Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: The Price of Raid Success (3)
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‘To become like Duke Kalmus, I need to activate two beastification skills at the same time.’
Even as his body grew larger, there was no awkwardness at all.
‘Power is overflowing through my entire body.’
It was only natural, since all his stats had suddenly increased by 45%.
‘Still, once I get used to it, it’ll be pretty useful.’
On top of that, it even seemed possible to maintain three separate identities if he played it right.
‘First things first, let’s sort out these skill books.’
Kang Hyun-soo deactivated his beastification skill.
Shoooo!
His swollen muscles shrank back down, the fur on his body vanished, and he returned to the form of an ordinary ronin boy.
‘The beastification learned through Replica can stay permanently active to level it up, while the one from the skill book can be used when I need a new identity or a boost in combat power.’
Kang Hyun-soo dove back into sorting the skill books.
He naturally learned all the defensive skills that came up.
As a result.
[The Protector’s Ring has grown from SS-Rank to SSS-Rank.]
The Protector’s Ring’s rank rose to SSS-Rank.
‘Let’s push it as far as it’ll go.’
There was no immediate way to use defensive skill books unless he gave them to Song Hana or the Fist Emperor or sold them.
His summons could equip items but couldn’t learn skills.
[The Protector’s Ring SSS-Rank has grown.]
[The Protector’s Ring SSS-Rank has grown.]
[The Protector’s Ring SSS-Rank has grown.]
…Omitted…
He diligently absorbed the skill books.
But the Protector’s Ring’s growth capped at SSS-Rank.
The reason was simple.
‘Why can’t it absorb EX-Rank defensive skills?’
The Protector’s Ring couldn’t absorb the EX-Rank defensive skills it had acquired through skill books.
‘Guess I’ll have to be satisfied with this for now.’
If it couldn’t grow even after dumping every SSS-Rank and below defensive skill book into it, then jumping straight to EX-Rank was off the table.
‘Too bad.’
It felt like it was just a little short.
In the end, growth stalled.
‘Since the Golden Lord Saemaal is steadily collecting defensive skill books, it’ll be possible eventually.’
Having finished upgrading the Devouring Sword and Protector’s Ring, Kang Hyun-soo turned his attention to the items dropped by the Demonic Dragon Karas upon its demise.
‘Man, it dropped a ton.’
First up, the skill books.
[Skill Book: Monarch of Dragon-Type Monsters – EX-Rank]
-Passive Skill
-Can dominate dragon-type monsters of a lower tier than yourself.
‘Dragon-type monsters of a lower tier. What an ambiguous phrase.’
Levels were so straightforward.
But “tier” was vague.
‘Still, better to learn it.’
There were quite a few demonic dragons among the demonkin in the Demon King’s army.
They kept dragon-type monsters as subordinates, just like Demonic Dragon Karas.
If he learned this?
‘It’ll come in handy against them.’
His summons should be enough, but.
You never know with people.
‘Can’t sell it anyway.’
Anyone could tell this was loot from hunting a demonic dragon.
Even if he sold it through Golden Lord Saemaal.
‘It’d just invite unnecessary suspicion about ties between the Dark Knight and Golden Lord Saemaal.’
Even otherwise, they’d doggedly investigate the seller’s info.
It would only raise the risk of his identity being exposed.
[Skill Book: Black Flame Breath – EX-Rank]
-Active Skill
-Consumes mana to unleash Black Flame Breath.
-Attack power scales with mana stat.
‘This one seems worth learning too.’
Kang Hyun-soo sorted the skill books.
In the end, he had no choice but to learn them all himself.
‘Can’t really give this to Song Hana or the Fist Emperor either.’
Black Flame Breath might actually be decent for Song Hana.
But only decent.
Kang Hyun-soo’s mana stat was already higher than hers.
It was more efficient for him to use it directly.
He could make replicas for both to have it.
‘But replicas of skills drop to F-Rank.’
Then he’d have to level them up again.
‘Gotta delete it later anyway.’
Even if he raised a skill replica to EX-Rank, he could only hold 14 replicas total.
‘Currently using seven replicas fixed.’
A-Rank replicas could only store ten skills.
‘Can’t waste the few spots left on something like Black Flame Breath.’
He also preferred to keep one slot open for grinding replica skill proficiency whenever possible.
Even when replicas hit EX-Rank and could hold 14.
‘After must-haves, there’s barely any room left.’
Just one or two spares at best.
No way he’d fill a precious slot with Black Flame Breath.
‘Now just to check the items, and we’re done.’
A good number of items had dropped too.
The one that caught Kang Hyun-soo’s eye was.
‘This one right here.’
[Demonic Dragon Armor Helmet – EX-Rank]
-Physical attack resistance +45%
-Skill attack resistance +45%
-Stamina stat +45%
-Mental strength stat +45%
-Set item.
‘Not bad options.’
All four defense-related options boosted by 45%.
For a Demonic Dragon Armor helmet, though.
‘It’s just average for an EX-Rank item, nothing special.’
Only because it had just four options.
Top-tier EX-Rank weapons like the Devouring Sword, once fully grown to EX-Rank.
‘Had a whopping nine options.’
More than double the four on this Demonic Dragon Armor helmet.
Plus.
‘It’s not like the Ice King’s Necklace, where four options pack punch beyond other EX-Ranks.’
However.
‘Being a set item is what matters.’
The Demonic Dragon Armor helmet was part of a set.
Worn together with the Demonic Dragon Armor top, bottom, gloves, and boots dropped by Demonic Dragon Karas?
‘Individual option effects double.’
All Demonic Dragon Armor set options were identical.
Combined, they granted +225% to physical attack resistance, skill attack resistance, stamina stat, mana stat, and mental strength stat.
With set bonus?
‘Total 450%.’
An insane figure.
‘With set effects, it’s like each piece has eight options instead of four.’
At this level?
‘Top-tier among EX-Rank items.’
He’d been swapping in the best defense gear as needed until now.
But no more.
Having finished sorting, Kang Hyun-soo stood up.
Now.
‘Time to hunt diligently.’
He needed to grind stats hard and increase his summons to 5,000.
* * *
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
Demonic Dragon Karas unleashed its breath.
Gwaaaaaang!
With a massive explosion, the monsters clustered in one spot were wiped out in an instant.
At that moment.
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
[Level up.]
…Omitted…
Kang Hyun-soo’s levels shot up like crazy.
‘Not as good as when it was alive, but still useful.’
His current job rank was One-Man Brigade.
Higher than One-Man Regiment, sure.
‘But can’t appoint summons as regiment commanders.’
Just increased the number appointable as battalion commanders from three to nine.
Kang Hyun-soo appointed nine as battalion commanders: Demonic Dragon, Fist Emperor, Martial Sovereign, Guardian Saint of Mulan, Blade King, Knight of Flames, Sword Ghost, One-Kill Fist, Magic Knight.
Sword Ghost, One-Kill Fist, and Magic Knight were a bit weaker.
‘But other named players are around the same level anyway.’
The Western Tiger and other new named player summons under Kang Hyun-soo weren’t much stronger than Sword Ghost, One-Kill Fist, or Magic Knight.
Still, as the saying goes, an old crane is better than a young one—he appointed the named players who’d been summons longer as battalion commanders.
One simple reason.
They had battle experience together, so they synced better.
‘If stronger ones become summons, they’re out immediately.’
Sword Ghost, One-Kill Fist, and Magic Knight were provisional battalion commanders.
‘Once I can appoint regiment commanders, promote Demonic Dragon, Fist Emperor, and Martial Sovereign.’
Until then, if no better candidates.
Sword Ghost, One-Kill Fist, and Magic Knight could keep the spots.
By then, near-misses like the Western Tiger would promote from company commander to battalion.
‘Should be possible at division commander.’
At S-Rank division commander?
Regiment commander appointments would unlock.
Plus more battalion commander slots.
Summon count would easily top 10,000 too.
‘Need to raise job rank ASAP.’
But it wouldn’t be easy, he figured.
‘Wait?’
Suddenly, a question popped up.
What was the job rank of the guy called One-Man Legion pre-regression?
‘Back then, I vaguely thought it was SS-Rank Legion Commander.’
With only 3,000 summons.
‘Might’ve been around my level now.’
Definitely past One-Man Battalion.
But unclear if he’d broken past One-Man Regiment.
‘Even if he did, lacking stats meant he couldn’t fill summons to max.’
Unlike Kang Hyun-soo, who looped back to infinite level via .
Pre-regression One-Man Legion had to keep leveling for stats.
‘Not long now.’
Exact timing unknown.
But the Rokto Empire, where Tutorial-passing One-Man Legion first appeared.
Roughly after Demonic Dragon Karas raid ended.
‘Pre-regression, Karas raid took at least half a year.’
Within six months to a year.
Pre-regression One-Man Legion would cross from Earth to Atlantis dimension.
‘This time, achieve your goal.’
He’d wanted to stand alone.
Craved his own strength more fiercely than anyone.
But obtaining One-Man Squad shattered that dream.
So he cursed the One-Man Legion job and title his whole life.
‘I took the job that was your curse.’
He was curious.
What job would the guy, who showed insane skill from Tutorial, get this time.
Expectations were high.
What feats he’d pull off.
‘A wildcard.’
An irregular living a totally different life from pre-regression.
Someone Kang Hyun-soo couldn’t predict.
That’s why.
‘I have to recruit him.’
No need to worry.
How to make him an ally.
‘No one knows him better than I do.’
Pre-regression, he was.
To Kang Hyun-soo.
‘The only one I could call a friend.’
He’d opened up to Kang Hyun-soo, if just a little.
Kang Hyun-soo taking the One-Man Legion job from Tutorial was.
To grow stronger himself, yes.
But also to grant his lifelong friend’s regretful wish.
‘Granted your first wish.’
Whatever it was.
Plus the new job he’d desperately wanted as a bonus.
So.
‘I’ll grant your second too.’
His second wish.
Was to gain a true friend who’d never betray his once-gullible self.