Dark Healing Spirit
Mu-hyuk returned to the final location in the Albetar Temple.
"Oppa!"
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's fine. But what took you so long?"
"Had to save some holy knights and high priests."
"Ah, sending them to the Demon Realm?"
"Yeah."
"Did it go well?"
"Sent them all off. Sorry I went alone."
"It's okay. We're a team anyway."
Mu-hyuk smiled softly at her words. He walked over to Sung Min-woo with her at his side. Sensing their approach, Sung Min-woo turned around.
"Yo, there you are."
"Yeah. Find anything?"
"Nada."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Time's running short anyway. Let's search together."
Mu-hyuk closely observed Sung Min-woo's expression as he replied. The awkward pretense of searching, the way one corner of his mouth twitched upward. Those two tells alone confirmed he was lying.
You found something.
He wanted to play along for a bit, but with time running out, Mu-hyuk shook his head.
"You're too obvious."
"Huh? W-what do you mean?"
"It's written all over your face that you found something."
"N-no, I didn't."
"You're grinning."
"I'm not."
"You are. What is it? Time's short."
"Seriously, I didn't..."
"Liar."
The two watching let out sighs.
"Haa, Oppa. You really can't act."
"Hoo..."
Kang Ji-yeon sighing was one thing, but even Kim Ji-yeon?
"I-it's just..."
Sung Min-woo's face crumpled like the world was ending.
"Why the pout again?"
"I'm not pouting..."
"You're this close to tears."
"..."
Arguing further would just show more pathetic sides. Sung Min-woo glanced sheepishly at Kim Ji-yeon's expression with his head down. Fortunately, she seemed normal, but the image of her sighing lingered.
You idiot...
He scolded himself inwardly and lifted his head.
"Here, check this out."
"What is it?"
"What else? A hint."
At the word "hint," Mu-hyuk turned off Illusion TV and examined the document in Sung Min-woo's hand.
West, deep in the frozen zone. In an uncharted place slumbers a powerful force that could engulf the world.
Anyone could tell it was a hint for the next area.
"West, frozen zone."
"Searched the homepage—no such zone."
"Getting a hint at all is lucky. We'll find it slowly."
"Okay."
"Then let's head out."
No reason to stay longer.
They stepped onto the gate at the back.
All party members have boarded the gate.
The gate activated with the message.
Whoooong.
Their bodies floated amid the light. When his vision cleared, he realized they were outside the temple. He immediately mounted his warhorse and galloped off.
"So, what'd you get, Oppa?"
"A skill."
"Skill?"
"Yeah, called Albetar's Talent. Lets you combine two skills."
Kang Ji-yeon's expression turned subtle.
"Hmm, that's good, right?"
"Of course. Pretty great."
"Phew, glad."
She smiled in relief.
"What about you?"
"Latent Potential skill."
"Latent Potential?"
"Yeah. Every time you gain exp from hunting monsters, Latent Potential rises. Hit a threshold, converts to stats."
Mu-hyuk's eyes widened slightly.
"Sounds awesome just hearing it."
"Right? I'm thrilled."
Curiosity piqued about Sung Min-woo and Kim Ji-yeon's gains too.
"Min-woo, you?"
Sung Min-woo grinned wide at the question.
"Been waiting for that."
"Freak."
"Ahem, anyway—I got the Spirit Growth System skill!"
"Spirit Growth System?"
"Yeah, insane, right?"
"No idea if it's good without details."
"Heh, jealous much?"
Mu-hyuk shook his head.
"What does it do?"
"Max out a spirit's growth, summon a sub-spirit with 70% of its power."
"Ooh, 70%?"
"Yeah, sick, huh?"
"Not bad. Limit?"
"24."
More than expected.
"That's really good."
"Right? Episode 2's hidden powers are broken! We gotta snag at least one more each. No doubt!"
Now even more curious about the last one.
The priest, Kim Ji-yeon—what did she get?
"U-um, I got Amplification."
"Amplification?"
"Y-yes. Passive. All skill ranges double, efficiency 1.5x."
Another powerhouse skill.
"So single-target heals hit two people?"
"Y-yes."
"Shields double efficiency, heals too?"
She nodded.
"That's busted too."
"Everyone got something killer."
Not one slacker in the group.
*
After 30 minutes of riding, they reached a small village.
They hit a proper restaurant for the first time in ages, ordering heaps of delicious food.
"Food's up!"
"Ooh...!"
"More coming!"
"Nice!"
"And more..."
The round table overflowed: roasted meats, spicy stir-fries, lobster, crab, shrimp—seafood galore.
Everyone dug in without restraint.
"So good...!"
"Nom nom, seriously, nom nom, delicious. Nom."
Mu-hyuk slowed after filling up silently.
"Whew, good eating."
He set his chopsticks down first.
"M-more, Oppa?"
"Nah, stuffed. Eat slow. I'll check skills."
"Mmph."
He pinched her cheek playfully, smiled, and opened his skill window.
One of Albetar's talents. Combine two skills to create a new one.
1. Even after creating a new skill, originals remain usable.
2. Success locks the two sub-skills from further combos.
3. 3+ failures lock that combo permanently.
Reviewing the rules, he activated it.
Select skills to combine.
After deliberation, he chose two.
First skill: Blessing of the Dead
Second skill: Dark Spirit Summon
Combine these skills? [Yes/No]
His finger hovered over Yes, then paused.
Success meant no more using Blessing of the Dead or Dark Spirit Summon in combos.
Is there a better combo? He reviewed mentally.
Various ideas surfaced, but he shook his head.
Just guesses anyway.
Nothing for it but to try.
"Hoo."
Deep breath, then Yes.
Blessing of the Dead and Dark Spirit Summon are fusing.
Combining...
He watched the percentage rise: 10%, 20%...
Heart pounding, eyes squeezed shut.
Please.
He opened them. Only 40%.
Meanwhile, Sung Min-woo leaned back, done eating.
"Haa, gonna burst. Oof..."
"All done?"
"Yeah, checked my skills. You?"
"Combining now."
"Ooh, which ones?"
"Blessing of the Dead and Dark Spirit."
"Huh? Those two?"
"Yeah."
"Skeleton mage and Blessing for healer skeletons?"
"Maybe, but flying spirit healers seem more efficient."
"Ooh, yeah."
"Just a guess, though."
"True..."
"90% now."
Mu-hyuk focused: 96, 97, 98...
100%.
Mu-hyuk's fist clenched.
"Ah..."
He swallowed a curse, exhaled deeply.
"What happened?"
"Oppa, did you get it?"
"No."
"Then?"
"Combo failed."
Silence fell.
"Hoo, it's fine. Try again."
Mu-hyuk attempted the same combo.
Blessing of the Dead and Dark Spirit Summon are fusing.
Combining...
Sung Min-woo, Kang Ji-yeon, Kim Ji-yeon—all eyes on Mu-hyuk.
"Oppa, what percent...?"
"90%."
99% again.
Please, please...!
Another failure risked too much.
It had to succeed.
100%.
Dark Healing Spirit
A new spirit species has been born.
Influence reaches the Spirit Realm.
The Spirit King takes a liking to you.
Mu-hyuk whooped involuntarily at the messages.
"Yes!"
Eyes turned to him, but he ignored them.
"It worked?"
"Yeah, jackpot!"
"What skill?"
"Dark Healing Spirit."
"Whoa, name says it all."
"Whoa, Oppa—congrats!"
Beaming, he thanked them and checked the skill.
A new species born from pure darkness and healing power fused as one.
He summoned it immediately.
Dark Healing Spirit Summon.
A small creature appeared: black body emitting pure white light, utterly mystical.
Lost in admiration briefly, Mu-hyuk checked its status.
Grants recovery to the undead, curses to the living.
Skills: Dark Recovery, Dark Curse.
Restores the undead's life force.
Healing Power ×120%
Stamina Cost: 10
Devours the living's life force.
Healing Power ×130%
Stamina Cost: 15
Perfect.
Healing power would rise with levels.
But how did it heal?
That was the big question.
Oh, and.
Mu-hyuk tried Dark Spirit Summon.
Dark Spirit cannot be summoned.
His brow furrowed.
What?
Rule 1 clearly said originals usable.
Why not summon?
Tried again—no dice.
Missed something?
He checked Albetar's Talent urgently.
Reading rule 1 closely...
"Ah..."
It said usable, but not simultaneously.
High chance he was right. He unsummoned the Dark Healing Spirit.
Dark Spirit Summon.
It appeared now.
No simultaneous summons.
To confirm, he tried the healing spirit—same "cannot summon" message, solidifying his guess.
Dark Spirit unsummon.
Dark Healing Spirit summon.
Summoned it again and turned his head.