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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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Chapter 18
"My... my undead...?!"
He couldn't believe it.
His own creations, stolen?
This was unprecedented.
And what's more...
‘They look stronger…’
The undead were completely different from the ones he had crafted.
Enveloped in a shadow-like darkness, they emitted wisps of teal energy that curled like smoke.
If he had encountered them as monsters, he would have assumed they were high-level and avoided them entirely.
But something wasn't right.
"Their levels are lower?"
The undead's levels were significantly lower than when he had created them.
Most had dropped by at least ten levels.
‘Think, Bejiron, think!’
The one controlling them seemed weaker than him.
He probably hadn't even reached level 10.
Perhaps he had stumbled upon a rare class early on.
Though initially shocked by the theft notification, Bejiron calmed down.
This wasn't such a big deal after all.
"Alright. I can handle this."
‘High-ranking classes were important, but true power in the game came from levels! High level trumped everything!’
Fueled by this thought, Bejiron's fighting spirit reignited.
Meanwhile, Seonghyun was assessing his own situation.
‘What... is this?’
While Bejiron was understandably surprised, Seonghyun was equally astonished.
He had just realized a crucial fact: he couldn't fully control Helena's memories.
Or rather, not yet.
Until Helena helped him, he couldn't recall anything about the Death Aura.
He only had a vague recollection of its form and how Helena used it.
But with Helena's assistance, everything changed.
Memories of the Death Aura flooded back.
‘Wow.’
It felt like his vision had suddenly sharpened.
He now understood exactly how to wield the Death Aura.
Like going from a blurry world to one with crystal-clear clarity.
No, it was even more profound than that.
It was similar to the overwhelming sense of power he felt when he first became an Overlord.
That same feeling of liberation.
Accompanying this sensation, a message appeared:
[Due to an 'Unknown Power', you have surpassed the current limitations of the skill.]
[Proficiency in Legendary Skill, 『Death Aura』 has greatly increased.]
[Level of Legendary Skill, 『Death Aura』 has increased.] ×4
[You have achieved Lv 5 in Legendary Skill, 『Death Aura』, unlocking a new effect.]
Ah’
It wasn't just about gaining stats or abilities from memories and experience.
He still hadn't fully tapped into his own potential.
Upon realizing this, his perspective shifted.
The memories and experiences of the former instructor, the hunter Apik, and the gravedigger Garrick—all of them clicked into place.
Now he understood a little better.
Why Helena had said he possessed a talent even greater than her own.
Seonghyun's vision had expanded.
"Attack."
At his command, the zombies and skeletons—no, the Death Legion—sprang into action.
Their movements were on a different level compared to when Bejiron controlled them.
They charged like living humans.
Their speed was unbelievable for undead, but…
Seonghyun's expression twisted slightly.
'It's different from the rabbits.'
Their movements were simple.
Unlike the rabbit Death Legion, which had moved proactively and employed tactics, these undead lacked that same intelligence.
Was it simply a difference in intelligence?
-Do you feel it now?
"Yes."
He nodded immediately in response to Helena's question.
The absence of souls.
He hadn't realized it would make such a difference.
He was starting to grasp how to utilize his Overlord abilities and his own powers.
Bejiron's eyes widened in shock at the speed of the undead surging forward at Seonghyun's command.
But in the end, they were just low-level undead.
"Bone Arrow! Bone Spear! Bone Spike!"
He rapidly cast three spells in an attempt to halt their advance.
The first to appear were the Bone Arrows, the fastest to summon.
Three arrows made of bone flew towards the zombies and skeletons.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
All three arrows struck the chest of the leading zombie.
The damage seemed significant, but it wasn't enough.
It couldn't stop the zombie's advance.
But Bejiron wasn't done yet.
Two Bone Spears materialized in mid-air, rotating automatically towards the zombies and skeletons.
Wheeeeeeee!
A sinister whistling sound filled the air as they cut through the wind.
Two skeletons, momentarily outpacing the zombies, were struck in the head by the Bone Spears.
Crack! Crack!
The two skeletons exploded simultaneously.
But three skeletons and two zombies remained.
They were closing in fast, almost within reach of Bejiron.
At a disadvantage, Bejiron smirked.
His final spell, delayed due to skill cooldown, was finally activating.
A white reflective light shimmered on the ground around Bejiron, and skeletal bones sprouted like thorns.
Bone spikes erupted as if a trap had been sprung!
Shhhk! Shhhk! Shhhk!
-Grooooowl!
-Grooooowl!
-Crack! Crack!
-Crack! Crack! Crack!
-Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
The Bone Spikes pierced the zombies' bodies, tearing them apart.
Their shadowy forms flickered as significant damage accumulated.
The skeletons, on the other hand, didn't suffer as much damage, but the spikes lodged between their bones, immobilizing them completely.
Bejiron smirked, satisfied with the skill that both attacked and restrained his enemies.
The teal mist in the air amplified the damage, but that was fine.
He just needed to eliminate Seonghyun.
'Now I'll finish you off!'
The undead that could have aided Seonghyun were all immobilized.
Bejiron seemed to have the upper hand, but at that moment, a teal spear flew towards him.
"Ugh!"
He couldn't react in time to the swift spear, but his higher level prevented a fatal blow. It struck his shoulder instead.
The spear, formed of light, pierced through Bejiron's shoulder as if it were soft butter.
Thud.
"Aaagh!"
The damage was severe.
How could a beginner inflict such damage?!
But his surprise was premature.
[Dark damage applied.]
[All sight and senses will be impaired for 3 seconds.]
"W-What is this?"
His vision blurred, and he felt as if he had been spun around dozens of times.
He could barely see.
His vision was a jumbled mess.
He couldn't distinguish up from down, left from right.
He would have preferred complete blindness to this disorienting chaos.
His senses were haywire.
Through his distorted vision, Bejiron saw Seonghyun moving away.
Was he running away?
"N-No! Don't run!"
Bejiron shouted pathetically.
Suddenly, Seonghyun, who had been moving away, seemed to get closer.
Just as he wondered what was happening, his vision spun again.
Huh?
"Why am I...?"
...on the ground?
Amidst the dizziness and blurred vision, only the messages were clear.
[Critical Hit!]
[You are being eroded by an irresistible force.]
[Your HP has reached 0. You are being forcibly logged out.]
[Death penalty increased due to notoriety.]
[You drop one of your highest-rank items due to notoriety.]
"N-..."
He wanted to scream, but he couldn't even do that before being forcibly logged out.
Unable to utter a final word, he vanished into dust.
Bejiron, the highest-level user in Perthville, had been defeated.
Seonghyun finally let out a short sigh of relief.
"Whew."
He had thought his opponent would be overwhelming.
He had managed to win thanks to several advantageous conditions.
Especially the wraith of the dead; without them, it wouldn't have been easy, even for Seonghyun.
All the help was thanks to Helena.
"Thank you."
Seonghyun expressed his gratitude to Helena, but through the veil she had once again donned, her fatigue was evident.
Was it because she had used her powers?
-Yawn. I'm tired, so I'll go back in. See you next time.
"Okay."
After hearing Seonghyun's reply, Helena flashed a captivating smile through the black veil and disappeared into his chest.
'She lives in my body?'
He wondered if it was okay for a ghost to reside within him, but he didn't dwell on it.
If there was something wrong or problematic, he would have known instinctively.
He didn't sense anything like that now.
As the tension from the victory dissipated, he felt his strength draining away.
A cascade of messages followed.
[You have won your first battle against another user!]
[You have acquired the title, 『Fighter』.]
[You have triumphed over a user with a significantly higher level!]
[Achievement unlocked!]
[The title, 『Fighter』 has evolved into the title, 『Master of Combat』!]
[You have gained experience points!]
[Level Up!] ×7
[You have reached Level 8.]
[You have defeated an opponent with notoriety.]
[You have acquired the title, 『Righteous Adventurer』.]
[You have defeated an opponent who initiated the attack.]
[You have acquired the opponent's item, 『Sturdy Beginner Black Mage Robe』.]
"Oh?"
He felt his drained strength returning as the tension left his body.
So many rewards!
He had acquired a title, which then immediately evolved, and he had gained another title that seemed promising.
His level had increased by 7, reaching level 8, and he even got an item?
It was a treasure trove.
Now he could understand why some users hunted other users.
Not that he would do it himself, though.
'So that's why there are people who hunt down notorious players.'
He had heard of the so-called 'bounty hunters' who targeted notorious players for greater rewards than those obtained from monsters.
Now he understood why they existed.
Anyway, despite the numerous rewards, he didn't check them right away.
Because…
-Oh my! Then take what's in my hut too!
Garrick, who was standing next to him, was urging him to quickly claim his reward.
Seonghyun smiled faintly, as if to say he understood.
It was rather amusing to see the usually slow-paced Garrick acting so impatiently.
While Seonghyun could have teased him for his amusing reaction, he was kind-hearted and decided to follow Garrick's suggestion and enter the hut.
Sunlight streamed through the dilapidated hut's ceiling.
Covered in a thick layer of dust, it was clear that no one had visited in a long time.
The tranquil hut contained only a simple bed and a desk, upon which sat a single box.
-That's it!
Garrick exclaimed excitedly, urging him to open it.
Without delay, Seonghyun opened the box.
Creak.
The old hinges groaned as the box opened.
Inside, there was a book and an envelope.
[You have acquired a Hidden Piece, a Black Mage-exclusive Unique-rank skill book, 『Skill Book - Proliferating Dead』!]
[You have acquired a Hidden Piece, a Unique-rank item, 『Recommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy』!]
'A Unique skill book? And on top of that...'
A Recommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy?
Seonghyun gulped and scratched his cheek.
A Unique-rank skill book was surprising enough, but a Recommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy was beyond his expectations.
He had received something far better than he had imagined.
'Does this mean I don't have to worry about other skills anymore?'
[The 『Recommendation Letter for the Special Black Mage Academy』can be used from Level 10 onwards.]
'So I need to level up two more times.'
Well, that didn't seem particularly difficult.
'Now, should I check out the other rewards?'
4.
[User 『Seonghyun』 has exceeded the current limitations of the skill due to an 'Unknown Power'.]
[User 『Seonghyun』's proficiency in Legendary Skill, 『Death Aura』 has greatly increased.]
When people encounter incomprehensible phenomena, they tend to be afraid.
But sometimes, there are those who react with anger instead of fear.
Team Leader Jung Jihye was one such person.
"What is this now?"
"..." "..."
Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong and Associate Oh Jinhyeok remained silent.
They couldn't explain what they didn't understand themselves.
This was their first time encountering such a thing.
Oh Jinhyeok, in particular, couldn't say a word.
He had confidently declared that Bejiron was unbeatable.
And yet, here it was.
The emergence of an 'Unknown Power' once again.
Not just an increase in stats this time, but an increase in skill proficiency?
Moreover, it wasn't just a significant increase in proficiency—the skill level had jumped straight to 5.
'Could he have defeated Bejiron without it?'
Against an opponent with a 29 level difference?
'Perhaps...'
Looking at Seonghyun's suddenly soaring sync rate and vital signs... who knows?
Although Jung Jihye valued facts over speculation, this time, she had a feeling Seonghyun would have won regardless.
'Level is king.'
Just like this saying, levels reigned supreme in Eternal World as well.
In RPGs, there's no clearer indicator of strength than level.
Class rank?
Sure, it can make a significant difference when both players have high levels.
If a level 230 player with a Normal-rank class fights a level 200 player with an Almighty-rank class, the Almighty-rank player would most likely win.
As levels increase, the difference in class rank becomes more pronounced.
However, there's virtually no Almighty-rank class that allows a level 1 player to defeat a level 30 player.
Not even the Overlord, considered special even among Almighty classes.
But in the end, Seonghyun emerged victorious.
'He's truly remarkable.'
While minor fluctuations in the data were possible...
Such a drastic change had never been observed before.
What exactly was this 'Unknown Power'?
Beyond that, Seonghyun's movements, judgment, and ability to handle the synchronization rate were astounding.
He seemed more like a native of that world than even the NPCs.
"I've never seen a user like that before."
"Right...?"
"M-me neither. He seems even more incredible than the rankers."
"Hmm, he's definitely on a different level compared to the rankers when they were level 1."
Team Leader Jung Jihye couldn't help but agree.
The fluctuating data was unprecedented, but his gameplay utilizing those changes was even more impressive.
Even Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong and Associate Oh Jinhyeok had to acknowledge it.
They had never encountered a user like this before.
"At this rate, I think he'll catch up to the rankers in no time."
If anyone else had said that, he would have chided them for exaggerating.
But those words carried a different weight coming from Team Leader Jung Jihye.
He was undoubtedly impressive, but to that extent?
Oh Jinhyeok couldn't help but be surprised.
Jung Jihye's discerning eye was well-known within the User Management Team.
Catching up to rankers with a year and a half head start?
‘Could that really happen?’
Seeing Oh Jinhyeok's doubt, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong explained,
"He acquired a Unique-rank skill exclusive to Black Mages and an Special Academy ticket before even reaching level 10. His starting point is different. Sigh, plus we still don't know the nature of this 'Unknown Power'."
"Huh???"
His starting point was indeed remarkably different.
Not all rankers had started with Almighty classes or acquired Unique skills from the beginning.
Team Leader Jung Jihye reacted to Lee Wonsong's explanation.
"Haaaa..."
Flinch!
Both men flinched at her sigh and cautiously observed her expression.
She seemed displeased, but...
'Th-the atmosphere isn't that bad, is it?'
'R-right?'
It wasn't really Lee Wonsong or Oh Jinhyeok's fault.
And she wasn't going to scold them.
"For now, let's just observe. Immortal confirmed that he wasn't a fraudulent player, so there shouldn't be any information leaks."
"Th-that's right!"
"Of-of course."
If Immortal, the greatest AI ever created, had cleared Seonghyun, they must have investigated his family and social connections thoroughly.
It was out of their hands now.
All they could do was...
"Prevent any further irregularities, if they arise."
"Th-then..."
"Report anything you find immediately. Even if it means coming in on your days off."
Team Leader Jung Jihye's resigned grumbling had an air of nobility to it.
Observing his senior's demeanor, Assistant Manager Lee Wonsong, with his deepened dark circles, nodded in agreement.
"Sigh, that 'Unknown Power' is more concerning than his Almighty class advancement. Let me know if anything else unusual happens. Prioritize him above other rankers."
"Understood."
With a carefree gait, Team Leader Jung Jihye returned to her seat.
She had assigned the observation task to the two men, but she also had her own work to do.
'I need to learn more about the Overlord class.'
There might be other peculiarities associated with it.
She needed to delve into the history of the Overlord.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Prøks]
[Proofreader - Prøks]
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