Chapter 9
Chapter 9
----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: Ace Chapter: 9 Chapter Title: Soul Engraving -----------------------------------------------------------------
💬 Comments
— Anonymous
Saw the Goblin Nest time attack?
— Anonymous
Yeah, but a sub-5 minute clear? No way.
— Anonymous
Keruga's record broken... gotta be a bug, right?
— Anonymous
The top 10 clans are going nuts trying to find them.
— Anonymous
Of course. Solo clear taking first place, no party even. The community was in an uproar over the unexpected incident. Even though it was just a beginner area record, Keruga—known as an absolute powerhouse in Evil Tail—had his time shattered. It was an unprecedented event.
"What do you think?"
"What is there to think? We need to find out who this guy is right now."
"No matter what it takes..."
The leaders of the top 10 clans issued the same order to their underlings.
"Bring him to me."
A mere stepping stone of a gateway for most players in the beginner zone. But now, the gaze of Evil Tail's elite players was focused here.
Huh?" That's when something caught his eye—a jagged crack in the wall. "What's this?" There was a fist-sized hole gouged into the surface. Too deliberate for battle damage from the Goblin Lord, who hadn't even landed a hit. Too unnatural to be natural wear. It was almost as if... Someone had carved it to hide something inside the wall. "No way...?" A hypothesis flashed through Woojin's mind. What if he didn't come here because of an existing hidden spot... but created one after arriving? That opened up all possibilities. No need for an empty lot here by default, but now there's a reason he had to come. "And that reason... could this be it?" Scratch—. He scraped the wall with his fingers. The inside crumbled easily into powder, unlike the outer surface. But it wasn't wide enough to reach in. Clang—!! Woojin thrust his sword into the gap with all his might. The wall didn't budge. Clang—! Clang—!! Clang—!!!! He swung repeatedly, but not a scratch. "...
This isn't working." His hands tingled from gripping the sword, but the wall was unscathed. What now? He was dying to know. What lay behind this wall that drove a black mage all the way from the central continent? But how to break it... Gulp—. Woojin's eyes wavered. ...
He had a way. He pulled out the mana stone he'd just acquired. ▶ Handle with care. ▶ The swollen mana can trigger a violent explosion from even slight physical force. "If I use this..." It might shatter the wall. But it was clearly a priceless item... Squeeze—. Woojin squeezed his eyes shut, weighing his options. "Money I can farm again, and there are stronger mana monsters than Goblin Lords out there." Still, he couldn't leave with this nagging doubt. "You have to risk something to gain something." Muttering Raoul's words, Woojin shoved the mana stone into the crevice. "Hup...!" He dumped all remaining points into Vitality, exhaled deeply, and stabbed at the stone with full force. KABOOM―――!! A deafening explosion rocked the room, crumbling the sturdy wall in a heap. "...
Nearly got killed there." Woojin, flung back by the blast, brushed off the dust coating his body and grumbled. Brute force, but no choice. He wasn't an archer or thief—he couldn't snipe the stone from afar. Gulp—gulp—. He chugged a potion and peered ahead. The billowing dust began to settle. Jackpot... or bust.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Adventurer Khan has discovered a hidden chest in the Goblin Nest. Woojin examined the small chest amid the rubble. Its lid bore an unfamiliar rune. Yet strangely, he recognized it. It's the rune from that book in the black mage's lair. He hadn't been able to read the text back then, so its purpose was a mystery... Click—. Woojin opened the weathered lid.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Discovered a relic from the hidden chest. Ancient Book - Soul Engraving "Knew it."
Unlike the other world, this was a game—text was readable. Woojin grinned in satisfaction at the title. Name: Soul Engraving Grade: Legendary His glee was short-lived. Reading the description, shock took over.
"... L-Legendary grade?!"
Woojin stared blankly at the tattered book in his hands. This wasn't just a win—it was a jackpot. Description: Form a contract with the soul of an ancient divine beast. ▶ Requires the soul of an ancient divine beast to contract. ▶ Inherit and permanently use the contracted beast's traits. ▶ Once engraved, the spirit cannot be changed. ▶ User's soul rank determines number of contractable spirits. ▶ Current engravable spirits (0/1) Ancient divine beast...? What the hell? He'd never heard of it. Could that be why the black mage could control a true dragon... the power of an ancient divine beast? Hunting and dominating were worlds apart. Hunting allowed the weak to fell the strong through a single opening, but domination required constant supremacy. No matter if it's undead—a dragon is a dragon. To dominate one meant existing on a higher plane. Beyond human limits. Gulp—. Woojin swallowed dryly. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity had landed in his lap. He couldn't let it slip. But...
"Not yet, huh."
Reading further, he tilted his head. I don't know what an ancient divine beast is, but it's no ordinary thing... and no clue where to get one.
⚔ STATUS ⚔
▶ You possess a divine beast soul for contracting. ▶ Held souls: 1 "... What?" The popup changed, leaving even Woojin baffled as he stared at it.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Would you like to learn Soul Engraving?
"What are you talking about? Where would I even have a soul..."
Was it [Raoul's Spirit]? But he was human, not a divine beast. What the hell? I don't have anything else... It was bizarre.
"...!!"
That's when it hit.
"Urgh... ugh?!"
Something surged from his stomach. Woojin clapped a hand over his mouth on instinct.
"Urrgh...!!"
But he couldn't hold back the vomit. He collapsed against the ruined wall, retching violently.
"Urk...! Ureeegh...!!"
When the heaving finally stopped, leaving him drained, Woojin stared blankly at it.
"W-What... is this?"
A pristine white orb floating amid the bile. Memories flashed like a montage. It was that light that had entered his body the moment he returned from the other world to the game.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Sarbandin's soul confirmed. ... Sarbandin? An unfamiliar name. But one thing was clear: this soul had crossed from the other world with him.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Contracting with Sarbandin's soul. Engraving the divine beast's soul onto yours. "W-Wait!!" Before Woojin could process it, the light forced its way in, just like that day.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
Learned Soul Engraving. Screeech—. A piercing frequency stabbed his brain, just like in the other world. His vision warped. His mind went white; his sight turned ashen gray. "Kugh!!!" It hurt. Like someone ripping out his brain and stabbing it hundreds of times with an awl. The pain started at his head, spreading through his body as if to seize control. "...
Graaaah!!" Woojin screamed. Why? This was a game... Yet the agony was unbearable. Crunch—!! To stay conscious, he ground his teeth to the breaking point. Only one reason. Raoul's swordsmanship and soul—both from the other world. Grrr... grrr... The pain intensified. He sensed the damned soul engraved in his mind was trying to take over. Payback for meddling with dangerous power, like Raoul devouring a dragon heart? What to do? The unknown, sinister force was corroding him. Let it claim him? "...
Bullshit!" Grinding his teeth, Woojin snarled a warning. "Who gave you permission...!!" One way to resist. Stab—. He drove his sword into his own throat. His vision grayed instantly.
⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING ⚠️