Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Spendthrift Necromancer (38)

Return (1)

After receiving the Spatial Ring containing the Ancient Dragon's corpse and byproducts.

The four men promised to meet again later and left.‘I got it much faster than expected.’A dragon corpse.

He couldn't take it out here.

Even though the bones and hide had been separated, the dragon itself was simply too huge.

The entire office would end up filled with dragon meat.‘I should go home.’The training hall at the main residence.

There, he could lay out a dragon corpse without any trouble.

And so he returned to the main residence.

First, he pulled out the byproducts from the Spatial Ring.

His fingers closed around a small jewel with a light texture.‘That's it? Wait, don't tell me…….’The Ancient Dragon was essentially a hidden boss.

There was no way a boss like that would give such a stingy reward. That meant the jewel in his hand had to be worth that much by itself.

He hurriedly pulled it out.

After reading the item description.

“Damn…….”

He immediately sensed a jackpot.[Forgotten Dragon Jewel][Rank: ??][A jewel treasured by an Ancient Dragon. The form of a dragon can be seen amid its beautiful radiance.][Effect 1. A medium capable of transporting you to the ‘Age of Dragons.’ However, the user must possess the appropriate qualifications.][Qualification Requirements][1. Level 500 or higher][2. ???][3. ???]

This was a chain-quest item.

And one that demanded outrageous qualifications from the very beginning.‘An S-rank Gate or higher.’Age of Dragons.

Even the name of the destination sounded brutal. Maybe it was a world where dragons flew around like birds.

The Sword Immortal and the others had undoubtedly seen this chain-quest item too.

Awakened of their caliber would understand exactly how valuable it was.‘And they still gave it to me…….’It had to be tempting, yet they had handed it over without hesitation.

He was genuinely grateful.‘I'll treat them well next time we meet.’Boom.

He pulled out the Ancient Dragon's corpse.

Cedric, who had been summoned, began examining the dragon.―Impressive. I didn't realize Master's abilities reached this far. To obtain the corpse of such a dragon so quickly…….

“So treat it carefully.”

The instant he posted the request, the Sword Immortal had gone mercenary-for-hire and smashed through the tomb in only six hours.

It had been premium express delivery.

“So? How good is this?”―A dragon's strength is usually measured by its age. This one…… must have lived for over three thousand years. It seems excellent.

“Compared to your old body?”―The Gold Dragon Lord was nearly ten thousand years old. Its bones formed my frame.

“Uh, right……”

That thing had been ancient as hell.―I never expected Lord-class material. If a Lord-class dragon were rampaging through Master's world, this world would probably have been destroyed within days.

Minwoo nodded.

There was clearly a difference in scale between Cedric's world and this one.

Death Lord alone was EX-rank.

The Legion Commanders were around SSS.

Meanwhile, this world?

S-rank was considered the highest.

Even if they decided to label some Level 1,000 Awakened SS or whatever.‘Bring a truckload of them and they still wouldn't beat the Cedric from back then.’That was how overwhelming Cedric had been while flying around on a Bone Dragon.

It felt like his potential itself existed on a different level.

Maybe only the Sword Immortal, after comprehending the Mind Sword, could stand against something like that.‘Nothing strange about it.’Hadn't Minwoo seen the message when he achieved his EX-rank Achievement?

Humanity's potential had increased.

Put differently, humanity's potential had been restricted.

Who had done it, and why, he didn't know.‘I'll find out eventually.’Either way, what mattered right now was strengthening Cedric with the bones.

“One more part should fit, right?”―……

I don't know either.

The leg bones currently occupied 20 capacity, leaving 81.‘Should work.’He could probably replace at least one more part with dragon bone.‘Would be nice if I got a Great Success…….’The problem was that if he chased only Great Success, he might burn through every dragon bone without obtaining anything at all.‘I'll try a few first…….’Then decide afterward.

“Which part do you want replaced?”―The arms would be best. It would help when swinging a spear.

Minwoo nodded.

He approached Cedric while holding both of the dragon's arm bones.

Left, right.

The dragon had two arm bones.

Only two chances.[Using Bone Replacement(B)

!][Replacing ‘Cedric's’ arm bone with an Ancient Dragon arm bone!][The material is far above your level.][Success Rate: 5%][Would you like to attempt it?]‘Whoa.’Five percent.

He'd half expected it, but the success rate was horrifyingly low.‘……

Bones around my own level don't have great rates either.’He'd once tried with Level 100-range bones and gotten around a 30% success rate.30% or 5%.

Not exactly the same, but it wasn't as though he could store these until Level 500 just to use them.

“Fuck it!”

He tried immediately.[Failure.][Failure.]

Both arm bones dissolved away.

“It's fine, plenty left. What's next?”―The ribs.[Failure…….]

“Next.”―Spine…….[Failure…….]

Pelvis, legs.

Everything disappeared.

“Ah.”―Only the skull remains?

“Yeah.”―Then there is no choice. We'll use that.

“Right. It's a dragon's head, so it should have a good effect too.”

If it succeeded.

Then the instant he tried the skull.[Title, ‘Super Lucky Guy,’ activates!][Strange fortune envelops your body!][Great Success!][The Ancient Dragon skull transforms to suit Cedric's body type and race!][All of Cedric's stats increase by 30!][*Great Success Special Effect: Mini Breath can now be activated][Remaining Capacity (100/101)]

“Did it proc?!”

He looked at Cedric.

The transformed skull resembled the shape of a dragon's head. It was a majestic transformation befitting a Dragon Knight.―This is my first time having a head like this.

“So you hate it?”―Well, it seems fine.

Of course it was fine.

The stat bonus alone was insane.

All stats +30.

It consumed a full 80 capacity, but the numbers were more than worth it. And the special effect was fascinating too.

Mini Breath.‘Probably that kind of breath.’It had the modifier mini, but a breath attack was still a breath attack.

“Think you can fire a breath?”―……

I've never done it before……

but somehow I think I can.

“Then fire it over there.”―Are you sure? This appears to be Master's home.

“Yeah. It's the training hall, so the facilities are sturdy.”―Then I'll try. I'm curious myself.

Dark-red energy gathered around Cedric's mouth.

Then…….[Cedric uses Mini Breath!]

Cedric opened his mouth wide.

Booom!

The training hall wall exploded apart under the breath attack.

Cedric hurriedly closed his mouth.

“Oh, you can cancel it too?”―……

Yes. I had no intention of destroying anything…… but these facilities seem less sturdy than I thought.

“Bwahaha! You adorable bastard!”

Minwoo vigorously rubbed Cedric's dragon head. He couldn't stop laughing.

It felt like dopamine was exploding through his brain.

The training hall walls were extremely sturdy.

Enough to withstand pounding from most S-rank Awakened.

And Cedric had shattered one?

That meant the breath's power was tremendous.

This wasn't a moment to get angry over a broken wall.

It was a moment to be grateful the breath was so powerful.

Minwoo discussed the breath with Cedric.

“So it consumes a lot of mana?”―Correct. I fired it only briefly, yet half my mana disappeared. It can inflict tremendous damage in a short time, but it does not seem to have only advantages.

Minwoo nodded.

Maximum duration was around three seconds.

A short but devastating skill.‘Maybe it'll be different once Cedric has more skills, but right now this is basically his ultimate move.’It should be a tremendous help against the Apostle.* * *The third day since leaving the Gate.

Society had been extremely noisy in the meantime.

Because of the Sword Immortal's new record.

All the talk about Awakened from the previous generation being washed up disappeared as though it had never existed.

Nothing but praise remained.

Naturally, patriotic fervor flared up once more.

Kim Minwoo also drew attention again. The place the Sword Immortal and his party had rushed to immediately after completing the Gate was none other than Ilseong Group.

Even amid all that feverish public attention.

Kim Minwoo quietly finished his preparations.‘Time to go back.’His combat power had increased tremendously.

Thanks to Choi Yuna producing 650 elixirs in three days, he had raised every stat by 50 through elixirs.‘Finished the Skill Book work too…….’He had packed plenty of Level 200-range bones and acquired Rare set items for both Cedric and himself.‘And his head looks badass now.’He planned to use the remaining dragon byproducts later, once the Skeletons' crafting abilities improved.

Minwoo looked at the nine Spatial Rings on his fingers.

Rings packed with food and seeds. The remaining one was the Unique ring he'd obtained from Lee Seoyoon.‘Status.’[Name: Kim Minwoo(23)][Class: Necromancer][Level: 101][Skills Possessed(6/33): Death Lord(EX), Summon Cedric(SSS), Bone Replacement(B), Curse of Aging(D)+9, Summon Skeleton Mage(E)+9, Summon Skeleton(F)+9][Mana: 3,240/3,240][Titles: 18][Strength: 316(+31)] [Agility: 316(+31)] [Stamina: 287(+28)] [Magic: 310(+31)]

“Now that's what I'm talking about.”

Murderous stats that even included the increases from the Divine Fruit.

More frighteningly, this wasn't even the end.

The bonuses from his new equipment hadn't been applied yet.[Equipping ‘Chilling Necromancer’ Set!][Strength +30, Agility +30, Stamina +30, Magic +70!][Soul Summon(D)

activated!][Equipping Judgment Sword!][Strength +20, Agility +20][Rip Apart(D)

activated!]

His stats exploded upward once more.

Indomitable Soul added another 10% of the stats gained from equipment.

Thanks to that, his Magic reached the monstrous figure of 418.

Mana 4,1

8

0.

If he summoned nothing but Skeletons, he could call forth an absurd 1,672 at once.

He was truly a one-man army now.[Would you like to return inside the Gate?]

There was no reason to hesitate.

The instant he nodded, the scenery changed. He returned to a place filled with freezing winter winds.[Warning!][You can no longer use the midway zone!]

It didn't matter.

He'd obtained everything he needed during this trip outside. Several Orcs stood near the midway zone.

Urkan was among them.―Gruk! Big Brother! I waited so long my neck nearly fell off! Where's the tasty food?

“Nothing happened while I was gone, right?”―Gruk! Big Brother was right! Those bastards are cowards! Barely saw anyone besides a few scouts! So where's the tasty food?

“Brat, I brought it. Tell the others we're holding a festival.”―F-Festival! Really?

“Yeah. I'm going to feed you until your stomachs burst.”

Now that food could effectively be duplicated, increasing their numbers became the top priority.

Festivals were one of the Orcs' traditions. An event where a tribe flaunted overflowing food to display its strength.

Hold a large enough festival, and every Orc in the surrounding region would flock over.

When they heard there was paradise amid the cold and starvation, how could they resist?

Their numbers would rise several times faster than before.‘Use it or lose it.’Violent numerical superiority could crush even a terrain advantage.

A fortress?

That wasn't an invincible defensive structure either. Hadn't he seen it during Death Lord's Trial?

Nothing could withstand endless numbers forever.

He intended to recreate that.

Increase the army.

Then crush the fortress.―Gruk! I'll tell my brothers! Spread the word everywhere! Tell everyone we're strong enough to hold a festival!

“You understand me without needing explanations now. You've gotten smarter.”―Gruk! Urkan smart!

“Go.”

Time to have some fun.* * *Apostle Belitas.

A Black Mage knelt respectfully before him.

“Great Apostle. They are behaving strangely.”

“……

Strangely?”

“Yes. It appears they are holding an enormous festival. They are roasting monster meat and consuming food recklessly.”

“Bwahaha! Are they complete idiots?!”

Belitas laughed in delight. He understood the Orcs' food situation perfectly.

He had repeatedly sent scouts to investigate.

Until only yesterday, the Orcs hadn't been able to eat their fill.

Of course not.

Where could anyone find food in this brutal winter?

Even the nearby monster populations were being hunted to extinction.

Naturally, they must have reduced rations and desperately hoarded whatever stores remained.

And now they were holding a festival?

There was only one reason they'd commit such insanity.

“That human must be getting desperate.”

“Yes. The starving Orcs must have been complaining endlessly. Weak human that he is, he could no longer endure and released all the remaining food.”

Belitas nodded.

The human had finally caved beneath the anger of the masses.‘His plan is obvious.’Distribute every remaining bit of food and gather as many Orcs as possible.

Then use the Orcs he'd scraped together to attack the fortress.

“Strengthen the fortress defenses thoroughly. They will probably attack within a few days.”

“Understood, Great Apostle.”

It seemed he could suppress the Orc uprising without any meaningful casualties.

Belitas was certain.

This battle would be their complete victory.