“I don’t know if I’ll ever have to kill a spirit in the future, but just from this achievement alone, the rewards are overflowing. These soul fragments… I have no idea what they’re used for, but…”
Spirit Soul Fragment
– Contains a small amount of crystal ride’s soul.
“What if giving it to Ran produces some effect? Maybe a speed buff or enhancing the ability to accelerate possibilities?”
But Ran had said that crystal ride might have its own circumstances, trying to think from their perspective.
“What if I show it and they end up hating me… Should I just hold onto it for now?”
I had a feeling it would definitely be useful someday.
“My magic power has exceeded five thousand, and I have thirty-nine of those unknown soul fragments.”
Taking a bold risk had paid off successfully.
But on the other hand, I wondered if I really needed to spend up to five lives.
“If I can accurately gauge the opponent’s capabilities, I could make self-detonation efficient.”
*Crisp―*
As various thoughts intertwined, my consciousness faded, and this life came to an end.
– Black Flame Sorcerer Il-wol has been destroyed.
* * *
“Clap, Clap, Clap.”
“As expected, here I am. My hometown and sanctuary.”
Upon entering the Dark Space, I revisited the unread messages.
– “You’ve defeated ‘Crystal Road’!”
– “Level has increased.”
– “Level has increased.”
– “You’ve gained potential for ice attribute magic!”
– “Ice attribute magic resistance has significantly increased!”
“No… I already have enough resistance.”
– “You have acquired the skill [Frost Enamel]!”
– “Achievement [Pioneer] has been activated.”
– “All attributes have increased by 1!”
“Right, this is what I wanted. But wait, is this an enchant skill? I was hoping for an attack-type; that’s a bit disappointing.”
[Frost Enamel]
– Grants ice attribute aura.
– Attack power +15%
“Whoa— it raises attack power too? Granting aura means it doesn’t have to be limited to weapons or equipment.”
If I use this skill on Noh Ha-yoon, I could simultaneously boost her attribute power and attack.
– “You’ve obtained the Ice Rune (Legendary).”
Ice Rune (Legendary)
– Ice attribute attack power +50%
“Legendary!! I might not have a chance to use it, but still, that’s great!”
As far as known, the highest grade of rune that drops is Legendary.
While it’s said that higher grades exist, they cannot be obtained by defeating regular monsters.
– “You’ve obtained 450 Frizkana’s Ice Crystals.”
“Wow— jackpot! 450 crystals!!”
Frizkana made up less than 10% of the total monsters in this dungeon break.
After investing three full hours, I ended up with less than fifty, so this will surely be a huge help for us.
There were more messages.
– “[Trace of Existence] has been activated.”
Once again, the trace of my birth.
“If I accidentally encounter an Asymbiotic species that’s escaped the domination of Crystal Ride, I might just get killed on sight.”
I immediately summoned the little skeleton into the Space.
“Clap, Clap, Clap!!”
Then, a pure white little skeleton appeared, shining, and greeted me by clacking its teeth together.
“Is this the base form?”
It looked pretty similar to Ainz.
“Alright. Let’s give you a name. Your name is ‘Dry’.”
– The name ‘Dry’ has been given to the ‘Small Skeleton’!
– ‘Dry’, now named, bows its head and shows respect to its creator.
– All stats of ‘Dry’ increase by 20!
“Ugh…!”
Suddenly, a massive chunk of magic power drained from my body, and I felt dizzy.
“Whoa… Naming it significantly increased its stats too. Hmm…”
“Clap, Clap, Clap, Clap!!”
‘Dry’ seemed happier after receiving a name, creaking and dancing.
“Good job, my little one.”
While watching ‘Dry’ show off, another message popped up.
– “You’ve completed the job change quest!”
– “Reach level 100 and enter the job change stage!”
“Only one level left, so it’s just a matter of time. So this is what a spirit’s soul looks like?”
I took out the spirit’s soul from the Space.
To actually obtain a solidified soul is a rare experience, even in a skeleton life.
“It’s truly tangible…”
I used to think ‘soul’ was just a descriptor, but the spirit’s soul I got this time had a property unlike anything I had felt before.
A tiny ice crystal about the size of a finger, with stubby little arms and legs.
It even had eyes, a nose, and a mouth.
“This is more like the spirit itself rather than just a soul, right?”
Upon a closer look, its little belly bulged, rising and sinking repeatedly.
“How cute. I wonder if Yeon-hee would like to see this. She might enjoy it.”
Wishing so, I rushed to where Rainy was, bringing ‘Dry’ along.
While running together, I confirmed ‘Dry’s’ abilities, which surprisingly equipped a sword made of ice as its basic weapon.
“Whoa… amazing. If you use enough lives, the equipment grade does indeed increase.”
The Zweihander had consumed a whopping fifteen lives to gain wings and even a weapon made from my bones.
‘Dry’ didn’t go quite that far but was born with an ice sword and the potential for ice.
“So it reflects how my abilities are connected somehow.”
(Oh! Il-wol!!)
Upon arriving, as always, Rainy greeted me.
(Oh, what’s this kid?)
“I made this child.”
(What, what?! You mean it’s your daughter?!)
“Daughter…? Does it even have a gender?”
(It’s obviously a daughter!)
“······ I-I see.”
So ‘Dry’ is a daughter now. Anyway, that’s what Rainy said.
“What about the Master?”
There was no energy around.
He had been showing up more frequently but had gone silent again these past few days.
(I don’t know, he’ll come when the time is right. By the way, I’ve finished all of this.)
I handed the ‘Ancient Purified Crystal’ to Rainy and took back the contaminated crystal.
I was thrilled to get back the mystical crystal that boosts magic power by 300, and even happier knowing Rainy’s purification ability was rapidly improving.
“Huh? But what’s that?”
One of Rainy’s massive roots spun rapidly, whipping through the air.
(This is the space I tore last time; I’m trying to completely open it up!)
“Oh… that’s where it was last time.”
Rainy’s root created a rift in the air, which kept reopening itself almost immediately.
(If I keep at it, I’m sure I’ll find a way! Expand! Expand!)
“Impressive…”
Watching what Rainy was doing gave me the certainty that one day, she would escape this place.
“If that happens, I should take her with me, right?”
Though Rainy’s actual form was petite, coming up to my chest, thinking about the massive tree and root structures connected to her made me unsure if we could really live together.
“Maybe I should move the house a bit outward… This spot is conveniently distant from where the Orc Legion Commander fell.”
To protect Rainy, heading to a completely uninhabited place might be worth considering.
“Or, perhaps, I could expand the Boundary Sanctuary significantly and add defense, right?”
The ability of the Great Evil One Bin Chi-seung was [Boundary Sanctuary].
I had been infusing magic power into this area little by little, using monster byproducts and low-grade mana stones.
During the week I hid with Yeon-hee in the hideout provided by Ma Gwang-jin, I had fed a few pieces of the Devouring Creeper’s roots, and it had expanded to a size close to the room Yeon-hee was using in an instant.
“I learned back then that to maintain the established options as the size increases, I need to input more materials.”
Anyway, my preparations for the plan I was conceiving were steadily progressing.
(By the way, has Il-wol’s body gotten a bit chilly?)
“Huh? Really? Maybe because I acquired potential for ice attribute?”
(It’s actually nice. It was too warm working, but now it’s cooler.)
For about 30 minutes, while supplying magic power to Rainy, I also engaged ‘Dry’ with my tail.
*Cha cha cha chang─!*
“No, you shouldn’t circle like that; you should have stabbed right in.”
“Clap, Clap, Clap!!”
“‘Dry’ is nothing like Ainz in personality.”
Ainz, having been born in a hidden dungeon and living alone for a while, had a bold and straightforward personality.
In contrast, ‘Dry’ was overly cautious and incredibly swift, easily outpacing Ainz in speed.
“This is fun.”
While I was enjoying playing with ‘Dry’, a familiar energy began to approach from afar.
“Master!”
[It’s been a while. You’ve come back with something different this time. Haha, what a fascinating creature.]
The Master let out a laugh as if he was no longer surprised and circled me as usual, examining the changed energy around.
[Somehow… something doesn’t feel right…]
But the Master seemed to have a somewhat displeased aura.
[Tell me about the recent events.]
“Ah, yes!”
I recounted to the Master about acquiring the werewolf’s artifact, clearing the Lukrakota dungeon, and meeting a comrade named Cha Jin-hyuk, and also finishing off the job change quest just moments ago.
Then the Master shook his head and gave me advice that felt very significant.
[Having the opportunity to restore your lives has become poison for you.]
“··· P-poison?”
[Yes. Thanks to you, I have once again received insight. I recall why I didn’t receive a chance to restore my lives.]
“Wait, Master, you couldn’t restore your lives?”
It was the first I heard this after talking with the Master for so long.
[That was the case. But seeing your condition, I’m rather glad it turned out this way.]
“······ So you’re saying I took my lives too lightly.”
[Correct, you brat! Every single life carries immense karma. No matter how fast your growth may be needed to prepare against the world’s threats, you are still one who has stepped onto the path. You must also learn to see beyond. How could you have wasted three lives?]
“······.”
The Master’s scolding caused me to reflect on my past actions.
“Indeed… I’ve been complacent. The restoration of lives might not last forever.”
[Exactly. Treasure each life itself. It would be a better choice to risk your life five times against a strong opponent rather than self-destructing with five lives. Even if you fail.]
“Even if it was a job change quest?”
[Cluck, cluck— that guide can always suggest a different path. Even if you can’t ascend the stairs, there will always be another route. Do not fear failure.]
“Ah…”
[Remember this: The guide always shows the way to those who do not give up.]
“Yes!”
[For that reason, I will prohibit self-sacrifice for a while.]
“Huh…?! Master?”
[Did I develop secret arts with great effort to watch my disciple throw his life away? Gah!]
“··· I’m sorry…”
With the Master’s affectionate advice and admonitions, all I could do was take out my great sword and swing it earnestly.
* * *
At the time when Il-wol was attentively listening to his tutor’s advice,
The base of the Ilseom Guild was still engaged in fierce battle.
The front line that had been pushing forward suddenly became tense, and little by little began to be pushed back again, largely due to the energy of the hunters belonging to the ‘White Alliance’ significantly dropping.
“Haa— I’m low on magic power. Call Il-wol over.”
“Ugh— I miss the times when magic power was overflowing. Il-wol— come back.”
“Il-wol’s… at least a two-hour gap.”
“Ah, no way!”
The ‘White Alliance’ saw a major dip in strength as Il-wol’s buffs wore off, and Bae Joo-ah was the one expressing her shortage of magic power most vehemently.
Her specialization in support magic meant that in such large-scale chaos, magic consumption became inevitable.
Everyone around was in dire need of support.
Meanwhile, Noh Ha-yoon was targeting nearby foes accurately while managing her magic power reasonably well.
– BwooAAAAAA!!
– Churururururak!!
Still, Yeon-hee’s summoned legion remained strong, keeping things from falling apart, but the hunters who came out to support seemed exhausted from the onslaught of monsters, with quite a few deciding to pull out entirely.
“Isn’t it too harsh to just complete the emergency support quota and then bail out!”
“It’s a bit silly to wait on-site when magic power’s all drained.”
Seeing the retreating hunters, Noh Ha-yoon yelled, but the real issue was one that needed the association’s guidelines to fix.
At that moment, feeling increasingly pressured by the front lines which felt like they were being pushed back, the long-awaited figure finally made his appearance.
*Swishhhh────!*
In an instant, a tremendous presence cast a shadow over the battlefield, and a sharp slicing sound spread, quickly cutting several monsters in half as blood sprayed like a fountain.
– Tsk, it’s Hunter Hyeon Il-hwan!!
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