Chapter 85
Chapter 85
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: rsk yv ct ymu bhy 85i
-----------------------------------------------------------------
```html
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: 10th Ascension
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Emerald-leaved forests that glowed with an otherworldly light in the Emerald Living Zone.
The Golden Coal Mine, which had once sustained an entire kingdom and birthed a mining legend in ages past.
The granary lands of the eternal sun, soaking up daylight only to shine through the night.
The monsoon zone, perpetually shrouded in rain and mist year-round.
As Leyzon's party passed through these regions, they steadily cleared dungeon after dungeon.
And finally...
Leyzon had completed the 10th Ascension quest.
The pivotal moment of advancing from mid-tier pioneer to high-tier pioneer.
He had finally crossed that threshold.
Leyzon let out a cheer of triumph.
The toughest hurdle for any mid-tier pioneer: the 9th Ascension.
'Mid-tier dungeons at 9th Ascension and above are surprisingly hard to find.'
Once you surpass this wall, things get a lot smoother.
High-tier dungeons from 10th Ascension onward? There are tons of them.
"Hoo, that wasn't easy."
Leyzon wore a satisfied smile.
Detouring to clear dungeons steadily on the eastward path had paid off.
'From 10th Ascension up to just before 15th, I can skyrocket through them.'
Leyzon grinned, recalling the growth acceleration he'd stack next.
Hero-grade fools, just you wait.
I'll catch up to you in the blink of an eye.
"Leyzon, are we heading to ascend now?"
At that moment, Hanok asked with sparkling eyes.
He'd filled his ascension EXP long ago, but with all the incidents the party had faced lately, dungeon runs had taken a backseat, pushing him back a bit.
Still, on this eastward journey, he'd completed his ascension quest alongside Leyzon.
His eyes gleamed with anticipation—he yearned to grow strong enough to stand side by side with the Shadow Warlord one day.
"Yeah, we are. And we're passing right by a perfect spot."
The road to the eastern edge was long.
But along the way lay a major city.
The empire's largest territory in the east.
The Imperba Ducal Lands.
One of only two ducal territories in the entire empire.
Leyzon planned to ascend there.
'And...'
The Imperba Ducal Lands housed a black market.
'Can't leave a skill slot empty forever.'
After this ascension, even excluding the Speed Reading [C] for the manuscript...
One slot would remain open.
Thanks to his undead, he had plenty of skills already.
But that didn't justify wasting a slot.
'If the perfect skillbook for me shows up this time...'
Leyzon had the funds to buy it, even if it meant drawing the empire's pursuit.
He was headed to the sparsely populated eastern fringes anyway.
No real loss if they came hunting.
'Those necromancer idiots stirring up trouble are actually helping.'
Hopefully, they'd keep loudly proclaiming necromancer supremacy.
"Syria, how long to the Imperba Ducal Lands?"
"About half a day, I think~!"
Leyzon decided to take it easy after hearing her.
Smooth sailing lately had lightened his mood.
'As long as the empire doesn't crumble.'
Wandering like this might not be so bad.
'Of course, I'll still see the ending.'
Once he set a goal, he saw it through.
The first dungeon ending was progressing steadily.
The second nation-building ending was taking solid shape too.
Though nation-building would drain his wallet hard.
'Time to sell off some decent gear to cover costs.'
Nation-building ate money like crazy from the start.
Better to stockpile funds early.
With his path reaffirmed, half a day slipped by, and dusk settled in.
"Leyzon, there's the ducal lands up ahead."
Syria ran up beside him to point it out.
Peering through the shadows, he saw she was right—the Imperba Ducal Lands loomed.
Even at night, brilliant lights shone beyond the walls.
It wasn't called the east's grandest for nothing.
The energy of its people outshone other cities.
"It's sparkling like crazy."
"Tears of those who can't clock out."
Leyzon gave a wry smile at the night lights.
A bustling night scene meant throngs working late.
They roamed aimlessly, seeking solace, and merchants preyed on that—staying open round the clock.
'The dark side of a thriving city.'
It reminded him of Korea, for some reason.
"The Imperba Ducal Lands..."
Then Five muttered while gazing at it.
Leyzon turned to him.
"Something bothering you?"
"No. Just a frequent stop during my imperial duties. The scale draws you in."
Optimized for dirty work, huh.
"Still, I know routes that could help if you need anything."
"Perfect timing. I've got a few things in mind."
Leyzon's knowledge was mostly a century old.
Five's up-to-date intel was invaluable.
"Syria, time to hop off the shadow wolf."
The Imperba Ducal Lands were massive, a magnet for criminals.
No ducal ID? No entry.
Five had new faces and forged papers ready.
He was a wanted man too, after all.
Best to hide his identity.
As Leyzon reached the gate, a guard halted him.
"Where from?"
"Eden Village."
Leyzon flashed his Pioneer ID.
Pioneers roamed for dungeons—IDs were their golden ticket.
He checked Leyzon and Hanok's IDs.
Five showed a merchant guild certificate.
Nothing off, so...
The gatekeeper issued Imperba IDs.
"Enter."
Leyzon's party passed inside.
"Whoa."
Hanok gasped the moment they entered.
The dazzling night streets welcomed them, just as visible from afar.
"Same as ever."
Five scanned familiar surroundings.
A metropolis tied to the empire's lifeblood.
As he said, it glittered magnificently.
"Pioneer Association first."
City size meant multiple branches.
Leyzon headed to the nearest.
Swish—
Hanok's tail wagged furiously in excitement.
Time for his fifth tail soon.
No wonder he was thrilled.
Weaving through bustling night crowds...
The Pioneer Association building soon appeared.
A big city deserved a big branch.
And crowds to match.
"Almost as packed as the capital."
"Population's lower, but denser—makes it feel crowded."
Urban density at work.
But crowds bred tension.
"Hey, punk. Wanna die?"
"You nuts?"
Stressed folks clashed often.
Leyzon kept distance to avoid trouble, entering the association.
It buzzed like always.
Guys hitting on female pioneers.
Drunks planning to crawl home.
"Ugly elf runt."
"Beastkin too."
"Heh, losers teaming up."
Issue: Humans dominated the population.
Imperba favored humans more than most.
Discrimination thrived.
Naturally, eyes locked on non-humans Leyzon and Hanok.
Problem: Some folks you don't mess with.
Leyzon restrained the two undead itching to pounce.
Five tensed to join, but Leyzon waved him off.
No need for chaos here.
He pushed through stares to find a staffer.
"Welcome."
The clerk greeted with exhausted eyes.
Crowds meant hell for staff.
"Here to ascend. Him too."
"Ah, yes. Pioneer IDs, please."
"Here."
Leyzon and Hanok presented theirs.
Hanok's tail swished eagerly.
Dying to ascend already.
Leyzon was pumped for high-tier status too.
Then he sensed someone approaching.
"Hey."
And sure enough...
Leyzon ignored the hassle, eyes forward.
This guy had been staring earlier.
Flirting with a girl, showboating type.
New faces—prime targets for ego trips.
"Where you punks from? Never seen you."
Leyzon tuned him out.
The man's face soured.
"Oh-ho, check this jerk."
Blatant dismissal hit hard.
His expression darkened, hand twitching.
"Who're you cursing in front of?"
Five blocked him.
Tall and scarred, Five loomed.
The man flinched.
"Wh-what're you?"
"Don't cross lines unless you wanna die pointlessly."
Subtle pressure emanated from Five.
He was going easy on the guy.
The undead were raging behind.
One wrong move, and it'd be a bloodbath.
"Hah, you got no idea who I roll with."
Cliché lines only.
Leyzon nearly got a headache.
"Five..."
"What's the commotion?"
Leyzon was about to say give him a light lesson.
But someone cut through: a familiar voice.
Leyzon looked up.
"Huh?"
The man froze in shock.
"Y-you?!"
He clearly recognized Leyzon.
Leyzon tilted his head.
Who was this again?
Great memory, but trash? Forgotten.
"...You don't remember me?"
The man trembled in disbelief.
"Lord Obryon!"
The agitator cheered him loudly.
"Obryon, ah."
Leyzon recalled, turning away.
"You're that guy from the major guild summit?"
The pioneer star who'd gotten wrecked by Leyzon there.
From a major guild.
Sunso Guild's Obryon.
```