“How about covering my face a bit? Just tuck in my nails and… I can adjust my tail.”
Since I’ve changed my appearance into the combat type of the lightning armor, chances are slim that I’ll be seen, especially if I’m using [Blink].
“It looks somewhat cool… ”
Maybe it’s just me, but I really liked the overwhelming presence that surpassed a typical boss-level monster.
“What kind of life have those who cheered for the Flame Knight, after seeing the grotesque combat type of the flame armor, lived…?”
Those inhabitants of the other world surely must have a different sense of aesthetics than us.
As I casually loosened up my body, I suddenly remembered the activation conditions for [Meteor].
“Magic Power 1000, possession of rock attribute magic, possession of pyromancy skills, wisdom 500, resistance 100… I have everything except for pyromancy.”
If I just go into the B-rank dungeon and steal the pyromancy ability from that monster, I’d be able to use high-level magic.
Of course, seeing that the minimum magic power is 1,000, it would drain my mana in an instant. But it was a skill worth the cost.
When Jo Gi-man confronted the great beast with [Meteor], even though he controlled his strength to the maximum, it had that level of power.
“I need to increase my magic capacity.”
Once I get [Meteor] and build up enough magic power, I should go smack that ‘Devouring Creeper’ sitting above.
– You have obtained [Pyrostonestrike]!
– Achievement [Pioneer] has been triggered.
– All attributes increase by 1.
The skill I obtained from my job change triggered the [Pioneer] achievement.
“Oh, it looks like I’ve also received a reward for the new skill. Is my job change complete now?”
*Bang! Bang!*
Satisfied with the completed job change, I lightly struck the ground with my now-thicker tail and stepped forward one step at a time.
The job change boosted my stats by up to 750.
It felt strange, as if my body didn’t belong to me.
“I feel like my physique has become a bit smaller, yet there’s much more weight.”
As I began to walk slowly, I took off running and leaped into the sky.
Swoooosh—
I jumped to a much higher position than usual, and a message popped up.
Military Cloak of the Forgotten Kingdom
– A cloak developed by the royal court engineers of Tanemoro Kingdom, enabling gliding.
– Additional effects occur when jumping high using your own pure strength.
Stage 1: After starting to glide, an illusion-hindering magic activates for 10 minutes.
Stage 2: While in Stage 1, flying becomes possible instead of gliding, and flying speed increases by 20%.
Stage 3: In Stage 2, flying speed further increases by 30%.
“Oh… I’ve finally filled it to Stage 3.”
They said you need this level of physical ability to fully utilize the cloak.
It’s surprising to think that a military with soldiers capable of using such a cloak existed, but it might have been normal back in the ancient days.
Flap—!
“The cloak… has completely merged with the armor.”
Though it was a short cloak, when infused with magic and opened up, it became a gigantic wing over 10 meters wide.
I flew through the sky and quickly arrived at the location where Rainy was.
Flap—
(······.)
A tree was blankly staring at me as I landed, adjusting my wings.
I wondered what Rainy, the tree of possibilities, would say upon seeing my changed form, so I waited a moment.
The tree, which had stood still, suddenly flapped its branches violently and slid closer to me, speaking.
(······ Huh?! This is definitely Il-wol!! What on Earth happened?! Why did it change from red to blue? Wait, is it a bit purplish? I can’t see well, but anyway!!)
“Rainy, this change happened because I entered a new growth phase. And I can still turn into red.”
I changed back into the flame armor and looked around, asking.
“And the master?”
(He hasn’t come near at all except when you arrive. Must be busy.)
“Hmm… I see.”
(Um, but as a celebration for your growth, can I have just a bit of mana? I practiced hard as you instructed!)
‘……’
Speaking of which, the ‘Fragment of Corrupted Life Potion’ that I had left on the ground appeared brighter than before. Just a little brighter, though.
“Hmm— alright.”
I haven’t just been playing around, so it’s okay to give some carrots.
(Yes!! Can I eat it while hugging you?)
“That’s a no.”
(Tch… fine.)
Rainy stretched out all its branches to me and started savoring the flowing mana.
(Sigh— Wow— This taste?! It’s completely different from before! There’s a sweetness added, and it tastes clean, like nature itself!)
‘…… I don’t think I’ll ever understand what that means.’
(I think I can taste a bit of burnt flavor too? Om nom nom—)
‘······.’
It seemed Rainy really enjoyed the taste of the grown mana, as its leaves rapidly turned a deep green.
And along with Rainy’s growth, the fragment of the corrupted potion in my hand also began to take on a brighter hue.
“Oh… it might not take long after all.”
With a satisfied heart, I released my inner mana more strongly, and Rainy, absorbing that energy, twisted its whole body and let out a slightly sensual moan.
(Sighing… Ah… Phew…)
‘······.’
I deliberately turned away from that sight and read the message that flashed in my mind.
– The second minion has been completed.
“Perfect timing.”
It’s been quite a while since I gathered information from the corpses of the monsters in the Frog Folk dungeon.
I hadn’t intended it, but it had mixed different monsters, and now it was complete.
– ‘Boiling Beast’ has been completed!
You can now reconstruct a more powerful minion by combining the information of Dire Wolf, Small Centipede Inferno, Red Goblin, Assault Turtle, Hamari-shu, and others.
“Hmm… Since Gori ate a lot of single entities, it became a minion on its own. I guess the others didn’t have enough information? Why is it that they keep trying to mix?”
Though I was a bit bored as the waiting dragged on, I didn’t have a reason to refuse since it could lead to creating a stronger minion.
“Combine them all.”
– Combining all information except ‘Residue of Chaos’.
“That’s unable to combine? Try doing it together if possible.”
– The difference in rank between the monsters is too vast. It is not possible.
“Oh, I see… I guess it has to be a similar rank monster to combine. How troublesome.”
Already, more than eight monsters had been combined.
Just because I made various combinations, I didn’t think the ranks of the combined minions would suddenly exceed A-rank.
I was determined to see how this combination would turn out.
– Recreating the information of the Boiling Beast.
“Hmm— I’ve got some time left, so let’s make some bombs.”
*Crack— Crack—*
The bones of the Assault Turtle and Hamari-shu I collected from this Pastiche dungeon.
=====
Skeleton Bomb (Intermediate)
– Made from the skull bone of the Assault Turtle, boasting considerable attack power.
– Enemies hit by the bomb will be paralyzed for 0.2 seconds.
– Enemies hit will have their movement speed decreased by 18% for 10 seconds.
– Bomb Attack Power +54
– The effectiveness is not halved even if used underwater.
=====
“Oh ho… It has such effects.”
The bomb made from Hamari-shu had lame attack power and no other options, but the Assault Turtle had extra options when used underwater.
Since my bomb storage capacity increased to 200 due to the job change, I needed to speed up my hands.
(Phew— That was delicious. Ahaa! I’m so happy right now~)
After over an hour of replenishing bombs and bone daggers, I noticed that Rainy’s meal time had ended.
The now-potbellied tree sprawled out on the ground lazily.
“Um… When did the roots grow this long?”
Rainy’s roots that had settled into the ground of the Dark Space were spreading rapidly.
Although the ground, which I had damaged with my swordsmanship, had recovered quickly, Rainy’s roots held it firmly and began to reveal an astonishing effect as the darkness slowly lifted from the area where it had established its roots.
*Ding—*
– The tree ‘Rainy’, possessing incredible potential, establishes its realm.
– The effect of dispelling malevolent energy gently envelops the area.
“Oh… seems like something is actually happening.”
Indeed, it was clear that Rainy used to be a hunter in its previous life.
A ‘realm’?
It may not be the same as what only transcendent beings are permitted, but the fact that it can express its will over such a wide area is astonishing.
“I should probably look it up online.”
Though Rainy seemed largely unaware of its own growth, it was a friend that held much promise.
After that, I focused on my usual swordsmanship training.
*Whoooosh—*
*Whom—*
Before I knew it, I had swung my sword thousands of times, reaching a point where it became ambiguous whether my body or spirit was leading.
And then…
*Swoosh— BOOOM!!*
“Yikes! What the—?!”
(Oh my gosh!! Wh- What happened?!)
It was merely a single swing, yet powerful black flame swirled at the tip of my sword, causing a massive explosion in front of me.
‘…… So this is it.’
The power I’ve gained from undergoing a job change.
It feels like being recognized by a great being, where I could sometimes summon black flames.
“Wow— This is insane.”
Though the activation condition was unknown to me and only happened once in thousands of attempts, the fact that I could produce this level of explosive power without stacking the marks of flame was a tremendous asset.
About half the destructive force of a flame explosion.
If I could mix that with a regular attack, it would greatly enhance my combat power.
“Aah… My head.”
It might have been a side effect of calling forth such tremendous power without the process of stacking the marks of flame, as it felt like my head was about to split open, but it was only temporary.
[Composure]
[Pain Resistance]
Since I always had trusty allies keeping me safe.
‘… Alright. I’ll keep swinging until it explodes once more.’
Just before Yeon-hee called me over, I successfully summoned black flames one last time and collapsed right into Yeon-hee’s embrace as soon as I was summoned home.
* * *
[… Wake up…]
“Huh…”
Hearing someone call, I barely managed to open my heavily clouded vision.
The clean and clear voice that drove away all the heavy, murky energy had already vanished.
“…Huh? Who was that?”
And then, a more familiar and youthful voice echoed.
“Are you awake?”
“…Clap, Clap, Clap!”
Suddenly approaching, Yeon-hee pulled me up, resting my head on her thigh, and gently stroked my face.
“Was there anything wrong? Are you okay?”
“Clap, Clap, Clap.”
The fact that Yeon-hee was not shocked at my appearance means I had been lying on the ground for quite a while.
No matter what happened, if Yeon-hee took such good care of me, it felt like everything unpleasant would fade away.
Her radiant purple eyes looked down at me with concern.
A gaze pure without any deception.
Within it was the universe, filled with love for me.
“I’m melting. I’m melting…”
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