Chapter 73: Shadow (1)
Arms and legs.
For a warrior specialized in tanking, legs were far more important body parts. You could lose one arm and just hold a shield with the other, but lose a leg and you were done as a tank.
If your lower body was weak, defense itself became impossible.
And on one leg? That was game over. Even with a prosthetic, it was the same. Jo Pilwook's career as an awakener was shattered in that instant.
Of course, that wasn't Kim Minwoo's concern.
Who was the one who tried to smash his shoulder first?
“Take him away.”
At those words, the Dorim Group's security personnel, who had been pacing anxiously outside, rushed in and hoisted Jo Pilwook up before sprinting off. Some were even carrying his mangled leg.
‘No point anyway.’
The system had already ruled it a permanent disability.
Even Hua Tuo himself couldn't reattach it now.
The awakeners who had stood as his guarantors approached. Their eyes were uniformly filled with shock.
They had watched the fight with their own two eyes, not through a broadcast.
The on-site immersion and nail-biting tension were on a whole different level from what viewers could experience.
‘Honestly, I didn't think he'd lose, but…’
‘To think he'd dominate like this…’
An awakener who had shone in an A+ rank gate.
When he readily accepted the duel, they had assumed he had some trump card.
Kim Minwoo had properly proved his worth. An unbelievable number of summons for something only around level 100.
Even novice skeletons changed the game in droves. A million could make you faint, but two million?
The sight was overwhelming from the start.
A massive horde straight out of a necromancer textbook.
And that wasn't all.
Beyond the skeletons, Kim Minwoo had special summons too.
The giant golem.
Its stats were unimaginable.
The astonishing strength that blocked Jo Pilwook's charge head-on!
And Cedric, that undead…
‘… I'd struggle in a one-on-one myself.’
He toyed with Jo Pilwook, displaying terrifying spear mastery and seasoned skill.
No wonder even the hot-tempered Jo Pilwook ignored all attacks and charged at Kim Minwoo in desperation.
It was the right call, even in the eyes of the awakeners. Taking out the summoner was textbook against summoner classes.
The problem was…
‘… A monster.’
‘His swordsmanship is just…’
This necromancer was strongest in his main body.
Jo Pilwook was a seasoned gate crawler himself, yet he was played like a toy.
Especially when he read the warrior's skill motion and countered a step faster—they nearly gasped in awe.
That was one of the pinnacle techniques even most S-rank awakeners couldn't pull off.
Only then did the awakeners understand.
Why Sword Sage had insisted on a 5:5 odds split. Kim Minwoo wasn't just any necromancer now.
He was an anomalous type where the main body was strongest.
And even scarier…
‘… He wouldn't have shown his all against a mere Jo Pilwook.’
That was the fact.
Even summoning that many was probably calculated.
He had the skill to slice them down with his sword alone. Maybe it was to dispel the doubting eyes about this incident.
“… That was an amazing duel to watch.”
“Your swordsmanship was incredible. No wonder you cleared that A+ gate.”
“You're impressive. Here's my card…”
The awakeners swarmed, desperately trying to forge even a sliver of connection.
Give him time, and he'd reach the top for sure. A small tie was pure profit.
Kim Minwoo smiled and handed out his own cards.
“You're too kind. I'm still just a newbie.”
The conversation flowed in a warm, friendly atmosphere.
* * *
‘Now I just need to supply the goods through crafting…’
A near month had passed delving the gate. Good thing he'd stocked up plenty beforehand.
Thanks to that, sales continued without selling out.
With no clue how much time the Death Lord's second arrangement would take, it was best to stock up smoothly before leaving.
Last time, supplying 100,000 gear pieces netted about 600 billion. Pure profit after material costs.
And this time, it wasn't F-rank gear but E-rank for awakeners.
The skeletons' crafting skills had leveled up, improving item quality.
Higher-grade materials meant a solid magic infusion rate too.
‘One crafting session, and I'll rake in trillions.’
He'd heard Ilsung's gear sales were a massive hit. Some awakeners camped in tents, buying and reselling at the entrance.
Makes sense—resell once, and you pocket millions minimum.
Far beyond a low-rank awakener's daily take.
Hence the frenzy.
He harbored no ill will toward the resellers.
‘Not like I'd tell them to stop.’
He priced low to spark buzz on purpose. Once it blew up, overseas awakeners might come knocking.
Or open direct branches abroad. The gear market was infinite. Craft it, and money duplicated.
He left the training center for the workshop. Materials were piled mountain-high.
Park Siwoo, loaded with subspatial rings, had steadily transported them in his absence.
He fired off a KakaoTalk message.
[Kim Minwoo]
—At the workshop. You moved a ton. Good work.
[Park Siwoo]
—lol!
(Thumbs-up emoji)
[Kim Minwoo]
—What level?
[Park Siwoo]
—127.
[Seo Yerim]
—Huh? Already 127? Wasn't it 90s last time? Fast.
[Park Siwoo]
—Sis, that was a month ago lol… Gotta level to keep up with bro;
[Kim Minwoo]
—Yeah. Not that fast really. Step it up.
[Park Siwoo]
— 😭…
(Crying emoji)
[Seo Yerim]
—But what's this workshop?
[Park Siwoo]
—Bro's gear-making spot. I'm hauling materials with subspatial rings lol!
[Seo Yerim]
—Oh.
[Kim Minwoo]
—Gonna craft gear now.
(Running emoji)
His stats had changed drastically since before he entered the martial-arts gate.
[New Title List]
[1. Monster of the Entry Realm]
[Effect: All stats +20]
The new title from the Trial Grounds.
‘Top-tier.’
Worth clearing that murderous difficulty. Plus All Stats +100 from Ascension Ring.
+50 from superior spirit elixirs bought last time, +20 from Gold Dragon Pill from the Demonic Alliance Leader, and Sword Shadow Pill too.
Kim Minwoo unequipped his gear one by one.
‘This is the best feeling.’
Accessories you rarely swap. Unequip everything else and check near-pure stats—this was when the life-risking grind felt most rewarding.
His current stats…
‘Status window.’
[Name: Kim Minwoo (24)]
[Class: Necromancer]
[Level: 151]
[Mana: 7,150/7,150]
[Titles: 24]
[Skills (9/72): Death Lord (EX), Cedric Summon (SSS), Land of Death (S), Bone Golem Summon (A), Bone Exchange (B), Weapon Equip (B), Curse of Aging (D)+9, Skeleton Mage Summon (E)+9, Skeleton Summon (F)+9]
[Strength: 596 (+59)] [Agility: 596 (+59)] [Vitality: 572 (+57)] [Magic: 650 (+65)]
‘Nice.’
All stats breezed past 600 average.
Previously, Untouchable boosted Strength and Agility higher, but now Magic led.
‘Makes sense.’
+50 Magic from 4th Apostle's Ring. +10 more as Beast Lord. No wonder Magic surged.
‘Already three solid accessories.’
Ascension aside.
4th Apostle's Ring from crushing Belitas, Shadow Tracker Ring from Lee Seoyoon—prime stuff.
And that?
Necklace from the orc gate. Re-enterable at 251, with two slots.
Slot in Witch and Ice Dragon gems?
‘Jackpot guaranteed.’
Four top accessories.
Leaping from upper to pinnacle tier.
Two months since possessing this body. Progress-wise, still tutorial phase.
His evaluation so far?
‘Top-grade.’
The rewards for risking life were sweetly huge. Other Kim Minwoos at 151 had average stats around 400.
And took two-three more months to hit it.
Compared, this was demonic starting point. Changes weren't just his.
Cedric.
He hit 151 too, gaining a new skill.
Shadow Spear (SS).
Simple effect.
Duplicates a shadow spear. Wield one, and the shadow mirrors it for double strikes.
10 minutes of doubled attack power.
SS-grade worthy.
Kim Minwoo equipped his level 151 set.
[Equipping 'Gloomy Necromancer Set'!]
[Strength +50, Agility +40, Vitality +50, Magic +100!]
Stats ballooned again with new gear.
Indomitable Soul's 10% bonus pushed Magic to 825 total.
Mana 8,250.
[3,300 Skeletons summoned!]
3,300 summons stared at him.
“What're you waiting for? Craft.”
Clatter!
Skeletons sprang into action.
Items poured out in seconds.
“Hayangi. Food time.”
—Kyu.
Hayangi zoomed in, gobbling attribute items.
‘Gonna grind a few days.’
Once 60 trillion hits, time for shopping.
* * *
Over the past few days, he'd mass-produced and supplied gear. Quality and quantity both up, so margins were insane.
Near 1.5 million per piece.
Prices skyrocketed with rank jumps, so even cheap sales profited big.
Craft, deliver, get advance margin.
Amid money-printing, he snagged C-rank skillbooks on the side. Three days later.
In the auction house.
Someone approached.
‘Here he comes.’
Ordinary face.
Only standout: long scar by the eye.
Common for awakeners.
Yet Kim Minwoo recognized him instantly. Famous villain from Gate Hunter.
‘Shadow Leader. Han Baekgil.’
Simple spawn condition.
Build enough infamy in-game.
Then he sneaks up one day.
To scout.
Of course, extreme good alignment meant assassination over scout.
‘Not my alignment now.’
Had to show good vibes first. A thug turning over a new leaf doesn't count.
If anything, chaotic neutral vibe.
Soon Han Baekgil grinned brightly.
“Mr. Kim! Huge fan. Mind a signature?”
“Sure. No problem.”
Standard scout pitch.
For now.
As he scribbled on the paper and pen Han Baekgil offered.
Wriggle.
Something weird between the paper. Like hundreds of earthworms crawling—bizarre pattern.
Then Han Baekgil's face hardened.
“Mr. Kim, you're a tremendously talented awakener, aren't you?”
‘What?’
Hundreds of encounters with Han Baekgil, but this pattern was a first.
Showing some freaky image and monologuing?
‘What pattern is this?’
He stared at Han Baekgil.