Chapter 396
A total of twelve pairs of rib bones of varying lengths were paired up, and there were two missing parts that needed to be present to connect the bones. They were the back side of the spine, known as the front sternum and spine, and the void was filled with Doom Entegasto’s red hue.
They were floating in the air before me, waiting for my decision.
Weapon? Armor? No.
[You have selected Accessory.]
[Which category would you like to create?]
Throughout this I had been focusing on the movement inside me after realizing that the system that Old One left behind was now optimized specifically for me.
[1. Ring 2. Earring 3. Necklace 4. Bracelet]
The system structure was similar to artificial intelligence. It was designed based on the blueprints and data that was integrated with the traits Explorer and Night Eye, and it was combined with my mental world and the energy of the Power inside me. It seemed to recognize given events and follow the overall patterns.
After finding the most optimized algorithm, it sent messages based on my currently available abilities. This was something that I didn’t know even when the System had undergone modification by the effect of trait Challenger.
Research of Mana. The work of exploring the interior and rummaging through the blueprints left by the Old One unexpectedly had resulted in a huge success. I had hit the jackpot.
Items could be destroyed. Even transcendent beings like Doom Entegasto and The Great Red had lost their precious belongings, but the realization that struck my mind would last forever!
Thump. Thump. Thump thump thump-
My heart pounded with strong excitement.
Instead of making a choice immediately, I began to imagine the options. Anklets, watches, tie pins, hand mirrors, and pendants…
Then, I focused.
[1. Ring 2. Earring 3. Necklace 4. Bracelet]
Finally!
[1. Ring 2. Earring 3. Necklace 4. Bracelet 5. Anklet 6. Watch 7. Tie Pin 8. Hand Mirror 9. Pendant 10. Epaulet]
The moment the number of choices increased, saliva pooled in my mouth to the point that I had to consciously swallow it.
[You have selected 1. Ring.]
My Power’s color was golden, and the hue spread before my eyes, then shot forward like an arrow. The rib bones of Doom Entegasto quickly began to shrink from the size of an adult man, and various images flashed through my mind. They were images of accessories that I had held once before, including the G.o.d of Wind’s Protective Ring, Ruler"s Ring, Ring of Shadows, Attis’ Ring, The Blind"s Ring, and Ring of Flames.
Some had two rings intersecting, while others had simple images without any decoration. No message appeared immediately, but I knew that it was demanding that I make a choice.
I made up my mind while imagining the twenty-four rib bones becoming links of a chain. The mental picture suddenly began to materialize before my eyes. To my surprise, the rib bones were being ripped out one by one right in front of me.
Cha cha chak-
Each rib bone formed a ring, and a total of twenty-four small rings were connected.
[Doom Entegasto’s Bone Ring that the Dead Revere (Item)
It is an object of horror formed by the compression of twenty-four rib bones of Doom Entegasto. The power of Doom Entegasto is imbued within it as is the intent of the time when the ribs were broken apart. The defensive system that once protected the Life Vessel is also retained within it. It appears that purification is needed.
Item Cla.s.s: S
Item Level: 666
Effect: Power Resistance + 35%, Mental Resistance + 35%, Spiritual Resistance + 35%, Every skill and trait’s cooldown time - 30%, Every skill and trait’s duration + 30%. Extension of the Life Vessel’s usage capabilities. Upon meeting the conditions, the unique ability of Doom Entegasto ‘King of the Dead’ will be available to use.
Physical Defense: 70000 / 70000
Magical Defense: 70000 / 70000]
[* Your Power level is too low to purify this item into your own.]
Level 666?
However, the System had noticed that the actual owner possessing the system structure was me. As soon as I questioned why all items exceeding level 481 were marked with S-cla.s.s, the message disappeared.
[Item Cla.s.s : S
Item Level: 666 ]
[Item Cla.s.s: SSS
Item Level: 666]
The item information was instantly edited, and it wasn’t just the bone ring. It applied to all my items that exceeded level 560.
[Odin’s Golden Armor (S)]
[Odin’s Golden Armor (SS)]
Even strong skills…
[Odin’s Ethereal Animal (S)]
[Odin’s Ethereal Animal (SS)]
Even formidable traits…
[The Man who Overcomes Adversity (S)]
[The Man who Overcomes Adversity (SS)]
The modifications also took place on the overall status window.
[Name: Incarnation Na Seon-Hu Level: 600 (Ender) *Second Round*]
[Trait (7/10): The Man Who Overcomes Adversity (SS), Pa.s.sion (S), Strongman (S), Explorer (S), Forerunner (S), Gifted (S), Sensitive (S)]
[Skill (5/10): Odin’s Ethereal Animal (SS), Devi’s Sword (SS), Odin’s Wrath (S), Punishment of the Moong Water G.o.d (S), Night Eye (F)]
[Item (5/10): Odin’s Golden Armor (SS), Zeus’s Thunder Spear (SS), Ra’s Sun Cape (SS), *Xi w.a.n.gmu"s Ten Thousand Year Old Spider (SS), Lunea’s Light (S)]
[Power (3): Advent of Main Figure (Common), Gate Formation (Common), Purification (Common)]
***
After I dismissed the modified status window, the hidden notification messages appeared.
[Doom Entegasto’s Bone Ring that the Dead Revere (Item)]
[* Your Power level is too low to purify this item on your own. (Consumed Power: 500)]
Nevertheless, this was better than Half of the Great Red’s Heart as the power needed to purify it couldn’t even be measured.
Anyway, I had secured sixty Common Power when I caught Dragorin Red, and if I captured two more Dragorins, then I could fill the figure up to five hundred. Just two more…
Emperor Exile was the most powerful force in the vicinity, so I was planning to find out if he was one of the Dragorins.
I picked up the ring, and the b.l.o.o.d.y power of Doom Entegasto immediately climbed up my hand. As my golden power was completely opposite to that of the ring, I could only feel a sense of discomfort overwhelming me as we were completely incompatible. Thus, the ring had a mix of gold and blood colors intertwined haphazardly.
I put the ring on my finger and got out of the pit. I detected the movement of people running away, but unfortunately, they were heading in the same direction as me - the entrance of the altar.
I soon saw their backs, and they slowly turned their heads to me. The three people’s faces were covered in the filth of the corpse monster and were already worn out from the fatigue of the day. Therefore, they didn’t seem surprised to see me at all.
Not only was the monster’s disgusting fluid dripping from their faces, but their skin had also melted away, leaving their muscle and fat to drip from their faces and mix with the filth. The only intact part were their two exhausted eyes, although the decay would begin soon.
As I approached them, the Supreme Priest mentioned the word ‘deal.’ She wasn’t the only priest who was appointed by the Queen of Elsland, so I pa.s.sed by them without responding.
When the exit came into my sight, I could no longer hear the footsteps of the three. Instead, I only heard the noise of bubbles bursting and boiling.
***
Whoosh-!
When crossing the boundary, I had to punch the front as the rocks were blocking the way. After the dust settled, I saw a group of dead spiders and the severed tentacles of Orca.
Yeon-Hee was the only one who could face Orca among the Awakened. In fact, when the headquarters was attacked, five people of different ethnicities had to work to inflict a single scratch on Orca, but this had been done by one being. The traces of being torn by the saw-like claws were the same in all directions.
It was definitely done by a Gar original species. I could envision it swinging its clawed arms. Also, I spotted its wings not too far away.
An unusual sensation arose from the ground, so I stamped my feet. There were supposed to be tunnels created by the spider underground, but as soon as the ground collapsed, water gushed out of the hole. It was salty, probably because it was seawater. The water pressure was so strong that it even lifted Xi w.a.n.gmu’s Spider, which had been standing underground, and then slammed it into the ground.
Is it because its babies are all dead?
Its miserable eyes followed me before it straightened its upturned body.
The direction in which the spider’s poisonous fangs wriggled was also the direction where a large flame had previously pa.s.sed, leaving behind a trace of the spider’s fire-breathing ability. Similarly, the direction where Orca and the original species of Graf were heading was the same.
As the duration of my wings expired, I jumped onto the back of the spider.
When the coastline came into view, I saw the Orca’s back. It was kneeling toward the sea, and its head was tilted as if it was ready to be beheaded at any moment. Also, the original species of Graf appeared to be waiting for instructions while looking down at Orca.
First of all, the Graf was in worse shape than Orca. Not only were its wings torn, but its body was also burnt. Furthermore, the claws on both hands were drooping as if they were about to fall off immediately.
My gaze s.h.i.+fted to the tentacles that had bound Orca. The spot where it was connected to the deep sea was the center of the whirlpool, where Doom Insectum awaited me. It was peeking with only half of its face above the sh.o.r.eline, just like the first time we met.
However, it appeared that Orca was no longer useful after my arrival. A deafening roar emanated from the surface of the sea, causing ma.s.sive waves to surge and create a tsunami! The tsunami instantly crossed the coast, engulfing not only Orca but also the original Graf species.
Then, the second tsunami occurred. Along with the ma.s.sive wave, the face of Doom Insectum approached me as it watched me from the top of the wave. All of this happened instantly after I arrived there.
Odin’s Wrath, which I had imbued into the spear, had subsided, and the wings and tails of flame had disappeared. However, there was still some time left for the Valkyries. In a split second, they emerged from the void and took their positions in front of the Xi w.a.n.gmu’s Spider.
I straightened up and was ready to throw myself at the creature.
However, the tsunami stopped just before it reached me! Despite the raging waves everywhere, the ones that had been coming toward me had halted.
d.a.m.n it. I hoped it would come at me first.
I taunted, “Are you afraid of me? What are you hesitating for?”
Doom Insectum’s eyes flickered with greed as it gazed at the bone ring on my finger. However, its eyes soon narrowed like a snake’s and shook. It wasn’t because it was thinking that it couldn’t confront and fight me. Instead, it was scared about the punishment Doom Kaos would inflict afterwards.
Its pupils dilated again. The waves that had been moving intensely in an up-and-down motion were finally pouring towards me. Doom Insectum must have decided that the risk was worth taking.
Yes, this is what I have been waiting for!
Upon sensing my Sixth Sense, Xi w.a.n.gmu’s spider dug into the ground and collapsed into the center before descending. There was a separate way to utilize the spider in a fight against powerful beings. While the spider went down underground, I landed on the surface.
Clang, clang, clang!
The sound of the Valkyries forming a s.h.i.+eld wall vibrated the ground. It was then…
[The Almighty Doom Kaos, your owner, has gathered the monarchs for a meeting.]
This time, the message that appeared was pushed into my window by Doom Kaos, unrelated to the System. I could tell this because my traits, Explorer and Night Eye, weren’t the ones that were responsible for this message popping up.
Creek-
I felt the s.p.a.ce behind me twisting. The s.p.a.ce above the waves, where Doom Insectum’s face was, began to twist as well. Doom Insectum suddenly fell silent as if it had been enveloped in the same feeling as I was. There was no time to waste.
[You have used Gate Formation.]
I threw the bone ring into Lee Tae-Han’s office.
[You have used Gate Formation.]
Then, I threw Half of the Great Red’s Heart I had taken from the storage box into the guest room where Yeon-Hee was staying. When the items disappeared beyond the gate, I could feel a creepy gaze watching me from my back. It felt like the eyes would pierce not only my body but also my soul.
“Ugh…”
[You lack Power Resistance.]
The last thing I saw was Doom Insectum, bound by chains, being pulled in. The pitch-black darkness that engulfed everything unfolded before me.