Chapter 69: Ripples (2)
● One of the main characters, ‘Seo Yerim,’ has fulfilled her heartfelt wish!
● You have been awarded 200 Achievement Points!
● You possess the Achievement Vending Machine! Points are doubled!
[The Achievement Shop has been unlocked!]
[Grade: Silver (Total Points Earned: 1,030)]
[Current Achievement Points: 500]
‘Fulfilled her wish, huh…’
It seemed she’d earned the Sword Sage’s recognition. With her archery talent, it was more than possible.
Thanks to that, his points had jumped straight to 500.
‘The vending machine really is a godsend.’
He scanned the item list.
[Item List]
[1. Limit Breakthrough Elixir]
[Required Achievement Points: 100]
[2. Revenant Cocktail]
[Required Achievement Points: 100]
[3. Necromancer Equipment Random Draw Ticket (Legend ~ Ancient)]
[Required Achievement Points: 300]
[4. S-Grade Bound Skillbook]
[Required Achievement Points: 500]
[5.???]
[6.???]
‘Revenant Cocktail, huh.’
What could it be that costs a whopping 100 Achievement Points?
He checked the details.
[Revenant Cocktail]
[Grade: Special]
[A cocktail that revenants can drink. Grants special effects upon consumption.]
[Effect 1. Consumable only by undead.]
[Effect 2. Increases all stats of the target undead by 10% upon consumption.]
[Effect 3. Low chance to grant a skill to the undead.]
[Effect 4. Slightly activates the senses of the target undead upon consumption.]
It was a type of undead enhancement item.
‘Not bad at all.’
Summons couldn’t use elixirs, skillbooks, or titles. Unless it was a special case like Cedric, they were naturally much weaker than regular awakeners.
‘Stat boosts and skills, huh.’
On top of that, sensory activation.
Very appealing.
Especially since he had Cedric.
If he fed a cocktail to the guy who was already pulling his weight?
He’d go absolutely berserk.
That said, it wasn’t something to buy right now. Even if points doubled every time, they were still a precious resource.
Plus, the other items were no slouches either.
No need to mention the Limit Breakthrough Elixir.
‘The equipment draw ticket looks good too.’
Legend- and Ancient-grade gear.
Even if it wasn’t an accessory, items like those were inherently hard to come by.
‘That’s why they’re wrapped up as rares in every tier.’
Ideally, he’d want Unique or higher gear.
But supply was the issue.
Even Uniques were rare at auction houses.
Legendaries or Ancients?
Those didn’t even hit the public market—they went to private VVIP auctions.
Prices started in the billions, and the 10% fees were brutal.
‘Gotta swing by the Sky Auction House sometime.’
The most extravagant auction, hosted by the System once a year.
It featured high-level top-grade gear, accessories, and more. Fees were a reasonable 2%.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t open to just anyone who wanted in.
‘You need an invitation.’
The System selected exactly a thousand people worldwide.
Usually based on level, fame, funds, and such.
It was early February now.
‘Invites probably go out around April.’
Then the auction opens in May, about a month later.
One reason he was starting to move in earnest.
The criteria were strict—sudden fame bursts wouldn’t cut it.
He needed to build it up from now to maybe snag one.
Anyway.
‘300 points for gear isn’t bad either.’
Necromancer-specific equipment, after all.
There might be better and worse, but no total duds.
‘The S-Grade skillbook’s solid too.’
Bound, no less.
No chance of a lemon there.
An S-Grade skill would be useful for a good long while.
‘Tough choice.’
Everything was too good. If points were unlimited, he’d snag them all.
‘Gotta buy something, though…’
Hoarding wasn’t ideal.
Especially with the Death Lord’s second allotment coming up soon. After much deliberation, Kim Minwoo made his pick.
The S-Grade Bound Skillbook.
No immediate need for the Limit Breakthrough Elixir, and while the Revenant Cocktail was nice, prioritizing his own growth over Cedric’s made sense.
He could nurture Cedric once he had points to spare.
‘Gear’s a bit regrettable, but…’
Still, skillbook over gear.
[Purchase the S-Grade Bound Skillbook?]
“Of course.”
[You have received the S-Grade Bound Skillbook!]
[Using the Skillbook!]
Light poured out.
Soon after.
[You have acquired the Necromancer Skillbook, Land of Death (S)!]
‘Land of Death, huh.’
He checked the details.
[Land of Death (S)]
[Level Restriction: 151+]
[Consumes 1,000 Mana to turn a designated area into the Land of Death for 2 hours.]
[Effect 1. Enemies standing in the Land of Death have their movements hindered and continuously lose vitality.]
[Effect 2. Enemies who die in the Land of Death revive as undead.]
[Effect 3. Undead standing in the Land of Death receive stat corrections.]
‘An AoE skill.’
Not great for single targets. Mana cost was insane.
But in group fights?
‘Huge impact.’
His side gets buffs, enemies lose vitality, get debuffed left and right, and even turn into undead on death.
He tested the skill, and a massive circle appeared before him.
‘Wide range.’
Wider than expected.
Everything in sight was covered. About the size of a few sports fields combined.
“Nice.”
The skill’s biggest strength seemed to be its coverage.
If a group battle broke out during the Death Lord’s summons with Cedric, this would shine.
‘Worthy of S-Grade.’
He nodded in satisfaction.
* * *
The news spreading across the world.
It wasn’t just the public paying attention.
The Shadow was too.
Numbers One through Seven were all gathered.
They’d been carrying out their missions while hunting the killer of Lee Seoyoon.
Despite digging through forged IDs, chaebols, and politics, no solid suspects.
They’d half-given up on the investigation.
Then the news dropped.
Kim Minwoo, who cleared an A+ Rank Gate solo with the Sword Sage.
About that guy.
“You think it’s real?”
“The Sword Sage has pride that pierces the heavens. She’d cut out her own tongue before making up lies.”
“No wonder no promising leads in the investigation…”
“Has to be him who killed Seoyoon.”
Everyone nodded.
Kim Minwoo.
Had the power to forge and erase IDs effortlessly.
And that?
Just level 100s, matching the Sword Sage’s clear share.
With that skill and talent, he’d have been insanely strong even in lower levels.
Rampaging in an A+ Gate now—what chance did a B-rank like Seoyoon have back then?
He’d have swept her in a gate easy.
Han Baekgil’s eyes gleamed.
‘Kim Minwoo. So it was you.’
Finally found the new face who took out Seoyoon.
“Boss, don’t you want him?”
Han Baekgil nodded.
Of course he did.
Even ignoring wealth, the leveling speed was insane.
Top-tier skill and talent to boot.
An awakener who made Seoyoon look like a joke.
If they could recruit him to Shadow, he’d be a massive asset later.
“I’ll make contact.”
“…Even you, Boss? Guy’s got everything. Not crazy like Seoyoon either.”
“Can’t just let him go, though.”
“True, but…”
Everyone nodded at Han Baekgil’s words.
Most here held high social status.
Key positions in top guilds, some even masters.
So they knew.
An awakener growing that fast would stir storms. Soon threaten their interests.
A typhoon doesn’t uproot trees on purpose.
The trees just get swept away.
That guy was a typhoon.
A super typhoon at that.
Doing nothing was the worst option. Two months, and he’d grown this much.
In half a year, Shadow might not touch him.
Then they’d cower in hiding.
Recruit or eliminate.
They had to clash somehow.
Of course, Han Baekgil wasn’t charging in blindly.
“We can offer him special power. We’ve got something to dangle.”
“…Boss, you mean baptize him right away?”
“If recruitment works, we’d have to.”
“Hmm…”
Numbers One through Seven fell silent.
Baptism.
Power from a great being, enabling rapid growth. But not free.
Periodic ‘sacrifices’ and missions.
Worth it, though.
That’s why they were here.
Hence the gravity.
Baptism was a shared pool.
One recipient gets full power.
Fastest growth. But more dilute it.
One through Seven proved themselves through trials following Han Baekgil.
Even Seoyoon rolled in the dirt before baptism.
In the silence, Han Baekgil spoke.
“I know nobody’s thrilled. But any other way to convince him?”
“…Nah, doubt it. Telling him to grind from the bottom like Seoyoon? Too high-tier for that.”
Everyone nodded.
A monster leveling faster than Isabella herself.
What would he lack to bother?
They needed to hook him now.
Recruitment would be a huge win.
“Fine. I’m for it.”
“Me too.”
Unanimous.
“But if recruitment fails? Eliminate him?”
Silence at the question. Elimination wasn’t easy.
Not a gang rush. Target’s status meant messy fallout.
Killing in reality? Near impossible. He’d get caught for sure.
So, inside a gate…
“…We’ll discuss that later.”
Everyone nodded.
With that, Shadow’s leader, Han Baekgil, vanished.