Dragon and Phoenix Gathering (2)

After Minwoo submitted the Human-Faced Spider's remains as proof, the Unorthodox Alliance leader summoned him.

“Take this.”

[Golden Dragon Pill]

[Increases all stats by 20 upon consumption. (Does not stack.)]

What he handed over was an elixir.

“You're even giving me something like this, Alliance Leader? I must really have come up in the world.”

“Has that been eating away at you? You share some of the blame, though. If you were going to reveal your abilities, why not do so sooner?”

“It's a shame, all right. I had my reasons.”

Minwoo shrugged and accepted the Golden Dragon Pill. There was no reason to save it. What the Alliance Leader wanted was to increase his fighting strength right now.

[Consuming Golden Dragon Pill!]

[All stats increase by 20!]

'Sweet.'

The stat boost was on par with a Divine Fruit's. Of course, since this wasn't a Divine Fruit, it would be a bit of a shame when he took other elixirs later.

'Well, it's not a bad deal.'

He needed every stat point he could get if he wanted to stay on the run after the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering anyway. That was why he intended to take the Sword Shadow Pill too, if necessary.

“Keep this up. If you do, you will be my successor.”

“I'll do my best. By the way, do you have anything else you could give me?”

“... Even the Unorthodox Alliance has few elixirs of this caliber.”

“What about martial arts manuals?”

“Take first place, and everything will be yours without your having to ask.”

What a cheapskate. Apparently, he had no intention of coughing up anything else.

'It does look like he's really out of elixirs...'

As for martial arts manuals, he seemed to think there was little point in giving Minwoo any now. Which was true, to be fair.

“Then perhaps some equipment...”

“Weapons are all you may bring into the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.”

Oh, was that why he'd only tossed him the Ghost Sword? With a little luck, this could have been his chance to replace all his armor with Unique-grade gear. What a shame.

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

“Bones and materials? From monsters, you mean?”

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

“There should be some left in the storehouse.”

“May I take them?”

“If you wish.”

“Thank you.”

* * *

The Unorthodox Alliance certainly was a large organization. An enormous stockpile of materials and bones greeted Minwoo at the storehouse. Unfortunately, he wasn't allowed to take all the top-quality items, but even so, this was a jackpot.

Naturally, he took everything he could. The warriors guarding the storehouse were rather horrified, but that wasn't his problem. Hadn't the Alliance Leader himself given permission?

He left with his spatial ring packed to bursting. Thanks to that, upgrading the golem was a breeze.

[Bone Golem]

[Class: Warrior]

[Level: 120]

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

[Loyalty: 100]

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

[* Great Success special effects.]

[* Flexibility increased by 30%]

[* Hardness increased by 10%]

[* Weight increased by 10%]

The Human-Faced Spider's spine had yielded a Great Success, greatly increasing flexibility. With the Unorthodox Alliance's help, he had added further Great Successes to boost hardness and weight as well. The massive increase in stats was a bonus.

Incidentally, Death Lord's 50% stat boost applied to every additional stat gain, too. Whether those extra stats came from equipment or Bone Exchange, they all received another fifty percent. EX-grade was EX-grade for a reason.

And he still had more upgrades to make.

[‘Bone Golem’ equips Sturdy Steel Breastplate Set!]

[‘Bone Golem’ equips Sturdy Steel Shield!]

[‘Bone Golem’ equips Brutal Steel Mace!]

[Equipment Binding (B) takes effect!]

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

Clad head to toe in steel equipment, its already massive frame exuded an incredible presence.

“Now that's something.”

He couldn't have asked for a more reassuring ally.

Just then, the golem, which had been staring intently at its own body, raised both hands high in apparent delight.

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

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

[Would you like to name it?]

“You're a Dolsoe, no matter how I look at you. Let's call you Dolsoe.”

—Grrrooo.

[‘Dolsoe’ is overjoyed!]

[Dolsoe's learning ability increases greatly!]

Fully equipped, Dolsoe had 660 Strength and 630 Vitality. One look told you he was the sort who would take three hits and deliver one hefty blow in return.

By the time Minwoo finished customizing Dolsoe, the procession bound for the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering had assembled. Nearly ten thousand people would be traveling. At the sight of the teeming warriors, Seo Yerim exclaimed in amazement.

“Wow, there really are a lot of them.”

“The other factions will probably bring this many too.”

“So thirty thousand in total?”

“Probably?”

Then she glanced around and brought her lips close to his ear, as though whispering a secret.

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

“More or less.”

“That sounds insane any way you look at it.”

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

Just then, a warrior approached from the procession.

“Please come to the front, both of you. You'll be traveling in the front row.”

“Very well.”

The Unorthodox Alliance leader and a whole host of elders were gathered at the front, along with the ten candidates participating in the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering. These were the most important people among the ten thousand. The candidates' gazes converged on Minwoo.

'Quite the warm reception.'

The First Young Master, Baek Muhan, who had been pushed down to third place overnight, was especially fierce. His gaze wasn't merely blazing—he looked ready to tear Minwoo apart.

The Second and Third Young Masters, as well as the other candidates, were much the same. A formidable rival had appeared overnight. Naturally, they weren't happy.

Minwoo smiled and waved.

“Good to see you all. Since I'm in first place, I go right at the front, correct?”

“Ha...”

“Eldest Brother, keep looking at me like that and you'll burn me to a crisp. Aengaeng, over here.”

“... Yes, Young Master.”

He stood beside Aengaeng at the very front. Having watched quietly, the Alliance Leader spoke.

“We depart.”

The procession slowly began to move.

* * *

A subtle battle of wills continued throughout the journey. Had the Alliance Leader not been nearby, swords would have been drawn on the spot.

At mealtime, the Alliance Leader and the elders gathered in one spot, while the ten candidates and their escorts gathered in another.

'This is going to end badly.'

Sure enough, trouble broke out while the water was boiling in the pot.

At a sharp glance from Baek Muhan, the Third Young Master fired the opening shot.

“What an eyesore. Why is some wench who doesn't know her place even joining us for meals? It ruins my appetite. Don't you all agree?”

“You're absolutely right, Young Master. Well, at least her body is worth look—”

SHING!

The mocking escort's head was severed in an instant. Aengaeng—no, Seo Yerim—flicked her blade clean, spattering drops of blood across the ground.

“Any more of that and my ears will rot. Our young masters seem to have quite a few complaints about me, don't they?”

“You insolent bitch...”

All the candidates snarled. Yet a faint tremor lurked in their eyes.

She had returned from hunting the Human-Faced Spider on Sky-Piercing Mountain. They had assumed the maid must have a trick or two up her sleeve. But this went far beyond anything they'd imagined. They had thought she'd merely assisted Baek Socheon. Instead, they were beginning to wonder whether she had played the leading role in the hunt.

A sword strike like a ray of light. Only a handful of them had actually seen the blow that severed the escort's neck.

While the candidates faltered before her might, Kim Minwoo snapped his fingers. The nearby escorts recoiled in horror. Skeletons were already rising all around them—well over a thousand.

'H-he was this powerful?'

They had known Baek Socheon commanded the dead, but his ability exceeded their imagination. The undead carried themselves with disciplined bearing and were fully armed to boot. He had summoned them all with a single gesture.

By comparison, there were barely thirty escorts. Elite warriors though they were, many would surely die if they clashed with that many undead.

The skeletons raised their weapons. Seeing this, the escorts reached for theirs as well. Violence was a hair's breadth away.

“Enough!”

The Alliance Leader's voice rang out. He approached a moment later, surveyed the scene, and spoke.

“No one knows what trial the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering will bring. There may come a moment when cooperation is essential. And yet you insist on crossing swords?”

“...”

“Baek Muhan.”

“... Yes, Alliance Leader.”

“I understand how you feel. You must resent Baek Socheon. But if you wish to go far, you must learn to see the bigger picture. Do you truly believe making an enemy of him will benefit you?”

“... I was rash.”

“Baek Socheon.”

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

“The same goes for you. You may have different mothers, but you are still brothers. Should you really be fighting your own flesh and blood?”

“I'll be more careful.”

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

Having calmed the situation, the Alliance Leader withdrew.

'Well, that wasn't bad.'

They had needed to demonstrate their strength at least once anyway. Otherwise, people would keep picking fights. The Alliance Leader must have thought so too, which was why he'd watched until the clash was imminent.

'Words alone wouldn't get through to them.'

This had been proof enough. Since they hadn't witnessed his abilities firsthand, they had kept making snide remarks and getting on his nerves. This should serve as a sufficient warning. Things would likely proceed relatively quietly from now on.

* * *

Between the Alliance Leader's direct warning and their own show of strength, the rest of the journey was fairly pleasant. After a week of travel, they reached the site of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.

Members of the Demonic Cult and the Martial Alliance were already waiting there in droves. The Unorthodox Alliance leader, the Heavenly Demon, and the Martial Alliance leader gathered to talk.

'Masters really do age more slowly.'

All three were supposedly in their eighties, but they looked about fifty.

Before long, the Unorthodox Alliance leader returned.

“The Dragon and Phoenix Gathering will begin shortly. Prepare yourselves.”

The Dragon and Phoenix Gathering. At first, Minwoo had assumed it was something like a tournament to determine the world's greatest martial artist. But it wasn't. More precisely, it might be a martial arts tournament, or it might not.

'They said the trial changes every time.'

There was a reason the people here believed its rewards came from heaven.

This was how one participated in the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering: a barrier appeared at a designated location, one that only the thirty people qualified in advance could enter. Once all the candidates were inside, the stage would materialize and the trial would begin.

The trials varied widely. He had heard that the last trial, a hundred years ago, had involved navigating a waterway. Thirty people had been summoned into a flowing river, and the first three to swim to the destination had taken first, second, and third place.

'I heard plenty died that time too.'

There was no limit to the sabotage they could attempt. They could simply fire sword energy at anyone ahead of them.

Two hundred years ago, the trial had been mountain climbing. Three hundred years ago, it had been a tournament.

'So there was a reason he stressed cooperation.'

A tournament didn't leave much room for teamwork. Mountain climbing and swimming, however, were a different matter.

What if someone saw no chance of winning? The format allowed them to sacrifice their own placing and hold back the opposition for their faction's strongest contender.

'I'm curious what we'll get.'

Would it require cooperation, or would it be closer to an individual contest?

Before long, a shout rang out.

“The barrier!”

A rounded barrier had appeared.

Under airtight protection, the candidates entered the barrier in groups of ten. The Demonic Cult went first, followed by the Martial Alliance. The Unorthodox Alliance's candidates entered last.

[All candidates have entered.]

[Entering the stage.]

Kim Minwoo was summoned into what appeared to be a remote island. A message soon appeared.

[The trial begins.]

[Kill everyone until only three remain.]

“... A battle royale?”

It was a trial he hadn't anticipated at all.