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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 40: Strengthening Forces (2)
-Gurgl. Chaos, destruction, ruin…
Thwack!
The skeletal head, stripped of all flesh, was struck and forcefully lowered.
“What the hell are you babbling about?”
-Gurgl. I… revived. Thank you, Master. Therefore, enemy, destroy.
Jo Seungchul's jawbone rattled as he conveyed his thoughts.
The skeletal mage, devoid of any flesh, had no vocal cords.
‘He's probably doing that out of habit from his previous life.’
〔This newly created undead is rather crude.〕
‘He's a low-grade undead. What were you expecting?’
〔I was hoping for at least a Fafnir-level creature.〕
‘Don't get your hopes up.’
After chiding Kronos, Yoojin opened his status window.
[Skeleton Mage (Jo Seungchul)]
Race: Undead
Rank: ★★
◎ Stats
Strength: 74 / Agility: 87 / Health: 40 / Endurance: 45 / Mana: 601 (+150)
◎ Traits
▷ Quick Reload [Unique] / Undying Existence [C+] / [C+]
◎ Skills
▷ Fireball [C] / Red Bind [D+] / Flame Beat [D] / Fire Arrow [E]
Extremely unbalanced stats focused on mana.
〔Isn't this typical for mages?〕
‘Not necessarily.’
Typical magic-wielding Hunters invest some stat points in agility or health for reaction speed and equipment purposes.
In battles between high-ranking individuals, a 0.01-second difference in decision-making can determine victory.
Including the additional stats from the assimilation, his mana reaches 751.
Slightly higher than a magic-wielding Hunter at the peak of 2 Stars.
‘It's been crafted exactly as intended.’
〔You intended this?〕
‘I reinforced the skull while reducing its overall durability. That's why the mana is so high.’
As long as the head remains intact, a skeleton can be restored.
It's not like a lich with spare lives, but as long as it's not completely destroyed, it can be used repeatedly.
〔Khahaha! How truly wicked. To make him suffer even after death.〕
‘It should be an honor to serve me.’
〔I wonder if this little human thinks the same.〕
‘Whatever.’
He's just a low-grade undead anyway.
Even with the synchronization of soul and body, expressions like that have limitations.
Unless I continuously modify him…
Fafnir, no, to be precise, Park Haneul from the previous regression also started as a Skeleton Knight and was upgraded to a Doom Knight thanks to continuous modifications whenever there was a chance.
‘Who knows if this guy will reach lich status if he survives?’
〔But wasn't this little human a 3 Star?〕
‘Skeleton Mages are originally 2 Stars. It's the fate of low-grade undead.’
If I polish his bones and equip him, he'll get stronger.
Still, both the materials and Yoojin's current level are insufficient to bring out his full potential.
‘He needs to be at least 3 Stars for me to modify him.’
〔Work harder to elevate my prestige.〕
‘Yes, yes.’
With the Blood Golem and Skeleton Mage added to his forces, and having found a way to enhance Fafnir's abilities…
‘It's time to expand Necropolis.’
Yoojin's gaze shifted down towards the river.
* * *
The group gathered in front of the black spire.
“From now on, we're heading south.”
“Hyungnim, does that mean we're going back to the Gate?”
Yoojin shook his head and unfolded a map depicting the vicinity of Paju.
“When did you get this…?”
“It's a map from before the Cataclysm. You can find it with a simple internet search.”
Necropolis was located in the north of Paju.
Following the water flow south would lead them to the Imjin River.
And further southwest from there…
“Hyung, isn't that Ground Zero?”
“That's right.”
“But that area is a lawless zone.”
Yoojin chuckled at Kang Minyeong, who seemed to shrink back.
“You were fine wandering around the border area, and now you're scared?”
“People are scarier than monsters.”
“It'll be fine as long as we don't cross the line. In fact, we can even escape there if we're in danger.”
Yoojin reassured Kang Minyeong.
〔You're good at saying things you don't mean.〕
‘Is it that obvious?’
〔I know you're not the type to consider a lawless zone as an escape route.〕
Kronos, who had been listening silently, suddenly emphasized his thoughts.
〔What is your true objective, Contractor?〕
‘You see, in my past life, I traveled alone.’
A one-man army.
The Immortal King.
The Necromancer.
These were the titles that referred to Yoojin, who had reached the pinnacle of necromancy.
‘But two hands are better than one.’
The Romanov clan had many formidable foes besides Dmitri.
Five 8 Star Hunters alone.
And countless others below 7 Star.
‘This time, I plan to build a force.’
In his past life, the territory of Necropolis was only the size of a single city.
Although one couldn't say a city was small…
It was a scale that made it difficult to establish a proper force.
‘And while I'm at it, I should turn that insignificant countryside spirit into a proper constellation.’
〔Do you intend to establish a cult that worships me?〕
‘I told you I'd use everything I can.’
〔Khahaha! That's right. You did say that in my palace.〕
Grit—
Thinking of Dmitri's punchable face made Yoojin grind his teeth.
“Hyungnim?”
“Ah, I was just lost in thought.”
He marked their route with a red pen and stood up.
“Minho, how much food do we have left?”
“Including combat rations, two weeks, Hyungnim.”
“That's cutting it close.”
The eyes of the Little Runts team shook.
‘Two weeks is cutting it close?’
‘Please tell me the return trip is included in that!’
‘I'll have to pitch the tent properly this time.’
Their thoughts intertwined as the decision was made to head south towards the border area.
* * *
Before leaving the Necropolis.
Yoojin raised the corpses that Fafnir had gathered as undead.
[The number of controllable undead has reached its maximum.]
[40/40]
[Armored Skeleton - 20]
[Armored Zombie - 13]
[Skeleton Mage - 5]
[Skeleton Mage (Jo Seungchul)]
[Fafnir]
“Armored Zombies are better for short-term operations.”
There were only a few suitable corpses for Skeleton Mages, so he couldn't make many.
Compared to Jo Seungchul, who had completed the assimilation, they were about two-thirds as strong.
〔That assimilation isn't as great as I thought it would be.〕
‘You don't know what you're talking about. You'll see when you see it in person.’
〔Hmm. Let's wait and see.〕
Fafnir, who was leading the way, smirked as he looked at Kang Min-ho, who was standing next to him.
【Do you have a sense of timing?】
“Thanks to you, I was able to endure the ancient trial grounds.”
【Good. I look forward to working with you.】
The group descended from the hill and slowly headed south along the foothills.
The range of the black spire was 1 kilometer.
While going down the foggy river.
【Master. There is a troll ahead.】
“Can't we go around it?”
【No. It must have smelled us.】
“Unless we go back the way we came, we won't be able to shake it off.”
Kang Minyeong's face turned pale.
“Oppa. Trolls are monsters that come out of 4 Star gates, aren't they?”
“They're annoying opponents because of their regenerative abilities.”
It wasn't something a Hunter who had just reached 2 Stars should say, but since it was Yoojin who said it, no one in the group felt any sense of incongruity.
【It's been wandering around the Necropolis lately anyway.】
“Did it smell the corpses?”
【It's highly likely that there are more trolls nearby.】
“How many did you see?”
【Four.】
Four trolls.
Yoojin stroked his chin and Fafnir asked back.
【What should we do?】
“Break through.”
If they were going to turn back because of a mere four trolls, they wouldn't have set out in the first place.
The moment the group emerged from the gray mist, the troll's head, which had been staying near the river, snapped back.
“Kroooo! Food!”
The monster, towering over them, stomped its feet with a thunderous boom, sending pebbles scattering in all directions.
"That looks like it would hurt if it hit us."
"It'd be like standing in front of a 4-ton truck."
"...I'll take that as advice not to face it head-on."
What a kid.
So honest.
【Huhuhu. Is it my turn to step up?!】
"No. I'll set the stage for your grand entrance next time."
As Yoojin beckoned with his finger, a black sphere emerged above the still Blood Golem's eye.
"This is your debut. Show me what you've got."
「Obeying your command.」
The Blood Golem, two heads shorter than the troll, charged forward.
The moment the two monsters collided.
Fwoom—!
"Uh, Hyung-nim. The summon's arm flew off."
"It's not a summon, it's a Golem."
The Golem's arm shattered into pieces from a single blow.
It reeled greatly but managed to stay on its feet.
"Kroo! Smelly monster. Break!"
The excited troll swung its arm again, trying to knock the Blood Golem over. Just then—
The shattered right arm reattached itself as if reversing time, grabbing the monster's arm.
「Damage. Minor. Combat sustainable.」
"Kroo?"
The troll felt a flicker of doubt but didn't dwell on it.
It didn't have the intelligence for such contemplation.
"Kroo! Tear again."
Fwoom—! Fwofwofwoom!
The Blood Golem's arms dissolved into a spray of blood and scattered, but they regenerated within seconds.
The magic circuit was engraved based on the corpse of a Masked Beast.
The mana surging from the engine solidified its control over the imprinted blood, allowing the destroyed arms to quickly reform.
【However, that approach won't secure victory.】
"Just watch."
The troll possessed strength that ranked high among 4 Star monsters.
There was no way a low-ranking 3 Star could withstand a head-on clash of strength.
The moment the troll ripped off the Blood Golem's right arm again.
[Blood Flow Conversion]
[Blood Weapon - Blade Mode]
Swish!
The Blood Golem's left arm swirled, transforming below the elbow into a sharp blade.
While the scattering blood droplets obscured the troll's vision.
「Commencing attack.」
With a monotone voice, the crimson blade slashed through the troll's abdomen.
Chaak—!
"Kroo?"
「Damage minimal. Continuing attack.」
[Blood Weapon - Lance Mode]
The reconstructed right arm transformed into a sharp lance.
It plunged into the freshly opened wound and thrashed about violently.
"Kroo, get out!"
The troll flailed its arms, pushing the Blood Golem away.
Surprised, but that was all.
This kind of wound would heal in 5 seconds with the troll's unique regenerative abilities.
The Golem's strength was insufficient to inflict a fatal blow.
"Kroo?"
Or so it should have been.
The gaping wound wasn't closing; instead, blood gushed out relentlessly.
[Blood Poison]
The Blood Golem's poison hindered regeneration.
The troll's greatest strength was rendered useless.
【Master. It seems the Blood Golem has grown a bit larger?】
"Oh. Your eyes are sharp as always."
The Golem grew in size by absorbing blood.
It had absorbed the troll's blood while inflicting wounds and thrusting the needle.
【Recovery blocked and blood absorption. It's the troll's natural enemy.】
"It would have been a tough fight against an ordinary 4 Star."
The matchup was favorable.
There was a reason why he deployed the 3 Star Blood Golem alone.
The Blood Golem grew larger as the battle continued.
Meanwhile, the troll's eyes grew darker.
"Kroooo!"
The troll, enduring the pain, grabbed the Golem's sharpened arm, but...
[Hardening]
The blood hardened upon impact, maintaining the blade's form and stabbing deep.
"Kroo..."
Having lost too much blood, the troll finally fell to one knee.
Seizing the advantage, the Blood Golem transformed both arms into blades and swiftly beheaded the kneeling troll.
[The Blood Golem has absorbed enough blood.]
[Rank adjusted from 3 Star → 4 Star.]
[User's class is not Alchemist. EXP gain reduced by 60%.]
Tsk.
‘Everything's good except for the EXP loss.’
This was the reason Yoojin didn't focus on Golems in his previous life.
They weren't affected by the undead limit, but they were a loss in terms of production cost, time, and EXP acquisition.
"Kroooo! He's been defeated."
"Kroo. We will eat."
"Kruk. Kill. Eat."
Three more trolls emerged from the bushes.
It seemed they were drawn by the noise from the previous fight.
"There were more nearby."
【See? I wasn't mistaken.】
‘It's fortunate they didn't enter the Necropolis. It would have been difficult for Fafnir to handle them alone. At best, he could drive them away by making full use of the thick fog.’
Yoojin looked at the Little Runts Team.
"Can one of you three hunt with me?"
"One troll..."
"Just hold it back. I'll fill in the missing firepower."
Hold back a troll with three 2 Star Hunters?
It was an absurd order, but the Little Runts Team felt an inexplicable surge of ambition.
‘Hyung-nim believes in us.’
‘A troll. It's scary, but he must have entrusted it to us because there's a chance of winning.’
‘I'll pull my weight!’
Yoojin chuckled at the Little Runts Team's competitive spirit.
"Let the troll hunt begin."
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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