【First, you are granted 100 "Dark Energy" stat points.】
【Second, you gain the ability to recover 1 "Dark Energy" point per minute.】
【Third, the process of managing the Dark Energy is perfectly mediated to prevent your body and mind from going berserk.】
The three familiar perks came into view.
These were obtained through the Twisted Contract taken from Jang Si-hwan, specifically granting the power of the “Pure Black Seeker,” a constellation.
Thanks to stealing the third effect from Jang Si-hwan, his stability as a black mage had significantly deteriorated.
Of course, Jang Si-hwan had never publicly discussed his instability.
It was likely that he had kept it thoroughly hidden. Even his closest friend, Chae Gwanhyeong, might not know.
‘To everyone around him, Jang Si-hwan is just light. And light must not waver.’
Because of that, Jang Si-hwan himself was probably burning up inside.
He would undoubtedly want to find out who had taken the Pure Black Seeker, but there was no way to know.
Unless Kang-hoo himself went up to Jang Si-hwan and said, “Your constellation was amazing,” he wouldn’t find out.
The Twisted Contract.
It would be nice to acquire another, but unfortunately, Kang-hoo didn’t know much about it.
All he could do was hope for another stroke of luck. If that happened, he could steal another core ability from Jang Si-hwan.
【Fourth, you can train to strengthen your "spiritual form" in six of the thirteen towers within the Dark Sanctuary. Strengthening your spiritual form directly contributes to the growth of Dark Energy. However, once you enter the towers, it becomes impossible to form contracts with any constellations related to holy power.】
‘So that’s the fourth perk.’
To understand the foundation of this perk, one must first know what the Dark Sanctuary is.
Kang-hoo possessed a constellation known as the “Guardian of the Dark Sanctuary.”
This constellation had been seized when he killed a problem solver who had threatened Yun Sang-mi in the past. Its origin was the Dark Sanctuary.
According to the original story, the realms where constellations resided were collectively called the Great Warzones.
In real-world terms, the Great Warzones could be likened to Earth.
When discussing “humanity,” it makes sense to consider Earth as the encompassing home. It’s the same concept.
If one were to compare the Dark Sanctuary to something in reality, it would be akin to the Arctic or Antarctic—areas with special environments.
The Dark Sanctuary is a domain exclusive to constellations of malevolent alignment. Only they could reside and move freely there.
Neutral or benevolent constellations attempting to enter the Dark Sanctuary? Instant annihilation.
Conversely, if a constellation of the Dark Sanctuary tried to change its alignment to neutral or good? The result would still be annihilation.
If you compared it to humanity, it would be akin to racial identity—unchangeable and unnatural to alter.
The Dark Sanctuary is fundamentally the base of operations for malevolent constellations, as well as a spiritual stronghold.
Although it couldn’t summon the physical form of its contractors, it could summon their spiritual form.
This allowed for training within its domain, enhancing the malevolent energy before returning them.
That is the essence of Dark Energy.
However, once someone enters the Dark Sanctuary, a sort of “brand” is imprinted on both their body and spiritual form, making it impossible to form connections with benevolent constellations.
For example, a constellation like the one contracted with An Yeong-ho, based on holy power, would become a direct adversary.
‘I’d never have a reason to deal with the power of light. Coexistence might be possible, but unification? Never.’
Kang-hoo firmly etched the fourth perk into his memory.
If there was a loophole, it was that one could form contracts freely until entering the Dark Sanctuary towers. Holy power-based constellations could be deceived by making a preemptive contract. The contract wouldn’t retroactively break later.
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‘Strengthening my spiritual form isn’t something to be taken lightly. Dying there would mean spiritual death, turning me into a vegetable.’
The fourth perk required careful consideration before utilization.
While the potential for Dark Energy growth was appealing, it carried the same one-life-only risk as anywhere else.
【Fifth, you can enforce “Order of Nothingness,” a constellation ability and skill. You can burn a target’s Dark Energy by the same amount you’ve used, inflicting 50% of the burned Dark Energy as physical damage and sealing the target’s Dark Energy-related skills for one minute. If your own Dark Energy total is less than the target’s, the mechanism still applies, but the seal duration is reduced to 30 seconds.】
‘A perfect counter to Dark Energy users.’
The structure of this skill was excellent.
As long as Kang-hoo was sure the target had less Dark Energy than him, it was the perfect ability for incapacitation.
Even against troublesome Dark Energy skills, a 30-second seal could be utilized regardless of superiority.
Although there weren’t immediate plans to fight Dark Energy users, the skill held undeniable long-term value.
Especially when considering opponents like Jang Si-hwan, this was a highly future-proof skill.
At that moment.
【Special Notification】
【The locations of 10 boss-level monsters, crucial for Dark Energy growth, have been revealed.】
The additional notification made Kang-hoo’s eyes glint.
It seemed like this benefit was naturally unlocked upon activating the fifth perk of the Pure Black Seeker.
Similar to how locations in the “Corruption Set Series” were revealed, dungeon and field locations appeared with their names.
The closest detected location was… North Korea.
‘Of course, it’s North Korea.’
A bitter smile crossed his face.
Having recently fought a life-and-death battle with the Swarm Queen, just thinking about North Korea made him tense.
Yet it was undoubtedly a place he had to go. The more challenging it was, the higher the potential for growth.
All items from the deceased Go Kyung-ho were recovered.
Starting with the sword he held, most items were geared toward resale.
However, one usable item stood out—a pair of gloves.
【Grudge – Gloves】
【Grade: Tier 3】
【Health +250】
【Hatred – Maximizes grip strength using magic power.】
‘Even without the Soulmate gloves, I can gain an additional 50 health and add the variable of enhanced grip strength.’
Kang-hoo carefully removed the well-used Tier 5 gloves, Soulmate, from his hands.
【Soulmate – Gloves】
【Grade: Tier 5】
【This single-handed glove item increases health based on level.】
【Health can be increased up to 200.】
This glove, which had incrementally raised health by 1 per level up to level 200, had been quite useful.
However, like any other item, its fate was to be replaced by higher-tier equipment and fade into history.
Now, it was time for it to leave Kang-hoo’s hands.
On his other hand, Kang-hoo wore the Grudge Gloves, which allowed him to apply the stats of two daggers.
As a result, there was no way to keep using Soulmate gloves. Finding a good new owner for them seemed the best course.
“Go Kyung-ho didn’t even get to use these gloves properly. Well, to be fair, I didn’t exactly give him the chance.”
Kang-hoo replaced the gloves and infused the Grudge Gloves with magical power.
Squeeze.
The gloves immediately hardened, with vein-like ridges forming across their surface. They developed the characteristic enhanced grip strength and stability.
The best test subject was Go Kyung-ho. The dead don’t complain, making them ideal for experiments.
Squeeze.
Kang-hoo grabbed Go Kyung-ho’s wrist.
Pouring in maximum magical power and increasing his grip strength, he felt an immediate response.
Crunch. Crackle. Crack!
The wrist bones not only broke but shattered entirely, emitting a sound akin to crushing stone into powder.
As much power as he infused into the gloves, they crushed the bones into dust.
For Kang-hoo, who often engaged in close combat, these gloves would be extremely useful.
In critical situations, he could grab a neck—or any other part—and crush it. If the opponent was male, a particular “vital spot” could also be a prime target.
Out of curiosity, Kang-hoo checked Go Kyung-ho’s inner pocket, finding numerous small packets of drugs in mini plastic bags.
“Instead of coins for the afterlife, how about enjoying a high on your way out?”
Using his dagger, Kang-hoo tore the packaging and scattered the white powder over Go Kyung-ho’s corpse.
“Whew.”
He felt exhaustion creeping back into his body.
Heading straight to Pyeongtaek Branch, where Jeon Se-hyuk and Ban Se-yeong were fighting, seemed too risky in his current condition.
The aftereffects of the Mad Solarkium would undoubtedly hit him like a tidal wave once its effects ended.
If he didn’t use his skills to boost his stamina, his wounds would continue to drain his energy.
Taking out bandages from his inner pocket, Kang-hoo roughly gauged the position of his injuries and wrapped them like a belt around his waist.
In hindsight, he realized how fortunate it was that he hadn’t directly faced Go Kyung-ho’s berserk awakening.
Although he had succeeded in exploiting openings in Go Kyung-ho’s defenses with strategic gambles, it was far from an effortless victory.
Even as Go Kyung-ho was pushed back, he had tried a counter-strike, thrusting his sword backward.
Had Kang-hoo been even slightly careless at that moment, his life could have ended right there.
‘So now I’m covered until level 400. Then again, I didn’t fight at full power either.’
He began to objectively assess his performance.
This time, he hadn’t used the Awakening Pill and had ended the battle relatively quickly.
Memories of the past resurfaced.
When he first opened his eyes in this world.
Back then, he had been nothing more than a scrawny prisoner at Cheongmyeong Detention Center.
His frail body as a level 10 hunter couldn’t endure even a moment of combat without dizziness overtaking him.
At that time, all he could think about was escaping the detention center and surviving somehow.
Now, he was actively and decisively shaping his own fate.
Back then, Jang Si-hwan seemed like an untouchable entity high in the heavens.
Now, if Kang-hoo stood on his toes and reached out, he felt he might just be able to grasp the hem of Jang Si-hwan’s robe.
“For now… I should walk for a bit and rest.”
Rising to his feet, Kang-hoo began walking in the direction of Pyeongtaek Branch.
It was the same route Go Kyung-ho had desperately tried to run toward before his death. Kang-hoo moved slowly along it.
Rather than a desire to fight, he was curious to see how Jeon Se-hyuk, Ban Se-yeong, and their team were fighting.
Considering that they would face Eclipse frequently in the future, it was essential to assess the strength of his potential allies.
If the team turned out to be composed of useless members, Kang-hoo was ready to act alone.
To him, a teammate who couldn’t contribute was far worse than an enemy.
This was Kang-hoo’s belief.
Some time later.
From a vantage point overlooking Pyeongtaek Branch, Kang-hoo observed the ongoing melee.
For those fighting in the stormy underwater battle, it must have been a nightmare.
But for Kang-hoo, watching from the cover of an abandoned outpost, it was pure entertainment.
It was perfect.
Bang!
Hunters from Eclipse fled the branch building, trying to save themselves, only to be sniped by Ban Se-yeong.
Those who survived the sniping ran down a deliberately left-open path, only to fall into Jeon Se-hyuk’s ambush.
The fact that Eclipse operatives kept fleeing the building suggested that Jeon Se-hyuk had thoroughly seized control of its interior.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been in such a mad rush to escape.
“To Jeon Se-hyuk, taking away a day from Eclipse was more fun than living another day himself.”
“Whew. Whew. Whew.”
Jeon Se-hyuk emerged from the building, chasing down the fleeing operatives, his beard entirely soaked in red blood.
It was so drenched that one might think it had been dyed red from the start.
At that moment.
Jeon Se-hyuk’s gaze met Kang-hoo’s, who was resting at the hilltop outpost.
As if by mutual understanding, they raised their hands simultaneously.
Blood from Go Kyung-ho’s corpse still dripped from Kang-hoo’s dagger.
“…”
Though no words were exchanged, the outcome was clear.
Jeon Se-hyuk bowed his head slightly in gratitude toward Kang-hoo.
Each had accomplished their part in achieving a flawless victory.
Kang-hoo’s elimination of Go Kyung-ho, one of Eclipse’s core executives, was an especially significant triumph.