Chapter 274

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 274

Chapter Title: Level 7 (4)

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As planned, once a day had passed, Shylock and Mshar repaired the artifact once more and drew a new magic circle on the floor.

"It's gotten narrower..."

"Anyway, from now on, we'll have to start using these items one by one. For now... Eleanor. Let's start with you."

"Uh, yeah. Sure. What do I do first?"

"Skill books."

Gulp.

The shelves on one side were packed full of skill books.

"We'll start with these four skill books."

Combining those four skills would create the higher-tier skill, [Eye of Wisdom].

It was a skill that allowed one to perceive the world more intuitively, providing tremendous help in understanding the flow of magic.

"And we'll combine these skills as well."

Combining the above skills would yield the higher-tier skill, [Hyper Brain].

"It dramatically speeds up magic casting."

"Wha... You're giving all these to me? Captain? Aren't these the most essential skills for you?"

"I'm fine."

With [Demon God Body], what other skills did he need?

"Besides, I've prepared separately what I need."

"W-Well, if that's the case..."

Eleanor reached out toward the skill books with an expression like she was about to drool at any moment.

Leaving her behind, Jun turned his gaze to Maya.

"Maya. In your case, we'll use skill books related to mental fortitude."

"What's the purpose of learning them?"

"To let you face your ancestral spirits more completely."

"Face them...?"

"Hmm. It's a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bit complicated."

"Explain it simply."

"Sure, sure."

For now, what Maya was experiencing was an encounter between the living and the dead.

Naturally, it was dissonant, like water and oil—they didn't mix.

One side had to yield, creating space for the other.

And here, Maya had to play the role of yielding.

"Why do I have to yield?"

"The living and the dead. If both have 'value'... and we put them on a scale, which side would weigh more?"

Obviously, the value of the living far outweighed.

No matter how noble a spirit, death ultimately returned to nothingness.

Their end was predetermined.

But beings with life and a future were different.

That was why the dead so desperately coveted living flesh.

"So, you have to gradually yield a bit of your own existence to them. That way, you won't be overwhelmed by the aura of the dead."

"But... I didn't feel my movements slowing in the illusions."

"You wouldn't. But that's just relative sensation."

Maya still lacked the ability to commune with spirits.

Rather than reflecting on herself amid countless spirits, she focused on the ones right in front of her.

"So, I need to fight while minding my movements?"

"Exactly. But that's not as easy as it sounds."

If it were, Jun wouldn't be making these preparations.

"You need to build mental fortitude. So you can fully face yourself even before them."

"......"

The skill books for that were all prepared.

Combining the three skills created [Cold Heart].

It was on par with Jun's [Steadfast Heart].

Unlike [Steadfast Heart], however, [Cold Heart] was better suited for warrior or assassin classes.

"Once you're used to the skill, try again."

"...Understood."

The last one left was Aiden.

"Aiden, in your case..."

What Jun pointed to was none other than Aiden's sword.

"What you're lacking most right now is variety in your attacks."

"Variety..."

Aiden was born with genius-level talent that was hard to find anywhere.

But he hadn't grown up in an environment to fully bloom that talent.

On top of that, he hadn't even had enough time—that was the current Aiden.

"You're good at creating your own techniques, but it takes time to master them."

"......"

"It's only natural. The swordsmanship you know is just what you picked up on the streets or what you've seen from afar from imperial knights."

Just having a master chef's knife didn't make a meal complete—Aiden needed more ingredients.

Aiden knew that well himself.

"Here, take these."

A string of skill books lined up.

Aiden pointed at them, his hand trembling slightly.

"D-Do I have to learn all of these...?"

"Yes. There are even some discovered on the surface."

Sometimes, those without successors would pass down their skills into books for various reasons.

Jun had selected those that would most benefit Aiden.

'I never expected help from the reincarnator here.'

The reincarnator had searched countless methods to accept [Demon God Body], including ways to alter his own body.

If he couldn't grow as a mage, he'd pursue physical change.

It had ultimately failed, but that knowledge, transcending eras and dimensions, now aided Jun—and Aiden.

"All of these will serve as your foundation."

"Sunbae... Thank you..."

Aiden closed his eyes tightly, clutching the skill books Jun handed over.

There was no way he'd just give away such treasures.

Lately, Jun seemed a bit anxious.

Probably anticipating a major battle soon... or all the battlefields awaiting them.

So he couldn't just tremble in gratitude.

What he needed to do was grow far stronger than now.

Strong enough to smash through every crisis head-on.

"Good, that's the look. Emperor or whatever, kill 'em all."

"Yes!"

Time flew by quickly.

In the meantime, his comrades achieved rapid growth with the hidden pieces Jun had gathered, and began training to adapt to the process.

Now, the fourth entry into the extradimensional space.

"You're pretty adapted now, huh?"

The mana extraction that once took 22 hours had shortened to 12.

Seeing the acceleration building, it would shorten further soon.

Aiden began forging his own path using the skills he'd learned.

Sparring with Bern proved immensely helpful in that process.

"Unlike mages, we warriors can manifest intent starting from level 8."

"What's the exact difference?"

"Mages manifest imagery by projecting their inner universe onto the world. But we warriors 'imbue' it into our weapons."

Mages, using ambient mana, manifested imagery earlier than warriors.

Warriors, however, drew external mana into their bodies, purifying it as their own.

Imbuing that into weapons was called 'intent'.

"So from now on, Aiden, you need to hone your will sharper and clearer."

"Sharper and clearer..."

"Perfect timing. Before, you were honed too sharply. To the point nothing could be trimmed. It sounds good, but it really meant you knew nothing new, stalling your growth."

But now it was different.

Thanks to the countless skill books from Jun, Aiden had gained broader knowledge and could realize sword techniques he hadn't even imagined before.

"Now you need to refine them one by one."

To do that, he'd need countless battles against diverse foes, but...

"Lucky for you. I have plenty of that experience."

Bern himself had fought innumerable battles and accumulated experience teaching holy knights in the holy land.

"So pick up your sword. Give it your all—pour out everything you have. Turn what's only possible in your head into reality. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Got it?"

"Yes, understood."

While Aiden sparred with Bern daily,

Maya was ejected from the extradimensional space, vomiting blood.

"Those damn old ghosts!"

She'd lost again to the ancestral spirits beyond the three gates.

Though mere illusions, the battles felt far more real than before.

"Here, drink up. Down it all."

"Ugh... Potions make my body feel heavy."

"But you're definitely growing. Your spirit vessel is wider and tougher than before."

"Without that, I'd have gone mad long ago."

"True..."

After receiving the skill books—and the various elixirs Jun brewed—Maya could now move more precisely and swiftly in the illusions.

She hadn't noticed before, but the difference was clear now.

"A man of the future, indeed..."

"Still pushing that narrative?"

"How else could he prepare all this?"

Unable to retort, Eleanor shoved a potion bottle into Maya's mouth instead.

"Sigh. Already headache enough without your nonsense."

Eleanor hadn't changed much from usual.

She lived buried in magic tomes and holy magic books, staring through them with her clairvoyant eyes every day.

When it was time to enter the extradimensional space, she'd test various spells in the mana- and holy power-rich environment.

Discerning what was excessive or insufficient, then analyzing issues upon exiting.

Peaceful days flowed by.

And so, another month passed.

"Hoo..."

Jun gazed at the remnants of the last mana stone he'd just depleted in the extradimensional space.

Before his eyes was pure earth-attribute mana.

Gazing briefly at its earthy brown glow,

He inhaled it in one breath.

"......"

He attuned the earth-attribute mana permeating his body.

Earth-attribute mana filled the extradimensional space.

Heavy, heavier than anything, thus sturdier than all—the earth attribute touched Jun's mana.

Like soil absorbing nutrients, the earth's mana absorbed Jun's, aligning to its hue.

'The heaviest attribute, yet it accepts my mana better than any other.'

It even settled more cleanly around his circles than the most selfless wind attribute.

The extradimensional landscape changed dramatically.

The space once filled with the colors of [Blaze Detection], [Mana Absorption], and [Pure Wind] now had earthy mana exuding its heavy presence.

"Ah..."

The fourth attribute, earth, swirled around his circles.

At the same time, Jun realized his soul was shattering a barrier.

"This is..."

Seventh circle.

His imagery fully established on its foundation, reaching the pinnacle.

But the changes didn't end there.

"My skills... grew?"

No game-like alert appeared, but Jun sensed changes in his skills.

That change immediately influenced [Demon God Body].

"Ah..."

For a moment, his mind went blindingly white.

The flow of vast mana.

The most fundamental power filling this world.

Not stopping there, the energy governing the cosmos.

Gazing to the endless expanding horizon beyond the distant universe.

The beginning and end of all things.

A colossal presence beyond a mere human's comprehension was descending—

Thud-!

An iron fist plunged deep into Jun's solar plexus.

"Bleeech!"

His momentary focus shattered, gastric juices surging out onto the floor.

"Cough, ack! Heok, heok...!"

Through tear-blurred vision from the pain, he dimly saw his hand.

"Haa..."

For a very brief instant.

His entire body had blurred.

His flesh turning to mana, trying to return to its origin.

"Nearly died there..."

He stroked his ring.

Monghwan.

Even in deep slumber reconstructing his body, it sensed its master's crisis and summoned [Iron Fist].

Thanks to it, he escaped the peril of his consciousness dissolving into the mana flow.

"What a damn constitution. [Demon God Body]..."

Upon reaching the seventh circle, [High-tier Magic Talent] had elevated his understanding of [Demon God Body] beyond limits.

That was the price paid moments ago.

"Gotta be careful..."

He hadn't anticipated this phenomenon.

"But the problem isn't over yet..."

His vision now fully clear.

The extradimensional landscape, sparkling with four attributes, had changed.

A pitch-black space like an abyss.

There, a single person stood demurely, looking down at Jun.

"Long time no see, Jun."

"For a phantom... you look eerily similar. Pisses me off."

A man with black hair and gray eyes.

The one who should never be seen again after exploding with the Mage Tower... smiled faintly.

Damian.

Jun's former master.