Chapter 319
Chapter 319
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 320
Chapter Title: Exterminate Demon
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"......Impressive. To think a place like this was hidden in the ruins of the central island."
Kim Deok-hyun looked around the ruins of the central island in admiration.
As a member of the Special Task Force and a mage who had explored countless ruins, this was the first time he had seen a place filled with such a variety of spells.
"Captain!"
As he was lost in thought while examining the spells carved into the surrounding stone slabs, Jeong Hyun-su's voice called out.
"Did you find something?"
"Light attribute traces were detected on Shin Hyun-kyo's corpse."
Light attribute.
It was a familiar situation, even if somewhat expected.
Kim Deok-hyun turned his gaze to Kim Seon-woo, who stood alone in the distance.
"What form?"
"We couldn't locate the head that was hit, so we don't know the exact form. But based on the surrounding traces, we're speculating it was a sphere."
Kim Deok-hyun nodded in response instead of answering.
"What about Kim Chang-hyun's whereabouts?"
"We're investigating now, but...... as Kim Seon-woo said, there are records of Kim Chang-hyun entering and leaving the floating island."
At those words, Kim Deok-hyun fell deep into thought.
Kim Chang-hyun.
The top graduate of the Mage Academy, a top prospect whose future path was highly anticipated.
Numerous guilds had vied to recruit him, and the Special Task Force was no exception.
But Kim Chang-hyun had not engaged with any guild and had vanished without a trace after graduation.
"......So it's true that Kim Chang-hyun frequented the floating island."
His mind grew even more complicated.
Of all people, Kim Chang-hyun.
"Ellen, was it?"
"Yes."
"Is there any chance Kim Seon-woo and Ellen are in cahoots?"
"Well, I'd say no. There's no sign of any hidden relationship between them."
"Hmm."
Kim Deok-hyun let out a short groan.
If it had been just Kim Seon-woo's claim, it might have been different, but with another eyewitness corroborating, it was hard not to think Kim Chang-hyun was really behind it.
Moreover, Kim Deok-hyun knew the secret of the "Seonhyeon Family" from his long time in the Special Task Force.
It was about Jin Cheon-woo's secret experiments, which the Association kept under strict secrecy.
"Kim Chang-hyun......"
Did he really break the barrier and kill Shin Hyun-kyo?
For what reason?
But to completely believe Kim Chang-hyun was the culprit, one doubt remained.
"Light attribute......"
During his time at the Mage Academy, Kim Chang-hyun's main attribute was lightning.
Of course, that was just his main attribute; through practice and training, he could have learned others.
But light attribute was an exception.
It was a special attribute that only those born with it could use.
"Could Kim Chang-hyun wield light attribute?"
It wasn't entirely impossible.
There were cases of awakening new attribute talents later in life.
Kim Deok-hyun turned his gaze back to Kim Seon-woo.
Kim Seon-woo was lost in thought, staring at the ruins' spells.
......Until now, I thought Kim Seon-woo was the culprit in the demon subjugation incidents.
Perhaps I've been wrong all this time.
At the same time, Ellen moved to the private room of the floating island social club's president.
Opening the door, she saw Han Se-jin sitting in a chair, waiting with a dissatisfied face.
"Is it true that Shin Hyun-kyo's death was Kim Chang-hyun's doing?"
Ellen nodded at the blunt question.
"Yeah. I tried to follow the demon guy, but the opponent was ridiculously strong. We teamed up, but it was no use."
"......Kim Chang-hyun, you say?"
"Yeah. Hard to believe, but it's true."
Ellen's voice was calm, showing no sign of lying. But inwardly, she was confused.
She had said 'Kim Chang-hyun' as per the boss's orders, but it turned out traces of Kim Chang-hyun entering the floating island had indeed been found, just as he said.
"Things are getting tangled......"
Han Se-jin muttered while fiddling with the armrest of his chair with his fingers.
"Not only Kim Jin-woo's assassination, but Shin Hyun-kyo's death, and now the event is ruined."
Han Se-jin gritted his teeth and clenched his fist.
For nearly a year, nothing had gone right.
It seemed to start after Kim Jin-woo's appearance.
"......Kim Chang-hyun."
Han Se-jin's anger had shifted from Kim Jin-woo to Kim Chang-hyun.
Due to the aftermath of the incident in the central island's secret ruins, the "Night of the Full Moon" event was completely halted.
Han Se-yeon remained unconscious in the hospital room, resting, while the Special Task Force and Hanseong Family pursued the culprit behind the incident, 'Kim Chang-hyun.'
And in that process, several facts came to light.
The one who shattered the full moon barrier was none other than Kim Chang-hyun.
They didn't know exactly what method he used, but the Special Task Force speculated that Kim Chang-hyun possessed some kind of 'mystery of barrier dissolution.'
And as more traces of Kim Chang-hyun surfaced, mine and Ellen's claims gained credibility.
In the end, all suspicion pointed to Kim Chang-hyun, and I was cleared from the investigation net.
"Hmm."
And now.
Back at the hotel, I was checking the gains from killing Hyun-kyo.
[Your body 'evolves' to adapt to combat with demons.]
[A very faint 'Exterminate Demon' is infused into your magic power.]
After scanning through the long messages, the line that caught my eye was this.
Exterminate Demon.
The only means to kill the near-immortal 'Demon King.'
It was 'Exterminate Demon,' Yoon Ha-young's strongest trait against great demons.
"I never imagined I'd acquire Exterminate Demon."
From the message, it seemed like an ability gained through the [Evolution and Adaptation] trait.
The difference was that, unlike the usual 'assimilates' messages, this was the first time 'evolves' appeared.
"It evolved to optimize for demon hunting?"
Hmm.
Pretty amazing.
Well, I've killed over five high-grade demons, so it's about time for Exterminate Demon power to manifest.
I immediately checked 'Exterminate Demon.'
[Exterminate Demon (B)] [Proficiency: 0%]
Description: The power that exterminates demons.
[Usage Effect]
►Judgment
Infuses Exterminate Demon power into magic power.
Deals 20% additional damage against all enemies related to demons and reduces their regeneration by 30%.
"Oh."
From the content, it wasn't much different from Yoon Ha-young's Exterminate Demon.
The differences were the rank and the numerical values for additional damage.
Yoon Ha-young's was SS-rank, mine B-rank.
"......But being B-rank makes it a bit lacking."
Right now, the additional damage isn't much different from light attribute.
No, at 20% extra damage, it might even have lower firepower than light attribute.
The regeneration suppression shows a big difference, but compared to the ultimate anti-demon trait I knew, 'Exterminate Demon,' it's disappointing.
"Well, steady practice should make it work."
It's not a fixed trait but a growth-type one, so consistent use could raise it to A-rank or even S-rank.
"Let's try using it right away."
I opened my palm and manifested a magic sphere.
Wooong!
A neutral attribute sphere rose simultaneously.
A pure magic sphere containing no attributes or traits.
Now, I would infuse Exterminate Demon magic power into this sphere.
"Hoo."
Focusing my mind, I activated Exterminate Demon.
But.
"......Huh? Why isn't it working?"
Exterminate Demon power wouldn't infuse.
The same even after several attempts.
"......What the?"
Did I miss something?
"......No."
Usually, upon acquiring a trait, the body automatically learns how to use it.
And right now, I knew how to use Exterminate Demon.
"Hmm."
After pondering for a while, I recalled practicing Exterminate Demon with Yoon Ha-young in a dungeon in the past.
"......Willpower."
The activation condition for Exterminate Demon is the user's strong will.
A strong will to exterminate the demon right in front of you.
Back then, Yoon Ha-young couldn't manifest it until I instilled a strong will, and then she succeeded.
"......But back then, there was at least a demon to hunt in front of us."
Willpower isn't something that moves with mere thought.
It manifests only when there's a motivating factor right before your eyes. But right now, there was nothing related to demons in front of me.
I couldn't just enter a dungeon for practice either.
"Hmm......"
As I pondered, a brilliant idea flashed in my mind.
A perfect way to manifest willpower.
I closed my eyes and hypnotized myself.
Pretending there was a demon right in front of me, that I had to kill it right now......
As I hypnotized myself, a message appeared.
[Latent trait, 'Overimmersion' activated.]
At the same time, light began emanating from my palm.
The light gathered, forming a sphere emitting a lumpy glow.
If a light attribute sphere emitted sharp light, the one I manifested now had a subtle, mystical feel.
"Success......"
Compared to Yoon Ha-young's, it was inferior, but Exterminate Demon magic power was definitely infused.
[Successfully manifested Exterminate Demon magic power for the first time.]
[Exterminate Demon (B) proficiency increases by 10%.]
Seeing the message before my eyes, I couldn't help but smile.
Anyway, acquiring Exterminate Demon power was big news.
Plus, being a growth-type trait, not fixed, I could expect rank increases through training.
Of course, reaching max SS-rank would be tough, but I had 'Overimmersion.'
If I used this well, I might skyrocket to A-rank in no time.
Then.
"......Ugh?"
My head spun, and dizziness hit.
I dispelled the Exterminate Demon magic and gripped my forehead.
"......Ugh, what is this."
My body felt weak, like exhaustion had set in.
Did using Exterminate Demon cause magic power depletion? I checked my body, but no.
So this was...... a mental issue.
"......Lack of willpower, huh."
Traits or magic reliant on willpower have this drawback.
It was commonly known among mages, so I wasn't particularly surprised.
Yoon Ha-young had struggled with willpower deficiency at first too.
"Hoo......"
I lay on the bed and took deep breaths.
Closing my eyes, feeling the magic power inside me, emptying my mind.
After some time, I could move again.
Thanks to various recovery traits, the recovery was quick.
"It'll take some time to handle properly."
Its power aside, it's not practical in real combat yet.
As I felt that regret.
An idea flashed in my mind.
What if I layered light attribute and Exterminate Demon magic power?
"Theoretically, no reason it can't."
Yoon Ha-young layers Exterminate Demon over ice attribute when using it.
And if I can layer light attribute and Exterminate Demon.
It would offset all the shortcomings of my Exterminate Demon.
"......If it works, jackpot."
Gulp. I swallowed and opened my palm again.
Focusing my mind, I manifested a light sphere.
This part was easy.
But the problem was next.
Overlaying Exterminate Demon onto the light attribute.
"Let's go."
[Latent trait, 'Overimmersion' activated.]
I closed my eyes and injected 'Exterminate Demon' into the light attribute sphere.
Then, an eerie light began emanating from the light attribute sphere.
Wooong!
Two kinds of light emanated from one sphere.
They intertwined, creating a brilliant glow.
And.
[Achievement: 'Synergy Implementation of Different Magic Powers' accomplished.]
[Reward: Acquired 3,000 points.]
[Exterminate Demon (B) proficiency increases by 13%.]
[Successfully trained using latent trait.]
['Overimmersion' effect strengthens further.]
[Gained enlightenment in magic!]
[Magic comprehension greatly increases!]
[Magic Control (A) proficiency increases by 15%.]
[Light Attribute Control rank rises to 2!]
A flurry of messages poured before my eyes.