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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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As their numbers grew exponentially, the monsters, perhaps feeling pressured, launched a massive attack on the third day.
However, they couldn’t overcome the endlessly respawning undead and the newly erected bone walls.
“The addition of just two people has changed the situation this drastically…”
She seemed to be realizing the true power of a mage, especially a necromancer specializing in large-scale combat.
The newly acquired corpses replenished their depleted ranks, and within a day, their forces were stronger than before the attack.
Satisfied with the defenses, he instructed Athena to scout the oasis Gagar had been defending.
Unfortunately, the faint connection he had with Gagar had been completely severed, so he didn’t ask her to search for any trace of him.
He had effectively given up hope.
“Return immediately if you sense any danger.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Meanwhile, he continued the process of imbuing the dragon’s blood and heart fragment with demonic energy.
Athena returned three days later.
There had been another monster attack during her absence, but they had repelled it easily.
It was a group with a larger number of high-level monsters, but Golun had performed admirably.
Perhaps driven by his failure to protect the oasis before, he had fought fiercely, demonstrating increasing control over his new body.
Athena described the situation at the oasis as chaotic.
“They’re fighting amongst themselves. The land that was tainted with demonic energy has been completely ravaged.”
“What about their forces?”
“Overall, they’re stronger than the ones attacking here. But they’re fighting each other, and they’ve also suffered losses from large-scale attacks like the one here, so it’s hard to say.”
It was a chaotic free-for-all, with no established territories. Just as he had expected.
“What do you think if we attack?”
“All of us?”
“No. Orie and I will stay behind. And Untinia-nim and Annelise as well.”
“Hmm… if they join forces, it’ll be difficult. But if they continue fighting amongst themselves, it shouldn’t be too hard.”
“What about occupying the oasis?”
“Impossible. You need to be there. Absolutely.”
“Hmm…”
He thought for a moment before replying.
“Then we’ll continue to sow chaos. We can’t let them establish their territories.”
They would buy time by keeping them destabilized.
“That shouldn’t be difficult.”
“I won’t split our forces. Everyone except a minimal defense force will participate. Coordinate with Kayla and cause as much disruption as possible.”
“Alright.”
Normally, he would give Kayla command, but Athena had more experience scouting the Barren Lands, so he couldn’t ignore her opinion.
Kayla would likely cooperate.
Perhaps due to the circumstances, she didn’t object to leaving his side.
He called Kayla aside for a private conversation.
“Tell Athena and Baldur about the dragon. And try to buy as much time as possible.”
“You’re going to attempt to reach 7th circle?”
Having been present during his conversation with the dragon, Kayla had likely deduced his intentions.
“Yes. Once I reach 7th circle, restoring the oases will be easy.”
He couldn’t immediately turn the dragon’s corpse into a Legion Commander.
But it didn’t matter.
Even without a Legion Commander, reaching 7th circle would drastically increase his power.
A mage at that level was comparable to a Master.
“I would tell you not to push yourself, but… I can’t, can I?”
Everything he had worked for was at risk. And now they knew the Holy Empire’s true intentions…
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
“One day, I’ll be able to share your burden. Please wait a little longer.”
“…I should be the one telling you not to push yourself.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Don’t die.”
“I have no intention of dying. I can’t let the lord take the first wife position.”
Her words, half-joking but also a declaration of resolve, reassured him somewhat.
Kayla embraced him and kissed him briefly.
“…I’ll be back.”
It was a side of her she rarely showed, a gesture reserved for their private moments.
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As soon as night fell, the tower’s elite forces departed.
While it could be dangerous if they were attacked, with Orie, himself, and the newly constructed walls, he didn’t think they would be easily overrun.
Perhaps word of their strengthened defenses had spread, as the frequency and scale of the monster attacks decreased. He didn’t think they were in any immediate danger.
And thanks to his companions’ disruptive activities, the main base wasn’t attacked during the week they were gone.
Meanwhile, he had completely imbued the dragon’s blood and heart fragment with demonic energy.
He had thoroughly examined them during the process, but there were no hidden traps or tricks.
So, after entrusting Orie with the defense of the tower, he consumed the blood and heart fragment.
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The dragon had instructed him on the most efficient way to use the blood and heart fragment.
Guide the heart’s energy to his core and let the blood naturally spread throughout his body.
It had also recommended consuming them all at once.
If he could control the energy, consuming them simultaneously would amplify their effects, creating a synergistic reaction.
Naturally, with his Demonic Energy Blessing, controlling the energy wasn’t an issue, so he chose to consume them all at once.
He separated the heart’s demonic energy, directing it towards his core, preventing it from mixing with the blood’s energy.
He blocked the blood’s energy from reaching his core and guided the heart fragment, now dispersed, through his circuits towards the core at the center.
As his core absorbed the dragon heart fragment, becoming denser and capable of holding more demonic energy, his circuits expanded and their density increased.
This meant he could wield more demonic energy, increasing the power of his magic.
And he also possessed Elosette’s Staff, which he suspected contained the essence of an entire dragon.
Therefore, the effects wouldn’t be limited to a simple increase in magical power.
Meanwhile, the dragon’s blood was being absorbed throughout his body, converging towards a single point.
‘The vessel…’
The dragon’s blood, seemingly judging that his body no longer needed to become more attuned to demonic energy, circulated through his system once before focusing on expanding his vessel.
In other words, the dragon’s blood recognized that his body’s affinity for demonic energy was comparable to a dragon’s.
‘That’s hard to believe.’
He already knew that his body was highly attuned to demonic energy and ideal for dark magic.
But he hadn’t expected this level of affinity.
As the dragon’s blood focused solely on expanding his vessel, it began to grow at an alarming rate.
While a larger vessel was beneficial, allowing him to hold more demonic energy, the increased capacity would also mean greater consumption, especially with the increased density of his core and circuits.
However, the rate of expansion was insane.
He wondered if his body, despite its unique resilience, could handle such a massive vessel.
‘Is it trying to kill me…?’
No, that couldn’t be it.
He hadn’t anticipated this, and neither had the dragon.
Who would have thought his body possessed an affinity for demonic energy comparable to a dragon’s?
It was information even the dragon wouldn’t have known.
Moreover, the dragon wielded mana, while he wielded demonic energy, making it difficult to intuitively grasp the difference.
‘This is… bad.’
He would die if this continued.
He hurriedly opened his seal and drew out demonic energy.
‘7th circle… can I do it?’
The chances were slim.
Forcibly forming a circuit… that was only possible at lower circles, with a limit of around 4th circle.
Trying to reach 7th circle that way was suicidal.
He hadn’t even reached 7th circle in his previous life.
While he had rejected the opportunity himself, he hadn’t reached it nonetheless, so this was practically a suicide attempt.
But he couldn’t die like this.
His vessel was at its breaking point.
A vessel this large was beyond the capacity of a 6th circle mage.
The demonic energy was backflowing, putting pressure on his core and circuits.
He desperately drew out demonic energy, trying to form a new circuit.
But the demonic energy dispersed, failing to form a stable circuit.
He refused to give up, attempting again and again, only to be met with repeated failures.
His mental fortitude, once unyielding, began to crumble.
He struggled to control the demonic energy, and he felt cracks forming in his vessel, pushed to its limits.
He had managed to protect his core and circuits, but if his vessel shattered, he would effectively lose his magic.
What good was a powerful engine without fuel?
He desperately tried to protect his vessel, but despite his efforts, it was riddled with cracks, on the verge of shattering.
‘What the…’
The dragon had given him its blood and heart fragment out of goodwill.
But neither of them had anticipated this outcome.
He was dumbfounded and furious.
But reality wouldn’t change.
His mental strength finally gave way, and he focused on protecting his core and circuits.
If he lost those, he would have nothing left.
The dragon’s blood, now beyond his control, shattered his vessel and spread throughout his body.
He felt no pain.
He should have been in excruciating pain, but there was nothing.
Ironically, he remembered the dragon’s advice.
The dragon’s blood would naturally spread throughout his body if left unchecked.
While neither of them had anticipated this specific outcome, the dragon’s words had been true.
‘…It didn’t shatter?’
The dragon had said that if he properly absorbed the blood and heart fragment, he wouldn’t feel limited by his physical body.
He finally understood what it meant.
His entire body had become a vessel, infused with demonic energy.
He had been using almost pure demonic energy, but there had still been a slight refinement process.
But now, there was no need.
‘Did it plan this?’
No, that couldn’t be it.
It had likely anticipated a significant increase in his affinity and vessel capacity.
However, his body and the dragon’s blood had created an unexpected synergy, resulting in an outcome even the dragon hadn’t foreseen.
He felt a sense of fullness throughout his body, and his seal resonated with his transformed body.
And with that, a familiar sensation, one he had briefly experienced long ago, returned.
His exhaustion vanished, replaced by a semi-lucid state.
The magic he had learned and used since his regression flashed through his mind, the arrangements of demonic energy, incantations, trigger words, hand seals, and runes deconstructing and reconstructing themselves.
He observed and memorized the process.
He knew what this was.
The enlightenment he had rejected in his previous life had returned, triggered by his body’s transformation.
It was the moment he had been waiting for.
The moment he surpassed his past self and reached a new level.
In his semi-lucid state, he watched as the magic reshaped itself, adapting to his transformed body.
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He awoke to a changed world.
He was lying in a different room, in a different bed, wearing different clothes.
Orie was watching over him.
-You’ve awakened.
“…Hmm?”
He was momentarily confused, but his memories quickly returned.
“How long have I been asleep?”
-About two days, Master.
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