Stretching, I got up from my seat.
I had been unconscious for over five hours due to Azmo sacrificing me.
Right next to me, Maru stood guard, holding swords in both hands.
‘He’s as reliable as ever.’
Maru had also become more dependable now that he was 6-star.
“So, let’s see what abilities came out.”
I immediately checked the notifications.
– Successfully absorbed the sacrificed B-Rank Hunter.
– Acquired the B-Rank Hunter’s skill [Tracking (C)]. Can be used for strengthening.
‘Tracking?’
It was an ambiguous ability.
It was a skill that simply allowed one to easily track enemy traces.
Moreover, after absorbing a B-Rank Hunter, I only got a C-Rank skill, which was quite a loss.
I immediately checked the next sacrifice.
– Successfully absorbed the sacrificed A-Rank Hunter.
– Acquired the A-Rank Hunter’s skill [Blood Vein Absorption (A)]. Can be used for strengthening.
‘Blood Vein Absorption?’
– Blood Vein Absorption (A): Absorbs the enemy’s life force to heal one’s own wounds.
Upon checking the explanation, it seemed like a quite useful skill.
‘I should use this one.’
Although I wouldn’t need it with Maru around, it seemed like a good idea to keep it just in case of unforeseen circumstances.
– Would you like to strengthen the skill [Blood Vein Absorption (A)] for the Dungeon’s Master ‘Kanghyeon Lee’?
– Abilities that have been strengthened cannot be reverted.
Since it was mentioned, I immediately applied Blood Vein Absorption.
‘Shall I check the next ability too?’
– Successfully absorbed the sacrificed C-Rank Hunter.
– Acquired part of the C-Rank Hunter’s Defense stat. Can be used for strengthening.
– [Defense] x3
This time, only stats came out.
‘This is a bit of a dud.’
There were only 3 Defense stats.
My current Defense stat is C+ Rank. Considering the last reinforcement, I would need about 50 Defense stats to reach B Rank.
Therefore, unless it was a skill or trait that made an immediate difference, getting stats now wasn’t particularly good.
– Successfully absorbed the sacrificed B-Rank Hunter.
– Acquired the B-Rank Hunter’s skill [Earth Strike (C)]. Can be used for strengthening.
…
…
The sacrifices Azmo offered were all converted into abilities.
I gained various abilities such as improved stamina, combat instinct, chain lightning, taunt, and swift movement.
‘There’s nothing particularly useful for me?’
Well, there were things I could force to strengthen if I absolutely had to. However, it seemed more efficient to strengthen the monsters that had gained enlightenment rather than applying them to myself right now.
‘Since gacha can essentially be done infinitely, quantity is no longer an issue.’
Now it was time to focus on quality over quantity.
“It’s about time to strengthen the regular monsters too.”
[Dungeon Monster Strengthening System]
– Dungeon’s Master ‘Kanghyeon Lee’ (Unlocked)
– Maru (★★★★★) (Unlocked)
– Skoll (★★★★) (Unlocked)
– Necros (★★★★★) (Unlocked)
– Azmo (★★★★) (Unlocked)
– Banshee (★★★) (Unlocked)
– Banshee (★★★) (Unlocked)
– Banshee (★★★) (Unlocked)
…
…
– Skeleton Knight (★★★) (Unlocked)
– Skeleton Knight (★★★) (Unlocked)
…
…
– Ghoul (★★) (Unlocked)
– Ghoul (★★) (Unlocked)
– Ghoul (★★) (Unlocked)
– Zombie (★) (Unlocked)
– Zombie (★) (Unlocked)
…
…
However, I couldn’t just strengthen them without a reason.
The monsters that could be strengthened were all individuals who had gained their own enlightenment.
Those who had not gained enlightenment could not be strengthened.
Even Celia, who currently had the highest rank, had not gained enlightenment, which showed how difficult it was.
‘Still, it’s quite strange the more I look at it.’
How did the undead monsters gain enlightenment like this?
It was understandable that monsters like Maru, Skoll, Necros, and Azmo had gained enlightenment.
But the other undead monsters were, in fact, low-ranked and no different from regular monsters, yet they were the ones who gained enlightenment the fastest.
‘Seriously, it’s not like someone threatened them.’
If they were threatened with death to gain enlightenment, wouldn’t everyone have done it?
It was a peculiar situation.
‘Then, shall I try strengthening a regular monster?’
Drawing a high-ranking monster from the gacha was practically an extremely difficult task.
Since it had come to this, I decided to strengthen the regular undead.
– Would you like to strengthen the trait Tough Hide (B) to the dungeon monster ‘Zombie’?
– Abilities that have been strengthened cannot be reverted.
I immediately pressed strengthen.
Thus, a 1-star Zombie monster now possessed a B-Rank trait, a rather peculiar situation.
“From now on, you are a 4-star zombie.”
Since B-Rank was similar to 4-star, it wasn’t an incorrect statement.
– Would you like to strengthen the trait Bull’s Might (B) to the dungeon monster ‘Zombie’?
– Abilities that have been strengthened cannot be reverted.
‘I’m satisfied.’
The zombie became tougher and stronger.
– Would you like to strengthen the skill Fireball (E) to the dungeon monster ‘Zombie’?
– Abilities that have been strengthened cannot be reverted.
Now, the tougher and stronger zombie could also use Fireball.
– Would you like to strengthen the trait Slightly Tougher Stomach (B) to the dungeon monster ‘Zombie’?
– Would you like to strengthen the skill Poison Coating (D) to the dungeon monster ‘Zombie’?
– Would you like to strengthen the trait Flexible Body Movement (F+) to the dungeon monster ‘Zombie’?
– Would you like to strengthen the trait Firm Will (C) to the dungeon monster ‘Zombie’?
– Would you like to strengthen the trait Swift Movement (E) to the dungeon monster ‘Zombie’?
– Would you like to strengthen the skill Swift Charge (D) to the dungeon monster ‘Zombie’?
If possible, I concentrated the abilities that seemed less useful onto one zombie.
As a result, the strengthened zombie became a hybrid zombie that was tougher, stronger, faster, and could use skills compared to a regular zombie.
‘Good.’
It felt similar to drawing a high-ranking monster from the monster gacha.
* * *
In the dungeon ‘Evil God’s Nest,’ a zombie raised its head.
“Kruur?”
The zombie examined the strange sensação it felt from its own body.
Normally, it would simply act on instinct, chasing living beings to satisfy its hunger, and that was all. But now, it was different.
Something… a different sensation arose within its body. It felt as if someone had suddenly activated the zombie’s own brain.
“Kruurururu…”
The zombie slowly raised its hand and looked at it.
As usual, it saw rotting flesh and exposed bone joints, but the power it felt from within was completely different. As it moved its fingers, they moved much more agilely than usual.
“Kuh… Hhhu…”
The zombie exerted force in its arm. To its surprise, it saw a small stone nearby shattering just by gripping it.
And it could perceive that sight.
The zombie placed its hand on its chest.
Its body was already rotten. Its heart did not beat, but it felt an energy swirling within.
It was instinct. The instinct to eat something.
Although it couldn’t understand why it had changed, it could feel that it had become special.
At that moment, footsteps were heard from a distance.
It was a Ghoul.
“Guooor…”
(Delicious long friend…)
A Ghoul was shoving a long life form into its mouth.
The zombie accurately perceived that situation.
Come to think of it, Aren in Sector 3 also seemed to enjoy eating the life form called a “long friend”…
“Kruurururu.”
Seeing that, the zombie also felt a desire to eat something.
The zombie rushed out of the dungeon.
“Hmm? Where are you going?”
At the dungeon entrance, Baalcherit spoke to the zombie, but the zombie was not in a state to answer her.
The zombie was currently starving for blood. It wanted to stuff something into its mouth right away.
“Oh my, Zombie-ssi, where are you going in such a hurry?”
This time, Celia, who managed the dungeon, could be heard.
The zombie immediately stopped in its tracks and turned its head towards Chief Administrator Celia.
“Kruurururu.”
(Patrol.)
“That’s a good idea. Please be careful on your way.”
“Kru, Kru.”
The zombie bowed its head towards Celia and turned around again.
“….”
Baalcherit watched that scene with bewilderment.
* * *
“Isn’t this quest too easy?”
At the entrance of the Silent Mountain Range, a group of beginner adventurers was checking their equipment.
“Just collecting herbs, it’s too boring for our skill level.”
Kaiden complained, slinging his long sword over his shoulder.
“We need to complete a certain number of quests to get promoted, senior Kaiden.”
Mage Iris said quietly, opening her herb compendium.
“Still, it’s good for us to complete quest counts by collecting herbs. We don’t have to fight monsters.”
“Still, it’s a bit boring.”
Kaiden sighed.
At that moment, Roan, who was the party’s Pathfinder, whispered quietly.
“Shh.”
Roan gestured with his hand.
“Look over there.”
Everyone turned their gaze in the direction Roan was pointing, and saw a creature moving.
Or rather, it wasn’t a creature.
Rotten skin, tattered clothes, and empty eyes.
A typical undead. It was a zombie.
“Oh? It’s a zombie?”
Kaiden’s face suddenly brightened.
“Just in time, I wanted to warm up a bit. This is good luck, right?”
“It is.”
Iris agreed with Kaiden’s words and raised her staff.
“Zombie teeth and claws are in demand, so we should be able to sell them.”
You might wonder what zombie byproducts are used for, but the world is full of diverse people.
There were collectors who collected strange things or things that others didn’t handle much.
Like this, zombie byproducts could be sold.
Even though it was only one zombie, if you collected them little by little, they would eventually shine.
“Very good!”
Kaiden drew his sword.
“I’ll take the lead!”
“….”
However, Roan, the Pathfinder, looked ahead with an anxious expression. Her intuition sensed something strange, but Kaiden and Iris did not notice her change in expression.
“Alright, here I go!”
Kaiden raised his sword forward and charged.
Iris immediately followed him.
“Kruurururu.”
The zombie just stood there watching them. If it were a normal zombie, it should have responded aggressively even if it moved slowly, but strangely, it remained still.
“Senior! Isn’t the zombie a bit strange?”
Iris exclaimed from a distance, puzzled.
But Kaiden didn’t pay attention to her words.
A zombie is just a zombie. What kind of strange zombie could there be?
But.
“Huh?!”
As they approached the zombie, an anomaly occurred. Suddenly, the zombie’s body blurred, and it disappeared to the side in an instant.
The Flexible Body Movement, Swift Movement, and Swift Charge abilities had been activated.
“What the!”
Of course, Kaiden, who didn’t know this, looked around in bewilderment.
The next moment, the zombie appeared behind him. Before Kaiden could even turn around, the zombie’s arm shot out like lightning and gripped his neck.
“Ugh!”
Kaiden thrashed, suffocating.
“Kaiden!”
Roan rushed forward, trying to stab the zombie in the back with her dagger, but she couldn’t penetrate the zombie’s skin, which had been strengthened with the Tough Hide trait.
“Ah, it’s not going in?!”
Roan shouted in surprise.
Without letting go of Kaiden, the zombie pushed Roan’s chest with its other hand.
With that one blow imbued with immense strength, Roan was sent flying several meters, colliding with a rock.
“Aaaargh!”
Roan screamed in pain as she crashed into the rock.
“Just hold on a little longer! I’ll be right there-”
Iris began chanting a spell.
“Soul of fire, burn my enemy. Fireball!”
A red fireball shot out from the tip of Iris’s staff towards the zombie.
However, surprisingly, a red light began to gather in the zombie’s mouth as well.
“Kruurururu!”
It was a Fireball.
“Z-zombies use magic?!”
Before Iris could even react in surprise.
“Kyaak!”
Immediately, the two fireballs collided in mid-air and exploded. The shockwave of the explosion knocked Iris backward.
The impact caused the surrounding trees to sway, and dust rose thickly.
Iris looked with terrified eyes at the silhouette of the zombie slowly emerging from the dust.
