Antlion Pit (5)

After his limbs came his head. Yu Longgang's entire body was cut apart.

[Your level has increased by 3!]

Every kill sent his level soaring. Killing Number Five, Number Seven, and the trainees earlier had brought him to level 196.

Three more levels put him at 199. Considering he'd entered at level 180, this was an absolutely ridiculous leveling spree.

It was probably the result of the enormous level gap combined with the bonus experience for killing awakeners.

'Easy.'

Without Merhen, it would have taken much longer. Yu Longgang would have fought desperately with all sorts of spells.

But things were different now.

A mage who couldn't use magic?

Then he could die.

[You have hunted the first prey!]

[The demons are delighted!]

[You have earned 20 Demon Points!]

Minwoo looked toward Shadow's group.

The second one chosen was...

"You bastards!"

A Japanese man.

Minwoo didn't know his name, but he knew his abilities. He'd checked them earlier while throwing his summons at the enemy. The man was an empty-shell S-rank swordsman with nothing particularly noteworthy about him. Minwoo could more or less guess why he'd received the votes.

Han Baekgil and Numbers One through Four were all Korean, whereas Yu Longgang and this Japanese man were of different nationalities.

If they had to offer someone up as a sacrifice, they probably figured they should start with the outsiders.

Despite his desperate resistance, the Japanese swordsman was eventually dragged to the center.

[The second prey joins the battle!]

[Combat begins in 5 seconds! Prepare yourselves!]

Dolsoe and Cedric. Merhen, too, along with all the other summons.

Faced with their staggering numbers, the Japanese swordsman Satoru's eyes trembled.

It was his first business trip in a while. The pay wasn't bad, so he'd casually signed on, thinking of it as a sightseeing trip.

'I'm screwed.'

He'd seen Kim Minwoo's skills earlier. As a swordsman with some skill of his own, he'd recognized the difference between them at a glance.

Even if all the summons were removed and they fought one-on-one, he wouldn't win. The gap was that immense.

To think this place would become his grave.

Halting Korean escaped his lips.

"F-fuck..."

[Combat begins!]

Kim Minwoo and Cedric charged. It took less than ten seconds for his head to be severed.

SH slice!

He shouldn't have come.

That was his last thought as the world spun around him.

[You have hunted the second prey!]

[A clean slaughter!]

[You have earned 25 Demon Points!]

[Your level has increased by 2!]

Just as he gained those two additional levels, messages appeared.

[Cedric has reached level 201!]

[The first seal has been released!]

[Stats are being adjusted!]

[Merhen has reached level 201!]

[The first seal has been released!]

[Stats are being adjusted!]

'Huh?'

Cedric and Merhen began to change in appearance.

Cedric was first. His body grew larger, as though he were shooting up in height. His bones thickened, and the light in his eyes grew blacker.

Merhen's appearance changed as well, though her body wasn't bulking up like Cedric's.

Something resembling a strange magic circle was being inscribed on the parasol she held. At a glance, it looked like an instrument of sinister sorcery.

Soon after:

[Cedric's stat modifiers are being adjusted!]

[Previous: All stats +1 per level -〉 All stats +2 per level]

[Merhen's stat modifiers are being adjusted!]

[Previous: Magic Power multiplier per level x3 -〉 Magic Power multiplier x4]

'...?'

What was this now?

He examined Cedric's status window.

[Cedric]

[Class: Dragon Knight]

[Level: 201]

[Loyalty: 100]

[Skills: Spear Master (SS), Shadow Spear (SS), Dragon Strike (S)]

[Special Notes: Physical capabilities have increased greatly following the release of the first seal.]

[Strength: 634(+317)] [Agility: 590(+295)] [Vitality 620(+310)] [Magic Power 636(+318)]

[* Great Success Special Effects]

[* Movement Speed increased by 10%]

[* Mini Breath available]

[* Reflex Speed increased by 10%.]

[* Arm Strength increased by 20%]

Kim Minwoo's eyes widened.

'His stats have gone through the roof!'

Cedric was a summon who could benefit from Bone Exchange. Even after replacing his skull with an Ancient Dragon's, Minwoo had steadily added more bones whenever capacity allowed.

The 20% increase in Arm Strength came from inserting an ogre's arm bones, while the Reflex Speed increase came from inserting a raptor's vertebrae.

The Great Success stat bonuses, the equipment stats added through Equipment Binding, and even the increase from Death Lord had previously brought his average stats to around 600.

But now things were different.

'They've shot up to 900!'

His gains in all stats per level had increased, and Death Lord's effect applied to those additional gains as well.

'That's insane.'

Honestly, he'd found Cedric somewhat lacking before. Higher-tier summons normally received larger stat gains per level.

Dolsoe was an immediate example.

'Double Strength and Vitality. Normal Agility, and half Magic Power.'

His Magic Power was a little lacking, but he received bonuses to his specialties, Strength and Vitality, in exchange.

That brought his total stat gains per level to 5.5. Compared with an ordinary skeleton's four points per level, he was considerably better.

The same went for death knights and liches. They gained more than four stat points per level.

And Cedric was a legion commander. He should have received even greater bonuses.

Until now, however, he hadn't. Like the lowest-tier summons, he'd gained just one point in each stat, for a mere four in total.

Of course, Minwoo hadn't expected that to last forever. Cedric was sealed, after all. Surely that seal would come undone someday.

That was what he'd thought.

'I just didn't expect it to happen now...'

Double gains in every stat. And this was only the first seal.

He might become even more outrageous later.

'Really, it's only natural.'

He was SSS-rank. Getting only the standard multiplier before had been the strange part.

Even these increased gains...

'Death Lord applies to every last point.'

Taking that into account, the multiplier was actually three. That was how he'd ended up with these ridiculous stats.

"Now you're finally looking like a legion commander."

Kim Minwoo nodded in satisfaction. Merhen's Magic Power had skyrocketed as well.

[Merhen]

[Class: Archmage]

[Level: 201]

[Skills: Archmage (SS), Cry of Terror (S)]

[Loyalty: 100]

[Strength: 201(+100)] [Agility: 201(+100)] [Vitality: 201(+100)] [Magic Power: 1020(+510)]

[Special Notes: The Magic Power stat has increased greatly following the release of the first seal.]

Level 201.

With the quadruple multiplier, her base Magic Power was 800. Equipment added through Equipment Binding provided roughly another 200.

With Death Lord's effect included, her Magic Power was nearly 1,500.

'Oh, beautiful.'

Her mana pool had grown absurdly large.

Her Strength, Agility, and Vitality were quite low, but she was a mage to begin with—a class that was nothing without Magic Power. The other stats only needed to cover the basics.

Kim Minwoo wasn't the only one surprised. The Shadow awakeners waiting on the opposite path were equally horrified.

They'd been keeping their eyes on Cedric and Merhen. Now, not only had the summons suddenly changed appearance, but they'd begun radiating an oppressive presence, as though they'd grown even stronger.

"... Damn it!"

Number Four stamped his foot repeatedly against the ground. The situation was that infuriating.

More despairing still was the fact that, despite buying time by sacrificing two men, they hadn't found any clear way to escape.

Han Baekgil stared at Number Four.

"... You'll have to go."

"Fuck..."

There were no foreigners left now. Everyone remaining was Korean through and through.

It seemed Han Baekgil intended to send them out from weakest to strongest.

Naturally, that was fine for the leader and Numbers One, Two, and Three. But not for Number Four.

Growing desperate, Number Four looked around at everyone.

"Hey, are you really going to do this? This means the boss goes last."

"... So you're saying we should sacrifice the boss first?"

"I'm saying it's fucking unfair! We all agreed to come here. Then the vote should be fair, too! You can't just let someone shove through his choice of who dies."

"... Stop talking nonsense, Number Four. We settled the matter of sacrifices long ago. If we find a way out in the meantime, we'll need strong people to escape."

"Bullshit! We haven't found one yet, so why would we now? Hey, Number Three! Number Two! Are you really going along with this? You're next!"

"... I'm sorry."

Number Four.

Number Three.

Number Two.

All three went out, and all three lost their heads without lasting even a minute.

Only two remained: Number One and Han Baekgil.

"... Goddamn it. Boss, is there really no way out? Try that fucking prayer of yours or something!"

"... Prayer isn't something I can use whenever I want."

"Damn it, damn it!"

But what happened now?

The victims were chosen by vote, and each of them had one vote.

Just as the two tilted their heads in confusion, messages appeared.

[Winner takes all!]

[Fight!]

[The winning prey will receive one vote!]

"... This gate is seriously f***ed up."

"Agreed."

Han Baekgil and Number One charged at each other.

All to live just one minute longer.

Having defeated Number One, Han Baekgil sighed.

"I'm sorry."

"Fuck..."

Number One was dead.

Now alone, Han Baekgil looked around.

Gates were full of variables. That was why he'd been searching desperately for some way to survive, though the trouble was that nothing had worked.

Then it happened.

[You are the only remaining prey!]

[The demon is growing bored with this one-sided match!]

[* One of the demons makes an offer!]

[Terms: Offer your soul]

[Payment: Demonic power]

[Will you accept the deal?]

Han Baekgil caught his breath.

'Yes!'

Just as he'd expected. As though to prove he wasn't simply doomed to die here, an incredible offer had arrived. Power in exchange for his soul.

'I'll die anyway at this rate.'

His soul? Who gave a damn about that? Surviving right now mattered more.

Han Baekgil nodded without hesitation.

At that moment:

[Your soul has been pledged as collateral!]

[You are granted demonic power in exchange!]

[Your race is changing to demon!]

Han Baekgil's body began to swell.

* * *

'So he sold his soul.'

Kim Minwoo watched calmly. He already knew about this. The exact same thing had happened when he'd discovered this hidden piece before.

After he'd killed them one by one, the last survivor had turned into a demon. The enemy had gotten somewhat stronger, but Minwoo had killed him in the end.

This time would be no different.

'Will this one count toward the Death Spirit Sword's stacks?'

The trainees and S-rank awakeners apparently hadn't been satisfactory opponents. Unfortunately, the sword hadn't absorbed their blood.

But Han Baekgil...

'Maybe it'll absorb his?'

He'd probably yield plenty of Achievement Points, too.

Minwoo was already getting excited.

[The final prey joins the battle!]

[Combat begins in 5 seconds! Prepare yourselves!]

He stared at Han Baekgil.

Then the man's body began to tremble violently.

[The effect of 'He Who Took Balkan's Eye' activates!]

[The 'demon' before you feels an overwhelming sense of intimidation!]

Han Baekgil, now a demon, began pouring with cold sweat.

'The title works beautifully.'

This was why Minwoo had wanted to come here. It was a gate where this title could really shine.

"I-impossible... Why am I..."

Han Baekgil was utterly dismayed.

He'd sold his soul, yet his situation had only worsened.

The pressure was terrifying. His heart hammered, and a chill ran down his spine. Even before combat began, Han Baekgil was already tasting despair.

What good were the stronger stats he'd gained by becoming a demon?

He couldn't even fight!

[Combat begins!]

Three minutes after combat began.

That was how long it took to sever all of Han Baekgil's limbs and cut off his head, despite the greater toughness he'd gained as a demon.

[Your level has increased by 5.]

● You are humanity's 'One Who Opened New Horizons'!

● You perceive changes in the world!

● You have hunted 'Han Baekgil,' one of the major villains!

● You are awarded 300 Achievement Points.

● You possess the Achievement Vending Machine! Points awarded are doubled!

An Achievement Points message, followed by a blood absorption message:

[The Death Spirit Sword absorbs the prey's blood! (1/10)]

And on top of that:

[You have earned 50 Demon Points!]

[Total Points Earned: 200]

[An astonishing score!]

[Selecting a demon to grant your reward...]

He'd earned Demon Points, too.

Several items lay beside Han Baekgil's fallen corpse. Among them was an unusual-looking pitch-black orb.

Minwoo recalled what Han Baekgil had said. He'd obtained an orb containing great power through prayer, then used it to perform the experience duplication bug.

'Could that be the orb?'

It seemed worth checking.