Chapter 11: Love's Whip
Returning was instantaneous.
Minwoo looked down at his body.
Just moments ago, his limbs had been scattered everywhere.
Now, it was perfectly intact, like brand new.
No potion addiction symptoms either.
Virtual body—top-tier stuff.
‘Sure, I spent a ton of money, but I got a real bargain.’
He'd gained plenty.
First off.
Combat experience for his skeletons.
He'd personally taken part in a massive war that you couldn't even join if you paid for it. This experience would greatly aid his skeletons' growth moving forward.
Second.
Titles.
He'd acquired a slew of them.
Since it was a new stage, many were ones even Minwoo didn't know the details of.
‘Time to check them out.’
[New Title List]
[1. Where Are You Going?]
[Participated directly in a special battlefield.]
[Effect: Mana +3]
[2. Orc Slayer]
[Hunted down five hundred orcs far above your level.]
[Effect: 10% increased attack power against orcs.]
[3. Live-for-Today]
[Downed potions like water, entering a state of addiction.]
[Effect: Slightly higher chance to resist potion addiction.]
[4. Strong Slayer]
[Triumphed over a monster with an overwhelming gap.]
[Effect: 10% increased attack power against monsters 200 levels or higher.]
[5. Baby Commander]
[Commanded over five hundred subordinates.]
[Effect: Morale of led forces increases by 3%.]
‘These are solid mid-tier ones.’
They had decent effects, all things considered.
And now…
‘The real top-tier titles.’
These were earned through feats that would exhaust ten lives.
[6. Indomitable Soul]
[An unyielding soul. It is a fragment of brilliant possibility.]
[Effect 1. The soul endures the death of the body.]
[Effect 2. All stats +10% (applies to bonus stats as well)]
[Effect 3. Unlocked]
[Effect 4. Unlocked]
First up, Indomitable Soul.
‘The effects are insane.’
Only two effects were unlocked, but they were both utterly broken.
Enduring the death of the body.
‘Without this, I'd be dead.’
It had saved his life.
That said it all.
And the second effect.
All stats +10%.
‘Mind-blowing.’
Pure percentage boost.
Titles like this were incredibly rare.
Even he, who'd grinded this game for 15 years, had only seen three.
‘And those were around 5%, on individual stats, not all stats.’
But all stats +10%!
And it applied to bonus stats from titles and gear too!
“Heh heh.”
His mouth stretched into a wide grin.
Yeah.
After rolling that hard at level 1, this was fair compensation for his life.
And there were still three main titles left to check.
[7. Master of the Dragon Knight]
[Became the master of Dragon Knight Cedric.]
[Effect 1. Learning ability of all skeleton summons greatly increases.]
[Effect 2. Skeletons can reach Dragon Fang Soldier.]
[Effect 3. Instills intense intimidation in dragon-related monsters.]
[Effect 4. Unlocked]
[Effect 5. Unlocked]
‘Whoa.’
This one was equally phenomenal. Greatly increased learning ability for skeleton summons.
Stats were important, sure.
But equally so…
‘Fighting smart matters too.’
Orc guards.
They'd beaten enemies with overwhelmingly superior stats.
They had fought well, and the Death Lord's learning effect meant his skeletons now had the potential to do the same.
‘I’m not expecting them to match me.’
Even Kim Minwoo had some conscience.
It'd be greedy to hope basic skeletons moved like the world's top gamer.
‘But half?’
No, even half of half would do.
At that level, they'd slap around most Awakeners. Just that much would completely transform his forces.
Effect 2 was impressive too.
‘Dragon Fang Soldier, huh.’
Kim Minwoo had hunted dragons a few times.
Dragon Fang Soldiers were undead troops handled by high-tier dragons, mainly guarding their lairs.
But they weren't summons usable by necromancers.
‘I’ve never seen the skillbook.’
As far as he knew, no Gate Hunter had ever dropped a Dragon Fang Soldier skillbook.
He'd thought the drop rate was trash.
‘Guess you need to subordinate Cedric to use them?’
Among skeleton summons, Dragon Fang Soldiers were endgame-tier.
Unlocking that path alone was huge.
Someday, he'd summon a horde of them.
Effect 3 was solid too.
Plenty of dragon-related monsters out there.
And their rewards were generous compared to peers.
‘Lots of uses for this.’
[8. One Recognized by Mutakta.]
[Orc hero Mutakta acknowledged you as a warrior.]
[Effect 1. Strength, Agility +30]
[Effect 2. Orcs feel intense affinity toward you. Special routes may open upon encountering orcs.]
“Wow, that bastard Mutakta…”
Just how much of a monster was he?
‘One acknowledgment and stats jump by 60?’
Pure stat gain equivalent to level 15. He'd kinda gauged it fighting Cedric.
Yeah, a real monster.
[9. The One Who Stopped Eternity.]
[Broke through the impossible, ending the repetition of the Eternal Battlefield - Hrulrunif Battle.]
[Effect 1. Mana +20]
[Effect 2. You smell delicious. A Divine Beast is taking notice of you.]
“…?”
Mana +20, fine.
‘But delicious smell? What's a Divine Beast?’
Minwoo glanced around at the mention of being noticed.
Nothing felt off.
“… Probably nothing.”
The main house of the Ilsung conglomerate.
One of the most heavily guarded spots in Korea.
Detection systems rivaling the Blue House everywhere.
Even a Sword Sage would struggle to infiltrate undetected.
Whatever this Divine Beast was, if it evaded these systems…
‘No point preparing anyway.’
If they couldn't detect it here, how could he?
Simple solution.
Think positive.
If you can't avoid it, enjoy it.
‘It’ll work out somehow.’
Either way.
This summons had netted him insane rewards.
‘Status window.’
[Name: Kim Minwoo (23)]
[Class: Necromancer]
[Level: 1]
[Held Skills (3/8): Death Lord (EX), Cedric Summon (SSS), Skeleton Summon (F)+9]
[Mana: 820/820]
[Titles: 12]
[Stats]
[Strength: 81(+8)] [Agility: 81(+8)] [Vitality: 52(+5)] [Mana: 75(+7)]
‘Whoa…’
Gear shattered by Mutakta's kick. These were pure body stats.
Level 1 stats like this.
Chest swelling with pride.
‘Bonus stats alone total 83.’
Gained more than level 20 worth of boosts.
All stats +10%.
‘And got Cedric too.’
What'd he lose?
Minwoo eyed his body.
Rare items smashed beyond repair by Mutakta's kick.
Black Heart Sets worth 500 billion for his skeletons.
Consumables near 100 billion in potions.
Spare gear around 200 billion.
Finally, mid-tier sub-space ring (500 billion, destroyed).
Total around 1.3 trillion.
Just 1.3 trillion for all this.
“Huge win?”
Totally worth it.
* * *
Top conglomerate Ilsung.
The main house was vast, with every facility imaginable inside.
The training ground was no exception.
A sprawling yard divided into dozens of sections. Arriving there, Minwoo checked his skill.
[Cedric Summon (SSS)]
[Type: Active]
[Mana Cost: 100]
[Summons Dragon Knight Cedric. Cedric's level follows the master's. Abilities unlock as level rises.]
Straightforward description.
‘Follows my level, huh.’
So level 1 Cedric.
‘Perfect.’
Easier to handle at level 1.
“Come here.”
[Cedric is summoned!]
[50 mana consumed!]
Halved thanks to Death Lord.
Clack!
Cedric appeared soon after.
In the Eternal Battlefield, he'd been mounted on a dragon, gleaming in golden armor.
Now? Different.
A bit cooler than a basic skeleton, but not dramatically.
Bones were white, size half a handspan bigger than average.
Only standout was the dark spear.
Checked Cedric's stats.
[Cedric]
[Class: Dragon Knight]
[Level: 1]
[Held Skills: Spear Mastery (S)]
[Loyalty: 60]
[Note: Most skills and stats are sealed.]
[Strength: 34(+17)] [Agility: 32(+16)] [Vitality: 34(+17)] [Mana: 36(+18)]
‘Oho. SSS-worthy after all?’
Even without Death Lord's boosts, an impressive summon.
Level 1 summon with stats to devour multiple F-rank Awakeners. Compared to basic skeletons starting at average 10 stats, no skills—overwhelming gap.
But instead of warm encouragement, Minwoo unleashed sharp rebuke.
“What's this? Why so pathetic? Is this what you are?”
Clack! Clack!
Cedric's jaw moved as if wronged.
Then he spoke.
—… Master. Were you level 1?
“Yeah.”
—… Figures. Most of my power is sealed. Never been in such a weak body—hard even to speak.
“So, my fault, oh great master of the skies?”
—Not exactly, but…
“You punk!”
Flicked his forehead hard.
Thud!
Cedric clutched his skull, glaring wronged.
—Why hit me.
“It's love's whip. Know it?”
—… What's that.
“Beating you 'cause I love you.”
—Master, are you insane?
“Summon talking back?”
Minwoo grabbed a wooden sword from the training ground.
‘Gotta instill discipline from the start.’
Not just bitterness from the ordeal.
‘I’m not that petty.’
Kim Minwoo had a clear goal.
Low-tier undead, barely intelligent, offer infinite loyalty. Tell 'em to jump in fire, they do.
Why?
No thinking.
But higher-tier undead differ.
Intelligent, rational, judgmental.
That's the loyalty system.
Loyalty must be managed.
Too low, they abandon or kill you.
Handling high-tier undead requires caution.
‘Not just necromancers, though.’
All summoners face it.
Fail to manage loyalty, straight to ruin.
Loyalty 60.
Not low, but not high either.
Roughly.
Acknowledges you as master, sorta. Not fully.
We'll see.
‘Something like that.’
Makes sense.
Would a proud knight fully submit after one save?
Usually, two approaches.
First.
Pamper type.
Shower with care, inch up loyalty bit by bit.
‘Second is…’
Wield love's whip, show overwhelming power gap, force instant recognition.
Kim Minwoo was a gamer.
Gamers love shortcuts.
“Cedric. Take a beating today. Bro's gotta whip some love with this wooden sword.”
[Cedric resists!]
—… Master, you take a knight for a joke? Stop.
Blue flames roared in Cedric's eye sockets, spear gripped.
Snicker.
Minwoo laughed.
Knew why so arrogant.
Necromancer, not fighter. Wooden sword challenge? Insulting for a knight.
Proud knight hates getting hit too.
‘But oh well.’
Even if stats lagged, he'd win. Here, his stats crushed?
“Koreans have a saying. Land of Eastern Etiquette. Bro'll teach you manners today.”
—I warned you, master. And by age, I'm way older.
Yeah, strong guy's the bro.
Time to personally instill etiquette in the cheeky summon.