Isra's Awakening – A Knight's Gleaming Return

Sir Isra (the knight) stood motionless in the center of the circle, her body bathed in ethereal light. Her undead form had undergone a complete metamorphosis.

Species: Undead

Classification: Resurrected

Grade: D+ to B

Strength: 225 to 604

Agility: 229 to 597

Stamina: 130 to 352

Constitution: 141 to 338

Mana: 304 to 589

Skills

— Imperial Sword Style (Modified) – Isra Form [SSS]

— Body Reinforcement → Mana Release [B]

— Mana Organ → Agrima Mana Operation Method [B] [New!]

— Iron Bones [B] [New!]

— Knightly Dignity [B] [New!]

— Immortality [D+] to [B]

The augmentation had been a complete success.

Jumped from D+ straight to B.

That was nearly a 1.5-grade leap.

Stats had skyrocketed more than double, numbers that perfectly matched the new B-grade level.

With the Undead Maker achievement and the additional option for corpse crafting, the stats were on par with a maxed B-grade hunter.

Maybe that was because the base was already a B-grade hunter.

Her skills had gained quite a few new layers too.

The Mana Operation method increased ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠mana reserves and reduced consumption.

Iron Bones buffered impact and granted power beyond the limit.

And the final addition, Knightly Dignity, amplified the output of Mana Release skills.

The upgrades were so drastic they felt almost unfair.

But there was still one thing missing.

The truth had finally surfaced.

There was real satisfaction in creating something so close to the dream-like vision I had seen.

Sir Isra's soul voice trembled with joy.

A faint crimson flush spread across her pale skin.

Her fluttering hair gained a healthy luster.

Her parched lips became moist once more.

At last, Sir Isra opened her eyes.

"Ah... ahahaha."

A radiant light of life, something no living being could produce, filled the space around her.

"How is my body?"

"Perfect. My Lord!"

Her voice carried a higher tone than her soul's usual pitch, though it was not as sharp as Ingrid's.

She was still the same golden-haired beauty I had seen in my dreams.

I scratched my head with my right hand.

"This is really something."

Only I had been deceived. That was how I felt.

I handed her the clothes I had prepared in advance.

"Go change over there."

"Yes, My Lord!"

A pair of jeans and a plain white T-shirt.

Ordinary clothes, yet she looked like she had wandered into a fashion show.

That was why fashion was said to be completed by the face.

"Master, I won't be left out either."

Ingrid leaned her upper body forward slightly.

Oh, right.

You won't be left out anywhere you go, I'll bet.

"Hmm. With this body, it might be possible."

Sir Isra held up a sword.

"Wooooong!"

A light vibrating hum came from the blade.

A faint blue aura coated the sword.

It sent a chill down my spine.

Even with the Heavenly Martial Body, I could tell the aura wasn't ordinary.

"Aura?"

"Haha, you recognized it right away."

"Insane. Completely insane."

Aura.

A powerful ability allowed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠only to A-grade warrior hunters.

Warrior-grade ranks went like this:

C-grade: Body reinforcement using mana.

B-grade: Mana Release to boost attacks or movement.

Then came A-grade, the symbol of another level entirely.

A-grade: Aura. Mana is materialized on weapons or the body to maximize destructive power.

It could slice steel easily and even pierce magic.

A-class warriors' ultimate technique was Aura.

"It's just a minor party trick."

"Only you would say something like that about aura, Sir."

Now I had no room left to argue.

Applying her past-life enlightenment and transcending limits.

It seemed the continent's number-one hunter had pulled a real coup.

Sir Isra maintained the aura for a few seconds, then let it fade.

"Aura's completion isn't perfect yet."

"This iron skull of mine. It's only natural since I've exceeded the limits of the allowed vessel."

"If I concentrated just a little more, I could've made an Aura Blade too. Too bad."

No one could have predicted a C-grade summon would use Aura.

But Aura Blade?

"No need to go that far. I'll hold back."

Really.

Even my subordinate's strength was terrifyingly high.

"How would it be if we fought those Chinese hunters from last time?"

"Those ruffians."

Sir Isra pondered for a short moment.

"If it were just me, I could cut them all down."

No hesitation at all.

"But why assume solo?"

"Protecting my Lord while taking them out would be difficult."

So straightforward.

Why didn't she just say her Lord was a burden?

Anyway.

I already knew B-grade corpses were excellent for creating undead.

"Ingrid. You should get augmented too."

"Huh?"

"We brought a mage corpse as well. Let's upgrade her."

Following Sir Isra's method, I could boost the stats.

Her unique skill, Solar Eclipse, had countless applications.

Power varied wildly, and range could be adjusted.

The drawback was high mana consumption.

That's why I didn't throw overwhelming firepower at C-grade gates.

I focused on supporting Sir Isra.

Since I had been careful with Ingrid's augmentation, her mana was already quite high.

Her limits were showing, though.

"Oh my. The young lady will engrave my Lord's grace into her bones."

Engraving into bones... didn't that mean the mana circuit?

The thought of a perfect joke crossed my mind, but I kept my mouth shut.

The augmentation of Ingrid went smoothly too.

Same grade as Sir Isra.

Stats rose perfectly to match the grade.

Linking her soul into the [Empty Spirit's Staff] again had been difficult, but the perfect compatibility meant success after much effort.

The most noticeable change was:

B-grade mage's mark.

Multi-cast had been added.

Up until now, I had forced magic to link to her unique skill and release it slowly.

After casting one by one, the results took too long.

Now I could use multiple spells simultaneously.

"I will be able to display the true power of a true witch."

Ingrid's face lit up with a radiant smile, like flowers blooming.

"Don't you dare flatter your Lord."

"What? My iron skull."

"Do not act disgracefully."

"Uh. Are all iron skulls like this in any world?"

"What? A duel!"

"Besides fighting, what else can you do?"

Ingrid stepped back slightly.

She now glared at Sir Isra while keeping me in front.

"Charge!"

Sir Isra bared her teeth and braced her thighs as if ready to lunge at any moment.

"I know you're all full of power, but stop there."

"Yes, My Lord."

"Tch."

Sir Isra clicked her tongue and sheathed her sword.

The continent's number-one hunter versus the witch of Solar Eclipse.

Stats were perfectly balanced.

Whoever won between them would be decided by a hair.

Right now, Sir Isra's eyes were shooting lasers.

This was why.

"Shall we go eat?"

Nothing beat loading a full stomach.

"Food!?"

Sir Isra's eyes, already full of venom, softened completely.

She looked like a spoiled child seeing her favorite snack.

"You wanted to taste it, didn't you?"

"Y-yes, My Lord! It's wonderful!"

In an instant, Sir Isra was right beside me.

Her movements were so fast I couldn't even react with the Heavenly Martial Body.

She grabbed my wrist with lightning speed.

Whoosh!

My hand was shaken violently up and down.

I worried my arm might pop out.

"Who told you not to flatter?"

"Flatter? This is merely an expression of gratitude to my Lord!"

"Aha. I should be grateful too."

Ingrid's lips curled up slightly.

Uh-oh.

If I stay still, a second fight is going to break out.

"Let's go."

I checked the clock. It was well past midnight.

More people had joined too.

Today I had planned to eat something else for late-night snacks, but there was no choice left but gukbap.

"How wonderful!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"There are other late-night snacks."

"Gukbap is more than enough."

Sir Isra grinned.

"I wonder how jealous and envious you are that we're eating it together."

"You knights get jealous over that kind of thing?"

"Look at your actions. You're a witch."

I unconsciously nodded.

Ingrid was really something.

"My lords, I'm so envious."

"Hahaha."

Sir Isra's wide-open mouth looked almost like a celebrity's.

The scene was almost too noble.

Tap.

It was absurd.

We entered the gukbap restaurant with both subordinates in tow.

"Welcome... oh?"

The owner of the gukbap shop's eyes widened.

Two instead of three, he must have been surprised.

Every customer inside the restaurant gaped the moment they saw our group.

They might even swallow a fly.

Ingrid wasn't the only one drawing stares. Sir Isra was too.

"Three sets of sundae gukbap, please."

Three stone bowls sat on the table.

Sir Isra stared intently at the boiling soup rising in thick steam.

"Do you know how to eat?"

"Yes."

She slowly scooped the soup, then stared at the spoon for over ten seconds.

A reverent, prayer-like posture.

Eventually, she brought the spoon to her lips.

"Glug—"

"Oooooh!!!"

She opened her eyes wide and shouted.

"It's delicious!"

"I'm glad it suits your taste."

The spoon moved faster.

The soup and rice in the bowls disappeared rapidly.

"More?"

"Yes!"

One bowl became two.

"One more, please!"

Two became three.

"It's truly wonderful!"

"My, what a refined person. Eating like this is truly blessed."

"The taste strikes the soul!"

"I'll give you one more as a service."

"Your kindness is even better."

I watched empty bowls turn into a magic trick.

...Hey.

Excuse me, sir. How much are you eating?