The Devouring Serpent's Authority
Arthur cast his skill over Lauden's lifeless body.
The brush emerging from his hand rapidly sketched out a form.
'You had a knight's honor, yet you treated your territory's people so cruelly. You're not the type anyone would respect.'
Before long, most of it was complete.
'But from now on, become a figure worthy of respect under my command.'
As the drawing finished, a notification rang out.
Kingdom's Greatest Swordsman's Despair
You may now command Lauden, the Kingdom's Greatest Swordsman, as a summon.
You may change the name of summon Lauden.
Due to Death Painting's level, you can only wield Lauden at 70% of his original stats.
Lauden's stats +10%.
His level was comparable to Bread's, but his potential, total attack, and defense were all slightly higher.
Truly befitting the Kingdom's Greatest Swordsman, Arthur thought.
On top of that, he'd finally gotten the notification that Death Painting had leveled up once.
With one level up, Death Painting could now draw out 70% of a summon's power, the maximum number of summons increased from five to eight, and thanks to the quest reward, Lauden could exert 80% of his strength.
'If I'd known the summon limit increased with each level up, I would've used them more diligently.'
There was a twinge of regret, but what could he do?
"Kill them."
"Now help your new comrades in arms."
-Understood!
Lauden inserted himself between Bread and Fenrus, who were locked in fierce combat.
"Hah, L-Lauden, Sir Lauden!"
"Why are you attacking us?"
The soldiers were bewildered, but Lauden ignored them and severed their necks.
Bread, empowered by his 10% stat boost, began overwhelming them, and with Arthur's intervention, the fight was over in moments.
You have hunted 100 soldiers single-handedly.
You may engrave the lord's name on the Tower of Records.
Current rank: 1st place. You may continue challenging. Rewards will be held until then, with better rewards for higher ranks.
Continuing the challenge will incur risks.
He'd finally set the record needed to claim the Slaughterer's bonus.
The Slaughterer's Bonus.
Using it sent the lord into the Infinite Monster Room.
There, the lord could hunt monsters as long as their strength held out, absorbing their EXP to level up.
It was a reward that depended on the lord's capabilities—Rendal had gained a whopping 15 levels from it.
But now, he could claim even better rewards than that.
Of course, the risks would scale accordingly.
Arthur responded to the notification.
"I challenge."
Arhan Territory's soldiers grow 15% stronger due to continued record challenges.
The risk had spiked dramatically.
This was why even Rendel had given up and retreated.
But Arthur had gained Cataloc and the rebels.
Fearsome Rebels
Cataloc and the rebels now obey absolutely.
The rebels, who had been watching from hiding, emerged from the building, weapons in hand.
"Follow Lord Arthur and take Kasis's head!"
"Kill Kasis!"
"Waaaaah!"
Their cheers echoed out.
Shiiiik.
At that moment, Arthur heard a chilling sound down his spine for the first time in a while.
Uroboros.
'Growing again?'
It wasn't that he'd filled the 500-kill quota; rather, feeding it the blood of the strong accelerated its growth dramatically. That was likely the cause.
Shiiiik.
Arthur looked.
The Uroboros he'd seen before wasn't this big. He could have gripped it with both hands back then.
But now? No.
A massive Uroboros, the size of an anaconda, stared at him with its creepy eyes.
Its enormous body coiled as its tongue flicked out toward Arthur.
Karasis Prded.
I deemed you weak.
Krena Bolteino.
You could not be my master.
Kentrono Brapis.
Yet, you are an amusing human.
Kareid Uroboros.
Give me blood, and I shall grow strong for you.
Karama Dokoido.
I shall live for you!
⟨ Uroboros' Hunger ⟩
Kwaaaah!
The massive Uroboros sprayed blood as it was sucked into Arthur's left wrist.
Grade: Faded Unique
Authority Growth Type
Durability: 10,000/10,000
Special Abilities:
⦁ Heals wounds 14% and MP 10% per corpse. Applies to allies within 50m radius.
⦁ First Authority: Blood Explosion
Description: The snake absorbs blood from corpses killed by the wearer within 15 minutes, healing the wearer's wounds and MP. Growth type; evolves after absorbing blood from 2,000 lives or blood superior to the wearer's level.
"Huh?"
Arthur's eyes trembled violently—the most intense reaction yet.
The description of the Uroboros Devouring Snake had changed dramatically.
Most notably, it had jumped from Fantasy Rare to Faded Unique, and now bore the prefix "Authority of Power."
Artifacts with Authority were immensely powerful.
Especially growth-type ones called Authority Growth Artifacts.
Each growth added a new Authority.
In other words, the Uroboros Devouring Snake had gained its first Authority: Blood Explosion.
Further growth would yield more.
Lords rated a single Authority as equivalent to an S-grade skill.
There were only 44 such Authority Growth Artifacts in the entire Monarch Game.
They had ranked names; lower numbers were better.
Even high-numbered ones had infinite potential.
The rankings came from Dwarf Lord Kant, undisputed expert on artifacts.
'This rank...'
Arthur knew many of the 44. Not all abilities were fully uncovered, but this was far from bad.
He'd known it was growth-type, but an Authority Growth Artifact? And with Blood Explosion.
Confirming the Authority, Arthur agreed it lived up to the name.
Blood Explosion applied to corpses he or his summons killed within 15 minutes, detonating their blood.
Corpses drained by Uroboros were exempt. Shockingly, explosion power scaled with the corpse's living stats.
It could be used three times per day.
'Jackpot.'
That summed it up perfectly.
And thanks to the Uroboros Devouring Snake, Arthur gained something else.
'MP supply!'
Continuous MP regeneration—as long as there were corpses nearby, of course.
Arthur felt the power drain from his body.
Tsssss!
Tsssss!
The Uroboros snakes burst forth, devouring every corpse in sight.
His MP filled rapidly.
Ding.
Another quest appeared.
Arthur checked it and nodded in satisfaction.
The title: 'New Record. The Challenger Who Surpasses and Triumphs.'
Reward: Capture Kasis to steal his trait—specific building+.
And more: Each risk overcome added +1 level to the stolen building.
A level 5 barracks, stolen, would become level 8.
Nine risks? Level 5 becomes level 14 power.
'Insane. Absolutely insane!'
Arthur grinned.
Exploding right from his first territory war.
The ultimate privilege for solo-crushing strong foes.
"Waaaaah!"
"Waaaaaaaah!"
The rebels' roars shook Arhan Territory as Arthur strode toward the castle at their forefront.
You have hunted 150 soldiers single-handedly.
You have hunted 170 soldiers single-handedly.
After the quest, he'd faced six more risks.
The enemy grew 5% stronger each time, reaching 140% total power.
But they couldn't withstand the surging rebels, nor Arthur, Bread, Fenrus, and Lauden combined.
Especially since...
'Without his trait and Zakan's support, he's just a dimwit.'
Arthur had held the challenger lord spot; Kasis was an unknown.
He'd likely been swept away by Lord Brock while leeching off others.
Proof hovered above.
'Brock.'
A wyvern had watched the territory war the whole time.
Distant, but Arthur recognized the rider as Brock.
'Hope he's fine.'
Arthur shrugged.
Lord Brock was infatuated with him.
Would he blab? It'd create rivals.
He might tell Valkyrie Federation leader Kyle, but unlikely.
Brock's spying irked him a bit, but Arthur ignored it.
"Hurry!"
"Breach the gate!"
The rebels united to push the battering ram.
Its front was blunt and thick like a spearhead—perfect for smashing gates.
Foosh!
Foosh!
Orcs atop the walls loosed arrows.
The castle was the territory's heart.
Breaching it meant half the victory.
Arthur swiftly drew ten orc mages.
Though it seemed effortless, Creation Painting had cooldowns—he used it judiciously.
The ten orc mages unleashed Ice Arrow, their class 1 spell, at the archer orcs.
Pfshik!
Pfshik!
Kraaak!
"Waaaaah!"
"Breach it!"
With the archers cleared, the rebels pushed the ram harder.
Kwaaaang!
"Chit, we can't let it break!"
"Chiiiit!"
Beyond the gate, orcs desperately defended.
Not far off...
"Th-this... can't be..."
Kasis stared at the gate, face a mix of fear and shock.
Kuuuung!
The ram recoiled, then slammed again.
Kuuuung!
Kwajik!
"Chiiiik!"
The gate-defending orcs tumbled back from the impact.
Kuuung!
Kwajiiik!
The ram shattered the gate, embedding deeply.
"Last one!"
A soldier's shout.
Kasis's face drained white.
Kwaaaang!
The gate exploded open.
"Waaaaah!"
"Charge! Take Kasis's head!"
The rebels flooded in like a tide.
At their tail...
Arthur, astride Fenrus with Kazaven's unique spear in hand, and with Bread and Lauden flanking him, entered the castle leisurely.
Inside, he saw Kasis fleeing up the stairs under orc guard.
"Chit, my lord. Fight to the end at least..."
"Uwaaaah!"
An orc pleaded, but Kasis screamed.