NSE-Chapter 054

Chapter 54

After submitting the Human-Faced Spider’s by-products as evidence.

The Unorthodox Alliance Master summoned him.

“Take this.”

[Golden Dragon Elixir]

[Consuming it raises all Stats by 20.(Cannot be stacked)]

What he handed over was an Elixir.

“The Alliance Master is giving me even something like this. I seem to have come up quite a bit in the world.”

“Were you fretting over this? But you are partly at fault, too. If you were going to reveal yourself anyway, you should have done it sooner.”

“I regret it quite a bit myself. I had my circumstances.”

Shrugging, he accepted the Golden Dragon Elixir. There was no reason to save it.

What the Alliance Master wanted was to raise combat strength right now.

[You consume the Golden Dragon Elixir!]

[All Stats increase by 20 each!]

‘Sweet.’

A Divine Fruit-grade Stat increase.

Of course, since this wasn’t a Divine Fruit, it would be a little disappointing when taking Elixirs later, but.

‘Well, it’s not bad.’

Either way, to run around well after the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering ended, he needed every single point of Stats he could get. That was why he planned to eat even the Sword Shadow Elixir if push came to shove.

“Keep on like this. If you do, you will be the next successor.”

“I’ll try my best. By the way, do you happen to have anything more to give?”

“……An Elixir of this caliber is rare even in the Unorthodox Alliance.”

“What about Martial Art manuals?”

“If you take 1st place, everything will be given to you without my saying a word.”

How stingy.

He didn’t seem to have any desire to spit out more.

‘It seems there truly are no more Elixirs…….’

He seemed to think that giving Martial Art manuals now would be of little meaning anyway.

In fact, that was true.

“Then at least equipment…….”

“The only things you can carry into the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering are weapons.”

Ah, so that’s why he had tossed over just 1 Ghost Sword?

With some luck, it could have been a chance to swap all his armor for Uniques.

What a pity.

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

“Bones and materials? You mean those of demonic creatures?”

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

“There should be some left over in the storehouse.”

“May I take them?”

“If you wish.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

The Unorthodox Alliance was indeed a large organization.

At the storehouse, a tremendous amount of materials and bones welcomed him.

Unfortunately, even the top-tier ones weren’t all being released, but this much was still a jackpot.

Naturally, he took everything.

The warriors guarding the storehouse were rather horrified, but that wasn’t his concern. Hadn’t the Alliance Master personally permitted it?

He came out with the Spatial Ring stuffed to the brim. Thanks to that, he could strengthen the Golem very comfortably.

[Bone Golem]

[Class: Warrior]

[Level: 120]

[Skills Owned: Taunt(A), Defensive Stance(B)]

[Loyalty: 100]

[Strength: 320(+160)] [Agility: 170(+85)] [Health: 300(+150)] [Magic Power: 90(+45)]

[* Great Success special effect.]

[* Flexibility increases by 30%]

[* Hardness increases by 10%]

[* Weight increases by 10%]

A Great Success had burst out of the Human-Faced Spider’s vertebra.

Thanks to that, Flexibility had increased greatly, and with the Unorthodox Alliance’s help, he had been able to add Great Successes to raise Hardness and Weight.

The big rise in Stats was a bonus.

For reference, the Death Lord’s 50% Stat increase was a structure that applied across the board, even to the additional Stat increases.

Meaning that whether it was equipment or Bone Exchange, the additional Stats all jumped up by another half.

EX-rank wasn’t EX-rank for nothing.

On top of that, there was still more to strengthen.

[‘Bone Golem’ puts on the Sturdy Steel Cuirass Set!]

[‘Bone Golem’ puts on the Sturdy Steel Shield!]

[‘Bone Golem’ puts on the Vicious Steel Mace!]

[The effect of Equip Armament(B) is applied!]

[Strength +120, Agility +50, Health +120]

Its bulk was already hulking enough, and once it was wrapped in steel equipment as well, its presence was no joke.

“Ahh.”

So dependable, so dependable.

That was when.

The Golem, which had been staring intently at its own body, raised both hands high in delight.

[‘Bone Golem’ is overjoyed at its master’s favor!]

[‘Bone Golem’ wants you to give it a name!]

[Would you like to name it?]

“However I look at it, this is a Stoneiron. You, let’s go with Stoneiron.”

―Grooo.

[‘Stoneiron’ is overjoyed!]

[Stoneiron’s learning ability greatly increases!]

Fully armed Stoneiron.

Strength 660 and Health 630.

At a glance, it looked like the kind of kid who would take 3 hits and deliver 1 heavy one in return.

By the time he finished customizing Stoneiron.

The procession to depart for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering had been formed. The number of travelers came to a whopping nearly 10,000. Warriors could be seen swarming everywhere. Seeing it, Seo Ye-rim let out an exclamation.

“Wow, there really are a lot.”

“The other sides will bring this many as well.”

“So a total of 30,000 gather?”

“Probably?”

Then.

Glancing quickly around, she brought her mouth to his ear as if whispering.

“Then…… we’re being chased by 30,000 people in total?”

“Well, roughly.”

“It seems insane no matter how I look at it.”

“You have to go crazy to get strong fast.”

Then.

A warrior approached from the procession.

“Both of you, please go to the front. You will travel in the front row.”

“Will do.”

The front row was packed with elders, starting with the Unorthodox Alliance Master.

On top of that, the 10 candidates to take part in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. It could be said that the most essential personnel out of the 10,000 were gathered there. The candidates’ gazes converged on this side.

‘Quite the heated attention.’

In particular, the eyes of First Young Lord Baek Mu-han, who had been pushed down to 3rd place overnight.

They were blazing so fiercely that he seemed to want to tear this side apart.

The Second Young Lord and the Third Young Lord.

And the other candidates were the same. A powerful rival had appeared overnight, so of course they wouldn’t be in a good mood.

He smiled brightly and waved a hand.

“Good to see you all. Since I’m 1st, I take the very front, right?”

“Hah…….”

“Eldest Brother. Stare like that and I’ll catch fire. Aeng-aeng, come over here.”

“……Yes, Young Lord.”

He stood at the very front side by side with Aeng-aeng.

The Alliance Master, who had been quietly watching the scene, said,

“We depart.”

The ranks slowly began to move.

* * *

Throughout the journey, a subtle contest of wills continued. Had the Alliance Master not been nearby, swords would have been drawn right then and there.

Mealtime.

The Alliance Master and the elders gathered in 1 spot.

The 10 candidates and their escorts gathered in another.

‘Trouble’s coming.’

Sure enough.

While the water boiled in the pot, an incident broke out.

At Baek Mu-han’s sharp glance, the Third Young Lord opened fire.

“Honestly, it’s sickening to look at. What wench who doesn’t befit this place is sitting in on the meal with us? It kills my appetite. Doesn’t everyone think so?”

“The Young Lord is right. Well, at least her body is worth a look…….”

Slash!

The head of the escort warrior who had been hurling mockery was cut off in an instant.

Aeng-aeng, no, Seo Ye-rim flicked her blade clean.

Drops of blood splattered across the ground.

“My ears would rot if I listened any longer. Our Young Lords seem to have a lot of complaints about me, don’t they?”

“You insolent wench…….”

The candidates were all snarling.

But a subtle tremor had settled into a corner of their eyes.

She had come back from hunting the Human-Faced Spider on Sky Mountain. So they had figured the maidservant would have some trick of her own.

But this was a level that far exceeded their expectations.

They had thought she had only gone along as Baek So-cheon’s assistant at best, but to their surprise.

It was enough to make them wonder whether this maidservant might have been the star of the hunt instead.

A sword strike like a ray of light.

Only a very few had properly seen the escort’s head being cut off a moment ago.

While the candidates froze at that might.

Kim Min-woo snapped his fingers.

The escort warriors around them were horrified. Before they knew it, Skeletons were rising all through the surrounding space.

Their number alone far exceeded 1,000.

‘Th-This many?’

They had known that Baek So-cheon commanded the dead.

But the level was beyond imagination.

Dead with an orderly bearing.

On top of that, their armaments were thorough, too.

He had called them up with a single wave of the hand. By comparison, the escort warriors numbered barely 30 or so.

They were elite, but if they clashed with that many dead, several would surely die.

The Skeletons raised their respective weapons. Seeing that, the escort warriors also moved their hands to their weapons.

A hair-trigger situation.

“Enough!”

The Alliance Master’s voice rang out.

Soon he approached, looked around, and said,

“No one knows what kind of test will come at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering. A moment may come when cooperation with one another is desperately needed. Even so, will you keep crossing blades?”

“…….”

“Baek Mu-han.”

“……Yes, Alliance Master.”

“I understand how you feel. You must hate Baek So-cheon. But to go far, you must learn to see widely. Do you truly think antagonizing that boy will benefit you?”

“……I was rash.”

“Baek So-cheon.”

“Yes, Alliance Master.”

“The same goes for you. Though your mothers may differ, you are still brothers. Must you wage bloody strife against each other?”

“I will be careful.”

“From this moment on, I will tolerate no fighting whatsoever. Do not pick fights with one another.”

Having calmed the situation, the Alliance Master withdrew.

‘Well, not bad.’

A show of force had to be made at least once anyway. Otherwise, guys who kept picking fights would keep appearing.

The Alliance Master must have thought so too, which was why he had looked on until just before a clash.

‘Because mere words wouldn’t get through to them.’

Even right now had been the same.

Since they hadn’t seen his skill with their own eyes, they kept needling him with words and making people furious. This much should have served as a warning.

From now on, it seemed things could proceed relatively quietly.

* * *

The Alliance Master’s direct warning.

And a show of force of their own.

Thanks to that, the rest of the journey went relatively comfortably.

After a week of travel, they arrived at the place where the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was held.

There, personnel from the Demonic Cult and the Martial Alliance were already waiting in droves. The Unorthodox Alliance Master, the Heavenly Demon, and even the Martial Alliance Leader.

The 3 men gathered and talked.

‘Masters really do age slower.’

They were said to be in their 80s, all 3 of them.

By appearance they felt like they were about 50.

Soon the Unorthodox Alliance Master returned and said,

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

Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

At first he had thought it was something like a world’s-best martial arts tournament.

But it wasn’t.

To be precise, it might be a martial arts tournament, or it might not.

‘They said the test theme changes each time.’

There was a reason the people here thought Heaven handed down the rewards.

How to take part in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

A barrier is generated at a designated location.

A barrier that only 30 people granted qualification in advance can enter.

Once all the candidates are inside, a stage is generated and the test begins.

The types varied.

He had heard that in the last test 100 years ago, the theme was riding the waterways.

After 30 people were summoned to a flowing river, those who swam to the destination and arrived first took 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, it was said.

‘I heard many died that time, too.’

Sabotage could be carried out to one’s heart’s content. You could just fire sword energy at whoever was ahead.

The theme 200 years ago was mountain climbing, and 300 years ago it was a tournament.

‘So there was a reason they emphasized cooperation.’

A theme like a tournament left little room for cooperation. But themes like mountain climbing or swimming were different.

What if you couldn’t see a chance to win yourself?

It was a structure in which one might sacrifice one’s own ranking by dragging down the opponents for the organization’s leading contender.

‘I’m kind of curious what will come up.’

Would it be a theme that needed cooperation, or something closer to individual matches?

Soon.

“The barrier!”

A rounded barrier was generated.

Within an ironclad protection, the candidates entered the barrier in groups of 10.

The Demonic Cult’s personnel entered first.

Next the Martial Alliance entered.

Lastly, the Unorthodox Alliance’s candidates entered the barrier.

[All candidates have entered.]

[Entering the stage.]

A space that looked like a remote island.

Kim Min-woo was summoned there.

Soon a message appeared.

[The test begins.]

[Kill everyone until the final 3 remain.]

“……It’s a battle royale?”

A theme he had never thought of popped out.