Chapter 54: Dragon-Phoenix Conference (2)
After I submitted the byproducts of the Human-Faced Ghost Tree as evidence, the Leader of the Demonic Alliance summoned me.
“Take this.”
[Golden Dragon Pill]
[Consuming it increases all stats by 20. (Cannot stack)]
What he handed over was an elixir.
“The Leader is even giving me something like this. I guess I've really risen in the ranks.”
“Were you brooding over that? But you bear some fault too. If you were going to reveal it anyway, why not do it sooner?”
“I regret it too. There were circumstances.”
I shrugged and accepted the Golden Dragon Pill. There was no reason to save it.
What the Leader wanted was for me to boost my power right now, after all.
[You consume the Golden Dragon Pill!]
[All stats increase by 20!]
‘Jackpot.’
It was a divine-tier stat boost.
Of course, since this wasn't actually divine-grade, I'd feel a bit of regret when consuming future elixirs.
‘Well, not bad.’
Either way, to survive by running and hiding after the Dragon-Phoenix Conference ended, every bit of extra stats would help. If needed, I was even planning to pop a Sword Shadow Pill.
“Just keep doing as you are. Then the next successor will be you.”
“I'll do my best. By the way, do you have anything else to give me?”
“… Elixirs like this are rare even in the Demonic Alliance.”
“What about martial arts manuals?”
“If you claim first place, you'll get everything without needing to ask.”
Stingy.
He didn't seem inclined to give up anything more.
‘The elixir seems like he really doesn't have any left…’
He probably thought giving me a martial arts manual now wouldn't make much difference.
And he was right about that.
“Then how about some equipment…”
“You can only carry weapons into the Dragon-Phoenix Conference.”
Ah, so that's why he just tossed me one Ghost Sword?
It could've been a chance to swap all my gear for uniques if things went well.
What a shame.
“Then, do you have any spare bones or materials lying around?”
“Bones and materials? You mean from monsters?”
“Yes. I need some to strengthen my necromancy.”
“There should be some spares in the warehouse.”
“Can I take them?”
“If you want.”
“Thank you.”
* * *
The Demonic Alliance was definitely a massive organization.
When I went to the warehouse, a mountain of materials and bones greeted me.
Sadly, I couldn't take every top-grade item, but this was still a huge haul.
Naturally, I took it all.
The warriors guarding the warehouse were pretty shocked, but that wasn't my problem. The Leader had personally approved it.
I stuffed my subspatial ring to the brim. Thanks to that, reinforcing the golem was a breeze.
[Main Golem]
[Class: Warrior]
[Level: 120]
[Held Skills: Provocation (A), Defensive Stance (B)]
[Loyalty: 100]
[Strength: 320(+160)] [Agility: 170(+85)] [Vitality: 300(+150)] [Mana: 90(+45)]
[* Great Success special effect.]
[* Flexibility increased by 30%.]
[* Durability increased by 10%.]
[* Weight increased by 10%.]
A great success from the Human-Faced Ghost Tree's spine bone.
Thanks to it, flexibility had surged, and with the Demonic Alliance's help, I added even more great successes to boost durability and weight.
The stat jumps were just icing on the cake.
For reference, the Death Lord's 50% stat boost applied fully to these additional gains too.
Whether from equipment or bone swaps, all the extra stats got that half-again multiplier.
No wonder it was EX-grade.
And there was still more room to reinforce.
[The 'Main Golem' equips the Sturdy Steel Breastplate Set!]
[The 'Main Golem' equips the Sturdy Steel Shield!]
[The 'Main Golem' equips the Savage Steel Mace!]
[Armament Mounting (B) effect applied!]
[Strength +120, Agility +50, Vitality +120]
With its already massive tank-like build now wrapped in steel gear, the presence was no joke.
“Whoa.”
Sturdy. So sturdy.
That's when it happened.
The golem, staring fixedly at its own body, raised both hands high in delight.
[The 'Main Golem' is extremely pleased with its master's favor!]
[The 'Main Golem' wishes for its master to give it a name!]
[Will you name it?]
“No matter how I look at it, this is Dolsae. Let's go with Dolsae.”
―Groooar.
['Dolsae' is extremely pleased!]
[Dolsae's learning ability greatly increases!]
Fully armed Dolsae.
Strength 660, Vitality 630.
It looked like the kind of guy who could take three hits and dish back one heavy blow.
That's when I finished customizing Dolsae.
The procession to depart for the Dragon-Phoenix Conference was forming. The group numbered nearly 10,000. Warriors swarmed everywhere. Seeing it, Seo Yerim let out an exclamation.
“Wow, there are really so many.”
“The others will bring about this many too.”
“So total of 30,000 gathering?”
“Probably.”
That's when.
She glanced around and brought her mouth close to my ear, as if whispering.
“So… we're being chased by all 30,000?”
“More or less.”
“This looks totally insane no matter how you slice it.”
“You have to be crazy to get strong fast.”
That's when.
A warrior from the procession approached.
“Both of you, please come to the front. You'll be moving in the lead row.”
“Got it.”
The lead row was packed with the Leader of the Demonic Alliance, elders, and more.
Plus the ten candidates participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Conference. Among the 10,000, these were the core forces. The candidates' gazes all turned toward me.
‘The attention is hot.’
Especially the First Young Master Baek Mu-han, who'd been bumped down to third overnight—his eyes were burning.
Not just with fire, but with a look that wanted to tear me apart.
The Second and Third Young Masters.
And the other candidates too. They'd gained a strong rival overnight, so they weren't happy.
I smiled brightly and waved.
“Nice to see you all. Since I'm first, I should be right up front, right?”
“Hah…”
“Big brother. If you're just gonna glare like that, I'm heading out. Anngang, come here.”
“… Yes, Young Master.”
I stood side by side with Anngang at the front.
The Leader, who had been quietly watching the scene, spoke.
“We depart.”
The procession began to move slowly.
* * *
Subtle power plays continued throughout the journey. If the Leader hadn't been nearby, swords would've clashed immediately.
Mealtime.
The Leader and elders gathered in one spot.
The ten candidates and their escorts gathered in another.
‘Trouble's brewing.’
Sure enough.
While the pot boiled, an incident erupted.
At First Young Master Baek Mu-han's sharp glare, the Third Young Master opened fire.
“Man, it's an eyesore. How can some lowborn wench sit at the same table? Ruining the appetite. Don't you all think so?”
“You're right, Young Master. Well, at least her body's decent…”
Slash!
The escort warrior's head flew off mid-mockery.
Anngang—no, Seo Yerim—shook off her blade.
Blood droplets splattered onto the ground.
“Any more and my ears'll rot. Seems our Young Masters have a lot of gripes with me?”
“You insolent bitch…”
The candidates all growled.
But a subtle tremor lurked in their eyes.
They'd heard she'd hunted the Human-Faced Ghost Tree on Heavenly Peak Mountain upon return. So they figured the maid had some skill too.
But this surpassed their wildest expectations.
They'd thought she'd just assisted Baek So-cheon at best.
Instead, it made them wonder if this maid was the true star of the hunt.
A sword strike like a beam of light.
Only a few had clearly seen the escort's neck severed moments ago.
While the candidates hesitated at the display, Kim Minwoo snapped his fingers.
The nearby escort warriors panicked. Skeletons were rising all around the space.
Over a thousand of them.
‘I-Is it this much?’
They knew Baek So-cheon commanded the undead.
But the scale exceeded imagination.
The undead moved with disciplined momentum.
Fully armed to boot.
And he'd summoned them with a single gesture. In contrast, the escort warriors numbered barely thirty.
Elites, sure, but clashing with that many undead would mean heavy losses.
The skeletons raised their weapons. The escort warriors reached for theirs.
A powder keg on the verge of explosion.
“Enough!”
The Leader's voice boomed.
He approached and scanned the surroundings.
“No one knows what trials the Dragon-Phoenix Conference will bring. Moments requiring cooperation may arise. Yet you'll keep crossing blades?”
“…”
“Baek Mu-han.”
“… Yes, Leader.”
“I understand your feelings. You must resent Baek So-cheon. But to go far, you must see broadly. Is antagonizing that child truly beneficial to you?”
“… I was rash.”
“Baek So-cheon.”
“Yes, Leader.”
“You're the same. Though your mothers differ, you're still brothers. Must you engage in fratricide?”
“I'll be careful.”
“From this moment, I will not tolerate any fights. No more provocations.”
With that, the Leader calmed the situation and withdrew.
‘Not bad.’
I had to flex my power once anyway. Otherwise, the provocations would've continued.
The Leader must've thought the same, letting it go right up to the brink.
‘Words alone wouldn't stick.’
Even now, it was like that.
Without seeing the power firsthand, they poked and prodded to rile people up. This should serve as a warning.
Things should proceed quietly from here.
* * *
The Leader's direct warning.
And my display of power.
Thanks to that, the rest of the journey was relatively smooth.
After a week of travel, we arrived at the Dragon-Phoenix Conference site.
The Demonic Cult and Murim Alliance forces were already swarming, waiting. The Leader of the Demonic Alliance, the Heavenly Demon, and the Murim Alliance Leader.
The three conversed.
‘High-level masters really don't age.’
All in their eighties, they said.
They looked about fifty.
Soon, the Leader returned and spoke.
“The Dragon-Phoenix Conference will begin shortly. Prepare yourselves.”
Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
At first, I thought it was like the world's greatest martial arts tournament.
But no.
To be precise, it could be a martial tournament—or not.
‘The test theme changes each time.’
That's why people thought rewards came down from the heavens.
How the Dragon-Phoenix Conference works.
A barrier forms at a designated location.
Only thirty pre-qualified entrants can enter.
Once all candidates are inside, the stage generates, and the trial begins.
The types vary.
A century ago, the final trial was “ride the waterway.”
Thirty people summoned to a flowing river, swimming to the goal—the first three finishers took 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
‘Lots died then too.’
Sabotage was fair game. Just lob sword qi at the leaders.
Two centuries ago, it was mountain climbing; three centuries ago, a tournament.
‘That's why cooperation matters.’
Tournament themes left little room for teamwork. But climbing or swimming differed.
If victory seemed out of reach?
You could sacrifice your rank to trip up rivals for your faction's top contender.
‘Wonder what it'll be.’
Cooperation-heavy? Or individual battle?
Soon.
“It's the barrier!”
A dome-shaped barrier formed.
Under ironclad protection, candidates entered in groups of ten.
Demonic Cult side first.
Then the Murim Alliance.
Finally, the Demonic Alliance candidates entered.
[All candidates have entered.]
[Entering the stage.]
A remote island-like space.
Kim Minwoo was summoned there.
Soon, a message appeared.
[The trial begins.]
[Kill until only the final three remain.]
“… Battle Royale?”
An unexpected theme popped up.