Chapter 18
—
{Naberius’ Minion infiltrates the system.}
Immediately after defeating the final boss of Stage 3 with the Sphere of Inferno, this message appeared.
As expected, it disrupted the system and allowed me to use a newly acquired power once again.
However, there was one difference this time.
{The power is adjusted to suit the user.}
{<Barbed Spear: Gáe Bolg> has transformed into the derivative power of Claws of the Evil Dragon, <Gáe Bolg Barrage>.}
{The attribute of Wave Accumulator has been added to <Gáe Bolg Barrage>.}
The power that didn’t suit me was altered to fit me perfectly.
—-
<Gáe Bolg Barrage> (Wave Accumulator)
- Delivers a rapid 30-strike combo in an instant. Can only be used during Claws of the Evil Dragon projection. Accumulates Force Wave upon use.
- Mana consumption: 100
—-
The Barbed Spear: Gáe Bolg, which extended 30 barbs, had been transformed into a deadly attack technique delivering 30 consecutive strikes.
A power designed exclusively for spears was now tailored to my primary weapon, the knuckle.
Moreover, the attribute Wave Accumulator, which synergized with Intermediate Martial Arts, was added.
—-
<Intermediate Martial Arts>
- Your combat mastery has evolved, revealing the truth of Force Wave. You can accumulate and release Force Wave. Adds the attributes Wave Accumulator and Wave Emitter to combat techniques.
- Proficiency: 1/100
—-
This was the new ability I acquired when Basic Martial Arts upgraded to Intermediate Martial Arts.
‘But… where do I use the accumulated Force Wave?’
According to the description, the Force Wave gained from using Gáe Bolg Barrage was a resource for another technique called Wave Emitter.
However, I currently lacked any powers corresponding to that.
Even Sphere of Inferno didn’t mention such a feature.
‘Does this mean I need to acquire another power?’
I concluded that to fully utilize this skill, I would need to absorb another Guardian Spirit from another Awakener.
‘I have to kill other legendary-tier Awakeners to strengthen my power…’
The merit was undeniable.
The prospect of taking powers from other legendary Guardian Spirits and making them my own was extremely appealing.
Back when I absorbed one Guardian Spirit, my synchronization rate increased by 1.2%.
I wasn’t sure if absorbing another legendary Guardian Spirit would yield the same amount, but a simple calculation suggested that absorbing about 80 spirits could achieve a 100% synchronization rate.
Not to mention the very tangible stat boosts it provided.
That alone was reason enough.
‘Is this your intention, demon?’
I asked the unseen entity again.
It wanted me to become a murderer who slaughtered people to gain power.
‘Fine. I’ll do it.’
Of course, I wouldn’t refuse.
If necessary, I would take others’ lives without hesitation.
For someone who had done so countless times, it was hardly a sudden ethical dilemma now.
‘Those who kill should expect to be killed… And I seem to be next in line.’
I smirked bitterly.
* * *
“Yuna! Focus on marking targets with the submachine gun!”
“Got it!”
Tat-tat-tat-tat!
Slash! Shrrrk!
Choi Yuna’s bullets and my Dragon Claws wreaked havoc throughout the wide cave.
The other eight Awakeners, including Lee Jin-yoon, could only stand by and watch.
Stage 4 was a straightforward 10-person dungeon. Apart from Choi Yuna and Lee Jin-yoon, the remaining seven participants were randomly matched.
None of them were historic-tier or above.
The probabilities alone made that clear. Moreover, most historic-tier or higher Awakeners had their own teams and rarely participated in random matchmaking.
Lee Jin-yoon, Choi Yuna, and I were the anomalies.
{You have cleared Stage 4.}
{50 Raid Points have been earned.}
{An additional 45 Raid Points have been earned based on conditions.}
The bonus Raid Points for this stage were awarded for “killing as many monsters as possible.”
Having weaker teammates worked in my favor since I could monopolize the points.
{You have acquired 1,000,000 Gold.}
Thus, Stage 4 passed uneventfully.
“We only have the final stage left now.”
Instead of immediately entering the final stage, we waited in the city.
“From now on, it’s going to be an intense game of wits.”
The final stage was a pure boss battle without any gimmicks.
As the name Raid Boss implied, even I couldn’t defeat it alone.
It was a formidable foe that required hundreds of Awakeners, including legendary and historic-tier ones, to join forces and attack with everything they had.
“A game of wits? What do you mean?”
Choi Yuna asked, and I answered.
“Since a large number of Awakeners need to gather in one place, there are many factors to consider.”
“Oh, like figuring out how many people can participate in the final stage right now and whether they have enough strength to take down the Raid Boss?”
“Exactly.”
Unlike Stage 1, all other stages could be retried after failure.
Participants could stay in the city, regroup, and retry multiple times.
The problem was the waiting time required for retries.
In the case of the Raid Boss battle, participants had to wait 24 hours after failing before they could try again.
If the subsequent group defeated the boss during that time, everything would have been for nothing.
Even those with a high number of Raid Points would leave empty-handed if that happened.
“Larger groups could intentionally join the vanguard, cause them to fail, and then send in their waiting members to finish the boss.”
“What? That’s such a dirty tactic.”
“Well, who would criticize them for it? And even if they did, nothing would change.”
“Ugh.”
Choi Yuna sighed.
Like me, this was her first time reaching the final stage of a raid.
She had been eagerly looking forward to it, only for her excitement to be dampened.
“In that case… there’s no hope for us, is there? We’re too few in number.”
It was true that a small group like ours would inevitably fall victim to the schemes of large groups.
This wasn’t an issue that individual strength could solve.
“That doesn’t mean we should just give up.”
Of course, I wasn’t without a plan.
“…Is there a way?”
“We just need to gather people.”
When there’s no secret strategy, the only option is a straightforward breakthrough.
And right now, I was someone who had already made an impression among people.
Many were wary of me, but just as many sought to benefit from me.
I intended to use that to my advantage.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes?”
I approached a nearby merchant and handed him 1,000 Gold.
“Ah, no, what’s this…?”
“You know who I am, right?”
“Of course! How could I not? You’re the hero who took down those thugs at the tavern!”
My reputation wasn’t just known among the Awakeners but also among the townsfolk.
After all, I had wiped out a group of people who indiscriminately killed NPCs, so naturally, the townsfolk would favor me.
“Spread the word that I’m gathering participants for the Raid Boss battle.”
“…You’re just asking me to spread the word?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, that’s no problem at all! If that’s all, I don’t even need the Gold. Please, take it back!”
“Consider it a service fee. Keep it.”
“But still…”
“It’s fine.”
At my firm insistence, the merchant reluctantly accepted the money.
A faint smile lingered on his face.
“Well, then… I’ll start spreading the word immediately!”
With that, he left his shop and hurried off somewhere.
“Is this really okay?”
Choi Yuna, who had been observing my actions, asked me with a worried expression.
“It feels like you’re drawing too much attention…”
Her concern wasn’t unwarranted.
This was practically an open declaration: ‘I’m going to the boss fight, so come and interfere.’
It was like handing others the perfect timing to strike.
But.
“It also creates an atmosphere of unease.”
“Unease?”
The fear of missing out on the boss kill if someone else got there first.
By openly announcing my intention to gather people, those hoping to gain something from my strength would inevitably join me.
The more people that gathered, the harder it would be to control the situation.
This would likely lead large groups to deploy their main forces early, fearing a wasted effort.
And other major groups anticipating such a move would follow suit.
Ultimately, no one would want to take risks, leading to everyone committing their full strength to the first attempt.
In the end, the schemes would be neutralized at their core.
* * *
“Excuse me. Are you Yoo Shin-woo?”
Perhaps my prediction was accurate.
It hadn’t even been a few hours when a large organization approached me.
And the name of that organization was very familiar.
[NL Corp.]
‘Wait, it’s a foreign company?’
I had thought it was a small Korean company, but the people who came to see me were all Caucasian.
The individuals bearing the name NL were entirely different from the image I had in mind.
“My name is Volkov. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The man who spoke had a Russian-sounding name and addressed me in very polite English.
“Coincidentally, we found records of you having worked with our company before.”
“Not exactly pleasant memories, though.”
I made no effort to filter my words.
After all, they were the ones seeking a favor from me.
As someone in a superior position, I had no reason to be overly accommodating.
“If your negative impression stems from the inappropriate actions of our Korean branch, I sincerely apologize on their behalf.”
Surprisingly, they took a highly conciliatory approach.
“We will ensure the individuals responsible are dealt with according to our internal policies and receive the highest level of punishment.”
No, calling it conciliatory was an understatement—it was almost excessive.
‘What’s going on?’
Their demeanour suggested they weren’t simply asking me to join the Raid Boss battle.
It felt far more serious and significant, as if they were about to propose something much weightier.
Sensing this, I asked him bluntly.
“What do you want? Don’t beat around the bush. Speak plainly—I’m not great with complicated English.”
The man smiled faintly and nodded.
“Understood.”
Switching to simpler English, he revealed his true intent.
“Would you consider working with us again?”
‘What nonsense is this?’
I was dumbfounded.
A sudden offer to reinstate me?
Naturally, my immediate response was rejection.
“No thanks.”
Of course, this wasn’t the answer he wanted to hear.
“I had hoped you wouldn’t say that.”
His voice was calm yet chilling.
At that moment, I felt as if countless “Legendary” and “Historic” presences were watching me with deadly intent.
—
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