Battlefield Reforms and the Crimson Armament

"So... you're saying you'll adjust the battlefield to help other hunters grow?"

We returned to the battlefield and headed straight for Sa Choiheon. He was out hunting with the Bulmyeol Guild.

He lowered his sword, wiped the sweat from his brow, and furrowed his eyebrows.

"And what's in that glass tube right now is an Apocalypse Knight... Am I understanding this correctly?"

He asked several times, as if he couldn't believe it.

Was it that shocking?

Unable to stand it any longer, Elise Grainzer of the Star of Prophets stepped forward.

"I confirmed with my own two eyes that Mumyeong's group defeated the Apocalypse Knight. They even captured it as a prisoner at the same time."

"...I understand."

Sa Choiheon ran a hand over his face and nodded. His gaze shifted to Elise.

"You're asking me to select hunters who'll help humanity. Alongside this woman, right?"

"We'll cooperate just this once."

"I don't particularly need the help."

"Same here."

Somehow, the two of them didn't seem to get along.

"If it weren't for the request from Hunter Mumyeong, there'd be no reason to cooperate. You're one of the Seven Stars, but you're no prophet, Hunter Sa Choiheon."

Elise's tone carried a reluctant edge, like she was cooperating out of obligation. Sa Choiheon forced a smile in return.

"Who knows."

His prophetic-like abilities were a closely guarded secret from the public.

Sa Choiheon turned to me.

"Don't worry, Mumyeong. I'll pick the right people. Just like you said, it's a chance to bolster humanity's forces."

"With our shared goal of preventing humanity's extinction, we'll give it our all."

It looked like they'd agreed to cooperate, however reluctantly.

Cross-verification through the two of them would be ideal anyway.

Lucifer stepped forward as well.

"I'll handle the humans who refuse to comply. And those who don't pay the proper fee—leave them to me, a Myth-rank apostle. No need for Master to worry."

He emphasized the "Myth-rank" part deliberately. Fair enough—even Lucifer alone was more than any hunter could handle.

"There'll be some resistance... but that shouldn't be an issue."

Sa Choiheon nodded in acceptance.

"Then I'll get started right away."

"We'll move out too."

Sa Choiheon and the Star of Prophets began to act.

Sa Choiheon made some urgent calls, then led his Bulmyeol Guild members off somewhere. Elise vanished like smoke.

I watched them go, then turned my gaze to the battlefield.

"Guess it's time to set up the hunting grounds first."

I manipulated the system window to adjust the central area of the battlefield.

It allowed for more detailed adjustments than expected. The more points spent, the more functions unlocked.

A holographic map appeared.

A full map of the entire battlefield.

I erected massive barriers to keep unauthorized hunters out. Rumble rumble... Even here, a faint vibration rumbled through.

First, I cleared out the high-difficulty monsters in the center. Then filled the interior with new ones.

I stocked it with decent high-grade drakes. I could tweak it per entering guild later.

Pouring in points ramped up the EXP multiplier endlessly. It stopped here—probably the system max.

No point worries, thanks to all the monsters we'd slain in the knight's domain.

I looked up.

'But it's not over yet.'

Using personal benefits could raise the max level too.

No more gains even with extra points. Seemed like the cap.

A shame, but considering the current world's max of 175, it was plenty high.

"Then let's be the first to try it out."

Time to test if the hunting grounds were properly set up.

And there was one person I especially wanted to let use it first.

The heart of the battlefield.

An area enclosed by massive earthen walls.

The interior was flatland, but swarming with drakes.

Roooar—!

Crunch, cruuunch!

They were chaos, fighting over territory.

Wingless dragons—and the lowest-rated among them—but their power reached SS-rank.

They didn't normally flock together,

but Mumyeong had force-summoned them with points, tangling them into a frenzy.

"Whoa..."

Hunter Cheon Iryeong cautiously stepped inside.

"Catching monsters here gives 50x EXP...?"

"Yeah. You haven't had time to hunt till now. Master graciously let you use it first—be grateful."

Lucifer nodded, arms crossed.

"I thought blacksmithing and baking had already made me strong enough..."

Hummm—.

Black and white energies gathered in Cheon Iryeong's hands.

Blacksmithing followed by baking.

Unrelated to combat, yet she'd pioneered new heights there.

A fusion of holy power and black magic that should never mix.

"To be honest, I doubted it a little."

She gazed at the monster ahead and spoke up suddenly.

"Why teach me blacksmithing? Baking? Was there really any point?"

"..."

"But it all had meaning in the end. No more doubts from me."

Lucifer's expression unchanged, he nodded up and down.

"Of course. The great Master has it all planned out. Just follow along."

At first, it was just to use her,

but things were different now.

"Kid, time for your efforts to pay off. Get started."

"Yes!"

The moment Lucifer finished, Cheon Iryeong kicked off the ground and charged.

Boom—! Kraaash—!

Black and white energies exploded forth, engulfing the drake pack.

Each swing of her dual blades sliced through their tough hides like paper.

'Her talent's top-notch.'

A smile tugged at Lucifer's lips.

Combat had taken a backseat to blacksmithing and baking, but this hunt would reward her handsomely.

Kabooom—!

Reaching level 175 didn't take long.

Thanks to the overwhelming EXP and monster density—but mostly because her skills were already perfected.

Holy power and black magic, nonexistent in this world. And their fused chaotic energy.

Cheon Iryeong's talent handled them all freely. Plus monopolizing the kills meant rapid leveling.

"The hunting grounds perform as expected."

Mumyeong arrived next and began hunting.

It wasn't even hunting.

Fierce Flame tossing a fireball inside sufficed.

Roooar—!

A massive fire pillar turned the inner drakes to ash. Not hunting—a one-sided slaughter.

Levels skyrocketed to 215. Already hit the daily level-up cap, so that was it for today.

"Other hunters are arriving."

The Blue Dragon glanced toward the entrance.

The first to enter were America's top hunters.

Including rank 1 Hero Derek and rank 2 Andre Shimrok—the strongest.

"They're here. I'll handle this. Master, go rest easy."

Lucifer, bread bag over his face from his pocket, spread his wings.

"Alright, humans. You'll pay the fee properly before entering, right?"

"...What's that on your head?"

Fierce Flame eyed Lucifer oddly.

"That's just how it is. Shall we head back?"

The Blue Dragon nudged Fierce Flame along.

I returned home with the apostles.

I sank into the sofa. So plush it melted away even my mental fatigue.

"Too much happened today..."

The day felt endless. Outside was pitch black.

No physical fatigue, of course. Apocalypse+-grade item Ainhelar's body enhancement, plus Harmony White Bread's fatigue recovery.

Even with the mind-boosting skill Mind of the Victor, it was an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠exhausting schedule.

Habitually reaching for the remote, but Gabriel grabbed my hand.

"Better not watch right now."

"Why?"

I asked, though I could guess. Public opinion on Mumyeong wasn't great.

"Split right down the middle. Half love you, half hate you."

"It'll flip once the Apocalypse Knight dies and the battlefield vanishes."

I glanced at the glass tube holding the knight. Kinda gross, so I'd covered it with cloth.

It was quiet now, accepting its fate. Once the knight died and the trial ended, everyone would be fine with it.

And...

I didn't care much about public opinion anyway.

Misunderstandings? Whatever.

The Blue Dragon changed the subject.

"Bit late to say it, but I was shocked when Master shattered the barrier."

"Oh, that."

"...And when you got hit, my heart nearly stopped."

"Had earrings granting damage immunity. Otherwise, I'd have pulled back."

Shattering the barrier was luck.

Got the hint from it being soul-made.

'Couldn't infuse death energy directly, but...'

Stabbing with Mumyeong Sword laced in death qi worked.

If it killed non-living puppets or undead, it should kill ghost-like spirits too.

"Bigger issue now is this."

I pulled out the lantern.

"Ate too many souls? Hasn't budged since the hunting grounds."

Won't eat drake souls no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠matter how many I kill. They all scattered instead of gathering.

Fierce Flame eyed the lantern curiously.

"...Could be evolving."

"Evolving?"

"It's an ego item, right? Absorbed a ton of souls—it's growing."

I looked to Gabriel. She'd given it to me—maybe she knew.

"Dunno... What's that supposed to mean... Give back my lantern..."

Similar reaction as before. Upgrades made it unfamiliar even to her.

The lantern was paused, but I'd gotten most needed items. Plenty of boss and monster kills from the battlefield.

The rest was mostly platinum coins.

And one special item...

No immediate use, but worth asking just in case.

"...Got any Apocalypse-grade items?"

"High-grade items demand hefty prices inevitably. I've already invested my fortune in sponsoring Master ahead of time."

Fierce Flame said that and pulled out some items—ones sponsored before coming here.

"This flask perfectly preserves any object."

"Sounds good... but maybe not."

"Impressive, right? And this flame inside never extinguishes. Warm for sleeping, infinite energy source..."

"Hmm..."

Under our ambiguous stares, Fierce Flame trailed off, head drooping as he added details hesitantly.

"...Sorry I'm poor."

Wasn't planning to say anything.

Among his pre-sent items, the immediately useful one was weapon shards.

Fierce Flame sponsored three himself,

and the lantern gave two more.

'All shards collected.'

Now I could forge the weapon.

"Dedicated weapon," I recalled the apostles' words in the knight's domain.

- You okay? Why're you spacing out...

- You saw it too, huh.

- No way the seniors too...?

Straight to the point.

"What did you see when you got your dedicated weapons?"

"I'm curious too."

Even Fierce Flame, lacking one, perked up. The Blue Dragon pondered briefly before speaking.

"A vision from another world, perhaps. The instant I gripped it, I saw myself turning against Master."

The Blue Dragon described it in detail.

Roughly, in a ruined world, I'd fought him.

"Similar for me. Didn't fight directly, but felt like ignoring Master. Total opposite personality from mine."

Gabriel had seen something like it too.

"Circumstantially, Fierce Flame will see the same with his dedicated weapon."

"..."

Too ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠suspicious to dismiss as coincidence.

I checked the sword at my waist. Mumyeong Sword—truly lifeless.

Didn't feel coincidental either.

Conclusion was simple.

"Make Fierce Flame's weapon, and we'll see more visions."

Perfect—all five shards ready.

If Fierce Flame got his, all apostles would be armed. Might change something.

"Ready?"

All eyes, including mine, on Fierce Flame. He swallowed hard and nodded.

"...Ready."

The moment the Myth+-rank apostle's dedicated weapon was complete.

How strong would Fierce Flame be wielding it?

No way to guess.