Chapter 135:
After successfully ending a round of battle.
The priests and mercenaries started to treat me more carefully.
After all,
I managed to receive the achievement of defeating a thousand enemies in a single battle…..
To them, I might appear to be a type of a monster.
And the treatment I got demonstrated that sentiment.
“Y-you can stay in this tent!”
Unlike the ominous tent that I started in, I got led to a normal and clean looking tent.
I was quite surprised that I got an entire tent to myself…..
To get such treatment during a war meant that I proved myself as such.
It’s just that there was no need to provide me with such a luxurious tent like this….
But before I could tell them that, the priest who led me here moved quicker.
“I-if you need anything else, please let the apprentice priests know. T-then I’ll take my leave…..”
Seeing the priest leave the tent like they were attempting to escape, I gave up on trying to speak.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be too bad to experience the luxuries once in a while.
I sat on the bed disproportionate to the tent and spoke quietly.
“Status window.”
And.
『 Han Sungyeun 』
『Radiance – Conqueror』
『Strength – 121』 『 Stamina – 117』
『 Agility – 115』 『 Mana – 114』
『Tenacity – 113』
『Innate ability – Necromancy(A)』
『 Innate power – Skill Combination』
『 Power – Calm(C-), Sword Silhouette Border(A-), Steel Wing(C+), Iron-blooded Sword(A-), Divine Powers(B), Blood Demon Hole(C+), Hero’s Protection(C+), Quick Mana Charge (C+)』
『 Skill – See details』
I smiled seeing the newly updated status window.
‘Nice.’
Seeing every stat surpass three digits was quite pleasing to see.
However, I did not open up my status window just to see the raised stats.
「Listing the new available skills.」
It was time to assess the numerous skills acquired through this battle.
『New Skills : Charisma(C+) [Skill Rank UP!], Alchemy(C-), Battle Cry(D+), Fight Spirit Increase(E+), Glutton(F+), Battle Follow-up(E-), Casting(F-), Wolf Steps(D+), Dignity Increase(F+), Quick Maneuver(D-)』
There were lots of different things that I learned, but none of them were particularly useful.
The ranks were low since all the ones I’ve killed were small frys.
But, that’s not to say that I was disappointed.
After all…..
「Activating the Innate Power ‘Skill Combination’.」
I had a special power that allowed me to find a use for lower ranked skills.
「Listing the available skills.」
「Please select combination material from the skill list.」
I did not hesitate as I’ve already decided on the direction of skill combinations i wanted to take from glancing at them beforehand.
‘I think that it’d be best to combine Charisma, Battle Cry, Fight Spirit Increase, and Dignity Increase.’
Skill combinations were a type of a random box since you could never predict what would come out of it when combining skills of different categories.
But if you thought about it in reverse, if you combined similar types of skills, you could control the results in some way.
I do have prior experience of acquiring skills that way, and with the new power I got, skill combination had been reinforced.
Precisely…..
「Activating the power ‘Hero’s Protection’ strongly.」
「Your luck is temporarily raised.」
Because of the increase of luck effect from the Hero’s Protection.
「Combination complete.」
「New skill generated.」
Perhaps that’s why the result of combining 4 different skills was beyond my imagination.
『Skill – Absolute Charm(B+)』
『Proficiency – 0%』
『Basic Effect – Regardless of race, any life with intelligence will look at you favorably and receive an increase in all types of charm. However, ones with hostility towards you will not be affected, and depending on the situation, it can not be used.』
『Detailed Effect – Depending on the user’s disposition, [Fear], [Attraction], [Worship] can be applied with special effect. At this time, activation message for [Fear] and [Worship] will pop up and can be controlled, but [Attraction] will not have an activation message nor can it be controlled.』
“…….”
To summarize, Absolute Charm was a technique for controlling the mass.
Looking at the description of the skill, I couldn’t help but feel conflicted.
But that sentiment did not last long.
“I guess I shouldn’t complain…. I’m sure it will have its uses.”
I averted my eyes from Absolute Charm and continued to activate the Skill Combination.
Followed up by mixing the new skills with older skills to create a footwork category skill.
Battle Follow-up, Wolf Steps, and Quick Maneuver were combined along with Shadow Steps that I haven’t been using lately.
「Combination complete.」
「New skill generated.」
And what came about as a result of combination had an efficiency far surpassing the Shadow Steps.
『Skill – Dark Wolf’s Steps(A-)』
『Proficiency – 0%』
『Description – Footwork technique based on the movements of the legendary beast, Dark Wolf.』
『Effects – Basic steps improves to be more efficient. When the skill is activated, every movement’s efficiency raises by 40% and all presence disappears. When moving at a dark place, movement efficiency will double additionally.』
Since more effects were added, it was definitely beneficial.
Without stopping here, I gathered up the remaining skills and combined them.
As soon as I combined the Alchemy, Glutton, and Casting, a new skill came out.
「Combination complete.」
「New skill generated.」
I quickly glanced over to the description window to read what the effects were.
『Skill – Steel Eat(B+)』
『Proficiency – 0%』
『Basic Effect – When consuming steel, after a certain period of time, your constitution will be changed.』
『Detailed Effect – When consuming an item, after a certain period of time, a random stat will be raised.』
It was rather straightforward.
Without excessive explanation, if I were to consume steel or an item of the sort, I could become stronger.
‘A good skill.’
I was actually thinking about what to do with the useless items….
With this skill, I could absorb the item to raise my stats instead of trying to sell it back on earth or have it collect dust in my inventory.
The part of ‘consuming’ it worried me, but if i could raise my stats, it was worth it.
‘I should look into this more later on.’
After combining every skill I got, I had the capacity to look at other things.
The Imprint Skill that I stole from Seindal using the Blood Eat skill <soul ego="" enhancement="">.
‘I forgot I had something like this.’
It was a skill I forgot to look at because of researching about divine powers.
After clicking the Blood Eat’s exclusive slots, I looked into the details of <soul ego="" enhancement="">.</soul></soul>
「Blood Eat’s Exclusive slot(3/3)」
「<imprint skill="" :="" soul="" ego="" enhancement(b+)="">」
「<imprint skill="" description="" :="" a="" skill="" acquired="" from="" challenger="" ‘seindal’.="" it="" has="" the="" ability="" to="" imbue="" a="" soul="" ego="" to="" items="" or="" barriers="" created="" through="" sorcery="" or="" magic.="">」
「<imprint skill="" effects="" :="" when="" imbuing="" with="" soul="" ego,="" a="" random="" befitting="" soul="" will="" imbue="" within="" the="" selected="" item="" and="" the="" skill="" will="" disappear.="" at="" this="" time,="" the="" soul="" ego="" imbued="" within="" the="" item="" has="" the="" ability="" to="" grow="" and="" assist="" the="" user="" to="" the="" best="" of="" their="" capacity.="">」</imprint></imprint></imprint>
Soul Ego…….
‘I’m not entirely sure on where to use it.’
It would seem like the magician Seindal was saving this skill to use on the magic barrier.
But to a close range dealer like me, it was not a skill that had many uses.
It would’ve been better to steal a magic based ability skill.
But I did like that the skill itself will disappear after using it.
Since it’s a <imprint skill="">, once the skill was used up, I could absorb another skill using Blood Eat…..
‘Not bad at all.’
Since I could use Blood Eat at this trial, I had no plans on saving <soul ego="" enhancement=""> for a different occasion. </soul></imprint>
「Activating the <imprint skill="" :="" soul="" ego="" enhancement(b+)=""> of True Blood Demon Sword.」</imprint>
Messages followed right after activating the soul ego enhancement skill.
「Please select an item or barrier to imbue soul ego to.」
I had nothing to select.
Soul Ego Enhancement was essentially imbuing an ego that will assist me into an item.
「Selecting True Blood Demon Sword as the target of <imprint skill="" :="" soul="" ego="" enhancement(b+)="">.」</imprint>
It’s not like I was going to use it for few days to trash it. Therefore, selecting Blood Demon Sword that can grow with me was an obvious choice.
「Soul Ego of ‘The 7th Blood Demon Lord Dam Cheonwoo’ is imbued within True Blood Demon Sword.」
With the numerous messages, the Blood Demon Sword began to vibrate surrounded by crimson energy.
As if this moment was elating.
―……fu, fufu… ‘Tis hath been eons of contempt and persecution.
And
―Kwahaha! Worship me! Applaud me! For thy Blood Demon Lord Dam Cheonwoo hath returned!
My eyes narrowed in contempt listening to the voice echoing from the sword.
“…….”
It seemed like a soul with a disturbed mind settled in the sword.
»————- ★ ————-«
After wrapping up the preparations, I silently exited the tent to survey the surroundings.
The priests serving the god of dark were eerie, but their skills in spirit magic were like no other.
Since I could also use <spirit magic(b+)=""> using the Ancient Emperor’s Grey Crown, it would be beneficial to see what they could do.
I could learn how to use spirit magic more effectively.
But I could not do that because of the reactions the priests and mercenaries had seeing me outside.
“I-isn’t that the slaughterer walking over there? Fuck, let’s go somewhere else. Don’t want to be in their way.”
“Man… a young man like him is a slaughterer. He doesn’t look like he cut down over a thousand people….”
“It’s because you haven’t seen it yourself, he’s an absolute monster in the field. His expression didn’t change at all, cutting down throats…..”
The mercenaries whispered while avoiding me.
“Oh, ohhh……. So that’s the slaughterer……. What a tempting body. If I could add that to my collections…….”
“Wouldn’t it be faster for you to become a part of my collection by being killed by him than you getting the slaughterer to be a part of yours?”
“But he’s a good guy. He only aims for the throats. Makes it easy for us to use spirit magic.”
The priests showed an interest in me, but flinched and retreated when our eyes met.
‘……it’s like I’m being treated like a time bomb.’
I was a bit disheartened, but I understood.
Me of the past would also struggle talking with a slaughterer who murdered over a thousand people.
So I gave up on researching about spirit magic and started to survey the battlefield’s terrains avoiding people.
I was sure that it’d have no uses, but it helped me kill time until the next battle.
Eventually the chatter died out and silence followed as I was walking around quiet places.
But despite the silence of the environment, my ears had a different story.
Because….
―You! Are you mocking this great one?! Why do you keep ignoring me?
―Tsk! Thousands desired to be in my presence in the Blood Demon Cult!
―impertinent, how impertinent……. This Blood Demon Lord Dam Cheonwoo is gracing them with an opportunity to speak to me and yet they’re declining so.…….
The irritating soul in the Blood Demon Sword kept trying to talk to me.
Luckily, other people can’t seem to hear him so it helped me avoid difficult situations.
‘I haven’t replied once but it sure likes to talk alone.’
At this point, I wanted to send out a tribute to this soul ego named Dam Cheonwoo.
Of course, not a tribute of words, but of fist.
―And here I thought I managed to escape the underworld, but I turned into a master of a dreary guy.
“It’s not that I’m dreary. I just dislike useless conversations.”
However, since we’d have a cooperative relationship from here on, I spoke in a polite manner of speech instead of a fist.
―……oh? Are you finally going to enjoy a chat with this great one?
“I’m no longer being watched.”
The tent was always surrounded by mercenaries.
And countless eyes were on me the moment I stepped outside.
I already had a bad reputation, so I declined to add another one by talking with a sword..
―……how bewildering. You don’t even know the Advanced Stealth-communication techniques? You seem like a child of eastern regions though.
“Advanced Stealth-communication……? I don’t know such things. And I do not come from your place of origin either.”
― what hath……? inconceivable. Ares or Callian, no, even dimensions like Stania never had people with black hair.
I narrowed my eyes hearing Dam Cheonwoo’s mutterings.
“……were you a challenger when you were alive?”
―ha, is that even a question? There was no one who did not know my name of Blood Demon Lord Dam Cheonwoo.
“Blood Demon Lord or whatnot, how many floors did you reach?”
―……so you really do not hail from the murim dimension. This great one’s final floor was the 41st floor.
My eyes sparkled at that number.
If that was not a lie, then the information he held would undoubtedly be substantial.
Seeing how they muttered about Stania or Ares, they must have significant knowledge of different dimensions as well.
‘……this might be my greatest benefit yet.’
However, now was not the time to ask him questions.
I could always ask him questions once I returned to the waiting area.
But feeling satisfaction at the soul ego could only last for a short while.
Thinking about it, an odd thing about it surfaced.
“41st floor…… I thought challengers that died from the 40th floor onwards could revive as an administrator?”
Why he chose to not be reborn as an admin.
―ha! Are you telling me to live as the dog of the tower? That can’t be called living. I’d rather die than live like that.
But the answer to that question was less interesting than expected.
“Ah, I see…….”
The life as the soul ego of the blood demonic sword didn’t seem much better than the administrators though.
I half heartedly listened to Dam Cheonwoo and declared our relationship.
“Well, I don’t care what you were when you were alive. But now you’re the soul ego within my sword.”
―I know already. Do you think this great one doesn’t know that? You hath nothing to concern yourself about battles.
“hm…….”
―I can’t demonstrate the powers I possessed alive, but this great one was a genius of martial arts, and the master of techniques. What you desire shalt be true.
With that sentence, the blood demonic swords’ blade shook with crimson energy.
And…….
―Just like this.
The crimson energy surrounding the sword exploded on its own to create droplets of blood.
“…….”
The blood created by the energy of the blade turned sharp moving across the air.
Sword, spear, sickle, bow, rope, axe, arrows etc…….
A more detailed weapon than the ones created by Truth-seeker of Blood.
Dam Cheonwoo’s voice rang out from the sword as I watched the scenery before me.
― I have more ways to assist you other than this so you have none to worry about.
“……I seem to have quite the competent supporter..”
―Supporter? ……ah, you mean those tool like things. Damn. You really do hail from a different dimension.
“I come from the Earth dimension. You probably have not heard about it.”
―Earth……. Must be a smaller dimension. A dimension that recently got added to the official tower dimension. Huh, time sure flies fast.
It was a voice that seemed to be in full reminiscence. But that soon disappeared.
―……someone’s approaching. Let’s end our chat here. Call forth upon this great one at a later time.
Dam Cheonwoo settled down after seemingly sensing someone approaching me.
―and with this swords’ capability, it can’t host this great one’s mind for too long.
Perhaps it had an ability to sleep inside the sword as it stopped moving altogether.
‘I don’t get the part of hosting the mind, but this is definitely convenient.’
I suppose it’s better than bothering me by talking endlessly.
“Ah……! M-Mr. Swordsman, so this is where you were……!”
As I sheathed the Blood Demon Sword, a hurried voice was heard.
The mercenary that I met earlier, Reinel, approached me quickly.
But even before I could speak, something unexpected came out of her mouth.
“I-it’s an ambush! The battle priest from the cult of battle is approaching our forces!”
It seemed that the priests serving the god of battle gathered up an elite unit to raid us.
Reinel said that i have to quickly join the battle, and I was quite impressed at that.
‘As expected of the tower of trials. The situation is becoming more interesting now.’
Just as I was wanting for a quick battle, the situation became exactly what I desired.
I got more than what I bargained for.
In addition to clearing the special assignment, it was the perfect timing to see the usability of soul ego.
“Please lead me to where the elite unit is at.”
I smiled coldly towards Reinel.
“I will participate in the holy war immediately.”
It was time to run wild on the battlefield again.</spirit>
[To be continued.]
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