The explanation about the ‘Black Flame Sorcerer’ continued.
– Your understanding related to lightning attributes will drastically increase.
– You will acquire [Lightning Armor].
– The possibility of merging with Flame Armor is opened.
– When hit by an enemy, lightning strikes will spread in all directions.
– When transforming [Lightning Armor] into [Combat type], you can use [Blink] once.
“Ooo, Lightning Armor! So it deals damage on counterattack? This is awesome!”
The fact that I could even use [Blink] was incredible.
Since the gate appeared, [Blink], which had solidified as the emblem of high teleportation spells over the years, is the best evasion and combat support technique that allows me to teleport in the direction I want to go.
It’s not just a quick movement ability; it’s literally the ability to leap through space.
Unlike the skills used by Shadow Drake and Residue of Chaos that involve designating coordinates and moving, I could react much faster.
And I even gained the possibility of merging with Flame Armor.
However, I couldn’t quite understand how Flame Armor and Lightning Armor, which merged with my body, remained distinguishable. I would understand if I had to choose one of the two.
“Hmm… Well, I guess I can think of it like a game.”
Let’s set aside complex thoughts for now. After all, it means they’ll eventually combine later.
“No matter how much armor is involved, it’s equipment endowed with attributes; it was possible to merge… It seemed nearly impossible to combine two different attribute magics.”
This alone was astounding, but the information wasn’t done yet.
– Your understanding of the rock attribute has exceeded a certain threshold.
– You will acquire the skill [Pyro Stone Strike].
“Wow…”
I even gained magic related to the rock attribute.
It’s a mid-range skill that throws a stone imbued with the energy of flames.
“I thought I’d get the Rock Barrier… but what’s with the slingshot skill?”
Joo-ah’s Rock Barrier was incredibly useful, so I had always been eager for it, but this felt somewhat disappointing.
I would have to try it out directly and compare it, especially since I already had a means of ranged attack.
Could it be that I was unconsciously excluding the abilities of my companions? I had such random thoughts since such an unexpected skill had popped out.
“…Ah, is it because of Meteor?”
Perhaps I was getting it later, having followed after that magic. If so, I could do nothing about it.
“Hmm… next is Stealth.”
– Your ability in [Stealth] has greatly increased.
– Even beings of a higher rank than you cannot perceive your [Stealth] with just their five senses and items.
Does that mean there’s a zero chance of getting detected while in stealth due to items? If so, that was a wonderful thing.
“My five senses… can’t detect me due to physical abilities. Then I won’t have to crawl even if I meet Residue of Chaos again.”
As long as they didn’t have sensing-related abilities or something like mine, I don’t think my [Stealth] would be detected.
However, since the boundary of beings of a higher rank than I was vague, I’d have to gauge that in practice.
– You gain the possibility of [Forgotten Ancient Swordsmanship]. Trait [Penetration] has increased to 30%.
– The experience points required for leveling up have decreased by 20%.
– The storage capacity for [Skeleton Bomb] is fixed to 200.
– Strength +75
– Wisdom +150
– Agility +75
– Health +100
– Magic Power +300
The rest seemed unremarkable, but the significant increase in stats was impressive. It was almost double the increase from the previous job change.
And I liked that the storage for Skeleton Bomb doubled.
Having just felt the power of detonating one hundred bombs at once, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Special Abilities
– Damage +100% on successful attacks.
– Shares two ability stats with connected companions. (Sense does not get shared.)
– Acquired as [Demon Servant] upon subduing the Great Evil One.
– Acquired as [Minion] upon defeating the Great Evil One.
– ‘Presence of Oppression’ greatly increases.
“…… Huh?! This is related to the Great Evil One?!”
I wondered if there would be some great perks, but this was an incredibly attractive reward.
“The fact that I can use it as a minion after defeating it is absolutely crazy!! I must defeat it- No, no. If I make it into a minion, it could become as weirdly intelligent as Gori’s subordinates. To utilize it strategically, I should make it a demon servant and command it…”
Ultimately, I needed to catch it to get something done, and it was a happy dilemma.
Considering the next target was the Great Evil One ‘Haseirin’, I needed to definitely set my aim.
“Hmm… For now, I’ll make it a Demon Servant and then, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll just defeat it and make it a Minion.”
I wasn’t sure if I could do that, but I set my goal that way.
At this point, I had decided to stick with this job.
“What is Presence of Oppression?”
When I questioned the air, an answer came right away.
– When the presence of oppression increases, no one will be able to treat you carelessly.
“… Is that all?”
– … There is also a reduced risk of being ambushed.
“Oh- that’s nice.”
I found myself speaking informally, and I felt strangely good about the system’s somewhat flustered reaction.
Why was that?
Perhaps because it had been a while since we met, I felt it was okay to treat it a bit more casually.
– Job Change Quest
– Retrieve the fragments of the ‘Seeker’ tainted by chaos. (0/3)
Lastly, this was the information about the job change quest.
“Seeker?”
– It refers to beings who have embarked on the path to seek truth.
“Oh? I think I’ve heard of that from Tanya. Since I’ve also taken the path, does that mean I can say I’m a ‘Seeker’?”
– Yes, that’s correct.
“Oh wow… but it’s not like there’s anything particularly good in being that, right?”
– ……
“Nothing, huh?”
Once I entered the job change stage, what was good was that I could engage in something resembling a conversation with the system, which I had never received answers from before.
“Anyway, how do I meet the Seeker? Do I have to go through the Channel to Another Dimension?”
– ……
“Could that gigantic eye I encountered in the Pastiche Dungeon be that guy?”
– ……
‘……’
No, this isn’t even a conversation.
I lowered my posture slightly and asked again.
“…… Anyway, you’ll guide me, right?”
– That’s correct.
“But this time there’s no limit to the number of times, huh?”
– If you fail, you will lose your life. However, this time Trait [Thievery] will function normally.
“Hmm… No limit, but you won’t protect me? Well, fine. As long as I can steal abilities.”
I inquired whether I could also use [Blast of Madness].
– That ability cannot be used in the job change quest.
“No… but that’s my trump card and ultimate skill. Why can’t I use it?”
I was somewhat dissatisfied with that, so I asked again.
– That ability cannot be used in the job change quest.
‘……’
But with nothing but parrot-like responses coming back, I had to swallow my disappointment.
“Still, it’s something that would allow me to use [Thievery]. More importantly…”
What I really wanted to know was what your identity was, but I had a strong hunch that asking that would be incredibly dangerous.
I took a moment to clarify my thoughts and made my resolution.
“Alright. I’ll go with Black Flame Sorcerer.”
In the end, I decided to follow the recommendation handed to me by the invisible hand.
With this level of sincerity, it made sense to comply.
I was even somewhat satisfied with the process being simpler compared to the last job change.
Especially since there was no awkward question about how many companions to toss aside this time.
As soon as I expressed my intention to change jobs, a massive change began to unfold in my body.
Flames and lightning energy swirled and twisted through the circuits that were already clear from piercing my bones.
– The energy of Irmana is abundant.
– The energy of flame and lightning are activated.
“The armor is being newly formed. Do I not have to remove any bones this time?”
I found the gradually changing process during each job change quite interesting.
Soon, various energies began to flow out of my body simultaneously.
Initially, it was cautious, but later it rapidly got pulled in and vanished somewhere in the void.
An empty body.
Returning to a purer state than the original, I felt a ticklish sensation deep down somewhere.
“If I could immerse myself in the sword without thinking of anything in this state, I could accumulate tremendous experience points.”
But it was impossible to consciously create such a state.
Lost in various thoughts, time passed.
– Aaaaaaaaaaaa────
“Huh? What’s that singing sound…?”
While the last job change had echoed with the rough sounds of a forge, this time, it felt as if I could hear a voice resembling a song sung by Ham Eun-young from a distant place.
“How soothing.”
Afterward, something burst, disassembled, and reconstituted my body countless times without yielding the intense pain experienced before.
Rather, I felt liberated from the countless energies I had held within, to the point of experiencing comfort.
It was clear that the stagnant energies piled up in my head and body had been thoroughly cleansed.
Was it the effect of the song I just heard? Who knows?
Not long after, a message popped up.
===
Flame Armor (Grade 2)
– A Grade 3 Flame Armor, densely packed with powerful flame circuits.
– The energy of flame infused by a supreme being holds the power to repel malevolent energies.
– Defense +350
– Agility +105
– Transformation of bones is free.
– An armor without the concept of durability.
===
===
Lightning Armor (Grade 3)
– An astonishing armor imbued with subtle energy of lightning.
– Defense +150
– Agility +70
– Movement speed +100%
– An armor without the concept of durability.
===
“Hmm… It’s disappointing that the stats of the two armors didn’t combine.”
It’s certain that the Flame and Lightning Armors cannot be worn at the same time.
After all, it just doesn’t make sense to wear two armors over each other, but it would have been nice if they could be layered like chain mail.
Still, it was fortunate that the two armors had distinctly different natures.
“I can switch to Lightning Armor when I need to move quickly.”
I tried on both armors alternately.
The manifestation of will alone transformed my appearance 180 degrees, and the speed of the transition was rapid enough that I could likely utilize it even during battle.
Of course, it wasn’t fast enough to change in the midst of ultra close-combat, but with practice, that might become possible too.
However, I’d have to use the Lightning Armor only when the targets are clear since its defense is significantly low.
“Nothing much has changed in appearance.”
Since the Flame Armor only leveled up, it showed no major difference from before.
However, I instinctively understood what it meant that, when transformed into [Combat type], the Flame Armor could inflict damage simply by gaze.
“I’m sure I can control it well. I won’t unleash its capabilities on innocent people.”
Anyway, it wouldn’t be a problem to wear only the Flame Armor normally.
Ultimately, the main goal is to continue developing both attributes so I can later merge the armors.
With a crackle— snap—
Lightning Armor presented a distinctly different sensation.
When I donned the Lightning Armor, blinding light burst forth in all directions with loud pops and bangs.
The two attributes etched into the outer bone switched places as if flipping a switch.
Naturally, I thrust myself forward.
Thud— Thud—
With one shove, the previously distant ground ahead quickly approached and swept past me.
The phrase “running like the wind” wasn’t even enough to describe it.
It truly felt hard to control my speed, as if I had become lightning itself.
“Whew─ the effect of doubling the movement speed… incredible.”
If I fought against ‘Residue of Chaos’ in this state, I’d be able to stack dozens of Flame Marks in mere minutes without needing to set up an ambush.
Blue-hued thorns rose sharply above my head, and the black full-body armor with golden metaphysical patterns looked stylish even to myself.
Where the joints had previously been filled with monster leather, it was now exquisitely crafted to mimic human shapes with some unknown, formless material.
And at that moment, thorns sprouted in direct response to my will, continuously emitting lightning bolts.
“Alright, it’s in combat type.”
I switched to the [Combat type] of the Lightning Armor.
At that moment, the bone thorns that shot up like hair elongated further backward and clustered like sturdy horns, sharp enough to be honed like blades.
The tail, which hadn’t even appeared yet, had now revealed itself and looked much thicker and weightier, now useful not just for grabbing but also for striking.
“The combat type of Lightning Armor is quite different from that of Flame Armor. But I have to say, why does my face look like this…?”
The shape I felt through my senses was very unfamiliar.
It had been the same during the combat type of Flame Armor, but it seemed to follow the formula that higher combat power must look horrifying, as I appeared like a monster.
The only relief was that, while the combat type of Flame Armor was engulfed in flames, leaving behind a gruesome skeletal figure, the combat type of Lightning Armor retained the form of the full-body armor intact.
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