Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Spendthrift Necromancer (54)

Dragon-Phoenix Gathering (2)

After submitting the Human-Faced Spider's byproducts as proof.

The Unorthodox Alliance Leader summoned him.

“Take it.”[Golden Dragon Pill][Upon consumption, all stats increase by 20. (Cannot stack)]

What he handed over was an elixir.

“To think the Alliance Leader would even give me something like this. I guess I've really moved up in the world.”

“Was that why you were sulking? But some of the fault lies with you. If you were going to reveal yourself anyway, why not do it sooner?”

“I regret it too. There were circumstances.”

Minwoo shrugged and accepted the Golden Dragon Pill. There was no reason to save it.

The Alliance Leader wanted his combat power raised immediately.[Consuming Golden Dragon Pill!][All stats increase by 20!]‘Fucking sweet.’A stat increase on the level of a Divine Fruit.

Of course, this wasn't actually a Divine Fruit, so eating future elixirs would be slightly less efficient.‘Still, not bad.’If he wanted to run properly after the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, every extra stat would help.

If necessary, he was even considering eating the Sword Shadow Pill.

“Continue like this. If you do, you will become the next successor.”

“I'll do my best. By the way, don't you have anything else to give me?”

“……

Elixirs of this caliber are rare even within the Unorthodox Alliance.”

“What about martial arts manuals?”

“If you take first place, everything will be given to you without your even needing to ask.”

Stingy bastard.

Apparently he had no desire to cough up anything else.‘Looks like there really aren't any more elixirs…….’And he probably thought giving Minwoo a martial arts manual right now would be meaningless.

Which was actually true.

“Then maybe some equipment…….”

“The only thing you may carry into the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is a weapon.”

Ah, so that was why he'd only thrown him the Ghost Sword?

This could've been a chance to replace all his armor with Unique gear too.

What a shame.

“Then do you happen to have any spare bones and materials?”

“Bones and materials? You mean those of monsters?”

“Yes. I need them to strengthen my necromancy.”

“There should be some leftover stock in the warehouse.”

“Can I take it?”

“If you wish.”

“Thank you.”* * *The Unorthodox Alliance was certainly a massive organization.

When he entered the warehouse, an enormous quantity of materials and bones greeted him.

Unfortunately, he wasn't allowed to take all the absolute highest-tier materials, but even this was a jackpot.

Naturally, he took everything he could.

The warriors guarding the warehouse looked horrified, but that was none of Minwoo's concern.

The Alliance Leader himself had given permission.

He walked out with his Spatial Rings packed to bursting.

Thanks to that, enhancing the Golem became incredibly convenient.[Bone Golem][Class: Warrior][Level: 120][Skills Possessed: Taunt(A), Defensive Stance(B)][Loyalty: 100][Strength: 320(+160)] [Agility: 170(+85)] [Stamina: 300(+150)] [Magic: 90(+45)][* Great Success Special Effects.][* Flexibility +30%][* Hardness +10%][* Weight +10%]

A Great Success had triggered from the Human-Faced Spider's spine.

Thanks to that, its flexibility had increased dramatically.

With help from the Unorthodox Alliance's materials and another Great Success, he'd also raised its hardness and weight.

Its stats had risen significantly as a bonus.

For reference, Death Lord's 50% stat increase applied to all bonus stats as well.

Whether from equipment or Bone Replacement, every additional stat was boosted by another half.

There was a reason EX-rank was EX-rank.

And he still wasn't finished enhancing it.[‘Bone Golem’ equips Sturdy Steel Breastplate Set!][‘Bone Golem’ equips Sturdy Steel Shield!][‘Bone Golem’ equips Brutal Steel Mace!][Equip Armament(B) effect applies!][Strength +120, Agility +50, Stamina +120]

The thing was already enormous.

Once wrapped from head to toe in steel equipment, its presence became downright intimidating.

“Damn.”

Reassuring.

Very reassuring.

Then.

The Golem stared at its own body before joyfully raising both hands into the air.[‘Bone Golem’ is extremely delighted by its master's favor!][‘Bone Golem’ wishes for its master to give it a name!][Would you like to name it?]

“You look like a Dolsoe no matter how I see it. Yeah, you're Dolsoe.”―Grooo.[‘Dolsoe’ is extremely delighted!][Dolsoe's learning ability greatly increases!]

Fully armed Dolsoe.

Strength 660 and Stamina 6

3

0.

He looked exactly like the kind of guy who'd take three hits and return one brutal blow.

By the time Minwoo finished customizing Dolsoe.

The procession departing for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering had been assembled.

Nearly ten thousand people were moving.

Warriors crowded everywhere.

Seo Yerim let out an impressed exclamation at the sight.

“Wow, that's seriously a lot.”

“The other groups will probably bring around this many too.”

“So thirty thousand people total?”

“Probably?”

Then.

After glancing around, she leaned close to his ear as though whispering.

“Then…… we'll be chased by thirty thousand people?”

“More or less.”

“No matter how I look at it, this sounds insane.”

“You have to be insane if you want to get strong quickly.”

Then.

A warrior approached from the procession.

“You two should move forward. You'll travel in the very front rank.”

“Fine.”

The front rank contained the Unorthodox Alliance Leader and a large group of Elders.

Along with the ten candidates participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

Among the ten thousand, it was fair to say the most important people were all gathered there.

The candidates' gazes converged on Minwoo.‘Lot of attention.’Especially First Young Master Baek Muhan, who had been knocked down to third place overnight.

His eyes weren't merely burning.

They looked ready to tear Minwoo apart.

Second Young Master and Third Young Master.

The other candidates were the same.

A powerful rival had appeared overnight, so naturally they weren't happy.

Minwoo smiled and waved.

“Nice to see everyone. I'm first, so I stand at the very front, right?”

“Hah…….”

“Big Brother. Keep staring like that and you'll burn a hole through me. Aeng-Aeng, come here.”

“……

Yes, Young Master.”

He stood at the very front beside Aeng-Aeng.

The Alliance Leader, who had been silently watching, spoke.

“We depart.”

The formation slowly began moving.* * *A subtle war of nerves continued throughout the journey.

If the Alliance Leader hadn't been nearby, swords would've been drawn immediately.

Mealtime.

The Alliance Leader and Elders gathered in one place.

The ten candidates and their guards gathered in another.‘Something's gonna happen.’Sure enough.

While water boiled in the pot, trouble erupted.

At Baek Muhan's sharp glance, Third Young Master opened fire.

“What an eyesore. Why is some woman who doesn't even know her place sitting with us at mealtime? Ruins my appetite. Don't you all agree?”

“Young Master is correct. Well, at least her body isn't too ba—”

Slash!

The guard who had been mocking her instantly lost his head.

Aeng-Aeng—no, Seo Yerim flicked her sword.

Drops of blood splattered across the ground.

“Listen to any more and my ears will rot. Seems our dear Young Masters have a lot of complaints about me?”

“You insolent bitch…….”

Every candidate growled.

Yet a faint tremor lurked in their eyes.

They'd heard she'd returned after hunting the Human-Faced Spider on Cheongong Mountain.

So they'd assumed even a maid like her must have some tricks.

But this far exceeded their expectations.

They'd thought she'd merely supported Baek Socheon.

Instead.

They were beginning to wonder whether the maid had been the true star of the hunt.

A sword strike like a flash of light.

Only a tiny handful had even properly seen the guard's neck being cut.

As the candidates faltered before that display.

Kim Minwoo snapped his fingers.

The surrounding guards recoiled in horror.

Skeletons had risen throughout the surrounding area before they'd even realized it.

There were well over a thousand.‘W-Was it this many?’They knew Baek Socheon commanded the dead.

But the scale far exceeded imagination.

The undead carried a disciplined air.

Their equipment was complete too.

And he'd summoned all of them with a single gesture.

Meanwhile, there were barely thirty guards.

They were elite warriors, but if they clashed with that many undead, plenty would certainly die.

The Skeletons raised their weapons.

The guards reached for theirs.

A situation poised to explode.

“Enough!”

The Alliance Leader's voice thundered.

He approached, looked around, and spoke.

“Nobody knows what sort of trial will appear at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. There may come a moment when cooperation is essential. And yet you insist on crossing blades among yourselves?”

“…….”

“Baek Muhan.”

“……

Yes, Alliance Leader.”

“I understand how you feel. You hate Baek Socheon. But if you wish to go far, you must learn to see the bigger picture. Do you truly believe making that child your enemy benefits you?”

“……

I acted rashly.”

“Baek Socheon.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

“The same applies to you. Your mothers may differ, but you are still brothers. Must blood truly spill between kin?”

“I'll be careful.”

“From this moment onward, I will tolerate no fighting. Do not provoke one another.”

After calming the situation, the Alliance Leader withdrew.‘Not bad.’They'd needed to demonstrate their strength at least once anyway.

Otherwise, people would continue provoking them.

The Alliance Leader had probably thought the same, which was why he'd watched until just before the clash.‘Because words alone wouldn't get through to them.’Just look at what happened.

They hadn't witnessed Minwoo and Yerim's strength directly, so they kept throwing words around and pissing them off.

This much should serve as a warning.

The rest of the trip would probably be relatively quiet.* * *The Alliance Leader's direct warning.

And their own demonstration of strength.

Thanks to both, the rest of the journey was fairly comfortable.

After a week of travel, they reached the site of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

Forces from the Demonic Cult and Martial Alliance were already waiting in enormous numbers.

The Unorthodox Alliance Leader, Heavenly Demon, and Martial Alliance Leader.

The three gathered and spoke.‘Masters really do age more slowly.’All three were supposedly in their eighties.

Yet they looked around fifty.

Soon, the Unorthodox Alliance Leader returned and spoke.

“The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering will begin shortly. Everyone prepare.”

The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

At first, Minwoo had imagined something like a World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament.

But it wasn't.

More precisely, it could be a martial arts tournament.

Or it could be something completely different.‘They said the trial changes every time.’There was a reason these people believed heaven itself bestowed the rewards.

The method of participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

A barrier appeared at a designated location.

Only the thirty people who had qualified beforehand could enter it.

Once all candidates entered, a stage would form and the trial would begin.

The types varied.

He'd heard the last trial, one hundred years ago, had been river riding.

Thirty participants were summoned into a flowing river, and the first three to swim to the destination took first, second, and third place.‘They said plenty died that time too.’Sabotage was completely permitted.

You could simply fire sword energy at whoever was ahead.

Two hundred years ago, the theme had been mountain climbing.

Three hundred years ago, it had been a tournament.‘So there really was a reason to emphasize cooperation.’A tournament didn't offer much room to cooperate.

But mountain climbing or swimming was different.

If someone realized they had no chance of winning?

They could sacrifice their own placement by holding back a rival so their organization's favored candidate could win.‘Wonder what it'll be this time.’A theme requiring cooperation?

Or something closer to individual combat?

Soon.

“The barrier!”

A rounded barrier formed.

Under airtight protection, the candidates entered in groups of ten.

The Demonic Cult's candidates entered first.

Then the Martial Alliance.

Finally, the Unorthodox Alliance candidates entered.[All candidates have entered.][Entering the stage.]

A space resembling a deserted island.

Kim Minwoo was summoned there.

Then messages appeared.[The trial begins.][Kill everyone until only 3 remain.]

“……

A battle royale?”

An utterly unexpected theme had appeared.