The Three Fusions Bloodline

Looking at the blood-stained magic circle patterned with a mandala, Lee Jin-hyuk fell into thought.

The Three Fusions Bloodline—an alliance linking the Witches, the Blood Sect, and the Potala Palace.

The method they had chosen to create Majuron's 'vessel' was none other than sacrificing a divine beast.

"Jin-hyuk! What do we do about this...?!"

Russell, who only knew how to use brute force and possessed zero knowledge in this area, hovered anxiously, completely at a loss.

"Give me a second."

Seeing his distress, Jin-hyuk stepped forward and activated his skill.

The flow of energy laid itself bare before his eyes.

Damn it.

But the situation was bad enough to make him swear under his breath.

No, it was worse than bad—it was incredibly complicated.

Jin-hyuk had only ever stolen a Constellation's vessel; he had never actually created one.

Thus, while he knew the blood-red mandala engraved on the Bulgasari meant it was being sacrificed to become a vessel, he had no idea what specific steps to take.

No matter how much of a regressor he was, Jin-hyuk lacked knowledge in this particular field.

"How... How do we fix this...?"

In his shock, Russell's pupils trembled violently.

Even Jin-hyuk, the only friend the lonely Barbarian truly trusted, was shaking his head.

He desperately wanted to save this tiny creature, but it was impossible.

This was different from any case they had faced before.

It wasn't a simple matter where defeating the 'enemy' tormenting the animal would resolve everything.

"I'm sorry."

Using the Truth-Seeking Eye, Jin-hyuk analyzed the situation and successfully drove out the demonic energy with his holy fire.

However, the Bulgasari only went limp, its life force already completely depleted.

"No... No!"

Kwoooo...

Regardless of Jin-hyuk purging the demonic energy, the red pattern centered around the Bulgasari's ribs began to spread, burning like wildfire.

He couldn't tell what exact effect this pattern had.

But Jin-hyuk could guess.

"Most likely..."

Jin-hyuk firmly gripped Russell's shoulder and shook his head.

"...it will be used as a material for the vessel."

"...Material?"

Jin-hyuk nodded.

"What Majuron ultimately wants is an artificially created Ghostly Vessel."

"What does that have to do with a divine beast?"

"A Ghostly Vessel grows stronger the more it devours pure existences, like divine beasts."

Before his regression, Jin-hyuk had also grown stronger in a similar fashion.

The Banished Constellation, his arch-nemesis and ultimate goal.

Because the other Constellations, apostles, and players who followed it all utilized divine power.

"But when you used your power, those things died. Aren't they polar opposites?"

"In direct combat, yes. But there is a way. A way to amplify the power of ghosts, like Wailing Ghosts and Ice-Sinking Ghosts."

He didn't need to add the words, 'And the only way to do that is through divine power.'

Russell clearly understood the situation.

Ironically, the reason Jin-hyuk was able to become the number one ranker and the top player in the tower before his regression was also thanks to the Banished Constellation.

Without it, Jin-hyuk would never have been able to control so many Wailing Ghosts.

Kwoo... Kwoo!

Did it understand its own fate?

The Bulgasari extended a front paw no larger than a pebble toward Russell.

Kwoo...

"What is this?"

"Jin-hyuk. What does my friend want?"

"It's a Soul Imprint."

"A Soul Imprint?"

Soul Imprint.

A special skill possessed only by the ancient Barbarian race.

To put it simply, it was a skill that allowed one to form a contract with a beast to unleash immense power.

It was incomparably more powerful than a Druid's ability to temporarily borrow a beast's strength.

However, it came with a fatal drawback.

"Since it's a divine beast, it seems to have enough intelligence to suggest a Soul Imprint first."

"..."

"But once a Soul Imprint is performed, the beast will inevitably die."

Indeed.

This was the reason Russell had remained ignorant of and indifferent to the concept of a 'Soul Imprint' until now.

There was no way Russell would ever show interest in a power that required sacrificing an animal.

"I can't do that!"

Kwoo!

As Russell shouted, refusing to sacrifice the creature, the Bulgasari headbutted him.

It wasn't a powerful blow.

But it was enough to snap Russell out of his panic.

"You..."

Kwoo-kwoo! Kwoo!

It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seemed to say that since there was no hope for its survival anyway, it wanted to at least leave its power behind.

Russell, the only one who could communicate with animals, could only hug the Bulgasari tightly, his face filled with gravity and profound sorrow.

"..."

Jin-hyuk couldn't bring himself to watch them until the end.

Damn it.

Even Jin-hyuk had his weak points.

For instance, he was particularly weak to the sight of companions who cared for each other parting ways in the face of death.

The reason was simple.

Jin-hyuk had lost far too many comrades and witnessed their final moments.

Kadrian, Namgung Hun, Kunaktun, and countless others.

Before his regression, when the Banished Constellation shrouded the tower, so many of his companions had died.

Because of that, Jin-hyuk had no tolerance for watching such scenes.

Or rather, even if he had built up a tolerance, the wounds ran too deep for him to look at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it for long.

*Whew.*

Thus, all he could do was step away and sigh.

He could easily deduce what was happening.

Knowing its end was near, the Bulgasari was undoubtedly urging Russell to take its power.

As a divine beast rather than a normal animal, it could recognize a Barbarian and imprint its soul upon him.

It's certainly the most efficient choice since it's going to die anyway, but...

Jin-hyuk clenched his fists.

Damn it.

His mood...

...was absolutely terrible.

"If that is truly what you want..."

How many minutes had passed?

Russell clenched his fists, his resolve hardening.

"Jin-hyuk."

"Yeah."

"Is there any chance my Bulgasari friend can survive?"

Jin-hyuk delivered the brutal truth.

"None."

It was cruel, but necessary information.

"I'm sorry."

"My friend."

*Grab.*

"You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for."

"..."

"I know. Even though you had urgent matters to attend to, you went along with my stubbornness, crushed the Green Forest, and helped me save my animal friends."

I knew it.

He might look like a brainless musclehead, but he could be surprisingly thoughtful at times.

He really is a good guy.

That was why the inability to save the Bulgasari felt even more miserable.

"There is one thing I can tell you."

Jin-hyuk stepped closer.

"If we leave it like this, the Bulgasari will be used as a material for Majuron's 'vessel'."

"I can't let that happen."

Russell squeezed his fists tight.

"I'll do it. The Soul Imprint. How do we start?"

Kwoo!

Both Russell and the Bulgasari looked completely resolved.

Seeing this, Jin-hyuk drove his Soul-Severing Spear into the ground.

"The method isn't difficult."

—“The method isn't difficult.”

—“You see, a Soul Imprint...”

Words Russell had spoken himself before the regression flashed through Jin-hyuk's mind.

—“The most important thing is the mediator.”

—“We need a shaman to connect the beast and us Barbarians.”

Though he had called it a 'shaman,' it didn't actually require someone who used the power of the Banished Constellation.

Anyone with spiritual or divine power just needed to act as a literal mediator.

It didn't matter if they were a warlock, a priest, or a witch.

Of course, there are differences.

For beasts without special powers—like lions, elephants, giraffes, or birds—it didn't really matter who mediated.

But when it came to demonic or divine beasts, the story changed.

When contracting with a demonic beast harboring demonic energy, the presence of a warlock was essential.

Fortunately, the Bulgasari was a divine beast harboring divine power, and Jin-hyuk possessed the holy fire, which was rooted in divine power.

—“Just hold my hand and the beast's hand, and go 'Heave-ho!' in the middle.”

That irresponsible bastard.

He recalled how he had struggled several times before the regression, having no idea what that 'Heave-ho!' actually meant.

But now, he knew.

He simply had to act as the medium to transfer the soul between the Barbarian and the divine beast.

Normally, this is only possible for those with special constitutions like the Ghostly Vessel, but...

Jin-hyuk possessed the Constellation's Vessel, which ignored all physical requirements.

Thus, there was no issue with him assisting in the Soul Imprint.

"I'm starting."

"Jin-hyuk... even if we do this, will its memories... will they remain, even for a moment?"

"No."

Kwo.

Seeing the Bulgasari shake its head as if it didn't care, Russell nodded.

"Let's do it."

"Alright."

Jin-hyuk took Russell's hand in one of his and the Bulgasari's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠paw in the other, then channeled his energy.

It was actually easier than before his regression.

Back then, he had to control the Wailing Ghosts as they brought the energy piece by piece to fuse their souls.

But now, he could see the entire flow through the Truth-Seeking Eye, allowing him to connect their souls slowly yet surely.

Crackle!

Once their souls touched, there was nothing more for him to do.

Russell was the last Barbarian.

From this point on, he instinctively knew what to do.

*What's this?*

The unexpected part was that, unlike before his regression, system messages were popping up.

*What is it?*

Jin-hyuk himself didn't know what he had realized, but that was what the message said.

*These kinds of messages usually appear when I think of something related ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to swordsmanship.*

Perhaps he could take the Star Destruction Sword Technique, which he had completed up to the 4th form, one step further.

*Sssss...*

Since helping Russell with the Soul Imprint was the priority right now, he focused on the task at hand.

Without any major complications, the souls of Russell and the Bulgasari began to merge.

*Shhhhh!*

The Bulgasari's soul was enveloped in a flurry of white light, which then began to be absorbed into Russell.

*Kwoooo...!*

The Bulgasari let out one final cry.

Even without translation, it was clear that the cry meant 'thank you.'

*Yeah. Thank you too.*

The Bulgasari was a creature that ate iron and could wrap it around itself like a hard skin.

As skills related to this were created, a metallic luster began to flow over Russell's skin.

The sensation at his fingertips was foreign—literally the texture of iron.

Even without equipping any special items, his skin had hardened as if he were wearing multiple layers of armor.

He also possessed excellent magic resistance, but in terms of physical resistance, he would now be practically invincible.

He would also be able to grow by devouring the opponent's items, much like Jin-hyuk's own abilities.

*It feels a bit wrong to say this, but it's a great start.*

Russell Mighty had avoided imprinting his soul with some strange animal friend like a capybara.

Now, he wouldn't have to force himself to equip ill-fitting armor or hammers like he did before the regression.

His original combat style was to mercilessly beat down whatever was in front of him with his bare fists.

If Jin-hyuk could stay by his side and help him imprint suitable beasts, Russell would be able to be reborn as an even more powerful High Ranker to stand against the Banished Constellation.

*...Of course, we shouldn't force divine or demonic beasts to sacrifice themselves.*

A Soul Imprint was only possible with mutual consent.

They would only be able to form Soul Imprints with divine beasts that were already on the verge of death, like this one.

"It was short, but it was fun, friend. Goodbye."

Following Russell, who was offering a brief silent tribute, Jin-hyuk also paid his respects before standing up.

"Let's go."

"...Yeah."

Standing up after Jin-hyuk, Russell let out a boisterous laugh as if nothing had happened.

"Bwahahaha! Jin-hyuk! As expected, there's nothing you can't do!"

He was trying to shake off the sorrow quickly, knowing that staying depressed would only make things sadder.

He might look simple and foolish on the outside, but he was likely hurting deeply inside.

"Let's keep moving."

Knowing Russell was trying to keep the mood from dropping, Jin-hyuk also smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder.

There was a significant height difference, but it wasn't enough to stop him.

"But where should we go now?"

"First, we need to look for clues."

"These things they call 'failures' are literally just that—failed attempts."

Though his eyes glowed gold, Jin-hyuk's gaze remained cold.

"Which means the completed one—or the one nearing completion—is out there somewhere."