Albetar's Talent
Mu-hyuk's brow furrowed for a moment.
He'd been expecting an Authority...
But it had turned into a Talent instead, shattering his anticipation.
Still, it's a hidden power, right?
He tried to console himself like that and moved to check the skill.
"I hope it turned out well for you."
The saintess's clear voice rang in his ears.
He froze and turned to look at her.
"Then, I suppose it's time for me to say my goodbyes."
"Pardon? Goodbyes?"
"I'm already a dead body. I've resolved the one thing I so desperately wished for, so there's no reason for me to linger here any longer. I've passed my remaining power on to you all, so I only hope you put it to good use."
"But..."
"Oh, right—this place will vanish in 30 minutes. My feeble power is fading, and the building itself has reached its limit. Head to the gate at the back within that time, and you should be able to get out. And one last little selfish wish..."
The saintess began to fade away.
"I hope that even just one follower of Albetar is born somewhere in this vast world..."
With those words, she disappeared completely.
Sung Min-woo, Yerin, Kim Ji-yeon, Mu-hyuk.
The four of them exchanged glances for a moment.
"Feels kinda off, but hey, it ended well, right?"
"She said her wish was fulfilled."
"Yeah..."
Mu-hyuk clapped his hands.
Clap.
It was to shift the mood.
"Alright, let's get outta here."
"Yeah, we should."
The four started walking.
Then, a faint shift in the saintess's expression flashed through Mu-hyuk's mind.
"But when she mentioned the 30 minutes..."
"Yeah."
"Didn't that feel a bit weird?"
"What do you mean?"
"Nah, maybe I'm overthinking it, but her expression seemed to waver or something."
"Huh? I didn't notice."
"Me neither."
"Really?"
But no matter how he turned it over in his head, it felt off.
"Ah, and giving us exactly 30 minutes in the first place—doesn't that seem suspicious?"
"Huh, yeah, now that you mention it."
"Like it's telling us to search for something within that time?"
At Mu-hyuk's words, the three halted.
"It's possible."
"Wanna look around?"
"Call."
"Okay!"
The four hurriedly began combing through the final chamber.
About five minutes later, Mu-hyuk paused his search and summoned his warhorse.
"Sorry, gotta run to the back real quick."
"Yeah, go for it."
Searching was one thing, but leaving the souls of the fallen holy warriors and high priests behind felt like a waste.
He planned to revive them and ship them off to the Demon Realm.
At least we'd get the experience.
While heading there, he finally checked the skill he'd overlooked amid the movement.
Albetar's Talent
One of the talents once possessed by Albetar. This ability allows the creation of entirely new skills by combining existing ones.
1. Even after creating a new skill through combination, the original skills remain usable.
2. Upon successful combination, the two base skills cannot be reused in any other combination.
3. If a combination fails three or more times, that specific combination becomes permanently unavailable.
Despite the stringent conditions, a massive thrill coursed through him.
A skill that defied all logic?
Already, three or four combinations sprang to mind.
If they worked as he suspected, they'd be enormously helpful.
Gotta test it the second we're out.
He gathered his thoughts and slowed his pace.
Revive.
He resurrected the souls of the holy warriors and high priests.
Five, ten, twenty.
Thirty, forty.
Over ten minutes, he gathered 39 holy warriors and 13 high priests.
Total: 52.
No time to get more.
Time to call it here.
"Skeleton Summon."
He topped off his MP, summoned his minions, and dispatched them all to Demon Realm F12 sector.
*
Not all demons lived confined to the Demon King's castle.
Those without clans roamed the Demon Continent with near certainty.
It was to rack up experience and grow stronger.
Only by becoming high demons could they live without being trampled.
"Ah, it's way more fun out here than cooped up in the castle, but..."
"Wandering nonstop does get old after a while."
"Just close your eyes and head east, west, or south?"
"You psycho, you'd get jumped and die."
"Who doesn't know that? Fine, middle region then."
"You know that's lawless territory? Could be even riskier. Why act like you don't know?"
"'Cause I'm bored, that's why!"
The mid-level demons walking now were no different.
Kolk and Bokuma.
Two demons with talent but no clan. They'd just left a village.
Villagers had waited on them hand and foot, but recalling the castle scorn soured it.
Better to hit the fields and fight beasts. At least it felt like growth.
"Don't rush it. We can grow slow and steady."
"I know, but..."
"A bit more growth, and we're upper mid. Not far off. Then we can sweep those clanless-mocking bastards. We can do whatever we want after that."
"Fine, got it."
Kolk finally conceded.
"Anyway, why's it so quiet here? No beasts."
"Yeah, weird."
The moment they brushed it off and kept moving.
-----!
A faint sound of battle echoed.
"Huh? Fighting?"
"Sounds like it."
"Let's check it out!"
Kolk bolted ahead, grinning excitedly.
"Haa... seriously."
Bokuma shook his head and followed.
"There, over there!"
"I see it."
"Oh yeah? My bad, you're always so dark ahead."
"Oh really..."
"Kidding, kidding."
Kolk laughed and turned.
Sure enough, combat.
"That's a lot of 'em."
"Hmm, beasts fighting each other."
"Heh?"
"Let's get closer."
"Sweet."
Kolk and Bokuma closed in without hesitation.
Just beasts. No matter the numbers, no real threat.
Instinct-driven dummies—they could crush them flawlessly without taking hits.
"Ho? Skeleton beasts?"
"Neat."
"Those are Rank 2 beasts, Tykan."
Tiger-shaped, black fur. But each hair sharp as needles—that was the issue.
"About thirty Tykans? Skeletons around two hundred."
"Intriguing."
The beast brawl was fiercer than expected.
"Whoa, magic's pretty strong."
"Tough hides too."
"Yeah. And great stamina."
The endless bone arrows were especially overwhelming.
"Hmm, but hey."
"What."
"Those skeletons. Real beasts?"
"What're you on about."
"Too organized for beasts."
Bokuma frowned at Kolk's words.
He watched in silence for a bit.
"You're right. Feels like well-trained soldiers."
"Told ya."
"What the hell are they?"
The moment doubt crept in, a strange vibe hit.
The sky filled with multicolored energies hurtling toward the two demons.
Bokuma raised a hand, a blue barrier softly enveloping them.
The spells slammed in.
Kuwhoom.
The barrier shook harder than expected.
"Whoa."
"What, it's breaking?"
"No way...!"
The blue glow intensified.
"Ooh, packing some punch."
"Shut it."
Before the first wave ended.
Whoom.
The second hit, but the barrier held. Arrows still incoming.
"Damn, this is tricky."
Dodging seemed impossible, so he poured more into the barrier.
"These beasts are annoying."
"Hmm, should I jump in?"
"Thought you'd just watch."
"Didn't expect two of us on beasts."
"Same here, but..."
Bokuma swallowed his pride.
"Better safe."
"Gotcha."
Kolk grinned, watching.
Clang, kagang!
As many arrows ricocheted off the barrier, Kolk darted sideways on cue.
Swoosh.
He blurred into a half-circle at blinding speed—an illusion making him seem nonexistent.
Time to cook.
Target the spell and arrow skeletons first.
Kolk slipped among them, dual daggers flashing.
Boom, kwakwang!
Skeleton wreckage crumbled in his wake.
Something's here.
From the rear?
Soon, some Enhanced Armor Knights and Enhanced Armor Cavalry pivoted.
The charging Enhanced Armor Cavalry's gaze turned icy.
We got ambushed...
Enhanced Armor Archer 3 shattered.
This time it's m—
Armor Archer 4 next to it staggered. The Armor Cavalry roughly pinpointed the enemy and accelerated.
Speed building. Distance closed—now just wait for the opening.
Kwaang!
Enhanced Armor Mage 4 exploded.
Charge!
Charge!
Armor Cavalry activating skills in unison.
Peuk!
Enhanced Armor Cavalry 4 smashed into something invisible.
Here it is!
All nearby pivoted toward it.
The impact site rippled.
Accelerated Thrust!
Accelerated Thrust!
Sharp spear tips flew at the ripple.
Kagak!
The ripple solidified into form.
Kolk's technique broke from the shock.
His face showed clear panic.
How did a beast...?
Doubt brief. Incoming attacks snapped him back; he dove away, vanishing again and widening the gap.
Hah, embarrassing.
One-on-one, nothing special.
But numbers made them strong.
Definitely not normal beasts.
No fear.
No instinct.
Rational.
Moving with iron discipline from rigorous training.
Tsk, no room for complacency.
Mindset shift—Kolk's playful air vanished.
Ferocious, destructive aura surged; his movements changed.
Not treating 'em like beasts anymore.
Full power, as if against demons.
At this point, skeletons couldn't hold. One mid-level maybe, but two? No chance.
--------!
Not long after.
"Done."
"Good work."
"You too."
They cleanly wiped the skeleton beasts.
And before the day ended.
"Eh? What the...?"
"Isn't that those guys from before?"
"More too."
"About fifty..."
The two demons faced off once more against the skeleton beasts—now bolstered by 52 holy warriors and high priests.