Chapter 12

Become a Legendary Necromancer - Chapter 012

A long corridor stretched out before my eyes.

In the blink of an eye, I had arrived on Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials.

The corridor was quite wide, resembling a two-lane tunnel.

However, a translucent yellow barrier blocked my path through the corridor.

[Now the real challenge begins!]

The flames in Yulias's eyes blazed fiercely.

I felt the same way.

I nodded at Yulias's words.

“That's right. This is where it really begins.”

I hadn't been able to challenge the records on Floor 0 of the Tower of Trials.

Because I had regressed after already entering Floor 0 once.

But things were different starting from Floor 1.

Since everything was happening for the first time, I could challenge the existing records.

I took the Divine Bow out of my inventory.

“My stats really have increased quite a lot.”

There was a noticeable difference compared to when I entered the Scorpion Gate yesterday.

Naturally, that was to be expected.

After all, I had gained three levels since then.

[Status Window]

-Name: Yoo Seong

-Level: 8

-Nationality: Republic of Korea

-Class: Necromancer

-Stats: Strength 12 (+4), Agility 12 (+2), Stamina 2, Mana 8 (+5), Magic Power 7 (+5)

-Unique Skill: Soul Devouring (EX)

-General Skills: Mana Release, Necromancy (EX), Necromancer's Authority (EX), Curse of Weakness (EX)

I had balanced my stats by distributing four points to Strength and two to Agility.

On top of that, my Mana and Magic Power had each increased by five.

That was because I was wearing Luana's Bracelet.

The Numbered Item.

[You have entered Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials.]

[Eliminate all Blood Ghouls present in this area.]

[Objective: Annihilation]

[Reward: F-rank Magic Stone ×3]

Before long, a System message appeared.

And at the same time.

Crash!

The yellow barrier blocking my path shattered like glass and fell to the ground.

I immediately kicked off the ground.

Because the quest for Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials had begun.

Tap, tap, tap—

I sprinted straight ahead.

Before long, a Blood Ghoul entered my field of vision.

It looked similar to the Ghouls I had encountered on Floor 0 of the Tower of Trials.

A horrifying appearance, as though its skin were melting off.

The only difference was that, as its name suggested, its skin was red.

Creeeeak—

I drew the bowstring.

Wooooong!

An arrow made of blue mana formed in place.

However, I didn't release the bowstring immediately.

'Not yet.'

Still running forward, I carefully observed the Blood Ghoul's movements.

Was there anyone who knew more about the monsters of the Tower of Trials than I did?

I could answer that question with confidence.

No.

Before my regression, I had analyzed monsters almost obsessively.

I had worked to memorize every movement they made.

I tried not to miss a single detail.

Was it because of some habit?

'No.'

It was because I had no other choice.

That was the only way I could survive in the Tower of Trials.

It had been for the sake of survival.

Only by understanding everything about a monster could I have even the slightest chance of defeating it.

'Now.'

At the same moment the thought crossed my mind, I released the bowstring.

Whoooosh!

The arrow flew rapidly toward the Blood Ghoul.

And the result was.

Thud!

It pierced the Blood Ghoul precisely between the eyes.

Thump!

The Blood Ghoul fell straight backward.

[You have defeated a Blood Ghoul.]

At first glance, it might have looked easy.

But the reality was entirely different.

'It's only possible because I can read every one of its movements.'

I hadn't simply fired an arrow without thinking. Every aspect of the shot had been calculated to ensure the creature couldn't dodge.

An angle and timing that gave the creature absolutely no chance to react.

Both had to align perfectly for such a shot to be possible.

'Just thinking about those days...'

Naturally, such things weren't easy to figure out.

They were the results of countless trials, errors, and tremendous effort.

[Absorbing the Blood Ghoul's soul.]

[Proficiency in the Soul Devouring skill has increased.]

[Proficiency: 61% → 62%]

Immediately afterward, the System asked whether I wanted to store the Blood Ghoul in my Soul Inventory.

I declined and activated Necromancy.

[Activating the Necromancy skill.]

[The effect of Luana's Bracelet has been applied.]

[20% of the mana consumed by Necromancy has been refunded.]

[No mana was consumed.]

“Looks like I'm having some incredible luck.”

The effect that granted a 20% chance of consuming no mana when using a skill.

It had activated on the very first attempt.

There was a reason this was considered such a ridiculously overpowered item.

[Oh! Congratulations, Honored Master!]

Yulias spoke happily.

[You have defeated a Blood Ghoul.]

[You have defeated a Blood Ghoul.]

Afterward, I summoned all three Skeletons.

From that point onward, everything became incredibly easy.

The Blood Ghouls fell helplessly one after another.

We advanced at a rapid pace.

However, the farther we went, the more Blood Ghouls appeared to block our path.

'We're already past the halfway point.'

I could tell just by looking at the number of Blood Ghouls.

'Anyway.'

At this pace, I'll definitely take first place.

I was certain of it.

The Tower of Trials didn't allow people to rely on shortcuts.

What did that mean?

'It doesn't want people climbing the Tower too easily.'

That was why level requirements existed for equipment.

Starting from C-rank, it was nearly impossible to find items without level requirements.

The same applied to skills.

In other words, there were clear limits to the records that could be achieved by relying on items and skills.

'That's why the grade of a Unique Skill is so important.'

Whether someone could possess a high-grade skill from the beginning essentially determined their early growth speed.

Of course, things changed again once a certain level was reached.

...Anyway.

'No problem.'

Meanwhile.

A scene completely different from before entered my field of vision.

The Blood Ghouls, which had previously been scattered here and there, were now gathered together in a massive group.

That meant we were nearing the end.

Normally, I would have lured the Blood Ghouls out in small groups and killed them one by one.

That was the standard strategy for clearing this area.

Nevertheless, I didn't slow down.

“Yulias!”

[Yes, sir!]

“I'm going to use a skill!”

[Yes, sir! We'll break through!]

The three Skeletons had been running at the front.

One of them broke away from the formation.

A single Skeleton suddenly shot forward.

It had increased its speed.

Immediately afterward, the Skeleton threw itself forward without hesitation.

Quite literally.

It seemed to fly through the air with a whoosh...

Thud!

And landed right in the middle of the gathered Blood Ghouls.

It was like throwing a piece of meat into a group of crocodiles.

The clustered Blood Ghouls immediately turned toward the Skeleton.

And that was when it happened.

A red glow gathered around the hand of one of the other two Skeletons.

Flame Strike, the skill extracted from the King Orc.

It had activated.

The Skeleton extended its glowing red hand.

Then.

BOOOOM!

Flames shot forward in a straight line.

The firepower was comparable to ten flamethrowers firing simultaneously.

A long stream of flames swept through the Blood Ghouls.

Crackle, crackle...

In the wake of the flames, blackened Blood Ghouls lay collapsed on the ground.

It was at that moment.

Crunch, crack!

Bones burst upward from the ground and rapidly assembled into a recognizable form.

It was none other than a Skeleton.

[The Skeleton has revived once.]

Necromancer's Authority, the newly created skill formed by fusing three different skills.

[Necromancer's Authority (EX)]

-Level: 1

-Effects:

1) Increases the bone density of summoned undead.

2) Allows the use of 'Curse of Weakness.' (Reduces all stats by 20%)

3) Summoned undead immediately revive once upon death.

-Additional Effects:

1) Undead buff skill effects +20%

2) Undead debuff skill power +20%

3) Recovers 20% of the mana consumed when a revived undead dies.

The third effect had activated.

I immediately issued a command to the Skeleton.

To get out of there.

Every Blood Ghoul standing in the straight path of Flame Strike had been killed.

Following that cleared path, the Skeleton quickly retreated.

There weren't many Blood Ghouls left now.

Meanwhile.

My fighting strength remained unchanged.

All three Skeletons were perfectly fine.

I finished off the remaining Blood Ghouls.

And the moment the last Blood Ghoul collapsed.

[You have completed the objective of Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials.]

[Rewards for Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials will be distributed.]

[F-rank Magic Stone ×3]

The rewards were distributed.

[An achievement exceeding the original objective has been confirmed.]

[You have achieved the feat of eliminating all Blood Ghouls present in this area.]

[Calculating your record...]

More System messages followed.

['Ashen' has been ranked first.]

Ashen was the name I had chosen when I first entered the Tower of Trials.

It was something like a username used in the Tower of Trials instead of my real name.

And in its own way...

'I'd put quite a lot of thought into choosing it.'

Necromancer.

Death (ashes) and life (light).

Hence, Ashen.

It might sound a little overly dramatic, like something an edgy teenager would come up with, but I'd been rather pleased with it back then.

Well, I still liked it now.

Anyway.

[You have achieved first place.]

[Special rewards will be distributed.]

[You have received a 'Blessing' Certificate.]

[Additional rewards will be distributed.]

[F-rank Magic Stone ×10]

At last, the special reward and additional rewards for achieving first place were distributed.

[The records for Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials have been updated.]

[1st Place: Ashen...]

___________

It had been only yesterday that the Awakened Board was set ablaze with excitement.

And the commotion hadn't even died down yet.

But right now, more fuel had been poured onto the fire.

Because another global announcement had gone out.

[The records for Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials have been updated.]

[1st Place: Ashen (00:15:32) - Republic of Korea]

[2nd Place: Shi Chan (01:20:53) - China]

[3rd Place: Seira (01:25:32) - United States]

[The owner of the Blessing has changed from Shi Chan to Ashen.]

The Tower of Trials displayed records up to third place.

Changes to the rankings always attracted enormous attention.

Because they represented an Awakened's career achievements and, at the same time, involved national pride.

However, this case was somewhat different.

The change in rankings itself was secondary. What mattered was the record.

The gap between the first- and second-place records was simply too enormous.

[Title] Did everyone see the new first-place record for Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials?

There's more than an hour between first and second place. Is this for real?

I mean, even putting that aside, is it actually possible to kill all the Blood Ghouls in fifteen minutes?

I seriously can't believe it;;

-I slapped myself in the face as soon as I saw it, too.

-Seriously, how the hell did they do that? lol

-What difference does it make whether you believe it? The System says it's true.

-lol Exactly. Have you ever seen the System lie?

-But seriously, that's fucking insane. Holy shit.

-I think the end is near. To think I'd live to see a fifteen-minute record. Looks like the world's about to end...

-Don't you think it's the person who obtained the Numbered Item yesterday?

-Yeah. When coincidences pile up, they become inevitable.

-Considering they're only just climbing Floor 1, they must have awakened recently...

-Could it be that person who got a Talent Stat of 100? Adding a link. [Link]

-Oh, that guy~ The one who went down in history as the fastest person to become a has-been lol.

-No way. It definitely isn't him. Wasn't it about a week ago? I heard he was still trying to clear Floor 0 of the Tower of Trials.

-I heard that, too. Apparently, he keeps challenging Floor 0 of the Tower of Trials using consumables. lololol

-I heard some news about him recently, too. Apparently, he was entering Gates to earn money for consumables.

-Gates? Someone actually lets him join their party?

-As if lol. He's probably going in as a porter.

Countless more comments were posted beneath the thread.

And new ones continued appearing in real time.

______________

After leaving Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials.

I opened my inventory with my heart pounding in anticipation.

Naturally, I wanted to examine the Blessing Certificate.