The power of the Great Demon referred to in the original game, Hwanseangyongsa, is simply the unique abilities that each Great Demon possesses.
Players generally can’t obtain these abilities through regular means; they can only be used momentarily as an overpowered skill.
Among them, Bunea is a shaman.
Thus, since the power is also of the magic type, it poses quite a few challenges for someone like me, with only a 4th circle.
For the time being, I am also a marksman, so if I can combine it with Wind Archery, it might be more synergistic.
When I recalled yesterday’s memories, Bunea’s power was undoubtedly…
—————————————————
[Bunea’s Power – Curse of Instant Death (Active) (Ultimate Skill)]: Designate a target that is not a Demon and cause instant death. (Level 9 curse, non-removable)
(*Consumes a lot of mana)
The target who suffers instant death must writhe in eternal pain, and the only way to salvation is through Bunea’s Living Dead.
(Usable once per day)
[Bunea’s Power – Dimension Travel (Active) (Ultimate Skill)]: Through a dimensional spell that only individuals can traverse, you can move anywhere.
There is no cooldown, but it consumes an enormous amount of mana.
However, if the destination is Pandemonium—Bunea’s jurisdiction, all mana will be restored after 44 minutes.
(*Time can be reduced by sacrificing a corpse legion)
—————————————————
So there are these two abilities.
Due to the nature of combined skills, rather than altering existing abilities, it allows one to acquire new skills, so I believe the original Wind Archery won’t be problematic.
Those original skills are entirely the abilities of the Great Demons, so regardless of whether I undergo demonification or not, they would appear red.
However, when combined with Wind Archery, as long as the condition of not using Erosion Level is met, there shouldn’t be any issues.
D ding!
[You have acquired a new skill!]
—————————————————
▶[Wind Art – Short Distance Movement] (Passive)
: [Continuous Effect] – Move agilely as if carried by the wind. Agility increases.
[Active] – Glide through short distances as if the wind is stirring.
Consume the energy of the wind, and it will recover after 44 seconds.
[Combination skill enhanced with Bunea’s power (dimension) added to Wind Archery]
[*Due to the contract with Ariel, the energy consumed from the wind is reduced and damage increases exponentially.]
—————————————————
‘So, this is how it goes.’
The first skill was the Wind Art – Short Distance Movement combined with Bunea’s power – Dimension Travel.
It seems to have been reconstructed following the reincarnated hero’s setting that archers should be agile.
Originally, Dimension Travel had no cooldown, so it’s been implemented as a passive skill.
‘Traveling was tough…’
Now that the passive slot is empty, with this alone, it feels like I could graduate from the Black House just fine.
‘Then next is the long-awaited Curse of Instant Death.’
Something big is coming.
I’m curious about how this balance-breaking skill has combined.
D ding!
[You have acquired a new skill!]
—————————————————
▶[Wind Instant Kill] (Active) (Normal Skill)
: Heart Instant Kill (心卽殺) – Death is just like the wind.
Consumes all remaining wind energy and causes instant death to demons with health below 20% (+% of Great Demons defeated with Wind Archery so far).
(*Cooldown: 48 hours)
(*Occupies 2 skill slots)
(*Imposes a demon-slaying effect when this skill is available)
[Combination skill enhanced with Bunea’s power (instant death) added to Wind Archery]
[*Due to the contract with Ariel, the consumed wind energy is reduced and damage increases exponentially.]
—————————————————
‘Did I just get an instant kill skill…?’
Are they really giving me this?
In Hwanseangyongsa, instant kill skills come with strict conditions.
The Wind Instant Kill I just acquired also has:
1. Requires total consumption of wind energy.
2. Occupies 2 skill slots.
3. Long cooldown.
4. Cannot be registered simultaneously with other power skills.
5. Limited to targets with health below 21%.
There are five conditions.
Moreover, it requires the health of the Great Demon to be reduced by 79% before it can be used, so easy farming is off the table.
Of course, even considering all of this, it can grow without a ceiling, matching the capabilities of Edwin’s executioner blade that can execute enemies at 10% health without restrictions.
Among the finishing moves, I would say it’s the best.
‘This is huge…’
The hierarchy that used to impose a demon-slaying passive has vanished, making it perfect to replace that.
‘I want to try this skill first…’
Can’t just sit still.
First and foremost, I need to monitor Selena.
According to the original narrative, during the break, Selena will participate in an official raid hosted by Claris.
And after hearing the gossip from some half-arsed fool who couldn’t handle Wind Archery while suppressing her anger alone, she can learn Crimson Wind Archery from the Dark Elf Dalian…
That would later become a leverage against not being selected as a hero at the academy.
That’s also the reason why Selena couldn’t be part of Caeran’s party in the final chapter of the Hwanseangaka.
“Can’t be helped…”
Selena had already learned Wind Archery.
An unpredictable situation…
So, this world line must also be bent to my taste.
*
A week had passed since the Great Demon Incident, and the schedule of the academy festival had been fully canceled, also scrapping the travel plans between seniors and juniors.
Although few, there were casualties, and some students withdrew out of fear.
Thus, the academy was showing signs of extending the break for the sake of security and safety.
But, you can’t be too scared to set a table.
True to its nature as the Great Demon-slaying Claris, the opinion arose that they should come out even stronger at times like these.
Ultimately, they decided to shorten the break to reduce personnel loss, and the empire side would allocate additional faculty and troops.
As if nothing had happened, the academic calendar progressed, and once again, vitality began to circulate within the academy.
– Huff… The travel plan during the break was canceled. I was waiting for it like a neck stretched out.
– Instead, I heard there’s a group trip in the second semester?
– That’s supposed to be for a qualification exam. It’s definitely not an easy trip.
– Right. According to the seniors, they’re going to lock us in some deserted island.
– Hey, what year is it… We nobles like us…
– Anyway, I’m heading back to my family today.
– I guess I should go back this week too…
In the Claris Academy student cafeteria, freshmen voiced out their complaints and expectations of the shortened break and intensified second-semester schedule.
And then…
– Oh? Hi, everyone!
– Hello…
– …
In the S-rank students’ lounge, Yeriel, Aria, and Selena coincidentally met.
– Um… Shall we have a meal together since we ran into each other?
– …
Staring at the elegant table, the three focused solely on eating.
Among them, Aria, who was slowly poking at her food with a fork, was having complicated thoughts while watching Yeriel and Selena.
First about Yeriel.
‘Thank you for helping Lev, but…’
She understood Yeriel’s pure intention too. Moreover, since it was Yeriel who found Lev before he lost consciousness, she didn’t want to disturb the two.
But isn’t that a bit excessive?
Being on nurse duty 24/7.
The day Lev Denec was moved to the Restoration Chamber, Yeriel didn’t come out at all, except when she went to the bathroom or got food.
In other words, that meant she spent a whole day there.
‘Well, nothing probably happened…’
Aria’s afterthought echoed.
It shouldn’t be anything.
No, it shouldn’t…
‘Sigh…’
Why did it end up like this?
It was true that Lev had become an object of concern for Aria since the beginning of the semester, but is it really something to worry about to this extent?
And this emotional knot was especially stirred every time Aria glanced at Selena.
Back when Selena held Aria back and said.
– No way, you… like Lev Denec…?
– You don’t have any personal feelings, right?
Personal feelings.
What could that personal feeling be?
If Aria was chasing Lev while tracing Andras’s figure, it would surely be personal feelings.
However, personal feelings can hold both affection and aversion.
If that’s the case, then it’s clearly more on the aversion side.
But then why? He may not be hated, but why is he somewhat on her nerves?
This first-time feeling was uniquely confusing for Aria.
Also, Selena was the first one to warn Aria to keep away from Lev Denec.
‘You knew something…’
She’s also an Elf. Her feelings toward Demons are unlikely to be good.
She had been suspicious of Lev Denec.
‘Sigh.’
It could be dangerous.
If Selena figured out Lev Denec first, or misunderstood him, a dangerous development might unfold.
“Selena.”
“?”
Finally, Aria opened the floor with the topic.
“Is what you said to me back then still valid?”
What she meant was to stay away from Lev Denec.
After all, apart from that, they hadn’t talked much.
“…I don’t know.”
“…”
Selena responded with a vague answer while smiling faintly.
‘What…?’
Yeriel simply looked on with an innocent expression, curious about what the two were discussing.
Eventually, to shift the mood, she stepped forward.
“So, what do you guys plan to do during the break?”
In her warm voice with a friendly smile, Aria quickly answered.
“…As for healing-type freshmen, we have individual holidays instead of a break, so I will probably attend classes.”
“I didn’t know… That sounds tough…”
Yeriel sincerely empathized with Aria’s response.
Then, she looked at Selena while maintaining her smile.
“……”
In the end, Selena reluctantly responded.
“I have a raid.”
“A raid…?”
The guilds of the Principality of Prominence, Eternal Flame, and the Aveline family’s guild, Divine Valhalla.
These two major guilds would collaborate with Claris Academy to hold a raid during the break.
In simple terms, it means Claris’s students can gain real raid experience as interns.
In turn, the two guilds assess the incoming freshmen’s skill levels for recruitment.
The reason this has been possible every year is that the boss they will hunt has a semi-permanent immortality gimmick.
Fortunately, this boss is not of an incredibly high caliber, as it’s impossible to permanently defeat it.
However, since it alternates between rest and activity periods similar to a volcano, it requires constant subjugation each season.
Moreover, the patterns are consistent, and since practice occurs every year, it’s ideal for student practical training.
“I heard that there’s also a recommendation from a professor in the application requirements, so that’s impressive…!”
Since Yeriel was in her second year, she had participated several times.
In contrast, for Selena, this would be her first time.
She answered while popping cube cheese in her mouth.
“…Don’t mention it.”
“Do you like cheese? You should try this too! It’s so soft from Polian Mountain…!”
“…Thank you.”
Even with her keen eye, Selena saw that Yeriel Artina was a perfect person.
Zero pretense.
Her heart was as vast as her striking appearance, and it was astonishing how she wouldn’t be swayed by mere trivialities.
‘…!’
Suddenly, an amusing thought popped into Selena’s mind.
– Haha, long time no see…?
–……
For some reason, Lev Denec also applied to join this raid that Selena would be participating in.
‘I’ve heard he flatly turned down Aveline’s proposal…’
And yet, to participate in the raid hosted by Divine Valhalla… that’s erratic behavior.
All’s good.
‘A chance to keep an eye on him.’
Selena too needs to figure things out with him.
And she’s not particularly attached to Lev Denec.
Just an opportunity to gauge the two people in front of her.
With a smile, Selena called out Aria’s full name.
“Aria Bluebell.”
“Yes?”
“Since we’ve met, may I speak casually?”
“Yes, it’s fine…”
“Back then… I let you have the priority, didn’t I?”
“…Huh? What do you mean?”
“Lev Denec.”
Aria was taken aback.
Priority? He’s not some object.
But if you think about it, that’s partly true.
– For this dungeon practice, I plan to team up with Lev Denec, so…
– Selena, excuse me, but I will too.
During the dungeon investigation practice, Aria had flatly rejected Selena.
“Now it’s my turn.”
“W-What do you mean…?”
“I applied for the same raid as Lev Denec.”
Lev Denec.
With those five words, Aria and Yeriel slightly tensed.
“I’ll make good use of it. Excuse me then.”
With a charming smile, Selena stood up and left.
