Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: The Third Ascetic
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Do-jae went outside and found a deep, deserted alley.
He then opened his Subspace and checked its contents.
- Sealed Memory of the Left Foot (Damaged) x2
Two halves of a Transcendence Stone.
Finally, they were together.
Do-jae took the orbs from his Subspace, holding one in each hand.
Then he took a slow, deep breath.
The memory of the searing pain he'd endured when absorbing the Sealed Memory of the Right Hand, like his hand was being scorched by fire, crept back into his mind.
"Hoo..."
After another deep breath.
He brought the two orbs together.
*Vwooom-!*
The now-whole Sealed Memory of the Left Foot began to vibrate intensely, emitting a brilliant light.
Expecting a wave of pain, Do-jae gritted his teeth.
*Crack-.*
*Crack, crackle-.*
The Sealed Memory of the Left Foot started to crack again.
Fine fissures, like a chick hatching from an egg, appeared and multiplied, spreading across its surface.
And finally.
*Flash-!*
The Sealed Memory of the Left Foot burst apart, scattering like dust.
The particles flying in every direction converged, forming a path that ended at Do-jae's left foot.
*Shwoosh-!*
Just like with the Sealed Memory of the Right Hand, the particles were absorbed into his left foot. The top of his foot glowed brightly for a moment before fading.
"Thank goodness..."
Unlike before, there was no pain this time.
He guessed that his sufficiently high level allowed him to absorb it without any agony.
"Golem Armor."
Do-jae formed the Golem Armor over his left foot.
Compared to the other world, being able to create the Golem Armor exactly as he wanted just by uttering the skill's name was incredibly convenient.
*Woong-.*
Small stones rose up to his knee. On the newly formed Golem Armor, the jade-colored orb embedded in the top of his foot emitted a soft glow.
This time, he opened the skill information to check the Golem Armor's options.
[Skill]
Skill Name: Golem Armor
Level: 7
Type: Active
Description: Forms Golem Armor with the Heart of the Golem as its core. The Golem Armor is affected by the user's stats and skill level.
Mana Cost: 7+α
Resistance: Sonic (50%) / Downpour (3%) / High Heat (10%) / Electric Shock (2%)
Orbs: Sealed Memory of the Right Hand / Sealed Memory of the Left Foot
Just like with the Sealed Memory of the Right Hand, the Sealed Memory of the Left Foot was added to the Orbs section.
There was no separate description or additional option, but this too was likely related to the Apostate Gellahan's energy.
While the Memory of the Right Hand had absorbed Gellahan's mana, the Memory of the Left Foot had created beings like Kang Young-chan who emanated Gellahan's energy.
"Downpour, High Heat, Electric Shock?"
More importantly, there was a change in the Golem Armor's resistance effects.
After the first resistance he'd gained against sonic waves, there hadn't been any others.
But now, after returning from the other world, new resistances had appeared.
"Does this mean I don't have to wear the full armor?"
Of the three, the High Heat resistance must have developed while fighting the Skeleton Mages in the Magic Kingdom.
He and his golems had constantly blocked the scorching flame attacks with the Golem Armor.
However, he hadn't been directly hit by attacks related to downpours or electric shocks.
He suspected the Downpour resistance might have come from the tournament, when he had slid across the Typhoon Field by turning only his legs into mud.
Similarly, for the Electric Shock resistance, he had only experimented with how much he could nullify Tahul's electric attacks by covering just his arm in Golem Armor. He figured that must have been when it was added.
"I'll need to work on increasing my resistances."
Higher resistances would be a huge help in battle.
Since stone and earth are weak to water, he especially needed to train that resistance.
His thoughts even drifted to what it would be like to gain resistance to things like poison or paralysis.
"My level went up too."
Not only did he gain resistances, but absorbing the Sealed Memory of the Left Foot also raised the Golem Armor's level to 7.
His defense would have jumped significantly as well.
On top of that, his level increased by 5, and his total mana jumped by 100,000, from 163,000 to 263,000.
"Huh? 100,000 in one go..."
It was an enormous amount, considering the first Sealed Memory of the Right Hand had only given him 10,000.
However, as mentioned before, the Memory of the Right Hand had increased his total mana by absorbing Gellahan's, so the effects were comparable.
Together, they held a total of 200,000 mana.
And as if to congratulate him on his increased mana, a new quest arrived.
*Fwoosh-!*
[A new quest has opened.]
Do-jae didn't hesitate and immediately opened the quest.
"Check quest."
[Quest]
Type: Main
Content: A great being calls for you. The great being wishes to test you. If you refuse the test, you must offer your heart.
Restriction: None
Reward: Recognition from the Great Being
Failure: Destruction of the Heart of the Golem
"Haha... These damn Ascetics always hold my life hostage. Does this mean I have no reason to exist if I can't clear the quest?"
[Will you accept?]
Do-jae muttered a bitter "Yes."
***
*Bubble, bubble-.*
*Clank, clank, clank-!*
A familiar workshop came into view.
It was Altein's workshop, a place he had visited once before.
‘Why am I here again?’
Do-jae swallowed his disappointment.
A new great being needed to appear for him to gain a new skill, after all.
As if reading his mind, Altein appeared with a displeased look on his face.
"Hoho, are you disappointed that it's me?"
"Of course not. It's been a while."
"Don't be too disappointed. By the way, how was the Elatra over there?"
Altein asked, his eyes full of curiosity.
Naturally, Altein knew that the Elatra from the other world and the Elatra residing in Do-jae were different.
"She was a woman worthy of the title 'Ascetic.' Unlike a certain someone here."
"Hahaha. You really go looking for trouble, don't you? Our dear witch is quite furious."
Altein said, glancing behind him.
But Do-jae wasn't intimidated at all.
Because he had this.
*Ssk-.*
"This is..."
"Could you give this to Elatra?"
What Do-jae took out from his Subspace was the golden falcon mask.
The Elatra from the other world hadn't explained the mask, but that wasn't a problem.
He could see its abilities with the Eye of the Golem.
"This is the mask Elatra always wore. But why aren't you using it?"
"I heard this mask clears the wearer's mind. Is that true?"
Do-jae sought confirmation from Altein.
Altein nodded with a meaningful smile.
"Indeed. I see what you're thinking. A rather plausible idea. But I can't guarantee it will work. She's only half a being, after all. It's not easy to suppress oneself with one's own power."
"If it doesn't work, just give it back. I can use it then."
"Hahahaha. You think passing through the causality of dimensions is so simple. Regardless, I'll give it to Elatra. Whether she uses it or not is up to her."
Do-jae handed the golden falcon mask to Altein.
The moment the mask touched Altein's hand, it vanished.
"But you didn't call me here just to ask about Elatra. What is it you want? What test are you planning?"
"The Nerves of the Golem I gave you when we first met was incomplete. I had to twist causality out of necessity to give it to you."
"For something incomplete, I'm finding it very useful."
"Then wouldn't you find it even more useful if I enhanced it into its complete form?"
"Of course."
Do-jae clenched his fists, preparing to endure it.
This was already the second time today he had tensed up like this.
"What are you doing?"
"What? You said you'd enhance the Nerves of the Golem..."
"I never said I'd do it right now, did I? Wait a moment."
Do-jae's tension drained away, and his shoulders slumped.
Last time, he'd been startled when Altein suddenly granted him the Nerves of the Golem, and now he was being told to wait.
"You could have given me a heads-up."
"I'm not the one who will be testing you. And there won't be any pain like last time, so don't you worry. Hoho."
Altein let out a hearty laugh and walked over to the workshop entrance, opening the door.
Beyond the door lay a pitch-black space, darker than darkness itself.
And from within, a being slowly walked out.
"I am Haydn."
***
The third Ascetic, Haydn.
He was not human.
Though he stood on two legs like a human, his skin was covered in iridescent scales, and he had no body hair.
To describe his appearance further, he had transparent fingernails and eyes that were pure white, with no pupils. Despite being slightly stooped, he was nearly two meters tall.
"A Shade Man?"
He was a Grade-3 monster called a Shade Man.
Their scaly skin changed color according to the environment, synchronizing so perfectly that if they remained still, no one could spot them.
Furthermore, a Shade Man's scales were harder than steel, so a C-rank Hunter couldn't even scratch them.
They were a powerful species, requiring at least two B-rank Hunters working together to take down just one.
If Do-jae hadn't been to the other world, he would have drawn his sword immediately.
But he knew the Shade Man before him was no mere monster, and he was slightly shocked by its subsequent actions.
"Lee Do-jae, the Adversary who will condemn the Apostate... Is this our second meeting?"
Haydn, who had walked in from outside the door, gazed at Do-jae.
No, it would be more accurate to say he was looking at the Heart of the Golem in Do-jae's chest.
"That's right. I've seen you before."
Do-jae recalled the nine Ascetics sitting at the round table.
Only then did the fog in his memory clear, allowing him to picture Haydn's form.
The being who had sat silently, observing the other Ascetics' conversation.
That was Haydn.
"Oh, Adversary. My heart tears apart at the plight of my children... They should be helping and sharing with one another. How did it come to this?"
Suddenly, Haydn clutched his chest and began to weep.
Tears streamed down his expressionless face, a sight that was both bizarre and emotionally stirring.
Perhaps because of this, Do-jae couldn't say a word.
"I wish to save my children from Gellahan's grasp as soon as possible. I have been watching you closely to see if you are worthy of that task."
Haydn spoke slowly and deliberately, as if the language were unfamiliar to him.
His voice was very high-pitched, yet it wasn't unpleasant; on the contrary, it was rather calming.
"And the time has come. Accept my test and overcome it."
Haydn moved slowly toward Do-jae and gently embraced him.
The hug was hard yet warm, heavy yet comfortable.
Do-jae disappeared into Haydn's embrace.