[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
Chapter 124: The Fourth Star (2)
Limit Level.
When you're a 1 Star or 2 Star, as soon as your experience reaches its maximum, you advance to the next star level.
From 3 Star onward, things change.
You can't acquire the fourth star simply by passively manipulating magic with the system's help.
A so-called 'wall' stands before the hunters.
'It means you can't progress to the next star level without enlightenment.'
Of course, walls exist at 5 Star and 6 Star levels as well.
Even so, the reason hunters associate the 'wall' with 4 Star is probably because of dramatic changes like [Aura] and [Multi-Casting].
It's why many hunters experience setbacks when they encounter this wall for the first time.
[Conditions have been met.]
[You have been promoted to 4 Star.]
'Well, it's irrelevant to me. I was already enlightened enough. No… 'Enough' is an understatement. The enlightenment I achieved at 9 Star allowed me to wield power that transcended star levels.’
〔You've lived up to your boasts.〕
'What? Did you want me to struggle?'
〔Hmph. I expected you to at least show some signs of hardship.〕
‘We're in this together, you know. For a patron star, you're awfully keen on seeing your sponsored mortal suffer.’
〔There's no gain without pain.〕
'I've had enough of that in my past life.'
〔What a shame. I won't be able to witness you overcoming all sorts of hardships.〕
'Just admit it. You want to see me groveling like a dog, don't you?'
〔Hmph.〕
‘This bastard—I mean, constellation. Are you admitting that you enjoy watching others suffer?’
〔How could I?〕
Kronos exclaimed.
‘His flustered reaction only makes him seem more suspicious. Well, whatever.’
Yoojin pushed aside his nagging doubts for the moment and went to check the changed stats after advancing to the next level.
“Status Window.”
⋯⋯⋯
Name - Cheon Yoojin
Gender - Male
Level - 1 (4 Star)
◎ Stats
* Strength: 107.5 → 412.4
* Agility: 100.1 → 397.1
* Constitution: 85.2 → 405.3
* Resilience: 79.4 → 385.9
* Spirit Power: 493.5 → 1971.8
◎ Traits
Clear Mind [Unique] / Midnight Sun [Unique] / Reaper of Death [Unique] / Multi-Casting [B] / Miracle [B] / Immature Guardian (C+)
◎ Skills
Monarch's Command [A] / Dark Aura [B] / Dark Spear [C] / Corpse Explosion [C] / Golem Creation [C] / Unholy Command [C] / Bone Spear [D] / Bone Spike [D] / Dark Blood [D]...
(The rest is folded. Mentally command “Details” to unfold.)
◎ Marks
Mark of Endurance
Mark of Faith
Mark of Valor
⋯⋯⋯
The stats have increased tremendously compared to when he was a 2 Star.
All bonus stat points were invested into Spirit Power (Divine Power).
As for physical abilities, thanks to consistently using [Life Drain], he's slightly ahead of martial arts hunters of the same star level.
'Though it's not something to rely on.'
The only martial arts skill Yoojin has mastered is the [Verdian Basic Spear Technique].
Just like magic-based combat has countless variables depending on the main attribute and the number of spells mastered, martial arts skills are what maximize physical abilities.
He's become quite proficient in the spear technique thanks to the training, no, ‘conditioning’, he received from Fafnir in his spare time.
However, he couldn't guarantee a certain victory if he were to fight a martial arts hunter of the same star level.
'It's best to think of it as having one more hidden card.'
Next on the list are the added traits.
Mages acquire [Multi-Casting] the moment they reach 4 Star.
* Multi-Casting
Rank: B
Allows for the simultaneous rearrangement of multiple magic circuits. Using overlapping spells increases mana consumption.
It's not as dramatic a change as [Aura], a secret technique that raises the combat power of martial arts hunters by several stages.
In normal situations, there's no reason to use it while bearing the mana consumption penalty.
The true value of Multi-Casting lies in emergencies, when maximizing firepower, or when fighting magic-based monsters or hunters of the same type.
'It's a key element that creates infinite possibilities in strategic maneuvering.'
Multi-Casting has one more hidden penalty not mentioned in the description.
Casting spells simultaneously slows down the rearrangement speed.
To be more precise, the rearrangement speed slows down depending on the level of proficiency.
'Conversely, with high proficiency, there's almost no additional mana consumption.'
Martial arts hunters simply need to become proficient in mana manipulation to increase the power of their aura.
Mages, on the other hand, need to be proficient in the magic structure understanding, control, and even the spells they use.
〔It's quite conditional.〕
'But it's advantageous for creating variables in combat.'
Necromancers are fundamentally a sub-class of magic-based professions.
Yoojin was the most powerful mage who pushed the efficiency of [Multi-Casting] to its limit.
"The only hunter comparable to him is the Mage King.
'Next up is the Immature Guardian, I guess.'
〔What kind of trait is that?〕
'Martial arts related.'
It's a useless trait that weakens the power of Aura (Dark Aura) when it's activated.
It's a penalty for being an existence that transcended the wall through unorthodox means.
The undead 'Revenant,' created from the corpses of lower-level dragons, also possessed this trait.
Why would it have it when it's neither a martial arts profession nor does it have any related traits?
〔Wouldn't it be because you wield Aura?〕
'Is the system that kind enough to offer such convenience?'
〔This system is ultimately derived from the Pantheon. It would have determined this after you transcended the limit.〕
It's advantageous if it's compensated by a trait.
Since it's not a loss, he didn't dwell on it.
'Lastly, there's the divine trait. I have no idea about this one.'
[Saint of the Midnight Sun] is a dual class.
Since there are cases like [Magic Swordsman] and [Paladin], obtaining a divine trait was within expectations.
⋯⋯⋯
* Miracle
Rank: B
Performs miracles depending on the system of the star cluster/constellation you worship.
⋯⋯⋯
A grand-sounding trait name.
The actual effect varies for each star cluster, but it's like a powerful divine spell with a long cooldown.
For example, the Olympus star cluster grants a major healing effect.
The Asgard star cluster grants a buff that allows you to continue fighting.
'Constellation-nim.'
〔What is it?〕
'I'm just asking in case. Do you know the nature of this Miracle?'
〔Kahaha! Are you curious?〕
'Yes.'
〔Use it directly. You'll be quite surprised.〕
‘What's this? What kind of mischief has this screwball constellation been up to?’
Anticipation filled his thoughts.
If he asked a few more times, it seemed like the constellation would tell him while pretending to be unable to resist...
'I'd rather not.'
He didn't want to see Kronos' smug expression.
Seeing is believing.
In this case, trying it out directly is the answer.
"Armored Skeleton. Come here for a moment."
- Ggeul.
A helmeted skeleton stood blankly.
He placed his right hand on its helmet and activated the ability engraved in his mind.
[Using Miracle.]
A powerful energy condensed in his palm.
The moment Yoojin's eyes widened, a powerful flash of light and a shockwave spread out.
＊ ＊ ＊
"A long gully was etched into the ground.
Anything that came into contact with the suddenly erupting white light, be it bushes or trees, was instantly reduced to dust without a trace.
〔Kahaha!!! Tell me your impressions after witnessing the miracle I bestowed upon you!〕
'What the fuck is this?'
Yoojin looked at the remnants of the [Miracle] with a bewildered expression.
The moment he unleashed the [Miracle] without much thought.
The simultaneously manifested spirit power and divine power rotated around a central point on his palm.
Two energies with the same origin but at opposite extremes.
They spun just short of exploding, building up power.
And finally, they caused an explosion.
〔I have pondered for a long time. What could be lacking in my one and only contractor and proxy?〕
'So?'
〔But reflecting on the time when you faced the one-eyed monster, I realized there was one thing lacking in you.〕
A finishing move.
Or a supreme technique.
Experts who have surpassed a certain level all have one final trump card.
Like the 10th form of the 'Kenex Combat Arts' that Fafnir accidentally succeeded in.
〔Now that I've found the lacking part, all I need to do is find a way to fill it.〕
'Exploding opposing energies was the solution, huh?'
〔Wait. How did you know that?!〕
'Whose power do you think activated the miracle?'
It's obvious at a glance.
Kronos, who had been preparing a lengthy explanation in response to Yoojin's reaction, muttered in a deflated tone.
〔To think you would see through my carefully crafted secret weapon in an instant.〕
'Knowing it doesn't mean I can use it. You think stabilizing two opposing forces is easy?’
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Even when creating undead with divine power, he relied on all sorts of safety measures and catalysts.
This is a small-scale miracle that can be unleashed thanks to Kronos' intervention and system buffs.
'I'd need to be at least a 7 Star to use this without your help.'
He received an unexpected gift.
‘A miracle, huh?’
Yoojin muttered, looking at the gully etched into the ground for tens of meters.
'In terms of destructive power alone, it's comparable to the Disintegrate spell.'
A spell that contends for first or second place in terms of pure destructive power among 5 Star magic.
Even Lee Seungyeon's trump card, [Explosion], would have to take a backseat.
By maximizing the repulsive force of divine power and spirit power, this kind of power is produced.
'The direct damage range is 50 meters. That's usable.'
Even if it exceeds 50 meters, the energy doesn't immediately dissipate, so the actual range should be considered over 100 meters.
The activation speed was also excellent.
The moment Yoojin activated [Miracle], it was released before he could even fully grasp the mechanism.
It was such a fleeting moment that he wouldn't have understood the activation principle if he hadn't analyzed the lingering traces of the miracle in his hand.
'It's a perfect trump card.'
〔Does the contractor find it satisfactory?〕
'Yeah. Very much so.'
〔Kahaha! Your praise for me is insufficient.〕
'Yes, yes. It's so satisfying that I feel like doing a somersault.'
〔Sincerity must be expressed to be known.〕
‘Huh. He's seriously telling me to do a somersault?’
Kronos silently waited for Yoojin to jump.
‘This old shit… I'll play along, I'll play along.'
Thanks to [Life Drain], his stats have also increased, so a somersault is nothing.
The moment he reluctantly took a step and was about to leap into the air.
Stagger—
His whole body lost strength, and he swayed greatly.
"Huh?"
〔I forgot to tell you one thing.〕
Kronos, who had been so smug just moments ago, greatly reduced the size of his mental projection.
〔The miracle I bestowed upon you is activated by consuming all of your remaining divine power and stamina.〕
'You son of a bitch! Fuckin’ Incompetent constellation…'
He uttered a nickname he hadn't used in a long time and collapsed onto the ground.
＊ ＊ ＊
It's a strange ceiling, or rather, it's the sky.
What brought his fading consciousness back was the warm drool wetting his cheek.
Cheorwon in January.
Perhaps because he was exposed defenselessly to the cold, strong wind, even his superhuman body, which had almost transcended human limits, became numb.
"Ugh, ugh."
【Master. I was just wondering if I should wake you up.】
"Song Myeongseok, shouldn't you wake someone up if they're unconscious in this weather?"
【I thought there might be a deeper meaning to it, so I hesitated.】
"If I die, you, whose soul is bound to mine, will also die."
【Is that so!】
‘Tsk, were you really going to just let me freeze to death?’
Yoojin muttered, glaring at Song Myeongseok.
‘Even the Mage King Dimitri couldn't end my life. A little cold isn't going to do the trick.’
Yoojin brushed the dirt off his clothes and stood up.
〔You're awake?〕
'Tell me the precautions earlier, you incompetent constellation.'
〔Overlooking minor mistakes is part of a hero's nature.〕
'Well, I'm not a hero.'
Even as he growled at Kronos, he was also somewhat understanding.
He combined two opposing forces and extracted only the advantageous parts.
He should have anticipated that the price would be high.
To test it out, he spread his palm, intending to use the miracle again.
[Cannot use Miracle.]
[Reuse time - 167:51:09]
‘Tch. So, I can't just spam it.’
Yoojin frowned.
‘I was hoping to use Life Drain to quickly replenish my stamina and divine power, but with a one-week cooldown, it's clearly meant to be a last resort.’
〔There has to be some kind of balance, wouldn't you agree? Restrictions are inevitable.〕
'Neither constellations nor the system are omnipotent.'
He quickly accepted it.
A trait with this level of power needs to have this level of penalty to be reasonable.
'Is there anything else you haven't told me?'
〔The destructive power of the miracle is determined by the amount of divine power.〕
'Maximum? Or current?'
〔Of course, it's the current amount you possess, wouldn't it be?〕
‘Oh ho.’
If he temporarily increases the amount of divine power by using buffs or potions, the destructive power of [Miracle] will also increase proportionally.
For a typical divine-related hunter, there's no suitable way to dope their divine power stat, but it wasn't a big problem for Yoojin, who could switch between spirit power and divine power with the [Midnight Sun] trait.
'I'll have to study the miracle over time.'
〔Are you going back now?〕
'Of course. I have a lot to do.'
The road heading south.
His steps were much lighter than they were two weeks ago.
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]