Repelling the Invasion (1)
A moment ago, he'd recovered the ★ Star Gems.
The number was impressive.
'Fourteen of them.'
It was the first time he'd harvested double digits of ★ Star Gems from a single battle.
On top of that, he'd gathered a whopping twenty-two ▲ Fragments.
Synthesizing the ▲ Fragments yielded a total of seventeen ★ Star Gems.
'Jackpot.'
He decided to use a good portion of these newly acquired ★ Star Gems on himself.
'Up to seven stars, for now.'
Each ★ Star Gem could raise his rank by one star up to the seven-star threshold.
He used five ★ Star Gems right away, boosting his rank straight to seven stars.
The mysterious power of the ★ imbues your soul.
'Ah!'
His senses expanded dramatically.
His body shuddered violently once.
Instinctively, he felt his combat prowess had surged far beyond before.
'Whoa.'
He checked his status window and spread his hands wide, staring at his palms.
An unprecedented surge of power gathered in his grasp.
'This is what it feels like?'
The significance of the ★ Star Gems.
He felt it deep in his bones.
The gap between who he was moments ago and now was like night and day.
『Whirl, thunder!』
Kwajijijijijijijijijit——!!
The words carried his boiling exhilaration.
Red lightning crashed fiercely from a clear sky.
The purple thunder had evolved into red thunder.
Kwajit, kwajijijit.
Red sparks danced across his body.
"Whoa... Master, your aura's gotten insanely stronger."
"Your draconic energy feels way denser now too."
"You might surpass us soon at this rate?"
The guardians chimed in as they eyed him.
"Feels exhilarating, like a thrill running through me."
He smirked, curling the corner of his mouth.
He had twelve ★ Star Gems left.
The temptation to use them all on himself was strong.
But instinct held him back.
Why?
'Mastering this power fully comes first.'
Better to fully assimilate his current seven-star strength before forcing eight stars.
His gut told him that was smarter long-term.
His goal wasn't just eight stars—it was realms beyond.
This choice would prove wise in time.
'Once I stabilize this, I can hit 10th Circle.'
Yeah.
10th Circle first.
With a satisfied smile, he turned to his guardians.
Time to share some ★ Star Gems with them.
Time for merit-based rewards.
Meanwhile, on Earth.
Mado Corporation had begun selling Madoje-brand Mithril gear.
Commissioning gear from Madoje via the Gold Lounge's Requests tab meant custom-made pieces.
Mado Corporation's offerings were mass-produced gear.
People eagerly awaited the promised standard gear.
The Requests tab was limited to Gold Lounge elites, and even after Mt. Taesan's and Alexei's commissions, the schedule remained unannounced.
Naturally, those craving Madoje gear flocked to Mado Corporation.
Mt. Taesan's gear reveal had skyrocketed expectations.
Everyone wondered what gear would drop and at what price.
The first gear finally appeared.
Type: Gauntlet
Grade: SSS-grade
Wear Restriction: Lv77+
Options:
1) Physical Attack Power +20%
2) Magic Attack Power +20%
3) All attacks gain bonus neutral magic damage.
4) Attack Speed +10%
5) Critical Hit Chance +5%
6) Attribute Resistance Ignore +10%
7) Special: Mana Amplification
On hit, "Mana Amplification" triggers at a set chance.
Causes a neutral magic explosion on all enemies within 3m, dealing 150% of base attack power as magic damage.
Affected enemies suffer -20% Movement Speed, -10% Attack Speed debuff for 2 seconds.
On trigger, gain +10% neutral damage and +10% Magic Attack Power buff for 7 seconds.
Another SSS-grade gauntlet!
But reactions were mixed, a bit puzzled.
Same grade, but clearly a tier below.
Still, it outclassed existing gear by miles.
But for those expecting Frozen Gauntlet levels, it was disappointing.
The listed price: a staggering 1 billion coins.
Nearly 10 trillion won.
Average SSS-grade gear ran 1-3 trillion— this was way higher.
Incredible options, sure.
But worth that price?
A fundamental question arose.
Plus, Lv77 restriction—only the elite like the Twelve Heavens, nearing the Lv80 wall, could use it.
Folks figured no one would bite at 1 billion coins.
But!
Hong Seolhwa of Seolhwa Clan bought Madoje's first official sale item.
People assumed she'd overextended.
But that notion didn't last.
The Tower of Trials.
Unlike the Abyss Tower, it rewarded massive prizes to the first clearer of each floor.
Only one person worldwide claimed each floor's first-clear reward, no matter who or where.
Recently, Arthur Bennett cleared floor 82 and reaped huge rewards.
No one else could claim 82's first-clear now.
Cleared floors also dropped sharply in difficulty.
Even non-first clears offered ample resources and growth, making it superhumans' favorite spot.
Top-floor clears trickled benefits down to lower climbers.
Everyone questioned her move.
What was Hong Seolhwa thinking, challenging floor 83?
As eyes watched intently,
Hong Seolhwa entered the Tower of Trials' 83rd floor.
Back home, he planned to distribute the remaining twelve ★ Star Gems by merit.
"Crimson."
He called Crimson first.
"Yess~!"
With a hop,
Crimson fluttered down like a butterfly before him.
"Without you, we never would've seen that coming. You did amazing."
"Heh heh. Just gave my all, Master."
He checked Crimson's status window, beaming smugly.
The Dimension Seal - Energy Depleted gleamed clearly.
Indeed, no light emanated from the seal on Crimson's right arm anymore.
"Is the Dimension Seal out of energy?"
"Yes. Fully depleted. Needs dimensional energy recharge soon."
He'd squeezed every last drop in that last battle.
'Gotta find a way to recharge dimensional energy.'
With that thought, he pulled a ★ Star Gem from his pocket.
Crimson was at six stars.
Upgrade to seven first.
"Here."
"Ooh! Many thanks, Your Grace."
Crimson accepted it reverently with both hands, face full of emotion.
"Using it now!"
He nodded.
Flash-!
Kwaaaaa!
Black starlight storm raged from Crimson.
Crimson's presence grew in real time.
Potential increase strengthens Crimson's Blood Authority.
Potential increase strengthens Crimson's Dimensional Authority.
Now seven stars.
Both Blood Authority and Dimensional Authority enhanced.
'Ooh...'
Crimson was no ordinary guardian.
No other had boosted two authorities at once from a ★ upgrade.
Dimensional Authority was top-tier; Blood Authority upper echelon.
Dimensional Authority enhancement partially restores Dimensional Energy.
Paaat!
Light returned to the Dimension Seal.
About 10%.
"Ooh! Dimensional energy auto-recovering? First time for me."
Crimson marveled repeatedly.
"Good."
This should hold him until the next recharge.
He turned.
"Lulumiel, Archeron."
『Lulu, right here!』
『Responding to Master's call.』
Archeron and Lulumiel stepped forward.
"One ★ each for you."
They bowed deeply, delighted.
Paaaat!!
Both now seven stars.
Archeron's ☆ expanded instantly to full again.
Potential increase enhances Archeron's mobility.
Potential increase enhances Lulumiel's mana power.
Lulumiel acquires an additional skill.
Traits enhanced for both.
Lulumiel even got an extra skill.
What triggered extra skills?
Happened sometimes, not others—no pattern.
Needed deeper study later.
"And... Azkai."
"Yes, Master."
He apologized to Azkai first.
"Don't have enough ★ for your upgrade. Next time, promise. Don't feel too bad."
"Haha, no worries. I'm good."
Azkai nodded heartily.
Azkai had been crucial this time too.
Short on rewards, he felt guilty.
'Instead, hustle for the Lava Emperor Stone ASAP.'
Time for a deep chat with Chuchu.
Chuchu might uncover leads on Azkai's Lava Emperor Stone.
"Rest a day, then hit the remaining bugs again."
"Krrrng! Sounds good!"
Azkai grinned wickedly.
Right—the war wasn't over.
Might snag more ★ from them.
If enough for Azkai's nine stars, he'd get them.
Otherwise, he'd hit eight first.
Anyway.
'Last one...'
He turned aside.
"Wispent."
Wispent stepped forward.
Her contributions were massive.
She was the explosion's mastermind.
Without her spirit arsenal, this victory might've been a dream.
'So Wispent gets to eight stars.'
She was at seven now.
Five ★ for eight stars.
"Your spirit arrows made the explosion possible. You and Crimson were stellar."
"All thanks to Master's keen judgment."
She deflected praise to him.
Aigoo, what a sweetheart.
Gets prettier every look.
He pulled out five ★ immediately.
"Take them."
"Many thanks, Your Grace."
Wispent prostrated fully.
Gifting ★ was apparently the ultimate reward.
"I'll accept them."
"Do it."
She knelt rigidly, receiving the five ★.
Then.
Kwaaaaaaaaaa!!
The fiercest black ★ storm yet erupted.
Wispent's rank advances to 8 stars.
Potential increase enhances Wispent's Spirit Capture Rate.
Congratulations.
Upon reaching 8 stars, special skill (Spirit Temporary Descent) awakens.
Eh...?
Spirit Temporary Descent?
What's that?