, puff¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± This stout dwarf was the problem. Ideally, I would have left him behind since he wouldn¡¯t be much help in a fight. However¡­ ¡°Hey! I told you not to look at me like that! You might be an outsider, but I¡¯m a dwarf of the Rock Tribe! I know more about the history of our tribe than you do! I assure you I can be of help!¡± Dagnar was stubborn and insisted oning, even at the risk of his life. ¡°Alright¡­ But I already warned you. I might not be able to protect you when things get dangerous.¡± I was suddenly reminded of the dungeon where I met the old man. Was it the guide Kang Sunwook? Now I understood why that A-rank hunter had said he might be unable to protect me. ¡°Besides, I¡¯d be just as much at risk staying in that vige alone. You¡¯re the bold one, running off to this ce as soon as you figured it out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± From Dagnar¡¯s perspective, the elven vige would have been much scarier. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving.¡± We continued walking. The stairs spiraled down along the edge of a bottomless pit. It was a chilling feeling, like staring into the biblical abyss. But I ignored it and kept descending. After some time¡­ ¡°Hmm, are you alright? It¡¯s getting damper, and it¡¯s quite unpleasant.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± I stopped. Dagnar was right. I could feel an impure aura encroaching with the Great Blue Heart Technique. [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ used the skill ¡®Secure Vision¡¯ (Lv.9).] ¡ªWhoosh! Boney 3 fired a glowing arrow into the abyss. ¡°Hm.¡± I sensed several presences around the arrow. The location and number of the creatures, the writhing, and the ominous aura¡ªhundreds of somethings were writhing down there. [¡¯Secure Vision¡¯ (Lv.9) has discovered something.] [¡®?? ????¡¯ has been found.] The distance was considerable, so I couldn¡¯t see clearly, but it didn¡¯t look good. Do I have to deal with all that to go further down? It seemed like this dungeon¡¯s difficulty was truly ¡®Immeasurable.¡¯ ¡°¡­¡± I had expected this, but it still felt daunting. Although, maybe there¡¯s another way. The mission wasn¡¯t clearly defined. My goal here was to find a clue to resolve the conflict between the two tribes, not necessarily to annihte these monsters. However, I needed to take down a few of them to assess the situation because this was basic reconnaissance. ¡°Well, let¡¯s start slow.¡± There was no need to rush. I¡¯d take my time, dealing with them one by one. ¡ªRing! [Discovering the connection between the dungeon and Hunter Joo Donghoon¡¯s profession.] ¡°Hm.¡± It felt simr to when I encountered Sunny in the Ancient Desert dungeon. [Warning!] [The dungeon is transforming.] [You cannot exit the dungeon.] ¡°Ah, how familiar.¡± I used to be terrified just by reading messages like this, but now I was ustomed to it. Bring it on if you dare. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°We¡¯re ready for battle.¡± ¡°Do we have a chance?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. From what I sense, it could be difficult.¡± Sunny was honest, but it was also confident and fearless. Even though it hadn¡¯t regained its former strength, it still had the mentality of a world ruler. ¡°My lord.¡± Sunny nced down the abyss. ¡°A group ising up. Shall we start?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s wait a bit and ambush them.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡ªThud, thud, thud. Something was approaching. ¡°Wh-What¡¯s that?¡± Dagnar shouted. ¡°What do you think? Monsters, of course.¡± ¡°What kind of monsters lurk in the ruins of the ancients?¡± ¡°Not just any ruin, but a giant magic dragon¡®s, at that. It¡¯smon sense that such ces would have a few monsters, right?¡± ¡°D-Damn, I¡¯d rather not have that kind ofmon sense.¡± ¡°Oooooh!¡± A horrifying wail echoed from below. [¡®Spiked Drake¡¯ has appeared!] [¡®Spiked Drake¡¯ has appeared!] ¡­ Spiked drakes? That was a new one. But I had read about the ¡®drake¡¯ species in an old document. They weren¡¯t as intelligent or magical as dragons, but their physical tanking abilities were immense. Their strength was also monstrous, categorizing them as high-rank monsters. ¡°D-Dragons?¡± Upon seeing the monstrous figures below, Dagnar fell back in shock. ¡°How could dragons be here? For the love of¡ªwhat have these elves been doing in this ce? Are they trying to wake the Giant Magic Dragon or something¡­?¡± ¡°Quiet down.¡± ¡°Kiiiii!¡± ¡°Krieeek!¡± About ten spiked drakes were thundering up the stairs. ¡°Boney 4.¡± ¡ªThud! The reliable tank, Boney 4, nted his shield firmly on the steps. [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ used the skill ¡®Intermediate Block¡¯ (Lv.3).] Like the roots of a sturdy old tree, Boney 4 braced himself, exuding strength. ¡°And next, Sunny!¡± ¡°No problem, my lord.¡± [¡®Sun Spear¡¯ used the skill ¡®Soulre¡¯ (Lv.4).] [¡®Sun Spear¡¯ used the skill ¡®Raging Desert¡¯ (Lv.4).] mes burst around Sunny. Soulre was a skill that temporarily amplified its power by burning its soul. It then unleashed its area-of-effect attack, Raging Desert. ¡ªWhoosh! A sandstorm raged up around us. ¡ªSwish! Sunny¡¯s spearshed out, sending waves of energy toward the advancing drakes. ¡°Woah, what kind of attack is this?¡± Ignoring Dagnar¡¯s astonishment, I prepared Boney 5. ¡°Boney 5!¡± It started preparing its magic. Drakes had strong physical defenses, so magic was necessary. ¡ªCreak! The S-rank item Staff of the Fire Dragon glowed red. ¡ªKieeek! Below, ten pairs of red eyes gleamed menacingly. They seemed to dare us to attack them, their gazes growing even more intense. But Sunny was undeterred. It charged at the hulking creatures without hesitation. ¡ªCreak! Not to be outdone, Boney 1 also charged forward. ¡°Boney 1, aim for their legs,¡± Sunny muttered. ¡ªWhoosh! Sunny¡¯s spear jabbed. ¡ªThud, thud, thud! The sound of impact filled the space. Their target was the drakes¡¯ legs. ¡°Physical force won¡¯t work. We need to unbnce them and make them fall into the abyss,¡± Sunny exined, and Boney 1 silently followed. ¡ªCreak! They¡¯re doing well on their own. Now it was Boney 5¡¯s turn. Boney 5, who had finished casting, looked at me, awaiting mymand. ¡°Fire away!¡± ¡ªCreak! [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fireball¡¯ (Lv. Max).] ¡ªWhoosh! A massive fireball formed in the air three times the size of a normal one because it was at max level. I can feel its heat all the way from here. ¡ªFwoosh! Boney 5 swung its staff, sending the zing fireball toward the drakes. It didn¡¯t matter if the enemy could dodge¡ªthey had nowhere to go on the stairs. ¡ªBoom! ¡°Kyaaak!¡± A scorching wave of fire filled the space. The drakes, who had scoffed at Sunny and Boney 1¡¯s attacks, now screamed in agony. ¡°As expected, fire is the best for dealing with beasts.¡± I muttered in satisfaction, and Dagnar marveled beside me. ¡°Amazing! You¡¯re incredible!¡± But this wasn¡¯t the end. I didn¡¯t expect these high-rank monsters to go down with just one Fireball. ¡°Give ¡®em another one!¡± ¡ªCreak! [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fire Field¡¯ (Lv. 2).] ¡ªWhoosh! Though itcked the firepower of Fireball, Fire Field covered the stairs in a straight line. Sunny and Boney 1 retreated. ¡°Kieeeeek!¡± ¡°Kiiiieek!¡± The drakes halted, hesitating. Of course, they would. They had already tasted the terror of fire. With the mes burning before them, they had no reason to push forward. And it wasn¡¯t just any fire¡ªit was imbued with the power of the S-rank item Staff of the Fire Dragon. [Name: Bonehead 5] [Energy: 170/200] Good. Boney 5 still had plenty of energy. Thanks to the Staff of the Fire Dragon, which added 100 max energy, it had more than enough energy for now. ¡°Set another one behind them.¡± ¡ªCreak! [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fire Field¡¯ (Lv. 2).] I ced another line of fire behind them. As the mes flickered, the drakes, who had been inching backward, found themselves trapped. ¡°I see you¡¯re slowly roasting the dragons!¡± Dagnar marveled beside me. I smiled. ¡°Still, it¡¯s fortunate that these guys are weak to fire.¡± ¡°L-Look over there!¡± Dagnar pointed forward. ¡°Kiiiek!¡± ¡°Kieee¡­¡± Unable to withstand the mes, the spiked drakes began to throw themselves into the abyss. Their shrieks echoed until they faded away. After waiting for about a minute¡­ [¡®Spiked Drake¡¯ has been defeated.] [¡®Spiked Drake¡¯ has been defeated.] [¡®Spiked Drake¡¯ has been defeated.] ¡­ The notification messages appeared one by one. No matter how tough these creatures were, the fall must have been fatal. This indicated just how deep the abyss was. Oh. My eyes gleamed. The monsters were being counted as defeated, even though I had only indirectly set them on fire¡ªthis was excellent news. Why? [Bonehead 1¡¯s strength has increased by 1!] [Bonehead 1¡¯s technique has increased by 1!] [Sun Spear¡¯s strength has increased by 1!] [Bonehead 5¡¯s technique has increased by 1!] ¡­ Because it meant that we could receive experience points for defeating these monsters! Given my unique ability as a ¡®Cursed Necromancer,¡¯ the experience points from monsters were directly transferred to my summons and converted into stats. This is huge. If I could defeat all the monsters lurking here this way, it would lead to a massive level-up and a surge in stats. ¡°Hehe.¡± I couldn¡¯t swallow my leakingughter. Come to think of it, it¡¯s about time I grew stronger. I¡¯d been focused on training all this time. Of course, growth cane through training, but bncing between grinding for experience points and training was crucial. ¡°Kyeeek!¡± I heard the cries of drakes from below as if they were trembling in fear of something unknown. ¡°I¡¯ll dly take all of you down.¡± My footsteps became noticeably lighter as I walked forward. Chapter 49 Chapter 49: Remnants of the Giant Magic Dragon (3) Another group of drakes emerged from below the stairs. ¡°Kyeeeek!¡± ¡ªThud, thud, thud! Their eyes glowed menacingly, enraged by Boney 3¡¯s arrows. They stomped heavily, a sign of their anger. They fell for it so quickly. They possess no intelligence, just pure instinct. I could have gone down to fight them, but I had a reason to lure them up. The reason was simple¡ªfalling from a bigger height would cause more damage. ¡°Heh, I¡¯ve never seen such a straightforward hunting tactic.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t keep this up forever. There¡¯s a limit to my energy.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! Boney 5¡¯s fire magic zed fiercely, blocking the retreat of the enraged drakes. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fireball¡¯ (Lv. Max).] ¡ªWhoosh! Boom! The fireball flew straight into the lead drake. ¡°Kieeeek!¡± The smell of burning flesh filled the air as it screeched and thrashed in pain. Desperately trying to escape, it spread the fire to itsrades. One by one, they iled and fell into the abyss. ¡°Goodbye.¡± [¡®Spiked Drake¡¯ has been defeated.] [¡®Spiked Drake¡¯ has been defeated.] [¡®Spiked Drake¡¯ has been defeated.] ¡­ Good. Most mindless creatures were vulnerable to fire. It was fortunate that Boney 5 could wield mes. If it weren¡¯t for Boney 5, I would¡¯ve had more trouble finding a solution. ¡°Alright!¡± I stretched my stiff body and plopped down on the ground. ¡°Shall we call it a day?¡± I felt fatigued, probably from the tension I had been holding in. [Name: Bonehead 5] [Energy: 50/200] Boney 5 had nearly exhausted its energy. I needed to save thatst bit, just in case. There¡¯s no need to rush. There were still plenty of enemies to fight, and no one was chasing us from behind. I needed to manage my stamina carefully. ¡°Hmm? Are you nning to rest here? In the middle of this monster-infested ruin?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice. How can we take them all out in one day, like you said?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Dagnar rubbed his chin, contemting something. Then he called to me with glowing eyes, ¡°Hey, hey, look here!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Remember I told you I¡¯d be useful when I asked toe along?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, you did.¡± ¡°Well, let me show you, as promised.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± What was he up to? I watched as Dagnar set down his backpack. A backpack? When had he brought that along? ¡°Haha, I don¡¯t usually show this to just anyone.¡± Dagnar grinned confidently. ¡°But you¡¯re a special person, and you¡¯re doing so much for our tribe.¡± He began pulling things from his bag¡ªpots, pans, a cutting board, and various ingredients¡­ ¡°Huh?¡± I blinked in surprise. This wasn¡¯t what I expected. I wondered¡­ ¡°Are you going to cook?¡± ¡°Exploring ancient ruins can take a long time, so I came prepared. Aren¡¯t you tired of eating dried jerky all the time?¡± ¡°Wow, when did you¡­ No, wait! Why didn¡¯t you bring this out in the elven vige?¡± ¡°I told you. I wasn¡¯t joking when I said I don¡¯t show this to just anyone.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°This bag is a very rare artifact. I don¡¯t usually show this, not even to our benefactors.¡± Dagnar grinned again. It was indeed impressive. Everything he needed was packed into that tiny bag, even though it didn¡¯t seem like it could fit it all. Dagnar¡¯s hands moved with expert precision as he set up his cooking station, as expected from a veteran dwarf. ¡°Huh?¡± I watched in awe. ¡°This is my specialty, chicken stew. Don¡¯t worry about the freshness.¡± Dagnar was amazing. He chopped the chicken, rinsed it, and ced it in a strainer. Then he chopped some mysterious vegetables, likely native to this world, into bite-sized pieces. His skill was on par with someone appearing on a cooking TV show. He added some unknown liquid and ingredients into the pot, and I watched it bubble. Hmm. Then I grew curious about his bag. ¡°Mr. Dagnar.¡± ¡°Yes? It just needs to simmer for ten minutes.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not about that. I was wondering¡­ Could I take a look at your bag?¡± ¡°This? Hmm¡­ Alright.¡± He seemed to hesitate but agreed. What kind of artifact is this? The moment I touched the bag, information appeared before me. [Item: Demir-Distributed Backpack] [Rank: S] [Type: Bag] [Description: A backpack distributed by the legendary cksmith ¡®Demir¡¯ for the tribe¡¯s convenience. It boasts incredible performance for a supply item.] [Effect 1: Provides an S-rank subspace, allowing the user to store many items.] [Effect 2: Maintains freshness within the subspace.] ¡°What the¡­!¡± I was so shocked I coughed. What kind of insane item is this? This wasn¡¯t something a regr dwarf should possess. And Demir? The great Demir that the dwarves worshiped? ¡°Haha, amazing, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­This is beyond amazing.¡± ¡°It was amon item during the time of our ancestors. Every family had one or two.¡± So that was why it was called a supply item? But still, an S-rank supply item? What kind of world was this? I felt a little disappointed. I could have gained so much more if I had arrived in this world 500 years ago. ¡°I¡¯m honestly tempted.¡± ¡°Haha, don¡¯t even think about it. It may have beenmon back then, but now it¡¯s a precious artifact.¡± ¡°¡­Right.¡± Tsk! How did he know I was going to ask for it? ¡°Instead of drooling over my bag, have some food.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s already ready?¡± ¡°You need to eat well to hunt the monsters down. That¡¯s how we¡¯ll find our ancestors¡¯ relics.¡± Well, anything was better than dried jerky. I epted the food Dagnar handed me. It looked simr to chicken stew. It was a thick, sauceless chicken dish. ¡°Oh?¡± I took a bite, and my eyes widened. ¡°This is surprisingly good.¡± ¡°Gahahaha!¡± Dagnarughed, clearly pleased by mypliment. I wasn¡¯t just being polite; I genuinely meant it. I had no reason to tter him, and why would I lie about something like this? Maybe my taste buds have been dulled by all the nd food I¡¯ve been eatingtely. It was a pity that my skeletons and the old man couldn¡¯t share the meal with me. Moreover, we were getting a break. I sighed in relief. Honestly, I had been worried about how long we would have to stay here, but if we had a reliable source of food and water, we could stay as long as we needed. ¡°Hehe, isn¡¯t it great? This meal¡¯s on a whole different level from those fruit-picking elves! Eat up! There¡¯s plenty more!¡± Mypliment seemed to have fueled the fire within him as Dagnar eagerly served me more. ¡°Thank you.¡± I didn¡¯t hesitate to ept. I needed to eat well if I wanted to train here. ¡°Haha! This is great! Need anything else?¡± ¡°Anything else? Well, actually, yes.¡± ¡°Haha! Yes, tell me! Go ahead!¡± ¡°The bag.¡± ¡°Stop joking around.¡± Dagnar handled my sudden curveball with ease. ¡°Tsk, it didn¡¯t work, eh?¡± I clicked my tongue in disappointment. I might as well continue to eat. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * The hunting and training continued. For me, this ce wasn¡¯t just a dungeon. It was more like a training ground. ¨C Defeat 30 Spiked Drakes daily. ¨C Basic physical training for 1 hour. ¨C Old man¡¯s massage for 30 minutes. ¨C Old man¡¯s martial arts training for 30 minutes. ¨C Practice the Great Blue Heart Technique for 4 hours. ¨C Personal training for 4 hours. ¨C Rest and sleep. It was a simple curriculum. The deadline was until we wiped out all the drakes. ¡°Wow, time flies.¡± Dagnar hummed as he washed the dishes. ¡°It¡¯s already been a week.¡± He nced down into the abyss. ¡°The sounds from below have gotten quieter, haven¡¯t they?¡± He was much more rxed now than when we first entered, and I couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Yeah, it seems like we¡¯re almost done. Thanks for all your help.¡± I was growing stronger, so it didn¡¯t bother me, but I felt a little guilty about Dagnar since all he had done here was cook and clean. ¡°Haha, thank me? If anything, I should be thanking you! All I do is cook while you take down those terrifying monsters!¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re really that grateful?¡± ¡°Of course! Why wouldn¡¯t I be?¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then how about that bag¡­¡± ¡°¡­Quiet, you.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± I sighed, disappointed. The sigh wasn¡¯t just about the bag, though. It was also because the time for the dreaded massage was approaching. [Using skill ¡®Teaching of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank).] [Consuming 20 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Master of All Techniques.¡¯] The old man¡¯s Grand Technique of the Celestial Artisan was a pain I could never fully get used to. Even with an A-rank pain resistance passive skill, it was tough to endure. Sometimes, I was amazed at my resilience. ¡°It¡¯s that time again, eh?¡± ¡°Yes, please take care of me, elder.¡± But now, I voluntarily participated because I was starting to feel the benefits of the massage. [It sharpens your martial skills and refines your talents.] After each session, my physical abilities improved, and my mind became more flexible and more efficiently able to absorb knowledge. Whenever the elder taught me something, I could find more ways to apply the knowledge in different ways. It was like I was taking another step toward bing a top-rank hunter. ¡°¡®Please,¡¯ you say? Haha, today, I¡¯ll be the one asking for a favor.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± I tilted my head, confused. It was strange for the old man, who had always been giving me massages, to say something like that. ¡°Your once-clogged energy within your body now flows like a river, and your weak spirit has be as lively as a newborn. It¡¯s time to move on to the next stage.¡± ¡°Huh¡­? What do you¡­?¡± ¡°Which means it will be even more painful than before.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Why? Don¡¯t you want to do it? Just say the word, and I¡¯ll stop.¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± My eyes narrowed as I seriously considered it. The pain I¡¯d endured so far was already immense, and now it would be worse. It was just asking for me to quit. However, the old man¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°Hehe. After this next stage, you¡¯ll shed anotheryer and grow even more. But are you going to quit now? I know you won¡¯t give up before even trying it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The old man knew me too well. I wasn¡¯t someone who would give up before even attempting something. Nor was I someone who would quit just because it got hard or painful. ¡°Well, no choice then. Let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°Haha, I knew you¡¯d say that.¡± The old man grinned mischievously, but I trusted him. His desire to help me grow and pass on his art was genuine. ¡°Remember, if what you¡¯ve endured so far was the beginner level¡­¡± The old man inteced his fingers and cracked his knuckles. ¡°Now we¡¯re moving on to intermediate.¡± ¡°Intermediate¡­¡± ¡°So brace yourself.¡± His eyes gleamed like a sh of lightning. Chapter 50 Chapter 50: Growth The Grand Technique of the Celestial Artisan was the technique developed by the old man who once ruled as the absolute power in his world, created during the twilight of his life. The name might sound grand, but its principle was simple. Inflict pain. And through that pain, you grow. Honestly, it¡¯s frustrating. No matter how effective the old man imed it to be, it was nothing more than a feeling. There were no noticeable upgrades in my skills nor did I earn a new power like in a Wuxia novel. Nothing visibly changed. But this time¡­ The old man assured me that I would shed ayer and emerge stronger after this treatment. When he spoke, his words carried weight. He wasn¡¯t one to sweet-talk or fabricate. ¡°You¡¯ve endured well for a long time. You¡¯ve faced pain of varying degrees countless times from many injuries.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So let me ask you something. Do you know the greatest physical pain a human can endure?¡± The greatest pain? I thought for a moment before responding. ¡°Excluding mental and other trivial pains¡­ Hmm, isn¡¯t it burning pain? I think I read that somewhere.¡± ¡°Hoho, exactly.¡± ¡°Right?¡± I nodded. The pain of being burned. Just thinking about it was horrifying. Even a minor burn could make every nerve scream. So, yeah, I¡¯d say burning pain is the worst. But wait¡ªhold on. ¡°W-Wait a minute, elder.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Wh-Why are you asking me this? Don¡¯t tell me, you¡¯re¡­¡± I looked at the old man with a perplexed expression, and he grinned widely. It was, without a doubt, the happiest expression I had ever seen on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my disciple. Your senses have be as tough as iron after all the training. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to endure it.¡± ¡°¡­What does that even mean?¡± Tough as iron? Was he talking about my pain resistance skill? [Skill: Pain Resistance] [Rank: A] [Effect 1: Resist pain.] [Effect 2: The more pain, the more numb your senses be.] It¡¯s A-rank, but still. It¡¯s not like he can just burn me for fun after beating the crap out of me for this long. ¡°Elder, I¡¯ve been deeply immersed in cksmithingtely, and one thing I¡¯ve realized¡­ is that iron melts when heated.¡± ¡°Haha, true. But doesn¡¯t it be a stronger alloy afterward?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± As my difort became more evident, the old man continued. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This method will be entirely different from the usual one.¡± ¡°¡­What kind of method is it?¡± I was anxious, but I wanted to hear him out. ¡°Until now, the training has been forcibly carried out, hasn¡¯t it? You trained for 30 minutes without showing any sign of surrender.¡± ¡°Training, huh¡­ More like you beat the living crap out of me.¡± ¡°Hah! Listen. Calling it ¡®forced¡¯ might need to be corrected! The choice was always yours to make, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was right. I could¡¯ve just refused the old man¡¯s massage by not summoning him if I had wanted. However, I clearly summoned him daily and received his massage. The reason for that was simple: to be stronger. It was the most certain measure I could take to achieve my goal. ¡°Just from that, you¡¯re already different from ordinary people. This isn¡¯t about whether you¡¯re ordinary or a genius. Frankly, even geniuses feel pain when they get hit. Haha.¡± True. Even geniuses like Einstein or n Turing, while intelligent, probably weren¡¯t any better at enduring pain. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± ¡°Want to know something that¡¯ll give you chills?¡± ¡°¡­What is it?¡± ¡°Take a look at your mouth right now.¡± My mouth? Why should I look at my mouth? Tilting my head in confusion, I suddenly froze as a chill ran down my spine. ¡°¡­!¡± There was a smile. Even though we were talking about excruciating pain and burning people alive, and I was tense about it, the corners of my mouth were slightly raised. This wasn¡¯t joyful at all. It was sad. Had I, an ordinary person, be a masochist who enjoys pain? ¡°That¡¯s why I say you¡¯re extraordinary. My quest for a genius was wrong. It was fortunate that I found a freak like you.¡± No, elder. I don¡¯t think that¡¯s it. ¡°They say a genius can¡¯t beat a hardworking person, and a hardworking person can¡¯t beat an enjoyer. And that¡¯s exactly what you are.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s a nice saying, but¡­¡± Why does it sound so sad to me? Anyway. The old man was right about everything he said. He¡¯s right. I wanted to be stronger. The world had changed over the past decade. From a world where money and power were paramount to a world where only strength mattered. A world where value was judged by the ranks disyed in messages or rankings posted on boards. This was about survival. And to survive, one had to be stronger. Frankly, we live in an era where the current legal system cannot correctly punish a ranker for viting thew. We hunters were like beasts thrown into a cruel, wild world¡ªlikembs. And amidst all this, an unparalleled opportunity hade. A chance to be a predator had emerged. I have to endure. What other choice did I have? Yes, I must endure no matter what. I clenched my teeth tightly. Without realizing it, I was also clenching my fists. ¡°So what¡¯s the method this time?¡± ¡°This time, it will not be forced. Everything will depend on your will.¡± The old man smiled, and I frowned. ¡°My will¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, your will. For about 30 minutes, this technique will rely solely on your own effort. If you push the intensity, the pain will increase, and time will slow. On the other hand, if you don¡¯t raise the intensity yourself, it won¡¯t hurt much, and it¡¯ll be over quickly.¡± ¡°Eh, doesn¡¯t that make it easier?¡± ¡°Haha, you think so?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Listen closely. This intermediate stage can bepleted in one go if done correctly. However, it could take a lifetime to ovee if not done right. Experience it for yourself, and you¡¯ll understand.¡± ¡ªFwoosh! mes erupted from the old man¡¯s hands. As expected of the Master of All Techniques, he could also use fire magic. ¡°Will you take it like a man and finish it in one go? Or will you cower and suffer for a long time?¡± ¡°¡­Well, I¡¯ll have to try it to find out.¡± ¡°Nonsense. Heh, I know you too well.¡± ¡°You do?¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re a persistent one. The kind of person who will survive no matter where they¡¯re thrown.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Now bring it out.¡± The old man¡¯s mes approached me. ¡°Your desire for power that¡¯s hidden deep within¡­¡± ¡ªFwoosh! As his hands moved, the mes encircled my body. The technique had begun. ¡ªFwoosh! The sensation hit immediately. This is¡­ Hot? Yeah, it was hot. It was burning. The mes encircling me seemed to sear every nerve ending in my body. But even so¡­ It¡¯s bearable. I recalled the first time the old man beat me. I had screamed and struggled like a madman. But now, this wasn¡¯t so bad. It¡¯s weak, I thought to myself. Not consciously, but my body was whispering it to me. Because I know it¡¯ll get more intense. The old man had said it: everything depends on my will. Time is more precious than gold. I could go to a sauna instead if this was just the warm-up. ¡°Heh, your spirit is strong!¡± The old man¡¯s faint voice echoed in my ears as I grimaced because a sound like an explosion inside me signaled the true beginning. ¡ªBoom! ¡°Hrrrrgh¡­!¡± I bit my lip as the pain intensified, taking over my mind. I can do this. I can do it. I closed my eyes and focused. Pain is just the nerves crying. I¡¯ve felt it every day, so it¡¯s a familiar sensation. Bring it on. Most people shrink away from pain. They try to avoid it, retreating in fear. But¡­ I didn¡¯t back down. Instead, I embraced the familiar heat I felt from Boney 5¡¯s mes, opening myself up to it. Do as you wish. However, just promise me one thing: make me stronger and grow¡­! ¡ªFwoosh! The fire zed. It wasn¡¯t just burning meaninglessly. This is¡­ The fire moved through my body, tracing a familiar path. The Great Blue Heart Technique? Yes, indeed. The fire followed the energy pathways of the Great Blue Heart Technique, burning through the blockages that even the old man¡¯s massages couldn¡¯t clear. ¡ªBoom! Boom! Boom! The blockages burst like fireworks. ¡°Hrrngh!¡± My eyes flew open as a sharp pain hit me. The real pain had begun. ¡°Grk, grrk!¡± Foam bubbled from my mouth as yellowish fluid oozed from the pores of my skin. ¡ªSizzle! The fluid evaporated in the intense heat almost instantly. ¡°It¡¯s the impurities. The primordial filth umted in your body from the polluted air of the world. Normally, no human could ever cleanse this through natural means, but you¡¯re enduring well.¡± It was a process of cleansing and purifying. ¡°¡­¡± The pain continued. Indescribable agony coursed through me at least a hundred times. I was drained. Not because it was over but because the muscles had quite literally burned out. I couldn¡¯t even scream anymore. An overwhelming sense of loss consumed me. Am I going to die at this rate? Honestly, I wanted to give up if I could. He said it was up to my will. That was a lie. The me had tasted my body and wouldn¡¯t leave me alone. It roamed inside me against my will, ravaging my body like a dog reunited with its owner after a long absence. ¡ªBoom! Boom! Boom! It moved violently, rampaging through my body for what felt like an hour. ¡°Give up if you have to. But know that it¡¯s only been five minutes since we started.¡± What the hell? I wanted to curse. ¡°You can stop if you¡¯d like. Heh, it¡¯s not like this is your only chance. And removing the impurities alone is already a good result.¡± The old man¡¯s voice was soft and sweet. Finally, I understood why he said this wouldn¡¯t be easy. It was always harder to resist temptation than to endure something forced upon you. Don¡¯t be ridiculous! I steeled my resolve. I decided to consider the old man a devil, and this was nothing but a devil¡¯s whisper. Only one chance, my ass! It felt like almost an hour, and if I quit now, all that effort would be wasted. ¡°Haha, you sure are persistent. You truly are my disciple!¡± The old manughed heartily. But why did that sound so incredibly annoying today? ¡°Guh!¡± The pain grew more intense. It felt like carpet bombs were being dropped inside my body. [Skill ¡®Pain Resistance¡¯ (A-rank) has been upgraded.] [You have acquired the skill ¡®Pain Resistance¡¯ (S-rank)!] [This skill has the potential for further growth.] After what felt like five more hours, this message appeared. But I felt nothing; my mind and body were too worn out. Just eat me alive. I flipped over. I had long since passed the point of what any ordinary human could endure. Pain was pain whether I was struck with a 1,000-ton hammer or a 900-ton hammer. I had no thoughts. I just cried and endured. And after god knows how many hours had passed¡­ ¡°You¡¯re a tough one¡­ You¡¯ve managed to endure the full 30 minutes.¡± The old man¡¯s voice sounded faintly in my ears. Ah. Was it finally over? Really? Honestly, I had no sensation left. I couldn¡¯t tell where I was or how long I¡¯d held out. I could see Dagnar¡¯s worried face and the old man¡¯s satisfied expression through my blurred vision. Ha, damn it. Well done, well done, me! And with that, I slowly lost consciousness. [Congrattions!] [Your rank has upgraded to B-rank!] I didn¡¯t have time to register the new message floating above my vision. Chapter 51 Chapter 51: Skeleton Lord A considerable amount of time had passed. ¡°Are you alright?¡± As I opened my eyes, the bushy beard of a dwarf filled my vision. ¡°Ugh,¡± a groan escaped my lips. My whole body felt cold as if I had caught the flu. My bones ached, and every muscle was filled with fatigue. I was insane for doing that. The old man¡¯s intermediate level was incredible. It felt more painful than anything I had experienced before. Even the pain I felt now was probably just my body trying to recover. ¡°Are you okay? Do you know how shocked I was, thinking you were reacting to the chicken dish I made?¡± Oh. Well, Dagnar probably couldn¡¯t see the old man, so he must have thought I was suffering from some terminal illness on my own. ¡°It was nothing serious.¡± ¡°Nothing serious?! Your bones were twisting, and your skin was burning and healing repeatedly! Now that I think about it, you¡¯ve been overdoing ittely. Working through the night with the hammer and training every day¡­ If you were a dwarf, you¡¯d be bedridden by now.¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯m okay, I assure you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, what just happened was like a shedding process unique to my kind.¡± ¡°Shedding?¡± Shedding¡ªa process like how snakes or insects shed their skin or shells to grow. I said it as a joke because it felt simr to my situation¡­ but Dagnar seemed to take it seriously. ¡°Sh-Shedding? No way!¡± ¡°Huh¡­?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a dragonborn! Now that I think about it, I¡¯ve seen this before! Dragons have their Draconian Guards, don¡¯t they? My goodness¡­ To think that a benefactor from afar is a dragonborn? Are you a descendant of the sealed Giant Magic Dragon?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What purpose do you have infiltrating our dwarf vige? W-Wait¡­ Did youe here to¡­?¡± I sighed and shook my head. I didn¡¯t know how else to exin it. And frankly, I didn¡¯t feel like correcting his misunderstanding. Besides. [A reward for the rank change has arrived!] There was still something I needed to check: the reward for finally reaching B-rank! I slowly read the messages floating in the air. [Skill: ¡®Summon Bnced Skeleton¡¯ (C-rank) has been upgraded!] [Skill: ¡®Summon Great Skeleton¡¯ (B-rank) acquired!] Great¡­! It was a touching moment. My skeletons had the title ¡®Ordinary¡¯ at the E-rank, but they¡¯ve now earned the title ¡®Great.¡¯ I felt a sense of pride swelling in my chest. I examined the message more closely. [Skill: Summon Great Skeletons] [Rank: B] [Effect 1: Consumes 10 energy to summon a great skeleton. A maximum of 10 can be summoned.] [Effect 2: You can name each skeleton.] [Effect 3: Each skeleton¡¯s energy increases by 100.] [Effect 4: Each skeleton can summon 10 skeletons one rank lower than itself.] ¡°What?¡± I blinked in surprise. Effects 3 and 4 were added to the existing effects 1 and 2. Just having the base energy of the skeletons increased by 100 was huge. Not only that, but my skeletons can summon more skeletons. A skeleton one rank lower would be the ¡®Bnced Skeleton¡¯ at C-rank. So if all six summoned them, that would be 60 skeletons? I got goosebumps, and a shiver ran from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. This is absurdly good¡­! Overnight, I had be a hunter capable ofmanding six B-rank and 60 C-rank skeletons. In theory, if I also counted Boney 7 to Boney 12, that was 110 in total, but still. I was growing like a storm. [Congrattions.] [All impurities in your body have been burned away.] [Energy increased by 100.] [The performance of your Great Blue Heart Technique improves.] ¡°¡­!¡± The benefits didn¡¯t just go to my skeletons. My max energy also increased by 100. Indeed, it was worth trusting the old man¡¯s massage techniques. That was the end of the messages. ¡°Alright.¡± I moved my body around to loosen my muscles. The stiffness seemed to fade as time passed. At the same time, I closed my eyes and calmly sensed the ki from below. There are not many left. I could sense the presence of the spiked drakes deep underground. There were only a few, probably because I had taken down so many before. ¡°No need to use fire this time.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! I swung my staff and summoned my skeletons. ¡°My lord.¡± The first to greet me was Sunny. ¡°How¡¯s the new body?¡± I asked. ¡°It¡¯s not bad. It feels as if the barrier between what I know and what my body can do has been broken.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Though I¡¯m still far from regaining my true strength.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s to be expected.¡± I checked Sunny¡¯s status. [Name: Sun Spear] [Energy: 200/200] [Unique Ability: Great Skeleton] [ss: Spearman] [Rank: B] [Strength: 42] [Dexterity: 42] [Constitution: 40] [Magic Power: 38] [Technique: 41] [Skills] ¨C Intermediate Thrust (Lv.4) ¨C Sr Strike (Lv.4) ¨C Raging Desert (Lv.4) ¨C Soulre (Lv.4) ¨C Summon Skeleton (Lv. Max) Its growth was unbelievablepared to just a few months ago. Its energy had increased to 200, and its rank was now B. Moreover¡­ ¡°Hmm, want to try summoning your minions?¡± ¡°¡­I shall obey.¡± Sunny epted the new skill without resistance. 100 energy was drained from him, and ten skeletons wielding spears appeared behind him. ¡ªThud! Thud! Thud! ¡°Wow.¡± Though they were weaker than Sunny, they were still C-rank skeletons. They didn¡¯t seem capable of having their own will like Sunny, but still¡­ ¡ªCreak, creak. ¡°Let¡¯s see the others as well,¡± I said, urging the remaining skeletons to use their skills. ¡ªCreak! Each nodded and used their energy. [¡®Bonehead 1¡¯ used the skill ¡®Summon Skeleton¡¯ (Lv. Max).] [¡®Bonehead 2¡¯ used the skill ¡®Summon Skeleton¡¯ (Lv. Max).] [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ used the skill ¡®Summon Skeleton¡¯ (Lv. Max).] [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ used the skill ¡®Summon Skeleton¡¯ (Lv. Max).] [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Summon Skeleton¡¯ (Lv. Max).] ¡ªThud! Thud! Thud! The sight of numerous skeletons rising from the dark, worn stairs was eerie. Anyone else seeing this might think I was some kind of lord of darkness. To be fair, this is what a necromancer should look like. I finally felt like I was living up to my profession. There were a total of 66 skeletons summoned at once. Dagnar was shivering behind me, just watching. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡ªThud! Sunny raised its spear and struck the ground. ¡ªThud! nk! The other skeletons followed suit, raising their weapons in unison. It was a sight to behold¡ªSunny¡¯s will had synchronized with all the other skeletons. It was touching. And apparently, someone else was also moved by this sight. ¡ªRing! [Congrattions!] [You have earned an alias.] A message congratting me appeared. An alias¡­ It was another name for hunters that all rankers possessed. It was a name given based on how one utilized their unique abilities. And it seems I had finally gained one, too. [Youmand all skeletons.] [You reign over all skeletons.] [Not a single skeleton would dare to attack you.] [You are the ¡®Skeleton Lord.¡¯] The Skeleton Lord. It wasn¡¯t as grand as my rival¡¯s title, ¡®Dark Lord,¡¯ but it perfectly described me¡ªthe one who stood above all skeletons. Good, not bad at all. Just judging by Sunny, my skeletons weren¡¯t ordinary beings. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡ªThud! Sunny struck the ground again. ¡°We are ready. Shall we deal with the remaining monsters? Our chance of victory is 100%.¡± Sunny held a grudge for not easily defeating them when it was C-rank. Its eyes were fierce. It seemed as if it would spring forward at mymand and soak itself in the blood of the drakes. Alright. My energy was full, anyway. The most overpowered thing about my unique ability was that no matter how much my summons were broken or torn apart, as long as I preserved my energy, I could revive them. I nodded. ¡°Wipe them out.¡± It was my firstmand after receiving my alias of Skeleton Lord. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡ªRumble! The ground shook. The sound of footsteps echoed. It was the skeletons following mymand, marching in formation. ¡°All units, take your positions.¡± At Sunny¡¯smand, each took their ces. The skeletons summoned by Boney 4 took the front line while those summoned by Boney 3 and 5 stood at the rear. The rest covered our nks¡ªit was a basic formation. ¡°Kieeek!¡± Sensing us, the drakes charged with a roar. They lowered their horns and attempted body ms. However¡­ ¡ªBoom! Boney 4 raised its shield to block the charge. The other tank skeletons also raised their shields to resist them. They were slightly pushed back but held firm. Dust rose from the fierce contest of strength. To think they can block that. Indeed, they were worthy of a B-rank skeletons. ¡ªTing! Ting! Ting! Next, Boney 3¡¯s unit fired their arrows. Because the drakes had high physical resistance, they aimed for the weak points, such as the eyes, vulnerable parts under the belly, and other vital spots. ¡°Kiek! Kyeeek!¡± The drakes shrieked in fury. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fire Field¡¯ (Lv.2).] ¡ªFwoosh! Next came the fire-type party. Ten skeletons centered around Boney 5 cast fire magic, creating a spectacr scene. ¡ªBoom! Boom! Boom! Fireballs rained down like a storm. In an instant, the ground became a sea of mes. ¡°Gueergh!¡± The drakes now seemed pitiful. Any drakes that tried to escape were pushed back by Boney 1¡¯s greatsword, with Sunny¡¯s unit assisting in the effort. ¡°You¡­¡± Dagnar couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. ¡°You keep getting¡­ stronger.¡± ¡°Do I still look like a dragonborn to you?¡± ¡°A-Ahem. Well, you didn¡¯t deny it!¡± ¡°What does it matter who I am? The important thing is that we¡¯re uncovering the ruins of this dungeon together, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡± I turned my gaze downward again. I was stronger now that I was B-rank. The dungeon¡¯s supposedly ¡®Immeasurable¡¯ difficulty seemed meaningless as we quickly dealt with the enemies. [¡®Spiked Drake¡¯ has been defeated.] [¡®Spiked Drake¡¯ has been defeated.] [¡®Spiked Drake¡¯ has been defeated.] ¡­ However. I didn¡¯t let my guard down. There was no way mere drakes would be the reason for the dungeon to be determined such a high rank. ¡°¡­¡± After some time had passed, the mes died down. ¡ªFwoosh! And every drake was charred ck, burnt to a crisp. ¡°Hm?¡± At the very bottom of the stairs, something was glowing. ¡ªBuzz! ¡°L-Look there!¡± Dagnar shouted, looking at it. His eyes were filled with excitement. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do you see it? The glowing bow and hammer!¡± ¡°Yes, I see them.¡± I could see the two items lying next to each other clearly. ¡°Those are the relics of Demir and Eldrin!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Those were the relics of the two that were said to have sacrificed their lives sealing the ancient dragon 500 years ago. And they had finally appeared before my eyes. Chapter 52 Chapter 52: Eldrin and Demir (1) Eldrin and Demir¡ªthe heroes of the Forest and Rock Tribes who subdued the tyrannical magic dragon that gued this world. ¡°Drughan is powerful. It has enough might to destroy this world as we speak.¡± Eldrin the Moonlight, the absolute ruler who once led the Forest tribe, always kept a watchful eye on the wicked dragon. Despite its immense strength, it tormented and plundered the two tribes slowly instead of destroying the world outright. ¡°We can¡¯t just sit here and take this.¡± Then, one day, she dered war against the dragon. ¡°We may not be able to kill it because of the vast difference in power, but if webine our forces with the Rock Tribe, perhaps we can manage to seal it.¡± The elves alone couldn¡¯t stand against it. They needed the strength of the dwarves¡¯ cksmiths and alchemy. Thus, Eldrin was the first to extend a hand to the dwarves. ¡°We agree. We, too, grow weary of the dragon¡¯s tyranny.¡± Demir, the legendary cksmith, readily shook hands. ¡°Do you need weapons? Magic enhancements? We¡¯ll make them for you!¡± This scene wouldter be known as the Great Alliance of the Tribes. The synergy between the two tribes was incredible. Driven by the desire to avenge their suffering, they moved with fervor. The weapons made by the dwarves were supplied to the elves. In the meantime, the elves united under their queen¡¯smand and fought even at the cost of their lives. And eventually they somehow managed to seal the dragon. But the problem was this: why did the two heroes have to lose their lives? And also why were the two tribes still unable to unite? Those were the secrets I needed to uncover in this dungeon. * * * ¡°Ah, how magnificent.¡± Dagnar¡¯s eyes sparkled as he gazed at the two mystical relics, though he hesitated to approach them because I hadn¡¯t made a move yet. ¡°May I check them first?¡± I asked politely. The words were said kindly, but Dagnar also had no choice but to agree. ¡ªThud! Sunny struck its spear on the ground and stared at him intently. ¡°O-Of course! We made it all the way here thanks to you! H-Haha! I¡¯m fine!¡± ¡°Thank you for your consideration.¡± I nodded and stepped forward. [You are at the bottom of the ¡®Seal of the Magic Dragon.¡¯] It appeared to be an altar, and it even had an air of sanctity. A ce seemingly made to offer sacrifices¡­ The two relics, the bow and the hammer, were disyed on it. Let¡¯s check the bow first. When I approached the bow and looked at it, information about it appeared. [Item: For Eldrin] [Rank: S] [Type: Bow] [Description: A bow gifted to the eternalpanion ¡®Eldrin¡¯ by the legendary cksmith ¡®Demir.¡¯ It possesses tremendous performance.] [Effect 1: All stats increase by 20.] [Effect 2: Arrows shot with magic are infinitely retrievable.] [Effect 3: Reduces skill cooldown by 20%.] [Effect 4: Increases energy by 50.] [Effect 5: Increases skill damage by 200%.] [Effect 6: Usable only by ¡®Eldrin the Moonlight.¡¯] Holy cow¡­ Its performance was incredible. Never mind the rest¡ªan increase of 200% skill damage? Didn¡¯t that mean every skill would be three times as powerful? Evenpared to the same S-rank item ¡®Staff of the Fire Dragon,¡¯ it was unparalleled. The Staff of the Fire Dragon was limited to a 100% increase in power of fire-attribute skills, only doubling it. So this is the power of a bound item? Bound items generally outperformed generic items. It seemed this item¡¯s performance was elevated by binding it to Eldrin. Next, the hammer. I turned my attention to the other weapon. [Item: Demir¡¯s Hammer] [Rank: S] [Type: Hammer] [Description: A hammer crafted by the legendary cksmith ¡®Demir¡¯ to use for himself. It possesses tremendous performance.] [Effect 1: Allows the use of production-rted skills without external tools.] [Effect 2: Embeds the ki of nature into the hammer, granting it the effect of magic enchantment.] [Effect 3: Increases production speed by 500%.] [Effect 4: Increases energy by 100.] [Effect 5: Usable only by ¡®Demir.¡¯] The hammer seemed impressive, even if I didn¡¯t fully understand it. It could increase production speed and introduce a new enchanting concept. ¡ªSlurp. I couldn¡¯t help but drool. If Boney 6 could use it, it would surely put it to good use. It was a pity that it was also a bound item. ¡°Hm?¡± As I examined the two items, I saw something else¡ªa ck orb ced between the two weapons. It was mysteriously alluring, as if it could suck you in. ¡ªRing! [You have discovered the ¡®Orb of Restriction.¡¯] The Orb of Restriction? What could that be? Curious, I leaned closer, but no further information appeared. However¡­ [Consuming 20 energy.] [The skill ¡®Memory Recreation¡¯ (S-rank) has started.] The all-too-familiar skill activated automatically. This meant there was a ¡®deceased¡¯ here whose memories I could read. [Recreating the memory of the cursed soul ¡®Eldrin the Moonlight.¡¯] [Recreating the memory of the cursed soul ¡®Demir the Great.¡¯] [You will be transported shortly.] What? Eldrin and Demir¡¯s memories? My eyes lit up. Instinctively, I knew the key to the dungeony here. Let¡¯s go. Just as I clenched my fist, a brilliant light engulfed my entire body. ¡°¡­¡± I felt weightless. Around me was a dark forest. Only my consciousness existed without a physical form, much like when I had read the old man¡¯s memories. But the problem was¡­ ¡°Wh-What is this?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Dagnar was here with me. ¡°Y-You¡¯re transparent! And I can¡¯t see my own body! What kind of sorcery is this?¡± ¡°¡­¡± I frowned. I didn¡¯t know how, but it seemed Dagnar being too close to me had caused this problem. ¡°Wh-Where are we? A forest? Was there such a forest in the elven territory?¡± I gave him a brief exnation. ¡°If my guess is right, this is a memory of this world from 500 years ago.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure what was happening, but I decided to think positively. With Dagnar here, at least I wouldn¡¯t be bored. ¡°500 years ago?¡± ¡°Look over there.¡± I gestured with my eyes. In the shade of the dark forest, an elf and a dwarf stood. * * * ¡°Eldrin,¡± the dwarf called out to the elf quietly. His gazecked the hostility the dwarves held for the elves nowadays. ¡°You¡¯ve done well. The 100-year-long bloodshed ends today.¡± ¡°Yes, Demir. You as well.¡± Both had expressions of resolve. Silence filled the deste space¡ªa silence filled withplex thoughts and emotions. For tonight was the night they had agreed to risk their lives for a final battle with the magic dragon. No matter how heroic they were, they were still living beings, unable to rid themselves of the fear of deathpletely. Eldrin¡¯s breathing soon calmed. ¡°Thank you for extending your hand to us on the day our tribe decided to fight.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It was the obvious course of action.¡± ¡°Nothing is obvious in this world.¡± Her breathing was calm yet rough. ¡°No living being in this world should have to die. While I, as the queen, may do so to protect my tribe, you don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Tsk. Stop it. That¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Demir.¡± ¡°Hehe, remember the pact we made. Both you and I swore to fight for each other¡¯s tribes. We managed to unite two ipatible peoples and made it this far. I have no regrets about that. So let me say it again.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Save those words.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Eldrin raised her bow, a unique bow handcrafted by the greatest cksmith in the world. Demir also raised his hammer. It was not merely a tool of production but a hammer possessing almost identical magical prowess as that of a magic staff. ¡°Grrr!¡± At that moment, the world darkened further. Beyond the forest¡¯s horizon, the gigantic form of the dragon rose with an overwhelming aura of bloodlust. The ferocious wind made the earth and all living beings tremble. All life held its breath at the appearance of the tyrant who had driven the two tribes to the brink¡ªthe Giant Magic Dragon Drughan. ¡°Demir.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Are you ready?¡± ¡°Always ready. If it means I cannd a blow on that damned dragon, I¡¯ll rip out my own heart. So don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°How reassuring.¡± Despite the enormous monster before them, the eyes of the two heroes remained steady¡ªthe eyes of those prepared to face death. ¡°Gahaha! How amusing!¡± The magic dragonughed, and itsughter shook the world with a roar that echoed like thunder. Its power sent chills down one¡¯s spine and made one¡¯s skin tingle. ¡°Do you really think you can challenge me with the strength of two mere insects?¡± The two heroes didn¡¯t respond. They only moved. ¡ªng! ng! Demir, the legendary cksmith, struck the ground with his hammer, and a mysterious force imbued with alchemy and magic emanated from his strikes. [You have acquired the item ¡®Absolute Shield Scroll¡¯ (S-Rank).] A scroll was created in an instant. ¡°Use this.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± It was a scene that would shock anyone watching. ¡°What the heck?¡± I blurted out in disbelief. Despite an S-rank magic scroll¡¯s immense value, he just poofed it into existence out of nowhere. ¡°¡­So that is the ability of our ancestors.¡± Dagnar gasped in awe. ¡°Indeed¡­ A cksmith who has reached the pinnacle. What I read in the records was true, seeing how he created a magic scroll with a hammer. It¡¯s a breathtaking sight.¡± That was the power of Demir, the cksmith who could casually produce S-Rank items in regr supply. Demir smiled. We continued to watch. ¡°I¡¯ll be building our grave here, so can you buy me some time?¡± ¡ªng! ng! He struck his hammer again, creating something. Eldrin also smiled in response. ¡°Of course.¡± The queen aimed her arrow. ¡°No one can take me lightly, even if it is the Giant Magic Dragon.¡± She was the ¡°Moonlight,¡± the mother of all elves, and the elves¡¯ absolute ruler 500 years ago. ¡°How foolish!¡± Drughan roared. Then it lifted its front leg. ¡ªBoom! Each stomp caused the world to shake, and the ground trembled. ¡°Queen of the Elves. I dare you to fire your arrows as much as you want. I promise it won¡¯t even leave a scratch on my body.¡± Drughan took one step, then another, toward the two heroes. ¡°I am the ruler of this world. I am the apex predator. The world is divided into predators and prey, yet why do you defy the will of the heavens?¡± ¡°Enough with your nonsense!¡± ¡ªWhoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Arrows shot from Eldrin¡¯s bow. ¡°If you truly are the predator, you must devour us all today.¡± ¡ªBoom! Boom! Boom! Arrows rained down from the sky like guided missiles, striking Drughan¡¯s body. It was her skill, Moonlight Descent¡ªthe barrage of arrows falling like moonlight. ¡°Guh¡­¡± The magic dragon frowned. It seemed to sense that her attacks were sharp. Drughan felt like this: it could easily squash a wasp, but it hesitated slightly, fearing that the wasp might sting its eye. ¡°Are you scared, dragon?¡± Demir grinned as he watched. ¡ªng! ng! His impressive hammering rapidly constructed something. ¡°Today, in exchange for burying our bones here, I will ce a seal on you.¡± ¡°Stop your nonsense!¡± The dragon felt uneasy, so it abandoned its conservative stance. ¡ªFwoosh! Spreading its wings wide, it charged violently at the rulers of the two tribes. However, Eldrin wasn¡¯t idle either. She drew her bow as if she were a storm. A significant number of Demir¡¯s scrolls tore responding to her. It was a magnificent disy of magic. The sh of these three colossal beings made the world scream. Chapter 53 Chapter 53: Eldrin and Demir (2) Facing the proper form of the Giant Magic Dragon Drughan, Demir only kept striking with his hammer. ¡ªng! ng! The pride of his race was imbued in that hammer, and the bravery of a hero resonated with it. * * * ¡°I will create an altar.¡± These were the words Demir had spoken to Eldrin before the battle. He was to construct an altar by masterfullybining Eldrin¡¯s ritual spell with his alchemy. ¡°Drughan is powerful. There¡¯s no way we can seal all of that immense strength with our power alone.¡± Demir had to find a way. He felt pressed for time. The dragon was so terrifying that it didn¡¯t kill the two races rebelling against it, even though it could have wiped them out instantly. It prolonged the conflict for a hundred years¡ªa painful century-long war with the dragon. And, of course, even that was just a game to Drughan. ¡°What should we do, then?¡± At that time, Eldrin was despondent and filled with regret. She wondered if she should not have gone against the dragon. Some might have suffered, but others would have lived rtively ordinary lives. They would have lost their freedom but at least escaped the pain they were enduring now. Many thoughts pricked at her mind. ¡°We will impose a restriction on it.¡± ¡°A restriction?¡± ¡°We won¡¯t seal away all its power. It¡¯s only a mental seal. Your ritual should be enough to achieve that, right?¡± ¡°Ah, so you must mean¡­¡± Eldrin shuddered. The thought of such a method had never crossed her mind; she trembled as she remembered the ultimate ritual she knew. It was a ritual in which she would sacrifice her life to prevent the target from ever breaking anything again¡ªa spell of peace known as the Prohibition of Destruction. ¡°If¡­ it truly works, no matter how powerful Drughan is¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of power if it can¡¯t be wielded for destruction? Every time it tries to destroy something, there will be consequences.¡± The dragon couldn¡¯t be killed, and its power in itself couldn¡¯t be sealed. So then the only option left was to leave its power but make it unusable. This was the solution Demir proposed. ¡°You truly are a genius¡­¡± Eldrin, awed, fell silent because her ritual was quite demanding. To perform it smoothly, they¡¯d need a magnificent altar, which had to be extraordinary primarily because the ritual would target the mind of a dragon. ¡°A sacrifice¡­ That must be the offering required for the ritual.¡± Eldrin understood what Demir had resolved to do. * * * ¡ªng! ng! The dwarf continued swinging his hammer even as Eldrin held back Drughan¡¯s rampage. ¡°Just build.¡± He created something from scratch. Soft y turned solid, and old tree roots sprouted from it. Over the top of the roots, cold steel was ttened. ¡°What in the world are you trying to pull?¡± The dragon roared. Eldrin pulled her bowstring indifferently. Her arm muscles ached as if they would tear, and her entire body was covered in wounds. I have to stop it. It hurts. My limbs feel like they¡¯re being ripped apart, but I have to endure it. This is how our people will survive, how we will find freedom. She endured and endured. With each moment of endurance, her body turned red with blood. The energy within her was draining away. ¡°Demir!¡± Eldrin shouted, her voice tearing. ¡°I will bury my blood and bones in the altar!¡± Her flowing blood gathered and moved toward the altar as the ritual had begun. ¡°I swear on my life! No, on the life of the forest!¡± Her voice was full of zeal. ¡°Giant Magic Dragon! Your evil will no longer torment this world. Your power will flow, yet it will not.¡± ¡ªGush! ck blood spurted from her mouth. ¡°Good. I, too, swear on the pride of the rocknds.¡± ck blood also flowed from Demir¡¯s mouth. Their bloodsbined, forming a ck orb. ¡°¡­¡± They no longer resisted the dragon. They simply stood on the altar and red at Drughan. ¡°What are these sudden theatrics?¡± The magic dragon furrowed its brow. The two had been defending so desperately, hurting themselves, and now they were uttering iprehensible words. The dragon couldn¡¯t understand what it was witnessing. But one thing was certain: it was displeased as things started to feel increasingly ominous. ¡°To think mere ythings would try something so bold. Under normal circumstances, I would have toyed with you longer, but¡­¡± The dragon had reached them and raised its paw. ¡°Just die.¡± The sound of the dragon¡¯s w slicing through the air echoed as it descended. Eldrin and Demir merely looked up at the sight. Of course, they were smiling. And then, right in front of them, the dragon¡¯s w froze. Its muscles twitched throughout its body, but that was all. The dragon¡¯s paw could not descend further. ¡°What? What is this?¡± The magic dragon was bewildered. It tried applying force and struggled, but it was useless. It couldn¡¯t control its own body. The ck blood flowing from the two had be a brand on it, preventing it from destroying anything. ¡°You bastards! What did you do to me? What have you done?!¡± The dragon¡¯s roar reverberated. Holy crap. Its overwhelming malice made my heart pound. I nced to the side; Dagnar was trembling, his brow furrowed. However, there was no change in Eldrin and Demir¡¯s eyes. Their gaze was almost sacred, as if ying the dragon was their calling; they wore no expression. ¡°You wicked dragon.¡± Demir¡¯s lips parted to speak. ¡°Being unable to use your power will be a fate worse than death for you, won¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Silence! Damn you!¡± ¡°But there¡¯s nothing you can do. This prohibition will not be lifted unless some being sacrifices themself. For all eternity, that is.¡± ¡°Do you think I, the almighty being, shall allow that to happen?¡± The dragon raged. It wanted to destroy everything around it but couldn¡¯t. ¡ªp! Ultimately, the dragon took flight as there was nothing it could do unless this wretched spell was lifted. ¡°¡­¡± Watching the dragon flee, Eldrin and Demir smiled silently. And just like that, as if their time had run out, their bodies began to age rapidly. Their skin shriveled and then dposed. Such was the sacred sacrifice. But even in this situation, they were clearly smiling. At this very moment, no one could even fathom what they were thinking. [The skill ¡®Memory Recreation¡¯ (S-rank), has ended.] And the world shed again. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Hmm.¡± I let out a deep sigh. ¡°Haah¡­¡± Dagnar also let out a heavy sigh of regret. We stood silently at the altar at the bottom of the dragon¡¯s seal. After some time, Dagnar finally spoke. ¡°To think our ancestor¡­ was such a noble individual. It makes my heart ache to have learned this.¡± ¡°The elves were extraordinary, too.¡± ¡°I agree. Back then, we lived together in harmony¡­ How did we end up like this?¡± Dagnar¡¯s shoulders slumped. He seemed drained of energy. ¡°This is just depressing. Honestly, I didn¡¯t want to say it since he¡¯s from my own race, butpared to Demir the Great, our chief is nothing more than a narrow-minded fool.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Demir was willing to sacrifice himself for his people. But our chief? All he cares about is killing the elves. And now that I think about it, the reason is so ridiculous. Just because the elves won¡¯t give up Demir¡¯s relic? That¡¯s absurd.¡± That was true. The reason for the war between the two races seemed flimsy. ¡°By the way.¡± I tilted my head. ¡°Isn¡¯t it strange?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Why are the elves guarding this ce?¡± I stood up. I stretched my body and stepped onto the altar. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you this, Dagnar, but the high elf queen led me here.¡± ¡°Is that true?¡± ¡°Think about it. Why would the high elf queen let someone like you and me into her vige, especially here, to the seal?¡± The request to craft items for them was an excuse. Seraphine had definitely led me here. That much was certain. ¡°But why would she do that?¡± Dagnar tilted his head in confusion. ¡°Oh?¡± Suddenly, a thought struck me. In that instant, a possibility dawned on me¡ªa dreadful yet highly probable possibility. ¡°Damn it, I knew something felt off.¡± ¡°What?¡± I grabbed my head with both hands and muttered to myself, ¡°How could I have missed it? No wonder¡­ It didn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Dagnar furrowed his brow. ¡°Exin it so I can understand.¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s the Chief or the high elf queen¡­ Does it make sense that either could annihte an entire race with a single move?¡± ¡°Well¡­ They are indeed strong, even if they¡¯re narrow-minded.¡± ¡°Listen, Dagnar,¡± I spoke with frustration. ¡°Did you see Demir and Eldrin? Do those heroes seem as powerful as the current chief or Seraphine?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Dagnar blinked. ¡°Now that I think about it, our chief seems a little stronger,¡± he replied after a moment of thought. It wasn¡¯t just that that was strange. Those two. They weren¡¯t even affected by the favorability system. The favorability system was part of the overarching rules governing this world. If they weren¡¯t affected by that system, it could be that the Chief and the high elf queen weren¡¯t even one of their respective races. ¡°Based on the memories we read, the dragon is still alive. It was only sealed; it wasn¡¯t even buried here in the seal. It has been alive and present in the world for 500 years.¡± ¡°Wh-Which means?¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®Which means¡¯? There¡¯s only one conclusion!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why did the Chief stop the dwarves from producing weapons? Why did the high elf queen force war on her people without reason?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And why haven¡¯t either of them participated in the war?¡± I lifted the ck orb from the altar. [This is the ¡®Orb of Restriction.¡¯] [It temporarily awakens the power of deceased souls.] ¡°The dragon can¡¯t destroy anything. It only sows discord.¡± [Assist one of the races to resolve the conflict.] Trying to persuade the two races was a distraction. The true quest of ¡®Forest and Stone¡¯ was to defeat the magic dragon Drughan. ¡°No way. Are you saying Vulcanus and Seraphine are actually the magic dragon?¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®No way¡¯? Of course, they are!¡± ¡°Gah?¡± ¡°The magic dragon has been the cause of this war. The source of the conflict between the two races!¡± ¡°This is madness!¡± Dagnar sprang to his feet, his mouth wide open in shock. Of course, that was the natural reaction. A single being had manipted his people for 500 years. How could he not be surprised? And then¡­ ¡°Prepare yourself,¡± I murmured. Without a doubt, Vulcanus and Seraphine had intentionally sent me here, which meant it could be right here. ¡ªGulp. I swallowed, steeling myself. ¡ªp, p, p! At that moment, a presence could be felt from the stairs. ¡ªStep, step. It was the high elf queen, Seraphine, apuding. ¡°O being from beyond this world.¡± Her lips curled into a twisted smile. ¡°You¡¯re smarter than I expected.¡± Chapter 54 Chapter 54: Eldrin and Demir (3) The Giant Magic Dragon Drughan¡ªa being of innate evil that incited discord in the world. The restriction forced on it was akin to abstinence for such a dragon. Being unable to indulge in the carnage it had enjoyed for millennia was unbearable. ¡°Those damn bastards.¡± The dragon seethed with rage. It felt unfair. It wanted to vent its umted anger but couldn¡¯t destroy anything. Most of all, the crucial point was: ¡°The ones I wanted to take revenge on are already dead.¡± The dragon¡¯s blood boiled. Its fury was directed solely at the Forest and Rock tribes. ¡°Did you think I would stay quiet? Your two tribes will tear each other apart forever. If I can¡¯t kill you myself, I¡¯ll make sure you kill each other.¡± The dragon sowed discord. Using the shape-shifting magic ¡®Polymorph,¡¯ it posed as the high elf queen. It seized the position of the dwarven chief with its overwhelming power. These two absolutes were Vulcanus and Seraphine. ¡°Hear me, people of Rock Tribe! The elves have hidden our great Demir¡¯s relics! Does this make sense to you? Look! This is what happens when youck strength! Pick up your weapons! We must reim our rightful ce!¡± The Rock Tribe was the first to wage war. The deceitful dragon easily swayed the pure spirits who only knew how to craft. They were quick to anger. They cut off the supply of weapons to the elves. They armed themselves with even stronger anti-elven artifacts. And of course the Forest Tribe did not stand by idly. ¡°Forest Tribe, prepare yourselves! The Rock Tribe is invading our territory!¡± the being masquerading as the high elf queen cried out. ¡°Ah, those ungrateful creatures. How¡­! How could they betray us, the ones who yed the most significant role in sealing the dragon? Was the ore from the rocknds not enough to satisfy their greed? Forest Tribe! There is no such thing as a permanent ally! Take up your weapons! Show them who the true rulers of this world are!¡± After the Hundred-Year War ended, the Five Hundred-Year War began. Even during this time, the dragon sought a way. ¡°This damn prohibition, I swear I¡¯ll break it somehow.¡± It used magic, performed rituals, and repeated its efforts over and over again. ¡°But there¡¯s nothing you can do. This prohibition will not be lifted unless some being sacrifices themself. For all eternity, that is.¡± Those were Demir¡¯s words before cing the prohibition. The dragon focused on the keywords ¡®some being.¡¯ ¡°¡®Some being¡¯?¡± Who on earth could be the sacrificial offering? Was it a bluff? No, it was more likely a condition of the ritual because that¡¯s how rituals generally worked. They were mysterious and profound with all kinds of methods. The dragon believed Demir¡¯s hint was a condition of the ritual. The moreplex and powerful the spell, the more restrictions it had. It dedicated decades of effort solely to finding the solution. Eventually, the dragon discovered who that ¡®some being¡¯ was. The answery in the ck orb embedded in the altar. [This is the ¡®Orb of Restriction.¡¯] [Find a being from beyond this world and offer them as a sacrifice.] [The seal of the Orb will be lifted.] ¡°Those crazy bastards.¡± It cursed aloud. A being from beyond this world didn¡¯t simply mean someone outside the region. It instinctively understood that it referred to a being from out of this world, possibly even this dimension. ¡°But I will find one.¡± The dragon did not know the meaning of giving up. ¡°I will find one, no matter what.¡± It was relentless. It conducted rituals to summon a being from beyond this world. It gathered the energy for these rituals through war. And so time flowed. Five hundred years passed. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡ªp, p, p! Seraphine, or rather, the magic dragon, pped its hands. At the same time, it smiled brightly, enough to make its mouth reach its ears. ¡°You have no idea how long I¡¯ve waited for this moment. How delighted I am today.¡± Seeing a high elf with pure white skin smiling viciously was beyond hideous; it was grotesque. ¡°¡­So it¡¯s true?¡± Dagnar shook his head, disbelief clear on his face. ¡°All this war¡­ all this suffering¡­ was the work of one deceitful being¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± He looked utterly defeated. At the same time, there was a resigned look in his eyes. ¡°To think that the leaders of both races were the Giant Magic Dragon. This will be a shame that stains our history forever. Or perhaps¡­ it¡¯s already toote.¡± It was the muttering of someone who had encountered an unimaginable wall. ¡°No, it¡¯s more urate to say it won¡¯t even make it into history. We¡¯re already as good as dead.¡± Dagnar slumped to the ground. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry so much.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Giant Magic Dragon. It seems like it lured us here and now intends to kill us¡­ Am I wrong?¡± ¡°Hey, what¡¯s the matter? Weren¡¯t you calling me a vile dragonborn earlier?¡± ¡°I was half-skeptical, but now I know it¡¯s true.¡± Dagnar smirked. However, it was not a joyful smile. ¡°Still, it was good to have met you. Thanks to you, I¡¯ve learned the truth. Heh, yes. Knowing the truth and dying is better than living in ignorance.¡± ¡°Who said we¡¯re dying?¡± We were just getting started. ¡°If that dragon could kill us, it would have done so already.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°You know it can¡¯t kill because of the prohibition.¡± In fact, I felt at ease. Truthfully, up until now, anxiety had dominated my mind because of the ¡®Immeasurable¡¯ difficulty of this dungeon. So far, our progress didn¡¯t seem to fit an immeasurable difficulty level. It felt more like an A-rank dungeon, at best. But what if a dragon were involved in this quest? Not just any dragon but the magic dragon that had dominated this world? This must be the real quest. True feares from the unknown. If one could predict it, the anxiety lessened. I red at Seraphine. She stared back at me in silence. Amusingly enough, the emotion in her gaze seemed to be curiosity. ¡°Ah, so there really is a being from beyond this world. Do you know how excited I was when I first found you in Titan?¡± ¡°That¡¯s kind of creepy.¡± I shivered. As soon as Vulcanus sent me away, it turned into Seraphine to greet me. That was something only aplete two-faced psycho would do! ¡°In fact, I have nothing against you. I just despise those damn dwarves and elves. I actually feel grateful.¡± ¡°You¡¯re grateful to me?¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re the one offering to break my restrictions. Fufu.¡± Why did covering her mouth with her hand whileughing make her seem so aggravating? It was probably because it was a grotesque and massive dragon on the inside. Seraphine quietly raised her hand. ¡ªVwoom! An immense amount of energy gathered there. ¡ªRumble¡­! The dragon¡¯s seal shook as if it might copse, and dark blue energy flowed across the altar¡¯s surface. ¡°D-Damn it all! That wretched dragon really ns to sacrifice us! What should we do?¡± Dagnar, who had been sitting down, jumped up in a panic. He seemed to have given up everything just a moment ago, but now that his final moment had arrived, he seemed to want to live. ¡°Just wait.¡± ¡°Wait¡­? What on earth do you have to believe in to stay so calm?¡± What did I believe in? ¡°Your ancestor.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡ªRumble! Massive energy flowed from the dragon¡¯s body. ¡°Demir was a wise dwarf.¡± It engulfed the space. ¡°Why would such a dwarf have mentioned ¡®some being¡¯ as a hint for no reason?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± The altar was shrouded in dark blue energy. It looked like some sinister, dark ritual was about to unfold. And eventually, that energy reached the pitch-ck Orb of Restriction. ¡°Please, be a good offering¡­¡± Seraphine¡¯s lips curved upward. But I wasn¡¯t worried because I already knew. [This is the ¡®Orb of Restriction.¡¯] [It temporarily awakens the power of deceased souls.] This ck orb wasn¡¯t here to sacrifice me. It was merely here to awaken the power of the deceased temporarily. This is the power of the system, punk. And it was apparent who the deceased present in this ce were. ¡ªFwoosh! The ck orb shone, and the mana umted on the altar for centuries surged like a flooding river. [The spirits contained within the ¡®Orb of Restriction¡¯ are temporarily awakened.] [Searching for the corresponding bodies.] ¡ªThud! Thud! Two skeletons stooding out of thin air¡ªthe familiar forms of Boney 3 and Boney 6. I knew it was you two. I smiled. It was as I had guessed. Eldrin was Boney 3 in a past life, and Demir was previously Boney 6. [¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ is temporarily awakened as ¡®Eldrin.¡¯] [¡®Bonehead 6¡¯ is temporarily awakened as ¡®Demir.¡¯] ¡°What is this¡­?¡± The magic dragon realized something was wrong, but it was toote. ¡°Y-You are¡­?¡± Because the two beings were already summoned before its eyes. ¡°You bastards!¡± the dragon roared. Its face twisted grotesquely, distorting the visage of the high elf. Tremendous malice filled the space. ¡°Haha, dragon. So you managed to do it after all.¡± Boney 6, or rather, Demir,ughed. Eldrin also nodded in agreement. ¡°It was painful to watch helplessly for 500 years. But you¡¯re quite something, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Indeed, quite impressive. You deserve respect, even as the enemy. It was a feat to have pulled a being from beyond this world into this one.¡± The two heroes returned to the world casually bantering. Veins bulged on the dragon¡¯s forehead. ¡°How dare you.¡± ¡ªVwooom! An immense force gathered once more. ¡°You toyed with me not once but twice!¡± It felt like an earthquake was imminent, and the world shook. ¡°That¡¯s funnying from someone who can¡¯t even break a pebble on the roadside,¡± Demir chuckled. Then he raised the hammer that had been on the altar. ¡°Oh, this is still here.¡± Eldrin, as if it were nothing, picked up her bow. ¡°True to your talents, it¡¯s as sturdy as it was 500 years ago.¡± Then she looked at me. ¡°Hmm, are you truly a being from beyond this world?¡± The two skeletonspletely ignored the dragon. And the dragon, despite its bluster, couldn¡¯t do anything to us. ¡°¡­¡± Dagnar¡¯s eyes widened as he struggled to grasp the situation. ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± I greeted the two heroes, the absolutes of this world. Demir swung his hammer and said, ¡°First, let¡¯s deal with that lizard. We can have a proper chatter.¡± ¡°I agree. That foolish dragon has gathered so much energy over 500 years¡­ so it should be easy to seal him again.¡± ¡°How long do you think you can hold him?¡± ¡°A week, maybe? I can¡¯t guarantee beyond that.¡± ¡°Even a week is remarkable.¡± Demir nodded. Considering the immense power of the magic dragon, even a week of sealing was terrific. ¡°Even a minute would have been a luxury if it were the old days.¡± ¡°You damn bastards!¡± The dragon turned away. Unable to kill due to its prohibition, it now sought to escape. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± ¡ªng! The dwarf struck the ground with his hammer. And amazingly enough, that simple action produced a scroll. He caught the scroll that bounced up like a ball and tore it apart. [¡®Energy Barrier¡¯ (Rank A) is deployed.] A white light blocked the dragon¡¯s path. ¡°Go on, try to break it. Oh, you can¡¯t do that because of the restriction?¡± ¡°What are you doing?!¡± The dragon dodged the white light. It would have easily broken this barrier in the past, like snapping a twig. But now, even that was beyond its power. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere for you to run.¡± ¡ªSwoosh, swoosh! Moonlight arrows flew from Eldrin¡¯s bow. They soared, and the moonlight rained gently down around the dragon. ¡°For at least a week, that is.¡± ¡°Grahhh!¡± Eldrin absorbed the dragon¡¯s roar with her entire body. ¡°Let¡¯s enjoy our reunion after 500 years.¡± But contrary to her words, her eye sockets were filled with anger¡ªthe anger of a mother against the being that had caused her children suffering for centuries. Chapter 55 Chapter 55: Eldrin and Demir (4) ¡°We need to finish everything within a week,¡± said Eldrin. ¡°Since we awakened, the power of the Orb of Restriction has been fading.¡± She nced back. There, the dragon was sealed, raging and roaring in its imprisonment. Next to her, Demir nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. As you know, the dragon is terrifyingly strong. The moment the prohibition is lifted, it will all be over.¡± ¡°G-Great ancestor¡­¡± It was then that Dagnar timidly raised his hand. Demir tilted his skeletal head. ¡°Does that mean the world will end in a week?¡± ¡°Hmm? If that were the case, why would I break the seal and show up here?¡± His expression seemed to say, Were my people always this stupid? but his face soon went nk. Since Eldrin was right beside him, saying anything like that could be considered as mocking himself. ¡°So, it¡¯s not¡­?¡± ¡°Well¡­ It could be, or maybe not. The point is, we must ensure that doesn¡¯t happen.¡± Demir turned to me. ¡°You.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t have much time. You understand that our awakening is temporary.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Because the system had informed me. ¡°We have exactly one week. After that, our powers will dissipate again, and we¡¯ll return to our state as souls. And along with that, the prohibition on the dragon will also be lifted.¡± ¡°Then what should we do now?¡± ¡°Before that happens, we must kill the dragon.¡± Demir gripped his hammer tightly. ¡°The Giant Magic Dragon is a being that rules over this world, but the world, in its own way, can also rule over itself.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± I tilted my head, puzzled by the cryptic statement. ¡°The Forest Tribe and the Rock Tribe form this world. The strength of our world matches the dragon¡¯s strength.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± I nodded, understanding immediately. ¡°Harmony. You¡¯re nning to unite the power of all the races. Only when the Forest and Rock Tribes are united can they be considered aplete world.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± That¡¯s right. The purpose of this intermediary dungeon, Forest and Stone, was to resolve the conflict between the races. ¡°We need all the races tobine their strength and attack before the dragon¡¯s prohibition is lifted. But¡­ in such a short time, our strength alone won¡¯t suffice. As you can see.¡± Demir looked down at his skeletal form as if marveling at how he was made entirely of bones. ¡°Our bodies are in this state.¡± True. Who would believe them, that an ancestor hade back to life as a skeleton? Certainly, not me. ¡°If you help us eliminate the dragon¡­¡± ¡ªBoom! Demir mmed his hammer on the ground. ¡ªSwoosh. ¡°As a reward for avenging our races¡¯ grievances, I shall follow you until my soul finds rest.¡± Watching him, Eldrin also stepped forward and bowed her head slightly. ¡°The same goes for me. I swear on the name of Forest and Moonlight.¡± The two skeletons looked at me with sincere expressions. At the same time, a new message appeared. ¡ªRing! [Stage: Forest and Stone] [Difficulty: Immeasurable] [The mission has reached its finale.] [Achieve harmony between the races and defeat the eternal enemy of the tribes, the ¡®Giant Magic Dragon.¡¯] [Resolve the resentment of the two souls and achieve the true awakening of ¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ and ¡®Bonehead 6.¡¯] True awakening! Just as I thought, it was simr to the process of obtaining Sunny. The deadline was a week. Yes, I¡¯d been waiting for this. A voice escaped my lips. ¡°Understood.¡± Harmony between the races. To achieve that, I needed to persuade both tribes. It certainly wasn¡¯t going to be easy. How could the deep-seated resentment of 500 years be resolved in just one week? ¡°I can handle the elves.¡± As the true high elf queen, Eldrin knew the nature of the Forest Tribe well. ¡°The elves cannot disobey their queen. No matter how I look, my children will recognize my presence immediately. I¡¯ll be getting started first.¡± Eldrin nodded confidently and headed toward the forest. There was a proud demeanor in her steps, one full of pride in her people. Next to her, Demir muttered grumpily. ¡°Hmph, a race that only follows their queen¡¯s word. I believe an intelligent race should have individual freedom. Like our Rock Tribe.¡± Before we could achieve harmony, it seemed my opinion that the dwarves would be an obstacle had hurt his pride. ¡°They¡¯re like ants following their queen, after all.¡± ¡°Haha, the Rock Tribe won¡¯t be much of a problem.¡± I smiled broadly. ¡°With Demir¡¯s skills, that is.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes, shall we head out?¡± Excluding Eldrin, we all headed back to Titan. Entering would have been challenging because of Chief Vulcanus¡¯s orders, but it no longer mattered. Because that Chief was now sealed beneath the altar, going through the main gate of Titan wasn¡¯t difficult. ¡°Haha, you¡¯ve forgotten already? This here, Joo Donghoon, is our benefactor. Ah, we can let him in! The Chief has permitted it, I say! Here, take this. A token of my appreciation. Hey now! Don¡¯t be such an inflexible dwarf!¡± Dagnar handled it effortlessly. Through his smooth talk, we managed to enter and headed straight for the mine. The ore in the mine was still there. I inhaled deeply, feeling content. ¡°Ah, I just love this scent.¡± I gazed lovingly at the piles of ore. I thought I¡¯d never see you again, but here we are! ¡°Sunny.¡± Now it was time to craft weapons. ¡°Yes, my lord. Did you call for me?¡± The summoned Sunny bowed. ¡°Take the skeletons and spread the word everywhere that Joo Donghoon has returned. Just like I promised, I¡¯ll make their weapons.¡± ¡°As youmand.¡± From my experience, dwarves were a straightforward and bold race. And if they came across anyone who knew how to make things, they would show them affection without hesitation. [Rock Tribe: 75] [Forest Tribe: 25] First, I¡¯ll raise their affection to 100. Initially choosing the dwarves turned out to be a good move. Since the entire elven race could be controlled by Eldrin alone, all I had to do now was take care of the dwarves. Alright, then. I looked at Demir. It was time to get hammering. ¡°Oh, wait. Before that.¡± A thought suddenly crossed my mind. ¡°Demir.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Could you, by any chance, make me a bag?¡± ¡°A bag?¡± ¡°Yes, do you remember the supply bag you distributed before?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Demir shook his head regretfully. ¡°I have the materials and could make one¡­¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t use too much energy. Maintaining this awakened state relies on the power in the orb¡­ One wrong move and the restrictions could break sooner than expected.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± That was a shame. Using Demir, I thought I could equip my skeletons and myself withplete sets. Then again, that would be overpowered. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t make anything. I can create as many items as possible within reasonable limits. It¡¯s just that artifacts with alchemy like the bags would be difficult.¡± In simple terms, he couldn¡¯t make S-rank items. ¡°I see.¡± I nodded, feeling slightly down. ¡°Hey.¡± Dagnar approached from the side. ¡ªThud. He handed me a bag. ¡°Dagnar?¡± ¡°You really do have a thing for this bag, huh?¡± Oh. For real? Are you giving it to me? My eyes widened, and Dagnar smiled warmly. ¡°What reason is there to keep this for myself? You¡¯ve saved my life more than thrice already. And you¡¯re a hero trying to save our entire race!¡± ¡°Wow, thank you.¡± I epted without hesitation. Dagnar¡¯s words were all true. Yeah, I was the benefactor of the dwarven race. A big one, at that. ¡°Hehe.¡± I lifted the bag, my eyes sparkling. [Item: Demir-Distributed Backpack] [Rank: S] [Type: Bag] [Description: A backpack distributed by the legendary cksmith ¡®Demir¡¯ for the tribe¡¯s convenience. It boasts incredible performance for a supply item.] [Effect 1: Provides an S-rank subspace, allowing the user to store many items.] [Effect 2: Maintains freshness within the subspace.] It was an artifact that could never be found on Earth. Well, if I awakened Boney 6 as Demir, I¡¯d be able to make more after some time. Before I clear this dungeon, I¡¯ll pack all the materials in this. I needed the bag mainly to store the abundant smelting and weaving materials from here. ¡°Alright then!¡± I pped my hands. ¡ªCreak! Demir looked at me with his creaking bones. ¡°Let¡¯s get down to hammering, shall we?¡± ¡°What should I start with?¡± ¡°Make everything you know how to. As long as it¡¯s not overdoing it.¡± ¡°Just crafting? And that¡¯ll bring about harmony?¡± Demir asked in disbelief. ¡°Watch and see.¡± ¡°Alright¡­ I¡¯ll trust you.¡± ¡ªng! ng! And so, the hammering began. * * * Word traveled without feet. The rumor spread by Sunny quickly echoed throughout the Rock Tribe. ¡°Joo Donghoon! Did you say Joo Donghoon is back?¡± ¡°The Chief threw him out, didn¡¯t he? And now he¡¯s returned?¡± ¡°They say the Chief allowed it! It¡¯s not an official statement¡­ but if no one¡¯s saying anything, it must be true, right?¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± The dwarves quickly gathered at the mine. That was the power of the favorability system. On top of that, the dwarves already wanted me because there weren¡¯t any proper cksmiths in the viges. ¡°Haha! Hey! I¡¯ve been waiting for you! You said you¡¯d make minest time and disappeared. Do you know how worried I was?¡± ¡°Mine too! Mine too!¡± ¡°Move aside! I was next in linest time! My tools urgently need repairs!¡± At first, they came singrly or in pairs. But soon, they wereing in droves. Thanks to Sunny¡¯s sensible use of ¡°The Chief approved it!¡± the dwarves no longer hesitated. ¡°Haha, everyone, please stand in a straight line.¡± I greeted them with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll make something even better than what you had in the blueprints you gave me.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± The dwarves buzzed with excitement at my words. Honestly, there was no need to say anything. Just looking at this sight was enough to make anyone stare in awe. ¡ªng! ng! The clear sound of metal rang throughout the entire mine. The precise and steadfast hammering was different from Boney 6¡¯s work. It felt like watching a tutorial. No, it was more than that. ¡ªng! ng! [Completion rate 100%] [Acquired ¡®Special Steel Hammer¡¯ (B-rank).] ¡ªThud! [Completion rate 100%] [Acquired ¡®Soul-Filled Supply Hammer¡¯ (A-rank).] ¡ªThud! Thud! [Completion rate 100%] [Acquired ¡®Special Steel Hammer¡¯ (B-rank).] With just a few strikes of the hammer, items fell like rain. It was practically factory-level production. ¡°A-Amazing! He is¡­ a god! The god of cksmithing!¡± ¡°Is this some kind of sorcery? How can such movements be possible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a legend! A legend!¡± [Favorability increased by 5.] [The Rock Tribe feels gratitude toward you.] Good! As expected, dwarves were simple. Their affection increased just by making things for them. ¡ªng! ng! Time continued to pass. ¡°Thank you, truly.¡± ¡°With this, we can win the war against the elves!¡± Half of those who came on the second day had received new hammers. Time passed again. [Favorability increased by 5.] [The Rock Tribe respects you.] By the third day, everyone who hade had received a hammer. However, Demir didn¡¯t stop. He started making various everyday tools, not just hammers. [Favorability increased by 5.] [The Rock Tribe trusts you.] And on the fourth day, one of the dwarves spoke. ¡°You¡­ Why do you look so handsome?¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± ¡°Hey, what do you think of my daughter? I¡¯d permit a love that transcends race if it¡¯s you! Hahaha!¡± Hey, Mr. Dwarf, that¡¯s a bit much¡­ [Favorability increased by 5.] [The Rock Tribe loves you.] ¡°Yes, you¡¯re absolutely right!¡± ¡°If you told me elves were part of the Rock Tribe, I¡¯d believe you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, really!¡± [Favorability increased by 5.] [Favorability reached 100.] [The Rock Tribe fully trusts and relies on you.] And so, by the fifth day, I achieved 100 favorability with the Rock Tribe. Chapter 56 Chapter 56: The Truth Revealed ¡°¡­So what do you n to do now?¡± Demir put his hammer down in the mine and looked up at me. ¡°I¡¯ve made everything you asked for¡­¡± He didn¡¯t just make them. He produced them like a weapon-manufacturing machine. ¡°Thank you for your hard work, Demir.¡± I sincerely admired his efforts, and I wasn¡¯t the only one. Dagnar stood there, looking awestruck by his ancestor¡¯s skill, his face glowing with familial pride. ¡°Well then.¡± I pped my hands together. ¡°Now that we¡¯re prepared, we need to join forces with the elves, right?¡± So far, I¡¯d given those dwarves weapons as gifts and run some experiments, and I¡¯d concluded that they would believe everything I told them. At this point, the preparations wereplete. It was like having all the ingredients ready before starting the main dish. ¡°Sunny.¡± I called out to them standing behind me. ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡°Was it tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sunny answered, bowing their head slightly, spear upright. ¡°Eldrin will gather the entire elven army at the front lines tomorrow.¡± Sunny acted as a messenger bird. They were the only way tomunicate with Eldrin in this ce with no phones or email. ¡°Oh, are they finally gathering?¡± Demir¡¯s eyes shone with anticipation. It seems he had been feeling quite restless. It made sense, given that we were just hammering away without any real n, while the magic dragon¡¯s restrictions were on the verge of breaking. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s time to start.¡± I intended to gather all the races of this world into one ce. But Demir still seemed to have his doubts. ¡°Hm, no matter how popr you are, you¡¯re still from a different race¡­ Would the Rock Tribee together at yourmand?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The truth was I didn¡¯t know. Even if the favorability was high, I couldn¡¯t guarantee they¡¯d join forces at my request. But that didn¡¯t matter. There were other ways to bring them together. ¡°¡­Being from beyond this world?¡± Demir urged for an answer. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s okay? Time is truly running out.¡± ¡°Well, time isn¡¯t the issue. Whether we live or die, everything will be decided tomorrow.¡± I continued calmly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing more for you to do, Demir. If there is, however, it will be to help reveal the truth.¡± ¡°¡­The truth?¡± ¡°Hatred and conflict have built up over 500 years. That¡¯s an enormous amount of time. By now, elves and dwarves are likely filled with deep-seated hostility toward each other.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s true. Even I feel indignant about that fact.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s a way to unite them¡­ hmm, only one thinges to mind.¡± ¡°Hm, and that¡¯s revealing the truth?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± I nodded. ¡°And it needs to be revealed clearly. Look at Dagnar. He changed once he learned the truth, didn¡¯t he?¡± I turned to look at him. Dagnar nodded with a determined expression. ¡°Indeed. The truth is the best exnation against misunderstandings and nder. The problem is¡­¡± He stroked his chin. ¡°I understand gathering the elves isn¡¯t an issue anymore. But as our ancestor said, how do you n to gather all the dwarves?¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been curious about.¡± Demir agreed with Dagnar¡¯s doubt. ¡°Mm.¡± I smiled subtly. ¡°Demir.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Shall we make a bet?¡± ¡°A bet, you say?¡± Demir tilted his head, still holding his hammer. ¡°Yes, how about we bet on whether all the dwarves will gather by tomorrow or not? The winner gets to make a wish.¡± After all, Demir would soon be my summoned creature. But whether he would ultimately obey me was a different issue. Even if he did obey me, there could be conflicts with Sunny or other summons. Therefore, it was wise to set conditions like this. ¡°Hm?¡± Demir wiggled his fingers. ¡°I have nothing to lose. If I can defeat the dragon, I¡¯m ready to sell my soul to a demon.¡± ¡°Alright, it¡¯s a deal.¡± I plopped down and crossed my legs. Now, all that was left was to wait leisurely. There was no need to rush. The bait had already beenid by Eldrin. They won¡¯t sit by idly when they know there¡¯s a waring. I took slow, deep breaths and recited the Great Blue Heart Technique passages the old man taught me. * * * After some time had passed, the once-quiet dwarven city was thrown into an uproar. They had finally taken the bait. ¡°The elves! The elves are gathering at the front lines!¡± ¡°How many of them?¡± ¡°Tens of thousands! It¡¯s impossible to count them in such a short time!¡± ¡°Are you serious? Can this be real?¡± ¡°The queen¡­ Has the high elf queen gone mad?¡± The sudden news of therge-scale gathering of elves made the dwarves anxious. ¡°This is big trouble! Their forces are far beyond anything we¡¯ve faced before!¡± ¡°We need to gather too! We must unite!¡± ¡°The Chief? Where is the Chief?¡± Despite his strange behavior, there was no dwarf more reassuring than the Chief¡ªthe strongest dwarf in the world. However, the Chief was nowhere to be found. ¡°No response from the Chief! The Chief has disappeared!¡± ¡°What? What does that mean?¡± ¡°What do we do now?¡± ¡°What do you think?! We must gather the city and fight! We can¡¯t just sit and take it!¡± The representatives from each city wanted to rally their forces. ¡°Let¡¯s fight! Do you think mere elves can beat us?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we now have weapons!¡± ¡°Weapons?¡± ¡°Right, the weapons Joo Donghoon made!¡± Was this the power of max favorability? The flow of their thinking naturally shifted toward me. ¡°If the elves have their queen, we have Joo Donghoon!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! With Joo Donghoon, what do we have to fear?¡± ¡°Joo Donghoon! Joo Donghoon!¡± Crisis breeds fear. Fear seeks new heroes, new leaders. ¡°Then¡­ what if we temporarily appoint Joo Donghoon as our chief?¡± During an emergency meeting without the Chief, one of the councilors spoke up. ¡°Hm, but he¡¯s from another race.¡± ¡°So what if he is? Has anyone else ever had such an impact on our people?¡± ¡°He¡¯s right! We just need him to lead until the Chief returns!¡± The emergency meeting concluded. All representatives agreed. Which meant¡­ Consensus! ¡°Gather! Assemble!¡± ¡°Move to Titan!¡± The dwarves picked up their hammers and stood. ¡ªThud, thud. Climbing over the rocks, the dwarves all marched toward the city of Titan. Representative councilors from each city led their forces to the front of the mine. There stood a total of 12 representatives for the Rock Tribe. They all gathered in front of me. Tens of thousands of troops were busy preparing outside the city. ¡°Hm¡­¡± Demir muttered, seemingly impressed. ¡°Amazing. I didn¡¯t expect your influence to be this strong.¡± ¡°I expected it but didn¡¯t know it would be this much,¡± I said with a broad smile. With this, I had won the bet. I was sure there would be time to use my prize, the wish. ¡ªnk! All 12 representatives knelt before me, each on one knee. It was quite a majestic sight. ¡°Joo Donghoon!¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± ¡°As you know, our race is in danger! We believe only you can lead us. Will you help us, even if only temporarily?¡± ¡°Help, you say¡­ What¡¯s in it for me?¡± A noble person doesn¡¯t help others without asking something in return. Taking advantage when you can without pretenses is a virtue. ¡°It seems you¡¯re quite interested in this mine! We¡¯ll give you all the ore stored here! And since the quantity is too vast to carry alone, our tribe will help you transport it!¡± ¡°Deal. Sounds good.¡± You guys¡­ True to the favorability level 100, you know me too well. ¡°From now on, I am your temporary chief.¡± ¡°Woohoo!¡± the representatives roared. The roar echoed, and all the Dwarves outside the city cheered. ¡°Joo Donghoon! Joo Donghoon is with us!¡± ¡°The one from a mysterious race is with us!¡± The sight of such arge force cheering together was truly spectacr. And so, I became the temporary chief of the Rock Tribe with ease. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡ªRumble! The dwarven army, arranged in a straight line, formed a formidable force with the power representing half of this world. They advanced toward the forest like a tidal wave. However, they soon had to halt their advance despite their overwhelming momentum. ¡°It¡¯s the elves!¡± ¡°Damn, the elves are forming up! Spread out!¡± ¡°Stray arrows could hit you! Raise your shields!¡± Countless elves were spread out over the forest area. Since elves specialized in long-range attacks, proper preparation was needed for a fight. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± But soon, they noticed something strange. The elves, who should have been brimming with hostility, were calm. ¡ªDrip, drop. And those elves were all in tears. Not tears of sorrow but tears of anger. What¡¯s this? Question marks appeared on the faces of tens of thousands of dwarves. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with them?¡± ¡°Hm, are they performing some kind of ritual? The Forest Tribe has been known to use rituals for magic.¡± ¡°They seem to be just crying?¡± Good, this was enough. The dwarves were not showing blind anger but doubt. That was a good enough indication that they were prepared to hear the truth. ¡°Impressive¡­ Eldrin. Did you manage to tell all the elves the truth in such a short time?¡± Demir was impressed. ¡°Well, Demir,¡± I said. ¡°¡­You called?¡± ¡°Everything is ready now.¡± ¡°So it came true. You gathered all these people in less than a week.¡± ¡°Yes, well. I didn¡¯t do much, but it turned out this way.¡± I meant it when I said I didn¡¯t do much. I just raised the favorability to 100 and let Eldrin create a sense of urgency. ¡°It¡¯s now time.¡± ¡°To reveal the truth?¡± ¡°Yes, now the Rock Tribe must know the truth that¡¯s been hidden for 500 years.¡± In front of the curious dwarves, Demir and I moved forward. The end was in sight. * * * ¡°Greetings, Rock Tribe and Forest Tribe. I am Joo Donghoon, your temporary chief.¡± The ¡®Amplification¡¯ (A-rank) skill through Demir¡¯s scroll enabled my voice to resonate powerfully. ¡°J-Joo Donghoon?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the chief! The temporary chief!¡± ¡°The temporary chief is about to give orders to attack! Get ready!¡± The dwarves grew excited, cheering at the sound of my voice. Geez, these guys. They really liked me that much, huh? But now they were about to get a surprise. ¡°Unfortunately, what I am about to say is not an order to attack the elves. This is about 500 years of history filled with lies, instigation, and fabrications¡ªthe truth. Your enemy was never the elves to begin with.¡± My voice calmly spread throughout the battlefield. Naturally, murmuring began amongst the dwarves. ¡°What do you mean, temporary chief?!¡± ¡°How can the elves not be our enemy?¡± ¡°Is he crazy? Joo Donghoon has lost his mind!¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we give it a listen? It¡¯s Joo Donghoon talking, after all!¡± This is the power of favorability level 100. I knew they would believe anything I told them. I continued to hit them with the facts. ¡°Do you know the history of Eldrin and Demir? Do you know the true identities of Seraphine, the high elf queen, and Chief Vulcanus?¡± Iid out all the information for them, from the story of the two heroes they had forgotten to how the Giant Magic Dragon, bound by prohibition, sowed discord between the two tribes for 500 years. Naturally, the dwarves didn¡¯t believe me. ¡ªMurmur, murmur. My words were dangerous to those who had lived their whole lives knowing elves were the enemy. ¡°Wh-What is this¡­!¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s you, Joo Donghoon, you can¡¯t nder our Chief who fought along with us for the past 500 years!¡± ¡°Is he a puppet of the elves?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too sudden to believe!¡± I nodded. I figured as much. I never thought it would be easy to convince them. ¡°Demir,¡± I called out. ¡°And Eldrin.¡± Eldrin approached from the elves¡¯ side. There was only one way to reveal the truth to them. Seeing was believing. It was better to show them once rather than tell them a hundred times. ¡°Can you summon the Giant Magic Dragon here?¡± If they didn¡¯t believe me, then let them see it for themselves. Show them the Chief¡¯s true form. ¡°Indeed, with such a method, it could work¡­!¡± Demir was amazed. ¡°We can show them the dragon and take it down simultaneously!¡± Eldrin nodded as well. ¡°It¡¯s not hard. It¡¯s a physical seal. If I move the arrows, it will have no choice but to follow.¡± Good. Now all that was left was to kill the dragon. I wonder if they will give me a Dragon yer achievement for this. I felt a thrilling sense of excitement rise from within me. Even if it was an illusion, I was probably the only one who had ever faced a dragon in my world.. Chapter 57 Chapter 57: The Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s End The former high elf queen, Seraphine¡ªor more urately, the Giant Magic Dragon¡ªwas moved to the center of the battlefield. The method was simple. By moving the moonlight arrows that Eldrin had shot, the dragon, unable to destroy anything due to the prohibition, would naturally be dragged along. ¡°Grrr, you fools! Release me at once! Release me now, and I will at least spare you from extinction!¡± ¡­While spouting words that made no sense, that is. The Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s true form was now bared before the world. ¡°¡­Th-That is?¡± ¡°Seraphine?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the queen of the damn elves? Why is she tied up like that?¡± The dwarves were in shock. And it was understandable. Along with Vulcanus, Seraphine was known as an untouchable, transcendental being. The idea of her being captured and powerless was beyond imagination. But the more shocking part was¡­ ¡°¡­Die!¡± ¡°You vile dragon who deceived our people! Did you think you could hide the truth forever?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the dragon that defiled the forest! A vile demon!¡± The elves, too, stared at Seraphine with faces full of rage. Only then did the dwarves start to believe the things I had said. Seeing it with their own eyes had made the difference. But it wasn¡¯t enough yet. I needed to drive the point home. ¡°Eldrin,¡± I called out to her, who was using Boney 3¡¯s body. ¡°Yes, what is it?¡± ¡°Please tighten the gap between those arrows.¡± So that it could be smaller to fit the size of a dwarf¡ªspecifically, Vulcanus. I intended to reveal the Chief¡¯s true identity to the Rock Tribe. ¡°Hmph, pathetic trickery.¡± But the Giant Magic Dragon quickly assessed the situation¡ªthe gathered races and the fact that he was being paraded before them. As a dragon, he clearly understood what this meant. ¡°Haah.¡± The dragon let out a soft sigh. Then, without hesitation, he transformed into Vulcanus. Oh, feeling confident, are we? ¡°Hear me, brave warriors of the Rock Tribe!¡± Chief Vulcanus¡¯s roar echoed across the battlefield. ¡°Why are you so foolish? Haven¡¯t I always told you? The elves¡¯ sorcery has more trickery than the magic dragon! You¡¯re being deceived! Caught in the vile high elf queen¡¯s scheme, you are oppressing me, your chief!¡± The dragon¡¯sst resort was to turn the dwarves to his side once again. ¡°Remember, in the 500-year war, who kept everyone in check? Do you think the Rock Tribe has a future without me? Will you only realize it after I am gone, pounding the ground regretfully?¡± The Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s gaze swept over the battlefield. ¡°Wh-What is this?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s right anymore!¡± ¡°What if the Chief is telling the truth? What if Joo Donghoon is a spy for the elves?¡± ¡°Hey! There¡¯s no way Joo Donghoon would do that!¡± ¡°He could be a spy trying to gain favor! Let¡¯s be honest. Who else could capture our chief if not the high elf queen?¡± The Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s words were not entirely wrong. Indeed, the dwarves were naive¡ªno, foolish. How could they fall for such simple instigation? ¡°¡­¡± The dragon continued to sway them, and the dwarves fell into utter confusion. They had to choose between the chief they had trusted and followed for 500 years and a recent benefactor. ¡°Tsk, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Dagnar, who had been watching, shook his head in dismay. ¡°To think our race could be so foolish. It¡¯s embarrassing. I can¡¯t even lift my head.¡± Then he took a step forward, standing next to me. The Amplification (A-rank) skill was magic that covered a specific area. Therefore, Dagnar was also affected by it. ¡°You idiots!¡± he shouted, putting his strength into his stomach. ¡°Why do you close your eyes even after we show you the truth? Did you put down your brains when you put down your hammers? You bastards!¡± Dagnar¡¯s scathing insult swept over the area. Oh? I stepped aside to watch him. Yeah. It was only right that your kind should solve the issues of your people. No matter how high my level of affection was, I was still an outsider. ¡°What? Did he just call us bastards?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Dagnar! The guy who was next to Joo Donghoon!¡± ¡°Who do you think you are, calling us bastards?!¡± The sudden insult sparked intense bacsh in an already chaotic situation. However, Dagnar did not back down. ¡°Hmph, how can you not show respect when your great ancestor stands before you? How could I not call you bastards?¡± Perhaps because they had heard Demir and Eldrin¡¯s story earlier, some dwarves flinched. ¡°Here! The spirit of the great Demir is watching! Don¡¯t show any more shameful behavior! Dwarves of the Rock Tribe! If the Chief were truly powerful, how would such lowly arrows trap him? I saw it! I saw it with my own eyes! The Chief was a vile dragon! Did we escape the oppression of the dragon thanks to our great ancestors just for us to fight the elves?!¡± Dagnar¡¯s speech was simple and blunt, but what was certain was that it was powerful. I knew he¡¯d be helpful. I smiled. Dagnar cared about his people more than himself. That was why his sincerity was so heartfelt. ¡°Look at the elves over there! Take off your colored sses and see! Do those tears look fake? They are genuinely angry! Angry at Seraphine, who was their queen! Angry at the Giant Magic Dragon that deceived us for 500 years!¡± ¡°Silence!¡± the dragon intervened at that moment. ¡°The one who is deceived is this immature dwarf! Will you believe this young dwarf who has fallen for elven sorcery over the chief who has worked for you for 500 years? Are you truly that foolish?¡± ¡°Shut up, dragon!¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± ¡°Just thinking about what you did still infuriates me! What did you ever do for us? Start a war and then step back and watch? Or maybe suppress our cksmithing skills and force even young dwarves into war?¡± ¡°You little¡­¡± ¡°Even if you truly were the chief, you¡¯d be impeached, you bastard!¡± ¡°Did you just call me a bastard? Grahhhh! You little dwarf! Do you wish to die?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Correction. It was not just the dwarves who were foolish; the dragon was too. Seriously. Did its intelligence underdevelop because it had nothing to do but smash things? ¡°¡­¡± I didn¡¯t need to step in. This was clearly Dagnar¡¯s show. The hearts of the dwarves had already turned. The funny thing was that they regained their loyalty not because of the dragon¡¯s rage but because of Demir. ¡°Yeah, that craftsmanship. It was our ancestor¡¯s.¡± ¡°I thought that hammering was indeed extraordinary. But I never thought it was really that of Demir the Great.¡± ¡°I felt my heart race for the first time in ages. Even though I haven¡¯t held a hammer in 200 years¡­ We are, after all, natural-born cksmiths.¡± ¡°But the Chief oppressed us.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t let us hold our hammers. He suppressed our freedom.¡± ¡°Freedom¡­ Suppression¡­ The Giant Magic Dragon.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. The Chief is a dragon.¡± One by one, they came to their senses. They¡¯d feel guilty if they were deceived again after being tricked for 500 years. ¡°Yeah, why are we fighting the elves anyway? The reason makes no sense. We¡¯ve been suffering for 500 years over one ancestor¡¯s artifact¡­ Does that make any sense?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we were allrades during our ancestors¡¯ time, weren¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Forest or stone, it¡¯s all from nature. There¡¯s no reason to be enemies.¡± They were simple but not very stubborn. They were a wonderful race that knew when to acknowledge the truth. Good. It felt like just yesterday that I arrived at this Dungeon of Forest and Stone. And now, the two races had already stopped warring and regained their senses. ¡°Otherworldly being,¡± Demir muttered next to me. ¡°Thank you. Thanks to you, all the preparations areplete.¡± Eldrin also approached and said, ¡°Preparations, you say?¡± When I inclined my head, she nodded. ¡°Then now we need to seal the dragonpletely.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Wait. Can we actually seal that thing away? ¡°The conditions for the ritual have already been satisfied.¡± Eldrin looked up at the sky. Even though her face was just a skull, it felt like she was smiling softly. Or was it just my imagination? ¡°The condition isplete harmony between the two races. As long as this harmony remains unbroken, the dragon will never reappear in this world.¡± ¡°Oh, a conditional ritual.¡± It was a seal based on unity. It wasn¡¯t an infallible seal, but it seemed appropriate considering the properties of this world. It was as if it were set by a god who said, ¡°Do not fight, or there will be consequences.¡± Something like that. ¡°Gehehe, fine. I¡¯ve beenpletely defeated.¡± As it realized that the ritual wasplete, the dragon gave up. With a resigned sigh, it surrendered everything. Perhaps worn out from 500 years of effort, it looked utterly exhausted. ¡°But you cannot seal mepletely. Just you wait. One day, I shall return and bring ruin upon you all!¡± The dragon¡¯s tone was solemn. With warning, it faded away from the world, sucked into the ck Orb of Restriction. ¡ªWhoosh! With a tremendous force, the shadow of the Giant Magic Dragon loomed briefly over the battlefield. The true form of the dragon lorded over the world. Someone gasped. Another said, ¡°¡­Is that the true form of the dragon?¡± Elves and dwarves alike stared in awe at the sight. Its enormous form made the warning feel even clearer and more terrifying. It resonated in the hearts of both races. After some time had passed, I cautiously opened my mouth to ask, ¡°¡­Is it over?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s all over.¡± Dagnar smiled. It was the first time I had seen him smile so brightly. The smile was genuine, the kind thates from true happiness. ¡°Thanks to you. It was a short time, but I experienced a lot. Now the word ¡®benefactor¡¯ feels too humble a term to call you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Our Rock Tribe will forever honor you. We will build statues of you and record your name in all the ancient texts.¡± He had an expression of pure gratitude. Dagnar wiped the sweat from his hand on his clothes and extended it to me. I smiled and took his hand. This feels nice. It was a strange feeling. I didn¡¯t know receiving pure goodwill from someone was a pleasant feeling. The respect that one would receive from hunters as a ranker felt different from this. ¡°You heard it, right? If you don¡¯t stay united, the dragon will appear again.¡± ¡°Haha, I heard. Not just me, but everyone here must have heard it.¡± Not long after, a message indicating the questpletion popped up. [Congrattions!] [Atst, the conflict between the two races has been resolved, and peace has been restored.] [Receiving rewards!] The rewards! They could only mean one thing: the true awakening of Boney 3 and Boney 6! Right on cue, Demir and Eldrin approached. ¡°Thank you, being from beyond this world. Thanks to you, we can rest in peace. However, we must keep our promise, right?¡± ¡°We shall serve you wholeheartedly until our souls are exhausted. We will be your limbs, and we shall fight for you.¡± The phrase ¡°We shall fight for you¡± had never sounded so reassuring. ¡°Yes, I look forward to working with you.¡± I bowed my head in return. Just as they decided to follow me, I would also leave them with good memories. I would show them the joy of traveling to other worlds beyond this one. I suppose I¡¯ll be leaving the dungeon soon? Thankfully, there was still time. It seemed like the dungeon would be fully cleared only after the sealing of the dragon wasplete. Good for me. I needed to gather everything I could, including textile materials from the elves and the ores from the dwarves. The elves would do anything Eldrin asked them to. And I made a deal with the dwarven councilors, so they would undoubtedly hand the ores over. I genuinely smiled. It felt like this was the happiest moment since I entered this dungeon. Chapter 58 Chapter 58: What¡¯s Going On Now? ¡°Benefactor of the Rock Tribe! Is this sufficient?¡± one of the dwarven councilors asked confidently. Behind him, a mountain of mined minerals was piled high, and others struggled to haul more on carts. ¡°¡­Wow, you managed to mine all this so quickly?¡± I asked, astonished. ¡°Of course! We gathered everything we could. The majority of the tribe participated in the mining,¡± he said with a grin. They were now mining minerals and loading all of them into my bag. My bag, an S-rank dimensional space, was incredibly vast. It could easily hold all the minerals here and still be only half full. ¡°Take as much as you can carry. The minerals in Titan¡¯s mine are limitless; they¡¯ll regenerate over time. Besides, we¡¯re not equipped to handle all of it right now.¡± ¡°Wow, I appreciate this.¡± To the dwarves, it was just keeping their promise, but it moved me. They would be reigniting their forges again soon, yet they willingly handed over these precious materials. And it wasn¡¯t just the dwarves who touched my heart. ¡°Benefactor.¡± ¡°We elves will also lend a hand.¡± ¡°The Forest Tribe wants to show our gratitude too. You mentioned needing textile materialsst time, so we¡¯ve gathered some for you.¡± Behind the hard-working dwarves, elves arrived with carts filled with spiderwebs, silkworm cocoons, and wool. The line was so long it seemed endless. ¡°¡­This is more than just ¡®some,¡¯ isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°We couldn¡¯t let the Rock Tribe outdo us. The entire tribe worked together to collect them.¡± The sincerity in the elves¡¯ eyes was evident. It meant they gathered it willingly, not just because Eldrin ordered them to. ¡°Hoho, how incredible,¡± the summoned old man chuckled, watching the scene. He looked genuinely impressed. ¡°You always manage to squeeze everyst drop from a dungeon visit. It¡¯s something worth watching.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s apliment, right?¡± ¡°Indeed, what else could it be? My disciple, do you know the greatest driving force behind a person¡¯s growth and strength?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Desire. And your desire, or rather your endless greed, is so impressive that even the heavens would be astonished. As your teacher, how could I not be pleased?¡± ¡°¡­¡± That sounded like a backhandedpliment. ¡°But what they¡¯re doing for you must be genuine. After all, they¡¯ve gained peace in exchange for a small price.¡± ¡°Well, I guess it¡¯s a win-win for both sides.¡± ¡°Exactly. So that¡¯s why I call it justified greed. In any case,¡± the old man smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve assessed Eldrin¡¯s archery skills. Not quite on par with me, but if she refines her skills, she could quickly regain her former glory. As for Demir, well, he¡¯s not under my jurisdiction.¡± Eldrin and Demir¡¯s awakenings were reversed with the dragon¡¯s disappearance. They were now back to being ordinary skeletons. However, having achieved true awakening, their souls remained embedded in the skeletons. Simply put, they were now in a state simr to Sunny. [Receiving rewards!] The basic dungeon rewards framework was simr to the Ancient Desert. [Technique increased by 2!] [Strength increased by 1!] [Dexterity increased by 1!] [Constitution increased by 1!] ¡­ Each skeleton¡¯s stats increased significantly. And next up: [The leader of the Forest Tribe, ¡®Eldrin,¡¯ has acknowledged you as her true master!] [The leader of the Rock Tribe, ¡®Demir,¡¯ has acknowledged you as his true master!] [All stats increased by 10.] Demir and Eldrin recognized me as their true master. [¡®Eldrin¡¯s¡¯ memories and will are inherited by ¡®Bonehead 3.¡¯] [The name of ¡®Bonehead 3¡¯ changed to ¡®Eldrin.¡¯] [¡®Demir¡¯s¡¯ memories and will are inherited by ¡®Bonehead 6.¡¯] [The name of ¡®Bonehead 6¡¯ changed to ¡®Demir.¡¯] I don¡¯t know why it proceeded randomly without order, but it was clear now. My skeletons were once significant figures in their past lives. By resolving their ¡®resentments,¡¯ they naturally became my subordinates. In other words, I had to resolve the ¡®resentment¡¯ of ten beings. How did I know that? Of course, because I received a new medium item. [Receiving rewards!] [Congrattions!] [You have acquired the item ¡®The Officer Crying for Peace¡¯ (S-rank).] ¡ªRing! [This item has a connection to your profession.] ¡®The Officer Crying for Peace?¡¯ I touched the horn-shaped object. [Item: The Officer Crying for Peace] [Rank: S] [Type: Medium] [Description: A source that can uncover the secrets of hidden ruins.] [Effect 1: Can unlock the dungeon ¡®Rise and Fall.¡¯] [Effect 2: Bound to the hunter ¡®Joo Donghoon.¡¯] [Effect 3: This item can only be activated for hunters A-rank and above.] ¡°This time it¡¯s A-rank.¡± Since I was currently B-rank, I couldn¡¯t enter right away. Even if I were able to enter the dungeon immediately, I wouldn¡¯t. After a big run, taking a break and reorganizing, physically or mentally, was essential. Who will it be next? Boney 1? Boney 4? Boney 5? I had no idea how the sequence was determined, but one thing was sure of: I couldn¡¯t predict it until I was inside the dungeon. ¡°This is the end of the rewards.¡± There was no additional achievement reward for clearing the ¡®Immeasurable¡¯ stage. It seemed achievement rewards could only be received once. ¡°Quick, move it!¡± ¡°The benefactor is waiting!¡± ¡°Make sure we elves don¡¯t fall behind.¡± Both tribes continued to move materials enthusiastically. [Time remaining until the dragon ispletely sealed.] [00:60:00] An hour remained before the dungeon would be fully cleared. Once the remaining time ran out, I¡¯d return to Earth. Maybe I should recheck Eldrin and Demir¡¯s stats? ¡ªWhoosh! I swung my staff to summon the two. From now on, I¡¯d refer to them casually. That was what they wanted. ¡°Being from beyond this world¡­ No, Master. It¡¯s an honor to serve you, the benefactor of our tribe.¡± Uponpleting the quest, the dignified Eldrin and the hearty Demir knelt before me. ¡°I, Demir, shall also consider you my master. So please feel free to speak casually to me.¡± The dwarf¡¯s typical serious tone hadn¡¯t changed, but there was a clear sign of respect. ¡ªThud! Demir also set his bone hammer down. He moved to Eldrin¡¯s side and bent his short legs in a bow, a gesture showing that they would serve me wholeheartedly. I decided to ept it casually. It might feel awkward initially, but we would be in a rtionship where I had to manage them anyway. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do our best together.¡± That was my first official greeting to both of them. Much had changed in their information. First, Eldrin. [Name: Eldrin] [Energy: 200/200] [Unique Ability: Great Skeleton] [ss: Archer] [Rank: B] [Strength: 40] [Dexterity: 42] [Constitution: 37] [Magic Power: 35] [Technique: 42] [Skills] ¨C Intermediate Rapid Fire (Lv.6) ¨C Hundred-Mile Eyes (Lv.1) ¨C Venomous Arrow (Lv.1) ¨C Moonlight Descent (Lv.1) ¨C Ritual Spellcasting (Lv.1) ¨C Summon Skeleton (Lv. MaX) Wow. I was impressed. The Secure Vision skill had now transformed into Hundred-Mile Eyes, and Poison Arrow had be Venomous Arrow. Two new skills had been added. Moonlight Descent involved raining down arrows like a carpet bomb under the moonlight. Ritual Spellcasting was like a ritual in which one could make a sacrifice to achieve a desired oue. If my guess was correct, Ritual Spellcasting could be incredibly overpowered, considering it was able to seal the Giant Magic Dragon once the price was paid. Next up, Demir¡­ [Name: Demir] [Energy: 200/200] [Unique Ability: Great Skeleton] [ss: cksmith] [Rank: B] [Strength: 32] [Dexterity: 30] [Constitution: 30] [Magic Power: 30] [Technique: 40] [Skills] ¨C Intermediate Smelting (Lv.4) ¨C Intermediate Weaving (Lv.4) ¨C Intermediate Item Crafting (Lv.6) ¨C Intermediate Alchemy (Lv.3) ¨C Summon Skeleton (Lv. MaX) Nothing had particrly changed in Demir¡¯s skills; just that his levels increased by 2 each. But Demir¡¯s potential wasn¡¯t just in skills. He was the being worshiped as the god of cksmiths in his world. The knowledge he held alone showcased immense production power. Having witnessed it firsthand, I was confident that would be the case. I need to quickly increase his proficiency to reach a higher level. With all the materials here, that wouldn¡¯t be a problem. We could quickly reach an advanced level. As I joyfully examined the status screens, both races quickly loaded materials into my bag. ¡°Benefactor, here you go.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve finished.¡± Representatives from both tribes handed me the bag and bowed. ¡ªThud. I took the bag and slung it over my shoulder. Thanks to the dimensional space, its weight was manageable. [Remaining Time ¨C 00:00:20] There were about 20 seconds left. It was finally time to leave. Why did it feel so bittersweet? Could I have gotten attached to this world in such a short time? ¡°I wish you the best of luck in the future for the harmony you¡¯ve achieved here.¡± Adios. I saluted with my right hand. ¡°¡­¡± Both tribes saluted silently in return, facing me as I slowly disappeared. [Congrattions!] [You havepletely cleared the stage!] Then, with a bright white light shooting up to the sky¡­ the world shimmered. ¡°Ah, this is nice.¡± Upon returning to the open clearing, I sniffed the air. How long had it been since Ist smelled the scent of Earth? The pollution cutting through the forest air, the harmful fine dust¡ªeverything was just as it should be. ¡°Ahhh.¡± There¡¯s nothing like home. To sum it up, this dungeon was a jackpot. I grew so much I could go on and on about it. I reached B-rank, gained incredible materials, and my skeletons were slowly regaining their original forms. The problem is there¡¯s still so much to do. Even so, the mountain of bing a ranker still stood tall. 1,000 rankers¡ªall S-rank. Chosen from among the many S-ranks, they represented the top of the elites. ¡°Haah,¡± I let out a sigh. I felt like I¡¯d achieved so much with just this, but I had to wonder just how many more monsters there must be in the world. Still, there was no need to rush. Honestly, how long had it been since I properly awakened my abilities? Less than six months? I was climbing the ranks incredibly fast. ¡°Yes. Keep it up, Joo Donghoon!¡± Step by step, I encouraged myself and headed straight home. I nned to rest thoroughly without a single thought today. I was mentally exhausted, and after a cup of instant noodles, I wanted to sleep for over 12 hours. ¡ªCreak! I opened the basement door. ¡°What the?¡± I frowned. Ignoring the stale smell, it looked like a bomb had gone off in my house. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± All the windows were shattered, the mattress was cut in half, the furniture and my tools were strewn everywhere. It looked like a robbery had taken ce. More than that, what was even more shocking was¡ª ¡°Money?¡± Stacks of fifty-thousand won bills were scattered all over. From a nce, there were about four to five million won*. ¡Ö $3000-3800 USD Who the hell did this? As I looked around, I noticed something unfamiliar. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± There was a piece of paper stuck to the back of the door. Curious, I read it. Hey, Joo Donghoon. Nice to meet you. Sorry about the rough introduction, but I¡¯vepensated you, so try to be understanding. I¡¯d advise against reporting this to the police though. If you do, I can¡¯t guarantee your safety. If you¡¯re upset, find me and face me like a man. I¡¯ve arranged a modest group of hunters, and everyone here wants to meet you. I¡¯ve attached the location below. Yours truly, Shin Jongoh. ¡°¡­¡± Shin Jongoh? Who the hell was this guy? Chapter 59 Chapter 59: Two Birds, One Stone I tried to calm myself down. I took deep breaths to steady my heart. At times like this¡­ Nothing beat having a conversation with someone. [Using skill ¡®Summon Great Skeleton¡¯ (B-rank).] [Consuming 30 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] [Summoning ¡®Eldrin.¡¯] [Summoning ¡®Demir.¡¯] I swung my staff, summoning my skeletons. This was one of the good things about conversing with them. ¡°My Lord.¡± We could discuss and seek opinions. In other words, there was no need to feel alone. ¡°To not only mess up your residence but also demand that youe in person, he must be insane!¡± Sunny hissed, their spear bristling with murderous intent. ¡°This Shin Jongoh, let me sever his head immediately. Please grant me permission!¡± As expected of Sunny¡­ They seemed ready to rush over and deal with Shin Jongoh at a meremand. Should I? I almost considered it since I trusted them that much. Even if Sunny did get hurt, I¡¯d only lose ten energy. I wouldn¡¯t be at an actual loss. It was the best way to give a lowlife a taste of their own medicine at minimal cost. ¡°Haah.¡± Of course, I had no intention of doing that. This world was still filled with hunters stronger than me. Dungeons were enough for showing bravado. You never knew; there could be a ranker waiting out there. ¡°Hmm.¡± As I mulled over the situation, Eldrin looked around curiously. ¡°Is this the world where Master lives?¡± The newly summoned Eldrin¡¯s curiosity about the new world was evident in her eyes. ¡°Well, if our master¡¯se to this ce, then of course it¡¯s where he lives. What else would it be?¡± Next to her, Demir also appeared. A total of three, they were the ones I summoned as soon as I returned¡ªthe ones I could converse with. For a moment, Demir looked around and shook his head. ¡°But for being my master¡¯s residence, there seems to be much that needs improvement. I, Demir, cannot stand seeing my master live in such conditions.¡± ¡°Oh! Are you going to start hammering? Can I perform a ritual, too?¡± ¡°Hm, we need to build a pce. A pce so high that it overlooks all other beings in this world.¡± ¡°Great! I¡¯ll look into performing protective spells. Let¡¯s leave the mark of our tribe on this world.¡± ¡°Hold on, hold on,¡± I quickly intervened. If I didn¡¯t, they might have started remodeling the ce immediately. That couldn¡¯t happen¡­ This wasn¡¯t even my ce. I was just renting it¡­ Right now, the critical issue wasn¡¯t the house but Shin Jongoh¡¯s situation. ¡°Thank you both, but stop.¡± ¡°Okay, understood.¡± Eldrin smiled brightly. ¡°By the way, the atmosphere feels tense. Is there a being like the Giant Magic Dragon here?¡± ¡°Well, first I must find out who Shin Jongoh is. I¡¯ve never heard of him, so he¡¯s probably not a ranker.¡± I took out my smartphone. He mentioned that he was running a group of hunters, so there could be some information on a website, even if it was small. And sure enough¡­ ¡°¡®Shin Jongoh, a C-rank hunter, is the eldest grandson of the chairman of the Ohsung Group, one of Korea¡¯s top 10panies¡­¡¯ So he¡¯s the heir to hispany? No wonder he threw money around so recklessly.¡± ¡°Heir to hispany? What¡¯s that, Master? Is it a big deal?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s quite a big deal. It means he has a lot of money.¡± ¡°Money, huh¡­¡± ¡°In our world, money is equivalent to power. It¡¯s like saying he¡¯s the son of a tribe leader.¡± I quickly skimmed through the information I found online. Being the grandson of one of the toppanies in his country was fine, but why was he picking a fight with me? However, there was only so much information one could glean from the inte. ¡°Master,¡± Demir spoke up at that moment. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°So if having a lot of money makes someone like a tribe leader¡¯s son, does that mean this world¡¯s power is all about money?¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty close. Even if things are starting to change, power still revolves around money.¡± Because you could even buy a ranker with money. ¡°Fascinating. I guess I can¡¯t understand this new world just basing it on the values I¡¯m familiar with. Anyway, Master, how much money do you have?¡± ¡°Huh? My money¡­? All of a sudden?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to know your standing in this world.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± I opened my banking app and checked my ount. [ount Bnce Inquiry] [ount Holder: Joo Donghoon] [Hunter Preferred ount (E-rank)] [Deposit: 5,805,000 KRW*] ¡Ö $4,465 USD That was what was disyed. Including the cash scattered around here, it would be about 10 million won.* ¡Ö$7,700 USD For a hunter, that was practically nothing. ¡°I don¡¯t have much.¡± Of course, it would be different if I sold the Staff of the Fire Dragon that I gave to Boney 5 or the bag and materials I owned. But for now, I was practically broke. ¡°I see.¡± Demir fell silent for a moment, then spoke again. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°How about we make some money?¡± ¡°Make some money, you say?¡± My attention turned to Demir. Sunny and Eldrin also focused on him. ¡°You are the one who sealed away the Giant Magic Dragon. Do you think it makes sense for someone so powerful to have no influence in this world? I, Demir, cannot ept that.¡± ¡°¡­Wow, you¡¯re hitting where it hurts.¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying, let¡¯s think about it simply. If this world¡¯s power lies in money, wouldn¡¯t having more money than anyone else solve everything?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was this just dwarven simplicity? It didn¡¯t sound wrong, though. Moreover, to stick to my principle of ¡®give back what you get,¡¯ it was only right to hit back with money if someone used money against me. ¡°Really?¡± Was that right? I had considered asking Gi Soyul for help. After all, a ranker¡¯s help would resolve everything. However, I didn¡¯t want to do that for some reason. As Demir said, I was the one who had sealed the Giant Magic Dragon. Now, I felt like I could stand alone in the world. I couldn¡¯t always live under someone else¡¯s protection. Besides¡­ There were countless reasons why I should earn more money in this world. The materials to increase proficiency required money, and protecting myself from vicious rankers also involved money. Take the White Swine, for example. The reason why even rankers above him couldn¡¯t take him lightly was because of his wealth. And it didn¡¯t sit well with me that I was a B-rank hunter living in a one-room, basement apartment. I, too, deserve to live like a human, right? ¡°Alright.¡± I nodded. ¡°It¡¯s something I can do alongside my training anyway.¡± While training, I¡¯d earn money in my spare time. Shin Jongoh? There was no need to bother with a small fry like him. In fact, I was motivated. The Ohsung Group, huh? Since their grandson screwed up, let¡¯s target the heart of the operation first. And I have the items to do business that will make it possible. I took the bag off my back and patted it. Inside were the materials that would make me wealthy. I had to deal with these anyway. ¡°What¡¯s this? A workshop in this day and age?¡± ¡°Looks like there are skeletons around. Is he a necromancer?¡± ¡°Yeah, why run a workshop when you could be out raiding dungeons? Workshops are on the decline these days, thanks to big corporations. It¡¯s a dying industry. Tsk, tsk.¡± ¡°But you gotta admit, it¡¯s impressive. The skeletons are more urate and faster thanborers.¡± At the underground shopping center at the express bus terminal, Gotomall, the store owners gawked at the sight with wide eyes. Seven skeletons diligently hauling rebar and swinging hammers¡ªit was indeed a sight not usually seen. ¡°Wow, who knew skeletons could be used like this? Incredible.¡± Word spread quickly. An article titled ¡°Gotomall¡¯s Necromancer¡± even made the rounds. Naturally, nearby store owners started showing interest. Especially the middle-ageddy next door who often treated me to snacks and stuff, saying I reminded her of her son. ¡°Hey, young man. I heard skeletons are too dumb to be controlled properly. Is that true?¡± ¡°I guess my ability is a bit unique,¡± I mumbled an excuse, and the olddyughed, covering her mouth. ¡°How fascinating. These days, young folks rush off into dangerous dungeons the moment they gain some skills, but this seems better. There are other ways to contribute to society using your abilities.¡± ¡°That is true.¡± ¡°Hoho, such a goodd. Anyway, we¡¯re neighbors now, so I look forward to working with you.¡± ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am.¡± I decided to invest all 10 million won I had. I secured a high-rent spot in Gotomall¡¯s prime location and purchased various interior decor items. {Demir¡¯s Workshop} That was the name on the sign. Since I nned to utilize Demir heavily, I named it after him. ¡°Haha, master! You¡¯ve got a knack for names, don¡¯t you?¡± Demir seemed genuinely pleased. Thanks to that, the work inside sped up considerably. ¡ªBang! Bang! [Allows the use of production-rted skills without additional tools.] Thanks to Demir¡¯s hammer, which was basically overpowered, expensive equipment was unnecessary. A simple swing of the hammer turned ore into ingots and ingots into rebar. [Using skill ¡®Intermediate Smelting¡¯ (Lv.1).] [Crafted an ¡®Iron Ingot.¡¯] [Crafted an ¡®Iron Ingot.¡¯] [Proficiency increased by 1.] Of course, the proficiency gains were a bonus. ¡°Master, I¡¯ll start the ritual now.¡± Eldrin didn¡¯t stay idle either. ¡°A ritual?¡± ¡°The air here is very impure. It makes my throat scratchy and blocks my nose.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. And?¡± ¡°So I¡¯m going to perform an air purification ritual. It¡¯s a spell that will make this area as fresh and pleasant as the forest. But since my proficiency is still low, I¡¯ll need 100 iron ingots as the price. Is that okay?¡± ¡°100 iron ingots, huh.¡± I could build a mountain with the amount of ore piled up in my bag. I figured a hundred iron ingots were a fair trade for fresh air. Clean air would benefit my Great Blue Heart Technique training even if skeletons didn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll take a little time, so please wait.¡± Eldrin set up a makeshift altar and began her ritual. It felt good to see everything fall into ce. ¡°Alright, everyone, keep up the hard work.¡± I left my busy skeletons behind and headed toward the center of Gotomall. Gotomall, which dominated the entire Gangnam underground, was vast. It took me about ten minutes to reach the center from my rented spot, which showed just how big it was. At the center, there was a small auction house. Since I was starting a workshop, I needed to spread the word gradually. [Item: Demir¡¯s Standard Sword] [Rank: B] [Type: Sword] [Description: A swiftly made weapon by the cksmith ¡®Demir.¡¯ It has decent performance for its rank.] [Effect 1: All stats increase by 10.] [Effect 2: Increases energy by 50.] [Effect 3: Increases skill damage by 30%.] I put up a sword I had hastily made for now. It was the best I could do with my current proficiency. Of course, it might be different if we put our hearts and souls into it, like before, but for business, I needed something that could be produced consistently¡­ ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this quite a decent sword?¡± The appraiser at the auction house eyed it keenly. ¡°Are you sure you want to sell this?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s made at Demir¡¯s Workshop.¡± ¡°Huh. This is almost at the quality that bigpanies distribute.¡± ¡°I want to see if it¡¯ll work in this market, so I¡¯m selling just this one.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± The appraiser turned the sword over in his hands. ¡°We¡¯ve been short on auction items, so this is perfect. I can start the bidding at 1 million won. With some luck, it could go up to 10 million.¡± Ten million won would be average for a B-rank weapon. I nodded dly since I aimed to promote the workshop, not make money. ¡°Then, please take care of it.¡± That was it for business preparations. I¡¯d hear the resultster; now was time for training. I left Boney 6 at the workshop and headed to the training grounds. Don¡¯t lose focus. Making money was merely a step toward bing a ranker, not the goal itself. My ultimate goal was to join the rankers. For that, I couldn¡¯t give up training. I nned to hit two birds with one stone. One bird was for earning money, and the other was for bing stronger. Chapter 60 Chapter 60: Demir¡¯s Workshop The daily routine was simple. Training at the clearing behind the mountain, just like always. After training, I¡¯d go to the workshop, tidy up, and help with the work. And the basement room I lived in? I left it messy, just as it was. Now, the workshop was cleaner and felt morefortable than at home. {Demir¡¯s Workshop} The sign greeted me as soon as I entered. [¡®Air Purification¡¯ (B-rank) is active in this zone.] Seeing the message that popped up made me smile. Indeed, ritual magic was fascinating. Through Eldrin¡¯s will, it felt like anything was possible. ¡°The air is incredibly fresh and clear. Thanks, Eldrin.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± ¡ªClick, ck. Eldrin, who was in the workshop, cked her bones together and smiled. I usually never unsummoned the three who had achieved awakening now. It came from the thought that it must be frustrating for beings who could think and speak to be trapped in some unknown ce. In the case of the old man, he had a time limit, so there wasn¡¯t anything I could do about it. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡ªClick, ck. Eldrin kept moving her jaw. ¡°This body was ufortable at first. But I¡¯m getting used to it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Come to think of it, how would it feel for a soul that remembered its original body to live as a skeleton? I figured it probably wouldn¡¯t be pleasant. Seeing me staring silently, Eldrin chuckled. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t look at me like that. We¡¯re grateful to be able to think and feel, even in this form.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Oops, did she read my mind? Even though she¡¯s my subordinate, she was the queen of a tribe who lived for hundreds of years. She must have immense insight. It wouldn¡¯t be hard for her to read the mind of a young man in his twenties. ¡°Hey, Master. You¡¯re already here?¡± ¡ªng! The sound of metal striking stopped once Demir sensed my presence. I marveled at the swords, spears, bows, hammers, daggers, and numerous other weapons piled up beside him. ¡°Wow, you¡¯ve already made this much?¡± ¡°Haha, you named the workshop after me, Demir. How could I stay still as a cksmith? I¡¯ve made a variety of things simr in performance tost time.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± ¡°Ahem, no need to be overly pleased. I must still build more proficiency to make weapons worthy of my name. It¡¯s strange. I know it in my head, but my body won¡¯t follow¡­ Oh well.¡± Demir shook his head. It was due to the system¡¯s limitations. With Demir¡¯s Intermediate Item Crafting at level 6, he could only make weapons of that level, no matter the method used. But if no mistakes were made, creating the best possible weapons at that level allowed him to gain proficiency quickly. ¡°It¡¯s a bit humiliating to put these weapons out under my name. But¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But it¡¯s just about finding the fun in growing again, right? I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m sure you can level up quickly if it¡¯s you, Demir.¡± ¡°Thanks for the encouragement.¡± Demir grinned and picked up his hammer again. Behind him, piles of ore were stacked high. His desire to gain proficiency as quickly as possible was evident. I should expand the workshop and create training rooms for each skeleton once I make enough money. This was another reason to earn money. I couldn¡¯t keep wasting time traveling back and forth to the clearing. Training rooms for Boney 1 to the eventual Boney 10. I nned to create a total of eleven luxury training rooms, specialized for each unique ability, including for myself. ¡°Nice.¡± Just thinking about it made me feel good! I hummed cheerfully. Anyway, I packed up the weapons Demir had made. Since I asked them to sell the swordst time, I should also get an idea of the prices for the other things. Then I went back to the Gotomall central auction house. As always, the middle-aged man with sses was sitting behind the desk. ¡°Hello, appraiser.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you?¡± The appraiser¡¯s eyes widened, weing me. ¡°You¡¯re the young man who entrusted us with that B-rank sword back then!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. How did the item I entrusted to you sell?¡± ¡°Do I even need to mention it? It was a big hit, a big hit!¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°It was much more popr than expected. Besides having good stats for its rank, the durability was incredible. And the design was practically art. Man, oh, man.¡± ¡°How much did it sell for?¡± ¡°Twenty million. It sold for twice the expected price. You hit the jackpot.¡± Twenty million won,* huh? For a weapon that could be mass-produced, that was quite a price. ¡Ö $15,380 USD ¡°¡­¡± I was speechless. I knew it was a likely oue, but it still felt surreal. Twenty million in just one day¡­ It felt like I was working as a mercenary just yesterday, trying to save up a little money. This felt overwhelming. ¡°The auction price, minus a 10% fee, will be deposited into the ount you provided within two business days. But what brings you here? Didn¡¯t you get notified via text?¡± The appraiser looked at me with a curious expression. I smiled and put down my backpack. Then I slowly pulled out my supplies¡ªthe items Demir had made. The appraiser¡¯s eyes widened as he saw them. ¡°Wh-What are these?¡± ¡°What do you think? They¡¯re weapons for the next auction. You said the sword was quite poprst time, right? I¡¯ll put all of these up, so please promote them heavily.¡± ¡°My god.¡± The appraiser picked up each weapon and examined them. ¡°They¡¯re all B-rank items? And they all have simr performance with clean designs that look like works of art¡­¡± ¡°Hehe, these are all from Demir¡¯s Workshop.¡± ¡°Young man, you¡¯re amazing! Where did you find such an incredible cksmith?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not the important thing right now, no?¡± I dodged the question, and the appraiser flinched but nodded. ¡°¡­That¡¯s true. Ahem, alright. I¡¯ll put these up too. The people who participated in thest auction were asking for more. Word will spread quickly.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Great. This should easily cover the initial capital for the business. And with a limited quantity released, it would surely generate some buzz. If I was going to do this, I¡¯d do it right. The auction house, opente at night, was bustling. Hunters who hade after hearing the online promotion had eyes of anticipation mixed with tension. ¡°They say they¡¯re auctioning off that hot weapon again today?¡± ¡°Yeah, but I heard it¡¯s not a sword this time. It¡¯s different weapons.¡± ¡°What kind?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, we¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Did you bring enough in your wallet?¡± ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t know what they have prepared, but if there¡¯s a whip, it¡¯s mine. Don¡¯t mess with it.¡± Rumors spread faster than expected. The auction house¡¯s site was well-known, but I also posted on the Hunter Board. [Wee to the Hunter Board.] [¡®E-rank Mercenary epting Requests¡¯ (Lv.10) logged in.] Of course, after I got into trouble listing an S-rank itemst time, the post was made anonymously. > Wow, the weapon¡¯s performance is solid! And the design is top-notch! > Man, even if it doesn¡¯t perform well, I¡¯d buy it just for the looks! > Is it from Demir¡¯s Workshop? Isn¡¯t that the ce that got famous recently for using skeletons? > Hmm, it¡¯s about time to change my weapon. Should I give it a shot? > No way, too expensive. > You¡¯re missing the point: the more expensive, the more desirable it is, right? I¡¯m going for it. As word spread, more and more people flocked to the auction house. Among them were journalists looking for a newssh, hunters wanting to watch, and those who genuinely needed the weapons. ¡°Eighteen million won! Any more?¡± ¡°Neen million won, sold!¡± ¡ªBang, bang, bang! ¡°Next up, a bow! The performance is the same as what¡¯s posted on the pamphlet. Currently only one exists in the entire country.¡± ¡°Twenty million won!¡± ¡°Oh, twenty-one million won!¡± ¡°Twenty-four million won, sold!¡± The weapons sold like hotcakes. The average price was around 18 to 24 million won.* It was a ridiculous price for B-rank items, but everyone understood. *¡Ö $13,840 ¨C $18,460 USD Is this the artistic sense of a dwarf? The designs were, quite literally, insane. The auction ended in great sess. Several hunters raised their hands. ¡°Are there any more?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t buy one this time. Can I ce an order at Demir¡¯s Workshop?¡± There were many inquiries, but I shook my head. This was the end of the auction. The values of the products were assessed, and now it was time to open a store and expand. Not only that¡­ I need to make other types of weapons, too. Suddenly, the hammer I had made with all my soul in front of the dwarves came to mind. [Item: Special Titan¡¯s Thunder Hammer] [Rank: S] [Type: Hammer] Although I borrowed Boney 6¡¯s body, it was an S-rank hammer I made with my own hands. I poured all my energy into making it. The thrill I felt at that time was undoubtedly a kind of emotion I could never forget. I¡¯ll release S-rank weapons as a limited edition. How can Demir¡¯s Workshop¡¯s brand value be enhanced? It was simple: release high-performance weapons in limited quantities. In the past, luxury leather brands like Hermes or Chanel added value by crafting items meticulously by artisans. Let¡¯s give it a shot. Of course, creating them would take immense mental effort, enough to make me forego my training schedule. I wouldn¡¯t make them often. ¡ªThump. But the thought of pouring out my passion again made my heart race. * * * ¡ªBang! ¡°What the hell?¡± A man mmed his desk in anger. It was Shin Jongoh, the grandson of the Ohsung Group. He was in a foul mood. ¡°He dares to ignore my invitation and start a business?¡± ¡°¡­Yes, sir.¡± The secretary with sses flinched and bowed her head. It was never good to provoke him in a bad mood. ¡°Are you sure you handled it properly?¡± ¡°Just as you instructed¡­ We used some muscle to rough him up a bit. We even gave him the location¡­¡± ¡°Then how can he act like this? Normally, he¡¯d either be scared or he¡¯de see me. Isn¡¯t that how it should be?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry.¡± The secretary apologized for now. She didn¡¯t know why she had to apologize, but it was to avoid getting fired. Moreover, who knew what could happen if she got on this rich kid¡¯s bad side? She feared she might get into a car ident just walking down the street. This reckless, young, rich guy was that unreasonable. ¡°Hey. You shouldn¡¯t have done something to be sorry about in the first ce, hm? I thought you¡¯d know my temper by now.¡± ¡°Th-That is¡­¡± ¡°And what? Demir¡¯s Workshop? Aren¡¯t workshops what Ohsung has been working on recently?¡± The reason for Shin Jongoh¡¯s foul mood was none other than this. Ohsung Group¡¯s chairman, Shin Jooyong, his grandfather, had entrusted him with a business branch, which happened to be the business of workshops. ¡°Hmph. Alright. You want to do this, huh?¡± ¡ªClench. Shin Jongoh gritted his teeth. ¡°Back when you were hanging around at Smith¡¯s Forge, I knew you were trouble.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The secretary was dumbfounded. He was the one who kicked the ho¡¯s nest, and the other side seemed to be minding their business. Why did he think he was under attack? She didn¡¯t understand but kept quiet. ¡°D-Director!¡± A hunter rushed in from outside. He was one of the C-rank hunters in the small group Shin Jongoh was running and was a growing hunter with his support. ¡°What is it now?¡± ¡°Big news, sir! That guy, Joo Donghoon, you mentioned?¡± ¡°That guy again?¡± ¡°His workshop is being called a rising star. He put out a dozen B-rank weapons, which are hugely popr.¡± ¡°What?¡± Shin Jongoh¡¯s eyebrows furrowed. He only had one B-rank cksmith in his workshop. And furthermore¡­ ¡°A dozen, you said?¡± How could that even be? His B-rank cksmith took at least 15 days to make one weapon. ¡°This smells fishy.¡± Was another billionaire backing him up? ¡°We can¡¯t just sit by.¡± ¡°What should we do?¡± When the hunter asked, Shin Jongoh smiled nastily. ¡°What do you think? Find out who owns that Gotomall shop.¡± ¡°The shop owner?¡± ¡°Yes, buy out the whole area around it. Make him pay for trying to go against the Ohsung Group with money. Whether it¡¯s that guy or whoever¡¯s backing him, crush them all.¡± Shin Jongoh still thought only from his perspective. Chapter 61 Chapter 61: A Weapon for Someone The difference between an ordinary skeleton and an awakened skeleton was noticeable. From recalling past abilities to absorbing new knowledge from the old man, Boney 1, Boney 4, and Boney 5 could never catch up to Sunny and Eldrin. Of course, even if they shared the same body type, the ones possessed by absolute beings who had already reached the pinnacle would perform better. Anyway, because of that, the gap between the skeletons¡¯ skills was widening day by day. Not only in skill proficiency and stats, but even the physical knowledge of moving was overwhelmingly different. They were just in a different ss. At this rate, I worried the weaker ones would feel left outter due to imbnce. ¡°Hey, now. Don¡¯t worry so much.¡± The old man shook out his arms after finishing the usual massage for the allotted time. ¡°¡­Even so, I can¡¯t help but worry.¡± I smiled bitterly. I had grown to the point where I could now receive this technique, which was once terribly painful, while contemting idly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if the way I¡¯m growing is the right direction. At least games have strategies¡­ I¡¯m not even sure if the party¡¯s bnced between the summons.¡± ¡°Heh, seeing you worry about such things, it seems my technique is starting to affect you.¡± His technique is affecting me, he says. Oh. He¡¯s indirectly saying that I didn¡¯t think at all in the past. What good timing. ¡°So, about that, Elder?¡± ¡°What¡¯s with that uneasy smile?¡± The old man frowned and took a step back. ¡°You said the technique has been effective recently, so how about we take a short break? Maybe a week or two.¡± ¡°What?!¡± the old man yelled. But I didn¡¯t back down. ¡°I have some things I need to do.¡± ¡°¡­Hm, now that you mention it.¡± The old man looked around. ¡°This isn¡¯t the usual open field but the workshop.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m nning to craft another weapon¡­ Last time, I got so immersed that I couldn¡¯t keep my promise.¡± ¡°Ahem. That¡¯s right.¡± Practicing the Great Technique of the Celestial Artisan for 30 minutes a day was the promise between the old man and me. So when something came up, I always let him know. He rarely granted permission though. ¡°Well, go ahead.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± I was surprised. Normally, he¡¯d throw a fit and tell me to just quit if I wasn¡¯t going to do it properly. Why was he so lenient today? ¡°The main thing is the All Techniques; the massage is only supplementary.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m saying that practicing the spirit of All Techniqueses first. The massage is just there to assist you in achieving that goal. If swinging a hammer is the only thing you can immerse yourself in right now, how can I stop you as your teacher?¡± ¡°Oh¡­?¡± The old man was the only one who truly cared about my growth. ¡°But make sure to do it properly. If you waste time and don¡¯t immerse yourself, I¡¯ll double the intensity of the massage next time.¡± ¡°Yes, Elder!¡± I responded firmly. Then I rubbed my hands together. ¡°Master, shall we begin?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± In front of me, Demir held a hammer, waiting eagerly, and I sat down on the floor. Since I got permission from the old man, there was no reason to hesitate. ¡ªVwoom! I manifested the Great Blue Heart Technique, which allowed me to feel the mystical energy that formed this world throughout my body. ¡°I can feel Master¡¯s emotions connecting with mine. Is this how we¡¯ll create something together?¡± The method was the same as before, like when I hammered whilemuning with Boney 6. This time, I¡¯dmune with Demir. What weapon should I create? What should I craft to satisfy the Master? It¡¯s an honor to craft with the benefactor of my tribe. Demir¡¯s thoughts also flowed into my mind. Though it wasn¡¯t a direct conversation, the conveyed emotions were touching. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°There are countless blueprints avable. What kind of weapon will you make?¡± ¡°Just a moment.¡± Hmm. This was a moment of contemtion. I couldn¡¯t make these often, and I could only create one for now. So should I make something that would sell well? Or something rare? Whatever it was, it had to be something that could be promoted. Promoted, promoted, huh¡­ What would have the clearest promotional effect in this world? Something that would have to do with rankers, which was also my dream. Maybe, I should make a weapon aimed at a ranker. A ranker, huh? As soon as I thought of it, a certain person came to mind. Without a doubt, the ranker I was closest to right now was¡­ Gi Soyul. She was the person who connected the Elder and me and the person who protected me from the terrorist group. Though she might seem cold, she wasn¡¯t a bad person. ¡°Oh, Master?¡± Demir¡¯s eyes gleamed as he read my thoughts. ¡°She¡¯s quite the beautifuldy, isn¡¯t she? She suits you. So we¡¯re making a weapon for her?¡± He was grinning ear to ear. I could see exactly what he was thinking. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s a person I¡¯m very grateful to.¡± It had two meanings: gratitude for changing and saving my life and gratitude for the promotion. If Gi Soyul were to use a weapon crafted by Demir¡¯s Workshop, the effect would be incredible. It would be exposed in various interviews, and even a single mention from her would skyrocket the brand¡¯s value. ¡°Hmm.¡± Demir stroked his chin. After thinking for a moment, he nodded. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go with this blueprint.¡± He lifted up a stack of papers. From there, he picked up a blueprint for a B-rank dagger meant for assassins. It was a simple, straightforward design drawn through alchemy. There were better blueprints Demir could create with his knowledge, but those were impossible given his current skill level. ¡°Shall we begin, Master?¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± ¡ªng! ng! The hammer began striking the floor. Lined up on the ground were rows of ingots. [Completion rate: 1%] The weapon crafting had begun. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * Gi Soyul was an assassin. An assassin should be silent and light, specialized in concealing their presence. Let¡¯s make it light, very light, yet sharp and fast. That meant not condensing the iron; it had to be forged sharp and thin because the weight had to be kept to a minimum. ¡ªng! ng! The ingots gradually took shape. [Completion rate: 14%] The shape clearly contained the image I had in mind¡ªa cold dagger with a mysterious atmosphere. Indeed, cksmithing was an art form. Depending on what or whom you were thinking of while crafting, the functionality and design would change. Hmm. That was all well and good, but¡­ it was too light. So light that it seemed like it would break easily against a stronger opponent. If that happened, its value as a weapon would be non-existent. ¡ªng! ng! I was conflicted. Hehe, Master, why worry over such things? ¡ªng! ng! A weapon is like a masochist! A masochist? Yes, the more it¡¯s hit, the stronger it bes! Don¡¯t worry, just keep hammering! Oh?! ¡ªng! ng! You might wonder how long to keep at it. But for us cksmiths, there¡¯s no such thing. You just keep going until it¡¯s finished, without giving up. You keep hammering with a clear mind until your arm or the weapon breaks! That¡¯s impressive. We call that pouring in your spirit! Alright, let¡¯s give it everything we¡¯ve got. [Completion rate: 40%] When I got hungry, I bit into a chocte bar and closed my eyes while chewing on the snack. Fatigue? There was none. The Great Blue Heart Technique dispelled my tiredness, and the heat from hammering kept my nerves alert. ¡ªng! ng! I continued to picture Gi Soyul as I felt the rhythm of Demir¡¯s hammering. Her sharp eyes and solid muscles. Her sharp and fierce aura. I infused the energy I¡¯d felt from her into the dagger. Then the dagger began to emit a chilly aura, a cold energy. No matter how you express it, an assassin is ultimately a killing machine. A weapon must match its purpose. Cruelty and coldness¡ªI also tried to infuse those qualities into the weapon. [Completion rate: 60%] After many days, people began to gather outside the workshop. ¡°Is this the famous Demir¡¯s Workshop?¡± ¡°Excuse me! Is the owner here?¡± ¡°I heard they no longer put items up for auction. Do you take custom orders here?¡± Word of mouth had spread, and people starteding, one by one. But they all had to leave empty-handed because the nearby merchants, including thedy next door, shook their heads. ¡°Oh, just go back. The owner is inside, but he¡¯s noting out. You hear that nging sound? That¡¯s the sound of hammering.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t even talk about it. That guy has been hammering for a week straight already.¡± ¡°Hammering sounds aremon in Gotomall, but that young man is really something. I knew he wasn¡¯t ordinary, but still¡­¡± Everyone was in awe. One mother even brought her child and scolded him, saying this is how hard he needed to work. Various TV program producers also came for interviews but left empty-handed. [Completion rate: 80%] ¡°Ugh¡­¡± By now, my groans were slipping out. This was tougher than when I had crafted in the dwarf region. Even though I wasn¡¯t the one wielding the hammer, my arms ached as if they were being torn apart. At some point, I couldn¡¯t even tell if I was Demir or if Demir was me. That¡¯s how deeply I had be immersed. [Completion rate: 99%] It¡¯s a bit of a shame. Everything wasplete, but there was one small regret: the materials. If only my skill level were a bit higher. If only I could use legendary materials like mithril or adamantium¡­ They didn¡¯t exist on Earth, but I knew I had them. It would have been great to use those. I wanted to make it with the best materials, befitting a limited edition weapon from Demir¡¯s Workshop. ¡ªng! ng! But still. This was the first of its kind. Antiques were valuable not because of their performance but because of their rarity. Who knew? This dagger, the first I crafted on Earth, might sell for several times more than the weapons I make in the future. No, it¡¯s not the best, but I¡¯d done my best. Let¡¯s finish it here. [Completion rate: 100%] [Congrattions!] [The weapon you created has been imbued with spirit.] ¡°Huff, huff!¡± Rough breathing escaped my mouth. Sweat dripped down my forehead, and soon my whole body was drenched in cold sweat. The fatigue that the Great Blue Heart Technique had kept at bay rushed in all at once. ¡°Master.¡± ¡ªThud! Demir put down his bone hammer and looked at me with an ecstatic gaze. ¡°It¡¯s been an honor. To produce something like this with such a body¡­ It makes me feel like I haven¡¯t been wasting my time as a cksmith.¡± ¡°¡­You worked hard.¡± Full of emotion, I looked at thepleted dagger. A sleek, ck-colored weapon, sophisticated and smooth. It felt as though I was gazing upon a child I had birthed through pain. [The weapon¡¯s rank has been upgraded!] [You have acquired ¡®A Dagger for an Assassin¡¯ (S-rank).] ¡°Oh¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but gasp. As expected, it was a satisfying rank. This was the second S-rank weapon I had crafted with my own hands. The difference this time, though, was that I had crafted an S-rank weapon using a B-rank blueprint! [Item: A Dagger for an Assassin] [Rank: S] [Type: Dagger] [Description: A weapon crafted by the legendary cksmith Demir and his master, inspired by a certain assassin! With incredible focus and passion, its performance has surpassed its blueprint.] [Effect 1: Dexterity increases by 50.] [Effect 2: Attack speed increases by 200%.] [Effect 3: After entering stealth, the first attack deals 500% additional damage.] [Effect 4: Ice magic resistance increases by 30%.] ¡°¡­This is insane.¡± The performance was literally insane. Unlike thest weapon, there was no race restriction, yet it had such amazing stats. Could this be the difference between Boney 6 and Demir? It seemed legends were legends for a reason. Especially Effect 3. It granted a 500% damage increase on the first strike. Just seeing that alone, I could already imagine how satisfied Gi Soyul would be. I really outdid myself. I used to be a highly calcting person. But who would¡¯ve thought I would be happy and proud at the thought of giving a gift to someone? Now I understood why dwarves loved making and gifting weapons¡ªthe desire for the best people to use the weapons you made. It was basically the spirit of craftsmanship. ¡°Hehe, Master!¡± Demir was also grinning contentedly beside me. ¡°I feel like my skills have shot up a lot, as if all the hammering I¡¯ve done until now was nothing!¡± [¡®Demir¡¯ is being adjusted.] [Proficiency increased by 3.] [Proficiency increased by 2.] [The skill level of ¡®Intermediate Item Crafting¡¯ (Lv. 6) has increased by 1.] [Proficiency increased by 6.] ¡­ [Proficiency increased by 3.] [Proficiency increased by 5.] [All stats have increased by 3!] Demir¡¯s skill level had risen again. Now it was level 7. If it increased three more levels, he¡¯d reach the ¡°Advanced¡± stage. This was an incredible pace. Good. The weapon crafting was done. Now I just had to meet the person to give this gift to¡­ Or so I thought. ¡°So this is the hot workshop I¡¯ve been hearing about. Do you takemissions?¡± From outside the workshop, a familiar female voice rang out. A presence with no sign of approach, as if she had suddenly appeared out of thin air. Speak of the devil, it was Gi Soyul. It was the long-awaited appearance of the person ranked 379th¡ªthe Dark Empress. Chapter 62 Chapter 62: Limited Edition Weapon No. 1 On a softly lit path inside the bustling Gotomall, Gi Soyul sat on a nearby bench, deep in thought. ¡°Hmm.¡± She was feeling quite uneasy. ¡­Joo Donghoon It wasn¡¯t that he particrly bothered her. But for some reason, she felt unsettled. There was no apparent reason. Or rather, saying she didn¡¯t know might be more urate. How could there be no contact at all? When the man thanked her for protecting him and said he wanted to stand on his own from now on, she nodded in understanding. He took the reward from the dungeon the Parang Guild found, and she epted it without refuting it. She only asked to observe his training and imed no other rights. And that wasn¡¯t all. She even expressed concern over his reckless behavior and told him to contact Parang for help if he ever found himself in danger. And with that, he had left for the medium dungeon. That was fine. But after he returned, there was no word, no news. She only found out he had returned safely through a newspaper article about Demir¡¯s Workshop. ¡°A unique workshop furnished with strange skeletons! Who is the owner?¡± ¡°Demir¡¯s Workshop, the creator of ¡®Demir¡¯s Standard Set¡¯ which caused a stir at the recent auction! When will the next item be released?¡± ¡°No news from Demir¡¯s Workshop, only the sound of hammering for over two weeks. Netizens¡¯ expectations are growing!¡± A man who could use skeletons like that. As far as she knew, Joo Donghoon was the only one in Korea since no other necromancer primarily used skeletons. ¡°Tsk.¡± And so, she felt upset. She had been worried, after all. It would¡¯ve been fine if he had at least let her know he arrived safely. ¡°Hahh.¡± She was about to get annoyed at her feelings for being so unsettled when¡­ ¡°Hey, Dark Empress,¡± someone murmured, sitting beside her. It was a member of the Five Stars of Seoul, ranked 829th, the White Swine. ¡°What are you doing sitting here so gloomily? That¡¯s not like you.¡± ¡°Yoo Sangdon? How did you know I was here¡­?¡± ¡°This is the Gotomall. The world¡¯s most discreet assassin shows up on my turf, of course I have to take care of it. My subordinates were nervous.¡± Yoo Sangdon smirked. ¡°So you came here because of that guy, right?¡± ¡°What guy?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about the owner of the Demir¡¯s Workshop.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s obvious. I was surprised too. I didn¡¯t expect the young man you introduced to be the hot, new workshop owner. Normally, my people would¡¯ve moved to keep an eye on him, but¡­¡± ¡°Did you stop because of me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, haha. As much as I love money, life is more important.¡± Yoo Sangdon jokingly ran his hand over his throat. ¡°Nice joke¡­¡± Gi Soyul chuckled. Despite his words, someone like White Swine always had a bodyguard with him. With his wealth, hiring someone ranked within the world¡¯s top 100 was nothing. Moreover, the Five Stars of Seoul maintained a close rtionship, choosing not to point swords at each other. They were fellow rankers, promoted through Delh the Dungeon Maker, and they were in an alliance for their rmendation rights. It was also Gi Soyul¡¯s most trusted rtionship at the moment. ¡°Come on, friend. You came all this way, so why waste time sitting here? You¡¯re not debating whether to go because of your pride, hm?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Oh? That face tells me I¡¯m right! It¡¯s one hundred percent true, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­Haah, that¡¯s enough.¡± Avoiding the question, Gi Soyul sighed and looked away. In truth, Yoo Sangdon¡¯s words werepletely right. Seeing her reaction, Yoo Sangdon clicked his tongue, ¡°Tsk, just go see him. Honestly, I understand the guy.¡± ¡°You understand him?¡± ¡°Look. We¡¯re rankers and peers, so we¡¯refortable with each other. But do you know how intimidating you are to ordinary people?¡± ¡°Am I?¡± ¡°Oh,e on. You really had no idea?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°First off, nobody wants to be your enemy due to your unique assassination authority. Plus, your brother is Giparang the Fine Bow, ranked 58th! And your personality? Cold as ice. You don¡¯t show up in the media, you speak little, and your demeanor is always so sharp it looks like you¡¯d slice someone¡¯s head off if they got on your nerves¡­¡± Yoo Sangdon trailed off and backed away slightly as Gi Soyul¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Mr. Yoo Sangdon?¡± ¡°Y-Yes?¡± ¡°Is that how you¡¯ve always viewed me?¡± ¡°Ahaha, not at all¡­! I¡¯m just giving advice. Anyway, enjoy your time in Gotomall! I¡¯ve got things to do.¡± And with that, he quickly disappeared into the crowd. ¡°¡­¡± Gi Soyul let out a faint sigh as Yoo Sangdon¡¯s words echoed in her mind. Could it be true? It was possible. Even she herself admitted that her personality wasn¡¯t the gentlest. Moreover. There weren¡¯t many people who could even approach her. She had blocked off any such situations from the start. Alright, I¡¯ll visit it. I¡¯ll just say I came to get a new weapon. That should work, right? She suddenly stood up. There was no point in overthinking things here. Meeting him directly and having a conversation might be the only way to ease her troubled mind. ¡ªWhoosh! In an instant, she disappeared. All that was left on the bench was the faint scent of peony. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡ªng! ng! When Gi Soyul arrived at Demir¡¯s Workshop, she heard the clean sound of hammering. ¡°¡­¡± Normally, she would hide her presence, but she didn¡¯t bother this time. She simply walked around, wearing a hood. After all, with the White Swine knowing she was here, no hunter in Gotomall would dare mess with her. ¡ªng! ng! She listened to the hammering that had been going on for a while from outside. They say he¡¯s been hammering for almost two weeks without stepping out. What could have happened? What could have caused him to skip his usual training and hole up in there? Just as she was thinking this, someone came out of the shop next door. It was a middle-aged woman. ¡°Tsk, youngdy, you must¡¯vee to see that young man too, right?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°I¡¯d advise you to go back. That man hasn¡¯t budged from inside. He¡¯s just in there hammering away. Even when reporters knock, he doesn¡¯t respond.¡± ¡°Haha, is that so?¡± Gi Soyul smiled and nodded. ¡°But I think it¡¯ll be fine now.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The woman tilted her head in confusion. Gi Soyul smiled under her hood. Even without looking inside, she could feel his energy. The man who had been using the Great Blue Heart Technique had just finished his session. ¡°See? The hammering has stopped now.¡± ¡°Oh? You¡¯re right!¡± ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll head in.¡± Gi Soyul moved toward the door. ¡ªSniff, sniff. As she stepped inside, she caught a scent simr to her own¡ªcold and sharp. ¡ªKnock, knock! She knocked on the door. At the same time, she said, ¡°So this is the hot workshop I¡¯ve been hearing about. Do you takemissions?¡± It was a question hiding her true intent. ¡°Oh, Dark Empress?¡± The man greeted her with a very happy expression. ¡°¡­¡± She pouted because that happy expression didn¡¯t move her at all. If he¡¯s greeting me like this, he could¡¯ve contacted me earlier. Well, it didn¡¯t matter. She hadn¡¯t expected much anyway. She was only here tomission a new weapon. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s been a while, Mr. Joo Donghoon.¡± ¡°Wow, you came at the perfect time. It¡¯s amazing. I was just about to go see you. How did you know?¡± Just about to see her? As if. Her lips twisted even more. But¡­ ¡°Here, take this.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s eyes widened as he handed her something. ¡°It¡¯s the dagger I just finished making. You¡¯ve helped me a lot, so I wanted to show my gratitude. You know my principle, right? I always repay kindness or vengeance at least twice over.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± She was stunned. Wait¡­ Could it be? The weapon he had been hammering away at for two weeks¡­ The weapon he had crafted without sleeping, like a madman¡­ Was it¡­ for me? Gi Soyul epted the dagger in a daze. The dark sheen across the de indicated it was an incredibly sophisticated weapon. The engravings and design were of a beauty not found on Earth. It felt like something not of this world. Though the dagger emanated cold energy, she could feel the warmth contained within it. What¡­ Her palms grew mmy with sweat. It had been a long time since she had felt this kind of emotion. Although she had received many gifts before, none had ever made her feel this way. ¡°Oh, of course, I¡¯m not just giving it to you. I put my all into making this, so you¡¯ll have to promote it for me, okay?¡± ¡°¡­S-Sure.¡± She was so flustered, she stuttered. But the surprise was just beginning. ¡ªRing! Item information appeared in her vision. [Item: A Dagger for an Assassin] [Rank: S] [Type: Dagger] [Description: A weapon crafted by the legendary cksmith Demir and his master, inspired by a certain assassin! With incredible focus and passion, its performance has surpassed its blueprint.] [Effect 1: Dexterity increases by 50.] [Effect 2: Attack speed increases by 200%.] [Effect 3: After entering stealth, the first attack deals 500% additional damage.] [Effect 4: Ice magic resistance increases by 30%.] ¡°Wh-What the hell?!¡± A curse slipped out of Gi Soyul¡¯s mouth. ¡°How did you craft an S-rank item?¡± S-rank items¡ªthings that couldn¡¯t be obtained, even if you wanted them. They were so rare that their value had no ceiling. The best ones were quite literally priceless. And even the performance is insane! Without a doubt, it was far superior to the dagger she had been using. The man said with a satisfied smile, ¡°Not bad, right?¡± ¡°This is beyond ¡®not bad¡¯!¡± What could have happened in the medium dungeon that he could now create an S-rank item in less than a month? It was unbelievable. But more than that¡­ [Description: A weapon crafted by the legendary cksmith Demir and his master, inspired by a certain assassin!] What bothered her most was the description, as she knew the ¡®assassin¡¯ referred to her. The dagger was imbued with her own scent. The man had truly made this weapon as a gesture of gratitude to her. ¡°¡­¡± Overwhelmed by emotion, Gi Soyul couldn¡¯t bring herself to say anything. She was grateful, but she had never expressed such gratitude to anyone before. ¡°I¡¯ll treasure it.¡± That was all she could say. At the same time, she suddenly realized that her unsettled heart hadpletely calmed. ¡°Yes, make good use of it. It¡¯s our first limited edition weapon from Demir¡¯s Workshop.¡± ¡°¡­The first, you say?¡± She was bbergasted. This meant he could make more weapons of this caliber, but she didn¡¯t have the energy to be more surprised. Of course. From the moment he had teamed up with the elder, no, even before that, she had known that this man¡¯s potential was limitless. She had merely helped him recognize it. As Gi Soyul smiled faintly, fiddling with the dagger, there was a knock at the workshop door. ¡ªKnock knock! ¡°Excuse me, is anyone here?¡± ¡°Yes, who is it?¡± Joo Donghoon answered, and a voice continued from outside. ¡°I¡¯m from the Ohsung Workshop. My name is Ryu Jinho from the secretary team. Could we discuss a matter regarding building upancy?¡± The Ohsung Workshop? Gi Soyul furrowed her brow. Chapter 63 Chapter 63: Kim Jinah (1) ¡°You¡¯re from the Ohsung Workshop?¡± I asked. ¡°Ohsung Workshop¡­ Is that the ce run by that Ohsung Group or something?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. It¡¯s not as big as the White Swine Corps, but it¡¯s quite famous in the domestic workshop industry. You don¡¯t seem to know much about it?¡± ¡°Ah, right. I¡¯m not particrly interested in this industry.¡± ¡°Hmph, I see.¡± Ryu Jinho¡¯s expression twisted slightly. He probably thought I was trying to mock them, but I genuinely didn¡¯t know¡­ Or maybe¡­ Even though my workshop has been getting attentiontely, a small shop like mine not bowing before the name of a significantpany like Ohsung might have irritated him. Well, whatever. ¡°So what¡¯s this issue about building upancy?¡± I asked. I could guess. Ohsung Group was where Shin Jongoh, the guy who tried to pressure me, was from. I had tantly ignored his invitation, so this was probably their next move. Doesn¡¯t matter, though. Whatever their approach, this was a battle I couldn¡¯t lose. No matter how much capital they had, they couldn¡¯t ignore technological superiority. If their weapons were like instant coffee, mine was like a premium roast. ¡°¡­¡± After a brief silence, Ryu Jinho finally got to the point. ¡°We¡¯ve purchased this entire sector as ofst week. As the newndlord, we need to notify you a few things that you should be aware of.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± Let¡¯s hear it. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Under the new contract, we either raise your rent more than ten times or you must vacate the premises. And I¡¯m sure you already know that the workshop area in Gotomall isn¡¯t covered under tenant protectionws.¡± ¡°Really?¡± I wasn¡¯t familiar with thew, but I knew many things had changed legally since the rise of hunters. To sum it up, he was saying, ¡®I own this ce now, so get out.¡¯ Not to mention that I had just recently finished the interiors. This was a ssic case ofndlord tyranny straight out of a drama. ¡°Oh, and you also need to stop hammeringte at night. It¡¯s disturbing the nearby stores. You understand that much, don¡¯t you?¡± That was absurd. Most workshops in Gotomall operated 24 hours a day. Ryu Jinho was sporting a smug expression. He didn¡¯t even notice the sudden change in Gi Soyul¡¯s face beside him. Her expression had hardened considerably. She lowered the hood she was wearing. ¡°Did you say your name was Ryu Jinho?¡± She stared directly at him as she spoke. ¡°Yes, but who are you¡­ Eek?!¡± His breath hitched once he saw her face and recognized her. ¡°D¡­ Dark Empress?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the Ohsung Workshop doing here?¡± ¡°Ahem, I didn¡¯t realize you were here, Dark Empress. My apologies for the oversight.¡± Ryu Jinho quickly regained hisposure, faster than I expected, indicating the Ohsung Workshop was prepared for this. He might have guessed at my rtionship with Gi Soyul to some extent. ¡°Ohsung is one of the top 10 groups in Korea¡­ I didn¡¯t expect them to stoop to such petty tactics.¡± ¡°Petty? No, this is merely a corporate matter.¡± Ryu Jinho tried to appear calm. Seeing a regr person standing up to the Dark Empress impressed me. But then he went a step too far. ¡°Even for someone like you, Dark Empress, you wouldn¡¯t want to cross paths with the Ohsung Group, I¡¯m sure.¡± Even though Gi Soyul was a ranker, the Ohsung Group also had plenty of rankers under their employ. He was basically asking if she was willing to worsen the rtions between Parang and Ohsung over some man. ¡°Hm.¡± But Gi Soyul¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. And that made her even scarier. ¡°In fact, I¡¯d like to ask the opposite. Is the Ohsung Group eager to start a fight with us?¡± ¡°Th-That¡¯s not the case. We haven¡¯t directly targeted Parang. This is just a minor dispute between andlord and a tenant.¡± ¡°Wars often start from minor disputes.¡± Gi Soyul raised the dagger I had given her. Its aura was filled with unmistakable killing intent. ¡°U-Uh, huh?¡± Ryu Jinho panicked. ¡°Wh-What are you doing? Are you really nning to fight the Ohsung Group? Do you think Parang¡¯s finances can stand up to Ohsung?¡± ¡°No, why would I need to do that?¡± Gi Soyul looked at him with a pitiful expression. ¡°I could just kill you right now and then assassinate the Ohsung Group¡¯s executives. Honestly, I¡¯ve been waiting for an excuse to do that.¡± ¡°Wh-What?¡± Ryu Jinho¡¯s jaw dropped in disbelief. ¡°A-Are you threatening me? No matter who you are, you wouldn¡¯t dare¡­!¡± ¡°You really think I¡¯d leave behind any evidence?¡± ¡°You¡­ You¡¯re insane.¡± It finally seemed to dawn on Ryu Jinho that something was terribly wrong. His face turned pale, and his legs started to shake as he backed away. Tsk. I clicked my tongue inwardly. In a world where power ruled, I wondered how he could stand so tall before a ranker. If it were me, I¡¯d have immediately bowed down. ¡°Dark Empress,¡± I called out to Gi Soyul. ¡°Yes?¡± The killing intent that had filled the space vanished in an instant. Her control over her emotions was extraordinary. ¡°This is my problem, so I¡¯ll handle it. You only need to step in when someone beyond my abilities shows up.¡± If I kept relying on others to fend off my challenges, I¡¯d be nothing more than a sheltered flower, just like the old man warned. I didn¡¯t want that anymore. Anyone who challenged me directly, I wanted to crush with my own hands. And I wanted to do it in the most brutal and ruthless way possible. That was my new creed as a future ranker. ¡°This isn¡¯t just your problem. Did Shin Jongoh visit your house recently and cause a ruckus?¡± ¡°¡­Huh? You knew?¡± ¡°I guessed after seeing today¡¯s events. It isn¡¯t the first time he¡¯s pulled something like this. It didn¡¯t matter to me back then, so I didn¡¯t get involved. But I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d go this far with you.¡± ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s what happened.¡± I wondered why an heir to a majorpany would target me specifically, but now I knew the backstory. Well. I figured Gi Soyul¡¯s beauty would attract attention. The problem was the lowly pest that had attached itself to her. ¡°¡­The Ohsung Group might be too much for you to handle. They¡¯re one of Korea¡¯s top 10panies, which gives them global reach.¡± I knew that. Korea was already the world¡¯s second-strongest hunter nation, so a top 10pany from such a country was bound to be powerful. But still. I just found it amusing after witnessing beings like the Giant Magic Dragon. Compared to a dungeon of Immeasurable difficulty, this seems like a piece of cake. Even so, I wouldn¡¯t refuse help when it was offered. ¡ªStep, step. I nodded and walked toward the pale-faced Ryu Jinho. ¡°Mr. Ryu Jinho?¡± ¡°Wh-What is it?¡± ¡°Go tell your boss this.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Tell him I¡¯ll vacate this ce. If your group owns it, I¡¯m not interested.¡± They were sorely mistaken if they thought evicting me would cause any real damage. I had nned to move to a better location once I had enough money anyway. ¡°Oh, and let him know I received the ¡®gift¡¯ he sentst time. I¡¯ll be returning it soon.¡± Just you wait, Shin Jongoh. My counterattack begins now. ¡°¡­¡± Ryu Jinho kept his mouth shut. He no longer looked as confident as he did before. ¡°Well, if you understand, you can leave now.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, understood.¡± I watched as he hurried away. So what if he was a secretary of the Ohsung Group? There was really nothing special about it. ¡°What did you just say?!¡± ¡ªBang! Shin Jongoh mmed his desk. ¡°Gi Soyul said that?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, Director. Her eyes were terrifying. She said she¡¯d assassinate anyone who messed with her¡­¡± ¡°Hah! Who the fuck is this Joo Donghoon guy to make Gi Soyul act like that? Is he her secret lover or something?¡± ¡°He said he¡¯d vacate the ce. But he didn¡¯t seem too upset about it.¡± ¡°He¡¯s gotten cocky because of all the recent attention, plus the Dark Empress backing him.¡± Shin Jongoh frowned. This started because of his feelings for Gi Soyul. It was petty jealousy, and he couldn¡¯t tolerate the idea of someone he deemed unworthy being close to her. It was his arrogance as a member of the elite. But now, it was no longer a simple matter; his pride had taken a hit. ¡°That son of a bitch. Does he think the world is his just because a ranker¡¯s taken a liking to him?¡± Fine. After all, sending a staff member was just a warm-up before the real fight. ¡ªGrip! Shin Jongoh clenched his fist. ¡°So, he said he received the ¡®gift¡¯ and that he¡¯d return it?¡± ¡°Y-Yes! That¡¯s what he said.¡± ¡°Ha, it seems that punk was talking big because he was in front of a girl.¡± ¡°Y-Yes. He seemed quite arrogant and unpleasant.¡± ¡°Good. Let¡¯s show him just how big the world really is.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll start figuring that out now.¡± There were countless ways to crush a naive kid like him. * * * [ount Bnce Inquiry] [ount Holder: Joo Donghoon] [Hunter Preferred ount (E-rank)] [Deposit: 385,402,100 KRW] I had umted about 380 million won*. ¡Ö $292,000 USD It was a substantial sum, though whether it wasrge or small depended on perspective. But without a doubt, it was the most significant amount of money I¡¯d ever had. But it¡¯s far from enough to start a business. What I needed was a store. With Demir¡¯s hammer, I didn¡¯t really need a workshop, and I had enough materials in my bag, so there were no costs required for those. What I needed was trained staff. ¡°Haha, Master. Is there really a need to hire anyone?¡± Demirughed heartily as he listened to my concerns. ¡°I¡¯ve got my summoning skills, don¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°This may not be the case for the others, but my underlings don¡¯t have anybat abilities anyway!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Each skeleton had the skill Summon Skeleton (Lv. MAX). Demir could summon ten at a time and have them work as clerks. Since the workshop had already attracted media attention, using skeletons as staff could generate even more buzz. But still. ¡°The problem is the money.¡± ¡°Hm, what about selling some of your minerals?¡± ¡°No way. Those materials are literally all of my assets. In fact, I need to buy even more.¡± ¡°True, selling weapons would be more profitable than selling raw minerals.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± I rubbed my chin, thinking. ¡°Honestly, the best option would be to get a loan from the bank.¡± ¡°A bank?¡± ¡°Yeah, a ce where you can borrow money. Let¡¯s go check it out.¡± * * * At the Gangnam branch of the Hunter Bank, Kim Jinah, the team leader of the loan department, was an extremely capable employee. Despite graduating at the top of her ss as a Harvard economics major in herte twenties, she had chosen to work at Seoul¡¯s Hunter Bank for one single reason. To meet more hunters. She had received countless offers frompanies and guilds, but she had turned them all down. Because none of them caught my interest. People with talentcked ambition, and those with ambitioncked character. Sure, there were a few decent ones, but they didn¡¯t stand out. She was looking for someone she could fully dedicate her abilities to. But. Reality was bitter. While high-level hunters rarely came by, most of the clients at this branch were low-rank hunters full of insecurities. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but due to our current regtions, we cannot offer loans to F-rank hunters.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re an E-rank hunter! As an E-rank hunter, you¡¯re eligible for a loan of up to 20 million won! What? That¡¯s too little? I¡¯m sorry, but those are the rules. You¡¯ll repay it when you reach a higher rank? I¡¯m sorry, but we can¡¯t assist with that.¡± ¡°Please understand, dear customer. I apologize.¡± Watching her subordinates tirelessly dealing with clients at the counter made her feel bad for them. It was a job where being courteous was a requirement, which only added to the stress. After a short break, Kim Jinah stretched and sat back down at her desk. Given the number of customers, quick consultations were essential. ¡°Wee, dear customer.¡± As she greeted the next person with a bright smile, the man in front of her tapped his E-rank badge and asked a question. ¡°Hello. How much can I get here, at the most?¡± ¡°Pardon??¡± Kim Jinah looked up. What¡¯s this? Despite being E-rank, he exuded a remarkable level of confidence, as if he was asking how much they could offer him. She read the name on the badge. Joo Donghoon? It was a name she had recentlye across. Chapter 64 Chapter 64: Kim Jinah (2) Joo Donghoon¡ªthe hot name that had caught the attention of many recently! Since Kim Jinah was always especially on the lookout for information rted to hunters, she recognized Joo Donghoon¡¯s face. [E-rank Hunter] [Necromancer? Or production ss?] [Someone of interest to the Dark Empress, Gi Soyul. ***Important***] [Likely has ties to the Five Stars of Seoul.] [Recently established Demir¡¯s Workshop, producing fairly decent weapons.] [Spent thest two weeks just hammering.] ¡­ Kim Jinah¡¯s mind quickly organized the information she had gathered. Normally, such details wouldn¡¯t have been worth storing in her memory, but¡­ This man is definitely something. Joo Donghoon was different. She instinctively felt that she needed to remember him. There were too many strange things about him. It had been a long time since he had obtained the ultra-rare necromancer ss, yet he was still only using skeletons. Then he suddenly appeared at an auction and sold a dozen B-rank weapons. That could be attributed to having earned a fortuitous opportunity, but¡­ The fact that the Dark Empress is interested in him¡­ Unbelievable. That was the strangest part. The Gi Soyul she had investigated wasn¡¯t the type to easily take an interest in anyone. She had interacted with countless people, but the only ones who remained close to her were blood rtives like her brother, the Fine Bow, and the Five Stars of Seoul. Kim Jinah¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity. ¡°Yes, dear customer. You¡¯re inquiring about loans, right?¡± Her voice was full of energy. She couldn¡¯t hide her excitement over finally meeting someone she had been curious about. ¡°Yes, what¡¯s the maximum amount I can borrow?¡± he replied. ¡°Hmm, for an E-rank hunter, the maximum would normally be 20 million won. But if there are any special circumstances, such as unique authorities or assets for coteral, I could raise that a bit at my discretion.¡± ¡°E-rank, 20 million¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The man thought for a moment before speaking again. ¡°So if my rank were higher, I could borrow more?¡± At that moment, Kim Jinah¡¯s eyes gleamed. This guy is¡­ He was hiding his actual abilities. He was a rank concealer who deliberately chose not to update his rank. It made sense. The Dark Empress wouldn¡¯t take an interest in just anyone. ¡ªGulp! Kim Jinah swallowed in excitement. This man was like an onion¡ªnewyers were revealed the more she peeled back. And now, she had the chance to find out for herself beyond what the media knew. ¡°Dear customer.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Regarding that rank¡­ just how high could you raise it?¡± She went for it. It was a question hunters might find intrusive, but nothing could stop her curiosity at this moment. * * * ¡°Hm?¡± I nced at the woman in front of me. Her sleek ck namete was visible. {Team Leader, Kim Jinah} Unlike any of the other bank employees I had dealt with, she was intriguing. Most dismiss me or half-heartedly offer advice when I show them my E-rank badge. Kim Jinah, however, seemed even more interested. She even suggested that she could personally increase the loan amount. And then she asked how far I could raise my rank, as if she knew I was hiding my real strength. Could someone with ordinary insight say something like that? So I became curious. ¡°If I¡¯m honest with you, will you increase the loan amount?¡± ¡°Hmm, Mr. Joo Donghoon?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind¡­ would you like to discuss this further in a VIP room?¡± ¡°Huh? Is it really necessary to go that far?¡± ¡°Let me be straightforward. I think I know why you need the funds. Would you like to hear my guess?¡± Wow. What a bold woman. She even imed to know why I needed the money. When I gave her a suspicious look, Kim Jinah spoke again. ¡°I promise you will be more satisfied with the results here than at any other bank. Trust me.¡± ¡°Hmm, okay.¡± Why not? I had nothing to lose, and I needed the money anyway. I nodded, and we moved to a VIP room. Some of the other staff seemed confused, but Kim Jinah walked confidently, as befitting the role of a team leader with a strong presence in thepany. ¡°Dear customer.¡± After guiding me to a luxurious sofa, Kim Jinah handed me a cup of coffee and said, ¡°You¡¯re nning to take on the Ohsung Workshop, correct?¡± ¡°Wow.¡± How does she know that? The only people aware of this were me, my skeletons, and Gi Soyul¡­ Wait, did she hear it from Shin Jongoh? ¡°How did you figure that out?¡± ¡°I knew it.¡± ¡ªWhew. Kim Jinah let out a deep breath, as if she had just taken a lucky guess and it happened to be right. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve always been interested in hunters, so I can easily deduce these kinds of conflicts. The Ohsung Workshop¡¯s Director, Shin Jongoh, has been pestering people around the Dark Empress, and it just so happens that the Dark Empress is quite fond of you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°On top of that, the Ohsung Workshop recently bought out the sector around Demir¡¯s Workshop, right? So the answer is obvious.¡± I stared at her in disbelief. At this point, I¡¯d believe she was an intelligence agent from the NIS rather than a bank employee. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± I nodded since there was no point in hiding it now that she knew. The bank was the only ce I could borrow money from right now. And to get arge loan, I¡¯d have to disclose the reason anyway. ¡°I n to fight the Ohsung Workshop head-on using Demir¡¯s Workshop. And for that, I need money.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re nning to fight them head-on¡­ are you thinking of setting up a store next to the Ohsung Workshop?¡± ¡°Wow, you should really set up a fortune-telling booth.¡± ¡°With the performance of the weapons you recently put up for auction, you¡¯ve got enoughpetitiveness.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± It was a short conversation, but I couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. It felt like she could see right through me. Kim Jinah continued calmly, as if it were no big deal, ¡°There are five Ohsung Workshop stores currently. So you¡¯ll need enough money to set up five of your own stores. That¡¯ll be your coteral. Hm¡­ Considering Ohsung might give you trouble, purchasing the locations instead of renting would be safer, which means you¡¯ll need about 7 to 10 billion won. Plus, you¡¯ll need funds for interior store renovations.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I was astonished. This is what the old man always mumbled about¡ªthe level of a genius. How could her brain process all thoseplicated calctions in less than 10 seconds?! ¡°Oh, by the way, about your rank we discussed earlier. How high could you go?¡± ¡°¡­At least B-rank,¡± I answered honestly, no more secrets. Go ahead and figure it all out. And once you do, give me a solid estimate. ¡°B-rank¡­? Impressive. Not only do you have considerable skill, but you also have the self-control to hide it¡­¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± I tilted my head at Kim Jinah¡¯s mumbling, but she quickly moved on. ¡°Ahem. Normally, a B-rank can only get a loan of up to 1 billion won.¡± ¡°1 billion?¡± That seemed a bit low. ¡°But with my proposal, I think we can increase that to 10 billion.*¡± ¡Ö $7.7 million USD ¡°¡­What?¡± Even if she was a team leader, could she really pull off 10 billion with just one word? Just how influential was she in thispany? ¡°Loan proposals depend on how the applicant presents themselves. From what I can see, you¡¯ve got more than enough value for a 10 billion won loan. You¡¯ve got the coteral too. But the interest rate might be a bit high.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about the interest rate.¡± Because this business was guaranteed to seed, I¡¯d just pay it all back in one go after its sess. ¡°Fufu, good. I¡¯ll organize the paperwork and get approval. How does that sound?¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re giving me the money, I¡¯m grateful.¡± ¡°Right. You get the foundation for your business, and the bank makes a profit. This is a win-win situation.¡± Kim Jinah wrapped things up neatly. ¡°¡­¡± Honestly, I was amazed. She made it sound easy, but where did all that confidencee from? And the way she was looking at me wasn¡¯t normal. She said the bank would make a profit, but that wasn¡¯t the look of someone who was only interested in the bank¡¯s earnings. It felt more like¡­ She looked at me the same way the Sun Spear looked at me under the Ancient Desert sun¡ªshe was evaluating me. It didn¡¯t seem like she cared about the bank¡¯s profit or her own performance. There had to be some other purpose. Whatever it is¡­ It was of no loss to me, so it was a big win. In the branch manager¡¯s office, the manager rubbed his chin. ¡°Team Leader Kim Jinah?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®yes¡¯? You suddenly propose a 10 billion won loan out of the blue for this random guy named Joo Donghoon? Who even is this guy?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a newly updated B-rank hunter.¡± Kim Jinah mechanically handed over the documents, containing a copy of Joo Donghoon¡¯s newly issued B-rank hunter certificate from the Hunter Association. After all, the ranking system was automated, and all he had to do was register his rank with the Association. It only took a day. ¡°That¡¯s not the point! And if I¡¯m not mistaken¡­ The Ohsung Group? He¡¯s nning to go up against the Ohsung Group?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not ¡®correct.¡¯ Ugh, what are you thinking? Ohsung is one of the top 10panies in the country!¡± ¡°Yes, the Ohsung Group, thepany founded by Chairman Shin Jooyong, a leader among Korean elites. I believe they have five international rankers on staff. But Mr. Joo Donghoon isn¡¯t fighting Chairman Shin Jooyong. He¡¯s only going up against his reckless grandson¡¯s Ohsung Workshop.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the difference?!¡± ¡°Chairman Shin is a shrewd businessman. He doesn¡¯t interfere much with his children¡¯s ventures. He wouldn¡¯t turn his back on Hunter Bank over a mere department¡¯s skirmish.¡± ¡°And how can you be so sure of that? You¡¯re not a psychic!¡± ¡°Come now. Have I ever been wrong before?¡± ¡°Ahem,¡± the branch manager cleared his throat awkwardly. In fact, her incredible foresight had enabled her to be a team leader in her twenties. Her natural insight allowed her to grasp entire situations with minimal information. She had brought in profits worth hundreds of billions to thepany in a short time. ¡°Even so, going up against Ohsung is crossing the line.¡± ¡°It could go the other way.¡± ¡°The other way?¡± ¡°Who knows? The Ohsung Group might copse under Demir¡¯s Workshop.¡± ¡°Come on, that¡¯s ridiculous.¡± ¡°I admit, even I can¡¯t be certain of that.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But there¡¯s a small chance, considering everything¡ªhis connections and ambition.¡± ¡°Hmm. Are you serious?¡± ¡°Yes. And him being a B-rank production ss is more than enough to justify a 10 billion won loan.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± As the manager continued to deliberate, Kim Jinah dealt the final blow. ¡°It¡¯s only 10 billion. Compared to the profits I¡¯ve brought to this bank, that¡¯s nothing. If you reject this, I might have to consider looking for another job.¡± ¡°Huh, you¡¯re that serious?¡± The manager panicked. Technically, though he held the title of branch manager, the real power was with Kim Jinah. Many banks and corporations were pursuing her, wanting to hire her for astronomical sums. ¡°If you still don¡¯t trust me after all I¡¯ve shown you so far¡­ I¡¯ll be really disappointed.¡± ¡°Fine. You win. Do what you want.¡± ¡°Teehee, thank you.¡± In truth, this wasn¡¯t a proposal. It was more like a threat at this point. Chapter 65 Chapter 65: Kim Jinah (3) ¡°Dear customer,¡± Kim Jinah¡¯s voice echoed from the smartphone, ¡°have you confirmed the 10 billion won deposit? See? I told you it would only take a day.¡± ¡°Oh, it actually worked. Thank you. I¡¯ll use it well and pay it back.¡± ¡°But, dear customer.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Rather than opening several stores next to Ohsung, wouldn¡¯t it be better to grow one store in a prime location?¡± ¡°Hm, would that be better?¡± ¡°Yes, rather than focusing onpeting with Ohsung, it would be more constructive for your future to grow big enough that Ohsung can¡¯t touch you.¡± Oh? She wasn¡¯t wrong. I had started this for revenge, but there was no need to get too hung up on Shin Jongoh. ¡°Teehee, so I did a bit of research. There¡¯s a building for sale in the Apgujeong area¡¯s bustling center. It¡¯s a three-story, 330m2* building, and since it¡¯s a quick sale, it¡¯s pretty cheap¡­¡± ¡Ö 3,230 ft2 ¡°Really? How much?¡± ¡°About 8 billion won.* It¡¯s a bit old, but it should be perfect with some renovations.¡± ¡Ö $6.15 million USD Kim Jinah¡¯s voice was full of enthusiasm. Whether she found my business idea interesting or she was just invested in managing the 10 billion won loan, she was being quite proactive. It was convenient for me. However, I was curious about one thing. ¡°Hm, but in that case, does location matter that much? After all, my business is selling high-performance items. If word spreads, people will line up even if I set up on the southernmost ind.¡± ¡°Oh, dear customer, didn¡¯t you want to grow Demir¡¯s Workshop into a global brand? Location is important not only for customer ess but also for the brand¡¯s prestige.¡± ¡°Hm, you¡¯re right. The first step is always crucial. As you said, investing in one good location is better than spreading out across multiple smaller ones.¡± I nodded. Once I had decided, the process was swift. With her help, I quickly purchased the building and started renovations. ¡°Master, the building is quite old. Just leave it to me, the great Demir!¡± ¡ªng! ng! The building¡¯s condition didn¡¯t matter. There was nothing to worry about with Demir¡¯s craftsmanship, which could create something out of nothing, although it wasn¡¯t quite at its peak, like in his prime¡­ ¡°First, we need to reinforce the steel frame. And why is the building shaped like this? Even if the babies of my tribe built it, it would look better than this! I can¡¯t tolerate this as an artist!¡± There was a burning passion in Demir¡¯s eyes. ¡ªng! ng! The building slowly transformed over the course of about a month. It didn¡¯t be a shy, shiny, ss building like the others in this area. But instead, it adopted an artistic, medieval architectural style. As I watched the transformation, I continued my training on the side. Even though I had stronger minions now, I focused on training Boney 1, Boney 4, and Boney 5, trying to narrow the gap between them and the awakened ones. After some time passed¡­ ¡°Ooh.¡± ¡°Haha, do you like it, Master?¡± The building wasplete. ¡°Not bad. It¡¯s unique yet blends well with the surroundings.¡± ¡°Haha, I¡¯m d you think so, Master! Would you like to see the inside?¡± Demir, looking pleased, led me inside. The interior was incredibly luxurious. It glittered with gold, as if designed to cater exclusively to VIPs. ¡°That woman, Kim Jinah, is quite something. She exined everything so clearly, it was like she was drawing a picture in my mind. Honestly, I just followed her instructions.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± I admired the interior as I walked around. The first floor was for selling mass-produced items. It was where Demir¡¯s B-rank products were disyed for sale without any limits on quantity. In contrast, the second floor was reserved for limited edition items. In one corner, there was a small workshop for Demir, and the rest of the floor was filled with clean disy cases, like a museum. Soon, those cases would be filled with S-rank items. [¡®Air Purification¡¯ (B-rank) is active in this zone.] [¡®Security System¡¯ (A-rank) is active in this zone.] ¡°I¡¯ve put in some effort too. I¡¯ve enchanted this ce so that you¡¯ll be immediately alerted if someone tries to tamper with the items without unlocking them. And Air Purification is a given.¡± ¡°Wow, as expected of Eldrin. Your attention to detail is impressive.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Master. Your praise fills me with joy!¡± ¡°R-Really, now¡­?¡± I walked up the stairs to the third floor. [¡®Air Purification¡¯ (B-rank) is active in this zone.] [¡®Security System¡¯ (A-rank) is active in this zone.] [Set Temperature: 24?C*] = 75.2?F ¡°Wha¡­?¡± It was a cozy, modern homeplete with a soft sofa, fluffy bed, TV, table, clock, and even a terrace with a view of the Han River and Olympic Avenue. ¡°This was my idea. After that scoundrel Shin Jongoh messed with your living space, you¡¯ve been living like a nomad. I couldn¡¯t bear to see Demir¡¯s master without a proper home,¡± she said. ¡°¡­¡± Even my living situation was resolved. This was incredible. ¡°I¡¯m really touched.¡± ¡°Haha, it is I who should be touched. You¡¯ve given me the chance to use my skills in this world.¡± ¡°You all speak so beautifully and kindly.¡± I was lucky to have a unique authority tomand such loyal subordinates. Next up, the rooftop. The rooftop was a training area. It was like a replica of the open field I often visited in the mountains,plete with dozens of steel dummies. Honestly, this was the part I liked the most. ¡°You¡¯ve really outdone yourselves, ¡± I sincerely praised their hard work. The location of the new store wasn¡¯t bad. Most importantly¡­ ¡°Demir¡¯s Workshop! Official Opening!¡± ¡°Apgujeong, a new hot spot?¡± ¡°Business magnate Yoo Sangdon says, ¡®Competitors are always wee.¡¯¡± Thanks to the buzz generated by the Hunter Board and the media, a crowd gathered on the first day of the grand opening. We had about 20 weapons on disy. These were the ones I had made sporadically while working on the building. The price was set at 20 million won* per weapon, regardless of type. This would be the standard price for Demir¡¯s mass-produced items moving forward. ¡Ö $15,385 USD ¡°Excuse me, can I take a look at the weapons?¡± ¡°Huh? But where are the clerks? Why are there skeletons¡­?¡± The curious crowd was slightly taken aback to see short skeletons manning each weapon station. ¡ªck, ck. The skeletons, each holding a hammer, grinned as they cked their teeth together. But the most surprising thing was¡­ ¡°Haha, wee, human! Right this way! This is a sword! Though it¡¯s a mass-produced item, it boasts extraordinary performance thanks to the craftsmanship of the great Demir!¡± ¡°Come this way! Look at this bow! See the craftsmanship? Only a discerning eye can appreciate the subtle differences that determine the quality of a piece!¡± The skeletons were speaking! ¡°Master, my summoning skill also seems to be evolving. Although it¡¯s not yet fully awakened¡­ I believe these are the souls of those who were most loyal to me 500 years ago. They even helped with the construction of the building.¡± Demir had revealed this to me about two weeks ago. Honestly, it was shocking. If that were true, it was a tremendous boost in strength! Not only did I have Demir, but now I had 10 additional dwarves. This was practically on par with the White Swine¡¯s production capabilities. And if these minions grow and learn to use summoning skills themselves? That would form an infinite chain of cksmiths! I controlled Demir, and Demir controlled an army of craftsmen! The very thought sent shivers down my spine. Anyway, the existence of talking skeletons was enough to shock the visitors. I had freaked out the first time I saw them too, so I could understand how first-time customers would feel. ¡°Oh my goodness!¡± ¡°A skeleton¡­ is talking? And¡­ it¡¯s acting like a salesman?¡± ¡°A talking skeleton! An undead is speaking! I have to record this!¡± The workshop, already known for being unique, was about to get even more attention. In any case, on the first day, all 20 weapons sold out in less than an hour. We made 4 billion won* in sales in just one hour. We closed the doors immediately after. ¡Ö $3 million USD About two hourster, Kim Jinah arrived with a congrattory flower pot and was surprised. ¡°Wow, everything¡¯s sold out already?¡± ¡°Should we have prepared more?¡± ¡°Hmm, no, I think it¡¯s fine. The demand for these products is limited in this market anyway. The fewer we release, the more exclusive they¡¯ll feel.¡± ¡°But wouldn¡¯t it be better to take advantage of the attention and release more all at once?¡± ¡°Dear customer.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m the youngest MBA graduate from Harvard. You can trust me when I say that marketing is all about patience. Just wait and see.¡± * * * At the same time¡­ ¡°Phew.¡± Gi Soyul, her ck hair tied up, was soloing a dungeon. [A-rank Dungeon ¨C ¡®Pce of the Minotaurs¡¯] It was a dungeon she asionally tackled solo to gain practicalbat experience. ¡ªThud! Thud! A massive minotaur swung an ax the size of a human. ¡ªSwish! Her movements were sharp and swift. Her form vanished in the path of the creature¡¯s swing. ¡ªSwish! Then she reappeared behind its head. ¡ªSlice! ¡°Moo!¡± With a single strike for each, one after another, the minotaurs fell. Soon, the pce corridor was littered with bodies of the fallen. This is unbelievable. The Pce of the Minotaurs was a dungeon that appeared about once a month. This meant she had run it several times. However¡­ Clearing the corridor this quickly? Usually, it took her about an hour to clear a single corridor. But this time, it had only taken 20 minutes. It was as if the dungeon had be easier. ¡°All because I changed my weapon¡­¡± Gi Soyul absentmindedly looked down at her hand, or, more precisely, at the dagger in her hand. [Item: A Dagger for an Assassin] [Rank: S] [Type: Dagger] [Description: A weapon crafted by the legendary cksmith Demir and his master, inspired by a certain assassin! With incredible focus and passion, its performance has surpassed its blueprint.] [Effect 1: Dexterity increases by 50.] [Effect 2: Attack speed increases by 200%.] [Effect 3: After entering stealth, the first attack deals 500% additional damage.] [Effect 4: Ice magic resistance increases by 30%.] It was the source of this insane damage boost. Gi Soyul quietly caressed the weapon. The pleasant chill ran up her arm, all the way to her heart. ¡°I¡¯m a weapon just for you. I was made only for you,¡± it felt as if the weapon was whispering to her. Should I let him know? Gi Soyul was a mid to high-tier ranker at the time. She was a potential target for viinous rankers who aimed to move up by taking her down. That was why she kept as much information about herself hidden as possible. Such as the information about my weapon. If information about her weapon were to spread, so would knowledge of how to counter it. That would only create a weakness. But¡­ Mr. Donghoon asked me to promote it. Revealing the information about a weapon was the best way to promote it. Usually, she would havepletely ignored such a request. But this time, she couldn¡¯t. First, out of gratitude, and second, because she simply felt like it. But wouldn¡¯t that be dangerous for him too? This weapon was an S-rank item, after all. S-rank weapons were so rare that even world-ss workshops like the White Swine treated them as major projects. If word got out that a cksmith could produce S-rank items independently in such a short time, he could easily be a target for global criminal organizations. In that case¡­ There was only one solution: she would have to be his protector once again. With my abilities, I can at least protect Mr. Joo Donghoon. ¡ªClench! Gi Soyul clenched her fist, resolving herself. It definitely wasn¡¯t because she wanted to return to him. A cksmith capable of crafting S-rank weapons was a national treasure. I¡¯m just doing it out of patriotism to protect a national treasure. ¡ªSwish! With her decision made, she charged deeper into the dungeon. Chapter 66 Chapter 66: Kim Jinah (4) A weekter, arge crowd gathered at the store¡¯s opening in front of Demir¡¯s Workshop in a prime spot in the Apgujeong area. ¡°Please, sell it to me!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay 10 million won more! I¡¯ll buy it!¡± ¡°Excuse me! Owner of Demir¡¯s Workshop! Can you produce more stock?¡± As soon as the doors opened, the people who had been waiting since even earlier rushed in. All they had to do was choose a weapon within their turn and pay the skeleton clerk toplete the transaction. ¡°Haha, no need to rush, everyone! Pleasee in slowly!¡± ¡°Will you be paying by card or cash? Sorry, but we don¡¯t support interest-free installment ns.¡± Demir¡¯s minions had fully adapted to their work. They understood the concept of credit cards and even installment ns. Seeing a skeleton swiping a credit card was so strange that many journalists hade just to capture it. ¡°What? Only 20 items again today?¡± ¡°How are people supposed to buy anything like this?¡± ¡°I walked in right at open, and it¡¯s already sold out? Shouldn¡¯t you have enough stock if you¡¯re starting a business?¡± The hunters grumbled, but the skeleton clerks were the only ones there to hear theirints. ¡°Haha. We only do what we¡¯re told.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t me it on us!¡± They knew thatining to the grinning skeletons was meaningless. ¡°Hmm.¡± Kim Jinah and I were watching the scene unfold from the rooftop. ¡°Business is still going well, I see.¡± I enjoyed the sweet feeling of earning 400 million won* in revenue in less than a minute as I sipped on my caramel mhiato. Nothing beats caramel when you want something sweet. * ¡Ö $308,000 USD At this rate, I¡¯d be able to pay back the 10 billion won loan in no time and be rich soon. The best part? There were no actual expenses. The mineral reserves in my bag were still plentiful, the employees were skeletons, and my minions handled the production process. There was no sweeter deal. Kim Jinah, smiling next to me, remarked, ¡°See? This is the power of marketing.¡± She was right. The performance of Demir¡¯s mass-produced items was only slightly above the average B-rank. Regarding raw performance, they were inferior to the highest-quality B-rank items White Swine or other workshops produced. Although, the overall design was shy enough to stand out, of course. ¡°Teehee, I knew this workshop would seed. I have a great sense for these things, you know. Oh, did you hear?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Demir¡¯s products are selling for two or three times their original price on the ck market.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s why people are flocking to this ce. Even if they don¡¯t need a weapon for themselves, they can resell it for a profit. There¡¯s even a new term going around: ¡®D-investment.¡¯¡± ¡°D-investment, huh¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s abination of ¡®Demir¡¯ and ¡®investment.¡¯ Your products will be a high-end brand soon.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± I pped my hands in amazement. I had expected some level of sess, but I couldn¡¯t help but feel ted. My workshop was on its way to bing a global luxury brand. ¡°¡­¡± Of course, Kim Jinah still didn¡¯t know that I had the ability to create S-rank weapons. Nor did she realize that I had much bigger goals than merely making money with these B-rank items. I looked down at the bustling scene below where hunters were still crowded outside the store. ¡°Did anyone sessfully buy something?¡± ¡°Did anyone get the spear? I¡¯ll buy it off you! I¡¯ll pay extra!¡± ¡°I got the spear. How much are you willing to offer?¡± ¡°Name your price.¡± ¡°You first.¡± The ck market was forming right in front of the store. Some might think I was losing money by not raising prices, but I had no intention of doing so. What I was selling now was just ¡°standard¡± items. Selling to a wide customer base at a lower price would yield greater long-term profits. But the real profit for Demir¡¯s Workshop wouldn¡¯te from these small fry. ¡°Ha.¡± A weekter, Kim Jinah let out an exasperated sigh. ¡°They¡¯re really making a mess of things outright, huh?¡± The reason for her sour mood was simple: as expected, the Ohsung Workshop had started to interfere. But¡­ Shin Jongoh, that jerk was even more of a thug than I thought. I didn¡¯t expect him to stoop this low. It was one thing for them to buy a nearby building and open a shop selling higher-performance B-rank items at a promotional price. After all, the world operated on the principles of a market economy. Even if they sold cheap, they were the ones losing out, not me. The poprity of Demir¡¯s Workshop remained unchanged, with items selling out every time the shop opened. Then, a few dayster¡­ ¡°We¡¯re taking over this road!¡± ¡°Pay a toll if you want to pass!¡± ¡°Did we buy this ce out, you ask? Yeah, we sure did, so what are you gonna do? If you don¡¯t like it,e at us!¡± A group of hunters in suits began illegally upying the space in front of the store. It was obvious who had sent them. Kim Jinah was flustered. As smart as she was, she had only studiedwful, market-driven strategies, and this kind of thuggish behavior was new to her. ¡°Dirty, shameless scoundrels.¡± She gritted her teeth on the rooftop, frustrated. I walked up to her, much more rxed than she was. The reason I could stay so calm in situations like this was simple. After a couple of trips through ¡®Immeasurable¡¯ dungeons, everything else seemed like child¡¯s y. ¡°Ms. Jinah, there¡¯s no need to respond to this.¡± ¡°Pardon? But we¡¯ve already lost two days of sales¡­ We should resolve this through the Hunter Association. But the problem is that we¡¯re dealing with a major corporation¡­¡± The world of capitalism could be filthy. The moment they bribed a judge, they could twist thew however they wanted to make me lose. Or they could just assassinate me to make the case disappear altogether. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± ¡°¡­How can you be so calm, dear customer?¡± She looked at me confused as I grinned. ¡°Look down there. They¡¯re the ones blocking the road, not us. People aren¡¯t stupid; they can see these thugs are from Ohsung. Who do you think their anger will be directed at?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ So you¡¯re saying that this will just damage their reputation?¡± ¡°Exactly. Furthermore¡­¡± I pulled up a fresh news article on my phone and handed it to her. ¡°Breaking News! Assassin Ranker Gi Soyul Reveals Her Weapon Information to the Public!¡± ¡°¡®A Dagger for an Assassin¡¯ (S-rank). A weapon with a 500% damage increase¡ªwho is its lucky owner?¡± ¡°Gi Soyul: ¡®I¡¯m deeply grateful to Demir¡¯s Workshop for crafting this S-rank weapon for me.¡¯¡± ¡°Demir¡¯s Workshop: Is it capable of producing S-rank weapons?¡± Even I had just found out about this. For some reason, Gi Soyul had decided to promote the workshop through the media, and her timing couldn¡¯t have been better. ¡°This is¡­¡± Kim Jinah¡¯s eyes widened as she scrolled through the articles on the phone. ¡°¡­Huhhhh? An S-rank weapon?¡± She was shocked. S-rank weapons were so rare that their value was essentially priceless. And now it was revealed that Demir¡¯s Workshop could make them. ¡°Let me be honest with you.¡± I looked at her and continued, ¡°I don¡¯t care about selling mass-produced items. I¡¯m really focused on making VIP, limited-edition items¡ªS-rank weapons. The rest of my time will be spent training.¡± ¡°R-Really? Why didn¡¯t you say that earlier?!¡± Kim Jinah looked bewildered. ¡°If you had shown proof earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have offered a 10 billion loan. I would have emptied the bank for you¡­!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need that much money anyway. From now on, I¡¯ll make all the money I need.¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± ¡°I think the real rush is about to start.¡± ¡°Y-Yes.¡± A hunter capable of producing S-rank weapons emerging in Korea was headline-worthy news, enough to make the front page. And sure enough¡­ ¡°There it is!¡± ¡°This is Demir¡¯s Workshop!¡± ¡°Mr. Joo Donghoon! Pleasee out!¡± ¡°You were recently certified as a B-rank hunter! How can you craft S-rank weapons? When did you first awaken as a production-ss hunter?¡± The thugs blocking the road were soon overwhelmed by a flood of reporters and onlookers. ¡°Wh-What the hell? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°G-Get out of here!¡± The hunters in suits panicked but couldn¡¯t stop the waves of people crashing down on them. Not to mention that they didn¡¯t have the authority to. Alright. I pped my hands. Now, it was time to raise the stakes. * * * ¡°Hello, reporters. This is Joo Donghoon, the owner of Demir¡¯s Workshop.¡± Using Demir¡¯s enchanted scroll from my time facing the dragon, I amplified my voice with the ¡®Amplify¡¯ (A-rank) spell so it could be heard loud and clear. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s Joo Donghoon!¡± ¡°He looks younger than I thought!¡± ¡°I know that guy! He was briefly in the spotlight three years ago when he awakened as a necromancer!¡± The reporters and customers murmured amongst themselves. I stood on the rooftop, looking down at them as they pointed their smartphones and cameras at me. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯m a necromancer. But as the articles have pointed out, I¡¯m an unusual type of necromancer. My skeletons are production-ss.¡± The crowd buzzed with excitement. ¡°N-No way! So it was true that the skeletons were making weapons?¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s a new one. Isn¡¯t necromancer already an overpowered ss? And now it¡¯s overpowered as a production ss, too?¡± ¡°Hold on, so mere skeletons are crafting S-rank weapons?¡± ¡°That¡¯s very intriguing.¡± The hunters¡¯ eyes sparkled with interest. Then a question rang out from one of the reporters. ¡°I have a question!¡± a loud voice boomed from the crowd. ¡°Yes, go ahead.¡± ¡°There have been illegal blockades in front of your store for the past two days. Do you know who¡¯s responsible? If so, can you exin the reason?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m not even interested. I¡¯m just here to sell items. I have no concern beyond that.¡± ¡°I see. Thank you.¡± I didn¡¯t bother mentioning Shin Jongoh. He wasn¡¯t worth my time anymore. After all, my sights weren¡¯t set on the Ohsung Workshop. Maybe the Ohsung Group, but not the workshop. But, of course, I had no intention of letting them get away with it. Anyone who messed with me would pay the price, one way or another. That was my creed. Another question followed from a different reporter. ¡°This is Daetong Daily. How often can you produce S-rank weapons? Will you gift them like you did with Gi Soyul or sell them?¡± Ah, this was the question I¡¯d been waiting for. ¡°Demir¡¯s Workshop will produce VIP, custom-made, limited edition weapons. As for the production rate, it¡¯ll vary. It could be once a month or once a year, depending on my avability.¡± At the mention of S-rank weapons, the previously noisy crowd fell silent. Everyone was keen to listen. ¡°So when will the next S-rank weapon be made?¡± the reporter from Daetong Daily asked next. ¡°The dagger I gifted to the Dark Empress was the first. I¡¯ll be starting on the second one tomorrow.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°A second one?¡± ¡°Is he saying he can make another S-rank weapon right away?¡± ¡°Then who will be the next owner?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be holding a biddingpetition until tomorrow. Anyone interested¡ªrankers or merchants¡ªcan submit their maximum bid to one of the skeleton clerks. The second S-rank weapon will go to the highest bidder.¡± This time, I was targeting the wealthy. Of course, I¡¯d change the theme for each new weapon. After all, Demir¡¯s Workshop wasn¡¯t just driven by money; it was about prestige. ¡°¡­!¡± ¡°A bidding war¡­!¡± My announcement quickly spread through news outlets and hunter forums, generating explosive interest. But it didn¡¯t stop there¡ªit was now spreading globally. Chapter 67 Chapter 67: Kim Jinah (5) At the Gangnam branch of the Hunter Bank, the loan department was buzzing with excitement. ¡°Team Leader Kim! I heard you hit the jackpot again this time. Congrattions!¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing. How do you keepnding such huge deals every time?¡± With the news that Demir¡¯s Workshop could produce S-rank weapons, Kim Jinah¡¯s loan contract with him had turned her into the talk of the office once again. ¡°Haha, well, I was just lucky,¡± she said, returning their congrattions with a faint smile. Though it was a moment of celebration, her mind was filled withplex thoughts. He could create S-rank weapons all this time? She was still reeling from the shock. Joo Donghoon¡­ He had lived as an E-rank Hunter for a long time despite having the skills of a B-rank. From this, she could quickly determine that he didn¡¯t like revealing himself too much. That was one of the reasons she liked him. Truly exceptional people didn¡¯t unt their talents¡ªjust like historical figures like Pang Tong during thete Han Dynasty or Zhuge Liang, whom Liu Bei sought out thrice. But him¡­ She had thought he was a brave hiker, ready to challenge the mountain called the Ohsung Group, a giant in the industry. She¡¯d considered him a wolf willing to fight the regional panther, which was impressive enough. But it turned out that¡­ He¡¯s no mere wolf. Joo Donghoon wasn¡¯t overestimating himself. He indeed had the potential to stand against the Ohsung Group. He was a young tiger¡ªthe future king of the mountain, capable of bing the top predator. In retrospect, it made sense. His gaze had never been fixed on the Ohsung Group. Even during his interview with the media, he hadn¡¯t bothered to mention the roadblocking incident¡ªbecause it wasn¡¯t worth his time. Just as a tiger would ignore a praying mantis. He¡¯s so cool! Jinah¡¯s mind raced as her natural insight painted a clear picture of the future. What would happen if she followed him? How far could he rise, he who seemed to have a fair amount of ambition? Suddenly, she caught herself. Had she ever had thoughts like this before? She had met countless people¡ªtycoons, renowned businessmen, even rankers¡ªbut she had never wanted to follow someone voluntarily. It¡¯s a hunch. Her gut feeling, which had never been wrong, told her that Joo Donghoon¡¯s potential was limitless. And if she were to serve anyone, finding somebody better than him would be hard. She wasn¡¯t too worried about whether he would ept her or not. She had observed him for several weeks, and there didn¡¯t seem to be many people around him. The fact that he was just getting started was also appealing to her. Growth stocks are always better than blue chips. She preferred aggressive investments anyway. And she was confident in the chances that Demir¡¯s Workshop would grow. She determined it was 99.99%. There was no way she would lose out. Hmm¡­ Alright, I¡¯ve made up my mind. In that brief moment, she decided. I have to go all in, even if I fail. Even if it didn¡¯t work out, she wouldn¡¯t regret it because this was her choice. ¡°Wow, Team Leader Kim! I knew I could count on you! I just got a call from the bank president! He¡¯s considering raising your position and even giving you a bonus for this! Hahaha, thanks to you, our branch is number one again!¡± ¡°Ah, Branch Manager!¡± As the branch manager approached her, Kim Jinah stood up abruptly. ¡°Thank you for your kind words, but I have something urgent to discuss.¡± ¡°Huh? What is it? You don¡¯t like the bonus? Don¡¯t worry, this time it will be a big one from the president himself¡­¡± ¡°No, the bonus is fine.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The branch manager tilted his head in confusion. ¡°Team Leader Kim, refusing money?¡± Kim Jinah retrieved a paper she had prepared long ago from her drawer and handed it to him. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± His eyes widened as he looked at the paper. [Letter of Resignation] ¡°What is this?!¡± ¡°Honestly, I¡¯ve been preparing this for a while now. Please don¡¯t take it too harshly. I¡¯ve worked hard and brought in a lot of money for the bank, right?¡± ¡°But Team Leader Kim! This is way too sudden¡­¡± The branch manager stopped speaking and let out a deep sigh. Of course, he had always known Kim Jinah was far too talented to remain at Hunter Bank forever. ¡°So, the time has finallye?¡± ¡°Yes, my life is finally about to get interesting.¡± She smiled¡ªa bright smile the branch manager had never seen before. Looking at her now, he could only shake his head in disbelief. ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡ªng! In the workshop located in the corner of the second floor, Demir swung his hammer diligently. Though his body was nothing but bones, the power behind each strike made it seem like his frame was brimming with muscle. ¡ªng! ng! After some time¡­ ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± ¡ªThud! ¡°Finally, I can fulfill my duty as a dwarf once more!¡± Demir set down his hammer with a satisfied grunt. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard,¡± I encouraged him. Because¡­ [Name: Demir] [Energy: 200/200] [Unique Ability: Great Skeleton] [ss: cksmith] [Rank: B] [Strength: 42] [Dexterity: 41] [Constitution: 38] [Magic Power: 40] [Technique: 52] [Skills] ¨C Advanced Smelting (Lv.1) ¨C Intermediate Weaving (Lv.7) ¨C Advanced Item Crafting (Lv.1) ¨C Advanced Alchemy (Lv.1) ¨C Summon Skeleton (Lv. MaX) Three of Demir¡¯s skills had already reached the Advanced level. This was the result of relentless hammering ever since his awakening. ¡°I can now craft A-rank blueprints and handle high-rank ores like adamantium and mithril. Haha, Master, do you see the fruits of mybor?¡± Demir chuckled with satisfaction. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one who¡¯s been working hard, Demir.¡± From the third floor, Eldrin descended with a bow in hand. It seemed she had just finished her training. ¡°I¡¯ve also strengthened my magic rituals, and my archery skills are no longer an embarrassment to the name of the Forest Tribe.¡± ¡°Still, it¡¯s undeniable that my lord has been favoring Demir recently.¡± Sunny, the other awakened skeleton, also came down with a spear. The three skeletons, now fully awakened, had begun to speak informally to one another. They apparently agreed to treat each other as equals, like old friends, given that they were all under mymand now. ¡°Hey, Sunny, saying I¡¯m favoring Demir is a bit of a harsh misunderstanding, don¡¯t you think¡­?¡± Even as I said it, I felt a bit guilty. I had to admit that I¡¯d been paying more attention to Demirtely. Eldrin smiled gently as she watched. ¡°No, Master, it¡¯s fine.¡± Despite being a skeleton, Eldrin exuded a sense of grace. ¡°Now is the time for you to focus on what¡¯s most important. And for now, Demir is certainly the one who¡¯s the most helpful to your future.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Of course. Eldrin always knew what was on my mind. ¡ªp, p! ¡°Anyway.¡± I pped my hands to get their attention. ¡°It¡¯s time to make a weapon. This is a big moment. With all the media attention on Demir¡¯s Workshop, we need to make a big ssh.¡± ¡°Right, Master. So we¡¯ll be working together again?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°Haha, another coboration! I¡¯m excited! So what kind of weapon are we making this time?¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ll have to decide after seeing who wins the auction. The type of weapon depends on the client, after all.¡± I poured out the stack of bid submissions onto the floor. These were the bids people had submitted over the past two days. Honestly, I¡¯m not expecting any rankers. I wasn¡¯t expecting much. It wasn¡¯t like we were the only ce in the world capable of producing S-rank weapons. Rankers probably had their own weapons from dungeons or at least good connections. The only weapon I¡¯d revealed so far was a single dagger. Even if it did have a very high performance. There was no guarantee we could produce another weapon of that caliber, so I figured no one would want to invest too much for now¡­ ¡°Master. Here¡¯s one for 10 billion won from the Jinju Group.¡± ¡°My lord, there¡¯s a 12 billion won bid from an elder of the Cult of the Heavenly Demon.¡± ¡°Ahem, Master, here¡¯s a bid for 13 billion. Is that a lot?¡± What¡­? I stared, my mouth hanging open. The Jinju Group was another of the top 10panies alongside Ohsung, and the Cult of the Heavenly Demon was the number one guild in Korea. And here they were, bidding 10 billion or more. ¡°Seriously?¡± I started rifling through the bid sheets in a daze. Many people had written bids in the 1 to 10 billion won range, but several had made muchrger bids. ¡°It is real.¡± This meant I could pay off my entire bank loan in one shot. Either there were more rich people in the world than I thought, or I was attracting more attention than I had realized. Then, at that moment¡­ ¡°This one seems to be the highest. 30 billion won.*¡± ¡Ö $23 million USD Eldrin handed me a bid. ¡°What? 30 billion?¡± I took the bid and looked at it,pletely stunned. The text read: [Bid: 30 billion won] [Haha, long time no see, brother. If you could make S-rank weapons, you should have told me sooner. Man, I¡¯m disappointed in you! But hey, as your big bro, I have to go all in to help your business thrive. If this is the highest bid, then make me something good! Just know that if it turns out to be trash, you¡¯ll regret it. Haha.] [Jang Daewoong, the Berserker] ¡°¡­This is insane.¡± Even in writing, he was as friendly and insane as ever. What kind of lunatic would write ¡°haha¡± and actually sound like he wasughing on paper? No wonder he earned the nickname ¡°Berserker.¡± And on top of that¡­ If the weapon turned out to be trash, I¡¯d have to prepare for the consequences. Berserker or not, Jang Daewoong was ranked 20th in the world¡ªa walking natural disaster. ¡°Damn.¡± Now, I was forced to make an outstanding weapon. Forget Demir¡¯s brand value¡ªthis was about my own survival. * * * ¡°Damn it all!¡± ¡ªCrash! ¡ªBang! Shin Jongoh was screaming at the top of his lungs, smashing everything around him. ¡°Director, please calm down!¡± ¡°Calm down? Do I look like I can calm down? What the hell is going on with everyone around here?!¡± Shin Jongoh was fuming with rage. ¡°Spending all that money didn¡¯t work, blocking the street didn¡¯t work, and now what? He¡¯s creating S-rank weapons?¡± This was just nonsense. It felt like the world was conspiring against him. How could the person he¡¯d marked as his victim turn out to be a genius cksmith? What kind of miracle was this? And to think he gave that expensive thing to Gi Soyul for free? Of course, it made sense now. That cold woman wouldn¡¯t follow anyone unless they were useful to her. The Gi Soyul he knew was someone who would do anything to be stronger. But more than that¡­ Shin Jongoh¡¯s eyes turned icy. Joo Donghoon. You¡¯ve insulted my pride. ¡ªBang! He kicked the fallen desk and looked at his secretary. ¡°There¡¯s no turning back now. Bring me the contact list for thepany¡¯s hired rankers.¡± ¡°Director, surely you¡¯re not¡­¡± ¡°Surely not what? The war¡¯s already begun.¡± ¡°But even so¡­ Director, you can¡¯t just order rankers around!¡± It was true. Even if Ohsung employed them, rankers were still rankers. It wasn¡¯t as though they would just follow Shin Jongoh¡¯s everymand. ¡°That¡¯s why we need to negotiate.¡± ¡°Negotiate?¡± ¡°Just bring me the list.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir!¡± At Shin Jongoh¡¯s order, the secretary rushed out of the room. Chapter 68 Chapter 68: Demir¡¯s Limited Edition No. 2 ¡°Dear customer¡­ I mean, Mr. Donghoon.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Please ept me.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Kim Jinah¡¯s sudden request upon visiting the workshop caught me off guard, especially since it happened right after I had finished a training session with the old man. ¡°Hmph, you little brat.¡± The old man narrowed his eyes as he watched from the side. ¡°I sensed that your mind has been elsewheretely. Have you been fooling around with some woman?¡± That¡¯s not it at all! I had a feeling about this, though. Ever since we first met, her gaze had always been an evaluating one. I shrugged. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®ept you¡¯?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about the Demir¡¯s Workshop that you¡¯re building. Let¡¯s grow it together! I¡¯ll help turn it into a massive enterprise¡ªno, something even bigger than a guild!¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Right now, what you need are talented people. Someone like me, who can handle things cleanly and efficiently.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I was speechless. My lips parted slightly, but no words came out. Wasn¡¯t this confidence a bit excessive? Or was this the new trend in job applications these days? Like those stories where someone says something daring, and the boss likes their spirit and offers to work together. ¡°Oh? What an intriguing youngdy,¡± the old man observed with curious eyes. ¡°She¡¯s a genius in her field. Though it would be hard for her to grow through martial arts, she possesses incredible business acumen. She¡¯s quick at calctions and can foresee the future faster than most. She¡¯d have be a prime minister in my world.¡± Really? She¡¯s that good? ¡°If you aspire to be the king of this world, there¡¯s no harm in having her by your side. Though, of course, I didn¡¯t need someone like that.¡± Interesting. I was intrigued. I already knew from our earlier encounters that she certainly wasn¡¯t ordinary. But if even the old man, who was notoriously stingy with praise, spoke so highly of her, she must be exceptional. ¡°So you want to turn Demir¡¯s Workshop into something bigger than a guild? What do you mean by that?¡± Guilds, huh? That was something I had never considered. I aimed to create the best workshop in Korea and make some money¡ªjust enough to help me ascend in rank. The workshop itself wasn¡¯t the end goal. ¡°Mr. Donghoon, that¡¯s the current trend. Whatever business you start inevitably leads to forming a guild. Look at White Swine, for example. It started as a workshop and grew into a massive merchant guild. If you grow your workshop, you¡¯ll inevitably face opposition, and in the end, you¡¯ll need the forces to defend yourself, leading you to form a guild.¡± ¡°Hmm, that makes sense.¡± It was like how all disciplines converge into one ultimate truth once they reach their peak. ¡°So you¡¯ll need more than just talent. You¡¯ll need money, people, legal support,working, and to engage in guild politics. You¡¯ll also need to lobby associations, merchant unions, and the government.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± Just thinking about it gave me a headache. ¡°I see now. I thought all I had to do was make good weapons.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s the most important part!¡± Kim Jinah nodded energetically. ¡°But I can make sure you only have to focus on crafting weapons.¡± ¡°That does sound appealing.¡± It wasn¡¯t a bad offer at all. Working under me, such a talented person who was even praised by the old man would be a tremendous asset. I should have been the one scouting her. But there was one issue¡­ ¡°What about your sry?¡± Labor costs. ¡°I¡¯m not greedy. Pay me based on what I contribute. Whether it¡¯s stock options or cash, I¡¯m flexible.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Though most employers can¡¯t wait to pay me. I¡¯m confident you¡¯ll feel the same, Mr. Donghoon. Teehee. Trust me, I¡¯m worth it.¡± ¡°Wow, I like your mindset.¡± She had ranker-level confidence. ¡°I¡¯m fine paying what you¡¯re worth as long as you prove your abilities.¡± As I said before, I wasn¡¯t obsessed with money. I only cared about using money to create the best environment to be a ranker. If that meant paying for good talent, then so be it. I smiled and extended my hand. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll work out the detailster. Let¡¯s work together.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Shop Master.¡± Kim Jinah bowed politely and shook my hand. ¡°Oh, by the way, since you¡¯re the workshop master, I should probably get a title too¡­¡± ¡°What title would you like?¡± ¡°Well, since it¡¯s still early stages¡­ I think ¡®Vice Shop Master¡¯ would be a good fit, don¡¯t you think? I left my whole career behind for this, after all.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go with that.¡± It was still a tiny neighborhood workshop, so hiring practices were pretty flexible. ¡°Wow, what is all this?¡± Kim Jinah¡¯s jaw dropped as we did a more thorough workshop tour. ¡°Oh my gosh, are these all raw materials for crafting?¡± ¡°Haha, youngdy. What you see here is just the tip of the iceberg.¡± Demir, hammering away in the makeshift workshop, chuckled. She was still getting used to a talking skeleton but quickly regained herposure. After all, as the new vice shop master, Demir was someone she needed to befriend. ¡°By tip of the iceberg, you mean¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s at least a hundred times more stored away in this bag. Gahaha.¡± ¡°Wow¡­¡± She marveled, her lips slightly parted, before pulling out her smartphone and swiftly typing away. ¡°Hm? What are you doing?¡± ¡°Inventory management. All of these are precious assets.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to organize all that?¡± ¡°Rather than feeling overwhelmed by the quantity, I¡¯m thrilled. The more we have, the stronger our financial foundation.¡± ¡°¡­Impressive.¡± Kim Jinah sat down in a corner, carefully examining the bag¡¯s contents and meticulously counting the materials. Her efficiency was almost robotic, like something from the 22nd century. Now I understood why the old man said she was quick at calctions. It¡¯s starting to feel like we¡¯re operating correctly. I watched her in satisfaction and then turned to Demir. ¡°Shall we get to work, too?¡± ¡°On the weapon for that Jang Daewoong fellow?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°Looks like he uses gauntlets. I happen to have a blueprint for something that might suit him.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see it.¡± Demir pulled out a blueprint from a pile in the corner. [Item: Fist of the Giant Warrior God] [Rank: A] [Type: Blueprint] [Description: A blueprint for crafting the ¡®Fist of the Giant Warrior God.¡¯] [Effect 1: Allows the crafting of the ¡®Fist of the Giant Warrior God.¡¯] [Effect 2: Requires 200 iron ingots, 20 silver ingots, and 2 mithril ingots.] [Effect 3: Possesses excellent performance due to theplex crafting process.] ¡°Wow, ¡®Fist of the Giant Warrior God¡¯? That¡¯s a cool name.¡± ¡°What do you think, Master? The rest of the blueprints are B-rank.¡± ¡°Not bad. It fits Jang Daewoong¡¯s style.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll go with this. Whew, it¡¯s been a while since I worked with mithril.¡± When we made the Titan¡¯s Thunder Hammer, we used mithril, thanks to Boney 6. But this would be Demir¡¯s first time working with mithril on Earth. ¡°Not bad at all.¡± It was time to up our game in terms of weapon performance. After all, I¡¯d eventually want to arm my skeletons with the best weapons. ¡°Alright, Master.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Picture this Jang Daewoong fellow in your mind.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The crafting process was the same as before. Visualize the person and craft the weapon tailored to them. Custom weapon-making at its finest! I recalled the image of Jang Daewoong the Berserker, crashing his fist into the ground andughing maniacally with every strike. Each blow felt like a small nuclear explosion filled with overwhelming power. ¡°Master, is this really what Jang Daewoong is like?¡± ¡°He¡¯s incredible.¡± ¡°To be honest, he¡¯s a madman. He¡¯s like the Giant Magic Dragon destroying a mountain just to kill a single insect.¡± ¡°¡­Isn¡¯t that an insult?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Demir tilted his head in contemtion. ¡°A weapon for a madman, huh? We¡¯ll need to add some more materials.¡± ¡°More materials?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll need insane artifacts or mediums to imbue it with crazy options¡­ The more, the better.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± My eyes gleamed with excitement. Adding materials not listed on the blueprint? It was a method I hadn¡¯t seen before, but Demir was a legendary cksmith, after all. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll look into it.¡± * * * The post on the Hunter Board quickly became a hot topic. > Demir¡¯s Workshop is Buying Items > This is the owner of Demir¡¯s Workshop. We¡¯re purchasing ¡°insane¡± magical items or mediums for the next S-rank weapon. We¡¯ll pay 100 million won per item. > We¡¯ll only take the top 10 submissions. > The crazier the options, the higher the chance of selection. > Thank you for your support. It was an amusing post from the now-famous Demir¡¯s Workshop. > Insane options? They¡¯re buying items nobody else would touch¡ªfor 100 million each! > Haha, I have one. Should I give it a try? > I have something gross that makes you stronger if you eat poop. > Wait, are you the infamous ¡°Shit Eater¡±? > What is this, an event? Or a charity? As hunters ventured through dungeons, they often picked up strange items. With so many unique abilities in the world, naturally there were plenty of weird items as well. Therefore, the hunters were intrigued. They wanted to see what kinds of items were out there and who had found something weirder than them. They wondered if there was someone more unfortunate than them. It quickly gained attention. > I don¡¯t know why they¡¯re buying, but this sounds fun. > 100 million? This will attract all sorts of odd items. The post spread like wildfire across social media. * * * ¡ªKnock knock. Shin Jongoh, a director of the Ohsung Group, knocked on the door of a luxurious suite in a Gangnam hotel. ¡ªClick. The door opened, revealing a foreign man. ¡°Director Shin? What brings you here?¡± ¡°Good to see you, Shadow Walker.¡± The man was a hunter ranked 720th globally, known by his alias Shadow Walker. He was also an Ohsung Group-affiliated mercenary. ¡°As the director, I came here to ask for a favor.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Shadow Walker looked ufortable. Although he was affiliated with Ohsung, he didn¡¯t like taking orders from the third-generation Shin Jongoh. When the group was in dire need of rankers, they weren¡¯t strictly subservient in this rtionship. ¡°Why not go through the official channels for a request?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get straight to the point. I need you to kill someone. The owner of Demir¡¯s Workshop.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a mere B-rank hunter who just got promoted. It shouldn¡¯t be an issue for someone like you.¡± Shadow Walker smirked. Technically, it wouldn¡¯t be an issue, but¡­ ¡°Well, even as a mercenary, I don¡¯t move without orders from the chairman.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll triple your usual fee.¡± Shin Jongoh¡¯s face remained serious as he said, ¡°And you know I¡¯m in charge of the Ohsung Workshop, right? It¡¯s the most promising industry in the group. This means I¡¯m the most likely candidate to be the future heir.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Shadow Walker raised an eyebrow in interest. Honestly. He didn¡¯t believe for a second that this brat before him would inherit the Ohsung Group. Shin Jooyong, the chairman, was far too sharp for that. He wouldn¡¯t let a punk like this take over the empire he¡¯d built. Still. The offer of triple the pay was enticing. Killing a B-rank hunter in secret was no challenge. ¡°Director, do you know what my usual fee is?¡± ¡°10 billion won a year, correct?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°If you seed, I¡¯ll immediately shoot 30 billion to your bank ount.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you overdoing it?¡± Thirty billion won wasn¡¯t pocket change. But Shin Jongoh remained unfazed. ¡°The Ohsung Workshop isn¡¯t doing badly. I have plenty saved up. That¡¯s not your concern.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± Shadow Walker stroked his chin. ¡°So all I need to do is kill the owner of Demir¡¯s Workshop?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°30 billion for one man¡¯s life¡­¡± A chilling smile crept across his face. ¡°Not a bad deal at all.¡± Chapter 69 Chapter 69: The Intruder (1) ¡°Wow, look at these.¡± I gazed at the bizarre array of itemsid out on the table. ¡°A ne that lets you experience the life of an ant for 10 hours when used? Seriously, there¡¯s an item like this?¡± ¡°Oh, is it a variant of the Polymorph skill? In my world, only the dragonborn could use such magic¡­ Even if it¡¯s just an ant, Master, this is quite impressive.¡± ¡°Impressive? This is just a stupid, useless gimmick. Who in the world would ever use something like this?¡± To be clear, the ten items we had recently acquired were all ridiculous. There was a self-harm staff that fired a Lightning Storm (B-rank) every time you cut off one of your fingers and a belt that increased vitality instead of strength when you did weight training. ¡°¡­?¡± Vitality? Hm. This might sell for a high price. I ced my hand on the belt. [Item: Man¡¯s Belt] [Rank: C] [Type: Belt] [Description: A magical belt that protects the waist during heavy lifting.] [Effect 1: Increases vitality instead of strength during weight training. Be mindful that this refers to vitality as in concentration, not physical energy.] Wait¡­ not physical vitality but concentration? A quick search confirmed that this wasn¡¯t the kind of vitality most people thought of¡ªit was more like the mental focus described in Buddhist teachings. ¡°Wow, this thing¡¯s garbage.¡± Just looking at it made me feel like my sanity was slipping away. ¡°You¡¯d craft something out of items like this?¡± ¡°Of course, Master.¡± Demir smirked and gathered all the bizarre items in one ce. Then, he began hammering them relentlessly. ¡°Insane items need to be punished. Did you know? It only bes a proper weapon once it¡¯s been beaten into shape.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªBang! ng! Leather was squashed and metal was crushed as Demir hammered them into onebined piece. ¡°Indeed¡­ to make insane items, you must be a madman yourself, right?¡± At that moment, there was an undeniable madness radiating from him. ¡°Master, join in. Just like before, channel your spirit into the creation.¡± ¡°Join in? You mean likest time when we focused our will? ¡°Yes, but now you must inject even more courage into it.¡± ¡°Inject courage?¡± I tilted my head in confusion. Demir, still hammering away, continued to speak. ¡°Simply put, I need you to go mad. A master who has courage is a madman who fears nothing.¡± ¡°Uh, what?¡± Our Demir¡­ what is he talking about now? This bizarre statement had me feeling strangely mixed emotions. Being called a madman by my own summoned creature was, well¡­ a little depressing. But then Demir grinned and said something else. ¡°Madness varies from person to person and even from species to species. For us of the Rock Tribe, gathering bizarre items like these and melting them into a single piece is the most insane thing one can do.¡± It seemed he wasn¡¯t acting crazy for no reason. ¡°Among humans, a madman is often described as someone like you, Master¡ªone who never gives up, even when they can. One who doesn¡¯t hold back but charges forward to achieve their goal. To us, that¡¯s called courage.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Humans may judge madness by different standards, but if that¡¯s how they define it, why not embrace it? Now, strike with courage! Strike like a madman!¡± I looked at Demir with a flustered expression. This guy had a knack for making crazy talk sound oddly convincing. Well, since it sounded like praise, I decided to let it slide. Still, I had to ask. ¡°Can you really make an item out of this mess?¡± ¡°Why bother asking? Master, I don¡¯t like to brag, but I was a cksmith who shaped an entire era.¡± ¡°¡­Alright, then.¡± I gave up on trying to understand. Why think about it? Just do it. I had to admit, I was excited to see what kind of item would emerge. ¡ªBang! ng! As I focused, I began channeling courage into each hammer strike using the Great Blue Heart Technique I had learned. Challenging the old man in that strange dungeon¡­ Facing the trials head-on from Sunny¡­ Standing against the Giant Magic Dragon¡­ Ah, yes. Now I understood what Demir meant. I sure am a madman, huh? I wasn¡¯t even a ranker yet, but every step I¡¯d taken had been perilous. If you were to tell the average hunter what I¡¯d been through, no one would believe it. ¡°Excellent, Master! We¡¯re creating a magnificent item! Wonderful! Do you have any more intense experiences? Wait, there¡¯s no need! This level of focus is more than enough. All you need now is to concentrate even more.¡± [Completion rate: 2%] Now the real work began. I focused harder, aiming for perfection. I would create the best possible item using every ounce of concentration. ¡ªBang! ng! The second floor of the workshop was filled with two sounds: the rhythmic nging of Demir¡¯s hammer and the quiet rustling of Kim Jinah as she worked on the inventory. Filled with passion, thebination of both sounds was oddly harmonious. Footsteps echoed as a man strolled through the streets of Apgujeong, his gaze fixed on a particr building. It was none other than the Demir¡¯s Workshop, which was currently a hot topic in the area. He was a man with an aura of darkness that couldn¡¯t be ignored¡ªthe hunter ranked 720th, Shadow Walker. ¡°A workshop, huh?¡± He smirked. ¡°Spending 30 billion to kill a simple craftsman¡­ Tch, these rich people and their egos.¡± Shin Jongoh, the spoiled scion of the Ohsung Group. Shadow Walker had epted hismission, spending thest couple of days gathering information on the target. There¡¯s no real danger here. No ranker-level energies were nearby, and the workshop¡¯s owner didn¡¯t seem particrly impressive either. Though he looked a bit stronger than the average hunter¡­ The world is vast, and the walls are high. As a ranker, there was no need to exin the gap between him and regr hunters. ¡°Well, let¡¯s take care of this.¡± As a shadow mage, Shadow Walker preferred environments with a moderate amount of lighting. After all, shadows need light to exist. ¡ªWhoosh! He kicked off the ground, stealthily slipping into the building. ¡ªBang! ng! The sound of hammering echoed through the air. He¡¯s distracted. This¡¯ll be easy. With a reverse grip on his short sword, Shadow Walker quietly made his way to the second floor. He nned to slit the target¡¯s throat and vanish swiftly. Since he was hiding in the shadows, there was no worry of being caught on camera. ¡ªWhoosh! ¡°What the¡­?¡± Suddenly, he sensed something was off and quickly turned his head. ¡°A skeleton?¡± There stood a skeleton wielding a long spear. Shadow Walker was momentarily taken aback. Did I just get detected by a skeleton while in stealth? That wasn¡¯t all. The skeleton spoke, its voice unsettling. ¡°How did you enter this ce bearing such hidden killing intent?¡± ¡°A talking skeleton¡­? I heard rumors, but seeing it in person is fascinating.¡± Shadow Walker eyed the spear-wielding skeleton with curiosity. However, he showed no sign of fear or tension. After all, these skeletons weren¡¯t strong enough to challenge him. ¡ªWhoosh! Emerging fully from the shadows, he pointed his de at the skeleton. ¡°Are you one of the undead summoned by the owner of Demir¡¯s Workshop?¡± ¡°Are you referring to my lord? And how bold of you to intrude like this, given how quickly you¡¯d fall if I were at full strength.¡± ¡°Hehe, a skeleton with a sense of humor. Amusing,¡± Shadow Walker snickered. How ridiculous. A mere undead, talking and acting as if it had a mind of its own. ¡°Just die.¡± ¡ªsh! With a swift motion, Shadow Walker¡¯s shadow-imbued sword split into two streaks aimed at the skeleton. ¡°An intruder, I see. I came after hearing the rm, Sun Spear.¡± A woman¡¯s voice echoed through the space, and a barrage of arrows followed her words, speeding toward Shadow Walker. ¡°Hm?¡± For the first time, Shadow Walker hesitated, deflecting all the arrows with precision. Though he could have ignored them, the force behind each shot was significant. It felt like a serious threat. ¡°I enchanted the arrows with a special spell. The surrounding area will be flooded with light once the arrows hit you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± What kind of spell was that? As a shadow mage, Shadow Walker¡¯s greatest weakness was the bright light that covered the entire area. ¡­Something¡¯s not right. He began to feel uneasy. These were just skeletons summoned by a mere B-rank hunter. So why did it feel like a ferocious beast was lurking within each skeleton? I¡¯d better finish this quickly. Despite the odd feeling, Shadow Walker knew these skeletons were no match for him. [Using skill ¡®Clone¡¯ (S-rank).] ¡ªWhoosh! His figure split into two after he leaped into the shadow, creating a perfect shadow clone. But this wasn¡¯t just a decoy¡ªit was a powerful clone that could just as effectively attack. [Using skill ¡®Shadow Strike¡¯ (A-rank) activated.] ¡ªsh! Just as Shadow Walker appeared behind Sunny and Eldrin and was about to strike their necks¡­ Hm? They both narrowly dodged the attack. Though their power was weak, their technique was impable. They used minimal strength to deflect greater forces. Interesting. These skeletons were adept at controlling their strength. ¡°Hmm, I suppose it is still difficult to fend against him. It¡¯s frustrating that I have to avoid this amateur¡¯s attacks.¡± ¡°I agree. I¡¯ve been training hard, but I¡¯m still far from my former strength.¡± Despite their words, the calmness in the skeletons¡¯ voices was unsettling. Why did it feel like their words weren¡¯t boastful, and they were genuinelyposed? No matter. Whatever tricks they had up their sleeves, they were no match for him. Let me wrap this up quickly and get out of here. Shadow Walker charged once more. * * * ¡°Hm.¡± I deactivated my Great Blue Heart Technique and stood up. [¡®Sun Spear¡¯ has been unsummoned.] [¡®Eldrin¡¯ has been unsummoned.] They had been unsummoned, meaning someone had taken them down. Moreover¡­ [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [¡®Security System¡¯ (A-rank) activated!] [An intruder is inside!] I knew something was wrong from the security alert Eldrin had set up. ¡°Master, the rm is going off.¡± ¡°Yeah, Demir. It seems this isn¡¯t just any intruder.¡± Sunny and Eldrin had been defeated in such a short amount of time. Whoever this intruder was, they were at least S-rank¡ªpossibly even a ranker. Rankers. They were my goal and the pinnacle of hunters, beings far beyond the norm. ¡ªGulp. Tension gripped my body. This wasn¡¯t like facing a dungeon monster. The name ¡°ranker¡± carried a terrifying weight. ¡°Jinah, go hide on the third floor.¡± ¡°O-Okay.¡± Kim Jinah, eyes nervously darting around, quickly dashed upstairs. A shiver ran down my spine. I could sense the energy flow around me with the Great Blue Heart Technique. I knew someone was watching me. I turned toward a dark corner of the room and said, ¡°What¡¯s your business here?¡± ¡°Well, well. You knew I was here? As expected, considering you¡¯re the master of those strange skeletons.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! A figure emerged from the shadows, holding a ck dagger. ¡°But it¡¯s too bad. I¡¯ve already torn apart your two summons. Why did you have to go and mess with rich people like that?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Just from those few words, I understood the situation. Shin Jongoh had crossed a line that shouldn¡¯t have been crossed. Judging from how he emerged from the shadows, I figured the man in front of me had to be Shadow Walker, a ranker who worked as a mercenary for the Ohsung Group. For me, who was very interested in rankers, there was no way I wouldn¡¯t know. The moment I realized it, a deadly aura surged toward me. ¡°Hmph!¡± ¡ªng! I instinctively drew my sword and parried the blow. ¡°Oh?¡± The man¡¯s eyes widened in genuine surprise. I couldn¡¯t believe it either. Even though it was a hasty strike, I had just deflected a ranker¡¯s attack. I used the skill ¡®Rend¡¯ (B-rank). It was the technique I had developed through grueling training. It surprised me that I could manage this much, even with a B-rank skill. This must be the greatness of All Techniques. But¡­ That was it. To truly face a ranker, I had to staypletely focused. I immediately resummoned Sunny, Eldrin, Boney 1, Boney 4, and Boney 5. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We should have bought you more time.¡± Sunny and Eldrin reappeared beside me. ¡°¡­¡± With that, I emptied my mind of all distractions. In front of me was a ranker. I had to concentrate. I had to fully immerse myself because the enemy before me was one I had less than a 1% chance of surviving against, even if I gave everything I had. Chapter 70 Chapter 70: The Intruder (2) If I thought about it, the world was indeed unfair. Having overwhelming strength or having reached the position of a ranker first meant that people had to tiptoe around that person and wouldn¡¯t dare act out. Even if one¡¯s potential surpassed the ranker, it didn¡¯t matter. Because I¡¯m still weak. This was the principle of the strong ruling over the weak, a reality where those with power wielded absolute authority over the powerless. Some might call it unjust. They might cry out, asking how a sapling can grow if trampled on by those who had be strong first. However¡­ The world has always been this way. Whether in primitive nature, socialism, or capitalism, thew of the jungle¡ªsurvival of the fittest¡ªhas always reigned supreme. That was why I¡¯d never felt I was treated unfairly. Even when I got Demir¡¯s Workshop on the map or told Gi Soyul I would stand on my own, I always kept this moment in mind. ¡°Alright,e at me.¡± I¡¯d fight. No matter what trials they¡¯d endured as a ranker, I, too, had ovee many hardships as a hunter. Even if my legs were trembling and my body was drenched in cold sweat, I wouldn¡¯t just sit there and take it. ¡°Sunny! Spray Sr Strike everywhere!¡± ¡°As youmand!¡± ¡ªTap! Sunnyunched themself into the air, thrusting their spear in all directions. ¡ªsh! sh! The light from their spear illuminated everything in a sh, cutting off the shadows that Shadow Walker relied on. ¡°Using cheap tricks, I see.¡± Shadow Walker moved, his speed so fast that my eyes couldn¡¯t follow. So I closed them. I realized that relying on sight was pointless. It would be better to sense the flow of ki. ¡°Just because I can¡¯t use shadows doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t eliminate you.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! A sudden surge of energy charged at me, and I instinctively twisted my body. ¡ªsh! Blood sprayed from my arm, a sharp sting following. There was red blood and a deep gash. Shadow Walker¡¯s de had barely grazed me. My heart pounded in my chest. If I had reacted even a little slower¡­ And even more concerning¡ªwasn¡¯t I supposed to have my Air Shield up? Rankers were terrifying. He sliced through my Maxed-out shield like tofu. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv. Max).] Boney 5 quickly replenished my shield while Boney 4 positioned itself to shield me further with its body. [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ used the skill ¡®Intermediate Taunt¡¯ (Lv.6).] ¡°A taunt skill? How childish.¡± Shadow Walker¡¯s voice echoed from all directions, which meant he was moving around me at incredible speed. ¡°A taunt is only effective if the tank can survive the hits.¡± ¡ªCrash! Boney 4¡¯s shield absorbed a heavy blow. ¡°You¡¯re too weak, far too weak.¡± ¡°Boney 5!¡± [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fireball¡¯ (Lv. Max).] [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Fire Field¡¯ (Lv. 4).] Boney 5 cast a wave of fire to prevent Shadow Walker from getting close. ¡ªWhoosh! Whoosh! Eldrin also carefully fired arrows to hinder his movements. ¡°¡­¡± I didn¡¯t retreat. I controlled every movement of my skeletons with precision, feeling each of their actions as if they were extensions of myself. Even if I died today, I wanted to fight without regrets. ¡°So you dare resist, even though you¡¯re not a ranker?¡± ¡ªSssst! Shadow Walker¡¯s figure split into two. One was the actual body and the other a decoy¡ªbut both were equally dangerous. ¡°Man, you sure talk a lot for a ranker,¡± I muttered. Honestly, he felt underwhelming. I wasn¡¯t disrespecting rankers, but having recently encountered people far beyond rankers, like absolute beings, listening to Shadow Walker¡¯s arrogance just felt ufortable. Something in my gut just couldn¡¯t ept it. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re a ranker, act like one. You¡¯re here to kill me, and now you¡¯re lecturing me about resisting? It¡¯s like listening to someone with a massive inferiorityplex.¡± [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Haste¡¯ (Lv. 4).] ¡ªVwoom! Boney 5¡¯s skill boosted both me and my skeletons¡¯ speed. [¡®Eldrin¡¯ used the skill ¡®Venomous Arrow¡¯ (Lv. 4).] ¡ªTwang! Twang! Eldrin fired her poison arrows. ¡°Someone like you wouldn¡¯t even be an extra in Sunny or Eldrin¡¯s world. So stop bbing and just fight.¡± I wasn¡¯t going to go down easily. ¡°Phew.¡± ¡ªStep, step. ¡°All done.¡± On the streets of Apgujeong under the full moon, Gi Soyul sighed softly. Having cleared the A-rank dungeon Pce of the Minotaurs, she returned to Seoul and immediately announced her S-rank dagger to the media¡ªthe pitch-ck Dagger for an Assassin (S-rank). Naturally, the guildmaster of Parang, Giparang, was furious. ¡°Soyul? My dear sister? I¡¯m very worried about what is going through your mind recently. You revealed your weapon info, info that you didn¡¯t even tell me! What¡¯s going on with you?¡± From scolding her about divulging information to¡­ ¡°And what? You¡¯re quitting Parang? Have you been doing some sort of drugstely?¡± When she submitted her resignation from Parang, he was even more baffled. ¡°Wow, my sister¡¯s lost it. You¡¯re totally bewitched. Is it that guy, Joo Donghoon? Do I need to go over there and deal with him myself?¡± Giparang had shaken his head in disbelief. Gi Soyul said he shouldn¡¯t have put a side job prohibition use in then. It had taken about two weeks of negotiating. Giparang¡¯s resistance was fierce, but Gi Soyul¡¯s stubbornness was just as strong. Or rather, it turned out that her stubbornness proved to be stronger. But I must do what needs to be done. She couldn¡¯t afford to let herself do more damage to either the guild or that person. Joining Joo Donghoon as his bodyguard would mean she couldn¡¯t keep up with her guild duties. ¡°Look at him. He can make an S-rank weapon of this performance just like that. And remember, in a month, he¡¯ll be going to Dungeon Maker with our rmendation. If he returns alive, he¡¯ll be a ranker too. ¡°If I join him and grow, it¡¯ll also benefit Parang because you¡¯ll have a solid alliance. I¡¯m just saying, let¡¯s think about the future.¡± These were the things Gi Soyul had said to convince her brother. And now that she had gained his permission, she walked confidently toward Demir¡¯s Workshop. But what should I say? She sighed again, mumbling to herself. Will you let me be your bodyguard again¡­? Ugh. She shook her head violently, her body shivering at the thought. Asking him that felt utterly ridiculous. ¡°Haah¡­¡± Without a doubt, this moment felt more challenging than any dungeon she¡¯d ever faced. How could she, of her own ord, go back and offer to protect him? She didn¡¯t want to seem desperate or clingy. Am I just overthinking things? He himself had said that he wanted to stand alone. Yes, that was why she was hesitating. What if he wasn¡¯t even happy to see her when she showed up? ¡°¡­¡± Wait. Suddenly, she sensed a familiar energy in the air. A peculiar yet simr signature¡ªlike her own unique ability. ¡°Shadow Walker?¡± Gi Soyul¡¯s mind raced. Since Shadow Walker was associated with the Ohsung Group, his appearance in Apgujeong could only mean one thing. ¡°¡­¡± In that instant, Gi Soyul¡¯s eyes grew as sharp and cold as ice. ¡ªWhoosh! Her figure vanished into thin air, moving faster than the blink of an eye. * * * ¡°¡­¡± Shadow Walker frowned. ¡°What the hell is this¡­?¡± These skeletons felt off. No matter how many times he destroyed them, they returned to life, especially the one with the shield. That one kept using its taunt skill, forcing him to focus on it, only for it to keep reviving. It was irritating. On top of that¡­ They were multiplying. Every time he killed one, it summoned reinforcements. Sure, they were weak, but they just kepting, which was starting to get on his nerves. If only I had my shadows. His alias was Shadow Walker¡ªthe one who walks through shadows. But thanks to that damned skeleton with the spear and the one with the bow, there were no shadows for him to use. He had to rely solely on physical force. Ha. Of course, there was no real danger for him, just the annoyance at having his time wasted. ¡°No matter how much light you produce, there will always be shadows. You can¡¯t fill the entire world with light.¡± Shadow Walker moved aggressively, exploiting gaps and striking down the skeletons. It was as if the light itself was leaking away. ¡ªWhoosh! Within the blinding light, the darkness began to creep in like a sr eclipse. ¡°Shadow Field. It¡¯s a skill that creates shadows artificially,¡± he muttered. Indeed, this was what made rankers rankers. There was no way a hunter with an apparent weakness could be a ranker. ¡°This is where I stop holding back, workshop owner. Whew, that was an impressive trick.¡± Bit by bit, the shadows devoured Sunny¡¯s light. ¡°But isn¡¯t saying you¡¯re ¡®holding back¡¯ a bit dramatic? You haven¡¯t been holding back from the start.¡± ¡°Shut up! You talk big for your skill level!¡± ¡ªWhoosh! Shadow Walker vanished into the shadows. ¡°¡­¡± Alright. If running my mouth made him lose even a fraction of his focus, then I¡¯d keep talking. I needed to do whatever it took to win. ¡°I find you disgusting, Shadow Walker.¡± [¡®Bonehead 4¡¯ used the skill ¡®Intermediate Taunt¡¯ (Lv.6).] ¡ªCrack! Boney 4 was destroyed once again. Shadow Walker had struck from the shadows. ¡°Rankers like you, who act all high and mighty while doing dirty work for money.¡± [Using skill ¡®Summon Great Skeleton¡¯ (B-rank).] [Consuming 10 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Bonehead 4¡ä] ¡ªRattle! But Boney 4 was summoned again as long as I had energy left. ¡°You call yourselves prestigious rankers, but you¡¯re nothing more than hired killers. Scum of the earth.¡± [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Alias: Skeleton Lord] [Energy: 50/220] I had 50 energy left. ¡ªThud! Boney 4 nted its shield on the ground again, determined to protect its master no matter how many times it fell. ¡°To me, you¡¯re not a ranker, you¡¯re not even human. You¡¯re just a beast driven by greed. Trash.¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± At that moment, two Shadow Walkers appeared, one in front of Boney 4 and another behind me. They leapt into the air, aiming their des at my neck. This¡­ I was startled because I could see his strategy¡ªa clever ploy to divide his attacks between Boney 4 and me with a slight dy. It was a smart move. ¡°My lord!¡± ¡°Duck, Master!¡± Eldrin, Sunny, Boney 1, and Boney 5 all reacted quickly, but it wasn¡¯t enough. ¡°¡­¡± I gritted my teeth. My instincts told me there was no way I could block this ranker¡¯s attack. Not yet, at least. I was frustrated. If only I had more time. If I had reached A-rank or gotten closer to mastering the All Techniques, the oue might have been different. ¡ªGrit! But I didn¡¯t give up. Just as I was ring at him with all the defiance I had¡­ ¡ªBoom! A tremendous noise rocked the building. Something like a sh of lightning shot up from below, knocking both of Shadow Walker¡¯s forms away at blinding speed. ¡°Guh¡­ Ugh!¡± He mmed into the wall, writhing on the ground like an insect, unable to move. And behind me¡­ ¡°Donghoon.¡± A familiar scent of peony flowers and a soft breath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte.¡± Ah. There was only one person I knew who could kick a ranker in the 720s like that¡ªsomeone who called me by my name. There was only one. The Dark Empress, Gi Soyul. One of Korea¡¯s 37 rankers. Ranked 379th in the world. She had arrived. Chapter 71 Chapter 71: The Intruder (3) ¡°Guh¡­¡± Shadow Walker groaned in pain. His ribs felt like they had cracked, and his internal organs were in turmoil, sending waves of agony through his body. How¡­ How is The Dark Empress here? He immediately recognized who had struck him. How could he not? She was the pinnacle of assassin-type rankers, just like himself. ¡°¡­Gi Soyul?¡± That made it even harder toprehend. She had always been distant, never involved in others¡¯ conflicts, solely focused on her growth¡ªthe ultimate role model for all assassins. Why is she here at some little workshop run by a B-rank hunter? Shadow Walker shook his head slowly, unable to believe the situation. Did something happen recently? Since bing a mercenary for the Ohsung Group, he had been busy wasting his time in debauchery, utterly unaware of any recent news. ¡°Disappointing, Shadow Walker. I thought you were a decent hunter but never expected you would stoop to such dirty work.¡± ¡ªStep, step. Gi Soyul approached him slowly, her dagger darkly gleaming as she walked. Each step seemed casual, but not a single opening could be seen in her movements. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Enduring the pain, Shadow Walker gripped his sword and forced himself to stand. He had no choice. If he didn¡¯t, she would indeed pierce his heart instantly. ¡°Gi Soyul¡­ how are you here¡­?¡± he managed to say. ¡°What do you mean? Isn¡¯t it natural for me to be here? I¡¯m part of Demir¡¯s Workshop now.¡± ¡°What?¡± That was absurd. When did Gi Soyul be associated with Demir¡¯s Workshop? ¡°Since when? Weren¡¯t you always with Parang?¡± Confusion clouded his thoughts. A ranker in the 300s could go anywhere and be weed with open arms. Why would someone like her possibly be in a tiny, barely profitable workshop like this? ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªSpit. Shadow Walker spat on the ground, staining it with blood. Damn that brat, Shin Jongoh. Of course, now it made sense. No wonder Shin Jongoh had thrown out such an outrageous sum of 30 billion won. Regret washed over him like a tidal wave. If he had known Gi Soyul was involved, he wouldn¡¯t havee for any price, let alone 30 billion. His life was more valuable than money. ¡ªSshk. Gi Soyul didn¡¯t bother answering his question. She simply adjusted her stance, raising her dark de ever so slightly. ¡°W-Wait!¡± Shadow Walker raised his hand hurriedly. ¡°What is it?¡± Gi Soyul responded coldly. ¡°I¡¯ve made a mistake. This is all just a misunderstanding. Can¡¯t we talk this out?¡± ¡°A misunderstanding, you say¡­¡± Gi Soyul smirked. ¡°Do you usually point a de at someone during misunderstandings?¡± ¡°Th-That¡¯s because of Shin Jongoh, that bastard¡­!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make excuses. You were about to take a life, and that alone is reason enough for you to die.¡± Her voice dripped with icy finality. A suffocating aura of murderous intent swirled around her. This is¡­ ¡ªGulp. Shadow Walker swallowed hard. For some reason, the Dark Empress seemed genuinely furious. It was like he had angered a mighty dragon, something no one could stop. It seems there¡¯s no choice. There was no other option now. He had to fight. She might be strong, but he was still a ranker! ¡ªWhoosh! Shadow Walker lowered his stance and slipped into the shadows around him. In an instant, dark energy surged toward Gi Soyul from multiple directions¡ªher nks and her rear. It was a perfect ambush, executed with all the speed he could muster. ¡°¡­¡± But Gi Soyul didn¡¯t react. She neither flinched nor attempted to dodge. She simply flicked her wrist, waving her dagger twice. It was a clean execution, devoid of any wasteful movement. ¡ªShik! sh! The sound of something sharp slicing through the air echoed in the space. ¡°Guh! Urgh!¡± The clone meant to attack Gi Soyul from the side vanished, while Shadow Walker, the real one, clutched his shoulder, blood dripping down. He had twisted his body at thest second, or else it wouldn¡¯t have been his shoulder that got cut¡ªit would have been his throat. ¡ªTremble. His body shook uncontrobly. This is just¡­ There¡¯s no way I can match her. He realized the overwhelming difference in their skill in just a single exchange. Gi Soyul was ranked 379th worldwide, while he was ranked 720th. He¡¯d considered it a difference of only 341 ranks, but that was not the case. An assassin is this strong without even relying on shadows? The gap between them felt insurmountable, like trying to crack a boulder with an egg. Suddenly¡­ ¡ªWhoosh! Gi Soyul disappeared. ¡°H-Huh?¡± Shadow Walker quickly whipped his head around in panic. Where? Right? Left? Behind? Above? But no matter where he looked, he couldn¡¯t see her. ¡ªStab! At that moment, the sound of something slicing through him echoed in his eardrums. Simultaneously, he felt a heavy pain in the left side of his chest. ¡°Wh-What¡­?¡± In a daze, Shadow Walker looked down at his heart. ¡°When¡­ When did this happen?¡± A dagger was stabbed deep into his chest, and standing before him was Gi Soyul. Her cold, detached gaze locked onto him. Her movements had been ghostly, untraceable. At the same time, tremendous pain surged through his body. ¡°Gahhh!¡± Agonizing pain flooded his senses. He tried to swing his sword to knock her away, but¡­ ¡ªStab! Stab! She swiftly pulled out the dagger, stepped back, and once again stabbed it into his heart. The time it took for the dagger to be withdrawn and reinserted wasn¡¯t even a second. ¡°Don¡¯t feel too wronged. You¡¯re just getting back what you tried to do to someone else,¡± she whispered coldly. ¡°U-Ugh¡­¡± He could no longer speak. Blood gurgled up in his throat, and all the strength drained from his body. It felt like some dark power within the dagger had pierced his heart and shattered itpletely. ¡ªThud. His body copsed to the ground, blood trailing from his lips as his eyes slowly closed. Thus ended a ranker¡¯s life. The global rankings were about to shift once again. Shadow Walker was dead. The fearsome ranker had drawn hisst breath. And it had only taken three strikes. ¡°My lord¡­¡± Sunny murmured. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. We let you get into danger because we couldn¡¯t handle someone like that¡­¡± ¡°I need to train harder too. My body still can¡¯t fully keep up with what I want it to do.¡± Eldrin added, sharing in the guilt. Their voices carried a clear sense of regret. ¡°¡­¡± It wasn¡¯t their fault. The issue was that I was still B-rank. Because I wasn¡¯t a ranker yet, their growth also had its limits. They must have felt frustrated too. They would have easily been stronger than Gi Soyul if they were at their full strength. You guys did great. We held off a ranker for this long thanks to their experience and battle-hardened skills, allowing them to hold him off with minimal force. ¡°Donghoon.¡± Gi Soyul approached me after carefully wiping off her dagger with a disposable cloth. There was something¡­ different about her. Maybe it was because of the recent battle, but she seemed unusually angered, her fingers trembling slightly as she gripped her weapon. ¡°¡­Are you alright? You would¡¯ve been in great danger if I¡¯de a secondter.¡± ¡°Thanks to you, Dark Empress, I¡¯m fine. Thank you for saving me.¡± I bowed my head in genuine gratitude. Once again, I owed her my life. That dagger was well worth it. A satisfied smile crept onto my face. Treat your benefactors with the highest respect. This was the creed I had set for myself, and this moment was proof of its value. When my cksmithing skills reach their peak, I¡¯d make her an even better weapon. VIPs of Demir¡¯s Workshop would always remain VIPs. That¡¯s how you elevated a brand¡¯s worth. ¡°By the way, what was that about earlier? You said you left Parang?¡± ¡ªFlinch! When I asked, she visibly tensed. Huh? What was that about? Come to think of it, I¡¯d also heard her say something about being part of Demir¡¯s Workshop. ¡°Well, uh¡­ About that. Actually¡­¡± As she hesitated, Kim Jinah came down from the third floor, now looking calm andposed after the earlier chaos. ¡°Dark Empress, I¡¯ve heard so much about you. Thank you for your help.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s nothing¡­ But, uh, who are you¡­?¡± Gi Soyul scratched her cheek awkwardly, tilting her head in confusion. For the record, this was the first time she and Kim Jinah were meeting. ¡°Ahaha, I¡¯m Kim Jinah. I¡¯ve recently taken the role of vice master of this workshop.¡± ¡°Kim Jinah¡­? Wait, are you the Kim Jinah from the Hunter Bank?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve heard of me?¡± ¡°My brother¡¯s mentioned you before. He always said you were someone Parang desperately wanted to recruit¡­ But how did you end up here?¡± ¡°It just so happened to be. It¡¯s a great honor that Parang evaluated me that highly.¡± Kim Jinah smiled gently as if she knew her worth well. Her confidence was evident as if it was a matter of fact. Soon, Gi Soyul turned to look at me again. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest¡­ I anticipated this sort of thing happening after announcing the S-rank weapon. It just took me a little longer than expected to sort everything out.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Donghoon.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a hunter who has received the rmendation of the Five Stars of Seoul. I have an obligation to protect you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Frankly, Donghoon, you¡¯re still weak. Not as a person, but rather there¡¯s hidden potential within you that needs to grow. And for that to bloom, you need protection. The world is a tough ce.¡± I understood perfectly what she was saying. She wanted to join Demir¡¯s Workshop. That was why she had left Parang toe here. It was a sentiment I was deeply grateful for. But¡­ The old man had told me once: ¡°That girl who once challenged me¡­ How long do you n on keeping her by your side? ¡°You¡¯ve got someone too strong watching over you.¡± I couldn¡¯t be stronger by just hiding behind someone else. No matter how harsh the world might be, I had to face it head-on and fight. ¡°¡­Oh my gosh. Shop Master? What need is there to even think about?¡± Kim Jinah cut in, seeing me lost in thought. ¡°You should be celebrating! The Dark Empress herself is offering to join! Do you even know who she is? She¡¯s ranked 379th in the world! 379th!¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but¡­¡± ¡°Oh my goodness.¡± Kim Jinah shook her head in disbelief before smiling brightly at Gi soyul. ¡°Teehee, Dark Empress!¡± ¡°Y-Yes?¡± Gi soyul seemed slightly taken aback. ¡°If you¡¯re joining us, we¡¯ll wee you with open arms! Come on in! Any hiring issues can be discussed with me, the vice shop master!¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± ¡°Of course! Our shop master here tends to overthink things! Come right on up to the third floor. Let¡¯s have a chat in the consultation room! Would you like some coffee? A sweettte? Or maybe an iced Americano?¡± Hmm. Kim Jinah shot me a sharp look as I hesitated. Stay quiet. If you don¡¯t want to ept the blessings that fall into yourp, at least don¡¯t kick them away, her eyes seemed to say. True¡­ It wouldn¡¯t hurt. The old man¡¯s words were out of his desire for me to grow stronger. But in reality, Gi Soyul¡¯s presence was necessary. Especially in situations like the one I¡¯d just faced¡ªsituations beyond my control. Her involvement would undoubtedly be a huge benefit to the growth of the workshop as well. Most importantly, my heart wanted to ept her presence. As I embraced this realization, a smile crept onto my face. Honestly, when have I ever fully obeyed the old man? I turned my gaze forward once again. Gi Soyul was still quietly watching me, waiting for my response rather than Kim Jinah¡¯s chatter. She wanted to hear it from me. Alright then. ¡°Dark Empress.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± One of my strengths was making decisions quickly. ¡°Thank you foring. I look forward to working with you.¡± And so, Demir¡¯s Workshop gained its first ranked hunter. Chapter 72 Chapter 72: The Best Strategy to Deal with a Madman is to Avoid Him (1) The entire country was thrown into chaos. Once again, the ranker system was updated. [The Hunter Associationunches investigation! Ranking change assumed to be due to the death of Shadow Walker, rank 720, from France!] After the previous death of The Diamond¡­ Another ranker had died. The location of the death was the same¡ªthe second strongest hunter nation in the world, South Korea. Because of this, the inte erupted like a volcano. > Holy crap, it¡¯s Korea again? Why is it that other countries are quiet, but there¡¯s never a peaceful day in our country?¡± > Hmm, does that mean we have a huge influx of foreign rankers?¡± > So what happened this time? Last time it was a terrorist group, right? Is it the same again?¡± > From what I know, Shadow Walker was part of the Ohsung Group. If it were an unjust death, wouldn¡¯t Ohsung step up?¡± > Oh! You¡¯re right! Ohsung, hurry up and make a statement! We¡¯re curious!¡± For a moment, the attention shifted toward the Ohsung Group. But there was no need for that. Because right at that moment, Gi Soyul made a public statement. ¡°Breaking News: A Shocking Announcement by Dark Empress Gi Soyul! ¡®I killed Shadow Walker!¡¯¡± Gi Soyul swiftly exined the situation to the press. She also expressed regret toward the Ohsung Group, which was suspected of ordering the assassination. > Eek. > Crazy. > Fuck, those Ohsung Group bastards¡­ I knew they¡¯d pull something like this one day. What kind of bigpany orders an assassination in the 21st century? > Those bastards. That ce is already known for being a thug corporation. > Hah, I was going to stay neutral, but now what¡­ She even provided undeniable evidence. Foreign rankers are always the problem. Why don¡¯t they just stay in their own countries? Instead, theye here, cause terror, and drain national wealth¡­ > Oh my gosh, Gi Soyul is so pretty. The absurd act of ordering an assassination had the inte fuming with rage. Countless hatefulments poured in, and spective articles spread like a wildfire. > I¡¯m never using Ohsung Group products again. What a scarypany. > I once gave the Ohsung Group a bad review with a low star rating¡­ Am I going to get assassinated, too? > It¡¯s best not to use products from shadypanies. > The Ohsung Workshop? I¡¯d never use their crap even if they gave it to me for free lol. > The higher-ups there are probably gonna die in ¡°car idents¡± soon. > Oh my gosh, Gi Soyul is awesome. More and more people got involved. Information was edited and distributed through social media and YouTube. Public resentment toward the Ohsung Group swelled up like a rising tide. ¡ªBang! In the end, Ohsung Group chairman Shin Jooyong mmed his desk hard. The executives leading the group were gathered in the conference room, and Shin Jooyong¡¯s wrinkled right hand trembled with anger. ¡°What in the world is going on here? How is it that a ranker of our group carried out such an act without me knowing?¡± ¡°Uhm, we¡­ are still investigating it.¡± Shin Jooyong was baffled. Demir¡¯s Workshop? He¡¯d heard of it a few times, but that was it. He¡¯d been too busy with other ventures to even pay attention to it. What? A ranker? One of the rankers under his employ attacked someone? Moreover, the target of the attack was Gi Soyul. ¡°What kind of fool attempts to assassinate the Dark Empress!¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly right. None of us here would do something so foolish¡­ But there is one person we suspect.¡± ¡°What? Who is it?¡± ¡°Th-That would be¡­¡± one of the executives hesitated to respond. It wasn¡¯t until Shin Jooyong gave him a stern look that he finally spoke. ¡°Th-The executive in question is Shin Jongoh.¡± ¡°Jongoh?¡± At the mention of his grandson¡¯s name, Shin Jooyong¡¯s lips twisted. ¡°¡­Ahem, recently, there have been reports that his rtionship with Demir¡¯s Workshop hasn¡¯t been good.¡± ¡°Is that so¡­?¡± Shin Jooyong¡¯s eyebrow twitched. ¡ªTap! Tap! At the same time, two of his fingers drummed on the table. This was a gesture he made when deep in thought. Jongoh, huh¡­ He was a problematic child. He had known that Jongoh had been growing up to be a delinquent. But he couldn¡¯t interfere easily. My sons¡­ Because of his once notoriously cold-blooded nature, which had earned him the nickname ¡°Frozen Blood,¡± he had cut off all of his sons from the family registry for even the slightest mistakes or smallest signs of weakness. He showed no mercy when it came to evaluating them. He had thought that was only natural. Thispany that I¡¯ve built is as precious to me as my own child. He believed apany was a living entity. Wasn¡¯t that why it was given a legal registration number when you registered a corporation? He couldn¡¯t entrust something so precious to a fool. Only in his twilight years when his whole body began to age did hee to realize the importance of family. That was why, even when his grandchildren began to stray, he could only watch. He didn¡¯t intervene. Instead, he handed out projects and treated them with care. ¡°Is it confirmed that Jongoh did it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no conclusive evidence, but the circumstances point strongly in that direction.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Truth be told, he didn¡¯t even need to see any evidence to know. After living as the head of a majorpany for so long, one didn¡¯t need to see things directly to know the truth. And to hear that he had a bad rtionship with Demir¡¯s Workshop, it was apparent. ¡°In any case, you¡¯re saying there¡¯s no definitive proof?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. There were no recorded traces of Shadow Walker at the hotel where he was staying, and he had a rtively solid alibi.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± Records could be erased. Alibis could be fabricated. That was just how the world worked as long as you had money. ¡°Then let¡¯s issue a public statement right away.¡± ¡°What should we say?¡± ¡°We express our grievances. And if they¡¯ve falsely used us without any evidence¡­ they will have to face the consequences, even if the opponent is a ranker.¡± ¡°A-Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°When it¡¯s time to push back, you must push back hard. Otherwise, people will think you¡¯re easy to mess with.¡± Perhaps¡­ he had grown old. To think that pride was taking precedence over practicality. In the past, he would have simply apologized and ended it there. ¡°Call all the group¡¯s rankers who are on leave back to headquarters. We¡¯ll respond with a show of force.¡± ¡°Understood¡­!¡± ¡­But this time, he had chosen to fight back. ¡°Breaking News! The Silent Ohsung Group Finally Speaks Out!¡± ¡°Chairman Shin Jooyong Denies Ordering Assassination, Threatens to Sue for Defamation and nder!¡± ¡°Ohsung Group Issues Strong Warning to Demir¡¯s Workshop and Parang Guild: Apologize or Face Severe Consequences!¡± Once again, chaos erupted on the hunter bulletin boards. > What is this? Who¡¯s telling the truth? > Lol. Who do you think is telling the truth? Honestly, what would Demir¡¯s Workshop or Gi Soyul gain from messing with the Ohsung Group? They called them out because it¡¯s true. > Then why is the Ohsung Group acting this way? > They¡¯re just trying to settle things with force. Who fights legally these days? It¡¯s all about physical power now. Anyone who knows anything already knows this. The Ohsung Group is gathering all their rankers at headquarters. > For real? That¡¯s insane. > This is terrifying. Is our country bingwless now? > It¡¯s notwlessness; it¡¯s the age of hunter chivalry lol. > The fleeting passions of wind and romance~ > Oh my gosh, Gi Soyul is so lovable. Ohsung Group had denied the usations. But the situation was escting more and more. The problem was¡­ things weren¡¯t going the way Ohsung Group had hoped. ¡°Ch-Chairman!¡± One of thepany¡¯s executives burst into the chairman¡¯s office. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Have you seen thetest article?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Frowning, Shin Jooyong picked up his smartphone. An article was prominently disyed on the website¡¯s front page. ¡°The Cult of the Heavenly Demon¡¯s ck Sword Squad Captain, Lee Sunah: ¡®Gi Soyul is not someone who would lie.¡¯¡± ¡°Lee Sunah?¡± Ranked 509th, the ck Sword, Lee Sunah, had spoken in defense of Gi Soyul. Below the article were numerousments. > Wow, even the Cult of the Heavenly Demon is getting involved? > Isn¡¯t the Cult of the Heavenly Demon the top guild in Korea? What¡¯s the Ohsung Group going to do? > But the leader, Ha Sera, didn¡¯t personally step in. > Honestly, if Ha Sera got involved, it¡¯d be game over lol. She¡¯s ranked 3rd in the world and the top in the country. But that aside¡­ even the ck Sword alone should make the Ohsung Group feel uneasy. > Agreed. They¡¯re getting isted. And it wasn¡¯t the only article. ¡°Ranker Yoo Sangdon: ¡®Shocked by Ohsung¡¯s Assassination Plot! The Rotten Roots in Our Sacred Marketce Must Be Uprooted!¡¯¡±] > Woah, even Yoo Sangdon has spoken out? > Our Ohsung Group¡­ turns out to be a domestic outcast. > Yoo Sangdon? That changes things. He¡¯s the vice president of the Hunter Association. The Ohsung Group must be terrified of him. > By the way, aren¡¯t they all from the Five Stars of Seoul? It¡¯s kind of funny seeing them tear down the Ohsung Group. > Oh my gosh, Gi Soyul is a social butterfly. > Can you stop saying that? ¡ªBoom! Once again, Shin Jooyong mmed his desk. ¡°White Swine, that bastard¡­!¡± He was bbergasted. He could understand Lee Sunah, but Yoo Sangdon¡¯s words were utterly ridiculous. ¡°The audacity. He¡¯s dirtier than we are. That damned money-grubbing bastard said what? Uproot the rotten roots?¡± His motive was clear. He was using this opportunity to eliminate apetitor. ¡°E-Excuse me, Chairman¡­¡± ¡°What now!¡± ¡°The issue isn¡¯t just with those two.¡± ¡°Then what else is the problem!¡± Now, Shin Jooyong was getting nervous. Cold sweat trickled down his body. Could it get worse than this? Maybe he had been too aggressive? Should he have just dealt with things internally and issued an apology? The thought briefly crossed his mind, but he quickly shook it off. He was standing firm on his pride. He had to stay resolute. If he apologized now, it would truly be the end. Right now, they were in a do-or-die situation. ¡°Well¡­ Chairman¡­ We received a call from Jang Daewoong through thepany¡¯s mainline.¡± ¡°Jang Daewoong¡­ So he¡¯s making a move as well?¡± Shin Jooyong gritted his teeth. If the Five Stars of Seoul were conspiring, then at the end of it would be Jang Daewoong¡ªthe Berserker. Jang Daewoong was difficult to deal with. But would Jang Daewoong, even as part of the Five Stars of Seoul, step into something that didn¡¯t concern him? The higher the ranker, the slower they were to move. And public opinion was a factor. If high-ranking rankers banded together and oppressed a single group without justification, rumors would inevitably spread. ¡°What did he say?¡± ¡°Well¡­ he mentioned that he hadmissioned 30 billion won¡¯s worth of weapons from Demir¡¯s Workshop¡­ He ims that we nearly ruined it and that we mustpensate him.¡± ¡°What? Compensate?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ He said that he¡¯s going to blow up our headquarters in an hour and that we should evacuate all the civilians.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Shin Jooyong was stunned. No matter how high a ranker someone was, this was essentially a deration of war. Moreover, there werews set by the Hunter Association. If rankers wanted to resolve disputes through duels, that was one thing. However, destroying property was another matter, especially if civilians could be harmed. ¡°He said the building would be worth around 30 billion won¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s worth much more than that!¡± ¡°Well¡­ he¡¯s not someone you can reason with¡­¡± ¡°Is that bastard insane?¡± Shin Jooyong screamed in frustration. ¡°I mean, he is¡­¡± As the executive giving the briefing muttered under his breath, his voice became as small as a crawling ant. ¡°¡­Executive Kim?¡± Shin Jooyong shot him a deadly re. ¡°Yes, Chairman.¡± ¡°Are you trying to joke with me in this situation? Don¡¯t you know what¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Shin Jooyong sighed. He couldn¡¯t stop his hands from shaking. His anger refused to subside. ¡°Evacuate everyone immediately! We¡¯ll assess the situation afterward!¡± There was no choice. Their opponent was the Berserker¡ªa true madman. And as they say, the best strategy when dealing with a madman is to avoid him altogether. Chapter 73 Chapter 73: The Best Strategy to Deal with a Madman is to Avoid Him (2) The Berserker¡¯s deration of war was, in truth, not a deration of war. It was more like an adult yfully reprimanding a naughty child with a light knock on the head. Nevertheless, a vast crowd gathered in front of the Ohsung Group¡¯s headquarters. ¡°There! Jang Daewoong said he¡¯d smash that building!¡± ¡°Get it on camera! Send out the choppers and broadcast this live!¡± Reporters and TV stations were the first to arrive; even ordinary citizens couldn¡¯t resist the spectacle. ¡°Mom! I wanna see this!¡± ¡°Alright, but we have to stay far away, okay?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± It was an unusual sight. Usually, when rankers fought, the best course of action was to stay far away. The battles between rankers could tear apart mountains and cause earthquakes, a disaster for ordinary people. Yet people still gathered despite the danger. ¡°Come on, this is the Berserker. There¡¯s not going to be a fight. He¡¯ll probably smash the building, and that¡¯ll be it.¡± ¡°I heard that all the rankers hired by the Ohsung Group already ran off.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t me them. Who¡¯s going to risk their life for loyalty to Ohsung?¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk. Why¡¯d they mess with a workshop the Berserker¡¯s interested in?¡± Jang Daewoong the Berserker. Ranked 20th in the world, he stood incredibly high. And in that moment, I was there too. ¡°Mr. Joo Donghoon! Or should I call you the Master of Demir¡¯s Workshop?¡± As time passed, familiar faces appeared. ¡°Or perhaps I should call you Skeleton Lord? That¡¯s your new alias, right?¡± These were the people who stood by me during the Ohsung Group¡¯s opposition. Among them was Lee Sunah the ck Sword, smiling brightly as she approached. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s been a while! There¡¯s not much time left until the Dungeon Maker, right? You¡¯ve been preparing, I assume?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t tell me you forgot after everything we¡¯ve done to support you¡­¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± I hadn¡¯t forgotten, of course. I was nning to challenge A-rank afterpleting this weapon. I was confident. After all, the old man had said I was more than ready to surpass A-rank. ¡°Anyway, thank you, Sunah. Your words helped me when I needed it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. It¡¯s what friends are for.¡± Lee Sunah winked at me. Just then, another figure appeared behind her. ¡°Hey, Joo Donghoon! It¡¯s a little disappointing. You should¡¯ve told me first if you could make S-rank weapons.¡± It was White Swine, a ranker who had climbed to 828th. Thest time we met, he was at 830th, but now he¡¯d moved up two spots. ¡°Haha, but it¡¯s impressive! Going head to head with the Ohsung Group by yourself! I can only imagine how pissed off that old geezer must be. It¡¯s so satisfying!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s why I dragged my busy self over here. Man, Jang Daewoong, that guy sure knows how to be cool. He doesn¡¯t care about the bacsh. He just dered he¡¯d destroy everything. His boldness alone deserves respect!¡± Indeed, that was true. Even in a world ruled by the logic of power, there was still public opinion and opposing forces. Jang Daewoong¡¯s reckless actions left him wide open to criticism in the future. ¡°I feel bad though. It¡¯s all because of me.¡± ¡°Hey, don¡¯t sweat it. That guy doesn¡¯t think that far ahead. You know what¡¯s funny?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°No one thinks his actions are excessive. People just think, ¡®Oh, that¡¯s the Berserker being the Berserker.¡¯ Man, he really nailed that persona, didn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Looking around, it was clear that no one seemed angry at the Berserker. Instead, everyone was watching with fascination. Ah, yes. The saying was true. Watching a fight or a fire is always the most entertaining. ¡°Let¡¯s just enjoy the show.¡± White Swine pointed at the building. From far away, I could vaguely see Jang Daewoong¡¯s new form. ¡°You can tell it¡¯s about to begin.¡± ¡°Gahahaha! Don¡¯t take this too personally! There¡¯s no grudge or hard feelings here. I¡¯m only returning the 30 billion you tried to take from me!¡± Powerful energy surged as Jang Daewoong raised his right hand while hovering in midair, his left hand casually tucked in his pocket. The mere motion stirred the wind around him. ¡ªGulp. I swallowed hard. His heartyugh and how he was about to destroy the building with a single punch¡ªwhy did it look so cool? With his bulging muscles and entire demeanor¡ªhe truly embodied a Berserker. ¡°Wait! Berserker!¡± At that moment, a voice red through a megaphone below. The speaker was Shin Jooyong, the chairman of the Ohsung Group. ¡°The action you¡¯re about to take is a violent misuse of power without justification! No matter if you¡¯re ranked 20th, stronger hunters are out there! Aren¡¯t you afraid of what the world will think?¡± ¡°Haha, without justification, you say? Didn¡¯t the dOhsung Group initiate the violence by sending a ranker after someone?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no proof that we did any such thing!¡± ¡°You want proof? My judgment is the proof!¡± ¡°How can you say such¡­!¡± ¡°Shush. If you¡¯re upset, hire a ranker to take me on.¡± Jang Daewoong then turned to face the hovering cameras on the chopper. ¡°If anyone has a problem with my actions, bring it. I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s hunters or even an entire nation!¡± At that moment, his right arm moved with a casual flick. ¡ªShwoooom! But the impact was anything but casual. ¡ªKaboom! A massive surge of ki shot from his right fist, mming into the center of the building. ¡ªRumble. The ground shook, and a gaping hole appeared in the building like a missile had hit it. ¡°You¡­ You madman!¡± Shin Jooyong¡¯s outburst was ignored. ¡ªShwoom! Shwoom! Kaboom! Three more punches were sent toward the building¡¯s support pirs. A mere building stood no chance against the power of a ranker. ¡ªRumble. The building crumbled amidst a cloud of dust. No one stopped the Berserker because, as the public had predicted, every ranker hired by the Ohsung Group had fled. ¡°Hey, Chairman Shin.¡± With his left hand still in his pocket, Jang Daewoong descended to the ground. ¡°To deceive others, you must first deceive yourself.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You know the truth better than anyone. If you made the wrong decision, you deserve a beating, no matter how old you might be.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Did you mistake me, Jang Daewoong, for a fool?¡± ¡ªClench. Shin Jooyong clenched his fist and bit his lip. He¡¯s not just a madman, after all. As a top figure in the nation, Jang Daewoong could easily see the truth without needing to delve deep into the details. ¡°¡­So you knew?¡± ¡°The Ohsung Workshop¡¯s wrongdoings were directed at Demir¡¯s Master, not me. That¡¯s why I¡¯m letting it end with just this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The message was simple. Had the wrongdoings been directed at him, it wouldn¡¯t have ended with just one destroyed building. In other words, ept your defeat withoutint. This is¡­ Chairman Shin hung his head. In both power and spirit, he had been utterly defeated. * * * ¡°Grandfather! Grandfather!¡± Shin Jooyong had retreated to the Ohsung Group¡¯s Gangnam branch. His grandson, Shin Jongoh, rushed in. ¡°This is ridiculous! Rankers colluding like this and using such violence!¡± ¡ªBang! He mmed open the door, breathing heavily as he ranted. ¡°And there¡¯s no proof I did anything! We need to gather as much money as possible and respond!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Shin Jooyong silently watched his grandson. How did things turn out like this? How could it havee to this? It seems I knew how to run a business, but I failed at raising my kids. Because of this grandson, the image of thepany he had built over 80 years had been dragged down into the mud. His grandson had only been there for 20 years. On the other hand, thepany, his true offspring, had been his life¡¯s work. That was why his insides burned. Rage surged within him. ¡°Grandfather! Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Right! How about we bring in the Heavenly Demon to back us up?¡± ¡°¡­You fool.¡± ¡ªGrit. Shin Jooyong ground his teeth. Indeed, this wasn¡¯t right. He had once been known as Frozen Blood. He knew when to cut ties. Trash belonged in the garbage. ¡°Grandfather?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth!¡± ¡°G-Grandfather?¡± ¡°Do you know how much damage you¡¯ve caused to ourpany? And now youe here spouting nonsense without even apologizing?¡± ¡°Wait¡­ No, that¡¯s not what I mean¡­¡± ¡°No more. You¡¯re going to be punished today.¡± ¡°Grandfather?¡± Shin Jooyong picked up the phone and called in security. And not just any security; it was an A-rank hunter temporarily hired by thepany. ¡°Apologies, but please detain that idiot. I¡¯ve got some lessons to teach him.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The towering A-rank hunter grabbed Shin Jongoh, flipping him around boiling effortlessly. As a mere C-rank, Shin Jongoh had no chance to resist. ¡°Grandfather! Wait!¡± ¡°Quiet.¡± The elderly chairman picked up a gleaming iron golf club from the corner of the room, a favorite from his practice sessions. ¡°Unless I get some proper swings in today on your body, I might die from the stress.¡± ¡°Grandfather?¡± ¡ªWhack! Whack! The golf club sliced in a beautiful swing through the air, striking Shin Jongoh¡¯s backside and thighs. ¡°Aghhhh! Stop! Stop!¡± ¡°From this day forth, you are out of the workshop business.¡± ¡ªWhack! Whack! ¡°And also, you¡¯re to remove yourself from the family registry. I never had a grandson as stupid as you. Go live as a lowly hunter or whatever you please.¡± ¡ªWhack! Whack! That day, the chairman¡¯s office in Gangnam was filled with the sounds of cracking swings. * * * ¡°Breaking News: Ohsung Group Admits to Ordering Assassination¡ªPublic Apology Follows¡± ¡°Shock Confession from Ohsung Group: Berserker Re-Evaluated as a Hero of the Age!¡° ¡°Ohsung Group Withdraws from the Workshop Business as a Sign of Apology!¡± ¡°Master of Demir¡¯s Workshop, I¡¯vemitted some wrong deeds. We¡¯llpensate you with as much as you deem fair.¡± In Apgujeong, Shin Jooyong knelt before me in front of the building. ¡°¡­¡± He was just as incredible as the rumors said. A head of a corporation was bowing and admitting his mistake, even kneeling before a small workshop owner. Although he had made a poor decision at first, he knew how to correct it. However, that was just between me and Chairman Shin. Shin Jongoh was another matter entirely. ¡°You mentioned removing him from your family registry?¡± ¡°Yes, that brat will never set foot in the Ohsung Group again for the rest of his life.¡± Well, I didn¡¯t know. Did he even have that much time left? ¡°So whatever happens to Shin Jongoh, you won¡¯t concern yourself with it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Shin Jooyong pressed his lips together, clearly understanding the meaning behind my words. Shin Jongoh had tried to kill me, and my creed was to pay back what I was given. Since my life was valuable, this wouldn¡¯t be enough. I wasn¡¯t the type to leave loose ends. ¡°Do as you¡¯d like¡­ He¡¯s no longer of any concern to me.¡± ¡°Good. In that case, I ept your apology.¡± With that, our dealings with the Ohsung Group were concluded. Now, all that remained was settling things with Shin Jongoh. In my eyes, it was a fairly clean conclusion. Chapter 74 Chapter 74: A Game Prepared Just for You (1) ¡°¡­¡± Shin Jongoh slowly opened his eyes. Pain shot through his entire body. Upon a quick inspection, there wasn¡¯t a single spot left unscathed. No wonder, really. He had been beaten senseless with a golf club. He couldn¡¯t understand why anyone would use a tool meant for hitting golf balls to beat someone. ¡°¡­Fuck.¡± A curse escaped his lips. His hands trembled uncontrobly. He had never been beaten this badly in his life. It was the first time he had taken such a beating and from none other than his grandfather. ¡°Pfft.¡± Suddenughter bubbled up. ¡°Pfft, hahaha!¡± A raspy chuckle escaped through his clenched lips. Shin Jongoh dropped his head to the ground and shook withughter. That damned old man. Chairman Shin Jooyong had disowned him and stripped away every asset Shin Jongoh had under his name. He now found himself waking up in some random alleyway littered with cigarette butts and reeking of foul-smelling sewage. The meaning was clear. He had fallen from a third-generationpany heir to a street bum in an instant¡ªan unbelievable oue. ¡°This is all because of him.¡± ¡ªGrit. Shin Jongoh ground his teeth. ¡°That bastard, Joo Donghoon.¡± At first, he had only meant to remind that upstart of his ce. Just because Gi Soyul, a ranker, shows interest in you doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re something special. In the end, you and your kind are nothing but dogs under people like me, the elite. Trying to defy that destiny will only exhaust you. The world was like that; he had only tried to make Joo Donghoon understand it. But Joo Donghoon fought back instead. He ignored Shin Jongoh¡¯s invitation and set up his workshop. A workshop? What a joke. At first, Shin Jongohughed at the idea. Even big corporations often failed in that business. But Joo Donghoon was different. He had talent and business sense, climbing up despite repeated obstacles. And then¡­ He can make an S-rank weapon?! That was when the real fear set in. The anxiety that Demir¡¯s Workshop might grow into something significant. So he resorted to ordering an assassination. Well, putting that aside¡­ ¡°Actually.¡± Shin Jongoh bit his lip. ¡°That bastard is only good at making weapons. That¡¯s it, right?¡± In his mind, Joo Donghoon was just a lucky fool. Everything had been resolved thanks to the rankers around him. Even his grandfather¡¯s problem had been because of the Berserker. The failure of the assassination was due to Gi Soyul. Through it all, Joo Donghoon himself had done nothing. ¡°Why the fuck is everyone so desperate to be on that bastard¡¯s side?!¡± His rage exploded as he stood up. There was no way he was giving up like this. One of them had to die for this to end. And Joo Donghoon was just a B-rank production type. If he could separate him from Gi Soyul, he could handle him. I¡¯ll show him how terrifying a man who¡¯s lost everything can be. At the moment that Shin Jongoh¡¯s eyes were filled with murderous intent, a voice called out behind him. ¡°There you are, Shin Jongoh!¡± ¡°Hm?¡± When he turned around, Shin Jongoh saw a young man, probably in histe teens. He squinted. ¡°¡­Who¡¯s this?¡± The face looked familiar, but he couldn¡¯t quite ce it. Whoever it was, they weren¡¯t important. ¡°You piece of trash! You ruined my life, and you don¡¯t even remember?!¡± ¡°What now¡­?¡± ¡°Look at you! You¡¯ve fallen just like me! Now do you finally understand how I felt?!¡± ¡°What did you just say¡­?¡± Shin Jongoh¡¯s irritation spiked. He was already fuming over Joo Donghoon, and now some nobody was bothering him. But at that moment, more voices chimed in. ¡°There he is, Shin Jongoh.¡± ¡°Perfect timing, you bastard. Been living well?¡± ¡°Heard you got beaten up and kicked out of your family. Not a rich kid anymore, huh?¡± ¡°You look just like a stray dog now. You used to drink and party like a beast, and now you¡¯ve actually be one. How does it feel now that you have no money or friends?¡± People started appearing from the shadows of the alley, one by one. Among them were civilians and low-ranked hunters. However, themon factor was that they were all people Shin Jongoh had wronged in the past. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you bastards¡­¡± Shin Jongoh instinctively backed away. He could understand them showing up, but how did they find out so fast? The beating had happened just yesterday. Could rumors have spread that quickly? Their eyes burned with anger, and one young man stepped forward. ¡°Remember? You and your hunter buddies locked up my brother and said he was in a ¡®human monster dungeon¡¯? You said if he didn¡¯t beat all of you, he¡¯d die. He¡¯s been in a vegetative state ever since. Let me ask you one thing¡ªwhy did you even do it?¡± ¡°What? That happened to your brother too? It happened to my friend as well.¡± ¡°Me too! Me too!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Shin Jongoh clenched his fists. He knew exactly what they were talking about. It was just a game, a role-ying scenario. He and his hunter buddies had yed the role of monsters, while the victim was an unlucky hunter who had stumbled into their ¡°dungeon.¡± There was a prize if the victim could use their wits to escape. It started as a joke. But it escted over time. Initially, Joo Donghoon had been invited to join the game too. But then¡­ ¡°¡­So what?¡± Shin Jongoh muttered under his breath. These people were nobodies. Worthless creatures who groveled at the money he threw their way. Low-ss scum who sold their pride for money. ¡°So what? You bastards.¡± He stood tall, defiantly. ¡°You¡¯re all the same, you hypocritical bastards! The world¡¯s always been like this, so why am I the only one taking the fall? The Berserker can break thew and destroy a building, but it¡¯s not okay for me to break thew and mess with you?¡± ¡°This crazy bastard.¡± ¡°¡­What kind of twisted logic is that?¡± As Shin Jongoh yelled in defiance, the victims could only stare in disbelief. ¡°Swearing at me now?¡± Shin Jongoh picked up a metal pipe from the ground, gripping it tightly. ¡°Ever since hunters appeared, the strong have ruled the world. If you don¡¯t like it, you should¡¯ve just gotten stronger!¡± ¡ªBuzz. He channeled his ki into the pipe. He was a C-rank hunter. None of the people he had wronged were above B-rank, which meant there was no one stronger than him here. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve hit rock bottom. But what are you going to do about it? You think you¡¯re going to fight me? Pfft! Pathetic. A bunch of insects gathering together to do what exactly?¡± ¡ªThud! Thud! He mmed the pipe on the ground. ¡°Come on, who¡¯s first?¡± His eyes locked onto a young man standing in front. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start with you.¡± Shin Jongoh lunged forward, swinging the pipe. ¡°Tsk.¡± A sharp sound came from behind him. ¡°So humans in this world are no different from mine. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve encountered someone this vile.¡± ¡ªng! A bone spear suddenly appeared, knocking the metal pipe away with a heavy blow. ¡°Ugh!¡± The force caused Shin Jongoh to drop the pipe, his hands numb with pain. ¡°Wh-What the hell? Who are you?¡± He looked around, eyes wide, and saw a skeleton wielding a spear. The only person who came to mind was Joo Donghoon. Damn it! He tried to retrieve the pipe, but¡­ ¡ªShwing! ng! An arrow shot from a distance, sending the pipe flying. ¡°Hmm, this one reeks of filth. It feels as if I couldn¡¯t cleanse him even with a purification ritual. So vile.¡± ¡°¡­What the hell is that?¡± Shin Jongoh couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. ¡°A skeleton with a bow?¡± And the skeleton¡¯s archery skills were so precise that even he, a C-rank hunter, couldn¡¯t track its movements. And standing in front of that skeleton was the man he hated most¡ªthe one responsible for everything. ¡°Ha¡­ This is our first time seeing each other in person, isn¡¯t it?¡± It was Joo Donghoon. ¡°¡­Joo Donghoon.¡± Grinding his teeth, Shin Jongoh spat out my name. He looked furious, but honestly, it was unfair. He was the one who had constantly been tormenting me, so I couldn¡¯t understand why he was mad at me. ¡°So¡­ you gathered all these pesky things together?¡± He pointed at the victims. ¡°These things, huh? What, are they just objects to you?¡± ¡°Whatever, fuck it! I asked you! Are you the one who brought them all together?!¡± ¡°Well, you already know the answer, don¡¯t you?¡± I grinned, sliding my hands into my pockets. I wasn¡¯t nning to move an inch from this spot. There was no need. ¡°I did some digging, and you¡¯ve done some truly awful things. It¡¯s a wonder you haven¡¯t been arrested yet. When I posted about you online, people swarmed in like bees.¡± ¡°¡­You bastard. So you crawled out here just to die to me, huh?¡± He threw aside the pipe and charged at me, swinging a punch at my face. But¡­ Too slow. After all the training with the old man, Shin Jongoh¡¯s attack felt like it was in slow motion. ¡ªSmack! I didn¡¯t even need to try. I sidestepped easily and pped him across the face with my right hand. ¡°Urgh!¡± ¡ªThud! Thud! He rolled across the ground a few times from that single p. Oh. Turns out I didn¡¯t even need to use the skeletons. I¡¯d be pretty strong on my own. Compared to when I was an E-rank hunter, I hade a long way. ¡°Wow, your face is even puffier now.¡± ¡°You¡­ You son of a bitch!¡± ¡°How dare you address my lord with such disrespect.¡± ¡ªThud! This time, it was Sunny¡¯s spear. He didn¡¯t stab him with the de¡ªhe just whacked him with the shaft. And it wasn¡¯t any weaker than my p, either. ¡°Urgh! F-Fuck¡­!¡± After rolling on the ground again, Shin Jongoh writhed in pain for a moment before suddenly jumping up and turning to run. He knew he was outmatched and was trying to flee. I chuckled. ¡°You were cursing at me just a few seconds ago, and now you¡¯re running away? That¡¯s embarrassing, man.¡± Seeing him sprint down the alley fleeing like a rat was almost pitiful. All this time¡­ this guy had been wasting my precious time. And even now, he was wasting it. I had nned just to let him be, but that was no longer an option. Aside from the possibility that he¡¯d hinder me in the future, I realized he clearly couldn¡¯t be left unpunished the more I researched about him. ¡°Run as far as you can.¡± But I didn¡¯t move an inch from my spot. After all, I had 55 skeletons scattered around the area. ¡°I¡¯ve got a game prepared just for you.¡± The real fun was just beginning. Chapter 75 Chapter 75: A Game Prepared Just for You (2) ¡ªThump, thump! Shin Jongoh could feel his heart pounding heavily in his chest. This can¡¯t be happening. He looked down at his trembling hands, disbelief written all over his face. I¡¯m a C-rank hunter¡­ So why¡­? How was Joo Donghoon able to just p him around? Why couldn¡¯t he handle even one of his skeletons? He wondered if his strength had disappeared with the assets he¡¯d held. It was absurd. Joo Donghoon was a production-ss hunter. Only a few months ago, he had been nothing more than an E-rank hunter. Was this guy secretly a skilled fighter all along? How is that even possible¡­?! Could something so ridiculous even happen? His cheek throbbed, the blood vessels had burst under the p, and his abdomen ached from where he¡¯d been struck. This isn¡¯t going to work. He had no chance. That much had be clear after a single encounter. Joo Donghoon was too fast, too precise¡ªfar beyond what Shin Jongoh could handle. I¡¯ll have to bide my time and regroup. He quickly organized his thoughts and decided to flee. I¡¯ve still got money hidden away. While his grandfather had seized all his official assets, Shin Jongoh had secret ounts and stashes of cash. If he could collect everything, he might be able to gather at least 5 billion won. I¡¯ll hire mercenaries ande back for revenge. He would not only deal with Joo Donghoon but also eliminate anyone else who held a grudge against him. After all, Shin Jongoh believed that money solved everything in this world. That was the world he knew. ¡°Huff, huff!¡± He sprinted, swallowing his pride for the time being to flee. ¡ªThud, thud, thud! He ran through the narrow alleys, dashing between buildings. But then¡­ ¡°What the¡­?¡± He was forced to stop. At the end of the alley stood three skeletons, two wielding swords and one with a shield, blocking his escape. The ominous aura they radiated made him feel like he couldn¡¯t break through. ¡°D-Damn it!¡± He quickly turned around and bolted in the opposite direction, searching for another escape route. However¡­ ¡°Wh-What the¡­?¡± Panic set in as more skeletons appeared from every corner and alley, cutting off every possible escape. ¡°Wh-What the fuck¡­? How can there be so many skeletons?¡± It wasn¡¯t just the alleyways. ¡ªCreak! Creak! Skeleton archers stood on rooftops, staring down at him with arrows at the ready. ¡°This is¡­ insane¡­¡± It was as if he had stumbled into the depths of hell or the underworld itself. The sight of skeletons surrounding him from every direction was terrifying. ¡°N-No¡­ Don¡¯te any closer! Get away from me, you bastards!¡± He screamed, backing away in fear, only to realize that he had returned to his starting point¡ªthe alley littered with cigarette butts and foul-smelling sewage. And there, standing with his hands casually in his pockets, was Joo Donghoon. ¡°F-Fuck¡­¡± A curse slipped from Shin Jongoh¡¯s lips. * * * ¡°Hm.¡± I looked at Shin Jongoh. Seeing him cowering and retreating in fear was a far cry from the arrogant, third-generation heir I had known. The true face of the hunter who hadmitted all sorts of wicked deeds as if he were Earth¡¯s protagonist was indeed ugly. There was no trace of manliness or boldness. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You ran away and came right back here.¡± ¡°D-Damn it!¡± ¡°Damn what? What are you cursing about?¡± ¡°Wh-What do you want from me?!¡± ¡°What do I want from you?¡± I smiled slightly. ¡°How about we think of it like this? You¡¯re in a dungeon now. Wee to the Skeleton Dungeon I¡¯ve created.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If you clear it, I¡¯ll give you a prize. Seriously. I could even make you an S-rank weapon if you manage to survive. What do you think? Sounds great, right?¡± ¡°S-Screw you! How am I supposed to clear this¡­?!¡± His curses trailed off, his voice weakening with every word. Like prey trembling before a predator, he waspletely subdued by my presence. Honestly, I was disappointed. Where was the confidence of the man who¡¯d terrorized my home, who picked fights at every turn? ¡ªStep, step. For the first time, I stepped forward, moving closer to him as I looked down. ¡°Are you feeling wronged?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Even with that simple question, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to answer, his eyes dropping to the ground. His confidence was gone entirely. Was being cowardly a trait passed down in his family? They were all strong against the weak but weak against the strong. ¡°Hmm, no answer?¡± ¡°Y-Yes! This feels unfair!¡± Wow. He threw all of his pride away and even started using polite speech now. ¡°Really? But why did you do what you did?¡± ¡°Excuse me¡­?¡± ¡°What you did to these people¡ªwas that okay? Yet what¡¯s happening to you now is unfair?¡± People like him only saw their own pain and never understood the suffering of others. We¡¯d call such people ¡®inhuman.¡¯ And based on my experience, such monsters were the bane of society. Better off gone than around. ¡°People like you¡­¡± Yes, people like him. ¡°Even if I exined what you did wrong, you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± This was a man who, for no reason other than a whim, had tried to destroy my business, terrorized me at every step, and even hired an assassin to kill me. I had no intention of letting him live. Above all else, he had tried to take my life. If Gi Soyul hadn¡¯t intervened, I would¡¯ve been the one dead right now. And I wasn¡¯t stupid or merciful enough to spare someone who had tried to kill me. ¡°So don¡¯t even try to pretend you¡¯re a human being.¡± ¡°S-Sorry?¡± ¡°To me, you¡¯re nothing more than an animal¡­ no, you¡¯re worse than that. You¡¯re a demon.¡± ¡ªWhack! I kicked him lightly in the chest. ¡°Urk!¡± Even that light kick was enough to send him reeling, clutching his chest in pain. ¡°Ugh, urgh!¡± He began to retch, ying the part of a victim now¡ªa ssic act. I wasn¡¯t falling for it. ¡°¡­¡± I nced behind me and gestured with my chin. The victims, who had been watching, slowly stepped forward, their faces filled with rage and hatred. ¡°You piece of trash. How does it feel? Now you know what it¡¯s like to be on the receiving end¡­¡± ¡°You put my brother in a permanenta. You¡¯ll pay for that.¡± ¡°My parents died because of you. I¡¯ll kill you¡­ I¡¯ll make sure you die the same way!¡± I decided to let them take over because their anger was far greater than my own. I didn¡¯t mind, as long as the result was the same. ¡°Get him!¡± ¡°Kill him! Kill that bastard!¡± ¡°You worthless scumbag! No, you¡¯re worse than scum!¡± Around a dozen victims descended upon Shin Jongoh like a pack of starving wolves. ¡°Wh-What¡­?!¡± He stumbled backward in panic, but¡­ ¡°Arrrgh!¡± He couldn¡¯t escape the fury of those he had wronged. ¡ªRip! Rrrip! Their nails tore through his clothes, and countless fists and feet pummeled his body. Before long, the defiant Shin Jongoh began to lose his strength. ¡°¡­¡± I watched for a moment before turning away, a bitter taste in my mouth. What we had dealt with today wasn¡¯t a human being. ¡°Goodbye, Shin Jongoh. Maybe in your next life, you¡¯ll learn to be kinder.¡± He was nothing more than a monster who had treated human lives like bugs. On the second floor of Demir¡¯s Workshop¡­ ¡°Haha, Master, is everything settled now?¡± Demir chuckled as he picked up his hammer, eager to finish what we had started. It was time toplete the work that had been dyed by all these distractions. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s get back to it. I need to hurry too.¡± Though I was in a rush to train, I couldn¡¯t forget about the Berserker¡¯s weapon. As courageous as I had be, I wasn¡¯t crazy enough to run off with the weapon of a madman who smashed buildings on a whim. ¡°At least it¡¯s a relief, Master.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Before, I could only picture that Jang Daewoong fellow in my mind, but after seeing him in person, I can craft something even more detailed.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°We can¡¯t create just a slightly crazy weapon. We need to make one that¡¯spletely unhinged.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Yeah, whatever you have in mind, let¡¯s make something truly powerful. ¡ªng! ng! [Completion rate: 32%] The forging resumed once again. * * * In South Korea, the second-strongest hunter nation in the world, if asked which one was the strongest guild in the country, everyone would answer the same: ¡°Cult of the Heavenly Demon.¡± Founded by Ha Sera, South Korea¡¯s number-one hunter, the guild was home to numerous rankers from both domestic and international circles. Due to therge number of rankers in the guild, it was divided into several teams. One of those teams was led by Lee Sunah, ranked 509th, captain of the ck Sword Squad. ¡°Captain!¡± A male hunter entered the ck Sword Squad¡¯s office. Lee Sunah frowned from her seat. ¡°Ahem, calling me captain again, Vice Team Leader?¡± She shuddered as if she was cringing, rubbing her arm. Her skin had goosebumps. ¡°I told you to call me Team Leader!¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s just a little charm of us wuxia novel fans¡­¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m not a fan of wuxia novels.¡± In fact, she wasn¡¯t too fond of the name ¡°Cult of the Heavenly Demon,¡± the name of their main organization. Had she not respected Ha Sera so much, she would never have joined an organization with such a name. ¡°But don¡¯t you think it¡¯s time you got used to it?¡± ¡°True, haha! I guess it is something your team leader needs to get used to, isn¡¯t it? Oh dear, it seems I misunderstoodpletely. Well then, our dear team members will have to get used to a week of night training as well! Are you all ready for that?¡± Lee Sunah grinned while speaking, and the vice team leader wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead. ¡°Haha, Team Leader, nice joke! I don¡¯t even know what ¡®captain¡¯ means!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Does that word even exist in the modern world? I¡¯ve never heard it before.¡± She sighed. Lee Sunah shook her head at the vice team leader¡¯s chitchat. ¡°So what brings you here?¡± He sat down across from her. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m here to talk about that dungeon request.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Requests weren¡¯t only made to mercenaries. Large guilds also received various offers. Those offers would go through internal guild meetings before being assigned to different teams. And because the ck Sword Squad had maintained a 100% clear rate in their dungeons, they often received more challenging assignments. ¡°I think we should request to withdraw from this one.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Lee Sunah tilted her head in curiosity. It was unusual for the vice team leader to request a withdrawal considering his rather aggressive personality. They had worked together for a long time, but this was the first time she had heard such a request from him. ¡°It¡¯s an A-rank dungeon, but it seems to have a special gimmick.¡± ¡°Gimmick?¡± Typically, moreplicated dungeon traps were often called ¡®gimmicks.¡¯ ¡°Yes, a gimmick. And it seems this dungeon requires a necromancer. We don¡¯t have one on our team, and necromancers aren¡¯t exactly easy toe by, are they? Even if we tried to hire one as a mercenary, it¡¯s unlikely we¡¯d find one.¡± ¡°A necromancer, you say?¡± Lee Sunah smirked and stroked her chin, intrigued. She only knew two necromancers. The first was Dark Lord Kim Hyukseon, ranked 948, first rmended by the Five Stars of Seoul. The second option wasn¡¯t a ranker but a hunter also rmended by the Five Stars of Seoul¡ªJoo Donghoon, the Skeleton Lord. ¡°This dungeon is going to be fun!¡± Lee Sunah shifted in her seat. For some reason, she felt more drawn to Joo Donghoon than Kim Hyukseon. She was curious about why her friend, Gi Soyul, was so taken by him, and she was intrigued by his rapid growth every time they met. ¡°Wait, Captain¡ªI mean, Team Leader? I¡¯m telling you we can¡¯t go without a necromancer!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine! I think I might be able to secure a necromancer.¡± ¡°Really? Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m notpletely certain, but we¡¯ll see.¡± A grin spread across Lee Sunah¡¯s face. Chapter 76 Chapter 76: A Weapon for a Madman ¡ªng! ng! ¡°Huff, huff!¡± ¡ªng! ng! ¡°Huff, huff!¡± The second floor of the workshop was filled with two sounds: the ringing of hammers and mybored breathing. This is no joke. This production waspletely different from thest one. Using mithril for the first time, Demir was meticulously focused, and I also poured all my concentration into the process. Jang Daewoong is like a force of nature, like Zhang Fei standing at the Changban Bridge. I imagined the formidable warrior from The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. One of the greatest generals, Zhang Fei, roared in defiance against tens of thousands of enemies, wielding his mighty spear. ¡°Wonderful! Your world has warriors as magnificent as you!¡± Demir shouted. The gauntlet we were crafting was infused with the fierce spirit of such valor. ¡ªng! Demir struck the mithril with all his might, the hammer channeling a mystical energy that slowly melted and coated the metal. ¡ªng! ng! Golden sparks flew with every hammer strike, and the mithril spread evenly under the force. Little did Demir realize how astonishing this process would be to other production hunters. Demir worked as if possessed, savoring each strike of the hammer. ¡°Ho! Zhang Fei, was it? Such a fearless and mighty warrior! Even for a madman¡¯s weapon, courage is always necessary!¡± Demir grinned widely. ¡°Oh? What is this now?¡± He was astonished again as I conjured the image of another warrior. ¡°Another figure from that ce? Ah, Master! The one carrying a child and fighting off tens of thousands¡ªwhat is his name?¡± ¡°That¡¯s Zhao Yun, another legendary figure from our world¡¯s history.¡± When I thought of characters who would suit the Berserker, I found myself recalling childhood memories of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I wasn¡¯t sure whether they were real or fictional, but the courageous impression of these two warriors in my memory was enough. All I needed was to convey the essence of their power. ¡°Incredible, Master! The resolve of those two warriors reminds me of when Eldrin and I fought against the Giant Magic Dragon!¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s about right.¡± ¡ªng! ng! Demir sang hisbor song with each hammer strike, like a farmer singing as they worked the fields. I chimed in with enthusiasm, cheering him on. ¡ªng! ng! ¡°Good! And if we mix in ten more insane weapons with this? We¡¯ll have the perfect weapon for the most fearless madman in the world!¡± [Item: Fist of the Giant Warrior God] [Rank: A] [Type: Blueprint] [Description: A blueprint for crafting the ¡®Fist of the Giant Warrior God.¡¯] [Effect 1: Allows the crafting of the ¡®Fist of the Giant Warrior God.¡¯] [Effect 2: Requires 200 iron ingots, 20 silver ingots, and 2 mithril ingots.] [Effect 3: Possesses excellent performance due to theplex crafting process.] The Fist of the Giant Warrior God. I wondered how this creation, reborn through my and Demir¡¯s hands, would turn out to be. ¡°Master!¡± Demir shouted triumphantly, delivering one of the final strikes. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Just a little more! We¡¯re almost there!¡± [Completion rate: 98%] The status window floating in the air showed 98%. Demir was right. We were nearly finished. After fourteen nights of effort, the end of this long journey was finally in sight. ¡ªng! ng! I focused even more, drawing upon my Great Blue Heart Technique to enhance my concentration. ¡°Master!¡± ¡°Now what?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think this will be called Fist of the Giant Warrior God!¡± ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°Fist of the Giant Warriors¡¯ God!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± I froze for a moment, my intense focus interrupted. What? All of a sudden, its name is going to change to the Fist of the Giant Warriors¡¯ God*? Was this real? It felt like the genre of our work had suddenly shifted. *TL/N: The original name is ¡®???(¾ÞÉñ±ø)? ??¡¯ (Fist of the Giant Warrior God) when Demir decides to change the name to ¡®???(¾Þ±øÉñ)? ??¡¯ (Fist of the Giant Warriors¡¯ God). What changed is that in Korean the 2nd letter and 3rd letter have been swapped, and ?? means a derogatory term to address the mentally handicapped. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but as we nearpletion, the name appeared on its own. Ha! Fist of the Giant Warriors¡¯ God¡ªa name as crazy as the weapon itself!¡± ¡ªThud. Demir stopped hammering, the process halting because I had stopped channeling my energy. ¡°Master? Why did you stop?¡± ¡°No, is this for real?¡± ¡°Is there¡­ something wrong?¡± ¡°No, but¡­¡± I wiped away the sweat that trickled down my forehead. Was our second VIP-exclusive weapon going to be called Fist of the Giant Warriors¡¯ God? What would the Berserker think of buying something called that for 30 billion won? He¡¯ll definitely blow his top. This was the same Jang Daewoong who had destroyed a building because they requested my assassination. After seeing this item, he might just blow away the entire workshop. ¡°Man¡­ We can¡¯t just put an insane name on this item just because we¡¯re making an insane item¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote, Master! We can¡¯t stop now after nearly two weeks of effort!¡± ¡ªng! ng! Demir resumed hammering as if nothing had happened. [Completion rate: 99%] ¡°It¡¯s almost done, Master!¡± he shouted. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± At this point, there was no turning back. I couldn¡¯t just keep postponing my duties. We¡¯d finish it and check its performance afterward. [Completion rate: 100%] [Congrattions!] [The weapon you created has been imbued with spirit.] ¡°Huff, huff!¡± With a final exhale, I felt a wave of relief. My heart pounded, and I slumped against the wall to catch my breath. My vision spun slightly from exhaustion. Demir approached me, his expression a mix of excitement and pride. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°You did well, Demir.¡± ¡°You too, Master. Here.¡± Demir handed me the gauntlet, his eyes gleaming with excitement. ¡°This is our masterpiece.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ah. It was a moment of pure emotion. Tingling chills ran through my body. Who cares what it¡¯s called? Fist of the Giant Warriors¡¯ God or not¡ªthis was our creation. [The weapon¡¯s rank has been upgraded!] [You have acquired ¡®Fist of the Giant Warriors¡¯ God¡¯ (S-rank).] ¡°Well, Fist of the Giant Warriors¡¯ God, let¡¯s see what you got.¡± I carefully took the gauntlet from Demir¡¯s hands. My second fully-fledged S-rank weapon, painstakingly crafted with an A-rank blueprint! [Item: Fist of the Giant Warriors¡¯ God] [Rank: S] [Type: Gauntlet] [Description: A weapon crafted by the legendary cksmith Demir and his master, forged in a state of madness! Embodying the keywords ¡®valor¡¯ and ¡®madman,¡¯ this gauntlet boasts insane performance.] [Effect 1: Increases strength by 100.] [Effect 2: Increases attack speed by 200%.] [Effect 3: When the user is in a frenzied state, the damage increases by 300%.] [Effect 4: During use, the gauntlet can temporarily grow in size.] ¡°This is¡­¡± I stared nkly at the weapon¡¯s stats. The performance was incredible, far beyond what I expected. The first two effects were standard for an S-rank weapon but significantly boosted. ¡°But the third effect¡­¡± That was absolutely crazy. A 300% increase in damage when in a frenzied state? Imagining the Berserker with that much power¡­ It sent shivers down my spine. It seemed like going berserk would go well with this skill¡¯s effect. Or it could be utilized in a different way. For instance, casting a mind-altering spell to make someone lose their reason and go on a rampage¡­ Something like that¡­ Of course, I wasn¡¯t sure if Jang Daewoong would like it. And on top of that¡­ ¡°What does effect four even mean?¡± As I muttered to myself, Demir nodded. ¡°Hm, it must havee from its name, the Giant Warriors¡¯ God.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s exactly as it says. It is the fist of the god of all giant warriors! Therefore it must be a massive fist.¡± ¡°Huh, really¡­?¡± ¡°It being the god of all giant warriors rather than being a giant martial god himself is a bit strange, however¡­¡± ¡°Haah, I give up. I really don¡¯t know anymore.¡± I shook my head, bewildered. On the other hand, this was interesting. I wondered how the system could create something like this. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much, Master. A weapon never betrays the effort put into it. With all the effort we put into this, it¡¯ll perform just as it should.¡± ¡°Yeah, I guess.¡± ¡°Yes, that is what I like to call the faith of a craftsman! Now look at my growth, Master.¡± [¡®Demir¡¯ is being adjusted.] [Proficiency increased by 4.] [Proficiency increased by 3.] [Proficiency increased by 4.] ¡­ [Proficiency increased by 6.] [Proficiency increased by 7.] [The skill level of ¡®Advanced Item Crafting¡¯ (Lv.1) has increased by 1.] [All stats have increased by 2!] ¡°Oh.¡± As expected, the crafting had significantly raised my proficiency. However, even after crafting an S-rank weapon, the skill level only increased by 1. The higher the skill, the harder it would be to level up. And it would only get harder from here. ¡°Anyway, good work. Let¡¯s take a break from crafting S-rank weapons for a while.¡± I was utterly exhausted. We could evaluate the Berserker¡¯s feedbackter. For now, I needed sleep. ¡°Haha! Amazing, brother! I¡¯m really impressed!¡± Jang Daewoong was thoroughly satisfied¡ªmore satisfied than I had expected. ¡ªnk! He slipped the gauntlet on and tested it, swinging it around and inspecting it closely. He also rubbed it here and there with his calloused hands. ¡°It¡¯s a perfect fit. The name and performance match me exactly! Worth the 30 billion won!¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°Of course! The glowing blue and red design is exactly my style, and the synergy with my skills is incredible. Especially the fourth effect¡ªman, that¡¯s insane! Even I feel blown away. Haha!¡± ¡°The fourth effect?¡± I was curious about what skill he could possibly possess that made the fourth effect stand out so much, but I didn¡¯t ask. It would have been rude to pry into a ranker¡¯s skills. But then there was one more thing. ¡°You like the name, too?¡± The Giant Warriors¡¯ God? Either way, it was a relief. As long as the VIP was happy, that was all that mattered. ¡°You can reveal the weapon¡¯s details or keep them private. But we¡¯ll need to disclose the 30 billion won price for the public record.¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯ll use it a few times and even leave a review! Haha!¡± Jang Daewoong flexed his bulky arms andughed heartily. He may have been really charismatic and terrifying during battle, but he was just a jolly giant in person. Still. I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride. This feels good. There was something deeply satisfying about knowing that someone appreciated and cherished a weapon I had crafted. Smiling warmly, I bowed my head slightly to Jang Daewoong. ¡°Thank you for choosing Demir¡¯s Workshop, Mr. Berserker.¡± ¡°Haha, of course, brother. Are there any ns for a third project?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ I¡¯ll announce it when the time is right.¡± I couldn¡¯t just focus on forging weapons all the time. With five rankers now endorsing me, it was time for me to push forward in my growth. ¡°Good! The Dungeon Maker ising up soon, after all.¡± Jang Daewoong nodded, still grinning. Then we heard footsteps on the stairs. ¡°Ah, Berserker! You¡¯re here! And Skeleton Lord, too!¡± It was Lee Sunah, ranked 509th. ¡°Hm? What brings you here, ck Sword?¡± ¡°Haha, am I not supposed to visit?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not the case, but¡­ Hahaha, anyway, let¡¯s all catch up in two weeks. Don¡¯t forget about Mirage¡¯s event!¡± The Dungeon Maker, Delh, ranked 5th, was also known as Mirage. If I made it through her event, I¡¯d have a chance to rank among the top hunters. I clenched my fists. That day ising soon. The requirement to participate was to be A-rank. I was still B-rank, which meant I had two weeks to get promoted. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here! Skeleton Lord!¡± Lee Sunah beamed at me. ¡°How about joining the ck Sword Squad for an A-rank dungeon? We¡¯llplete it within two weeks and set all the conditions to your liking!¡± Chapter 77 Chapter 77: The Immortal Legion (1) ¡ªShhhht! On the third floor, in the conference room, Lee Sunah spread several documents out on the table. ¡°Here! This is the A-rank dungeon discovered recently in Geomdan, Incheon, Skeleton Lord. It¡¯s the first of its kind in Korea and the third to appear worldwide.¡± She pointed to a specific section of the papers. ¡°It¡¯s a dungeon where we face an immortal army and must prevent the city¡¯s fall.¡± ¡ªTap, tap. She tapped that section twice, emphasizing her point. ¡°But there¡¯s a problem with this one.¡± ¡°What kind of problem?¡± I asked as I skimmed the documents sheid out. It seemed the Cult of the Heavenly Demon provided these materials. I was quietly impressed by the thoroughness of the information. None of this would ever be found on hunter forums or the inte. As expected, a major guild sure is something else. ¡°One of the dungeon¡¯s gimmicks restricts the number of participants and their unique abilities. Only five members can enter, and one must be a necromancer.¡± ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s why.¡± I nodded in understanding. Guilds usually guarded A-rank dungeons closely. There was no reason to bring in outsiders as high-rank dungeons yielded great rewards. It was the same reason Gi Soyul first showed interest in my rewards. So why would they disclose this information to me? There had to be apelling reason. ¡°I understand that you may think this dungeon would be too difficult since you¡¯ve just reached B-rank¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not the type to shy away from difficult dungeons. I¡¯ve even been through a few S-rank ones,¡± I responded without much emotion. Whatever the content of the dungeon, going through it alongside rankers was still a golden opportunity for me. There would be countless things to learn from Lee Sunah, ranked 509th worldwide. Besides¡­ The old man had said: ¡°Hmph, those so-called A-rank hunters of this world, you ask? How can youpare your skills to such lowly trash? Have you no pride as a disciple of All Techniques? I don¡¯t know how exactly this system works, but I¡¯m certain your current strength far exceeds an A-rank.¡± I only needed one thing: a legitimate reason to ¡®awaken.¡¯ I needed a valid excuse to tell the system to promote me to A-rank. And what better reason to provide thanpleting a high-rank dungeon? ¡°S-rank dungeons, you say? Haha! Seeing how you can make jokes, there was no need for me to worry in the first ce!¡± Lee Sunahughed, tapping the ck sword at her waist. She took my honest remark as a lighthearted joke. That left me with a bitter taste, especially since the Sun Spear and Giant Magic Dragon challenges were ranked ¡®Immeasurable,¡¯ far more formidable than any S-rank dungeon. I shook my head, still remembering how brutal those experiences were. They were exhausting, so I couldn¡¯t imagine doing them again. ¡°Anyway, I love your confidence! Since you epted, shall we leave right away?¡± ¡°Today?¡± ¡°There¡¯s not much time!¡± ¡°Okay then, let¡¯s go.¡± I was well-rested and ready, even if this seemed sudden. I¡¯d never been one to shy away from a challenge. ¡°This is exactly what I wanted.¡± I nodded calmly. Seo-gu, Incheon. Five hunters gathered at the central ridge of Todang Mountain, fully geared and ready. ¡°Before we enter, shall we briefly introduce ourselves?¡± Lee Sunah, the team leader, smiled warmly. It was a considerate gesture meant to make me feel morefortable since I was meeting the team for the first time. ¡°I¡¯m Lee Sunah, leader of the ck Sword Squad. I¡¯m a swordswoman.¡± ¡ªShing! She unsheathed her signature ck sword, its sharpness cutting through the air, a sound that emphasized her high skill level. ¡°Everyone in the ck Sword Squad uses swords, don¡¯t they? Haha!¡± The next person to speak was a man with a giant physique. His presence was equally imposing. ¡°I¡¯m Kang Jihoo, vice capt¡­ I mean, vice leader of the ck Sword Squad. I¡¯m an S-rank hunter. My hobby is, hmm¡­ I like reading wuxia novels. My sword skills aren¡¯t as good as the leader¡¯s, but I¡¯m pretty decent.¡± Kang Jihoo grinned, his confident expression hinting at a straightforward personality. Two more hunters stepped forward. ¡°A-rank squad member, Kim Jinsoo. I look forward to working with you.¡± ¡°A-rank squad member, Kang Yoojung. Let¡¯s do our best.¡± Both of them introduced themselves in a crisp, formal manner. I bowed my head slightly in return. ¡°I¡¯m a B-rank Necromancer, here on Lee Sunah¡¯s rmendation.¡± Though they all outranked me, I didn¡¯t feel intimidated. After all, I was brought here because they needed me. I¡¯m pretty formidable myself. I didn¡¯t shrink before them. Even facing A-rank hunters, I felt no inferiority. Taking in my appearance, the vice leader, Kang Jihoo, burst into heartyughter. ¡°Haha! You¡¯ve got great spirit! I can see why our Captain took an interest in you.¡± ¡°Thanks. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry too much. Our squad boasts a 100% dungeon sess rate.¡± After checking his gear, Kang Jihoo led the way to the dungeon entrance. The other members and I followed, all of us wearing expressions of readiness. Finally, Lee Sunah gave a nod. ¡°Shall we?¡± * * * [Entering the dungeon.] When I opened my eyes, thendscape around me had transformed, and I felt the familiar feeling of a dungeon wash over me. It was cold. Torches flickered, and someone sobbed softly nearby. ¡°Damn it, we¡¯re done for. How can mere humans stop the Immortal Legion? How do we fight against beings that don¡¯t die?¡± Rubbing his cold hands and sniffing his nose, a man muttered despairingly. He appeared to be a soldier of this unknown city. ¡°Soon, we¡¯ll all be dead. My child, my wife, me¡­ Damn it. I still had so many things I wanted to do¡­¡± Hmm. I watched the scene unfold with curious eyes. This is like¡­ Yes, it was simr. They were the beings of this new world, simr to the ones I¡¯d seen in the medium dungeons. ¡°Isn¡¯t it fascinating? Dungeons like this?¡± Lee Sunah approached me. Though it wasn¡¯t new to me after experiencing all kinds of worlds, I decided to keep quiet. ¡°The higher the rank of the dungeon, the moreplex the mission and the more vivid the inhabitants. They¡¯re almost lifelike.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I think of them as NPCs¡ªlike ones from video games.¡± ¡°NPCs, huh¡­¡± I nodded, agreeing that thinking that way might make things simpler. After all, no one knows. Our world still held many mysteries. No one had been able to exin why certain people developed unique abilities, why dungeons appeared, or the nature of the worlds created within them. Sticking to your interpretation is easier when there¡¯s no clear answer. Of course, I knew better. I had felt the emotions of Sunny, Demir, Eldrin, and the old man firsthand. They aren¡¯t just NPCs. They weren¡¯t pre-programmed beings. They were real, living entities capable of thought, sorrow, and emotion. ¡°Well, the mission should be starting soon.¡± As Lee Sunah murmured beside me, a message appeared before us. [Stage ¡®Immortal Legion¡¯ has begun.] ¡°Oh, it¡¯s here!¡± A notification marked the beginning of our task. [Stage: The Immortal Legion] [The ¡®Immortal Legion¡¯ has begun its invasion from the Frozen North.] [Protect the city¡¯s soldiers and stop the Immortal Legion.] [The soldiers here will perceive you as fellow soldiers.] Suddenly, the soldiers around us began to murmur. ¡°Look!¡± ¡°Look! Over there!¡± The soldiers on the wall pointed outside the fortress wall, their voices trembling. ¡°It¡¯s the undead legion! They¡¯ve arrived atst!¡± ¡°Ah, ahhh¡­¡± Fearful murmurs spread like wildfire. Worry, dread, and terror¡ªall kinds of negative emotions washed over the soldiers within the fortress walls. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± I climbed thedder to the top of the wall, eager to see with my own eyes how terrifying this undead legion was. ¡°¡­¡± The sky was overcast, and raindrops began to fall. ¡ªDrip, drop! Standing atop the high walls, I immediately gazed outwards. A vast in stretched before us, and on the distant horizon, countless figures were slowly approaching. [You have witnessed the Ghoul Legion.] ¡°Groar! Groar!¡± Rotting monsters that looked like zombies shuffled toward us, their flesh dripping off their bones. [You have witnessed the Specter Legion.] ¡°Kyiiiiih!¡± ck, shadowy spirits floated alongside them. ¡°Are we sure this is an A-rank dungeon? The power gap looks huge¡­¡± At first nce, it seemed more like an S-rank challenge. I felt a headacheing on. But Lee Sunah merely smiled, finding amusement in the situation. ¡°ording to the intel we got from the guild, that¡¯s only a portion of their forces.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°The real heavy hitters haven¡¯t shown up yet. Soon, we¡¯ll deal with death knights, liches, and other high-level creatures.¡± I sighed. Of course, for rankers, this must be child¡¯s y. Fine. I grasped my staff, knowing that I had nothing to fear with a ranker on my side. Ranked in the highest ce even among the S-rank hunters, an A-rank dungeon was just a yground for her. But still¡­ I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of unease, a primal warning deep in my gut. Perhaps it was because of the condition that a necromancer was required for this dungeon. Something told me that my role in this was going to be critical. ¡°Th-They¡¯reing!¡± ¡°The Immortal Legion is advancing! Prepare for battle! Close the gates and ready the oil and fire!¡± ¡ªBwoooooo! Bwooo! The horn signaling the start of war sounded. ¡°Skeleton Lord,¡± Lee Sunah called out to me. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry too much here. The time for you to act will be when the lich appearster.¡± ¡°A lich?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s when the gimmick activates. It¡¯s a kind of curse. If there¡¯s no necromancer or if there are more than six people, it adjusts the group to five.¡± Ah. So that¡¯s what it was about. Indeed, this was whyrge guilds had an advantage in having the benefit of information. Large guilds shared the knowledge they gained from clearing many types of dungeons or umted it by buying and selling information. An organization like the Cult of the Heavenly Demon probably knew most of the missions and info for famous dungeons, I assumed. ¡°The enemies have reached the walls!¡± ¡°Fire!¡± ¡°Stop them! Hold the line!¡± Finally, the battle began. Taking advantage of the high ground, the soldiersunched a fierce attack on the ghouls and specters pouring in. Some shot arrows, others hurled obstacles. There were even those casting spells. ¡ªFwoosh! ¡°You demons! You think we¡¯ll fall as you wish?¡± ¡°Fight! Don¡¯t be scared! We can win!¡± ¡°Hey, you over there! Don¡¯t cower in the corner, trembling! You¡¯re not just protecting yourself but also your family!¡± Commanders stationed everywhere shouted out. They kept issuing threats and encouragement to prevent morale from dropping due to fear. ¡°Well, shall I start moving too?¡± ¡ªShing! The ck Sword, Lee Sunah, drew her sword. ¡°Oh, is the team leader stepping in herself? I could handle this force on my own.¡± The vice team leader smiled confidently. Specters and ghouls were nothing more than a post-meal snack for an S-rank hunter like him. ¡°Yes, I want to show the Skeleton Lord.¡± ¡ªThud. She climbed to the edge of the wall and coldly looked down at the monsters ahead. The team members didn¡¯t even bother drawing their swords as they watched her. ¡°The power of the ck Sword, that is.¡± Ranked 509th, the ck Sword, Lee Sunah. She lowered her sword. Chapter 78 Chapter 78: The Immortal Legion (2) ¡ªSshh! Lee Sunah slowly raised her sword. At that moment, an overwhelming mana pressed down on my shoulders. ¡°¡­!¡± The power was immense. It felt like the slightest movement would result in her sword slicing my head clean off. But even more astonishing was her immense aura exerted over the ghoul and specter armies below the wall. ¡°Groar?¡± ¡°Kyiiieh¡­?¡± The creatures that had been charging with great ferocity began to halt one by one like rabbits frozen before a tiger. ¡°Gwoah! Gwoooh!¡± The ones at the front stumbled, causing chaos as the rear ranks collided with them. ¡ªRumble! Dust rose into the air as their formation crumbled. Ah, so this was what the presence of a ranker felt like. ¡°My control still needs work,¡± Lee Sunah said, clicking her tongue in mild disappointment. ¡°I wanted my killing aura to only affect them.¡± She lightly kicked off the ground and soared into the air, showing no hesitation despite the height of the wall. Her graceful movement through the sky was a work of art, her flowing hair adding to the scene. ¡°Watch closely, Skeleton Lord,¡± she said softly, her voice carrying through the wind. ¡°My unique ability is called the ck Sword Flight Arts.¡± In the next moment, she reversed her grip on the sword. Then¡­ ¡ªWhooosh! Like a cannonball, she dove straight at the ground below, her body plunging with incredible speed. ¡ªFwoosh! She rained down like a storm. ck Sword Flight Arts. Area-Wide Technique. First Form: Thunder Annihtion. Her sword pierced the ground, and at that moment¡­ ¡ªBOOM! An ear-shattering explosion echoed through the sky. At the same time, all the ghouls and specters were sted into the air. It wasn¡¯t of their own volition¡ªthey had been helplessly thrown up, like leaves in a storm. Is that¡­ an AOE crowd-control skill? I was in awe. It was a sight straight out of a video game. ¡°Wow, our leader¡¯s amazing! That was awesome!¡± Kang Jihoo, the vice leader, eximed in admiration. It wasn¡¯t just him¡ªthe soldiers defending the wall all turned their attention to Lee Sunah. ¡°Wh-Who is that?¡± ¡°Never seen her before.¡± ¡°What kind of soldier has that kind of insane skill?¡± But the disy was far from over. ¡ªShing! Pulling her sword out of the ground, Lee Sunah now gripped it firmly in her right hand. She extended her left palm and aimed her sword at the enemies still suspended in the air. ¡°Hup!¡± With a sharp breath, she unleashed a flurry of strikes. ck Sword Flight Arts. Area-Wide Technique. Second Form: ck Wind Sword. ¡ªsh! sh! sh! A torrent of sword shes filled the air. As its name suggested, ck Wind Sword summoned a dark whirlwind that engulfed the battlefield. ¡°Gwooooh!¡± ¡°Kiiieee!¡± She was at the caliber of being able to create a natural disaster with a single sword. ¡°Wow,¡± I couldn¡¯t help but marvel at her. I never thought something like this could have been possible. Now I understood why rankers were sometimes called natural disasters. And she was just the 509th rank. How much stronger could those ranked higher be? ¡ªRumble! The scene outside the wall was a spectacle. The ck storm tore through everything, decimating the ranks of the ghouls and specters like a blender. Lee Sunah gracefullynded in front of me, as if she hadn¡¯t just unleashed a devastating attack. ¡°Haha, what do you think, Skeleton Lord?¡± She smiled. ¡°Not bad, huh? Although it¡¯s just a basic technique I use against weaker opponents, it¡¯s still pretty decent, right?¡± ¡°Honestly, you seemed more like a mage than a swordswoman there.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that how skills work?¡± sheughed. Sure, skills worked like that, but still¡­ I couldn¡¯t help but wish I had skills like hers. Of course, my skeleton summoning was a top-tier skill too. Lee Sunah lowered her sword again. ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re far from being done yet.¡± ¡°Still far from it, huh?¡± ¡°That was just the first wave. We haven¡¯t even seen the true Immortal Legion yet.¡± ¡°Haah,¡± I sighed and nodded. At the same time, I could understand why she had put on such a shy disy of power. The expressions of the soldiers had changed entirely. ¡°Woooaaahhh!¡± ¡°We can do it! We have a goddess of war with us!¡± ¡°Does this mean¡­ we might survive? Even those immortal bastards have a weakness?¡± The soldiers erupted into cheers, their morale surging. The once-defeated soldiers now had hope. ¡°Move quickly! We must prepare for battle!¡± ¡°Bring more fire and arrows!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll carry the heavy stones!¡± Even the soldiers, who had previously shrank in fear, found new energy and began moving with purpose. [You have witnessed the Ghoul Legion.] [You have witnessed the Specter Legion.] Another wave of undead forces was approaching from afar. But this time, the soldiers¡¯ eyes gleamed with hope. ¡°Now that the team leader has shown her power, how about we take a turn?¡± Kang Jihoo suggested, unsheathing his sword. ¡ªShing! Shing! The other two members of the ck Sword Squad silently followed suit, drawing their weapons. And so did I. ¡°I¡¯ll fight too.¡± I swung my staff and summoned my skeletons. [Using skill ¡®Summon Great Skeleton¡¯ (B-rank).] [Consuming 50 energy.] Excluding Demir, I summoned five skeletons. ¡°My lord, are those the enemies we must eliminate?¡± ¡°Purging evil is a duty for the forest elves.¡± With trusty Sunny and Eldrin at my side, I was ready. ¡°Let¡¯s wipe them out.¡± The real battle was about to begin. ¡ªThunk! Sunny¡¯s spear pierced through the throat of a ghoul. ¡ªWhoosh! Thunk! Thunk! Eldrin¡¯s arrows flew through the air, each finding their mark and skewering a ghoul through the forehead. ¡°Gwooooar!¡± Even though they were undead, their screams were disturbingly human. The specters didn¡¯t fare much better. ¡ªFwoosh! Boney 5¡¯s powerful Fire Field (Lv.4) and Fireball (Lv. Max) incinerated the ghostly figures easily. Hmm. These creatures were weak¡ªroughly C-rank or D-rank at best. Encountering just one of these would have been a severe challenge in the past. But now¡­ I¡¯ve grown. There was no sense of danger. I was cutting through them like slicing tofu. The only problem is¡­ There were simply too many of them. No matter how many we killed, they kepting like from a never-ending production line. ¡ªWhoosh! Thud! I swung a sword¡ªjust amon one a soldier had dropped¡ªbut it worked well enough. A sessor of All Techniques doesn¡¯t me his tools. The old man once beat Gi Soyul half to death using nothing but a tree branch. I could certainly cut through ghouls with an ordinary sword if he could do that. Next up, a spear. With a swift motion, I caught a spear thrown from the wall and decapitated two ghouls at once. Nice. I was now putting what I¡¯d learned from my training with All Techniques into practice¡ªRend (B-rank), Pierce (B-rank), Shoot (B-rank), Defend (B-rank). Each technique was honed to the best of my ability. For me, these enemies weren¡¯t adversaries; they were practice dummies. I have to rx my body. One step at a time, I moved fluidly, cutting and thrusting with precision. Following the natural flow of my movements, I fought with ease. ¡°Gwaaaargh!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, time to die.¡± ¡ªThwick! My spear pierced through the ghoul¡¯s neck. ¡ªTwist! I twisted the de, ensuring the kill. ¡ªSwish! Even when a ghoul¡¯s ws came dangerously close to scratching me, Boney 5¡¯s Air Shield (Lv. Max) automatically blocked the attack. ¡°Hahaha! Amazing, Skeleton Lord!¡± the vice leader, Kang Jihoo, chimed in beside me. ¡°Is this what they mean by the necromancer ss being overpowered? You¡¯re fighting extremely well!¡± ¡°You¡¯re also quite formidable yourself.¡± ¡°Haha, of course. I am an S-rank, after all. Anyway, we should start preparing soon.¡± ¡°Prepare?¡± I turned my gaze to the horizon. The ghouls and specters were still pouring in, but I had been focused on something else since earlier. There¡¯s something¡­ A presence that felt unsettling. My Great Blue Heart Technique warned me to stay cautious. ¡°ording to the information, the lich should appear soon. It¡¯s the key figure in this dungeon.¡± ¡°The one that casts the gimmick limiting our numbers?¡± ¡°Yep. The dungeon should beplete once we defeat the lich and the death knights. Easy, right?¡± I nced at Kang Jihoo. Something still felt off. I wanted to warn him, but without concrete evidence, I hesitated. With a ranker here, we should be fine¡­ Right? ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s finish off these minions quickly.¡± ¡°Yes, stay strong.¡± With that, I moved forward again. Even the soldiers, throwing down obstacles from the wall, began to descend and join the fight. The light rain began to pick up. ¡°¡­¡± The droplets grew heavier, increasing with each passing moment. I briefly nced at the rain as it washed the filth of the ghouls¡¯ blood from my sword and spear. No matter. Sunny and Eldrin swiftly cut down the monsters that approached me. I could afford a few moments of reflection amidst the chaos. ¡°Phew.¡± But just as I started to rx¡­ ¡°Look there!¡± ¡°S-Something¡¯sing!¡± ¡°Oh gods¡­ That¡¯s the real Immortal Legion¡­!¡± The soldiers¡¯ voices trembled with fear as they began to back away. ¡°The lich has arrived,¡± Lee Sunah muttered, rolling her neck to loosen up. She lookedpletely at ease, drenched only by the rain, showing no signs of fatigue. [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [The leader of the Immortal Legion, the ¡®Lich,¡¯ has appeared.] [The soldiers are stricken with terror.] [All stats decreased by 20%.] ¡°Hmm.¡± I felt a sudden loss of strength. I was not terrified¡ªprobably because the dungeon identified me as a soldier in this scenario. I swallowed. The lich¡¯s red eyes locked onto mine. Something just didn¡¯t feel right. ¡°Is the gimmick about to start?¡± I asked quietly. The lich¡¯s eyes grew even brighter red as time passed. ¡°Yes, the curse is starting,¡± Lee Sunah confirmed. ¡°ording to the information, we just need to wait it out. If there¡¯s no necromancer present, we¡¯ll die instantly. If there is, any excess beyond five participants will die at random.¡± ¡°That sounds like a terrifying curse.¡± ¡°But we meet the conditions, don¡¯t we?¡± she smiled confidently. That¡¯s when it happened. [The lich¡¯s curse begins.] ¡ªShwaaah! The rain intensified, pelting down like hail. Was it finally starting? ¡ªRing! [If there is no hunter with abilities rted to necromancy present, all participants in the dungeon will die.] [If a hunter with abilities rted to necromancy is present, any participants exceeding five will die at random.] Yeah, it matched what Lee Sunah had said. All we had left to do was to crush that lich¡¯s head with a smile. ¡°¡­¡± But I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off the lich. Its lips hadn¡¯t stopped moving since it arrived. ¡°Necromancer,¡± the lich whispered. ¡°Trials must be set ording to one¡¯s potential. Yourtent power is extraordinary.¡± At that moment¡­ ¡ªTzzz! Tzzz! The message about the curse started to distort, as if with static interference. ¡°What the¡­?¡± The vice leader, Kang Jihoo, was baffled. ¡°What is this?¡± Lee Sunah also frowned. [Reevaluating the necromancer¡¯s level.] [The curse has been upgraded.] ¡ªKaboom! Lightning struck from the sky. And then¡­ From all directions, hundreds¡ªno, thousands¡ªof dark figures began to rise from the ground, cloaked in ck energy. [The dungeon¡¯s difficulty has increased.] [The level of the ¡®Immortal Legion¡¯ has increased.] [Duhan (A-rank) x 1,000 have been summoned.] [Death Knight (S-rank) x 100 have been summoned.] [Lich (S-rank) x 10 have been summoned.] ¡°¡­What the hell,¡± I cursed aloud. Chapter 79 Chapter 79: The Immortal Legion (3) ¡ªBoom! A new legion rose from the front lines, shrouded in ck mist. ¡°Gwooh!¡± The sight of a thousand duhans, headless knights, howling to the sky was grotesque. Their right hands gripped various weapons while their left held their heads. This is horrifying. I was shaken. These duhans, a popr pick among necromancers, were A-rank monsters. Even a single one would be immune to attacks from the ghouls or specters swarming the battlefield. And now there stood a thousand of them right before me. This was overkill for an A-rank dungeon. But that wasn¡¯t all. ¡°Death knights¡­¡± One of the soldiers muttered. ¡°D-Death knights¡­ Fuck¡­ Knights of death¡­¡± Fear started to creep into the soldiers¡¯ eyes. The fear spread like a contagion through the ranks, and one by one, they began to panic. ¡°Death knights? Is this real?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of them. There¡¯s a story about another city being destroyed by just ten of them¡­¡± ¡°And there are a hundred here? How the hell are we supposed to stop this?¡± Panic spread. ¡°You¡¯re sure we saw that right?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no mistaking something so terrifying.¡± ¡°We¡¯re finished¡­ Utterly finished. Not even the gods could stop that. We¡¯re all going to die here¡­!¡± ¡°This fight is pointless. We should run now! If we leave the city, we might survive.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather live in the mountains than face those monsters!¡± Soldiers began throwing down their weapons and running. Usually themanding officers would have yelled at them, but¡­ ¡°¡­¡± They, too, were staring dumbfounded at the Immortal Legion, unable to stop the fleeing soldiers. Faced with such an overwhelming enemy, they had lost all will to fight. What stood before them was no longer just monsters but death itself. The soldiers saw death in the Immortal Legion, which covered the battlefield with thousands of undead. What they saw was a tomb. ¡ªSwirl¡­ Then the death knights, exuding a dark aura, were deployed to the front lines. ¡°Neigh!¡± They rode sturdy phantom horses and boldly advanced in front of the duhans. Their auras resounded as if in harmony. Their presence silenced the murmuring soldiers like a stone dropping into a still pond. The sound they made was undoubtedly louder than that of the soldiers. ¡°This is¡­¡± Lee Sunah muttered under her breath. ¡°Even for me, this is impossible to handle¡­ One hundred death knights and ten liches¡­¡± She shook her head in disbelief. ¡°Dealing with the death knights is one thing, but the liches¡­¡± Liches¡ªS-ranked monsters, strongest among its rank. Just one lich could rival a necromancer¡¯s unique ability¡ªnot just any necromancer but a top-tier, S-rank necromancer. It was like fighting ten low-ranked rankers simultaneously. ¡°This is absurd. The information we received waspletely wrong.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Her despairing words cast a pall over the group, and a heavy silence fell. ¡°¡­Goodness. Dungeons really can be entric sometimes,¡± Kang Jihoo finally spoke but fell silent again momentarily. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully, unsure if it was even worth voicing his thoughts. ¡°They restrict our numbers and then throw monsters of this caliber at us¡­ It¡¯s as if there¡¯s no way out but death. Furthermore¡­¡± He nced at me. ¡°The system clearly stated that it reassessed the necromancer¡¯s level, right? That¡¯s why the dungeon¡¯s difficulty increased¡­¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Lee Sunah nodded. ¡°Even though Skeleton Lord is only B-rank, his potential is nearly that of a ranker. After all, he can craft S-rank weapons¡­¡± ¡°Or perhaps,¡± Kang Jihoo added, his eyes filled with suspicion, ¡°he¡¯s been hiding his true abilities.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The air grew even heavier. The other members of the ck Sword Squad remained silent, their gazes fixed on the ground. I clenched my jaw. He¡¯s not wrong. I had been hiding a lot¡ªlike that the essence of my skeletons came from beings considered absolutes in their worlds. Or that my mentor could easily surpass the strongest rankers in this world. They didn¡¯t know any of this. But¡­ ¡°Everyone, calm down.¡± Now wasn¡¯t the time for finger-pointing. The dungeon had thrown a challenge at us, and we had to solve it immediately. And there could be no mistakes in the solution¡ªthe cost of a mistake was only death. I opened my mouth to say, ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know why this is happening either. Maybe it¡¯s because of my potential, as the ck Sword suggests, or maybe I¡¯ve been hiding my abilities, as the vice leader suggests.¡± ¡°I knew it¡­!¡± The vice leader opened his eyes wide. ¡°But does it matter?¡± I nted my feet firmly. My energy surged through my body with every beat of my heart, following the principles of the Great Blue Heart Technique. ¡°We¡¯re in a dungeon, and dungeons are inherently mysterious. What we need right now isn¡¯t to analyze the cause¡ªwe need to solve the problem. We need to survive.¡± Oddly enough, the unease I had felt earlier had dissipated. Is it because the worst-case scenario has already happened? It felt like a premonition, much like how the stock market reacted to news before it happened. Once the bad event was in front of you, there was no reason to panic anymore. Therefore, I felt calm. Honestly¡­ I thought I shouldn¡¯t have expected anything else from them. Maybe it was because I had faced so many ridiculous dungeons before. ¡°The Skeleton Lord is right.¡± Lee Sunah nodded. She turned to Kang Jihoo, her expression serious. ¡°Vice leader.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°ming others doesn¡¯t help. I¡¯m sure you already know this, right?¡± ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t mean to me anyone. I was just wondering if there was something Skeleton Lord wasn¡¯t telling us. If that made anyone ufortable, I apologize.¡± He gave me a respectful nod. It was a good, clean gesture, but¡­ People! Now was not the time for this! ¡°Screee!¡± Suddenly, the ten liches began glowing with a crimson light. ¡°Graaah!¡± ¡°Kiyahhh!¡± ¡ªRumble! And at the same time, the Immortal Legion charged toward us. ¡°Fight! We can¡¯t just sit here and wait to die!¡± I shouted. I turned to my surroundings. Their numbers were overwhelming. Far too many. Fighting here in the open field would be disastrous¡ªwe¡¯d be surrounded and overwhelmed in a disadvantageous position. We need to use the terrain¡­ I scanned the area. There was only one option. ¡°The gate!¡± ¡ªThud! Iunched myself toward the gate. ¡°Head for the gate!¡± ¡°The gate?¡± Lee Sunah asked as she followed me. ¡°Yes! We¡¯ll use the narrow passage to our advantage. We don¡¯t even need to go up the walls!¡± ¡°Yes! That way, we can at least prevent us from getting surrounded.¡± Soldiers were being massacred across the open field. I felt sorry, but we couldn¡¯t save them. In the heat of battle, a warrior consumed by fear is worse than useless. ¡°Over here!¡± I reached the wall and quickly set up a defensive position. ¡ªThud! Thud! Thud! I summoned Boney 4 and its minions, arranging them in a semicircle formation around the gate. ¡°Formationplete, Master.¡± I ced Eldrin and Boney 5 in the rear, while Boney 1 and Sunny took up positions with Boney 4¡¯s minions, weapons ready. It all happened in the blink of an eye. ¡°Graaah!¡± However, the advance of the Immortal Legion was quick. A death knight had already reached the front lines, swinging its eerie blue sword at Boney 4. Behind it, dozens of duhans rushed forward. ¡°Hold them! Use everything you¡¯ve got!¡± I raised my spear and joined the fight. I stabbed precisely at the throats of the enemies striking Boney 4¡¯s shield. ¡ªThwuck! A sickening sensation traveled up my arm as my spear pierced their flesh. ¡°Hmm.¡± Next to me, Lee Sunah lowered her sword. ¡°Thunder Annihtion and ck Wind Sword won¡¯t do for undead of this level.¡± She leaped into the air, rising three meters above the ground. Then¡­ ¡ªCrack! Crack! She extended her arm in a fan shape toward the front lines. ck Sword Flight Arts. Area-Wide Technique. Third Form: True p of Thunder. ¡ªRumble! Her sword came down like a thunderstorm. ¡ªKABOOM! The duhans screamed as their phantom horses were caught in the st, the thunderous strike setting their heads ame. The surrounding air filled with thick, ck smoke. ¡°Impressive.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but admire it. Her skills were as exhrating as they were powerful. Lee Sunah smiled modestly. ¡°Thank you, but the downside is that this skill consumes a lot of energy, and the area it affects is limited.¡± With that, she dove back into the fray, slicing through the duhans with movements as light as a butterfly and pushing back the death knights. As expected. Even in this dire situation, her movements were controlled and stable¡ªtruly the mark of a ranker. ¡°Haah! Die!¡± ¡°Hmph! Vice leader! The death knights¡¯ attacks are too strong!¡± ¡°Hold on! You take the left, Jinsoo. And Yoojung, you take the right! Got it?¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Vice leader Kang Jihoo and the ck Sword Squad members fought valiantly alongside us. I, too, took a deep breath and refocused on the battle. While Lee Sunah had dealt with a significant portion, it was just the tip of the iceberg. Numerous adversaries remained. ¡°Come at me, all of you!¡± The skeletons would handle their roles on their own. They would fight tirelessly until my energy was exhausted. What was needed now was for me to contribute my power. ¡°Graaaah!¡± Whether it was a lowly ghoul or a specter, I would eliminate as many as possible to lessen the burden on my summoned creatures and the ck Sword Squad members. With determination, I thrust my spear into the ghoul¡¯s throat. These creatures were resilient; attacking their hearts or other organs was futile. But they could be prevented from rising again by precisely separating their heads from their bodies. I kicked the creature¡¯s torso while withdrawing my spear. ¡°Worthless scum, is that all you got?¡± Like Sunny did in the Ancient Desert, push me to my limits! After enduring, I¡¯ll grow even stronger! Besides, what was the worst that could happen? Death? I continued to thrust my spear relentlessly. asionally, when a skeleton was unsummoned, I would resummon it, but otherwise, I remained wholly immersed in the battle. At that moment, a piercing scream erupted from behind. ¡°Kyaaah!¡± What was that? I quickly turned to see Kang Yoojung, a member of the ck Sword Squad, clutching her left shoulder and rolling on the ground. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s wrong? Are you okay?¡± the vice leader shouted frantically, swinging his sword. I furrowed my brow and calmly observed through the rising dust. ¡°Ugh, it hurts! It hurts!¡± Then I saw the blood spurting and the severed arm¡ªKang Yoojung¡¯s left arm had been cut off. Damn it. This was the first injury a team member suffered during this battle. Chapter 80 Chapter 80: The Immortal Legion (4) Injuries. For hunters who traversed dungeons, they were a part of everyday life. ¡°Injuries? Honestly, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡± ¡°Yeah, injuries are nothing. It¡¯s normal to wake up and hear that a hunter you knew yesterday is now being mourned.¡± ¡°If a seasoned hunter doesn¡¯t have at least one limb missing, are they even a real hunter?¡± This was the blunt evaluation from the public. And so I frowned but did not break formation. I kept my focus on holding off the advancing duhans while monitoring the situation. The gate couldn¡¯t be breached, no matter what. ¡°Ugh! Hngg!¡± Kang Yoojung¡¯s eyes were filled with shock. It wasn¡¯t just the pain from the amputation, but the terror of having lost an arm as a swordsman seemed even more significant. ¡°Hey, are you okay? Try to stop the bleeding on your own for now!¡± vice leader Kang Jihoo shouted as he swung his sword. ¡°Ugh, yes, sir!¡± ¡°Jinsoo, cover Yoojung¡¯s position! Move fast! If we break here, we¡¯re all dead!¡± ¡°Y-Yes, sir!¡± Despite the sudden injury, the vice leader managed the situation with expertise. As expected of an S-rank hunter from the Cult of the Heavenly Demon. Even more surprising was Kang Yoojung¡¯s next actions. ¡ªRiiiip! With tears in her eyes, she tore the bottom of her clothes with her teeth. Then she quickly wrapped the wound tightly with the torn fabric. The bleeding was so severe that her white clothing was rapidly soaked, bing red. ¡°Hmph, huff!¡± Despite the pain, she moved decisively. It was almost as if she was driving on instinct. ¡ªThwack! ¡°Finish stopping the bleeding and get back here! Sorry, but we can¡¯t change the whole formation for you! You get that, right?¡± Kang Jihoo crushed the head of a ghoul with the hilt of his sword and shouted. ¡°Yes, sir, I understand!¡± ¡°The situation is bad! We¡¯re at a major disadvantage! If it weren¡¯t for those soldiers on the wall providing long-range support, we¡¯d already be finished! If those guys had siege weapons, we¡¯d be doomed!¡± ¡°¡­¡± I watched them with a bitter expression. So this is what life was like for hunters who had teammates. Even when injured, they couldn¡¯t receive proper treatment. They had to endure the pain and keep fighting. Why? Because if they didn¡¯t, they¡¯d burden their team. Their absence would cause the formation to break, leading to everyone¡¯s demise. Ah. Suddenly, I realized once again just how incredible my skill was. Skeleton Summoning¡­ My skeletons wouldn¡¯t get injured. They wouldn¡¯t even die. As long as I had energy, they could be revived, good as new. That was the overpowered nature of being a necromancer. ¡°I¡¯ve stopped the bleeding! I¡¯m getting back in formation now!¡± ¡°How¡¯s the pain?¡± ¡°Huff, I feel like I¡¯m going to die¡­ but I¡¯ll endure it!¡± ¡°Get back here! Even if you don¡¯t have your left arm, swing with your right! Block them!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Kang Yoojung once again took over fighting the duhan from Kim Jinsoo. Wow, that¡¯s¡­ High-ranking hunters were high-ranked for a reason. To show such willpower in a situation worse than a battlefield¡­ Did you have to be at least this strong to join the Cult of the Heavenly Demon? Of course. I would have done the same. I could endure quite a bit of pain myself. I trained my tolerance by getting beaten up by the old man daily. I had also endured the Sun Spear¡¯s attacks all over my body without copsing. ¡ªSwoosh! I swung my spear at full force again. ¡ªng! The duhan¡¯s axe nged heavily as I blocked it. Facing an A-rank duhan alone was still tricky for me. I could only block its attacks for now. But that was enough. The opening it left was all that Sunny needed. They swiftly moved in and struck the duhan¡¯s separated head with their spear without hesitation. ¡ªThunk! ¡°Kiyeeeh!¡± The duhan¡¯s weakness was the head it held in its left hand. Letting out a horrific scream, it turned into ck smoke and disappeared. ¡°Are you okay, my lord?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thanks.¡± ¡°No, my lord, your spear¡­¡± ¡°Oh.¡± I looked down at the spear I was gripping. The de was utterly worn out with cracks. No wonder it hadn¡¯t been stabbing properly for a while. Well, no problem. There were plenty of weapons lying around. ¡ªTunk! I dropped the spear to the ground and then picked up a sword from a nearby duhan. ¡°Hey, over there!¡± From a distance, Kim Jinsoo shouted, ¡°Look over there! Another wave of undead ising!¡± What the hell? More undead? Even more than we already had right now? I looked up again, scanning the battlefield. ¡°Huh?¡± And there, a legion of white skeletons was advancing. ¡°Are those¡­?¡± I was taken aback. ¡°Skeletons?¡± [You have witnessed the Skeleton Legion.] ¡ªCreak! tter! They carried various weapons as they marched, their bones rattling with every step. ¡°I-It seems they¡¯ve raised the fallen soldiers as skeletons!¡± ¡°That seems to be the case.¡± I nodded. The armor and weapons those skeletons wore were the same ones the soldiers on the wall had. But¡­ Why had these skeletons only appeared now? I climbed onto a nearby pile of ghoul corpses to get a better view of the battlefield because I needed to have the high ground to assess the whole situation. Then, in the distance¡­ ¡ªBoom! Boom! I could see Lee Sunah shing swords with the liches. Did they summon them because of her assault? In any case¡­ I smiled. Skeletons, huh? That¡¯s perfect. What was my title? The Skeleton Lord¡ªthe one who ruled over all skeletons. I recalled the message I had received when I earned the title. [Youmand all skeletons.] [You reign over all skeletons.] [Not a single skeleton can dare to attack you.] [You are the ¡®Skeleton Lord.¡¯] A grin spread over my face. Ah. Every dungeon had its solution as long as you knew where to look. ¡°Vice leader!¡± I called out to Kang Jihoo. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I think I¡¯ve found our way to win this game!¡± ¡°What do you mean?!¡± ¡°Can you get me to those skeletons over there?¡± It was good that the skeletons had appeared. However, the densely packed ghouls and specters prevented the skeletons from reaching me. ¡°Hmm? Could it be¡­¡± Kang Jihoo seemed to have realized something as he looked at me with hope. ¡°Are you certain about that?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee it, but we don¡¯t have any other options, do we?¡± ¡°But we¡¯d have to move the entire team to break through their forces. The gate could fall while we¡¯re gone!¡± I understood his concern. If this n wasn¡¯t guaranteed, we could end up surrounded. But if we seeded, we could turn the tide. It didn¡¯t matter if the skeletons were strong or weak. What mattered was the change in the formation. We could use the skeletons as shields, and the expanded front line would allow our skills to hit more enemies. ¡°So what¡¯s your decision? We¡¯ll have to go together because if I leave, the others will be overrun.¡± There were only three of them, excluding Lee Sunah. And one of them was injured. As I spoke, I kept ncing at the front line. We didn¡¯t have much time. The undead were pressing in closer and closer to the gate. ¡°Damn it!¡± Kang Jihoo cursed. ¡°We¡¯re all going to die anyway if we stay here and do nothing. Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made the right choice.¡± They didn¡¯t believe it, but I had already cleared more than three S-rank dungeons. And every time, my instincts had been right. Once we left the safety of the wall in the rear, the attacks became even more relentless. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Huff, huff!¡± There was no time to talk. We could only hack and sh through the endless waves of enemies like mindless machines. There was no time for precision or finesse. We were cutting down enemies on pure instinct, sometimes just smashing them with the hilts of our swords. ¡°Stay close! Don¡¯t break formation! Move ording to Boney 4¡¯s directions!¡± Our goal was the skeleton army. At the front, Boney 4 and its skeletons pushed the enemies back with their shields. The rest of us¡ªmyself, Boney 4¡¯s minions, and the ck Sword Squad members¡ªcut down the enemies attacking from the sides. ¡°Huff, huff! Are we¡­ really going to survive this?¡± Kim Jinsoo asked, panting heavily. ¡°Focus! We don¡¯t have time to think about anything else!¡± I answered quickly. ¡°You¡¯re incredible. You¡¯re still just B-rank, but you feel like an S-rank. Huff, huff!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Kim Jinsoo marveled at me, but I didn¡¯t respond. I was too busy moving my body, focusing on the Great Blue Heart Technique and All Techniques. It¡¯s for sure¡­ That I was mentally and physically stronger than the A-rank hunters in this battle. Hey, System¡­ Isn¡¯t this enough to justify my promotion? Just hurry up and let me awaken! ¡°Skeleton Lord!¡± ¡°Yes, vice leader?¡± ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± I saw the skeleton army charging toward me with incredible speed. ¡ªCreak! tter! The skeletons, their joints creaking, were¡­ Huh? They were attacking the ghouls and specters from the Immortal Legion. ¡°Y-You were right! The Skeleton Lord was right!¡± Kim Jinsoo shouted in surprise. ¡°Th-They really are¡­ Ugh, attacking the ghouls and specters!¡± Kang Yoojung echoed. About 1,000 skeletons were attacking in full force. [You are the ¡®Skeleton Lord.¡¯] [You reign over all skeletons.] Ah. I could feel their presence. These aren¡¯t¡­ These weren¡¯t ordinary skeletons. They were at least on par with the ghouls, maybe even stronger. The skeletons had been rushing toward me from the moment they saw me. To protect me. They were undead. Without fear, they pressed forward and began to push back the enemy forces. ¡°I see now¡­ This was your trump card, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Kang Jihoo exhaled in admiration. ¡°Huff¡­ No wonder the leader was interested in your ability. You¡¯re far more useful than I am, even as an S-rank. So please¡­¡± He gulped and continued. ¡°Please save us.¡± Of course, that was my n. ¡°Skeletons, spread out! Widen the front line so our skills can hit more enemies!¡± To be honest, the tide hadn¡¯tpletely turned yet since we only had about 1,000 skeletons. However, we had been holding on without them until now, so at least now we could catch our breath. ¡°Necromancer.¡± At that moment¡­ ¡°You¡¯ve done well holding out this long. But I haven¡¯t shown you the true power of the Immortal Army yet.¡± The voice of a lich echoed in my ears once again. One of the eleven liches¡ªthe one who had cursed us in the beginning. ¡°Now, let me show you¡­ the cold magic of darkness¡­¡± ¡ªVwoooong! Suddenly, the drizzling rain stopped. ¡ªSwooooosh¡­ A fierce wind began to blow and the temperature plummeted rapidly. Even Lee Sunah, fighting the other liches in the distance, stopped her battle and started running toward us, sensing something was wrong. The rain turned to frost in mid-air. ¡ªFwoosh! A blizzard began to rage. ¡°I-It¡¯s getting colder!¡± ¡°This is¡­¡± It was the lich¡¯s ultimate area-wide spell¡ªa massive cold storm that sent shards of ice raining down, freezing everything in its path¡ªBlizzard. ¡ªCrunch! Crunch! The skeletons began to slow down. Instinctively, I braced myself against the cold. ¡°Damn¡­ Is this dungeon even possible to clear?¡± Kang Jihoo muttered as he shivered. Good question. That was what I wanted to know too. Chapter 81 Chapter 81: The Immortal Legion (5) ¡ªWhoosh! A fierce blizzard covered the entire area. At first, it was bearable, but the temperature gradually dropped. I felt my blood freezing, and it became difficult to move. My fingers and toes swelled up. One fortunate thing is¡­ Not only us, but the enemy¡¯s speed also slowed down. The blizzard did not discriminate between friend and foe. ¡°Skeleton Lord!¡± Lee Sunah, who was in the middle of fighting, approached me. She had aplicated yet subtle expression on her face. ¡°It seems it¡¯s too much. I thought I could at least kill a few liches¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I might not be able to keep my promise to guarantee your safety.¡± Her once-neat attire was now in tatters. It seemed her energy was also running low. Most of all, her face looked extremely tired. Indeed, the eleven liches may have been too much for her¡­ Was it a difficulty level hard for even a ranker to handle? ¡°It¡¯s frustrating. I thought we¡¯d get through easily since it¡¯s an A-rank dungeon¡­¡± She muttered. ¡°Captain, are you alright?¡± Kang Jihoo and the team members ran over to stand next to Lee Sunah. Lee Sunah¡¯s brow furrowed as she nced over them. It was because she saw Kang Yoojung¡¯s severed left arm. ¡°Kang Yoojung? What on earth happened¡­?¡± ¡°Hngh, it was an ident caused by my carelessness¡­¡± Kang Yoojung replied with a painful expression. The extreme cold seemed to make the pain worse. ¡°Are you okay? You need to get treated quickly¡­¡± ¡°My situation seems less urgent than everyone¡¯s right now, Team Leader¡­¡± she sniffled. ¡°¡­That may be true.¡± Lee Sunah bit her lip. She was a ranker, but she was also the leader of a group. There was no way she felt alright seeing her team members injured. Moreover¡­ It was uncertain whether we¡¯d even make it out alive in this situation. The heavy responsibility weighed on her shoulders. ¡°For now.¡± Lee Sunah gripped her sword. ¡°We must get out of the blizzard¡¯s range. The fortunate thing is that the Blizzard skill drains a lot of energy. One of the eleven liches is probably incapacitated due to this single skill.¡± If it was incapacitated, it meant that it was out of energy and unable to continue fighting. ¡°Vice Team Leader?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Please take responsibility for our two team members and lead them. I¡¯ll take care of Skeleton Lord. Get out of this area as quickly as possible.¡± Lee Sunah reached her left hand out to me, nodding slightly, meaning to ask if it was okay. That seems like the right decision. I nodded. She, a ranker, would be faster than me, who was still B-rank. If I dyed, my whole body could get frozen solid. There¡¯s nothing I can do for my subordinates. There was no way to save my summoned subordinates and surrounding skeletons except to revive them once my energy was full again. We didn¡¯t have enough time to run together. ¡ªClench! She wrapped her left arm around my waist and then pushed off the ground. Lee Sunah¡¯s strength was impressive. The weight of an adult man was nothing to her. It was as if she was carrying a grocery bag from the supermarket as she moved effortlessly. ¡ªSwoosh! She sprinted, stepping lightly over duhans¡¯ heads and death knights¡¯ helmets with incredible speed. ¡°Are you alright, Skeleton Lord?¡± ¡°Yes, except for feeling a little dizzy.¡± As we flew, I thought, How can we escape this crisis? They say there¡¯s always a solution in every dungeon. Isn¡¯t there a way out? ¡°ck Sword, may I ask you something?¡± ¡°What is it, Skeleton Lord?¡± ¡°The skeletons from before. Those were summoned by the lich, right?¡± In response to my question, Lee Sunah nodded. ¡°Yes. One of the liches used it after its health dropped to about half. I¡¯m not sure why it¡¯d use such a useless skill¡­ But it showed up in the status message, so I¡¯m certain.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± Useless, huh¡­ It was true since it was a skill that benefitted us instead. ¡°To be honest, I thought it was strange while fighting,¡± Lee Sunah continued. ¡°Even a thousand skeletons wouldn¡¯t be of much help to them¡­ So why go through the trouble of using energy to revive dead soldiers?¡± It made sense. That was why I got a feeling. ¡°Could it be¡­ a gimmick?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Lee Sunah tilted her head. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it seem suspicious? For a high-ranking dungeon boss to use such a useless skill?¡± I could feel the surrounding temperature rising. Her speed was astounding, and soon we reached the edge of the blizzard field. ¡°I¡¯m a necromancer. Specifically a Skeleton Lord, one who reigns over all skeletons per the system.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But for him to summon skeletons in front of me¡­¡± ¡°Necromancer¡­ Trials must be set ording to one¡¯s potential. Yourtent power is extraordinary.¡± Those were the words the lich spoke when it cast the curse. It felt like it was evaluating me. If that¡¯s the case¡­ The solution must lie with me. ¡°I see.¡± Lee Sunah blinked. ¡°So, Skeleton Lord, you¡¯re saying¡­ the dungeon might be giving us a hint to use those skeletons to clear it?¡± ¡°Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°Whether it makes sense or not, it¡¯s also the only option we can hope for right now,¡± she agreed. She had no other choice since she couldn¡¯t take on all eleven liches individually. Her energy was almost depleted, and there was nowhere else to run. Now, there were truly no other options. ¡°Alright.¡± Lee Sunah nodded. ¡°Getting the liches to half HP, let¡¯s try that.¡± ¡ªSwoosh! The ck Sword turned in the direction of the liches. The blizzard disappeared before we even noticed. Now it was only raining lightly. ¡°However,¡± Lee Sunah spoke up. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°We have to go by ourselves. It¡¯s overwhelming just facing one lich, so covering for all the members is impossible.¡± She wanted to leave the team members behind. I also nodded. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I wanted to say.¡± Gueri tactics were usually carried out with a small team anyway. We quickly approached where the lich was. Even though I was in Lee Sunah¡¯s arms, I felt no particr way about it. My mind was entirely upied with survival andbat¡ªonly those two words filled my head. Lee Sunah seemed the same; her serious expression focused on the front. ¡°Skeleton Lord, how much energy do you have left?¡± ¡°Enough to cycle through five minions once.¡± ¡°Good. Both you and I, we¡¯re using up all our remaining energy here.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± There was no room for hesitation, no nning for the future, only shing with full power! ¡ªSwoosh! I squeezed out my remaining 50 energy. At the same time, I summoned all the battle-type skeletons, from Boney 1 to Boney 5. ¡°My Lord!¡± ¡°Oh dear, we¡¯re airborne this time, Master.¡± Sunny and Eldrin flew in the air. Boney 1, Boney 4, and Boney 5 too. Just a few meters below, they charged toward the lich with gleaming red eyes. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv. Max).] [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Haste¡¯ (Lv.4).] With the shield and buffs I received, I also leaped down. ¡°I¡¯ming too, Skeleton Lord!¡± Lee Sunah, who had thrown me, adjusted her grip on her sword and began pouring all her energy into it. ¡ªCrackle! Electric currents flowed along the dark de. ck Sword Flight Arts. Area-Wide Technique. Third Form: True p of Thunder. ¡ªBoom! Once again, she summoned thunder, bringing it down on the liches. The downside of the ck Sword Flight Arts was that it was weak against single targets, so it wasn¡¯t effective for one-on-one fights. ¡°But you needn¡¯t worry, Skeleton Lord! I still have a trump card!¡± Her sword moved. ¡°My lord, let¡¯s join forces!¡± Sunny joined too. Although it was only 10% of the power of the original Sun Spear, their spear¡¯s energy was enormous. ¡ªSwoosh! Swoosh! The style of a desert spear evoking yellow sand and withered vegetation¡ªamanding aura only a ruler of a world could have! ¡°Kyieeeee!¡± The lich shrieked, emitting red light from its eyes. An unknown power repelled Sunny and trapped Eldrin¡¯s feet. But their fighting spirit did not falter. They held on, clinging even tighter. ¡ªBoom! Boom! Boney 4, holding only a shield, charged as if it felt no pain. Boney 1, wielding a sword, fought as if it was unwilling to be outdone by Lee Sunah¡¯s shes. And from behind, Boney 5 tirelessly supplied buffs and shields. ¡°Indeed, your potential is amazing to control skeletons like these.¡± ¡ªBoom! Lee Sunah¡¯s sword struck the lich¡¯s neck. ¡°And so I honestly feel regretful. I brought a promising talent into such a dangerous dungeon¡­!¡± By now, she had maneuvered to the lich¡¯s rear. ¡ªBoom! Boom! Her strikes continued one after another at what seemed like lightspeed. ¡°That¡¯s why I won¡¯t give up hope until the end! I¡¯ll fight so that we can survive somehow!¡± ck Sword Flight Arts. Area-Wide Technique. Fourth Form: Annihtion of Heaven. ¡°Cough!¡± ck blood poured from Lee Sunah¡¯s mouth. ¡°ck Sword?¡± I was startled. Since I was using the Great Blue Heart Technique, I immediately understood the nature of her skill. True innate ki. A pure and powerful energy one is born with. Far stronger than ordinary energy, but it came at the cost of one¡¯s lifespan. So her trump card was the Annihtion of Heaven technique she just showed? ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Well, yeah. I don¡¯t use it often because it drops my ranking every time I use it¡­ But what good is the ranking if we can¡¯t survive this, right?¡± ¡°¡­ck Sword.¡± Ah. I couldn¡¯t imagine how it would feel for a ranker to lower their rank. Was it simr to a B-rank Hunter dropping to C-rank? Actually, that would still be considered fortunate. Right then, she had undoubtedly sacrificed some of her life. ¡ªRumble! The sky turned pitch ck. Just like her title of ck Sword, a rain of swords fell upon the world. ¡°Skeleton Lord.¡± ¡°Yes, ck Sword.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t deal with them all, but I can at least take half of their HP, as promised.¡± ¡ªCrackle! Countless ck des charged toward the eleven liches, exploding upon impact. [The lich¡¯s HP is at 50%!] [The lich used the skill ¡®Revive the Dead¡¯ (S-rank).] [The lich¡¯s HP is at 50%!] [The lich used the skill ¡®Revive the Dead¡¯ (S-rank).] [The lich¡¯s HP is at 50%!] [The lich used the skill ¡®Revive the Dead¡¯ (S-rank).] ¡°Our prediction¡­¡± Was correct. As expected, the lich¡¯s aura began to cover the wastnd, targeting the bodies of soldiers who had fallen to the Immortal Legion. ¡ªRattle! Rattle! One by one. The sight of approximately 9,000 skeleton soldiers simultaneously lifting their weapons was truly a spectacle. I opened my mouth to say, ¡°No need to apologize to me, ck Sword.¡± ¡ªRattle! The skeletons aimed their weapons at the lich. ¡°Entering this dungeon was entirely my choice. Watch. No matter what trials they throw at us¡­ I¡¯ll ovee them and grow even stronger.¡± Simultaneously, a new message appeared in my field of vision. [Hidden condition achieved!] [This is the hidden condition for ¡®Unique Authority: Cursed Necromancer¡¯!] Good. It gave a reason for awakening. This was the news I¡¯d been waiting for. Chapter 82 Chapter 82: Skeleton King [Hidden condition achieved!] [This is the hidden condition for ¡®Unique Authority: Cursed Necromancer¡¯!] [Condition: The Control 10,000 Rule!] ¨C Tremendous effort is required to raise the grade of your innate ability! ¨C Command a total of 10,000 skeletons, regardless of type! The Control 10,000 Rule? It sounded familiar. The 10,000 Uses Rule, was it? [Condition: The 10,000 Uses Rule!] ¨C To upgrade your unique authority, significant effort is required! ¨C Use skill ¡®Summon Ordinary Skeleton¡¯ (E-rank) 10,000 times! Yes, that was right. Back when I was an E-rank Hunter, it was the condition that triggered my awakening when I encountered the orc. I see now. It seems the system is fond of the number 10,000. It¡¯s clear that it values pretexts. This confirmed that awakening didn¡¯t rely on just one condition. If I were to only able to reach A-rank by following this ¡®Control 10,000 Rule,¡¯ it would be unfair. How would I even reach that point without a skill or method to control 10,000 skeletons? It¡¯s just something the unknown entity has authorized. It was allowing me to ascend to A-rank now. It had deemed that I was worthy with the strength I had achieved. The system recognized that I deserved the higher rank. Anyway. The 1,000 skeletons I had previouslymanded, now frozen by the blizzard,bined with the newly added 9,000 skeletons, seemed to fulfill the total of 10,000. And I weed it. [Congrattions!] [Your rank has upgraded to A-rank!] A bright and mystical aura enveloped my body. Finally, I achieved the A-rank! [A reward for the rank change has arrived!] Good. First and foremost, save my life. [Your energy is refilled!] [Energy: 220/220] ¡°Yes!¡± I shouted. This was one of the best things about awakening during a battle. Not only did it refill your energy, but it also fully recovered any wounds or fatigue. Of course, the benefits of awakening didn¡¯t stop there. ¡°My Lord¡­ I feel like I¡¯ve taken a step closer to my true abilities.¡± ¡°With this¡­ I might be able to take on a lich alone.¡± ¡ªng! Swoosh! Sunny¡¯s thrust their spear, and Eldrin¡¯s arrows exploded out. The liches began to retreat because of the entirely different momentum we now held. ¡ªBoom! ¡ªSwoosh! Slice! ¡ªFwoosh! Boney 1, Boney 4, and Boney 5 also charged in with a more terrifying intensity in their eyes. [Skill: ¡®Summon Great Skeleton¡¯ (D-rank) has been upgraded!] [Skill: ¡®Summon Skeleton Knight¡¯ (A-rank) acquired!] Skeleton knights! That was right. These were no longer just skeletons. They had now been granted the rank of knight. And additionally¡­ [A new primary weapon for the skeletons has been adjusted!] [Assigned skeleton: ¡®Bonehead 7¡¯] [This skeleton will now respond to yourmand!] ¡°Boney 7 too?¡± Another seal had been released. Of course, to fully awaken it, I would need toplete another medium quest. However, the fact that my forces had expanded was worth celebrating. I¡¯ll examine Boney 7ter. For now, it felt like I had been given too much control at once. Honestly, it was overwhelming. Not only my summons but I had 9,000 skeletons with zing red eyes, charging at the liches. ¡ªRumble¡­ [Your presence empowers all skeletons.] Every single one of them wasn¡¯t an ordinary skeleton. Each of them was far stronger and more tenacious than they had been as soldiers. And it was entirely because of me¡ªbecause of the aura emanating from my title. ¡°Kyieeee!¡± The liches panicked, unleashing their magic, but there was something in the skeletons¡¯ eyes. Because of you. Because of your Immortal Legion. We died. Now you will taste death. We, too, are now immortal and will tear you apart for eternity. Their bodies may have died, but their bones held an icy grudge¡ªa hatred toward the liches. And I could also feel their gratitude to me for providing this opportunity. The emotions they felt pricked at my heart. They fully resonated with me. [A total of 10,000 skeletons sincerely serve you.] ¡ªCreak! Crack! Even as their bones melted under the liches¡¯ dazzling spells, even as their skulls flew and joints broke, they kept charging, thrusting their weapons into the liches¡¯ bodies. [You are not only their lord but also receive their loyalty.] [You are the ¡®Skeleton King.¡¯] Skeleton King? ¡°¡­!¡± Eyes wide, I hurriedly opened my status screen. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Alias: Skeleton King] [Energy: 220/220] [Unique authority: Cursed Necromancer] [Rank: A] [Effect] ¨C You possess the profession of a necromancer, capable of handling dead souls. You can use fearsome spirits and toxic substances to subdue opponents. However, you are cursed. ¨C You can only summon skeletons. [Skills] ¨C Summon Skeleton Knight (A-rank) ¨C Memory Recreation (S-rank) ¨C Teaching of All Techniques (S-rank) ¨C Pain Resistance (S-rank) ¨C Rend (B-rank) ¨C Pierce (B-rank) ¨C Shoot (B-rank) ¨C Defend (B-rank) ¨C Great Blue Heart Technique (S-rank) ¨C Resurrection of the Dead (A-rank) ¨C Roar of the Dead (A-rank) My title had changed. I was no longer the ¡®Skeleton Lord¡¯ but had ascended one level to ¡®Skeleton King.¡¯ And on top of that¡­ I had gained two new skills: Resurrection of the Dead and Roar of the Dead. [Skill: Resurrection of the Dead] [Rank: A] [Effect 1: Summons up to 10,000 skeletons. However, corpses of the deceased must be present in the area.] [Effect 2: Consumes 50 energy.] [Skill: Roar of the Dead] [Rank: A] [Effect 1: Doubles all stats of nearby skeletons.] [Effect 2: Consumes 50 energy.] ¡°This is insane¡­!¡± A shiver ran through my body. A skill that summoned 10,000 skeletons? And with a wide area buff as well? Yes, now this was what a true necromancer should be! This should be the scale of someone whomanded the dead. It was awe-inspiring, enough to bring tears to my eyes. ¡ªVwoom! I raised my staff. [Using skill ¡®Resurrection of the Dead¡¯ (A-rank).] [Consuming 50 energy.] Newly acquired skills had to be used immediately, right? ¡°Rise, skeletons!¡± The field was rich with corpses. More than 30,000 dead soldiersy scattered, but only 10,000 had been used so far. ¡ªck! ck! The world turned white as skeletons rose in droves. As if an already daunting number wasn¡¯t enough, double the current amount had just stood up. ¡°¡­So this is the Skeleton Lord¡¯s potential?¡± The scene was so spectacr that even Lee Sunah, a ranker, gaped with her mouth wide open beside me. ¡°ck Sword, it¡¯s no longer ¡®Lord¡¯ but ¡®King.¡¯¡± ¡°King¡­¡± Yes, I was a king. The king of white, the King of Bones! ¡ªRumble! The ground trembled. Like thousands of ants devouring cicadas, the army of white soldiers covered the liches. This is¡­ I marveled. Honestly, it was an unstoppable force, even for a ranker. Didn¡¯t that put me at a ranker level too? Of course, there was still one more skill left. [Using skill ¡®Roar of the Dead¡¯ (A-rank).] [Consuming 50 energy.] ¡°Guoooh¡­!¡± A roar, like that of a wailing spirit, burst from my body, radiating in waves like ripples spreading across water. It was an incredible skill that raised all the stats and the speed of the skeletons by twofold and without any penalties. ¡°I underestimated you. Lord¡­ no, Skeleton King.¡± Lee Sunah also let her sword hang loosely as she joined the front lines. Thanks to the influx of skeletons, she couldfortably deal damage. ¡°Your potential¡­ may even surpass the Cult Leader.¡± ¡°Cult Leader?¡± ¡°Yes, Ha Sera, the Heavenly Demon. She¡¯s the one who passed down the ck Sword Flight Technique to me.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± So was she at a level that could teach martial techniques to someone? Was that even possible? Well. It made sense, given that the Elder of All Techniques existed. My skills were full of unbelievable abilities, so it was unwise to judge the world by my standards. The world was vast and full of peculiar talents. Besides, Ha Sera was the 3rd-ranked Hunter in the world. ¡°In any case, you kept your promise.¡± Lee Sunah smiled slightly. It was the first smile I¡¯d seen since the dungeon had turned into this mess. ¡°You kept your promise to the Five Stars of Seoul.¡± ¡ªCrash! Her sword strikes rained down on the liches. Though her movements were slower than before, she was still a ranker. Her destructive force was undeniably powerful. ¡°You¡¯ve also ovee the trials this dungeon threw at you, just as you said you would.¡± ¡ªBoom! Another wave of skeletons engulfed the lich to the point where its figure was barely visible amidst the white tide. ¡°To be honest, at first I only went along with it because I was friends with the Dark Empress and because it was her turn to make a rmendation.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! Once again, a snowstorm stirred. It seemed one of the liches had used all its remaining energy to create a blizzard. ¡°But this time, it¡¯s different. I¡¯ve seen it with my own eyes.¡± But it was already toote. The liches were on the verge of being annihted. ¡ªSlice! Once more, Lee Sunah¡¯s sword pointed toward the sky. ck Sword Flight Technique. Area-Wide Technique. Third Form: True p of Thunder. ¡ªKABOOM! The unleashed strikes turned into lightning, bombarding the liches mercilessly. ¡°¡­¡± Using all her remaining energy, it was thest strike. Lee Sunah wiped the blood from her mouth and began to survey the situation. ¡°Kyieeee!¡± ¡°Kyaaah!¡± The liches screamed, dissolving into ck smoke one by one. When one fell, it became easier to defeat the next. And by killing the lich who had cast the blizzard, the snowstorm finally ceased. Lee Sunah¡¯s movements were swift yet precise. ¡°My Lord! I¡¯ll use Sr Strike!¡± My skeletons moved skillfully too. ¡°I¡¯ll support with Moonlight Descent!¡± Eldrin¡¯s arrows covered for Sunny. As much as Lee Sunah swept through the battlefield, my skeletons also ran through, mocking the liches. And eventually¡­ ¡ªThud! After finishing all the liches, shended in front of me. ¡°You are¡­ huff, huff¡­!¡± She panted heavily. ¡°You are a hunter who stays calm in any crisis. A hunter with excellent judgment and decisiveness. So¡­¡± Lee Sunah looked at me. ¡°¡­¡± I looked directly into her eyes as well. ¡°I, the ck Sword, will sincerely rmend you to the Dungeon Maker and will continue to support you, just like the Dark Empress.¡± She smiled brightly. At the same time¡­ [Congrattions!] [You have cleared the stage: ¡®Immortal Legion¡¯!] [Receiving clear rewards!] A message of triumph appeared¡ªa dramatic congrattions signaling a narrow escape from death. Was every dungeon like this? Were they all this dramatic? Or was it just me? But this time¡­ I led the way myself. I wasn¡¯t far behind the rankers. I had awakened to A-rank, contributed significantly, and yed a role in defeating the liches. Of course¡­ If Lee Sunah hadn¡¯t been here, I¡¯d never have made it alone. In any case, I advanced once again. I grew. From today onwards, I was the Skeleton King. Chapter 83 Chapter 83: Boney 7 ¡°Hmm.¡± As I opened my eyes, I found myself outside the dungeon, on the central ridge of Todang Mountain, overlooking Geomdan, Incheon. The familiar sky loomed over me. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Guh¡­¡± Around me, I could hear the groans of the ck Sword Squad members. Kim Jinsoo, Kang Yoojung, and Kang Jihoo¡ªthey had all survived. They¡¯d made it through the terrifying forces of the Immortal Legion. ¡°Haha,¡± Vice Team Leader Kang Jihooughed. ¡°Haha, did we actually survive that? For real?¡± Kang Yoojung sniffed. ¡°Thank goodness. Truly.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°I thought we were all going to die because of me¡­¡± Her physical pain aside, the mental burden of her mistake nearly leading to everyone¡¯s deaths must have been overwhelming. ¡°Skeleton King,¡± a tired voice called from beside me. It was the ck Sword, Lee Sunah. Right. She was indeed a ranker. Without her, I would have died, and without me, she wouldn¡¯t have cleared the dungeon either. We owed each other a debt. But then¡­ ¡°Um, Ms. ck Sword¡­?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°To be honest, I could kind of handle the title ¡®Lord¡¯¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Lee Sunah tilted her head, puzzled. I continued speaking, ¡°But the title ¡®King¡¯ makes my skin crawl. Ugh, it¡¯s so cringe.¡± King! The title of a nation¡¯s ruler. It felt like something you¡¯d only hear if you were ranked number one or something. ¡°I usually refer to people by their alias alone if they have one, Skeleton King.¡± ¡°¡­Seriously?¡± Come to think of it, she had never called anyone by their real name. She even called the members of the Five Stars of Seoul by their aliases and had never once addressed me as ¡°Joo Donghoon.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a habit, I suppose? The details are a secret.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± What was with this person? Didn¡¯t she absolutely hate being called ¡°Captain¡±? ¡°Anyway, we owe our lives to the Skeleton King. It was a truly incredible battle, one of the best I¡¯ve experienced.¡± ¡°Haha, yes! That spectacle of the skeleton army covering the world was¡­ truly remarkable.¡± The vice team leader gave a thumbs up. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t forget this debt.¡± The ck Sword Squad members also approached, bowing their heads. Even Kang Yoojung, despite having lost an arm, maintained her dignity. ¡°¡­I, too,¡± I bowed my head to them, ¡°thank you.¡± No matter the intentions, the dungeon ultimately served me. It was a trial that assessed me, and in the end, I was the one who awakened. Inparison, Lee Sunah used her innate energy, and Kang Yoojung lost her arm. ¡°¡­¡± As a swordsman, I couldn¡¯t dare imagine what it would feel like to lose an arm. Sensing my thoughts, the mood of the group became somber. [Receiving clear rewards!] [Please check your reward!] Right, the reward! I looked up. Most of the rewards were increases in my skeletons¡¯ stats. Overall, their stats improved, and some of their skill levels increased. But the best reward by far was¡­ Finally, Boney 7¡¯s seal has been lifted. I instinctively opened Boney 7¡¯s status screen. [Name: Bonehead 7] [Energy: 200/200] [Unique Ability: Skeleton Knight] [ss: Healer] [Rank: A] [Strength: 40] [Dexterity: 40[Constitution: 40] [Magic Power: 40] [Technique: 40] [Skills] ¨C Intermediate Healing (Lv.1) ¨C Recovery (Lv. Max) ¨C Summon Skeleton (Lv. Max) ¡°¡­?!¡± My eyes darted over the information. Healing and recovery skills? A healer ss? My eyes widened. A unique ability like a healer was even rarer than a necromancer. The fact that I hadn¡¯t encountered a healer in all my dungeon runs proved it. An undead healer¡­? Typically, healing affected the undead negatively, didn¡¯t it? Healing generally gave off a holy aura, the opposite of the undead¡­ Besides¡­ I didn¡¯t really need a healer because my skeletons could always recover as long as I had energy. But at this moment¡­ Maybe a healer was what we needed right now. [Skill: Intermediate Healing] [Level: 1] [Description: Rapidly restores the target¡¯s condition.] [Effect 1: Seals wounds, stops bleeding, and soothes inmmation.] [Effect 2: For skeletons, reassembles and heals bones.] [Effect 3: Consumes 10 energy.] Wow. Reading through effect 1 and 2, it seemed like a special skill that worked not only on hunters but also on skeletons. Next, what about Recovery? [Skill: Recovery] [Level: Max] [Description: Returns the body to its previous state.] [Effect 1: Restores the body to its condition 24 hours prior. Cannot be used on the dead.] [Effect 2: Cooldown ¨C 30 days.] [Effect 3: Consumes 50 energy.] ¡°Woah!¡± For the first time, I couldn¡¯t keep my mouth shut. I couldn¡¯t help but let an exmation slip. This is insanely overpowered! When I saw the word ¡°healer,¡± I expected only minor healing abilities. This is unbelievable. But this was on apletely different level. It was insane. Restoring the body to its past state, huh¡­ In other words, I could heal someone who was severely injured as long as they hadn¡¯t died. However, it wouldn¡¯t cure long-standing illnesses or heal someone who was injured over a day ago. But in battle, this is ridiculously overpowered. If it became known that I had this skill, every guild in the country would likely try to scout me. I could act as a life battery just by following after a ranker. Despite the one-month cooldown, the power of this skill outweighed that penalty. ¡°¡­?¡± A hush had fallen around me. Everyone looked at me with curious eyes after my sudden exmation. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Skeleton King?¡± ¡°Did you think of something?¡± Well, of course, they¡¯d be curious. But there was no need to rush. I¡¯d tell them soon enough. I smiled slyly and looked at Kang Yoojung, still clutching her arm. ¡°Ms. Kang Yoojung?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± she replied, looking puzzled. ¡°Could I take a look at your arm for a moment?¡± If I recalled correctly, it hadn¡¯t been 24 hours since her injury. My arm¡­ Kang Yoojung stared nkly at the ground. What was this feeling? To be honest, she didn¡¯t know either. She felt sad, disbelieving, and surprisingly calm. Her emotions were all tangled up, making her wonder if she was being dysfunctional. I never thought I¡¯d be the victim of a dungeon ident like the ones in the news. She felt chills. LThe cold, sharp sensation of the death knight¡¯s sword passing through her upper arm¡ªshe remembered the pain, a sensation she never wanted to feel again. Her arm still throbbed. A life with only one arm. She tried to think positively, but it was still suffocating. Aside from the daily inconveniences, she couldn¡¯t maintain her bnce as well without an arm. Her gait, footwork, and swordsmanship were all unnatural. It all felt unfamiliar. Even with two arms, she was just an A-rank. She couldn¡¯t imagine how much more effort it would take to reach S-rank or be a ranker, let alone if it was even possible now. ¡°¡­¡± She was discouraged. She¡¯d probably have to quit being a hunter. She might have to leave the Cult of the Heavenly Demon too. Perhaps she¡¯d have to move on to a life as a teacher, training others. She was still an A-rank Hunter, so maybe she could still make a living. As she was lost in such thoughts¡­ ¡°Ms. Kang Yoojung?¡± Joo Donghoon called out to her. Joo Donghoon. At first, when she heard he was a B-rank, she thought he was just there to help with the gimmick. But he was no ordinary B-rank. B-rank, my foot¡­ No matter how she thought about it, at the very least, he had to be S-rank. Honestly, she¡¯d believe it if he said he was a ranker. From his calm judgment and quick reflexes to the way hemanded the skeleton army like a tidal wave¡­ How can that be B-rank¡­ That¡¯s just absurd. She shook her head and responded, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Could I take a look at your arm for a moment?¡± ¡°My arm?¡± Is he referring to my left arm or my right¡­? But my left arm is already gone¡­ She didn¡¯t know why, but seeing his smile and the certainty in his expression, she felt a strange emotion rising. A miracle. He was someone who could make miracles happen. ¡°Why do you need my arm?¡± With a face that said she didn¡¯t dare hope, she approached him slowly. She looked at him as if asking what he intended to do next. Then¡­ ¡ªWhoosh! He swung his staff. ¡ªRattle! A white skeleton emerged from the ground. That skeleton also held a staff. Looking at the skeleton, Joo Donghoon spoke. ¡°Boney 7, use Healing.¡± ¡ªCreak! The skeleton slowly raised its staff and gently touched Kang Yoojung¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Healing?¡± The vice team leader was stunned. ¡°Did you really just say ¡®healing,¡¯ Skeleton King?¡± The team leader who was a ranker also had her mouth wide open. Kang Yoojung looked at her severed arm in disbelief. I can¡¯t believe it. A skeleton that heals¡­? If there was a TV program called ¡±Is This Hunter Real?,¡± he¡¯d be the top candidate. ¡ªWhoooom! A pure white light emerged from the skeleton¡¯s staff, gently enveloping Kang Yoojung¡¯s left shoulder. The throbbing pain faded, and the wound closedpletely. As time passed, new flesh began to form over the red wound. But¡­ That was it. It couldn¡¯t bring back a lost arm. Right, that would be an impossible miracle. ¡°Hmm, Healing won¡¯t do the trick, huh.¡± A faint sigh escaped Joo Donghoon¡¯s lips. Was he disappointed as well? As expected. But it was okay. She had already received a great blessing. Her life was spared, and her pain was gone. ¡°I¡­¡± Kang Yoojung bit her lip and spoke. ¡°I¡¯m alright. Truly.¡± She bowed her head again. ¡°My arm may be gone, but dungeon idents like this happen to many hunters¡­ I¡¯m grateful just to have survived, and I¡¯m genuinely d my team made it back alive. I mean it.¡± Her tone was calm yet sincere. ¡°And just knowing that you care¡­¡± ¡°Hold on. I have one more trick up my sleeve.¡± He grinned. Then he said, ¡°Recovery!¡± And then¡­ At Joo Donghoon¡¯smand, the light from the skeleton¡¯s staff grew even whiter. It became more sacred. ¡ªSwoosh! A mysterious energy gathered around her arm. And a message appeared. [You body has been touched by the skill ¡®Recovery.¡¯] [Your physical state has reverted to 24 hours ago.] ¡°What¡­?¡± The energy surrounding Kang Yoojung began to transform her body. Time seemed to flow backward as blood began to flow again through the partially healed arm. And soon, bones started to form. Above that, flesh began to grow, blood vessels spread, nerves connected¡­ as if they had always been there. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Her arm had regrown. The nerves in her left arm, which she couldn¡¯t feel before, now returned. When she clenched and unclenched her fist, she finally realized it was unmistakably her arm. ¡°What¡­ is this¡­?¡± Stunned, Kang Yoojung looked up at Joo Donghoon with trembling eyes. The ck Sword Squad members around her were all in shock. How did he restore her severed arm? It was like a divine spectacle. ¡°This is my newly acquired skill, Recovery. Luckily, it worked.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Kang Yoojung was speechless. Emotions overwhelmed her, and instead of words, tears streamed down her face. Is this real? Did my arm actually regenerate? Can I fight again? If that was the case, Joo Donghoon was more than a benefactor. Not just someone who saved her life but someone who gave her a far greater gift. He preserved her dream. ¡°Thank you¡­ Truly, thank you.¡± On this day, Kang Yoojung experienced a miracle not once but twice. Chapter 84 Chapter 84: Sun vs. Moon (1) ¡°Phew.¡± In the sunset light, I looked up at the sky, exhaling a long breath. Atst, I cleared the dungeon. Once again, I survived and returned stronger than before. Kang Yoojung had bowed repeatedly, vowing to repay her debt someday, and then she left with Lee Sunah. A warm sense of satisfaction filled me. Luck was on her side. Who would have thought Boney 7 would turn out to be a healer? And that it would have such unbelievably powerful skills! It felt like I was getting closer to my goal of bing a ranker. Every day, I felt stronger. But I can¡¯t getcent just because of this. The world was vast, there were countless rankers, and the variety of skills out there was endless. Even though my skills seemed incredibly powerful, there were definitely people hiding skills that defied reason even more. Arrogance led to carelessness, and carelessness in this harsh world was as good as death. Still¡­ Just for today, I felt like I could embrace these feelings of hope and anticipation. ¡°I¡¯m gonna be a ranker too someday~ I¡¯ll proudly reach my dreams~ Spread the wings I¡¯ve kept folded for so long~¡± Humming a tune, I strolled through the streets of Apgujeong. I was heading for Demir¡¯s workshop¡ªin other words, my home. Moving here had its perks. Back in the day, after finishing mercenary work or clearing a dungeon, the thought of going back to my dingy basement apartment was awful. But now, I had a proper luxury residence in Apgujeong, making the journey home delightful. I couldn¡¯t help but hum a bit. As I entered, someone greeted me from the second floor. ¡°Master, you¡¯re back?¡± It was the true owner of the second floor¡ªDemir. ¡°You seem to be in a good mood. Looks like you gained a lot from this dungeon?¡± ¡°Of course, of course.¡± Demir was my sixth skeleton. While I was away in the dungeon, he took care of the house. He continued making weapons and running the shop. One convenient thing about my skill is¡­ If I summoned someone and then went into a dungeon, they didn¡¯t get unsummoned. In other words, there was no distance limit between the summoner and the summon. ¡°Actually, I figured it out, Master,¡± Demir said. ¡°While making weapons, as always, I noticed that my stats suddenly increased, as if my knowledge was integrating better into the weapons. Which meant¡­ your power grew once again, didn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± That¡¯s right. Since I leveled up to A-rank, Demir must have also ascended to be a Skeleton Knight (A-rank). ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Take a look at this.¡± Demir handed me something. It was a sleek, well-crafted spear. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Well, while you were in the dungeon, I started crafting a spear with Sun Spear in mind.¡± ¡°¡­For Sunny?¡± Come to think of it, I should have made them a weapon. Here was the list of skeletons who currently wielded S-rank weapons: Eldrin ¨C For Eldrin Boney 5 ¨C Staff of the Fire Dragon Demir ¨C Demir¡¯s Hammer Only those three owned S-rank weapons, while the rest were still using bone weapons. ¡°Hmm¡­ I was nning to give Sunny a separate S-rank weaponter.¡± If I were to make an S-rank weapon, Sunny would definitely be my top priority. Honestly, crafting for Boney 1, Boney 4, or Boney 7 felt a bit premature before their awakening. Demir once told me that a master craftsman considers the user¡¯s traits and personality when making a weapon. ¡°Well, I was just forming the shape vaguely, intending to make a proper er. But when you ascended a rank¡­ I felt inspired, and this happened. Hahaha.¡± ¡°Inspired?¡± Demir chuckled softly and lifted his chin, his face brimming with confidence. ¡°Look for yourself. It should be the rank you desire.¡± ¡°This is an S-rank¡­?¡± I stared nkly at the spear¡¯s information. [Item: Spear Made with Sun Spear in Mind] [Rank: S] [Type: Spear] [Description: This spear is a gift crafted by the legendary cksmith ¡®Demir¡¯ for hispanion ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] [Effect 1: Increases energy by 100.] [Effect 2: Reduces skill cooldown by 20%.] [Effect 3: Increases skill damage by 200%.] [Effect 4: Usable only by ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] Wait, it actually was? ¡°¡­Did you make this all by yourself?¡± I was amazed. I always knew Demir was amazing, but to reach the level where he could craft S-rank weapons alone seemed unbelievable. ¡°The stats aren¡¯t as good as when I craft weapons with you, but it¡¯s enough to use for now, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± ¡ªThunk! Demir set down his hammer. ¡°¡­¡± It was an interesting experience¡ªto see my summon independently take action without orders to enhance my forces. ¡°Thanks, Demir.¡± I smiled at him. ¡°Sunny will definitely appreciate this.¡± Alright, let¡¯s try it out. [Summoning ¡®Sun Spear.¡¯] I used ten energy to summon Sunny. I handed them the spear and exined its origin. They carefully epted the weapon. ¡°Master, so this¡­ is a spear made just for me?¡± I guess no one wouldn¡¯t like surprise gifts. To put it simply, Sunny was overjoyed. ¡ªSwoosh! Swoosh! They spun it around, eyes filled with gratitude. ¡°Yes, Sunny. Demir made it while thinking about you during our battle.¡± ¡°Thank you, Demir.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Demir chuckled at Sunny¡¯s thanks. ¡°It fits perfectly in my hands while managing to be light. I like the design too. And above all¡­¡± ¡ªWhirl! Sunny twirled the spear around their waist gracefully. ¡°I¡¯ve never received a gift from anyone in my life. I¡¯ve only known fear and hatred from others.¡± They were the lonely ruler of the Ancient Desert who was born blind. ¡°So I¡¯m truly grateful for this.¡± They quietly took a moment to feel the spear in their hands. ¡°More than the spear¡¯s performance, I appreciate the thought behind it. So I promise to cherish it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± As deeply wounded as they were, they were also a monster with a pure heart. I watched Sunny, grateful and pleased. I¡¯ll gift him something even better someday. For now, they seemed happy, so I let them be. The next day, on the rooftop. As usual, after training with the old man, I was taking a break when Sunny approached me. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I have a request.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Now that I have a new weapon, I want to spar with someone.¡± My eyes widened. ¡°Huh? With who?¡± It was unexpected. Sunny, who usually trained without a word, was making a request for the first time. ¡°I¡¯d like to spar against Eldrin.¡± ¡°With Eldrin?¡± I looked at Sunny. There was a clear sense ofpetitiveness in their eyes. Was it because they had ascended to A-rank? I sensed their desire to showcase their growing skills and a willingness to sh with a strong opponent to grow even more. ¡°Oh?¡± Eldrin, too, responded with interest. ¡°Quite confident, aren¡¯t you? No matter how sharp your spear may be, if you can¡¯t close the gap, it¡¯s useless¡­ Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°How can you be certain I won¡¯t be able to close the gap, Eldrin?¡± ¡°Well, if I go all out, I think my arrows will bring you down before you reach me.¡± Their gazes met, and sparks flew. ¡°Wow!¡± I cheered, amused. Their taunting made it even more entertaining, like watching abat show. A spar between the two? Honestly, I was curious. Who would win in a battle between two absolutes of different worlds? One side was the ruler of an ancient desert, while the other was the queen of the Forest Tribe and a noble high elf. It would be a spar, but they could go all out. After all, I could revive them by spending just ten energy. ¡°What¡¯s this? Do I spy an exciting match all of a sudden?¡± Early in the morning, Kim Jinah, who hade to water the rooftop nts, lit up with interest. ¡°Hold on a second!¡± She ran to the storage and came back with popcorn and soda. What the¡­? When did she buy all these supplies? ¡°No good fight isplete without popcorn. Teehee.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Kim Jinah casually sat down next to me and offered me a soda. It was so natural that I took it without realizing it. Well, Jinah is now part of our group, after all. ¡°Ahem, anyway.¡± I turned to the two sparking with eagerness. ¡°I¡¯ll let you spar, but regardless of the result, don¡¯t get hung up on winning or losing. Got it?¡± ¡°Of course, my lord.¡± ¡°Naturally.¡± They both answered confidently. Alright, great. This would also be an extension of their training. But if they fought here, my precious home could get destroyed. ¡°To the open field.¡± I smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s go to our open field.¡± * * * ¡ªWhoosh! A refreshing breeze kicked up dust. In the quiet open field, two powerful figures faced each other. Sunny spoke first, ¡°Hm. Shall we make a bet, Eldrin?¡± The ruthless ruler who oncemanded all the humans of the Ancient Desert. Now they were someone healing the wounds and grudges they bore from humans. ¡°Fufu, and what would it be?¡± Eldrin lowered her bow. She wasn¡¯t someone to be underestimated as she had lived far longer than any human, having a vast store of experience. She even held the honor of sealing away the Giant Magic Dragon. ¡°An arrangement of hierarchy.¡± ¡°Oh? A hierarchy, you say?¡± Eldrin chuckled with interest. ¡°Until our nextpanion awakens, the loser moves down in the hierarchy.¡± ¡°What do you mean by ¡®hierarchy¡¯?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing significant. Just an informal order.¡± With apetitive spirit, Sunny looked Eldrin in the eye. She met his gaze directly. ¡°Sounds fun. But what about Demir?¡± ¡°Demir is excluded. His profession is not rted tobat.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you up on that.¡± Eldrin nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Now, it was my turn to step in. For reference, I was the referee, and Kim Jinah was our sole audience. ¡°The rules are simple. Don¡¯t leave the field, and the first to eliminate the other wins.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Their smiles faded as they focused. As I stepped back, Boney 5 cast Air Shield, just in case, on both me and Kim Jinah. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go first.¡± With a light step, Eldrin jumped and moved toward a nearby tree. ¡°You¡¯re out of luck, Sun Spear. When Forest Elves can use elements of the forest, we¡¯re twice as fearsome as usual.¡± ¡ªWoosh! Woosh! A barrage of sharp arrows followed in rapid session¡ªit was the Rapid Fire skill that had already reached the ¡®Advanced¡¯ level. ¡ªTing! Ting, ting, ting! But Sunny¡¯s reaction speed was quick. They swung their new spear elegantly, deflecting and breaking all the arrows¡ªa disy of masterful spear techniques. ¡°Wow!¡± Kim Jinah cheered from the side. ¡°¡­¡± I quietly observed their battle. With two formidable beings shing, I was bound to learn something valuable. Sun Spear and Eldrin the Moonlight. Their duel had begun in earnest. Chapter 85 Chapter 85: Sun vs. Moon (2) ¡°So this is what a duel between top-tier fighters looks like?¡± Kim Jinah was about to mutter, ¡°I can¡¯t even see what¡¯s happening!¡± But then¡­ ¡ªWhoosh! An arrow shot out like lightning from the bushes, aimed directly at Sunny¡¯s forehead. The speed was enough to throw off anyone¡¯s focus for a moment. But¡­ ¡°Fighting dirty, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡ªTing! Sunny easily deflected it. ¡°Go ahead, try a thousand times if you must. Let¡¯s see if your ambush can even leave a scratch on me.¡± It wasn¡¯t mere bravado. Their tone was calm andposed¡ªthe tone of someone who truly believed what they said. ¡°Do you know why?¡± ¡ªWhoosh! Sunny¡¯s spear spun gracefully in the air before settling in their left hand, pointing downward. ¡°Every moment of my life has been an assassination attempt.¡± They were a creature who once stood against all humanity. ¡°I couldn¡¯t even see, yet I fought off countless traps, ambushes, and conspiracies from every direction¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°For me, dodging attacks like these is nothing but the daily routine.¡± With a powerful kick, Sunnyunched themself toward the bushes. ¡°Hmm.¡± Eldrin nodded slowly, watching them approach. ¡°Indeed, I suppose that could be true.¡± Then she gently shifted her aim to Sunny, now charging toward her. ¡°As turbulent as the lives of the Forest Tribe have been¡­ it must¡¯ve been the same for you, Sun Spear. So let¡¯s see who has endured more, who has put in more effort.¡± ¡°dly. I won¡¯t hold back.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! Thwack! Thud! Green arrows shot out in all directions as Eldrin loosed her bowstring. ¡°These arrows are infused with poison from my Ritual Spellcasting.¡± Pssshh¡­ The arrows released poison resembling the gas from a tear gas grenade from their tips as they embedded themselves into various trees. I was worried about environmental contamination for a moment, but then I raised an eyebrow. Wait, the trees are fine? Ahh. Perhaps her ritual magic made it so the poison only worked on Sunny. Impressive, Eldrin. I didn¡¯t have to tell her what to do as she handled everything the right way. ¡°Well then, Sun Spear. Come closer if you dare. Let¡¯s see if you can reach me without a single scratch¡­¡± ¡°Cute. If I were weak enough to be affected by mere poison, I wouldn¡¯t have even challenged you.¡± Standing just beyond the bushes, Sunny swung their spear and cast Raging Desert (Lv.6). ¡ªFwoooosh! A sandstorm started swirling around and swept the poison away from the bushes. ¡°Is that precisely why you just made an opening?¡± ¡ªWhoosh! An arrow flew right through the gap under Sunny¡¯s armpit as they swung their spear. It would¡¯ve been a vital point for a living creature. ¡°Huh?¡± Sunny twisted their body to dodge the arrow, their previous calmness giving way to a slight urgency. ¡ªBoom! The arrownded on the ground behind them, releasing an explosive sound. ¡°Impressive. That ambush was worth acknowledging,¡± Sunny muttered. Though their expression was hidden, I could tell that they were enjoying this. ¡°Interesting, very interesting. Seems like I can¡¯t reach you without a scratch. Well, that¡¯s even better!¡± Sunny had never known an equal rival in the Ancient Desert. Although, they might¡¯ve had worthy foes in the past, and even those who were stronger than them at one point. But ultimately, they ruled the Desert Empire. They crushed the hearts of all who stood against them or blocked their path. And once those enemies disappeared, a sense of emptiness followed. Perhaps¡­ As a warrior by nature, the Sun Spear instinctively sought stronger opponents. Sunny proceeded to use Soulre (Lv.6) to amplify their physical abilities. ¡ªWhooom! Sunny¡¯s soul ignited with energy. For a brief moment, this skill boosted their physical capabilities several-fold. ¡°¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but gulp at its grandeur. Even Kim Jinah, who¡¯d been munching on popcorn, stopped chewing. ¡°Search.¡± ¡ªSwoosh. Sunny¡¯s gazended exactly on Eldrin¡¯s position. ¡°Approach.¡± With that, theyunched themself into the air. ¡°And thrust.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! They thrust their spear forward, throwing themself with it. The sequence of movements was seamless as if they were all one fluid action. In a brief instant, their amplified physical power allowed them to move at blinding speed with immense destructive force. ¡°Mmph?¡± A hint of surprise crossed Eldrin¡¯s face. Finally, the tip of Sunny¡¯s spear touched her shoulder and cracked her bone slightly. ¡ªCrunch! ¡°¡­!¡± Watching from afar, I clenched my fists. Eldrin managed to escape with just a crack, but if it were me in her ce, my heart might not have withstood the attack. ¡°Even with my Hundred-Mile Eyes predicting your path¡­! That was close,¡± Eldrin muttered as she leaped to a nearby branch. ¡ªThud! ¡°How long do you n on running? Are you going to keep our lord waiting all day?¡± ¡°Hardly. Just look up and say that again if you can.¡± ¡°What?¡± Sunny lifted their face toward the sky. And up above, arrows infused with moonlight rained down like a carpet bombing. It was Eldrin¡¯s ultimate skill, Moonlight Descent (Lv.6). No way! I was stunned. When did she even fire those? Did she anticipate Sunny¡¯s attack and shoot into the sky beforehand? ¡°Well, that¡¯s more like it! This is what I wanted!¡± Sunny didn¡¯t dodge. Instead, they raised their spear, ready to counter. ¡°Let me teach you something.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The moon¡¯s light can never be brighter than the sun¡¯s. Eldrin, unfortunately, you lose by nature alone.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! A blinding light erupted from Sunny¡¯s spear¡ªthe relentless chained attack, so fast it was blinding. It was Sunny¡¯s ultimate skill, Sr Strike (Lv.6). ¡ªm! m! m! Sunny¡¯s spear moved like a series of camera shes, deflecting and striking down every arrow and ultimately reaching Eldrin. ¡°Well. You never know until we sh against each other!¡± Eldrin didn¡¯t remain still. Moving through the air, she swiftly released more arrows, infusing each one with her ki. ¡ªCrash! Trees shattered, and rocks crumbled. The ground ripped apart, and a thick cloud of dust rose. It looked like the entire mountain was being torn asunder in their intense battle. ¡°¡­¡± In the midst of their sh, I saw them¡ªtheir living bodies superimposed over their skeleton forms. Sun Spear and Eldrin were in their original forms. They had muscles, veins, and lungs. ¡°Huff, huff.¡± They were clearly gasping for air. It was a moment after an intense battle, a time for catching their breath. ¡°¡­This is insane.¡± Kim Jinah¡¯s jaw dropped in astonishment. Yeah, I agree. It felt like watching an action movie. This could probably win the Cannes Film Festival without any editing. That was how real and magnificent the battle was. The fight¡­ As the referee, I silently calcted. It seems to be leaning in Sunny¡¯s favor. Honestly, it was expected. Eldrin¡¯s strengthy more in ranged support and utility through Ritual Spellcasting. On the other hand, Sunny was all aboutbat as a warrior who had fought their entire life. Moreover¡­ Eldrin¡¯s shoulder was injured. For an archer, the shoulder was critical. It was clear the advantage had tilted toward Sunny. Sunny knew it, and so did Eldrin. But¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Sunny calmly lowered their spear. ¡°¡­¡± Eldrin, too, resolutely nocked an arrow. The condition I set was to fight until one was destroyed. And from observing the path I walked, they knew it wouldn¡¯t be over until it was truly finished. ¡°Here Ie, Eldrin.¡± Sunny charged. ¡°Anytime.¡± Eldrin retreated, drawing her bow. Round two had begun. That same weekend, two men were walking along a mountain trail. They were journalists dressed in neat hiking gear. ¡°Hey, Han. I told you I wanted to hike Bukhansan today, so why¡¯d you pick this random neighborhood¡®s mountain?¡± ¡°Hey, Kim. Don¡¯t underestimate local mountains.¡± ¡°Underestimate? Come on¡­ You¡¯re just taking the easy trail ¡¯cause it¡¯s azy day, no? Or did your wife give you a hard timest night? Hehe.¡± ¡°Ha, Kim¡­ I think you¡¯re seriously mistaken.¡± The journalist with the surname Han nced at the other journalist with the surname Kim. ¡°A mountain doesn¡¯t have to be high to be challenging.¡± ¡°Oh yeah?¡± ¡°Bukhansan has well-marked trails. But here, there¡¯s no designated path. It¡¯s one of the few ces in Korea where you get to be in untouched nature! We may not be going on some grand expedition like Christopher Columbus, but it¡¯s good to feel like we¡¯re zing a trail, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°¡­But it¡¯s still low altitude.¡± ¡°Hey, c¡¯mon!¡± Han red. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any journalistic spirit?¡± ¡°Huh? What does journalistic spirit have to do with this?¡± Kim replied, exasperated. ¡°Most incidents happen in shady, secluded ces like this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He had a point, though. But it was supposed to be their day off. Surely they should rest, even if getting exclusive news was hard these days. ¡°How¡¯d you even find this ce¡­?¡± Kim muttered as he advanced, clearing branches with a portable machete. On untrodden paths like this, you had to cut through the branches to avoid getting scratched by thorns or identally brushing against poison ivy. ¡°Come on, Kim. Let¡¯s just enjoy the fresh air. Stopining.¡± Humming a tune, they climbed up the mountain, when suddenly¡­ ¡ªRumble! ¡°Wh-What was that?¡± The ground shook. ¡°An earthquake?¡± They knelt, gripping the ground to maintain their bnce. At that moment, Han¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°It¡¯s not an earthquake!¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a scoop! Don¡¯t you smell it? The scent of a juicy exclusive?¡± ¡°Scent?¡± What scent? The shaking ground made his stomach churn. ¡°Hold on a second!¡± ¡ªClick! Click! Han pulled something out of his bag and assembled a high-powered portable camera. ¡°¡­?¡± Kim¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°You brought that on a hike?¡± ¡°A journalist should always be prepared.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ impressive. But.¡± Kim looked off in the distance toward the source of the disturbance. ¡ªsh! Boom! Something was still getting lit up over there. ¡°You¡¯re actually going over there? Shouldn¡¯t we report this first¡­?¡± ¡°Report? No!¡± Han shouted. ¡°Do you want to lose the scoop?¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re insane.¡± ¡°Follow me if you want, or run if you¡¯re scared. But I have to find out what¡¯s going on and capture it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± If there were ever a true journalist in this era, it would be Han. ¡°Hey, wait! Let¡¯s go together!¡± In the end, Kim followed him. They¡¯d already ventured deep into the forest, and he figured it was better to go together than to face the unknown alone. Chapter 86 Chapter 86: Sun vs. Moon (3) The Hunter Board was thergest onlinemunity where most hunters shared information. One day, a live broadcast popped up there. [Passionate Han Live!] > They look like skeletons, but¡­ they¡¯re not quite skeletons in this battle. > Live! Don¡¯t miss it¡ªyou¡¯ll regret it if you¡¯rete! [Viewers: 124] Since the streaming board was restricted to officially registered journalists certified by Korea¡¯s Hunter Association, it was easy for the broadcast to be highlighted at the top when it started. In the top left corner of the broadcast screen was a red ¡°Live¡± dot. ¡°Huff! Huff! Hello!¡± Han, his face covered in dust, was filming himself. ¡°Even on weekends, I don¡¯t rest! I¡¯m Passionate Han from HBS! Huff, huff!¡± The title ¡°Passionate¡± was a self-promoted nickname he¡¯d been pushingtely. He preferred field reporting over editing second-hand information into articles. > Oh, what¡¯s this? A weekend stream? > Yo, Han! Got another scoop for us? > Why are you so out of breath? And what¡¯s with the dirt on your face? Reporters¡¯ live broadcasts allowed for interaction with viewers. And since Han was a well-known journalist, viewers quickly joined as soon as he went live. ¡°Hehe, hurry up and join in! Today¡¯s broadcast is one you¡¯ll want to see. I¡¯m seriously risking my life here. Can you hear the ground shaking?¡± ¡ªRumble¡­ ¡ªBoom! Boom! The sound was akin to dynamite explosions, and the camera shook intermittently. > What the heck? Is there a war going on? > Look at the title. Skeletons that aren¡¯t quite skeletons? What¡¯s that supposed to mean? > Stop teasing and just show us! I¡¯m dying of curiosity! > Is this a ranker fight again? > Kim~ Soo Han Moo~ Turtle and Crane~ Folk tales~ Viewers reacted with both anticipation and confusion, some posting weird copypastas. Even so, Han remained patient. He knew good shows needed a buildup to make them even more impactful. [Viewers: 532] ¡­ [Viewers: 1,052] ¡­ [Viewers: 1,335] The viewer count quickly passed 1,000¡ªa testament to the bustling traffic on the Hunter Board! Han swallowed nervously. Sometimes I feel more like a streamer than a journalist¡­ But what could he do? It was time for journalists to evolve with the changing world. And besides, he couldn¡¯t bear to keep such an extraordinary battle between the two entities tearing apart the field to himself. This was why he loved his job: bringing such rare scenes to viewers at home in high definition. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll show you now. Honestly, I¡¯m a bit scared myself. If something happens to me, will you alle to my funeral?¡± > Huh? > Is it that dangerous? > Haha, just show us! We¡¯ll judge after seeing. > If this turns out to be nothing, I¡¯m not watching HBS anymore. > Haha, Han, thank you for your hard work. We¡¯re counting on you for some quality info! ncing at the fast-moving chat, Han wideneied his stance. Luckily, the open field was in a lower area, making it easy to get a good angle from the ridge. ¡ªThump! Thud! After securing the camera tripod firmly in the ground, Han turned the camera around. ¡°Alright, everyone, take a look!¡± And then, the source of the explosive sounds came into full view. ¡ªWhoosh! Swoosh! A spear-wielding skeleton, shining with the light of the sun,unched attack after attack. And¡­ ¡ªWhip! Swoosh! The skeleton archer dodged each assault while intermittently lreturning arrows. ¡ªCrash! Kaboom! Wherever they passed, thend turned into a wastnd. Giant trees split into splinters, and rocks crumbled into sand from the power. ¡°Now, do they¡­ really look like skeletons to you?¡± > ??? > What the heck? > What is that? > ?? The chat was instantly flooded with question marks. The explosive force was one thing, but the fact that both fighters were skeletons was a shock. Skeletons were typically E-rank monsters, the lowest tier of all. > Is this CGI? Since when could skeletons move like A-rank or S-rank Hunters? > Does that even make sense? > The skeletons I saw summoned by necromancers were pathetic. > Holy crap. If this is real, isn¡¯t Han in danger? > Watching this is giving me chills. Everywhere the spear¡¯s sun re struck, the ground shattered as shes of energy erupted. And every time an arrow imbued with moonlight fell, it echoed like a carpet bombing. ¡°I was just as shocked. Who would¡¯ve expected a battle like this on a remote mountain trail¡­¡± Han kept moving the camera, watching the scene wide-eyed. The skeletons were so fast that he could miss a critical moment if he weren¡¯t careful. ¡°Huff, huff! Han, I told you to wait up¡­ What is all this¡­?¡± Kim, who had been following behind, gasped before falling silent. He, too, was taken aback by the battle scene. Terrified, he crouched down and gave Han a look of disbelief. ¡°What the hell¡­ is this?¡± ¡°Shh, quiet. We¡¯re live.¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy¡­.¡± Ignoring Kim, Han nced at the viewer count. [Viewers: 24,377] Jackpot. This was a jackpot of jackpots. If the numbers weren¡¯t lying, he¡¯d be looking at a bonus from HBS, maybe even a reward vacation. The viewer count was climbing, and so was the chat¡¯s intensity. > Wow, their movements aren¡¯t like skeletons at all. Look, they¡¯re moving like they actually have muscles. > Wait, what? How does it keep shooting arrows without drawing them? > It fires before your eyes can even register it. Watch the clip in slow motionter. > Is that even possible? Gives me goosebumps. People analyzed the fight, some in awe. > Guys, I¡¯m an A-rank Hunter specializing in spears¡­ And I say that skeleton is insane. > Why? > Itsprehension is insane. > Comprehension, you say? > A spear¡¯s length usually limits its advantage to thrusting. But look at that¡ªit switches from two-handed, overhand, and even underhand stances with expert ease, and the footwork is wless. It even blocks arrows. > Uh, can you exin in simple terms? > Basically¡­ you¡¯d need to be an S-rank, maybe even at the Spear King¡¯s level, to fight like that. > That¡¯s a stretch. The Spear King is in the top ten in world rankings. You¡¯re the crazy one here. > I¡¯m serious¡­ Sure, in terms of raw power, the Spear King is stronger, but in terms of itsprehension alone, they¡¯re evenly matched. Some even marveled at the skeleton¡¯s spear-wielding technique. People were captivated because battles like this were rare. Most rankers avoided fighting each other in the open since they didn¡¯t want their skills exposed. Rankers rarely engaged in directbat, protecting their stakes and avoiding unnecessary shes. This was also why the Berserker¡¯s terrorizing incident gathered so much attentionst time. ¡°Everyone, I understand the battle is breathtaking, but look over here!¡± Han momentarily turned the camera to capture a woman munching popcorn and a man intently watching the fight. > ??? > Who¡¯s that? > Eating popcorn? Does she have nerves of steel? Especially¡­ ¡ªMunch, munch. Why did this person crunching popcorn seem so odd¡­? > Wait¡­ With so many viewers, some recognized her. > Hey, I know that person! > ??? > Who? > That person¡­ yes! The guy from the article, ¡°Unique Workshop in Goto Mall¡±! Demir¡¯s Workshop, right? > Oh? Right! Isn¡¯t he the guy who built a building and made weapons with skeletons? > Damn, isn¡¯t that the person who recently crafted an S-rank weapon? > No way, I thought he was a production-type hunter! The chat exploded. Everyone was shocked. Until now, no one knew that the summoned creatures of Demir¡¯s Workshop¡¯s owner, known to be a production-type hunter, possessed abilities of that level. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Han¡¯s jaw dropped. He¡¯d heard of it before, but in the chaos, it hadn¡¯t clicked. ¡°Hey, Han,¡± Kim spoke up. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°The fight¡¯s nearly over.¡± ¡°What?¡± Han quickly turned the camera back to the battle. Ultimately, ranged attacks couldn¡¯t ovee closebat. Both fighters had battered each other to the point of shattering bones, but it seemed a tie was out of the question. ¡ªThud! ¡°It was a good fight, Eldrin.¡± With a low voice, Sun Spear¡¯s spear finally pierced Eldrin¡¯s throat. ¡°¡­¡± Eldrin let her bow slip from her hands in quiet resignation. The loser could speak no words. Bones rattled and fell to the ground. It was a narrow victory for Sun Spear. > Wow. > It was short, but it felt like watching a full movie. > I already saved the clip. > Wow, both were insanely skilled. > I¡¯ve never seen archery like that, and the spearwork was insane. > I¡¯m a fan of this person now. Is this person a necromancer? Does he have a rank? He must be S-rank! The chat exploded again. Everyone was chanting ¡°Amazing!¡± as thements scrolled faster and faster. Han watched the chaos on his screen, pleased, until¡­ ¡°Hey,¡± a man¡¯s voice suddenly cut through the air behind him, appearing without a sound. ¡°¡­?¡± Confused, he turned. Kim was already frozen, pale-faced, as if he¡¯d seen a ghost. What¡­? Suddenly, Han¡¯s heart dropped, and a chill ran down his spine. Filming high-ranker training or battles was forbidden. If caught, you could vanish without a trace in the world of hunters. But he¡¯d gone beyond just filming¡ªhe¡¯d gone live. I just wanted to capture the two skeletons fighting¡­ Ah. Should he have stopped the broadcast when he noticed Demir¡¯s Workshop¡¯s owner? Yes, I admit it. Blinded by viewership, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to stop. Ambition had clouded my judgment. ¡°Haha, do we still have rude folks who film without permission around this town?¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m s-sorry¡­¡± Han quickly stood from his spot and turned to apologize. However, he couldn¡¯t help but freeze, just like Kim. ¡°B-Ber¡­¡± The man¡¯s entire frame was packed with muscle. A madman who¡¯d chew through anyone¡ªwhether it be a person, apany, or even a ranker¡ªif they dared cross him. ¡°Berserker¡­?¡± The man who appeared behind him was none other than the world¡¯s 20th-ranked hunter, Jang Daewoong the Berserker. Chapter 87 Chapter 87: Into the Fray (1) The Berserker. No one wouldn¡¯t tremble at the mention of that three-syble name in South Korea. > Wow. > What¡¯s going on? > I think I just heard a journalist say, ¡°The Berserker.¡± > For real? > Why would the Berserker be here? > I heard Demir¡¯s Limited Edition No. 2 was handed off to the Berserker. Maybe they became acquainted because of that? > Yeah, didn¡¯t he fight for Demir¡¯s Workshopst time? He practically demolished Ohsung¡¯s whole building. The camera was pointed forward, so the scene with Han wasn¡¯t showing. Thus, the viewers had no choice but to specte and debate amongst themselves. In the meantime, Han was sweating nervously. ¡°B-Berserker, what brings you here?¡± Despite his many years as a journalist meeting various important figures, the person before him was on a different level¡ªa true heavyweight figure ranked 20th in the world. This person was unlike anyone he¡¯d met before. Not to mention that the Berserker was the legendary madman who would destroy corporations or other rankers if he didn¡¯t like them. ¡°Hahaha,¡± the muscr manughed. ¡°What, am I not supposed to be here?¡± ¡°N-No, it¡¯s not that.¡± ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t normally interfere with recording someone else¡¯s battle scene, but¡­¡± ¡°Y-Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking if you¡¯ve gotten permission from my bro to film this. There¡¯s such a thing as portrait rights, after all.¡± It was a barbed statement. In fact, even if Han had ten mouths, he would have nothing to say. ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­¡± Han stammered, at a loss for words. ¡ªThud! Just then, a graceful female figure descended from the sky. ¡°Whew, Berserker. You¡¯re as fast as ever. I ran my best, but you¡¯re already here¡­¡± It was Lee Sunah, ranked 509th, the leader of the ck Sword Squad. Her trademark was the sleek, dark sword at her hip. Additionally¡­ ¡°Wow, everyone¡¯s gathered again? It¡¯s been a while.¡± Ranked 828th, Yoo Sangdon the White Swine appeared, his beer belly swaying. ¡°Um, I¡¯ve actually been watching for a while.¡± ¡ªSwoosh. Ranked 379th, Gi Soyul the Dark Empress revealed herself from the darkness. It was as if she had appeared out of nothingness itself. ¡°Huh? Soyul, when did you get here?¡± Yoo Sangdon¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Dark Empress¡­ I thought you were too busy to answer, but it turns out you were here.¡± ¡°Haha, so you¡¯ve been sticking to him like a gum.¡± The rankers looked at her, bewildered. The only reason they hade all the way to this forest to find Joo Donghoon was to discuss the Dungeon Maker. However, Gi Soyul wasn¡¯t a part of the message ry, meaning she¡¯d been here from the start. ¡°Don¡¯t stare at me like that. The right to watch Donghoon¡¯s training was part of our promise in the first ce¡­¡± Gi Soyul avoided the rankers¡¯ gaze slightly. ¡°¡­¡± Han squeezed his eyes shut. Holy crap¡­ What is all this? The Berserker, ck Sword, White Swine, and Dark Empress? His heart pounded¡­ No, it was beyond that. It felt like his heart was beating so hard it might explode and disappear. > ??? > So what¡¯s happening? > So frustrating. > Where¡¯s that journalist who once demanded the right to know? > Who cares if it¡¯s the Berserker? Just tell us what¡¯s going on! The frustration of the viewers was understandable. The screen only showed the open clearing that had be a mess, and all sounds wereing from off-screen. ¡ªTock! Just then, the crouched journalist, Kim, trembled and identally bumped the camera tripod. Oh, huh? Kim panicked. All he¡¯d been doing was lying there, holding his breath and dder to avoid peeing himself. ¡ªThud, thud! Thud! Thud! The camera, having lost its bnce, began rolling forward. ¡°¡­¡± Every ranker¡¯s gaze turned to the camera. The fallen camera positioned itself to capture each ranker to show them all in clear focus. It was as if the god of broadcasting himself had intervened, putting the camera in the perfect position. > ??? > What is this scene? > Whoa, it¡¯s really the Berserker! > Huh, isn¡¯t that the ck Sword and Dark Empress? White Swine as well? > Wait, is that the Five Stars of Seoul? > Where is this? Is it some secret hideout? > So it¡¯s not staged¡­ This is real. > Whoa, this is a real scoop today. The viewers were in an uproar. ¡°¡­¡± And the rankers silently stared at the camera. ¡°Huh? Wait a second.¡± Finally, White Swine furrowed his brow. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you weren¡¯t just recording but you were broadcasting?¡± ¡ªCrush! The camera was crushed as Yoo Sangdon approached and stomped on it. ¡°A broadcast?¡± Jang Daewoong tilted his head. ¡°You can broadcast with such small cameras like that these days, huh?¡± ¡°Wow, Berserker. For your age, you¡¯re such a boomer¡­ Seriously, get with the times, grandpa¡­¡± ¡°Well, I thought it was just a recording, but if it¡¯s a broadcast, this could be a problem.¡± Lee Sunah chimed in. Simultaneously, she fixed her freezing gaze on Han. ¡°How bold of you. Broadcasting a hunter¡¯s training session live without permission?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to say it, but there¡¯s a reason journalists are called trash sometimes,¡± Yoo Sangdon added in agreement. Han flinched, his body trembling. The scene of four rankers, each rumored to have the power of a nation, staring him down was just¡­ ¡°¡­¡± It felt like an intense energy focused on him as each ranker stared at him coldly with emotionless eyes and murderous nces. Ah¡­ Han¡¯s legs went numb. This must be what it feels like to stand before the king of the underworld, he thought. ¡°Everyone, it¡¯s fine.¡± Just then, someone else appeared. Han turned his gaze slowly. Who could it be? Ah, it was him¡ªthe one with the terrifying skeletons at hismand, Joo Donghoon. ¡°I was already aware of someone¡¯s presence. How could I not notice? It was all so loud. I just let it be since Sunny and Eldrin were having an intense battle.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Han¡¯s heart thudded wildly. He realized that the only way out of this situation was to seek forgiveness from Joo Donghoon. The live broadcast was already off, and viewers had been cut off from the stream. But social media and the forums were probably buzzing by now. ¡°I-I¡¯m so sorry, Owner of Demir¡¯s Workshop!¡± Han quickly bowed at a 90-degree angle. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to do this. There was just this enormous noise in the mountains while I was hiking¡­ And my instincts as a journalist just kicked in¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, really, Mr. Journalist.¡± Joo Donghoon smiled gently and patted Han¡¯s shoulder, reassuring him. ¡°I really mean it. Please head down now. I¡¯d be scared, too, if I were in your situation.¡± ¡°R-Really?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. In truth, I should be the one thanking you. Oh, and you did make sure to record the battle scene nicely, right?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Unable to understand, Han was dumbfounded. However, it seemed like he¡¯d been forgiven, thankfully. ¡°While it was wrong to film without my permission, if possible, could you please write favorable articles in the future? You know what I¡¯m saying?¡± ¡°O-Of course!¡± Han shouted involuntarily. While he didn¡¯t fully grasp the situation, one thing was clear. Joo Donghoon was surprisingly kind. Surely, he already knew why rankers and high-ranking hunters hated revealing theirbat capabilities. I¡¯ll make sure to write only favorable articles about him from now on¡­ As an experienced journalist, he silently made up his mind about Joo Donghoon. He was an S-rank weapon creator and a necromancer who summoned skeletons of incredible power. Not only that but he had a close rtionship with rankers, and those rankers even seemed to heed his words¡­ I must tread carefully. One should never mess with someone like him. You could end up dead in no time. ¡°Th-Then, I¡¯ll be on my way!¡± Han and Kim quickly descended the mountain faster than they had ever moved in their lives. In the quiet open clearing¡­ After sending the journalists away, Jang Daewoong suddenly asked me, ¡°Brother, are you sure about this? The training footage has already spread everywhere. It seems they even made clips of it or whatever they call it¡­ Your strength has now been exposed nationwide.¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s fine.¡± I shrugged. ¡°I was nning to reveal it eventually.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Simply put, it was a show of force. A heads-up to the world: Don¡¯t mess with me because I¡¯m this capable. That was just how this world operated. If you seemed weak, you¡¯d only attract more pests. They¡¯d think you were easy prey. That was the case with Shin Jongoh from the Ohsung Workshop. ¡°In a way, it¡¯s like what you do, Mr. Berserker. After making a few crazy moves, nobody dares provoke you anymore. They don¡¯t want to mess with a mad dog.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jang Daewoong looked at me, stunned. ¡°¡­Uh, that isn¡¯t some sort of an insult, right?¡± ¡°Oh,e on. If it was a bad thing, why would I copy it?¡± I grinned, and Jang Daewoongughed heartily. ¡°Gahaha, true. You¡¯re right, brother. Most people are generally weak in front of the strong and strong in front of the weak. I¡¯ve realized that more and more recently.¡± ¡°No one would dare act tough in front of the Berserker though, right?¡± Lee Sunah chuckled as she joined in the conversation. ¡°Anyway, as I said, as of yesterday, the Skeleton King has been promoted to an A-rank hunter. You officially meet the criteria for the Dungeon Maker¡¯s challenge.¡± ¡°King?¡± Jang Daewoong tilted his head. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? His alias changed to Skeleton King. It actually has been for a while now,¡± Lee Sunah answered. ¡°Skeleton King, huh¡­ A fitting alias for my brother.¡± I broke into a cold sweat. Seriously, the title ¡°King¡±¡­ No matter how often I heard it, it felt weird. It was bound to be an alias I¡¯d never get used to. Anyway, the reason they had gathered here was obvious. ¡°The Dungeon Maker¡­ is in about three days, right?¡± ¡°Yes. Three days.¡± Yoo Sangdon nodded. ¡°You¡¯re ready, I assume?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± I recalled the offer they made to me in the past. ¡°Ranked 5th in the world, Delh the Dungeon Maker opens her trial dungeon twice a year.¡± There were two conditions for participating in the trial dungeon. First, you had to be an A-rank hunter or higher. Second, you had to bring five rankers¡¯ letters of rmendation. And the ones who¡¯d gathered here to give me those letters were the Five Stars of Seoul. ¡°We don¡¯t know the contents of the dungeons. They¡¯re said to change every time. The only sure thing is that if you pass all the trials in that dungeon, you can secure a spot within the three-digit rankings at least.¡± ¡°Three years ago, the five of us, now called the Five Stars of Seoul, passed the trial and entered the three-digit ranks. Of course, over time, our rankings have risen.¡± I didn¡¯t know much about Delh. I¡¯d just heard that she could open the path to bing a ranker, so I epted. ¡°¡­If,¡± I asked, ¡°If Ie back from this, can I really be a ranker? No matter what?¡± My lifelong dream was now within reach. ¡°Yes, definitely.¡± Gi Soyul stepped forward. ¡°However, as White Swine said, you¡¯d better be prepared.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Well, ck Sword is confident that you¡¯ll be a ranker after what she saw you could do in the recent dungeon¡­¡± She looked at me with a concerned expression. ¡°But Delh is entric. Some of her trials can¡¯t be solved by strength alone¡­¡± ¡°Hey, stop right there!¡± Yoo Sangdon shouted. ¡°Did you forget? Revealing information about the trials we¡¯ve experienced will¡­¡± ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll receive a penalty.¡± Gi Soyul nodded in acknowledgment and stepped back. ¡°¡­¡± But how? Just who was Delh? Wasn¡¯t she just another ranker? How could she impose such conditions like this? I was puzzled. ¡°Brother.¡± Jang Daewoong smirked. ¡°Shall I tell you an interesting story?¡± ¡°An interesting story, you say?¡± ¡°Yes, something you don¡¯t know¡­ No, something ordinary people would never know about rankers. Especially the high-ranked ones.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªGulp! I swallowed unconsciously. Please do. I nodded slowly. ¡°Yes!¡± Chapter 88 Chapter 88: Into the Fray (2) Throughout history and across cultures, there have always been many questions that spark curiosity. One of them is a question that asks about the ultimate champion: ¡°Who is the strongest in the world?¡± Beings ranging from the carnivorous tyrannosaurus rex of the Cretaceous era to the ancient megalodon shark of the ocean. In modern times, there were Bruce Lee and Mas Oyama. In contemporary times, there are Fedor Emelianenko and Francis Ngannou. These figures are often discussed by enthusiasts and debated in various onlinemunities. However, since the advent of the hunter profession in this world, such interesting questions no longer need debate. An absolute presence called the ¡°System¡± has already settled the answer. [World Ranking Board] It was a massive, mysterious board that existed in the eastern United States. Only 1,000 hunters could be listed here. Thanks to this board, which updated automatically at the start of every month, people could narrow down the top 10 strongest individuals in the world. [Rank 1 ¨C ???] First, Rank 1. The number 1 rank was denoted by question marks. No one knew who it was, and the board didn¡¯t even disy a name. Why this was the case or if this individual even existed remained a matter of controversy. But no one could ignore the significance of that symbol. [Rank 2 ¨C Jack Smith, the Demon King] Next, Rank 2, the Demon King. He was an American hunter. The fact that the U.S. became the world¡¯s number one superpower in terms of hunter prowess was thanks to this person. Not much was known about him, but rumors said he dealt with demons and frequented hell as if it were his own home. [Rank 3 ¨C Ha Sera, the Heavenly Demon] Following that was Rank 3, a famous and proud figure who represented South Korea. Excluding the unknown Rank 1, she was essentially the world¡¯s second-strongest after the Demon King. The fact that the globalmunity considered South Korea to be the second-strongest hunter nation was solely because of her. She was a swordmaster. [Rank 4 ¨C Sophia Silverstone, the Sage of Oxford] Oxford, the prestigious university in the United Kingdom, built a massive tower with government support. The tower was designed to gather hunters with magic-rted abilities to grow and achieve synergy together. It was like a real-life magic tower. The head of that magic tower held Rank 4, known as Sophia the Sage. [Rank 5 ¨C Delh, the Dungeon Maker] Her alias was Mirage. She was a mysterious hunter from America. Almost nothing was known about her except that she could create dungeons. Well. I¡¯ll be meeting her soon, so I can judge for myself then. Honestly, she was the one I was most curious about. How did she manage to impose restrictions on individuals and disy system messages for each person? I recalled a message I received in the past. [You have learned information about the Dungeon Maker.] [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [If you disclose this information to non-rankers, you cannot participate in any of the Dungeon Maker¡¯s content in the future!] [The only exception is when rmending a candidate.] [If the rmendation candidate discloses the information, the penalty will be imposed on the rmender!] [Tip: Say ¡°Register rmendation¡± to set a rmendation candidate.] A person who could pull off such absurd feats¡ªthat was Delh. The remaining ranks were as follows. [Rank 6 ¨C Aria Yuel, the Pdin] A holy knight who fought while healing herself. No matter how much she was hit, she wouldn¡¯t die, earning her the nickname ¡°Zombie.¡± [Rank 7 ¨C Nina Christine, the Grace of Yggdrasil] A spirit summoner known tomand the four great elements. She, too, was shrouded in mystery as her nationality and age were unknown. She was simply someone people talked about because her name was on the board. [Rank 8 ¨C Ichikawa Takeru, the Spirit Emperor] He handled spirits and specialized in possession techniques. He was also the pride of Japan. [Rank 9 ¨C Ronnie Williams, the Roider] He was a drug user. Sometimes he made and sold drugs for healing or buffs¡­ Everything he sells is sold out instantly. There was even a rumor that he manufactured a drug that delivered heavenly pleasure, but that was unverified. [Rank 10 ¨C Chen Ziyi, the Spear King ] Andst but not least, we had Chen Ziyi, a spearman from China. The Chinese pronunciation is ¡°Ch¨¦nziy¨¬,¡± but I¡¯m just going to read it in a way that I¡¯mfortable with. All of them were names I memorized without error in my head. Ever since I became a hunter after reaching legal age, these names had been etched in my heart as my idols. ¡°¡­¡± These were the individuals who represented nations and were people¡¯s dreams. They could also be called the strongest in the world. And ultimately, my goal was to join them. ¡ªGulp! I swallowed and looked at Jang Daewoong before me. ¡°Shall I tell you an interesting story? Yes, something you don¡¯t know¡­ No, something ordinary people would never know about rankers. Especially the high-ranked ones.¡± Stories about rankers, as seen through the eyes of someone ranked 20th. My heart began to beat excitedly, just like when I used to marvel at dinosaurs as a child. ¡°Brother.¡± Jang Daewoong cleared his throat. ¡°If I, ranked 20th, went head-to-head with Rank 19, who do you think would win?¡± ¡°What?¡± What kind of question was that? Wouldn¡¯t Rank 19 have a higher chance of winning? That was why there was a ranking system. ¡°No, actually, my question was a little unclear. I mean, do you think I¡¯d have a chance at winning if I fought Rank 19?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Now that was a different question. Imagine if victory were determined solely by a one-rank difference. The world would be quite boring, wouldn¡¯t it? After a brief moment of thought, I decided to give my vote to the Berserker. ¡°If you¡¯re lucky or in good condition that day, I think you could win. After all, no one knows what will happen until you give it a try, right?¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s my bro. Right? A real man would answer like that!¡± Jang Daewoong nodded, looking pleased. I¡¯ve noticed before that this guy seems really receptive topliments. ¡°But you¡¯re wrong, brother.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Unless I use tricks or team up with someone, I will never be able to defeat Rank 19 alone.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± It was unexpected for a muscle man like him to use the word ¡°never.¡± ¡°The gap widens significantly once you enter the double-digit ranks.¡± Jang Daewoong chuckled, then called me again. ¡°Brother.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°In the past three years, have there been any changes in the rankings within the top 10?¡± ¡°¡­Hmm, not that I¡¯m aware of, no.¡± Since I¡¯d be a hunter, I always kept an eye on the world rankings. Even if I didn¡¯t, it was a frequent topic on various sites and news articles, so there was no way I wouldn¡¯t have noticed if there was a change. ¡°Right, none. As long as high-rankers don¡¯t fight to the death, there won¡¯t be any changes.¡± ¡°¡­Does that mean the skill level difference is firmly set?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Jang Daewoong nodded with a smile at my question. ¡°Just as there¡¯s no way I could defeat Ha Sera, no matter what I do, right now.¡± Ha Sera, the Heavenly Demon. As her name was mentioned, Lee Sunah chimed in, ¡°Skeleton King, want to hear something interesting?¡± She gave a mischievous smile. ¡°Hm? What is it?¡± ¡°A year ago, the Berserker stormed into our guild headquarters and demanded to see our Cult Leader, bellowing for a fight. It caused quite a scene.¡± ¡°Ahem, ck Sword, why bring that up now¡­¡± The Berserker stared at Lee Sunah, taken aback. What was wrong with that? It wasn¡¯t surprising. That just sounded like a crazy guy doing a crazy thing. ¡°At that time, the Cult Leader didn¡¯t even draw her sword and just used one finger¡ª¡± ¡°Hahaha, do you think I¡¯m the same person as back then? Ahaha!¡± Jang Daewoong cut her off andughed boisterously, but it was toote. The meaning behind Lee Sunah¡¯s words was already clear to me. ¡°Hm.¡± Lee Sunah wore a bitter smile. ¡°Anyway, what I¡¯m trying to say is¡­¡± She looked at me. ¡°That¡¯s the difference in skill among high-rankers.¡± ¡°That¡¯s insane.¡± It was hard to believe that a formidable guy like the Berserker was handled with just one finger. Not to mention that she was a swordsman, someone who specialized in using a weapon. ¡°The Berserker¡¯s concern is probably the same as all of ours.¡± ¡°What do you mean by concern¡­?¡± ¡°The Skeleton King we¡¯ve assessed is fearless. And bold.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We could say it in a way to put it in a positive light, but to put it bluntly¡­ there are times when you can be a bit reckless.¡± Fair enough. Ever since that encounter with the orc in the open clearing, I¡¯ve faced a series of reckless challenges. I met the old man, obtained Sun Spear, yed the Giant Magic Dragon, and endured the lich¡¯s trial. They were unavoidable situations, but in any case, I have indeed been navigating a precarious tightrope. ¡°But Rank 5, Delh, is truly in a different league. When we say to be prepared, we really mean it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªGulp. I swallowed once more. It seemed strange for rankers like these to say she was ¡°in a different league.¡± Perhaps the phrase ¡°There is a sky beyond the sky¡± applied here. I even felt a surge of awe in my chest. ¡°In other words, don¡¯t act cocky, right?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s reassuring.¡± ¡°What is?¡± ¡°That the Skeleton King is a very perceptive hunter.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°But I hold you in high regard. Remember what I said?¡± ¡°About¡­?¡± ¡°I said your potential¡­ might even surpass our Cult Leader¡¯s¡­¡± Ah, right, I remembered. And only now did I fully realize how incredible apliment that was. ¡°Take this.¡± Lee Sunah took something from her pocket and handed it over. ¡°¡­This is the invitation letter from Delh. The date is three days from now, and the location is the mysterious Mora Ind in Gujarat, India.¡± ¡°Mora, you say¡­¡± ¡°White Swine has prepared a flight and transportation.¡± ¡°Yup, I arranged a private jet for yourfort.¡± White Swine tapped his forehead with his index and middle fingers, then flicked them skyward. What¡¯s this? A new greeting style, I guess? ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± Finally, the long-awaited moment with the Dungeon Maker was approaching. Now, it finally felt real. My blood started pumping, and my palms grew sweaty. I don¡¯t know exactly why these people are helping me¡­ White Swine mentioned repaying the favorter, and the Fine Bow seemed to be offering his rmendation as a matter of duty. However, the rest seemed to be helping me out of pure goodwill. But I¡¯m grateful. I was genuinely thankful, and I wanted to express my gratitude. To do that¡­ First, I had to return alive. I had to withstand the trial and secure a spot on the ranking board. I needed to rise to ¡°their level¡± to truly express my thanks. ¡°¡­¡± Clenching my fists, I looked at them¡ªJang Daewoong, Lee Sunah, Yoo Sangdon, and Gi Soyul. All four pairs of eyes focused on me. My lips parted. ¡°I will¡­ absolutely pass the trial.¡± Their gazes grew even more intense, but I didn¡¯t avoid their stares. ¡°I promise you all. Returning alive? That¡¯s a given. Bing a ranker? That¡¯s just as certain to me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You may think I¡¯m being overconfident. But my goal isn¡¯t just to be a ranker.¡± Indeed, being a ranker has always been my dream¡ªto have my name among the top 1,000. There was a time when that was my only goal. But now, that goal was right before my eyes, within my reach. If that¡¯s the case¡­ Why not dream even bigger? ¡°I want to be Rank 1.¡± I will grow stronger. Stronger than the four rankers here. ¡°I¡¯ll grow as much as you all believe in me. I¡¯ll be someone even greater. So you can boast proudly about rmending me today.¡± This was a promise to them and to myself. This was my deration before facing the trial and the deepest gratitude I could offer. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a more proper thanks¡­ after I return alive.¡± I bowed my head to the four rankers. Chapter 89 Chapter 89: The Aggrieved Challenger The state of Gujarat, located in western India, had beautiful natural surroundings and was known as the Jewel of Western India. The scenery here was incredibly unique. ¡°Look, Sunny.¡± It was a country I had never once thought to visit in over 20 years of my life. To get here, I had to fly for ten hours. And now I was standing on a beach where waves crashed and grains of sand glittered like gold and silver treasure. Sunny was impressed. ¡°It¡¯s truly a beautiful sea. The feeling of this wide-open view is so different from the seas in your homnd, my lord.¡± Whenever I encounter a breathtaking scene in a new area, I always summon Sunny. Granting them sight and showing them a new world was the promise I had made when I tamed them in the Ancient Desert. ¡°Yes, this is what they call the Arabian Sea, which is part of the Indian Ocean. It¡¯s my first time seeing it too.¡± ¡°I will remember it deep in my heart.¡± I moved to the location that White Swine had instructed and secured a boat. My final destination was the mystical ind of Mora. After paying for the boat fare and heading out to sea, I recalled my conversations with the rankers. ¡°Brother, make sure toe back alive. I can¡¯t give you the details now, but once you return, the restriction on sharing information will be lifted. Let¡¯s stay up all night chatting over drinks then.¡± Starting with Jang Daewoong, who genuinely wanted me to be a ranker. ¡°I hope you didn¡¯t forget. When you be a ranker, I¡¯ll expect full payment. Hmm, let¡¯s see. You look kinda nice¡­ Should I sign you on as the exclusive model for ourpany? How about it? Deal?¡± Yoo Sangdon was already half certain that I¡¯d be a ranker. Of course, as the owner of Demir¡¯s Workshop, I¡¯d never work as a model for apeting workshop like the White Swine Corps. ¡°Skeleton King, Delh¡¯s trial is not standardized. When there seems to be no answer, try to use everything around you. I¡¯ll be rooting for you as always.¡± Lee Sunah continuously emphasized having the right mindset, though she couldn¡¯t exin the specific trials. Andstly¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll take care of things here. Please return safely.¡± Gi Soyul gave me a gentle bow of encouragement. ¡°¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what kind of ce it would be to guarantee that an A-rank hunter would ¡°automatically¡± be a ranker if they just managed to survive. Bing a ranker, huh¡­ When I thought about it, it didn¡¯t make sense. A ranker was someone among the elite, even among S-rank hunters! I¡¯d just reached A-rank. So how did it make sense that I could rise to be a ranker? What on earth will happen in there? Suddenly, nervousness crept over me. What kind of trial was so secretive that even the mighty rankers weren¡¯t allowed to speak of it? I wondered if it was going to be something simr to what the old man did to me, beating me senseless until I could endure the pain. If it were something like that, I could understand. After all, that¡¯s how I became strong. I was a living testament of it. It only took me about half a year to go from E-rank to A-rank. That was why I could say this: as a hunter, with enough luck and the unyielding persistence to seize that luck, there would be plenty of opportunities to be powerful overnight. And now, this ¡°Dungeon Maker¡± was also one of those opportunities. I have to seed. Even if death was what awaited me at the end of this trial, I¡¯d say it was still a far better life than being an E-rank who hid in his room, barely surviving every day. ¡ªSsh, ssh! After some time passed, I arrived at the mystical ind of Mora¡¯s harbor. It seemed to be a rtively well-known ind with a fairly developed town on it. However, perhaps due to its remote location, I almost only saw local Indians. I did spot some foreign hunters here and there. I guess they¡¯re participants too, huh? Seeing that they were all wearing A or S-rank badges, they seemed to be Delh¡¯s guests, just like me. Where am I supposed to go? ¡ªThump! The moment I stepped off the boat and my foot hit ind ground, my heart full of anticipation, an odd sensation washed over me, sinking deep into my body. It felt like every nerve and cell in my body was awakening. ¡ªRing! [The ¡®eye¡¯ of the Dungeon Maker is observing you!] ¡°Dungeon Maker?¡± I instinctively looked up, scanning my surroundings. An eye observing me? What? [Verifying your identity.] [Scanning for rmendations¡­] [Your rmendations are from¡­] [Rank 20 ¨C Jang Daewoong, the Berserker] [Rank 58 ¨C Giparang, the Fine Bow] [Rank 379 ¨C Gi Soyul, the Dark Empress] [Rank 509 ¨C Lee Sunah, the ck Sword] [Rank 828 ¨C Yoo Sangdon, the White Swine] [Confirmed!] [You are a rmended candidate backed by five rankers.] ¡°So this is it¡­¡± Seeing the message before me, I instinctively felt that the trial began now. [You are invited to ¡®Delh¡¯s Trial.¡¯] [Proceed to the light pir within the allotted time.] [Remaining time:] [01:15:30] [By order of arrival ¨C 50 participants] ¡ªsh! With the message window popping up, a beam of light shot up into the sky from the horizon. So I have to go there? The scheduled time, as Delh mentioned, was 3:00 PM international time. Yoo Sangdon had arranged everything so I¡¯d arrive well ahead of time, so there was plenty of time left. But the problem was¡­ [By order of arrival ¨C 50 participants] There was a capacity limit. What? Does that mean I might not even get a chance to attempt the trial if I don¡¯t make it in time? Suddenly, I was wide awake. The scenic beauty I had been savoring faded away, and my palms started sweating. If I didn¡¯t make it in time and had to say, ¡°I missed the first day and didn¡¯t make the cut,¡± I didn¡¯t even want to imagine how they would look at me. Time to run. This was a race. Estimating the distance to the light pir, I decided I didn¡¯t need any other mode of transport. Running would actually be faster for this stretch. ¡ªTap! I pushed off the ground with all my might, ignoring my nerves and running as fast as I could. Finding the way wasn¡¯t difficult. Following the town¡¯s path led me to a forest, where a wide trail was clearly leading toward the light pir. After running for about ten more minutes, I arrived at the destination. ¡°Is this the ce?¡± It was a clearing about the size of a school field, with hunters scattered around, waiting. They were likely all candidates like me, with rmendations from five rankers. I felt some gazes directed at me, but that was all. No one approached me for conversation. ¡ªRing! [You are qualified!] [You are the 36th to arrive.] Wow, 36th¡­? I marveled to myself. People really respected time here. I arrived an hour early, and I still nearly didn¡¯t make it. Perhaps the White Swine knew about this. I chose a spot in the corner and sat down, feeling a bit out of breath from the short sprint. ¡°Whew.¡± Taking a careful breath, I surveyed my surroundings. Most of the hunters seemed anxious, scratching the ground or murmuring. Near me, three people¡ªtwo men and a woman¡ªwere chatting as a group. From their atmosphere, it didn¡¯t seem like they knew each other beforehand but rather seemed to have just met here. ¡°More and more areing, huh?¡± ¡°There are quite a few, considering the strict requirements.¡± ¡°Yeah, five rankers for each person, yet there are already 36 here. That means 180 rmendations were given just for this group, right?¡± ¡°If the limit¡¯s 50, there must have been at least 250 rmendations.¡± ¡°Wow, Delh¡­ She¡¯s impressive. That means she has that much influence over the rankers, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°She¡¯s ranked 5th in the world, after all. Rumor has it that those in the top ten are practically gods.¡± One remarkable thing was that although they were speaking foreignnguages, everything was tranted perfectly in my mind. I figured it was probably an effect of the light pir field. ¡°Isn¡¯t it funny?¡± The woman in the hood spoke up. ¡°That you need five rmendations from rankers to be one of them. Feels like a rankers¡¯ cartel, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah, seriously.¡± ¡°Exactly. We were lucky, but if you don¡¯t have connections, life must be rough.¡± The two men nodded. They all seemed to share the same sentiment. I felt the same way, to a degree. Honestly, getting here was harder than bing a ranker itself might be. What were the odds of a regr hunter earning the admiration of a ranker, let alone five? It would probably be easier to win the lottery. ¡°By the way, you there.¡± It was then that the hooded woman looked at me. ¡°Why just sit there listening? Join in. Might as well introduce ourselves if we¡¯re all here.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± I lifted my head, meeting her eyes. She was leaning against the wall, hands in her pockets. Her blond hair peeked out from under her hood, signaling she was likely white. So it was her, huh? Quite an outgoing personality. It was probably her idea to group up and start chatting. ¡°Judging by your looks, you¡¯re from Asia¡­ Are you from Japan? No, maybe China? Or Korea?¡± ¡°Korea,¡± I replied with a smile. There was no harm in getting along since the Five Stars of Seoul said they had met here for the first time as candidates too. And who knew what kind of trials Delh would throw at us? ¡°Wow, Korea? Isn¡¯t that where Ha Sera is from?¡± ¡°¡­Well, yes it is.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Olena, from Ukraine. And these two¡­ Why don¡¯t you introduce yourselves?¡± ¡°James from the United States.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Capu, from Brazil. Nice to meet you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Joo Donghoon.¡± ¡°Oh, Hoon!¡± James made a friendly American gesture. I returned the gesture with an awkwardugh. The four of us passed the time chatting, making it surprisingly bearable. Perhaps the fact that talking with others was the best way to pass the time was an evesting fact. ¡ªRing! [50th participant has arrived.] Soon, someone arrived to fill the final spot. With that, Delh¡¯s first trial¡ªif it could be called a trial¡ªthe Order of Arrival mission had concluded. What gave me chills was that we still had 20 minutes until the scheduled time of 3 o¡¯clock. This ce really doesn¡¯t show any mercy, huh? Even if you arrived at the promised time, you would still be turned away since you were consideredte. That was the reality of the Dungeon Maker¡¯s trial. Then, trouble arose. ¡°Huff, huff¡­! What? It¡¯s full?¡± said someone who arrived 51st. ¡°Huh? How¡¯s that fair? She should have informed us ahead of time! We came all the way to this remote ce, and suddenly it¡¯s a firste-first-served rule?! What kind of nonsense is this?¡± And then the 52nd person arrived. Then the 53rd, the 54th, and so on¡­ Participants kept arriving. Oh my goodness. I was genuinely amazed at the fact that there were so many rankers who actively gave out rmendations. Truly, there was a world beyond what non-rankers knew. The thought left me a bit awed. I also felt a sense of gratitude toward Gi Soyul. ¡°Come out, Delh, you damn bitch!¡± ¡ªBoom! Someone mmed his fist to the ground in anger with a shout. It was the man who¡¯d arrived 51st¡ªthe one who was now the unluckiest person in the world. Chapter 90 Chapter 90: The Trial Begins ¡°I saide out, you bastards!¡± The 51st participant¡¯s frustrated shout echoed across the open clearing. ¡°Do you know what I went through to get here? Huh? Do you think only your time matters? What about mine?¡± the man yelled at Delh, who hadn¡¯t even shown up yet. His courage seemed to resonate with the other disqualified participants. ¡°That¡¯s right! There¡¯s no basic decency here! I¡¯d understand if we werete, but we weren¡¯t!¡± ¡°At least give us a proper exnation! Bringing us all this way just for this?¡± ¡°Just because you¡¯re a ranker doesn¡¯t mean you can act like this!¡± Comints erupted from those who missed the cut. Honestly, I understood their frustration. They had every reason toin because if I were in their position, I¡¯d be furious, too. However, I had made it into the first 50, so I had no intention of standing up for them. They were supposed to be mypetitors after all. Tsk, this is why you should¡¯ve gotten here earlier. I silently clicked my tongue, grateful to the White Swine for arranging my transportation with more than an hour to spare. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± ¡°Come out! Face us and exin yourselves!¡± ¡°We¡¯re not leaving without an answer!¡± As the voices of the disqualified contestants grew louder, someone appeared out of thin air. ¡ªWhoosh. It was a robust man dressed sharply in ck dress pants and a crisp white shirt. At his waist hung an unadorned sword, and his low, steady gaze burned with a red intensity. ¡ªMurmur. The moment he arrived, murmuring spread throughout the crowd. ¡°W-Wait, that¡¯s¡­?¡± ¡°Red eyes? He has red eyes!¡± ¡°Could it be Lucas, the Red-Eyed Arcane Swordsman?¡± ¡°The Arcane Swordsman is here?¡± I also widened my eyes at the sight. The Red-Eyed Arcane Swordsman? Of course, I knew who he was. He was a world-renowned figure, after all, a ranker from France who ranked 25th globally. With ssically handsome European looks, he was a hunter with a vast fan base. ¡°Silence.¡± Lucas red at the disqualified participants, his voice icy. ¡°ept the results and leave.¡± Wow. I was impressed. I wondered if all high-rankers had skills like ¡°Speaking Impressively¡± or ¡°Making Everything Sound Cool.¡± His words were impactful, powerful, andmanding. It was natural for the disqualified non-rankers to shrink away. A few spat on the ground and turned to leave. Of course they have to. If Lucas the Arcane Swordsman said scram, they had no other choice but to leave. Getting into a fight or resisting would only hurt them. However, the 51st participant¡ªthe one who arrived a moment toote¡ªrefused to back down. ¡°Ha, Lucas the Arcane Swordsman? Just because you¡¯re a ranker, you think you can do whatever you want?¡± ¡°¡­Stop causing a scene and get lost.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re just going to tell me to leave with no exnation? Do you know whose rmendation I came here on? Huh?¡± Ah. He pulled out the magic phrase, ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± This phrase was often used to force submission by unting one¡¯s status or connections. However, such things wouldn¡¯t work on a ranker like Lucas. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are.¡± He didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°This is the final warning. If you don¡¯t want to die, turn around. Return to your country.¡± His tone was t but menacing. Lucas¡¯ hand moved slightly to rest on his sword¡¯s hilt. The 51st participant flinched. ¡°Hah.¡± He let out a hollowugh. ¡°You¡¯re no different from a gang of thugs, huh? Delh from America? Just because her country¡¯s a superpower, does she think she can act like this? These big shots with hidden schemes are all the same. Restricting information with some kind of system lock and inviting us to some curry-stinking ce like this¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªShing! Lucas drew his sword from its sheath. No more words. Was he really nning to cut him down without a second thought? ¡°Screw it, I¡¯m leaving. I¡¯m going! This is disgusting!¡± The 51st participant finally surrendered. He made the right choice. No matter how mouthy he was, there was nothing he could do in the face of real power. This world was built on the survival of the fittest, and the strong made the rules. That was one of the reasons I wanted to be a ranker. At least he¡¯s notpletely foolish. To qualify for this trial, he must¡¯ve been a fairly capable hunter. It seemed he had enough intelligence to back down. As the rejected participant walked away in frustration, Lucas turned his gaze toward us and began to speak. ¡°I understand you may haveints about the trial.¡± ¡°¡­¡± All fifty participants, including myself, focused our eyes on Lucas. ¡°But understand this. Every aspect of the trial was created by Lady Delh herself. Just because you were rmended, don¡¯t think that you have a right to her trial.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. Kindness, when extended too far, would get taken for granted. However, I could understand why the rejected participants felt wronged. But more importantly¡­ I was absorbed in observing Lucas¡ªthe aura of a high-ranking ranker. At this point, I was more interested in that than theints of disqualified participants. ¡ªClick! Lucas returned his sword to its sheath. ¡°This is a warning to you all as well,¡± he continued. ¡°This area operates under extraterritoriality. Killing someone here¡ªor being killed¡ªwill bear no legal consequences.¡± ¡°¡­¡± A hushed silence filled the atmosphere. It was so quiet that I felt as if I could hear the sound of everyone¡¯s breathing. Even Olena, James, and Capu, who had been chatting with me earlier, had fallen silent. They only swallowed hard, focusing intently. The tension felt like that of recruits entering a military training camp. ¡°So if you value your life orck the resolve for this, leave immediately. Thosecking that resolve aren¡¯t worthy of bing rankers.¡± ¡°¡­¡± With a single look, Lucas delivered his warning. Leave now if you want. Otherwise, you may truly die here. However, no one was going to leave. Just going into an A-rank dungeon was a life-risking endeavor. Hunters who regrly entered dungeons put their lives on the line as routinely as if they were eating a meal. We¡¯re more than willing to do that here if it means we can be rankers. Every hunter understood the value of bing a ranker. Rankers were admired by the world, respected as VIPs in any country, and seen as figures of importance. Therefore, not a single person moved from their spot. All fifty participants silently expressed their agreement. ¡°Good.¡± A slight smile crossed Lucas¡¯s lips. ¡°Let me introduce myself first. I am Lucas, and I have been appointed as the chief judge for this trial. Also known as the Arcane Swordsman, I am ranked 25th in the world.¡± Even if we already knew, seeing and hearing it in person felt different. But something caught my attention even more. A judge? So Delh¡¯s Dungeon Maker trial¡­ It¡¯s being run more systematically than I¡¯d thought. ¡°This trial from Lady Delh consists of six themes. Your goal is simply to pass each one. Completing this will guarantee you a spot on the ranking board.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Like Lee Sunah, Lucas confidently promised we¡¯d be rankers. Then someone raised their hand. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°What are those themes?¡± ¡°I cannot tell you.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°If you wish to know, then pass the trial.¡± Lucas¡¯s tone was unyielding. ¡°Once you pass and be rankers, you will understand why Lady Delh holds these trials every six months.¡± ¡°One more question please.¡± Perhaps because Lucas was answering calmly, another participant found the courage to speak. ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°I joined this trial just to see Lady Delh¡­ So where is she?¡± ¡°Do you wish to see her?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± the questioner answered eagerly. Lucas gave a smile. ¡°Then pass the trial.¡± It all came down to passing the trial. Wow. No skill, no right to know, I guess. ¡°¡­¡± The questioner retreated with a flustered look. Lucas continued, ¡°Within this area, you¡¯re free to use any means, any skills. Additionally¡­ you are permitted to kill each other, or you can form alliances and create teams.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Did he just say we¡¯re permitted to kill each other? Ah, so that¡¯s why he mentioned extraterritoriality earlier? A peculiar tension made my throat feel dry. ¡°We¡¯re not here to judge hunters¡¯ morals. As long as youplete the assigned tasks by any means necessary, you will pass. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Um, one more question¡­¡± As another hand started to rise, Lucas shook his head. ¡°There will be no further exnations. From now on, you¡¯ll discover everything alongside your fellow participants.¡± At that moment, a message appeared in the air, simr to those that popped up upon entering dungeons. ¡ªRing! [Stage: Delh¡¯s Trial] [Delh is generating a dungeon.] [The dungeon will be greatlypacted.] [Time inside the dungeon will flow more slowly.] [umte ¡®Trial Points¡¯ bypleting themed tasks prepared by Delh.] [Trial points are directly rted to your eventualpletion and rewards.] [Current trial points: 0] Trial points? And on top of that, the dungeon would be greatlypacted? Time would flow more slowly? As I hurriedly scanned the messages¡­ ¡°Now then,¡± Lucas said, ¡°good luck.¡± ¡ªsh! My vision was consumed by a blinding light. [Entering the Dungeon.] ¡°¡­¡± That was amazing. How could someone capable of creating dungeons and projecting system messages really be just a mere hunter? This led me to think, Could Delh be creating every dungeon in existence? Anyway, the scene around me felt unfamiliar. The field was a tropical rainforest. Trees, dense foliage, and rocks filled the area. I scanned my surroundings and realized that all fifty participants in the trial were here with me. ¡°¡­What is this? They said there would be a judge, but they just threw us into a dungeon.¡± ¡°We didn¡¯t even get the mission of the dungeon. All it said was to collect trial points¡­¡± ¡°What could trial points be?¡± Hunters around me murmured. Some were huddling in small groups, discussing the situation. Others stood alone, calmly observing. ¡°Hey, Hoon?¡± It was Olena, the woman from Ukraine, who had spoken up next to me. ¡°We chatted a bit while waiting. How about teaming up?¡± ¡°Hey, Hoon! There you are.¡± ¡°Seems like we should stick together.¡± James and Capu joined us, looking relieved at the chance to form a team. Not surprising. The Arcane Swordsman had said himself that killing each other was permitted. In an unfamiliar trial where anything could happen, being alone could mean bing a target. I also think going with a team is better than going solo. So I nodded. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s stick together.¡± That didn¡¯t mean I fully trusted them. This was just a mutually beneficial rtionship¡ªusing each other for our own gains. Of course, if things go well, we might be real allies. The Five Stars of Seoul had said they met theirrades here as well. ¡°By the way.¡± Olena frowned and spoke again. ¡°What exactly are we supposed to do here? It¡¯s just a forest around us.¡± ¡°Yeah. There don¡¯t seem to be any threatening monsters nearby, either. And trial points? We need to figure out how to earn those first.¡± As James was speaking¡­ ¡ªRing! [Establishing rules.] [Kill your opponents.] [Killing an opponent earns you 100 Trial Points.] [You will also im half of any Trial Points the deceased opponent possessed.] ¡°¡­?¡± The message appeared with a ring¡ªthe sound that marked the true beginning of the dungeon. Chapter 91 Chapter 91: The First Theme (1) ¡°What the hell?¡± ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Kill each other? What kind of dungeon is this¡­?¡± Naturally, chaos erupted all around me. The other hunters seemed as shocked as I was. Everyone was reeling, unable to process the situation. What is this, Squid Game? It was an unexpected deathmatch deration out of nowhere. The rules were simple. Kill someone, and points would be awarded for each kill. Everyone murmured restlessly, and a few hunters shouted toward the sky. ¡°Are you kidding? What the fuck kind of trial is this to be a ranker? What are we, dogs in a dogfight?¡± ¡°Delh, or whoever¡­ What the hell¡­ So it¡¯s all just about having fun watching us kill each other?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Quietly, I retreated to the edge of the area. This was not the time to lose my temper. It was best to stay back, observe my surroundings, and monitor the situation. The Arcane Swordsman, Lucas, had clearly warned us that anyone who valued their life should have left immediately. He¡¯d even given us a chance to walk away. Yet here they were, cursing Delh out only after the fact. It wasn¡¯t wise. ¡°Hm.¡± I moved to the back and calmly watched the scene unfold. I noticed three distinct types of hunters. First, those who simply got angry and showed aggression. They were, ironically, the least dangerous group. No matter how strong they might have been, simple-minded opponents were the easiest to deal with. Second, those with a predatory look in their eyes. These were the hunters who, like wolves, were searching for prey. These were the scariest¡ªquietly isting themselves and assessing those who seemed weak or alone. Seriously¡­ Were they really willing to kill others so easily just to be rankers? Lastly, the third type was those forming teams. In a deathmatch like this, your odds of survival improved significantly if you weren¡¯t alone. I, too, fell into this third category, just like the three hunters standing before me¡ªOlena, James, and Capu. They naturally gathered in front of me. Eventually, James spoke. ¡°Hehe, Hoon. We¡¯re not going to fight each other, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Olena and Capu looked at me as well. A strange silence fell. Why were they all looking to me for confirmation? Did they think I was the leader or something? ¡°Mhmm.¡± Olena nodded. ¡°There are plenty of other opponents out there. Why fight amongst those of us who already know each other?¡± she said in agreement with James. ¡°¡­Yes, that¡¯s true.¡± In the end, I nodded. They were right. There was no benefit for me in jumping into a fight right now. No matter how special I might have been as an A-rank, everyone here was a high-level figure in their own country. Each of them had earned a rare rmendation from five different rankers. What would happen if I started having trouble with these types? There were two possible oues. I¡¯d either die or expose my capabilities. Both were the worst-case scenarios. If I died, everything would truly be over. And if my abilities were exposed, I¡¯d likely be the target of the second type of hunters¡­ the potential murderers. ¡°I agree with you all. For now, it¡¯s best to stick together.¡± Since they approached me first, I decided to ept the alliance and evaluate themter, regardless of their skills. Just as I was epting their offer, a loud explosion rang out from the center. ¡ªBoom! Boom! Boom! Trees were uprooted, and mud flew into the air. ¡°Wh-What¡­?¡±Capu frowned because some mud had sttered onto his dark face. ¡°Tsk,¡± I clicked my tongue. ¡°It seems it¡¯s already begun.¡± It looked like someone from the first type, one of the aggressive ones, had attacked someone. Amid the rising dust clouds, we could hear the voices of the hunters. ¡°You son of a bitch! You dare attack me?¡± ¡°Yeah, just die! I know you¡¯ve been eyeing me since earlier! Did you think I wouldn¡¯t notice your n to ambush me?¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± ¡°Shut up and just die quietly!¡± Someone ambushed someone else, who in turn misinterpreted it and attacked another¡­ The chaos had officially started. ¡°For now,¡± I said, gripping my staff and adjusting my backpack, ¡°let¡¯s get out of here.¡± We left the central area. From the first look, this was a vast, tropical rainforest field, so there was really no need to try and resolve things right in the middle from the start. Whatever the case, there was no need to get caught up in the crowd. As we walked along a narrow path¡­ ¡°Hmm, hey, Hoon.¡± After we¡¯d walked about three kilometers* away from the center, James spoke up. ¡°Are we really just going to keep running? The trial points might be really important. What if we end up getting eliminated¡­?¡± He seemed uneasy. *3km ¡Ö 1.86mi. I understood how he felt as I was nervous, too. I¡¯d joined this prepared to risk my life, but the fear of failing kept lingering in the back of my mind. But. I doubted that Delh, ranked 5th in the world, would really make people kill each other under the guise of training rankers. Besides, the Five Stars of Seoul ultimately passed this trial together. I needed to think this through a bit more. At that moment, Olena spoke up. ¡°I disagree, James. There¡¯s no need to jump in recklessly just because we want trial points. Didn¡¯t you see it earlier? There were dozens of jackals on the lurk for prey, watching for any opening. Are you suggesting we just charge in there?¡± Her tone was almost scolding James forining. James refuted, ¡°So we¡¯re just supposed to keep running away? I signed up for a trial. I didn¡¯te all this way just to run like a coward.¡± She sighed. ¡°It¡¯s not running. It¡¯s called strategy. Don¡¯t you understand? We¡¯re not fleeing out of fear.¡± Olena tapped her chest, exasperated. Our group hade to a halt during their exchange. ¡°¡­¡± The sky was turning yellow with the sun about to set. It would be dark soon, and we were in a mountain forest with no streetlights. The forest would be far more terrifying without light. In any case, their argument continued. Even five minutester, they were still going back and forth. ¡°Are you confident this is the strategy? Sorry, Olena, but for your logic to make sense, there needs to be a n for what to do next.¡± ¡°A n?¡± Olena¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Honestly, what kind of n would there be in this situation? Do you have one?¡± ¡°So we¡¯re running away without a n?¡± ¡°One thing¡¯s clear: charging into that chaos would¡¯ve been the dumbest n.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Capu and I just looked back and forth between them. He asionally nced at me with a ¡°What now¡­¡± expression and shrugged. ¡°And besides,¡± Olena continued, ¡°following us here was your choice. We agreed to team up, and when Hoon suggested we move out, you should¡¯ve jumped into that mess if you had anyints. Why are you causing trouble for the team now?¡± ¡°Why are you getting so emotional? I was just sharing my thoughts, Olena.¡± Their debate continued. This wasn¡¯t the time for this. I sighed. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stop here, both of you.¡± For some reason, they were listening to me. Perhaps because I looked strong, or maybe I appeared experienced. Either way, when I spoke, both of them fell silent and looked at me. ¡°As both of you have mentioned, there¡¯s no n, but we can still make an educated guess.¡± ¡°A guess?¡± James tilted his head. ¡°Yes, Delh established the first rule. Kill somebody.¡± ¡°¡­She did.¡± ¡°But I thought of it as a rule, not necessarily an absolute requirement.¡± ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°Because there¡¯s no time limit or limit on the number of survivors.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Now not only James but Olena and Capu also looked at me. I smiled back at them. Alright. Now listen closely. This is advice from a seasoned veteran who¡¯s conquered three extreme dungeons that even rankers struggled with. ¡°A limit¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, a limit.¡± Standing on a ridge in the quiet forest where the sounds of explosions no longer reached, my voice resonated softly. ¡°If this trial required killing to pass, it should¡¯ve given a time limit or set a number of survivors. Like survive until a specific time or be among thest few standing.¡± ¡°What if it was just intentionally vague?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible. But the Arcane Swordsman specifically mentioned that¡­¡± ¡°This trial from Lady Delh consists of six themes. Your goal is simply to pass each one.¡± ¡°There are six themes.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And it looks like we¡¯re on the first theme now. Do you really think she¡¯d make all fifty hunters kill each other already?¡± From my perspective, that was unlikely. ¡°There¡¯s a popr saying in Korea: always understand the test-maker¡¯s intentions.¡± I wasn¡¯t 100% certain, but I had a great sense for dungeons, y¡¯know? And I was probably correct this time too. ¡°True, that makes sense.¡± James nodded. ¡°It¡¯d be absurd if the grand trial to create rankers was just to kill each other. You¡¯re probably right.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s the theme right now then?¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know that yet. But for now, they dropped us into this vast rainforest. And it¡¯s almost nightfall. That suggests¡­ survival, perhaps?¡± ¡°¡­Survival, you say?¡± ¡°Actually, I already checked the backpack I brought.¡± I set down my bag on the ground. [Item: Demir¡¯s Distributed Backpack] [Rank: S] [Type: Bag] It was my precious item, crafted by Demir. I had filled it with emergency supplies to endure the trial. However¡­ ¡ªZzzzt! As I reached in, a jolt of electricity sparked. ¡ªRing! [Subspace storage is not usable within this dungeon.] ¡°Look, the subspace storage is blocked.¡± ¡°What?!¡± My action stunned James. Capu and Olena, equally shocked, quickly searched their bags. ¡ªCrackle! Sizzle! They, too, found they couldn¡¯t retrieve their items. ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Olena clicked her tongue. ¡°So the theme really is survival? They even blocked ess to our food.¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± The hunters were flustered. Their reaction was understandable since hunters usually packed ample supplies in preparation for high-difficulty dungeons. I nodded. ¡°Yes, it seems like we¡¯ll need to secure food, shelter, and water here in the rainforest while simultaneously battling other hunters. If any of them are specialized in darkness, that¡¯ll be even more troublesome.¡± ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake¡­¡± In the end, a curse slipped from James. ¡°So,¡± I looked around at them, ¡°this isn¡¯t the time for grown adults to be arguing with each other.¡± ¡°¡­Hoon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to search for solutions and discuss ideas, but if you¡¯re with me, pointless arguments aren¡¯t wee.¡± My quiet tone hung in the air. ¡ªGulp. The hunters swallowed nervously. ¡°Understood¡­ I¡¯ll remember that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry as well.¡± Surprisingly, both apologized readily. I smiled. Everyone here was a hunter at A-rank or higher, but we still knew very little about each other. If we were going to stick together for a while, it was about time to get a sense for each other¡¯s abilities. ¡ªWhoosh! I swung my staff. ¡ªck, ck, ck! My beloved skeletons appeared. In midair, white bones were assembled. ¡°My lord.¡± Here came my dependable Sunny. ¡°Oh, the rich scent of the forest.¡± And following after was the high elf Eldrin. And then¡­ ¡ªThud! Boney 4 nted his shield in the ground while Boney 5 and Boney 7 raised their staves. Finally, Boney 1, my first skeleton, swung its sword. I¡¯d left Demir back at the workshop, so there was no need to call him here. ¡°This is my unique ability¡­¡± I looked at them with my skeletons. ¡°I¡¯m a bit of an unusual necromancer. Before we focus on survival, how about we start by sharing our abilities?¡± Alright, let¡¯s tackle this step by step. I was sure I could get through this again. I¡¯d always done so before. This I vowed firmly to myself. Chapter 92 Chapter 92: The First Theme (2) ¡ªWhoosh! The first to react to the disy of my abilities was Olena, the blonde-haired mage. She pulled a long staff from her back. That staff looks high-quality. Maybe it was because of my ss, but my eyes instinctively examined the staff. It was made from fine wood, adorned with a sophisticated design with a blue gem embedded in the center. It looked expensive at first nce. I hope Demir¡¯s business is doing well. As I unconsciously licked my lips, thoroughly inspecting the item, Olena swung her staff. ¡ªSwish! ¡°My ability is magic. My element is water.¡± Bubbling droplets formed in the air and then cascaded down to the ground in streams. ¡°You¡¯re all quite lucky. I¡¯ll be able to supply drinking water easily.¡± Oh, not bad. Olena¡¯s ability was better than I expected since water was one of the most essential things for survival. Especially in a tropical region like this, even if we found a river, the water wouldn¡¯t be drinkable as it¡¯d likely be muddy. With her ability, we wouldn¡¯t have to rely on sporadic rainfall for water. I nodded in approval. ¡°That¡¯s great. It¡¯ll be a huge help.¡± ¡°Not only that, but I¡¯m pretty skilled too. I was the top recruit at Oxford¡¯s Magic Tower.¡± ¡°Wow, really?¡± Capu looked impressed. ¡°The Oxford Magic Tower? That¡¯s the prestigious organization that Silverstone is in, right? I heard it¡¯s nearly impossible to get into.¡± ¡°Haha, yeah, it¡¯s a tough ce.¡± ¡°Impressive.¡± Even the usually reserved Capu was genuinely impressed by her achievement. Ranked 4th in the world, Sophia Silverstone was no different from a god to us. For us hunters, even being in her vicinity would be an honor. ¡°¡­¡± James raised an eyebrow. The woman he¡¯d argued with earlier turned out to be quite formidable, which seemed to sting his pride a bit. But he, too, was a candidate rmended by five rankers. ¡ªThud! James set his backpack on the ground and clenched his fists,unching a series of jabs and straight punches into the air. ¡ªWhoosh, whoosh! Waves of force cut through the air, his body twisting with fluid precision. ¡ªThwack! As his straight punchnded, his rear foot followed after, nting firmly on the target near simultaneously. The execution was so clean it was impressive. ¡°Wow.¡± I took a step back in admiration. Regardless of his strength, his form alone was practically artistic in its perfection. James opened his mouth to speak. ¡°My ability is martial arts. I am restricted from using weapons, but I can deliver critical hits with more precision than any other profession. If my punch hits you, you¡¯re done for.¡± James¡¯s ability wasn¡¯t bad either. I¡¯ll just consider him a standardbat type. Combat types depended heavily on the individual. If the person wielding the ability was strong, it would be a powerful ability. If they were weak, then the ability would be weak. In fact, the Berserker was an ordinarybat type too¡ªhe was just absurdly strong. ¡°¡­¡± Capu, who had been watching James, hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. ¡°¡­I¡¯m more of a support type than abat type.¡± Support, he said? Everyone¡¯s gaze turned to Capu. ¡°Yes. My ability is an explorer. I can map dungeonyouts, scout uncharted areas, and specialize in detecting hidden traps or conditions.¡± Oh. I¡¯d seen a simr ability before. Ah. I remembered now. This was like that A-rank hunter, Kang Sunwook, who was a guide for the Parang Guild. I wonder how he¡¯s doing. A wave of nostalgia hit me. Back then, he¡¯d seemed like such a big shot, but now here I was, also an A-rank. ¡°Well¡­¡± Olena smiled brightly. ¡°This is shaping up to be a golden bnce, right?¡± She was right. This was a solid teamposition. Necromancers were already overpowered. And we had abat type, a magic type, and now a support type. Not bad. The situation wasn¡¯t as bleak as it could¡¯ve been. I would¡¯ve been worried if everyone turned out to bebat types¡­ ¡°Then how about we assign tasks based on our roles?¡± ¡ªp, p! I pped my hands. For some reason, I¡¯d naturally fallen into the role of the group¡¯s leader, so I decided that I might as well y along. ¡°Olena, please clear a spot on high ground. Clear away the leaves to give us visibility and create some basic cooking tools for us. Should be easy for a mage, right?¡± ¡°Are we setting up camp?¡± ¡°Yes, just a temporary one, so it doesn¡¯t have to be fancy.¡± ¡°That sounds easy. Consider it done,¡± Olena responded cheerfully and headed to a high point. I aimed to settle on the highest area. While we would typically need to stay near water for survival, having Olena meant we could choose a higher, more secure spot. ¡°Next, Capu.¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± ¡°Scout the surrounding area and gather intel. Other teams¡¯ locations or hidden clues¡ªanything you can find.¡± ¡°Perfect. That¡¯s my specialty.¡± Capu tightened his shoces. ¡°And James.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re abat type, you¡¯ll guard Capu. The two of you are now a team.¡± ¡°So, protect Capu so he can support us better, right?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± I nodded. Pairing James and Capu together was the best option. I¡¯d initially thought of assigning guard duty to James, but in operations, security was crucial. As General MacArthur once said, ¡°I can forgive amander for failing in operation, but not for failing in security.¡± But in all honesty, I trusted my skeletons more than I trusted James. ¡°I¡¯ll handle lookout duty and gather food. Just make sure to return before nightfall.¡± ¡°Got it. Understood.¡± Capu and James nodded and set off. There was no grumbling or questioning. Since my stern words earlier, they¡¯d all epted the situation with a calm, practical mindset. ¡°Alright, time for me to get moving too.¡± I turned around. My gaze fell on my skeletons, who were waiting with weapons in hand. Sunny and Eldrin stood at attention, awaiting mymand. I smiled softly as I looked at them. Two hourster. ¡°My lord, here¡¯s everything you requested.¡± Sunny returned to our camp with his subordinates, dumping a pile of supplies onto the ground. ¡ªThud! The pile had guava roots, cassava, sugarcane, and various types of mushrooms¡ªedible nts we could use for food. ¡°I¡¯ve brought some as well.¡± ¡ªSwish. Eldrin leaped down from a tree,nding softly. She and her subordinates had gathered a variety of tropical fruits such as bananas, mangoes, papayas, and pomelos. She gathered enough tost a week. ¡°Wow¡­ What is all this?¡± Olena looked astonished as she finished setting up the campsite. ¡°How did you gather so much in such a short time¡­?¡± ¡°For the forest folk, this is routine work¡­ I hope they are useful to you.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Olena¡¯s mouth dropped open. She openly admired the convenience of having a necromancer on her side. I gave Eldrin a thumbs up. ¡°No need to say more. You¡¯re the best.¡± I¡¯d asked them to gather items that didn¡¯t require cooking since building a fire would be like announcing our location to the enemy. ¡°For today, let¡¯s get by with this.¡± ¡°¡­This feels almost like a hotel buffet.¡± ¡ªRumble! Olena used magic to dig a shallow pit. As the skeletons carefully transferred the food into the pit, we heard footsteps approaching. James and Capu were returning from their scouting mission. ¡°Phew, Hoon. We¡¯re back.¡± Capu looked disappointed. It seemed the results hadn¡¯t met his expectations. ¡°There were no clues anywhere nearby. It¡¯s just pure rainforest. No monsters, no traps.¡± Capu wiped sweat from his forehead as he put down his equipment. ¡°We even snuck near the central area, but it looks like everyone¡¯s gone. No other hunters in sight, either.¡± ¡°Right. I thought we¡¯d find some supplies, but no luck. Damn.¡± James shook his head in frustration. ¡°Supplies?¡± I asked. ¡°Yeah, usually in survival games, you get supply drops from the sky and stuff.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This guy. That was a game, and this was real life. Although, I had to say that it wasn¡¯t a bad attempt. Without confirmed information, we had to be open to all possibilities. ¡°Thank you both for your hard work. We¡¯ve prepared food, so let¡¯s settle down for the night.¡± ¡°Oh? What¡¯s all this?¡± ¡°Hoon, did you get all of this?¡± The two men¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°¡­Compared to myck of results, you two achieved a lot,¡± Capu mumbled apologetically. I¡¯d noticed this before, but for someone who looked so tough, this guy was surprisingly pure-hearted. I chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ve only been a team for a few hours. Just do your best in your roles.¡± ¡°Thank you, Hoon.¡± Capu nodded, and Olena smiled warmly. ¡°Alright, shall we eat?¡± Olena said as she grabbed a bunch of bananas that Eldrin brought. She took a big bite. Then she gasped. Clearly hungry, Olena had chowed down eagerly before suddenly stopping with her mouth open. What¡¯s with her reaction? ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Is it that good?¡± I asked, and she shook her head as if to say it wasn¡¯t about the taste. Why, what is it? ¡°¡­Are you serious? What the hell is this?¡± Olena yelled out a curse. Huh? Did the banana have poison or something? ¡°Hoon.¡± She looked at me. ¡°Try it.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°Just try it! There¡¯s nothing weird about it!¡± ¡°Uh, alright?¡± I took a bite of the banana. I trusted that Eldrin, a member of the forest folk, wouldn¡¯t bring me anything poisonous. Besides, I was hungry. ¡ªMunch! Hm? It¡¯s tasty. Just as I was wondering why she¡¯d reacted that way, my eyes widened just like hers because¡­ ¡ªRing! [You have consumed ¡®Banana.¡¯] [You have gained 10 trial points.] A notification popped up with a message that made no sense. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± Killing a person grants 100 points, yet eating a banana gives 10 points? With no announcement about this beforehand? ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Why is Hoon making that face now? You two are scaring me¡­¡± ¡°Are we really supposed to eat this?¡± James and Capu murmured in confusion. ¡ªMunch, munch! I quickly swallowed and grabbed another banana. However, the points didn¡¯t increase after the first bite. What¡¯s this? Does each food item only grant points once? I went to the pit and grabbed a mango. ¡ªSquish! I broke it open, scooped out the flesh, and ate it. ¡ªRing! [You have consumed ¡®Mango.¡¯] [You have gained 10 Trial Points.] ¡°Just as I thought!¡± I didn¡¯t know exactly what these trial points were for, but one thing was clear. We could umte points by consuming food found in this ce. ¡°Okay, seriously. What¡¯s the matter?¡± James blinked, chewing a banana. ¡°Whoa! Damn, my trial points went up!¡± Now, everyone on the team understood. ¡ªRing! [You have consumed ¡®Papaya.¡¯] [You have gained 10 trial points.] We eagerly began devouring the food. ¡ªRing! [You have consumed ¡®Guava root.¡¯] [You have gained 10 trial points.] There was no room for picky eating. We savored each item we¡¯d gathered, one by one. ¡ªRing! [You have consumed ¡®Cassava.¡¯] [You have gained 10 trial points.] ¡ªRing! [You have consumed ¡®Sugarcane.¡¯] [You have gained 10 trial points.] ¡­ With over 30 different edible nts¡­ ¡°Wow.¡± James finally sighed in amazement. ¡°Just from this meal, we each scored the equivalent of killing three people.¡± [Trial Points: 320] That was the number each of us umted. ¡°This is insane.¡± ¡°This is all thanks to you, Hoon.¡± Capu nodded respectfully. ¡°We were able to consume such a variety of foods thanks to you. Thank you, Hoon.¡± ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°We just got lucky, and nothing¡¯s guaranteed yet. And we don¡¯t know what these trial points mean yet.¡± There was no need to thank me. We still didn¡¯t know what trials awaited us. It felt like we hadn¡¯t even scratched the surface of the iceberg yet. However, a thought suddenly crossed my mind. Does it have to be edible food? Was it possible to umte points with something else? At that moment, my eyes fell on a colorful mushroom growing at the base of a tree. What would happen if I ate that? The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 93 Chapter 93: The Poisonous Mushroom Curiosity is a strange thing. Even when something clearly feels like a bad idea or a disaster waiting to happen, we¡¯re often inexplicably drawn to it. Of course, it¡¯s not necessarily a bad thing. Curiosity is a fundamental instinct for all intelligent beings. Through curiosity and the pursuit of learning, humanity has grown this far. In fact, curiosity is a form of courage¡ªthe courage to try things that are uncertain or even dangerous. And while it may sound odd for me to say this about myself, if anyone represented courage, it was me. ¡°¡­¡± I stared at the mushroom before me. After all those thoughts, my point was simple. Right now, I wanted nothing more than to take a bite of that colorful mushroom. If I could gain ¡°trial points¡± from every edible item, then¡­ maybe this mushroom could grant the same. ¡°Hey, Hoon, you¡¯re not thinking about¡­¡± Noticing my gaze, James frowned. ¡°Are you nning to eat that? It looks like it¡¯d give you at least a stomachache¡­¡± ¡°I agree. We haven¡¯t even scouted the area properly, and we don¡¯t know how much food is in this forest. There¡¯s no need to pick up something that¡¯s clearly poisonous,¡± Olena chimed in, nodding along with James. Both teammates objected. ¡°Hmm.¡± I scratched my chin. Perhaps it was due to my stubborn nature, but their warnings only made me want to eat it more. ¡°Hoon, hold on.¡± ¡ªStep, step. It was then that Capu walked up to the mushroom. Squatting down, he studied it closely, nodding. ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s definitely poisonous.¡± Wait, what? So as an explorer, it turned out that he also had the skill to identify poisonous mushrooms. ¡°We call this type of mushroom the ¡®death devil¡¯ back home.¡± ¡°Death devil?¡± ¡°Yes, the menacing name¡¯s meant to warn people. Just a single bite of this can burn your esophagus and rot your stomach. Under no circumstances should anyone ever eat it.¡± ¡°¡­I see.¡± Reluctantly, I nodded and took a step back. I couldn¡¯t just ignore my entire team telling me not to eat it. Besides¡­ ¡°¡­¡± I looked up at the sky. The sunset was nearly gone, and the forest was growing dark. Out here in nature, night would be pitch ck without any light. Even now, it was hard to make out anything in the dim light. ¡°For now, let¡¯s take shelter in the spot we prepared.¡± ¡°Sounds like a n. But what about the watch? We can¡¯t light a fire, and it¡¯s too dark to see anything¡­ And keeping watch won¡¯t do much good without night vision.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle the watch.¡± ¡°You will?¡± Olena blinked in surprise. I smiled in response. ¡°Yes, I have a skeleton well-suited for darkness.¡± I was talking about Sunny, the one who lived their whole life in darkness. ¡°I¡¯ll cover the night watch from now on.¡± I¡¯d nned to do it in the first ce anyway. And besides, I had some other business to take care of. ¡°Phew.¡± The forest was now fully cloaked in darkness. I stood on a hilltop, exhaling a quiet breath. Only the eerie wind and the sound of insects echoed through the deep forest. Olena, James, and Capu had all fallen into a shallow sleep. ¡°My lord, aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± Noticing my presence, Sunny approached. ¡°There¡¯s still nothing unusual around.¡± ¡°Is that so? Thanks.¡± Sleep was indeed essential for life. But at some point, the amount of required sleep time had sharply decreased for me. It must be due to the Great Blue Heart Technique. It was the S-rank ki technique that I learned from the old man. Its effects were remarkable. It expelled impurities and fatigue from the body, energizing my cells. The more I practiced it, the younger and fresher my skin looked. It even reduced the need for sleep. I don¡¯t need to force myself to sleep. After all, I still hadn¡¯tpleted my day¡¯s work. To truly end today, I needed to spend an hour with the old man. [Using skill ¡®Teaching of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank).] [Consuming 20 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Master of All Techniques.¡¯] ¡°You rascal.¡± The old man materialized, his figure like that of a ghost. ¡°You decide to procrastinate, summoning me in the dead of night now, huh?¡± ¡°Haha, Elder.¡± ¡°So this is the dungeon created by that Dungeon Maker fellow, correct?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± I usually told the old man about everything I was up to, especially when I was in a ce like this. That way, he could n his curriculum for me depending on the circumstances. ¡°Hm, there¡¯s no light, and visibility is poor, which makes the perfect conditions to practice sensing ki. Let¡¯s begin with the Grand Technique as usual, shall we?¡± The Grand Technique. I¡¯d raised my rank significantly thanks to it, but it was still a torturous massage for me. ¡°Wait, Elder. Just a moment.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Since I usually just obeyed without question, he raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°About the Great Blue Heart Technique¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Can it expel poison?¡± That was right. I still couldn¡¯t get that poisonous mushroom out of my mind. I kept thinking about it, even now. For a moment, I considered eating it and using Boney 7¡¯s Recovery skill afterward. However, that skill was still on a month-long cooldown, and I didn¡¯t want to waste it on this. Recovery was practically an extra stock of life, after all. ¡°Eh? Poison, you say?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You fool! Of course it can. The Great Blue Heart Technique is wless! I spent years selecting it as the finest of all techniques, and you think it can¡¯t handle poison?¡± The old man straightened his shoulders, clearly proud. ¡°Oh, really?¡± My eyes lit up at the old man¡¯s remark. ¡°Of course! Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Well, actually¡­¡± I told him about what happened this afternoon, from how I gained trial points from food to my encounter with the death devil mushroom. ¡°Hmm.¡± The old man listened, contemting. Then, as if it was a good idea, he spoke up. ¡°Indeed, this might be a good time to build some tolerance for poison.¡± ¡°Tolerance?¡± ¡°Yes,d. Good timing, actually,¡± the old man praised me, almost as if this was the perfect time for it. ¡°Listen well. All Techniques is no trivial thing. It¡¯s a technique that will lead you to the pinnacle of power in any world once you learn it.¡± In his world, the technique had gotten him to that position and earned him the title of the World¡¯s Strongest. In this world, it would be equivalent to bing the no. 1 ranked hunter. ¡°Keeping the position of absolute power is not an easy task,d. It¡¯s savage and dangerous. Do you know one of the things needed to maintain such a position?¡± Something needed, he asked¡­ I cleared my throat before speaking. ¡°Maybe strength? Or connections?¡± ¡°Those are important too, but first you must realize how rotten the world truly is. At least, that was my experience. For centuries, I held the position of the absolute power, and countless others envied my spot.¡± The old man reminisced about his past. ¡°Great organizations that could have unified the world if I hadn¡¯t existed, jealous second-rankers, third-rankers, and even emperors. Of course, Iughed while crushing those losers¡ªsuch is the dignity of the Master of All Techniques. But that requires readiness for ambushes and surprise attacks.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re saying that one of those dangers is poison?¡± ¡°Precisely.¡± The old man nodded. ¡°The Great Blue Heart Technique purifies the body. To reach the legendary state of Absolute Poison Immunity, I began consuming all kinds of poisons.¡± Absolute Poison Immunity was a legendary state where no poison could prate an individual. I didn¡¯t need the old man to tell me what that meant. ¡°When I overcame a hundred poisons, I reached the state of Hundred-Poisons Immunity. After a thousand, I achieved Thousand-Poisons Immunity. Finally, after consuming every poison in my world¡­¡± The old man smiled. The Master of All Techniques was relishing the memory as he relived the hardships and pains it took to reach his level. ¡°I gained immunity to all poisons.¡± ¡°That¡¯s incredible.¡± ¡°So if you see a deadly poison nearby, wee it with open arms. If you encounter a new poison, be joyful rather than fearful.¡± ¡°¡­¡± To an outsider, it might have sounded deranged. But for some reason, his words greatly resonated with me. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder why I found the old man¡¯s encouragement to view poison as a delicacy far more exciting than the caution of my teammates. ¡°Eldrin.¡± ¡ªSwoosh! The high elf, once a member of the Forest Tribe, approached at my call. ¡°You called, master?¡± ¡°From now on, bring anything that looks poisonous too.¡± If poison would be so beneficial to me, then this rainforest was my opportunity. Collecting them here felt faster and more straightforward than outside the dungeon. And who knew, there could even be poisons here that didn¡¯t exist on Earth. ¡°Hmm, I saw a few poisonous-looking mushrooms earlier¡­ But are you sure about this?¡± ¡°Really? Even better.¡± At my reply, the old man chuckled. ¡°Good. It took me years to find poisons, yet you have a subordinate specialized in forestmodities.¡± ¡°Haha¡­¡± I scratched my head, feeling a bit embarrassed. ¡°Well then.¡± The old man pped his hands. ¡°Go on, try that thing you call the death devil. Usually you¡¯d have to learn through trial and error, but you can use the advantage of having a good teacher. I¡¯ll guide you directly.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you! I appreciate it.¡± Not only would I get to eat that tempting mushroom, but I¡¯d also get to skip a torturous massage. This was perfect. I quickly made my way to the spot where I¡¯d found the mushroom. It was dark, but the basic moonlight was enough to guide me, making it easy to find. There it was¡ªa vibrant, colorful mushroom growing in the shadow of a tree. ¡°¡­¡± ¡ªGulp. I swallowed nervously. The ¡°death devil,¡± huh? Capu¡¯s warning came to mind. He mentioned that the moment you ate it, your esophagus would burn and your stomach would rot, right? I couldn¡¯t help feeling tense. It would probably hurt to eat this, wouldn¡¯t it? But¡­ if it¡¯ll make me stronger¡­ I¡¯d endured plenty of pain before. Not to mention, I had a pain resistance skill. And I had Boney 7 on standby to heal me. Plus, I had the reliable Master of All Techniques watching my back. Alright. Let¡¯s eat it. Just pop it in my mouth! Resolving myself, I stuffed the whole mushroom into my mouth. ¡ªCrunch, crunch. Uncooked, it was tough between my teeth. Ugh. The earthy taste and a strange sensation spread over my tongue and down my throat. ¡ªRing! [You have ingested the ¡®Death Devil.¡¯] [You have gained 10 trial points.] [Bonus for poison.] [¡®Death Devil¡¯ is ssified as a Grade-2 poison.] [You have gained an additional 300 trial points.] What the¡­? My eyes widened. An entire day¡¯s worth of eating had only brought me to 320 points, and killing someone would give me 100 points. Yet one poisonous mushroom gave me 300 trial points? This¡­ This challenge is practically made for me. Chapter 94 Chapter 94: The Power of Poison I closed my eyes gently. Having earned a sweet reward of 300 trial points, it was now time to pay the inevitable price. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± My tongue began to swell, and my throat prickled. A burning sensation coursed through me, like drinking extremely high-concentration alcohol. ¡°Hehe. Don¡¯t be so afraid,¡± the old man chuckled. ¡°From what I can tell, this isn¡¯t that strong a poison. In my day, I drank acid strong enough to dissolve metal with a smile on my face.¡± The old man ced his hand on my back. Though he was only a ghost, it felt surprisingly warm. ¡°Now, chant the phrase I taught you.¡± Ki began to stir in my lower abdomen. ¡°Remember, a true technique reveals its power only when you can fully control your mind. Trust in the clear energy of your Heart Technique. Trust it and expel the wild poison within your body.¡± Purging poison was something I¡¯d never done before. Since meeting the old man, I¡¯d never once been poisoned. But¡­ The energy within me felt stable, as if urging me to stop worrying about this small threat and to confront the poison head-on. ¡°Oh?¡± A smile spread across the old man¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯ve practiced diligently, it seems. For a novice, your energy flows smoothly.¡± ¡°Except for when I was eating, sleeping, or training¡­ I never stopped practicing it,¡± I replied, my voice rough with pain. ¡°Is that so? Well, it shows. Although your speed of improvement is nowhere near mine, I can see the trace of your efforts. You¡¯re almost at the point where you don¡¯t even need my help¡­¡± ¡°No, Elder.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Please assist me. I want to move forward as quickly as possible.¡± Gritting my teeth through the pain, I clenched my fists. Trial points¡­ I wasn¡¯t sure exactly what they were, but the more I collected, the better off I¡¯d be. I wanted to gather them as fast as possible. Opportunity knocks, but only once. Eating poison gave me a bonus, and I could purge poison¡ªit felt like an opportunity tailored for me. Furthermore, I recalled the notification from earlier. [Bonus for poison.] [¡®Death Devil¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 2 poison.] [You have gained an additional 300 trial points.] Grade 2 poison, it said. The existence of a grading system meant there were even higher levels of poison. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder just how many bonus points would be rewarded for a higher-grade poison. My heart raced with anticipation. Maybe I was a bit of a masochist. Even though I was in pain, the prospect of gaining a little extra thrilled me. This was why I needed the expertise of the old man who had achieved immunity to all poisons. ¡°Still as impatient as before, I see. Alright, keep at it,¡± he muttered, clucking his tongue, though I sensed pride in his voice. Perhaps my genuine desire to master All Techniques and make it the best in the world reached him. ¡°Pay attention to my movements. I¡¯ll show you the heaven above the heavens.¡± I could feel the old man¡¯s hand touch my back as he guided the energy in my body, showing it where to go. ¡°You mustn¡¯t fight the poison recklessly.¡± The energy that had surged with confidence hesitated for a moment, then began to follow the old man¡¯s guidance. It was a gentle, flowing interaction. I shivered. Wait, but this is my energy¡­ It felt like watching my child ignore me to obey their grandparent instead. My energy fully aligned with the old man¡¯s touch. ¡°Poison is like an intruder in your home. A burr intent on stabbing you and wrecking your house.¡± Before I could realize it, my energy reached my throat, splitting into smaller streams. One by one, these streams softly encased the poison. ¡°If you try to beat the intruder senselessly or use explosions to defeat him, you¡¯ll not only fail to subdue him but also destroy your own house in the process.¡± Ah¡­ I instantly understood what he meant. Don¡¯t fight poison directly and embrace it instead. ¡°Absorb only as much poison as you need and expel the rest. It takes only a tiny amount to build tolerance.¡± ¡ªPshhh¡­ A blue liquid bubbled out from my skin and evaporated into the air. After that, the pain subsided, and the prickling in my throat disappeared. The swollen sensation in my tongue also faded away. It was aplete victory over the death devil. ¡°That was¡­ great!¡± I opened my eyes slowly. Not bad. If this was all it took, I could handle it. My goal now was to achieve Absolute Poison Immunity. Step by step, I¡¯d build myself up just like the old man did and eventually reach his spot. Thinking of it filled me with a strange, thrilling excitement. As darkness receded and the sun began to rise, I was already preparing for the day¡¯s exploration before Olena, James, and Capu woke up. My skeletons had been dispatched far away for another round of gathering. They were a significant part of my strength, but I could always summon them back if needed. Wherever they were, I could call them to me instantly, so I wasn¡¯t too worried. ¡ªYawn¡­ As I was finishing up preparations, Olena rubbed her eyes and let out a small yawn as she stepped out. ¡°Wow, did you really stay up all night by yourself¡­?¡± ¡°No, I got some rest.¡± ¡°Where? I don¡¯t remember seeing youe back to the shelter¡­¡± ¡°Over by the trees. I wouldn¡¯t sleep soundly while my subordinates kept watch.¡± ¡°Impressive¡­¡± She looked at me with admiration. ¡°I feel a bit guilty to have slept sofortably.¡± ¡°Think nothing of it.¡± I smiled and nced up at the corner of my vision. [Current trial points: 630] Ever since trial points appeared, I¡¯d been able to track them in real time. I left the counter visible in the corner of my view. 630 points, huh¡­ In truth, they had no reason to feel guilty because I¡¯d gained plenty in exchange for sleep. However, there¡¯s no need to mention it¡­ I wasn¡¯t sure they could purge poison, and they weren¡¯t exactly allies yet. We hadn¡¯t spent months working together and building trust. We were just a group that had agreed to work together for now. I had to keep cautious. ¡°Hey, Hoon, thanks. Sleeping on the bare ground again is making my body feel sore.¡± Soon after, James emerged as well. ¡°¡­¡± And Capu, with his darkplexion, stretched as he joined us. I smiled at them. ¡°Did everyone sleep well? Since the night passed without incident, let¡¯s use this spot as our base for now.¡± ¡°Hm? You mean to stay here?¡± James looked puzzled. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it make more sense to explore other areas? We need intel on what other hunters are up to, and there could be an exit somewhere.¡± ¡°James has a point,¡± I nodded. He wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°But there¡¯s a reason we can¡¯t leave this spot.¡± ¡°A reason?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s nothing major, but¡­ I sent my skeletons out this morning to gather resources, and for them to find me, I need to stay here.¡± I wanted to avoid resummoning them unless necessary because I couldn¡¯t transport the gathered food through summoning. ¡°Oh, right¡­ That makes sense. So you¡¯re saying we¡¯ll gather trial points here before moving out?¡± James scratched his head, and I grinned. ¡°Yes, but we won¡¯t just sit around and snack. We¡¯ll gradually explore the surroundings and uncover the dungeon¡¯s secrets.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Olena and Capu both nodded. ¡°Until the food arrives, continue your scouting. Stay within range, and call out if anything happens.¡± And so we fell into a routine. Hours passed, and night came again. Sunny and Eldrin brought in more supplies than expected. The expanse ofnd was so vast that each batch yielded new varieties. Thanks to that, my trial points increased exponentially. ¡°Master.¡± When everyone was asleep, Eldrin approached me quietly. ¡°Here¡¯s what we gathered for today.¡± ¡ªThump! A pile of various poisonous mushrooms spilled from her pouch. There were over 40 kinds. ¡°Whoa, that many?¡± ¡°We can probably find even more tomorrow. This area is massive, and the subtle differences in environment make it ideal for a variety of nts.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Each night, I practiced consuming and purging poison. [Bonus for poison.] [¡®Crazy Poison¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [You have gained an additional 500 trial points.] ¡­ [Bonus for poison.] [¡®Dark Angel¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 3 poison.] [You have gained an additional 100 trial points.] The types of poison varied from mild poisons to Grade 1 poisons that reacted instantly. The point system seemed to work roughly as follows: [Regr food: 10 points] [Mild poison: 50 points] [Grade 3 poison: 100 points] [Grade 2 poison: 300 points] [Grade 1 poison: 500 points] Thanks to this, I could rack up points at a staggering, exponential rate. Another day passed. And then another. Continuously we ate and explored, and every night, I consumed more poison. I was a predator¡ªa true devourer of points. After about a week of this, I couldn¡¯t help but marvel at my status screen. ¡°Ah, wow¡­¡± [Current trial points: 24,630] It was an unbelievable number, considering that my teammates, who had eaten everything fromrvae to termites and other revolting creatures, only had an average of about 2,560 points each. Insane¡­ That was the power of poison. But still¡­ Stacking points was great and all, yet I still didn¡¯t know the true purpose of this dungeon nor how we were supposed toplete it. Maybe¡­ I should start moving. One night, just as Eldrin brought in another batch of poison for me¡­ ¡°Hold on,d.¡± The old man looked at me with a serious expression. I froze. I ced the poison down and looked back at him. ¡°Shh! Don¡¯t react. Just stay still and listen.¡± The old man put his finger to his lips¡ªa signal not to respond and to y it cool. My eyes widened, and I stiffened. Then the old man spoke, ¡°Someone nearby is watching you. They¡¯re skilled enough that your current Great Blue Heart Technique would never detect their presence.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± I felt goosebumps prickle along my arms. No signs, no hints¡ªyet someone was watching me. Who in the world could it be? Chapter 95 Chapter 95: The Mysterious Presence ¡°This ce¡­ Now that I think about it, it¡¯s certainly a peculiar space¡­¡± I silently listened to the old man¡¯s words, letting the cool night air brush across my face. So here in this ¡°ordinary¡± space, someone was watching me. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much,d. That presence¡ªwhoever it is¡ªseems more curious about you than hostile.¡± Is that so? But it¡¯s still unsettling¡­ ¡°Hehe, if it had hostile intentions, your skinny neck would have been cut by now.¡± I swallowed, a chill running down my spine. What should I do then? ¡°What else do you think? Just go about your business. Whoever¡¯s watching you is beyond your control anyway. There¡¯s no use preparing for what you can¡¯t avoid.¡± The old man¡¯s figure, hands behind his back, looked remarkably at ease. This old geezer¡­ Today, he seemed especially annoying. But he had a point. If not for him, I wouldn¡¯t have even known I was being watched. I decided to rx. After all, as he said, there was nothing I could do about it. Anyway¡­ I tilted my head slightly. What did you mean by saying this space is peculiar? He had mentioned offhand that this was a peculiar space. ¡°Remember you said that someone artificially constructed this space?¡± Yes. This was a dungeon created by Delh, the Dungeon Maker¡ªjust as her alias suggested. ¡°Hmph. Compressing space endlessly to escape the effects of gravity¡­ A clever way to gain control over time, indeed.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± I tilted my head even more, utterly perplexed. What are you talking about? I couldn¡¯t understand what he was saying. ¡°Haah. Anyone with half a brain would understand by now¡­ Talking to a non-genius is such a chore.¡± The old man sighed, stroking his beard with feigned exasperation. If you know I don¡¯t understand, then just exin it simply. Don¡¯t tease me. The old man continued after myint, ¡°This dungeon, this space we¡¯re standing in, is subject to less gravitational force than your world.¡± Less gravity? ¡°Yes. By shrinking down this world and its inhabitants, she made gravity rtively weaker here.¡± So? I still didn¡¯t get it. ¡°Tsk. You still don¡¯t get it?¡± Does that mean shrinking gives you control over time? ¡°If you don¡¯t understand, just say so.¡± Okay, I have absolutely no idea what you¡¯re talking about. ¡°Hmm. Really?¡± His grin grew wider as if he were truly enjoying himself. Ah, I think I understood now. The old man was having fun exining this to me. After watching me progress independently, he was pleased to have something to teach again. ¡°Do you know how many times a dragonfly ps its wings in a second?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± A dragonfly? I wasn¡¯t sure¡­ Maybe 20 or 30 times? ¡°It depends on the species and size, but they can p anywhere from 30 to 100 times per second. Do you know why they¡¯re faster than humans?¡± After a moment of thought, I answered. Because they¡¯re smaller? If time flows differently based on size, then smaller beings might move faster thanrger ones. I remembered seeing something like that in old cartoons. Giants moved in slow motion, almost as if time was slowed down for them. If theirrge size was truly the reason¡­ Ah. The old man was talking about rtive time. ¡°Hehe, looks like you finally got it.¡± He nodded, pleased. ¡°The dragonfly was only just pping its wings normally, a couple of times per second in its own time. But that¡¯s not the same as our time.¡± So a dragonfly¡¯s second is much slower than ours? ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s the principle.¡± ording to the old man, time here flowed more slowly than it did on Earth. We could spend months in this dungeon, and perhaps only a day would pass outside. I recalled the sci-fi movie Interster. In the movie, while spending just a short time on a close to a ck hole, over 50 years had passed on Earth. The stronger the gravity, the faster time flowed. So then it would make sense that time would flow more slowly with weaker gravity. Wow, thinking about it this way, it was definitely a fascinating concept. But why? Why had Delh created this time-slowed dungeon? It was as if she were trying to save time, eager to elerate the growth of hunters. ¡°¡­¡± Did she feelpelled to raise hunters quickly, as if it were some sort of mission? Wait¡­ A thought struck me. The one watching me, their identity¡­ It couldn¡¯t have been one of the participants. If they¡¯d bypassed Eldrin¡¯s rm traps, they had to be more powerful¡ªat least a ranker. Could it be¡­ I remembered what Lucas, the Arcane Swordsman, had said. ¡°Let me introduce myself first. I am Lucas, and I have been appointed as the chief judge for this trial. Also known as the Arcane Swordsman, I am ranked 25th in the world.¡± He clearly called himself the ¡°chief judge¡± of this exam. That indicated the possibility of there being other judges as well. Elder¡­ I called out silently. ¡°Yes? What is it,d?¡± About the one watching me¡­ ¡°Oh, that guy?¡± Yes, that guy. Where is that person now? ¡°That person¡¯s still right next to you, tilting their head curiously.¡± Where exactly beside me? I asked as I got up from my seat and closed my eyes. If that person is truly a judge¡­ There would be no disadvantage for me even if I found them because their purpose wasn¡¯t to harm me but to judge. ¡°Hm, turn about 55 degrees to the left and take three steps ahead of you.¡± Thank you, Elder. ¡ªVwoom! I activated my Grand Blue Heart Technique as I walked in the direction that the old man guided me. ¡°Phew, I love the night air,¡± I mumbled as if I came out for a night walk. Is this the ce? ¡°Yes. That person¡¯s watching you silently on your right. Impressive, really¡ªacting like they¡¯re sure they won¡¯t be detected.¡± Are you certain? You¡¯re not teasing me? ¡°Who else are you going to trust if you can¡¯t trust your own teacher?¡± Alright. I sent a silent signal to Eldrin to unleash a rapidfire shot toward the spot the elder had indicated. There was no time to hesitate; hesitation would only give them away. ¡ªSwish, swish! As Eldrin¡¯s arrows shot through the air¡­ ¡ªBoom! Sunny alsounched his skill Sr Strike at the spot. Nice! And at that moment, I gathered all my strength for a decisive blow aimed at my right side¡ª ¡°Eek!¡± A startled, youthful female voice rang out. ¡ªThud! The figure of a female ranker appeared, her face twisted in shock. ¡°Wh-What was that just now? How did you know I was here?¡± she shouted, bewildered. ¡°Heh.¡± I let out a dryugh. ¡°Before anything else, shouldn¡¯t you be telling me who you are?¡± After a week in this ce, I¡¯d finally tracked down a judge for the first time. In a mysterious, circr hall filled with hundreds of holographic screens, hunters were disyed, their movements being carefully monitored. ¡°¡­¡± At the center of the vast hall stood a figure cloaked in silence, shrouded in a hood that gave her an almost holy aura. Her name was Delh¡ªthe Mirage of the World. ¡ªSwish! Another figure approached her from behind, a tall, muscr man. It was Lucas, the Red-eyed Arcane Swordsman. ¡°Lady Delh.¡± ¡°Ah, Lucas. You¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°One of the judges has already been discovered.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, I just saw.¡± ¡ªSwish! She raised her hand, pointing to a particr hologram. Joo Donghoon and a young girl appeared on it. ¡°¡­It¡¯s Thundercry.¡± Floa the Thundercry was a German ranker, holding the 84th spot in the world rankings. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense. How could an unranked participant detect a judge¡­?¡± Lucas muttered in disbelief. Not just any judge could serve in Delh¡¯s Trial. To be a judge here, one had to be at least within the top 100¡ªa true ranker at a different caliber. ¡°Look closely. Joo Donghoon¡¯s trial points have already surpassed 20,000.¡± ¡°¡­In just one week?¡± Lucas couldn¡¯t close his mouth in shock. ¡°Yes, this neer seems quite promising.¡± Delh¡¯s smile was soft, as though she were genuinely pleased. ¡°Is that really okay? The previous top scorer only reached 10,000 points in a month¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s no harm in it.¡± She blinked calmly. ¡°I merely provide the dungeon. Participants are free to use whatever means they wish to earn rewards. It¡®s more beneficial for us if the participants are highly skilled and earn higher rewards.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lucas nodded in silence. He was one of the recipients of Delh¡¯s trials himself, so he knew well that Delh despised intervening in her dungeons. The dungeon¡¯s difficulty was rtive; the harder it was, the more the participants aplished, and the more significant the rewards it generated. Her only involvement was ensuring the dungeon¡¯s challenging design. Lucas nodded. Each year, her trials birthed new rankers because she continually made her dungeons harder¡ªno more, no less. ¡°Are you worried that this neer will surpass you in rank?¡± ¡°N-No, that¡¯s not the case.¡± Lucas shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m just here to receive my chief judge¡¯s reward. I have no other ambitions. But I¡¯m just concerned¡­¡± ¡°About the gap widening between participants?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m worried that Thundercry made a mistake¡­¡± ¡°Surely you know that¡¯s unnecessary.¡± ¡°True¡­¡± Delh had ced strict limitations on the judges. They could harass participants, but they could never aid them. Any attempt to help would immediately strip them of their role. ¡°But still¡­ The judges weren¡¯t supposed to appear for another month. That¡¯s when the purpose of the trial points will be revealed¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lucas.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing that¡¯s ¡®supposed to happen¡¯ in this world. Remember, we¡¯re just observers. Joo Donghoon finding Floa was entirely his own doing¡ªwhether by luck or skill. You need only focus on your role as a judge. Understood?¡± ¡°¡­Understood, mydy.¡± With a respectful bow, Lucas¡¯s figure flickered, and he vanished as swiftly as he¡¯d appeared. Chapter 96 Chapter 96: Floa the Thundercry There was an old saying in Korean that went, ¡°Scolding someone who is about to scold you.¡± In other words, the other person says the words that you were about to say before you do. That was exactly my situation right now. ¡°Haah. Damn it. Damn it all.¡± The young girl, sitting up after falling on her bottom, sighed deeply and continuously. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder why she was throwing a tantrum after being rude by secretly watching me. ¡°This makes no sense. This can¡¯t be happening. Me¡­ the Thundercry, being detected by a mere participant? How does that even make sense?¡± Well, I got it. She probably walked around thinking she was untouchable. The shock must have been significant when someone she thought was below her level saw through her. Of course, it might have been different if she knew I had the Master of All Techniques, a literal cheat code, by my side. Then again, maybe not? I didn¡¯t know. Sometimes when I looked at the old man, I thought to myself, ¡°If the old man in his prime were let loose in this world, what rank would he achieve?¡± Definitely top 20, without a doubt. As a hunter, I had a gut feeling about these things. If Ipared Jang Daewoong to the old man, I¡¯d give the old man the edge any day. But still¡­ Even I couldn¡¯t guarantee anything beyond that. ording to Jang Daewoong, the gap between rankers was immense¡­ Who knew what would happen until they met each other? ¡°Haah, fuck¡­ I was clearly scattered in elemental form. Hey! You!¡± ¡°¡­?¡± The girl suddenly stood up and pointed her finger at me. ¡°Answer me now! How the hell did you find me? This technique is almost impossible to detect, even for another ranker.¡± ¡°Not sure,¡± I smirked and responded informally. There was no reason to be polite to someone who had no manners, ranker or not. Of course¡­ Being a foreigner, she probably wouldn¡¯t care much about that anyway. ¡°As I said earlier, why were you watching me? And who exactly are you? I need answers first.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Grinding her teeth in frustration, the pale-skinned girl red at me. ¡°Fine, rules are rules. I¡¯ll exin.¡± ¡ªBzzzzt! At that moment, electricity sparked around her body. Like watching P*kachu¡¯s Thunderbolt, the sparks crackled menacingly then exploded with a loud noise. And her form, which had disappeared, reappeared in midair. It was an impressive teleportation technique. ¡°I am Rank 84, Floa the Thundercry, and I¡¯m one of the judges. Surely you¡¯ve heard of me, hm?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± I was slightly surprised. Floa the Thundercry. There was no way I wouldn¡¯t know such a high-profile ranker. When it came to rankers, my brain was practically an encyclopedia. The information about her shed through my mind. [Rank 84, Floa the Thundercry.] ¨C 23 years old, female. ¨C From Germany. ¨C A ranker who controls lightning as her unique ability. ¨C In terms of destructive power, she surpasses even higher-ranked individuals, but her weak endurance is a drawback. ¨C As her ability involves elemental control, she counters and gets countered a lot. ¡°Whew, anyway, I¡¯ve revealed myself, so tell me now. How did you find me?¡± ¡°You just¡­ showed up.¡± ¡°What?¡± Unable to reveal that the old man tipped me off, I answered her nonchntly, ¡°I just saw a glimpse, got startled, and attacked instinctively.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s ridiculous. You¡¯re saying it was just luck?¡± The girl¡¯s shoulders slumped in disbelief. ¡°And I have to get penalized for some bad luck¡­?¡± Oh? At that moment, I could make another guess. It seemed that when these judges, or rankers, were discovered by participants, they received a type of penalty. That exined her heavy sighs and gloomy face earlier. ¡°Anyway.¡± She shook her head. ¡°I gotta do what I gotta do. ording to the rules set by Lady Delh, anyone who discovers a judge gets a reward.¡± ¡°A reward?¡± ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t call it much of a reward. It¡¯s a simple perk, really. Normally, the trial points shop opens a month from now.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Trial points shop? Ah, so that¡¯s where the trial points will be spent. ¡°You just get to preview the items there and make a one-time purchase in advance. Still, consider it an honor.¡± ¡°An honor? Why?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the first ever to discover a judge within the first week.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Shouldn¡¯t you be embarrassed about it rather than me being proud of it? That thought almost slipped out, but I held back. She was a double-digit ranker, so provoking her wouldn¡¯t be good for my future. ¡°Well then.¡± Floa pped her hands in the air. ¡°Staying here isn¡¯t doing either of us any good. Let¡¯s just get this over with.¡± ¡ªShwooosh! A message popped up in the air. ¡ªRing! [Judge ¡®Floa¡¯ has opened the ¡®Shop.¡¯] [The currency for this shop is ¡®Trial Points.¡¯] [Each item is limited to one per person.] [List ¨C 10/10] [1. Grade A Antidote ¨C 1,000 points] [2. Grade S Antidote ¨C 3,000 points] [3. Theme 1 Pass Ticket ¨C 5,000 points] [4. Theme 1 Information ¨C 10,000 points] [5. Theme 2 Information ¨C 10,000 points] [6. Elixir ¨C 10,000 points] [7. Grade A Random Box ¨C 10,000 points] [8. Grade S Random Box ¨C 30,000 points] [9. Root of the World Tree ¨C 50,000 points] [10. Wish-Granting Scroll ¨C 100,000 points] ¡°¡­?¡± My eyes widened as I read through the list. What is all this? And why is everything so expensive? ¡°Go ahead, take a look.¡± Floa shrugged her shoulders as she looked at me with a tired expression. ¡°You probably haven¡¯t umted much in just a week, but if you can afford a few antidotes, buy them. I saw you chugging poisonous mushrooms earlier.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I didn¡¯t bother responding. Instead, I just stared at the shop list, contemting. I had a total of 24,630 trial points, which was still a decent amount to work with. ¡°What¡¯s this Theme 1 Pass Ticket¡­? What does it do?¡± I muttered as I read through the list, looking at item number 3. Floa nodded. ¡°Exactly what it sounds like. For 5,000 points, you can pass immediately and proceed to Theme 2. Honestly, it¡¯s not a bad option. It¡¯s better than sticking around here and dying by some random de. It¡¯s a guaranteed pass.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm, not really appealing to me.¡± I had my reasons. This ce was a paradise for poisons. I intended to stay here and consume every poison I could find. Besides¡­ Now that I knew these kinds of items existed in the shop, I had to buy everything, didn¡¯t I? The Root of the World Tree and the Wish-Granting Scroll. Combined, they cost a staggering 150,000 points. It sparked my curiosity. There must have been a reason for their hefty price tags. ¡°I¡¯ll buy the information first.¡± ¡°Huh, information?¡± Floa¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°Information costs 10,000 points. Have you already umted that much?¡± It seemed that the judge didn¡¯t know how many points I had. ¡°Chugging poisonous mushrooms all day must¡¯ve really paid off¡­ Wow, 10,000 points in a week? That¡¯s a record-breaker,¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°So are you buying information for Theme 1 Information or Theme 2? Spending 10,000 points on Theme 1 seems like a waste, don¡¯t you think? For 5,000, you could just pass. If I were you, I¡¯d just buy the pass ticket!¡± ¡°No need because I¡¯ll buy both.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The importance of information could not be overstated. Since I¡¯d decided to buy all the items in this shop, it didn¡¯t matter whether it was Theme 1 or Theme 2. ¡°Did I hear you wrong? What did you just say?¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m buying both.¡± I pointed to items 4 and 5 with my finger. [4. Theme 1 Information ¨C 10,000 points] [5. Theme 2 Information ¨C 10,000 points] Both items gleamed. ¡°Wha¡­ Do you really have enough points to buy these? F-For real?¡± Floa¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°You¡¯ve umted over 20,000 points? In just a week?¡± ¡°¡­¡± I didn¡¯t bother replying. I just waited for her to process the transaction. And soon after, two envelopes appeared in my palm. [Purchasing ¡®Theme 1 Information¡¯ (S-rank).] [Purchasing ¡®Theme 2 Information¡¯ (S-rank).] [Spending 20,000 points.] [Remaining trial points: 4,630.] The ck paper with red seals was an elegant, vintage design. ¡°Wow, this is insane. This is absolutely insane. How did a non-ranker even do something like this?¡± Floa seemed extremely curious, but¡­ ¡ªBzzzzt! She soon disappeared, likely due to some rule I wasn¡¯t aware of. ¡°Hmm, ever since I started tagging along with you, life has been full of surprises. It¡¯s never boring. Well, are you going to open them now?¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯m opening them right away.¡± Smirking, I walked to a corner of the woods. ¡ªVwoom! At the same time, I summoned ki with the Great Blue Heart Technique into my palm. When ki is concentrated and burned, it produces a faint light. I used it to illuminate the writing on the envelopes. ¡°Since I got this information thanks to you, we should look at it together.¡± ¡°Indeed, let¡¯s open them quickly. You only have ten minutes left before my summoning ends, boy.¡± The old man seemed just as curious, urging me to hurry. He was adorable. ¡ªRip! I first tore open the Theme 1 information envelope. [Opening ¡®Theme 1 Information¡¯ (S-rank).] The envelope contained a single sheet of paper with the information densely written on it. #1. On the 30th day after the trial begins, a ¡®Poison Mist¡¯ will appear in the central area. ¨C The poison mist is a monstrous fog containing the essence of all poisons in this area. ¨C Participants must survive for a week after its appearance. #2. There are three ways for participants to pass: ¨C Purchase a ¡®Theme 1 Pass Ticket¡¯ through shops scattered across the area. ¨C Survive for one week after the appearance of the poison mist. ¨C Kill all other participants and be thest one standing. #3. Shops appear 30 days after the trial begins. ¨C The currency used in shops is trial points, and participants must gather various foods to earn these points. PS: For poison, there is a poison bonus. #4. There is a special perk. ¨C Participants can locate the judges who are observing them from a distance. ¨C If found, the participant can ess the shop early. #5. There are two ways to obtain this information: ¨C Purchase it with trial points through discovering a judge. ¨C Find the information tickets hidden by judges across the area. I clicked my tongue. ¡°So I didn¡¯t really need to buy this, did I? It seems like the judges have scattered these tickets everywhere.¡± ¡°Think of it positively. The value of information depends greatly on when you obtain it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± I nodded in agreement. Thanks to this, I had a better grasp of Theme 1. ¡°So I just need to avoid this poison mist¡­?¡± ¡°Hehe, poison mist, you say¡­¡± The old man and I locked eyes. From his expression, I could read a certain thought: What a windfall this is. ¡°No matter how much I think about it, your talent doesn¡¯t seem to be effort or skill.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°Your true ability is luck, I say. Look around. All the poison and energy in this ce is practically begging for you to consume it. Isn¡¯t that a wonderful thing? Ah, if I had such luck back in my day, I could have challenged higher levels far more quickly.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Come now, get on your knees in front of that De-whoever. Pay your deepest respects to her.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re telling me to enter the poison mist?¡± ¡°You must. Haven¡¯t I told you before? When you encounter poison, you should smile.¡± Somehow, I had a strong feeling that this poison mist wasn¡¯t going to be an ordinary poison. Well, I¡¯d think about thatter. I turned my gaze toward the second envelope next to me¡ªthe information ticket for Theme 2. Naturally, I should take a look at that in advance as well. Chapter 97 Chapter 97: A Madman Recognizes a Madman ¡ªRiiip! I boldly ripped open the second envelope. [Opening the ¡®Theme 2 Information¡¯ (S-rank).] ¡ªThump thump. Along with a flutter of excitement, I pulled out a ck sheet of paper from the envelope. The amount of text written was simr to the Theme 1 information ticket. However¡­ [This is a region where information cannot yet be confirmed.] [Only partial information is revealed.] The content wasn¡¯t asplete as I had hoped. The old man clicked his tongue. ¡°Tsk, tsk. The one who made this dungeon must be just as twisted as you are. Selling this for 10,000 points without showing it all?¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± I furrowed my brow as well because hieroglyphic symbols obscured some of the information. #1 and #2 were straightforward. The parts below, however, were a dizzying mess. #1. Once Theme 2 begins, team selection starts. ¨C There will be a total of three teams. The first, second, and third ranks from the previous theme will each select their team members. ¨C Each team can have up to 10 members. ¨C This means that if the maximum number is reached, the remaining unselected participants will be eliminated. #2. The selected team members must work together to find the ¡®National Treasure¡¯ hidden within a giant castle. ¨C The team that finds the National Treasure first wins, while the teams that fail will be eliminated. #3. ¡õ¡õ appears ¡ö¡ö¡ö after ¡õ¡õ¡õ ¡ö¡õ¡õ. The ¡õ¡õ of ¡õ¡õ¡õ is ¡õ¡õ¡õ¡õ¡õ¡õ as ¡õ¡õ ¡ö¡ö¡õ, and ¡õ¡õ¡õ ¡ö¡ö various ¡õ¡õ¡õ of ¡õ¡õ to ¡õ¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡ö ¡õ¡õ¡õ. PS. Each ¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ¡õ¡õ¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ¡õ. 4. There is a ¡õ¡õ ¡ö¡ö¡õ feature. Participants ¡õ¡õ ¡ö¡ö¡õ the ¡õ¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ¡õ from a ¡õ¡õ¡õstance. If found, the participant ¡õ¡õ¡ö ¡õ¡õ¡ö¡ö¡õ the ¡õ¡õ¡ö¡ö¡õ early. #5. There are two ¡ö¡ö¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ¡õ ¡õ ¡ö¡ö¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ¡ö ¡õ¡õ¡õ¡ö ¡õ¡ö: ¨C Purchase it with ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö through ¡ö¡ö¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ¡õ ¡ö¡ö. ¨C Find the ¡ö¡ö¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ¡õ hidden ¡ö¡ö¡õ¡õ ¡ö¡õ¡õ ¡õ¡õ¡õ the area. ¡°Good grief, what a heartless bunch. How are we supposed to make sense of this? Thinking about it makes me furious. How dare they trick my disciple like this?¡± the old man snapped irritably. Whether he was angry on my behalf or just curious about the content wasn¡¯t clear, but either way¡­ ¡°Well, at least the critical parts are intact. I think I understand why they¡¯re doing this too.¡± ¡°Huh? You understand this gibberish?¡± ¡°Yes, look here.¡± I pointed to #4 and #5 on the ck sheet. The old man¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What¡¯s there to see?¡± ¡°Hmph, you always tease me about not being a genius. It seems like you¡¯re on the same level as me, Elder.¡± ¡°What nonsense! Let me see that, you rascal.¡± ¡ªSwish! The old man leaned his face toward the paper. Since he couldn¡¯t physically interact with it, that was his only option. I smiled and held if out for easier viewing. ¡°Hm, hm¡­? What is this? It¡¯s just a bunch of strange symbols.¡± ¡°Compare it with the Theme 1 information.¡± I slid the two sheets side by side. #4. There is a special perk. ¨C Participants can locate the judges who are observing them from a distance. ¨C If found, the participant can ess the shop early. #5. There are two ways to obtain this information: ¨C Purchase it with trial points through a discovered judge. ¨C Find the information tickets hidden by the judges across the area. I exined, ¡°See? The spacing and text count for #4 and #5 are identical to the Theme 1 ticket. If you look closely, it¡¯s the same content.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The old man blinked. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re right! Well, look at you!¡± He gazed at me with amazement. Then he eximed, ¡°Aha! As expected! You¡¯re gradually bingplete, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m talking about my Grand Technique of the Celestial Artisan! A technique that elevates even mediocre individuals above genius. Hahaha, my disciple is bing a genius. How admirable.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I nced at the grinning old man with a sideways look. It seemed he felt embarrassed that I noticed something he hadn¡¯t. Honestly¡­ This wasn¡¯t about genius; it was just about attention to detail. Anyway, what I discovered was simple. #4 and #5 on the Theme 1 Information and the Theme 2 Information were identical! ¡°Perhaps the judges scattered Theme 2 tickets around as well. That¡¯s why they hid the ovepping information in #4 and #5, to prevent anyone from gaining an advantage by finding only the Theme 2 ticket.¡± ¡°Well, that makes sense, I suppose. Though I don¡¯t get why they¡¯d go to such lengths.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± I looked back at the paper. Now, except for the content of #3, everything was decipherable. I carefully summarized the keywords. ¡°Hmm, Theme 2 revolves around teamwork. Participants with high ranks in Theme 1 will choose team members¡­¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll definitely have to rank in the top three. Well, I¡¯d say the first ce is a given for you.¡± The old man nodded contentedly. ¡°Team members will work together to find something called a National Treasure. This is¡­ quite something.¡± The moment I read the hints for Theme 2, I immediately grasped the intention of the dungeon creator, Delh. ¡°What¡¯s so impressive? Teamwork?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not that.¡± ¡°Then?¡± ¡°If you look closely¡­ those who killed others and acted selfishly in Theme 1 are bound to be at a disadvantage in Theme 2.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Theme 2 demanded cooperation, which required participants to unite to clear it. So what did that imply? ¡°Delh is sending a message. That morality is also a virtue of the strong, so those with poor morals will fail her trials.¡± Moreover, it was stated that unselected participants would be eliminated. This not only filtered out those with bad character but also weeded out ipetent individuals who survived through sheer luck. ¡°¡­Heh, this is amusing. Very amusing.¡± The old man chuckled like a child. ¡°This ce is wonderful. So much more thrilling than the world I lived in! How do you n to proceed?¡± ¡°Hmm, I¡¯ll need to think about it.¡± ¡°Tsk, it¡¯s a pity I can¡¯t keep watching this. These summoning sessions feel so shorttely. Already ten minutes have passed!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call you again, Elder.¡± With a swish, the old man disappeared, leaving silence in its wake. I closed my eyes. It was still night. There was plenty of time before dawn. I had to make decisions on what to do with this information and how to proceed from here on. The next morning¡­ ¡°Olena, James, and Capu,¡± I called out to my party with a serious expression. ¡°Yes, did you call?¡± ¡°Ngh, you called us?¡± ¡°Hmm, another expedition today? Hopefully, we¡¯ll gain something this time.¡± Mypanions, with tangled hair and rough skin from a week of camping, shuffled toward me. Having spent a week together, we had grown somewhat ustomed to one another. I showed them the Theme 1 Information I purchased yesterday. ¡°Will you take a look at this?¡± That was right. I decided to share the information with them. Theme 2 is all about cooperation anyway. Although we might have beenpetitors now, drawing too firm a line might harm meter. However, I wasn¡¯t nning to reveal everything¡ªonly the information about Theme 1. ¡°Hoon, what¡¯s this?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± The three foreigners crowded around and examined the sheet. Their eyes widened in no time. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± ¡°Poison mist? Judges? Shop? Poison bonus?¡± They looked at me with confused expressions. ¡°While scoutingst night, my subordinates found it.¡± I didn¡¯t mention buying it from the shop. It was a little white lie. Revealing that I¡¯d been lying to them might only create resentment. ¡°¡­How did you get this? If it¡¯s true, this is huge.¡± ¡°It says the poison mist will spread in the central area in a month. And we¡¯re supposed to survive it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Olena shook her head. James looked shocked as he stared at me. Capu seemed lost in thought with his eyes closed. ¡°The poison mist will likely be a significant threat to all of us.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The information doesn¡¯t say anything about neutralizing the poison mist. It only says we must avoid it and survive.¡± Capu nodded at my words. ¡°If it emerges in the central area, then we should move as far away from the center as possible to ensure our survival from now on.¡± ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t we start moving immediately?¡± James chimed in after ncing at Capu. ¡°Judging from this, the poison mist would start with the closest prey if it has intelligence. The further away we are, the better. Ah, so this trial favors those with early ess to information.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± I nodded. ¡°But.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I won¡¯t run away.¡± ¡°What?¡± Olena blinked in surprise. ¡°So you¡¯re staying here?¡± ¡°No. The poison mist is described as a monster. This means it¡¯s likely a creature that can be defeated rather than a natural disaster.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me¡­¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m heading to the center.¡± ¡°R-Really?¡± ¡°What? But why?¡± ¡°Hoon, I¡¯d suggest you reconsider.¡± The party tried to dissuade me, but my decision was already made. There was only one reason for revealing this information: to tell them to stay as far away from the center as possible and to survive so they could assist me in the next theme. ¡°Please survive by escaping as far as you can. Of course, if you choose to follow me, I¡¯ll respect that decision. The choice is yours.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Still, I strongly rmend staying far away¡­¡± ¡°Mhm, how can we just leave you behind, Hoon¡­?¡± Olena hesitated, but I shook my head. ¡°Actually, I have some resistance to poison. I¡¯m also confident in myself.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± There was a brief silence. James was the first to speak up. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll leave this ce as soon as I can. You know, you should let people act ording to their choices in this kind of situation.¡± ¡°¡­I also think moving away from the center is the better option,¡± Capu agreed with James. ¡°Alright. Capu, let¡¯s get moving.¡± As they hastily prepared, Olena looked me in the eyes as if asking if I was truly okay. I smiled and nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s survive and meet again.¡± Approximately three weeks remained until the appearance of the poison mist. Once separated from mypanions, I could finally be alone again for the first time in a week. * * * On the weekend, in a pub located underground in the Gangnam District, five hunters gathered in a VIP room. ¡°Gahaha. I¡¯m sure that kid is doing well right now.¡± Each emanated an aura of undeniable strength. They were none other than the Five Stars of Seoul¡ªthe emerging rankers who ruled Seoul, South Korea. ¡°Heh, I wonder what he¡¯s up to now? Theme 1? Theme 2?¡± When Jang Daewoong mmed his beer down, the Fine Bow shook his head. ¡°Berserker. The flow of time in that ce is different from reality. No one knows what he¡¯s doing now. If anyone does, it¡¯s Delh.¡± ¡°True, true. Man, that was fun back then. Do you all remember? Haha.¡± ¡°Fun? What fun?¡± ¡ªChomp, chomp. The White Swine grumbled as he devoured food nearby. ¡°Do you not remember how much we suffered during Theme 1?¡± ¡°Right! We almost died because of Berserker, didn¡¯t we?¡± Lee Sunah responded with a sly grin, prompting Jang Daewoong tough even louder. ¡°Haha! How can a man flee in the face of a monster?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Fine Bow let out a shallow sigh. At the time of the poison mist¡¯s release, Jang Daewoong charged in, iming he would deal with it himself, and the four others had to knock him out to escape. Had they been slightly slower, they might all have been six feet under instead of in this room. ¡°Madman, for goodness¡¯ sake¡­ Learn to restrain yourself.¡± ¡°Kahaha. Regardless, I¡¯m excited about my little brother. Maybe he¡¯ll finish what I couldn¡¯t, unlike you cowards who ran away.¡± ¡°¡­You lunatic.¡± At that moment, Gi Soyul red at him, sipping beer nearby. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Please stop saying such eerie things. Your words mighte true.¡± ¡°Exactly! Skeleton King is a smart man! There¡¯s no way he¡¯d do something as crazy as Berserker,¡± Lee Sunah joined in with augh. ¡°Who knows?¡± Jang Daewoong smirked meaningfully. He thought to himself, The kid¡¯s just as crazy as I am. A madman recognizes a madman¡ªsuch was the Berserker¡¯s belief. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 98 Chapter 98: Get a Load of These Guys ¡ªCrunch, crunch. ¡ªPtooey! I spat out the remains of a dead scorpion after sucking out its venom, leaning back against a tree. Around mey the scattered remains of various poisons I¡¯d spat out without care. [Bonus for poison.] [¡®Venom nd of the Deadly Scorpion¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [You have gained an additional 500 trial points.] ¡°Nice!¡± I shouted without realizing it. Lately, I¡¯vee to deeply understand the Elder¡¯s words that encountering stronger poison is exciting. Especially Grade 1 poison¡ªit was incredibly rare. It felt like I was only finding one after encountering 20 Grade 2 poisons. ¡°Ughhh.¡± As expected of Grade 1 poison, my tongue felt numb and burned. Not just my tongue¡ªevery nerve in my body seemed to be begging me to stop. Sorry, body. Just hang in there. The pain now would make me stronger and more resilientter. There was the saying, ¡°What doesn¡¯t kill you makes you stronger.¡± ¡ªVwoom! I activated the Great Blue Heart Technique, gently enveloping the invading poison. Following the pathways inside my body the Elder had taught me, I could now handle up to two instances of Grade 1 poison at once. ¡°Phew.¡± After some time had passed, the poisonous energy gathered at my fingertips. ¡ªDrip! A green droplet formed and fell. After about two weeks in this ce, I could now even control where the poison discharged. I¡¯ve really consumed a ridiculous amount. Separated from mypanions, I roamed the central area for a week, collecting and consuming poisons. And here was the result: [Skill: Hundred Poisons Immunity] [Rank: B] [Effect 1: Resistance to 100 types of poisons.] [Effect 2: Complete immunity to poisons below a certain level.] I acquired a skill called Hundred Poisons Immunity, and¡­ [Current trial points: 51,300] I umted a significant number of trial points. Of course, I was still far from being able to afford everything in the shop. But I wasn¡¯t satisfied yet. I was still hungry. ¡°Take it easy,d.¡± While circting my energy, the old man scolded me from behind. I¡¯d told him I nned to focus solely on building poison resistance for now. Then he asked to be summoned during the day, not at night, because he wanted to watch. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be eating proper meals, just consuming poison. Are you even sleeping?¡± ¡°¡­Sleep? I make sure to get two hours every day. And I do eat, look over there.¡± I pointed to a pile of mushroom scraps. ¡°Eh? Don¡¯t tell me you mean that?¡± The elder looked at me in disbelief. ¡°How do you call that a meal? It¡¯s just scraps of mushrooms. What if you get malnourished? You need strength to expel poison, you see.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no time,¡± I said softly. ¡°To face that poison fog or whatever it is, I need to achieve Thousand Poisons Immunity, but I¡¯m still only at Hundred Poisons Immunity.¡± ¡°Hah! Look at this kid!¡± What? Huh? ¡°Thousand Poisons Immunity or Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity cannot be achieved overnight. Back in my day, it took me nearly a year of scouring mountains to achieve Thousand Poisons Immunity!¡± ¡°That¡¯s because there weren¡¯t many poisons in your world.¡± Despite the old man¡¯s words, I continued chewing on poisonous mushrooms. Beside the tree I was leaning on, dozens of types of mushrooms were neatly lined up, gathered by Eldrin. There were still plenty of poisons to consume. And with Eldrin¡¯s abilities, the supply of poisons was endless. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t tell me.¡± Iughed. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly be jealous of your disciple finding such a treasure trove of poisons!¡± ¡°You little brat!¡± [Bonus for poison.] [¡®White Spiked Toadstool¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [You have gained an additional 100 trial points.] Tsk. Only Grade 3 this time. At this point, Grade 3 poison barely registered. It wasn¡¯t painful; it felt more like a refreshing massage. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m jealous. Damn, how does everything go your way wherever you go? If I were you, I might have reached the pinnacle of the All Techniques already, maybe even beyond that.¡± ¡°¡­Wait, there¡¯s a level beyond yourself?¡± ¡°Heh,¡± the Elder chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± ¡°Know what?¡± ¡°That the end of something is always a beginning.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± I recalled my first meeting with the old man¡ªhe toyed with Gi Soyul, a ranker, as if she were a ything. And now he was implying there was a level beyond that? ¡°As a frog who hasn¡¯t even left the well, I can¡¯t even imagine what that would be like.¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk. Kid, you¡¯re not entirely in the well anymore. At your level, I¡¯d say you¡¯ve at least poked your head out of the well.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯sforting.¡± ¡ªPtooey. I spat out another mushroom I was chewing. The white spiked toadstool was bitter. It made my stomach churn slightly¡ªprobably a gastrointestinal poison. Still. It felt good being alone again. Was it because I was a necromancer to my core? Being alone felt much morefortable. Since parting ways with mypanions, I could eat as much poison as I wanted. I could also talk to myself freely. ¡°¡­Maybe I¡¯m not the type of talent Delh is looking for after all,¡± I muttered while stuffing another poison into my mouth. ¡°Hm? What makes you think that?¡± ¡°Delh seems to value teamwork, but honestly, I¡¯m morefortable being on my own. Even now, I feel incredibly at ease.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­¡± There was no need to deceive anyone and no need to watch my back. I could focus entirely on growing stronger, just for myself. ¡°You are the one and only disciple of All Techniques.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The Art of All Techniques is vast and ever-flowing, yet lofty and solitary. Even if you should be thankful to Delh, there¡¯s no need to fit her ideal image.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°No matter what the next trial is or what obstacles block your path, just keep doing what you¡¯re doing. With that, you¡¯re already halfway to seeding.¡± ¡°Keep doing what I¡¯m doing?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Keep blindly charging forward. Your fortune has already surpassed heavenly levels so you alone can solve everything. Tsk, lucky brat.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This old man¡­ Why does everything he says end up like that? As I continued consuming poisons, bantering with the elder, Sunny approached. ¡°My lord.¡± While Eldrin supplied poison, Sunny¡¯s role was reconnaissance. About three days ago, I had instructed Sunny to investigate the remaining hunters near the central area. It took him exactly three days to return. ¡°As instructed, I¡¯ve identified all the hunters near the central area.¡± ¡°Oh, really?¡± Sunny was truly capable. He had managed to scout hunters of my rank or higher undetected, including A-ranks and S-ranks. Only a ranker could achieve such a feat. Of course¡­ Sunny was a special case. His proficiency in darkness let him thrive at night. ¡°There are 24 individuals in the central area besides you.¡± ¡°24 people?¡± ¡°Yes. One team of ten, one team of five, one team of four, one team of three, and two individuals moving alone.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Not as many as I had expected. With 50 participants initially, this meant 25 others had either moved far from the center or¡­ died. ¡°Hm, there¡¯s a team of ten already?¡± Ten people. Conveniently, that was the exact number needed for a team in Theme 2. Did they also obtain an information ticket like I did? ¡°Yes, they were all busy gathering food.¡± ¡°That makes sense. By now, no idiot would still be clueless about earning trial points.¡± ¡°And there¡¯s one more thing to report.¡± Sunny¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°For the past three days, a team has been circling near your vicinity.¡± ¡°Oh, them.¡± I nodded. With the Elder who could detect even a high-ranker sitting next to me, how could I not know? ¡°You¡¯re talking about the team of four, right?¡± ¡°¡­As expected, you knew?¡± Sunny nodded as if expecting that. ¡°Lad,¡± the Elder interjected from behind. ¡°They¡¯re closing in on you right now.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, I can sense them. Speak of the devil.¡± ¡°Hehe. So what will you do? You¡¯ve been singing praises about how much you enjoy being alone.¡± ¡°Well, first I should figure out their intentions, right?¡± I replied, ncing at the amused Elder. But such a shame. The Elder¡¯s summoning time was nearly up. ¡°¡­¡± Perhaps because he felt my gaze, the old man¡¯s expression grew grim. ¡°Haah,¡± he let out a deep sigh. ¡°Such a misfortune that I must leave right when it¡¯s about to get more exciting¡­ You can¡¯t let this happen,d.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°Could you, by any chance, run away for now and run into them again tomorrow? That won¡¯t be a difficult task at all for you, right?¡± ¡°¡­Wow, you¡¯re that desperate?¡± Well, it wasn¡¯t like I couldn¡¯t understand his feelings. It must have been terrible to be under a curse that only allowed you to be alive for one hour per day. However¡­ It was toote to ept his request. ¡ªRustle! With the sound of footstepsing from the bushes, four figures emerged from all directions¡ªnorth, south, east, and west. ¡°Hey.¡± One of them, the man in front, spoke to me. With a hulking body and rough, textured skin, he looked incredibly intimidating. His nationality was obviously Chinese. ¡°Just one question.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I didn¡¯t move away from the tree I was leaning against. I simply stood and stared at the middle-aged man. [The duration of the skill ¡®Teachings of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank) has ended.] [¡®Master of All Techniques¡¯ has been unsummoned.] [The skill can be reused in 24 hours.] The Elder disappeared, muttering ¡°Damn it¡± repeatedly. Silence fell for a moment. ¡°¡­Hey, you deaf? Cat got your tongue? Why aren¡¯t you answering when someone asks you a question, huh?¡± The man¡¯s gravelly voice echoed through the clearing. ¡°I hear you just fine,¡± I smirked in response. These people¡­ I wasn¡¯t sure why they¡¯de to find me, but they were quite impolite. If they wanted to ask something, they should have done so politely. Instead, they acted as if not answering would lead to murder. ¡°¡­¡± There was no need to show respect to someone who didn¡¯t offer it first. ¡°Well, look at this guy¡¯s attitude,¡± the rough-looking man sneered, tilting his head. ¡°Eating poisonous mushrooms alone for weeks must¡¯ve made him lose it, huh? Right, brother?¡± ¡°Still wandering around alone without a team¡­ Where does he get the nerve to act so cocky?¡± The other three approached with equally bad attitudes. Haha, Iughed inwardly. Get a load of these guys. Chapter 99 Chapter 99: The Spear of Judgment I wondered if they were confident in their skills or if they were just relying on their numbers. The Chinese men approached me with an air of arrogance. ¡°Hmm.¡± Well, I didn¡¯t mind theming closer. But¡­ ¡°God, you smell awful,¡± I instinctively covered my nose and muttered. ¡°Wow, the stench of blood¡­ it¡¯s worse than the poisonous mushrooms I just ate¡­¡± This smell¡­ This was the scent of people who had killed a few others within the past week at least. Murderers. I instinctively raised my guard. At the same time, I felt a strange sense of realization that I may be bing a veteran now, seeing that I could tell just by smell whether someone was a killer or not. It was a bitter realization, nheless. ¡°Hey.¡± When I spoke bluntly without hesitation, one of the men called out to me, his expression intrigued. ¡°You¡¯ve got a sharp nose like a dog¡¯s, huh? But your ability to assess the situation doesn¡¯t seem good enough.¡± ¡°Assess the situation, you say?¡± ¡°You said you smelled blood on us, didn¡¯t you? You didn¡¯t think that blood could soon be yours?¡± ¡ªSpit! The man spat on the ground and chuckled. ¡°Well, I guess necromancers like you might have confidence in their abilities, sure.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°But here¡¯s the thing, buddy. Have you ever thought about this?¡± ¡°Thought about what?¡± ¡°Why do you think we showed up here knowing you¡¯re a necromancer who¡¯s immune to dozens of poisonous mushrooms? Think about that for a second.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm. You¡¯re right. Why would you do that?¡± ¡ªVwoom! As I responded, I slowly drew upon my energy. ¡ªRustle! ck! At my signal, the scattered skeletons around me formed a circr formation. ¡°Because I wouldn¡¯t have if I were you.¡± Eldrin and her underlings emerged from the treetops, and the others stepped out from between the tree trunks. ¡ªThud! Boom! Shield soldiers led by Boney 4. ¡ªng! sh! Melee fighters led by Boney 1 and Sunny. And Boney 7, the healer, provided support from the rear. All of them were A and B-rank monsters. ¡°This feels surreal.¡± Seeing the four hunters before me, who looked like A-rankers, brought back memories. Assassin Ko Jaeyoung, was it? That was the name of one of the Shadow Lurkers who had tried to kill me. I barely survived back then, thanks to Gi Soyul. At that time, A-rank hunters had felt like an insurmountable wall for me. But now, I could face them with ease. I¡¯d grown a lot since then. ¡°H-Hey, look here,¡± one of the men stammered, seemingly shaken by the murderous intent radiating from my summons. ¡°Before we fight, how about we have a little talk? There¡¯s a reason humans have mouths, right? Why so hasty?¡± ¡°¡­I was thinking the same thing. But one of you seemed eager to see my blood.¡± Clearly they had been the ones to make threats first. ¡°Wow, are you Korean? Is that why you¡¯re so quick-tempered and have this smart-ass vibe? It was just a greeting, man. A tough guy¡¯s greeting when men meet, y¡¯know?¡± Well, in my country, we didn¡¯t call that a greeting; we called it apleteck of manners. But let¡¯s chalk it up to cultural differences. ¡°So what do you want?¡± ¡°Do you want to join our team?¡± ¡°Your team?¡± Now that was an unexpected approach. After seeing me consume poisonous mushrooms, I figured they came to steal my points, but a team invitation was not expected. Or perhaps they were nning to betray me when I let my guard down. ¡°Suddenly proposing to join your team? That stinks of ulterior motives.¡± ¡°Fair enough. It might seem funny for us to show up and make such an offer out of the blue. But you wouldn¡¯t want to take unnecessary risksing here, would you?¡± The Chinese guy, who had initially acted tough, suddenly became talkative. ¡°Let me be honest. Just tell us how you¡¯re able to eat poison without dying. Do that, and we¡¯ll guarantee your safety for the rest of the trial. As you might¡¯ve guessed, we were murderers long beforeing here. Killing people is just like having another meal for us. But that also means we¡¯re willing to do all the dirty work for you.¡± Yikes. Killing people was their pride, it seemed. ¡°And if I refuse?¡± ¡°Well then, we have no choice. We¡¯re not the type to back down after making an offer like this.¡± ¡ªSwish! The murderers brandished their weapons, filling the space with a sticky, menacing aura. So it¡¯s inevitable, huh? I didn¡¯t want to team up with such scum, but rejecting them would have meant a fight. So there was no other choice but to fight them. After all, my philosophy was simple. If someone messed with me, I wouldn¡¯t let it go. I¡¯d return the favor. ¡°¡­¡± As I smirked and prepared to signal my summons to attack¡­ ¡°Hm?¡± The hair on my body stood on end. I felt something powerful approaching from beyond my line of sight. Something. There was something else¡ªsomething on apletely different level from these men. ¡°Found you. Filthy murderers,¡± a cold voice came from beyond the bushes. There he is. The energy from my Great Blue Heart Technique was warning me to be wary of this man. ¡°Y-You are¡­¡± The murderers panicked. Why? Who was this person that scared them so much? ¡°Zhang Wei, the Spear of Judgment¡­?¡± Zhang Wei? ¡°You recently killed three people. Your motives were merely for your pleasure and greed.¡± The man spoke in a monotone voice, devoid of emotion. His gaze held no feelings, like a machine delivering judgment to sinners. ¡°Damn it. It really is him¡ªthe Spear of Judgment.¡± ¡°Crazy bastard. We were just following the rules here. Why does he always go berserk?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t he at least show some mercy to his own countrymen?¡± The murderers turned in disbelief. I, too, decided to step back and observe for now. The situation was bing quite intriguing. Zhang Wei, the Spear of Judgment, huh? I mulled over the name the murderers had shouted. I¡¯ve heard of him before. He wasn¡¯t a ranker, so I nevermitted his name to memory, but it rang a bell. He was a man nicknamed the ¡°Punisher of Evil.¡± He despised senseless killing. And his skill Search (S-rank) revealed the reasons and methods by which someone had killed others recently. Of course, Zhang Wei was better known by another title¡ªthe sole disciple of Spear King Chen Ziyi, a genius born in China, ranked 10th in the world. ¡°¡­Silence.¡± The man¡¯s gaze turned murderous. ¡°If a crime ismitted, punishment must follow¡ªthat is thew of the world. I shall judge you on behalf of those who were wrongfully killed.¡± ¡ªClink! Before the murderers could argue¡­ ¡ªWhoosh! The Spear of Judgment moved. ¡ªWham! The spear shed through the murderers with overwhelming speed. ¡°Gah!¡± ¡ªTing! ng! Panicked, the murderers hastily drew their weapons to block. ¡°Well, we have no choice. Everyone, weapons out!¡± ¡°Yes, boss! We had to take out that Spear bastard anyway!¡± ¡°That hypocritical murderer! He¡¯s probably killed more people than us!¡± As fellow countrymen, it seemed there was more history between them than I knew. ¡ªRustle! I motioned for my skeletons to retreat as there was no need to intervene in someone else¡¯s fight. But. I was curious about one thing. If he¡¯s the Spear King¡¯s disciple, I wonder how good his spear technique is. I gestured to Sunny. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s sit and enjoy the show.¡± ¡°¡­The show, my lord?¡± Sunny tilted their head but crouched beside me. They were probably recalling Kim Jinah munching popcorn during their bloody battle with Eldrin. ¡°Yeah. Watching a good fight is the most entertaining thing in the world.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! When I turned my gaze, Zhang Wei was gracefully wielding his spear. ¡ªng! He deflected one murderer¡¯s weapon and nted his foot into his abdomen. ¡ªThud! ¡°Guh!¡± His movements flowed seamlessly, every strike following another like a perfectly choreographed dance. ¡°What remarkable skill.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± I was surprised to hear Sunny say that. Sunny, who had once stood as an absolute being of a world with just a spear in their past life, rarely praised others. It was very unusual for someone like Sunny to call someone¡¯s level remarkable. ¡°He¡¯s still inexperienced, but I can clearly see the ultimate form of the spear technique he¡¯s aiming for. Moreover, his understanding of spear techniques is profound enough to potentially achieve it. I¡¯m curious to know who his master is.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The spear techniques continued. The murderers, who had initially seemed so confident, were gradually losing their resolve under the relentless ferocity of the Spear of Judgment¡¯s movements. ¡°Sh-Shit!¡± ¡°H-Hey! We¡¯re sorry, so just stop already! There¡¯s a reason for everything!¡± Despite their desperate pleas, the Spear of Judgment didn¡¯t pause for a moment. His strikes targeted unpredictable locations¡ªhead, chest, legs¡ªleaving the murderers scrambling to defend themselves. ¡ªThunk! Before long, one of the murderers had a gaping hole in his neck. ¡°Grr¡­ Grrrk!¡± Clutching his throat with both hands, he looked utterly disbelieving as blood gushed out. ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°B-Boss, shouldn¡¯t we run for it now?¡± The remaining murderers panicked. Despite the loss of arade, there was no anger among them. Their only concern was their own survival. ¡°B-Boss?¡± ¡ªThunk! The Spear of Judgment¡¯s shin hit another murderer¡¯s calf, causing instantaneous paralysis and making him lose his bnce. As the murderer slumped to the ground, the spear pierced through his throat. ¡ªThunk! ¡°Ack!¡± Two were already dead. The entire sequence had taken less than a minute, highlighting the overwhelming gap in power. ¡°Th-This isn¡¯t right! Boss, I¡¯m out of here!¡± Finally, one of the underlings threw down his weapon and began to flee. ¡°You bastard!¡± The eyes of the Chinese man in charge widened in shock, but before he could respond, the Spear of Judgment already stood before him. ¡°Shit¡­¡± There was no way he could win a one-on-one fight after he had already lost in a four-on-one. The leader quickly raised his weapon to deflect the iing strike, but¡­ ¡ªThunk! The spear pierced his heart. Even though he¡¯d tried to avoid it, the spear¡¯s trajectory was impossible to predict or dodge. ¡°Guh¡­!¡± The Spear of Judgment showed no hesitation as he took the man¡¯s life. Expressionless, he pressed his foot against the murderer¡¯s stomach and yanked the embedded spear free. ¡ªStter! Bright red blood sprayed into the air. Simultaneously, using the murderer¡¯s stomach as a foothold, he hurled the spear with immense force. ¡ªWhoosh! The spear flew in a straight line with barely any arc, piercing the fleeing murderer squarely in the back. ¡°¡­¡± It was like a scene straight out of a movie¡ªa dazzling action sequence. ¡ªRustle. The Spear of Judgment casually turned his gaze to me after finishing all four in an instant. Wow. His gaze was sharp and lethal. I thought to myself, If anyone here besides me is likely to be a ranker, it¡¯s this guy. And I¡¯d love to see what would happen if we fought each other. He walked toward me with aposed expression and said while I sat there, ¡°Are you all right? I hope I wasn¡¯t unnecessarily intrusive.¡± Huh? For someone who had just brutally ughtered four people, his tone was unexpectedly sweet and polite. Indeed, he lived up to his reputation. He was terrifying only to those he deemed deserving of judgment. Chapter 100 Chapter 100: Spear of Judgment vs. Sun Spear If I were to summarize what just unfolded before my eyes in one sentence, it would be: ¡°A group of Chinese men picked a fight with me, and a Chinese person handled it on his own.¡± I just stood there and watched. They fought among themselves, taking care of everything. Naturally, I was pleased; it saved me the trouble. However, one thing bothered me. That Spear of Judgment fellow probably gobbled up the trial points those Chinese men had, right? But oh well, that was fine. I was okay with him taking them since it probably wasn¡¯t that much anyway. And it was a fair price for not dirtying my hands. ¡ªSwoosh! So I was about to leave immediately. There were only two weeks left until the poison mist appeared, and I was still hungry for poison. To achieve the Thousand Poisons Immunity within the remaining time, I couldn¡¯t afford to waste a single moment. But then¡­ ¡°Wait. Stop right there.¡± The Spear of Judgment blocked my path with his weapon. ¡°¡­Why?¡± ¡°You must apany me.¡± Huh? So suddenly? ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean all of a sudden?¡± ¡°You, too, have recently killed someone.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I frowned. There was only one person I had killed recently: Shin Jongoh, the grandson of the chairman of the Ohsung Group. He kept attacking me with his privileged sense of superiority as a corporate heir and even hired a ranker to assassinate me. By my standards, he deserved to die. ¡°Of course, the reason you killed him was ¡®self-defense¡¯ and ¡®revenge.¡¯ You are not subject to my judgment. However, once someone has killed, it bes easier to kill again. You are a person of interest.¡± ¡°¡­Haah,¡± I sighed and shook my head. This guy. It was obvious he was the stubborn type. He had no empathy and moved solely ording to his own rigid standards. Even his tone and manner of speech screamed obstinate. This is exhausting. It was already annoying dealing with those four weak Chinese guys. And now a somewhat skilled Chinese man had appeared to disrupt me. ¡°You seem to not understand, so I¡¯ll be blunt.¡± The Spear of Judgment, who had been staring at me, opened his mouth. ¡°Many people already know this, but my unique ability is ¡®judgment.¡¯ The more I judge evil beings, the more my stats and level increase. That¡¯s why judgment is more important to me than this trial.¡± ¡°¡­I have a question.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°What if an evil person stronger than you appears? Will you judge them too?¡± The question was simple. Are you perhaps just a bully who picks on the weak? ¡°¡­¡± Hearing my question, the Spear of Judgment¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Are you implying that you are stronger than me?¡± Huh? How did it turn into that? Well, I could answer if needed. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t know, but in terms of spear technique, I have a subordinate who is quite skilled.¡± I gestured toward Sunny, who stood beside me. ¡ªThunk! Sunny confidently mmed their spear into the ground and puffed out their chest. It was a clear expression of confidence. ¡°¡­Don¡¯t make meugh. I am a hunter who has inherited the spear techniques of the world¡¯s greatest spearman, Chen Ziyi. Frankly, it¡¯sughable whenever I hear such ims. Do you know how many people have challenged me with trash they called spear techniques?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± This man¡ªhe had unexpected pride. Just like his obsession with judging evil, he seemed to have sky-high pride in his ¡°spear skills.¡± Well, as a disciple of the 10th-ranked Spear King, it was understandable. But. Our Sunny wasn¡¯t just a ranker. They had once been the absolute ruler of a world¡ªsomeone who could even match the Elder of All Techniques at his peak. I¡¯m curious, too. The Sun Spear versus the Spear of Judgment. Who would win? ¡ªThump. Hot excitement welled up in my chest. I was a man, after all. Feelingpetitive about something like this was natural. ¡°Then how about we make a bet?¡± ¡°A bet?¡± The Spear of Judgment tilted his head. ¡°Yes, a bet. A duel with spear techniques alone. No energy, no skills, just pure technique to determine who is superior. What do you think?¡± ¡ªWhoosh! As soon as I finished speaking, Sunny elegantly spun their spear and brought it to rest at their waist. ¡°My lord, thank you for trusting me. I will show you the essence of the Sun Spear.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The Spear of Judgment stroked his chin, deliberating. It seemed he was torn between his standards and his pride in his spearmanship. ¡°The loser must yieldpletely. If you lose, leave me alone like a man. If you win, I¡¯ll let you stick around withoutint. What do you say?¡± ¡ªRumble! I gathered energy to summon skeletons, arranging them in a circle. It was a makeshift arena. ¡°Surely, as a disciple of the great Spear King, you won¡¯t decline a challenge, will you?¡± I subtly prodded at his pride. ¡°I am the Skeleton King, ruler of all skeletons. If you can¡¯t even defeat one of my subordinates, then it¡¯ll be a hit to the Spear King¡¯s reputation, right?¡± ¡°¡­!¡± The atmosphere grew heavy, and the Spear of Judgment¡¯s demeanor turned cold. Even if he strictly adhered to his ¡°standards,¡± he was still a martial artist. There was no way he would ignore someone mocking his spearmanship and his teacher. ¡ªWhoosh! He adjusted his grip on his spear. ¡°You said you were the Skeleton King?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct, Zhang Wei, the Spear of Judgment.¡± The one who wielded the strongest spear technique in this world stared at Sunny. ¡°Fine, I ept your challenge.¡± ¡ªStep, step. He walked to one side of the arena I had prepared. Sunny also stepped to the opposite side. The duel between the two spearmen began. Zhang Wei spoke first. ¡°What is the name of the spear technique you wield, challenger?¡± ¡°¡­The spear I wield in service to my lord is called the Sun Spear. It was born and bloomed under the zing sun of the desert.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The Spear of Judgment smiled, seemingly satisfied with Sunny¡¯s respectful demeanor. ¡°My spear technique is called Pear Blossom. It¡¯s as versatile as the falling petals of a pear blossom.¡± ¡°I look forward to it. Is that the pinnacle of this world?¡± Both seemed to be having a polite conversation, but the atmosphere around them was anything but. I started to feel suffocated as if I had consumed a Grade 1 poison while the air around me began to press down on my shoulders. Even without using energy, the oppressive aura weighed heavily on everyone present. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go first.¡± ¡°By all means. I¡¯m ready whenever you are.¡± ¡°Chya-ah!¡± ¡°Hut-ta!¡± The Sun Spear and the Spear of Judgment sprang into action almost simultaneously. ¡°The Pear Blossom Spear Technique is divided into six forms.¡± The Spear of Judgment thrust at Sunny¡¯s heart with precision. ¡°If you can block them all, I will acknowledge you as a spearman in your own right!¡± Zhang Wei¡¯s footwork was dazzling. Perhaps because his technique emphasized versatility, his steps were incredibly intricate. Pear Blossom Spear Technique. First Form: Poison Dragon Emerges from the Cave. ¡°A crude trick to dazzle the eyes while aiming for the heart, is it?¡± ¡ªsh! Sunny¡¯s spear erupted with white light. ¡°Haaa!¡± ¡ªBoom! The heat of the sun incinerated the rising Poison Dragon. Simultaneously, Sunny spun and aimed the spear¡¯s shaft at the Spear of Judgment¡¯s face. ¡°Hm?¡± Perhaps surprised or caught off guard, Zhang Wei¡¯s eyes widened, and he quickly retreated. ¡°Hah,¡± he exhaled in astonishment. ¡°Impressive.¡± He nodded. ¡°I admit that I underestimated you. From now on, I¡¯ll face you seriously.¡± Sunny initiated the next attack. ¡ªWhoosh! This time, Sunny¡¯s spear carried the raw, primal ferocity of one who had once skewered the hearts of all their hated foes. ¡°Truly, the momentum of a demon.¡± Pear Blossom Spear Technique. Second Form: Returning Horse Spear. The Spear of Judgment swiftly twisted his torso. The Returning Horse Spear was a counterattack technique that used the opponent¡¯s force against them. The stronger the opponent, the more lethal this form became. However, as the spear approached, Sunny smirked as if they had anticipated it. Then they ducked their head and struck the Spear of Judgment¡¯s nted foot with their fist. ¡°Wh-What?!¡± Caught off guard by the unexpected use of hand-to-handbat, the Spear of Judgment faltered. ¡°Why so surprised? Judging by how you fight, it seemed like you would appreciate these kinds of tactics.¡± Sunny¡¯s mocking tone made Zhang Wei scowl. ¡°You think I was startled by that?¡± ¡°If the eyes my lord bestowed upon me aren¡¯t mistaken, you certainly were.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak too soon! The fight isn¡¯t over yet!¡± Ignoring the pain in his foot, the Spear of Judgment also used his legs. What followed was less a graceful duel and more an all-out brawl between the two. ¡°Haaargh!¡± The Spear of Judgment twirled his weapon with finesse. ¡°Because you focus so much on versatility, your spear¡¯s path bes obvious.¡± Sunny, who had fought without sight in the past, was not fooled by the borate tricks. ¡°The true strength of your spear technique¡­¡± ¡ªsh! The tip of Sunny¡¯s spear sliced across Zhang Wei¡¯s thigh. Bright red blood spurted out. ¡°¡­Lies in making every variation genuine.¡± Sunny¡¯s gaze turned cold as they finished their sentence. ¡ªWhoosh! Whoosh! With a series of spear strikes, Sunny bypassed the Spear of Judgment¡¯s position, ending up behind him in just a second. ¡°Your spear technique is nowhere near sufficient to face the Sun Spear. Amateur,¡± Sunny¡¯s low voice echoed. ¡°¡­¡± The Spear of Judgment clenched his jaw, his eyes widened to show his inability to process what had just happened. Try to understand it, I silently cheered for Zhang Wei in my mind. Even if I fought them with my spear skills, I wouldn¡¯t be able to win. Sunny was once the absolute ruler of another world. Maybe only someone like the Spear King could match Sunny in a duel. Of course¡­ If they were to fight now, Sunny would lose, but amazingly, Sunny hadn¡¯t even regained 10% of his original power. To fully restore Sunny, I¡¯d need to reach ranker status and continue training and honing my abilities for years toe. ¡°Incredible¡­¡± ¡ªSplurt! Soon, wounds began to erupt all over the Spear of Judgment¡¯s body. ¡°I admit it. I still have many techniques left to show¡­ But even without fighting further, the oue is clear. Your skill is unbelievable.¡± He seemed to realize that Sunny had gone easy on him. Had Sunny fought seriously, his techniques wouldn¡¯t have even had a chance to be disyed¡ªhis throat would have been pierced and his joints severed. That was insane. To be honest, I hadn¡¯t known this before they fought. I thought they were either evenly matched or that Sunny had a slight edge. But Sunny outssed him to this extent? This guy, Sunny. Once again, I realized just how incredible they were. ¡°¡­So that¡¯s it. The key is for all the versatile attacks to bepletely real. Ah, so that was the issue¡­ That¡¯s what was holding me back¡­!¡± ¡ªThump! It was then¡­ The Spear of Judgment sat down where he stood, focusing his energy. He left the bright red wounds all over his body unattended. Without even stopping the bleeding, he entered a state of deep concentration. Look at this guy, huh? I could tell what it was. When someone experiences a breakthrough, they enter a state of unity between mind and body. I¡¯d experienced this myself asionally while forging with Demir. But he chose to do that in front of me? During such immersion, one becamepletely defenseless. In other words, if I decided to kill the Spear of Judgment right now, that would be the end of him. ¡°¡­¡± Tch. But I wasn¡¯t that kind of viin. Besides, if rumors spread that I¡¯d killed him, I¡¯d be hunted for the rest of my life by the Spear King, who was ranked 10th. ¡°You should consider yourself lucky, Mr. Stubborn.¡± I stared quietly at the Spear of Judgment before calmly summoning Boney 7. Chapter 101 Chapter 101: Thousand Poisons Immunity ¡°Hnng, ugh.¡± Groaning through his wounds, the Spear of Judgment seemed to be pondering something deeply. I watched over him quietly. [¡®Bonehead 7¡¯ used the skill ¡®Intermediate Healing¡¯ (Lv.1)] I kept healing him patiently while waiting. ¡°Hm.¡± The Spear of Judgment parted his lips, ¡°Ah¡­ so that¡¯s what it was? Indeed, amazing. The realm of spear techniques is truly profound and fascinating.¡± He shook his head in disbelief to himself, then nodded alone, talking like that. Is this the way a genius acknowledged by the continent thinks? From just the few words Sunny passed along, he independently realized something and attained enlightenment. For someone like me, an ordinary person at best, it was an iprehensible situation. As expected. No matter how much I thought about it, the answer for me was necromancer. If I couldn¡¯t be a genius myself, it would be better to tame a genius and make them my subordinate. That¡¯d be much easier and far more useful. ¡°¡­¡± About an hour passed, and the spearman, who had been sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes. He then stood up and bowed politely with his hands cupped together. ¡°Skeleton King, was it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Thank you sincerely. Thanks to you, I¡¯ve gained the clue needed to break through the wall that was blocking me. Myplicated mind feels refreshed.¡± It was a surprisingly neat thanks. Then the Spear of Judgment bowed his head even lower. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand how significant this is to a martial artist. I owe you a debt, and should the time evere when I can help you,¡± his voice sank into the surroundings, ¡°I promise to assist you with all my might. This is a promise made in the name of my teacher, the Spear King.¡± The Spear of Judgment raised his head and looked at me. ¡°However, this promise only holds if you don¡¯t vite my principles. You can afford that much consideration, right?¡± ¡°And your principles are¡­?¡± ¡°Even if you are my benefactor, if you were tomit senseless killings, I¡¯d have no choice but to punish you with my own hands.¡± Not bad¡ªhaving one¡¯s own set of principles. Just as I had my own rule of ¡°giving back as much as I get,¡± he also had his absolute principles. In fact, I found that admirable. Perhaps I might even want to be friends with this guy after the trials were over. ¡°Hm.¡± I nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m not someone who goes around killing without reason.¡± ¡°Exactly. Right! Now that I think about it, you couldn¡¯t possibly be an evildoer.¡± ¡°Jumping to conclusions so suddenly? Weren¡¯t you just calling me a dangerous individual that should be kept under watch?¡± As I tilted my head in confusion, he shook his. ¡°If you harbored ill intent, you could have easily killed me while I was meditating to gain a huge amount of trial points.¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Well, to be honest, I didn¡¯t think your points were high enough to be worth doing that¡­ ¡°You¡¯re right. I apologize for the misunderstanding. You are different from ordinary people. Someone without greed. Someone I don¡¯t need to judge or watch over unnecessarily.¡± ¡°Aha¡­?¡± What was up with this guy? He was doing all this by himself while I was just standing there. I scratched the back of my head awkwardly and smiled. ¡°Thank you for thinking of me that way. Then, since our bet is settled, I¡¯ll just be on my way¡­¡± I was about to leave when¡­ ¡°Wait,¡± the Spear of Judgment stopped me again. ¡°What now?¡± ¡°How old are you? I¡¯d guess you¡¯re not yet past your mid-20s.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ You¡¯re spot on. It¡¯s been about three and a half years since I awakened, so I¡¯m 23 now.¡± ¡°23¡­?¡± The Spear of Judgment¡¯s eyes widened slightly. What was it? What about my age? ¡°Why? Do I look too young to you?¡± I asked. ¡°Not at all. 23¡­ We¡¯re the same age?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Huh? I blinked and stared at him. ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± I asked again. My eyes were twice as wide as his. Wow, this was¡­ a shocking revtion. What kind of 23-year-old talked and acted like such an old soul? Frankly, I was more surprised by this than the fact that he was the Spear King¡¯s disciple. ¡°Haha, this is truly fascinating!¡± The Spear of Judgment¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Fate is a strange thing, isn¡¯t it? They say even a brush of sleeves can be considered a fateful event. Look at us. We exist in the same time and space, rmended here by the same number of rankers. We discussed spear techniques and helped each other like this. Yes! If this isn¡¯t fate, I have no clue what it could be.¡± ¡°Oh, uh¡­ sure. If you say so.¡± Why was he suddenly acting like this? It felt overwhelming. His first impression was that of a quiet, cold, city guy. Now, he was feeling oddly talkative. ¡°And we¡¯re the same age! Beyond fate, you could call this destiny! Ah, it can¡¯t be helped. We¡¯re destined to be close.¡± ¡°Haha, well. Bing close sounds good. Maybe after the trials are over¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re a hunter from South Korea, right? What about your guild? As you know, I belong to the Xian Society established by the Spear King. If you don¡¯t have any affiliation¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m affiliated with Demir¡¯s Workshop,¡± I answered quickly, anticipating a recruitment pitch. Kim Jinah told me¡­ That she¡¯d turn the workshop into a major guild. While it might not happen overnight, since I promised her, I couldn¡¯t join anywhere else. Even Gi Soyul had left her family¡¯s guild to join me! ¡°Demir¡¯s Workshop? Never heard of it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s probably not well-known in your country yet¡­ But eventually you¡¯ll hear so much about it your ears will hurt.¡± ¡°Haha, really? If you say so, then I¡¯ll believe it. Well, it looks like you¡¯re eager to leave this ce.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Oh. He¡¯s surprisingly perceptive. ¡ªSwish! The Spear of Judgment extended his hand. ¡°Let¡¯s shake hands before parting. May we meet again under better circumstances.¡± With such a suggestion, how could I refuse? ¡ªGrip! I reached out and shook his hand. ¡°Alright. See you next time.¡± At that moment, I gained a connection in China. My journey continued¡ªa journey both solitary and toxic. I consumed so much poison that the once-blue sky now looked green to me. I couldn¡¯t even tell if the reflux in my esophagus was stomach acid or poison anymore. I truly understood the meaning of being utterly fed up. Days passed, and time flew by. Perhaps tomorrow or the day after, the poison mist would appear at the central area, ording to the intel. ¡°Lad.¡± The old man stared at me from midair. ¡°Are grade 2 poisons even registering in your body anymore?¡± ¡°Yeah, honestly, I feel like I could eat poison as my three daily meals now. Actually, it tastes pretty good.¡± ¡°¡­You madman.¡± ¡°Hey, you¡¯re the one who taught me this, old man.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll happen soon. The day you achieve the Thousand Poisons Immunity is near.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was right. Even without the system notifications, my body could feel it. Was this what arva felt when it knew it was about to molt? Just like you could feel your body pumping when you exercised, I could feel myself bing ¡°poison-pumped¡± as I consumed more. ¡°You¡¯re doing well. Even if this is a different world from mine¡­ to achieve the Thousand Poisons Immunity in less than a month is astonishing. Sometimes you truly amaze me.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± I closed my eyes. ¡°Still, I¡¯m a bit worried. Will the Thousand Poisons Immunity be enough to face the poison mist?¡± ¡°The poison mist, you say?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t know until I see it¡­ but if it¡¯s made of all the poisons in this ce, you¡¯ll just have to handle the grade 1 poisons included in it.¡± I supposed so since the Thousand Poisons Immunity seemed to handle up to grade 2 poisons. ¡°If there are hundreds or thousands of grade 1 poisons¡­ and they all hit me at once¡­ Ugh, even if poison is precious, I won¡¯t beughing then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you must move quickly. The number of grade 1 poisons isn¡¯t as high as you think. You need to consume as much as you can to build up resistance.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s move. Hearing that really woke me up.¡± Following the old man¡¯s advice, I didn¡¯t stop. Before the poison mist appeared, I kept moving. Finally, after about another day¡­ [Skill ¡®Hundred Poisons Immunity¡¯ (B-rank) has been upgraded.] [You have acquired the skill ¡®Thousand Poisons Immunity¡¯ (A-rank)!] [This skill has the potential for further growth.] I had reached the Thousand Poisons Immunity. * * * In the center of Delh¡¯s Hologram Room¡­ ¡°Hmm.¡± A red-eyed man with a sword at his waist, the Arcane Swordsman, Lucas, stroked his chin in thought. ¡°Lady Delh.¡± ¡°Yes, what is it?¡± ¡°Joo Donghoon. That man¡­¡± Lucas had been keeping an eye on Joo Donghoon since he discovered Floa the Thundercry, for he was the man who had achieved the most trial points ever. Who wouldn¡¯t be curious about what kind of ranker he might be? ¡°He must have purchased both information tickets from Floa¡­ So why hasn¡¯t he left the central area yet? Normally, anyone in their right mind would stay as far away from the center as possible. Unless¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Delh nodded. Her expression darkened unexpectedly. ¡°It seems he intends to face the poison mist directly. Foolishly¡­¡± ¡°The poison mist¡­!¡± Lucas muttered to himself, ¡°So that¡¯s what it was.¡± ¡°In the past, there was a child named Jang Daewoong who did the same.¡± ¡°Jang Daewoong¡­ You mean that Berserker from South Korea?¡± Lucas wasn¡¯t the judge at the time, so he didn¡¯t know much about him. ¡°Well, he didn¡¯t face it directly but was half-forced to fleeter.¡± ¡°Huh, I see.¡± Lucas shook his head. It seemed having ¡°berserk¡± in one¡¯s title required an extraordinary mindset. ¡°Lady Delh,¡± Lucas swallowed and called out to her. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°By any chance¡­ has anyone ever subdued or destroyed the poison mist?¡± ¡°No, not even one.¡± Delh shook her head firmly. ¡°The poison mist isn¡¯t meant to be defeated. It¡¯s merely a condensed mass of toxic waste from another world. You¡¯re not supposed to fight it.¡± ¡°Then¡­ what is Joo Donghoon¡­?¡± ¡°Reckless actions only lead to death.¡± ¡°Do you believe Joo Donghoon will die?¡± ¡°If he tries to face the poison mist alone, yes.¡± ¡°Haah,¡± Lucas sighed deeply. If Delh said so, it must be true. She was acknowledged even by Sophia Silverstone, the Oxford Sage, ranked 4th in the world. However, something about it felt exciting. From what he¡¯d seen of Joo Donghoon so far, there was something about him that stirred a mysterious emotion deep inside. So Lucas asked again, ¡°By the way, hypothetically¡­ What if Joo Donghoon actually manages to defeat the poison mist?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Even Delh didn¡¯t know the rewards for defeating the poison mist. All she knew was that they matched the difficulty and contribution of the feat within reason. ¡°It could yield incredible rewards, couldn¡¯t it? Since the poison mist is a monster you deemed impossible to defeat.¡± ¡°¡­Even I¡¯m not quite sure about that¡­¡± Even Delh¡¯s dark expression now held a hint of curiosity. ¡°But it¡¯s certainly intriguing.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 102 Chapter 102: The Poison Mist (1) Finally, the time hade. ¡ªRumble! The world of tropical rainforests trembled violently. I slowly raised my head. The sky visible through the dense foliage had already turned ashen gray. This is¡­ kind of eerie, isn¡¯t it? That thought barely crossed my mind when¡­ ¡°Screeeeeeech!¡± A terrifying scream capable of shaking heaven and earth engulfed the entire space¡ªthe roar of a horrifying, evil monster born from umted resentment and grudges. [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [The ¡®Poison Mist¡¯ has appeared in the central area.] [The ¡®Poison Mist¡¯ is a toxic fog¡ªa monster infused with the essence of all the poisons in the world.] [Participants must survive against this monster for a week.] [Sess leads to advancement to Theme 2!] [Failure results in death!] [Good luck to all participants.] ¡°¡­¡± The brutal warning messages prompted me to instinctively climb the tallest tree nearby. From there, I saw it¡ªa dense, green mass of contamination, so immense that it appeared colossal even from afar. ¡°Damn.¡± The curse slipped out of my mouth, and I could feel an overwhelming pressure in the air as if it were choking me. From the screams and curses echoing nearby, it seemed most of the participants were just as panicked as I was. Honestly. Did I have to go in there? Forget the poison; it was terrifying! The boldness I had felt just minutes ago hadpletely evaporated. ¡°Yikes, that is insane.¡± Beside me, the old man I had summoned a few minutes ago shook his head. ¡°How could anyone create such a monster? Whoever designed this dungeon must be out of their mind!¡± ¡°¡­Elder?¡± ¡°Honestly, I would¡¯ve hesitated to enter something like that even when I was alive. Growth must follow stages, but this is skipping too far ahead. It¡¯s like they¡¯re telling everyone to just die. Tsk, tsk.¡± What the heck, Elder? You¡¯ve been encouraging me all this time, and now you say this? ¡°Elder, if even you feel this way¡­ does that mean you would¡¯ve died if you entered it during your prime? Didn¡¯t you have the Absolute Poison Immunity?¡± ¡°Tsk, of course not. I¡¯m just saying that if I had been in my Thousand Poisons Immunity days, I would¡¯ve run away without looking back.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡ªRumble! The toxic fog, condensed like a ghost, rose into the air. Then it began rushing toward the highest hill nearby. Looks like most of the participants are gathered there. But that wasn¡¯t the issue. The problem was how terrifying the poison was. Everything in its path¡ªtrees, rocks, even the ground¡ªwas ckened, corroded, or melted away. ¡°This is¡­¡± I grimaced. ¡°This is basically a poison tsunami, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s like a natural disaster.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying! What are you doing,d? Run away already. We can¡¯t afford to lose thest hope of the All Techniques like this.¡± ¡°Run away, you say?¡± ¡°Look at it. Doesn¡¯t it feel like the mist isn¡¯t spreading in a circle but specifically chasing down participants one by one? At least it¡¯s noting this way yet¡ªthat¡¯s pure luck. You¡¯re a lucky brat, so thank the heavens and get running!¡± ¡°Hm.¡± The old man had a point. If the dungeon designer¡¯s goal was for us to survive for a week, then following the rules was the safest path. However, my heart continued to disagree with that thought. Why did I feel drawn to the poison mist? It was a primal instinct, just like how I had recklessly charged toward the old man in the past dungeon or how I¡¯d faced the Sun Spear barehanded. I got a sense that a sweet reward awaited after a great trial. ¡°Elder.¡± ¡°What is it,d? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re thinking something stupid.¡± As expected of the Elder. He could read me like a ghost, perhaps because he was one. ¡°You told me before, if there¡¯s poison, run toward it with a smile. I think I understand what you meant now.¡± I braced my legs. ¡°No, you fool! That¡¯s not poison; that¡¯s a monster, a monster!¡± ¡°Besides, Elder, you already know this too, don¡¯t you?¡± I kicked off the tree trunk and sprinted toward the poison mist. The Elder frowned, following close behind. ¡°Know what?¡± ¡°That poison mist is incredibly fast, isn¡¯t it? Once it melts everyone on that hill, it¡¯lle for me next.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Even if I had run far away after buying the information tickets, surviving for a week while avoiding it would be almost impossible.¡± ¡°Are you just trying to convince yourself?¡± ¡°They say it¡¯s better to take the blow early if it¡¯s inevitable. If it¡¯s going to happen, might as well face it head on.¡± ¡°You lunatic. No matter how I look at you, you¡¯re insane. You¡¯re worse than me. I finally get why that Berserker fellow likes you.¡± ¡°Thanks for thepliment!¡± I kept running. Even as I sprinted, I had some confidence. I had the Elder, who could monitor my energy flow, for an hour. And I had another n in mind. At that moment, thirteen people had gathered near the hill the poison mist was approaching. ¡°What the fuck is that?¡± ¡°What the hell¡¯s a poison mist? How are we supposed to deal with that? What¡¯s with this sudden change in the trial? Delh, you crazy bitch!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this just a death sentence? Judge! Hey, is there no judge around? I want to forfeit!¡± The group consisted of a team of ten and a team of three. Hearing that a monster called the poison mist had appeared, they had climbed the nearby hill. Under normal circumstances, the two teams would have fought each other, but this was not the time. ¡°Screeeeeeech!¡± The massive creature was charging toward the hill at an insane speed. ¡°We¡­ We need to do something, don¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Running is impossible! It¡¯s way too fast!¡± ¡°Then what are we supposed to do?¡± ¡°What can we possibly do against that?¡± While the group was panicking, the leader of the team of ten stepped forward. It was Chris Larsen, with golden hair and a worn-out shirt, he had serpent-like, shrewd eyes that seemed both cunning and sharp. But his charisma was undeniable. ¡°Build a barricade!¡± he shouted. ¡°Use all your skills to gather obstructions! Dig deep into the ground and pile up barriers around us!¡± ¡°Are you suggesting we hide underground¡­?¡± ¡°Shut up! Do you want to die? Stop asking questions and just do it!¡± Under Larsen¡¯s orders, the group began to work together. With someone taking charge, they finally had direction. ¡ªBoom! Boom! Someone used brute strength to pound the ground. ¡ªWhoosh! Another used the wind to gather branches and stones. Others cast shield skills or set up physical defenses. Everyone was doing their best to build a barricade. ¡°¡­¡± Larsen bit his lip. We don¡¯t have enough time. In about a minute, the poison would reach them. And with this hastily built barricade, it wouldn¡¯t be enough. Do I have no other choice? Chris Larsen was, by nature, a murderer. The subordinates he had gathered had survived the past month by killing. There¡¯s no way to build a pit big enough for thirteen people. So he acted decisively. ¡ªStab! He plunged a knife into the back of one of the team of three. ¡°Urgh!¡± ¡°Good work. Sorry, but you¡¯ll have to die now.¡± ¡°Wh-What¡­?¡± ¡°What are you doing?!¡± The remaining two shouted, but Larsen acted without hesitation. He was an S-rank hunter and one of the closest to bing a ranker. His unique ability amplified his strength with each kill. ¡°You¡¯ll be sacrificed for us.¡± ¡ªStab! Stab! He swiftly took the lives of the other two, draining what little energy they had left after building the barricade. Furthermore, he received some help from his loyal subordinates who¡¯d caught on. ¡°Hehehe, boss, are you going to use that ability?¡± ¡°I have to.¡± Larsen closed his eyes. Having killed three, his energy increased. ¡°Haaaah!¡± he roared. [Using skill ¡®Absolute Shield¡¯ (S-rank).] ¡ªRumble! A transparent, circr shield surrounded him. [Using skill ¡®Absolute Shield¡¯ (S-rank).] [Using skill ¡®Absolute Shield¡¯ (S-rank).] [Using skill ¡®Absolute Shield¡¯ (S-rank).] He stacked the shields repeatedly. ¡°This won¡¯t hold for long. Dig as deep as you can! As if you¡¯re trying to drill through this hill!¡± ¡°Y-Yes, boss!¡± ¡°Move! Move now!¡± His subordinates obeyed. ¡°¡­¡± Larsen watched them impassively. Two weeks ago, he had stumbled upon an information ticket. [Opening the ¡®Theme 2 Information¡¯ (S-rank).] [This is a region where information cannot yet be confirmed.] [Only partial information is revealed.] It was about Theme 2. Though much of it was obscured, he learned that it involved forming teams. When Theme 2 began, each team leader would draft ten members. The trial rules included working together to uncover a hidden ¡°national treasure.¡± That was why he had hidden his killer instincts and led them. Even now, this was why he didn¡¯t kill the others needlessly. ¡ªRumble! ¡°Is iting?¡± Larsen crouched. The monstrous poison mist was now right in front of him. A massive force of toxic fog surged toward them, towering into the sky as if it would consume the entire world. ¡ªGulp. He swallowed hard. Despite all the murders he hadmitted, the sight before him was terrifying enough to make him wet himself. Just smelling the faint traces of poison made him nauseous and left his body paralyzed. What if he was swallowed by it? He¡¯d probably melt within seconds. It¡¯s already here. Everything in the poison mist¡¯s path had been obliterated. Ah. At that moment, Larsen realized that digging a pit was pointless. The moment his shield broke, the hill itself would dissolve, rendering the pit useless. ¡°Damn it.¡± It was futile. The wall to bing a ranker was so impossibly high. How could Delh expect them to ovee such a trial? ¡°B-Boss?¡± ¡°What are you doing? Get in the pit! Hurry!¡± His subordinates shouted from behind, but Larsen couldn¡¯t move. He was frozen, feeling the enormity of the poison mist¡¯s presence. Just then¡­ ¡°Huff, huff! Hey, you toxic bastard. Where do you think you¡¯re going without me?¡± a stranger¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Larsen¡¯s eyes widened. Outside his shield, a man stood there, right in front of the poison mist. How is that possible? Now that he thought about it, he must have been the reason why the monster had been staying still for a little while now. The mist recognized the man¡¯s presence. ¡°Hey, you! Come here! Come y with me instead of those bad-tasting people.¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Larsen was shocked to see the man jump at the poison mist. And with a screeching noise, the mist stopped in its tracks. Who even is that? Was this a participant? No, could he even be human? Perhaps the difficulty was absurd¡ªit must have been a ranker judge intervening. Either way¡­ They were saved. Thanks to that stranger, they were alive. ¡°Everyone! Get out!¡± Larsen dispelled his shield and shouted. ¡°Run for your lives!¡± He gave the order to flee, proving that, if nothing else, his decision-making in critical moments was impable. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 103 Chapter 103: The Poison Mist (2) ¡°Screeeeeeech!¡± The poison roared. Though it had neither a mouth nor vocal cords, it sounded like a roar in my ears. ¡°Ugh!¡± Poison engulfed everything around me. The lethal toxins, capable of turning an ordinary person to ash in an instant, surged around me. ¡ªRumble! Crash! The ground copsed, and the sky seemed to break down.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡ªp! Flutter! The noise of frantic wings and a grating buzz surrounded me. I closed my eyes and mped my hands over my ears. Argh. I couldn¡¯t think straight. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv. Max).] [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv. Max).] [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ used the skill ¡®Air Shield¡¯ (Lv. Max).] I summoned Boney 5 instinctively to castyered Air Shields, but¡­ ¡ªShhht! It dissolved into liquid the moment it was summoned. [¡®Bonehead 5¡¯ has been unsummoned.] What the hell¡­? Seriously, how is it even possible for an A-rank summon to dissolve this easily? I clicked my tongue. ¡ªCrack! Snap! Boney 5¡¯syered shields shattered almost immediately. Of course, the idea of resisting a disaster-level poison with Boney 5¡¯s shield was wed to begin with. My entire field of vision was engulfed in green. I couldn¡¯t tell if my body was sinking into the ground or soaring into the sky. I was adrift, as though swept up in a tornado, powerless against its overwhelming force. ¡°Get a hold of yourself, you fool!¡± The old man¡¯s scolding cut through the chaos. ¡°You knew this would happen when you jumped into that damned lump of poison! If you were prepared, act like you were prepared!¡± ¡°As if I don¡¯t know that¡­ I know, but¡­!¡± ¡°Tsk, if you still have the mind to answer me, focus on the poison seeping into you! Do it now!¡± ¡ªGulp, gulp! Veins bulged under my skin. [Bonus for poison.] [¡®Noblesse¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [You have gained an additional 500 trial points.] [Bonus for poison.] [¡®Saint¡¯s Poison¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [You have gained an additional 500 trial points.] [Bonus for poison.] [¡®Dark Light¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [You have gained an additional 500 trial points.] [Bonus for poison.] [¡®Poison nd of the Poisonous Horned Snake¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [You have gained an additional 500 trial points.] [Bonus for poison.] [¡®Crane Soul Herb¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [You have gained an additional 500 trial points.] My field of vision was filled with endless notifications about poison bonuses. Nearly all of them were Grade 1 lethal poisons I¡¯d never encountered before. I squinted at the messages briefly before closing my eyes again. Honestly, I didn¡¯t have the energy to keep them open. ¡°Screeeeeeech!¡± The poison mist attacked me relentlessly as though I were its mortal enemy. It pummeled me mercilessly. ¡°Fuck!¡± I tensed every muscle in my body. I couldn¡¯t just sit there and take the hits. I needed to circte my ki quickly and expel the poison. But¡­ There was too much¡ªfar too much. The poison surged in faster than I could expel it. Was it even meaningful to try circting my ki and purging the poison in this situation? ¡°Don¡¯t give up, you fool!¡± the old man shouted. ¡°Normally you¡¯d run from this, but there¡¯s no choice now. Poison Arts is part of the Art of All Techniques, too. Listen! Poison Arts aren¡¯t just about neutralizing or expelling poison!¡± ¡°Hrgh¡­!¡± Even as the old man spoke, the poison forced its way into my body. It felt like being submerged in a swimming pool, water filling my mouth against my will. I was floundering in a pool of poison. ¡°Don¡¯t try to control all the poison in your body directly! The wisest method to control poison is to use poison against it!¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ Use poison to control poison?¡± ¡°One of the poisons you¡¯ve taken, Noblesse, was called Gentleman¡¯s Powder in my world.¡± ¡°Gentleman¡¯s Powder¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a type of poison that gently prevents energy from being used, like a gentleman.¡± Huh? If it prevented energy usage¡ªhow is that ¡°gentle¡±? Did he misunderstand the meaning of ¡°gentle¡±? ¡°Another poison you¡¯ve taken, Saint¡¯s Poison, was called Saint¡¯s Decay in our world. Unlike Gentleman¡¯s Powder, which blocks energy usage, Saint¡¯s Decay disperses energy entirely. But do you know what¡¯s funny?¡± ¡°Hrgh¡­ hrgh¡­!¡± I could hardly breathe now. It felt like my nerves were firing randomly. My body trembled uncontrobly, spasming violently. ¡°Whenbined, those two poisons prevent energy from dispersing and even enhance your energy, turning them into an elixir. So don¡¯t try to expel them. Let them collide and focus on expelling something else instead.¡± ¡°Grrgh¡­¡± Move, damn it. Move! Even as I struggled to control the poison, I focused on the old man¡¯s advice. I instinctively identified the poisons he mentioned and let them collide. ¡°Another poison you¡¯ve absorbed, the Crane Soul Herb, is an acidic nt-based poison,¡± the old man continued sharing his knowledge. ¡°But the strong energy of Crane Red Bloom, an animal-based poison, is alkaline. If you let them mix, they¡¯ll neutralize each other naturally.¡± He was a fountain of poison knowledge. Could it be that, as someone impervious to all poisons, he had encountered every type of poison imaginable? Poisons I had never heard of, he identified and exined immediately¡ªhow to handle them and how to expel them. ¡°At first, it¡¯ll be tough because you¡¯re not used to it. But after a bit of practice, you¡¯ll instinctively figure out how to move so your body survives. You¡¯ll learn naturally as you go.¡± ¡ªCrash! A storm of poison raged inside me. The countless toxins waged war within my body. Some collided and became elixirs; others neutralized each other. The isted ones were gently expelled through my energy. There was no time to rest. I focused all my mental energy on observing and controlling my body. Still, thanks to the old man¡¯s advice, I could breathe a little easier. ¡°Heh,¡± the old man chuckled, perhaps proud of my progress. ¡°You know, the so-called poison experts research in my world. Do you know how they studied poison?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°They captured test subjects and experimented on them one by one. Isn¡¯t thatughable?¡± No. That¡¯s not funny. Actually, it¡¯s horrifying. ¡°But the most urate way to understand poison is to experience it yourself. Trying to learn poison through experiments alone isughable arrogance.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Tsk, but I guess you¡¯re not in a situation for a chat. Anyway, remember the knowledge you¡¯re gaining now. It¡¯ll be invaluable when ites to understanding poisonter.¡± ¡ªGrit! I clenched my teeth and endured. Yes. If this were all an experience that would be an asset to me, I would dly ept it. Come at me, poison mist! Kill me! If you can¡¯t kill me, I¡¯ll only grow stronger! I¡¯ll be a monster that resists and controls all poisons! Does that upset you? Does it make you angry? Then kill me right now! Strangely, the more I suffered, the more stubborn I became. ¡°Hyaaaah!¡± I let out a loud battle cry, enduring and holding on. The old man continued sharing his wisdom beside me, saving me with timely advice whenever a critical moment arose. After much time had passed like this¡­ ¡°¡­I trust you¡¯ll hold on. Lad, this is where I leave you.¡± With those final words, the old man disappeared. An hour had passed. Only an hour? I felt exasperated. It felt like I had endured a whole day. ¡°Screeeeeeech! Screeeeeeech!¡± The poison mist was still ferocious. It seemed to mock me as if to say I couldn¡¯t handle more poison. ¡°Fuck it, fine!¡± I cursed with all my might. ¡°Come on, bring it! Bring it all!¡± I shouted with determination and swallowed more toxins. The battle against the poison continued. The sky, already heavy with dark clouds, grew even dimmer. ¡°Ugh!¡± My body trembled from the pain. Even though I had been handling the poison well, the lingering effects couldn¡¯t be ignored. However, I had no time to recover. [¡®mecap Mushroom¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [¡®Rainbow Spotted Mushroom¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [¡®Golden Lotus Toxin¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [¡®Kraken Ring Venom¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] [¡®Poison nd of the Diamond Spider¡¯ is ssified as a Grade 1 poison.] ¡­ I had no clue that there were this many poisons in the world. No matter how well I neutralized or controlled them, it felt impossible to handle the unending onught. Even as I dissolved one poison, another wave came rushing in. ¡°Gah!¡± I coughed up blood. Pain surged deep within my organs, and my vision started spinning. The agony was indescribable, as if my limbs were melting. No, I can¡¯t¡­ My strength faded away. My body, which had been holding on, now fluttered like a powerless paper ne. But I¡­ Still, I screamed internally, refusing to let go of consciousness. I will never give up. The world spun wildly, and the poison invaded through every pore. Not just my pores¡ªthrough every hole in my body. ¡°Hah.¡± Is this what it felt like to want to die? I let out a hollowugh. The old man was right. This thing was a ridiculous monster. Avoiding it would have been the wisest choice. Damn it. Now there was truly no solution. No matter how hard I tried to think of an answer, there was no way out. Even my energy, used to summon Bonehead 5 for shields, was nearly depleted. The ki I used for the Great Blue Heart Technique was also almost gone. At this rate¡­ Death was inevitable. I didn¡¯t want to use this, but¡­ In the end, I had no choice but to y my trump card¡ªthe weapon that encouraged me to face the poison mist despite the old man¡¯s protests. Bonehead 7. [Using skill, ¡®Summon Skeleton Knight¡¯ (A-rank).] [Consuming 10 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Bonehead 7.¡¯] ¡ªCrack! Knowing it would soon dissolve, the figure materialized in the air. [You have consumed all of your energy.] [Tip: Want to replenish your energy? Try resting.] ¡°Heh.¡± My energy was nowpletely drained. But that didn¡¯t matter because Bonehead 7 still had energy of its own. Alright, return my body to its former state. This was the first time I had used this skill since I¡¯d acquired it¡ªthe skill that had once restored the arm of the ck Sword Squad¡¯s Kang Yoojung. [Skill: Recovery] [Level: Max] [Description: Returns the body to a previous state.] [Effect 1: Restores the body to its condition 24 hours prior. Cannot be used on the dead.] [Effect 2: Cooldown ¨C 30 days.] [Effect 3: Consumes 50 energy.] ¡ªCrack! As Bonehead 7¡¯s body dissolved, the recovery process began. My body was restored to its exact state 24 hours prior. This applied not just to my damaged physical condition but also to my depleted energy and ki. ¡ªVwoooom! Wrapped in a warm light, I felt my body recover as I waited in silence. Chapter 104 Chapter 104: The Poison Mist (3) First, my energy returned. The color came back to my face, and strength returned to the hands that had been limp moments ago. Moreover, a familiar power filled my heart and lower abdomen¡ªthe ki I had been mastering through the Great Blue Heart Technique. And not just that, but my melted flesh began to regenerate. ¡°Grrr¡­!¡± The nerves and bones that had lost their function started to grow anew. Damaged organs regained their functionality, and my weakened immune system surged back to life. Torn muscles healed, and my blurry vision cleared. This was resurrection¡ªa sight so miraculous it could only be called a miracle. [Your body has been restored to its state 24 hours prior.] From vocal cords that had only been capable of letting out faint whispers, a strong, vibrant voice erupted. ¡°Haah!¡± Even the dulled sense of pain receptors returned. Good. It was time to start again. The fight against the poison mist wasn¡¯t over yet. ¡°Screeeeeeech!¡± The poison mist¡¯s energy surged into me, churning and probing. The familiar pain resumed, as did the process of neutralization and expelling. Damn it, I muttered to myself. I had endured so much torment to get through that hellish moment. And yet, here this monster was, dragging me back into a vortex of agony. But¡­ This time, it was bearable. Compared to the beginning, it seemed I had built up at least some resistance. ¡°Hmm.¡± I closed my eyes and focused on circting my ki. I analyzed the toxic elements entering my body, trying to control them. Indeed, the old man had been right about everything. There was no need for extensive research¡ªjust consuming poison was enough to gain knowledge about it. It wasn¡¯t about learning through books but through direct experience. My brain worked rapidly. The second and sixth poison seem highly reactive. If they mix, it¡¯ll be disastrous. Keep them apart. Hmm, poisons one and three might cancel each other out. They feel simr to the Crane Soul Herb and Crane Red Bloom from before. Oh? Poison five¡¯s extreme toxicity can be neutralized by poison nine? Let¡¯s merge them! Wow! Eureka! Poisons 14 and 18bined with 19. It¡¯s like a perfect elixir! My energy is replenishing! Even without knowing the proper names of the poisons, I was thinking like a poison schr. Without precise knowledge, my instincts guided me¡ªjust as one didn¡¯t need to study fire to know it was hot. This was the experience of someone who had consumed thousands of poisons. ¡°Screeeeeeech?!¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Perhaps because I wasn¡¯t sumbing to it, the poison mist grew more violent. Its movements became more aggressive, its speed faster, and the winds more ferocious. I won¡¯t try to suppress it. I acknowledged it¡ªthe poison mist was a natural disaster. It wasn¡¯t something that could be controlled by mere human strength. To ¡°control¡± something so vast was akin to trying to hold the ocean within a human body. I won¡¯t try to oppress you. Roam freely within me. This was a monster that seemed to embody all the poisons in existence. Its goal was clear: to melt me with its collection of toxins. But in fact, that was also exactly what I wished for. Come at me. I opened all the circuits and meridians within my body. At the same time, I controlled the Great Blue Heart Technique to delicately protect those pathways. ¡ªWhoosh! Toxins began flooding in. The poison mist carried not only Grade 1 lethal poisons but also Grade 2, 3, and evenmon poisons¡ªthose too weak to harm me. This was possible only because of my current state. Had I tried this earlier, my body would have melted instantly. But my body now was different. My brain automatically processed the old man¡¯s Poison Arts, breaking down and synthesizing the toxins. Most importantly, my body had started to ept the poisons. ¡°Hoo, huff, hmph.¡± Amazingly, the overwhelming toxins no longer suffocated me. My breathing was steady, and the foul, rotting stench was gone. Instead¡­ It¡¯s fragrant. I sniffed. It was a sweet aroma, like passing through a bakery in the morning. The texture of it on my tongue was so smooth that it made my mouth water. Ah¡­ is this really poison? Poison was like Korean kimchi ortro in China¡ªspicy and strong at first, but the more you consumed, the more you grew addicted. Ahh. I felt joy. It was as if I¡¯d reached a state of unity¡ªno, oneness with poison. Time passed as I relished this new sensation. ¡°Hahaha!¡± a voice rang out beside me. Hm? I opened my eyes wide. The old man stood there, grinning brightly in the greenish haze. Huh? Elder, how did you get here? ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? You¡¯ve been instinctively summoning me every 24 hours. You¡¯d summon me and then fumble around like an idiot, so I lent you a hand.¡± ¡­What? I was dumbfounded. I¡¯d only closed my eyes for a moment. What did he mean by summoning him every 24 hours? ¡°Haha. It seems you were so immersed you didn¡¯t even notice. This is the fifth time you¡¯ve summoned me,d!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Fifth time? Did that mean five days had passed? ¡°What?¡± Come to think of it¡­ My vision was clear. Even though my body was floating in the air and the poison was still pouring into me, I felt nothing. Rather, I felt refreshed. ¡°Screeeeeeech? Screeeeee?¡± The once-ferocious roar of the poison mist now sounded confused. ¡°What¡¯s happening¡­?¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening? You¡¯ve surpassed yourself, that¡¯s what! Tsk. Even if you are my disciple, you¡¯ve done something extraordinary.¡± The old man¡¯s voice sounded as sweet as poison itself. ¡°To think that the mere Thousand Poisons Immunity could endure such an impossible environment, absorb all those poisons, and still stand. Tell me, how do you feel? Can you instinctively identify the poisons swirling around you?¡± He was right¡ªI could. Every poison floating near me, I could taste them all. My body instinctively knew them¡ªhow to neutralize and control them without anyone telling me. I felt like I could evenbine them to create something new. ¡°That is one of my All Techniques, the Poison Arts. Tsk, life is so mysterious that I still get amazed by it sometimes. Some of the techniques I drilled into you, you still haven¡¯t mastered, yet you¡¯ve reached the pinnacle of something entirely new.¡± ¡°Pinnacle¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, you fool! The state you¡¯ve reached is Absolute Poison Immunity!¡± ¡°¡­!¡± My eyes widened. [Congrattions!] [The skill ¡®Thousand Poisons Immunity¡¯ (A-rank) has reached its max.] [You have acquired the skill ¡®Absolute Poison Immunity¡¯ (S-rank).] Ah, so this was the realm of Absolute Poison Immunity. [Skill: Absolute Poison Immunity] [Rank: S] [Effect 1: Resistance to all existing poisons.] [Effect 2: Identifies all existing poisons.] [Effect 3: Can manipte all existing poisons.] ¡°Yes, Absolute Poison Immunity doesn¡¯t just end with resistance.¡± The old man smiled as he spoke. ¡°It¡¯s about bing friends with poison¡ªnot fighting it but harmonizing with it. Therefore, you no longer had to resist it and instead formed the closest bond with it. You instinctively grasped that and achieved it through sheer perseverance!¡± ¡ªSwish! The swirling wind of the poison mist began to calm. ¡°Screeeeeeeeech¡­ Scree¡­¡± The vengeful roar of resentment from the poison mist became the purr of a contented cat. ¡°Huh.¡± I nodded and opened my meridians. Through them, the once-disastrous energy of the poison mist began to flow into me. ¡°Do you want toe in? You say you want to stay within me because it¡¯s morefortable than the outside world?¡± Its emotions flowed into me. ¡°Scree! Scree! Chrrr!¡± Yes, you adorable little thing. Or rather, it suddenly became adorable. ¡°Come in, I¡¯ll take care of you.¡± I activated the Great Blue Heart Technique. No matter how strong its poison was, it could no longer harm me. It was just a soft, pleasant energy now. Its immense energy settled around the center of my body. ¡°Hehe,¡± the Elder chuckled and shook his head. ¡°No matter how much I think about it, you¡¯re absurdly lucky. To tame something so impossible. If there¡¯s a ¡®Great Art of Luck,¡¯ you¡¯ve already reached that pinnacle.¡± ¡°¡­This time, I can¡¯t disagree.¡± The poison mist nestled in my lower abdomen. I couldn¡¯t control it because its energy was too immense, but as long as it was within me, it wouldn¡¯t allow anything to threaten its newfound home. With that alone, I felt like I¡¯d gained an army. I¡¯d reached the stage of Absolute Poison Immunity¡ªI was a friend to the poison mist. Truly the stroke of a fortuitous encounter. Just as the old man had said, I was brimming with gratitude for this fortuitous encounter. ¡ªRing! [With the disappearance of the poison mist, the clear condition has been met!] [Ending Theme 1 Trial.] [You will be transported to the location of Theme 2 in 30 minutes.] [Surviving participants: 41] [Calcting rewards.] A message announcing my sess appeared before me. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± In Delh¡¯s hall, two people stood frozen, their mouths agape. Staring at the hologram, the man finally said, ¡°Wh-What did I just witness?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The poison mist. Did someone just take down the poison mist? And it wasn¡¯t a ranker¡ªit was just an ordinary participant?¡± The red-eyed Lucas had lost his usualposed demeanor. That was how shocking this incident was. ¡°¡­¡± Even Delh¡¯s usually calm gaze trembled. This neer¡ªthis anomaly¡ªhad shaken her deeply. The poison mist was a manifestation of every poison in existence, gathered to its fullest by her ability. She hadn¡¯t created it to be defeated. It was merely a trigger designed to raise the dungeon¡¯s difficulty to an extreme and reward participants ordingly. ¡°Joo Donghoon. He¡¯s far beyond what I imagined.¡± Delh licked her lips. A participant who had shattered the framework of surviving against the poison mist for a week by simply eliminating the poison mist itself. ¡°What happens now?¡± Lucas asked with a curious expression. ¡°It¡¯s simple. The dungeon will calcte his actions and reward him ordingly,¡± Delh replied calmly. ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Delh swallowed hard. ¡°I¡¯m certain it¡¯ll be a reward beyond anything I can imagine.¡± At the same time, her eyes sparkled with curiosity. Delh was genuinely eager to see what unimaginable reward her dungeon would produce. Chapter 105 Chapter 105: Theme 1 Shop I stared at the message with an expression full of emotion. [With the disappearance of the ¡®Poison Mist,¡¯ the clear condition has been met!] [Ending Trial ¡®Theme 1.¡¯] [You will be transported to the location of ¡®Theme 2¡¯ in 30 minutes.] It was proof that I had defeated the poison mist and survived. A wave of pride surged through me. My chest felt tight, and my heart was still pounding. Ah, this¡ªis this what it feels like to be alive? But¡­ I furrowed my brow. Thirty minutes? Something felt off, knowing I¡¯d be transported to the next location so soon. What was this feeling? A vague sense of unease, like something was left unfinished. If I had to describe it¡­ It felt like walking out of a bar on a rainy day, beer in hand, only to realize after boarding the bus home that I¡¯d forgotten my umbre. ¡°Ah?!¡± I suddenly gasped, the realization hitting me like ice water. ¡°That¡¯s right! The shop!¡± When I move to Theme 2, the location might change entirely. It would be better to use the shop while I could. ording to the information tickets, shops in Theme 1 appeared in the area after the poison mist emerged. ¡°Ah.¡± Then it hit me¡ªI didn¡¯t need to worry about it at all. [Judges are appearing throughout the area.] With the Great Blue Heart Technique, I could sense judges revealing their presence, no longer hiding while observing us. These judges must have been the shops mentioned in the information. ¡ªWhoosh! Just then, someone appeared beside me. ¡°Wow, you lunatic! Freaking maniac! You unbelievable bastard!¡± The person yelling curses right from our first meeting was someone I¡¯d seen before¡ªRank 84, Floa the Thundercry. ¡°I should¡¯ve realized when you found me earlier! Of course you¡¯re an overpowered character. Hah, I¡¯m speechless.¡± ¡°¡­¡± And again, I couldn¡¯t help but be surprised. Just as I had changed after dealing with the poison mist, Floa¡¯s strength felt entirely different from before. She¡¯s strong. She was incredibly strong. You only find what you¡¯re capable of when you have the right knowledge. She was nauseatingly strong. Unlike the poison mist, which felt like an untamed force with exploitable weaknesses, Floa exuded controlled, polished power. She was invulnerable and powerful. ¡°Seriously, how does someone take down something like the poison mist alone? Are you really just a regr participant? Are you a hidden ranker? Or, wait, are you some kind of monster spat out by a dungeon?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± I muttered curtly. She was a 23-year-old from Germany, the same age as me. Since we had already spoken informally during our first meeting, I decided to keep it that way. Switching to formal speech just because someone was strong would make me seem spineless, wouldn¡¯t it? ¡°Damn it! No matter how I think about it, this is so unfair!¡± Of course, Floa didn¡¯t seem to care about that at all. ¡°With this momentum, I guarantee it! Once you leave this ce, you¡¯ll be able to climb to a single-digit rank within three years! Ugh, I¡¯m so jealous I could die.¡± Floa scanned me curiously as if I were some exotic creature. I endured her gaze for a moment before speaking. ¡°What is this? Why aren¡¯t the other judges here? Why are you the one who came?¡± ¡°What? Do you have a problem with that? I called dibs on you, that¡¯s why. What, you don¡¯t want me here? I already got penalized because of you; I might as well satisfy my curiosity.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How is your penalty my fault? You should me yourself for getting caught. I swallowed my retort and got straight to the point, ¡°Alright, fine. Whatever. What I mean is, what are you doing here? If you¡¯re here, do your job, or at least tell me why you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°To work?¡± ¡°Hah, to sell shop items, of course.¡± ¡°Oh, right! That¡¯s what I¡¯m here for!¡± Floa pped her hands as if she just remembered. I was dumbfounded. Why is her character so scatterbrained? Is she really even a judge? ¡°Ahem, well! You must¡¯ve racked up a lot of points, right?¡± ¡°Of course. I ate so much poison, after all.¡± How much had I umted? I wondered. I opened the status window I had set aside. [Current trial points: 2,100,500] ¡°¡­!¡± My jaw dropped. What the hell? 2.1 million points? ¡°What is it?¡± Noticing my stunned expression, Floa asked curiously, ¡°How many points did you rack up?¡± ¡°First, show me the shop list. Let me take a look.¡± ¡°Huh? Give me a sec¡­¡± ¡ªWhoosh! Momentster, the shop menu appeared in my view. ¡ªRing! [Judge ¡®Floa¡¯ has opened the ¡®Shop.¡¯] [The currency for this shop is trial points.] [Each item is limited to one per person.] [List ¨C 10/10] [1. Grade A Antidote ¨C 1,000 points] [2. Grade S Antidote ¨C 3,000 points] [3. Theme 1 Pass Ticket ¨C 5,000 points] [4. Theme 1 Information ¨C 10,000 points] [5. Theme 2 Information ¨C 10,000 points] [6. Elixir ¨C 10,000 points] [7. Grade A Random Box ¨C 10,000 points] [8. Grade S Random Box ¨C 30,000 points] [9. Root of the World Tree ¨C 50,000 points] [10. Wish-Granting Scroll ¨C 100,000 points] ¡°What? This is it?¡± I was baffled to find out that the most expensive item was 100,000 points. There was no way to spend all 2.1 million points!N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°What do you mean, this is it?¡± Floa red at me as if she couldn¡¯t believe what I just said. ¡°Oh, you little bastard! Look at you boasting about your points! Judging by your reaction, I¡¯d say you¡¯ve got 100,000 points or something. Do you even realize? Since Lady Delh created these trials, not a single participant has ever purchased item number 10, the Wish-Granting Scroll. Sure, you ate a lot of poison and earned points, but try to be a little humble, will you?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Only 100,000? At that moment, I was reminded of just how absurd my actions had been. Eating the poison mist itself was beyondprehension. ¡°Phew,¡± I let out a light sigh. ¡°Alright, alright. You¡¯re right. Anyway, just give me everything on the list.¡± I had more than enough points to spare, and the shop¡¯s prices were ridiculously low. Plus, I had no choice but to buy it all with the one-item-per-person restriction. Honestly, even if I bought everything, it wouldn¡¯t put a dent in my points. ¡°What¡­?¡± Floa seemed to be taken aback. She stared at me as if she hadn¡¯t heard me correctly. ¡°Everything? You want everything? What kind of nonsense is that?¡± It was clear what she meant¡ªhow could such a request make any sense? ¡°How many points do you even have?¡± ¡°About 2.1 million,¡± I answered honestly. ¡°What the fuck?¡± She was visibly shaken. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me! That¡¯s apletely insane number!¡± ¡°Why would I lie? I was surprised too. Now hurry up and hand it over. I¡¯ve got 30 minutes left.¡± ¡°Y-You¡¯re serious?¡± Still dumbfounded, Floa checked the points herself. ¡°Holy crap. It¡¯s true. Excluding what you¡¯ve already bought, that¡¯s 209,000 points. Damn it, no one¡¯s going to believe me when I tell this to everyone.¡± [209,000 points have been spent.] [Remaining trial points: 1,891,500.] At the same time, items began to float in the air before me¡ªantidotes, pass tickets, random boxes, and even the Root of the World Tree and the Wish-Granting Scroll. Honestly, I didn¡¯t even need the Theme 1 Pass Ticket anymore, but I bought it just in case. [Hidden condition achieved!] [You purchased all items in the Theme 1 shop.] [The ¡®Theme 1 Exclusive VIP Shop¡¯ has been unlocked.] ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°¡­!¡± Both Floa and I stared at the message in disbelief. ¡°VIP Shop?¡± I asked. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know either. This is the first time I¡¯ve seen it too. Damn it, I¡¯m as confused as you!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask this since before¡­ Are you really a judge?¡± ¡°Shut up! Do you have any idea howplicated Lady Delh¡¯s dungeon is? We¡¯re just here to provide oversight and receive some rewards, nothing more! Besides, I just told you that you¡¯re the first person in history to buy that 100,000-point item! You¡¯re the crazy one, not me!¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right! Let¡¯s see what this shop has.¡± ¡ªRing! [The currency for this shop is trial points.] [Each item is limited to one per person.] [List ¨C 1/1] [1. Reward Probability Amplification Scroll ¨C 1,000,000 Points] ¡°¡­Reward Probability Amplification Scroll?¡± I wondered what that was. And why was it so expensive? ¡°Hmm, let me read you the description.¡± Floa scanned the air, reading something visible only to her. ¡°Lady Delh¡¯s trials offer rewards in the next location based on personal preferences. This scroll seems to increase the probability of getting better rewards¡­ But damn, this wording is ridiculous.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. It¡¯splicated. You¡¯ll figure it out soon anyway. My advice? Buy it. You¡¯ve got so many points, there¡¯s no reason not to.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± I nodded. There was no alternative. If it was this expensive, it had to be worth it. I handed over the points without hesitation. ¡°Good choice.¡± Floa snapped her fingers with a grin. [1,000,000 points have been spent.] [Remaining trial points: 891,500.] ¡ªWhooosh! A golden scroll appeared in my hand, radiating a brilliant white light. Unlike the elegant silver Wish-Granting Scroll, this one had a more regal aura. ¡°Wow.¡± Floa shook her head in disbelief. ¡°Honestly, this is insane. Flexing a million-point item purchase? I don¡¯t even feel jealous anymore. I just want to see how far you¡¯ll go. Watching you might actually be fun.¡± Ignoring her, I meticulously organized and inspected my items: Grade A Antidote, Grade S Antidote, Theme 1 Pass Ticket¡ªmostly useless to me now. [Item: Elixir] [Rank: S] [Description: A legendary potion.] [Effect 1: Cures all illness.] [Effect 2: Removes adverse status effects.] [Effect 3: Highest-grade healing effect.] [Effect 4: Cannot be used on the dead.] Elixirs were well-known. They asionally appeared as rewards in S-rank dungeons and sold for exorbitant prices. I¡¯ll hand this over to Kim Jinahter. In an auction, it would fetch at least 10 billion won. There were plenty of wealthy people desperate to stave off death. [Item: A-Rank Random Box] [Rank: A] [Type: Box] [Description: A box that randomly produces an A-Rank item.] [Effect: Generates an A-Rank item of any type.] [Item: S-Rank Random Box] [Rank: S] [Type: Box] [Description: A box that randomly produces an S-Rank item.] [Effect: Generates an S-Rank item of any type.] Next were the random boxes. The A-Rank was okay, but the S-Rank was the real jackpot. Especially if a weapon came out¡ªit would be an absolute windfall. An S-Rank weapon would hold greater value than even the elixir. Well, I¡¯ll open this er. I shifted my attention to the next item. [Item: World Tree Root] [Rank: S] [Type: Root] [Description: A fragment of the World Tree¡¯s root.] [Effect: Unknown.] It was a mystical-looking blue root with no listed effects. I¡¯ll keep this for now. [Item: Wish-Granting Scroll] [Rank: S] [Type: Scroll] [Description: Use in moments of crisis, and it will provide exactly what you need.] [Effect: Ancient magic will aid you in critical moments.] ¡°And what is this?¡± [Item: Reward Probability Amplification Scroll] [Rank: S] [Type: Scroll] [Description: A scroll that amplifies reward acquisition probability.] [Effect: Increases the probability of obtaining the selected reward to 100%.] ¡°And this too¡­¡± I kept reading through the descriptions. Reading them over and over again, I had just one thought. I don¡¯t get it. I could interpret what the effects might be. But they didn¡¯t resonate with me clearly. As I was organizing my items and fiddling with the scrolls¡­ [30 minutes have passed.] [You will be transported to the location of ¡®Theme 2.¡¯] Atst, the message marking the end of Theme 1 appeared. Chapter 106 Chapter 106: ???-Rank Gift Box ¡ªsh! When I opened my eyes after the dazzling light, I saw a narrow woond path. [This is the location of Theme 2.] [Please wait.] [Calcting rewards.] Survivors had already gathered and were murmuring amongst themselves. ¡°What happened? What about the poison mist? Why was it stuck in the central area?¡± The majority of the hunters shared the same question. ¡°Was it supposed to be this easy¡­?¡± ¡°I heard that someone jumped right into the middle of the poison mist.¡± ¡°Who said that?¡± ¡°Some guy named Chris Larsen. ording to him, the poison mist stopped moving after that.¡± ¡°Seriously¡­?¡± ¡ªMurmur, murmur! Their conversations reached my ears clearly. I scratched my head. That was me. The attention made me feel a bit awkward. Though, I¡¯d better start getting used to it. After all, once I became a ranker, this kind of thing would be a daily urrence. Iughed inwardly. Though it wasn¡¯t reality just yet, I could feel it approaching. If I could make it through this trial, my name would undoubtedly be inscribed on the world ranking board in the U.S. ¡°Phew.¡± A strange sense of relief washed over me. The Five Stars of Seoul had burned their rmendation tickets to send me here. I feared that I might fail to deliver results. The pressure had been immense, but now it felt like the weight was lifting. At least within this trial, I was the G.O.A.T.¡ªthe Greatest Of All Time. I was confident that I had achieved the best performance in history. ¡°Yo! Hoon!¡± ¡°You made it!¡± While I was lost in thought and waiting for my rewards, Olena, James, and Capu approached. ¡°We didn¡¯t hear anything from you when you moved to the central area, so we were worried. d to see you¡¯re alive.¡± Olena, from the Ukraine, looked visibly relieved. James and Capu bore the marks of struggle and exhaustion from the past few days. Not bad. Especially for James and Olena who had shed with each other early on. Despite my absence, they worked together to survive until the end. They must have set their pride aside and made rational decisions. Other familiar faces soon joined them. ¡ªShhkk! A Chinese man wielding a spear appeared beside me. ¡°Huh?¡± I blinked in surprise. It was the Spear of Judgment, Zhang Wei, a disciple of the Spear King, ranked 10th globally, and wielder of the Pear Blossom Spear. ¡°Skeleton King.¡± He nodded at me. ¡°As expected, I knew you¡¯d survive. Is this the new location for Theme 2?¡± Scanning the surroundings, his face contorted. ¡°This stench¡­ Murderers everywhere. Skeleton King, my apologies. Before exchanging greetings, I must pass judgment on¡ª¡± As always, his obsession with justice burned brightly. Judgment was more important than the trial for him. The murderous aura began to seep from his body, but before it could escte¡­ ¡°Gah!¡± [Please wait.] [Calcting rewards.] Clutching his head in agony, Zhang Wei let out a low groan, ¡°Argh, so it¡¯s not time yet?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Olena approached, exining the situation. ¡°Earlier, Chris Larsen and another hunter got into a fight, but they both ended up clutching their heads and couldn¡¯t do anything. It caused quite amotion for a while.¡± ¡°Is there some kind ofbat restriction?¡± I asked, and Olena nodded. ¡°Seems like it. There was a system message telling us to wait at that time, too.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± If I were Delh, I¡¯d have implemented simr measures. Given the bloodshed that could¡¯ve urred in Theme 1, letting battles break out before Theme 2 even began would undermine the trial¡¯s purpose. ¡ªRing! Suddenly¡­ [Reward calctions have beenpleted.] [Rewards will be distributed based on individual contributions.] ¡°Completed?¡± Someone eximed in excitement, ¡°Finally, the rewards are here!¡± ¡°Contributions? Was that even a thing? Is it talking about trial points?¡± ¡°You idiot, trial points are for the shop.¡± [Attention, participants.] The continued messages made everyone fall silent, gazing toward the sky. Curiosity about the announcement outweighed any urge to speak. [Calcting contributions.] [Surviving participants: 41] [The system will now rank all 41 participants.] ¡°Woohoo!¡± The hunters erupted into cheers. Knowing their rank and seeing who performed the best in the group was a topic that made any hunter¡¯s blood boil. ¡°Alright, who¡¯s number one?¡± ¡°Yeah, tell us already!¡± Even Chris Larsen and the Spear of Judgment, who had been holding his head in pain, as well as Olena, James, and Capu focused intently on the message. ¡°Show us! Show us already!¡± ¡°Ugh, I must¡¯ve made the top ten, right?¡± Finally, the system responded to their anticipation. ¡ªsh! A radiant rainbow burst across the sky, followed by¡­ [Contribution Rankings] [Values below 1% are rounded up.] [1st ¨C 99%] [2nd ¨C 1%] [3rd ¨C 1%] [4th ¨C 1%] [5th ¨C 1%] ¡­ [38th ¨C 1%] [39th ¨C 1%] [40th ¨C 1%] [41st ¨C 1%] The results disyed in the air were bizarre. It showed a shocking disparity, as if the first-ce contributor had monopolized everything. ¡°¡­¡± Silence fell over the hunters. The absurdly disproportionate numbers left everyone stunned. Some rubbed their eyes, thinking they¡¯d misread. ¡°What the hell?¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s at 1%? And first ce is 99%? What kind of nonsense is this?¡± Voices of confusion echoed across the area. ¡°This is ridiculous! After everything we went through to survive Theme 1!¡± Even Olena cried out in disbelief while James and Capu shook their heads. Only the Spear of Judgment stared at me with a curious expression. ¡°¡­¡± I avoided his gaze. The rankings didn¡¯t show names, but his knowing look made me ufortable. For several minutes, murmurs of disbelief and confusion spread among the hunters. [Your contribution is 99%, earning you 1st ce.] [Please select your reward.] ¡°Reward¡­¡± someone muttered. ¡°A-rank gift box? What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°I got a B-rank box, but it says I can lower the odds to 30% to upgrade to an S-rank box and 1% for an SS-rank box. Holy crap, I didn¡¯t know SS-rank even existed!¡± ¡°What kind of rewards are these? Everyone is getting boxes, right? Not just me?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because I¡¯m not first. Feels a bit stingy¡­¡± I moved aside to check my message. [You have been awarded an ¡®SS-Rank Gift Box.¡¯] [Gift boxes matching their rank contain the item you need most.]n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om A gift box? I tilted my head. It would provide what I needed most. How would the system even know that? [Selecting your default reward guarantees 100% acquisition.] [Alternatively, you may spend your chances to aim for rewards up to two ranks higher.] [Choose carefully after thorough consideration.] [100% chance: SS-Rank Gift Box] [30% chance: SSS-Rank Gift Box] [1% chance: ???-Rank Gift Box] ¡°Holy shit¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but curse. There was so much to be surprised about. First, the system determining my needs was already shocking. Then, SS-rank rewards were introduced. I had always thought S was the highest rank. And now there was SS and even SSS? And what is the ???-rank supposed to be? There¡¯s no way that the Five Stars of Seoul couldn¡¯t have known about this. They had participated in Delh¡¯s trials themselves. Surely, they had seen the reward lists. But then why wasn¡¯t this public knowledge? It had to be one of two things: either rankers intentionally kept it secret, or they truly didn¡¯t know. Probably the former. Before entering the trial, I was just an E-rank hunter. I¡¯d barely wed my way up to A-rank. Compared to a ranker, I was still a small fry. There was a limit to the information I could ess. The world is vast. It felt like peeling an onion. Everyyer revealed something new¡ªand it stung. [Choose carefully after thorough consideration.] [100% chance: SS-Rank Gift Box] [30% chance: SSS-Rank Gift Box] [1% chance: ???-Rank Gift Box] Hmm. SS-rank was already incredible, but not wanting to aim for SSS-rank would disqualify me as a hunter. And ???-rank? Curiosity stirred in my gut. But the odds¡­ A 1% chance was too risky. What if I aimed higher and got nothing? That would be devastating. Wait a second. Floa¡¯s words came back to me: ¡°Lady Delh¡¯s trials offer rewards in the next location based on personal preferences. This scroll seems to increase the probability of getting better rewards¡­ But damn, this wording is ridiculous¡­ I don¡¯t know. It¡¯splicated. You¡¯ll figure it out soon, anyway. My advice? Buy it. You¡¯ve got so many points, there¡¯s no reason not to.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± I eximed. So that¡¯s what she meant¡ªthe VIP scroll. [Item: Reward Probability Amplification Scroll] [Rank: S] [Type: Scroll] [Description: A scroll that amplifies reward acquisition probability.] [Effect1: Increases the probability of obtaining the selected reward to 100%.] The scroll¡¯s description lit up in my mind. It could raise even a 1% chance to 100%. ¡°This is insane¡­¡± Now I understood the VIP shop¡¯s value and why the scroll cost a million points. My body tingled with realization. I have to use this now, no matter what! SSS-rank? No. It had to be the ???-rank. There was no way I could pass up a chance like this. With unsteady hands, I activated the scroll. ¡ªTremble, tremble. Before I knew it, my hands were shaking. It was my first time seeing an SSS-rank item. And now, I was dealing with something even beyond that. Is this safe? What if it¡¯s a scam? If not, then what is Delh¡¯s true identity to make something like this possible? Countless thoughts clouded my mind. This moment was surreal. Still¡­ I had to choose. Finding an opportunity and hesitating out of fear was never how I lived my life. Besides, the old man said that when it came to luck, I was a genius¡ªbeyond that, even. ¡ªGulp. I swallowed hard and finally pointed my finger at the very bottom option in the message. I¡¯ll take the 1% chance to obtain the ???-rank gift box. Simultaneously¡­ ¡ªRiiip! I tore apart the golden scroll in my hands. [Using the item ¡®Reward Probability Amplification Scroll¡¯ (S-rank).] [All reward probabilities set to 100%.] Blinding light wrapped around me as the message confirmed: [Congrattions!] [¡ï¡îSuper Duper Mega Jackpot¡î¡ï] [You have obtained the ¡®???-Rank Gift Box.¡¯] In my hands, a box radiating ethereal light appeared. Chapter 107 Chapter 107: A New Weapon ¡°Whoa!¡± ¡°This¡­ This is unbelievable!¡± The Arcane Swordsman, Lucas, exhaled sharply, staring at the reward results in utter disbelief. ¡°Has anything like this ever happened before?¡± ¡°Never,¡± Delh responded with a shake of her head. This was unprecedented. Typically, the difference between first and second ce was at most 10%. But this time, Joo Donghoon¡¯s contribution was 99%. To be exact, it was 98.1315667%, though such details weren¡¯t disclosed to the participants. The absurdly high number spoke volumes. Well, it makes sense, she thought. He didn¡¯t just deal with the poison mist¡ªhe subdued it. No, ¡°subdued¡± wasn¡¯t even the right word. ¡°Tamed¡± might have been more urate. ¡°Haah¡­ I didn¡¯t expect this to actually be reality.¡± ¡°We might be witnessing the birth of a legendary hunter,¡± Lucas said, his voice still tinged with awe. As they were reading the information on the hologram, an rm suddenly sounded. ¡ªBeep! Beep! Beep! Golden text began to sh across the holoscreen. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°The rewards! They¡¯re being distributed!¡± ¡°Rewards¡­ That means¡­!¡± It was Joo Donghoon¡¯s reward. And not just any reward¡ªhe had purchased probability amplification from the VIP shop! Both their gazes snapped toward the text, eager to learn what it said. And there, the message read: [Choosing reward.] [Congrattions!] [¡ï¡îSuper Duper Mega Jackpot¡î¡ï] [You have obtained the ¡®???-Rank Gift Box.¡¯] For the first time since the dungeon¡¯s inception, the Super Duper Mega Jackpotbel had appeared. The sparkling, diamond-like letters shimmered brilliantly. ¡°Th-This is¡­¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°Unreal! What kind of rank is that?¡± ¡°You already know asking me won¡¯t help.¡± ¡°Ah, right¡­¡± ¡°Yes, even I, who created this dungeon, have never seen such a rank before.¡± ¡°Haah¡­ This is¡­ beyondprehension.¡± Lucas¡¯s mind raced. He knew SS-rank items existed; they were the weapons wielded by the top ten rankers. But SSS-rank¡­? Rumor had it some hunters had attempted to acquire them in this dungeon. The story of Jang Daewoong, the Berserker, was legendary. He¡¯d discarded a guaranteed S-rank item from Theme 1 to gamble for an SSS-rank with a 1% chance. ¡°Gahaha! Life¡¯s about taking risks!¡± he had famously dered. Of course, the 1% odds didn¡¯t favor him. He ended up with nothing, his chance squandered in vain. ¡°But this isn¡¯t just SSS-rank¡ªit¡¯s an unknown rank. And to ovee the 1% chance with an item? Haah, this is¡­ beyond absurd.¡± Even the VIP shop had been a revtion to them, and it was their first time seeing someone collect that many trial points. A new star had shattered the existing framework. For a moment, Delh and Lucas could only sit in silence, grappling with the magnitude of what they were witnessing. * * * ¡°So this is the Unknown-Rank Gift Box¡­?¡± I slipped behind a boulder, seeking solitude. Its radiant, almost divine appearance was bound to draw attention, and I didn¡¯t want any unnecessary drama. It¡¯s a shame I can¡¯t share this moment with the old man. Unfortunately, his cooldown period hadn¡¯t yet ended. And I couldn¡¯t wait for it since no one knew when Theme 2 would begin. I¡¯m sorry, Elder. I mentally apologized before focusing on the item in my hands. [Item: ???-Rank Gift Box] [Rank: ???] [Type: Box] [Description: Open it to receive the item you need most.] [Effect 1: Grants a ???-rank item.] It was a simple description. I still didn¡¯t know what ¡°???-rank¡± truly meant, but a thought crossed my mind. How much would this sell for? An unknown-rank item gift box, beyond S, SS, or even SSS-rank. Pfft, who would believe me? I¡¯d be lucky not to be branded a scammer. Even an SS-rank item would shake the world, so no one would believe that something even greater existed. But if there was a market that acknowledged its value¡­ It¡¯d be priceless. This was a treasure no amount of wealth could buy, a relic beyond words. And I was about to open it. What would the system determine I needed most? Heart pounding with anticipation, I flipped open the box. [Opening the ¡®???-Rank Gift Box.¡¯] ¡ªRumble! A radiant glow emanated from the box as it shook in my hands. Only I could see it¡ªan intense, almost overwhelming energy that indicated the item was manifesting. [The item selection process has begun!] [The gift box has detected that youck a dedicated weapon!] My own dedicated weapon? To be fair, I¡¯d never used one. As a necromancer, my summons did most of the fighting. An ordinary staff sufficed for me. Whenever I obtained powerful weapons, I handed them over to my undead. A dedicated weapon doesn¡¯t feel necessary¡­ but I guess the system thinks otherwise. After all, hunters generally prioritized dedicated weapons above all else. Still¡­ [The item will be a dedicated weapon!] ¡°Dammit.¡± Why was my gut instinct never wrong? Well, this isn¡¯t the worst-case scenario. If it was ???-rank, it had to be absurdly powerful. I could still hope for the best. [Scanning for weapons you can use!] [Matching the weapon to your abilities!] ¡ªBeep! Beep! Beep! [Detected: You can use far too many weapons!] ¡°Huh?¡± That was unexpected. Oh, right¡ªI was a disciple of All Techniques. Mastering all weapons was part of my destiny. Naturally, the system was overwhelmed by my potential versatility. ¡°¡­¡± My palms grew damp with sweat. Would continuing the legacy of All Techniques work to my advantage? Or would it backfire? [Exploring possibilities across dimensions.] [Searching for an appropriate item.] The light from the box grew so intense that I had to shut my eyes. My hands began to sting from the heat radiating from the vibrating box. ¡ªRumble! The vibrations turned violent, as though the box contained a sealed demon. ¡°¡­¡± What on earth was it nning to give me that it took this long? My heart raced as I waited. ¡ªRing! [Item discovered!] The shaking ceased, and the radiant light dimmed. And in my hands¡­ ¡°What is this¡­?¡± I tilted my head in confusion. Resting in my hands was not a weapon but a mass of light, glowing fiercely as if set ame in a vivid crimson hue. I immediately checked the item information. It read: [Item: Sealed Spirit of the Seven Elements (1/7)] [Rank: Godyer] [Type: Weapon] [Description: A fragment of the Seven Elements feared by even the primordial gods. Unlock all elements to break its seal. Currently contains the Element of Fire.] [Effect 1: Transforms into any desired form.] [Effect 2: This item cannot be destroyed.] [Effect 3: Grants the power of the collected element.] [Effect 4: Increases energy by 1,000.] ¡°¡­?¡± I was speechless. What kind of item was this? Godyer-rank? Not just godlike¡ªgodying. It imed to be a fragment feared by primordial gods. Confusion clouded my mind. I barely understood the dungeon, and now this? Were gods even real? In any case¡­ There was no denying its power. Not just because of its rank or the energy bonus but because of one specific effect: it could transform into any weapon I desired. [The Element of Fire chuckles in confirmation.] ¡°Huh?¡± What the¡ªdid my weapon justugh? The orb of light naturally shifted, morphing into a majestic spear before my eyes. ¡°¡­!¡± [The Element of Fire encourages you to imagine another weapon.] ¡°Haha¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but let out a hollowugh. This was an ego weapon like I¡¯d only seen in fictional novels. As the weapon suggested, I thought of Eldrin, and the spear transformed into an elegant bow. Then, picturing Boney 1, it became a sleek sword. Befitting the ability of a godying weapon, it responded instantly to my thoughts, as if my subconscious was sendingmands through nerves to the brain. Moreover, it transformed into a shape that fit my physical attributes perfectly, as though it knew my body better than anyone else, making it incrediblyfortable to grip. The weight was perfect¡ªneither too heavy nor too light. This was a weapon for me alone. ¡°Not bad.¡± I smirked, already imagining the Elder¡¯s envy when I showed him this. [The Element of Fire chuckles softly, as if amused.] ¡°¡­¡± That¡­ was unsettling. Like a god observing a feeble mortal, indulgent but distant. ¡°Who are you, exactly?¡± I asked the weapon aloud, but it remained silent. ¡°Hey, can you at least answer me¡­?¡± I called out repeatedly. Even when I swung the weapon, itpletely ignored me. What was this thing? It seemed like it only responded when it felt like it. It looked like understanding the essence of its existence was going to take some time. Still, there were no issues with the weapon¡¯s performance. As soon as I envisioned a desired form, it transformed instantly. For now, that was good enough. ¡°Phew.¡± As I temporarily set the weapon aside, amotion arose again in the center. ¡°So who¡¯s in first ce?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the reward for first ce? With 99%, it must be something amazing, right?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see the face of the first-ce guy!¡± The curiosity they had temporarily set aside after receiving their rewards was ring up again. They¡¯d all figure out I was in first ce once Theme 2 began, anyway. For now. I still had unfinished business to handle. [Item: A-Rank Random Box] [Rank: A] [Type: Box] [Description: A box containing a random A-rank item.] [Effect 1: Produces a random A-rank item.] [Item: S-Rank Random Box] [Rank: S] [Type: Box] [Description: A box containing a random S-rank item.] [Effect 1: Produces a random S-rank item.] And that was opening these two. D, or whoever it was, seemed to have a fondness for random boxes. Let¡¯s start with this. I decided to open the A-Rank Random Box first. [Opening ¡®A-Rank Random Box.¡¯] [¡®Superior Potion¡¯ (A-Rank) acquired.] A Superior Potion, huh? Not bad. It wasn¡¯t as high-priced as a weapon would be, but for a potion, it would fetch a decent price. I tucked it into a corner of my bag. With Boney 7 around, I¡¯d hardly need to use it myself. Next. I moved straight to the next box. Perhaps because I¡¯d already opened and received a godyer-rank item, the S-Rank didn¡¯t excite me as much anymore. Still. An S-rank item still held potential. Please, let it be something good. As the glowing light settled, I checked the results. [Opening ¡®S-Rank Random Box.¡¯] [¡®Behemoth¡¯s Bone Shield¡¯ (S-Rank) acquired.] ¡°Oh, a bone shield?¡± An S-rank shield would be perfect for our Boney 4. And the name couldn¡¯t fit any better¡ªBone Shield. It was a match made in heaven. ¡°Jackpot!¡± Chuckling, I checked the item¡¯s details. [Item: Behemoth¡¯s Bone Shield] [Rank: S] [Type: Shield] [Description: A shield crafted from the bones of the ancient demon Behemoth, boasting exceptional performance.] [Effect 1: Increases strength by 30.] [Effect 2: 10% chance to nullify basic attackspletely. (This effect does not stack with other effects.)] [Effect 3: Reduces damage by 50%. (This effect does not stack with other effects.)] [Effect 4: Increases energy by 50.] ¡°Wow.¡± The performance was outstanding, as expected from an S-rank item. I summoned Boney 4 and handed the shield to him. ¡ªCreak, creak! It nodded appreciatively as if to say thanks. ¡°Thank me? I¡¯m the one who should apologize for taking so long to get you geared up.¡± Lately, I¡¯d been spending more time with Sunny, Demir, and Eldrin. I hadn¡¯t been paying enough attention to these guys. Both Boney 1 and Boney 5 saved me from the orc on that day. Watching Boney 4 lift its new weapon with delight filled me with satisfaction. [Reward assessment isplete.] [Theme 2 will now begin.] [The senior examiner will appear.] A message signaling the official start of Theme 2 appeared. Chapter 108 Chapter 108: Team Selection ¡°Lucas¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s Red-Eyed Lucas!¡± The scattered crowd made of the 41 participants who survived Theme 1 began gathering in the center at the chief judge¡¯s reappearance. ¡ªTap, tap. At that moment, someone tapped my right shoulder. ¡°Where were you? You suddenly disappeared.¡± It was Olena, her face full of curiosity. Beside her, James and Capu had simr expressions. Even the Spear of Judgment casually made eye contact with me as he tapped his weapon, pretending to be uninterested. They all seemed to expect an answer from me. What¡¯s this now? Do I really have to exin something like this? ¡°¡­Haha, I was just checking out some rewards.¡± As I gave a vague excuse, Olena¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°Huh? That staff in your hand! It¡¯s the first time I¡¯ve seen it. Is it a reward you received? That crimson color makes it look really expensive.¡± ¡°Ah, well, yes.¡± I had thrown away the E-rank staff I was using before. The staff I now wielded was of the terrifyingly high rank of godyer. No, to be precise, it was an element that had transformed into a staff. ¡°Wow, then what rank did you select for your reward? 100% or 30%? Don¡¯t tell me you seeded with 1%?¡± Olena smiled brightly as she expressed her interest. ¡°Everyone, attention.¡± Lucas¡¯s impactful voice filled the room. His voice was so strong and had such weight that it naturally drew everyone¡¯s gaze. ¡°¡­¡± The once noisy space fell silent. We, too, stopped our conversation and focused on Lucas. He seemed pleased by the sight. ¡°It¡¯s nice and quiet.¡± A faint smile appeared on his lips. ¡°Congrattions to all of you who survived Theme 1. This trial seems to have an unusually high survival rate. Normally, about 40% would have died.¡± Hearing Lucas¡¯s cold voice, I nodded. That¡¯s true. Recalling the details of Theme 2, that seemed urate. We would be divided into three teams with a maximum of 10 members selected for each. That meant the creator of this dungeon likely anticipated about 30 survivors. If I hadn¡¯t subdued the poison mist, it would have been the same this time. ¡°You¡¯re all rtively lucky. Compared to the gruesome previous trials, you reached Theme 2 much more easily. Thanks to an unexpected rookie, that is.¡± Was it just my imagination that Lucas¡¯s fiery red eyes briefly looked my way? No. It wasn¡¯t my imagination. The emotion in Lucas¡¯s eyes¡ªI could clearly read the raw emotion he was exuding. It was curiosity. How could I be so sure of it, someone might ask? My answer to that question is: because I¡¯ve experienced it. Not just with Lucas but from the Five Stars of Seoul to rank 84, the Thundercry. Every ranker I¡¯d met looked at me as if I were a zoo animal. Really. Living a long life did bring surprises. To think I¡¯d live a life where even rankers took an interest in me. What a dramatic change. Well done, Joo Donghoon. Compared to when I was an E-rank Hunter, I¡¯d grown a lot. ¡°However.¡± ¡ªSwoosh! At that moment, Lucas raised his right arm. ¡°The number of people who can move on to Theme 2 is limited to 30. Unfortunately, 11 of you will be eliminated here.¡± ¡ªRumble! The ground began to tremble with a shift in the terrain around me. ¡ªCrack! Crrrack! The ground around me began splitting in a circr pattern. ¡°Wh-What is happening?¡± ¡°Hoon?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a line drawn around Hoon? Move away for now!¡± As Olena and Capu stepped back¡­ ¡ªThud, thud, thud! The ground beneath me shot into the sky. Wow. As gravity pressed down on my body like a ride at an amusement park, I looked around. There were three others besides me floating in the air¡ªtwo participants and the judge, Lucas. [Three team leaders will be selected for Theme 2 based on contribution.] Ah, right, the team leaders. This was another privilege granted to the participants who had contributed greatly in the previous theme. It¡¯s starting now. Clenching my fists, I focused on the message. [Team 1 ¨C Joo Donghoon, the Skeleton King] [Team 2 ¨C Chris Larsen, the ughterer] [Team 3 ¨C Wolf, the Illusionist] Chris Larsen and Wolf. Those were the names of those who ranked second and third in contribution after me. I looked them up and down, examining them closely. First, Chris Larsen. So that¡¯s the second-ce guy, huh? To me, his first impression was terrible. He had golden hair reminiscent of a medieval prince and a gaudy shirt that looked like it belonged to a spoiled rich kid. Despite a month having passed in this dungeon, his slicked-back hair remained impably styled. I hear he¡¯s notorious for picking fights and killing people. His was the name I heard most frequently after arriving in Theme 2. Even the Spear of Judgment showed an intense reaction to him. Not to mention¡­ His alias said it all¡ªThe ughterer. I was genuinely curious to know how many people one had to kill to earn a title like that. Next is Wolf. Truthfully, I couldn¡¯t properly see Wolf¡¯s appearance because he was covered head to toe in a robe with peculiar patterns. ¡ªRing! [Team leaders will take turns selecting members.] ¡°Teams? They¡¯re selecting teams?¡± ¡°Those guys up there? What, is this a team match now?¡± Participants who hadn¡¯t yet received the information murmured below. ¡°Huh? Wait! So Joo Donghoon is in first ce?¡± Another person noticed the message and began talking about me. [Team 1 ¨C Joo Donghoon, the Skeleton King] ¡°Who¡¯s Joo Donghoon the Skeleton King?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a Korean name, isn¡¯t it? Wow, as expected of the hunter powerhouse known for hermit masters!¡± ¡°Ah, so it was thanks to Joo Donghoon that the poison mist was subdued! He¡¯s probably guaranteed to be a ranker.¡± ¡°The Skeleton King¡­ Does that mean he¡¯s a necromancer? Necromancers are so overpowered!¡± Some simply acknowledged it. Others looked at me with envy. Various emotions mixed and flowed in my direction. ¡°¡­Hoon, you¡¯re ranked first?¡± Even Olena and her group seemed dazed by the unexpected result. ¡°Impressive. I didn¡¯t expect Hoon to be so strong. Though, his skeletons did seem overwhelmingly powerful.¡± While the participants were chattering about me, a new message appeared. [Each team leader may select up to 10 members.] [Participants who are not chosen will be eliminated.] [Eliminated participants will not die and may return under a vow of confidentiality.] ¡°What? Eliminated?¡± ¡°Immediate elimination?¡± ¡°That¡¯s absurd! How is kkthis fair? You don¡¯t even know how hard we tried to get here!¡± ¡°Do they expect us to leave it to those three to decide our fate? Hah, so they¡¯re telling us to prove ourselves with results if we don¡¯t like these rules, huh.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Those who risked their lives and pursued their dreams of bing rankers couldn¡¯t possibly give up, so they were even more desperate. ¡°Pick me, pick me!¡± ¡°No, me! Don¡¯t choose that guy. Choose me! I¡¯ll give you 1 billion if I return!¡± ¡°You idiot! You¡¯re only offering 1 billion for a spot in the rankings? Team leaders! Let me be clear! I¡¯ll prioritize the team¡¯s sess over money!¡± Each person began appealing to the team leaders floating above. Naturally, the one who drew the most attention was me. ¡°Skeleton King! I¡¯m a mage! You know every party needs a mage¡­!¡± ¡°Mr. Joo Donghoon! If you pick me, I¡¯ll not only cook and do dishes, but I¡¯ll also give you massages every night¡­¡± It was so noisy¡ªtoo noisy to hear properly. The desperation in their actions was evident. ¡°¡­¡± Would I have been like that if I didn¡¯t make it into the top three? I didn¡¯t know. ¡°Joo Donghoon.¡± Lucas the Arcane Swordsman, looked at me and spoke, ¡°You¡¯re the first one to choose. Pick someone from down below.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± I didn¡¯t look at those pleading desperately. I didn¡¯t even nce at Olena, James, or Capu. We have a connection, but that¡¯s all. Surviving in a dungeon was a matter of reality. To achieve my goals, I would take the most practical and realistic approach. First of all, Theme 2 seemed to emphasize cooperation, unlike Theme 1. Cooperation meant thatpatibility mattered more than individual skills. In other words, personality was important. So I set a standard. I¡¯ll exclude anyone who has murdered for personal gain. Such individuals were ticking time bombs who could betray the team at any moment if tempted. Avoiding such bombs was already half the battle. ¡°I choose¡­¡± As I opened my mouth, everyone fell silent. ¡ªGulp. Each swallowed nervously, waiting for my decision. I looked down. There, an individual looked up at me with an expressionless face. That¡¯s right. You have to be my first choice; I¡¯m sure you know this too. Because only you can distinguish the individuals to avoid. ¡°I choose Zhang Wei, the Spear of Judgment.¡± [¡®Zhang Wei, the Spear of Judgment¡¯ has been selected for Team 1.] ¡ªRumble! The ground around the Spear of Judgment cracked just as it had for me. Simultaneously, he soared up andnded next to me. ¡°As I expected, you were first ce.¡± Those were the first words he uttered upon arrival¡ªno thanks for choosing him or asking why, as if being chosen was a given. Really, he was quite the character. ¡°You knew? You seemed to have an idea earlier.¡± ¡°I merely spected. Still, seeing the results surprised me. But it makes sense; anyone who can defeat me must be exceptional.¡± I smirked bitterly. So that¡¯s why? The Spear of Judgment seemed pleased. It must have been because I, who defeated him, turned out to be even stronger than expected. ¡°Anyway, I chose you for one reason.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± The Spear of Judgment¡¯s ears perked up. I smiled and pointed below. ¡°Sort those people into those who should and shouldn¡¯t be punished, using your ability.¡± ¡°¡­Sort them?¡± ¡°Theme 2 emphasizes cooperation. Also, only one team can advance to Theme 3, meaning only ten people. I want those who face the trials with me to not be viins at least.¡± That wasn¡¯t all. Like the Five Stars of Seoul, the team I was about to build could end up being lifelong peers. And there was no way I¡¯d want infamous murderers as peers. I, too, wanted respectable teammates like Gi Soyul or Jang Daewoong.N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°Haha, you¡ª!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I knew you were truly a good person! A wicked person could never have such upright and noble thoughts.¡± The Spear of Judgment looked at me with a resolute expression. Then he nodded. ¡°Leave it to me. I¡¯ll judge them with all my heart.¡± ¡°¡­¡± It felt like his thought process was a bit simple. But whatever¡­ As long as the results were good, I¡¯d be fine with it. In a way, it made him easier to deal with. Thus began the team member selection! [¡®Olena Zelenska¡¯ has been selected for Team 1.] [¡®Francis Fred¡¯ has been selected for Team 2.] [¡®ra Zoomy¡¯ has been selected for Team 3.] [¡®Myoi Hana¡¯ has been selected for Team 1.] [¡®Melissa Stone¡¯ has been selected for Team 2.] [¡®Julia nchet¡¯ has been selected for Team 3.] ¡­ I made my selections first, followed by Chris Larsen and Wolf. And ordingly, messages appeared one by one for everyone. I referenced the energy of the Great Blue Heart Technique and the Spear of Judgment¡¯s ability to choose my teammates carefully. And before long¡­ [Total: 10 members] [Team member selection isplete.] Next to me stood 10 participants¡ªthose who would face the trials of Theme 2 together with me. ¡°¡­¡± I made eye contact with them. They, too, looked at me. A long silence ensued. [Theme 2 begins.] Chapter 109 Chapter 109: Theme 2 (1) The message marked the full-scale start of Theme 2. First, the ground began to shake violently under each team, with the members remaining gathered together after being selected. ¡ªRumble! Simultaneously, the distorted ground elevations began to sink back into ce as if fitting into a puzzle. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Keep your bnce!¡± Team members I hadn¡¯t yet greeted shouted, and I lowered my stance, centering my weight. Alright, it¡¯s time to stay focused. I ced first with overwhelming contribution points, so it would be embarrassing to fall t on my face now. [Delh is reshaping the dungeon.] [Participants who were not selected have been eliminated and will be sent outside the dungeon.] At that moment, a scene reminiscent of an old, magical fantasy movie unfolded before my eyes. ¡ªRumble! At the dungeon¡¯s center, a tower rose so high it was impossible to tell how many floors it had. ¡ªCrack! The ground and sky undted like waves. ¡°Wh-What is this¡­?!¡± ¡°Everyone, hold on! Grab each other tight!¡± We instinctively grabbed each other¡¯s hands. The sun rose and set dozens of times as though the world had hit fast-forward. Light and darkness alternated so rapidly that they seemed to exist simultaneously. It was a sight impossible to witness on Earth. Participants gazed at the spectacle in awe. And after some time had passed¡­ [The transformation isplete.] The vibrations ceased, and the world which had been distorted returned to normal. ¡°¡­¡± I looked around. Everything¡¯spletely different now. For starters, all participants except for my ten team members had disappeared. ¡°Wow, that was a mess.¡± ¡°Huh, it¡¯s just us? Maybe we¡¯ve been split up by teams.¡± ¡°It seems the others are at different starting points. Ugh, I feel dizzy. Is everyone alright?¡± Hunters who had regained theirposure began to speak one by one. Of course, they didn¡¯t speak loudly but just murmured. Even if they wanted to say something or voice an opinion, they hesitated, unable to take the lead and steer the atmosphere. The reason was obvious¡ªbecause I was there. ¡°¡­¡± Right. They all had their eyes on me, observing and waiting for my action. Well, it¡¯s only natural. I was their team leader and the one who had to guide them. For all uing activities in Theme 2, I was the one expected to lead them to victory ahead of the other teams. Moreover, with my overwhelming performance in Theme 1, I had already earned their trust. Regardless of who I was, where I was from, or what my personality was, they were willing to believe in and rely on me. Hmm. Honestly, I felt a bit burdened by their gazes. Can I handle this? Being a leader required apletely different skill set, something I had never done before. Some might say, ¡°Haven¡¯t you led skeletons before?¡± No. That was a different issue. Skeletons were my absolutely loyal subordinates. But the people here were independent hunters with no close ties to me. Moreover, they were all ranker candidates who received rmendations from other rankers, carrying their expectations too. ¡°¡­Skeleton King, was it?¡± At that moment, a young woman who appeared to be in her mid-20s stepped forward. ¡°First, let me express my gratitude.¡± She bowed her head respectfully toward me. ¡°My name is Myoi Hana, a hunter from Hiroshima, Japan. Since the renowned, first-ce Skeleton King personally chose me, I will do my utmost to assist you.¡± Following her lead, others began stepping forward one by one. ¡°I¡¯m Olena Zelenska from Ukraine, a water-attribute mage from the Oxford Magic Tower.¡± ¡°I¡¯m James from the United States. My unique ability is martial arts, and I have a brief connection to Hoon, the first-ce ranker.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Capu from Brazil, a guide.¡± I had chosen Olena¡¯s group because there was no bad blood between us. Their skills weren¡¯tckingpared to other participants, and the Spear of Judgment had approved of them. They supposedly had no history of murder, ording to him. ¡°I am Zhang Wei, a spearman.¡± Perhaps because there was no one left to punish, the Spear of Judgment stepped forward withoutint to introduce himself. ¡ªng! It was then that a middle-aged man who hadn¡¯t introduced himself yet drew his sword. ¡°You filthy wretch, die!¡± He swung his weapon at a man and woman standing nearby. ¡°Did you think I¡¯d just let it slide? You pathetic scum!¡± There was no context¡ªit was a sudden and unexpected act of violence. ¡°Hm?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om The first to react was Zhang Wei. Frowning, he reflexively pulled out his spear to deflect the middle-aged man¡¯s sword. ¡ªng! The sword and spear collided fiercely. The middle-aged man¡¯s sword strike was out of the ordinary as it carried a clear intent to kill. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± The Spear of Judgment¡¯s gaze turned cold. ¡°¡­?¡± I, too, looked at the middle-aged man with a puzzled expression. What was that for? When I selected team members, I made sure to avoid those with a history of murder. ¡°Step aside.¡± The middle-aged man red at Zhang Wei and muttered coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t care about trials or dungeons or any of that. I need to kill these two scumbags to feel at ease.¡± ¡°Two scumbags?¡± The Spear of Judgment nced sideways. Standing there were the two people in question, a man and a woman, wearing unreadable expressions. The woman crossed her arms and shook her head in disapproval. Hm, what¡¯s going on here? I rubbed my temples as a headache began to form. Our teamwork looked to be creaky from the start, like a skeleton. ¡°How about calming down first, regardless of what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Right. I assume something must¡¯ve happened during the previous trial, but we¡¯re in a new phase now. We need to think wisely.¡± Other hunters stepped in to mediate. But despite their efforts, the atmosphere in the clearing remained tense because the middle-aged man continued to emit a murderous aura. And surprisingly, the man¡¯s strength was almost on par with the Spear of Judgment. As expected¡­ This dungeon was truly filled with the elite of the elites. Each individual was no joke. But of course, I was the top among them. ¡°Are you going to keep blocking me?¡± the middle-aged man asked the Spear of Judgment. ¡°I don¡¯t want to sh with you. But if you want me to introduce myself and move on, I must resolve the grudge I have with those two.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhang Wei lowered his spear at that moment. ¡°Fine. I blocked you out of reflex, that¡¯s all. As far as I¡¯m concerned, you¡¯re not a murderer who kills for petty reasons yet, so I have no grounds to punish you.¡± Honestly, this guy sometimes felt like a robot¡ªa machine programmed to act only in specific ways. Then one of the two¡ªthe woman¡ªsnickered and lowered her head. ¡°Pfft. Wow, what a show you¡¯re putting on, old man, with your voice all t like, ¡®I must resolve my grudge with those two~¡¯ Ugh, give me a break.¡± She sneered as if she couldn¡¯t hold back herughter. ¡°If you don¡¯t even understand how the game works, why are you here causing trouble?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Right? Back in Theme 1 where murder was allowed, you were the dumbass who got yed. So why are youshing out at others? Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s kind of stupid?¡± She turned to the man next to her, still snickering. ¡°Mhm. Yeah, Olivia¡¯s always right.¡± The man nodded in agreement. Haah, I sighed inwardly. What was with these two? What¡¯s the rtionship between them, and what happened? ¡°¡­¡± Here, I had to make a choice. Should I step in as the team leader and settle this? Or should I observe a bit longer? For now, I decided to watch their conversation. Not because I found it entertaining but because staying neutral was my usual approach in situations like this. Of course, listening to the conversation didn¡¯t mean I¡¯d let them fight. ¡°Unfortunately, fighting is prohibited from now on.¡± ¡ªThunk! I stepped forward and mmed my staff on the ground. ¡°We still don¡¯t fully understand Theme 2. In a situation where we don¡¯t know what tasks mighte, we can¡¯t afford to waste our strength. Please understand.¡± Olivia smirked at my words. ¡°See?¡± She turned to the middle-aged man and sneered. ¡°This is how things should be. The first-ce ranker is first for a reason, huh? This is how you y the game¡ªsmart and clean, without emotions. Got it, you dumb old man?¡± ¡°You¡­ you little¡­!¡± ¡ªGrind! The middle-aged man clenched his teeth so hard it was audible, his neck trembling with suppressed rage. He clearly wanted to swing his sword but couldn¡¯t act against my warning. For now, I was his team leader. ¡°Wow~ You sure are lucky, huh? Can¡¯t y the game for crap but got into the first-ce team by sheer luck? Riding along for free? If it were me, I¡¯d be too ashamed to even say anything. But here you are, making a fuss. Haven¡¯t you heard the saying ¡®the nail that sticks out gets the hammer¡¯?¡± Wow. That woman was a master provocateur. Even I would¡¯ve been a bit shaken by her taunts. And then¡­ ¡°You wretched brat! Die!¡± The middle-aged man finally snapped. ¡ªWhoosh! With a step forward, he moved at incredible speed, slicing through the air. ¡°Whoa, whoa. Didn¡¯t the team leader just say no fighting?¡± At that moment, another figure, who had been silent, extended a hand. ¡ªVwoom! The space in front of the charging man distorted. ¡°Hmph?¡± Startled, the middle-aged man slowed down. ¡ªThud! With a light shock, he was pushed back. It all happened in an instant. ¡°I¡¯m a spatial mage, dimir Lodygin, a hunter from Russia. It¡¯s a bit disappointing, really. Why did you have to start fighting at my turn to introduce myself?¡± The man, whose face looked as rough as a mafia boss, spoke with his hands in his pockets. ¡°Looks like there¡¯s some misunderstanding between you three. But stop fighting and exin the situation first. Honestly, it¡¯s disappointing. When the team leader chose me, I thought we¡¯d breeze through Theme 2. But looking at you guys, my faith is wavering a bit.¡± ¡°That bitch betrayed me!¡± the middle-aged man eximed indignantly. ¡°Betrayed?¡± ¡°Yes! I originally formed a team with those two scumbags!¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°It seems like they decided to hook up in those two weeks, so they took all the food we gathered and ran off! Those shameless thieves!¡± ¡°Ugh, ¡®betrayal.¡¯ If you wanted a proper team, you shouldn¡¯t have crossed the line. Weren¡¯t you the one trying to flirt with me, old man?¡± The middle-aged man bristled at Olivia¡¯s mocking tone. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? When did I¡ª?¡± ¡°And why are you so worked up over a little thievery in a game where murder was allowed? And why draw your sword? Did I try to kill you? Or insult your family? You¡¯re being so uptight right now.¡± ¡°See? See? She admitted it!¡± The middle-aged man pointed his finger indignantly. ¡°She¡¯s exactly that kind of person! She¡¯s useless as a teammate!¡± ¡°Haah,¡± I sighed deeply. Man, what was this? This didn¡¯t sound like a conversation between ranker candidates. I wouldn¡¯t be able to tell the difference between them and kindergarteners. ¡°¡­¡± What was I, their kindergarten teacher? What should I even do with this? I understood the middle-aged man¡¯s plight. However, Olivia¡¯s argument wasn¡¯t entirely wrong either. Honestly, I¡¯d like to ditch all three of them. ¡ªRing! [The mission has arrived.] [Stage: Treasure Hunt!] [The selected 10 team members must cooperate to find the ¡®National Treasure¡¯ hidden in the central tower.] But looking at the new iing message, it seemed like I couldn¡¯t do that. Cooperation, huh? Delh was clearly emphasizing ¡°cooperation.¡± Who knew what penalties could ur if you discarded or betrayed a teammate? I felt a lump in my throat. My chest felt tight as if I had swallowed ten sweet potatoes in a row. Fine, maybe this was just another trial I had to ovee. ¡°For now,¡± I etched the word patience in my mind and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the mission we just received.¡± Chapter 110 Chapter 110: Theme 2 (2) My team consisted of the ten members as follows: 1. Myself, the team leader 2. Zhang Wei, the Spear of Judgment 3. Olena Zelenska 4. James 5. Capu 6. Myoi Hana 7. An unintroduced middle-aged man 8. Olivia Rodrigo 9. A man who seemed to be Olivia¡¯s subordinate 10. dimir Rodygin, a spatial mage From now on, I had to lead this team to navigate through Theme 2. ¡°First,¡± I pulled two pieces of paper from my pocket, ¡°before we delve into our main task, I¡¯ll share some information.¡± These were the ¡®Theme 1 Information Ticket¡¯ and ¡®Theme 2 Information Ticket¡¯ I had purchased from the shop. ¡°For those who may not know, these were obtainable in the previous theme by spending trial points. Gather around and take a look.¡± Combining the two, I shared the information with my team members. Even the middle-aged man and Olivia, who had been in conflict, seemed to acknowledge the arrival of the mission message. ¡°You, we¡¯ll settle thister.¡± ¡°Hmph, whatever.¡± Though they continued bickering, they followed my lead for now. ¡°Oh, you bought this from the shop?¡± ¡°Wow, so this is the famous information ticket? I couldn¡¯t afford it.¡± The team gathered around me in a circle. ¡°Well, considering your rank as first ce, it¡¯s no surprise you could afford two of these.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a look.¡± #3. Shops appear 30 days after the trial begins. ¨C The currency used in shops is trial points, and participants must gather various ¡®treasures¡¯ to earn these points. PS: For every ¡®treasure,¡¯ there is a ¡®treasure bonus.¡¯ #4. There is a special perk. ¨C Participants can locate the judges who are observing them from a distance. ¨C If found, the participant can ess the shop early. #5. There are two ways to obtain this information: ¨C Purchase it with trial points through a discovered judge. ¨C Find the information tickets hidden by the judges across the area. ¡°Hmm, so we have to find treasure?¡± dimir murmured. ¡°It seems trial points and the shop will be the same as the previous theme.¡± ¡°Hmm, so should we gather trial points before heading to the tower?¡± The team members voiced their thoughts as they absorbed the information. I carefully observed each of their faces and then said, ¡°We won¡¯t be searching for treasure.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Remember, our goal isn¡¯t just to find the ¡®National Treasure¡¯ hidden in the grand tower. What¡¯s important is that we must find it before Team 2 and Team 3. For all we know, they might have already headed for the tower while we¡¯re wasting time here.¡± At my words, the group fell silent. Their expressions turned serious, realizing the urgency. This wasn¡¯t a simple treasure hunt; it was a race and apetition. ¡°There¡¯s no time to lose. We¡¯ll march toward the tower while remaining vignt. Prepare your survival and defense strategies. Mr. Capu?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m right here, Hoon.¡± He raised his hand. ¡°Since you¡¯re a guide, you¡¯ll lead the way. And Spear of Judgment?¡± ¡°Speak, Skeleton King.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be the vice leader. Handle detailed role assignments, and if I¡¯m absent, you¡¯ll have full authority as team leader.¡± Zhang Wei was a just and moral hunter. I was confident he¡¯d handle tasks fairly. ¡°Understood. I will fulfill the role to the best of my ability.¡± With the Spear of Judgment assigned in his position of vice leader, my first order was issued: ¡°Prepare to march.¡± ¡°Wow, as expected of first ce! Straightforward and efficient!¡± dimir gave a thumbs-up. ¡°Fufu, this inspires confidence.¡± Myoi Hana smiled gently. The tense atmosphere quickly shifted to one of determination and readiness. Seeing this, Olena exhaled in relief and said, ¡°You all know I¡¯m in charge of water supply and camping! Let¡¯s do our best, everyone!¡± ¡°Oh, water supply? Wow, what a valuable skill.¡± ¡°Hehe, I noticed you were pretty skilled earlier too, dimir.¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯m quite strong myself. Just wait and see. I¡¯ll be a top-ten ranker someday.¡± ¡°Eh, that¡¯s a bit much¡­¡± With light jokes and banter, the team started moving. I stepped back slightly, lost in thought. First, I need to check my trial points. [Current trial points: 891,500] They¡¯re still there. I felt relieved. I had been worried they might have vanished. This theme will likely be simr to thest. They¡¯d probably allow us to use the shop only near the end, just like during the previous theme, encouraging us to umte points until then. And most likely, a VIP shop would exist again¡ªlike the one that had gifted me the godyer-rank weapon. I must make good use of it. While moving quickly, I nned to gather resources efficiently. [Using skill ¡®Summon Skeleton Knight¡¯ (A-rank).] This involved using my skeletons! ¡ªCreak, creak! I summoned six skeletons, excluding Demir who was left back on Earth. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°At your service.¡± ¡ªCreak, tter! Bones emerged from the ground, assembling themselves. Reliable as ever, these were my forces. ¡°Listen up,¡± I spoke quietly. ¡°Search this entire area and bring me anything that seems strange or unusual.¡± ¡°Anything strange or unusual, you say?¡± ¡°Yes, anything imbued with a peculiar aura or anything out of the ordinary.¡± Since I didn¡¯t yet know the nature of the ¡®treasures,¡¯ I decided to gather everything. ¡°Sounds like when we collected poisonous mushrooms!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll do our best, my lord!¡± Sunny and Eldrin responded confidently. ¡ªSwoosh! They scattered in all directions¡ªnorth, south, east, and west. They¡¯d likely summon their subordinate skeletons to search thoroughly, using every means possible to find something. How dependable. This was the advantage of being a necromancer. Without even moving, I couldmand a vast number of subordinates from afar. Watching them disappear into the distance, I couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡ªDrip, drip! Rain began to fall. Squelching through the wet ground, we continued forward. Our goal was the massive structure towering ahead. Of course, just because it looked close didn¡¯t mean we¡¯d arrive anytime soon. Even after a full day, we hadn¡¯t reached our destination. ¡°Phew, it feels endless. Ugh, it¡¯s so humid.¡± ¡°We keep getting drenched by this rain. As soon as we dry off, it starts again.¡± ¡°Well, trials aren¡¯t supposed to be easy, are they?¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t the tower feel like the sun? No matter how far we walk, it stays the same size.¡± Indeed, as someone pointed out, the tower¡¯s size hadn¡¯t changed since the day before. Why was that? Was thend truly vast? Or was it some kind of trap? Like magic designed to make us wander in circles, chasing our tails. ¡°Unfortunately, there¡¯s no trap.¡± Capu shook his head firmly. ¡°The distance is definitely decreasing. ording to my irvoyance skill, we¡¯re getting closer by a few meters every moment.¡± ¡°Wow. Really?¡± ¡°The tower is just¡­ incrediblyrge and far away.¡± ¡°Unbelievable.¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn The hunters shook their heads in disbelief. Olena sighed. ¡°At this rate, there¡¯s no point in staying on guard.¡± Since yesterday, everyone has been cautious about Team 2. Led by Chris Larsen, Team 2 wasposed entirely of murderers, making them our biggest threat. ¡°What a pity,¡± the Spear of Judgment muttered. ¡°I need to meet them and deliver judgment.¡± His voice was so low that even I could barely hear it. ¡°Let¡¯s keep moving for now.¡± ¡°Olena, pass me some water. I¡¯m thirsty.¡± ¡°Sure, anyone else need water? Just let me know, and I¡¯ll refill your bottles!¡± Everyone looked tired. Even for ranker candidates, endlessly repeating the same task was exhausting. ¡°¡­¡± I walked silently. Of course, during this time¡­ [Bonus for treasure.] [¡®Useless Medieval Relic¡¯ is ssified as an F-rank treasure.] [You have gained an additional 10 trial points.] ¡­ [Bonus for treasure.] [¡®Bird of Prey Statue¡¯ is ssified as a C-rank treasure.] [You have gained an additional 300 trial points.] These notifications kept appearing. The skeletons were finding treasures far away; trial points umted without distance restrictions. This is so convenient. I chuckled. All I needed to do was resummon them every day to reset their locations. Meanwhile, my points snowballed without much of my effort. The treasure bonus system was simr to the poison bonus from Theme 1. [F-rank treasure: 10 points] [E-rank treasure: 50 points] [D-rank treasure: 100 points] [C-rank treasure: 300 points] [B-rank treasure: 500 points] [A-rank treasure: 1,000 points] Points increased ording to the rank of the treasure found. ¡°Hey.¡± Then while we were walking, someone spoke to me. It was Olivia, who had been quietly following until now. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, are we just going to keep walking like this? Don¡¯t you think we should try something else?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been walking for hours. What if this trial just ends with us walking like this?¡± ¡°¡­¡± I gave a bitter smile. I understood her frustration. After all, the entire team was wandering aimlessly on my orders. ¡°Just give it a little more time. I¡¯ll figure something out today.¡± ¡°Today? You have a n?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What kind of n?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Why? Are you up to something shady? Did you use some sneaky method to get first ce in Theme 1 too?¡± Her words, though provocative, weren¡¯t entirely wrong. I had indeed been quietly umting points behind the scenes. But¡­ Who knew? Perhaps these points would be the key to breaking through this frustrating situation. ¡°Hmm, but why is that woman yapping at you? She doesn¡¯t seem to have any viable n either.¡± The elder I had summoned earlier floated in the air, tilting his head in curiosity. I responded internally. I don¡¯t know. Just ignore her. She seems to have a rather peculiar personality. ¡°Haha, my disciple, you¡¯re truly remarkable! A paragon of virtue! If she acted like that in front of me, at least one of her bones would have been snapped by now.¡± She¡¯s not worth the effort. Getting swayed byments like that would make me no different from the middle-aged man who lost his temper yesterday. What was important to me right now was finding the solution. Elder. ¡°Yes?¡± Do you see that girl around here? The one we encountered before. ¡°Girl? Which one?¡± The judge who wielded lightning¡ªthe one called Thundercry. ¡°Ah, that dumb-looking one?¡± ¡­Yes. ¡°She¡¯s been tailing you from the start. It seems she¡¯s keeping more distance this time though¡­¡± Really? My eyes lit up. When there were no answers, the best approach was to exhaust all possible options. Elder. ¡°What is it?¡± Can you pinpoint her location in real time? Once again, I nned to use the Elder¡¯s abilities to locate a judge. Chapter 111 Chapter 111: Floa, Again Somepared walking tens or even hundreds of kilometers in the military to ¡°training in bloom¡± or ¡°hell training.¡± I can confidently say that if that person came here, hell would be an understatement. They would¡¯ve called it something like the ¡°father of all hells¡±? ¡°Huff, huff.¡± ¡°Whew.¡± Hot breaths escaped from the team members. Sweat formed on their foreheads, and their breathing became increasingly ragged. Even for high-level hunters, stamina wasn¡¯t infinite. We were still human, after all. Expending a certain amount of stamina made their breathingbored, especially if they were a ss that didn¡¯t require much physical training. Furthermore¡­ The march seemed endless. No matter how far we walked, the tower ahead remained the same size, as if even after a month of walking, we would still be in the same spot. This fear consumed our bodies. It was psychological terror. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break here.¡± In the end, I stopped walking in the middle of the trail. No matter how much of apetition it was, managing stamina was crucial. In short, it was simr to a marathon. If you overdid it early on and used up all your energy, you could end up getting overtaken by the other teams. ¡°Spear of Judgment, take charge of setting up camp. Find a shaded spot and let those who need to handle personal business do so. Also, search for some food nearby for sustenance.¡± Fortunately, there was plenty of food nearby. It seemed like there were wild animals, and I spotted fruits and roots simr to those seen in Theme 1, which made sense. If they¡¯d sealed our bags and didn¡¯t provide food, that would have just been torture rather than a trial. Well, this is already torture enough. Honestly, I didn¡¯t know how to define what a ¡°trial¡± was these days. I went through the old man¡¯s massage, ingesting poison, the Sun Spear¡¯s challenge in the past, and so on. For something to be called a ¡°trial,¡± it had to be quite painful and gruesome. ¡°¡­¡± Now that I thought about it, even if bing stronger was my dream, living a life of constant suffering like this¡­ Was this really a happy life? Hmm¡­ I thought about it briefly, but as expected, the thought was short-lived. I must be a masochist. Because being weak was more unbearable than being in pain. No matter how hard or painful it was, being strong was better¡ªit made me happier. If I had no strength, I¡¯d have already been killed by the assassin from the Shadow Lurkers or harassed by that spoiled rich kid, Shin Jongoh of the Ohsung Group, before being assassinated. At the very least, being miserable but strong was better than facing those injustices. That was how the world had always been. The weak were always subdued by great power, losing what they had. Only the strong could fully protect what was theirs. And you had to be strong to protect what was yours. Therefore¡­ I will grow even further. In the future, I¡¯ll climb so high that not even the top 1,000 rankers inscribed on the board can treat me carelessly. ¡°Skeleton King. I¡¯ve roughly finished giving instructions.¡± The Spear of Judgment approached me. He was faithfully fulfilling his role as the vice leader. ¡°I¡¯ve assigned tasks ording to everyone¡¯s abilities.¡± ¡°Well done.¡± ¡°The problem is you.¡± He looked at me. ¡°As the vice leader, I can¡¯t assign you any tasks.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± That was true. So what he was asking is, ¡°While everyone¡¯s working, what are you going to do?¡± ¡°I have some personal matters to attend to, so I¡¯ll be going somewhere.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± I grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll tell youter. It¡¯s definitely not something unnecessary.¡± I still had unfinished business from yesterday. I had to find Floa. ¡ªStep, step. I walked along the deserted trail with the elder after I¡¯d summoned him once again. ¡°First of all, that absent-minded girl. She seems to have be somewhat more clever,¡± the old man whispered. ¡°She¡¯s maintaining a constant distance and seems prepared to escape if she¡¯s discovered. She knows you have a method to find her.¡± I¡¯d been meticulously nning since yesterday, but I couldn¡¯te up with anything. Whenever I moved, she instinctively sensed it and widened the gap. Hmm. Floa the Thundercry was a ranker¡ªnot just any ranker, but a top-tier ranker at Rank 84 at that. As long as she remained alert, there was absolutely no way for me to capture her for now. ¡°Lad, this is what I¡¯ve been telling you since yesterday. No matter how skilled you are, you can¡¯t ovee a vast power gap, not even with the All Techniques.¡± The old man chuckled with a thrilled expression as if he found my helplessness amusing. ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s delightful. This world is full of strong individuals. Do you know that they¡¯re all stepping stones that will help you grow?¡± Yes, yes, that sounds great and all¡­ But to grow stronger, I need toplete this trial with a good score. ¡°True, normally I¡¯d scold you for seeking strength through rewards¡­ But this time, I have to admit it.¡± Surprisingly, the old man agreed with me. ¡°That¡¯s just how incredible that weapon is. Tsk, lucky brat.¡± This¡­ I stared at the staff in my hand. The godyer-rank item Sealed Spirit of the Seven Elements gleamed brilliantly. After it had first spoken to me, it had been silent ever since. ¡°In my world, I¡¯ve never seen anything like the thing inside it. The weapon seems to have something vast and transcendent, far beyond myprehension, slumbering inside it.¡± You¡¯ve said that several times now, I grumbled. Yesterday, he spent ages circling the weapon, eximing, ¡°Wow!¡± and ¡°Huh?¡± I barely got any training done. Nor did Ie up with a way to catch Floa. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to get it, so I¡¯ll say it again! You unromantic fool! Don¡¯t you feel excited? I can only wonder what kind of power will emerge once all seven elements are gathered in those empty slots. To have a chance to glimpse something beyond All Techniques¡­! It¡¯s thrilling! I am happy that I endured all those days! Your teacher is truly delighted!¡± Yes, yes. But for you to fully enjoy that, I need to find the judge first, don¡¯t I? The old man¡¯s sincerity was admirable, but sadly today¡¯s summoning was allotted only an hour. There was no time. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m brainstorming too, so stop pestering me.¡± The old man stroked his chin and closed his eyes. Floating in midair in white robes, he really looked like a mountain deity. ¡°Hm, given your skill level, your best chance might be¡­ using the poison mist.¡± The poison mist? I sensed the energy of the entity coiled within my body. It was resting quietly for now, but I wasn¡¯t sure if it was willing to help me. ¡°With your meager skills, catching that girl would be like cutting down stars in the sky with a knife. But you¡¯ve mastered poison to an extreme level.¡± The problem is this thing is still hard to control. ¡°Of course I know that. But as of now, there¡¯s no other way. You instinctively know how to mix poisons, don¡¯t you?¡± The poison mist within me contained countless toxins. I couldn¡¯t use them all, but if I were to rely on the poison mist, I would need to lure it out and extract only the necessary poisons. ¡°A mix of hallucinatory and paralysis poison should suffice. How about it? Want me to teach you the perfectbination?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om There¡¯s such a thing? ¡°Hehe, try enticing it. Once you do, I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Hm. The old man was right. Instead ofining and doing nothing, it was better to try something. After all, the early bird got the worm. Alright. I met the old man¡¯s eyes and nodded. By coincidence, the moment we nodded, a breeze swept by. Yes. Everything was ready. * * * At the same time¡­ ¡ªMunch, munch. Perched on a thick tree branch, a German girl was chewing jerky exclusive to judges. ¡°¡­¡± Hiding her body within the electromaic waves around her, she gazed at the natural scenery ahead. Or, to be precise, she was staring directly at Joo Donghoon about a kilometer away. With keen eyesight that most hunters couldn¡¯t even dream of, she was none other than Floa the Thundercry. ¡°That guy¡­ He seems to have figured something out.¡± His behavior had been a bit odd since yesterday. asionally ncing around or stopping in ce and muttering as if talking to someone. ¡°Hehe, but he won¡¯t know I¡¯m watching from here.¡± Truthfully, she hadn¡¯t nned to follow Joo Donghoon this time. Due to penalties from being discoveredst time, she had lost all her rewards from Theme 1. ¡°Damn that bastard,¡± she grumbled. Rankers who participated as judges in Delh¡¯s trials received rewards based on their contributions after each theme ended. For rankers, every single stat point was extremely important, and that was the reason they took time to act as judges. But because of Joo Donghoon, she had lost everything. She didn¡¯t want to make the same mistake again. But I¡¯m just too curious. Curiosity won over reason. By her judgment, Joo Donghoon had enough potential to be a single-digit ranker in the future. And witnessing his trial was a very important matter. I can¡¯t miss that. It was a sight you wouldn¡¯t be able to see even if you paid for it. ¡°Hm?¡± As Floa chewed her jerky, she suddenly stood up. Joo Donghoon¡ªhis eyes had just nced this way for 0.1 seconds. Considering the odds of him looking in this direction from his angle a kilometer away, it was impossible it was a coincidence. ¡°He knows I¡¯m here?¡± This time, she absolutely couldn¡¯t be discovered. Beyond losing trial rewards, this was a matter of pride. ¡°I admit you¡¯ll be strong one day, but not yet. Don¡¯t think you¡¯ll find me this time.¡± With a smirk, she kicked off the branch. For now, she nned to maintain an even further safe distance. * * * ¡°Hm?¡± Floa, who had widened the distance, tilted her head with a curious expression. So my guess turned out to be true. A glimmer of surprise danced in her eyes. Honestly, she¡¯d thought it was just a coincidence that she¡¯d been discovered¡ªjust a fluke caused by her momentary carelessness. She assumed the attack before hadnded because she¡¯d let her guard down, allowing the opponent to get too close. But¡­ Joo Donghoon was relentlessly closing the gap at a speed far beyond what she had expected. There could only be one exnation for this¡ªhe was actively hunting her down, just like he did during Theme 1. Ha, this is kind of a blow to my pride. Even if he was a monster who had ovee the poison mist, being challenged so openly sparked some peculiar feelings within her. Perhaps it was her pride as a double-digit ranker ring up. Well, he¡¯s someone putting up unprecedented results. He might have a unique method. I¡¯d better not let my guard down. Of course, running away was not an option her pride could tolerate. And even if she wanted to, she wasn¡¯t sure she could manage to escape. Whatever method he was using, it was letting him close the gap at an rming rate. ¡°Sorry, kid, but if you want to find me, you¡¯ll have tond a hit first.¡± A sly grin spread across her face. Floa wasn¡¯t like the other judges. She could merge with the electrical particles flickering around her, making her nigh undetectable while disrupting her opponent¡¯s approach. ¡ªBzzzt! Crackle! Lightning crackled around her body. In a sh of blue electricity, her form vanished. Simultaneously¡­ ¡ªWhoosh! Floa swung her hand in the direction Joo Donghoon was advancing from¡ªa clear signal of her presence but also a warning not to get any closer. ¡ªCrack! Crackle! Yellow lightning coalesced into bolts aimed directly in Joo Donghoon¡¯s trajectory¡ªnot at him directly, of course, as that would penalize her. Delh, after all, despised excessive intervention by judges. Whoever was caught attacking a participant was immediately expelled, with severe penalties to follow. Well, as long as I don¡¯t hit him directly, it¡¯s fine, right? Still, she poured more than half her energy into this move. That should be enough to intimidate him. A rare, excited expression spread across Floa¡¯s face. This is going to be fun. Chapter 112 Chapter 112: Confidence or Arrogance? ¡°Hahaha!¡± theughter of Floa the Thundercry echoed in the distance. ¡°You¡¯re not quite as good as me yet!¡± ¡ªBzzt! Electric currents sparked everywhere¡ªfrom the ground, behind the trees, and some even struck down like lightning from the sky. ¡°All you¡¯ll find are my afterimages! And keep this in mind! As long as you don¡¯t see me with your own eyes, there¡¯s no reward for you!¡± ¡°¡­¡± I furrowed my brow. Floa was tantly unting her presence. Was this kind of behavior even eptable for a judge? ¡°Hup!¡± I grunted and moved my feet. There was no room forints. Floa¡¯s attacks were fiercer than I had anticipated. When I passed through the spots where the current flowed, I could feel an intense heat, enough to make my face redden. ¡ªCrack! Even the slightest misstep felt like it might well break my body into pieces. ¡°Hup.¡± ¡ªSnap! ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡ªCrash! With every stride I took, the rocks and trees beside me copsed and bent over. Debris mixed with sand was scattered in all directions. ¡ªBoom! Boom! Boom! The entire area trembled as if it was about to copse. Dust filled the air, making it hard to see. Still, one thing is certain. I narrowed my eyes. Even with such overwhelming attacks, even with these being attacks from a double-digit ranker, there was a reason I could endure this situation¡ªshe was definitely not attacking me directly. She seemed to be hitting everything around me, avoiding striking me directly, as if I were something untouchable. ¡°That scatterbrain¡­ It seems your chances of victory are increasing,¡± the old man who was following me mumbled. I smirked. I feel the same. After all, physiognomy is a science. ¡°Physiognomy?¡± The old man tilted his head. I nodded. Yes, do you remember her appearance? First, her nose is incredibly high, isn¡¯t it? You know, people with high noses hate being looked down on. ¡°What nonsense is this? Did you¡­ study physiognomy?¡± And her eyebrows are raised really high, too, right? Plus, her mouth twists in a sneer. Traditionally, people with those features really hate losing. ¡°Hehe, like you?¡± the old manughed teasingly. Hm. Did I look like that? I didn¡¯t think so. Well, what was certain was that I hated losing just as much as dying, so you could say Floa and I shared simr personalities. And furthermore¡­ You¡¯re the same, aren¡¯t you, Elder? You¡¯ve got your pride too. ¡°Well, you and I¡­ There¡¯s a saying about teachers and disciples being alike.¡± ¡­Wasn¡¯t it fathers and sons? ¡°Anyway,d. The strong are right to be confident, but it shouldn¡¯t be mistaken for the arrogance of the weak.¡± Then what about her? What¡¯s she showing right now? ¡°Of course, that¡¯s arrogance.¡± I thought so. The old man and I exchanged nces and smiled at each other. ¡°The result is yours to create. Look at that scatterbrain. She could just run away, but she¡¯s falling for your provocations. Doesn¡¯t that tell you everything? No matter how powerful she is, a fool is still a fool. And you already know I¡¯m an excellent judge of people.¡± I remember. That¡¯s why back then, you chose me after seeing my skeletons. ¡ªBzzt! Even at this moment, I was constantly on the move. Dust made a mess of any clear sight, so spotting Floa¡¯s figure was nearly impossible. Hm. What should I do? ¡°How much time has passed? It should be about time for her to react,¡± the old man stretched his wrist and asked. It hasn¡¯t been long. But¡­ ¡°Are you about to start tightening the leash? hehe.¡± Yes, as you said, it¡¯s time to start. ¡ªSquirm! The poisonous fog lurking in my abdomen wriggled. Thankfully, a few minutes earlier, it had given me a few poisons the Elder and I wanted. Right, you can¡¯t just live in a cozy home for free. I¡¯ll consider this a month¡¯s rent paid. What is this? Floa, who had been meticulously attacking, furrowed her brow. Normally, Joo Donghoon would have panicked and stopped advancing. But he keeps sticking close? As expected, top ranker candidates were different from the start. How could he keep charging in the face of such overwhelming attacks? ¡°¡­¡± He was just a sprout¡ªstill an immature rookie who hadn¡¯t fully grown yet. Besides, she wasn¡¯t just any ordinary ranker; she was also ranked 84th in the world¡ªone of the strongest who was treated as a VVIP anywhere on Earth. Her chances of losing in a fight against Joo Donghoon were practically 0%. The problem is¡­ This wasn¡¯t a fight to the death. She couldn¡¯t directly attack Joo Donghoon, but he could attack her at any time. No, he didn¡¯t even have to attack¡ªjust spotting her with his eyes would end the game. ¡°Seriously¡­¡± It wasughable. Even with penalties, how could a mere participantpete with a double-digit ranker like her? ¡°Ahaha!¡± sheughed, finding it hrious. How long has it been since I felt this kind of thrill? ¡°Hey, just who the hell are you?!¡± Floa amplified her voice using electromaic waves. This method allowed her tomunicate without revealing her location. ¡°Where did you evene from? Do you have a master?¡± She asked questions out of sheer curiosity. ¡°You can answer right there. No matter what you say, my hearing transcends space.¡± ¡°Who am I?¡± Joo Donghoon replied nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯m the guy who will catch you and im the reward.¡± ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Floa burst outughing. No hunter in the world would dare treat her like this. She found the audacity of the man in front of her oddly appealing¡ªno, intriguing. She had never encountered someone like this before in her life. ¡°You? You¡¯re going to catch me?¡± She smirked. Her expression was a mix of disbelief and faint curiosity. ¡°Really? Give it a shot. If you manage to find me when I¡¯m serious, you can call yourself my ¡®oppa.¡¯¡± ¡°Oppa?¡± ¡°Yes, you little punk. But don¡¯t worry because that¡¯s not going to happen.¡± To her, it was a meaningless promise. She didn¡¯t believe that she could lose to a participant. But the cheeky man took it a step further. ¡°I don¡¯t want someone as clueless as you calling me oppa¡­ How about a bet instead?¡± ¡°What?¡± Floa chuckled incredulously. What was this nonsense? ¡°A bet?¡± ¡°Exactly. The loser bows their head and obeys everything the winner says. What do you think? Surely, someone ranked 84th in the world isn¡¯t scared? If you¡¯re not interested, we can drop it.¡± ¡°Hey, hey. Are you crazy?¡± Floa ced her hands on her hips, stunned. ¡°Okay, I fuckin¡¯ admit that people call me thoughtless sometimes¡­ But the sheer difference between my value and yours is astronomical. And you¡¯re suggesting such a ridiculous bet? It doesn¡¯t add up!¡± ¡°Why?¡± Joo Donghoon smirked. ¡°Afraid you might lose? Besides, if you do some digging, you¡¯ll find I¡¯m worth quite a bit too.¡± ¡°You?¡± Floa tilted her head. Well, if he eventually became a single-digit ranker, he¡¯d be worth a lot. But that was a hypothetical future. Right now, he wasn¡¯t. Bing a single-digit ranker wasn¡¯t something just anyone could achieve. ¡°Yes. I have money, and I can craft S-rank items. If you¡¯re a hunter, you¡¯ve probably heard about Demir¡¯s Workshop recently.¡± ¡°¡­Demir¡¯s Workshop?¡± Demir? Demir¡­ The name rang a bell. What was it again? ¡°Ah?¡± Floa¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Demir¡­ You mean that workshop that crafts S-rank weapons? The one that¡¯s been making waves in South Korea?¡± The value of S-rank weapons was immense. The Demir¡¯s Workshop incident had gone viral worldwide. As a top-tier ranker with an interest in weapons, she had heard about it. The Berserker reportedly received a weapon from there. ¡°Huh, I did hear that the owner of Demir¡¯s Workshop was a necromancer¡­ Don¡¯t tell me¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Floa blinked rapidly. Her reaction would make anyone think she was naive and innocent. ¡°Well, that¡¯s interesting.¡± In that case, the math worked out. Her chances of losing were virtually zero. That meant she would get money and items for free. And I could have him keep making me exclusive gear too! This was a jackpot! Her mind raced. And her decision was made in seconds. ¡°Okay!¡± She nodded. ¡°Come at me! I¡¯ll show you how wide the world is¡­ Hm?¡± ¡ªSniff, sniff! At that moment, Floa caught a peculiar scent¡ªa strange, horrifying smell. ¡°What the hell? Ugh.¡± She froze, her eyes widening. ¡°Poison?¡± And not just any poison. It felt like a highly potent neurotoxin with dozens of lethal poisonsplementing one another. Since when? The distance between her and Joo Donghoon was at least 500 meters. But for a poison of this level, it would have had to be dispersed at least five minutes ago¡­ ¡°No way¡­ You bastard!¡± Was that why he had kept her distracted with his banter? As Floa processed this realization, he grinned. ¡°You agreed to the bet, right? A ranker wouldn¡¯t break a promise out of cowardice. Now, I¡¯m going to take you at your word and capture you.¡± At that moment, Joo Donghoon surged forward at explosive speed. ¡°Ha,¡± Floa let out a hollowugh. She was dumbfounded¡ª-so much so that she couldn¡¯t even find the words to express it. Her lips, which had been twisted in disbelief, parted. ¡°Was this a trap?¡± ¡°Call it using my abilities because that sounds better.¡± ¡°You filthy, cunning bastard.¡± ¡°Thanks for thepliment.¡± ¡°Fuck you.¡± Floa kicked off the ground swiftly. She needed to widen the gap between them again. However¡­ My body feels heavy. She felt her nerves dulling. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder how strong the poison was to affect a ranker like her. And now her vision was blurring, too. A hallucinogenic poison as well? What was once one path now appeared as two. The sky looked like the ground, and the ground was like the sky. Her insides churned ufortably. ¡ªBzzt! Electric currents crackled around her body as she burned away the poison inside and around her. Her gaze sharpened.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Poison is just poison. That was all it was. She was a ranker¡ªshe couldn¡¯t afford to lose to a mere participant. I was caught off guard, but there¡¯s no way I¡¯ll be defeated by something as trivial as poison. That was Floa¡¯s pride as a ranker. Chapter 113 Chapter 113: Tag, You¡¯re It ¡ªWhoosh! A strong wave erupted in the distance¡ªso intense that the force alone made my hair flutter. Hm. I narrowed my eyes. The poison seemed to have seeped into her, but now the real challenge began. She had to be struggling with the neurotoxin and hallucinatory poison the old man and I concocted. I had to find her before she managed to escape. I closed my narrowed eyespletely. ¡ªVwoom! At the same time, I activated the Great Blue Heart Technique. The energy radiating from my body spread outward, like fish swimming through the sea, navigating the space. As if imbued with life, it sought Floa, trying to find her. Damn it. It¡¯s so noisy. Usually, when the Great Blue Heart Technique was used, it was easy to pinpoint the location of an opponent with energy. But Floa¡¯s energy was different from that of regr hunters. What is she, Robin Hood? Her presence seemed to scatter in all directions, mocking me with its chaotic movements¡ªas if daring me to guess which was real. And that wasn¡¯t all. ¡ªKaboom! Krrr-boom! I started to understand why her title was Thundercry. Even though she was just probing, the deafening roars assaulted my eardrums as if to make them burst. Had this been a direct battle instead of a game of tag, I probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to fight in peak condition due to the noise alone. ¡°That poison trick of yours was pretty clever, I¡¯ll give you that,¡± her voice echoed from all directions. ¡°But if you thought that alone would catch me, you¡¯re sorely mistaken.¡± ¡ªCrash! Kaboom! Lightning struck from all directions. Everything except the ground directly below me cracked and trembled as if an earthquake had urred. ¡°Lad, don¡¯t be scared. You know that girl can¡¯t strike you directly.¡± I know. I really do, but¡­ ¡°Enough whining. It¡¯s 45 degrees to your right. Run, now!¡± What? Yes, sir! I couldn¡¯t find her on my own. I had to admit it¡ªthe gap between me and a ranker was iprehensibly vast. Honestly, though, none of that mattered since I had the old man standing firm by my side. His strength was also my fortuitous opportunity and my weapon. ¡°As your teacher, I can¡¯t tolerate you losing after making a bet. You must win at all costs.¡± Yes, I¡¯ll definitely win. You¡¯re guiding me after all. ¡ªWhoosh! Iunched myself forward, kicking off the ground with all my might. I sprinted wildly through the cracked rocks and shattered trees. ¡°Hup!¡± Some debris struck me bluntly, and others scraped my skin, but I didn¡¯t slow down. I nted my feet even harder. I have to go faster. I can heal upter. It had been a while since I felt this fired up. I was filled with determination. Yeah. I didn¡¯t know why, but oveing difficult situations like this made me feel alive. My body felt vibrant and energized. ¡°Hey! She¡¯s veering to the right. Adjust your angle slightly. Good! A bit more! Keep going!¡± I didn¡¯t have to think. I just ran in the direction the old man directed. ¡°That¡¯s it! Keep going! You¡¯re closing the gap!¡± I squinted and focused on the path ahead. Dodging obstacles, I concentrated solely on running. ¡ªThwick! A sharp stone grazed my cheek, drawing blood. This feels fascinating. Was this what they called being in the zone? The sharp debris scattering everywhere moved as if in slow motion, like rewinding a tape. And my body felt as if I were floating in zero gravity. Moments stretched into what felt like an eternity. Hey, guys, stop treasure hunting ande here. I swung the staff in my hand and summoned my skeletons. Come help me out. Surround the area. ¡°My lord!¡± ¡°Master!¡± ¡ªCreak! The skeletons, who had been working in the distance, quickly approached. As if they understood my emotionspletely within that short moment, they nodded and spread out in all directions. ¡°H-How the hell is this bastard tracking me? Did you turn on some kind of map hack?¡± Floa¡¯s flustered voice rang out. ¡°N-No! This won¡¯t do! What are these skeletons? Why are they so persistent? And why are there so many?¡± The voice that had echoed from all directions now came solely from ahead of me. She was just within reach. The situation was clear now. Honestly, at this point, finishing this was as easy as taking candy from a baby. ¡°Hehe, do you see now?¡± the old man chuckled with satisfaction. ¡°She¡¯s helpless because she has no resistance to the poison. Even I struggled greatly against this unique mix back in my prime. It¡¯ll only get worse over time. I bet she¡¯s seeing ten of you by now.¡± And that wasn¡¯t all¡ªmy skeletons now filled the entire area. All my subordinates minus Demir were summoning even more of their own. The skeletons packed the space tightly, exuding an overwhelming presence. It was as if they¡¯d built a web to ensure that not even an ant could escape. With over 60 skeletons in total, it probably looked like there were over 600 to Floa.N?v(el)B\\jnn And then¡­ ¡ªShrrrkk! The staff in my hand transformed into a spear. As expected of a godyer-rank weapon, the energy radiating from it was extraordinary. ¡°Floa!¡± Wherever you¡¯re hiding, there¡¯s nowhere left for you to escape. Your only way out is to kill me, but both you and I know there¡¯s no need to go that far. I can feel it. Now that I was this close, I could sense Floa¡¯s location. She was overwhelmed by the illusion and neurotoxins, unable to maintain her energy properly. ¡°Stop struggling ande out,¡± I called out to her. ¡°I can detoxify you. Why put yourself through this?¡± ¡ªZap! At that moment, electricity crackled in the air. ¡°Fuck!¡± Finally, Floa revealed herself, ring at me. ¡°You¡­ What the hell are you? What have you been doing to yourself to be able to pull something like this¡­!¡± She looked exhausted. Her entire body had turned bluish-green. ¡°And what¡¯s with this poison? Is this the same stuff you endured inside the poison mist? Ugh! Ptoo! Cough, cough!¡± She coughed violently, spitting blood. ¡°Is that even a question? This is far worse. Come here.¡± I approached her and ced my hand on her shoulder. ¡ªVwoom! At the same time, I circted my ki, releasing the stored detoxifying poison which I received from the poison mist. ¡°Hey, you bastard! What are you doing?!¡± ¡°Shut up. I¡¯m detoxifying you.¡± ¡°Urgh!¡± Floa bit her lip in pain. Impressive, indeed. Was it the poison fog that was incredible? Or was it the form the old man taught me? Honestly, I couldn¡¯t help but be amazed at the fact that the neurotoxin was effective even against a high-ranking ranker. I¡¯ve really grown stronger. I could feel it now. Once I fully absorbed the rewards from Delh¡¯s trials and returned to the world¡­ I¡¯m 100% guaranteed to be a ranker. I was confident I could stand on equal ground with those I once thought were as mighty as mountains. ¡ªVwoom! Vwoom! The poison I released worked instantly. Floa¡¯s bluish skin gradually returned to normal, and herplexion soon regained its vitality. ¡°Phew!¡± she gasped. ¡°Haah¡­ I feel like I can finally breathe.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± ¡°Okay? I almost died, you bastard. Damn it. Is this real? Me? The great Floa? Losing to a participant?¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± I smirked, looking at her. ¡°Remember? The bet?¡± ¡°¡­What the hell.¡± Floa shuddered. It seemed she thought I would let it slide. I smiled faintly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. I don¡¯t need anything right now.¡± Later, when the time came, I¡¯d make use of it. ¡°But surely, as a ranker, you won¡¯t go back on your word? If you n to, just tell me now.¡± ¡°¡­Damn it. And if I do?¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it.¡± It was true¡ªthe bet was just a verbal agreement between Floa and me, so there was no legal force nor obligation. Honestly, if she decided to shrug it off and tell me to get lost, there was nothing I could do. ¡°However, if I be a ranker, every time I think of Floa from Germany, I¡¯ll remember her as a low-ss jerk who doesn¡¯t honor her promises. I wouldn¡¯t look at you positively, at the very least.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± That was my way of asserting myself. I was basically telling her, ¡°I¡¯m going to be somebody big, so if you want to make me your enemy now, go ahead and do what you want.¡± And surprisingly, it seemed to work. ¡°¡­¡± Her expression turned serious, unlike anything before. Floa appeared to be genuinely contemting. ¡°F-Fine.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Fine! Later, I¡¯ll take on whatever you request in the future, but only once. Happy now?!¡± A request, huh? For now, that was more than enough. Just being able to influence a ranker as high as Rank 84 was a huge gain. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s talk about this after you survive the trial! Take your reward, you damn asshole. Ugh, just thinking about the penalties I¡¯ll get because of you¡­¡± Grumbling under her breath, Floa waved her hand. ¡ªRing! [Judge ¡®Floa¡¯ has opened the ¡®Shop.¡¯] [The currency for this shop is trial points.] [Each item is limited to one per person.] [Warning!] [This is the final shop, so make sure to use up all your points.] The special reward shop opened, just like in Theme 1. [List ¨C 10/10] [1. Grade B Distance-Shortening Scroll ¨C 1,000 Points] [2. Grade A Distance-Shortening Scroll ¨C 3,000 Points] [3. Grade S Distance-Shortening Scroll ¨C 5,000 Points] [4. Grade B Distance-Lengthening Scroll ¨C 1,000 Points] [5. Grade A Distance-Lengthening Scroll ¨C 3,000 Points] [6. Grade S Distance-Lengthening Scroll ¨C 5,000 Points] [7. Elixir ¨C 10,000 Points] [8. Grade S Random Box ¨C 30,000 Points] [9. Root of the World Tree ¨C 50,000 Points] [10. Wish-Granting Scroll ¨C 100,000 Points] ¡°Hm?¡± My eyes darted across the list. It was the same 10-item structure as before. ¡°Distance shortening? Distance-Lengthening Scroll?¡± What are those? I furrowed my brows. ¡°Haah,¡± Floa sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve already imed the special reward. At this point, the game¡¯s practically over.¡± ¡°What are those?¡± ¡°Distance-Shortening Scrolls shorten the remaining distance to the tower by a percentage. Normally, you¡¯d have to uncover clues and treasures to get them. But hey, if you¡¯re strong enough to force a judge to open the shop, does the trial even matter anymore?¡± Oh. So that¡¯s what it was? It wasn¡¯t about walking but finding treasures to gain hints and use the Distance-Shortening Scrolls. ¡°So what¡¯s a Distance-Lengthening Scroll?¡± ¡°Distance-Lengthening Scrolls increase the distance for other teams instead. Those ones are only sold in the shop.¡± ¡°Huh.¡± ¡°Think carefully before buying. Onest warning¡ªshops are only avable until Theme 2. After that, they¡¯re gone. Hoarding trial points after this is meaningless.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± I nced at my remaining trial points. [Current trial points: 1,314,500] During the walk, the skeletons must have rummaged around and found countless relics. Added to my previous points, I had umted a staggering 1.3 million points. In other words, I could afford everything. There was no need to hesitate. ¡°Alright, give me everything.¡± ¡°Of course. I figured you¡¯d say that. This guy.¡± Floa shook her head. Chapter 114 Chapter 114: Words That Hit Hard [Spending 208,000 points.] [Remaining trial points: 1,106,500.] I purchased every item in the Theme 2 shop at once. The process felt simr tost time. Like swiping a debit card, my umted points disappeared, and the items floated before my eyes. Scrolls with distance-shortening and distance-lengthening features. Elixirs, random boxes, and the Root of the World Tree, just like the ones I had consumed before. Andstly, the Wish-Granting Scroll. Hehe. It was almost too easy. Was this what it felt like for billionaires to shop at department stores? The items, which were supposedly difficult to acquire during past trials, were all effortlessly within my grasp. Of course, that didn¡¯t mean earning the points was easy. [Hidden condition achieved!] [You purchased all items in the Theme 2 Shop.] [The ¡®Theme 2 Exclusive VIP Shop¡¯ has been unlocked.] As expected¡­! My heart raced. I had anticipated this, but that didn¡¯t make it any less exhrating. Because who wouldn¡¯t feel this way? This was the same shop that got me a godyer-rank item. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what it would offer this time. The excitement was overwhelming. ¡°You really are something else.¡± Floa red at me, clearly envious. ¡°Hoarder. Greedy pig. Did you really need to buy everything to feel satisfied?¡± ¡°Quit whining and open it up. I¡¯ve got plenty of points.¡± ¡°Haah. As expected¡­ You¡¯re insufferable every time I look at you.¡± Shaking her head in exasperation, Floa waved her hand. [The currency for this shop is trial points.] [Each item is limited to one per person.] [List ¨C 1/1] [1. Reward Probability Amplification Scroll ¨C 1,000,000 Points] ¡°Wow.¡± As expected, it was the same this time. It¡¯s another absurdly overpowered scroll. This scroll guaranteed rewards two tiers higher than what I would normally receive. So if I managed to get an S-rank item as expected¡­ I could end up with an SSS-rank item. With a 100% guarantee, at that. There was no room for hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll use up the remaining points. I¡¯m buying it right now. Not buying this would be a crime.¡± ¡°So you did have enough points?¡± ¡°Of course. Didn¡¯t I say I had plenty?¡± ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re so annoying.¡± ¡ªSnap! Floa snapped her fingers with a look of irritation. [Spending 1,000,000 points.] [Remaining trial points: 106,500.] Done! With this purchase, I instinctively felt it¡­ This theme is practically a freebie now. From the moment I captured the poison mist creature, everything had been tilted in my favor. If points were a measure of privilege, I was holding an unprecedented diamond spoon. And barring some extraordinary incident, no amount of dirt spoons could break this diamond one. When people gather, conflict is inevitable. Even among those who considered themselves close, disagreements would ur. Now imagine hunters from different countries and culturesing together¡ªfriction was bound to happen. ¡°Ah, for fuck¡¯s sake. Your stare is suffocating.¡± And there was always one person who fueled the fire, the one who couldn¡¯t hold back and voiced what others only thought¡ªOlivia Rodrigo was one such person. ¡°Mister, why do you keep looking at me like that? Aren¡¯t we supposed to be a team now?¡± The middle-aged man, who had been sitting quietly, stiffened. Her sudden provocation was likely because Team Leader Joo Donghoon wasn¡¯t present to keep her in check. Honestly¡­ The man shook his head. He figured avoiding crazy people was always the best policy. She had been grumbling throughout the march and even took jabs at the team leaderst time. ¡°It¡¯s starting again.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t she ever get tired?¡± ¡°Vice leader, are you going to let this slide?¡± Even the other members, who had been holding back, began voicing their frustrations. When I returned from my meeting with Floa, I sensed the tense atmosphere and stopped. I wondered if something had happened while I was away. Crouching, I observed the situation. ¡°Olivia, your task was to set up a shelter with Olena. Are you finished with that?¡± asked the vice-leader, Zhang Wei, the Spear of Judgment. ¡°Screw that.¡± Olivia¡¯s response was unexpected. Though shecked some tact, she hadn¡¯t been this rude in my presence before. ¡°Honestly, everyone here is pretty much the same except for the team leader. Do you really think having a title makes you special?¡± ¡ªStep, step. Olivia walked nonchntly toward the center, followed by ackey whose name I didn¡¯t know. Hm. Using the Great Blue Heart Technique, I assessed her strength. She¡¯s unexpectedly decent. For someone with such a sharp tongue, she wasn¡¯t weak. Her power was on par with the Spear of Judgment. Zhang Wei the Spear of Judgment, Olivia Rodrigo, and dimir Rodigin the Spatial Mage. These three hadparable power levels, while the rest of the team members were either slightly or significantly weaker. Not that it matters. Even theirbined strength couldn¡¯t even fill Floa¡¯s toe. ¡°Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a bit much?¡± ¡°Right, the vice leader is doing his best.¡± ¡°Besides, he was chosen by the team leader. It¡¯s natural to follow his orders.¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn Looking visibly ufortable, the team members began speaking up. ¡°Heh,¡± Olivia snorted. ¡°Everyone here is so damn naive. Tsk, tsk. You all don¡¯t know how to raise your worth.¡± ¡°Worth?¡± James, the Martial Artists, stepped in. ¡°Do you think you add value to this team?¡± ¡°Oh, are you picking a fight right now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking seriously. Why are you so twisted and intent on ruining the team¡¯s atmosphere?¡± ¡°Oh, being all serious and shit, huh?¡± Olivia smirked. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯re curious, let me exin. Sure, the team leader chose me, but that¡¯s that. And this trial is all about cooperation, right? That means all ten of us are necessary. So why should I bow down just because the team leader is strong? I¡¯m not some pushover.¡± ¡°Cooperation is exactly why¡ª¡± ¡°Cooperation, my ass.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The team leader took nearly 99% of the contributions in Theme 1. You know what that means?¡± A grin spread across Olivia¡¯s face. ¡°It means he stole our shares, dumbass.¡± Her venomous words were relentless. ¡°And the vice leader is the same. Delegating tasks, controlling us¡ªit¡¯s all about telling us what to do, right? What else would you expect from a redckey? In my country, we call that dictatorship.¡± ¡°What are you saying¡ª!¡± Myoi Hana tried to intervene but was cut off by Olivia raising her hand. ¡°Let me spell it out. I hate this whole situation. Honestly, except for that Chinese guy with the spear and the Russian mage, everyone else here feels like freeloaders who just got lucky joining the team.¡± ¡°What?¡± James furrowed his brows. Her words treated the other six members as dead weight. Naturally, his pride wouldn¡¯t let him stay silent. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of your shit!¡± ¡ªWhoosh! His fist, nearly at supersonic speed, shot toward Olivia. However¡­ ¡°¡­!¡± She was no longer where he aimed. Wh-What¡­? James nced around, bewildered. ¡ªSsssh! Something dark coiled around his calves like a snake. This is¡ª James¡¯ eyes widened. A whip? Indeed. Olivia¡¯s primary weapon was a whip¡ªtwo, in fact. As the second whip came swinging at James to strike him hard¡­ ¡°Stop.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± The Spear of Judgment and dimir blocked its path. Beside them stood a man who appeared to be Olivia¡¯s lover, clearly taking her side. Wow. Watching from afar, I let out an internal sigh. Honestly, I thought this might blow over if I kept quiet, but Olivia was the real deal. She was exhausting to even think about. With that kind of attitude, she probably can¡¯t even maintain friendships, let alone work with a team¡­ Some might argue that blunt honesty was the trend in foreign cultures, and being direct without unnecessary politeness was more charming. But no. She wasn¡¯t being honest. She was narcissistic¡ªa mental state that disregarded the feelings of others for the sake of their narrative. ¡°¡­¡± What should I do? Normally, I wouldn¡¯t step in. I wasn¡¯t overly kind, but I wasn¡¯t someone who craved attention, either. But¡­ I couldn¡¯t let this slide. As the team leader, I needed to steer this trial to victory. Once I realized that, my decision was clear. It¡¯s time to act. Festering wounds didn¡¯t heal on their own. You either cut them out or treated them aggressively. This wasn¡¯t about being right or wrong. Maybe my way was wrong and Olivia¡¯s was right, but for the team to move forward, someone had to back down. And if she won¡¯t, I¡¯ll make her. ¡ªStep, step. I began walking, heading straight toward the brewing conflict. ¡°Ah, team leader?¡± ¡°Team leader! You¡¯re here? Please,e quickly. Do you know what¡¯s happening? Olivia, she¡¯s¡ª!¡± I kept walking. Someone tried to talk to me, but I ignored them. My focus was solely on Olivia. ¡°¡­¡± I didn¡¯t know how I looked right now, but I probably wasn¡¯t overly joyous, judging from how the gathered members moved to make way for me. ¡°Ha?¡± Olivia let out a dryugh as she noticed me approaching. Her attitude made my already cold mood drop even lower. If there were apetition for being infuriating, she¡¯d win hands down. Even Floa¡¯s sharp tongue wasn¡¯t this unbearable. ¡°What? Were you eavesdropping? Damn, a voyeuristic team leader.¡± Had she decided to double down? Or was she pretending to be unaffected? ¡°Yes, well. I happened to hear everything.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Olivia grinned. ¡°Then let¡¯s make this quick. You heard me, right? I hate freeloaders. The world should be fair, and everyone should get what they deserve based on their abilities.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And even now, while everyone was working hard, the team leader was off doing who-knows-what, and no one said anything. But I can tolerate that much. Fine.¡± She raised her twin whips in both hands. ¡°But why do I have to take weaklings along just because they¡¯re part of the team, while the strong get no recognition?¡± She might have had a point. Maybe my decision to prioritize the team¡¯s safety was wrong. However¡­ I was the team leader. Regardless of whether she was right or wrong, I had to steer this team of ten toward our goal. And right now, Olivia¡¯s mindset was a major obstacle. ¡°Am I wrong? I don¡¯t think I¡¯m the kind of talent to be sheltering those weaklings right now. What do you think?¡± ¡°Your words hit the nail on the head.¡± I nodded. Olivia¡¯s smile widened as if pleased with my response. ¡°See? I knew it. You¡¯re different from that uptight James guy. You get it.¡± ¡°Well, not quite.¡± I drew my staff. ¡°You¡¯re right. Your words really do hit hard. So, allow me.¡± I mmed it into the ground. Chapter 115 Chapter 115: Time For Education The world was neither simple nor clear-cut. It would be nice if everything fit together perfectly, like the answers to a test, but that was never the case. In a way, it was only natural. Countless people coexisted, tangled and intertwined like a forest, so there was no way it could be so simple. Even now, it was the same. ¡°What? Are you going to resort to violence?¡± I couldn¡¯t have guessed that a randomly picked teammate would turn out to be someone like Olivia Rodrigo. People could stand out and have unique personalities. But there should be a limit to that. This wasn¡¯t too much, was it? ¡°Wow, scary. So you¡¯re also going to solve this with violence after all? Didn¡¯t you hear what I said earlier? I recognize you as the team leader. Ha, fine. It¡¯s all my fault. I¡¯m sorry. Damn it, I¡¯m the asshole here, eh?¡± I selected nine people besides myself. If eight were fine, but one stood out, whose fault was it? Ah, not eight. Because Olivia had her littleckey. How pathetic. Who would want to follow around a woman like that? ¡°It¡¯s kind of absurd. A team where you can¡¯t even speak your mind¡­¡± ¡°¡­?¡± ¡°A disgusting group of team members. What, are minority opinions not even considered opinions?¡± Olivia muttered, making sure everyone could hear her. ¡°Haah,¡± I let out a light sigh then shook my head. ¡°I tried to bear with you, but it¡¯s just not working.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Olivia¡¯s lips twisted as she looked at me. ¡°Even if you were the top performer in Theme 1, there¡¯s a line you shouldn¡¯t cross.¡± ¡°A line?¡± ¡°What I mean is, you should ept it graciously when I treat you with some respect as the team leader.¡± ¡°Heh,¡± augh escaped me. Does she even realize that I briefly overpowered a double-digit ranker earlier? ¡°What? You¡¯reughing?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯mughing.¡± I made a decision¡ªfrom now on, I wouldn¡¯t respect her anymore. ¡°You don¡¯t know how crazy I can be, do you?¡± she said. ¡ªSwish! The whip in her hand moved flexibly. The sharp aura emanating from it might have been intimidating in the past, but now, it just seemed cute. I casually slipped my hands into my pockets. ¡°Sorry, but I think everyone here pretty much already knows that.¡± Yeah, you¡¯re indeed crazy. ¡°Well, well?¡± Olivia raised her eyebrows. ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand that this is a cooperative team game. What are you going to do if I decide to sabotage the team? What if I deliberately disrupt things in the tower?¡± ¡°Well.¡± I slowly began channeling the energy of my staff. ¡°Honestly, it might be better if you and your idiot sidekick weren¡¯t here.¡± ¡°What? Are you really going to do this?¡± ¡°Haven¡¯t you been whining all this time, asking for a fight?¡± Fine. Let¡¯s just deal with her now. I¡¯ll worry about whates nextter. If the game requires teammates, I¡¯ll just carry her unconscious body around. That might even be more helpful to the team. ¡°My lord.¡± ¡°Master.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! Soon, my two loyal subordinates appeared beside me. ¡°Oh?¡± Frowning, she nced at the young man beside her. Her boyfriend-lookingpanion drew his sword, and the situation escted in an instant. ¡°Do you need help, Hoon?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help too! Honestly, I¡¯ve been itching to fight that bitch!¡± The surrounding team members gathered, offering to assist me. ¡°No.¡± I shook my head as there was no need for the team to step in just to discipline someone like her. ¡°Wow, how pathetic. Isn¡¯t this what you call bullying?¡± This woman didn¡¯t seem to understand who was bullying whom right now. ¡°Fine, dammit. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got!¡± No more words. Sunny lunged forward,unching a surprise attack. ¡ªWhoosh! They moved so fast that one could hear the sound of ripping through the fabric of the air. Olivia gasped. Her eyes widened, and she quickly bent her body to avoid it. But before she¡¯d even done that, her left cheek stung sharply. ¡ªDrip. Red blood trickled down. ¡°Wh-What?¡± Eldrin¡¯s arrow had grazed her by a hair¡¯s breadth. And then¡­ ¡ªThwack! Sunny, who had already closed the distance, struck her left side with the shaft of their spear. ¡°Urgh!¡± She didn¡¯t even have time to use the whip in her hand. As if mirroring my intent, Sunny and Eldrin began dealing with her ¡°seriously.¡± ¡°What? Is that a skeleton?¡± ¡°I never knew that a skeleton could do that! Not to mention that our team leader can control a ton of them.¡± ¡°Wow, Hoon really is an amazing hunter.¡± The tense atmosphere was soothed at the overwhelming result. Some even sat in a crouch, watching smugly and enjoying the show. ¡°Wh-What the hell.¡± The ease on Olivia¡¯s face hadpletely disappeared. All she could do was quickly distance herself, her expression full of disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re trying to take me down with just skeletons?¡± As if unwilling to ept the situation, she stomped the ground. She barely managed to secure some distance with a backstep. ¡ªThud! But then she flinched as something bumped into her from behind. ¡ªCreak? It was Boney 4, wielding arge shield. It pushed her back as if asking her where she thought she was going. ¡°Wh-What is this?¡± ¡ªThwack! At that moment, Sunny struck Olivia¡¯s thigh once more. What was impressive about Sunny was that they never stabbed or shed with the spear de. They only used the shaft to inflict bone-rattling pain. ¡ªThwack! Thwack! Thwack! Sunny kept beating her until Olivia¡¯s pale skin was bruised and purple, her nose smashed, and her eyes swollen shut. ¡°W-Wait?¡± Olivia coughed and looked around desperately. She seemed to be searching for the man who nned to fight alongside her, but there was no need. Because that guy was already¡­ ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry. Please spare me!¡± He was on his knees, his skin cut all over by Eldrin¡¯s arrows. He even hupped from fear. ¡°W-Wait. Stop it!¡± ¡ªThwack! Thwack! Sunny kept beating her slowly and at regr intervals as if moving to a rhythm. ¡°Stop! It hurts! Fuck! Aaaaaagh!¡± He hit her legs to knock her down, then struck her upper body to prop her back up. As soon as she was standing, he hit her thighs and calves again to topple her. ¡°Ugh! Argh!¡± Whenever she tried to speak, as if the issue was her mouth itself, he focused his blows there. Honestly, the fight was already over. This wasn¡¯t even a fight anymore¡ªit was just one-sided violence. ¡°Guh! Gah! Ack!¡± Of course, I had no intention of stopping the beating. Whether it hurt or not, I figured that would be nothingpared to the massages I usually got from old man. ¡°Damn it! Aaagh? Aaaaaagh!¡± When Olivia tried to curse again, she let out a different scream this time. Sunny had sliced the roof of her mouth with his spear to silence her entirely. ¡°Gah! Gaaaah!¡± Olivia rolled on the ground, clutching her mouth. Blood poured out between her fingers as she iled in agony. ¡°What did you say? That everyone else is too kind, so they¡¯re undervaluing themselves?¡± I watched her expressionlessly. ¡°Then is this what your worth looks like?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡ªThwack! ¡°And when did I take your share, huh? Tell me.¡± ¡ªThwack! Thwack! ¡°Calling the vice leader¡¯s hard work a dictatorship?¡± ¡ªThwaaack! ¡°Dictatorship? Freeloaders?¡± Freeloaders referred to people like Olivia, who did nothing during Theme 1 but got picked anyway. ¡°If you were picked for the team, you should work hard and contribute to the team. Where did that desperation go when you were begging to be picked? What are you, a politician?¡± ¡°Ph-phease. Shpare me.¡± Sunny struck her in the mouth so many times that she couldn¡¯t even speak properly anymore. Usually, I might¡¯ve felt sorry for her by now, but I didn¡¯t feel a thing. ¡°Ph-phease.¡± ¡°Please?¡± ¡°I-I wi¡¯ wisten! I wi¡¯ do wha-ever you shay, phease¡­!¡± Olivia nodded frantically. Why. Just why did some people onlye to their senses after getting beaten up? ¡°You¡¯ll listen now? Why? Didn¡¯t you say you might just sabotage the team a moment ago?¡± ¡°N-No!¡± ¡°See? If you¡¯d just listened from the start, this could¡¯ve been avoided.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It would¡¯ve been better if you¡¯d just listened while I was being nice, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Tears streamed down Olivia¡¯s face. Wow, she was crying this much over such little pain? If she got one of the old man¡¯s massages, her bones wouldn¡¯t even be intact by now. They say beasts that can¡¯t be rehabilitated must be tamed through a good beating. The old saying was absolutely right. Yeah. I wasn¡¯t beating up Olivia¡ªI was fixing her so she could function normally in society. I helped her change. I taught her a lesson. This was what I¡¯d like to call a real education. ¡°Haah.¡± At my signal, Sunny stopped his beating. The difference in power was so overwhelming that even winning left a bad aftertaste. If I¡¯d been fighting someone like Floa instead, this wouldn¡¯t have felt so unpleasant. Though, in that case, I¡¯d probably have ended up a roasted corpse before evennding a hit. ¡ªPlop! Finally, leaving the limp and unconscious Olivia behind, I turned to look at the team members. ¡°¡­¡± As silence filled the air, I saw a variety of expressions. Some looked relieved, and others were astonished by the sheer difference in power. ¡°Hm, we¡¯ve wasted a lot of time on something pointless.¡± In a situation where we couldn¡¯t afford to waste time just walking, too much time had been taken. ¡°If any more bothersome trouble breaks out, let me know.¡± That was to say if Olivia caused trouble again when I wasn¡¯t around, they should tell me. Finally, someone let out a held breath¡ªJames. ¡°Well done, Hoon!¡± Following his lead¡­ ¡°That was satisfying to watch.¡± ¡°You did the right thing.¡± ¡°Now we just need to keep moving forward?¡± The atmosphere returned to normal¡ªno, it felt even livelier than before. I should¡¯ve acted sooner if I¡¯d known that just knocking Olivia out changed everything this much. With a smirk, I turned to the man still kneeling. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± He¡¯d been stuck to Olivia all this time, so we hadn¡¯t even spoken¡ªnot that I cared much. ¡°I-I¡¯m Kane!¡± ¡°Alright, Kane. Could you carry that for me?¡± I pointed at Olivia. Kane shouted ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± and ran over to hoist Olivia onto his back. ¡°Phew.¡± With that, everything was settled. I felt refreshed and clear-headed. Yeah, from now on, no more holding back. If someone crossed the line, I¡¯d show them through action. That was what I¡¯d endured so much pain to gain strength for. ¡°Well then.¡± I turned to the others. ¡°Everyone, gather ¡¯round.¡± I then pulled out the six scrolls I¡¯d purchased from the shop¡ªthree distance-shortening scrolls and three distance-lengthening scrolls. There was no time to waste. [Item: Grade S Distance-Shortening Scroll] [Rank: S] [Type: Scroll] [Description: A scroll that shortens the distance.] [Effect 1: Works within a 1 km radius of the team leader.] [Effect 2: Reduces the distance to the giant tower by 50%.] [Item: Grade S Distance-Lengthening Scroll] [Rank: S] [Type: Scroll] [Description: A scroll that lengthens the distance.] [Effect 1: Works within a 1 km radius of the opposing team leader.] [Effect 2: Increases the distance to the giant tower by 30%.] [Effect 3: Applies to two opposing teams simultaneously.] The distance-shortening scrolls reduced the total distance by 50%, 25%, and 12.5%, depending on the rank, with a total reduction of 87.5%. The distance-lengthening scrolls increased the total distance by 30%, 15%, and 7.5%, depending on the rank, with a total increase of 52.5%. ¡°I¡¯ll exinter. For now, let¡¯s start heading forward immediately.¡± With the bewildered team members behind me¡­ ¡ªRip! I tore all six scrolls simultaneously. Chapter 116 Chapter 116: The National Treasure of the Aranballon Kingdom (1) The effect of the scrolls was immense. The towering castle that hadn¡¯t seemed to shrink no matter how far we walked had truly be giant. Amazing. It was so massive that the sky was no longer visible. It felt as if the entire world was cast in the shadow of the giant fortress. ¡°Skeleton King! No, Hoon! How on earth did you do it?¡± The guide, Capu, was astonished. ¡°Even with my irvoyance, it¡¯s unmistakable that there¡¯s only about 400 kilometers left now!¡± ¡°¡­400 kilometers?¡± That was ¡°only¡±? As far as I knew, that was something like 250 miles. Capu¡¯s face flushed red as I wondered how he had been measuring distances with irvoyance all this time. ¡°Normally, I can only sense distances vaguely, but now I can see the exact distance to the entrance.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What did you do? What were those papers you tore earlier?¡± Capu wasn¡¯t the only one speaking up. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m curious too.¡± The spatial mage, dimir, stepped forward as well. ¡°In a brief moment, there was an enormouspression of space. Even with my S-rank spatial movement skill, I couldn¡¯t grasp the distance we crossed. How is something like this possible? I can¡¯t believe it.¡± ¡°Just wait a moment.¡± Olena, James, the Spear of Judgment, the middle-aged man, and Myoi Hana all looked at me with expressions full of curiosity. ¡°Let¡¯s keep walking, and I¡¯ll exin everything one by one.¡± Of course, I¡¯d be making up a story. No matter how important teamwork was in this theme, I couldn¡¯t afford to reveal everything about myself, could I? * * * I skipped over the incident with Floa entirely. I exined that while searching for treasures using my skeletons, I found scrolls. Those scrolls werebeled ¡°distance-shortening¡± and distance-lengthening.¡± That was about it. ¡°So in the end, finding treasures was the answer,¡± Olena sighed lightly. ¡°In some ways, it¡¯s simr to Theme 1. Back then, we searched for food or poison in the forest. Now, it feels like we¡¯re searching for scrolls in the wilderness.¡± ¡°This game definitely favors necromancers.¡± ¡°Is there any game that doesn¡¯t? Their summons do everything for them.¡± ¡°Still, thanks to the team leader, we might actually clear this trial easily. Thank you, team leader. If I did anything right in this trial, it was meeting you.¡± ¡°Yeah, at this pace, 400 kilometers will pass quickly, right? And that Olivia girl isn¡¯t that heavy anyway.¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡ªFlinch. Olivia¡¯s man, Kane, shivered. On his shoulders, Olivia¡¯s face was still swollen, and shey limp as a corpse. I nodded. Yeah, just stay like that. You¡¯re more useful this way. For now, in terms of immediate power, she was a liability, but when looking at the bigger picture, this was much better. Not much further now. As the towering fortress grew closer, I pressed my hand to my chest. The pounding of my heart steadied my breathing. The theme isn¡¯t over yet. Delh¡¯s trials were infamous for their difficulty. Even the immensely strong Five Stars of Seoul spoke endlessly about them. Or rather, it might not have even begun. So far, all we¡¯d done was travel while searching for treasure. We might not have even taken the first real step. The true beginning might only start once we entered that giant fortress. ¡ªThud thud! We walked and ran endlessly. We decided to march ahead without wasting much time. Since there wasn¡¯t much distance left, we cut down on mealtimes and rest periods as much as possible. And after some time had passed¡­ ¡°Hoon,¡± Capu muttered. ¡°There, I see the entrance!¡± In the distance, the entrance on the wall wasn¡¯t exactly a door. Could it even be called a door? It was a massive hole that looked like it would swallow us into an abyss. [Team 1 has reached the ¡®Giant Fortress.¡¯] At the same time, a message appeared. Tension arose in the expressions of my team members. ¡°Deep breaths! Let¡¯s all take deep breaths! We have our team leader, don¡¯t we?¡± Olena ced her hand on her chest and steadied her breathing. [Team 1 is the first to arrive.] [Teams 2 and 3 are automatically disqualified.] ¡°Disqualified?¡± ¡°Whoa, does that mean we seeded? We passed?¡± ¡°Wow, unbelievable. So the other teams were eliminated before even entering the fortress? That¡¯s actually so unfortunate for them.¡± Once again, arge number of people were eliminated. And yet, Theme 2 hadn¡¯t even properly started. Now, only ten people were left¡­ It was clear that bing a ranker wasn¡¯t an easy feat. I looked at the entrance and said, ¡°It¡¯s too soon to celebrate.¡± The true goal of Theme 2 was to find the ¡°national treasure¡± thaty within the fortress. ¡°Everyone, prepare yourselves.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s preparation to enter, we¡¯re ready,¡± the Spear of Judgment replied with a serious expression. Seeing that serious face, I couldn¡¯t help but feel like teasing him. ¡°Anyst words?¡± ¡°Last words?¡± ¡°Just look at it¡ªit clearly looks ominous inside.¡± ¡°Hmph, such a dull joke. I¡¯ll go in first.¡± The Spear of Judgment, iming it was dull, smirked slightly before stepping into the hall. ¡ªSwish! His body was pulled in as if diving into water. ¡°Then we¡¯ll go next.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do this! Let¡¯s do this!¡± ¡°Hoon, I¡¯m going in too. See youter.¡± Olena¡¯s group followed after him. dimir, the middle-aged man, and Myoi silently entered one by one. Everyone seemed tense but not afraid. Of course, if they were afraid, they wouldn¡¯t have attempted the trial in the first ce. When Judge Lucas issued the warning, those people would have dropped out. ¡°Ex-Excuse me.¡± Someone poked me from the side¡ªit was Kane. Behind him, Olivia still refused to lift her face, either out of shame or embarrassment. Even though time had passed, she remained perched on Kane¡¯s shoulder, pretending to be unconscious. Honestly, all the team members knew that she was awake and just pretending not to be. ¡°Yes, what is it?¡± When I asked, Kane hesitantly said, ¡°Do we enter too?¡± Of course you¡¯re going in. If I hadn¡¯t nned to bring you, I would¡¯ve left you behind the day I beat you up. ¡°Yes, go on. Before I change my mind.¡± ¡°Ah, understood.¡± ¡ªSwish! Kane hurriedly entered with Olivia, marking thest of the team to go in. The hole, still open, vibrated faintly as if waiting for my entry. ¡ªStep, step. Standing before the dark hole, a thrilling sensation swept through my entire body. What could possibly be waiting for me in there? What kind of challenges will torment me? Entranced by the strange sensation, I slowly closed my eyes. [The trial of the ¡®Ancient Aranballon Kingdom¡¯ begins.] This message marked the true start of Theme 2. As Joo Donghoon entered the Giant Fortress, two individuals watched holograms in a white hall. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Lucas¡¯s lips twisted. They say when someone sees something unbelievable, their face changes instinctively. If anyone saw Lucas now, his expression would be absurdlyical. He nced to his side. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Delh also let out a groan, seemingly in awe. ¡°Is this the first time?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Delh tilted her head at Lucas¡¯s sudden question as if to ask what he meant. ¡°All ten team members entering Aranballon together¡ªisn¡¯t this a first? Back in our day, three people had died before it even started due to a fight¡­ Don¡¯t you remember, Lady Delh?¡± ¡°Yes, I remember. But this isn¡¯t the first time.¡± Delh shook her head. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, there have been times when all ten members entered together. Though no team has ever made it through with all of them getting out alive.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°In fact, the conflict Team 1 faced shouldn¡¯t even be considered a real conflict.¡± The only notable conflict was when Joo Donghoon shed with Olivia. And even that was resolved by Joo Donghoon¡¯s overwhelming force. Such urrences happened with every team, so it wasn¡¯t even worth calling conflict. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Lucas nodded. ¡°Team 1 arrived at the fortress so quickly that there wasn¡¯t even time for conflict. Unlike during our trial, when it took us over two months to get there.¡± ¡°The longer difort persists, the greater the discord.¡± Walking an endless path may seem easy, but when faced with it, it was no joke. Competition with other teams, the anxiety of potential elimination,ck of progress¡ªand so on. All these factors piled up until doubts about the team leader arose. At first, you endured. But as the days stretched into weeks and weeks into a month, the team started to split. Mutual nder began and misunderstandings grew into grudges. ¡°My apologies.¡± Suddenly, Lucas bowed his head. ¡°About Floa. I warned her to be cautious, but she caused trouble again.¡± He believed that the imbnce in Joo Donghoon¡¯s team was entirely due to Floa. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Lucas. That was just part of the rules I set. There¡¯s no need to me Floa. Joo Donghoon is just an exceptionally unique case. Besides, didn¡¯t we already expect this?¡± It was true. The disparity among the participants was so vast that all the judges had predicted Team 1¡¯s victory. ¡°We are the Dungeon Maker. All we do is create the environment and observe.¡± Delh smiled. ¡°Moreover, the real trial begins now.¡± * * * I opened my eyes. The chaotic blend of light and darkness around me returned to normal. This ce is¡­ I looked around. The space was so vast that no ceiling or walls were visible in the giant hall. And we stood in the middle of it. How did I know it was a hall? Because the floor was engraved with enormous patterns. Around the patterns were inscriptions¡ªperhaps thenguage of the Aranballon Kingdom. [Within the deepest part of the ¡®Ancient Aranballon Kingdom.¡¯] [Here lie countless treasures of those that once ruled the world.] At that moment, golden light sparkled everywhere. From those sparkling points, an extraordinary aura radiated. [Seek the treasure.] [im the treasure.] [Among the countless treasures, find the ¡®National Treasure.¡¯] Hundreds, no, thousands¡ªtens of thousands of valuable items were spread out everywhere. They¡¯re not fake. I knew instinctively that each one was an S-rank treasure, or even beyond. And only one of them would be the National Treasure. ¡°Wow, this truly is the work of a Dungeon Maker. The scale is something else,¡± dimir muttered. ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°This can¡¯t be the end of it, right? I mean, considering how difficult things have been so far. This trial can¡¯t just be about searching for treasures, can it?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a point. Just looking at it, this reeks of traps.¡± Nobody here was foolish. I wondered if someone would stupidly dash forward to start treasure hunting. Fortunately, even Olivia remained silent, holding her breath. ¡°Well then.¡± I swallowed hard. ¡°Why don¡¯t we start by assessing our surroundings?¡± We could take it slow now, since there was no morepetition. Chapter 117 Chapter 117: The National Treasure of the Aranballon Kingdom (2) As the team members cautiously moved, observing their surroundings, I matched their pace and walked slowly. ¡°U-Uh, over there?¡± ¡°Team leader! Look at the floor.¡± ¡°The floor is moving!¡± I stopped and blinked in surprise. What? The floor was moving, he says? But I didn¡¯t feel anything like that. Responding to my startled reaction, Capu stepped forward. ¡°Hoon, the patterns on the floor moved, to be exact. They shifted in sync with your movements.¡± ¡°The patterns?¡± ¡°Yeah, can you try moving again?¡± ¡°Easily.¡± ¡ªStep, step. I took two more steps forward, and a strange feeling washed over me. It felt as if I wasn¡¯t moving me but the entire team. Ah. Instinctively, I looked down. Everyone¡¯s eyes were wide, focused on the ground beneath me. It¡¯s true. Capu was right. The patterns carved into the floor were somehow moving, centered around me. I couldn¡¯t understand how something engraved could move. ¡°What could be the reason?¡± ¡°Who knows? It seems like understanding the secret behind these patterns is the key to progressing.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone rubbed their chins in thought. We were being cautious, so we had to hold our ground without acting rashly. It¡¯s the pressure. The atmosphere was physically heavy¡ªa suffocating pressure weighed on us. In fact, it had been like this since we entered the hall. It felt like a colossal presence was watching us. Goosebumps ran down my arms. ¡°This is giving me the chills.¡± ¡°Yeah, it feels like something¡¯s creeping up my spine. It also feels chilly in here.¡± Ignoring the anxious murmurs of some team members, I continued analyzing the surroundings. I forced myself to stay calm. After all, I was the team leader. First. The patterns formed a circle with a radius of about 10 meters. It felt a bit cramped for ten people to fit inside. ¡°Team leader!¡± Myoi Hana¡¯s voice cut through the tension. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Look over there!¡± She pointed into the air. At the end of her line of sight¡­ ¡ªBoom! An imposing soldier wielding a crossbow stood tall. It seemed to be made of bones, much like my skeletons. But since it was motionless, I assumed it was just decorative. ¡°A soldier?¡± ¡°There¡¯s one over here too!¡± ¡°I see another one, Hoon!¡± One by one, team members began spotting more soldiers. The hall was dimly lit, making it hard to see, but once we spotted one, the rest were easier to find. Each soldier wielded a crossbow. They also had scabbards at their waists, housing swords of standard length. Soldiers, huh? Since this was the trial of the Aranballon Kingdom, I figured these must be Aranballon soldiers. ¡ªRing! [You have discovered the soldiers guarding the treasures of the ¡®Ancient Aranballon Kingdom¡¯!] [Explorers, beware!] [The kingdom¡¯s soldiers are extremely ferocious and powerful!] [Avoid them and search for the ¡®National Treasure¡¯!] ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Soldiers guarding the treasure?¡± ¡°Are those things going to move?¡± ¡ªMurmur, murmur. The team began chattering, reacting to the message. ¡°They¡¯re not moving though?¡± James stepped forward. ¡°Ande on, they¡¯re just soldiers, right? Not generals or knights in shining armor¡ªjust regr soldiers. Here, I¡¯ll go check them out.¡± ¡ªClench! He tightened his fist and stepped outside the pattern. ¡ªFlinch! At that moment, my Great Blue Heart Technique activated, much like my sixth sense. ¡ªVwooom! A warning rang in my head, reverberating through my body. This was a real danger. ¡°Wait!¡± ¡ªWhoosh! I instinctively swung my spear imbued with the fire element, knocking something away with a sharp ng. ¡°Oomph!¡± A heavy impact rippled through my muscles. It felt blunt, like getting hit by a massive hammer. My eyes widened. Clearly, what was fired at me was a bolt from one of the Aranballon Kingdom soldiers. What kind of crossbow shoots bolts this hard and fast? ¡ªWhoosh! Whoosh! The soldiers began firing their crossbows from all directions. ¡°Sunny! Eldrin!¡± I immediately summoned my skeletons. ¡°My lord!¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± First, I called on my strongest skeletons to handle the immediate threat. ¡°Boney 4!¡± ¡ªCreak! Boom! I summoned the shield-wielding skeletons to surround and protect the team quickly. But it was toote. ¡°Urgh!¡± ¡°Aaaargh! My thigh! My thigh!¡± Even in that brief moment, the bolts had inflicted serious injuries on several team members. ¡°Wh-What is this?¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°This is insane! How are we supposed to stop something like this?¡± The team was in shock, and I was equally astonished. Even with my heightened skills, the oppressive force was overwhelming. ¡°James!¡± ¡°Huh? Uh?¡± That idiot! He was still standing outside the pattern, dumbfounded. If stepping outside triggered the soldiers¡¯ attack, he should have hurried back into the circle. ¡°What are you doing?! Get back inside the pattern now!¡± ¡°Ah, got it!¡± James quickly dove back into the circle, and the moment he did¡­ ¡ªClunk! The crossbow fire ceased. The terrifying sound of bolts raining down disappeared, leaving a deathly silence in the hall. ¡°¡­¡± No one spoke. Everyone swallowed nervously. ¡°Huff, huff! Huff!¡± ¡°Huff, ugh¡­!¡± ¡°Urgh.¡± The only sounds were heavy breathing and faint groans. I let out a sigh. I knew it. Stepping outside the pattern was forbidden. To safely find the treasure, we would all need to move together. That was the challenge of this theme.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°Those of you who are injured,e here. Let¡¯s treat you first.¡± The bolts had hit three people¡ªCapu, the middle-aged man, and Kane. I approached Kane first. Grabbing the bolt embedded in his thigh, I tightened my grip. ¡°Uh, w-wait! What are you¡ª¡± ¡°Bite down.¡± ¡ªRip! I yanked the bolt out in one swift motion. ¡°Aaaargh!¡± Kane screamed. I held no malice toward him, but these things hurt less when removed quickly. Besides, a wound of this level could easily be healed by Boney 7. [Consuming 10 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Bonehead 7.¡¯] I summoned the healer skeleton and treated Kane. As for the other two¡­ ¡°You two are lucky. It just so happens that I¡¯m a healer.¡± Myoi Hana stepped forward. With holy light emanating from her hands, she carefully healed their wounds. Huh. She¡¯s a healer? I was surprised. Now that I thought about it, she had never disclosed her unique ability. ¡°My name is Myoi Hana, a hunter from Hiroshima, Japan. Since the renowned first-ce Skeleton King personally chose me, I will do my utmost to assist you.¡± Her introduction had been vague back then. It made sense. In team-based games, healers were invaluable assets. However, inpetitive situations, they were also the most vulnerable targets. It required a certain level of trust to reveal her abilities. ¡°Damn, why is it always me¡­¡± Watching Myoi Hana¡¯s meticulous healing, Kane wore a resentful expression. But when I red at him, he mped his mouth shut. C¡¯mon, dude, how was I supposed to know that? What now? I turned my attention back to the soldiers with crossbows. They were just as monstrous as they appeared. If they were unleashed in the middle of Seoul, it would be nothing short of hell. ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°Hey, hold on a second.¡± My contemtive sigh was interrupted by someone¡¯s voice. It was dimir Rodigin, the spatial mage. Blinking, he looked at me. ¡°Why did the soldiers attack us, even though James was the one who stepped out of the circle?¡± Huh? He¡¯s right. ¡°Look at James. He¡¯s perfectly fine. It¡¯s like he wasn¡¯t attacked at all.¡± ¡°¡­¡± I turned to James. He looked dazed, wearing a nk expression, but his body was unscathed¡ªnot a single wound. As far as I knew, it would¡¯ve been impossible for James to dodge all those bolts with his skills. What the fuck? In that instant, I realized something. If the first person to step outside the circle gains an advantage¡­ If survival outside the pattern is guaranteed only for them¡­ I¡¯m the only person to get screwed, aren¡¯t I? The pattern moved with me as the center. If everyone else stepped out, the soldiers¡¯ attacks would focus solely on me. ¡ªGulp! As I swallowed hard, a distant sound echoed. ¡ªCreak! Clunk! A door opened in the distance, apanied by a blinding white light. ¡ªRing! [Team members may select a ¡®treasure¡¯ and escape the Giant Fortress at any time.] [Escaping team members will pass Theme 2.] Of course. Fuck. I should¡¯ve known it wouldn¡¯t be this simple. The question posed by Theme 2 was straightforward: Will you pass together with your team leader? Or will you abandon them and pass alone? The Theme 2 was a trial designed to toy with human nature. ¡°Finally, it begins.¡± In front of a hologram, Delh watched the screen with interest. She held a homemade hamburger in her hand. After all, even she needed to eat while spectating. Beside her, Lucas sipped on a soda. ¡°This will be interesting. Isn¡¯t this the main theme of the trial?¡± For Lucas, Theme 2 was the main event of this entire dungeon, for this was where rankers were truly decided. The remaining trials would continue with those who stayed united as a team. And those who stayed usually became lifelongrades, like Korea¡¯s Five Stars of Seoul. And I¡­ Lucas bit his lip. Back when he was the team leader, all his team members had abandoned him. In the end, he was the sole survivor. He had cleared the remaining themes alone and became a ranker. Because of this, Theme 2 was both the most fascinating and the most terrifying for him. ¡°How many do you think will make it this time? Five? Six? My guess is six,¡± Delh said as she elegantly nibbled on her hamburger. ¡°I¡¯m betting on four. Olivia and Kane will definitely run. As for the rest, I can¡¯t say. True intentions are revealed only in the face of fear,¡± Lucas said with conviction. He had experienced it himself. At first, everyone pretended to care for the team leader. But when one person escaped, the real hell began. The soldiers¡¯ relentless crossbow fire never stopped. Who would risk their life to uphold loyalty? Not many. Lucas shook his head. Watching Theme 2 always made him nauseous. The memories of betrayal and trauma stirred up his emotions. ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see, won¡¯t we?¡± Delh chuckled. ¡°Delh, do you think Joo Donghoon has earned enough trust as a team leader?¡± Lucas asked, wearing a faint smile. ¡°Hmm. That, I¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°Then why¡­?¡± ¡°Because from Theme 1, he¡¯s been performing impossible feats. Lucas, did you ever predict that Joo Donghoon would conquer the poison mist by consuming it?¡± ¡°But in this game, there¡¯s no such thing as¡ª¡± ¡°Why would you assume that?¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± Lucas tilted his head. His expression was filled with curiosity, but Delh remained silent. She simply continued eating her hamburger. ¡°¡­¡± Well, what¡¯s the point of overthinking? Let¡¯s just watch and wait. After all, just observing Joo Donghoon is entertaining enough. That¡¯s the kind of hunter he is. Chapter 118 Chapter 118: The National Treasure of the Aranballon Kingdom (3) Silence filled the hall. ¡°¡­¡± Some were receiving medical treatment while others tried to calm their ragged breathing. But everyone was definitely listening. ¡°Why did the soldiers attack us, even though James was the one who stepped out of the circle?¡± ¡°Look at James. He¡¯s perfectly fine. It¡¯s like he wasn¡¯t attacked at all.¡± dimir Lodygin¡¯s spection was sharp. And then¡­ [Team members may select a ¡®treasure¡¯ and escape the Giant Fortress at any time.] [Escaping team members will pass Theme 2.] An exit appeared as if to unt itself. No, it wasn¡¯t an exit. It was a temptation¡ªa very tant one at that. ¡°Hmm.¡± My throat felt tight. My chest, too, felt as suffocated as my clogged throat. There¡¯s no pretext to stop them, is there? I had to find justification to stop them from leaving me. Because I chose them? Or because I was the team leader? Those reasons were nothing more than a temporary pledge of loyalty. They had no obligation to stay, and it would be naive to expect them to. Moreover¡­ I suddenly looked at someone¡ªthe woman with a swollen face, still being carried on Kane¡¯s back, with barely open eyes. Olivia. That one at least had a 99% chance of going outside. No, I could say it was 100%. ¡ªWhoosh! At that moment¡­ ¡°From now on.¡± The Spear of Judgment stepped toward the door, lowering his weapon. ¡ªStep, step. He walked forward slowly and stopped at the edge of the pattern. His broad back and power-filled arms emanated an extraordinary aura. ¡°¡­Anyone who crosses this line without permission,¡± he said, ¡°will face judgment by my spear. If you¡¯re ready to die, then cross.¡± Wow. I was internally astonished at the fact that he was helping me to this extent. It probably wasn¡¯t just because he was the vice leader but because that was who he was¡ªa person who didn¡¯t tolerate injustice such as murder or betrayal. I inwardly expressed my gratitude to the Spear of Judgment. ¡°I agree as well.¡± Olena also stepped forward, holding her staff. ¡°Hoon epted us into his team when we were likely to drop out early. If you¡¯re a hunter with any sense of morality, you won¡¯t abandon him in a situation like this.¡± ¡ªTap! She boldly nted her staff on the ground after walking toward the Spear of Judgment. ¡°Hm. So is that what you¡¯d call Oxford pride?¡± As if finding it amusing, dimir Lodygin stroked his chin with his left hand¡ªto be exact, the hand not holding his staff. ¡°Well, it makes sense. Honestly, I respect the team leader¡¯s ability more than anything. Plus, there¡¯s no guarantee that I¡¯ll pass the next theme just by escaping here alone, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. ording to the secondw of pathfinding, ridiculous temptations in a dungeon are usually traps. And who knows? That exit might lead to hell instead of a pass. I¡¯ll stick with Hoon.¡± After Lodygin agreed, Capu nodded as well. The other hunters also nodded one by one. They wouldn¡¯t want to stand out when the majority had already sided, not to mention the intimidating aura of the Spear of Judgment. For now, we sessfully passed the first hurdle. But of course I couldn¡¯t let my guard down. The moment even one person darted out, the crossbow barrage from those Aranballon soldiers would begin. ¡°Thank you for putting your trust in me.¡± I bowed my head slightly in the direction of where Zhang Wei stood. ¡°Well, since the treatments seem mostly done, shall we move slowly to search for the treasure? If there really is a national treasure, we should find it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°¡­Hmm, search through all of that?¡± Lodygin asked. I nodded. ¡°Yes. For now, we don¡¯t really know what the ¡®national treasure¡¯ is. Think of it as trying to gather clues rather than actually finding it. It¡¯ll make things easier.¡± ¡°Sounds good. It¡¯s better than staying still at least.¡± He stood up and brushed the dust off his rear with his staff. Thus, the peculiar march began. Everyone followed obediently, centering around me. I headed for the farthest area from the entrance. Getting too close to the entrance might make Olivia suddenly turn and dash out. ¡°Wow, this fortress sure is grand, huh? It¡¯s incredibly spacious.¡± Lodygin stretched. ¡°It¡¯s really fascinating. I wonder how they built a structure like this. I mean, look at this ce! There are no pirs, and you can¡¯t even see the ceiling.¡± ¡°Exactly. Can you even call this a structure?¡± ¡°It¡¯s like outer space. Those shimmering treasures look like stars,¡± Myoimented with a smile. ¡°Stars, huh.¡± Lodygin chuckled. ¡°What a sentimental youngdy you are. Meanwhile, I¡¯m walking on eggshells, worrying about when Olivia might suddenly bolt.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone was subtly conscious of Olivia. The funny thing was she didn¡¯t deny it. She just pretended to be unconscious, keeping her eyes closed. Wow, at this point, should I reevaluate Kane? I inwardly clicked my tongue. How can he still be carrying her like that? Could he be a saint? Or a Buddha? Anyway, after moving quite a distance, we finally arrived at a dazzling disy of treasure. [Arriving at Treasure Cache #314.] [Check the treasure.] The disyed treasure was an ornate sword encrusted with jewels. It was a weapon that clearly only nobles would use. Could this be the national treasure? I wondered. ¡°I¡¯ll check it first.¡± I grabbed the sword¡¯s hilt and slowly lifted it. [Item: Sword of the Ancient Aranballon Royal Family] [Rank: S] [Type: Sword] [Description: A sword crafted by dwarves under the ancient Aranballon Kingdom for the royal knights.] [Effect 1: Increases energy by 100.] [Effect 2: Reduces skill cooldown by 10%.] [Effect 3: Increases skill power by 150%.] [Effect 4: Increases strength by 30.] ¡°Oh.¡± It was an S-rank right from the start, and its stats were also quite impressive. [This treasure is the ¡®Sword of the Ancient Aranballon Royal Family¡¯ (S-rank).] [This treasure is not the ¡®National Treasure.¡¯] I shared the status information with the team. They, too, murmured with astonished expressions. ¡°There are treasures like this scattered everywhere?¡± ¡°Is that even possible?¡± ¡°Is this a treasure vault? If we take everything here, won¡¯t we all be filthy rich?¡± ¡°A fortuitous encounter indeed.¡± ¡°If only there weren¡¯t limits to our subspace bags, we¡¯d loot everything here.¡± The team actively exchanged opinions. I nodded. They¡¯re right. They were, but I felt uneasy. In my experience, whenever you gain something, you have to pay an equivalent price. Just like how I had to endure immense pain every day since acquiring the Elder of All Techniques. ¡°For now. Take this.¡± I handed the sword to Capu. ¡°Let¡¯s keep it and explore the next area slowly.¡± The distribution of treasure could wait until survival was ensured. We continued exploring. The types of treasure were diverse. [This treasure is ¡®The Queen¡¯s Bow¡¯ (S-rank).] [This treasure is not the ¡®National Treasure.¡¯] [This treasure is 30kg of sapphire.] [This treasure is not the ¡®National Treasure.¡¯] [This treasure is ¡®Elixir¡¯ (S-rank).] [This treasure is not the ¡®National Treasure.¡¯] ¡­ Weapons were basic. From peculiar potions to variously shaped jewels, each of us carried at least three treasures as we continued to collect them. ¡°Kane! Run!¡± Then suddenly Olivia and Kane began to sprint. ¡ªWhoosh! ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± The Spear of Judgment reacted like lightning¡ªLodygin and Olena, too. Everyone seemed to have anticipated it. I knew it. I, too, expected this. That was why I stationed Sunny and Eldrin at the edge of the circle. ¡°Still not satisfied with your beating?¡± ¡°Leave it to us, Master.¡± Sunny and Eldrin each drew their weapons and blocked their path. The entire process unfolded in about three seconds with perfect preparation and precise responsiveness. Or at least that was what I thought until Kane¡¯s body started turning crimson. ¡°Huh?¡± My eyes widened. ¡°Wh-What?¡± ¡°What kind of power is this?¡± ¡ªWhoosh! An enormous pressure began to emanate from Kane¡¯s body. It was far too much, even for an S-rank hunter. The overwhelming power was enough to make even the Spear of Judgment, Sunny, and Eldrin hesitate. ¡°N-No way?¡± Olena eximed. She was shocked. ¡°Could that be self-destruction magic? How did they get their hands on a spell so dangerous it¡¯s considered ¡®banned¡¯ even at Oxford¡­?!¡± ¡°What is that?¡± I asked. ¡°It¡¯s an evil magic that detonates all of the victim¡¯s energy in exchange for their life! Judging by the flow of mana, it seems Olivia initiated it!¡± ¡°Haah,¡± I sighed. How could such a ridiculous and overpowered spell exist? Then could anyone just cast it and blow themselves up to be the strongest in the world? Reading my thoughts, Olena shook her head. ¡°The spell only activates when there¡¯s absolute agreement between the caster and the victim. No one in their right mind would consent to such a spell. Unless it¡¯s a loyalty contract or ve contract.¡± ¡°So then¡­ Could it be?¡± Did they sign a ve contract? Now that I think about it. Kane did seem unusually submissive around Olivia. I thought he was just kind-hearted or deeply infatuated, being a pushover. Was he in a ve contract all along? ¡ªRumble! ¡°Ugh.¡± I frowned because the power emanating from Kane was growing stronger. ¡°Everyone, I¡¯m sorry. No hard feelings.¡± As Kane spoke¡­ ¡ªKaboom! A massive explosion akin to a bomb detonating into a microphone shook the area. The pressure lifted my body off the ground. Holy shit. Worse than that, everyone at the edge of the circle was blown out of bounds. I knew this might happen. This was an unpreventable natural disaster. It was akin to ¡°systemic risk¡± in economics. No one could have guessed Kane would sacrifice his life to help Olivia. ¡ªScreeech! Simultaneously, a sound like scraping against a chalkboard filled the air. ¡°Fuck¡­¡± At that moment, chills ran down my spine. All the statues of the Aranballon soldiers turned toward us. ¡ªnk, nk, nk¡­! The continuous sound of crossbows being loaded was terrifying. ¡°Damn it! Everyone, get inside!¡± Lodygin shouted. ¡°Regroup and form a defensive line! We survive together!¡± the Spear of Judgment also gave orders. ¡ªTumble, tumble. I rolled on the ground too, trying to regain my bnce. Since the circle moved with me as its center, I had to position myself at the center of the group. ¡°¡­¡± Through my vision, I saw Olivia fleeing desperately. Damn it. Whatever, it didn¡¯t matter. Even if she ¡®passed¡¯ alone to Theme 3, it didn¡¯t matter. Because I will survive and pass too. And then, once I survive, I¡¯ll definitely pay her back. Just you wait. I hardened my resolve. Fortunately, the other team members had all made it into the circle. ¡°Huh?¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn Or so I thought. ¡°James?¡± Olena stared ahead nkly, muttering. Her gaze fell on the martial artist, James, who was running toward the exit, carrying as many treasures as he could. ¡°James, you crazy bastard! What are you doing? Get over here!¡± Capu shouted in disbelief, but James didn¡¯t listen. Frowning, Capu closed his eyes and began mumbling something. It was an utter mess. ¡°¡­Ha.¡± I let out a smallugh. Not because it was funny but because it was all I could do. It seemed everyone got the drama they wanted, huh? Well, even so. I had expected it from the beginning, so it wasn¡¯t a big mental blow. ¡°Everyone, focus for now!¡± I shouted. ¡ªSwish, swish, swish! For now, let¡¯s deal with the hellish bolts flying at us from a distance. Chapter 119 Chapter 119: The National Treasure of the Aranballon Kingdom (4) ¡ªScreeeech! Bam! Bam! Bam! The moment I regained my wits about me, a barrage of bolts was already raining down. The air sounded like it was being ripped apart, and the heavy thud as they embedded themselves into the shields of the skeletal legion led by Boney 4 echoed. The enemies¡¯ eyes glowed red, and one by one, they began advancing, executing precise shots. The situation was already in motion¡ªall that was left was how to deal with it. ¡°Everyone, get behind me for now!¡± ¡ªShrrrk! I transformed my weapon into a shield and joined Boney 4¡¯s squad. ¡°Boney 4¡¯s legion, form a line! Position yourselves on either side of me!¡± ¡ªCreaaak! ¡ªRumble! The skeletons mmed their shields into the ground as if to acknowledge mymand. ¡°And!¡± I shouted back to the team, ¡°If anyone wants to run, now¡¯s your chance!¡± ¡°What? What did you say?¡± ¡°We can run?¡± ¡°Hoon?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± The team members tilted their heads in confusion, but my expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll be fine! So anyone who wants to leave, go!¡± To survive as a hunter in this world, it was better to always be prepared to get stabbed in the back. If you thought that way from the start, there was no need to feel wronged. Besides¡­ I¡¯d never solved any of the so-called impossible dungeons together with someone before. Whether it was passing the old man¡¯s trial, clearing the medium dungeon, or solving Theme 1, I¡¯d always been alone. To be honest, there was a certainfort in being alone. And I¡¯d gotten used to these kinds of dangers. ¡°Hmm, so you¡¯re saying it¡¯s better to betray you now than cause chaoster? Very fitting decision of a team leader.¡± dimir nodded. Then he shook his head. ¡°But I¡¯m not running. I¡¯ll hold out as long as I can. I don¡¯t want to be a cowardly ranker by abandoning the team.¡± He swung his staff. ¡ªVwoom! A circr barrier formed in the air, diverting the iing bolts in other directions. The ability to manipte space was truly impressive. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving either. Separating from Hoon once during Theme 1 was enough.¡± Olena reinforced the skeletal shields with her water shield. ¡°Hehe, if anyone gets hurt, just let me know! I¡¯ll heal you right away!¡± Myoi Hana emitted light from her hands. Surprisingly, not a single person moved. The Spear of Judgment, Olena, Capu, Myoi Hana, the middle-aged man, dimir, and I¡ªa total of seven hunters chose to ovee this crisis together. They chose to fight. I nodded. ¡°Good.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! At that moment, a stray bolt from a distance barely got past the shield. Instinctively, I turned my head, but it grazed my cheek. ¡ªDrip! Blood trickled down. As expected, they¡¯re no joke. Each bolt carried unimaginable power. A moment¡¯spse in focus would undoubtedly result in a hole in my neck or heart. ¡°Are you okay?!¡± Myoi Hana immediately approached me, but I raised my hand to indicate that I was fine. This kind of wound was nothing. ¡°First off! Everyone! Move outside the circle while I¡¯m holding them off!¡± ¡°Outside the circle?¡± ¡°Those soldiers don¡¯t attack hunters outside the circle anyway, right?¡± I sent out the skeletons, excluding Boney 4¡¯s legion that was protecting me. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right! So while you hold them off, we can go outside and take care of them?¡± ¡°But are you sure you can hold out on your own?¡± The team members asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you see me holding out right now?!¡± I shouted back. ¡ªBang! Boom! My shield was godyer rank¡ªit was indestructible. However, the impact of each bolt felt like giant boulders colliding, shaking my internal organs. ¡°Ugh!¡± Still, I gritted my teeth and endured. I might not have looked it, but I had S-rank pain resistance. This was nothingpared to the extreme massages the old man gave; this was child¡¯s y. ¡°Everyone, go!¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The Spear of Judgment immediately dashed out. Sunny and Boney 2 stuck to his nks. The remaining hunters also positioned themselves and began sprinting. ¡ªClick! That was when the kingdom¡¯s soldiers¡¯ eyes started to glow. ¡ªShink! Shink! As the hunters got closer, the soldiers lowered their crossbows and drew their swords from their waists. Their target was the Spear of Judgment. They blocked his thrust with their sword des, twisting their bodies to counter. Using that momentum, they aimed for his lower abdomen with a speed beyond imagination. ¡°Mmph?¡± The startled Spear of Judgment stepped back. ¡°Be careful!¡± dimir shouted from behind. ¡°If you get too close, they attack regardless of the circle!¡± ¡°Damn it, this won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°Still, at least they don¡¯t shoot their crossbows at you here! It¡¯s better to stay outside!¡± Even if the soldiers drew their swords, it was still better than being hit by bolts inside the circle. That was the team¡¯s decision. Zhang Wei repositioned himself and bit his lip. ¡°We need to coordinate. Everyone, get into position.¡± ¡°Yes!¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om With the team leader at a distance, the vice leader took charge of the battlefield. The team members naturally followed the Spear of Judgment¡¯s orders. ¡°Focus on one target at a time.¡± ¡°Roger that!¡± ¡ªWhoosh! A soldier at the front charged at Zhang Wei. Narrowing his eyes, the Spear of Judgment read the trajectory perfectly. Deflecting the sword with his spear, he aimed for the heart. ¡ªng! A harsh metallic sound echoed. The spear vibrated, and the pain in his hand made his expression distort. ¡°Keep up the pressure!¡± ¡ªsh! Sunny¡¯s shy spear strikes rained down along with arrows from Eldrin and magic from Olena, covering the battlefield. The soldier¡¯s solid body began to crack, and Eldrin didn¡¯t miss the opportunity. [¡®Eldrin¡¯ used the skill ¡®Advanced Rapid Shot¡¯ (Lv.3).] ¡ªThwack, thwack, thwack! Arrows pierced precisely through the gaps. ¡ªScreeeech! The soldier¡¯s body began to falter as if overloaded. ¡ªThud! The Spear of Judgment drove his weapon into the opening with a cold expression. The struggling soldier lost its strength and copsed¡ªit was dead. ¡°One down!¡± ¡°Whoa! Nice!¡± ¡°So they can be taken down?¡± The team cheered, but it was short-lived. ¡°Hey, keep it down.¡± dimir poured cold water on the mood. ¡°Look around before you celebrate. Is this the time to cheer after taking down just one? If you¡¯ve got the energy to cheer, use it to take down another one!¡± He was right. Celebrating one kill was premature; there were too many soldiers left. ¡ªGulp! The team stopped cheering and refocused. Still, the flow of the battle had changed. Seeing one of those overwhelming soldiers fall gave them hope. The team moved in unison. Courage became the oil that loosened their tense muscles, allowing for more cohesive hunting. ¡°The spacial mage is right! Don¡¯t let your guard down and stay focused! Keep luring them in one by one! Start moving!¡± the Spear of Judgment also gave orders. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m continuously moving untargeted soldiers away, so don¡¯t worry!¡± dimir Rodygin assured them. ¡°You¡¯re all doing great! This teamwork is something else!¡± Olena swung her staff. Everyone worked seamlessly. Each fulfilled their role as they took down the soldiers one by one. The problem was¡­ ¡°Huff, huff!¡± How long I could hold out against the barrage of bolts. Even though the team was dealing with the soldiers, the soldiers¡¯ main target was me. Not to mention that they were still pouring in from a distance. To be precise, the rate of iing soldiers exceeded the rate at which the team could eliminate them. At this rate, there¡¯s no end in sight¡­ Should I use it? The item I bought from the shop suddenly came to mind. [Item: Wish-Granting Scroll] [Rank: S] [Type: Scroll] [Description: Use in moments of crisis, and it will provide exactly what you need.] [Effect1: Ancient magic aids you in critical moments.] I had two of these scrolls. It was said to be for moments of crisis. Honestly, wasn¡¯t this a moment of crisis? No. Let¡¯s save it. I could still manage. Thanks to my weapon, I had plenty of energy, and Boney 4¡¯s shields were surprisingly durable. ¡ªWhoosh! Whoosh! Bolts continued to rain down. ¡ªThunk! Another one of the Boney 4¡¯s subordinates became a pincushion and crumbled into sand. I would resummon Boney 4 when all its subordinates were gone. [Using skill ¡®Summon Skeleton Knight (A-rank).] [Consuming 10 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Boney 4.¡¯] ¡ªCreak! Interestingly, when resummoned, it had full energy again! Ten more subordinates reappeared. [Hunter: Joo Donghoon] [Alias: Skeleton King] [Energy: 1,020/1,220] The new godyer-level weapon I obtained had an absurd energy-pumping effect. Thanks to that, I could summon Boney 4 over a hundred more times. [Item: Sealed Spirit of the Seven Elements (1/7)] [Rank: Godyer] [Type: Weapon] [Description: A fragment of the Seven Elements feared by even the primordial gods. Unlock all attributes to break its seal. Currently contains the Element of Fire.] [Effect 1: Transforms into any desired shape.] [Effect 2: This item cannot be destroyed.] [Effect 3: Grants the power of the collected elements.] [Effect 4: Increases energy by 1,000.] If not for this, there was no way I could have endured. As I desperately deflected the bolts¡­ ¡°Master.¡± Eldrin, who had been busy fighting, approached me. ¡°What? What is it!¡± I shouted while blocking an iing bolt. I wondered why Eldrin called out to me. ¡°May I offer a hypothesis?¡± ¡°A hypothesis?¡± ¡°Yes, about this dungeon. It feels familiar.¡± ¡°Familiar?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t be certain, but it feels¡­ not unfamiliar,¡± Eldrin murmured. ¡°In a bad way, of course.¡± ¡°Can you exin further?¡± ¡°I think there¡¯s a dragon here.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°A dragon. A species simr to the Giant Magic Dragon that once dominated our world¡­¡± I frowned as I couldn¡¯t keep up with her conversation. We were in Theme 2, and she was talking about a dragon. ¡°Did you know? Dragons like to collect rare treasures for theirirs.¡± ¡°Treasures, huh¡­?¡± ¡ªSparkle! There was indeed glimmering treasure everywhere around us. ¡°Also, like how the Giant Magic Dragon imed to be a dwarven chief or a high elf, dragons can transform their bodies at any time using a technique called polymorph.¡± ¡°So are you saying this grand fortress of the Aranballon Kingdom is actually a dragon¡¯sir?¡± ¡°Yes, and there¡¯s one more thing.¡± ¡°Another thing?¡± ¡ªBoom! I endured another impact from an iing bolt. ¡°Those kingdom soldiers. They feel like spartoi*. I fought them for decades with Demir¡­ Those dragon fangs. I know them all too well.¡± *Spartoi ¨C warriors in Greek mythology who sprang from the ground after the teeth of a dragon were sown into the earth ¡°Ha, are you serious?¡± I was dumbfounded. No wonder they were absurdly strong. So this was a dragon¡¯sir, and those soldiers protecting the treasures were spartoi. ¡°Master, is there any logical reason why a royal pce built for humans would be so enormous? Besides, it was only ever referred to as a royal pce. Nowhere was it specified that it belonged to humans or a simr species.¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± I blinked. ¡°That¡¯s true, you¡¯re right.¡± Forget everything else. If a pce was this massive, it couldn¡¯t serve as a proper pce, even for an ancient kingdom. ¡°Then¡­ what am I supposed to do now?¡± Whether the dungeon boss was a dragon or a king, for now we had to deal with those damned soldiers. ¡°Hey!¡± That¡¯s when it happened. Capu, who had been muttering to himself without doing anything, shouted from outside the circle. ¡°Hoon! I have something to show you!¡± Capu? What¡¯s he on about now? His voice was so loud that even the other hunters stopped and turned to him. ¡°Actually, when James was running away earlier, I attached a video tracker to him! Guide¡¯sw no. 5! If someone runs away, use them for reconnaissance!¡± he eximed, raising his arm. ¡°And I saw something shocking!¡± Something shocking? ¡ªVwoom! At the same time, a holographic video began to appear in the air. Chapter 120 Chapter 120: Aranballon, the Dragon of Greed (1) ¡°Everyone¡­ I¡¯m sorry for not participating in the battle until now. I was monitoring the situation outside¡ªwhere Olivia and James went.¡± Capu swung his arms, his hands intertwining and gesturing as if conducting an orchestra. In response, the hologram in the air moved fluidly. It was an effect that looked like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. However¡­ ¡°We don¡¯t have time to look at that, dammit!¡± the middle-aged hunter shouted. ¡°Hey, man! Step back! It¡¯s dangerous!¡± ¡°Mr. dimir! Can¡¯t you use your skills faster? They¡¯re closing in on us!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t rush me. Cooldowns are a thing, you know.¡± Not just the middle-aged hunter but everyone locked inbat with the soldiers was at their wit¡¯s end. Even a moment¡¯s distraction and they could find themselves on the train to the afterlife. Who would care about news of Olivia or James at a time like this? But even so¡­ ¡°Hoon, you need to watch this,¡± Capu remained steadfast. ¡°It¡¯s that shocking.¡± ¡°Alright, fine! Show me the clip!¡± I didn¡¯t scold Capu. In fact, I gave him credit. After all, Capu¡¯s unique ability specialized in guiding. He wasn¡¯t particrly helpful in directbat. In dungeons, seemingly trivial bits of information often turned out to be worth their weight in gold. So Capu was casting his tracking skill when James ran away earlier? So that¡¯s what he was murmuring about. I couldn¡¯t help but acknowledge Capu¡¯s keen instincts. Honestly, the situation before was so absurd that even I was momentarily stunned. ¡ªBoom! Boom! The bolts kept raining down. The pain was enough to rattle my bones. Still, I couldn¡¯t take my eyes off the hologram being disyed because I had a strange feeling that the video might contain information about the ¡°dragon¡± Eldrin had hypothesized about. ¡ªBzzt! The tracking device activated, and soon images and sound began to y. It was footage from James¡¯s perspective. * * * ¡ªThud thud thud! ¡°Huff, huff!¡± Clutching the treasure tightly, James kept running. His breath came out in rough gasps. It¡¯s fine. Guilt and remorse tugged at his chest, but he paid it no mind. After all, Olivia, who was running ahead of him, was just another selfish individual. This was the game from the start, wasn¡¯t it? Just like killing was part of the rules in Theme 1, abandoning the team leader was just another new rule in Theme 2. [Team members may select a ¡®treasure¡¯ and escape the Giant Fortress at any time.] [Escaping team members will pass Theme 2.] I will pass the trial! There was nothing he wouldn¡¯t do if he could clear this theme and be a ranker. James didn¡¯t view this trial as a moral test. To him, it was a game where survival and passing were all that mattered. After all, that was how the world worked. If he could be a ranker here, he would be rewarded ordingly, no matter how he achieved it. The world would treat him like a VIP, and all hunters would gaze at him with admiration. ¡ªGrit! James gritted his teeth. It will all work out. He ran relentlessly because he was afraid that he might see the Spear of Judgment ring at him with fierce eyes, hurling his spear. After he ran for a while¡­ ¡ªsh! James flung himself toward a white portal to escape the giant fortress. It was the door that promised a ¡°pass¡± as a reward for betrayal. But¡­ ¡°Huh?¡± What appeared before his eyes after passing through the door was something he couldn¡¯tprehend. It was an even darker area than before, a cavernous hall. And¡­ ¡°Wh-What is this?¡± Something massive loomed before him; something unimaginably huge was staring him down. He had thought he¡¯d seen countless monsters during his life as a high-ranked hunter. He had prepared for the worst but not the least for this. ¡°Gah!¡± The towering figure did nothing¡ªit simply looked at him. But even that made James cough up blood from such overwhelming pressure. ¡°This is insane¡­!¡± Before him stood a giant dragon that filled the entire space. Its eyes were cold and terrifying, its ws dozens of timesrger than James¡¯s body. Before such a being, anyone would undoubtedly feel like nothing more than an insect. ¡°Ahhh! Kyaaahhh!¡± What was even more horrifying was that the immense creature was mercilessly crushing Olivia, who had entered before him. ¡°H-Help me! Please help!¡± Pinned under its ws, she struggled in tears, with crimson blood pooling around her. As James stood frozen, an unfamiliar voice echoed in his ears. ¡°Foolish, greedy beings. Did you truly believe you could escape with my treasure?¡± the dragon growled low. Its gaze shifted from Olivia to James. ¡°Wh-What the fuck?! This wasn¡¯t the deal!¡± James¡¯s eyes widened and shouted in fury, ¡°You said we¡¯d pass if we took the treasure! Judges! Where are the judges? Get me out of here! Let me out now!¡± ¡°Tsk, tsk. Foolish creature.¡± The colossal being clicked its tongue, and amusement tinged its voice. ¡°You still haven¡¯t learned the basic truth that greed invites disaster. You are unworthy of passing my, Aranballon¡¯s, trial.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! The dragon¡¯s w moved toward James. ¡ªm! At a speed too fast to dodge, the w crushed James¡¯s lower body. ¡°Aghhhhhh!¡± James screamed in agony. The treasures of Aranballon he¡¯d been holding scattered on the ground. Where¡­ Where did it go wrong? If this wasn¡¯t the right answer, was he supposed to endure alongside the team leader, fending off the damned soldiers? ¡°You bastards! What kind of sick joke is this?! If you set conditions, follow them! Who ys with people¡¯s lives like this?!¡± ¡°The one blinded was you, foolish one,¡± the dragon muttered kindly. ¡°The condition was always to find the National Treasure. Not betrayal.¡± ¡°The National Treasure? What the hell is that?!¡± ¡°And that is exactly why you are now under my foot. Because you don¡¯t know.¡± The dragon¡¯s lips curled upward. ¡°Soon, you will be in no state to care about the truth anyway.¡± ¡ªCrack! Crack! At the same time, Olivia and James¡¯s heads exploded. ¡ªBuzz! An unprecedented aura radiated from the dragon¡¯s body. And simultaneously¡­ ¡ªPsshhh! The corpses melted, and the treasures were reimed. ¡°Hahaha,¡± the dragon chuckled as if entertained. ¡°The greediest being in this world must be none other than me.¡± ¡ªZap! The hologram shut off. As James¡¯s body dissolved, the tracking device was destroyed along with it. ¡°What the hell?!¡± one of the team members eximed. Despite the chaos, everyone saw the footage. ¡°A dragon?¡± ¡°So it was a trap all along? But such a monstrous dragon?¡± ¡°Hah? So we really can¡¯t leave until we find this ¡®national treasure¡¯?¡± ¡ªWhoosh! A sword swung down from an Aranballon soldier. The Spear of Judgment twisted his body to avoid it and drove his spear into the soldier¡¯s eye. ¡°See? That¡¯s the fate of traitors.¡± ¡ªng! The spear was deflected. ¡°Then what do we do?¡± Olena asked while hurling a ball of water at a soldier. ¡°I mean, seriously! There¡¯s no exit! And they¡¯re not giving us time to find this national treasure! What more can we do here?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And honestly, no one even knows what the national treasure is! It¡¯d take over a year just to search this entire ce!¡± She wasn¡¯t wrong. Not a single word was incorrect. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we stop fighting these soldiers and scatter to search?¡± Olena continued. ¡°There¡¯s no rule saying we have to stick together. If we split up and search, someone might find it!¡± She was right again. But¡­ ¡°No,¡± I said. ¡°The trial can¡¯t be structured like this.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°If that were the case, nobody would have survived Delh¡¯s trial to be rankers. They¡¯d all be dead.¡± I gripped my shield tighter. ¡°You know? Objectively speaking, this trial is tough even for rankers. And they expect participants to endure this together? And then find the ¡®National Treasure¡¯ on top of that? It just doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°Well, this is just my guess.¡± ¡°So tell us.¡± ¡°What if¡­ we¡¯ve already found the National Treasure?¡± The idea struck me from the dragon¡¯s words. ¡°The condition was always to find the National Treasure. Not betrayal¡­ The greediest being in this world must be none other than me.¡± The Dragon of Greed, Aranballon. It wouldn¡¯t let greedy beings live. It crushed Olivia and James underfoot. Because it was greedy itself, it hated others being greedy. ¡°You¡¯re saying we¡¯ve found the national treasure? What is it?!¡± dimir shouted. ¡°Well¡­¡± I scratched the back of my head. ¡°The dragon hates greed, right? Or rather, it hates anyone taking the treasure it hoards in itsir.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°So maybe the National Treasure isn¡¯t physical at all. What if it¡¯s more of a conceptual idea?¡± ¡°What? Exin it so I can understand!¡± dimir beat his chest in frustration. ¡°Remember the mission we got at the start of Theme 2?¡± ¡°The mission? I left it disyed somewhere.¡± ¡°Check it again.¡± dimir furrowed his brows and nced up. The other members, as if hypnotized, also searched for the mission. [The mission has arrived.] [Stage: Treasure Hunt!] [The selected 10 team members must cooperate to find the ¡®National Treasure¡¯ hidden in the central fortress.] ¡°What¡¯s this? We already know all this!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you see the keywords?¡± Cooperate and National Treasure. ¡°The system told us from the beginning that the national treasure is cooperation itself. The dragon also said so¡ªour task isn¡¯t betrayal; it¡¯s finding the National Treasure. And what if that ¡®treasure¡¯ is the act we¡¯re doing right now¡ªfighting together?¡± ¡°Then¡­ the national treasure is the courage to not run away? Sticking together? Is that what you¡¯re saying?¡± ¡°If my guess is correct.¡± If every ranker who passed this trial went through the same one, the Five Stars of Seoul likely became a tight-knit group here as well. Because they didn¡¯t abandon or betray one another in a moment of crisis, their bond persisted even outside the dungeon. ¡ªClench! I clenched my fist tightly. My guess could be wrong, but I trusted my instincts. The instincts that had led me to a 100% sess rate so far. Halt. Just then¡­ The bolts stopped flying as if responding to my thoughts. ¡°What the¡­ Why aren¡¯t they moving?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve frozen?¡± The soldiers, mid-swing, turned back into statues. And at the same time¡­ [Congrattions!] [The team leader has deciphered the meaning of the ¡®National Treasure¡¯!] [The Dragon of Greed, Aranballon, smiles in satisfaction.] The message sent chills down my spine¡ªI was correct. ¡°Whoa!¡± ¡°It was true?¡± ¡°Team leader? Is this real?¡± ¡°We survived! We survived!¡± The team exploded into cheers. But¡ª ¡°Eldrin.¡± If I stopped here, I wouldn¡¯t be myself. ¡°Yes, Master.¡± ¡°Come here for a moment.¡± At mymand, Eldrin approached with creaking steps. For about five minutes, I whispered something to her.N?v(el)B\\jnn dimir approached me. ¡°Hey, team leader! Are you a genius or something? How the hell did you figure that out? It¡¯s incredible. Wait, why do you look so serious? Is something wrong?¡± I nodded. ¡°Yes. Everyone, wait here for a moment.¡± ¡°Huh? Why? Isn¡¯t the theme over?¡± ¡°It is. But suddenly, I feel an overwhelming urge to challenge something.¡± ¡°Challenge?¡± ¡°I saw the dragon over there. Can I really let this chance go?¡± Chapter 121 Chapter 121: Aranballon, the Dragon of Greed (2) The mindset to challenge something¡ªbefore delving into that, let me exin the conversation I had with Eldrin five minutes prior¡­ ¡°Yes, Master?¡± Passing the team cheering, Eldrin creaked her way toward me. She seemed pleased, likely because her prediction about Aranballon was right. ¡°See? I was right, wasn¡¯t I? That¡¯s just how dragons are. They¡¯re incredibly strong, which makes them just as greedy. Honestly, when I saw the enormous fortress filled with treasure, I already suspected it.¡± ¡°Because it reminded you of the Giant Magic Dragon?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Eldrin slowly waved her right arm, her hand opening as ck energy began to coalesce and swirl into a sphere. ¡°The Giant Magic Dragon sealed in this orb was the same. For centuries, it enved the Forest and Rock Tribes, demanding tributes and treasure¡­¡± Eldrin stared at the ck orb with a wistful gaze. Everyone had something meaningful in their lives. Perhaps a music box that yed a nostalgic melody, a cherished piece of jewelry, or a letter from a loved one. For Eldrin, this orb seemed to hold such significance¡ªand that made sense. She had suffered for over 500 years because of it, after all. ¡°So, about that.¡± I smiled. ¡°¡­?¡± My smile must have been unsettling because Eldrin instinctively hid the orb behind her back. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Master¡­?¡± I couldn¡¯t exin it, but the moment Theme 2 wrapped up so anticlimactically, a thought crossed my mind¡­ Is it really okay to end it like this? Back in Theme 1, I approached the trial differently from others. The result was that I received rewards that were several tiers above everyone else. If that was the case, I figured that a simr approach would work for Theme 2. If I simply followed the standard path, the rewards would be standard too. To advance further, I needed to do something extraordinary. Specifically, I had to create apelling reason for the system to reward me. What if I not only upheld loyalty but also defeated the dragon? Wouldn¡¯t that be as sensational as devouring the poison mist and surviving? I didn¡¯t know if it was possible, but I wanted to try. The problem was how to defeat the dragon. ¡°No way¡­¡± Eldrin shook her head in disbelief. ¡°¡­You¡¯re not thinking what I think you¡¯re thinking, are you?¡± ¡°Say, that Giant Magic Dragon in your Orb of Restriction¡­ Could you release it here?¡± Yes, Eldrin. I¡¯m thinking exactly what you¡¯re thinking. * * * ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve defeated mepletely. But you¡¯ll never keep me sealed forever. Wait and see. One day, I¡¯ll return to destroy you all! Grrraaaaah!¡± The day we sealed the dragon, that¡¯s what the dragon had roared. It warned that one day it would return to bring ruin upon us. That ¡°one day¡±¡­ It likely referred to the day the alliance between the Forest and Rock Tribes shattered since that was the condition of it being sealed. But I thought about it differently. If the dragon¡¯s power was bound within the orb¡­ And if it could be released, why not unleash it here? That would also eliminate any future risks. Besides, there couldn¡¯t be two suns in the same sky. When two predators upied the same cave, a fight was inevitable. And I could exploit that. ¡°¡­¡± Eldrin¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°What? Isn¡¯t it a good idea?¡± ¡°You¡¯re as reckless as always. What if the two dragons don¡¯t fight each other?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And what if their wrath turns solely on us?¡± ¡°You have a point.¡± I grinned even wider. ¡°But we¡¯ve already found Aranballon¡¯s National Treasure. If things go south, we can just move on to Theme 3. It¡¯s a win-win. Plus, we¡¯d be leaving behind that troublesome Giant Magic Dragon here.¡± At that moment, a message popped up.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om [Having found the ¡®National Treasure,¡¯ the clear conditions are fulfilled!] [The trial of ¡®Theme 2¡¯ will end.] [You will be moved to the location of ¡®Theme 3¡¯ in 30 minutes.] [Warning! Warning! Warning!] [Do not touch the treasures from now on.] [Severe consequences may follow.] Just like in Theme 1, we were granted 30 minutes after clearing the trial. I had to decide if I¡¯d leave peacefully or sh with the seemingly invincible dragon. ¡°Even if there¡¯s no reward, I don¡¯t care. What matters is trying. Just attempting to defeat the dragon will be an invaluable experience. And if that makes me stronger¡­ I want to fight.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Silence followed from Eldrin as she seemed stunned. Though her face was a skull, the aura around her made it clear. ¡°Haah, Master. Truly¡­ you¡¯re impossible. Your passion for strength is just¡­¡± ¡°That passion is what helped us seal the Giant Magic Dragon back then, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Haah. You¡¯re right. It was all thanks to you, yes.¡± Eldrin nodded. ¡°¡­I can release the seal whenever I choose. But my concern is¡­¡± ¡°That we¡¯ll all be in danger within the 30-minute window?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ precisely.¡± ¡°Then how about this?¡± Aranballon wasn¡¯t here¡ªit only appeared when someone entered that white door. ¡°Eldrin, you take the orb and head inside.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± she gasped, startled. ¡°I¡¯m suggesting ayered strategy. You provoke the Giant Magic Dragon inside. If it spills out here, there¡¯s a secondyer of defense.¡± ¡°A secondyer?¡± ¡°Yeah. The judges.¡± The senior judges, including Lucas and Floa, along with other high-ranking hunters. ¡°Because they¡¯re stationed here.¡± Some might wonder, how did I figure that out? Just like in Theme 1, the 30-minute window existed so participants could ess the shop. ¡°With all that in ce, isn¡¯t it worth the risk? And destroying the dragon instead of sealing it again¡ªthat¡¯s something you want too, right?¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s true,¡± Eldrin trembled slightly. She was both fearful and ted. Her long-suppressed anger toward the dragon was reawakening. ¡°And if you¡¯re worried about the others, don¡¯t be. I¡¯ll exin everything and get their approval.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Finally, Eldrin gave me a determined nod. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a shot, Master.¡± And again five minutester. ¡°Are you crazy?! Hey, team leader?¡± dimir looked aghast. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re not seriously nning to hunt that monstrosity, are you? That dragon?¡± ¡°¡­¡± I gave a small nod. ¡°Ugh, you madman! Did getting hit by those crossbows mess with your head? We barely survived, and now you¡¯re throwing your life away? Are you out of your mind? Hey, everyone! Stop the team leader! He¡¯s trying tomit suicide!¡± I could have ignored my team¡¯s opinion and gone ahead, but I couldn¡¯t. Even with all the safety measures I thought of, everyone could still be at risk. This was still Theme 2, and I was their team leader. Even if I told Eldrin a little forcefully¡­ I had only asked her about releasing the orb to confirm its feasibility. If even one person opposed fighting the dragon, I would abandon the n. As much as I valued strength and as much as I desired this, I couldn¡¯t pursue it at the expense of others. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± ¡°dimir, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Did Hoon say he¡¯s going to kill himself?¡± dimir¡¯s loud outburst brought the team members over. I summarized everything to them, from my experience sealing a simr dragon to my n to confront this one. ¡°I want to fight the dragon. Just like I plunged into the poison mist in Theme 1, I want to try something like that again. But we can¡¯t always do whatever we want. That¡¯s why I want to know what you all think.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The team looked at me nkly. Some had expressions that screamed, ¡°What the hell is he saying?¡± Others rubbed their temples in disbelief. Either reaction was fine. Though time was running out, I didn¡¯t rush them because this was a life-or-death decision. ¡°So you¡¯re saying¡­ that horrifying dragon Capu showed us earlier¡­ You want to fight it¡­?¡± Olena murmured after a long pause. ¡°Dear god. If my mentor, Silverstone, heard this, he¡¯d suggest dissecting your brain. What kind of thought process leads to something like this?¡± ¡°Hmm. I think it¡¯s fine.¡± Capu was the first to speak in favor. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°What?¡± Everyone turned to him. ¡°Honestly, when Olivia got shredded, it felt a bit satisfying. But James? Not so much,¡± Capu calmly exined. ¡°What are you saying?! James betrayed the team leader!¡± Olena eximed. ¡°Yeah,¡± Capu nodded. ¡°But that¡¯s all he was¡ªa coward. He didn¡¯t deserve such a brutal death. Honestly, I want to avenge James.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. But honestly, whether right or wrong, I supported Capu¡¯s opinion because I wanted to fight the dragon. ¡°I¡¯ll fight alongside the Skeleton King.¡± At that moment, the Speat of Judgment stepped forward. ¡ªWhoosh! He spun his spear dramatically. ¡°Whoever the opponent is, Skeleton King is my friend.¡± I had no idea when we became friends, but I smiled and nodded. Alright, let¡¯s be friends starting today, buddy! ¡°I think it¡¯s a good idea too.¡± The third to agree was Myoi Hana. ¡°The team leader proved himself in Theme 1. I believe in his potential.¡± She stood beside the Spear of Judgment. Now, only three remained¡ªOlena, the middle-aged hunter, and dimir Lodygin. ¡°What is this¡­?¡± The middle-aged hunter trembled. ¡°¡­You¡¯re all incredible. I¡¯ve never met people like this in my life. This is unprecedented.¡± ¡°Hah, maybe it¡¯s true that you have to be insane to be a ranker.¡± dimir shook his head. Then, as if he had no choice, he stood beside Myoi Hana. ¡°If you¡¯re allmitting suicide, I can¡¯t stop you. Crazy fools. If we¡¯re dying, let¡¯s die together.¡± ¡°I, too, shall follow as usual.¡± The middle-aged hunter nodded. ¡°I think the team leader¡¯s crazy, but he delivers results.¡± ¡°Ahhh!¡± Finally, Olena let out a scream. ¡°What the hell is this?! Are you all really going to fight that terrifying dragon?¡± ¡°No.¡± I shook my head. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, we won¡¯t do it. This whole n is just my selfish desire, after all.¡± ¡°That¡¯s ridiculous! You¡¯ve already set things up! Now it¡¯s awkward to refuse!¡± As she shouted, I smiled and approached her. ¡°Let me say one thing.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve faced much worse situations than this at least three times. Each time, I survived and came out stronger. That¡¯s how I¡¯ve grown.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Trust me. Let¡¯s take it down together.¡± Olena flinched. ¡°If you¡¯re aiming to be a ranker, don¡¯t you want to be a stronger ranker?¡± ¡°Of course, but if I die, it¡¯s all over¡­¡± ¡°Is that really what¡¯s stopping you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ve always risked our lives, and we¡¯ll continue to do so. That¡¯s the fate of hunters.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Olena.¡± I looked her in the eye. ¡°If my guess is right, we¡¯ll leave here asrades. Comrades with an unbreakable bond. And I want myrades to be the strongest hunters out there.¡± ¡°Strong hunters¡­¡± ¡°And I have no doubt that I¡¯ll remain a strong hunter beside you.¡± Olena¡¯s lips quivered. This wasn¡¯t just a pitch; it was really how I felt. I wanted to be stronger. Initially, my dream was to be a ranker, but if I was going to do it, why not aim for the very top? ¡°Damn it.¡± In the end, Olena bit her lip. ¡°Hoon.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Fine. But next time, don¡¯t stand so close when you talk. That¡¯s cheating.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± I blinked in confusion. ¡°I said we¡¯re fighting the dragon. Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°Ah.¡± I smiled. Everyone¡ªnot including me¡ªhad agreed. At that moment¡­ ¡°You lunatics! What the hell do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± ¡ªCrackle! Electric sparks lit up before me. Chapter 122 Chapter 122: Aranballon, the Dragon of Greed (3) ¡ªZap! Crackle! Through the crackling electricity, a German girl with porcin skin emerged, her teeth clenched in frustration. ¡°You crazy bastard!¡± The woman ring fiercely at me was none other than Floa. ¡°You cleared Theme 2, didn¡¯t you? So what the hell are you poking the dragon for? Are you all trying to die together?¡± Her tone was harsh, but I could sense the concern buried within. Of course, she still carried themanding aura of a ranker. ¡°Who¡­ is she?¡± ¡°A judge¡­?¡± The team members frowned, instinctively taking a step back. ¡°Thundercry?¡± The middle-aged hunter stepped forward. ¡°Oh! Could it be? Are you the legendary Thundercry?¡± ¡°What? Who¡¯re you?¡± Floa flinched slightly, stepping back. ¡°Oh, Thundercry! To think I¡¯d meet a national hero in a ce like this! What an honor this is!¡± ¡°Wait, you¡¯re German?¡± Now that I thought about it, I didn¡¯t even know the middle-aged man¡¯s name. All I knew was that he wasn¡¯t on good terms with Olivia and that he wielded a sword. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m an A-rank swordsman, Maximilian! It¡¯s an honor to meet the Thundercry I¡¯ve admired for so long!¡± Maximilian gave a polite bow, and the tension in the air eased slightly thanks to him. ¡°Good for you. Anyway!¡± Though momentarily distracted, Floa turned her attention back to me. ¡°This isn¡¯t happening! As a judge, I have the right and duty to stop participants from making reckless decisions! You can¡¯t do this! Drop your weapons!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Think about it! You all have been doing great so far, so why go off the rails now? That dragon is different. It¡¯s absolutely terrifying. The poison mist you endured is nothingpared to this!¡± ¡°I know that.¡± Because it wasn¡¯t my first time seeing a dragon, after all. ¡°And yet you¡¯re still doing this? Do you have some chronic disease where you suffocate unless you¡¯re being reckless?¡± ¡°Not exactly, but¡ª¡± I grinned. ¡°It¡¯s intuition.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Just my intuition. A wise person I respect once told me¡­¡± (The Master of All Techniques) ¡°He said I had already mastered the art of Divine Fortune. And my instincts are telling me to y the dragon.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?¡± ¡°Killing that dragon will be a jackpot.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Floa¡¯s expression froze in bewilderment. Her face practically screamed, ¡°What kind of lunatic is this?¡± ¡°Anyway,¡± I said, ¡°if you¡¯re going out of your way to stop me, doesn¡¯t that mean we can have a go at that dragon if you just overlook it for once?¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane! You think that¡¯s a convincing argument?¡± ¡ªCrackle! Electricity surged in Floa¡¯s hands. ¡°With that kind of garbage logic, there¡¯s no way you¡¯re convincing me. If you want to go, you¡¯ll have to get past me!¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± It was a tricky situation. I hadn¡¯t expected a judge to intervene directly. I could use the wish I had earned earlier, but it felt like a waste. Besides, getting past her didn¡¯t guarantee I could bypass all the other judges. But then¡­ ¡°¡­How intriguing.¡± Floa¡¯s aggressive energy dissipated in an instant. The surrounding atmosphere fell silent, and the murmuring team members stopped. Even my and Floa¡¯s breaths seemed to vanish. The only sound that lingered was the voice echoing in my ears. ¡°This is a first. Since this trial began, I¡¯ve never seen a participant try to y the dragon.¡± The owner of the voice spoke as if she had orchestrated the trial herself. ¡°Most participants don¡¯t even realize the dragon exists before clearing the trial. Hmm. This is certainly an unusual situation. How should we handle this?¡± Ranked 5th in the world, it was the Dungeon Maker, Delh. She slowly revealed herself. I swallowed hard. The team members¡¯ faces reflected pure shock. Even the top rankers found it rare to encounter someone like her, and yet here she appeared in Theme 2. ¡°Delh¡­¡± ¡°Yes, this is our first time meeting in person, Skeleton King.¡± Ah. I was speaking to the 5th-ranked hunter in the world. In any case, her direct involvement meant this was a monumental moment. It felt like I was bickering with a staff member in front of the office, only for the CEO to step in personally. ¡°Can I y that dragon?¡± I got straight to the point. ¡°Hm.¡± Her gaze swept over my face. ¡°Impressive indeed.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already rendered Theme 1 unusable. And now you¡¯re trying to destroy Theme 2 as well. Thanks to you, future participants will face entirely new trials.¡± Her words carried weight, but I focused on something else. She said ¡°destroy.¡± This confirmed something for me¡ªthis ce was another world. It was not a simted, man-made world but a real one. Delh wasn¡¯t crafting dungeons; she was connecting worlds¡ªa link, not a creation. Just as I had experienced with the medium dungeons, Delh might have been a being who bridged worlds. ¡°Hmm, I¡¯m concerned,¡± Delh¡¯s gaze turned worrisome as she addressed me. ¡°Skeleton King, you¡¯re rewriting the history of my trials. Even if you stay as you are, you¡¯ll be the best product I¡¯ve put out since the Berserker. Losing you to a reckless challenge would be a waste¡ªfor both of us.¡± ¡°That may be true,¡± I said confidently. I had to be straightforward in a situation like this. With reduced momentum, things would never work in my favor. ¡°But there¡¯s no growth without risk. If my goal were safety, there¡¯d be no point in these trials. What you said doesn¡¯t align with their purpose.¡± ¡°Fair point. However¡­¡± ¡°I will win,¡± I spoke with unwavering confidence. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I have a n, and I see a path to victory. I¡¯ve done it before.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve¡­ in a dragon before?¡± ¡°Delh, you aim to nurture strong hunters, don¡¯t you?¡± Her trials offered rewards proportionate to their difficulty. She didn¡¯t intervene directly¡ªshe only managed them. That was why I believed¡­ ¡°You want me to grow stronger.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om She was raising me, helping me. I didn¡¯t know why exactly, but that much was enough for now. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the gap between rankers widens exponentially at the top. The ever-confident Berserker once mentioned he couldn¡¯tst more than three moves against the Heavenly Demon, ranked 3rd globally.¡± That gap was enormous. And I wanted to surpass it. ¡°I don¡¯t aim to be an ordinary ranker. If I¡¯m climbing, I want to stand above them all. To do that, I can¡¯t settle for ordinary methods. I need to extract the maximum rewards from these trials by forcing the system to acknowledge my extraordinary actions.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I owe you my gratitude.¡± Bing a ranker had been my lifelong dream and Delh turned it into a structured system. Regardless of the circumstances, she had given me an opportunity to soar higher. ¡°That¡¯s why I want to repay you by bing stronger. So strong that even you won¡¯t be able to surpass me. Isn¡¯t that what you truly want?¡± I looked her in the eyes. ¡°¡­¡± A long silence followed. Then¡­ ¡°Pfft,¡± a softugh escaped her lips. ¡°So you¡¯re asking me to gamble. With your life as the stakes.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°You want me to crank up the difficulty until it¡¯s unbearable, right? Until you¡¯re almost dead¡ªor actually dead?¡± Well, that wasn¡¯t exactly what I meant. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t have said so much. My heart pounded. ¡°Well, fine.¡± Delh nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll ept your gamble. Big risk, big reward¡ªthat sounds amusing.¡± She waved her hand. ¡°Theme 2 will be extended. I¡¯ll reframe it as a hidden quest. From now on, all judges will withdraw from this area. Additionally¡­¡± She turned to my team members. ¡°You may move to Theme 3 immediately if you wish.¡± ¡°No need.¡± The Spear of Judgment shook his head firmly. ¡°I will follow my friend to hell and back.¡± His tone was resolute, even in front of Delh. Such an attitude truly befitted him. ¡°We¡¯re staying, too,¡± Myoi Hana said. ¡°We were already prepared for this.¡± Capu nodded. ¡°If you¡¯re going to be friends with a madman, you might as well be mad, too.¡± ¡°I hear dragons are skilled with magic. I can¡¯t miss this opportunity as a mage.¡± One by one, the team agreed. Not a single person chose to flee. They all stood by my side. ¡ªGrin. I smiled. Not because they stayed. I would¡¯ve been fine alone. But I was thrilled that my newfound peers were so courageous¡ªpeople with such potential for growth. If we survived this, we would all rise to greater heights. Together, we¡¯d be an unstoppable force. ¡°Magnificent.¡± Delh smiled. ¡°This trial¡¯s members are truly showing a beautiful friendship.¡± ¡ªRing! [A hidden mission has arrived.] [Stage: y the Dragon!] [The seven team members must cooperate to defeat the Dragon of Greed, Aranballon, within the Grand Central Fortress.] ¡°May your courage bring equal rewards.¡± [Delh wishes you good luck.] It was a hard-won opportunity. * * * [Aranballon frowns.] [The dragon speaks to the otherworldly being.] [The dragon asks if she¡¯s viting the pact.] [Aranballon grows furious at theck of response.] ¡ªRumble. The white portal vanished, and so did all the treasures around us. The ground shook violently as a massive dragon towered before us. Its golden-yellow eyes red down at our group of seven. ¡°So you¡¯re not as virtuous as I thought.¡± Ah. Chills ran down my spine. Its overwhelming power made me question how I ever thought I could defeat it. ¡°Hngh!¡± My breath caught as it used the skill Dragon Fear. The sheer presence of the beast triggered an instinctive terror that crawled up from the soles of my feet. Goosebumps erupted all over my body. The pressure from Capu¡¯s video footage didn¡¯t evenpare to this. This wasn¡¯t just a dragon; it was a god of destruction. ¡°But it turns out you were just a bunch of fools who don¡¯t know their ce.¡± Indeed, Delh had kept her promise. Instead of throwing Eldrin into the white portal, she had personally ced us right in front of the dragon. Damn it. That wasn¡¯t necessary. I looked at my team. They were frozen stiff, their heads tilted upward. This couldn¡¯t go on. If we didn¡¯t move, we¡¯d be crushed in an instant. ¡°Snap out of it!¡± ¡ªCrack! I transformed the Sealed Spirit of the Seven Elements into a gauntlet. At the same time¡­ ¡ªBoom! I mmed my fist into the ground with all my might. ¡°What the hell?!¡± ¡°Hoon?¡± ¡°Everyone, get moving! Fall back!¡± I shouted. It might not have made much of a difference, but standing still would mean certain death. The real action began now. ¡°Eldrin!¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± ¡°Release the seal now!¡± ¡°Yes, Master!¡± ck energy quickly began to radiate from Eldrin¡¯s grasp. ¡ªVwoooooooom¡­ It sounded like the wailing of demons from the abyss. And with that, we unleashed the Great Magic Dragon upon this ce. Chapter 123 Chapter 123: Aranballon, the Dragon of Greed (4) ¡°What the¡ª? What is this?!¡± Delh, who had been observing the unfolding chaos, cried out, herposure shaken. It was unlike her usually calm demeanor. ¡°A dragon? Seriously?¡± She turned toward the Arcane Swordsman. ¡°Lucas, that¡¯s a dragon, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯m not seeing things, right?¡± ¡°Lady Delh,¡± Lucas replied, ¡°I have no idea what goes on in the dungeons you create. Asking me won¡¯t help.¡± ¡°This makes no sense! A non-ranker summoning a dragon is bizarre enough¡­ But dragons don¡¯t just appear because humans call for them. How did Joo Donghoon manage this¡­?¡± Delh pressed her fingers to her temples with both hands. ¡°Phew¡­ No wonder he sounded so confident. Lucas, do you understand how utterly ridiculous this is?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lucas¡¯s expression inly said, ¡°No, I don¡¯t understand. Stop asking.¡± Delh cleared her throat, regaining someposure. ¡°A dragon is selfish and greedy by nature. It¡¯s like a wild predator.¡± ¡°A predator, you say?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Delh nodded. ¡°Think about wild animals. They have their territory and, BAM, kill any other predator that intrudes on it, even if it¡¯s their own species. That¡¯s why there can only ever be one dragon in a given world. And they¡¯re absurdly prideful. They¡¯re pure, uncontroble forces of nature¡­¡± Her excitement showed as her cheeks flushed and she stumbled slightly over her words. ¡°Could Joo Donghoon have understood these traits about dragons?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And if he did, how?¡± Delh¡¯s eyes deepened in thought. Her unique ability allowed her to observe countless worlds, temporarily link them, and ¡°dungeonize¡± them. She could set ¡°missions¡± and allocate rewards based on their ¡°difficulty¡± and ¡°narrative cohesiveness.¡± But this process was anything but simple. Each world had beings that resisted ¡°dungeonization.¡± Dragons were among these beings. The reason Delh had been able to create the setting for Theme 2 was solely due to her contract with Aranballon. ¡°Hm? I sense someone¡¯s trespassed into my domain. Who are you? Where did youe from, and what brings you here?¡± ¡­ ¡°Hm, another world, you say. Fine. So long as I can im the greedy souls of the humans who enter this ce¡­¡± For Aranballon, it was a low-risk, high-reward deal. The only downside was to spare humans who showed no greed. But that wasn¡¯t a significant loss. It didn¡¯t feel the need to reject an offer to be brought some prey now and then. As Delh recalled this, her eyes opened. He said he¡¯d defeated a dragon before, she thought. Joo Donghoon had made that im¡ªand asserted that he could do it again. If that¡¯s the case¡­ Delh brushed back her hair. It might actually be possible. Even with the emergence of another dragon, the dungeon¡¯s difficulty remained unchanged. Killing Aranballon was already the most challenging mission she had ever set across all her trials. If it could be done, the rewards would be extraordinary. In the end¡­ The method didn¡¯t matter. All that mattered was resolving the situation. Fascinating. Delh¡¯s expression softened into a dreamy smile. ¡°To witness two dragons in the same world¡­ What a rare spectacle.¡± There was a mix of astonishment and anticipation in her demeanor. ¡°¡­¡± Lucas gave her a puzzled look. Though this was only his third time working as a judge, and he had never seen Delh this excited before. * * * Reaper Scans Trantor ¨C Dawn Proofreader ¨C BringTheRayn Join our discord for updates on releases! https://discord.gg/reapeics * * * ¡°Ugh!¡± I steadied myself, nting my feet firmly on the ground. I could feel the sheer pressure of the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s presence, threatening to send me flying. ¡°Wh-What is that?¡± Olena¡¯s mouth hung open. ¡°This is your first time seeing one, right?¡± To be fair, I had only seen its polymorphed form before, and facing its true form was the first time for me, too. Before us stood the terrifying figure of the Dragon of Greed, Aranballon, and to its right, the shadowy Giant Magic Dragon began to take form, its body slowly assembling piece by piece from the ck mist. The world seemed to split into two realms¡ªone brown, one ck. Standing before these two titans, we were mere specks of dust. ¡°This is insane.¡± Olena furrowed her brows. ¡°We can¡¯t run anymore. It wouldn¡¯t make any difference.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± I said, nodding. Instead of running, it was better to focus on defense. Boney 4. I lined up my shieldbearers at the front. Everyone else, I instructed, emphasizing defense over offense, not that offense mattered anyway. The shockwaves from the two dragons¡¯ auras alone were overwhelming. ¡°Good lord¡­¡± Beside me, dimir groaned. ¡°This is the most awe-inspiring sight I¡¯ve ever seen. If the world were to end, it¡¯d probably feel like this.¡± He wasn¡¯t wrong. The sheer sh of their presences was enough to bend space itself. ¡ªSizzle! The ck mist from the Orb of Prohibition gathered, gradually forming a shape¡ªa head, a torso, legs, eyes, ws¡ªall coalescing into one being. ¡°¡­¡± Aranballon no longer looked at us. Its attention had shifted to the forming figure of the Giant Magic Dragon. Imagine seven ants before you. Then imagine a ferocious tiger crouching beside them. Which would you focus on? You¡¯d prioritize the tiger, wouldn¡¯t you? ¡°Did it work?¡± I muttered.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°Huh?¡± Myoi Hana nced at me. ¡°For now, let¡¯s keep quiet and hope the Giant Magic Dragon doesn¡¯t look at us.¡± I swallowed hard. The Giant Magic Dragon bore a grudge against me. I had shattered its 500 years¡¯ worth of effort to break the seal that Eldrin and Demir had painstakingly ced. If it recognized me, it mighte for me, tiger or no tiger, to stomp on this ant. ¡ªGrip. I clutched an S-rank scroll in my pocket. [Item: Wish-Granting Scroll] [Rank: S] [Type: Scroll] [Description: Use in moments of crisis, and it will provide exactly what you need.] [Effect1: Ancient magic aids you in critical moments.] I had to be prepared for anything, just in case. ¡°¡­¡± Staying low, I kept my eyes on the battlefield. The silence was deafening, but tension crackled in the air. Just the presence of these two beings seemed to silence the world. Then, the stillness broke. The Giant Magic Dragon spoke first. ¡°Mm¡­ Who are you?¡± ¡ªFwoooo¡­ Its breath shook the ground and made me feel weightless. The dragon¡¯s mere exhale felt as though the world itself was breathing. ¡°Where is that damned little pest? And why is this stranger ring at me instead?¡± ¡°That is my question to ask, intruder.¡± The two titans locked eyes, their breaths pushing against each other without either of them blinking once. Even though they merely seemed to be standing, both showed no vulnerabilities while doing so. Aranballon broke the silence. ¡°Hah, it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen another of my kind. I thought I had crushed you all beneath my ws long ago.¡± Anyone who invaded its territory would be killed. A dragon¡¯s territory was so vast that it could contain the entire world. The only dragon that could exist there had to be itself. ¡°Did those puny humans summon you?¡± ¡°Puny humans?¡± The Giant Magic Dragon tilted its head in question. ¡°Yes, those ants clustered together over there.¡± ¡°Ants, you say? Where?¡± The Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s gaze turned, and its golden eyes fell squarely on me. Man, fuck. A chill ran down my spine with every hair on my body standing up. My entire body bristled as though I¡¯d stepped into a horror movie. ¡°Ah? You¡¯re¡­?¡± The Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s nostrils red, shooting a gale that whipped my hair and shook the earth. ¡°There you are! The pawn of an otherworldly being! I told you, didn¡¯t I? You would never fully seal me away! And now, we meet again!¡± ¡ªWhoosh! The Giant Magic Dragon spread its massive wings wide. Then it began channeling all its energy toward us. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°What kind of pressure is this?¡± The team members were horrified. ¡°I¡­ I can¡¯t breathe!¡± An overwhelming killing intent enveloped us. Damn it. So this is how it ends, huh? I furrowed my brow and ced both hands on the spell scroll. Please. Let this spell be the one to break through this situation. ¡°Hahaha! You fool! Excellent! As promised, I¡¯ll burn your soul to ashes!¡± The Giant Magic Dragon roared. ¡°Look forward to it! Really, I¡¯m looking forward to it! I¡¯ll make you suffer in endless agony, trapped in torment for all eternity! Neither alive nor dead!¡± ¡ªre! The dragon¡¯s maw filled with fire, ready to unleash destruction. ¡°What do you think you are doing, intruder?¡± The sharp gaze of Aranballon glinted coldly. ¡ªBOOM! At the same time, an immense burst of energy mmed into the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s body. ¡°¡­What?¡± Caught off guard, the Giant Magic Dragon frowned. It was an attack that came in an instant. ¡°How dare an intruder touch my belongings without permission?¡± ¡°What¡¯s this? Are you picking a fight with me?¡± The Giant Magic Dragon growled. Aranballon replied. ¡°They were greedy. They didn¡¯t even realize I was letting them leave alive. But they overstepped and challenged me. That makes them my challenger, one I must personally deal with.¡± Aranballon chuckled as it replied. ¡ªRumble. The oppressive aura of the two beings shook the very space around them. ¡°I am the Dragon of Greed. No one takes what is mine. So I suggest you withdraw that energy of yours and leave this world immediately.¡± ¡°Ha, howughable.¡± Augh escaped from the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s mouth. ¡°If we¡¯re going to kill them anyway, just let me have this one, and there¡¯s no reason to attack me.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I just say? That one is mine to kill.¡± ¡°What kind of stubbornness is this?¡± The Giant Magic Dragon smirked in disbelief. But Aranballon stood firm. ¡°Amusing, isn¡¯t it? You call my will stubborn, yet isn¡¯t yours the same?¡± ¡°Fine. So I take it this is a challenge then?¡± ¡°A challenge?¡± ¡°Yes, a challenge.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a challenge. It¡¯s a warning.¡± ¡°A warning? Do you truly wish to die?¡± ¡°On second thought, perhaps a warning isn¡¯t enough. Killing you outright might be better.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Did you know? Even for a fellow dragon, your corpse would be invaluable. Haha, not a single part would go to waste.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! This time, Aranballon spread its wings wide. At the same time¡­ ¡ªSsssst. Countless soldiers armed with crossbows appeared all around. What we saw earlier was merely the tip of the iceberg. ¡°Your body will be my precious ¡®treasure,¡¯ and your teeth will be crafted into the weapons to defend my ¡®treasure.¡¯¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane.¡± The Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s face twisted in disgust. ¡°A greedy dragon, indeed. Your madness has consumed even your brain.¡± ¡°Graaaah!¡± Now, the Giant Magic Dragon swung its wings mightily. ¡°Fine then, let¡¯s do this.¡± With that, the roars of ancient drakes filled the space. An army of ancient drakes had arrived. ¡°Your foolish choice will be met with utter devastation! I¡¯ll tear you to pieces, and then that wretched one over there will be my post-battle dessert!¡± The monstrous creatures that followed the Giant Magic Dragon charged at Aranballon¡¯s soldiers. ¡ªng! The soldiers unsheathed their swords without hesitation. And so, the chaos began. ¡°¡­¡± I quietly slid the spell scroll I was about to tear back into my pocket. ¡°This¡­¡± Olena, eyes wide, stared at me. ¡°This is good, right?¡± ¡°It seems so,¡± I replied, equally wide-eyed. Dragons, as a species, were simpler than I thought. Anyway, it looked like my hunch was right again. Let¡¯s see whoes out on top, shall we? Chapter 124 Chapter 124: Aranballon vs. the Giant Magic Dragon (1) Aranballon¡¯s spartoi numbered around 300. Compared to the thousand drakes summoned by the Giant Magic Dragon, they were vastly outnumbered. But their quality was on another level. The soldiers¡¯ swords were razor-sharp, and the relentless barrage of crossbow bolts was devastating. ¡ªSwish! Whoosh! Bolts tore through the air, slicing into the drakes, eliciting screeches of pain. ¡ªBoom! Boom! Blood sttered as drakes copsed to the ground one by one. I shook my head. That¡¯s¡­ I remembered that feeling all too well. Seeing those terrifying bolts from a third-person perspective brought back unpleasant memories. ¡°Screeeee!¡° ¡°Kreeeee!¡± But the drakes also posed a significant threat. ¡ªThud-thud-thud! They grouped up into packs, puffing red-hot air as they charged. The bolts pierced their scales, yet they pressed forward, smashing swords with their teeth and ramming their massive heads into the soldiers. ¡°Whew,¡± I exhaled as I watched the battle unfold. Indeed, these weren¡¯t the low-level drakes I had once hunted in an elven vige. These were elite drakes summoned directly by the Giant Magic Dragon. They were bound to be anything but ordinary. ¡ªCrash! The two armies shed. The spartoi and drakes fought like mortal enemies, biting, shing, and tearing into each other. ¡°Fwoo,¡± dimir whistled. ¡°This looks like a fantasy ware to life. So, team leader, who are we rooting for?¡± The air was thick with the stench of blood. ¡°More importantly, are we just going to sit here and watch?¡± ¡°Hold on.¡± I raised my hand, still fixated on the two titanic dragons ahead. ¡ªWhoosh! Aranballon and the Giant Magic Dragon red at each other, brimming with malice and killing intent. Even just standing there, the sheer force of their presence caused violent gusts of wind, and a suffocating pressure filled the air. ¡°Let¡¯s observe for now and see who has the upper hand.¡± Judging from their momentum alone, Aranballon seemed slightly superior. But withbatants of this caliber, nothing was certain until the fight began. A single misstep or poor judgment could determine the oue. ¡°Of course, just watching won¡¯t solve anything.¡± I clenched my fists. ¡°We need to bnce the scales so they wear each other down as much as possible.¡± If one side won overwhelmingly, the n to reap the rewards from their battle would shatter like broken ss. As I narrowed my eyes to focus on the unfolding fight¡­ ¡ªKaboom! The two titans finally collided. The Giant Magic Dragon charged headfirst, causing the spartoi to flinch and the advancing drakes to hesitate. ¡°Whoa¡­¡± Olena grimaced. ¡°Just one collision and it feels like the world¡¯s getting torn apart.¡± ¡ªRumble! Aranballon retaliated, swiping at the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s body with its sharp ws. ¡ªsh! Blood spurted into the air like a fountain. ¡°Gahaha! Burn, intruder!¡± Red magic circles materialized all around them in midair. ¡ªFwoom! Fwoosh! Fiery beams of light shot out, exploding upon impact. The resulting shockwaves kicked up a storm of dust and debris. Damn. I wondered what would¡¯ve happened if I had been caught between them; surely I¡¯d have been obliterated without a trace. ¡°Hmph.¡± But the Giant Magic Dragon wasn¡¯t reduced to dust. It emerged from the haze, its massive form intact. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got?¡± The shadowy figure moved through the dust, its voice brimming with disdain. ¡°You¡¯re strong, I¡¯ll give you that. But this is it? This is the best your greed could muster?¡± The Giant Magic Dragon bared its teeth, unfazed by the attack. Even surviving that assault was impressive, but to act so nonchntly afterward? Now I couldn¡¯t predict how this fight would unfold. ¡°Hm. You¡¯re formidable, I¡¯ll admit.¡± Aranballon chuckled. ¡°But given your current state, those words sound hollow.¡± Its piercing yellow eyes locked onto the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s battered and scorched body. Blood oozed from deep gashes, and its scales were charred and peeling. ¡°Look at you. What have you done? Summoned some lowly drakes? Rammed your head blindly? Your actions don¡¯t match your words. How pitiful.¡± ¡°Not at all. You see, strong attacks take preparation.¡± ¡ªVwooooom! A massive ck magic circle appeared in the sky¡ªfarrger than Aranballon¡¯s previous spell. ¡°My specialty is gravity. Taste the crushing weight of your folly, you greedy worm!¡± The Giant Magic Dragon soared into the air, its colossal mass bearing an overwhelming force. Its ws glowed ominously, embodying the very concept of mass. ¡°Hmm?¡± Aranballon narrowed its eyes. ¡°You won¡¯t fall for simple taunts, I see.¡± Fangs gleamed with deadly intent. ¡°But do you think weight alone can harm me? Howughable. Gravity only matters when there¡¯s a vast difference. It won¡¯t work on me.¡± The Dragon of Greed stood its ground without dodging, eyes gleaming as it braced for impact. ¡ªKABOOM! The resulting sh ripped through the air, sending shockwaves that crushed nearby drakes and cleaved spartoi in half. The sheer power was terrifying. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Damn it, get down! Stay low and brace yourselves!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll reinforce the shield!¡± Even at a safe distance, we weren¡¯t spared. Their every collision sent waves that seemed to rattle our very intestines. Holy crap. I couldn¡¯t help but have admiration after witnessing such power¡ªnot for the dragons but for Eldrin and Demir. They had managed to seal such a being. I could only wonder how they did it. ¡ªCrash! Boom! The battle raged on. ¡°Fire and water? You¡¯re neither a me dragon nor a water dragon. Just a muddled mess of greed.¡± The ground quaked. ¡°Your body is heavy, but your mouth runs endlessly. That¡¯s all you can do, it seems.¡± And the floor rumbled. ¡°Yet you can¡¯t seem to do a thing under my gravity. Are you even breathing under all that pressure?¡± ¡°I¡¯d be more worried about your blood loss. You¡¯re strong because of your gravity, I¡¯ll admit, but you¡¯re too slow.¡± The exchange of taunts was sharp, each move calcted and precise. ¡°¡­¡± I kept watching, analyzing their movements and energy. In my mind, I simted their fight thousands of times, gauging their strengths and weaknesses. And the conclusion I reached was¡­ Aranballon holds a slight advantage. The Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s attacks were powerful butcked precision. In contrast, Aranballon¡¯s attacks were weaker but far more urate. As the battle dragged on, wounds would fester, and fatigue would umte. The already slow Giant Magic Dragon would only grow slower. That means¡­ For now, aiding the Giant Magic Dragon was the logical choice. ¡°Everyone, get ready,¡± I addressed my team. ¡°We¡¯re taking down the spartoi.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made your decision?¡± ¡°Yes. Getting too close to those dragons would be suicide. Let¡¯s focus on what we can do.¡± I nced to the left. Drakes and spartoi were still locked inbat. More than half the drakesy dead, and the soldiers had been whittled down to half their original numbers. The bnce was perfect. But now¡­ It was time to disrupt that bnce. ¡°Sunny.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord!¡± ¡ªWhoosh! Sunny drew their spear, stepping forward. ¡°Eldrin.¡± ¡°Yes, Master.¡± ¡°Coordinate and take them out, just like we practiced.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± I left the skeletons to them. ¡°Let¡¯s get to work!¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s better to do something than just watch. Mentally, at least.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± The team drew their weapons and charged forward. ¡ªThud! I transformed my weapon into a spear and followed suit. Thanks to the drakes shielding us from the crossbow bolts, closing the distance was much easier. ¡°Krrrk!¡± A drake snapped its jaws at me, but I rolled under its attack and kept running. Sorry, but I¡¯ll deal with youter. My current target was the spartoi. ¡°Huff, huff!¡± Breathing steadily, I dashed forward. Whether it was thanks to training or the weapon¡¯s effect, my body felt lighter, almost as if I were flying. Soon enough, I spotted a soldier reloading its crossbow. Our eyes met, and it scrambled for its sword. I lunged with the spear, thrusting upward. ¡ªShink! The spear pierced under its jaw, shattering its skull. The power of a godyer-rank weapon was no joke. Its supposedly durable teeth were no match. Not bad. The sensation in my hands was satisfying. I wasn¡¯t used to closebat as a necromancer, but this was exhrating. I continued my assault, switching weapons as needed. When surrounded, I transformed the spear into a shield to deflect blows. Once I closed the distance, I shifted to a sword. ¡°Impressive, my friend.¡± The sight made even the Spear of Judgment let out a whistle. ¡°You fight like no other¡ªa warrior switching weapons mid-battle.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called All Techniques.¡± ¡°All Techniques? Master of all, huh?¡± ¡°Something like that. Now focus!¡± ¡ªng! I deflected a sword strike with my shield and spun around, transforming it into a spear in a split second and thrusting it into the soldier¡¯s heart. ¡ªCrack! Though its heart got impaled, the soldier kept fighting, fearless and unfeeling, like a skeleton. However, that didn¡¯t stop me. I transformed the spear embedded in it as it was. ¡ªFwoosh! The Sealed Spirit of the Seven Elements easily escaped and reformed into a shield. ¡ªng! As its massive strength struck the shield, it transformed again. This time, the weapon turned into a sword and pierced through its throat. ¡°Die, you bastard.¡± I kicked it down, finally stopping its relentless attacks. ¡°Huff, huff.¡± ¡°Are you okay?¡± Myoi Hana¡¯s healing light enveloped me, easing my wounds and fatigue. [¡®Bonehead 7¡¯ used the skill ¡®Intermediate Healing¡¯ (Lv.2).] Boney 7 joined her, running through the battlefield while working as a team. Remarkably, Boney 4 stayed by the team to guard them from any external threats. Good call, Eldrin. Her instructions had been spot on. ¡°Thanks, I¡¯m fine now. You can go help the others.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± She ran off, and I surveyed the battlefield. The skirmish was nearing its end. Our intervention had shifted the tide. The spartoi were almost wiped out, and the remaining few were being overwhelmed by the drakes. The Giant Magic Dragon is quick-witted. Interestingly, the drakes had stopped attacking us. The dragon understood that we were allies of convenience. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. ¡ªThud-thud-thud! The remaining drakes bypassed us without even looking, charging straight for Aranballon. It knows. No matter how much it despised me, the situation was dire enough to prioritize survival. Now then. I flexed my sore arms. It¡¯s time to side with Aranballon again. The scales had tipped, so it was time to restore bnce once more. I nted my feet firmly and prepared for the next move. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 125 Chapter 125: Aranballon vs. the Giant Magic Dragon (2) ¡°Grraaaaaaaah!¡± Aranballon roared. The bnce that had seemed unbreakable was shattered. In a tense tug-of-war, the moment one side lost its footing and faltered, the bnce would break rapidly¡ªAranballon was in a simr situation. Because of the bitter defeat of his spartoi, Aranballon was surrounded by drakes. ¡°You damn pests! Annoying creatures! Get out of my sight!¡± Even though they were mere insectspared to the Dragon of Greed, minor changes in the bnce of power turned out to be more important than expected. ¡°Perish!¡± After enduring and enduring, Aranballon finally twisted its body and whipped its tail. In a standoff where even the slightest mistake was unforgivable, letting them cling any longer would only ruin its movement and coordination. ¡°Screeeech!¡± Aranballon spun 360 degrees, fiercely swatting away the clinging drakes. ¡ªBoom! With an earth-shaking sound, the drakes exploded. Blood sttered, and chunks of flesh rained down. The force of the swings was so great that even the drakes further back flinched and stopped charging. However¡­ ¡°Hehehe, so you finally left an opening.¡± At that moment, a sinister whisper from the Giant Magic Dragon came from behind Aranballon. ¡°¡­!¡± Aranballon urgently gathered up energy. It instinctively knew that there was no avoiding the iing attack. It had never been struck by such a slow attack, but now there was no choice but to take it. ¡ªVwooom! Gathering all its strength and energy, Aranballon red at the Giant Magic Dragon. ¡°Come at me, invader!¡± ¡ªBoom! At that moment, the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s right w struck Aranballon¡¯s torso. ¡°Krrgh!¡± Before it could regain its senses from the unexpected shock, a barrage of follow-up attacks came in session. ¡ªBam! Boom! Bam! Slow but precise and powerful strikes, one after another! Stronger than I thought. Aranballon had to admit it was being pushed back. The slightly shifted bnce was now bing too much to handle. Damn it, because of those otherworldly beings¡­ Individually, they weren¡¯t much of a threat. But when they took the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s side, it was a different story. The bnce between the two dragons had been golden. ¡ªBoom! Boom! Boom! Boom! ¡°Grrr¡­¡± The Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s relentless flurry of attacks was fierce. Even with its guard raised, the prating shock shook Aranballon to the core. Damn it, this is maddening. Dealing with the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s barrage was hard enough, but then the drakes started clinging again on the other side. Their interference gave the Giant Magic Dragon far more room for maneuvers. I¡¯m stuck in a situation where I can¡¯t do anything. If it focused on the drakes, it would inevitably allow an attack from the Giant Magic Dragon. If it only focused on defense, it would be overwhelmed by the sheer number of drakes. Moreover, the Giant Magic Dragon was cunning. Rather than acting recklessly, it slowly built up momentum like a snowball. ¡°You¡¯ve gone silent, haven¡¯t you?¡± The Giant Magic Dragon grinned. It struck carefully without overextending itself. ¡°As expected!¡± ¡ªBam! Bam! Eachnded hit caused Aranballon¡¯s massive body to retreat. Dust billowed up in thick clouds. ¡°The saying that excessive greed leads to one¡¯s downfall is an eternal truth in any world!¡± The Giant Magic Dragon maintained focus, relentlessly delivering powerful blows. Faster. [The Giant Magic Dragon roars.] Faster still. [The Giant Magic Dragon amplifies gravity magic.] Even faster. [The Giant Magic Dragon amplifies gravity magic.] A tangible aura radiated from the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s eyes. As if striking to a rhythm, the attacks reached their peak just as a thunderous roar erupted from Aranballon¡¯s mouth. ¡°Begone!¡± [Aranballon used ¡®Dragon Fear.¡¯] ¡ªBoom! A massive wave of pressure spread out in a circr pattern, sting away the drakes and the Giant Magic Dragon surrounding it. ¡ªRumble! The shockwave churned up the ground and sent thick clouds of dust flying far away. ¡°Oh? So you still have some strength left?¡± The Giant Magic Dragon frowned. Tilting its head, it observed Aranballon¡¯s condition. Then its expression grew even darker. ¡°No way, are you¡­?¡± ¡ªWhoosh¡­ Tremendous energy surged into Aranballon¡¯s body, drawing in energy from all directions like a ck hole. ¡°Are you thinking of using a breath attack?¡± The breath attack¡ªa dragon¡¯s breath. It was the most powerful technique of all dragons, unleashing all their might in a single, destructive st. However, using it would almostpletely drain their strength, so it wasn¡¯t preferable to use in any case. This just shows how desperate it is right now. The Giant Magic Dragon nodded. Even it had considered using a breath attack earlier when it was being pushed back. It wasn¡¯t an iprehensible decision. It was just a bitter one. ¡°Very well.¡± Acknowledging this, the Giant Magic Dragon opened its mouth wide. ¡°I won¡¯t lose in a contest of strength.¡± ¡ªGrowlllll¡­ The Giant Magic Dragon also began gathering all its power in its mouth. [Aranballon prepares its breath.] [The Giant Magic Dragon prepares its breath.] As time passed, the intensity of their power grew fiercer. ¡ªRumble! The ground and walls crumbled into fragments, and the shattered corpses of spartoi and drakes began to melt away. It was an unyielding confrontation between the two dragons. The team members watching the scene wore astonished expressions. ¡°Is everyone okay? Damn it! The shield ispletely broken!¡± Olena shouted urgently. ¡°Damn it! Hold on tight!¡± dimir shouted as well. He was tightly gripping the Spear of Judgment¡¯s spear nted in the ground. ¡°This wind is insane! We¡¯ll all be sucked in if we¡¯re not careful!¡± Dust and air were being drawn into the dragons¡¯ gaping mouths. They even tried to block it with dimir¡¯s spatial magic. It wasn¡¯t the type of force that could be stopped. Moreover¡­ ¡ªCrrrack! The ground beneath them began to crack. Fragments of the floor broke apart and shot into the air, flying toward the dragons. ¡°Kyahhh!¡± The first to lose their footing was Myoi Hana because she had the weakest strength of the team. ¡°Sunny!¡± ¡°Yes, my lord!¡± At that moment, Sunny, who was closest to her, leaped through the air and grabbed her waist. Simultaneously, he shot downward, stabbing his spear into the ground. ¡ªBoom! But perhaps they were now too close to the dragons; both the spear and their bodies began to be dragged closer to the dragons. ¡ªCreak! Creak! Lifting Myoi Hana as well must have made it even harder. ¡°Huff.¡± I, too, clung to the spear embedded in the ground, exhaling deeply. I was gripping it with such force that veins bulged on my neck, and my arms trembled uncontrobly. The rest of the team was holding out in their own ways, but¡­ At this rate¡­ It would be over. Before the two dragons could unleash their breath attacks, we¡¯d all be reduced to dust. Moreover, even if we somehow managed to endure, the aftermath of their breath attacks colliding would surely sweep us away. I guess I have no choice, huh? Finally, I pulled out my hidden trump card. [Item: Wish-Granting Scroll] [Rank: S] [Type: Scroll] [Description: Use in moments of crisis, and it will provide exactly what you need.] [Effect 1: Ancient magic aids you in critical moments.] I didn¡¯t know what kind of answer it would provide, but I¡¯d say this was indeed a crisis. Oh, ancient magic, please give me an answer! Even if it¡¯s unexpected, just help me somehow! cing the scroll in my mouth, I tore it open with my left hand in one satisfying motion. [Using the item: ¡®Wish-Granting Scroll¡¯ (S-rank).] ¡ªsh! In that instant, the scroll in my hand began to emit a white light. ¡ªBzzzz! Buzzz! It vibrated violently. Simultaneously, a message appeared. ¡ªRing! [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) recognizes the crisis.] ¡°¡­What?¡± My eyes widened. Recognizing the crisis was one thing, but SSS-rank? So ancient magic had ranks? Not to mention that it was at SSS-rank. I could swear this was the first time I saw such a rank since thest time when I received the weapon as a reward. Oh. Then this might actually be worth anticipating. I¡¯d say this might be more helpful than most top-ranking yers. As I entertained such hopeful thoughts¡­ [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) opens its eyes wide.] [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) is astonished by such an amazing existence.] [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) reverently bows.] ¡­Huh? What? An amazing existence? What nonsense was this? ¡ªBuzzzz! At that moment, the spear in my right hand vibrated slightly. [¡®Element of Fire¡¯ awakens.] ¡°Element of Fire?¡± [¡®Element of Fire¡¯ asks what the asion is.] What was even happening? I quickly looked around. I wanted to see if the messages appearing in my view were visible to anyone else. ¡°D-Damn it! My hands hurt!¡± ¡°Shield! Use whatever energy you have left to cast more!¡± ¡°If I had any left, I would¡¯ve already used it!¡± But my teammates were too busy screaming to notice anything. It seemed none of them were aware of the conversation between the Ancient Magic and the Element of Fire. [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) deres it hase to fulfill the ¡®Ancient Covenant.¡¯] [It asks permission to use its power before its great presence¡­] [¡®Element of Fire¡¯ tells it to shut its mouth.] [¡­?!] ¡ªBuzz! The torn pieces of the scroll in my left hand trembled faintly. So in summary¡­ a ridiculously powerful entity called ¡°Ancient Magic¡± was groveling before a fragment of my weapon. ¡°¡­¡± I stared nkly at the spear in my right hand. Wow. It¡¯s truly worthy of its godyer rank. What an incredible thing I have! Even though it had never responded when I summoned it before. Still, for it to treat an SSS-rank being like that¡­ [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) is flustered.] [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) asks what the problem is.] [¡®Element of Fire¡¯ tells it to drop the unnecessary adjectives.] [¡®Element of Fire¡¯ tells it to stop wasting time and do its job.] ¡­ Element of Fire, this guy¡­ It¡¯s tougher than I thought. [¡®Element of Fire¡¯ shrugs indifferently and closes its eyes again.] ¡­ Then silence. ¡°Hey, excuse me? Element of Fire? If you suddenly wake up, at least talk to me. You don¡¯t even respond when I usually call you,¡± I mumbled, looking at the weapon. As expected, even after a few seconds, there was no response. [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) hurriedly proceeds.] Fine. Whatever it might be, just hurry up. ¡°Gahh, I can¡¯t hold on for 10 more seconds!¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m losing grip! Ahhh! W-Wait! My hands are slipping!¡± If this took any longer, we¡¯d be doomed. [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) assesses the crisis.] [The caster needs absolute defense for a limited time.] [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) locates the appropriate magic.] Then the skill gifted by this never-before-seen entity was another skill I¡¯d never seen in my life. [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) uses the skill ¡®Space Separation¡¯ (SSS-rank).] [¡®Ancient Magic¡¯ (SSS-rank) wishes you good luck.] At that moment¡­n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡ªThump! The world shed. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 126 Chapter 126: Aranballon vs. the Giant Magic Dragon (3) [¡®Space Separation¡¯ (SSS-rank) is activated.] ¡ªVweeeeeeng! Intricate magical forms filled the air as a deep thunk echoed. The ground beneath us rose, isting the area where my team and I stood. It felt like we were transported into another dimension separate from the rest of the battlefield. [For 30 minutes, the designated area will be isted.] [No physicalws from the outside will affect this region.] The violent winds subsided. The suffocating pressure, the killing intent emanating from the dragons, even the shards of debris flying toward us couldn¡¯t reach us. It was like watching a scene on a giant TV screen of two colossal dragons locked in battle. ¡ªThud! Ping! Any stray projectiles that came near bounced harmlessly off the magical barrier. ¡°Wh-What¡­ is this?¡± Olena gaped in awe, her eyes wide. The rest of the hunters nced at the message in shock. ¡°SSS-rank¡­?¡± ¡°Team leader, is this your doing?¡± The notification was visible to everyone. [Time remaining: 00:29:40] ¡°W-We¡¯re alive? Are we actually alive? This skill guarantees absolute defense for 30 minutes, right?¡± ¡°Team leader! I knew you had a n! You¡¯re not reckless at all. How did you learn such a skill?¡± ¡°Truly incredible!¡± My teammates erupted into cheers. A skill of this caliberbined with their near-death experience naturally brought overwhelming relief and joy. For the moment, they could take some time to breathe. Even in this desperate situation, a spark of hope flickered in their eyes. ¡°The magic form¡­ This is¡­¡± However, not everyone¡¯s excitement stemmed from survival. ¡°Hoon, what is this? It¡¯s utterly insane! These equations are revolutionary! To think someone could conceptualize such magic¡­ Wow!¡± Olena¡¯s fascination reached new heights. Her eyes roamed over the glowing symbols surrounding us. She twirled in amazement, taking in every detail like a child seeing an aquarium for the first time. ¡°If only the Tower Master were here¡­ Oxford¡¯s prestige would take another step forward with this discovery!¡± Was it really that remarkable? Then again, it was SSS-rank magic¡ªan achievement any magic practitioner would marvel at. But this wasn¡¯t the time for admiration as the real focusy ahead. ¡ªKaboom! The two dragons¡¯ energy beams crackled, readying to release their breath attacks. ¡ªWhoosh! The Giant Magic Dragonunched into the sky, its massive wings creating gusts of wind. ¡°Hrrrrmph!¡± Opening its jaws wide, it aimed a terrifying beam of ck energy at Aranballon. The dark energy surged downward, distorting space as it traveled¡ªa breathtaking yet deadly spectacle. Not to be outdone, Aranballon braced itself, nting its legs firmly on the ground. It tilted its head upward, aiming like an anti-aircraft gun. ¡°Kuaargh!¡± A beam of brown energy erupted from its maw, colliding with the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s attack. It was a sh of two dragon breaths. The impact was instantaneous. ¡ªKABOOM! The sheer force of the sh lit up the battlefield like a storm of lightning strikes. In an instant, the team members were left gaping in shock. ¡°Uh, uh, huh?¡± ¡°¡­Crazy.¡± Words failed to form intoplete sentences. They could only watch in silence as the ck and brown energies collided violently, grappling for dominance. The intensity was overwhelming. As if electrified, dozens of shes lit up the space each second. All surrounding material melted away. Even the ground vanished, leaving us suspended in the air. ¡°Hmm,¡± dimir said, ¡°This isn¡¯t something to celebrate just because we dodged their breath attacks, is it?¡± He nced downward. The ground had been carved so deep it was barely visible. ¡°In 30 minutes, won¡¯t we all just fall to our deaths?¡± At his shout, I spoke up. ¡°Mr. dimir.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Do you have any energy left?¡± ¡°Hmm, a little. Why?¡± ¡°In 30 minutes, can you transport everyone here onto the dragon¡¯s body?¡± ¡°What?¡± dimir¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Up there?¡± ¡°Yes. We came here to hunt the dragon, didn¡¯t we? To kill it, we need to face it directly.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. But¡­¡± He shook his head, seemingly at a loss. ¡°Geez,tely, I feel like talking to you is scary. I never know what kind of wild idea you¡¯lle up with.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a saying that birds of a feather flock together. By joining this dragon hunt, we¡¯ve all admitted we¡¯re a bit crazy.¡± Looking back, it was true. To face madness, one had to be mad. Without bing lunatics ourselves, we wouldn¡¯t be able to reach the rankers¡¯ level. Rankers were hunters who had endured brutal trials to rise to the top. ¡°Well, you¡¯re not wrong. We¡¯re all nuts. I mean, is there anyone who wouldn¡¯t lose their mind after going through something like this?¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°So, is it possible?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s doable. Sure, why not? To where exactly? Aranballon? Or the Giant Magic Dragon?¡± dimir muttered as if resigning himself. ¡°Hold on a moment.¡± I looked back to the two dragons shing. The battlefield was a horrific spectacle. Between the colliding energies, the once-durable dragon scales melted grotesquely. Both creatures bled profusely. ¡°Graaahhh!¡± ¡°Die!¡± Their conditions were disastrous. Still, if I had to choose one side¡­ The Giant Magic Dragon has the upper hand. Its energy reserves seemed more plentiful. Aranballon¡¯s expression also showed more strain. The snowball effect of us clearing out the dragon¡¯s minions had built to this point, tipping the scales. ¡°My friend, are you really nning to fight those absurdly monstrous beings?¡± Observing the scene, the Spear of Judgement approached me. ¡ªStep, step. Oddly enough, though there was no ground, it felt like there was. It felt as if I was walking on an invisible surface. ¡°Of course we have to fight it. What is it? Are you getting a little scared?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not fear, but¡­¡± He gripped his spear firmly. ¡°I¡¯m excited. I never thought I¡¯d see a dragon, let alone fight one.¡± ¡°Does this mean we¡¯ll all be dragon yers if we seed?¡± Olena chimed in with a grin. ¡°I only just learned that dragons really exist, and now we¡¯re hunting one,¡± dimir chuckled as well. Listening to me, the team members raised their weapons one by one. Even faced with such a monstrous being, no one faltered. Instead, they trusted me and burned with determination. ¡°¡­¡± As we silently watched the dragons¡¯ battle, the team members steeled themselves. After some time had passed¡­ [Time Remaining: 00:03:00] Only three minutes left. The dragons¡¯ breaths had ceased. Even after expending all their energy, they relentlessly pushed each other, locked inbat. ¡ªBoom! Bang! Crash! Boom! ¡ªGulp. I swallowed. At the same time, I switched my weapon to a spear. It was time. ¡°Get ready.¡± Simultaneously, I activated my trump card. I summoned the only being who could advise me in such a dire situation¡ªmy mentor. [Using skill ¡®Teaching of All Techniques¡¯ (S-rank).] [Consuming 20 energy.] [Summoning ¡®Master of All Techniques.¡¯] ¡°You lunatic¡­¡± The old man muttered as soon as he took in the situation, ¡°Why is it every time you summon me, you¡¯re in some ridiculous scenario?¡± Oh, c¡¯mon, Elder! You say that, but I know you enjoy this kind of excitement too, don¡¯t you? I grinned. Though tension gripped my body, I decided to enjoy it. After all, the worst-case scenario was death. And I¡¯d already faced countless life-threatening thrills over the past year. By now, I was used to it. I looked at the old man. ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll survive this time too?¡± ¡°Tsk, why are you asking me? You should be asking the heavens, which seem quite fond of you.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re a strange one.¡± Heavenly luck¡ªyes, if such a thing truly existed¡­ The heavens had always smiled upon me. [Time Remaining: 00:00:30] [Warning!] [¡®Space Separation¡¯ (SSS-Rank) is nearing its end.] [Be cautious of reconnecting spaces!] ¡°dimir.¡± ¡°Yes, team leader! Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m ready. We¡¯re heading to the ck dragon¡¯s back, right?¡± dimir grinned and swung his staff in an X-shaped motion. I looked around at the other team members. ¡°Everyone ready?¡± [Time Remaining: 00:00:20] ¡°Yes, team leader. We¡¯re ready.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it my all. Even if I die here, know that it was an honor to have been able to fight by your side.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± If everything up until now was just a warm-up, the real battle was about to begin. [Time Remaining: 00:00:10] Only ten seconds left. The tense silence swallowed the space. [Time Remaining: 00:00:05] Now. With that dreadful dragon before us. The true fight would begin. [Time Remaining: 00:00:04] This time, I wasn¡¯t fighting alone. I wasn¡¯t solving this alone. [Time Remaining: 00:00:03] With my team. With myrades. [Time Remaining: 00:00:02] [Time Remaining: 00:00:01] We¡¯re doing this together. We¡¯d take it down together. [Time Remaining: 00:00:00] Finally, the time hit zero. I gathered all my strength. [¡®Space Separation¡¯ (SSS-Rank) is ending.] ¡ªThump! The once-separated space began to close, and the strange sensation vanished. ¡ªWhoosh! A strong wind battered my face. The overwhelming presence of the two dragons surged through me again. [Reconnecting separated spaces.] The curtain rose on the true battle atst! ¡°dimir!¡± ¡°Got it!¡± At that moment, dimir Lodygin¡¯s spatial magic unfolded. ¡ªsh! The world flickered. I opened my eyes. Directly below was a ck surface. No, it wasn¡¯t the ground. It was the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s skin. ¡ªThump! Myrades and Inded lightly on it. As expected of dimir, his spatial magic was precise and meticulous. Though it was a short distance, he managed to move so many people precisely onto the Giant Magic Dragon. ¡°Team leader! We made it!¡± ¡°Great!¡± I shouted, ¡°Grab onto the scales, everyone!¡± Falling off wasn¡¯t a concern as the Giant Magic Dragon was so massive that even if you rolled to the side, you¡¯d still be on its back. But that didn¡¯t mean we could just stand idly by. The Giant Magic Dragon was still shing with Aranballon. ¡°Do your best! We¡¯re taking this thing down!¡± ¡ªWhoosh! I swung my spear. And at the same time, my summoned skeleton army appeared again. Bones materialized midair andnded on the dragon¡¯s back. ¡°Hmm?¡± Perhaps sensing the intrusion on its back, the Giant Magic Dragon grimaced as it continued to fight. ¡°What¡¯s this? Weren¡¯t you all dead? How did you manage this without revealing a single trace of your presence?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern.¡± ¡ªCrunch! Crack! In that instant, the skeletons began attacking the Giant Magic Dragon in unison. My team members also unleashed their full power, pouring out their skills. I thrust my spear with all my might. Perhaps not due to my brute strength, but my weapon¡¯s sharpness seemed to do the trick. ¡ªSquish! Though it was tough, the attack seemed to work. ¡°You wretches! Earlier you helped me, and now you¡¯re siding with that one? ¡°¡­You didn¡¯tin when we teamed up before and epted the benefits. You should¡¯ve expected this!¡± I drove my spear even deeper. ¡°Silence! No matter how wounded I am, your attacks are nothing more than a tickle¡­ Ngh?¡± The roaring Giant Magic Dragon suddenly fell silent. ¡°Haha, looks like it¡¯s taking effect already.¡± The old man beside me nodded. I grinned as well. ¡°Good thing you¡¯re here to help with this one.¡± Yes. Through the gash pierced by my spear, I injected the poison mist into the wound like a mosquito. ¡ªDrip! Drip! In truth, I didn¡¯t even ask it for help. It was simply so excited by the massive prey before it that it rushed in. And I didn¡¯t stop it. That¡¯s right, poison mist. Get in there and devour it from the inside. ¡°Y-You! What are you doing to my body?¡± The Giant Magic Dragon roared in panic. Chapter 127 Chapter 127: Aranballon vs. the Giant Magic Dragon (4) ¡ªGurgle, gurgle, gurgle! I braced myself by grabbing the spear with both hands while the poison mist poured out of me like a waterfall. ¡°Get lost, you despicable pests! Even grinding you to dust won¡¯t be enough! Just wait a little longer! After I¡¯m done with this cursed dragon, I¡¯ll make sure you pay the price! Grrraaaah!¡± The Giant Magic Dragon thrashed and roared. However, we paid no attention. We ignored it and kept doing what needed to be done. After all¡­ That guy couldn¡¯t afford to focus on us. If it did, it would face the same ordeal Aranballon went through earlier¡ªexposing weak spots and allowing relentless attacks. ¡°Hoon!¡± Olena approached me and extended her palm. ¡ªSt! Droplets of water generated by her seeped into the wounds of the Giant Magic Dragon. ¡°This will act as a kind of catalyst!¡± She looked at me with determination. ¡°Liquid works better than gas when ites to entering the skin. This way, the poisoned mist you generated is absorbed into the bloodstream in liquid form.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. Thank you.¡± I nodded. If a mage said so, it must be true. It made sense. ¡°No need to thank me.¡± Olena winked, and at that moment, someone else approached from behind her. ¡°Team Leader!¡± The man who approached was the middle-aged swordsman from Germany. Maximilian, was it? ¡°Yes, Maxi. What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Do you mind if I use the dragon¡¯s open wound over there for a moment?¡± ¡°That wound?¡± I nced around. ¡ªng! ng! Come to think of it, the Spear of Judgment, Sunny, and Eldrin were all relentlessly attacking the Giant Magic Dragon. But none of them had been able to pierce its tough hide. Even wounded, the dragon¡¯s skin was indeed imprable. Only my godyer-rank weapon could easily breach it. ¡°Just trust me this once, Team Leader.¡± He stepped forward and reversed his grip on the sword. Then¡­ ¡ªSquish! He drove the sword into the flesh of the wound I had created. He plunged in deep, like inserting a needle into the skin. ¡°Watch closely. While my skills may palepared to the others, my unique ability is one even top-ranking yers envy.¡± The middle-aged man closed his eyes and began chanting an incantation. The Sword Aspiring to be the Highest. Five Aspirations. Fourth Sword Technique: Ki-Controlled Swordsmanship. Maximilian released his grip on the sword¡¯s hilt. Simultaneously, a sound of tearing erupted from within the dragon¡¯s hide. ¡ªRippp! The sword, no longer in his hand, was clearly moving on its own, slicing and tearing apart the inneryer of dragon skin. ¡ªSsshh! The poison mist flowed even more freely, confirming the effectiveness of his technique. ¡°Wow, is that really Ki-Controlled Swordsmanship? That¡¯s amazing!¡± I eximed in admiration. I¡¯d heard from Lee Sunah that even Ha Sera, ranked 3rd in the world, had only recently mastered this ultimate skill. ¡°It¡¯s not real. It¡¯s fake.¡± Maximilian focused on controlling his de butughed bitterly. ¡°¡­Fake?¡± Seriously? There was a fake version of Ki-Controlled Swordsmanship? ¡°Well, technically, yes. Look at the name of the skill: The Sword Aspiring to be the Highest. But in reality, it¡¯s just a poor imitation of the real thing. Do you know why?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°It can only use five techniques, thus called the Five Aspirations. Nothing else. No fundamental skills at all. And these five techniques aren¡¯t ordinary either. Sword Energy, Compressed Sword Energy, One with the Sword, Ki-Controlled Swordsmanship, and Heart de¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s insane.¡± Even hearing the names of the techniques was intimidating. ¡°And if the ability were extraordinary, it¡¯d be fine. But look. The ki flow has already stopped.¡± Maximilian gave a bitter smile. Sure enough, the sound of flesh being torn had ceased. Itsted for barely 30 seconds. And just like that, the man had lost his sword after using a single skill. However. It was enough to help. Maxi had widened the wound further, andbined with Olena¡¯s magic, the poison mist could prate even deeper and more effectively. ¡°You little gnats!¡± The Giant Magic Dragon suddenly shook violently. At that moment, the flow of energy shifted. The dragon¡¯s focus, previously directed at Aranballon, turned to us. ¡°I can¡¯t just leave you be any longer!¡± It was dangerous. ¡°Guh!¡± I couldn¡¯t breathe, and rm bells rang wildly in my brain. Instinctively, I gripped the godyer spear tightly. ¡°Even if I take a hit, I¡¯ll make sure to crush you into a pulp!¡± The next moment, the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s yellow eyes gleamed. With a deep breath¡­ ¡°Die!¡± Simultaneously, a ck-patterned magic circle appeared in the sky¡ªthe gravity magic it had used against Aranballon. ¡°Be crushed under the weight and perish!¡± ¡ªCrrrack! At that moment, an overwhelming pressure crushed down from all directions. ¡°Grrgh!¡± ¡°I-I can¡¯t breathe!¡± ¡°Urgh!¡± The team members were in the same state. Olena copsed onto the ground, clutching the scales, and even the usually bnced Eldrin froze in ce. ¡°Haaah!¡± I, too, was overwhelmed by the suffocating pressure, falling to my knees. ¡ªRing! A ringing sound echoed endlessly in my ears. ¡°Focus,d!¡± Amid the searing pain in my head, the old man bellowed, ¡°If that dragon which treated you all like some pests is going out of its way to attack you, it¡¯s a good sign! It means your poison is working! Trust me, your poison mist is terrifying! As long as you hold on, you have the advantage!¡± ¡°I know that¡­ But¡­ Ugh! ¡°Besides, it won¡¯t be able to focus on you for too long!¡± At that moment¡­ ¡ªKaboom! A thunderous roar erupted as my body was flung into the air. ¡°Graaaah!¡± Hearing the Giant Magic Dragon¡¯s agonized roar, it seemed Aranballon hadunched an attack. ¡°Ugh!¡± Of course, even that was grueling for us. ¡ªClench! I tightened my grip on the embedded weapon. ¡°Grrahhh! You cowardly scoundrel¡ª!¡± ¡°Have you still not let go of that hypocritical mindset? What you do is reasonable, but what others do is cowardly?¡± ¡°Silence!¡± For the moment, the Giant Magic Dragon that had been driving us to the brink turned its attention back to Aranballon. Small fry, that¡¯s what we are. Why did the image of fish fry suddenlye to mind? We were just pitiful small fry crushed in a sh between two whales. ¡°Lad! Are you daydreaming at a time like this?!¡± the old man scolded. Damn it. How did he always know when my mind wandered? He really must be a ghost. ¡°Focus. It would be better to enter and take direct action.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± I blinked in confusion. ¡°Enter? Where?¡± ¡°Where else? Into the wound of that dragon¡¯s body, of course.¡± ¡°¡­?¡± When I gave him a bewildered look, he continued. ¡°That dragon¡¯s energy is concentrated near its heart. If all you can do is hold onto its back, wouldn¡¯t it be easier to stab it to death instead?¡±n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om Uh. That sounds way harder, though. ¡°Once inside, you won¡¯t feel the blows as much! Normally, it¡¯d be impossible to get close, but thanks to it using the breath attack, now¡¯s your chance!¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Though I pulled a grim face, I was already gathering the strength in my legs. Honestly, the old man¡¯s words were borderline impossible. Get inside that massive dragon¡¯s body, locate its heart, and stab it¡ªeasier said than done. How would I pierce its sturdy bones or deal with the thick, sticky blood? There would be no light inside¡ªI wouldn¡¯t be able to see anything. And with no oxygen, I wouldn¡¯t even be able to breathe. The old man¡¯s suggestion was like telling me to dive into the deep sea with no equipment and stab a Kraken in the eye. But¡­ It was somehow funny. ¡ªSwoosh! As I drew the spear, I found myself amused at the thought. The fact that I was even considering this n made meugh. Honestly¡­ The old man had never given me bad advice, had he? ¡°dimir!¡± Drawing the spear, I called out for Lodygin. ¡°Yeah, you called for me?¡± Hearing my voice, he shouted back while swinging his staff in the distance. ¡°Can you teleport me to the dragon¡¯s heart?¡± I shouted. Even as I yelled, I realized how absurd the request sounded. ¡°¡­What?¡± dimir seemed to process my words for a moment. ¡°Are you saying we should all just die together instead of letting the dragon kill us?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m serious!¡± ¡°Have you gone mad, Team Leader?¡± ¡°I told you. I¡¯ve always been crazy!¡± ¡°Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake!¡± Cursing, he approached me. The other team members, hearing our conversation, turned to me with shocked expressions. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re going to suggest going to the center and striking the dragon¡¯s heart or weak spot!¡± ¡°Oh, exactly. Thanks for sparing me the exnation.¡± ¡°You damned lunatic¡­!¡± ¡°Thanks for thepliment.¡± At that moment, I briefly understood how Jang Daewoong the Berserker, felt. Daewoong, my bro! So this is how it feels! The strange satisfaction of beingplimented for your madness! ¡ªSsh! Suddenly, a refreshing stream of water enveloped me. It was Olena¡¯s water-attribute magic. ¡°It¡¯s a protective barrier! It¡¯ll keep the blood off you and supply oxygen! Splitting H2O gives you O2, you know!¡± Olena. She was the only one who truly acknowledged me. Seeing this, dimir¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Seriously, has everyone lost their minds?¡± ¡°Is this new? Hoon¡¯s always been like this. I gave up the moment he said we were going to hunt down the dragon. What can we do? Humans are adaptable creatures, after all, so we adapt.¡± ¡°Y-Yeah, I suppose¡­ But still¡­¡± dimir sighed deeply. Then he nodded in resignation. ¡°Fine. But listen.¡± He nced toward the dragon¡¯s core. ¡°Spatial magic isn¡¯t some idealized technique where everything goes as nned. If there¡¯s solid material or an object in the teleportation spot, the two will merge, or worse, your body could be cut in half. In this case, the dragon¡¯s bones would be the obstacle.¡± ¡°I think I can help with that.¡± At that moment, Capu stepped forward. ¡°My irvoyance ignores obstacles. ording to my skill, there¡¯s a 10-meter-wide space just below the central left area.¡± Whoa. Capu, the guide! He was so dependable, alwaysing through in critical moments. ¡°R-Really?¡± Even dimir blinked, surprised by the information. ¡°The dragon¡¯s size probably ounts for it. There seem to be plenty of empty pockets throughout its body.¡± ¡°Haah, damn it. Fine.¡± Finally, dimir threw up his hands. ¡°Let¡¯s do this, damn it! Should I send you now?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m ready. What¡¯s the worst that could happen? Death?¡± With determined eyes, I nodded. The old man grinned. ¡°You¡¯ve got good teammates. It¡¯s not the kind-hearted ones but the useful ones that make the best allies.¡± Agreed. They were good teammates and greatrades. Muttering, dimir raised his staff and began chanting. I gripped my weapon tightly and swallowed hard. ¡ªBoom! Boom! The two dragons were still locked in fiercebat. The ck magic circle in the sky continued pressing down on us. And then¡­ ¡°Hey, Team Leader.¡± dimir opened his eyes. ¡°Yes? Are you ready?¡± ¡°Make sure youe back alive.¡± ¡ªWhoosh! He waved his staff, and a mystical power enveloped my body. And in that moment¡­ ¡ªsh! A brilliant light filled my vision. The Novel will be updated first on this website. 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