Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 158
>Chapter Title: The Legion Leader Emerges
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The effects of Ice Flow were undeniable.
[You have inflicted ‘Slow’ on the same target for a certain period of time.]
No matter how many he encountered, they all slowed down, making it easier to dodge attacks.
It was also simpler to maintain a position that avoided encirclement.
Getting surrounded wasn’t much of a threat anyway, but hunting like this was undeniably more comfortable.
[Prolonged exposure to Ice Flow inflicts the abnormal status ‘Frostbite.’]
[Attacking frozen enemies deals additional damage.]
[You have defeated the Troll of the Blue Forest.]
The slowed ones couldn’t even flee as they flailed about, freezing solid after a few sword strikes, then dropping dead.
-Wow... This is straight-up freebies. I can’t watch; the trolls are too pitiful.
-Liza, liza.
-As expected, my lord continues to grow steadily.
Even Jihad covered his eyes, claiming he couldn’t bear to watch the poor trolls.
Eliza nodded in agreement, mimicking him by covering her own eyes with her tiny hands.
Slash—
Of course, Do-hyun paid it no mind.
After hunting ten more trolls like that, Do-hyun sheathed his sword.
“It’s got solid performance.”
He judged that he’d tested it enough.
Using it firsthand confirmed the rumors: ice magic’s versatility was absurd.
No wonder those who faced Repias cursed up a storm.
‘But he was a mage, after all.’
One who couldn’t unleash explosive power, at that.
Even in his hands, it had been tricky, but wielded by Do-hyun—with backstabs and every close-range skill in his arsenal—the results were insane.
Perfect for pursuits or escapes.
It excelled in every situation.
‘The key is how it’ll fare against the boss.’
Bosses usually had superior racial stats—their tier was higher than regular monsters.
That was why status effects or attack skills had reduced efficacy against them.
He’d have to see if Ice Flow held up against it.
‘Not many challengers today, though.’
Do-hyun glanced around suspiciously.
Whenever he entered a new city before, hyenas swarmed like it was an initiation ritual.
Not this time, for some reason.
Maybe the outlaw video had spread, or Kaiser’s reputation had risen.
‘Faster than expected, but makes sense.’
Unless it was a guild-level outfit, Do-hyun’s proven feats were beyond what hyenas would target.
It was a welcome change, though tinged with regret.
‘I was hoping for some item drops.’
He couldn’t get items in Sargis due to its correction effect.
So he’d been looking forward to it here...
But the ambushers? Not a single user in sight nearby.
Partly because he’d gone deep, but they were definitely avoiding him.
“Jihad.”
-Yeah?
Now was the perfect time, then.
“Let’s get to it.”
-What? Oh, that? Got it, Master.
Jihad nodded in understanding and drew up his mana.
He extended his hand, and black mana spread out, making the ground writhe.
Not just one spot. The earth squirmed in multiple places as burly hands burst forth, soon revealing full forms.
[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’ summons undead.]
[‘Forest Red Goblin Undead x2, Forest Blue Goblin Undead x1, Orc Undead x3, Lycanthrope x3, Outlaw x2’ are summoned.]
[Legion Control judges them all as a single entity.]
[Over 50% of the legion’s undead are judged as lower city monsters. Mana consumption is reduced.]
A total of eleven undead.
A number anyone would call a legion now.
Tap... tap...
And there, clad in a robe, an undead made its appearance before them.
[Legion Leader ‘Pain’ reveals itself.]
The king of outlaws, Pain.
“Oh.”
-Ugh...
-Hmm...!
Do-hyun admired the grim, imposing figure even on second glance, while the guardians let out groans.
Pain, locking eyes with him, bowed at the waist.
Once a king of his kind, now sworn to follow Do-hyun.
It was a gesture setting aside past titles to pledge loyalty.
Satisfied, Do-hyun watched as Pain spoke to him with a stern expression.
Tap... tap tap...
“...Tap tap?”
Not even a woodpecker.
Do-hyun frowned at the pathetic sound compared to its aura, prompting Pain to speak again.
Tap tap... tap...
“...”
Do-hyun instinctively glanced at Jihad, then froze.
He always translated when Do-hyun couldn’t understand, a habit—but this time, he realized even Jihad might not get it.
But what was this?
-The lord greets you. Please take care of me.
Jihad translated casually, as if it were nothing.
Tap...! Tap tap...
Tap... tap tap tap...
Pain nodded as if confirmed, while the outlaws behind him knelt on one knee in sync.
“...What’s wrong with these guys?”
The answer came from elsewhere.
[Guardian ‘Jihad Black’s’ level is low.]
[The legion leader’s tier exceeds the guardian’s level, so it has been downgraded. The legion leader grows with Jihad Black.]
‘...Downgrade effect?’
It wasn’t strange that it had been downgraded.
Undead typically scaled to their master’s level.
No matter how strong the undead, the master’s achievements had to match to unleash full potential.
And normal undead didn’t speak.
The downgrade must have lowered its tier, stripping its language...
Tap... tap tap...
Tap tap tap...
...But this lacked any presence.
Three of them, no less.
Gr... ugh... gr...
Grug... gr... ugh...
...No, twelve total.
-Wait, what happened to them?
-Hmm... It’s a bit grating on the ears.
-Liza...
The legion had copied even the leader’s pointless quirks.
Do-hyun rubbed his forehead with a sigh.
‘Tch, nothing to be done.’
At least Jihad could understand them.
If he couldn’t parse that frustrating chatter, he’d want to sew their mouths shut.
‘How does that guy understand every language?’
As its own legion leader, it made sense he could.
Amazed by the talent briefly, Do-hyun shifted focus to his status window.
[Legion Leader List]
-No. 1 Legion Leader: Pain
Subordinate Legion Undead - 11
[View No.1 Legion Leader ‘Pain’s information?]
‘Let’s check the details.’
To see exactly how much it had been balanced.
The revealed info was quite detailed.
[Pain]
[Title: Head of the Outlaws, One Who Lives Eternal Pain, Seeker of Great Purpose]
[Type: Spectral Soldier]
[Trait: Battle Mage, Born of the Underworld, Pain, Black Sorcerer]
[Legion Trait: Steadfast Purpose, Tenacious Will, Vengeance]
[Description: Netherworld, also called the afterlife.
A spectral soldier born there, denied territory, treated as an outsider and shunned.
Taking the name Pain, he bore all races’ suffering, turning the weak into the underworld’s outlaws—a king.
Once driven by revenge, now he strives for purpose and to avert extinction.]
[‘Jihad Black’s’ low level has downgraded it; most abilities are sealed.]
[Usable Skills: 2]
-Intermediate Black Magic
-Outlaw Battle Mage Style
‘Not bad.’
True to the growth promise, it started with two skills.
Titles and traits all sounded extraordinary.
Even the description was no joke.
‘Born in the underworld, shunned... Explains the desperate drive.’
No villain without a backstory.
The text sketched a vivid life.
‘Wonder how strong it’ll get restoring full power.’
As an undead legion leader, would it reach that height? The setup promised huge late-game potential.
Tap... tap tap tap...
-Lord, what are your orders... Wait, hold on. Your lord is me, right? Why keep calling the master ‘lord’?
Mid-translation, Jihad snapped to his position, glaring as he confronted it.
As a strong-against-weak type, he couldn’t tolerate a subordinate disrespecting him.
Tap tap...?
Pain glanced at Jihad and frowned.
Then bowed to Do-hyun again.
Tap tap...
-Wow, did you see that? He just frowned at me? Master, that’s him dissing me, right?
-Li, liza...
-Wow! Jihad’s done for! You, back in the day, you’d be bomb number one, man.
Jihad let out a hollow laugh, exasperated.
Considering his orc past, it was fair— he’d never spared undead like living beings.
But that was the past.
Pain ignored Jihad’s threats.
Tap... tap tap...
Just shaking his head with a pitiful sigh.
‘Got guts.’
Fitting for a king who staked his life on his race’s survival.
Do-hyun got Pain’s side.
Unless it was Do-hyun, who’d beaten him and challenged gods, why obey some goblin claiming lordship?
A former king who devoured nations wouldn’t swallow his pride easily.
-No, the more I look...!
-Calm down. Educating subordinates matters, but not now. How about later?
-Liza liza.
Jihad was hopping mad, of course.
Charlie and Eliza hurriedly soothed his rising blood pressure.
Do-hyun shook his head at the growing clown troupe.
Did those guys ever have a quiet day?
“Your master is him, not me. Well, since he’s my subordinate, it’s the same... But Jihad’s your direct superior. Obey him well.”
Tap tap...
-See that? Reluctant sigh just now?
Tap? Tap tap.
Me? Never.
No translation needed—its snort was vivid as a speech bubble.
...Do-hyun tabled a rank-sorting chance for later and changed the subject.
-Fine... Got it, Master. I’ll endure ‘cause I’m nice.
-Liza liza!
-Hmm! Splendid. Great lords all have vast patience. You qualify!
-R, really? Ahem. Yeah, I’m like that.
Simple as he was, Jihad fell for Charlie’s words hook, line, and sinker.
With them finally quiet, Do-hyun signaled, and Jihad cleared his throat, adopting his sternest voice.
-Kids, show those dumb trolls the gap in power.
Gr... gr gr gr...
Tap... tap...
This time, even Pain obeyed readily.
Tap tap...!
Pain’s robe flared as he shouted something, and the undead knelt in unison, then moved with perfect discipline.
Do-hyun watched the unfolding scene, his expression growing blankly puzzled.
Slowly stiffening, he muttered unwittingly.
“...What is this?”