Lantern (8)
Passive Skill
Grade:Legend
Level: 1
Penalty: None
Mana Cost: None
Effects:
• Proves the most noble chivalry.
• At the moment your lord falls into crisis, a dramatic surge of power boils up, making you 10~20% stronger than usual.
• Simply being with the lord you pledge loyalty to increases all stats by 3%, as well as attack power, defense, and skill damage by 3%.
• When fighting to protect your lord from great danger, you feel no fear or submission whatsoever.
• A slightly higher skill may unlock, and upon unlocking, it will far surpass 'Unconditional Loyalty to Brad'.
Explanation: Forged by a lord who spared no means or methods to save you, this is a skill obtainable by only one knight.
This outstanding power stems from Lukio's birthright and his devotion to his lord.
After waking from his stupor, Hyun-soo checked this skill first.
The name had originally been the alien "Unconditional Loyalty to Brad," but it had changed to "Loyal to Hyun-soo."
'Even better.'
Just looking at the skill name made the difference obvious.
The word "unconditional" was gone.
'In exchange, all the skill abilities have been nerfed, but now this skill can grow.'
It was right there in the skill effects.
A higher skill could unlock, and when it did, it would surpass the previous "Unconditional Loyalty to Brad" in concept.
'It means Lukio's loyalty will pierce the heavens once this power unlocks.'
He was looking forward to it.
Right now, Lukio lived for himself, but it wasn't the kind of loyalty that would stake his life.
But the possibility was open that someday he could live, sacrificing everything for Hyun-soo. There was no greater joy than that.
And Hyun-soo had already witnessed it, hadn't he?
'The undefeated knight without the Twin Dragon Swords was a super-named NPC around level 500.'
That put him above even Bella.
Plus, in the current situation, Lukio was the only proper wielder of the buff-type Twin Dragon Sword.
'Once he regains his full power, he'll hit level 530 range.'
Truly an incredible thing.
And Hyun-soo hadn't gained just Lukio in the Enya Kingdom.
There were the powers he'd earned while racing toward the Blood King.
Multi-Title
Grade: S
Special Abilities:
• All stats +15%.
• All attack power and all defense +15%.
• Critical hit chance +41%.
• Reflexes maximized.
• Can view achievement notifications from No-Self State.
Explanation: You unknowingly enter an extreme No-Self State. For that moment, you dominate the battlefield. Granted only to the five users recognized by the system for utmost immersion.
Atop the walls, Hyun-soo had pierced through tens of thousands of troops alone, his hearing blocked out, pain forgotten.
He'd felt adrenaline surging through him, producing movements far superior to his usual.
'I thought I was just imagining I was much stronger than usual, but it wasn't an illusion.'
Entering combat in a system-recognized extreme No-Self State truly made him stronger.
'And it's a multi-title.'
A title given to only five users out of the entire world.
In Ares, played by over 2 billion users, being in the top five was awe-inspiring in itself.
'Does this mean I can achieve that level of immersion in battle now?'
This was one of Hyun-soo's growths.
Many aspiring baseball players struggle to reach the extreme immersion of true Major Leaguers.
But when that grown prospect hits the majors and pulls off peak immersion, it's the same.
This was Hyun-soo's growth, his own power.
And a byproduct of that No-Self State and his growth.
You have purified a total of 3,701 people.
Back then, Hyun-soo's level had been 415.
'Two levels up at this range? That's power-leveling.'
But that was just the start.
You have killed the Blood King.
World message resounds.
The first king falls.
By toppling the Blood King, one of the five throne kings, the other kings now regard you with wariness, your identity unknown.
Fortunate, indeed.
The other kings on the five thrones didn't know who he was.
And they never would.
Enya Kingdom had been a forsaken nation, and its million inhabitants now cherished him.
No day-talkers or night-rats to spill secrets.
The Blood King had been a tough kill from the start.
Thus, he'd gained an unbelievable amount of experience.
Back then, more important than these notifications was how many had chosen to follow him, so he'd ignored them. But now, they filled him with awe.
'Thirteen levels...?'
He'd jumped straight to level 430.
A thrilling shiver hit him late.
Now, Hyun-soo was convinced he could splendidly defend this territory in the Great Atlas War.
'Damn...'
Checking the raid results late sent chills down his spine.
All that was left was loot and gold, right?
But Hyun-soo was taken aback by what dropped.
64,031 gold drops.
The Blood King dropped 64,000 gold—about 64 million won in real money.
Hyun-soo was dumbfounded.
Most named monsters he'd faced dropped insane amounts.
'Why would a throne king drop so little...?'
Hyun-soo had expected at least 500,000 gold from the Blood King.
He was a king, after all.
One fact dawned on him.
"......"
Enya Kingdom resembled a kingdom of the dead.
It had been on the brink of collapse.
"......"
His eyes reddened.
The Blood King, whom he'd expected the richest rewards from, ruled a beggar nation—and was broke himself.
'And no real drops...'
All the monster had dropped was junk.
But Hyun-soo shook his head.
'No, it's fine.'
He swallowed his tears.
It was okay.
There was a magical notification to lift his spirits instantly.
Atlas's military strength increases by 254%.
You have met the conditions to rise to Marquis.
Congratulations.
You have become the user with more subjects and troops than any noble in the world.
Congratulations.
You have become the user with the most special NPCs of any noble in the world.
You acquire Overwhelm 200.
You acquire Reputation 500.
'Heh...'
'Ehehehehehe.'
He knew the noble with the most subjects worldwide had under 100,000.
Troops probably under 5,000.
Of course, only known cases—some noble somewhere might be building secretly.
But by known data alone, Hyun-soo walked a peerless path.
Grinning ear to ear, Hyun-soo scrolled down and soured.
A fact he already knew emerged.
Atlas's financial status is at its lowest.
Unfortunately, that hadn't changed.
'No, it did change...'
Atlas's financial ledger updates.
Atlas's finances are disastrous.
Worse, even.
The notifications explained why.
Finances accumulated in the treasury are woefully insufficient compared to the increased subject count.
Housing is insufficient compared to the increased subject count.
Farmland is insufficient compared to the increased subject count.
Special products are insufficient compared to the increased subject count.
In simple terms, mouths to feed had multiplied—about five times over.
One loaf that fed one now had to stretch to five or six.
Another side effect of rapid growth.
'Plus killing the Blood King, who turned out to be dirt poor.'
Other issues too.
Lord Hyun-soo has promised part of a true World Tree to Praam Kingdom.
Failure to fulfill may sour relations with Praam Kingdom.
Lord Hyun-soo received 100,000 troops from Goyad Kingdom, owing compensation to families of fallen soldiers.
Failure to pay may incite subject resentment.
Situation wasn't good.
Side effects of rapid growth hit too hard.
Normally, killing a king would yield astronomical rewards to cover it.
'Not just food. Housing shortage too. And Atlas's scale now fits a grand territory.'
But the notification said:
Insufficient for grand territory status.
Not manpower, but funds.
Hyun-soo's mouth tasted bitter.
'I made the best choice.'
No one could blame him; it was an undeniable fact.
The poor outcome was just bad luck.
And there was one thing Hyun-soo hadn't realized yet.
It was something easily conceivable, but overlooked amid "worst situation" notifications.
Resting in Enya Kingdom's one fancy residence, Hyun-soo soon faced Lukio again.
"In four days, Enya Kingdom's subjects will become soil—or join you."
To Hyun-soo, now aware of Atlas's finances, it felt like a death sentence.
'How to feed and house 130,000 mouths.'
Yet Lukio smiled oddly.
"......It's all thanks to you."
What did that mean?
Was the knight ignorant of a lord's woes?
"Come see."
Hyun-soo shuffled out, shoulders slumped.
Then he froze.
"......What's this?"
Rubbing his eyes, Hyun-soo saw Sun, the Blood King's former deputy, standing before him.
Sun greeted him with a smile utterly different from before.
Regrettably, Sun had chosen rest.
But his expression was so serene.
"Saintess Aria will pray for our rest in four days. All thanks to Lord Hyun-soo."
Even those desiring rest feared death as humans do.
But with Saintess Aria, it changed.
They could now embrace the world's most peaceful, beautiful rest—free of fear or terror.
And something Hyun-soo hadn't even considered emerged.
"We're entering rest anyway."
Sun looked around.
The residence filled with people gazed at him.
"We entering rest have no more greed or lust for gold."
Yes.
King a beggar? Nation crumbling?
Enya Kingdom still had a million people.
Know the fun fact?
'100 won from a million makes 100 million.'
"Please accept this. Our final gift."
Hyun-soo looked around, swept in hot shivers.
860,000 subjects offer everything for you.
Some a rusty pickaxe, a dusty heirloom, an old antique, emergency savings or property meant for later.
Wagons loaded with it stretched 200 meters.
To lift Atlas's "worst" finances from bottom to high, minimum 2 billion won needed.
Bottom to low: 2.5 billion.
Bottom to mid: about 3.5 billion.
But the notification rang.
Atlas's finances change from disastrous to top-tier!
Hyun-soo was endlessly grateful.
'140,000 live for me.'
'860,000 departing leave their all for me.'
Curiosity stirred.
Their "final gift" that lifted finances from bottom to top.
How much was it?