Chapter 159
Chapter 159
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 159
Chapter Title: Loyalty Oath
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'Hmm.'
As I opened my eyes, a new space came into view.
A hazy environment, just like when I'd used memory reconstruction.
There, two ghosts gazed at me with warm eyes.
Boom!
First, the skeleton warrior in his youthful form slammed down his shield.
"I see. So it was you who resolved the lifelong regret that haunted me."
It wasn't the greenhorn appearance I'd seen before.
Unlike his current young look.
He exuded an aura similar to the elderly Caden from the memories.
"Yes, the blood that flowed like rivers because of me, the corpses piled like mountains... those horrific memories... you erased them all. Ah, thanks to your white bone legion, we achieved a peace that satisfied everyone with minimal sacrifice."
He murmured fervently.
Then, as if he'd made up his mind.
"I, Caden..."
He slowly knelt down.
Thud.
The moment his knee touched the ground, he bowed his head.
Defence Master.
The fearsome existence rumored to block even a dragon's breath.
The knee of the hero who had dared to build a force against the mighty millennium empire and spread his ideals was truly heavy.
"To the benefactor who melted the resentment in my heart before my death, I pledge my lifelong loyalty."
Boom!
His shield slammed down once more.
Oh.
So that's why the skeleton warrior always made these gestures.
It was Caden's habit, huh?
"My shield will protect my benefactor forever... even if my body turns to dust, my resolve to guard you shall never waver."
[Defence Master 'Caden' acknowledges you as his true master.]
[All stats increase by 10.]
A resolute declaration.
After murmuring to himself, he held the pose without moving.
Ooooh.
The skeleton warrior's pretty cool.
Then, beside him.
"I feel the same."
The saintess in her youthful form stepped forward.
"Though I was a priestess who served the god of light... the one who truly saved me was not a god, but you..."
Even when she was called the Great Saintess.
Dana, who had lived a hellish life in her past memories.
"Your soldiers fought for justice. They weren't swept away by the violence and lost in excitement. They protected the weak, avoided needless slaughter, and healed the sick."
The skeleton warrior's shield protecting the weak.
The skeleton healer's touch curing the afflicted.
She seemed to be recalling the war against the empire.
After a long moment.
"I, Dana, as well..."
She gracefully lowered herself beside Caden.
"With all my heart, I respect you for pulling me from those hellish memories..."
Dana lowered her gaze like Caden.
"From now on, I proclaim that I shall serve not a god, but you. I will engrave your words as my gospel in my heart, become your devotee, and swear upon my soul to honor only you."
[Great Saintess 'Dana' acknowledges you as her true master.]
[All stats increase by 10.]
'Whoa.'
I marveled inwardly.
It was a strange feeling.
Is this what it felt like for nobles receiving loyalty from ancient knights?
'They sure know how to make a dramatic oath.'
The skeleton warrior and skeleton healer.
No, now Caden and Dana.
Perhaps because they were the past lives of my summons, my chest grew heavy with emotion too.
I shared their feelings.
'The elders say they're fools consumed by past memories.'
But on the contrary, wasn't it because of those 'regrets' that they came to my side?
At the very least, I had to understand them.
Because I was their master.
['Caden's memories and will have been fully inherited by 'Bone4.']
['Bone4's name changes to 'Caden.']
['Dana's memories and will have been fully inherited by 'Bone7.']
['Bone7's name changes to 'Dana.']
Whoosh!
Caden and Dana.
The two ghosts crumbled transparently into the air.
They had fully merged with my summons.
In other words, the number of truly awakened bones had finally increased to five.
Which also meant I'd completely cleared the catalyst dungeon.
How do I know?
Because, just like before, a new catalyst item had arrived.
[Rewards arrive!]
[Congratulations!]
[You acquire item, 'Magic Dropout's Diary' (S-Grade).]
[Ding!]
[This item is associated with your class.]
'Magic Dropout?'
The new catalyst was a notebook. A fairly thick one, like any magic tome.
'Magic means Bone5, right?'
I caressed the notebook.
[Item: Magic Dropout's Diary]
[Grade: S]
[Type: Catalyst]
[Description: The root that can uncover the secrets of a hidden ruin.]
[Effect 1: Unlocks dungeon, 'Magic Dropout.']
[Effect 2: Item bound to Hunter 'Joo Dong-hoon.']
[Effect 3: This item can only be activated by Hunters S-Grade or higher.]
[Effect 4: Activating this item requires 'Ancient Magic Fragment' (SS-Grade).]
'What?'
I frowned.
Never mind the new difficulty that activates at S-Grade or higher.
It requires an SS-Grade item?
One I don't even know where to get?
'And Ancient Magic...'
Wasn't that the genie-like entity from the [Wish-Granting Scroll], like in a magic lamp?
An SSS-Grade existence, no less.
So its fragment is SS-Grade?
"Whew."
This felt bad.
Somehow, I had a feeling things would get incredibly complicated from here, with difficulty spiking dramatically.
'Okay, putting that aside.'
I stowed the item away and immediately pulled up the status windows of the awakened ones.
'First, Caden.'
[Name: Caden]
[Vitality: 650/650]
[Unique Ability: Skeleton Lord]
[Class: Shielder]
[Grade: S]
[Strength: 64] [Agility: 61] [Vitality: 64] [Mana: 63] [Technique: 60]
[Possessed Skills]
-'Advanced Block' (Lv.5)
-'Advanced Taunt' (Lv.5)
-'Indomitable Shield' (Lv.3)
-'Must Protect' (Lv.3)
-'Skeleton Summon' (Lv.Max)
'Whoa.'
I marveled inwardly.
First off, the stats had surged.
Not quite at Sun or Eldrin's level, but with proper training, he'd catch up in no time.
'And new skills.'
In addition to the existing ones.
'Indomitable Shield,' a wide-area defense that blocks an entire zone with a massive transparent shield.
'Must Protect,' a buff skill that boosts defense for allies in a set range.
'Nice.'
I nodded in satisfaction.
The skeleton warrior, now Caden, had fully evolved into a complete tank.
'Next, Dana...'
[Name: Dana]
[Vitality: 600/600]
[Unique Ability: Skeleton Lord]
[Class: Healer]
[Grade: S]
[Strength: 49] [Agility: 50] [Vitality: 48] [Mana: 57] [Technique: 50]
[Possessed Skills]
-'Advanced Healing' (Lv.3)
-'Advanced Status Recovery' (Lv.3)
-'Salvation' (Lv.3)
-'Radiance' (Lv.3)
-'Recovery' (Lv.Max)
-'Skeleton Summon' (Lv.Max)
"Whoa!"
As I examined each detail, I let out an exclamation.
The stats were impressive, but.
The new skills were insane.
'Advanced Status Recovery' was one thing.
"Salvation and Radiance are broken."
'Salvation' (Lv.3) was top-tier healing that applied Advanced Healing to all allies in range.
'Radiance' (Lv.3) granted 'invincibility' to a target for about 3 seconds.
Both had a once-per-day penalty.
But their utility was tremendous.
'Especially invincibility...'
If used right, it could be a total game-changer.
As I pored over the status window and skill descriptions.
[Congratulations!]
[Stage completely cleared!]
Time to return to Theme 5.
[Elapsed Time – 26:30:50]
Having far exceeded the five hours required.
* * *
Flash!
As the light faded, I opened my eyes again.
[You endured 5 hours.]
[Passed Stage 5.]
[Your five senses return.]
[Error.]
[No target present.]
.....
[You endured 5 hours.]
[Passed Stage 5.]
[Your five senses return.]
[Error.]
[No target present.]
.....
Messages filled my vision.
At the same time.
The lava zone and traps before me.
The lava had hardened into rock, and the arrow-shooting mechanisms no longer functioned.
Also.
My six companions, excluding myself, were gone.
Whatever the results, they'd already moved on to Theme 6.
A lot of time had passed.
'Hmm.'
So what now?
"Whew."
As I stretched and looked around.
[Target confirmed!]
[Beep!]
[Error.]
[Target endured for 26 hours, 30 minutes, 50 seconds.]
[Rechecking plausibility.]
"Oh?"
A new message appeared in my vision.
[Please wait a moment.]
[Before proceeding to 'Theme 6,' calculating rewards.]
No way.
They're acknowledging the excess over five hours?
My status showed senses returning fully upon passing Stage 5.
'Please.'
Recognize it.
Earning through effort is great.
But snagging extras like this feels refreshingly delicious sometimes.
'Pleeease, System.'
I clasped my hands together in prayer to the unknown status window.
How much time passed?
[Ding!]
[Stage 5 clear reward is 'SS-Grade.']
[The appropriate reward for you is 'SS-Grade Gift Box.']
[The Gift Box bestows the most needed item matching the grade.]
What.
Not giving it?
For real?
As disappointment showed on my face, another message appeared.
[The System partially acknowledges your plausibility.]
[You did not endure a full 'five hours' properly.]
[Of course, that part is acknowledged. One dungeon rule disregards means and methods.]
[However, the rest cannot be acknowledged.]
Whoa, this System.
It had firmer principles than I thought.
With Shadow Shepherd before, it decisively said I qualified.
This time, it's saying no dice.
'Yeah, even I'd think giving this much would be too OP.'
That's why I prayed without expecting it.
'Rather.'
I liked this cleanliness.
Wasn't this what I'd wanted since my E-Grade Hunter days?
Fair, equal opportunities.
A world where you get exactly what you earn.
"Yeah, I'll accept it this time."
I nodded.
Honestly, Theme 5 was tough even for me.
Without Ancient Magic, I might not have passed Stage 1, let alone 5.
Satisfied with clearing pain-free.
[Selecting appropriate reward guarantees 100% acquisition.]
[However, you may spend the probability for up to 2 stages higher grade reward.]
[Choose carefully.]
[100% acquisition - SS-Grade Gift Box]
[30% acquisition - SSS-Grade Gift Box]
[1% acquisition - ???-Grade Gift Box]
[Failure to acquire higher grade yields no reward.]
Again.
The moment of choice.
"Whew."
What to do.
Obviously, take the 100% SS-Grade, right?
But there's this thing.
I've only ever gotten ???-Grade so far, so suddenly SS-Grade feels off somehow.
'Might as well go all in?'
Hard to believe, but I'm naturally risk-averse.
Hate gambling, hate smokes, invest only in safe bets.
'At least outside dungeons and training...'
But why.
Today, I feel like going wild.
SS-Grade doesn't satisfy.
"Screw it, whatever."
An impulsive choice.
One I'd never make normally.
If Elder were here, he'd scold his disciple for emptying his brain and trusting luck.
[1% acquisition - ???-Grade Gift Box]
I chose the 1% probability.
'With Caden and Dana awakened anyway.'
Might as well for the milestone.
Hahaha.
Whatever the result, I'd enjoy it.
About 3 seconds later.
Fwaaah!
A mystical light enveloped my entire vision.
[Reward selected.]
[Congratulations!]
[★☆JACKPOT☆★]
[You acquire '???-Grade Gift Box.']
"Huh? Wha?"
I blinked.
What.
'No way?'
My jaw dropped.
In all my life.
My first true ★☆JACKPOT☆★ had exploded.