Purification of Albetar Temple
The spirits had transformed in quite a spectacular fashion.
The wolf-like Fire had become a tiger, while Water, who had resembled a female knight wielding a sword and shield, now took the form of an angel with a pair of wings.
Earth, once a golem, had turned into a male knight clad head to toe in full plate armor.
Finally, Wind became an eagle with invisible currents of air trailing behind it like flickering flames.
Fire, Wind, Earth, Water.
--------!
The four greater spirits radiated an overwhelming presence.
They weren't numerous like skeletons, but each one possessed stats on par with a Poison Ogre.
Moreover, the Spirit Fighter class emphasized perfect synergy with one's spirits.
Skills chained together exponentially, amplifying their destructive power, so they were far stronger now than before their evolution.
"What do you think?"
What was there to say?
Mu-hyuk simply gave a thumbs-up.
"Kuhahaha."
Sung Min-woo beamed with genuine delight at Mu-hyuk's reaction.
"My beautiful babies! New skills added, stats skyrocketing! This feels amazing!"
The changes weren't limited to Sung Min-woo's spirits.
"Oppa...!"
"Yeah?"
"The chipmunks changed a bit too!"
"Huh? The chipmunks?"
"Yeah, look!"
Yerin held out one of her chipmunks.
"Whoa, for real."
The once-ordinary chipmunk now wore a helmet-like helm and flimsy armor that looked like it would crumple under the slightest pressure.
"How'd that happen?"
"When I hit level 205, I got an automatic skill."
"A skill?"
"Yeah, one that boosts enhancement levels."
"Whoa, so what's the chipmunk's enhancement at now?"
"31 thanks to the skill."
"Guess it evolved because it broke past +30."
"Probably, right?"
That implied another evolution might occur once the enhancement hit a certain threshold. It was subtly exciting.
"Keep enhancing steadily."
"Got it."
"Anyway, with the spirits evolved and the chipmunks stronger... "
It finally felt like time to clear this place.
"We can pick up the pace now, right?"
"Obviously."
"Then let's wrap this up. Can't stay here forever."
After resupplying, they clashed with a group of holy paladins and high priests.
Twelve in total.
It could have been called a herd, but they trusted the evolved spirits and powered-up chipmunks to carry them through.
"Hold them off with the chipmunks as long as you can!"
"Okay!"
Yerin drew their attention with magic first, then focused the chipmunks on one target.
Over forty chipmunks swarmed the holy paladin, clambering all over it.
They swung their cute little paws, but the results were gruesomely effective.
Crack, crrrack!
The paladin's armor began to dent.
"Whoa...!"
Yerin's eyes widened.
She'd seen the stat changes, but this was beyond expectation.
At over +30 enhancement...
The chipmunks' destructive power transcended ordinary limits.
"Just a bit more!"
Soon, the chipmunks tore off sections of the paladin's armor. Infiltrating the gaps, they unleashed merciless attacks, chaining critical hits and rapidly draining its HP.
*
The four newly evolved spirits. It was time to sync with them for the first time.
"Let's do this, you guys."
Four greater spirits.
Eight lesser ones.
Total of twelve charged forward together.
Whoosh.
Wind flapped its wings fiercely first.
Whiiir.
Invisible winds shaped into blades and shot toward the holy paladin. As multiple blades embedded into it...
Transformation.
Sung Min-woo's body turned to light and shifted to an unembedded blade.
Like teleportation, he'd instantly closed the gap.
His knuckle gloves thrust forward, smashing the paladin's chest at blinding speed.
Crack!
The paladin reeled back from the impact.
Fire appeared behind it in a flash.
Crunch.
Like a real tiger, it slammed down with its forepaw. As Sung Min-woo approached the deeply embedded foe and activated Penetration,
The skill pierced anything with the knuckles' sharp edges, effortlessly penetrating the paladin's armor.
"Hup!"
With a surge of strength, he hurled it skyward.
Whoosh.
He jumped, and together with the spirits, they brutally stomped the flailing paladin mid-air. Barraged by endless attacks, it faltered.
Whooom.
Suddenly, wind surged from below.
Wind Slash.
Wind, Power Shield.
One of the two new skills activated.
A thick barrier formed, blocking the paladin's wind slash.
Untouched, Sung Min-woo kept landing hits. He landed on the ground and crushed its abdomen with his heel.
BOOM.
Glancing at the paladin buried deep in the earth, Sung Min-woo turned at Mu-hyuk's voice.
"Fall back!"
"Got it!"
He withdrew with his spirits, pulling away from the paladin.
Then he watched the mage's magic fly past.
Impressive as always.
The overwhelming sight never failed to amaze.
Can't lose.
As soon as the attack stopped, he charged again.
Chaining combos with the evolved spirits, damage spiked with each link.
They felled one paladin far faster than before.
Experience has increased.
Sung Min-woo roared triumphantly.
"Yeeeaahhh!"
All his pent-up stress melted away in an instant.
*
The distance covered in the first six days matched that of the two days after the spirits evolved.
Hunting had become dramatically easier with the sudden power boost.
"You saved the Revive skill quite a bit, right?"
"Yeah, plenty."
"Then we can use it on tougher foes later."
"Exactly. No boss guarantee, even if it's not in the monster logs."
"Good, good. Let's keep pushing like this."
"Sounds good. But let's eat first."
"Eat?"
"It's already dinner time."
"Whoa, no way."
"See you in an hour?"
"Cool."
"Me too!"
"Same here."
Mu-hyuk sent his summons to the Demon Realm and logged out with the group.
After dinner with the family, he sat on the living room couch munching an apple his mother had peeled for dessert.
Checking the homepage, he realized the time and stood.
Kang Ji-yeon clicked her tongue.
"You're such a shut-in. Moderation, dude."
"My call."
"Son, just a bit longer, then bed early."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Ha, you never rebel against Mom at all."
"Why would I? It's obvious."
Mu-hyuk shot her an exasperated look before heading to his room.
Logging back in from the capsule, a pile of messages awaited—summon exp gains and skeleton unsummons, all dead in the Demon Realm.
He resummoned the skeletons and pored over their status windows, dumping exp into Armor Knight 2 where it felt lacking.
Enhanced Armor Knight 2's Strength (2) has increased.
Enhanced Armor Knight 2's Vitality (2) has increased.
Enhanced Armor Knight 2's Agility (1) has increased.
His teammates logged in soon after, and they pressed on.
"Ah, come on, boss or whatever, just show up already."
"For real, please."
"This is getting boring...!"
Perhaps their wish was granted.
Soon, a vast hall appeared.
"Hm?"
No monsters. Just a massive statue.
"A statue?"
"What's that?"
Approaching, they marveled at its exquisite craftsmanship. A beautiful woman reaching one hand skyward, her face steeped in sorrow. Tears streaming down her cheeks felt eerily lifelike, sending chills down their spines.
"Whoa, it's so realistic. Insane."
"Feels sad."
The four drew closer, entranced.
Mu-hyuk too.
Inspecting it up close from all angles.
"Seems like this is the end, but just a statue."
"Something here?"
As if compelled, they all reached out.
The statue reacts.
Reviewing accumulated results.
Corrupted Novice Priests: 9,113.
Corrupted Novice Holy Knights...
The accumulated corrupted energy is purified by the sacred statue and dissipates.
Quest 'Purification of Albetar Temple' completed.
The density of corrupting energy occupying the temple decreases, releasing much of the suppression on the statue.
The statue's seal is broken.
The sorrowful statue cracked, then crumbled entirely. The woman's head drooped in grief.
"Ah..."
With a soft gasp, she knelt.
"God, thank you."
Her voice rang clear and pure.
Mu-hyuk and the others fell silent before her overwhelming presence.
She raised her head, meeting their eyes.
"Was it you?"
"Pardon?"
"Are you the ones who saved Albetar Temple?"
"Ah, yes. That's us."
"Thank you so much."
She rose gracefully.
"I am Luina, saintess of Albetar Temple."
Her pure white beauty sanctified her beyond mortal limits.
"I'd love to speak more, but alas, I cannot."
"What do you...?"
"Thanks to your purification, a sliver of Albetar Temple's sanctity has returned. Now, I'll use my remaining power to eradicate all corruption here. If any strength remains after..."
The saintess continued softly.
"I'll bestow it upon you."
This was it.
Rewards for their efforts.
"Thank you."
He was confident, having hunted extensively.
"Please wait just a moment."
"Sure."
The saintess closed her eyes and clasped her hands.
Eh...?
An invisible warmth enveloped him gently.
Comforting and cozy.
A subtle force lulled his eyes shut. Lost in the sensation, time slipped away unnoticed.
It felt like an instant, but the corruption was gone.
The warmth vanished like a dream.
"Ah..."
Regretfully, he opened his eyes.
The saintess smiled.
"Thank you truly. The power you gave was greater than I imagined."
"Glad to hear it."
"Now, my turn to repay you."
She approached.
"I'll share my remaining power. But what form it takes, even I don't know. All I can do is grant you a small possibility. What you gain from it is yours alone."
She extended her hand.
Something intangible stirred within them.
Albetar's sacred energy analyzes the character system.
Albetar's power infuses the system.
The system bestows the most suitable ability.
Skill 'Albetar's Authority' acquired.
Albetar's Authority is too powerful; system rejects it.
Skill downgraded.
Skill 'Albetar's Authority' changed to 'Albetar's Talent'.
Lots of text, but one conclusion.
Skill: Albetar's Talent.
That was all they'd gained.