Chapter 79
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Talent
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No matter what desperate struggles they mounted.
Nothing would change.
The Vault Keeper did not doubt this for a second.
It was not pride, conceit, or arrogance.
No matter how much stronger Dion and Parsha were compared to other 3-star high-rank Awakened Ones.
They could never be a match for her, who wielded power comparable to a transcendent Awakened One.
…Yes.
If it had only been the two of them.
*Rumble!*
“Grrr!”
An echo resounded.
Rocks and debris flew into the air.
The tall canyon shook in its entirety.
Mana stones, originally embedded throughout the canyon, clattered down from the violent tremors, casting a radiant glow.
Each time a shadow surged like a wave through the halo of light, the tide of rock monsters was erased, only to rush in again.
It was less a struggle and more a fight for their lives.
Less a battle and more a war.
It was the violence of a horde using its overwhelming numbers, and the slaughter by an individual with asymmetrical power.
It was a sight that would horrify even the most seasoned high-rank Awakened One.
Even so, the presence of the purple-haired girl, steadfastly facing hundreds of monsters by wielding shadows, was truly marvelous, but…
*Boom!*
“Gah!”
The moment the shadow formed a shield.
A large stone slammed into it.
Though small compared to the rock monsters, it was a projectile capable of crushing the girl’s head in a single blow.
The time it took for her to fire a shadow arrow in response was but an instant.
But unfortunately, the dark elf maid had already vanished from atop the canyon.
“How long do you intend to keep flitting about so vexingly!”
The Vault Keeper ground her teeth.
No matter how fast or powerful Parsha’s projectiles were.
Ordinarily, she could have brushed off such antics with a snort and captured her.
The problem was that she was currently trapped in the middle of a monster horde.
“Gah, begone!”
*Thwack! Thwack!*
*Boom!*
“Master, you too, stop pestering me!!!”
The shadows swirling around her spun like saw blades.
Just as the rock monsters were sliced apart.
Another stone came flying.
If she blocked the stone, the monsters swarmed her; if she dealt with the monsters, another stone would fly in.
It was a true dilemma.
Block the monsters and risk her head being smashed by a stone, or block the stone and risk being crushed by the monsters—a continuous crisis.
“Go, go, go!”
“Be silent!”
“Telling your own master to be silent, isn't that a bit much?”
“It is better than a master who cheers for these wretched monsters to devour me!”
“Well, you haven’t been eaten yet, so I guess it’s fine?”
“Are you truly offering that as an excuse now?!”
The Vault Keeper felt a surge of indignation.
The monsters and the master-servant duo.
If it had been just one or the other, she could have dealt with them easily.
But their joint attack, all the more deadly for its simplicity, was steadily pushing her into a corner.
Especially since the monsters seemed endless, no matter how many she killed, while her own power was steadily being depleted.
She was the Vault Keeper.
Merely an administrator.
She was not the true heir to the legacy.
Thus, there was a limit to the power she could use.
‘If it’s come to this…!’
That was why.
With her eyes wide, the Vault Keeper grit her teeth and drew upon her power.
The shadow, having absorbed the power she drew out to its limit, continued to spread from the feet of the rock monsters.
Deep.
Deeper.
And deeper.
So deep that it covered the entire canyon floor and, still not satisfied, crept up the walls on either side.
And…
“Take this!!!”
*Rumble, ruuumble.*
A tremor began.
The shadow seeped through the soil, weeds, and cracks in the ground.
The mighty power of the shadow dimension, which controlled space itself, began to grasp the entire canyon and shake it.
And so, when the vibration finally reached its peak.
*Craaaash!*
—The collapse began.
Cracks formed on the V-shaped cliffs that rose on either side.
As shattered rock rained down from the fissures, crushing the rock monsters below.
Mounds of earth from above the canyon poured down like a flood, sweeping away the uprooted trees and any rock monsters that had managed to survive.
When it was all over.
There was no longer a steep canyon in that place.
Only a gentle slope, cut in half, encircling the ground now filled with piles of earth and rock in a U-shape.
It was a marvel.
Something that would astound not just a high-rank Awakened One.
But even a transcendent Awakened One.
It was a calamity, the terrain itself reshaped by the power of a single individual.
Even the endlessly swarming rock monsters were annihilated before such a cataclysm.
It was a good thing this was the middle of a Labyrinth.
Had this been a territory, it was a terrifying manifestation of destruction that might have brought down not just a manor-level small territory, but even a castle-level high territory.
“Hmph, hmph hmph. This is your punishment for daring to underestimate me!”
The one responsible stood alone at the scene of the tragedy.
The Vault Keeper, cloaked in a shield of shadow, wore a triumphant smile on her sweat-drenched face. It was then.
That a single flash of darkness flew in.
*Clang!*
“Hmph, these petty tricks again…!”
The Vault Keeper blocked the sudden arrow of darkness with her shadow shield.
She wasn’t foolish enough to believe that this would be enough to finish off Dion and Parsha.
But the same was true for the master and servant.
The dark elf maid did not miss the blind spot created by the shadow shield.
*Baaam!*
The air shimmered.
The moment a figure appeared.
A cold, hard iron fist flew toward the girl.
The steel gauntlet, wrapped in a bluish aura, created a crack even in the shadow shield that had remained unshaken while facing countless rock monsters.
“Die!”
*Swish!*
The Vault Keeper shot out numerous tentacles from her shadow shield.
But in that fleeting moment, Parsha had already sprung away, escaping the shadow’s reach.
Moreover, Parsha’s assault did not end there.
*Bam, Baam! Wham!*
She threw a punch.
She delivered a kick.
She flew back, then flew in again.
Darting about in every direction without a moment's rest to avoid being caught by the shadow, she was like a tempest.
Even while airborne, she used her gauntlets and steel boots as counterweights, freely changing her trajectory simply by shifting her posture.
Even a winged bird would have found it difficult to claim more freedom of movement in such a confined space.
*Boom!*
But the Vault Keeper, facing Parsha, was no pushover either.
She created thorns, tentacles, and arrows from her shadow shield, defending and attacking simultaneously.
If Parsha was a mace.
The Vault Keeper was a fortress.
An iron-walled guardian who could block any attack with ease and even counterattack.
That was why the Vault Keeper shouted with confidence.
“Now that the monsters are gone, you are no match for me!”
“Well, is that really so?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
Perhaps realizing that minor concealments were now meaningless, the black-haired boy with streaks of white revealed himself.
Dion pointed at the Vault Keeper with a wide smile.
“You’ve used up almost all your power now, haven’t you, my little shuttle.”
“…”
“If your power were intact, your shield wouldn't have even wavered from Parsha's attack. Am I wrong?”
At Dion’s observation.
The Vault Keeper fell silent.
To collapse the canyon, she had indeed exhausted most of the power she had preserved over long years of slumber.
Even the formidable special ability that had easily subdued the Soma Knight Order was now difficult to use at even half its strength.
Of course, even with just that, she could easily handle several high-rank Awakened Ones…
Dion, who used Black Mana and Chakra.
Parsha, who used Aura and Chakra.
Against this master and servant, who were a cut above other high-rank Awakened Ones, could she guarantee a 100% victory in her current state?
To think so would not be confidence, but arrogance.
But…
“Hmph…”
“Hehehehehe.”
“To stand before me believing in something so trivial, how truly pathetic.”
Even in this situation.
The Vault Keeper did not lose her composure.
Instead, she summoned a cold sneer and moved the shadows, bringing out the trump card she had saved for this very moment.
“As the King's proxy, I command you.”
[Grrrraaaah.]
“Even if it costs you your lives, deal with my master and the elf!”
[Gah, ghaaaaaaah!]
At that moment.
Rising from within the shadows were Sirgal and the members of the Soma Knight Order, their bodies riddled with rock fragments.
Of course, they were a complete mess.
They were in a state where they could barely cling to life, let alone fight…
But that was only if they were sane and valued their lives.
*Crrrack.*
[Kraaaaaaaaaah!!!]
Their eyes, even the whites, turned black.
Their mana surged explosively.
Their mangled bodies began to regenerate at a frightening speed.
It was less a recovery and more a final, brilliant flare.
A temporary power gained by wringing out their very life force and converting it into mana.
It was a suicidal act they would never have committed if they were in their right minds.
But the Soma Knight Order, already subordinated by the Vault Keeper’s ‘Authority,’ paid it no heed.
With eyes stained by madness, they simply billowed clouds of black smoke.
“How is it? Do you still think you can defeat me now?”
“Hmm… This certainly looks tough.”
Dion readily admitted it.
Even weakened, the Vault Keeper was a formidable opponent whose victory was not guaranteed even in a two-on-one fight.
Now that the Soma Knight Order was added to the mix, albeit not in perfect condition.
Their chances of winning had become slim indeed.
However…
“If the only one I was fighting wasn’t you, my shuttle.”
“…What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that no matter if you're an examiner and a guardian, right now, your master is me, and you, shuttle, are ultimately my property.”
“?”
“In that sense, shuttle, thank you.”
Leaving the bewildered Vault Keeper to puzzle over his cryptic words.
Dion confirmed it.
The true objective he had been aiming for since this plan began, the reason he had lured so many monsters to fight the Vault Keeper.
“For the bus ride.”
『Achievement: Subjugating a Knight Order, complete.』
『Achievement: Reaping the Spoils, complete.』
『Achievement: Fox Borrowing the Tiger's Might, complete.』
『Achievement: One Against a Thousand, complete.』
『Achievement: Cataclysm, complete.』
『Achievement: Unrivaled in the Nation, complete.』
『Achievement: Massacre, complete.』
『Achievement: Hunt 100 Rock Monsters, complete.』
『Achievement: Hunt 200 Rock Monsters, complete.』
『Achievement: Hunt 300 Rock Monsters…』
『Achievement: Slaughter 1,000 monsters in under an hour, complete.』
『Achievement: …complete.』
…….
>
………….
『Special effect of 【Bloodfiend Star】 activates.』
>
『Racial Trait 【Rock Muscle (Un)】 has been plundered.』
『Racial Trait 【Living Stone (Un)】 has been plundered.』
『Racial Trait 【Body Slam (N)】 has been plundered.』
『【Black Magician】☆☆☆ Lv10』
『【Ghost Tracker】☆☆☆ Lv4→ Lv5』
『【Sand Mage】☆☆☆ Lv2→ Lv4』
『【Archaeologist】☆☆☆ Lv1→ Lv3』
『【Spirit Medium】☆☆ Lv7→ Lv10』
『Upon reaching Lv10, the imprint of 【Spirit Medium】 is engraved upon your soul.』
It was a cheat.
No, it was more like a bug.
Based on the simple logic that the achievements of a tool belong to its owner, and the deeds of a companion are one's own.
All the monsters the Vault Keeper had killed were ultimately judged as Dion's kills, triggering the power of 【Bloodfiend Star】.
But the truly important message Dion had been waiting for was something else.
A job that had grown rapidly after feeding on the vast experience gained from beating down the high-rank Awakened Ones under Ren.
And…
—With the special effect of 【Job Changer】, a saved job has been swapped with an existing one.
【Beast Tamer】+【Spirit Medium】
→【Necromancer】☆☆☆
『【Black Magician】☆☆☆+【Sand Mage】☆☆☆+【Necromancer】☆☆☆』
『Three jobs of the same class (☆☆☆) and same specialization have been gathered, activating a Job Combination.』
Magic (Magic ☆☆☆) Triple
Second Awakening
【Magus (魔道師)】
【Magus】★★★
1. All magic-type job modifiers increase by 1 rank.
2. Magic Modifier ↑ (Large)
3. Spirit Modifier ↑ (Medium)
4. Special Ability Modifier ↑ (Medium)
5. Physique Modifier ↓ (Large)
6. Sense Modifier ↓ (Medium)
7. Technique Modifier ↓ (Medium)
8. Job Traits: [Understanding of Magic (SR)], [Mana Eye (SR)], [Mana Reinforcement (R)], [Hand Seals (R)], [Multi-Casting (R)].
9. Unique Authority: 【Magic Fusion】
—To use it without understanding the principle is to be a monkey; to use it knowing only the principle is to be a commoner; to delve into the principle itself is the path of a magus.
—A trait that has surpassed its limits fuses with another trait, blossoming into a new possibility.
【Chant Shortening (R)】+【Hand Seals (R)】→ 【Silent Casting (SR)】
“…?!”
The Vault Keeper’s eyes widened at the formidable energy, far surpassing that of a high-rank Awakened One, that suddenly erupted from Dion.
At that moment, Dion grinned at her and snapped his fingers.
“—Corpse Explosion.”
*KABOOOOOOOM!!!*
The corpses of the rock monsters piled up around Sirgal and the Vault Keeper exploded.
***
For an Awakened One.
Jobs and traits were everything.
It was common sense in Odobaekryeong that a low-rank Awakened One could never defeat a high-rank one.
But conversely, it meant that when Awakened Ones of a similar rank fought, victory was never certain.
In that respect.
Multi-Awakened Ones were special.
Aura, Chakra, Internal Energy, Black Mana, and so on.
It was normal for even a high-rank Awakened One to wield only a single special power.
The talent to wield two or more special powers was that rare.
In terms of rarity alone, they were scarcer than most transcendent Awakened Ones, which was why Multi-Awakened Ones were regarded as special even among the high-ranked.
Even more so because the combination and application of these powers could make 1+1 equal not 2, but 3 or 4.
Of course, no matter how special they were.
Ultimately, it was still a matter of the high-rank level.
It was not enough to be compared to a transcendent Awakened One.
Elise alone had toyed with ten high-rank Awakened Ones.
The wall to transcendence was just that high and distant.
…Yes.
Under normal circumstances.
“Ugh.”
That was why the purple-haired girl, now in a tattered state.
The Vault Keeper, covered in dust, could only let out a groan.
“W-what in the world is happening…”
A blessing in disguise, perhaps.
Because she had maintained her shadow shield in preparation for a surprise attack, she had avoided being sent flying by the explosion.
But the shock that pierced through even that defense left the Vault Keeper’s consciousness hazy.
But at this moment.
What was making her dizzy was not her spinning head, but the situation itself.
“Corpse Explosion, how can you use necromancy…!”
Corpse Explosion.
A spell that used a corpse as a catalyst to create an explosion.
Though it had the drawback of requiring a corpse, it could generate a powerful explosion with very little energy.
On a battlefield littered with countless corpses, it was a spell infamous for being more destructive and efficient than any other.
There was just one problem.
Corpse Explosion was not black magic.
Black Mana, which used resentment.
Nether Force, which originated from death.
They were similar in that they both belonged to the power of the shadow dimension and were dangerous, but their sources were fundamentally different.
And the fact that Dion had used Corpse Explosion meant only one thing.
“A-a Triple-Powered user? You mean to say you were hiding your abilities until now?”
Chakra.
Black Mana.
And now, Nether Force.
Dual-Powered users were already rare.
A Triple-Awakened, capable of wielding three different special powers, was a being spoken of only in legends.
And so, to the bewildered Vault Keeper.
Dion, who had approached her unnoticed, said with a wide smile.
“I wasn’t really hiding it. I just didn't need to use it.”
“How does that make any sense?!”
“Well, I only got the job recently, so its level was too low to be properly effective until now.”
“?”
“That’s why I said it. Thanks for the bus ride.”
Dion grinned.
He had killed 12 high-rank Awakened Ones while dealing with Ren's investigation and excavation teams.
Then another 12 by using the ruins to deal with the knight order Sirgal had brought.
Having dealt with a total of 24 high-rank Awakened Ones.
Even though he hadn't dealt with them all directly and the plunder chance of 【Bloodfiend Star】 was low, he had still managed to pick up several useful jobs.
Of course, the Vault Keeper, who knew nothing of this, simply had question marks floating above her head…
But only for a moment.
Snapping back to her senses, she scoffed.
“Hmph, even if you are a Triple-Awakened and not just a Dual-Awakened, you are still no match for me!”
*Swoosh.*
As if to prove her point.
The Vault Keeper raised her shadows once more.
The force of the shadows swirling violently behind her was truly overwhelming.
It was a power far greater than all of Dion’s special powers combined.
“Hmm, so a Triple-Awakened isn't enough… Then how about this?”
But even looking at the Vault Keeper, Dion did not lose his composure.
He simply chuckled and snapped his fingers again.
“Sand Swamp.”
“What…?!”
*Sssssk.*
“W-what is this!”
The Vault Keeper’s eyes shot open.
It wasn't just because the ground had suddenly turned to sand, sucking at her feet.
It was because before that change occurred.
She had seen the milky-white energy that shot from Dion's fingertips.
It was different from the transparent Chakra.
Different from the jet-black Black Mana.
And different from the ashen Nether Force.
That milky-white energy, impossible to mistake.
“Mana…?!”
“Correct.”
“Master, what in the world are you?!?!”
“Why, I’m your master, shuttle.”
“That is not what I am asking! I am asking what kind of sorcery you used to be able to wield four different special powers!”
Of all special powers, the most complex and thus the most difficult to handle.
But for that very reason, the most versatile if wielded properly—pure magical energy, Mana. Seeing its aura.
The Vault Keeper was aghast.
A Triple-Awakened was astonishing enough.
A Quadruple-Awakened, one who could wield four different special powers, was now in the realm of the truly inexplicable.
“There’s no grand secret.”
“…”
“—It’s simply the result of the effort and talent ‘we’ have accumulated.”
As if it were nothing special, Dion spoke nonchalantly. The Vault Keeper bit her lip for a moment.
Then, she slowly nodded.
“…Indeed, it seems I have underestimated you, Master.”
“I appreciate the acknowledgment.”
“However, if you believe that is enough to qualify as the King's successor, then allow me to inform you that is arrogance!”
“Hmm, then I'll have to show you that I'm not arrogant, just capable.”
The girl, with her eyes blazing, and.
The boy, with a wide smile.
Their gazes met in mid-air.
The moment the shadow behind the two swelled to a colossal size, and a multi-colored haze shimmered into existence.
*KABOOOOOOOM!!!*
—The two forces collided, and a deafening roar shook the Labyrinth.